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Pyke AT, Burtonclay P, Poudel N, Ingall W, Nair N, Hall-Mendelin S, Craig SB, Smith C, Wang W, Darbro JM, Jansen CC, van den Hurk AF. First Isolation of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Genotype IV from Mosquitoes in Australia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38621176 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2024.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Widespread transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genotype four (GIV) occurred across mainland Australia in 2022. This resulted in forty-five human cases, including seven deaths, and the identification of JEV infection in over 80 commercial piggeries. Materials and Methods: We collected mosquitoes which were trapped using CO2-baited light traps deployed near piggeries reporting disease or in regions linked to human cases in the Wide Bay region in the state of Queensland. Mosquitoes from four traps yielded JEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR. Pools containing RNA positive mosquitoes were inoculated onto mosquito cell monolayers. Discussion: A single isolate of JEV was obtained from a pool of mixed mosquito species. Near whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the JEV isolate demonstrated its high genomic relatedness with JEV GIV pig sequences sampled from Queensland and the state of New South Wales in 2022. Conclusion: We report the first isolation of JEV GIV from mosquitoes collected in Australia. With only a few JEV GIV isolates available globally, the isolate we report will be essential for future research of JEV host interactions, evolution and disease markers, and development of effective therapies, vaccines, diagnostic assays, and mosquito control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa T Pyke
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter Burtonclay
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nirdesh Poudel
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Wayne Ingall
- Wide Bay Public Health Unit, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Neelima Nair
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sonja Hall-Mendelin
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott B Craig
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Craig Smith
- Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland, Australia
| | - Wei Wang
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jonathan M Darbro
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch and Health Protection and Regulation Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew F van den Hurk
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia
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White T, Mincham G, Montgomery BL, Jansen CC, Huang X, Williams CR, Flower RLP, Faddy HM, Frentiu FD, Viennet E. Past and future epidemic potential of chikungunya virus in Australia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009963. [PMID: 34784371 PMCID: PMC8631637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Australia is theoretically at risk of epidemic chikungunya virus (CHIKV) activity as the principal vectors are present on the mainland Aedes aegypti) and some islands of the Torres Strait (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). Both vectors are highly invasive and adapted to urban environments with a capacity to expand their distributions into south-east Queensland and other states in Australia. We sought to estimate the epidemic potential of CHIKV, which is not currently endemic in Australia, by considering exclusively transmission by the established vector in Australia, Ae. aegypti, due to the historical relevance and anthropophilic nature of the vector. Methodology/Principal findings We estimated the historical (1995–2019) epidemic potential of CHIKV in eleven Australian locations, including the Torres Strait, using a basic reproduction number equation. We found that the main urban centres of Northern Australia could sustain an epidemic of CHIKV. We then estimated future trends in epidemic potential for the main centres for the years 2020 to 2029. We also conducted uncertainty and sensitivity analyses on the variables comprising the basic reproduction number and found high sensitivity to mosquito population size, human population size, impact of vector control and human infectious period. Conclusions/Significance By estimating the epidemic potential for CHIKV transmission on mainland Australia and the Torres Strait, we identified key areas of focus for controlling vector populations and reducing human exposure. As the epidemic potential of the virus is estimated to rise towards 2029, a greater focus on control and prevention measures should be implemented in at-risk locations. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and causes a potentially debilitating febrile and arthralgic disease. The virus is a threat to public health in regions where the primary vectors are established, as evidenced by past epidemics in the Indian Ocean Islands, South America and the Caribbean. In Australia, there are established populations of Ae. aegypti both on the mainland and in the Torres Strait, and of Ae. albopictus in the Torres Strait. This provides a theoretical potential for CHIKV transmission, as seen historically with dengue virus (DENV). It is therefore important to understand the epidemic potential of CHIKV in Australia. We estimated the basic reproduction number (R0) of CHIKV during the years 1995–2019 for 11 Urban Centres and Localities (UCLs) in Australia, and found that Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Rockhampton, Thursday Island, and Townsville were all susceptible to CHIKV epidemics. We then forecasted epidemic potential from 2020–2029 and found an increase in R0 across the six main UCLs. By highlighting factors that significantly influence the epidemic potential of CHIKV in Australia, our study supports evidence-based decision making for vector control and public health programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy White
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gina Mincham
- Research and Innovation Services, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Brian L. Montgomery
- Metro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cassie C. Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Department of Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Craig R. Williams
- UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Robert L. P. Flower
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Helen M. Faddy
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, Queensland, Australia
| | - Francesca D. Frentiu
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Elvina Viennet
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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3
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Pyke AT, Shivas MA, Darbro JM, Onn MB, Johnson PH, Crunkhorn A, Montgomery I, Burtonclay P, Jansen CC, van den Hurk AF. Uncovering the genetic diversity within the Aedes notoscriptus virome and isolation of new viruses from this highly urbanised and invasive mosquito. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab082. [PMID: 34712491 PMCID: PMC8546932 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Australian backyard mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus, is a highly urbanised pest species that has invaded New Zealand and the USA. Importantly, Ae. notoscriptus has been implicated as a vector of Ross River virus, a common and arthritogenic arbovirus in Australia, and is a laboratory vector of numerous other pathogenic viruses, including West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. To further explore live viruses harboured by field populations of Ae. notoscriptus and, more specifically, assess the genetic diversity of its virome, we processed 495 pools, comprising a total of 6,674 female Ae. notoscriptus collected across fifteen suburbs in Brisbane, Australia, between January 2018 and May 2019. Nine virus isolates were recovered and characterised by metagenomic sequencing and phylogenetics. The principal viral family represented was Flaviviridae. Known viruses belonging to the genera Flavivirus, Orbivirus, Mesonivirus, and Nelorpivirus were identified together with two novel virus species, including a divergent Thogoto-like orthomyxovirus and an insect-specific flavivirus. Among these, we recovered three Stratford virus (STRV) isolates and an isolate of Wongorr virus (WGRV), which for these viral species is unprecedented for the geographical area of Brisbane. Thus, the documented geographical distribution of STRV and WGRV, both known for their respective medical and veterinary importance, has now been expanded to include this major urban centre. Phylogenies of the remaining five viruses, namely, Casuarina, Ngewotan, the novel Thogoto-like virus, and two new flavivirus species, suggested they are insect-specific viruses. None of these viruses have been previously associated with Ae. notoscriptus or been reported in Brisbane. These findings exemplify the rich genetic diversity and viral abundance within the Ae. notoscriptus virome and further highlight this species as a vector of concern with the potential to transmit viruses impacting human or animal health. Considering it is a common pest and vector in residential areas and is expanding its global distribution, ongoing surveillance, and ecological study of Ae. notoscriptus, together with mapping of its virome and phenotypic characterisation of isolated viruses, is clearly warranted. Immanently, these initiatives are essential for future understanding of both the mosquito virome and the evolution of individual viral species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa T Pyke
- Department of Health, Public Health Virology Laboratory, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Government, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia
| | - Martin A Shivas
- Brisbane City Council, 20 Tradecoast Drive, Eagle Farm, Brisbane, QLD 4009, Australia
| | | | - Michael B Onn
- Brisbane City Council, 20 Tradecoast Drive, Eagle Farm, Brisbane, QLD 4009, Australia
| | | | - Andrew Crunkhorn
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Bryden Street, Windsor, QLD 4030, Australia
| | - Ivan Montgomery
- Brisbane City Council, 20 Tradecoast Drive, Eagle Farm, Brisbane, QLD 4009, Australia
| | | | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Health, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Andrew F van den Hurk
- Department of Health, Public Health Virology Laboratory, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Government, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia
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Trewin BJ, Parry HR, Pagendam DE, Devine GJ, Zalucki MP, Darbro JM, Jansen CC, Schellhorn NA. Simulating an invasion: unsealed water storage (rainwater tanks) and urban block design facilitate the spread of the dengue fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, in Brisbane, Australia. Biol Invasions 2021; 23:3891-3906. [PMID: 34456614 PMCID: PMC8386157 DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02619-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) was once highly prevalent across eastern Australia, resulting in epidemics of dengue fever. Drought conditions have led to a rapid rise in semi-permanent, urban water storage containers called rainwater tanks known to be critical larval habitat for the species. The presence of these larval habitats has increased the risk of establishment of highly urbanised, invasive mosquito vectors such as Ae. aegypti. Here we use a spatially explicit network model to examine the role that unsealed rainwater tanks may play in population connectivity of an Ae. aegypti invasion in suburbs of Brisbane, a major Australian city. We characterise movement between rainwater tanks as a diffusion-like process, limited by a maximum distance of movement, average life expectancy, and a probability that Ae. aegypti will cross wide open spaces such as roads. The simulation model was run against a number of scenarios that examined population spread through the rainwater tank network based on non-compliance rates of tanks (unsealed or sealed) and road grids. We show that Ae. aegypti tank infestation and population spread was greatest in areas of high tank density and road lengths were shortest e.g. cul-de-sacs. Rainwater tank non-compliance rates of over 30% show increased connectivity when compared to less than 10%, suggesting rainwater tanks non-compliance should be maintained under this level to minimize the spread of an invading Ae. aegypti population. These results presented as risk maps of Ae. aegypti spread across Brisbane, can assist health and government authorities on where to optimally target rainwater tank surveillance and educational activities. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-021-02619-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Trewin
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Brisbane, Australia.,Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hazel R Parry
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Daniel E Pagendam
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Myron P Zalucki
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jonathan M Darbro
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Windsor, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Windsor, Brisbane, Australia.,Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Health, Herston, Australia
| | - Nancy A Schellhorn
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Brisbane, Australia
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5
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Jansen CC, Darbro JM, Birrell FA, Shivas MA, van den Hurk AF. Impact of COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on Mosquito-Borne Diseases in 2020 in Queensland, Australia. Viruses 2021; 13:1150. [PMID: 34208620 PMCID: PMC8235246 DOI: 10.3390/v13061150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on mosquito-borne diseases in Queensland, Australia, during the first half of 2020. Implementation of restrictions coincided with an atypical late season outbreak of Ross River virus (RRV) characterized by a peak in notifications in April (1173) and May (955) which were greater than 3-fold the mean observed for the previous four years. We propose that limitations on human movement likely resulted in the majority of RRV infections being acquired at or near the place of residence, and that an increase in outdoor activities, such as gardening and bushwalking in the local household vicinity, increased risk of exposure to RRV-infected mosquitoes. In contrast, the precipitous decline in international passenger flights led to a reduction in the number of imported dengue and malaria cases of over 70% and 60%, respectively, compared with the previous five years. This substantial reduction in flights also reduced a risk pathway for importation of exotic mosquitoes, but the risk posed by importation via sea cargo was not affected. Overall, the emergence of COVID-19 has had a varied impact on mosquito-borne disease epidemiology in Queensland, but the need for mosquito surveillance and control, together with encouragement of personal protective measures, remains unchanged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie C. Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia;
| | - Jonathan M. Darbro
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Windsor, Brisbane, QLD 4030, Australia;
| | - Frances A. Birrell
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia;
| | - Martin A. Shivas
- Field Services, Brisbane City Council, Eagle Farm, Brisbane, QLD 4009, Australia;
| | - Andrew F. van den Hurk
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia
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Wimalasiri-Yapa BMCR, Barrero RA, Stassen L, Hafner LM, McGraw EA, Pyke AT, Jansen CC, Suhrbier A, Yakob L, Hu W, Devine GJ, Frentiu FD. Temperature modulates immune gene expression in mosquitoes during arbovirus infection. Open Biol 2021; 11:200246. [PMID: 33401993 PMCID: PMC7881175 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The principal vector of dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses is the mosquito Aedes aegypti, with its ability to transmit pathogens influenced by ambient temperature. We use chikungunya virus (CHIKV) to understand how the mosquito transcriptome responds to arbovirus infection at different ambient temperatures. We exposed CHIKV-infected mosquitoes to 18, 28 and 32°C, and found that higher temperature correlated with higher virus levels, particularly at 3 days post infection, but lower temperature resulted in reduced virus levels. RNAseq analysis indicated significantly altered gene expression levels in CHIKV infection. The highest number of significantly differentially expressed genes was observed at 28°C, with a more muted effect at the other temperatures. At the higher temperature, the expression of many classical immune genes, including Dicer-2, was not substantially altered in response to CHIKV. The upregulation of Toll, IMD and JAK-STAT pathways was only observed at 28°C. Functional annotations suggested that genes in immune response and metabolic pathways related to energy supply and DNA replication were involved in temperature-dependent changes. Time post infection also led to substantially different gene expression profiles, and this varied with temperature. In conclusion, temperature significantly modulates mosquito gene expression in response to infection, potentially leading to impairment of immune defences at higher temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M C Randika Wimalasiri-Yapa
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, Open University of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Roberto A Barrero
- eResearch Office, Division of Research and Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Liesel Stassen
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Louise M Hafner
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A McGraw
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA
| | - Alyssa T Pyke
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andreas Suhrbier
- Inflammation Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Laith Yakob
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Wenbiao Hu
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Francesca D Frentiu
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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7
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Murphy AK, Clennon JA, Vazquez-Prokopec G, Jansen CC, Frentiu FD, Hafner LM, Hu W, Devine GJ. Spatial and temporal patterns of Ross River virus in south east Queensland, Australia: identification of hot spots at the rural-urban interface. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:722. [PMID: 33008314 PMCID: PMC7530966 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05411-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ross River virus (RRV) is responsible for the most common vector-borne disease of humans reported in Australia. The virus circulates in enzootic cycles between multiple species of mosquitoes, wildlife reservoir hosts and humans. Public health concern about RRV is increasing due to rising incidence rates in Australian urban centres, along with increased circulation in Pacific Island countries. Australia experienced its largest recorded outbreak of 9544 cases in 2015, with the majority reported from south east Queensland (SEQ). This study examined potential links between disease patterns and transmission pathways of RRV. Methods The spatial and temporal distribution of notified RRV cases, and associated epidemiological features in SEQ, were analysed for the period 2001–2016. This included fine-scale analysis of disease patterns across the suburbs of the capital city of Brisbane, and those of 8 adjacent Local Government Areas, and host spot analyses to identify locations with significantly high incidence. Results The mean annual incidence rate for the region was 41/100,000 with a consistent seasonal peak in cases between February and May. The highest RRV incidence was in adults aged from 30 to 64 years (mean incidence rate: 59/100,000), and females had higher incidence rates than males (mean incidence rates: 44/100,000 and 34/100,000, respectively). Spatial patterns of disease were heterogeneous between years, and there was a wide distribution of disease across both urban and rural areas of SEQ. Overall, the highest incidence rates were reported from predominantly rural suburbs to the north of Brisbane City, with significant hot spots located in peri-urban suburbs where residential, agricultural and conserved natural land use types intersect. Conclusions Although RRV is endemic across all of SEQ, transmission is most concentrated in areas where urban and peri-urban environments intersect. The drivers of RRV transmission across rural-urban landscapes should be prioritised for further investigation, including identification of specific vectors and hosts that mediate human spillover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Murphy
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia. .,School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Julie A Clennon
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | | | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Health, Herston, Australia
| | - Francesca D Frentiu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Louise M Hafner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, and Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Wenbiao Hu
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
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8
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Viennet E, Frentiu FD, Williams CR, Mincham G, Jansen CC, Montgomery BL, Flower RLP, Faddy HM. Estimation of mosquito-borne and sexual transmission of Zika virus in Australia: Risks to blood transfusion safety. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008438. [PMID: 32663213 PMCID: PMC7380650 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since 2015, Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have occurred in the Americas and the Pacific involving mosquito-borne and sexual transmission. ZIKV has also emerged as a risk to global blood transfusion safety. Aedes aegypti, a mosquito well established in north and some parts of central and southern Queensland, Australia, transmits ZIKV. Aedes albopictus, another potential ZIKV vector, is a threat to mainland Australia. Since these conditions create the potential for local transmission in Australia and a possible uncertainty in the effectiveness of blood donor risk-mitigation programs, we investigated the possible impact of mosquito-borne and sexual transmission of ZIKV in Australia on local blood transfusion safety. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We estimated 'best-' and 'worst-' case scenarios of monthly reproduction number (R0) for both transmission pathways of ZIKV from 1996-2015 in 11 urban or regional population centres, by varying epidemiological and entomological estimates. We then estimated the attack rate and subsequent number of infectious people to quantify the ZIKV transfusion-transmission risk using the European Up-Front Risk Assessment Tool. For all scenarios and with both vector species R0 was lower than one for ZIKV transmission. However, a higher risk of a sustained outbreak was estimated for Cairns, Rockhampton, Thursday Island, and theoretically in Darwin during the warmest months of the year. The yearly estimation of the risk of transmitting ZIKV infection by blood transfusion remained low through the study period for all locations, with the highest potential risk estimated in Darwin. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Given the increasing demand for plasma products in Australia, the current strategy of restricting donors returning from infectious disease outbreak regions to source plasma collection provides a simple and effective risk management approach. However, if local transmission was suspected in the main urban centres of Australia, potentially facilitated by the geographic range expansion of Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus, this mitigation strategy would need urgent review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvina Viennet
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Francesca D. Frentiu
- Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
| | - Craig R. Williams
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gina Mincham
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Cassie C. Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Department of Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brian L. Montgomery
- Metro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert L. P. Flower
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
| | - Helen M. Faddy
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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9
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Skinner EB, Murphy A, Jansen CC, Shivas MA, McCallum H, Onn MB, Reid SA, Peel AJ. Associations Between Ross River Virus Infection in Humans and Vector-Vertebrate Community Ecology in Brisbane, Australia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:680-691. [PMID: 32366183 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission of vector-borne pathogens can vary in complexity from single-vector, single-host systems through to multivector, multihost vertebrate systems. Understanding the dynamics of transmission is important for disease prevention efforts, but is dependent on disentangling complex interactions within coupled natural systems. Ross River virus (RRV) is a multivector multihost pathogen responsible for the greatest number of notified vector-borne pathogen infections in humans in Australia. Current evidence suggests that nonhuman vertebrates are critical for the maintenance and spillover of RRV into mosquito populations. Yet, there is a limited knowledge of which mosquito vector species and amplifying vertebrate host species are most important for transmission of RRV to humans. We conducted field surveys of nonhuman vertebrates and mosquitoes in the RRV endemic city of Brisbane, Australia, to assess the effect of vector and host community structure on human RRV notifications. Six suburbs were selected across a gradient of human disease notification rates. Differences in vertebrate and mosquito compositions were observed across all suburbs. Suburbs with higher RRV notification rates contained greater vertebrate biomass (dominated by the presence of horses) and higher mosquito abundances. This study suggests that horse-mosquito interactions should be considered in more detail and that vertebrate biomass and mosquito abundance be incorporated into future RRV modeling studies and considered in public health strategies for RRV management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise B Skinner
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda Murphy
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Queensland Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martin A Shivas
- Brisbane City Council, Field Services, Brisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael B Onn
- Brisbane City Council, Field Services, Brisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia
| | - Simon A Reid
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alison J Peel
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
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Jansen CC, Shivas MA, May FJ, Pyke AT, Onn MB, Lodo K, Hall-Mendelin S, McMahon JL, Montgomery BL, Darbro JM, Doggett SL, van den Hurk AF. Epidemiologic, Entomologic, and Virologic Factors of the 2014-15 Ross River Virus Outbreak, Queensland, Australia. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 25:2243-2252. [PMID: 31742522 PMCID: PMC6874252 DOI: 10.3201/eid2512.181810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Australia experienced its largest recorded outbreak of Ross River virus (RRV) during the 2014-15 reporting year, comprising >10,000 reported cases. We investigated epidemiologic, entomologic, and virologic factors that potentially contributed to the scale of the outbreak in Queensland, the state with the highest number of notifications (6,371). Spatial analysis of human cases showed that notifications were geographically widespread. In Brisbane, human case notifications and virus detections in mosquitoes occurred across inland and coastal locations. Viral sequence data demonstrated 2 RRV lineages (northeastern genotypes I and II) were circulating, and a new strain containing 3 unique amino acid changes in the envelope 2 protein was identified. Longitudinal mosquito collections demonstrated unusually high relative abundance of Culex annulirostris and Aedes procax mosquitoes, attributable to extensive freshwater larval habitats caused by early and persistent rainfall during the reporting year. Increased prevalence of these mosquitoes probably contributed to the scale of this outbreak.
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Trewin BJ, Pagendam DE, Zalucki MP, Darbro JM, Devine GJ, Jansen CC, Schellhorn NA. Urban Landscape Features Influence the Movement and Distribution of the Australian Container-Inhabiting Mosquito Vectors Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes notoscriptus (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol 2020; 57:443-453. [PMID: 31693154 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Urban landscape features play an important role in the distribution and population spread of mosquito vectors. Furthermore, current insecticide and novel rear-and-release strategies for urban mosquito management rarely consider the spatial structure of the landscape when applying control practices. Here, we undertake a mark-recapture experiment to examine how urban features influence the movement and distribution of Australian container-inhabiting Aedes vectors. We pay attention to the role of semipermanent water storage containers, called rainwater tanks, and the influence of movement barriers, such as roads, on the spread and distribution of vector populations. Results suggest that Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) were more likely to be captured around rainwater tanks, and that released males travel throughout residential blocks but do not cross roads. Conversely, female Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) movement was uninhibited by roads and rainwater tanks did not influence female distribution or oviposition behavior. Using an isotropic Gaussian kernel framework, we show that vector movement is likely to be greater when applying a temporal effect, than when estimated by traditional methods. We conclude that a greater understanding on the role of urban features on vector movement will be important in the new age of rear-and-release mosquito control strategies, particularly those where estimations of movement are important for ensuring efficacy of application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Trewin
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Dutton Park, QLD, Australia
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Myron P Zalucki
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jonathan M Darbro
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Health, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Health, Metro North Public Health Unit, Windsor, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Health, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
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Wimalasiri-Yapa BMCR, Stassen L, Huang X, Hafner LM, Hu W, Devine GJ, Yakob L, Jansen CC, Faddy HM, Viennet E, Frentiu FD. Chikungunya virus in Asia - Pacific: a systematic review. Emerg Microbes Infect 2019; 8:70-79. [PMID: 30866761 PMCID: PMC6455125 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2018.1559708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that causes an acute febrile syndrome and severe, debilitating rheumatic disorders in humans that may persist for months. CHIKV’s presence in Asia dates from at least 1954, but its epidemiological profile in the region remains poorly understood. We systematically reviewed CHIKV emergence, epidemiology, clinical features, atypical manifestations and distribution of virus genotypes, in 47 countries from South East Asia (SEA) and the Western Pacific Region (WPR) during the period 1954–2017. Following the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines, Pubmed and Scopus databases, surveillance reports available in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and government websites were systematically reviewed. Of the 3504 records identified, 461 were retained for data extraction. Although CHIKV has been circulating in Asia almost continuously since the 1950s, it has significantly expanded its geographic reach in the region from 2005 onwards. Most reports identified in the review originated from India. Although all ages and both sexes can be affected, younger children and the elderly are more prone to severe and occasionally fatal forms of the disease, with child fatalities recorded since 1963 from India. The most frequent clinical features identified were arthralgia, rash, fever and headache. Both the Asian and East-Central-South African (ECSA) genotypes circulate in SEA and WPR, with ECSA genotype now predominant. Our findings indicate a substantial but poorly documented burden of CHIKV infection in the Asia-Pacific region. An evidence-based consensus on typical clinical features of chikungunya could aid in enhanced diagnosis and improved surveillance of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M C Randika Wimalasiri-Yapa
- a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD , Australia.,b Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences , The Open University of Sri Lanka , Colombo , Sri Lanka
| | - Liesel Stassen
- a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
| | - Louise M Hafner
- a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
| | - Wenbiao Hu
- c Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- d Mosquito Control Laboratory , QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
| | - Laith Yakob
- e Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases , The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- f Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health , Queensland Government , Herston , QLD , Australia
| | - Helen M Faddy
- g Research and Development , Australian Red Cross Blood Service , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
| | - Elvina Viennet
- g Research and Development , Australian Red Cross Blood Service , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
| | - Francesca D Frentiu
- a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , QLD , Australia
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Trewin BJ, Darbro JM, Zalucki MP, Jansen CC, Schellhorn NA, Devine GJ. Life on the margin: Rainwater tanks facilitate overwintering of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, in a sub-tropical climate. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211167. [PMID: 31022231 PMCID: PMC6483192 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A key determinant of insect persistence in marginal habitats is the ability to tolerate environmental extremes such as temperature. Aedes aegypti is highly invasive and little is known about the physiological sensitivity of the species to fluctuating temperature regimes at the lower critical threshold for development. A temperature that may limit the establishment and persistence of the species in sub-optimal regions. Daily winter temperatures were measured in common Australian larval habitats, replicated in environmental chambers and used to investigate the effect of fluctuating temperatures on the development and survival of tropical and subtropical strains of Australian Ae. aegypti. Development was slow for all treatments but both strains were able to complete development to the adult stage, suggesting previous models underestimate the potential for the species to persist in eastern Australia. Results suggested that thermal buffering in large volume habitats, and water that persists for greater than 32 days, will facilitate completion of the life cycle during sub-tropical winters. Furthermore, we provide a non-linear estimate of the lower critical temperature for Ae. aegypti development that suggests the current threshold may be incorrect. Our study demonstrates that the current re-introduction of water storage containers such as rainwater tanks, into major Australian population centres will increase the risk of Ae. aegypti establishment by permitting year-round development in locations south of its current distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J Trewin
- CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, Dutton Park, Brisbane, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Brisbane, Australia
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jonathan M Darbro
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Health, Metro North Public Health Unit, Windsor, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Myron P Zalucki
- The University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Queensland Health, Metro North Public Health Unit, Windsor, Brisbane, Australia
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Health, Herston, Australia
| | | | - Gregor J Devine
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Brisbane, Australia
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Knope KE, Doggett SL, Jansen CC, Kurucz N, Feldman R, Lynch7 SE, Hobby M, Sly AJ, Jardine A, Bennett S, Currie BJ. Arboviral diseases and malaria in Australia, 2014–15: Annual report of the National Arbovirus and Malaria Advisory Committee. Commun Dis Intell (2018) 2019. [DOI: 10.33321/cdi.2019.43.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This report describes the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases of public health importance in Australia during the 2014–15 season (1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015) and includes data from human notifications, sentinel chicken, vector and virus surveillance programs. The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System received notifications for 12,849 cases of disease transmitted by mosquitoes during the 2014–15 season. The Australasian alphaviruses Barmah Forest virus and Ross River virus accounted for 83% (n=10,723) of notifications. However, over-diagnosis and possible false positive diagnostic test results for these two infections mean that the true burden of infection is likely overestimated, and as a consequence, revised case definitions were implemented from 1 January 2016. There were 151 notifications of imported chikungunya virus infection. There were 74 notifications of dengue virus infection acquired in Australia and 1,592 cases acquired overseas, with an additional 34 cases for which the place of acquisition was unknown. Imported cases of dengue were most frequently acquired in Indonesia (66%). There were 7 notifications of Zika virus infection. No cases of locally-acquired malaria were notified during the 2014–15 season, though there were 259 notifications of overseas-acquired malaria and one notification for which no information on the place of acquisition was supplied. Imported cases of malaria were most frequently acquired in southern and eastern Africa (23%) and Pacific Island countries (20%). In 2014–15, arbovirus and mosquito surveillance programs were conducted in most of the states and territories. Surveillance for exotic mosquitoes at international ports of entry continues to be a vital part of preventing the establishment of vectors of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue to new areas of Australia. In 2014-15, there was a sharp increase in the number of exotic mosquitoes detected at the Australian border, with 36 separate exotic mosquito detections made, representing a 280% increase from the 2013-14 period where there were 13 exotic mosquito detections. Commun Dis Intell 2016;40(3):e401–436.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina E Knope
- Zoonoses, Foodborne and Emerging Infectious Diseases Section, Health Protection Policy Branch, Office of Health Protection, Department of Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
| | - Stephen L Doggett
- Department of Medical Entomology, Pathology West, Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Qld 4006
| | - Nina Kurucz
- Arbovirus Surveillance and Research Laboratory, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia. As of July 2015: Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, QEII Medical Centre, Western Australian Department of Health, Nedlands, Western Australia
| | - Rebecca Feldman
- Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Stacey E Lynch7
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Michaela Hobby
- Health Protection, Public Health, South Australian Department of Health, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Angus J Sly
- Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Compliance Division, Eagle Farm, Queensland
| | - Andrew Jardine
- Medical Entomology, Environmental Health Directorate, Department of Health, Western Australia
| | - Sonya Bennett
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Qld 4006
| | - Bart J Currie
- Royal Darwin Hospital Northern Territory; Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory
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15
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Stephenson EB, Murphy AK, Jansen CC, Peel AJ, McCallum H. Interpreting mosquito feeding patterns in Australia through an ecological lens: an analysis of blood meal studies. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:156. [PMID: 30944025 PMCID: PMC6448275 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3405-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquito-borne pathogens contribute significantly to the global burden of disease, infecting millions of people each year. Mosquito feeding is critical to the transmission dynamics of pathogens, and thus it is important to understanding and interpreting mosquito feeding patterns. In this paper we explore mosquito feeding patterns and their implications for disease ecology through a meta-analysis of published blood meal results collected across Australia from more than 12,000 blood meals from 22 species. To assess mosquito-vertebrate associations and identify mosquitoes on a spectrum of generalist or specialist feeders, we analysed blood meal data in two ways; first using a novel odds ratio analysis, and secondly by calculating Shannon’s diversity scores. Results We find that each mosquito species had a unique feeding association with different vertebrates, suggesting species-specific feeding patterns. Broadly, mosquito species could be grouped broadly into those that were primarily ornithophilic and those that fed more often on livestock. Aggregated feeding patterns observed across Australia were not explained by intrinsic variables such as mosquito genetics or larval habitats. We discuss the implications for disease transmission by vector mosquito species classified as generalist-feeders (such as Aedes vigilax and Culex annulirostris), or specialists (such as Aedes aegypti) in light of potential influences on mosquito host choice. Conclusions Overall, we find that whilst existing blood meal studies in Australia are useful for investigating mosquito feeding patterns, standardisation of blood meal study methodologies and analyses, including the incorporation of vertebrate surveys, would improve predictions of the impact of vector-host interactions on disease ecology. Our analysis can also be used as a framework to explore mosquito-vertebrate associations, in which host availability data is unavailable, in other global systems. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3405-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise B Stephenson
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.
| | | | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Alison J Peel
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
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Watson-Brown P, Viennet E, Mincham G, Williams CR, Jansen CC, Montgomery BL, Flower RLP, Faddy HM. Epidemic potential of Zika virus in Australia: implications for blood transfusion safety. Transfusion 2019; 59:648-658. [PMID: 30618208 DOI: 10.1111/trf.15095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zika virus (ZIKV) is transfusion-transmissible. In Australia the primary vector, Aedes aegypti, is established in the north-east, such that local transmission is possible following importation of an index case, which has the potential to impact on blood transfusion safety and public health. We estimated the basic reproduction number (R 0 ) to model the epidemic potential of ZIKV in Australian locations, compared this with the ecologically similar dengue viruses (DENV), and examined possible implications for blood transfusion safety. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Varying estimates of vector control efficiency and extrinsic incubation period, "best-case" and "worst-case" scenarios of monthly R 0 for ZIKV and DENV were modeled from 1996 to 2015 in 11 areas. We visualized the geographical distribution of blood donors in relation to areas with epidemic potential for ZIKV. RESULTS Epidemic potential (R 0 > 1) existed for ZIKV and DENV throughout the study period in a number of locations in northern Australia (Cairns, Darwin, Rockhampton, Thursday Island, Townsville, and Brisbane) during the warmer months of the year. R 0 for DENV was greater than ZIKV and was broadly consistent with annual estimates in Cairns. Increased vector control efficiency markedly reduced the epidemic potential and shortened the season of local transmission. Australian locations that provide the greatest number of blood donors did not have epidemic potential for ZIKV. CONCLUSION We estimate that areas of north-eastern Australia could sustain local transmission of ZIKV. This early contribution to understanding the epidemic potential of ZIKV may assist in the assessment and management of threats to blood transfusion safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Watson-Brown
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Elvina Viennet
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gina Mincham
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Craig R Williams
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brian L Montgomery
- Metro South Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Coopers Plain, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert L P Flower
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Helen M Faddy
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia.,School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
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Stephenson EB, Peel AJ, Reid SA, Jansen CC, McCallum H. The non-human reservoirs of Ross River virus: a systematic review of the evidence. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:188. [PMID: 29554936 PMCID: PMC5859426 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2733-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the non-human reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens is critical for effective disease control, but identifying the relative contributions of the various reservoirs of multi-host pathogens is challenging. For Ross River virus (RRV), knowledge of the transmission dynamics, in particular the role of non-human species, is important. In Australia, RRV accounts for the highest number of human mosquito-borne virus infections. The long held dogma that marsupials are better reservoirs than placental mammals, which are better reservoirs than birds, deserves critical review. We present a review of 50 years of evidence on non-human reservoirs of RRV, which includes experimental infection studies, virus isolation studies and serosurveys. We find that whilst marsupials are competent reservoirs of RRV, there is potential for placental mammals and birds to contribute to transmission dynamics. However, the role of these animals as reservoirs of RRV remains unclear due to fragmented evidence and sampling bias. Future investigations of RRV reservoirs should focus on quantifying complex transmission dynamics across environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise B Stephenson
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia.
| | - Alison J Peel
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Simon A Reid
- The University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Windsor, Brisbane, Queensland, 4030, Australia.,Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia
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van den Hurk AF, Hall-Mendelin S, Jansen CC, Higgs S. Zika virus and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes: a tenuous link. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2017; 17:1014-1016. [DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(17)30518-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Trewin BJ, Darbro JM, Jansen CC, Schellhorn NA, Zalucki MP, Hurst TP, Devine GJ. The elimination of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, from Brisbane, Australia: The role of surveillance, larval habitat removal and policy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005848. [PMID: 28846682 PMCID: PMC5591012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) is a highly invasive mosquito whose global distribution has fluctuated dramatically over the last 100 years. In Australia the distribution of Ae. aegypti once spanned the eastern seaboard, for 3,000 km north to south. However, during the 1900s this distribution markedly reduced and the mosquito disappeared from its southern range. Numerous hypotheses have been proffered for this retraction, however quantitative evidence of the mechanisms driving the disappearance are lacking. We examine historical records during the period when Ae. aegypti disappeared from Brisbane, the largest population centre in Queensland, Australia. In particular, we focus on the targeted management of Ae. aegypti by government authorities, that led to local elimination, something rarely observed in large cities. Numerous factors are likely to be responsible including the removal of larval habitat, especially domestic rainwater tanks, in combination with increased mosquito surveillance and regulatory enforcement. This account of historical events as they pertain to the elimination of Ae. aegypti from Brisbane, will inform assessments of the risks posed by recent human responses to climate change and the reintroduction of 300,000 rainwater tanks into the State over the past decade. We examined the historical role that water storage practices and the enforcement of anti-mosquito regulations played in the elimination of Aedes aegypti from Brisbane, a major urban centre in Australia. We examined changes in regulations pertaining to mosquitoes, collected government records documenting surveillance, and the response by the community to the actions of local authorities. Our findings indicate that anti-mosquito regulations, underpinned by effective implementation, were successful in gaining community support and removing the risk of mosquito presence at non-compliant properties. In particular, we argue that the removal of rainwater tanks which provided a permanent larval habitat in otherwise suboptimal environments, played a major role in the elimination of the species from Brisbane. Public Health regulations were supported by a large surveillance effort by local government health officers that were empowered to enforce legislation where necessary. Our findings are of importance to health authorities managing the ongoing expansion of Aedes populations, particularly in regions of sub-optimal climate and where water storage has become a major concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J. Trewin
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane City, Australia
- CSIRO, Agriculture, Dutton Park, Brisbane, Australia
- University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Jonathan M. Darbro
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane City, Australia
| | - Cassie C. Jansen
- Queensland Health, Metro North Public Health Unit, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Myron P. Zalucki
- University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Tim P. Hurst
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane City, Australia
- Eliminate Dengue, Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gregor J. Devine
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Mosquito Control Laboratory, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane City, Australia
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Montgomery BL, Shivas MA, Hall-Mendelin S, Edwards J, Hamilton NA, Jansen CC, McMahon JL, Warrilow D, van den Hurk AF. Rapid Surveillance for Vector Presence (RSVP): Development of a novel system for detecting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005505. [PMID: 28339458 PMCID: PMC5381943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The globally important Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses are primarily transmitted by the invasive mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. In Australia, there is an increasing risk that these species may invade highly urbanized regions and trigger outbreaks. We describe the development of a Rapid Surveillance for Vector Presence (RSVP) system to expedite presence- absence surveys for both species. Methodology/Principal findings We developed a methodology that uses molecular assays to efficiently screen pooled ovitrap (egg trap) samples for traces of target species ribosomal RNA. Firstly, specific real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were developed which detect a single Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus first instar larva in samples containing 4,999 and 999 non-target mosquitoes, respectively. ImageJ software was evaluated as an automated egg counting tool using ovitrap collections obtained from Brisbane, Australia. Qualitative assessment of ovistrips was required prior to automation because ImageJ did not differentiate between Aedes eggs and other objects or contaminants on 44.5% of ovistrips assessed, thus compromising the accuracy of egg counts. As a proof of concept, the RSVP was evaluated in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Goomeri, locations where Ae. aegypti is considered absent, present, and at the margin of its range, respectively. In Brisbane, Ae. aegypti was not detected in 25 pools formed from 477 ovitraps, comprising ≈ 54,300 eggs. In Rockhampton, Ae. aegypti was detected in 4/6 pools derived from 45 ovitraps, comprising ≈ 1,700 eggs. In Goomeri, Ae. aegypti was detected in 5/8 pools derived from 62 ovitraps, comprising ≈ 4,200 eggs. Conclusions/Significance RSVP can rapidly detect nucleic acids from low numbers of target species within large samples of endemic species aggregated from multiple ovitraps. This screening capability facilitates deployment of ovitrap configurations of varying spatial scales, from a single residential block to entire suburbs or towns. RSVP is a powerful tool for surveillance of invasive Aedes spp., validation of species eradication and quality assurance for vector control operations implemented during disease outbreaks. Aedes (Stegomyia) vectors of dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses utilize artificial and natural containers as larval habitats. Adults do not usually disperse far (< 500 m) from these larval habitats in urban and peri-urban environments. Highly heterogeneous distributions raise significant logistic challenges to conduct informative surveillance. Public health imperatives require contemporaneous vector mosquito presence-absence data for highly urbanized regions that are both vulnerable to invasions and have frequent exposure to viremic travellers. We developed a promising tool to expedite presence-absence surveillance of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus by integrating molecular diagnostics with ovitraps and automated egg quantification software. The high sensitivity of the molecular assays enabled samples from multiple ovitraps to be pooled and processed for each diagnostic test. This innovation resolves the considerable logistic constraints inherent in traditional ovitrap surveillance programs. Proof of concept was evaluated in field trials in Queensland geographies where Ae. aegypti is considered either absent, present or at the margin of its range (Brisbane, Rockhampton and Goomeri, respectively). Aedes aegypti was detected in Goomeri and Rockhampton and not detected in Brisbane. Further investigation is required to address the inaccuracy of automated egg counting software whenever contaminants are present. RSVP can accommodate varied ovitrap designs and deployment configurations, improves efficiency in laboratory and labor costs for high volumes of samples, and enables a rapid turnaround of results. The RSVP system can innovate surveillance programs for early-warning of invasion, eradication, and quality assurance for vector control in disease response contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L. Montgomery
- Metro South Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martin A. Shivas
- Mosquito and Pest Management, Brisbane City Council, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sonja Hall-Mendelin
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jim Edwards
- Rockhampton Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. Hamilton
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cassie C. Jansen
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Windsor, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jamie L. McMahon
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Warrilow
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew F. van den Hurk
- Public Health Virology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Péron M, Jansen CC, Mantyka‐Pringle C, Nicol S, Schellhorn NA, Becker KH, Chadès I. Selecting simultaneous actions of different durations to optimally manage an ecological network. Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Péron
- Mathematical School Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Dutton Park Qld 4102 Australia
| | - Cassie C. Jansen
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Dutton Park Qld 4102 Australia
- Metro North Public Health Unit Queensland Health Windsor Qld 4030 Australia
| | - Chrystal Mantyka‐Pringle
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Dutton Park Qld 4102 Australia
- School of Environment and Sustainability Global Institute for Water Security University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon SK S7N 5B3 Canada
| | - Sam Nicol
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Dutton Park Qld 4102 Australia
| | - Nancy A. Schellhorn
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Dutton Park Qld 4102 Australia
| | - Kai Helge Becker
- Department of Management Science University of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1XQ UK
| | - Iadine Chadès
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Dutton Park Qld 4102 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
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Viennet E, Mincham G, Frentiu FD, Jansen CC, Montgomery BL, Harley D, Flower RLP, Williams CR, Faddy HM. Epidemic Potential for Local Transmission of Zika Virus in 2015 and 2016 in Queensland, Australia. PLoS Curr 2016; 8. [PMID: 28123859 PMCID: PMC5222544 DOI: 10.1371/currents.outbreaks.73d82b08998c6d729c41ef6cdcc80176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Zika virus could be transmitted in the state of Queensland, Australia, in parts of the state where the mosquito vectors are established. METHODS We assessed the epidemic potential of Zika in Queensland from January 2015 to August 2016, and estimate the epidemic potential from September to December 2016, by calculating the temperature-dependent relative vectorial capacity (rVc), based on empirical and estimated parameters. RESULTS Through 2015, we estimated a rVc of 0.119, 0.152, 0.170, and 0.175, respectively in the major cities of Brisbane, Rockhampton, Cairns, and Townsville. From January to August 2016, the epidemic potential trend was similar to 2015, however the highest epidemic potential was in Cairns. During September to November 2016, the epidemic potential is consistently the highest in Cairns, followed by Townsville, Rockhampton and Brisbane. Then, from November to December 2016, Townsville has the highest estimated epidemic potential. DISCUSSION We demonstrate using a vectorial capacity model that ZIKV could have been locally transmitted in Queensland, Australia during 2015 and 2016. ZIKV remains a threat to Australia for the upcoming summer, during the Brazilian Carnival season, when the abundance of vectors is relatively high. Understanding the epidemic potential of local ZIKV transmission will allow better management of threats to blood safety and assessment of public health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvina Viennet
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gina Mincham
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Francesca D Frentiu
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation & School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Windsor, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brian L Montgomery
- Metro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Harley
- Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Robert L P Flower
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Craig R Williams
- Centre for Population Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Helen M Faddy
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
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Murray JV, Jansen CC, De Barro P. Risk Associated with the Release of Wolbachia-Infected Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes into the Environment in an Effort to Control Dengue. Front Public Health 2016; 4:43. [PMID: 27047911 PMCID: PMC4802996 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In an effort to eliminate dengue, a successful technology was developed with the stable introduction of the obligate intracellular bacteria Wolbachia pipientis into the mosquito Aedes aegypti to reduce its ability to transmit dengue fever due to life shortening and inhibition of viral replication effects. An analysis of risk was required before considering release of the modified mosquito into the environment. METHODS Expert knowledge and a risk assessment framework were used to identify risk associated with the release of the modified mosquito. Individual and group expert elicitation was performed to identify potential hazards. A Bayesian network (BN) was developed to capture the relationship between hazards and the likelihood of events occurring. Risk was calculated from the expert likelihood estimates populating the BN and the consequence estimates elicited from experts. RESULTS The risk model for "Don't Achieve Release" provided an estimated 46% likelihood that the release would not occur by a nominated time but generated an overall risk rating of very low. The ability to obtain compliance had the greatest influence on the likelihood of release occurring. The risk model for "Cause More Harm" provided a 12.5% likelihood that more harm would result from the release, but the overall risk was considered negligible. The efficacy of mosquito management had the most influence, with the perception that the threat of dengue fever had been eliminated, resulting in less household mosquito control, and was scored as the highest ranked individual hazard (albeit low risk). CONCLUSIONS The risk analysis was designed to incorporate the interacting complexity of hazards that may affect the release of the technology into the environment. The risk analysis was a small, but important, implementation phase in the success of this innovative research introducing a new technology to combat dengue transmission in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- CSIRO, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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McLean BJ, Hobson-Peters J, Webb CE, Watterson D, Prow NA, Nguyen HD, Hall-Mendelin S, Warrilow D, Johansen CA, Jansen CC, van den Hurk AF, Beebe NW, Schnettler E, Barnard RT, Hall RA. A novel insect-specific flavivirus replicates only in Aedes-derived cells and persists at high prevalence in wild Aedes vigilax populations in Sydney, Australia. Virology 2015; 486:272-83. [PMID: 26519596 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
To date, insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) have only been isolated from mosquitoes and increasing evidence suggests that ISFs may affect the transmission of pathogenic flaviviruses. To investigate the diversity and prevalence of ISFs in Australian mosquitoes, samples from various regions were screened for flaviviruses by ELISA and RT-PCR. Thirty-eight pools of Aedes vigilax from Sydney in 2007 yielded isolates of a novel flavivirus, named Parramatta River virus (PaRV). Sequencing of the viral RNA genome revealed it was closely related to Hanko virus with 62.3% nucleotide identity over the open reading frame. PaRV failed to grow in vertebrate cells, with only Aedes-derived mosquito cell lines permissive to replication, suggesting a narrow host range. 2014 collections revealed that PaRV had persisted in A. vigilax populations in Sydney, with 88% of pools positive. Further investigations into its mode of transmission and potential to influence vector competence of A. vigilax for pathogenic viruses are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breeanna J McLean
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Jody Hobson-Peters
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Cameron E Webb
- Medical Entomology, Marie Bashir Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Daniel Watterson
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Natalie A Prow
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Hong Duyen Nguyen
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Sonja Hall-Mendelin
- Virology, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia.
| | - David Warrilow
- Virology, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Cheryl A Johansen
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Virology, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Andrew F van den Hurk
- Virology, Public and Environmental Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Nigel W Beebe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia; CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Esther Schnettler
- MRC - University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
| | - Ross T Barnard
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Roy A Hall
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
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Jansen CC, Williams CR, van den Hurk AF. The Usual Suspects: Comparison of the Relative Roles of Potential Urban Chikungunya Virus Vectors in Australia. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134975. [PMID: 26247366 PMCID: PMC4527740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The global re-emergence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) over the last decade presents a serious public health risk to Australia. An increasing number of imported cases further underline the potential for local transmission to occur if local mosquitoes bite an infected traveller. Laboratory experiments have identified a number of competent Australian mosquito species, including the primary vectors of CHIKV abroad, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, and local endemic species Aedes vigilax and Aedes notoscriptus. The implication of these additional endemic species as potential vectors has generated much uncertainty amongst public health professionals regarding their actual role in CHIKV transmission in the field. Using data estimated from or documented in the literature, we parameterise a simple vectorial capacity model to evaluate the relative roles of Australian mosquito species in potential CHIKV transmission. The model takes into account a number of key biological and ecological variables which influence the role of a species in field transmission, including population density, human feeding rates, mosquito survival rates and vector competence. We confirm the relative importance of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in sustaining potential CHIKV transmission in Australia. Even at maximum estimated densities and human feeding rates, Ae. vigilax and Ae. notoscriptus are likely to play a relatively minor role in CHIKV transmission, when compared with either Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus. This relatively straightforward analysis has application for any region where mosquito species have been incriminated in vector competence experiments, but where their actual role in CHIKV transmission has not been established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie C. Jansen
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Windsor, Queensland, Australia
| | - Craig R. Williams
- Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew F. van den Hurk
- Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
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Philippe-Janon JCD, van den Hurk AF, Francis DP, Shivas MA, Jansen CC. Field Comparison of Cyclopentanone Versus Carbon Dioxide as an Attractant for Adult Mosquitoes in Southeast Queensland, Australia. J Med Entomol 2015; 52:483-490. [PMID: 26334825 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cyclopentanone is a saturated monoketone typically used as an intermediate in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, biologicals, insecticides, and rubber chemicals. Recently, it has been demonstrated that cyclopentanone activates the cpA CO2 receptor neuron on the maxillary palp of mosquitoes, suggesting that it may be a viable alternative to CO2 as an attractant for mosquitoes. Furthermore, semifield experiments showed that traps baited with cyclopentanone attract Culex quinquefasciatus Say at a similar rate to those baited with CO2. We evaluated the field efficacy of cyclopentanone as an alternative to CO2 in Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps and counterflow geometry (CFG) traps commonly used to collect mosquitoes in surveillance programs. Three pairwise trials and four Latin square trials were conducted across three peri-urban sites, comprising two saltwater sites and one freshwater site, in southeast Queensland, Australia. In all trials, CO2-baited traps outperformed traps baited with cyclopentanone. Carbon dioxide-baited CDC traps collected significantly more total mosquitoes, Aedes vigilax (Skuse), Culex sitiens Weidemann, and Culex annulirostris Skuse, than those baited with ≥99% cyclopentanone in pairwise trials. Similarly, in almost all Latin square trials, CO2-baited CDC and CFG traps collected significantly greater numbers of total mosquitoes, Ae. vigilax, Cx. annulirostris, Culex orbostiensis Dobrotworsky, and Cx. sitiens when compared with CFG traps baited with 20% cyclopentanone. Our trials indicate that cyclopentanone is not effective as a mosquito attractant in the field and cannot be used as a simple substitute for CO2 in commonly used mosquito surveillance traps.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C D Philippe-Janon
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Health and Hospital Service, Bryden St Windsor, QLD 4030, Australia
| | - A F van den Hurk
- Forensic and Scientific Services, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Kessels Rd., Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, Australia
| | - D P Francis
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Health and Hospital Service, Bryden St Windsor, QLD 4030, Australia
| | - M A Shivas
- Field Services Group, Brisbane City Council, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - C C Jansen
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Health and Hospital Service, Bryden St Windsor, QLD 4030, Australia.
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Knope KE, Doggett SL, Kurucz N, Johansen CA, Nicholson J, Feldman R, Sly A, Hobby M, El Saadi D, Muller M, Jansen CC, Muzari OM. Arboviral diseases and malaria in Australia, 2011-12: annual report of the National Arbovirus and Malaria Advisory Committee. Commun Dis Intell (2018) 2014; 38:E122-E142. [PMID: 25222207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System received notifications for 7,875 cases of disease transmitted by mosquitoes during the 2011-12 season (1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012). The alphaviruses Barmah Forest virus and Ross River virus accounted for 6,036 (77%) of these. There were 18 notifications of dengue virus infection acquired in Australia and 1,390 cases that were acquired overseas, while for 38 cases, the place of acquisition was unknown. Imported cases of dengue in Australia were most frequently acquired in Indonesia. There were 20 imported cases of chikungunya virus. There were no notifications of locally-acquired malaria in Australia during the 2011-12 season. There were 314 notifications of overseas-acquired malaria and 41 notifications where the place of acquisition was unknown. Sentinel chicken, mosquito surveillance, viral detection in mosquitoes and climate modelling are used to provide early warning of arboviral disease activity in Australia. In 2011-12, sentinel chicken programs for the detection of flavivirus activity were conducted in most states with the risk of arboviral transmission. Other surveillance activities to detect the presence of arboviruses in mosquitoes or mosquito saliva or for surveying mosquito abundance included honey-baited trap surveillance, surveys of household containers that may provide suitable habitat for the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, and carbon dioxide baited traps. Surveillance for exotic mosquitoes at the border continues to be a vital part of preventing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases to new areas of Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina E Knope
- Zoonoses, Foodborne and Emerging Infectious Diseases Section, Health Emergency Management Branch, Office of Health Protection, Department of Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
| | - Stephen L Doggett
- Department of Medical Entomology, Pathology West, Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales
| | - Nina Kurucz
- Medical Entomology, Centre for Disease Control, Health Protection Division, Northern Territory Department of Health, Royal Darwin Hospital, Casuarina, Northern Territory
| | - Cheryl A Johansen
- Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathWest QEII Medical Centre, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia
| | - Jay Nicholson
- Arbovirus Surveillance and Research Laboratory, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia
| | - Rebecca Feldman
- Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Angus Sly
- Operational Science Program, Department of Agriculture, Border Compliance Division, Eagle Farm, Queensland
| | - Michaela Hobby
- Health Protection, Public Health, South Australian Department of Health, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Debra El Saadi
- Communicable Diseases Unit, Queensland Health, Herston, Queensland
| | - Mike Muller
- Medical Entomologist, Brisbane City Council, Fortitude Valley, Queensland
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Medical Entomologist, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Windsor, Queensland
| | - Odwell M Muzari
- Medical Entomologist, Cairns Hospital and Health Service, Cairns, Queensland
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Jansen CC, Hemmerter S, van den Hurk AF, Whelan PI, Beebe NW. Morphological versus molecular identification ofCulex annulirostris Skuse andCulex palpalis Taylor: key members of theCulex sitiens(Diptera: Culicidae) subgroup in Australasia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/aen.12045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cassie C Jansen
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; Brisbane Qld 4102 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
| | | | - Andrew F van den Hurk
- Public Health Virology Laboratory; Forensic and Scientific Services; Department of Health; Brisbane Qld 4108 Australia
| | - Peter I Whelan
- Centre for Disease Control; Department of Health and Families; Darwin NT 0811 Australia
| | - Nigel W Beebe
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; Brisbane Qld 4102 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
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Hall-Mendelin S, Jansen CC, Cheah WY, Montgomery BL, Hall RA, Ritchie SA, Van den Hurk AF. Culex annulirostris (Diptera: Culicidae) host feeding patterns and Japanese encephalitis virus ecology in northern Australia. J Med Entomol 2012; 49:371-377. [PMID: 22493857 DOI: 10.1603/me11148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) transmission in northern Australia has, in the past, been facilitated by Culex annulirostris Skuse feeding on domestic pigs, the primary amplifying hosts of the virus. To further characterize mosquito feeding behavior in northern Australia, 1,128 bloodmeals from Cx. annulirostris were analyzed using a double-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall, Cx. annulirostris obtained > 94% of blood meals from mammals, comprising marsupials (37%), pigs (20%), dogs (16%), and cows (11%), although the proportion feeding on each of these host types varied between study locations. Where JEV activity was detected, feeding rates on pigs were relatively high. At the location that yielded the first Australian mainland isolate of JEV from mosquitoes, feral pigs (in the absence of domestic pigs) accounted for 82% of bloodmeals identified, representing the first occasion that feeding on feral pigs has been associated with JEV transmission in Australia. Interestingly, < 3% of Cx. annulirostris had fed on pigs at locations on Badu Island where JEV was detected in multiple pools of mosquitoes in a concurrent study. This suggests that either alternative hosts, such as birds, which comprised 21% of blood meals identified, or infected mosquitoes immigrating from areas where domestic pigs are housed, may have contributed to transmission at this location. Because Cx. annulirostris is both an opportunistic feeder and the primary JEV vector in the region, environmental characteristics and host presence can determine JEV transmission dynamics in northern Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Hall-Mendelin
- Public Health Virology, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Queensland 4108, Australia
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Tulsiani SM, Graham GC, Moore PR, Jansen CC, Van Den Hurk AF, Moore FAJ, Simmons RJ, Craig SB. Emerging tropical diseases in Australia. Part 5. Hendra virus. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2011; 105:1-11. [PMID: 21294944 DOI: 10.1179/136485911x12899838413547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Hendra virus (HeV) was first isolated in 1994, from a disease outbreak involving at least 21 horses and two humans in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra, Australia. The affected horses and humans all developed a severe but unidentified respiratory disease that resulted in the deaths of one of the human cases and the deaths or putting down of 14 of the horses. The virus, isolated by culture from a horse and the kidney of the fatal human case, was initially characterised as a new member of the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. Comparative sequence analysis of part of the matrix protein gene of the virus and the discovery that the virus had an exceptionally large genome subsequently led to HeV being assigned to a new genus, Henipavirus, along with Nipah virus (a newly emergent virus in pigs). The regular outbreaks of HeV-related disease that have occurred in Australia since 1994 have all been characterised by acute respiratory and neurological manifestations, with high levels of morbidity and mortality in the affected horses and humans. The modes of transmission of HeV remain largely unknown. Although fruit bats have been identified as natural hosts of the virus, direct bat-horse, bat-human or human-human transmission has not been reported. Human infection can occur via exposure to infectious urine, saliva or nasopharyngeal fluid from horses. The treatment options and efficacy are very limited and no vaccine exists. Reports on the outbreaks of HeV in Australia are collated in this review and the available data on the biology, transmission and detection of the pathogen are summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Tulsiani
- WHO/OIE/FAO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Queensland 4108, Australia
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De Barro PJ, Murphy B, Jansen CC, Murray J. The proposed release of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti containing a naturally occurring strain of Wolbachia pipientis, a question of regulatory responsibility. J Verbrauch Lebensm 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00003-011-0671-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Moore PR, Jansen CC, Graham GC, Smith IL, Craig SB. Emerging tropical diseases in Australia. Part 3. Australian bat lyssavirus. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2011; 104:613-21. [PMID: 21144181 DOI: 10.1179/136485910x12851868779948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Since its discovery in a juvenile black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) in 1996, Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) has become the cause of a potentially important emerging disease for health authorities in Australia, with two human deaths (one in 1996 and one in 1998) attributed to the virus in the north-eastern state of Queensland. In Australia, the virus has been isolated from all four species of flying fox found on the mainland (i.e. P. alecto, P. scapulatus, P. poliocephalus and P. conspicillatus) as well as a single species of insectivorous bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris). Australian bat lyssavirus belongs to the Lyssavirus genus and is closely related, genetically, to the type strain of Rabies virus (RABV). Clinically, patients infected with ABLV have displayed the 'classical' symptoms of rabies and a similar disease course. This similarity has led to the belief that the infection and dissemination of ABLV in the body follows the same pathways as those followed by RABV. Following the two ABLV-related deaths in Queensland, protocols based on the World Health Organization's guidelines for RABV prophylaxis were implemented and, presumably in consequence, no human infection with ABLV has been recorded since 1998. ABLV will, however, probably always have an important part to play in the health of Australians as the density of the human population in Australia and, consequently, the level of interaction between humans and flying foxes increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- P R Moore
- Public Health Virology, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, P.O. Box 594, Archerfield, Queensland, 4108, Australia.
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Tulsiani SM, Craig SB, Graham GC, Cobbold RC, Dohnt MF, Burns MA, Jansen CC, Leung LKP, Field HE, Smythe LD. High-resolution melt-curve analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-HRM) for the characterisation of pathogenic leptospires: intra-serovar divergence, inter-serovar convergence, and evidence of attenuation in Leptospira reference collections. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2010; 104:427-37. [PMID: 20819311 DOI: 10.1179/136485910x12786389891047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution melt-curve analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-HRM) is a novel technology that has emerged as a possible method to characterise leptospires to serovar level. RAPD-HRM has recently been used to measure intra-serovar convergence between strains of the same serovar as well as inter-serovar divergence between strains of different serovars. The results indicate that intra-serovar heterogeneity and inter-serovar homogeneity may limit the application of RAPD-HRM in routine diagnostics. They also indicate that genetic attenuation of aged, high-passage-number isolates could undermine the use of RAPD-HRM or any other molecular technology. Such genetic attenuation may account for a general decrease seen in titres of rabbit hyperimmune antibodies over time. Before RAPD-HRM can be further advanced as a routine diagnostic tool, strains more representative of the wild-type serovars of a given region need to be identified. Further, RAPD-HRM analysis of reference strains indicates that the routine renewal of reference collections, with new isolates, may be needed to maintain the genetic integrity of the collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Tulsiani
- The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
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Abstract
Aedes aegypti is the urban vector of dengue viruses worldwide. While climate influences the geographical distribution of this mosquito species, other factors also determine the suitability of the physical environment. Importantly, the close association of A. aegypti with humans and the domestic environment allows this species to persist in regions that may otherwise be unsuitable based on climatic factors alone. We highlight the need to incorporate the impact of the urban environment in attempts to model the potential distribution of A. aegypti and we briefly discuss the potential for future technology to aid management and control of this widespread vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie C Jansen
- CSIRO Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia
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Jansen CC, Webb CE, Graham GC, Craig SB, Zborowski P, Ritchie SA, Russell RC, van den Hurk AF. Blood sources of mosquitoes collected from urban and peri-urban environments in eastern Australia with species-specific molecular analysis of avian blood meals. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009; 81:849-57. [PMID: 19861621 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify the hosts of mosquitoes collected from urban and peri-urban habitats in eastern Australia, 1,180 blood fed mosquitoes representing 15 species were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and molecular techniques. Four common and epidemiologically important species could be classified according to their host-feeding patterns: Aedes aegypti was anthropophilic, Ae. vigilax was mammalophilic, Culex quinquefasciatus was ornithophilic, and Cx. annulirostris was opportunistic, readily feeding on birds and mammals. Mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequence data showed that more than 75% of avian blood meals identified from Cx. annulirostris collected from Brisbane, Newcastle, and Sydney originated from ducks (Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae). More than 75% of avian blood meals from Cx. quinquefasciatus from Cairns belonged to one of three Passerine species, namely Sphecotheres vieilloti (figbird), Sturnus tristis (common myna), and Philemon buceroides (helmeted friarbird). This study demonstrates associations between vectors in Australia and vertebrate hosts of endemic and exotic arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie C Jansen
- Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
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Jansen CC, Prow NA, Webb CE, Hall RA, Pyke AT, Harrower BJ, Pritchard IL, Zborowski P, Ritchie SA, Russell RC, Van Den Hurk AF. Arboviruses isolated from mosquitoes collected from urban and peri-urban areas of eastern Australia. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2009; 25:272-278. [PMID: 19852216 DOI: 10.2987/09-5908.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
To determine the presence of arboviruses in mosquito populations from major urban areas of eastern Australia, a total of 67,825 mosquitoes, representing -60 species, was collected and tested from Cairns, Brisbane, and Sydney between January 2005 and April 2008. Mosquito pools were screened by inoculation onto mosquito cell cultures and the detection of viral antigen using a panel of flavivirus and alphavirus monoclonal antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Suspect positive samples were confirmed using virus-specific real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays. No flaviviruses were detected, but 2 alphaviruses were isolated from mosquito pools collected from Cairns, with 1 Barmah Forest virus isolate from a pool of 100 Aedes vigilax and 1 Ross River virus isolate from a pool of 83 Verrallina carmenti. In addition, a single Aedes alternans collected from Sydney yielded an isolate most similar to Stretch Lagoon virus, a newly described virus from the genus Orbivirus. These results suggest that during the study, arboviruses were circulating at a low level in the areas sampled. The findings from this study will promote public health awareness of the risk of arboviruses in urban areas, leading to more informative public health campaigns to safeguard the Australian public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie C Jansen
- Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
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van den Hurk AF, Smith CS, Field HE, Smith IL, Northill JA, Taylor CT, Jansen CC, Smith GA, Mackenzie JS. Transmission of Japanese Encephalitis virus from the black flying fox, Pteropus alecto, to Culex annulirostris mosquitoes, despite the absence of detectable viremia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009; 81:457-462. [PMID: 19706915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
To determine the potential role of flying foxes in transmission cycles of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in Australia, we exposed Pteropus alecto (Megachiroptera: Pteropididae) to JEV via infected Culex annulirostris mosquitoes or inoculation. No flying foxes developed symptoms consistent with JEV infection. Anti-JEV IgG antibodies developed in 6/10 flying foxes exposed to infected Cx. annulirostris and in 5/5 inoculated flying foxes. Low-level viremia was detected by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 1/5 inoculated flying foxes and this animal was able to infect recipient mosquitoes. Although viremia was not detected in any of the 10 flying foxes that were exposed to JEV by mosquito bite, two animals infected recipient mosquitoes. Likewise, an inoculated flying fox without detectable viremia infected recipient mosquitoes. Although infection rates in recipient mosquitoes were low, the high population densities in roosting camps, coupled with migratory behavior indicate that flying foxes could play a role in the dispersal of JEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F van den Hurk
- Virology, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia.
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van den Hurk AF, Mackenzie JS, Smith IL, Taylor CT, Field HE, Smith GA, Northill JA, Jansen CC, Smith CS. Transmission of Japanese Encephalitis Virus from the Black Flying Fox, Pteropus alecto, to Culex annulirostris Mosquitoes, Despite the Absence of Detectable Viremia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009. [DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2009.81.457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Johnson PH, Hall-Mendelin S, Whelan PI, Frances SP, Jansen CC, Mackenzie DO, Northill JA, van den Hurk AF. Vector competence of AustralianCulex gelidusTheobald (Diptera: Culicidae) for endemic and exotic arboviruses. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.2009.00711.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Jansen CC, Zborowski P, Ritchie SA, van den Hurk AF. Efficacy of bird-baited traps placed at different heights for collecting ornithophilic mosquitoes in eastern Queensland, Australia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.2008.00671.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Jansen CC, Webb CE, Northill JA, Ritchie SA, Russell RC, Van den Hurk AF. Vector competence of Australian mosquito species for a North American strain of West Nile virus. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2009; 8:805-11. [PMID: 18973445 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2008.0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the establishment of West Nile virus (WNV) into the United States, concern has arisen that this virus may also pose a serious threat to Australian biosecurity. The vector competence of 19 Australian mosquito species for a North American strain of WNV was evaluated. Mosquitoes collected from Cairns, Brisbane, and Sydney were exposed to blood containing 10(4.0+/-0.3) cell culture infectious dose(50)/mosquito WNV that was isolated from a crow during the 1999 New York outbreak. Mosquitoes were tested 12-15 days later to determine their infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. A number of Culex spp. demonstrated a high vector competence for this virus, with some populations of Culex annulirostris, the primary Australian Kunjin virus vector, displaying transmission rates up to 84%. Similarly, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. gelidus were highly competent, with infection and transmission rates of >80% and >50%, respectively. Common Aedes spp., including Aedes notoscriptus, Ae. vigilax, and Ae. procax, were moderately susceptible, and some Verrallina spp. and Coquillettidia spp. were relatively refractory to infection. Thus, Australia possesses a number of competent mosquito species that could facilitate local transmission of WNV, should it be introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie C Jansen
- Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
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van den Hurk AF, Johnson PH, Hall-Mendelin S, Northill JA, Simmons RJ, Jansen CC, Frances SP, Smith GA, Ritchie SA. Expectoration of Flaviviruses during sugar feeding by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol 2007; 44:845-50. [PMID: 17915518 DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2007)44[845:eofdsf]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Biological transmission of arboviruses to a vertebrate host occurs when virions are expelled along with saliva during blood feeding by a hematophagous arthropod. We undertook experiments to determine whether mosquitoes expectorate flaviviruses in their saliva while sugar feeding. Batches of Culex annulirostris Skuse and Culex gelidus Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) were orally infected with Japanese encephalitis (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, JEV), Kunjin (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, KUNV; a subtype of West Nile virus), and Murray Valley encephalitis (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, MVEV) viruses. After a 7-d extrinsic incubation, these mosquitoes were offered sucrose meals via cotton pledgets, which were removed daily and processed for viral RNA by using real-time TaqMan reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. JEV, MVEV, and KUNV RNA was detected in all pledgets removed from batches of Cx. gelidus on days 7-14 postexposure. In contrast, detection rates were variable for Cx. annulirostris, with KUNV detected in 0.3 M sucrose pledgets on all days postexposure, and JEV and MVEV detected on 57 and 50% of days postexposure, respectively. Higher concentrations of sucrose in the pledget did not increase virus detection rates. When individual JEV-infected Cx. gelidus were exposed to the sucrose pledget, 73% of mosquitoes expectorated virus with titers that were detectable by TaqMan RT-PCR. These results clearly show that flaviviruses are expectorated by infected mosquitoes during the process of sugar feeding on artificial pledgets. Potential applications of the method for arboviral bioassays and field surveillance are discussed.
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Frances SP, Marlow RM, Jansen CC, Huggins RL, Cooper RD. Laboratory and field evaluation of commercial repellent formulations against mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Queensland, Australia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.2005.00498.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Losekoot M, Hoogendoorn E, Olmer R, Jansen CC, Oosterwijk JC, van den Ouweland AM, Halley DJ, Warren ST, Willemsen R, Oostra BA, Bakker E. Prenatal diagnosis of the fragile X syndrome: loss of mutation owing to a double recombinant or gene conversion event at the FMR1 locus. J Med Genet 1997; 34:924-6. [PMID: 9391887 PMCID: PMC1051121 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.34.11.924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The fragile X syndrome, an X linked mental retardation syndrome, is caused by an expanded CGG repeat in the first exon of the FMR1 gene. In patients with an expanded repeat the FMR1 promoter is methylated and, consequently, the gene is silenced and no FMR1 protein (FMRP) is produced, thus leading to the clinical phenotype. Here we describe a prenatal diagnosis performed in a female from a fragile X family carrying a large premutation. In chorionic villus DNA of the male fetus the normal maternal CGG allele and a normal pattern on Southern blot analysis were found in combination with the FRAXAC2 and DXS297 allele of the maternal at risk haplotype. A second chorionic villus sampling was performed giving identical results on DNA analysis and, in addition, expression of FMRP was shown by immunohistochemistry. We concluded that the male fetus was not affected with the fragile X syndrome. Subsequent detailed haplotype analysis showed a complex recombination pattern resembling either gene conversion or a double crossover within a 20 kb genomic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Losekoot
- MGC-Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University, The Netherlands
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45
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de Vries BB, Jansen CC, Duits AA, Verheij C, Willemsen R, van Hemel JO, van den Ouweland AM, Niermeijer MF, Oostra BA, Halley DJ. Variable FMR1 gene methylation of large expansions leads to variable phenotype in three males from one fragile X family. J Med Genet 1996; 33:1007-10. [PMID: 9004132 PMCID: PMC1050811 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.33.12.1007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The fragile X syndrome is caused by an expanded CGG repeat (> 200 units, full mutation) at the 5' end of the FMR1 gene, which is associated with methylation of a CpG island upstream of the FMR1 gene and down regulation of the transcription. We describe three related males with full mutations in the FMR1 gene, as defined by size, but with different percentages of unmethylated alleles (+/-90%, 35%, and 15%, respectively) as studied in leucocytes. Normal mental status was observed in the male who showed 90% lack of methylation, whereas his two cousins were retarded. The mentally normal male did show some minor facial features of the fragile X syndrome; the FMR protein was detectable in 75% of his leucocytes. In all three cases, the proportion of unmethylated FMR1 genes corresponded to the percentage of leucocytes showing FMR1 protein production. Our results indicated a direct relationship between methylation and the ability to produce FMR protein. These cases will be discussed in relation to the phenotypic effects of incompletely methylated full mutations in the FMR1 gene as observed by others.
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Affiliation(s)
- B B de Vries
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Rutten-van Mölken MP, Custers F, van Doorslaer EK, Jansen CC, Heurman L, Maesen FP, Smeets JJ, Bommer AM, Raaijmakers JA. Comparison of performance of four instruments in evaluating the effects of salmeterol on asthma quality of life. Eur Respir J 1995; 8:888-98. [PMID: 7589374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Quality of life measures are increasingly used as important efficacy endpoints in studies of drugs for asthma. The purpose of this study was to assess both the sensitivity to change and the construct validity of four different quality of life instruments in patients with asthma. In a double-blind, parallel group study, 120 moderate asthma patients, aged between 18-70 yrs, received either inhaled salmeterol 50 micrograms b.i.d. or inhaled salbutamol 400 micrograms b.i.d. In addition to respiratory outcomes, quality of life was measured at a 6 weeks follow-up using: 1) Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ); 2) Living With Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ); 3) Sickness Impact Profile (SIP); 4) Rating Scale (RS); and Standard Gamble (SG) utilities. Salmeterol led to significant improvements over salbutamol on virtually all clinical outcomes. Although all the quality of life instruments showed the same trend in favour of salmeterol, only the AQLQ and RS utilities showed significantly greater improvement on salmeterol than on salbutamol. Except for the AQLQ, the correlation between change in lung function and change in quality of life was generally low. Whereas, the AQLQ correlated well with the patient's overall assessment of efficacy (r = 0.64), the LWAQ, SIP and utilities failed to show such a correlation. The AQLQ showed the best correlation with symptom scores. The cross-sectional correlation between the AQLQ and the LWAQ was 0.73, whereas the longitudinal correlation was only 0.29. The SG generally showed poor correlation with other measures, including the RS. In conclusion, patients given salmeterol showed a greater improvement in quality of life compared to patients given salbutamol. Of the disease-specific questionnaires the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire was found to be more responsive to change than the Living With Asthma Questionnaire and showed greater validity. Of the generic instruments, the rating scale utilities were most responsive. The Standard Gamble showed poor correlation with other measures.
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Rutten-van Molken MP, Custers F, van Doorslaer EK, Jansen CC, Heurman L, Maesen FP, Smeets JJ, Bommer AM, Raaijmakers JA. Comparison of performance of four instruments in evaluating the effects of salmeterol on asthma quality of life. Eur Respir J 1995. [DOI: 10.1183/09031936.95.08060888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Quality of life measures are increasingly used as important efficacy endpoints in studies of drugs for asthma. The purpose of this study was to assess both the sensitivity to change and the construct validity of four different quality of life instruments in patients with asthma. In a double-blind, parallel group study, 120 moderate asthma patients, aged between 18-70 yrs, received either inhaled salmeterol 50 micrograms b.i.d. or inhaled salbutamol 400 micrograms b.i.d. In addition to respiratory outcomes, quality of life was measured at a 6 weeks follow-up using: 1) Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ); 2) Living With Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ); 3) Sickness Impact Profile (SIP); 4) Rating Scale (RS); and Standard Gamble (SG) utilities. Salmeterol led to significant improvements over salbutamol on virtually all clinical outcomes. Although all the quality of life instruments showed the same trend in favour of salmeterol, only the AQLQ and RS utilities showed significantly greater improvement on salmeterol than on salbutamol. Except for the AQLQ, the correlation between change in lung function and change in quality of life was generally low. Whereas, the AQLQ correlated well with the patient's overall assessment of efficacy (r = 0.64), the LWAQ, SIP and utilities failed to show such a correlation. The AQLQ showed the best correlation with symptom scores. The cross-sectional correlation between the AQLQ and the LWAQ was 0.73, whereas the longitudinal correlation was only 0.29. The SG generally showed poor correlation with other measures, including the RS. In conclusion, patients given salmeterol showed a greater improvement in quality of life compared to patients given salbutamol. Of the disease-specific questionnaires the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire was found to be more responsive to change than the Living With Asthma Questionnaire and showed greater validity. Of the generic instruments, the rating scale utilities were most responsive. The Standard Gamble showed poor correlation with other measures.
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