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Valiakos G, Giannakopoulos A, Spanos S, Korbou F, Chatzopoulos D, Mavrogianni V, Spyrou V, Fthenakis G, Billinis C. Use of geographical information system and ecological niche model to analyse potential exposure of small ruminants to Coxiella burnetii infection in central Greece. Small Rumin Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Vasileiou NGC, Fthenakis GC, Amiridis GS, Athanasiou LV, Birtsas P, Chatzopoulos DC, Chouzouris TM, Giannakopoulos A, Ioannidi KS, Kalonaki SN, Katsafadou AI, Kyriakis CS, Mavrogianni VS, Papadopoulos E, Spyrou V, Valiakos G, Venianaki AP, Billinis C. Experiences from the 2014 outbreak of bluetongue in Greece. Small Rumin Res 2016; 142:61-68. [PMID: 32288210 PMCID: PMC7126986 DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective of this paper was to review relevant work and to present a general account of the bluetongue outbreak, which occurred in Greece in 2014. In total, 2895 outbreaks of the disease have been reported by the veterinary authorities of Greece; sheep, goats and cattle were affected with officially reported morbidity rates of 11.0%, 2.0% and 3.5%, respectively. No vaccinations were allowed and conservative measures were implemented to attempt to limit the disease, which at the end had expanded throughout the country. In field investigations, a significantly higher bluetongue morbidity rate (27.5%) in sheep has been reported. During that work, clinical anaemia was encountered, which was characterised as macrocytic, hypochromic, regenerative and non-haemolytic. Other investigations, which are reviewed in this paper, have described an outbreak of Citrobacter freundii-associated enteritis in newborn kids, offspring of goats subclinically infected with Bluetongue virus, increased rate of early embryonic deaths, reduced conception rates, increased incidence risk of mastitis and reduced milk yield in herds of subclinically-infected cattle and detection of the virus from hunter-harvested tissue samples of roe-deer. In 2015, vaccines against the disease have been licenced; vaccinations started in May 2015. Then, in 2015, only one outbreak of the disease was confirmed, which could have been the result of a combination of reasons acting concurrently to prevent further cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- N G C Vasileiou
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - G C Fthenakis
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - G S Amiridis
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - L V Athanasiou
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - P Birtsas
- Technological Education Institute of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | | | - T M Chouzouris
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | | | - K S Ioannidi
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - S N Kalonaki
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - A I Katsafadou
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - C S Kyriakis
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - V S Mavrogianni
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - E Papadopoulos
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - V Spyrou
- Technological Education Institute of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - G Valiakos
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - A P Venianaki
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - C Billinis
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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Kyriakis CS, Papatsiros VG, Athanasiou LV, Valiakos G, Brown IH, Simon G, Van Reeth K, Tsiodras S, Spyrou V, Billinis C. Serological Evidence of Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus Infections in Greek Swine. Zoonoses Public Health 2015; 63:370-3. [PMID: 26477456 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12235] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza virus in pigs changed the epidemiology of influenza A viruses (IAVs) in swine in Europe and the rest of the world. Previously, three IAV subtypes were found in the European pig population: an avian-like H1N1 and two reassortant H1N2 and H3N2 viruses with human-origin haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase proteins and internal genes of avian decent. These viruses pose antigenically distinct HAs, which allow the retrospective diagnosis of infection in serological investigations. However, cross-reactions between the HA of pH1N1 and the HAs of the other circulating H1 IAVs complicate serological diagnosis. The prevalence of IAVs in Greek swine has been poorly investigated. In this study, we examined and compared haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titres against previously established IAVs and pH1N1 in 908 swine sera from 88 herds, collected before and after the 2009 pandemic. While we confirmed the historic presence of the three IAVs established in European swine, we also found that 4% of the pig sera examined after 2009 had HI antibodies only against the pH1N1 virus. Our results indicate that pH1N1 is circulating in Greek pigs and stress out the importance of a vigorous virological surveillance programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Kyriakis
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - V G Papatsiros
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - L V Athanasiou
- Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - G Valiakos
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - I H Brown
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, UK
| | - G Simon
- Anses, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Swine Virology Immunology Unit, France.,European University of Brittany, France
| | - K Van Reeth
- Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - S Tsiodras
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.,Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - V Spyrou
- Department of Animal Production, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece
| | - C Billinis
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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Tsokana CN, Sokos C, Giannakopoulos A, Mamuris Z, Birtsas P, Papaspyropoulos K, Valiakos G, Spyrou V, Lefkaditis M, Chatzopoulos DC, Kantere M, Manolakou K, Touloudi A, Burriel AR, Ferroglio E, Hadjichristodoulou C, Billinis C. First evidence of Leishmania infection in European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in Greece: GIS analysis and phylogenetic position within the Leishmania spp. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:313-21. [PMID: 26386969 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4749-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Although the existence of a sylvatic transmission cycle of Leishmania spp., independent from the domestic cycle, has been proposed, data are scarce on Leishmania infection in wild mammals in Greece. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of Leishmania infection in the European brown hare in Greece, to infer the phylogenetic position of the Leishmania parasites detected in hares in Greece, and to identify any possible correlation between Leishmania infection in hares with environmental parameters, using the geographical information system (GIS). Spleen samples from 166 hares were tested by internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1)-nested PCR for the detection of Leishmania DNA. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on Leishmania sequences from hares in Greece in conjunction with Leishmania sequences from dogs in Greece and 46 Leishmania sequences retrieved from GenBank. The Leishmania DNA prevalence in hares was found to be 23.49 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) 17.27-30.69). The phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the Leishmania sequences from hares in Greece belong in the Leishmania donovani complex. The widespread Leishmania infection in hares should be taken into consideration because under specific circumstances, this species can act as a reservoir host. This study suggests that the role of wild animals, including hares, in the epidemiology of Leishmania spp. in Greece deserves further elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C N Tsokana
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - C Sokos
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.,Research Division, Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - A Giannakopoulos
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Z Mamuris
- Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - P Birtsas
- Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Administration, Technological Institute of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - K Papaspyropoulos
- Research Division, Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - G Valiakos
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - V Spyrou
- Department of Animal Production, Technological Education Institute of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - M Lefkaditis
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - D C Chatzopoulos
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - M Kantere
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - K Manolakou
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - A Touloudi
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - A Rodi Burriel
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - E Ferroglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - C Hadjichristodoulou
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.,Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP), Ministry of Health, Athens, Greece
| | - C Billinis
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
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Touloudi A, Valiakos G, Athanasiou LV, Birtsas P, Giannakopoulos A, Papaspyropoulos K, Kalaitzis C, Sokos C, Tsokana CN, Spyrou V, Petrovska L, Billinis C. A serosurvey for selected pathogens in Greek European wild boar. Vet Rec Open 2015; 2:e000077. [PMID: 26392908 PMCID: PMC4567164 DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2014-000077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 08/04/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Serum samples, collected from 94 European wild boar (Sus scrofa) during the hunting seasons 2006 -2010 from different regions of Greece, were examined in order to estimate the role of these wildlife species as reservoir of pathogens important for livestock and/or public health. MATERIALS AND METHODS The assays used for this purpose were commercial indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (virus) (PRRSV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), influenza A (IA) virus, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Salmonella species, Trichinella species and indirect immunofluorescence antibody test for the detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. RESULTS Antibodies against PCV-2, PRRSV, ADV, IA virus,A. pleuropneumoniae, M. hyopneumoniae, Salmonella species, Trichinella species, T. gondii and N. caninum were detected in 19.1 per cent, 12.8 per cent, 35.1 per cent, 1.1 per cent, 57.4 per cent, 0 per cent, 4.3 per cent, 6.4 per cent, 5.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent of the samples, respectively. Cluster analysis revealed a hot spot of seropositivity near Bulgarian border; seropositivity to ADV was more common among female animals. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate exposure of wild boar to most of the above-mentioned pathogens, raising concern about the possibility that these species may pose a significant health risk for livestock and/or humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Touloudi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece ; Department of Biomedicine , Institute for Research and Technology Thessaly , Larissa , Greece
| | - G Valiakos
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece ; Department of Biomedicine , Institute for Research and Technology Thessaly , Larissa , Greece
| | - L V Athanasiou
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece
| | - P Birtsas
- Department of Forestry and Management of Natural Environment , Technological Education Institute of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece ; Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace , Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - A Giannakopoulos
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece
| | | | - C Kalaitzis
- Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace , Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - C Sokos
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece ; Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace , Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - C N Tsokana
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece
| | - V Spyrou
- Department of Animal Production , Technological Education Institution of Thessaly , Larissa , Greece
| | - L Petrovska
- Department of Microbiology , Veterinary Laboratories Agency , Weybridge , UK
| | - C Billinis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Thessaly , Karditsa , Greece ; Department of Biomedicine , Institute for Research and Technology Thessaly , Larissa , Greece
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Abstract
Orf virus, a member of the genus Parapoxvirus, is the causative agent of contagious ecthyma ('Orf'). It is a pathogen with worldwide distribution, causing significant financial losses in livestock production. The disease mainly affects sheep and goats, but various other ruminants and mammals have been reported to be infected as well. It is also a zoonotic disease, affecting mainly people who come in direct or indirect contact with infected animals (e.g. farmers, veterinarians). The disease is usually benign and self-limiting, although in many cases, especially in young animals, it can be persistent and even fatal. Production losses caused by Orf virus are believed to be underestimated, as it is not a notifiable disease. This review of literature presents all latest information regarding the virus; considerations regarding treatment and prevention will be also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Spyrou
- Technological Education Institute of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
| | - G Valiakos
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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Chatzopoulos D, Valiakos G, Giannakopoulos A, Birtsas P, Sokos C, Vasileiou N, Papaspyropoulos K, Tsokana C, Spyrou V, Fthenakis G, Billinis C. Bluetongue Virus in wild ruminants in Europe: Concerns and facts, with a brief reference to bluetongue in cervids in Greece during the 2014 outbreak. Small Rumin Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Billinis C, Athanasiou LV, Valiakos G, Mamuris Z, Birtsas P, Spyrou V. Phylogenetic analysis of canine distemper viruses from red foxes, Greece. Vet Rec 2013; 173:194. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.101618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Billinis
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Thessaly; Trikalon 224 Karditsa 43100 Greece
| | - L. V. Athanasiou
- Department of Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Thessaly; Trikalon 224 Karditsa 43100 Greece
| | - G. Valiakos
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Thessaly; Trikalon 224 Karditsa 43100 Greece
| | - Z. Mamuris
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology; University of Thessaly; Ploutonos 26 and Aiolou Larissa 41221 Greece
| | - P. Birtsas
- Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Administration; Technological Education Institute of Larissa, Terma Mavromichali, Karditsa 43100; Greece Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace; Thessaloniki Greece
| | - V. Spyrou
- Department of Animal Production; School of Agricultural Technology; Technological Education Institute of Larissa; Larissa 41110 Greece
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Valiakos G, Touloudi A, Iacovakis C, Athanasiou L, Birtsas P, Spyrou V, Billinis C. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 2 in sedentary wild birds (Eurasian magpie), Greece, 2010. Euro Surveill 2011; 16:19862. [PMID: 21586266] [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: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 strain was molecularly identified and characterised in a Eurasian magpie hunted in Greece in 2010, during a WNV outbreak in humans. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the highest sequence similarity (>99%) with other WNV lineage 2 strains derived from birds of prey in Austria and Hungary (2004–2009). This first molecular detection of WNV in sedentary wild birds in Greece, which are possible reservoirs of the virus, is a public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Valiakos
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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Valiakos G, Touloudi A, Iacovakis C, Athanasiou L, Birtsas P, Spyrou V, Billinis C. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus lineage 2 in sedentary wild birds (Eurasian magpie), Greece, 2010. Euro Surveill 2011. [DOI: 10.2807/ese.16.18.19862-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
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Affiliation(s)
- G Valiakos
- Laboratory of Zoonoses Research, Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology (BIOMED/CERETETH), Larissa, Greece
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - A Touloudi
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
- Laboratory of Zoonoses Research, Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology (BIOMED/CERETETH), Larissa, Greece
| | - C Iacovakis
- Laboratory of Zoonoses Research, Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology (BIOMED/CERETETH), Larissa, Greece
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - L Athanasiou
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
- Laboratory of Zoonoses Research, Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology (BIOMED/CERETETH), Larissa, Greece
| | - P Birtsas
- Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Administration, Technological Education Institute of Larissa, Karditsa, Greece
| | - V Spyrou
- Department of Animal Production, Technological Education Institute of Larissa, Larissa, Greece
| | - C Billinis
- Laboratory of Zoonoses Research, Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology (BIOMED/CERETETH), Larissa, Greece
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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