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Buchta C, Aberle SW, Görzer I, Griesmacher A, Müller MM, Neuwirth E, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Weseslindtner L, Camp JV. External quality assessments for SARS-CoV-2 genome detection in Austria : A comparison of the first postpandemic round with results from the pandemic era. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2024:10.1007/s00508-024-02353-1. [PMID: 38653873 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-024-02353-1] [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] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND External quality assessment (EQA) schemes provide objective feedback to participating laboratories about the performance of their analytical systems and information about overall regional analytical performance. The EQAs are particularly important during pandemics as they also assess the reliability of individual test results and show opportunities to improve test strategies. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the testing frequency significantly decreased in Austria. Here, we analyzed whether this decrease had an effect on participation and/or performance in SARS-CoV‑2 virus detection EQAs, as compared to the pandemic era. MATERIAL AND METHODS Identical samples were sent to all participating laboratories, and the EQA provider evaluated the agreement of the reported results with defined targets. The EQA was operated under two schemes with identical samples and therefore we analyzed it as a single EQA round. The performance of testing was reported as true positive ratios, comparing the post-pandemic data to previous rounds. Furthermore, subgroups of participants were analyzed stratified by laboratory type (medical or nonmedical) and the test system format (fully automated or requiring manual steps). RESULTS While the frequency of false negative results per sample did not change during the 3 years of the pandemic (5.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1-8.4%), an average per sample false negative ratio of 4.3% was observed in the first post-pandemic EQA (0%, 1.8%, and 11% for the 3 positive samples included in the test panel, n = 109 test results per sample). In this first post-pandemic EQA medical laboratories (average 0.4% false negative across 3 samples, n = 90) and automated test systems (average 1.2% false negative, n = 261) had lower false negative ratios than nonmedical laboratories (22.8%, n = 19) and manual test systems (16.7%, n = 22). These lower average ratios were due to a low concentration sample, where nonmedical laboratories reported 36.8% and manual test systems 54.5% true positive results. CONCLUSION Overall ratios of true positive results were below the mean of all results during the pandemic but were similar to the first round of the pandemic. A lower post-pandemic true positive ratio was associated with specific laboratory types and assay formats, particularly for samples with low concentration. The EQAs will continue to monitor the laboratory performance to ensure the same quality of epidemiological data after the pandemic, even if vigilance has decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Erich Neuwirth
- Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Lukas Weseslindtner
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Camp JV, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Aberle SW, Buchta C. Virus sequencing performance during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a retrospective analysis of data from multiple rounds of external quality assessment in Austria. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1327699. [PMID: 38375507 PMCID: PMC10875003 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1327699] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: A notable feature of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was the widespread use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to monitor severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Countries around the world relied on sequencing and other forms of variant detection to perform contact tracing and monitor changes in the virus genome, in the hopes that epidemic waves caused by variants would be detected and managed earlier. As sequencing was encouraged and rewarded by the government in Austria, but represented a new technicque for many laboratories, we designed an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme to monitor the accuracy of WGS and assist laboratories in validating their methods. Methods: We implemented SARS-CoV-2 WGS EQAs in Austria and report the results from 7 participants over 5 rounds from February 2021 until June 2023. The participants received sample material, sequenced genomes with routine methods, and provided the sequences as well as information about mutations and lineages. Participants were evaluated on the completeness and accuracy of the submitted sequence and the ability to analyze and interpret sequencing data. Results: The results indicate that performance was excellent with few exceptions, and these exceptions showed improvement over time. We extend our findings to infer that most publicly available sequences are accurate within ≤1 nucleotide, somewhat randomly distributed through the genome. Conclusion: WGS continues to be used for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, and will likely be instrumental in future outbreak scenarios. We identified hurdles in building next-generation sequencing capacity in diagnostic laboratories. EQAs will help individual laboratories maintain high quality next-generation sequencing output, and strengthen variant monitoring and molecular epidemiology efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
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3
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Buchta C, Aberle SW, Allerberger F, Benka B, Görzer I, Griesmacher A, Hübl W, Huf W, Kapiotis S, Müller MM, Neuwirth E, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Weseslindtner L, Camp JV. Performance of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification testing in Austria as measured by external quality assessment schemes during 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational retrospective study. Lancet Microbe 2023; 4:e1015-e1023. [PMID: 37979591 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00286-0] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of external quality assessment (EQA) schemes is to evaluate the analytical performance of laboratories and test systems in a near-to-real-life setting. This monitoring service provides feedback to participant laboratories and serves as a control measure for the epidemiological assessment of the regional incidence of a pathogen, particularly during epidemics. Using data from EQA schemes implemented as a result of the intensive effort to monitor SARS-CoV-2 infections in Austria, we aimed to identify factors that explained the variation in laboratory performance for SARS-CoV-2 detection over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS For this observational study, we retrospectively analysed 6308 reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) test results reported by 191 laboratories on 71 samples during 14 rounds of three SARS-CoV-2 pathogen detection EQA schemes in Austria between May 18, 2020, and Feb 20, 2023. We calculated the overall rates of false and true-negative, false and true-positive, and inconclusive results. We then assessed laboratory performance by estimating the sensitivity by testing whether significant variation in the odds of obtaining a true-positive result could be explained by virus concentration, laboratory type, or assay format. We also assessed whether laboratory performance changed over time. FINDINGS 4371 (93·7%) of 4663 qPCR test results were true-positive, 241 (5·2%) were false-negative, and 51 (1·1%) were inconclusive. The mean per-sample sensitivity was 99·7% in samples with high virus concentrations (1383 [99·4%] true-positive, three [0·2%] false-negative, and five [0·4%] inconclusive results for 1391 tests in which the sample cycle threshold was ≤32), whereas detection rates were lower in samples with low virus concentrations (mean per-sample sensitivity 92·5%; 2988 [91·3%] true-positive, 238 [7·3%] false-negative, and 46 [1·4%] inconclusive results for 3272 tests in which the cycle threshold was >32). Of the 1645 results expected to be negative, 1561 (94·9%) were correctly reported as negative, 10 (0·6%) were incorrectly reported as positive, and 74 (4·5%) were reported as inconclusive. Notably, the overall performance of the tests did not change significantly over time. The odds of reporting a correct result were 2·94 (95% CI 1·75-4·96) times higher for a medical laboratory than for a non-medical laboratory, and 4·60 (2·91-7·41) times greater for automated test systems than for manual test systems. Automated test systems within medical laboratories had the highest sensitivity when compared with systems requiring manual intervention in both medical and non-medical laboratories. INTERPRETATION High rates of false-negativity in all PCR analyses evaluated in comprehensive, multiple, and repeated EQA schemes outline a clear path for improvement in the future. The performance of some laboratories (eg, non-medical laboratories or those using non-automated test systems) should receive additional scrutiny-for example, by requiring additional EQA schemes for certification or accreditation-if the aggregated data from EQA rounds suggest lower sensitivity than that recorded by others. This strategy will provide assurances that epidemiological data as a whole are reliable when testing on such a large scale. Although performance did not improve over time, we cannot exclude extenuating circumstances-such as shortages and weakened supply chains-that could have prevented laboratories from seeking alternative methods to improve performance. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria.
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Bernhard Benka
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria; Central Institute for Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Hübl
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Klinik Ottakring, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Huf
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical Risk Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stylianos Kapiotis
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria; LABCON Medizinische Laboratorien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Erich Neuwirth
- Faculty of Computer Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Springer DN, Bauer M, Medits I, Camp JV, Aberle SW, Burtscher C, Höltl E, Weseslindtner L, Stiasny K, Aberle JH. Bivalent COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccination (BA.1 or BA.4/BA.5) increases neutralization of matched Omicron variants. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:110. [PMID: 37542025 PMCID: PMC10403593 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00708-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We report SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers in sera of triple-vaccinated individuals who received a booster dose of an original monovalent or a bivalent BA.1- or BA.4/BA.5-adapted vaccine or had a breakthrough infection with Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2 or BA.4/BA.5. A bivalent BA.4/BA.5 booster or Omicron-breakthrough infection induced increased Omicron-neutralization titers compared with the monovalent booster. The XBB.1.5 variant effectively evaded neutralizing-antibody responses elicited by current vaccines and/or infection with previous variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N Springer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Bauer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iris Medits
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Eva Höltl
- Health Center Erste Bank, Erste Bank, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Judith H Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Jachs M, Panzer M, Hartl L, Schwarz M, Balcar L, Camp JV, Munda P, Mandorfer M, Trauner M, Aberle SW, Zoller H, Reiberger T, Ferenci P. Long-term follow-up of patients discontinuing bulevirtide treatment upon long-term HDV-RNA suppression. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100751. [PMID: 37360907 PMCID: PMC10285645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100751] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Bulevirtide (BLV) is a novel antiviral drug licensed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis D. Data on the safety and efficacy of stopping BLV therapy upon long-term HDV-RNA suppression are scarce. Methods A total of seven patients (age, 31-68 years, four with cirrhosis) included in a prospective Austrian HDV registry discontinued BLV treatment (duration, 46-141 weeks) upon long-term HDV suppression (HDV-RNA negativity, 12-69 weeks). Pegylated interferon-ɑ2a was used in combination with BLV in two patients. HDV-RNA, alanine aminotransferase, and quantitative HBsAg levels were closely monitored during treatment-free follow-up. Results The seven patients were followed up for 14 to 112 weeks. Six patients completed ≥24 weeks of follow-up. HDV-RNA became detectable again in three patients within 24 weeks, whereas one additional patient showed an HDV-RNA relapse after almost 1 year. All patients who relapsed at any point had undergone BLV monotherapy. Meanwhile, HDV-RNA remained undetectable in two patients who were treated with BLV + pegylated interferon-ɑ2a. Only one patient showed significant alanine aminotransferase increases within 24 weeks of follow-up. BLV was reintroduced in three patients after 13-62 BLV-free weeks and was well tolerated, and all patients achieved virologic response again. Conclusions BLV discontinuation upon long-term HDV-RNA suppression seems safe. Retreatment with BLV was effective in case of virologic relapse. These findings are within a limited number of patients, and future studies are needed to define stopping rules and further investigate the safety of stopping BLV. Impact and Implications Limited data exist on stopping bulevirtide (BLV) treatment in patients who achieve long-term HDV-RNA suppression. In a small cohort of seven Austrian patients discontinuing BLV therapy, HDV-RNA relapses were observed in four patients during long-term follow-up, whereas significant alanine aminotransferase increases were recorded in only one. Retreatment with BLV was effective in relapsers. The safety and efficacy of stopping BLV needs to be further studied in larger cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Jachs
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marlene Panzer
- Department of Medicine I and Christian Doppler Laboratory on Iron and Phosphate Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas Hartl
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Schwarz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lorenz Balcar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Munda
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mattias Mandorfer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Heinz Zoller
- Department of Medicine I and Christian Doppler Laboratory on Iron and Phosphate Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Rare Liver Disease (RALID) Center of the European Reference Network for Rare Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Ferenci
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Buchta C, Zeichhardt H, Aberle SW, Camp JV, Görzer I, Weseslindtner L, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Huf W, Benka B, Allerberger F, Mielke M, Griesmacher A, Müller MM, Schellenberg I, Kammel M. Design of external quality assessment schemes and definition of the roles of their providers in future epidemics. Lancet Microbe 2023; 4:e552-e562. [PMID: 37156257 PMCID: PMC10162712 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00072-1] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
During an epidemic, individual test results form the basis of epidemiological indicators such as case numbers or incidence. Therefore, the accuracy of measures derived from these indicators depends on the reliability of individual results. In the COVID-19 pandemic, monitoring and evaluating the performance of the unprecedented number of testing facilities in operation, and novel testing systems in use, was urgently needed. External quality assessment (EQA) schemes are unique sources of data reporting on testing performance, and their providers are recognised contacts and support for test facilities (for technical-analytical topics) and health authorities (for planning the monitoring of infection diagnostics). To identify information provided by SARS-CoV-2 genome detection EQA schemes that is relevant for public health microbiology, we reviewed the current literature published in PubMed between January, 2020, and July, 2022. We derived recommendations for EQA providers and their schemes for best practices to monitor pathogen-detection performance in future epidemics. We also showed laboratories, test facilities, and health authorities the information and benefits they can derive from EQA data, and from the non-EQA services of their providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests, Vienna, Austria; European Organisation for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Heinz Zeichhardt
- INSTAND eV Society for Promoting Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratories, Düsseldorf, Germany; IQVD GmbH, Institut für Qualitätssicherung in der Virusdiagnostik, Berlin, Germany; GBD Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Diagnostik, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Wolfgang Huf
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical Risk Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Benka
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Martin Mielke
- Department for Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingo Schellenberg
- INSTAND eV Society for Promoting Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratories, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Martin Kammel
- INSTAND eV Society for Promoting Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratories, Düsseldorf, Germany; IQVD GmbH, Institut für Qualitätssicherung in der Virusdiagnostik, Berlin, Germany; GBD Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Diagnostik, Berlin, Germany
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7
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Redlberger-Fritz M, Springer DN, Aberle SW, Camp JV, Aberle JH. Respiratory syncytial virus surge in 2022 caused by lineages already present before the COVID-19 pandemic. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28830. [PMID: 37282809 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In 2022, Austria experienced a severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemic with an earlier-than-usual start (Weeks 35/2021-45/2022) and increased numbers of pediatric patients in emergency departments. This surge came 2 years after a season with no cases detected as a result of coronavirus disease 2019 nonpharmaceutical interventions. We analyzed epidemiologic patterns and the phylodynamics of RSV based on approximately 30 800 respiratory specimens collected year-round over 10 years from ambulatory and hospitalized patients from 248 locations in Austria. Genomic surveillance and phylogenetic analysis of 186 RSV-A and 187 RSV-B partial glycoprotein sequences collected from 2018 to 2022 revealed that the 2022/2023 surge was driven by RSV-B in contrast to the surge in the 2021/2022 season that was driven by RSV-A. Whole-genome sequencing and phylodynamic analysis indicated that the RSV-B strain GB5.0.6a was the predominant genotype in the 2022/2023 season and emerged in late 2019. The results provide insight into RSV evolution and epidemiology that will be applicable to future monitoring efforts with the advent of novel vaccines and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David N Springer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith H Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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8
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Weidinger P, Kolodziejek J, Loney T, Kannan DO, Osman BM, Khafaga T, Howarth B, Sher Shah M, Mazrooei H, Wolf N, Karuvantevida N, Abou Tayoun A, Alsheikh-Ali A, Camp JV, Nowotny N. MERS-CoV Found in Hyalomma dromedarii Ticks Attached to Dromedary Camels at a Livestock Market, United Arab Emirates, 2019. Viruses 2023; 15:1288. [PMID: 37376588 DOI: 10.3390/v15061288] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The main mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) between dromedaries is likely via the respiratory route. However, there must be other modes to explain how the infection is brought to MERS-CoV-negative closed herds, such as transmission by ticks. Here, we present a study performed at three different locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) involving 215 dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) and the ticks attached to them. We tested the camels and ticks via RT-(q)PCR for the presence of MERS-CoV nucleic acids, as well as flaviviruses that may be present in the region (e.g., Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus). Camel sera were additionally analyzed for evidence of previous exposure to MERS-CoV. In total, 8 out of 242 tick pools were positive for MERS-CoV RNA (3.3%; Ct 34.6-38.3), 7 of which contained Hyalomma dromedarii ticks, and one contained a Hyalomma sp. tick (species not identified). All of the virus-positive ticks' host camels were also positive for MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swab samples. Short sequences established in the N gene region from two positive tick pools were identical to viral sequences from their hosts' nasal swabs. In total, 59.3% of dromedaries at the livestock market had MERS-CoV RNA in their nasal swabs (Ct 17.7-39.5). While dromedaries at all locations were negative for MERS-CoV RNA in their serum samples, antibodies were detected in 95.2% and 98.7% of them (tested by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence test, respectively). Given the probably transient and/or low level of MERS-CoV viremia in dromedaries and the rather high Ct values observed in the ticks, it seems unlikely that Hyalomma dromedarii is a competent vector for MERS-CoV; however, its role in mechanical or fomite transmission between camels should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Weidinger
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Dafalla O Kannan
- Al Ain City Municipality, Al Ain P.O. Box 1003, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Tamer Khafaga
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Emirates Group, Dubai P.O. Box 686, United Arab Emirates
| | - Brigitte Howarth
- Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi (NHMAD), Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 94000, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moayyed Sher Shah
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Emirates Group, Dubai P.O. Box 686, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hessa Mazrooei
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nadine Wolf
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Noushad Karuvantevida
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Abou Tayoun
- Al Jalila Genomics Center of Excellence, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, Dubai P.O. Box 7662, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomic Discovery, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alawi Alsheikh-Ali
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
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9
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Mravcová K, Camp JV, Hubálek Z, Šikutová S, Vaux AGC, Medlock JM, Rudolf I. Ťahyňa virus-A widespread, but neglected mosquito-borne virus in Europe. Zoonoses Public Health 2023. [PMID: 37128975 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ťahyňa virus (TAHV) is an orthobunyavirus and was the first arbovirus isolated from mosquitoes in Europe and is associated with floodplain areas as a characteristic biotope, hares as reservoir hosts and the mammal-feeding mosquitoes Aedes vexans as the main vector. The disease caused by TAHV ("Valtice fever") was detected in people with acute flu-like illness in the 1960s, and later the medical significance of TAHV became the subject of many studies. Although TAHV infections are widespread, the prevalence and number of actual cases, clinical manifestations in humans and animals and the ecology of transmission by mosquitoes and their vertebrate hosts are rarely reported. Despite its association with meningitis in humans, TAHV is a neglected human pathogen with unknown public health importance in Central Europe, and a potential emerging disease threat elsewhere in Europe due to extreme summer flooding events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristína Mravcová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna, 1095, Austria
| | - Zdeněk Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Silvie Šikutová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander G C Vaux
- Medical Entomology Group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Ivo Rudolf
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
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10
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Weidinger P, Kolodziejek J, Khafaga T, Loney T, Howarth B, Sher Shah M, Abou Tayoun A, Alsheikh-Ali A, Camp JV, Nowotny N. Potentially Zoonotic Viruses in Wild Rodents, United Arab Emirates, 2019—A Pilot Study. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030695. [PMID: 36992404 PMCID: PMC10054371 DOI: 10.3390/v15030695] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of emerging viral infectious diseases in humans originate from wildlife reservoirs, such as rodents and bats. We investigated a possible reservoir, namely wild gerbils and mice trapped in a desert reserve within the emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In total, 52 gerbils and 1 jird (Gerbillinae), 10 house mice (Mus musculus), and 1 Arabian spiny mouse (Acomys dimidiatus) were sampled. Oro-pharyngeal swabs, fecal samples, attached ticks, and organ samples (where available) were screened by (RT-q)PCR for the following viruses: Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus, Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus, hantaviruses, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus, Rustrela virus, poxviruses, flaviviruses, and herpesviruses. All of the samples were negative for all investigated viruses, except for herpesviruses: 19 gerbils (35.8%) and 7 house mice (70.0%) were positive. The resulting sequences were only partly identical to sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three novel betaherpesviruses and four novel gammaherpesviruses. Interestingly, species identification of the positive gerbils resulted in eight individuals clustering in a separate clade, most closely related to Dipodillus campestris, the North African gerbil, indicating either the expansion of the geographic range of this species, or the existence of a closely related, yet undiscovered species in the UAE. In conclusion, we could not find evidence of persistence or shedding of potentially zoonotic viruses in the investigated rodent cohorts of limited sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Weidinger
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamer Khafaga
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Emirates Group, Dubai P.O. Box 686, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Brigitte Howarth
- American University in Dubai, Al Sufouh 2, Dubai P.O. Box 28282, United Arab Emirates
| | - Moayyed Sher Shah
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Emirates Group, Dubai P.O. Box 686, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Abou Tayoun
- Al Jalila Genomics Center of Excellence, Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, Dubai 7662, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomic Discovery, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alawi Alsheikh-Ali
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
- Dubai Health Authority, Dubai P.O. Box 4545, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-25077-2704
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11
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Camp JV, Redlberger-Fritz M. Increased cases of influenza C virus in children and adults in Austria, 2022. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28201. [PMID: 36210349 PMCID: PMC10091750 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28201] [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] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illnesses revealed an increase in the cases of influenza C virus in children and adults in Austria, 2022, compared to previous years, following one season (2020/2021), wherein no influenza C virus was detected. Whole-genome sequencing revealed no obvious genetic basis for the increase. We propose that the reemergence is explained by waning immunity from lack of community exposure due to restrictions intended to limit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spread in prior seasons, pending further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Buchta C, Kollros D, Jovanovic J, Huf W, Delatour V, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Mayerhofer M, Müller MM, Shenoy S, Griesmacher A, Aberle SW, Görzer I, Camp JV. Converting to an international unit system improves harmonization of results for SARS-CoV-2 quantification: Results from multiple external quality assessments. J Clin Virol 2023; 158:105352. [PMID: 36525853 PMCID: PMC9733965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2022.105352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The detection of SARS-CoV-2 vRNA in clinical samples has relied almost exclusively on RT-qPCR as the gold standard test. Published results from various external quality assessments ("ring trials") worldwide have shown that there is still a large variability in results reported for the same samples. As reference standards of SARS-CoV-2 RNA are available, we tested whether using standard curves to convert Ct values into copies/mL (cp/mL) improved harmonization. METHODS Nine laboratories using 23 test systems (15 of which were unique) prepared standard dilution curves to convert Ct values of 13 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples to cp/mL (hereafter IU/mL). The samples were provided in three rounds of a virus genome detection external quality assessment (EQA) scheme. We tested the precision and accuracy of results reported in IU/mL, and attempted to identify the sources of variability. RESULTS Reporting results as IU/mL improved the precision of the estimated concentrations of all samples compared to reporting Ct values, although some inaccuracy remained. Variance analysis showed that nearly all variability in data was explained by individual test systems within individual laboratories. When controlling for this effect, there was no significant difference between all other factors tested (test systems, EQA rounds, sample material). CONCLUSIONS Converting results to copies/mL improved precision across laboratory test systems. However, it seems the results are still very specific to test systems within laboratories. Further efforts could be made to improve accuracy and achieve full harmonization across diagnostic laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Dominik Kollros
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jovana Jovanovic
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Huf
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical Risk Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vincent Delatour
- Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d'Essais (LNE), Paris, France
| | | | - Maximilian Mayerhofer
- Armament and Defence Technology Agency, NBC & Environmental Protection Technology Division, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias M. Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Santosh Shenoy
- Department of Surgery, Kansas City Veterans Medical Center, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria,Corresponding author at: Center for Virology, Medizinische Universitat Wien, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1095 Vienna, Austria
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13
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Stiasny K, Weseslindtner L, Heinzel A, Camp JV, Oberbauer R, Reindl-Schwaighofer R. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1/BA.2 Neutralization up to 8 Weeks After PrEP With Sotrovimab or Cilgavimab/Tixagevimab. Transpl Int 2022; 35:10906. [PMID: 36578452 PMCID: PMC9790897 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2022.10906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Stiasny
- Center of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Andreas Heinzel
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria,*Correspondence: Andreas Heinzel,
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer Oberbauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Reindl-Schwaighofer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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14
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Weidinger P, Kolodziejek J, Camp JV, Loney T, Kannan DO, Ramaswamy S, Tayoun AA, Corman VM, Nowotny N. MERS-CoV in sheep, goats, and cattle, United Arab Emirates, 2019: Virological and serological investigations reveal an accidental spillover from dromedaries. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:3066-3072. [PMID: 34463031 PMCID: PMC9786612 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated again the global threat posed by emerging zoonotic coronaviruses. During the past two decades alone, humans have experienced the emergence of several coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV in 2003, MERS-CoV in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. To date, MERS-CoV has been detected in 27 countries, with a case fatality ratio of approximately 34.5%. Similar to other coronaviruses, MERS-CoV presumably originated from bats; however, the main reservoir and primary source of human infections are dromedary camels. Other species within the Camelidae family, such as Bactrian camels, alpacas, and llamas, seem to be susceptible to the infection as well, although to a lesser extent. In contrast, susceptibility studies on sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, chickens, and horses obtained divergent results. In the present study, we tested nasal swabs and/or sera from 55 sheep, 45 goats, and 52 cattle, collected at the largest livestock market in the United Arab Emirates, where dromedaries are also traded, for the presence of MERS-CoV nucleic acid by RT-qPCR, and for specific antibodies by immunofluorescence assay. All sera were negative for MERS-CoV-reactive antibodies, but the nasal swab of one sheep (1.8%) repeatedly tested positive for MERS-CoV nucleic acid. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the complete N gene of the sheep-derived MERS-CoV revealed >99% nucleotide identity to MERS-CoV sequences of five dromedaries in nearby pens and to three reference sequences. The NGS sequence of the sheep-derived MERS-CoV was confirmed by conventional RT-PCR of a part of the N gene and subsequent Sanger sequencing. All MERS-CoV sequences clustered within clade B, lineage 5. In conclusion, our study shows that noncamelid livestock, such as sheep, goats, and cattle do not play a major role in MERS-CoV epidemiology. The one sheep that tested positive most likely reflects an accidental viral spillover event from infected dromedaries in nearby pens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Weidinger
- Viral ZoonosesEmerging and Vector‐Borne Infections GroupInstitute of VirologyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral ZoonosesEmerging and Vector‐Borne Infections GroupInstitute of VirologyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Viral ZoonosesEmerging and Vector‐Borne Infections GroupInstitute of VirologyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria,Center for VirologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Tom Loney
- College of MedicineMohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health SciencesDubaiUnited Arab Emirates
| | | | - Sathishkumar Ramaswamy
- Al Jalila Genomics CenterAl Jalila Children's Specialty HospitalDubaiUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Abou Tayoun
- College of MedicineMohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health SciencesDubaiUnited Arab Emirates,Al Jalila Genomics CenterAl Jalila Children's Specialty HospitalDubaiUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Victor M. Corman
- Institute of VirologyCharité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinHumboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlin Institute of Healthand German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site CharitéBerlinGermany
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral ZoonosesEmerging and Vector‐Borne Infections GroupInstitute of VirologyUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria,College of MedicineMohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health SciencesDubaiUnited Arab Emirates
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15
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Medits I, Springer DN, Graninger M, Camp JV, Höltl E, Aberle SW, Traugott MT, Hoepler W, Deutsch J, Lammel O, Borsodi C, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Zoufaly A, Weseslindtner L, Aberle JH, Stiasny K. Different Neutralization Profiles After Primary SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 Infections. Front Immunol 2022; 13:946318. [PMID: 35928813 PMCID: PMC9344875 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.946318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Methods The SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant is the antigenically most distinct variant to date. As the heavily mutated spike protein enables neutralization escape, we studied serum-neutralizing activities of naïve and vaccinated individuals after Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 sub-lineage infections in live virus neutralization tests with Omicron BA.1, Omicron BA.2, wildtype (WT, B1.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2) strains. Serum samples obtained after WT infections and three-dose mRNA vaccinations with and without prior infection were included as controls. Results Primary BA.1 infections yielded reduced neutralizing antibody levels against WT, Delta, and Omicron BA.2, while samples from BA.2-infected individuals showed almost no cross-neutralization against the other variants. Serum neutralization of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants was detectable after three-dose mRNA vaccinations, but with reduced titers. Vaccination-breakthrough infections with either Omicron BA.1 or BA.2, however, generated equal cross-neutralizing antibody levels against all SARS-CoV-2 variants tested. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that although Omicron variants are able to enhance cross-neutralizing antibody levels in pre-immune individuals, primary infections with BA.1 or BA.2 induced mostly variant-specific neutralizing antibodies, emphasizing the differently shaped humoral immunity induced by the two Omicron variants. These data thus contribute substantially to the understanding of antibody responses induced by primary Omicron infections or multiple exposures to different SARS-CoV-2 variants and are of particular importance for developing vaccination strategies in the light of future emerging variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Medits
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Höltl
- Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Marianna T. Traugott
- Department of Medicine IV, Clinic Favoriten, Vienna Healthcare Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Hoepler
- Department of Medicine IV, Clinic Favoriten, Vienna Healthcare Group, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Zoufaly
- Department of Medicine IV, Clinic Favoriten, Vienna Healthcare Group, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Judith H. Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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16
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Camp JV, Desvars-Larrive A, Nowotny N, Walzer C. Monitoring Urban Zoonotic Virus Activity: Are City Rats a Promising Surveillance Tool for Emerging Viruses? Viruses 2022; 14:v14071516. [PMID: 35891496 PMCID: PMC9316102 DOI: 10.3390/v14071516] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Urban environments represent unique ecosystems where dense human populations may come into contact with wildlife species, some of which are established or potential reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause human diseases. Finding practical ways to monitor the presence and/or abundance of zoonotic pathogens is important to estimate the risk of spillover to humans in cities. As brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are ubiquitous in urban habitats, and are hosts of several zoonotic viruses, we conducted longitudinal sampling of brown rats in Vienna, Austria, a large population center in Central Europe. We investigated rat tissues for the presence of several zoonotic viruses, including flaviviruses, hantaviruses, coronaviruses, poxviruses, hepatitis E virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, and influenza A virus. Although we found no evidence of active infections (all were negative for viral nucleic acids) among 96 rats captured between 2016 and 2018, our study supports the findings of others, suggesting that monitoring urban rats may be an efficient way to estimate the activity of zoonotic viruses in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V. Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Amélie Desvars-Larrive
- Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Complexity Science Hub Vienna, 1080 Vienna, Austria
- VetFarm, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Chris Walzer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
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17
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Hancock C, Camp JV. Habitat-Specific Host Selection Patterns of Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus in Florida. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2022; 38:83-91. [PMID: 35588178 DOI: 10.2987/21-7054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Blood-engorged Culex quinquefasciatus and Cx. nigripalpus were collected from 140 locations throughout Sarasota County, FL, from 2017 to 2020 to determine local, habitat-specific, and seasonal variations in the host usage patterns of these 2 important arbovirus vectors. Mosquitoes were collected using light traps, gravid traps, and via aspiration of resting shelters. Host was determined from 920 samples using multiple polymerase chain reaction protocols that target mitochondrial sequences specific to mammals, birds, and reptiles. The data were analyzed to test for statistical associations between host class and season or with habitat categories (urban, suburban, and rural). Culex quinquefasciatus took significantly more blood meals from birds compared to mammals, though a seasonal shift to a higher ratio of mammalian host usage was observed in fall. There was a habitat-dependent pattern of host usage by Cx. nigripalpus, with significantly more mammalian hosts identified from mosquitoes captured in rural habitats and a similar ratio of mammalian and avian hosts in urban habitats. In general humans were used as hosts by Cx. nigripalpus less often compared to Cx. quinquefasciatus. In contrast to previous studies, Cx. nigripalpus utilized ectothermic hosts (mostly reptiles) at a much higher ratio and exhibited no apparent seasonal shift in host selection.
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18
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Graninger M, Camp JV, Aberle SW, Traugott MT, Hoepler W, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Weseslindtner L, Zoufaly A, Aberle JH, Stiasny K. Heterogeneous SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Activities After Infection and Vaccination. Front Immunol 2022; 13:888794. [PMID: 35711424 PMCID: PMC9196185 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.888794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) with different resistance levels to existing immunity have recently emerged. Antibodies that recognize the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and exhibit neutralizing activities are considered the best correlate of protection and an understanding of humoral immunity is crucial for controlling the pandemic. We thus analyzed such antibodies in individuals recovered from infection in 2020 as well as vaccinees after two doses of an mRNA vaccine. Methods Neutralizing antibody responses against three SARS-CoV-2 variants (D614G, VOCs Beta and Delta) were determined in serum samples from 54 infected individuals (24 non-hospitalized, 30 hospitalized) and 34 vaccinees shortly after symptom onset or second vaccination, respectively, as well as six months later. In addition, the effect of the S sequence of the infecting strain on neutralization was studied. Results Non-hospitalized patients had the lowest neutralization titers against all variants, while those of hospitalized patients equaled or exceeded those of vaccinees. Neutralizing activity was lower against the two VOCs and declined significantly in all cohorts after six months. This decrease was more pronounced in hospitalized and vaccinated individuals than in non-hospitalized patients. Of note, the specific neutralizing activity (NT titer/ELISA value ratio) was higher in the infected cohorts than in vaccinees and did not differ between non-hospitalized and hospitalized patients. Patients infected with viral strains carrying mutations in the N-terminal domain of the spike protein were impaired in Beta VOC neutralization. Conclusions Specific neutralizing activities were higher in infected than in vaccinated individuals, and no difference in the quality of these antibodies was observed between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, despite significantly lower titers in the latter group. Additionally, antibody responses of infected individuals showed greater heterogeneity than those of vaccinees, which was associated with mutations in the spike protein of the infecting strain. Overall, our findings yielded novel insights into SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies, evolving differently after virus infection and COVID-19 vaccination, which is an important issue to consider in ongoing vaccine strategy improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Judith H. Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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19
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Buchta C, Camp JV, Jovanovic J, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Strassl R, Müller MM, Griesmacher A, Aberle SW, Görzer I. Results of a SARS-CoV-2 virus genome detection external quality assessment round focusing on sensitivity of assays and pooling of samples. Clin Chem Lab Med 2022; 60:1308-1312. [PMID: 35599330 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Results of earlier external quality assessment (EQA) rounds suggested remarkable differences in the sensitivity of SARS-CoV PCR assays. Although the test systems are intended to detect SARS-CoV-2 in individual samples, screening is often applied to sample pools to increase efficiency and decrease costs. However, it is unknown to what extent these tests actually meet the manufacturer's specifications for sensitivity and how they perform when testing sample pools. METHODS The sensitivity of assays in routine use was evaluated with a panel of positive samples in a round of a SARS-CoV-2 virus genome detection EQA scheme. The panel consisted of samples at or near the lower limit of detection ("weakly positive"). Laboratories that routinely test sample pools were asked to also analyze the pooled EQA samples according to their usual pool size and dilution method. RESULTS All participants could detect a highly positive patient-derived sample (>106 copies/mL). Most (96%) of the test systems could detect at least 1,000 copies/mL, meeting the minimum acceptable benchmark, and many (94%) detected the vRNA in a sample with lower concentration (500 copies/mL). The false negative ratio increased to 16 and 26% for samples with 100 and 50 copies/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The performance of most assays met or exceeded their specification on sensitivity. If assays are to be used to analyze sample pools, the sensitivity of the assay and the number of pooled samples must be balanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jovana Jovanovic
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Robert Strassl
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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20
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Sieber J, Mayer M, Schmidthaler K, Kopanja S, Camp JV, Popovitsch A, Dwivedi V, Hoz J, Schoof A, Weseslindtner L, Szépfalusi Z, Stiasny K, Aberle JH. Long-Lived Immunity in SARS-CoV-2-Recovered Children and Its Neutralizing Capacity Against Omicron. Front Immunol 2022; 13:882456. [PMID: 35663948 PMCID: PMC9157051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.882456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection is effectively controlled by humoral and cellular immune responses. However, the durability of immunity in children as well as the ability to neutralize variants of concern are unclear. Here, we assessed T cell and antibody responses in a longitudinal cohort of children after asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 over a 12-month period. Antigen-specific CD4 T cells remained stable over time, while CD8 T cells declined. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced long-lived neutralizing antibodies against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (D614G isolate), but with poor cross-neutralization of omicron. Importantly, recall responses to vaccination in children with pre-existing immunity yielded neutralizing antibody activities against D614G and omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants that were 3.9-fold, 9.9-fold and 14-fold higher than primary vaccine responses in seronegative children. Together, our findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection in children induces robust memory T cells and antibodies that persist for more than 12 months, but lack neutralizing activity against omicron. Vaccination of pre-immune children, however, substantially improves the omicron-neutralizing capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Sieber
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Margareta Mayer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klara Schmidthaler
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Kopanja
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Varsha Dwivedi
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jakub Hoz
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anja Schoof
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Zsolt Szépfalusi
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith H. Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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21
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Graninger M, Hubmer S, Riederer F, Kettner S, Hauk M, Auf T, Aberle JH, Stiasny K, Aberle SW, Camp JV. The first case of Usutu virus neuroinvasive disease in Austria, 2021. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac255. [PMID: 35873290 PMCID: PMC9297159 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to West Nile virus (WNV) that is endemic in many European countries. We report the first case of USUV neuroinvasive disease in Austria and discuss challenges in differentiating USUV from WNV infections in areas where both viruses are endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Hubmer
- Department of Neurology, Klinik Hietzing, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Riederer
- Department of Neurology, Klinik Hietzing, Vienna, Austria
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Kettner
- Department for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Klinik Hietzing, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Hauk
- Department for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Klinik Hietzing, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tasnim Auf
- Department for Cardiology, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith H. Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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22
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Lado S, Futas J, Plasil M, Loney T, Weidinger P, Camp JV, Kolodziejek J, Kannan DO, Horin P, Nowotny N, Burger PA. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Past Infections Are Associated with Two Innate Immune Response Candidate Genes in Dromedaries. Cells 2021; 11:8. [PMID: 35011568 PMCID: PMC8750074 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dromedaries are an important livestock, used as beasts of burden and for meat and milk production. However, they can act as an intermediate source or vector for transmitting zoonotic viruses to humans, such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). After several outbreaks of CCHFV in the Arabian Peninsula, recent studies have demonstrated that CCHFV is endemic in dromedaries and camel ticks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There is no apparent disease in dromedaries after the bite of infected ticks; in contrast, fever, myalgia, lymphadenopathy, and petechial hemorrhaging are common symptoms in humans, with a case fatality ratio of up to 40%. We used the in-solution hybridization capture of 100 annotated immune genes to genotype 121 dromedaries from the UAE tested for seropositivity to CCHFV. Through univariate linear regression analysis, we identified two candidate genes belonging to the innate immune system: FCAR and CLEC2B. These genes have important functions in the host defense against viral infections and in stimulating natural killer cells, respectively. This study opens doors for future research into immune defense mechanisms in an enzootic host against an important zoonotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lado
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Futas
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (M.P.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Plasil
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (M.P.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates; (T.L.); (N.N.)
| | - Pia Weidinger
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | | | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (M.P.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates; (T.L.); (N.N.)
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | - Pamela A. Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
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23
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Buchta C, Camp JV, Jovanovic J, Radler U, Benka B, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Müller MM, Griesmacher A, Aberle SW, Görzer I. Inadequate design of mutation detection panels prevents interpretation of variants of concern: results of an external quality assessment for SARS-CoV-2 variant detection. Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 60:291-298. [PMID: 34751522 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2021-0889] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mutation-specific PCR assays have quickly found their way into laboratory diagnostics due to their capacity to be a fast, easy to implement and high-throughput method for the detection of known SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs). However, little is known about the performance of such assays in routine laboratory analysis. METHODS The results reported in a recent round of an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for SARS-CoV-2 mutation-specific PCR were retrospectively analyzed. For the determination of individual variant-specific sequences as well as for the interpretation results for certain virus variants, correct, incorrect, and unreported results were evaluated, and their possible causes were investigated. RESULTS A total of 34 laboratories participated in this study. For five samples containing the VoC Alpha + E484K, Beta, Gamma, Delta, or B.1.1.318 (as a variant of interest), 848 results for SARS-2-CoV mutation detection were reported, 824 (97.2%, range per sample 88-100%) of which were correct. Melting curve assays gave 99% correct results, real-time RT-qPCR 94%, microarray-based assays 100%, and MALDI-TOF MS 96%. A total of 122/167 (73%) reported results for SARS-CoV-2 variant determination were correct. Of the 45 inconclusive or incorrect results, 33 (73%) were due to inadequate selection of targets that did not allow identification of contemporary VoC, 11 (24%) were due to incorrect results, and one (3%) was due to correct results of mutation-specific PCR. CONCLUSIONS Careful and up-to-date selection of the targets used in mutation-specific PCR is essential for successful detection of current SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jovana Jovanovic
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulla Radler
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Benka
- Division Public Health, AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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24
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Camp JV, Kniha E, Obwaller AG, Walochnik J, Nowotny N. The transmission ecology of Tahyna orthobunyavirus in Austria as revealed by longitudinal mosquito sampling and blood meal analysis in floodplain habitats. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:561. [PMID: 34717742 PMCID: PMC8556901 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05061-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tahyna orthobunyavirus (TAHV) is a mosquito-borne virus that may cause mild flu-like symptoms or neurological symptoms in humans. It is historically associated with floodplain habitats in Central Europe, and the mammalophilic floodwater mosquito, Aedes vexans, is thought to be the principal vector. There are few contemporary reports of TAHV transmission ecology within mosquitoes or their vertebrate hosts, and virus infections are rarely reported (and probably seldom diagnosed). The objectives of this study were to survey the mosquito population for TAHV in three floodwater habitats and describe host usage by the predominant floodwater mosquito species to potentially define TAHV transmission at these foci. Methods We performed longitudinal mosquito sampling along three major rivers in eastern Austria to characterize the mosquito community in floodplain habitats, and tested for the presence of TAHV in pools of mosquitoes. We characterized TAHV rescued from mosquito pool homogenate by sequencing. We surveyed mosquito host selection by analyzing mosquito blood meals. Results We identified TAHV in two pools of Ae. vexans captured along the Leitha River. This mosquito, and other floodwater mosquitoes, used large mammals (red deer, roe deer, wild boar) as their hosts. The sequence of the rescued virus was remarkably similar to other TAHV isolates from the region, dating back to the first isolate of TAHV in 1958. Conclusions In general, we confirmed that TAHV is most likely being transmitted by Ae. vexans, although the precise contribution of vertebrate-amplifying hosts to the ecological maintenance of the virus is unclear. The pattern of host selection matches the estimated exposure of the same large mammal species in the region to TAHV based on a recent serosurvey, but hares were also hosts at the site where TAHV was detected. We also confirm humans as hosts of two floodwater mosquito species, providing a potential mechanism for spillover of TAHV or other mosquito-borne viruses. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05061-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Edwin Kniha
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adelheid G Obwaller
- Division of Science, Research and Development, Federal Ministry of Defense, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
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25
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Buchta C, Camp JV, Jovanovic J, Radler U, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Benka B, Huf W, Müller MM, Griesmacher A, Aberle SW, Görzer I. A look at the precision, sensitivity and specificity of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assays through a dedicated external quality assessment round. Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 60:e34-e37. [PMID: 34668361 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2021-1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jovana Jovanovic
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulla Radler
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Bernhard Benka
- AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Division Public Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Huf
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical Risk Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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26
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Shahhosseini N, Wong G, Babuadze G, Camp JV, Ergonul O, Kobinger GP, Chinikar S, Nowotny N. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Asia, Africa and Europe. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091907. [PMID: 34576803 PMCID: PMC8471816 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [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: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The global spread of ticks and various tick-borne viruses (TBVs) suggests the possibility of new tick-borne diseases emerging. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an emerging TBV of the Nairoviridae family that causes serious disease that can be fatal in humans. CCHFV endemic foci can be found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South-Eastern Europe, and has spread to previously unaffected regions and nations, such as Spain, over the last two decades. In this review, we discuss the current situation of CCHFV in Asia, Africa and Europe based on existing knowledge, and we discuss driving factors in the distribution and transmission of the virus, such as the spread of tick vector species and host reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nariman Shahhosseini
- Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB T1H 6P7, Canada;
| | - Gary Wong
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d’Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (G.W.); (G.P.K.)
- Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - George Babuadze
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada;
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Onder Ergonul
- Koç University, School of Medicine and Koç University Iş Bank Center for Infectious Diseases, Istanbul 34450, Turkey;
| | - Gary P. Kobinger
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d’Immunologie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (G.W.); (G.P.K.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sadegh Chinikar
- Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (N.N.)
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (N.N.)
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27
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Camp JV, Weidinger P, Ramaswamy S, Kannan DO, Osman BM, Kolodziejek J, Karuvantevida N, Abou Tayoun A, Loney T, Nowotny N. Association of Dromedary Camels and Camel Ticks with Reassortant Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, United Arab Emirates. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:2471-2474. [PMID: 34424177 PMCID: PMC8386785 DOI: 10.3201/eid2709.210299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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
We previously detected a potentially novel reassortant of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in camels at the largest livestock market in the United Arab Emirates. A broader survey of large mammals at the site indicated zoonotic transmission is associated with dromedaries and camel ticks. Seroprevalence in cattle, sheep, and goats is minimal.
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D. Owen
- Centro para el Desarrollo de Investigación Científica, Manduvira 635, Asunción, C.P. 1255, Paraguay
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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29
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Camp JV, Buchta C, Jovanovic J, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Benka B, Griesmacher A, Aberle SW, Goerzer I. RT-PCR based SARS-CoV-2 variant screening assays require careful quality control. J Clin Virol 2021; 141:104905. [PMID: 34273859 PMCID: PMC8262392 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Background Distinctive genotypes of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged that are or may be associated with increased transmission, pathogenicity, and/or antibody escape. In many countries, clinical and diagnostic laboratories are under mandate to identify and report these so-called variants of concern (VOC). Objectives We used an external quality assessment scheme to determine the scope, accuracy, and reliability of laboratories using various molecular diagnostic assays to identify current VOC (03 March 2021). Study design Participant laboratories were sent the same five patient-derived samples and were asked to provide their variant detection methods, variant detection results and interpretation of results. Results Twenty-five laboratories reported a range of RT-qPCR-based assays to identify specific variations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that are characteristic of three VOC lineages. Laboratories that detected VOC-associated nucleotide mutations at four specific sites had the highest ratio of correct classification. Low template copy number and additional variation in target regions resulted in loss of confidence and accuracy in sample classification. Conclusions Melting-curve-based assays to identify genomic variants are less time-consuming and require less bioinformatic analysis compared to partial or whole genome sequencing. However, our results suggest that correct classification of a given genotype/lineage (e.g., a VOC) relies on the ability to detect more than one variant site, adequate template in the sample (i.e., relatively high viral load/copy number) and results may be unclear in certain samples with additional genetic variations. These initial results suggest that some diagnostic laboratories may require additional training to interpret and report complex genetic information about a dynamic emerging virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jovana Jovanovic
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Bernhard Benka
- Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Stubenring 1, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Goerzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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30
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Buchta C, Camp JV, Jovanovic J, Chiba P, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Mayerhofer M, Plicka H, Lercher A, Popa AM, Endler L, Bergthaler A, Huf W, Benka B, Delatour V, Müller MM, Griesmacher A, Aberle SW, Görzer I. The versatility of external quality assessment for the surveillance of laboratory and in vitro diagnostic performance: SARS-CoV-2 viral genome detection in Austria. Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 59:1735-1744. [PMID: 34187131 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2021-0604] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES External quality assessment (EQA) schemes provide information on individual and general analytical performance of participating laboratories and test systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the use and performance of SARS-CoV-2 virus genome detection systems in Austrian laboratories and their preparedness to face challenges associated with the pandemic. METHODS Seven samples were selected to evaluate performance and estimate variability of reported results. Notably, a dilution series was included in the panel as a measure of reproducibility and sensitivity. Several performance criteria were evaluated for individual participants as well as in the cohort of all participants. RESULTS A total of 109 laboratories participated and used 134 platforms, including 67 different combinations of extraction and PCR platforms and corresponding reagents. There were no false positives and 10 (1.2%) false negative results, including nine in the weakly positive sample (C t ∼35.9, ∼640 copies/mL). Twenty (22%) laboratories reported results of mutation detection. Twenty-five (19%) test systems included amplification of human RNA as evidence of proper sampling. The overall linearity of C t values from individual test systems for the dilution series was good, but inter-assay variability was high. Both operator-related and systematic failures appear to have caused incorrect results. CONCLUSIONS Beyond providing certification for participating laboratories, EQA provides the opportunity for participants to evaluate their performance against others so that they may improve operating procedures and test systems. Well-selected EQA samples offer additional inferences to be made about assay sensitivity and reproducibility, which have practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jovana Jovanovic
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Chiba
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Maximilian Mayerhofer
- Armament and Defence Technology Agency, NBC & Environmental Protection Technology Division, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helga Plicka
- Armament and Defence Technology Agency, NBC & Environmental Protection Technology Division, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Lercher
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra M Popa
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Endler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Bergthaler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Huf
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical Risk Management, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Benka
- Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vincent Delatour
- Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d'Essais (LNE), Paris, France
| | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Griesmacher
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria.,Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Camp JV, Wilson RL, Singletary M, Blanchard JL, Aldovini A, Kaminski RW, Oaks EV, Kozlowski PA. Invaplex functions as an intranasal adjuvant for subunit and DNA vaccines co-delivered in the nasal cavity of nonhuman primates. Vaccine X 2021; 8:100105. [PMID: 34258576 PMCID: PMC8255935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2021.100105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of intranasal vaccines for HIV-1 and other mucosal pathogens has been hampered by the lack of adjuvants that can be given safely to humans. We have found that an intranasal Shigella vaccine (Invaplex) which is well tolerated in humans can also function as an adjuvant for intranasal protein and DNA vaccines in mice. To determine whether Invaplex could potentially adjuvant similar vaccines in humans, we simultaneously administered a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope (Env) protein and DNA encoding simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) with or without Invaplex in the nasal cavity of female rhesus macaques. Animals were intranasally boosted with adenoviral vectors expressing SIV env or gag,pol to evaluate memory responses. Anti-SIV antibodies in sera and nasal, genital tract and rectal secretions were quantitated by ELISA. Intracellular cytokine staining was used to measure Th1-type T cells in blood. Macaques given DNA/protein immunizations with 0.5 mg Invaplex developed greater serum IgG, nasal IgA and cervicovaginal IgA responses to SIV Env and SHIV Gag,Pol proteins when compared to non-adjuvanted controls. Rectal IgA responses to Env were only briefly elevated and not observed to Gag,Pol. Invaplex increased frequencies of IFNγ-producing CD4 and CD8 T cells to the Env protein, but not T cell responses induced by the DNA. Ad-SIV boosting increased Env-specific polyfunctional T cells and Env- and Gag,Pol-specific antibodies in serum and all secretions. The data suggest that Invaplex could be highly effective as an adjuvant for intranasal protein vaccines in humans, especially those intended to prevent infections in the genital or respiratory tract.
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Key Words
- Ad, adenovirus
- CVS, cervicovaginal secretions
- Env, envelope
- HIV/AIDS
- ICS, intracellular cytokine staining
- IM, intramuscular
- IN, intranasal
- IgA
- Mucosal adjuvant
- NHP, nonhuman primates
- NS, nasal secretions
- RS, rectal secretions
- Reproductive
- Respiratory tract
- S-IgA, secretory IgA
- Th, T helper
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Robert L Wilson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Morgan Singletary
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Covington, LA 70433, USA
| | - James L Blanchard
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Covington, LA 70433, USA
| | - Anna Aldovini
- Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Children's Hospital and Harvard, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert W Kaminski
- Department of Subunit Enteric Vaccines and Immunology, Division of Bacterial and Rickettsial Diseases, The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Edwin V Oaks
- Department of Subunit Enteric Vaccines and Immunology, Division of Bacterial and Rickettsial Diseases, The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Pamela A Kozlowski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Bakran-Lebl K, Camp JV, Kolodziejek J, Weidinger P, Hufnagl P, Cabal Rosel A, Zwickelstorfer A, Allerberger F, Nowotny N. Diversity of West Nile and Usutu virus strains in mosquitoes at an international airport in Austria. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:2096-2109. [PMID: 34169666 PMCID: PMC9540796 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Increased globalization and international transportation have resulted in the inadvertent introduction of exotic mosquitoes and new mosquito‐borne diseases. International airports are among the possible points of entry for mosquitoes and their pathogens. We established a mosquito and mosquito‐borne diseases monitoring programme at the largest international airport in Austria and report the results for the first two years, 2018 and 2019. This included weekly monitoring and sampling of adult mosquitoes, and screening them for the presence of viral nucleic acids by standard molecular diagnostic techniques. Additionally, we surveyed the avian community at the airport, as birds are potentially amplifying hosts. In 2018, West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in 14 pools and Usutu virus (USUV) was detected in another 14 pools of mosquitoes (minimum infection rate [MIR] of 6.8 for each virus). Of these 28 pools, 26 consisted of female Culex pipiens/torrentium, and two contained male Culex sp. mosquitoes. Cx. pipiens/torrentium mosquitoes were the most frequently captured mosquito species at the airport. The detected WNV strains belonged to five sub‐clusters within the sub‐lineage 2d‐1, and all detected USUV strains were grouped to at least seven sub‐clusters among the cluster Europe 2; all strains were previously shown to be endemic in Austria. In 2019, all mosquito pools were negative for any viral nucleic acids tested. Our study suggests that airports may serve as foci of arbovirus activity, particularly during epidemic years, and should be considered when designing mosquito control and arbovirus monitoring programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Bakran-Lebl
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pia Weidinger
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Hufnagl
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adriana Cabal Rosel
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Franz Allerberger
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Lado S, Elbers JP, Plasil M, Loney T, Weidinger P, Camp JV, Kolodziejek J, Futas J, Kannan DA, Orozco-terWengel P, Horin P, Nowotny N, Burger PA. Innate and Adaptive Immune Genes Associated with MERS-CoV Infection in Dromedaries. Cells 2021; 10:1291. [PMID: 34070971 PMCID: PMC8224694 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has refocused attention to the betacoronaviruses, only eight years after the emergence of another zoonotic betacoronavirus, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). While the wild source of SARS-CoV-2 may be disputed, for MERS-CoV, dromedaries are considered as source of zoonotic human infections. Testing 100 immune-response genes in 121 dromedaries from United Arab Emirates (UAE) for potential association with present MERS-CoV infection, we identified candidate genes with important functions in the adaptive, MHC-class I (HLA-A-24-like) and II (HLA-DPB1-like), and innate immune response (PTPN4, MAGOHB), and in cilia coating the respiratory tract (DNAH7). Some of these genes previously have been associated with viral replication in SARS-CoV-1/-2 in humans, others have an important role in the movement of bronchial cilia. These results suggest similar host genetic pathways associated with these betacoronaviruses, although further work is required to better understand the MERS-CoV disease dynamics in both dromedaries and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lado
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (S.L.); (J.P.E.)
| | - Jean P. Elbers
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (S.L.); (J.P.E.)
| | - Martin Plasil
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.P.); (J.F.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, Ceitec Vetuni, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates; (T.L.); (N.N.)
| | - Pia Weidinger
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | - Jan Futas
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.P.); (J.F.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, Ceitec Vetuni, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Pablo Orozco-terWengel
- The Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Ave, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK;
| | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.P.); (J.F.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, Ceitec Vetuni, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates; (T.L.); (N.N.)
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | - Pamela A. Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (S.L.); (J.P.E.)
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Camp JV, Schmon E, Krause R, Sixl W, Schmid D, Aberle SW. Genetic Diversity of Puumala orthohantavirus in Rodents and Human Patients in Austria, 2012-2019. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040640. [PMID: 33918083 PMCID: PMC8069475 DOI: 10.3390/v13040640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) has a wide distribution throughout Europe. Distinctive temporal patterns of spillover into the human population are related to population dynamics of the reservoir host, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). As the rodent host is tied to specific habitats with small individual ranges, PUUV genetic diversity is also highly correlated with geographic distance. Using sequenced portions of viral S and M segments, we determined whether geographic clusters were supported. Human cases of PUUV infections are concentrated in southeastern Austria. We detected four distinct genotypes: two genotypes of the Alpe-Adria (ALAD) lineage typically associated with southeast Europe, and two sublineages of the Central Europe (CE) lineage. One cluster of CE genotypes represents a phylogenetically distinct sublineage compared to previously reported CE clades, and extends the boundary of the CE lineage further south than previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V. Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Eva Schmon
- Institute of Hospital Hygiene and Microbiology, Styrian Hospital Corporation, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Robert Krause
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria;
| | - Wolfdieter Sixl
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Daniela Schmid
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Stephan W. Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-40160-65555
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35
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Camp JV, Spruill-Harrell B, Owen RD, Solà-Riera C, Williams EP, Eastwood G, Sawyer AM, Jonsson CB. Mixed Effects of Habitat Degradation and Resources on Hantaviruses in Sympatric Wild Rodent Reservoirs within a Neotropical Forest. Viruses 2021; 13:85. [PMID: 33435494 PMCID: PMC7827808 DOI: 10.3390/v13010085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the ecology of rodent-borne hantaviruses is critical to assessing the risk of spillover to humans. Longitudinal surveys have suggested that hantaviral prevalence in a given host population is tightly linked to rodent ecology and correlates with changes in the species composition of a rodent community over time and/or habitat composition. We tested two hypotheses to identify whether resource addition and/or habitat composition may affect hantavirus prevalence among two sympatric reservoir hosts in a neotropical forest: (i) increased food resources will alter the rodent community and thus hantaviral prevalence; and (ii) host abundance and viral seroprevalence will be associated with habitat composition. We established a baseline of rodent-virus prevalence in three grid pairs of distinct habitat compositions and subjected one grid of each pair to resource augmentation. Increased rodent species diversity was observed on grids where food was added versus untreated control grids during the first post-treatment sampling session. Resource augmentation changed species community composition, yet it did not affect the prevalence of hantavirus in the host population over time, nor was there evidence of a dilution effect. Secondly, we show that the prevalence of the virus in the respective reservoir hosts was associated with habitat composition at two spatial levels, independent of resource addition, supporting previous findings that habitat composition is a primary driver of the prevalence of hantaviruses in the neotropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V. Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Briana Spruill-Harrell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (B.S.-H.); (E.P.W.)
| | - Robert D. Owen
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica, Asunción C.P. 1371, Paraguay;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Carles Solà-Riera
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Evan P. Williams
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (B.S.-H.); (E.P.W.)
| | - Gillian Eastwood
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (G.E.); (A.M.S.)
| | - Aubrey M. Sawyer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (G.E.); (A.M.S.)
| | - Colleen B. Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; (B.S.-H.); (E.P.W.)
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Buchta C, Görzer I, Chiba P, Camp JV, Holzmann H, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Mayerhofer M, Müller MM, Aberle SW. Variability of cycle threshold values in an external quality assessment scheme for detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome by RT-PCR. Clin Chem Lab Med 2020; 59:987-994. [PMID: 33554519 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2020-1602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [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: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The qualitative results of SARS-CoV-2 specific real-time reverse transcription (RT) PCR are used for initial diagnosis and follow-up of Covid-19 patients and asymptomatic virus carriers. However, clinical decision-making and health management policies often are based additionally on cycle threshold (Ct) values (i.e., quantitative results) to guide patient care, segregation and discharge management of individuals testing positive. Therefore, an analysis of inter-protocol variability is needed to assess the comparability of the quantitative results. METHODS Ct values reported in a SARS-CoV-2 virus genome detection external quality assessment challenge were analyzed. Three positive and two negative samples were distributed to participating test laboratories. Qualitative results (positive/negative) and quantitative results (Ct values) were assessed. RESULTS A total of 66 laboratories participated, contributing results from 101 distinct test systems and reporting Ct values for a total of 92 different protocols. In all three positive samples, the means of the Ct values for the E-, N-, S-, RdRp-, and ORF1ab-genes varied by less than two cycles. However, 7.7% of reported results deviated by more than ±4.0 (maximum 18.0) cycles from the respective individual means. These larger deviations appear to be systematic errors. CONCLUSIONS In an attempt to use PCR diagnostics beyond the identification of infected individuals, laboratories are frequently requested to report Ct values along with a qualitative result. This study highlights the limitations of interpreting Ct values from the various SARS-CoV genome detection protocols and suggests that standardization is necessary in the reporting of Ct values with respect to the target gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Chiba
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Maximilian Mayerhofer
- Armament and Defence Technology Agency, NBC & Environmental Protection Technology Division, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias M Müller
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Stephan W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Görzer I, Buchta C, Chiba P, Benka B, Camp JV, Holzmann H, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Aberle SW. First results of a national external quality assessment scheme for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences. J Clin Virol 2020; 129:104537. [PMID: 32659712 PMCID: PMC7336937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [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: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Broad and decentralised testing of SARS-CoV-2 RNA genomes is a WHO-recommended strategy to contain the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic by identifying infected cases in order to minimize onward transmission. With the need to increase the test capacities in Austria, nation-wide numerous laboratories rapidly implemented assays for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 based on real-time RT-PCR assays. The objective of this study was to monitor reliability of the laboratory results for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection through an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme. METHODS For this, the Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna was tasked by the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection to perform the first Austrian EQA on SARS-CoV-2 which was organised in cooperation with the Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA). Data were analysed on the basis of qualitative outcome of testing in relation to the nucleic acid (NA) extraction and detection methods used. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION A total of 52 laboratories participated, contributing results from 67 test panels comprising 42 distinct combinations of NA extraction and PCR reagents. By testing 3 positive (CT values: S1, 28.4; S2, 33.6; S3, 38.5) and 1 negative sample, no false-positive results were obtained by any of the laboratories. Otherwise, 40/67 tests (60 %) detected all positive samples correctly as positive, but 25/67 tests (37 %) did not detect the weakest positive sample (S3), and 3 % reported S2 and S3 as false-negative. Improvement in test sensitivity by focusing on NA extraction and/or PCR-based detection is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Görzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ch Buchta
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - P Chiba
- Austrian Association for Quality Assurance and Standardization of Medical and Diagnostic Tests (ÖQUASTA), Hörlgasse 18/5, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - B Benka
- Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Stubenring 1, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - J V Camp
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Holzmann
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - E Puchhammer-Stöckl
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - S W Aberle
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Camp JV, Kannan DO, Osman BM, Shah MS, Howarth B, Khafaga T, Weidinger P, Karuvantevida N, Kolodziejek J, Mazrooei H, Wolf N, Loney T, Nowotny N. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Endemicity in United Arab Emirates, 2019. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26:1019-1021. [PMID: 32097111 PMCID: PMC7181925 DOI: 10.3201/eid2605.191414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in dromedary camels and attached ticks at 3 locations in the United Arab Emirates. Results revealed a high prevalence of CCHFV-reactive antibodies in camels and viral RNA in ticks and camel serum, suggesting the virus is endemic in this country.
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Abstract
Introduction: West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne human and animal pathogen with nearly worldwide distribution. In Europe, the virus is endemic with seasonal regional outbreaks that have increased in frequency over the last 10 years. A massive outbreak occurred across southern and central Europe in 2018 with the number of confirmed human cases increasing up to 7.2-fold from the previous year, and expanding to include previously virus-free regions.Areas covered: This review focuses on potential causes that may explain the 2018 European WNV outbreak. We discuss the role genetic, ecological, and environmental aspects may have played in the increased activity during the 2018 transmission season, summarizing the latest epidemiological and virological publications.Expert opinion: Optimal environmental conditions, specifically increased temperature, were most likely responsible for the observed outbreak. Other factors cannot be ruled out due to limited available information, including factors that may influence host/vector abundance and contact. Europe will likely experience even larger-scale outbreaks in the coming years. Increased surveillance efforts should be implemented with a focus on early-warning detection methods, and large-scale host and vector surveys should continue to fill gaps in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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de Heus P, Kolodziejek J, Camp JV, Dimmel K, Bagó Z, Hubálek Z, van den Hoven R, Cavalleri JMV, Nowotny N. Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 in Europe: Characteristics of the first seven cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in horses in Austria. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 67:1189-1197. [PMID: 31840920 PMCID: PMC7317211 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13452] [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: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We report details of the first seven equine cases of confirmed West Nile neuroinvasive disease in Austria. The cases presented during summer and autumn of 2016 (n = 2), 2017 (n = 3) and 2018 (n = 2). All horses showed gait abnormalities and 6 of 7 horses exhibited fasciculations and/or tremors, and we provide video recordings of these. Three horses also showed cranial nerve involvement. Following rapid improvement, three horses were discharged. Four horses were euthanized due to the severity of clinical signs and subjected to neuropathological examination. West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 nucleic acid was detected in 5 of 7 horses, and WNV‐specific neutralizing antibodies in all 7 horses. In addition, serologic evidence of WNV infection was found in two out of fourteen in‐contact horses. Horses may be considered a sentinel species for human WNV infections, integrating human and veterinary medicine and thus contributing to the one health concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phebe de Heus
- Section Equine Internal Medicine, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Dimmel
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zoltán Bagó
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control Mödling, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Ltd (AGES), Mödling, Austria
| | - Zdenek Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - René van den Hoven
- Section Equine Internal Medicine, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jessika-M V Cavalleri
- Section Equine Internal Medicine, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
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Owen RD, Camp JV, Sage R, Rodríguez L, Bruyn VJM, McAllister RC, Jonsson CB. Sympatry and habitat associations of sigmodontine rodents in a neotropical forest-savanna interface. MAMMALIA 2019; 84:227-238. [PMID: 34290454 PMCID: PMC8291367 DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2019-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Small mammal communities in the Neotropics are composed largely of sigmodontine rodents. However, many questions regarding these communities remain unanswered, especially those pertaining to fine-scale sympatry and habitat selection. To address this, we examined sigmodontine community structure and vegetation in the western margin of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and the southwestern-most extent of the Cerrado (CE) (an extensive South American savanna ecoregion) of Paraguay. Vegetation classifications were derived from satellite imagery combined with maps based on extensive ground-based surveys. The three most abundant species (Akodon montensis, Hylaeamys megacephalus, and Oligoryzomys nigripes) were found most often in microsympatry with conspecifics, and were negatively associated with other species. Akodon montensis was associated with high forest (HF), and H. megacephalus with bamboo understory (BU), whereas O. nigripes did not exhibit a habitat preference. The first two species' distributions within the landscape were found to be driven primarily by habitat selection, and O. nigripes by a behavioral response (avoidance) to the presence of the other two species. Moreover, habitat influences whether or not a particular species associates with, or avoids, conspecifics or other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D. Owen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; and Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica, Raul Casal 2230, C.P. 1371, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40204, USA; and Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Sage
- Sociedad Naturalista Andino Patagónica (SNAP), Paso Juramento 190, 3° piso, 8400 Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Laura Rodríguez
- Departamento de SIG, Fundación Moises Bertoni, Prócer Argäello 208 e/Mcal. López y Guido Boggiani, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Vicente J. Martínez Bruyn
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Ryan C. McAllister
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40204, USA
| | - Colleen B. Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
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Owen RD, Camp JV, Jonsson CB. Sigmodontine community and species responses to El Niño and precipitation in different levels of forest degradation. Therya 2019; 10:255-265. [PMID: 32905550 DOI: 10.12933/therya-19-899] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Few studies have focused on rodent communities at the margins of an ecoregion or the limits of species' distributions, where the community may be more sensitive to extrinsic variables, both biotic and abiotic. This study evaluates sigmodontine rodent species diversity and overall abundance, and variation associated with climatic variables, in three locations with differing levels of habitat degradation. The study was conducted in northeastern Paraguay, near the western limit of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and near the distributional limits of the three most abundant species in the study sites. Three mark-recapture grids were established and classified as least, moderately and most-degraded based on an analysis of several vegetation parameters. The grids were sampled for five consecutive nights, six times during two years. Shannon diversity and overall abundance were calculated for each sample. Monthly Multivariate ENSO Index and rainfall values were obtained from publicly available resources. Product-moment correlations were calculated between community and climatic parameters, including cumulative values for the climatic variables. The same correlations were calculated for the three common sigmodontine species. 1,632 captures were recorded, representing 13 sigmodontine species. Species richness in the samples (one session on one grid) varied from four to seven. Akodon montensis, Hylaeamys megacephalus and Oligoryzomys nigripes were the three most abundant species. In general, species diversity was negatively correlated with ENSO index, precipitation and precipitation anomaly, including cumulative one- to six-month cumulative values of each. Total sigmodontine abundance was positively correlated with the climatic variables. However, these correlations were not uniform among the three levels of habitat degradation, nor did the three abundant species show similar correlation patterns. The three most abundant species are each near their distributional limits, whereas several less abundant species have distributions that extend well beyond the study area. This somewhat counterintuitive result bears further investigation in other sites at ecoregional margins, to determine whether it is a commonly observed pattern, or an exception. Overall sigmodontine abundances were generally reflective of Akodon montensis abundance, which generally correlated with precipitation (including cumulative amounts). Our analyses of these longitudinal data showed two major effects on sigmodontine species diversity and population. First, they are impacted by habitat and secondly, they are affected by climate (ENSO, precipitation). However, individual species are not impacted similarly. Akodon montensis abundances primarily were correlated with abiotic (climatic) variables, and the correlations were consistent across habitats (biotic factors). In contrast, Hylaeamys megacephalus abundance was correlated with climatic variables in two habitats, but not the moderately-degraded habitat, and Oligoryzomys nigripes abundance was not correlated with climate in the most-degraded habitat. Pocos estudios se han centrado en las comunidades de roedores en los márgenes de una ecorregión o en los límites de las distribuciones de las especies, donde la comunidad puede ser más sensible a las variables extrínsecas, tanto bióticas como abióticas. Este estudio evalúa la diversidad de especies y la abundancia general de roedores sigmodontinos, y la variación asociada con las variables climáticas, en tres lugares con diferentes niveles de degradación del hábitat. Se establecieron tres parcelas de captura-marca-recaptura y se clasificaron como la menos, moderada y más degradadas basadas en un análisis de vegetación de varios parámetros. Las parcelas fueron muestreadas durante cinco noches consecutivas, seis veces durante dos años. La diversidad de Shannon y la abundancia general se calcularon para cada muestra. El índice mensual de ENOS multivariable y los valores de precipitación se obtuvieron de sitios accesibles en Internet. Las correlaciones producto-momento se calcularon entre los parámetros climáticos y de la comunidad, incluidos los valores acumulados para las variables climáticas. Se calcularon las mismas correlaciones para las tres especies comunes de sigmodontinos. Se registraron 1,632 capturas, representando 13 especies sigmodontinos. La riqueza de especies en las muestras (una sesión en una parcela) varió de cuatro a siete. Akodon montensis, Hylaeamys megacephalus y Oligoryzomys nigripes fueron las tres especies más abundantes. En general, la diversidad de especies se correlacionó negativamente con el índice ENOS, la precipitación y la anomalía de la precipitación, incluidos los valores acumulativos de uno a seis meses de cada uno. La abundancia total de sigmodontinos se correlacionó positivamente con las variables climáticas. Sin embargo, estas correlaciones no fueron uniformes entre los tres niveles de degradación del hábitat, ni tampoco entre las tres especies abundantes. Las tres especies más abundantes están cada una cerca de sus límites de distribución, mientras que varias especies menos abundantes tienen distribuciones que se extienden mucho más allá de este sitio. Este resultado algo contraintuitivo conlleva una mayor investigación en otros sitios en los márgenes ecorregionales, para determinar si es un patrón observado comúnmente, o una excepción. Las abundancias de sigmodontinos generalmente reflejaron la abundancia de Akodon montensis, que generalmente se correlacionó con la precipitación (incluidas las cantidades acumuladas). Las conclusiones destacadas de este estudio fueron: (1) diferentes niveles de degradación del hábitat se correlacionan con la variación en la diversidad de especies y la abundancia general de los sigmodontinos, y las especies individuales no muestran los mismos niveles de correlación entre los diferentes hábitats; y (2) la variabilidad climática (ENOS y precipitación) también afecta la diversidad de especies sigmodontinos y la abundancia de la población, y las especies comunes no muestran correlaciones similares entre sí. Las abundancias de Akodon montensis se correlacionaron principalmente con variables abióticas (climáticas), y las correlaciones fueron consistentes en todos los hábitats (factores bióticos). En contraste, la abundancia de Hylaeamys megacephalus se correlacionó con las variables climáticas en dos hábitats, pero no en el hábitat moderadamente degradado, y Oligoryzomys nigripes no se correlacionó con el clima en el hábitat más degradado.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Owen
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica, Asunción, Paraguay, and Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock. Texas, U.S.A
| | - Jeremy V Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Colleen B Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis. Tennessee, U.S.A
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Camp JV, Karuvantevida N, Chouhna H, Safi E, Shah JN, Nowotny N. Mosquito biodiversity and mosquito-borne viruses in the United Arab Emirates. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:153. [PMID: 30944019 PMCID: PMC6448230 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3417-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the last 50 years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced rapid population growth and urbanization. Urbanization is known to influence biodiversity, and there appears to be a link between the emergence of arboviruses and urban growth. Very little is known about the UAE mosquito species richness and dominant vectors. We performed a mosquito survey comparing peri-urban sites in Dubai and Al Ain to a protected, natural site in Fujairah emirate. We measured mosquito biodiversity and species composition, and screened mosquito pools for common arboviruses to measure arbovirus activity in the region. Results We report ten species of mosquitoes from the UAE, with highest species diversity in the natural site, a protected wadi near the eastern coast. The predominant mosquito was Culex perexiguus, and was associated with peri-urban habitats. The site with lowest mosquito species diversity but relatively high species richness was the peri-urban site of Al Ain Zoo, where we identified Bagaza virus and Barkedji virus, two flaviviruses, in pools of Cx. perexiguus. Conclusions Decreased mosquito biodiversity was associated with increased levels of urbanization. The predominance of two species at peri-urban sites was related to the availability of their larval habitats. Arboviruses were associated with the presence of a single predominant mosquito species, Cx. perexiguus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Noushad Karuvantevida
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Houda Chouhna
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ebtesam Safi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Junid N Shah
- Natural Resources Conservation Section, Environment Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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Camp JV, Kolodziejek J, Nowotny N. Targeted surveillance reveals native and invasive mosquito species infected with Usutu virus. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:46. [PMID: 30665453 PMCID: PMC6341546 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3316-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The emergence of Usutu virus (USUV) in Europe was first reported in Austria, 2001, and the virus has since spread to many European countries. Initial outbreaks are marked by a mass die-off of European blackbirds (Turdus merula) and other bird species. During outbreaks, the virus has been detected in pools of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, and these mosquitoes are probably the most important enzootic vectors. Beginning in 2017, a second wave of blackbird deaths associated with USUV was observed in eastern Austria; the affected areas expanded to the Austrian federal states of Styria in the south and to Upper Austria in the west in 2018. We sampled the potential vector population at selected sites of bird deaths in 2018 in order to identify infected mosquitoes. Results We detected USUV RNA in 16 out of 19 pools of Cx. pipiens/Cx. torrentium mosquitoes at sites of USUV-linked blackbird mortality in Linz and Graz, Austria. A disseminated virus infection was detected in individuals from selected pools, suggesting that Cx. pipiens form pipiens was the principal vector. In addition to a high rate of infected Cx. pipiens collected from Graz, a disseminated virus infection was detected in a pool of Aedes japonicus japonicus. Conclusions We show herein that naturally-infected mosquitoes at foci of USUV activity are primarily Cx. pipiens form pipiens. In addition, we report the first natural infection of Ae. j. japonicus with USUV, suggesting that it may be involved in the epizootic transmission of USUV in Europe. Ae. j. japonicus is an invasive mosquito whose range is expanding in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Camp JV, Bakonyi T, Soltész Z, Zechmeister T, Nowotny N. Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards, 1913 are attracted to sound, feed on amphibians, and are infected with multiple viruses. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:456. [PMID: 30081963 PMCID: PMC6090806 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3030-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards, 1913 is a species of mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) native to central Europe. Recently a novel lineage of the West Nile virus (WNV-lineage 4c) was identified in pools of adult female Ur. unguiculata. To increase the body of knowledge about this species, various trapping methods were evaluated to determine the most efficient method for capturing adult female Ur. unguiculata. Results Sound traps collected equivalent numbers of female Ur. unguiculata as low-hanging light-baited downdraft traps. Hosts were identified as Pelophylax lessonae and P. ridibunda (Anura: Ranidae) species group frogs from the blood found in engorged females. In addition to confirming infection by WNV-lin. 4c, a potentially integrated flavivirus sequence was detected in male mosquitoes. A novel Alphamesonivirus 1 (Nidovirales: Mesoniviridae) was found to be widespread in the Ur. unguiculata population and is herein described. Conclusions Efficient collection methods for Ur. unguiculata for arbovirus surveillance reflect mosquito questing behavior. Uranotaenia unguiculata targets frog species which call from the water, and it is likely that the novel WNV-lin. 4c is maintained in a frog-mosquito transmission cycle. The improved trapping methods listed here will assist future studies of the vector status of Ur. unguiculata for WNV and other arboviruses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3030-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Tamás Bakonyi
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Soltész
- Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary.,Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Camp JV, Haider R, Porea D, Oslobanu LE, Forgách P, Nowotny N. Serological surveillance for Tahyna virus (California encephalitis orthobunyavirus, Peribunyaviridae) neutralizing antibodies in wild ungulates in Austria, Hungary and Romania. Zoonoses Public Health 2018. [PMID: 29516663 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A serosurvey for Tahyna virus (TAHV), a mosquito-borne California encephalitis orthobunyavirus (Peribunyaviridae) endemic to Europe, was performed to estimate the activity of TAHV on a broad geographic scale. Sera from wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) were collected from Austria, Hungary and Romania. Samples were tested for neutralizing antibodies against TAHV using a virus microneutralization assay. The results demonstrate that TAHV transmission to mammals is widespread in Europe, particularly in the wild boar population where the mean rate of seroconversion is 15.2%.
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Affiliation(s)
- J V Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Haider
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - D Porea
- Departamentul Sanatate Publica, Facultatea de Medicina Veterinara, USAMV, Iasi, Romania
| | - L E Oslobanu
- Departamentul Sanatate Publica, Facultatea de Medicina Veterinara, USAMV, Iasi, Romania
| | - P Forgách
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - N Nowotny
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Camp JV, Irby WS. Molecular Confirmation of Frogs (Anura) as Hosts of Corethrellidae (Diptera) in the Southeastern United States. J Insect Sci 2017; 17:4159291. [PMID: 29117370 PMCID: PMC5779609 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iex068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Flies in the family Corethrellidae Edwards 1932 (Diptera) are known to be attracted to the mating calls of male frogs. For the first time, the hosts of corethrellids were identified to species by analyzing bloodmeals taken from resting female flies. A portion of the cytochrome b gene was amplified and sequenced from blood-engorged flies using vertebrate-specific primers. The flies were collected over 6 yr at two locations in the southeastern United States from resting boxes and natural resting sites (rodent burrows). Potential host abundance focused on frog surveillance, and estimation relied on visual encounters, passive trapping (artificial refugia), and call surveys. This study confirms that corethrellids take blood from tree frogs (Hylidae); however, it was found that true frogs (Lithobates Fitzinger 1843 (Ranidae: Anura) sp.) were the principal host selected by Corethrella brakeleyi (Coquillett 1902) (~73% of identified bloodmeals). These preliminary data suggest that host selection of Corethrella Freeman 1962 sp. is not necessarily correlated with host calling abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University,
P.O. Box 8042-1, Statesboro, GA 30460
- Current affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of
Veterinary Medicine, Vienna,
Austria
| | - William S Irby
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University,
P.O. Box 8042-1, Statesboro, GA 30460
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Abstract
Neutrophils are immune cells that are well known to be present during many types of lung diseases associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and may contribute to acute lung injury. Neutrophils are poorly studied with respect to viral infection, and specifically to respiratory viral disease. Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is the cause of a respiratory disease that poses a significant global public health concern. Influenza disease presents as a relatively mild and self-limiting although highly pathogenic forms exist. Neutrophils increase in the respiratory tract during infection with mild seasonal IAV, moderate and severe epidemic IAV infection, and emerging highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). During severe influenza pneumonia and HPAI infection, the number of neutrophils in the lower respiratory tract is correlated with disease severity. Thus, comparative analyses of the relationship between IAV infection and neutrophils provide insights into the relative contribution of host and viral factors that contribute to disease severity. Herein, we review the contribution of neutrophils to IAV disease pathogenesis and to other respiratory virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine at Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Colleen B Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
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Adnan S, Reeves RK, Gillis J, Wong FE, Yu Y, Camp JV, Li Q, Connole M, Li Y, Piatak M, Lifson JD, Li W, Keele BF, Kozlowski PA, Desrosiers RC, Haase AT, Johnson RP. Persistent Low-Level Replication of SIVΔnef Drives Maturation of Antibody and CD8 T Cell Responses to Induce Protective Immunity against Vaginal SIV Infection. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006104. [PMID: 27959961 PMCID: PMC5189958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining the correlates of immune protection conferred by SIVΔnef, the most effective vaccine against SIV challenge, could enable the design of a protective vaccine against HIV infection. Here we provide a comprehensive assessment of immune responses that protect against SIV infection through detailed analyses of cellular and humoral immune responses in the blood and tissues of rhesus macaques vaccinated with SIVΔnef and then vaginally challenged with wild-type SIV. Despite the presence of robust cellular immune responses, animals at 5 weeks after vaccination displayed only transient viral suppression of challenge virus, whereas all macaques challenged at weeks 20 and 40 post-SIVΔnef vaccination were protected, as defined by either apparent sterile protection or significant suppression of viremia in infected animals. Multiple parameters of CD8 T cell function temporally correlated with maturation of protection, including polyfunctionality, phenotypic differentiation, and redistribution to gut and lymphoid tissues. Importantly, we also demonstrate the induction of a tissue-resident memory population of SIV-specific CD8 T cells in the vaginal mucosa, which was dependent on ongoing low-level antigenic stimulation. Moreover, we show that vaginal and serum antibody titers inversely correlated with post-challenge peak viral load, and we correlate the accumulation and affinity maturation of the antibody response to the duration of the vaccination period as well as to the SIVΔnef antigenic load. In conclusion, maturation of SIVΔnef-induced CD8 T cell and antibody responses, both propelled by viral persistence in the gut mucosa and secondary lymphoid tissues, results in protective immune responses that are able to interrupt viral transmission at mucosal portals of entry as well as potential sites of viral dissemination. Annually, more than two million people worldwide are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Rhesus macaques can be infected with SIV, a close relative and ancestor of HIV, resulting in simian AIDS, recapitulating key aspects of human HIV infection. SIVΔnef, a live attenuated form of SIV, protects rhesus macaques from subsequent challenge with pathogenic SIV and is widely viewed as the most effective SIV vaccine. Here we demonstrate that SIVΔnef persistence during the vaccination period drives both cell-mediated and humoral immune response maturation. During the vaccination period, cell-mediated immune responses elicited by SIVΔnef target more conserved regions of the virus rendering immune escape more difficult. Furthermore, the localization of the cell-mediated immune responses is shifted over time from peripheral blood to sites of viral production that are rich in uninfected SIV target cells, thereby positioning cell-mediated immune responses where they are most needed after wild-type SIV challenge. Similarly, SIVΔnef persistence during the vaccination period also leads to the accumulation and maturation of the humoral immune response. Our findings highlight the unique capacity of persistent vaccines to elicit durable and effective immune responses against wild-type SIV challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sama Adnan
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta GA, United States of America
- New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA, United States of America
| | - R. Keith Reeves
- New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA, United States of America
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Jacqueline Gillis
- New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA, United States of America
| | - Fay E. Wong
- New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA, United States of America
| | - Yi Yu
- New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA, United States of America
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Qingsheng Li
- Nebraska Center for Virology and School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Michelle Connole
- New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA, United States of America
| | - Yuan Li
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael Piatak
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Wenjun Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States of America
| | - Brandon F. Keele
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Pamela A. Kozlowski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Ronald C. Desrosiers
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ashley T. Haase
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, MMC 196, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - R. Paul Johnson
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta GA, United States of America
- New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough Campus, Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA, United States of America
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Camp JV, Nowotny N. Rapid detection of European orthobunyaviruses by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays. J Virol Methods 2016; 236:252-257. [PMID: 27491341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assays are described herein for the detection of two orthobunyaviruses (Bunyaviridae), which represent the two main serogroups found in mosquitoes in Central Europe. The RT-LAMP assays were optimized for the detection of Ťahyňa virus (a California encephalitis group virus found in Aedes sp or Ochlerotatus sp mosquitoes) and Batai virus (also called Čalovo virus, a Bunyamwera group virus found in Anopheles maculipennis s.l. mosquitoes) nucleic acid using endemic European virus isolates. The sensitivity of the RT-LAMP assays was determined to be comparable to that of conventional tests, with a limit of detection<0.1 pfu per reaction. The assays can be performed in 60min under isothermal conditions using very simple equipment. Furthermore, it was possible to proceed with the assays without nucleic acid extraction, albeit at a 100-fold loss of sensitivity. The RT-LAMP assays are a sensitive, cost-efficient method for both arbovirus surveillance as well as diagnostic laboratories to detect the presence of these endemic orthobunyaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Institute for Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- Institute for Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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