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Ayari R, Chaouch H, Findlay-Wilson S, Hachfi W, Ben Lasfar N, Bellazreg F, Dowall S, Hannachi N, Letaief A. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Phleboviruses and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus among Blood Donors in Central Tunisia. Pathogens 2024; 13:348. [PMID: 38668303 PMCID: PMC11054088 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13040348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of six viruses, from two families of the order Bunyavirales, in the general population of central Tunisia. Sera collected from 377 asymptomatic blood donors were serologically assayed for Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), and four sandfly-borne phleboviruses: Toscana virus (TOSV), sandfly fever Naples virus (SFNV), sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), and sandfly fever Cyprus virus (SFCV). Of the 377 subjects enrolled in this study, 17.3% were IgG positive for at least one of the viruses tested. The most frequently detected antibodies were against TOSV (13.3%), followed by SFCV (2.9%), RVFV (1.9%), SFSV (1.3%), and SFNV (1.1%). Only one sample was IgG positive for CCHFV. Dual reactivity was observed in nine cases: SFSV + SFCV in three cases (0.8%) and TOSV + SFNV, TOSV + SFCV, and TOSV + RVFV in two cases (0.5%) each. 15.9% of donors were IgG positive against sandfly-borne phleboviruses. Among the 65 donors IgG positive for phleboviruses, 50.8% were from rural areas compared to 12.3% from urban areas (p < 0.001); 92.3% had animals in their living quarters (p = 0.009); and 70.8% lived in the vicinity of stagnant water (p = 0.062). Seroprevalence was significantly higher among donors living with chronic diseases (p = 0.039). Furthermore, the seroprevalence of phleboviruses was higher in Kairouan, the central governorate, than in the two coastal governorates: Monastir and Sousse, with 33.4%, 24.2%, and 14.9%, respectively. The presence of antibodies in the general population needs further investigation to better assess the extent of these viruses. Only TOSV was known to have an extensive circulation in Tunisia and in North Africa. Continued surveillance and interventions are necessary to detect the emergence of all arboviruses and to prevent further transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rym Ayari
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia; (R.A.); (H.C.); (W.H.); (N.B.L.); (F.B.)
| | - Houda Chaouch
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia; (R.A.); (H.C.); (W.H.); (N.B.L.); (F.B.)
| | - Stephen Findlay-Wilson
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (S.F.-W.); (S.D.)
| | - Wissem Hachfi
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia; (R.A.); (H.C.); (W.H.); (N.B.L.); (F.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia;
| | - Nadia Ben Lasfar
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia; (R.A.); (H.C.); (W.H.); (N.B.L.); (F.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia;
| | - Foued Bellazreg
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia; (R.A.); (H.C.); (W.H.); (N.B.L.); (F.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia;
| | - Stuart Dowall
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (S.F.-W.); (S.D.)
| | - Neila Hannachi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia;
- Microbiology Laboratory, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Amel Letaief
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia; (R.A.); (H.C.); (W.H.); (N.B.L.); (F.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia;
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Polat C, Ayhan N, Ergünay K, Charrel RN. Comprehensive evaluation of nucleic acid amplification methods widely used for generic detection of sandfly-borne phleboviruses. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0342823. [PMID: 38456695 PMCID: PMC10986501 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03428-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sandfly-borne phleboviruses (SBPs), which cause sandfly fever, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and meningoencephalitis, are emerging pathogens of major public health concern. Virus nucleic acid testing is essential for SBP diagnosis, especially in the early stages of infection, and for the discovery of novel SBPs. The efficacy of utilizing generic primers that target conserved nucleotide sequences for the detection of both known and novel SBPs has not been extensively evaluated. We aimed to compare and evaluate the performance of five generic primer sets, widely used to detect S- and L-segments of arthropod-borne phleboviruses and designed as singleplex (n = 3) and nested (n = 2) formats, including both well-known and recently characterized 15 Old World virus strains. Furthermore, we performed in silico analysis to assess the detection capabilities of these generic primer sets. The initial evaluation of previously published generic primer sets for SBP detection yielded two singleplex primer sets with the potential to be adapted for use in real-time or high-throughput detection settings. Studies are ongoing to develop and further optimize a preliminary assay and test various hosts and vectors to assess their capacity to detect known and novel viruses. IMPORTANCE Virus nucleic acid testing is the primary diagnostic method, particularly in the early stages of illness. Virus-specific or syndromic tests are widely used for this purpose. The use of generic primers has had a considerable impact on the discovery, identification, and detection of Old World sandfly-borne phleboviruses (OWSBP). The study is significant because it is the first to carry out a comparative evaluation of all published OWSBP generic primer sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceylan Polat
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Unité des Virus Emergents, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Nazli Ayhan
- Unité des Virus Emergents, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- National Reference Center for Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, and Medical Research (Inserm) and French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute (IRBA), Marseille, France
| | - Koray Ergünay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU), Smithsonian Institution Museum Support Center, Suitland, Maryland, USA
- One Health Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution-National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Washington, DC, USA
| | - Remi N. Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Laboratoire des Infections Virales Aigues et Tropicales, Pole des Maladies Infectieuses, AP-HM Hopitaux Universitaires de Marseille, Marseille, France
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3
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Calzolari M, Russo S, Marzani K, Dalmonte G, Ricchi M, Bonilauri P. Development of a Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection of the Phlebovirus Fermo Virus. Viruses 2023; 15:2082. [PMID: 37896859 PMCID: PMC10612048 DOI: 10.3390/v15102082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fermo virus is a Phlebovirus that is increasingly reported in sand flies from northern Italy. The natural cycle is not fully understood, but the virus has been detected by direct methods only in sand flies. Although there is serological evidence that it can infect vertebrates, the virus has not been directly detected in animals or humans. Here, we have developed and reported a specific real-time PCR for Fermo virus. The availability of the described method will be useful to characterize the epidemiology of the FERV, ensuring, compared to previously available protocols, a more sensitive detection in insects and the possible detection in vertebrates to evaluate the presence of reservoirs and the pathogenic potential of the virus in humans or animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Calzolari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “B. Ubertini”, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (S.R.); (K.M.); (G.D.); (M.R.); (P.B.)
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Kholodilov IS, Belova OA, Ivannikova AY, Gadzhikurbanov MN, Makenov MT, Yakovlev AS, Polienko AE, Dereventsova AV, Litov AG, Gmyl LV, Okhezin EV, Luchinina SV, Klimentov AS, Karganova GG. Distribution and Characterisation of Tick-Borne Flavi-, Flavi-like, and Phenuiviruses in the Chelyabinsk Region of Russia. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122699. [PMID: 36560703 PMCID: PMC9780909 DOI: 10.3390/v14122699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we presented data from a two-year study of flavi-, flavi-like, and phenuiviruses circulation in the population of ixodid ticks in the Chelyabinsk region. We isolated three tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains from I. persulcatus, which was not detected in the ticks of the genus Dermacentor. The virus prevalence ranged from 0.66% to 2.28%. The Yanggou tick virus (YGTV) is widespread in steppe and forest-steppe zones and is mainly associated with ticks of the genus Dermacentor. We isolated 26 strains from D. reticulatus, D. marginatus, and I. persulcatus ticks in the HAE/CTVM8 tick cell line. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.58% to 4.18% in D. reticulatus, ranged from 0.78% to 3.93% in D. marginatus, and was 0.66% in I. persulcatus. There was combined focus of TBEV and YGTV in the territory of the Chelyabinsk region. The Alongshan virus (ALSV) was found to be associated with I. persulcatus ticks and is spread in forest zone. We detected 12 amplicons and isolated 7 strains of ALSV in tick cells. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.13% to 6.00%. The phlebovirus Gomselga and unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol were associated with I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus ticks, respectively. Virus prevalence of the unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol in the Chelyabinsk region is lower than that in neighbouring regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan S. Kholodilov
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Oxana A. Belova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Y. Ivannikova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Magomed N. Gadzhikurbanov
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Marat T. Makenov
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Epidemiology, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, 111123 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S. Yakovlev
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra E. Polienko
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alena V. Dereventsova
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander G. Litov
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Larissa V. Gmyl
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Egor V. Okhezin
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Alexander S. Klimentov
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina G. Karganova
- Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, FSASI Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, 108819 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Bugmyrin SV, Romanova LY, Belova OA, Kholodilov IS, Bespyatova LA, Chernokhaeva LL, Gmyl LV, Klimentov AS, Ivannikova AY, Polienko AE, Yakovlev AS, Ieshko EP, Gmyl AP, Karganova GG. Pathogens in Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) in Karelia (Russia). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102045. [PMID: 36183587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Ixodid ticks (Acarina, Ixodidae) are vectors of dangerous human infections. The main tick species that determine the epidemiological situation for tick-borne diseases in northern Europe are Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus. In recent years, significant changes in the number and distribution of these species have been observed, accompanied by an expansion of the sympatric range. This work summarizes the data of long-term studies carried out in Karelia since 2007 on the infection of I. persulcatus and I. ricinus ticks with various pathogens, including new viruses with unclear pathogenic potential. As a result, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV, Siberian genotype), Alongshan virus, several representatives of the family Phenuiviridae, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Ehrlichia muris, Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae and Candidatus Lariskella arthropodarum were identified. Data were obtained on the geographical and temporal variability of tick infection rates with these main pathogens. The average infection rates of I. persulcatus with TBEV and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were 4.4% and 23.4% and those of I. ricinus were 1.1% and 11.9%, respectively. We did not find a correlation between the infection rate of ticks with TBEV, B. burgdorferi s.l. and Ehrlichia muris/chaffeensis with the sex of the vector. In general, the peculiarities of the epidemiological situation in Karelia are determined by the wide distribution and high abundance of I. persulcatus ticks and by their relatively high infection rate with TBEV and B. burgdorferi s.l. in most of the territory, including the periphery of the range.
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Affiliation(s)
- S V Bugmyrin
- Institute of Biology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, 11 Pushkinskaya St., Petrozavodsk 185910, Russia
| | - L Yu Romanova
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov University, Moscow 119146, Russia
| | - O A Belova
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - I S Kholodilov
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - L A Bespyatova
- Institute of Biology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, 11 Pushkinskaya St., Petrozavodsk 185910, Russia
| | - L L Chernokhaeva
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - L V Gmyl
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - A S Klimentov
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - A Y Ivannikova
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - A E Polienko
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - A S Yakovlev
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - E P Ieshko
- Institute of Biology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, 11 Pushkinskaya St., Petrozavodsk 185910, Russia
| | - A P Gmyl
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia
| | - G G Karganova
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), prem. 8, k.17, pos. Institut Poliomyelita, poselenie Moskovskiy, Moscow 108811, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov University, Moscow 119146, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Biology, Moscow 119991, Russia.
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Viral RNA Metagenomics of Hyalomma Ticks Collected from Dromedary Camels in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071396. [PMID: 34372602 PMCID: PMC8310382 DOI: 10.3390/v13071396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod-borne infections are a medical and economic threat to humans and livestock. Over the last three decades, several unprecedented viral outbreaks have been recorded in the Western part of the Arabian Peninsula. However, little is known about the circulation and diversity of arthropod-borne viruses in this region. To prepare for new outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, it is important to detect which viruses circulate in each vector population. In this study, we used a metagenomics approach to characterize the RNA virome of ticks infesting dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries) in Makkah province, Saudi Arabia. Two hundred ticks of species Hyalomma dromedarii (n = 196) and Hyalomma impeltatum (n = 4) were collected from the Alkhurma district in Jeddah and Al-Taif city. Virome analysis showed the presence of several tick-specific viruses and tick-borne viruses associated with severe illness in humans. Some were identified for the first time in the Arabian Peninsula. The human disease-associated viruses detected included Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus and Tamdy virus (family Nairoviridae), Guertu virus (family Phenuiviridae), and a novel coltivirus that shares similarities with Tarumizu virus, Tai forest reovirus and Kundal virus (family Reoviridae). Furthermore, Alkhurma hemorrhagic virus (Flaviviridae) was detected in two tick pools by specific qPCR. In addition, tick-specific viruses in families Phenuiviridae (phleboviruses), Iflaviridae, Chuviridae, Totiviridae and Flaviviridae (Pestivirus) were detected. The presence of human pathogenetic viruses warrants further efforts in tick surveillance, xenosurveillence, vector control, and sero-epidemiological investigations in human and animal populations to predict, contain and mitigate future outbreaks in the region.
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Klimentov AS, Belova OA, Kholodilov IS, Butenko AM, Bespyatova LA, Bugmyrin SV, Chernetsov N, Ivannikova AY, Kovalchuk IV, Nafeev AA, Oorzhak ND, Pilikova OM, Polienko AE, Purmak KA, Romanenko EN, Romanova LI, Saryglar AA, Solomashchenko NI, Shamsutdinov AF, Vakalova EV, Lukashev AN, Karganova GG, Gmyl AP. Phlebovirus sequences detected in ticks collected in Russia: Novel phleboviruses, distinguishing criteria and high tick specificity. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 85:104524. [PMID: 32891876 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Phlebovirus is an abundant and rather heterogeneous genus within the Phenuiviridae family (order Bunyavirales). The genus Phlebovirus is divided into two antigenic complexes, which also correspond to the main vector: sandflies/mosquitoes and ticks. Previously, only sandfly/mosquito-borne phleboviruses were associated with human disease, such as Rift Valley fever virus, Toscana virus, Sicilian and Naples Sandfly fever viruses and others. Until recently, tick-borne phleboviruses were not considered as human pathogens. After the discovery of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, interest to tick-borne phleboviruses has increased dramatically. In the last decade, many novel phleboviruses have been reported in different regions. Despite this, the diversity, ecology and pathogenicity of these viruses still remain obscure. The aim of this work was to study the diversity of phleboviruses in ticks collected in several regions of Russia. We used pan-phlebovirus RT-PCR assays based on multiple degenerate primers targeting the polymerase gene fragment. Arthropod specimens were collected from 2005 to 2018. A total of 5901 Ixodidae ticks combined into 1116 pools were screened. A total of 160 specific amplicons were produced. In three cases RT-PCR assays amplified two distinct viruses from same tick pools. Direct sequencing of amplicons and subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed twelve representatives of divergent phlebovirus groups. Based on the distribution of pairwise nucleotide sequence identity values, a cut-off (88%) was suggested to distinguish tick-borne phleboviruses. According to this provisional criterion, two viruses found here could be termed novel, while ten viruses have been described in previous studies. Detected phleboviruses demonstrated almost perfect specificity to a tick species or, at least, a genus. The same pattern was observed for tick-borne phleboviruses found in different studies around the world. Viruses that grouped together on a phylogenetic tree and differed less than this sequence identity threshold suggested above were hosted by ticks from the same genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S Klimentov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia; Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia.
| | - Oxana A Belova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia
| | - Ivan S Kholodilov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia
| | - Alexander M Butenko
- Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia
| | - Liubov A Bespyatova
- Institute of Biology, Karelian Research Centre of RAS, Petrozavodsk 185910, Russia
| | - Sergey V Bugmyrin
- Institute of Biology, Karelian Research Centre of RAS, Petrozavodsk 185910, Russia
| | - Nikita Chernetsov
- Zoological Institute of RAS, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia; Dept. Vertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Anna Y Ivannikova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia
| | - Irina V Kovalchuk
- Office of Rospotrebnadzor in the Stavropol Territory, Stavropol 355008, Russia; Stavropol State Medical University, Stavropol 355017, Russia
| | - Alexander A Nafeev
- Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Ulyanovsk Region, Ulyanovsk 432005, Russia
| | | | - Olga M Pilikova
- Black Sea Anti-Plague Station of Rospotrebnadzor, Novorossiysk 353919, Russia
| | - Alexandra E Polienko
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia
| | - Kristina A Purmak
- Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Stavropol Kray, Stavropol 355008, Russia
| | - Evgeniya N Romanenko
- Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Stavropol Kray, Stavropol 355008, Russia
| | - Lidiya Iu Romanova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | | | - Nataliya I Solomashchenko
- Stavropol State Medical University, Stavropol 355017, Russia; Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Stavropol Kray, Stavropol 355008, Russia
| | - Anton F Shamsutdinov
- Kazan Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor, Kazan 420015, Russia
| | - Elena V Vakalova
- Astrakhan Anti-Plague Station of Rospotrebnadzor, Astrakhan 414000, Russia
| | - Alexander N Lukashev
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - Galina G Karganova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Anatoly P Gmyl
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of RAS, Moscow 108819, Russia
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López Y, Miranda J, Mattar S, Gonzalez M, Rovnak J. First report of Lihan Tick virus (Phlebovirus, Phenuiviridae) in ticks, Colombia. Virol J 2020; 17:63. [PMID: 32370779 PMCID: PMC7201772 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-020-01327-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-borne phenuivirus (TBPVs) comprise human and animal viruses that can cause a variety of clinical syndromes ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to fatal haemorrhagic fevers. Objective Detect Phlebovirus (Family Phenuiviridae) in ticks collected from domestic animals in Córdoba, Colombia. Methods We collected 2365 ticks from domestic animals in three municipalities of the Department of Cordoba, Colombia in 2016. Ticks were identified and pooled by species for RNA extraction. A nested real-time PCR with specific primers for Phlebovirus and a specific probe for Heartland virus (HRTV) formerly a Phlebovirus, now a Banyangvirus were performed. Also, a conventional nested PCR, with the same specific primers was used to detect other Phleboviruses, with positive reactions indicated by an amplified cDNA fragment of approximately 244 bp determined by gel electrophoresis. These bands were gel-purified and sequenced by the Sanger method. Results Using real-time RT-PCR, no positive results for HRTV were found. However, using conventional nested PCR 2.2% (5/229 pools) yielded a product of 244 bp. One positive sample was detected in a pool of Dermacentor nitens ticks collected from a horse, and the four remaining positive pools were from Rhipicephalus microplus collected from cattle. The five positive nucleotide sequences had identities of 93 to 96% compared to a section of the L-segment of Lihan Tick virus, a Phlebovirus originally detected in R. microplus ticks in China. The strongest identity (96–99%) was with Lihan Tick virus detected in R. microplus ticks from Brazil. Conclusions This is the first report of viral detection in ticks in Colombia. We detected a Colombian strain of Lihan Tick virus. We recommend expanding the sampling area and carrying out more eco-epidemiological studies related to epidemiological surveillance of viruses on ticks in Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesica López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Jorge Miranda
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia.
| | - Marco Gonzalez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Joel Rovnak
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Sequencing and genetic characterization of two strains Paramushir virus obtained from the Tyuleniy Island in the Okhotsk Sea (2015). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:269-279. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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10
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Hacioglu S, Dincer E, Isler CT, Karapinar Z, Ataseven VS, Ozkul A, Ergunay K. A Snapshot Avian Surveillance Reveals West Nile Virus and Evidence of Wild Birds Participating in Toscana Virus Circulation. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:698-708. [PMID: 28832259 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Birds are involved in the epidemiology of several vector-borne viruses, as amplification hosts for viruses, dissemination vehicles for the vectors, and sources of emerging strains in cross-species transmission. Turkey provides diverse habitats for a variety of wild birds and is located along major bird migration routes. This study was undertaken to provide a cross-sectional screening of avian specimens for a spectrum of vector-borne viruses. MATERIALS AND METHODS The specimens were collected in Hatay province, in the Mediterranean coast of the Anatolian peninsula, located in the convergence zone of the known migration routes. Generic PCR assays were used for the detection of members of Nairovirus, Flavivirus, and Phlebovirus genera of Flaviviridae and Bunyaviridae families. The circulating viruses were characterized via sequencing and selected specimens were inoculated onto Vero cell lines for virus isolation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Specimens from 72 wild birds belonging in 8 orders and 14 species were collected. A total of 158 specimens that comprise 32 sera (20.3%) from 7 species and 126 tissues (79.7%) from 14 species were screened. Eight specimens (8/158, 5%), obtained from 4 individuals (4/72, 5.5%), were positive. West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 1 sequences were characterized in the spleen, heart, and kidney tissues from a lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina), which distinctly clustered from sequences previously identified in Turkey. Toscana virus (TOSV) genotype A and B sequences were identified in brain and kidney tissues from a greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), a great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), and a black stork (Ciconia nigra), without successful virus isolation. Partial amino acid sequences of the viral nucleocapsid protein revealed previously unreported substitutions. This study documents the involvement of avians in WNV dispersion in Anatolia as well in TOSV life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabri Hacioglu
- 1 Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University , Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ender Dincer
- 2 Advanced Technology Education, Research and Application Center, Mersin University , Mersin, Turkey
| | - Cafer Tayer Isler
- 3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University , Hatay, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Karapinar
- 4 Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yuzuncu Yıl University , Van, Turkey
| | - Veysel Soydal Ataseven
- 5 Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University , Hatay, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozkul
- 1 Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University , Ankara, Turkey
| | - Koray Ergunay
- 6 Virology Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University , Ankara, Turkey
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