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Jensen BB, Andersen NS, Wölfel S, Chen M, Paarup HM, Olesen CR, Fournier PE, Jensen PM, Skarphedinsson S. Rickettsiosis in Denmark: A nation-wide survey. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102236. [PMID: 37708802 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102236] [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: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia helvetica has been reported at varying prevalences in Danish and other European Ixodes ricinus populations. Though apparently widespread and with reported cases of human infection, the significance of the bacteria as a threat to public health remains unclear. We present a nation-wide survey of rickettsia in ticks, roe deer and humans in Denmark. Ticks were collected by flagging and screened for presence of rickettsial DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Sera from roe deer, hunters, neuroborreliosis patients and blood donors were analyzed for presence of anti-R. helvetica and Rickettsia felis antibodies by immunofluorescence microscopy. The Rickettsia minimum infection rate in ticks was 4.9 % (367/973 pools positive, 7510 ticks in total), with 3.9 % in nymphs and 9.3 % in adults. Rickettsia helvetica accounted for 4.17 % and Rickettsia monacensis for 0.03 %, 0.6 % comprised non-differentiable rickettsial DNA. The prevalence of antibodies against R. helvetica was 2.8 % (9/319) in roe deer, while no hunters (n = 536) or blood donors (n = 181) were positive. The prevalence of anti-R. helvetica antibodies among Lyme neuroborreliosis patients was 6 % (3/47), where it co-occurred with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Based on our study autochthonous rickettsiosis is of limited concern to the public health in Denmark, but our finding of R. monacensis for the first time in Denmark illustrates the dynamic nature of tick-borne pathogens, emphasizing that continuous surveillance is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Bødker Jensen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Soenderborg, Denmark; Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Nanna Skaarup Andersen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Silke Wölfel
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany; amedes MVZ for Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Soenderborg, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Helene M Paarup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Pierre Edouard Fournier
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; IHU-Mediterranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | - Sigurdur Skarphedinsson
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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2
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Lamsal A, Edgar KS, Jenkins A, Renssen H, Kjaer LJ, Alfsnes K, Bastakoti S, Dieseth M, Klitgaard K, Lindstedt HEH, Paulsen KM, Vikse R, Korslund L, Kjelland V, Stuen S, Kjellander P, Christensson M, Teräväinen M, Jensen LM, Regmi M, Giri D, Marsteen L, Bødker R, Soleng A, Andreassen ÅK. Prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in questing Ixodes ricinus nymphs in southern Scandinavia and the possible influence of meteorological factors. Zoonoses Public Health 2023; 70:473-484. [PMID: 37248739 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13049] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus ticks are Scandinavia's main vector for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which infects many people annually. The aims of the present study were (i) to obtain information on the TBEV prevalence in host-seeking I. ricinus collected within the Øresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak (ØKS) region, which lies in southern Norway, southern Sweden and Denmark; (ii) to analyse whether there are potential spatial patterns in the TBEV prevalence; and (iii) to understand the relationship between TBEV prevalence and meteorological factors in southern Scandinavia. Tick nymphs were collected in 2016, in southern Scandinavia, and screened for TBEV, using pools of 10 nymphs, with RT real-time PCR, and positive samples were confirmed with pyrosequencing. Spatial autocorrelation and cluster analysis was performed with Global Moran's I and SatScan to test for spatial patterns and potential local clusters of the TBEV pool prevalence at each of the 50 sites. A climatic analysis was made to correlate parameters such as minimum, mean and maximum temperature, relative humidity and saturation deficit with TBEV pool prevalence. The climatic data were acquired from the nearest meteorological stations for 2015 and 2016. This study confirms the presence of TBEV in 12 out of 30 locations in Denmark, where six were from Jutland, three from Zealand and two from Bornholm and Falster counties. In total, five out of nine sites were positive from southern Sweden. TBEV prevalence of 0.7%, 0.5% and 0.5%, in nymphs, was found at three sites along the Oslofjord (two sites) and northern Skåne region (one site), indicating a potential concern for public health. We report an overall estimated TBEV prevalence of 0.1% in questing I. ricinus nymphs in southern Scandinavia with a region-specific prevalence of 0.1% in Denmark, 0.2% in southern Sweden and 0.1% in southeastern Norway. No evidence of a spatial pattern or local clusters was found in the study region. We found a strong correlation between TBEV prevalence in ticks and relative humidity in Sweden and Norway, which might suggest that humidity has a role in maintaining TBEV prevalence in ticks. TBEV is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in southern Scandinavia, and we recommend further studies to understand the TBEV transmission potential with changing climate in Scandinavia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaka Lamsal
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin Skarsfjord Edgar
- Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
| | - Andrew Jenkins
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Hans Renssen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Lene Jung Kjaer
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Kristian Alfsnes
- Department of Bacteriology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srijana Bastakoti
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Malene Dieseth
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kirstine Klitgaard
- Department for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Katrine M Paulsen
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rose Vikse
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Korslund
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Vivian Kjelland
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
- Research Unit, Sørlandet Hospital Health Enterprise, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Petter Kjellander
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Christensson
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Malin Teräväinen
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Laura Mark Jensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Manoj Regmi
- Department of Data Science, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dhiraj Giri
- School of Arts, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | | | - René Bødker
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild Kristine Andreassen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, The University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
- Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Leth TA, Nymark A, Knudtzen FC, Larsen SL, Skov MN, Jensen TG, Bek-Thomsen M, Jensen HB, Hovius JW, Skarphédinsson S, Møller JK, Andersen NS. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in cerebrospinal fluid samples following pre-enrichment culture. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102138. [PMID: 36746091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Molecular methods for diagnosing Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) have shown suboptimal diagnostic sensitivities. The objective of this study was to improve the clinical sensitivity of PCR detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes by inoculating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients suspected of LNB directly into culture medium at the time of lumbar puncture, with this pursuing enrichment of Borrelia spirochetes before PCR analysis. Adult patients with symptoms suggestive of LNB were prospectively enrolled at two hospitals in the Region of Southern Denmark. The CSF-culture samples were incubated for at least eight weeks. During this period, culture sample aliquots were analysed for the presence of Borrelia DNA by separate PCR protocols in two independent clinical laboratories. The included patients were diagnosed with definite (n=12) or possible (n=2) LNB, and non-LNB (n=171) based on clinical and paraclinical findings. Patients in the LNB and the non-LNB group had a median duration from symptom onset to lumbar puncture of 40 days (IQR [23-90] days) and 120 days (IQR [32-365] days), respectively. Pre-enrichment growth of Borrelia spirochetes was accomplished from three patients (21 %) in the LNB group. The positive culture samples were confirmed by both the digital droplet PCR and the real-time PCR methods employed. All CSF samples were PCR negative in the non-LNB group. The results of this study do not support the use of Borrelia-specific PCR as a general routine diagnostic tool in adults. Still, they suggest it may prove of additional value in selected patients with a limited time from symptom onset to sample collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trine Andreasen Leth
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Lillebaelt Hospital - University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Anita Nymark
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21. 2., Odense DK-5000, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Fredrikke Christie Knudtzen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21. 2., Odense DK-5000, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sanne Løkkegaard Larsen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21. 2., Odense DK-5000, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marianne N Skov
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21. 2., Odense DK-5000, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Thøger Gorm Jensen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21. 2., Odense DK-5000, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Malene Bek-Thomsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Lillebaelt Hospital - University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Henrik Boye Jensen
- Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Lillebaelt Hospital - University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Multidisciplinary Lyme Borreliosis Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sigurdur Skarphédinsson
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21. 2., Odense DK-5000, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jens Kjølseth Møller
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Lillebaelt Hospital - University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Nanna Skaarup Andersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Lillebaelt Hospital - University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløwsvej 21. 2., Odense DK-5000, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit for Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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Van Heuverswyn J, Hallmaier-Wacker LK, Beauté J, Gomes Dias J, Haussig JM, Busch K, Kerlik J, Markowicz M, Mäkelä H, Nygren TM, Orlíková H, Socan M, Zbrzeźniak J, Žygutiene M, Gossner CM. Spatiotemporal spread of tick-borne encephalitis in the EU/EEA, 2012 to 2020. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2200543. [PMID: 36927718 PMCID: PMC10021474 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.11.2200543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundTick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a vaccine-preventable disease involving the central nervous system. TBE became a notifiable disease on the EU/EEA level in 2012.AimWe aimed to provide an updated epidemiological assessment of TBE in the EU/EEA, focusing on spatiotemporal changes.MethodsWe performed a descriptive analysis of case characteristics, time and location using data of human TBE cases reported by EU/EEA countries to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control with disease onset in 2012-2020. We analysed data at EU/EEA, national, and subnational levels and calculated notification rates using Eurostat population data. Regression models were used for temporal analysis.ResultsFrom 2012 to 2020, 19 countries reported 29,974 TBE cases, of which 24,629 (98.6%) were autochthonous. Czechia, Germany and Lithuania reported 52.9% of all cases. The highest notification rates were recorded in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (16.2, 9.5 and 7.5 cases/100,000 population, respectively). Fifty regions from 10 countries, had a notification rate ≥ 5/100,000. There was an increasing trend in number of cases during the study period with an estimated 0.053 additional TBE cases every week. In 2020, 11.5% more TBE cases were reported than predicted based on data from 2016 to 2019. A geographical spread of cases was observed, particularly in regions situated north-west of known endemic regions.ConclusionA close monitoring of ongoing changes to the TBE epidemiological situation in Europe can support the timely adaption of vaccination recommendations. Further analyses to identify populations and geographical areas where vaccination programmes can be of benefit are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julien Beauté
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joana Gomes Dias
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joana M Haussig
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Jana Kerlik
- Regional Authority of Public Health in Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | | | - Henna Mäkelä
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Hana Orlíková
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czechia
| | - Maja Socan
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jakub Zbrzeźniak
- National Institute of Public Health - NIH - National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Milda Žygutiene
- National Public Health Center under the Ministry of Health, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Céline M Gossner
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Garcia-Vozmediano A, Bellato A, Rossi L, Hoogerwerf MN, Sprong H, Tomassone L. Use of Wild Ungulates as Sentinels of TBEV Circulation in a Naïve Area of the Northwestern Alps, Italy. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12111888. [PMID: 36431023 PMCID: PMC9699112 DOI: 10.3390/life12111888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Wild and domestic animals can be usefully employed as sentinels for the surveillance of diseases with an impact on public health. In the case of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), the detection of antibodies in animals can be more effective than screening ticks for detecting TBEV foci, due to the patchy distribution of the virus. In the Piedmont region, northwestern Italy, TBEV is considered absent, but an increase in tick densities, of Ixodes ricinus in particular, has been observed, and TBEV is spreading in bordering countries, e.g., Switzerland. Therefore, we collected sera from wild ungulates during the hunting season (October-December) from 2017 to 2019 in the Susa Valley, Italian western Alps, and screened them for TBEV antibodies by a commercial competitive ELISA test. We collected 267 serum samples by endocranial venous sinuses puncture from red deer, roe deer and northern chamois carcasses. The animals were hunted in 13 different municipalities, at altitudes ranging between 750 and 2800 m a.s.l. The serological survey for TBEV yielded negative results. Borderline results for five serum samples were further confirmed as negative for TBEV by a plaque reduction neutralisation test. To date, our results indicate that TBEV is not circulating in western Piedmont. However, monitoring of TBEV should continue since TBEV and its vector are spreading in Europe. The wide-range distribution of wild ungulates and their role as feeding hosts, make them useful indicators of the health threats posed by Ixodid ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Garcia-Vozmediano
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, L.go Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.G.-V.); (L.T.)
| | - Alessandro Bellato
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, L.go Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
| | - Luca Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, L.go Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
| | - Marieke N. Hoogerwerf
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Tomassone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, L.go Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.G.-V.); (L.T.)
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Folly AJ, McElhinney LM, Johnson N. JMM Profile: Louping ill virus. J Med Microbiol 2022; 71. [PMID: 35604835 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Louping ill virus (LIV) is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus within the genus Flavivirus that is transmitted to vertebrate hosts by bites from infected ticks, the arthropod vector. The virus affects livestock in upland areas of Great Britain and Ireland, resulting in a febrile illness that can progress to fatal encephalitis. Prevention of the disease is facilitated by combining acaricide treatment, land management and vaccination strategies. However, vaccines have been discontinued in recent years. Although rare, LIV can be transmitted to and cause disease in humans. Consequently, LIV infection is a threat to human and veterinary health and can impact on the rural economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arran J Folly
- Vector-borne diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Lorraine M McElhinney
- Viral Zoonoses, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Nicholas Johnson
- Vector-borne diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Weybridge, KT15 3NB, UK
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7
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Glass A, Springer A, Strube C. A 15-year monitoring of Rickettsiales (Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp.) in questing ticks in the city of Hanover, Germany. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101975. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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8
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Gonzalez G, Bournez L, Moraes RA, Marine D, Galon C, Vorimore F, Cochin M, Nougairède A, Hennechart-Collette C, Perelle S, Leparc-Goffart I, Durand GA, Grard G, Bénet T, Danjou N, Blanchin M, Lacour SA, Franck B, Chenut G, Mainguet C, Simon C, Brémont L, Zientara S, Moutailler S, Martin-Latil S, Dheilly NM, Beck C, Lecollinet S. A One-Health Approach to Investigating an Outbreak of Alimentary Tick-Borne Encephalitis in a Non-endemic Area in France (Ain, Eastern France): A Longitudinal Serological Study in Livestock, Detection in Ticks, and the First Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Isolation and Molecular Characterisation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:863725. [PMID: 35479640 PMCID: PMC9037541 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.863725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus’ (TBEV) geographic range and the human incidence are increasing throughout Europe, putting a number of non-endemic regions and countries at risk of outbreaks. In spring 2020, there was an outbreak of tick-born encephalitis (TBE) in Ain, Eastern France, where the virus had never been detected before. All patients but one had consumed traditional unpasteurised raw goat cheese from a local producer. We conducted an investigation in the suspected farm using an integrative One Health approach. Our methodology included (i) the detection of virus in cheese and milk products, (ii) serological testing of all animals in the suspected farm and surrounding farms, (iii) an analysis of the landscape and localisation of wooded area, (iv) the capture of questing ticks and small mammals for virus detection and estimating enzootic hazard, and (v) virus isolation and genome sequencing. This approach allowed us to confirm the alimentary origin of the TBE outbreak and witness in real-time the seroconversion of recently exposed individuals and excretion of virus in goat milk. In addition, we identified a wooded focus area where and around which there is a risk of TBEV exposure. We provide the first TBEV isolate responsible for the first alimentary-transmitted TBE in France, obtained its full-length genome sequence, and found that it belongs to the European subtype of TBEV. TBEV is now a notifiable human disease in France, which should facilitate surveillance of its incidence and distribution throughout France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Gonzalez
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Laure Bournez
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, Malzéville, France
| | - Rayane Amaral Moraes
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Dumarest Marine
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Clémence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Fabien Vorimore
- Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, Laboratory for Animal Health, ANSES Maisons-Alfort, Paris-Est University, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Cochin
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Antoine Nougairède
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | - Sylvie Perelle
- ANSES Laboratory for Food Safety, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Isabelle Leparc-Goffart
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.,French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus, Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Guillaume André Durand
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.,French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus, Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Gilda Grard
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE), Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.,French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus, Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille, France
| | - Thomas Bénet
- Santé Publique France, French Public Health Agency, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Office, Lyon, France
| | - Nathalie Danjou
- Regional Health Agency (Agence Régionale de Santé), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Lyon, France
| | - Martine Blanchin
- Regional Health Agency (Agence Régionale de Santé), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Lyon, France
| | - Sandrine A Lacour
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Boué Franck
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, Malzéville, France
| | - Guillaume Chenut
- Local Health Authority, Direction Départementale de la Protection de la Population de l'Ain, Bourg-en-Bresse, France
| | - Catherine Mainguet
- Local Health Authority, Direction Départementale de la Protection de la Population de l'Ain, Bourg-en-Bresse, France
| | - Catherine Simon
- Local Health Authority, Direction Départementale de la Protection de la Population de l'Ain, Bourg-en-Bresse, France
| | - Laurence Brémont
- Local Health Authority, Direction Départementale de la Protection de la Population de l'Ain, Bourg-en-Bresse, France
| | - Stephan Zientara
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sandra Martin-Latil
- ANSES Laboratory for Food Safety, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Nolwenn M Dheilly
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Cécile Beck
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sylvie Lecollinet
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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9
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Viglietta M, Bellone R, Blisnick AA, Failloux AB. Vector Specificity of Arbovirus Transmission. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:773211. [PMID: 34956136 PMCID: PMC8696169 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.773211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 25% of human infectious diseases are vector-borne diseases (VBDs). These diseases, caused by pathogens shared between animals and humans, are a growing threat to global health with more than 2.5 million annual deaths. Mosquitoes and ticks are the main vectors of arboviruses including flaviviruses, which greatly affect humans. However, all tick or mosquito species are not able to transmit all viruses, suggesting important molecular mechanisms regulating viral infection, dissemination, and transmission by vectors. Despite the large distribution of arthropods (mosquitoes and ticks) and arboviruses, only a few pairings of arthropods (family, genus, and population) and viruses (family, genus, and genotype) successfully transmit. Here, we review the factors that might limit pathogen transmission: internal (vector genetics, immune responses, microbiome including insect-specific viruses, and coinfections) and external, either biotic (adult and larvae nutrition) or abiotic (temperature, chemicals, and altitude). This review will demonstrate the dynamic nature and complexity of virus–vector interactions to help in designing appropriate practices in surveillance and prevention to reduce VBD threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Viglietta
- Unit of Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Rachel Bellone
- Unit of Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Adrien Albert Blisnick
- Unit of Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Unit of Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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10
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Knudtzen FC, Eikeland R, Bremell D, Quist-Paulsen E, Johansen IS, Solheim AM, Skarphédinsson S. Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis; a systematic literature review and a Scandinavian cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 28:649-656. [PMID: 34768019 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) presenting with encephalitis is rare and scarcely described. OBJECTIVES To describe the available literature on LNB encephalitis, and to characterize this patient-group through a Scandinavian retrospective cohort study. DATA-SOURCES Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane library. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA No discrimination on study-type, time of publication or language. PARTICIPANTS Review: all articles with definite LNB and confirmed/possible encephalitis. Cohort: LNB cohorts from Denmark, Sweden and Norway 1990-2019 screened for patients with encephalitis. METHODS Review: adhering to PRISMA guidelines, two authors extracted and assessed quality of studies. Cohort: data registered on demography, symptoms, CSF-findings, differentialdiagnostic examinations, treatment, residual symptoms, one-year mortality. RESULTS Review: 2330 articles screened on title/abstract, 281 full-texts, yielding 42 articles (case reports/series or cohort studies) including 45 patients from 18 countries spanning 35 years. Altered mental status ranged from personality changes and confusion to unconsciousness. Common focal symptoms were hemiparesis, ataxia and dysarthria, seven patients had seizures. Median time from symptom onset to hospital was 2 weeks (IQR 2-90 days). Of 38 patients with available follow-up after median 12 months (IQR 5-13), 32 had fully or partially recovered, 2 had died. Cohort: 35 patients (median age 67 years,IQR 48-76) were included. The encephalitis prevalence was 3.3%(95%CI 2.2-4.4%) among 1019 screened LNB-patients. Frequent encephalitis symptoms were confusion, personality-changes, aphasia, ataxia. EEGs and neuroimaging showed encephalitis in 93.8% and 20.6%, respectively. Median delay from symptom onset to hospital was 14 days(IQR 7-34), with further 7 days(IQR 3-34) delay until targeted therapy. At follow-up (median 298 days post-treatment(IQR 113-389)), 65.6% had residual symptoms. None had died. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that encephalitis is an uncommon, but likely overlooked clinical manifestation of LNB. As the high frequency of residual symptoms may be related to prolonged treatment delay, prompt LNB testing of patients with encephalitis in B.burgdorferi-endemic areas should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrikke Christie Knudtzen
- Clinical Center for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Randi Eikeland
- The Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tick-Borne Diseases, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway; Faculty of Health & Sport Sciences, University of Agder, Norway
| | - Daniel Bremell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Else Quist-Paulsen
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, Oslo, Norway
| | - Isik Somuncu Johansen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anne-Marit Solheim
- Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Sigurdur Skarphédinsson
- Clinical Center for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Research Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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11
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Stiasny K, Santonja I, Holzmann H, Essl A, Stanek G, Kundi M, Heinz FX. The regional decline and rise of tick-borne encephalitis incidence do not correlate with Lyme borreliosis, Austria, 2005 to 2018. EURO SURVEILLANCE : BULLETIN EUROPEEN SUR LES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES = EUROPEAN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE BULLETIN 2021; 26. [PMID: 34477056 PMCID: PMC8414957 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2021.26.35.2002108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is a human pathogen that is expanding its endemic zones in Europe, emerging in previously unaffected regions. In Austria, increasing incidence in alpine regions in the west has been countered by a decline in traditional endemic areas to the east of the country. Aim To shed light on the cause of this disparity, we compared the temporal changes of human TBE incidences in all federal provinces of Austria with those of Lyme borreliosis (LB), which has the same tick vector and rodent reservoir. Methods This comparative analysis was based on the surveillance of hospitalised TBE cases by the National Reference Center for TBE and on the analysis of hospitalised LB cases from hospital discharge records across all of Austria from 2005 to 2018. Results The incidences of the two diseases and their annual fluctuations were not geographically concordant. Neither the decline in TBE in the eastern lowlands nor the increase in western alpine regions is paralleled by similar changes in the incidence of LB. Conclusion The discrepancy between changes in incidence of TBE and LB support the contributions of virus-specific factors beyond the mere availability of tick vectors and/or human outdoor activity, which are a prerequisite for the transmission of both diseases. A better understanding of parameters controlling human pathogenicity and the maintenance of TBE virus in its natural vector−host cycle will generate further insights into the focal nature of TBE and can potentially improve forecasts of TBE risk on smaller regional scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Isabel Santonja
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Astrid Essl
- Astrid Eßl Consulting-Gesundheitsforschung, Wiener Neustadt, Austria.,GfK Austria Healthcare, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerold Stanek
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Kundi
- Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz X Heinz
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Krzysiak MK, Anusz K, Konieczny A, Rola J, Salat J, Strakova P, Olech W, Larska M. The European bison (Bison bonasus) as an indicatory species for the circulation of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in natural foci in Poland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101799. [PMID: 34358779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in Europe transmitted by Ixodidae vectors. While small mammals such as bank voles and ticks constitute the main reservoirs for virus transmission, large sylvatic species act as a food source for ticks. Cervids such as roe deer and red deer are considered sentinel species for TBE in natural foci. In addition, an increase of the population size and density of large wild mammals in an area corresponds to an increase in the tick burden and may potentially increase the prevalence of TBE virus (TBEV) in ticks and tick hosts and further exposure risk in humans. Humans are considered accidental hosts. The prevalence of TBE relies on interactions between host, vector and environment. The present study examines the exposure of the largest European herbivore, the European bison (Bison bonasus) to TBEV infection. Assessed using the IMMUNOZYM FSME ELISA (PROGEN), the overall TBEV seroprevalence was 62.7% in the 335 European bison that were studied. ELISA results were confirmed by the gold-standard virus neutralization test (VNT) with 98.7% sensitivity and thus giving a true prevalence of 63.5%. TBEV seroprevalence was significantly correlated to the origin, age group, sex, population type (free living/captive) and sanitary status (healthy/selectively eliminated/found dead/killed in accident) of the European bison in the univariable analysis. The highest seroprevalences were observed in the three largest north-eastern wild populations (Białowieska, Borecka and Knyszyńska forests), which corresponded with the highest incidence of human cases reported in the country. The risk of TBEV seropositivity increased with age and was higher in female and free-ranging European bison. Additionally, to the epidemiological investigation, the continuous detection of TBEV antibodies was studied by repetitive testing of animals over the course of 34 months. Two of six seropositive animals remained seropositive throughout the study. The presence of antibodies was followed throughout the study in seropositive European bison and for at least a year in animals that seroconverted during the observation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał K Krzysiak
- Białowieża National Park, Park Pałacowy 11, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Forest Sciences, Białystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45 E, 15-351, Białystok, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Anusz
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University Of Life Sciences (WULS), ul. Nowoursynowska 166, Warszawa 02-786, Poland
| | - Andrzej Konieczny
- Faculty of Agrobioengineering, University of Live Sciences, ul. Akademicka 13, Lublin 20-950, Poland
| | - Jerzy Rola
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, AL. Partyzantów 57, Pulawy 24-100, Poland
| | - Jiri Salat
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, Brno 621 00, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, Ceské Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Strakova
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, Brno 621 00, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, Ceské Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Wanda Olech
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Science (WULS), ul. Ciszewskiego 8, Warszawa 02-786, Poland
| | - Magdalena Larska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, AL. Partyzantów 57, Pulawy 24-100, Poland
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13
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LOUPING-ILL VIRUS SEROSURVEY OF WILLOW PTARMIGAN (LAGOPUS LAGOPUS LAGOPUS) IN NORWAY. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:282-291. [PMID: 33822153 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Norway, the Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus lagopus) is experiencing population declines and is nationally Red Listed as Near Threatened. Although disease has not generally been regarded as an important factor behind population fluctuations for Willow Ptarmigan in Norway, disease occurrence has been poorly investigated. Both louping-ill virus (LIV) and the closely related tick-borne encephalitis virus are found along the southern part of the Norwegian coast. We assessed whether and where Norwegian Willow Ptarmigan populations have been infected with LIV. We expected to find infected individuals in populations in the southernmost part of the country. We did not expect to find infected individuals in populations further north and at higher altitudes because of the absence of the main vector, the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus). We collected serum samples on Nobuto filter paper and used a hemagglutination inhibition assay for antibodies against LIV. We collected data at both local and country-wide levels. For local sampling, we collected and analyzed 87 hunter-collected samples from one of the southernmost Willow Ptarmigan populations in Norway. Of these birds, only three positives (3.4%) were found. For the country-wide sampling, we collected serum samples from 163 Willow Ptarmigan carcasses submitted from selected locations all over the country. Of these birds, 32% (53) were seropositive for LIV or a cross-reacting virus. Surprisingly, we found seropositive individuals from locations across the whole country, including outside the known distribution of the sheep tick. These results suggest that either LIV or a cross-reacting virus infects ptarmigan in large parts of Norway, including at high altitudes and latitudes.
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14
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Bauer BU, Könenkamp L, Stöter M, Wolf A, Ganter M, Steffen I, Runge M. Increasing awareness for tick-borne encephalitis virus using small ruminants as suitable sentinels: Preliminary observations. One Health 2021; 12:100227. [PMID: 33732862 PMCID: PMC7937955 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is one of the most common zoonotic vector-borne infections in Europe. An appropriate awareness is crucial to react quickly and efficiently to protect humans from this pathogen. From winter 2017 until spring 2018 serum samples were collected from 71 small ruminant flocks (3174 animals) in five German federal states. The sera were examined for TBEV antibodies by ELISA and serum neutralization test. In the TBEV risk areas, there was a coincidence in 14 districts between seropositive small ruminants and the occurrence of human TBE cases in 2017. In eight districts, the TBEV infection could not be detected in small ruminants although human cases were reported. In contrast, in five districts, small ruminants tested TBEV seropositive without notified human TBE cases in 2017. A changing pattern of TBEV circulation in the environment was observed by the absence of antibodies in a defined high-risk area. In the non-TBE risk areas, seropositive small ruminants were found in five districts. In two districts with a low human incidence the infection was missed by the small ruminant sentinels. An intra-herd prevalence of 12.5% was determined in a goat flock in the non-TBE risk area in 2017, two years prior the first autochthone human case was reported. All sheep and goats in this flock were examined for TBEV antibodies for three years. Individual follow-up of twelve small ruminants was possible and revealed mostly a short lifespan of TBEV antibodies of less than one year. The probability to identify TBEV seropositive sheep flocks was enhanced in flocks kept for landscape conservation or which were shepherded (p < 0.05). Our preliminary observations clearly demonstrated the successful utilization of small ruminants as sentinel animals for TBEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin U. Bauer
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Laura Könenkamp
- Institute for Biochemistry and Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Melanie Stöter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Annika Wolf
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Imke Steffen
- Institute for Biochemistry and Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Runge
- Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Eintrachtweg 17, 30173 Hannover, Germany
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15
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Drážovská M, Vojtek B, Mojžišová J, Koleničová S, Koľvek F, Prokeš M, Korytár Ľ, Csanady A, Ondrejková A, Vataščinová T, Bhide MR. The first serological evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses in Slovakia. Acta Vet Hung 2021; 69:31-37. [PMID: 33835943 DOI: 10.1556/004.2021.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis. It affects humans and several wild and domesticated mammals, including horses. The aim of our study was a preliminary survey of the occurrence of these re-emerging pathogens in horses in Slovakia. The sera from 200 animals of different ages and both sexes were tested for the presence of A. phagocytophilum antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Subsequently, detection of the 16S rRNA gene fragment of A. phagocytophilum was attempted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in each blood sample. Our results confirmed the presence of specific antibodies in 85 out of 200 individuals (42.5%), but no significant changes were found between the animals of different ages and sexes. However, the PCR analysis did not detect any positive animals. Our data represent one of the highest values of seropositivity to A. phagocytophilum in horses in Central Europe. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the circulation of A. phagocytophilum in this region, thus indicating a potential risk to other susceptible species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Drážovská
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Boris Vojtek
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Mojžišová
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Simona Koleničová
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Filip Koľvek
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Marián Prokeš
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Ľuboš Korytár
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | | | - Anna Ondrejková
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Tatiana Vataščinová
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Mangesh Ramesh Bhide
- 1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovak Republic
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16
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Paulsen KM, Lamsal A, Bastakoti S, Pettersson JHO, Pedersen BN, Stiasny K, Haglund M, Smura T, Vapalahti O, Vikse R, Alfsnes K, Andreassen ÅK. High-throughput sequencing of two European strains of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Hochosterwitz and 1993/783. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101557. [PMID: 33080519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a medically important arbovirus, widespread in Europe and Asia. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans and animals by bites from ticks and, in rare cases, by consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. The aim of this study was to sequence and characterize two TBEV strains with amplicon sequencing by designing overlapping primers. The amplicon sequencing, via Illumina MiSeq, covering nearly the entire TBEV genome, was successful: We retrieved and characterized the complete polyprotein sequence of two TBEV strains, Hochosterwitz and 1993/783 from Austria and Sweden, respectively. In this study the previous phylogenetic analysis of both strains was confirmed to be of the European subtypes of TBEV (TBEV-Eu) by whole genome sequencing. The Hochosterwitz strain clustered with the two strains KrM 93 and KrM 213 from South Korea, and the 1993/783 strain clustered together with the NL/UH strain from the Netherlands. Our study confirms the suitability and rapidness of the high-throughput sequencing method used to produce complete TBEV genomes from TBEV samples of high viral load giving high-molecular-weight cDNA with large overlapping amplicons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine M Paulsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, PO-Box 222 Skøyen, NO-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alaka Lamsal
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, PO-Box 222 Skøyen, NO-0213, Oslo, Norway; University of South-Eastern Norway, Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, Gullbringvegen 36, NO-3800, Bø, Norway
| | - Srijana Bastakoti
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, PO-Box 222 Skøyen, NO-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - John H-O Pettersson
- Uppsala University, Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala, Sweden; The University of Sydney, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia
| | - Benedikte N Pedersen
- University of South-Eastern Norway, Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, Gullbringvegen 36, NO-3800, Bø, Norway
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Virology, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mats Haglund
- Kalmar County Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, SE-391 85, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Teemu Smura
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Medicum, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Medicum, Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Virology and Immunology, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rose Vikse
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, PO-Box 222 Skøyen, NO-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristian Alfsnes
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Bacteriology, PO-Box 222 Skøyen, NO-0213, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, PO-Box 222 Skøyen, NO-0213, Oslo, Norway; University of South-Eastern Norway, Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, Gullbringvegen 36, NO-3800, Bø, Norway.
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17
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Agergaard CN, Rosenstierne MW, Bødker R, Rasmussen M, Andersen PHS, Fomsgaard A. New tick-borne encephalitis virus hot spot in Northern Zealand, Denmark, October 2019. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 31662158 PMCID: PMC6820129 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.43.1900639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
During summer 2019, three patients residing by Tisvilde Hegn, Denmark were hospitalised with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) after tick bites. A new TBE virus (TBEV) micro-focus was identified in tick nymphs collected around a playground in Tisvilde Hegn forest. Estimated TBEV prevalence was 8%, higher than in endemic areas around Europe. Whole genome sequencing showed clustering to a TBEV strain from Norway. This is the second time TBEV is found in Ixodes ricinus outside Bornholm, Denmark.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte N Agergaard
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maiken W Rosenstierne
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - René Bødker
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Rasmussen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter H S Andersen
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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18
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Zubriková D, Wittmann M, Hönig V, Švec P, Víchová B, Essbauer S, Dobler G, Grubhoffer L, Pfister K. Prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate, Germany. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101375. [PMID: 31983627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are the most common tick-borne diseases in Germany. We collected Ixodes ricinus ticks from 16 high-risk and four low-risk sites distributed in Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate based on the number of human TBE cases recorded at the Robert Koch Institute from 2001 to 2009. A total of 8805 questing ticks (8203 nymphs, 602 adults) were collected in 2010 and examined in pools for the presence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) using real-time RT-PCR. Overall TBEV prevalence evaluated as the minimum infection rate (MIR) was 0.26 % (23 positive pools/8805 ticks in 1029 pools). TBEV was detected at seven of the 16 high-risk sites, where MIR ranged from 0.16 to 2.86 %. A total of 3969 ticks were examined by PCR for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) targeting the 5 S-23 S rRNA intergenic spacer (IGS) region. IGS nucleotide sequences were used to determine genospecies. Selected positive Borrelia samples were subjected to PCR and sequencing targeting the OspA gene, providing 46 sequences for molecular phylogenetic analysis. Of the 3969 questing ticks, 506 (12.7 %) were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. Seven B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies were identified: B. afzelii (41.3 %), B. garinii (19 %), B. valaisiana (13.8 %), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (11.1 %), B. spielmanii (0.4 %), B. lusitaniae (0.2 %), and Candidatus B. finlandensis (0.6 %). Mixed infections were identified in 13.6 % of the ticks. The rate of infection in questing ticks varied among sites from 5.6 % (72 examined, four positive) to 29.5 % (88 examined, 26 positive). B. burgdorferi s.l. occurred at all 20 sites, whereas TBEV was detected only at the high-risk sites where more human TBE cases were reported compared to low-risk sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Zubriková
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Maria Wittmann
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Václav Hönig
- Biology Centre AS CR, Institute of Parasitology & University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Švec
- Department of Geoinformatics, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
| | - Bronislava Víchová
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Sandra Essbauer
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center of Infection Research DZIF Partner, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center of Infection Research DZIF Partner, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Libor Grubhoffer
- Biology Centre AS CR, Institute of Parasitology & University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kurt Pfister
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
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19
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Kunze U. Report of the 21st Annual Meeting of the International Scientific Working Group on Tick-Borne Encephalitis (ISW-TBE): TBE − record year 2018. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101287. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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20
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Paulsen KM, das Neves CG, Granquist EG, Madslien K, Stuen S, Pedersen BN, Vikse R, Rocchi M, Laming E, Stiasny K, Andreassen ÅK. Cervids as sentinel-species for tick-borne encephalitis virus in Norway - A serological study. Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 67:342-351. [PMID: 31855321 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). TBEV is one of the most important neurological pathogens transmitted by tick bites in Europe. The objectives of this study were to investigate the seroprevalence of TBE antibodies in cervids in Norway and the possible emergence of new foci, and furthermore to evaluate if cervids can function as sentinel animals for the distribution of TBEV in the country. Serum samples from 286 moose, 148 roe deer, 140 red deer and 83 reindeer from all over Norway were collected and screened for TBE immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies with a modified commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by TBEV serum neutralisation test (SNT). The overall seroprevalence against the TBEV complex in the cervid specimens from Norway was 4.6%. The highest number of seropositive cervids was found in south-eastern Norway, but seropositive cervids were also detected in southern- and central Norway. Antibodies against TBEV detected by SNT were present in 9.4% of the moose samples, 1.4% in red deer, 0.7% in roe deer, and nil in reindeer. The majority of the positive samples in our study originated from areas where human cases of TBE have been reported in Norway. The study is the first comprehensive screening of cervid species in Norway for antibodies to TBEV, and shows that cervids are useful sentinel animals to indicate TBEV occurrence, as supplement to studies in ticks. Furthermore, the results indicate that TBEV might be spreading northwards in Norway. This information may be of relevance for public health considerations and supports previous findings of TBEV in ticks in Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine M Paulsen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Erik G Granquist
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research and Herd Health, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Benedikte N Pedersen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Rose Vikse
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mara Rocchi
- Virus Surveillance Unit, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Scotland, UK
| | - Ellie Laming
- Virus Surveillance Unit, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Scotland, UK
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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21
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Ocias LF, Waldeck M, Hallén I, Nørgaard M, Krogfelt KA. Transnational exchange of surveillance data reveals previously unrecognized TBEV microfocus. Eur J Public Health 2019; 29:631-633. [PMID: 31321418 PMCID: PMC6660106 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a tick-borne infection with an increasing presence in many European countries. It is caused by the TBE virus (TBEV), a flavivirus transmitted by the Ixodes ricinus tick in northern Europe. In Denmark, the virus exists endemically on the island of Bornholm. However, a large proportion of Danish cases are also imported from Sweden, where the incidence of TBE has steadily been increasing during the last few decades. With the prospect of expanding risk areas due to climate change, TBE surveillance data exchange between countries could facilitate the identification of new TBEV microfoci and thereby aid healthcare workers in the issuing of vaccination recommendations. We present data from a collaborative effort between Denmark and Sweden on the surveillance of TBEV that resulted in the uncovering of a previously unrecognized possible TBEV microfocus in central Sweden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Frans Ocias
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Mattias Waldeck
- Regional Office of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Skåne County, Sweden
| | - Ingemar Hallén
- Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Värmland County, Sweden
| | - Mathilde Nørgaard
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark
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22
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A method for rapid and high-yield production of the tick-borne encephalitis virus E and DIII recombinant proteins in E. coli with preservation of the antigenic properties. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:935-941. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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23
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Petersen A, Rosenstierne MW, Rasmussen M, Fuursted K, Nielsen HV, O'Brien Andersen L, Bødker R, Fomsgaard A. Field samplings of Ixodes ricinus ticks from a tick-borne encephalitis virus micro-focus in Northern Zealand, Denmark. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:1028-1032. [PMID: 31151922 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In 2008-2009 a tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) micro-focus was detected in Northern Zealand, Denmark. No new cases of TBE with an epidemiological link to Northern Zealand has been reported since. Here we undertook to investigate Ixodes ricinus ticks from this endemic micro-focus in 2016 and 2017. In addition to TBEV, I. ricinus ticks may host other pathogens that include Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Neoehrlichia mikurensis, together with various endosymbiont microorganisms. To detect multiple organisms we used a metagenomics PanVirus microarray and next-generation sequencing to examine the persistence and evolution of other emerging viruses, bacteria and parasites. Here we report the rise and fall of the Danish TBEV micro-focus in Northern Zealand. However, we identify for the first time in Danish I. ricinus ticks the presence of Uukuniemi virus in addition to a tick-borne phlebovirus and a range of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Petersen
- European Program for Public Health Microbiology Training (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, (ECDC), Solna, Sweden; Virus Research and Development Laboratory, Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnosis, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infection Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Maiken Worsøe Rosenstierne
- Virus Research and Development Laboratory, Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnosis, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Rasmussen
- Virus Research and Development Laboratory, Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnosis, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kurt Fuursted
- Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infection Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Vedel Nielsen
- Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infection Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lee O'Brien Andersen
- Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Infection Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - René Bødker
- DTU National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Virus Research and Development Laboratory, Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnosis, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Infectious Disease Research Unit, Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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24
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Andersen NS, Bestehorn M, Chitimia-Dobler L, Kolmos HJ, Jensen PM, Dobler G, Skarphédinsson S. Phylogenetic characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus from Bornholm, Denmark. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:533-539. [PMID: 30704909 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea has been known as a tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) natural focus for more than 60 years. TBE in humans is diagnosed on a regular basis either in inhabitants or tourists of the island. Other areas in Denmark have been suggested as possible risk areas of TBE. Despite the long-known endemicity on Bornholm and the possibility of the virus circulating in other areas, no data on the prevalences of TBE virus (TBEV) in ticks, or adequate molecular characterization and phylogenetic studies are available for the circulating TBEV strains. This study aimed to detect TBEV in ticks collected on the island of Bornholm and other possible risk areas, with the attempt to isolate the circulating viruses for molecular and phylogenetic analysis and confirm the presence of virus in the predicted risk areas. From 2014 to 2016, 9321 I. ricinus (nymphs, females, and males) were collected by flagging 31 locations in Denmark. The ticks were pooled and tested for TBEV by qPCR. The envelope gene of the detected TBE virus strains was amplified and sequenced by RT-PCR. After successful virus isolation, whole genome sequencing was performed. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences was done by the Maximum Likelihood method. One pool of 11 females and one pool of eight males from a total of 34 tick pools collected from the northwestern shore of lake Rubinsøen on Bornholm tested positive, resulting in a local estimated point prevalence of 0.6% [CI95% 0,1-1.85%] in this microfocus. We were not successful in confirming any other of the predicted TBEV-endemic areas. Alignment of the two complete E genes from Bornholm revealed identical sequences. Virus isolation and whole genome sequencing were succeeded from one of the positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolated virus had the closest phylogenetic relationship to TBEV sequences detected in Eastern and Central Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Skaarup Andersen
- Clinical Centre of Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark; Research Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløvsvej 21.2, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Malena Bestehorn
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Hans-Wolff-Strasse 34, DE-70955, Stuttgart, Germany; Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, DE-80937, Munich, Germany; German Center of Infection Research (DZIF) Partner Munich, Neuherbergstrasse 11, DE-80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Hans-Wolff-Strasse 34, DE-70955, Stuttgart, Germany; Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, DE-80937, Munich, Germany; German Center of Infection Research (DZIF) Partner Munich, Neuherbergstrasse 11, DE-80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Jørn Kolmos
- Research Unit of Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløvsvej 21.2, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Per Moestrup Jensen
- Department of Plant- and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Hans-Wolff-Strasse 34, DE-70955, Stuttgart, Germany; Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, DE-80937, Munich, Germany; German Center of Infection Research (DZIF) Partner Munich, Neuherbergstrasse 11, DE-80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Sigurdur Skarphédinsson
- Clinical Centre of Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark
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