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Dawson KLD, Rosato G, Egloff S, Burgener C, Oevermann A, Grest P, Hilbe M, Seuberlich T. Fatal tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in Dalmatian puppy-dogs after putative vector independent transmission. Vet Q 2024; 44:1-7. [PMID: 38596900 PMCID: PMC11008312 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2338385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
In a retrospective metatranscriptomics study, we identified tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) to be the causative agent for a fatal non-suppurative meningoencephalitis in a three-week-old Dalmatian puppy in Switzerland. Further investigations showed that the two other littermates with similar signs and pathological lesions were also positive for TBEV. By using an unbiased approach of combining high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatics we were able to solve the etiology and discover an unusual case of TBEV in three young puppies. Based on our findings, we suggest that a vector-independent transmission of TBEV occurred and that most likely an intrauterine infection led to the severe and fulminant disease of the entire litter. We were able to demonstrate the presence of TBEV RNA by in situ hybridization (ISH) in the brain of all three puppies. Furthermore, we were able to detect TBEV by RT-qPCR in total RNA extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) blocks containing multiple peripheral organs. Overall, our findings shed light on alternative vector-independent transmission routes of TBEV infections in dogs and encourage veterinary practitioners to consider TBEV as an important differential diagnosis in neurological cases in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara L. D. Dawson
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giuliana Rosato
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Egloff
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carole Burgener
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Oevermann
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paula Grest
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monika Hilbe
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Seuberlich
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Ferguson LV, El Nabbout A, Adamo SA. Warming, but not infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, increases off-host winter activity in the ectoparasite, Ixodes scapularis. J Therm Biol 2024; 121:103853. [PMID: 38626664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Warming winters will change patterns of behaviour in temperate and polar arthropods, but we know little about the drivers of winter activity in animals such as ticks. Any changes in behaviour are likely to arise from a combination of both abiotic (e.g. temperature) and biotic (e.g. infection) drivers, and will have important consequences for survival and species interactions. Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, have invaded Atlantic Canada and high proportions (30-50%) are infected with the bacteria causing Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. Infection is correlated with increased overwintering survival of adult females, and ticks are increasingly active in the winter, but it is unclear if infection is associated with activity. Further, we know little about how temperature drives the frequency of winter activity. Here, we exposed wild-caught, adult, female Ixodes scapularis ticks to three different winter temperature regimes (constant low temperatures, increased warming, and increased warming + variability) to determine the thermal and infection conditions that promote or suppress activity. We used automated behaviour monitors to track daily activity in individual ticks and repeated the study with fresh ticks over three years. Following exposure to winter conditions we determined whether ticks were infected with the bacteria B. burgdorferi and if infection was responsible for any patterns in winter activity. Warming conditions promoted increased activity throughout the overwintering period but infection with B. burgdorferi had no impact on the frequency or overall number of ticks active throughout the winter. Individual ticks varied in their levels of activity throughout the winter, such that some were largely dormant for several weeks, while others were active almost daily; however, we do not yet know the drivers behind this individual variation in behaviour. Overall, warming winters will heighten the risk of tick-host encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Ferguson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada.
| | - Amal El Nabbout
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada
| | - Shelley A Adamo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada
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Vilibic-Cavlek T, Krcmar S, Bogdanic M, Tomljenovic M, Barbic L, Roncevic D, Sabadi D, Vucelja M, Santini M, Hunjak B, Stevanovic V, Boljfetic M, Bjedov L, Masovic V, Potocnik-Hunjadi T, Lakoseljac D, Al-Mufleh M, Savic V. An Overview of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Epidemiology in Endemic Regions of Continental Croatia, 2017-2023. Microorganisms 2024; 12:386. [PMID: 38399790 PMCID: PMC10891638 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) represents an important public health problem in Europe. We analyzed the epidemiology of TBE based on data from humans, animals, and Ixodes ricinus ticks in endemic regions of continental Croatia. In the period from 2017 to 2023, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples of 684 patients with neuroinvasive diseases, 2240 horse serum samples, and 300 sheep serum samples were tested for TBEV. In addition, 8751 I. ricinus ticks were collected. CSF samples were tested using RT-PCR. Serological tests (serum, CSF) were performed using commercial ELISA, with confirmation of cross-reactive samples by a virus neutralization test. Eighty-four autochthonous human TBEV cases were confirmed. The majority of patients were in the age group of 40-69 years (58.3%) with a male predominance (70.2%). TBE showed a bimodal seasonality with a large peak in April-August and a small one in October-November. In addition to humans, TBEV IgG antibodies were found in 12.2% of horses and 9.7% of sheep. Seasonal tick abundance corresponds to the reported number of human infections. Continental Croatia is still an active natural focus of TBE. Continuous monitoring of infections in humans, sentinel animals, and ticks is needed for the implementation of preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Stjepan Krcmar
- Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
| | - Maja Bogdanic
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Morana Tomljenovic
- Department of Epidemiology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (M.T.); (D.R.); (D.L.)
- Department of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Ljubo Barbic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.B.); (V.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Dobrica Roncevic
- Department of Epidemiology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (M.T.); (D.R.); (D.L.)
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Dario Sabadi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
- Medical Faculty, University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Marko Vucelja
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.V.); (M.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Marija Santini
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljevic”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Blazenka Hunjak
- Department of Bacteriology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Microbiology, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Stevanovic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.B.); (V.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Marko Boljfetic
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.V.); (M.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Linda Bjedov
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (M.V.); (M.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Viktor Masovic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.B.); (V.S.); (V.M.)
| | | | - Danijela Lakoseljac
- Department of Epidemiology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (M.T.); (D.R.); (D.L.)
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Mahmoud Al-Mufleh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, County Hospital Cakovec, 40000 Cakovec, Croatia;
| | - Vladimir Savic
- Poultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Schütte K, Springer A, Brandes F, Reuschel M, Fehr M, Strube C. Ectoparasites of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Germany and their health impact. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:2. [PMID: 38167501 PMCID: PMC10763030 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06081-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is known for high levels of ectoparasitism that not only represents a health risk for the animals themselves, but also for pet animals and humans as hedgehogs are frequently taken into human care. In the present study, patterns of ectoparasite infestation were assessed in hedgehogs taken into care at northern German animal rehabilitation centres. METHODS Ectoparasites (ticks, fleas and mites) of 498 hedgehogs were collected over a period of 3 years from July 2018 to May 2021. Species were identified based on morphological characteristics and also via amplification and sequencing of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (COX-2) gene for fleas of the family Ceratophyllidae. Seasonal changes in infestation patterns as well as correlations with animal age, body weight and health status were assessed using generalised linear models. RESULTS Infestation with ticks, fleas and mites occurred throughout the year. Overall, 86.5% (431/498) of the examined hedgehogs were infested with ticks, 91.4% (455/498) with fleas and 17.7% (88/498) with mites. Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes hexagonus/Ixodes canisuga were the most common tick species detected, with the additional occurrence of one Ixodes frontalis. Significant seasonal changes were observed for I. ricinus, but not for I. hexagonus/I. canisuga. Additionally, I. ricinus nymph prevalence declined significantly as of 2020, probably as a consequence of the climate change-related drought as of 2018. In hedgehogs with flea infestations, Archaeopsylla erinacei, Ceratophyllus sciurorum, Nosopsyllus fasciatus and Ctenocephalides felis were identified. In all cases of mite infestation, Caparinia tripilis was detected, in addition to specimens of the family Macronyssidae and free-living mites of the family Acaridae. Statistical analyses showed correlations regarding the factors month, year, body weight and age, but no correlation was evident regarding the health status of the animals. CONCLUSIONS With a detected infestation rate of 98.6%, almost all of the examined hedgehogs were infested with at least one ectoparasite species. The seasonal activity patterns of the different ectoparasite species together with the complex annual cycle of hedgehogs lead to different seasonal patterns in ectoparasite prevalence and infestation intensities. Due to the risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens as well as the possible negative impact on the host itself, hedgehogs should be treated against ectoparasites when taken into care facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolin Schütte
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
- Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center Sachsenhagen, Sachsenhagen, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Florian Brandes
- Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center Sachsenhagen, Sachsenhagen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Reuschel
- Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Michael Fehr
- Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany.
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