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Kovalev SY, Okulovskaya VY. The First Record of Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever Virus and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus of Baltic Lineage from the Kemerovo Region of Russia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:443-450. [PMID: 38593456 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0156] [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] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Tick-borne encephalitis virus Siberian subtype (TBEV-Sib) and Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV) are causative agents of natural focal infections in Western Siberia, Russia. The distribution of TBEV phylogenetic lineages and OHFV in the Kemerovo Region of Western Siberia remains poorly investigated. Methods: The phylogenetic analyses of fragment genome sequences 26 flaviviruses identified in 2019 were performed, and the amino acid variation was determined to reveal to which clusteron they belong. The age of Baltic and Asian lineages of the TBEV-Sib was calculated for Kemerovo District and Region, respectively. Results: Twenty-five isolates were members of three TBEV-Sib phylogenetic lineages: Baltic (48%), Asian (36%), and East Siberian (16%). The Baltic lineage's eastern boundary is commonly thought to be in the Novosibirsk Region, but our data suggest that it may reach further east. Analysis of the Baltic lineage clusteron structure showed that the isolates found are unique (6) or belong to clusteron-founder 3D (1) and derived clusteron 3O (5). Based on the age of 3O clusteron, Baltic lineage could have appeared in the Kemerovo Region by the late 1970s. One of the isolated viruses turned out to be the OHFV of the first subtype and not to belong to any known clusteron. This finding is the first known detection of the virus outside the endemic area of Russia. Given the recent discovery of OHFV in Kazakhstan, it can be assumed that the area of this virus distribution is much wider than previously thought. Conclusions: This report provides insights into the population structure of TBEV and OHFV, which may be helpful for epidemiological investigation and surveillance of the viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Y Kovalev
- Institute of Natural Science and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Viktoriya Y Okulovskaya
- Institute of Natural Science and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
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2
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Sidorenko M, Radzijevskaja J, Mickevičius S, Bratchikov M, Mardosaitė-Busaitienė D, Sakalauskas P, Paulauskas A. Phylogenetic characterisation of tick-borne encephalitis virus from Lithuania. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296472. [PMID: 38324618 PMCID: PMC10849421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The Baltic states are the region in Europe where tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is most endemic. The highest notification rate of TBE cases is reported in Lithuania, where the incidence of TBE has significantly increased since 1992. A recent study reported 0.4% prevalence of TBE virus (TBEV) in the two most common tick species distributed in Lithuania, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, with the existence of endemic foci confirmed in seven out of Lithuania's ten counties. However, until now, no comprehensive data on molecular characterisation and phylogenetic analysis have been available for the circulating TBEV strains. The aim of this study was to analyse TBEV strains derived from I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks collected from Lithuania and provide a genotypic characterisation of viruses based on sequence analysis of partial E protein and NS3 genes. The 54 nucleotide sequences obtained were compared with 81 TBEV strains selected from the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial E and NS3 gene sequences derived from 34 Lithuanian TBEV isolates revealed that these were specific to Lithuania, and all belonged to the European subtype, with a maximum identity to the Neudoerfl reference strain (GenBank accession no. U27495) of 98.7% and 97.4%, respectively. The TBEV strains showed significant regional genetic diversity. The detected TBEV genotypes were not specific to the tick species. However, genetic differences were observed between strains from different locations, while strains from the same location showed a high similarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Sidorenko
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jana Radzijevskaja
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Saulius Mickevičius
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Maksim Bratchikov
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Povilas Sakalauskas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Algimantas Paulauskas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
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3
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Brackney DE, Vogels CBF. The known unknowns of Powassan virus ecology. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1142-1148. [PMID: 37862099 PMCID: PMC10645372 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV; Family: Flaviviridae, Genus: Flavivirus) is the sole North American member of the tick-borne encephalitis sero-complex. While associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, POWV has historically been of little public health concern due to low incidence rates. However, over the last 20 yr, incidence rates have increased highlighting the growing epidemiological threat. Currently, there are no vaccines or therapeutics with tick habitat reduction, acaricide application, and public awareness programs being our primary means of intervention. The effectiveness of these control strategies is dependent on having a sound understanding of the virus's ecology. In this Forum, we review what is currently known about POWV ecology, identify gaps in our knowledge, and discuss prevailing and alternative hypotheses about transmission dynamics, reservoir hosts, and spatial focality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doug E Brackney
- Department of Entomology, Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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4
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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) 2022; 12:1888. [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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
| | - 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
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5
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Lang D, Chitimia-Dobler L, Bestehorn-Willmann M, Lindau A, Drehmann M, Stroppel G, Hengge H, Mackenstedt U, Kaier K, Dobler G, Borde J. The Emergence and Dynamics of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in a New Endemic Region in Southern Germany. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2125. [PMID: 36363717 PMCID: PMC9693875 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important viral tick-borne infection in Europe and Asia. It is emerging in new areas. The mechanisms of emergence are fairly unknown or speculative. In the Ravensburg district in southern Germany, TBE emerged, mainly over the last five years. Here, we analyzed the underlying epidemiology in humans. The resulting identified natural foci of the causal TBE virus (TBEV) were genetically characterized. We sampled 13 potential infection sites at these foci and detected TBEV in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) at eight sites. Phylogenetic analysis spurred the introduction of at least four distinct TBEV lineages of the European subtype into the Ravensburg district over the last few years. In two instances, a continuous spread of these virus strains over up to 10 km was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lang
- National Reference Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute for Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- National Reference Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute for Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Malena Bestehorn-Willmann
- National Reference Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute for Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Lindau
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Marco Drehmann
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gabriele Stroppel
- Public Health Office, District Ravensburg, 88212 Ravensburg, Germany
| | - Helga Hengge
- Public Health Office, District Ravensburg, 88212 Ravensburg, Germany
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Klaus Kaier
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics (IMBI), University Medical Center Freiburg im Breisgau, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- National Reference Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute for Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
- Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Johannes Borde
- Praxis Prof. Borde & Kollegen, Gesundheitszentrum Oberkirch, 77704 Oberkirch, Germany
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg im Breisgau, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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6
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Lindqvist R, Rosendal E, Weber E, Asghar N, Schreier S, Lenman A, Johansson M, Dobler G, Bestehorn M, Kröger A, Överby AK. The envelope protein of tick-borne encephalitis virus influences neuron entry, pathogenicity, and vaccine protection. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:284. [PMID: 32988388 PMCID: PMC7523050 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01943-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is considered to be the medically most important arthropod-borne virus in Europe. The symptoms of an infection range from subclinical to mild flu-like disease to lethal encephalitis. The exact determinants of disease severity are not known; however, the virulence of the strain as well as the immune status of the host are thought to be important factors for the outcome of the infection. Here we investigated virulence determinants in TBEV infection. Method Mice were infected with different TBEV strains, and high virulent and low virulent TBEV strains were chosen. Sequence alignment identified differences that were cloned to generate chimera virus. The infection rate of the parental and chimeric virus were evaluated in primary mouse neurons, astrocytes, mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and in vivo. Neutralizing capacity of serum from individuals vaccinated with the FSME-IMMUN® and Encepur® or combined were evaluated. Results We identified a highly pathogenic and neurovirulent TBEV strain, 93/783. Using sequence analysis, we identified the envelope (E) protein of 93/783 as a potential virulence determinant and cloned it into the less pathogenic TBEV strain Torö. We found that the chimeric virus specifically infected primary neurons more efficiently compared to wild-type (WT) Torö and this correlated with enhanced pathogenicity and higher levels of viral RNA in vivo. The E protein is also the major target of neutralizing antibodies; thus, genetic variation in the E protein could influence the efficiency of the two available vaccines, FSME-IMMUN® and Encepur®. As TBEV vaccine breakthroughs have occurred in Europe, we chose to compare neutralizing capacity from individuals vaccinated with the two different vaccines or a combination of them. Our data suggest that the different vaccines do not perform equally well against the two Swedish strains. Conclusions Our findings show that two amino acid substitutions of the E protein found in 93/783, A83T, and A463S enhanced Torö infection of neurons as well as pathogenesis and viral replication in vivo; furthermore, we found that genetic divergence from the vaccine strain resulted in lower neutralizing antibody titers in vaccinated individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lindqvist
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Section of Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ebba Rosendal
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Section of Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elvira Weber
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Section of Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden.,Current affiliation: Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Naveed Asghar
- School of Medical Sciences, Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Sarah Schreier
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Innate Immunity and Infection, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Annasara Lenman
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Section of Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Magnus Johansson
- School of Medical Sciences, Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre (iRiSC), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Malena Bestehorn
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.,Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, D-, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andrea Kröger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Innate Immunity and Infection, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Anna K Överby
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Section of Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. .,The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden.
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7
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Ott D, Ulrich K, Ginsbach P, Öhme R, Bock-Hensley O, Falk U, Teinert M, Lenhard T. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) prevalence in field-collected ticks (Ixodes ricinus) and phylogenetic, structural and virulence analysis in a TBE high-risk endemic area in southwestern Germany. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:303. [PMID: 32527288 PMCID: PMC7291635 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04146-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most common viral CNS infection with incidences much higher than all other virus infections together in many risk areas of central and eastern Europe. The Odenwald Hill region (OWH) in southwestern Germany is classified as a TBE risk region and frequent case numbers but also more severe infections have been reported within the past decade. The objective of the present study was to survey the prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in Ixodes ricinus and to associate TBEV genetic findings with TBE infections in the OWH. METHODS Ticks were collected by the flagging methods supported by a crowdsourcing project implementing the interested public as collectors to cover completely and collect randomly a 3532 km2 area of the OWH TBE risk region. Prevalence of TBEV in I. ricinus was analysed by reversed transcription quantitative real-time PCR. Phylogeographic analysis was performed to classify OWH TBEV isolates within a European network of known TBEV strains. Mutational sequence analysis including 3D modelling of envelope protein pE was performed and based on a clinical database, a spatial association of TBE case frequency and severity was undertaken. RESULTS Using the crowd sourcing approach we could analyse a total of 17,893 ticks. The prevalence of TBEV in I. ricinus in the OWH varied, depending on analysed districts from 0.12% to 0% (mean 0.04%). Calculated minimum infection rate (MIR) was one decimal power higher. All TBEV isolates belonged to the European subtype. Sequence analysis revealed a discontinuous segregation pattern of OWH isolates with two putative different lineages and a spatial association of two isolates with increased TBE case numbers as well as exceptional severe to fatal infection courses. CONCLUSIONS TBEV prevalence within the OWH risk regions is comparatively low which is probably due to our methodological approach and may more likely reflect prevalence of natural TBEV foci. As for other European regions, TBEV genetics show a discontinuous phylogeny indicating among others an association with bird migration. Mutations within the pE gene are associated with more frequent, severe and fatal TBE infections in the OWH risk region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ott
- Neuroinfectious Diseases Group, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 350, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristina Ulrich
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA Scotland, UK
| | | | - Rainer Öhme
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Landesgesundheitsamt Stuttgart, Nordbahnhofstraße 135, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Oswinde Bock-Hensley
- Gesundheitsamt Rhein-Neckarkreis, Kurfürsten-Anlage 38-40, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Falk
- Gesundheitsamt Odenwaldkreis, Michelstädter Str. 12, 64711 Erbach, Germany
| | - Martina Teinert
- Gesundheitsamt Neckar-Odenwaldkreis, Neckarelzer Str. 7, 74821 Mosbach, Germany
| | - Thorsten Lenhard
- Neuroinfectious Diseases Group, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 350, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Tkachev SE, Babkin IV, Chicherina GS, Kozlova IV, Verkhozina MM, Demina TV, Lisak OV, Doroshchenko EK, Dzhioev YP, Suntsova OV, Belokopytova PS, Tikunov AY, Savinova YS, Paramonov AI, Glupov VV, Zlobin VI, Tikunova NV. Genetic diversity and geographical distribution of the Siberian subtype of the tick-borne encephalitis virus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101327. [PMID: 31767494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is currently subdivided into three main subtypes-the European (TBEV-Eu), the Far-Eastern (TBEV-FE), and the Siberian (TBEV-Sib). The TBEV-Sib is the most common subtype and found in all regions where TBEV was detected, except for Central and Western Europe. Currently, four genetic lineages have been described within TBEV-Sib. In this study, detailed analysis of TBEV-Sib genetic diversity, geographic distribution, phylogeography and divergence time of different TBEV-Sib genetic lineages based on E gene fragments, complete genome sequences, and all currently available data in the GenBank database was performed. As a result, a novel Bosnia lineage within the TBEV-Sib was identified. It was demonstrated that the Zausaev lineage is the most widely distributed among the TBEV-Sib lineages, and was detected in all studied regions except the Far East. The Vasilchenko lineage was found from Western Siberia to the Far East. The Baltic lineage is presented from Europe to Western Siberia. The Obskaya lineage was found only in Western Siberia. TBEV strains from a newly described Bosnia lineage were detected in Bosnia, the Crimean peninsula, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The greatest divergence of the TBEV-Sib genetic variants was observed in Western Siberia. Within the TBEV-Sib, the Obskaya lineage diverged from the common ancestor the earliest, after that the Bosnia lineage was separated, then the Baltic lineage, and the Zausaev and Vasilchenko lineages diverged most recently.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Tkachev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS, Acad. Lavrentyev's pr., 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - I V Babkin
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS, Acad. Lavrentyev's pr., 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - G S Chicherina
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - I V Kozlova
- Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Timiryazev Str., 16, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - M M Verkhozina
- Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Irkutsk Region, Trilisser Str., 51, Irkutsk, 664047, Russia
| | - T V Demina
- Irkutsk State Agrarian University by A.A. Ezhevsky, Molodezhny Settlement, Irkutsk District, Irkutsk, 664038, Russia
| | - O V Lisak
- Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Timiryazev Str., 16, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - E K Doroshchenko
- Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Timiryazev Str., 16, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - Yu P Dzhioev
- Research Institute of Biomedical Technology of Irkutsk State Medical University, Krasnogo Vosstaniya Str., 1/3, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - O V Suntsova
- Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Timiryazev Str., 16, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - P S Belokopytova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS, Acad. Lavrentyev's pr., 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - A Yu Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS, Acad. Lavrentyev's pr., 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Yu S Savinova
- Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Timiryazev Str., 16, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - A I Paramonov
- Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Timiryazev Str., 16, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - V V Glupov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Frunze str., 11, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - V I Zlobin
- Research Institute of Biomedical Technology of Irkutsk State Medical University, Krasnogo Vosstaniya Str., 1/3, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - N V Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS, Acad. Lavrentyev's pr., 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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9
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Boelke M, Bestehorn M, Marchwald B, Kubinski M, Liebig K, Glanz J, Schulz C, Dobler G, Monazahian M, Becker SC. First Isolation and Phylogenetic Analyses of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Lower Saxony, Germany. Viruses 2019; 11:E462. [PMID: 31117224 PMCID: PMC6563265 DOI: 10.3390/v11050462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important tick-borne arboviral disease in Europe. Presently, the main endemic regions in Germany are located in the southern half of the country. Although recently, sporadic human TBE cases were reported outside of these known endemic regions. The detection and characterization of invading TBE virus (TBEV) strains will considerably facilitate the surveillance and assessment of this important disease. In 2018, ticks were collected by flagging in several locations of the German federal state of Lower Saxony where TBEV-infections in humans (diagnosed clinical TBE disease or detection of TBEV antibodies) were reported previously. Ticks were pooled according to their developmental stage and tested for TBEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. Five of 730 (0.68%) pools from Ixodes spp. ticks collected in the areas of "Rauher Busch" and "Barsinghausen/Mooshuette" were found positive for TBEV-RNA. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole genomes and E gene sequences revealed a close relationship between the two TBEV isolates, which cluster with a TBEV strain from Poland isolated in 1971. This study provides first data on the phylogeny of TBEV in the German federal state of Lower Saxony, outside of the known TBE endemic areas of Germany. Our results support the hypothesis of an east-west invasion of TBEV strains in Western Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Boelke
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Malena Bestehorn
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Microbiology of the Bundeswehr, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Birgit Marchwald
- The Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (NLGA), Roesebeckstraße 4-6, 30449 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Mareike Kubinski
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Katrin Liebig
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Julien Glanz
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Claudia Schulz
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute of Microbiology of the Bundeswehr, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Masyar Monazahian
- The Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (NLGA), Roesebeckstraße 4-6, 30449 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Stefanie C Becker
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany.
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10
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Saksida A, Jakopin N, Jelovšek M, Knap N, Fajs L, Lusa L, Lotrič-Furlan S, Bogovič P, Arnež M, Strle F, Avšič-Županc T. Virus RNA Load in Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Slovenia. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:1315-1323. [PMID: 29912706 PMCID: PMC6038823 DOI: 10.3201/eid2407.180059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We determined levels of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus (TBEV) RNA in serum samples obtained from 80 patients during the initial phase of TBE in Slovenia. For most samples, levels were within the range of 3-6 log10 copies RNA/mL. Levels were higher in female patients than in male patients, but we found no association between virus load and several laboratory and clinical parameters, including severity of TBE. However, a weak humoral immune response was associated with a more severe disease course, suggesting that inefficient clearance of virus results in a more serious illness. To determine whether a certain genetic lineage of TBEV had a higher virulence potential, we obtained 56 partial envelope protein gene sequences by directly sequencing reverse transcription PCR products from clinical samples of patients. This method provided a large set of patient-derived TBEV sequences. We observed no association between phylogenetic clades and virus load or disease severity.
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11
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Bestehorn M, Weigold S, Kern WV, Chitimia-Dobler L, Mackenstedt U, Dobler G, Borde JP. Phylogenetics of tick-borne encephalitis virus in endemic foci in the upper Rhine region in France and Germany. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204790. [PMID: 30335778 PMCID: PMC6193627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most important tick-borne arboviral disease in Europe and Asia. The Upper Rhine Valley is thought to be the very western border of TBEV distribution in Europe. The aim of our study was to identify natural foci and isolate TBEV from ticks, to determine the prevalence of TBEV in local tick populations and to study the phylogenetic relatedness of circulating TBEV strains in this region. Material and methods Ticks were collected between 2016, 2017 and 2018 by flagging. TBEV was isolated from collected ticks and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Minimal infection rates (MIR) of the collected ticks were calculated. Results At 12 sampling sites, a total of 4,064 Ixodes ticks were collected in 2016 and 2017 –(and one single collection 2018). 953 male, 856 female adult ticks and 2,255 nymphs were identified. The MIR rates were 0,17% (1/595) for Schiltach (Germany) and 0,11% (1/944) for Foret de la Robertsau (France), respectively. Overall, the three newly described TBEV strains, isolated in the years 2016 and 2017 from the Upper Rhine Valley have no close phylogenetic relation and show a genetic relationship with strains from eastern Europe. The 2018 TBEV strain from Aubachstrasse (Germany), however, is closely related to the TBEV found in Schiltach (Germany). Conclusion In conclusion, we demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, the phylogenetic relations of the newly isolated TBEV strains on both sides of the upper Rhine river.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malena Bestehorn
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, D-Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sebastian Weigold
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg i.Br., Germany
| | - Winfried V Kern
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg i.Br., Germany
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, D-Stuttgart, Germany.,Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center of Infection Research (DZIF) partner site Munich, Neuherbergstraße 11, München, Germany
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, D-Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, D-Stuttgart, Germany.,Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center of Infection Research (DZIF) partner site Munich, Neuherbergstraße 11, München, Germany
| | - Johannes P Borde
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg i.Br., Germany.,Praxis Dr. J. Borde / Gesundheitszentrum Oberkirch, Am Marktplatz 8, Oberkirch, Germany
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12
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Kovalev SY, Mukhacheva TA. Reconsidering the classification of tick-borne encephalitis virus within the Siberian subtype gives new insights into its evolutionary history. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 55:159-165. [PMID: 28919548 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis is widespread in Eurasia and transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Classification of its causative agent, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), includes three subtypes, namely Far-Eastern, European, and Siberian (TBEV-Sib), as well as a group of 886-84-like strains with uncertain taxonomic status. TBEV-Sib is subdivided into three phylogenetic lineages: Baltic, Asian, and South-Siberian. A reason to reconsider TBEV-Sib classification was the analysis of 186 nucleotide sequences of an E gene fragment submitted to GenBank during the last two years. Within the South-Siberian lineage, we have identified a distinct group with prototype strains Aina and Vasilchenko as an individual lineage named East-Siberian. The analysis of reclassified lineages has promoted a new model of the evolutionary history of TBEV-Sib lineages and TBEV-Sib as a whole. Moreover, we present arguments supporting separation of 886-84-like strains into an individual TBEV subtype, which we propose to name Baikalian (TBEV-Bkl).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Y Kovalev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Ural Federal University, Lenin Avenue 51, Yekaterinburg 620000, Russia.
| | - T A Mukhacheva
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Ural Federal University, Lenin Avenue 51, Yekaterinburg 620000, Russia
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13
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Bertrand YJK, Johansson M, Norberg P. Revisiting Recombination Signal in the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus: A Simulation Approach. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164435. [PMID: 27760182 PMCID: PMC5070875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis of wide spread reticulate evolution in Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus (TBEV) has recently gained momentum with several publications describing past recombination events involving various TBEV clades. Despite a large body of work, no consensus has yet emerged on TBEV evolutionary dynamics. Understanding the occurrence and frequency of recombination in TBEV bears significant impact on epidemiology, evolution, and vaccination with live vaccines. In this study, we investigated the possibility of detecting recombination events in TBEV by simulating recombinations at several locations on the virus' phylogenetic tree and for different lengths of recombining fragments. We derived estimations of rates of true and false positive for the detection of past recombination events for seven recombination detection algorithms. Our analytical framework can be applied to any investigation dealing with the difficult task of distinguishing genuine recombination signal from background noise. Our results suggest that the problem of false positives associated with low detection P-values in TBEV, is more insidious than generally acknowledged. We reappraised the recombination signals present in the empirical data, and showed that reliable signals could only be obtained in a few cases when highly genetically divergent strains were involved, whereas false positives were common among genetically similar strains. We thus conclude that recombination among wild-type TBEV strains may occur, which has potential implications for vaccination with live vaccines, but that these events are surprisingly rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann J. K. Bertrand
- Science and Historical Investigations of Evolution Laboratory of Dubá, Dubá, Czech Rep
| | - Magnus Johansson
- School of Medical Sciences Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- School of Natural Science, Technology & Environmental Studies, Södertörn University, Huddinge, Sweden
- iRiSC - Inflammatory Response and Infection Susceptibility Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Peter Norberg
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University, Gothenburg, Sweden
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14
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Che Lah EF, Yaakop S, Ahamad M, George E, Md Nor S. Precise identification of different stages of a tick, Ixodes granulatus Supino, 1897 (Acari: Ixodidae). Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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15
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Formanová P, Černý J, Bolfíková BČ, Valdés JJ, Kozlova I, Dzhioev Y, Růžek D. Full genome sequences and molecular characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus strains isolated from human patients. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 6:38-46. [PMID: 25311899 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), one of the most important human neuroinfections across Eurasia. Up to date, only three full genome sequences of human European TBEV isolates are available, mostly due to difficulties with isolation of the virus from human patients. Here we present full genome characterization of an additional five low-passage TBEV strains isolated from human patients with severe forms of TBE. These strains were isolated in 1953 within Central Bohemia in the former Czechoslovakia, and belong to the historically oldest human TBEV isolates in Europe. We demonstrate here that all analyzed isolates are distantly phylogenetically related, indicating that the emergence of TBE in Central Europe was not caused by one predominant strain, but rather a pool of distantly related TBEV strains. Nucleotide identity between individual sequenced TBEV strains ranged from 97.5% to 99.6% and all strains shared large deletions in the 3' non-coding region, which has been recently suggested to be an important determinant of virulence. The number of unique amino acid substitutions varied from 3 to 9 in individual isolates, but no characteristic amino acid substitution typical exclusively for all human TBEV isolates was identified when compared to the isolates from ticks. We did, however, correlate that the exploration of the TBEV envelope glycoprotein by specific antibodies were in close proximity to these unique amino acid substitutions. Taken together, we report here the largest number of patient-derived European TBEV full genome sequences to date and provide a platform for further studies on evolution of TBEV since the first emergence of human TBE in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Formanová
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, CZ-62100 Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, CZ-61137 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Černý
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Černá Bolfíková
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 126, CZ-16521 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - James J Valdés
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Irina Kozlova
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, Irkutsk State Medical University of Russian Ministry of Health, Krasnogo Vosstanija 1, Irkutsk 664003, Russia; FSSFE Scientific Centre of Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Timirjazeva Street 16, 664003 Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Yuri Dzhioev
- Institute of Biomedical Technology, Irkutsk State Medical University of Russian Ministry of Health, Krasnogo Vosstanija 1, Irkutsk 664003, Russia; FSSFE Scientific Centre of Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Timirjazeva Street 16, 664003 Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Daniel Růžek
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, CZ-62100 Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, CZ-61137 Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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16
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Rieille N, Bressanelli S, Freire CCM, Arcioni S, Gern L, Péter O, Voordouw MJ. Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in field-collected ticks (Ixodes ricinus) in southern Switzerland. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:443. [PMID: 25245773 PMCID: PMC4261884 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne encephalitis is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Europe with 3,000 human cases reported each year. In Western Europe, the castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus, is the principal vector of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). TBEV appears to be spreading geographically and was recently detected for the first time in Canton Valais in the southern part of Switzerland. The purpose of the present study was to survey the I. ricinus tick populations of Canton Valais for TBEV. METHODS We collected a total of 19,331 I. ricinus ticks at 45 different sites in Canton Valais between 2010 and 2013. Ticks were processed in pools and tested for TBEV using reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The NS5 gene and the envelope gene of the TBEV isolates were partially sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS TBEV was detected in tick populations at six of the 45 sites. These six sites were all located in a 33 km transect along the Rhône River. TBEV was detected in two sites for three of the four years of the study showing the temporal persistence of the pathogen. Prevalence of TBEV in the six positive sites ranged from 0.16% to 11.11%. Phylogenetic analysis found that all TBEV isolates from Canton Valais belonged to the European subtype. Genetic analysis found two distinct lineages of TBEV suggesting that Canton Valais experienced two independent colonization events. CONCLUSIONS TBEV appears to be well established at certain locations in Canton Valais.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Rieille
- />Central Institute of Valais Hospitals, Infectious diseases, Av Grand Champsec 86, Sion, Switzerland
- />Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Bressanelli
- />Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire et Structurale, CNRS UPR3296, 1 avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Caio C M Freire
- />Inter-institutional Grad Program on Bioinformatics, University of Sao Paulo, Matao Street 1010, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Séverine Arcioni
- />Central Institute of Valais Hospitals, Genetics, Av Grand Champsec 86, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Lise Gern
- />Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Péter
- />Central Institute of Valais Hospitals, Infectious diseases, Av Grand Champsec 86, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Maarten J Voordouw
- />Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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17
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Mlera L, Melik W, Bloom ME. The role of viral persistence in flavivirus biology. Pathog Dis 2014; 71:137-63. [PMID: 24737600 PMCID: PMC4154581 DOI: 10.1111/2049-632x.12178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In nature, vector borne flaviviruses are persistently cycled between either the tick or mosquito vector and small mammals such as rodents, skunks, and swine. These viruses account for considerable human morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasing and substantial evidence of viral persistence in humans, which includes the isolation of RNA by RT PCR and infectious virus by culture, continues to be reported. Viral persistence can also be established in vitro in various human, animal, arachnid, and insect cell lines in culture. Although some research has focused on the potential roles of defective virus particles, evasion of the immune response through the manipulation of autophagy and/or apoptosis, the precise mechanism of flavivirus persistence is still not well understood. We propose additional research for further understanding of how viral persistence is established in different systems. Avenues for additional studies include determining whether the multifunctional flavivirus protein NS5 has a role in viral persistence, the development of relevant animal models of viral persistence, and investigating the host responses that allow vector borne flavivirus replication without detrimental effects on infected cells. Such studies might shed more light on the viral–host relationships and could be used to unravel the mechanisms for establishment of persistence. Persistent infections by vector borne flaviviruses are an important, but inadequately studied topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luwanika Mlera
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Laboratory of Virology, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
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18
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Changes in diversification patterns and signatures of selection during the evolution of murinae-associated hantaviruses. Viruses 2014; 6:1112-34. [PMID: 24618811 PMCID: PMC3970142 DOI: 10.3390/v6031112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Revised: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 50 years, hantaviruses have significantly affected public health worldwide, but the exact extent of the distribution of hantavirus diseases, species and lineages and the risk of their emergence into new geographic areas are still poorly known. In particular, the determinants of molecular evolution of hantaviruses circulating in different geographical areas or different host species are poorly documented. Yet, this understanding is essential for the establishment of more accurate scenarios of hantavirus emergence under different climatic and environmental constraints. In this study, we focused on Murinae-associated hantaviruses (mainly Seoul Dobrava and Hantaan virus) using sequences available in GenBank and conducted several complementary phylogenetic inferences. We sought for signatures of selection and changes in patterns and rates of diversification in order to characterize hantaviruses’ molecular evolution at different geographical scales (global and local). We then investigated whether these events were localized in particular geographic areas. Our phylogenetic analyses supported the assumption that RNA virus molecular variations were under strong evolutionary constraints and revealed changes in patterns of diversification during the evolutionary history of hantaviruses. These analyses provide new knowledge on the molecular evolution of hantaviruses at different scales of time and space.
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19
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Fomsgaard A, Fertner ME, Essbauer S, Nielsen AY, Frey S, Lindblom P, Lindgren PE, Bødker R, Weidmann M, Dobler G. Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Zealand, Denmark, 2011. Emerg Infect Dis 2014; 19:1171-3. [PMID: 23764123 PMCID: PMC3903456 DOI: 10.3201/eid1907.130092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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20
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Kovalev SY, Mukhacheva TA. Clusterons as a tool for monitoring populations of tick-borne encephalitis virus. J Med Virol 2013; 86:283-9. [PMID: 24037877 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a natural focal viral neuroinfection that is widespread in the temperate zone of Eurasia. Knowledge of the genetic structure of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) populations is important for understanding, not only the origin and evolution of the virus, but also the formation and maintenance of natural foci. A new approach to the differentiation of TBEV strains within subtype, with clusterons as the basis of analysis, has recently been proposed. In the present study, the genetic structure of TBEV-Sib populations has been investigated based on 387 strains isolated in the Middle Urals (Sverdlovsk region). Fourteen of the 18 currently known TBEV-Sib clusterons were identified. They belong to the Asian and Eastern European (Baltic) groups. It was shown that each TBE foci could be characterized by a unique clusteron profile. Three clusterons that emerged within the last 50 years have been identified which implies an active evolutionary process in the TBEV-Sib populations. The greatest diversity of clusterons was observed in the south of the Middle Urals along the Trans-Siberian Way. Such a pattern could reflect the history of colonization of the area and is closely related to the roads passing from Siberia to the European part of Russia through the Urals. In this article, the principles of continuous monitoring in the regional and local TBE foci are proposed, based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of TBEV-Sib clusteron profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Y Kovalev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
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21
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Weidmann M, Frey S, Freire CCM, Essbauer S, Růžek D, Klempa B, Zubrikova D, Vögerl M, Pfeffer M, Hufert FT, Zanotto PM, Dobler G. Molecular phylogeography of tick-borne encephalitis virus in central Europe. J Gen Virol 2013; 94:2129-2139. [PMID: 23784447 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.054478-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to obtain a better understanding of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strain movements in central Europe the E gene sequences of 102 TBEV strains collected from 1953 to 2011 at 38 sites in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Germany were determined. Bayesian analysis suggests a 350-year history of evolution and spread in central Europe of two main lineages, A and B. In contrast to the east to west spread at the Eurasian continent level, local central European spreading patterns suggest historic west to east spread followed by more recent east to west spread. The phylogenetic and network analyses indicate TBEV ingressions from the Czech Republic and Slovakia into Germany via landscape features (Danube river system), biogenic factors (birds, red deer) and anthropogenic factors. The identification of endemic foci showing local genetic diversity is of paramount importance to the field as these will be a prerequisite for in-depth analysis of focal TBEV maintenance and long-distance TBEV spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Weidmann
- Department of Virology, University Medical Center, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Frey
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Caio C M Freire
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute - ICB II University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Růžek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, CZ-37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Virology, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, CZ-62100 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Boris Klempa
- Institute of Virology Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Science, Dubravska cesta 9, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Dana Zubrikova
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Science, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Maria Vögerl
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Frank T Hufert
- Department of Virology, University Medical Center, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paolo M Zanotto
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedical Sciences Institute - ICB II University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
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22
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Parasites: where, why and whence? Parasitology 2012. [PMID: 23194668 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012001382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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23
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Fajs L, Durmiši E, Knap N, Strle F, Avšič-Županc T. Phylogeographic characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus from patients, rodents and ticks in Slovenia. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 23185257 PMCID: PMC3502456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most important arboviral agent causing infections of the central nervous system in central Europe. Previous studies have shown that TBEV exhibits pronounced genetic variability, which is often correlated to the geographical origin of TBEV. Genetic variability of TBEV has previously been studied predominantly in rodents and ticks, while information about the variability in patients is scarce. In order to understand the molecular relationships of TBEV between natural hosts, vectors and humans, as well as correlation between phylogenetic and geographical clustering, sequences of TBEV E and NS5 protein genes, were obtained by direct sequencing of RT-PCR products from TBE-confirmed patients as well as from rodents and ticks collected from TBE-endemic regions in Slovenia. A total of 27 partial E protein gene sequences representing 15 human, 4 rodent and 8 tick samples and 30 partial NS5 protein gene sequences representing 17 human, 5 rodent and 8 tick samples were obtained. The complete genome sequence of TBEV strain Ljubljana I was simultaneously obtained. Phylogenetic analysis of the E and NS5 protein gene sequences revealed a high degree of TBEV variability in patients, ticks and rodents. Furthermore, an evident correlation between geographical and phylogenetic clustering was shown that was independent of the TBEV host. Moreover, we show the presence of a possible recombination event in the TBEV genome obtained from a patient sample, which was supported with multiple recombination event detection methods. This is the first study that simultaneously analyzed the genetic relationships of directly sequenced TBEV samples from patients, ticks and rodents and provides the largest set of patient-derived TBEV sequences up to date. In addition, we have confirmed the geographical clustering of TBEV sequences in Slovenia and have provided evidence of a possible recombination event in the TBEV genome, obtained from a patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Fajs
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Emina Durmiši
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Knap
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Franc Strle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tatjana Avšič-Županc
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- * E-mail:
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24
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Frey S, Mossbrugger I, Altantuul D, Battsetseg J, Davaadorj R, Tserennorov D, Buyanjargal T, Otgonbaatar D, Zöller L, Speck S, Wölfel R, Dobler G, Essbauer S. Isolation, preliminary characterization, and full-genome analyses of tick-borne encephalitis virus from Mongolia. Virus Genes 2012; 45:413-25. [PMID: 22847274 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-012-0795-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes one of the most important inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, namely severe encephalitis in Europe and Asia. Since the 1980s tick-borne encephalitis is known in Mongolia with increasing numbers of human cases reported during the last years. So far, however, data on TBEV strains are still sparse. We herein report the isolation of a TBEV strain from Ixodes persulcatus ticks collected in Mongolia in 2010. Phylogenetic analysis of the E-gene classified this isolate as Siberian subtype of TBEV. The Mongolian TBEV strain showed differences in virus titers, plaque sizes, and growth properties in two human neuronal cell-lines. In addition, the 10,242 nucleotide long open-reading frame and the corresponding polyprotein sequence were revealed. The isolate grouped in the genetic subclade of the Siberian subtype. The strain Zausaev (AF527415) and Vasilchenko (AF069066) had 97 and 94 % identity on the nucleotide level. In summary, we herein describe first detailed data regarding TBEV from Mongolia. Further investigations of TBEV in Mongolia and adjacent areas are needed to understand the intricate dispersal of this virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Frey
- Department of Virology & Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstraße 11, Munich, Germany
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