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Ben-Mostafa KK, Savini G, Di Gennaro A, Teodori L, Leone A, Monaco F, Alaoqib MMA, Rayes AA, Dayhum A, Eldaghayes I. Evidence of West Nile Virus Circulation in Horses and Dogs in Libya. Pathogens 2023; 13:41. [PMID: 38251348 PMCID: PMC10820222 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010041] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a globally significant mosquito-borne Flavivirus that causes West Nile disease (WND). In Libya, evidence of WNV circulation has been reported in humans but never in animals. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of WNV infection in horses and dogs in Libya. In total, 574 and 63 serum samples were collected from apparently healthy, unvaccinated horses and dogs, respectively, between 2016 and 2019. A commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) kit was initially used to test the collected samples for the presence of WNV Ig-G antibodies. Positive and doubtful sera were also tested using a more specific virus neutralisation assay to confirm whether the ELISA-positive results were due to WNV or other Flavivirus antibodies. The seroprevalence of WNV IgG antibodies according to ELISA was 13.2% out of 574 of total horses' samples and 30.2% out of 63 of total dogs' samples. The virus neutralisation test (VNT) confirmed that 10.8% (62/574) and 27% (17/63) were positive for WNV-neutralising titres ranging from 1:10 to 1:640. Univariable analysis using chi-square tests was conducted to measure the statistical significance of the association between the hypothesized risk factors including city, sex, breed, and age group and were then analyzed using the subsequent multivariable logistic regression model for horse samples. Age group was found to be the only significant risk factor in this study. The results of the present study provide new evidence about WNV circulation in Libya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kholoud Khalid Ben-Mostafa
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli P.O. Box 13662, Libya
- National Center for Animal Health, Tripoli P.O. Box 83252, Libya
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Department of Virology and Tissue Culture, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Annapia Di Gennaro
- Department of Virology and Tissue Culture, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Liana Teodori
- Department of Virology and Tissue Culture, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Leone
- Department of Virology and Tissue Culture, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Monaco
- Department of Virology and Tissue Culture, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G.Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Mohammed Masoud A. Alaoqib
- Department of Internal and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Albaida P.O. Box 919, Libya
| | - Abdunnabi A. Rayes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli P.O. Box 13932, Libya
| | - Abdunaser Dayhum
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli P.O. Box 13662, Libya
| | - Ibrahim Eldaghayes
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli P.O. Box 13662, Libya
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Schwarz ER, Long MT. Comparison of West Nile Virus Disease in Humans and Horses: Exploiting Similarities for Enhancing Syndromic Surveillance. Viruses 2023; 15:1230. [PMID: 37376530 DOI: 10.3390/v15061230] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease threatens the health and well-being of horses and humans worldwide. Disease in horses and humans is remarkably similar. The occurrence of WNV disease in these mammalian hosts has geographic overlap with shared macroscale and microscale drivers of risk. Importantly, intrahost virus dynamics, the evolution of the antibody response, and clinicopathology are similar. The goal of this review is to provide a comparison of WNV infection in humans and horses and to identify similarities that can be exploited to enhance surveillance methods for the early detection of WNV neuroinvasive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika R Schwarz
- Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, MT Department of Livestock, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
| | - Maureen T Long
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Luethy D. Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Viruses: Clinical and Public Health Considerations. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2023; 39:99-113. [PMID: 36737290 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2022.11.007] [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: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The continued recognition and emergence of alphavirus and flavivirus diseases is a growing veterinary and public health concern. As the global environment continues to change, mosquito-borne diseases will continue to evolve and expand. Continued development of readily available vaccines for the prevention of these diseases in humans and animals is essential to controlling epizootics of these diseases. Further research into effective antiviral treatments is also sorely needed. This article describes equine encephalitis viruses with a focus on clinical and public health considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Luethy
- Large Animal Internal Medicine, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100136, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Schvartz G, Tirosh-Levy S, Bider S, Lublin A, Farnoushi Y, Erster O, Steinman A. West Nile Virus in Common Wild Avian Species in Israel. Pathogens 2022; 11:107. [PMID: 35056055 PMCID: PMC8780237 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to evaluate the contribution of different wild bird species to West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in Israel, during the months preceding the 2018 outbreak that occurred in Israel, we randomly sampled 136 frozen carcasses of a variety of avian species. Visceral and central nervous system (CNS) tissue pools were tested using WNV NS2A RT qPCR assay; of those, 15 (11.03%, 95% CI: 6.31-17.54%) tissue pools were positive. A total of 13 out of 15 WNV RT qPCR positive samples were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all WNV isolates were identified as lineage 1 and all categorized as cluster 2 eastern European. Our results indicated that WNV isolates that circulated within the surveyed wild birds in spring 2018 were closely related to several of the isolates of the previously reported 2018 outbreak in birds in Israel and that the majority of infected birds were of local species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gili Schvartz
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (G.S.); (S.T.-L.); (S.B.)
- Department of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 5025001, Israel;
| | - Sharon Tirosh-Levy
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (G.S.); (S.T.-L.); (S.B.)
| | - Shahar Bider
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (G.S.); (S.T.-L.); (S.B.)
| | - Avishai Lublin
- Department of Avian Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 5025001, Israel; (A.L.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yigal Farnoushi
- Department of Avian Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 5025001, Israel; (A.L.); (Y.F.)
| | - Oran Erster
- Department of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 5025001, Israel;
| | - Amir Steinman
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (G.S.); (S.T.-L.); (S.B.)
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Jenkins M, Ahmed S, Barnes AN. A systematic review of waterborne and water-related disease in animal populations of Florida from 1999-2019. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255025. [PMID: 34324547 PMCID: PMC8321142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Florida's waters are a reservoir for a host of pathogens and toxins. Many of these microorganisms cause water-related diseases in people that are reportable to the Florida Department of Health. Our objective in this review was to ascertain which water-related pathogens and toxins of public health importance have been found in animal populations in Florida over the last twenty years. METHODS Nineteen databases were searched, including PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection, using keywords and search terms for the waterborne diseases, water-related vector-borne diseases, and water-based toxins reportable to the Florida Department of Health. For inclusion, peer-reviewed journal articles were to be written in English, published between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2019, and contain primary research findings documenting at least one of the water-related pathogens or toxins of interest in an animal population within Florida during this same time frame. RESULTS Of over eight thousand initial search results, 65 studies were included for final analysis. The most common animal types implicated in the diseases of interest included marine mammals, fish and shellfish, wild birds, and livestock. Toxins or pathogens most often associated with these animals included toxin-producer Karenia brevis, vibriosis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonellosis. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Findings from this review elucidate the water-related disease-causing pathogens and toxins which have been reported within animal populations in recent Florida history. As most of these diseases are zoonotic, our results suggest a One Health approach is necessary to support and maintain healthy water systems throughout the state of Florida for the protection of both human and animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg Jenkins
- Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sabrina Ahmed
- Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Amber N. Barnes
- Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
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Guerrero-Carvajal F, Bravo-Barriga D, Martín-Cuervo M, Aguilera-Sepúlveda P, Ferraguti M, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Llorente F, Alonso JM, Frontera E. Serological evidence of co-circulation of West Nile and Usutu viruses in equids from western Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:1432-1444. [PMID: 32853452 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne emerging virus in Europe with capacity to cause neurological complications such as encephalitis or meningoencephalitis in humans, birds or equids. In Spain, WNV is actively circulating in mosquitoes, birds and horses in different regions, but never has been deeply studied in Extremadura. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV in equids of those areas and to analyse the risk factors associated with exposure to the virus. A total of 199 out of 725 equids presented antibodies against WNV by competition ELISA (27.45%), while 22 were doubtful (3.03%). Anti-WNV IgM antibodies were detected in 16 equids (2.21%), and 3 animals were doubtful (0.41%). All ELISA-reactive positive/doubtful sera (N = 226) were further tested by micro-virus neutralization test (VNT), and a total of 143 horses were confirmed as positive for WNV, obtaining a seroprevalence of 19.72% in equids of western Spain. In addition, specific antibodies against USUV were confirmed in 11 equids. In 24 equids, a specific flavivirus species (detected by ELISA test) could not be determined. The generalized linear mixed-effects models showed that the significant risk factors associated with individual WNV infection in equids were the age (adults) and hair coat colour (light), whereas in USUV infections, it was the breed (pure). Data demonstrated that WNV and USUV are circulating in regions of western Spain. Given the high WNV seroprevalence found in equids from the studied areas, it is important to improve the surveillance programmes of public health to detect undiagnosed human cases and to establish a vaccination programme in equid herds in these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
| | - María Martín-Cuervo
- Animal Medicine Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
| | - Pilar Aguilera-Sepúlveda
- Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martina Ferraguti
- Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology Department, Science Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Badajoz, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero
- Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Llorente
- Animal Health Research Centre, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Alonso
- Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
| | - Eva Frontera
- Animal Health Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Extremadura (UEx), Cáceres, Spain
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León B, Käsbohrer A, Hutter SE, Baldi M, Firth CL, Romero-Zúñiga JJ, Jiménez C. National Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in Costa Rica. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 92:103140. [PMID: 32797803 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Eastern equine encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are endemic neglected tropical diseases in the Americas, causing encephalitis in both horses and humans. In 2013, a cross-sectional study was performed in 243 horses located in the highlands and lowlands throughout Costa Rica. Serum samples were analyzed with an IgG ELISA and confirmed by the plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT80). Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) overall seroprevalences by the PRNT80 were 36% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29.9-42.5; 78/217 horses) and 3% (95% CI: 1.3-5.9; 6/217 horses), respectively. Both the viruses occurred in the lowlands and highlands. Rainfall and altitude were associated with VEEV seropositivity in the univariate analysis, but only altitude <100 meters above sea level was considered a risk factor in the multivariate analysis. No risk factors could be identified for the EEEV in the multivariate analysis. This is the first study that estimates the seroprevalence of the EEEV and VEEV in Costa Rican horses. The VEEV is widely distributed, whereas the EEEV occurs at a much lower frequency and only in specific areas. Clinical cases and occasional outbreaks of both viruses are to be expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernal León
- National Animal Health Service (SENASA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Annemarie Käsbohrer
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Sabine E Hutter
- National Animal Health Service (SENASA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Heredia, Costa Rica; Unit of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mario Baldi
- Tropical Diseases Research Program (PIET), School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Clair L Firth
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Juan José Romero-Zúñiga
- Population Medicine Research Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos Jiménez
- Tropical Diseases Research Program (PIET), School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica
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Aharonson-Raz K, Lichter-Peled A, Tal S, Gelman B, Cohen D, Klement E, Steinman A. Spatial and temporal distribution of West Nile virus in horses in Israel (1997-2013)--from endemic to epidemics. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113149. [PMID: 25402217 PMCID: PMC4234662 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With the rapid global spread of West Nile virus (WNV) and the endemic state it has acquired in new geographical areas, we hereby bring a thorough serological investigation of WNV in horses in a longstanding endemic region, such as Israel. This study evaluates the environmental and demographic risk factors for WNV infection in horses and suggests possible factors associated with the transition from endemic to epidemic state. West Nile virus seroprevalence in horses in Israel was determined throughout a period of more than a decade, before (1997) and after (2002 and 2013) the massive West Nile fever outbreak in humans and horses in 2000. An increase in seroprevalence was observed, from 39% (113/290) in 1997 to 66.1% (547/827) in 2002 and 85.5% (153/179) in 2013, with persistent significantly higher seroprevalence in horses situated along the Great Rift Valley (GRV) area, the major birds' migration route in Israel. Demographic risk factors included age and breed of the horse. Significantly lower spring precipitation was observed during years with increased human incidence rate that occurred between 1997–2007. Hence, we suggest referring to Israel as two WNV distinct epidemiological regions; an endemic region along the birds' migration route (GRV) and the rest of the country which perhaps suffers from cyclic epidemics. In addition, weather conditions, such as periods of spring drought, might be associated with the transition from endemic state to epidemic state of WNV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Aharonson-Raz
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Anat Lichter-Peled
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Shlomit Tal
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 39040, Israel
| | - Boris Gelman
- Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet-Dagan, 50250, Israel
| | - Daniel Cohen
- School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 39040, Israel
| | - Eyal Klement
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Amir Steinman
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
- * E-mail:
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