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Rusenova N, Rusenov A, Chervenkov M, Sirakov I. Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus among Equids in Bulgaria in 2022 and Assessment of Some Risk Factors. Vet Sci 2024; 11:209. [PMID: 38787181 PMCID: PMC11126025 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11050209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among equids in Bulgaria, confirm the results of a competitive ELISA versus the virus neutralization test (VNT) and investigate some predisposing factors for WNV seropositivity. A total of 378 serum samples from 15 provinces in northern and southern Bulgaria were tested. The samples originated from 314 horses and 64 donkeys, 135 males and 243 females, aged from 1 to 30 years. IgG and IgM antibodies against WNV protein E were detected by ELISA. ELISA-positive samples were additionally tested via VNT for WNV and Usutu virus. Thirty-five samples were WNV-positive by ELISA (9.26% [CI = 6.45-12.88]), of which 15 were confirmed by VNT; hence, the seroprevalence was 3.97% (CI = 2.22-6.55). No virus-neutralizing antibodies to Usutu virus were detected among the 35 WNV-ELISA-positive equids in Bulgaria. When compared with VNT, ELISA showed 100.0% sensitivity and 94.5% specificity. A statistical analysis showed that the risk factors associated with WNV seropositivity were the region (p < 0.0001), altitude of the locality (p < 0.0001), type of housing (p < 0.0001) and breed (p = 0.0365). The results of the study demonstrate, albeit indirectly, that WNV circulates among equids in northern and southern Bulgaria, indicating that they could be suitable sentinel animals for predicting human cases and determining the risk in these areas or regions of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolina Rusenova
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Anton Rusenov
- Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria;
| | - Mihail Chervenkov
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria;
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivo Sirakov
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Sofia, 2 Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria;
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Bursali F, Simsek FM. Population Genetics of Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Türkiye. Acta Parasitol 2024:10.1007/s11686-024-00844-9. [PMID: 38592372 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00844-9] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mosquitoes are important vectors of pathogens that can affect humans and animals. Culex tritaeniorhynchus is an important vector of arboviruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus among various human and animal communities. These diseases are of major public health concern and can have huge economic and health burdens in prevalent countries. Although populations of this important mosquito species have been detected in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Türkiye; little is known about its population structure. Our study is to examine the population genetics and genetic composition of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes collected from several localities using cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 genes (ND5). This is the first extensive study of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the mainland Türkiye with sampling spanning many of provinces. METHODS In this study, DNA extraction, amplification of mitochondrial COI and ND5 genes and population genetic analyses were performed on ten geographic populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus in the Aegean and Mediterranean region of Türkiye. RESULTS Between 2019 and 2020, 96 samples were collected from 10 geographic populations in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions; they were molecularly analyzed and 139 sequences (50 sequence for COI and 89 sequence for ND5) were used to determine the population structure and genetic diversity. For ND5 gene region, the samples produced 24 haplotypes derived from 15 variable sites and for COI gene region, 43 haplotypes were derived from 17 variable sites. The haplotype for both gene regions was higher than nucleotide diversity. Haplotype phylogeny revealed two groups present in all populations. AMOVA test results show that the geographical populations were the same for all gene regions. Results suggest that Cx. tritaeniorhynchus is a native population in Türkiye, the species is progressing towards speciation and there is no genetic differentiation between provinces and regions. CONCLUSION This study provides useful information on the molecular identifcation and genetic diversity of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus; these results are important to improve mosquito control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Bursali
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, 09100, Türkiye.
| | - Fatih Mehmet Simsek
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, 09100, Türkiye
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Bektore B, Dogan B, Ozkul A, Gozalan A. West Nile virus seropositivity in Alanya, a coastal city in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Ann Saudi Med 2024; 44:48-54. [PMID: 38311862 PMCID: PMC10839453 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2024.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV)-related illness is a global health problem. Understanding the seropositivity rates and identifying the risk factors related to WNV in various animal species including humans is crucial for the implementation of effective prevention strategies. OBJECTIVES Assess the rate of seropositivity and the risk factors associated with WNV seropositivity. DESIGN Descriptive, cross-sectional. SETTING Microbiology and virology departments in a veterinary college. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a sample of healthy human participants in Alanya, located close to regions where WNV activity has been detected, anti-WNV IgG antibody detection was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The positive results were confirmed by virus neutralization tests (VNTs). The sample was compared with a second group of age- and gender-matched healthy subjects selected from a previous cross-sectional study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Determination of the seropositivity and risk factors that were associated with WNV in healthy humans. SAMPLE SIZE 87 in current study; 356 in previous study. RESULTS The first group of 87, which had a high risk of encountering vector mosquitoes, had a positivity rate of 8% (7/87), whereas positivity in the second group was 4.5% (16/356; P=.181). In the entire sample, the anti-WNV IgG antibody was positive in 23 out of 443 (5.2%) samples by the ELISA test. Among these 23 samples, ten were confirmed as positive using VNTs. Therefore, the WNV IgG seropositivity was 2.3% (10/442). Confirmed IgG seropositivity rates were higher among male (3.8%) than female participants (0.9%; P=.054) and among adults aged ≥45 years (4%) than those aged 18-44 years (0.8%; P=.048). CONCLUSION This study highlights the presence of WNV infection in the research region. More comprehensive and multidisciplinary studies are required to increase our knowledge about this zoonotic infection including risk factors in line with the One Health approach. LIMITATIONS Small sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayhan Bektore
- From the Department of Medical Microbiology, Ministry of Health Alanya Alaadin Keykubat University, Alanya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Alanya, Turkey
| | - Bora Dogan
- From the Department of Medical Microbiology, Urla State Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Akyut Ozkul
- From the Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Gozalan
- From the Department of Medical Microbiology, Ministry of Health Alanya Alaadin Keykubat University, Alanya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Alanya, Turkey
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Natasha JA, Yasmin AR, Sharma RSK, Nur-Fazila SH, Nur-Mahiza MI, Arshad SS, Mohammed HO, Kumar K, Loong SK, Ahmad Khusaini MKS. Circulation of West Nile virus in mosquitoes approximate to the migratory bird stopover in West Coast Malaysia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011255. [PMID: 37023172 PMCID: PMC10112790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Being a tropical country with a conducive environment for mosquitoes, mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are prevalent in Malaysia. Recent studies reported asymptomatic infection of West Nile virus (WNV) in animals and humans, but none of the studies included mosquitoes, except for one report made half a century ago. Considering the scarcity of information, our study sampled mosquitoes near migratory bird stopover wetland areas of West Coast Malaysia located in the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary and Kapar Energy Venture, during the southward migration period in October 2017 and September 2018. Our previous publication reported that migratory birds were positive for WNV antibody and RNA. Using a nested RT-PCR analysis, WNV RNA was detected in 35 (12.8%) out of 285 mosquito pools consisting of 2,635 mosquitoes, most of which were Culex spp. (species). Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the sequences grouped within lineage 2 and shared 90.12%-97.01% similarity with sequences found locally as well as those from Africa, Germany, Romania, Italy, and Israel. Evidence of WNV in the mosquitoes substantiates the need for continued surveillance of WNV in Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jafar Ali Natasha
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostsis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Abd Rahaman Yasmin
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostsis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
- Laboratory of Vaccines and Biomolecules, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Reuben Sunil Kumar Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Saulol Hamid Nur-Fazila
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Md Isa Nur-Mahiza
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Siti Suri Arshad
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Hussni Omar Mohammed
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Kiven Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Shih Keng Loong
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre, Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Hoque MM, Valentine MJ, Kelly PJ, Barua S, Murillo DFB, Wang C. Modification of the Folmer primers for the cytochrome c oxidase gene facilitates identification of mosquitoes. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:437. [PMID: 36419198 PMCID: PMC9682724 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05494-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate identification of mosquito species is essential for the development and optimization of strategies to control mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. Problems with the morphological identification of mosquito species have led to the use of molecular identification techniques, in particular the Folmer cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) PCR system (FCOS), originally designed to identify a range of other invertebrates. METHODS As there can be difficulties identifying mosquitoes using FCOS, we re-evaluated the FCOS primers and developed a new COI-based SYBR PCR (the Auburn COI system-AUCOS) to improve the molecular identification of mosquitoes. Sequence data in GenBank for 33 species from 10 genera of mosquitoes were used to develop our AUCOS primers. Two molecular assays (AUCOS, FCOS) and morphological identification were carried out on mosquitoes collected from the field in Auburn, Alabama (USA) and on Saint Kitts. RESULTS With a convenience sample of individual mosquitoes comprising 19 species from six genera in Saint Kitts (n = 77) and Auburn (n = 48), our AUCOS provided higher-quality sequence data than FCOS. It also proved more sensitive than FCOS, successfully amplifying 67.5% (85/126) as opposed to 16.7% (21/126) of the samples. The species determined by morphology, or genus with damaged samples, matched that as determined by AUCOS for 84.9% (62/73) of the samples. Morphological classification was confirmed by FCOS with 81.0% (17/21) of samples producing utilizable sequences. While both FCOS and AUCOS correctly identified all the Aedes, Anopheles, Deinocerites, and Uranotaenia species in the study, identification of Culex species was less successful with both methods: 50.0% (3/6) by FCOS and 35.7% (5/14) by AUCOS. CONCLUSIONS The AUCOS DNA barcoding system for mosquito species described in this study is superior to the existing FCOS for the identification of mosquito species. As AUCOS and FCOS amplify the same variable region of the COI, the large amount of existing data on GenBank can be used to identify mosquito species with sequences produced by either PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Monirul Hoque
- grid.252546.20000 0001 2297 8753College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5519 USA
| | | | | | - Subarna Barua
- grid.252546.20000 0001 2297 8753College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5519 USA
| | - Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo
- grid.252546.20000 0001 2297 8753College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5519 USA
| | - Chengming Wang
- grid.252546.20000 0001 2297 8753College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5519 USA
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Zhang YM, Guo XX, Jiang SF, Li CX, Xing D, Zhang HD, Dong YD, Zhao TY. The Potential Vector Competence and Overwintering of West Nile Virus in Vector Aedes Albopictus in China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:888751. [PMID: 35722287 PMCID: PMC9201683 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.888751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus, which causes widespread zoonotic disease globally. In China, it was first isolated in Jiashi County, Kashgar Region, Xinjiang in 2011. Determining the vector competence of WNV infection has important implications for the control of disease outbreaks. Four geographical strains of Aedes Albopictus (Ae. Albopictus) in China were allowed to feed on artificial infectious blood meal with WNV to determine the infection and transmission rate. The results indicated that four strains of Ae. Albopictus mosquitoes could infect and transmit WNV to 1- to 3-day-old Leghorn chickens. The infection rates of different strains were ranged from 16.7 to 60.0% and were statistically different (χ2 = 12.81, p < 0.05). The highest infection rate was obtained from the Shanghai strain (60.0%). The transmission rates of Ae. Albopictus Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Chengdu strains were 28.6, 15.2, 13.3, and 6.7%, respectively. Furtherly, the results reveal that Ae. Albopictus Beijing strain infected orally can transmit WNV transovarially even the eggs are induced diapausing. The study confirmed that WNV could survive in the diapause eggs of Ae. Albopictus and could be transmitted to progeny after diapause termination. This is of great significance for clarifying that the WNV maintains its natural circulation in harsh environments through inter-epidemic seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Mei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Fang Jiang
- First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberations Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chun-Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Heng-Duan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-de Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Tong-Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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Bertola M, Mazzucato M, Pombi M, Montarsi F. Updated occurrence and bionomics of potential malaria vectors in Europe: a systematic review (2000-2021). Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:88. [PMID: 35292106 PMCID: PMC8922938 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05204-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the eradication of malaria across most European countries in the 1960s and 1970s, the anopheline vectors are still present. Most of the malaria cases that have been reported in Europe up to the present time have been infections acquired in endemic areas by travelers. However, the possibility of acquiring malaria by locally infected mosquitoes has been poorly investigated in Europe, despite autochthonous malaria cases having been occasionally reported in several European countries. Here we present an update on the occurrence of potential malaria vector species in Europe. Adopting a systematic review approach, we selected 288 papers published between 2000 and 2021 for inclusion in the review based on retrieval of accurate information on the following Anopheles species: An. atroparvus, An. hyrcanus sensu lato (s.l.), An. labranchiae, An. maculipennis sensu stricto (s.s.), An. messeae/daciae, An. sacharovi, An. superpictus and An. plumbeus. The distribution of these potential vector species across Europe is critically reviewed in relation to areas of major presence and principal bionomic features, including vector competence to Plasmodium. Additional information, such as geographical details, sampling approaches and species identification methods, are also reported. We compare the information on each species extracted from the most recent studies to comparable information reported from studies published in the early 2000s, with particular reference to the role of each species in malaria transmission before eradication. The picture that emerges from this review is that potential vector species are still widespread in Europe, with the largest diversity in the Mediterranean area, Italy in particular. Despite information on their vectorial capacity being fragmentary, the information retrieved suggests a re-definition of the relative importance of potential vector species, indicating An. hyrcanus s.l., An. labranchiae, An. plumbeus and An. sacharovi as potential vectors of higher importance, while An. messeae/daciae and An. maculipennis s.s. can be considered to be moderately important species. In contrast, An. atroparvus and An. superpictus should be considered as vectors of lower importance, particularly in relation to their low anthropophily. The presence of gaps in current knowledge of vectorial systems in Europe becomes evident in this review, not only in terms of vector competence but also in the definition of sampling approaches, highlighting the need for further research to adopt the appropriate surveillance system for each species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Bertola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Matteo Mazzucato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Marco Pombi
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Università di Roma "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Montarsi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Italy.,Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Università di Roma "Sapienza", P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
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Erdogan Bamac O, Cizmecigil UY, Mete A, Yilmaz A, Aydin O, Tali HE, Tali BH, Yilmaz SG, Gurel A, Turan N, Ozsoy S, Vatansever Celik E, Sadeyen JR, Roman-Sosa G, Iqbal M, Richt JA, Yilmaz H. Emergence of West Nile Virus Lineage-2 in Resident Corvids in Istanbul, Turkey. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:892-899. [PMID: 34748405 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile fever is a vector-borne viral disease affecting animals and humans causing significant health and economic problems globally. This study was aimed at investigating circulating West Nile virus (WNV) strains in free-ranging corvids in Istanbul, Turkey. Brain, liver, and kidney were collected from corvids (n = 34) between June 2019 and April 2020 and analyzed for the presence of WNV-specific RNA by quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations were also performed. Samples found to be positive by qRT-PCR were partially sequenced. WNV-specific RNA was detected in 8 of 34 corvids analyzed, which included 7 hooded crows (Corvus cornix) and 1 Eurasian magpie (Pica pica). Phylogenetic analysis based on partial WNV sequences from the 8 WNV-positive corvids identified in this study revealed that all sequences clustered within the WNV lineage-2; they were at least 97% homologues to WNV lineage-2 sequences from Slovakia, Italy, Czechia, Hungary, Senegal, Austria, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Germany. WNV sequences showed a divergence (87.94-94.46%) from sequences reported from Romania, Central African Republic, South Africa, Madagascar, Israel, and Cyprus, which clustered into a different clade of WNV lineage-2. Common histopathologic findings of WNV-positive corvids included lymphoplasmacytic hepatitis, myocarditis, and splenitis. The liver and heart were found to be the tissues most consistently positive for WNV-specific antigen by immunohistochemistry, followed by the kidney and brain. This study demonstrates for the first time the existence of WNV virus belonging to the genetic lineage-2 in resident corvids in Istanbul, Turkey. We hypothesize that the WNV strains circulating in Istanbul are possibly the result of a spillover event from Europe. Since WNV is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by mosquito vectors, the emergence of WNV in Istanbul also poses a risk to humans and other susceptible animals in this densely populated city and needs to be addressed by animal and public health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozge Erdogan Bamac
- Department of Pathology, and Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Utku Y Cizmecigil
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Asli Mete
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Davis Branch, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Aysun Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozge Aydin
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hasan E Tali
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Besim H Tali
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Semaha G Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Aydin Gurel
- Department of Pathology, and Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nuri Turan
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serhat Ozsoy
- Department of Wild Animals and Ecology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Vatansever Celik
- Department of Wild Animals and Ecology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jean-Remy Sadeyen
- Avian Influenza Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, United Kingdom
| | - Gleyder Roman-Sosa
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Munir Iqbal
- Avian Influenza Group, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, United Kingdom
| | - Juergen A Richt
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Huseyin Yilmaz
- Department of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
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Phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus: first report of lineage 1 in donkey in Turkey. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:453. [PMID: 34536145 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02892-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae, is a major arbovirus that causes West Nile fever. Previous data showed the prevalence of the WNV serologically and molecular in Turkey, and the presence of lineage 1 in horses and humans has been reported. This is the first notification of partial phylogeny of WNV detected in donkeys in the northeast of Turkey (on the Iranian border). Blood serum samples collected from 25 donkeys without clinical symptoms were tested by RT-PCR. Sequence analysis of the sample detected as positive was performed. Multiple sequence alignments of reference sequences taken from GenBank were performed using the ClustalW method using the MEGA6 program. Partial nucleotide sequences of the capsid gene coding region revealed that the strains are closely related to viruses of lineage 1, clade 1a. According to the phylogenetic tree, the TUR/Igdir/donkey strain was included in the same cluster as the strain (KJ958922) previously obtained from horses in Turkey and the strain (GQ851658) from the Central African Republic. This study is the first report to show the circulation of WNV lineage 1 in donkeys in Turkey.
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Zhang Y, Lei W, Wang Y, Sui H, Liu B, Li F, He Y, Li Z, Fu S, Wang L, Xu L, Mahe M, Gao Z, Mamutijiang T, Lv Z, Xiang N, Zhou L, Ni D, Liang G, Li Q, Wang H, Feng Z. Surveillance of West Nile virus infection in Kashgar Region, Xinjiang, China, 2013-2016. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14010. [PMID: 34234184 PMCID: PMC8263600 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93309-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) was first isolated in mainland China from mosquitoes in Jiashi County, Kashgar Region, Xinjiang in 2011, following local outbreaks of viral meningitis and encephalitis caused by WNV. To elaborate the epidemiological characteristics of the WNV, surveillance of WNV infection in Kashgar Region, Xinjiang from 2013 to 2016 were carried out. Blood and CSF samples from surveillance human cases, blood of domestic chicken, cattle, sheep and mosquitoes in Kashgar Region were collected and detected. There were human 65 WNV Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody positive cases by ELISA screening, 6 confirmed WNV cases by the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) screening. These cases occurred mainly concentrated in August to September of each year, and most of them were males. WNV-neutralizing antibodies were detected in both chickens and sheep, and the positive rates of neutralizing antibodies were 15.5% and 1.78%, respectively. A total of 15,637 mosquitoes were collected in 2013–2016, with Culex pipiens as the dominant mosquito species. Four and 1 WNV-positive mosquito pools were detected by RT-qPCR in 2013 and 2016 respectively. From these data, we can confirm that Jiashi County may be a natural epidemic foci of WNV disease, the trend highlights the routine virology surveillance in WNV surveillance cases, mosquitoes and avian should be maintained and enhanced to provide to prediction and early warning of outbreak an epidemic of WNV in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Zhang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwen Lei
- Department of Viral Encephalitis, NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Yali Wang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Haitian Sui
- China National Biotec Group Company Limited, Beijing, 100024, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Liu
- Center for Drug Evaluation of the China National Medical Products Administration, Beijing, 100022, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Viral Encephalitis, NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying He
- Department of Viral Encephalitis, NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoxia Li
- Kashgar Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xinjiang, Kashgar, 844000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihong Fu
- Department of Viral Encephalitis, NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Wang
- Kashgar Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xinjiang, Kashgar, 844000, People's Republic of China
| | - Limin Xu
- Kashgar Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xinjiang, Kashgar, 844000, People's Republic of China
| | - Muti Mahe
- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi, 830001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenguo Gao
- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Urumqi, 830001, People's Republic of China
| | - Tuerxun Mamutijiang
- Jiashi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiashi, 844300, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Lv
- Department of Viral Encephalitis, NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Nijuan Xiang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Daxin Ni
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Guodong Liang
- Department of Viral Encephalitis, NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Qun Li
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanyu Wang
- Department of Viral Encephalitis, NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zijian Feng
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Toscana virus associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome: a case-control study. Acta Neurol Belg 2021; 121:661-668. [PMID: 31970702 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-020-01279-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute-onset, immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy, often precipitated by an antecedent infection. An association of GBS with vector-borne viral infections has been suggested, with evidence for the involvement of Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya and West Nile virus (WNV). This prospective case-control study was conducted to identify vector-borne viral infections in GBS. Thirteen individuals newly diagnosed as GBS were enrolled. Disease severity, prognostic factors and nerve conduction patterns were assessed. Eleven individuals with non-infectious conditions requiring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were included as controls. Plasma, CSF and urine specimens were evaluated via nucleic acid amplification assays aimed to detect a broad spectrum of viruses. WNV and Toscana virus (TOSV) IgM/IgG antibodies were screened using commercial immunofluorescence assays and confirmed via virus neutralization tests (VNT). Partial TOSV nucleocapsid and genotype 1 polymerase sequences were detected in CSF of a patient with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Two control subjects had VNT-confirmed TOSV IgM in plasma. VNT-confirmed WNV and TOSV IgG were detected in 15.4% and 61.5% of GBS patients, respectively. Variations in WNV IgG and TOSV IgM detection rates were not statistically significant among study cohorts. However, TOSV IgG was significantly more frequent in GBS patients. No difference was observed for disease form or prognostic scores for virus markers. Follow-up serological profiles were identical to the initial findings. We have identified TOSV as a potential precipitating agent in GBS, with some rare clinical presentations of symptomatic TOSV infections.
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12
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Outammassine A, Zouhair S, Loqman S. Rift Valley Fever and West Nile virus vectors in Morocco: Current situation and future anticipated scenarios. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:1466-1478. [PMID: 33876581 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and West Nile virus (WNV) are two important emerging Arboviruses transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, typically Ae. caspius, Ae. detritus and Cx. pipiens in temperate regions. In Morocco, several outbreaks of WNV (1996, 2003 and 2010), affecting horses mostly, have been reported in north-western regions resulting in the death of 55 horses and one person cumulatively. Serological evidence of WNV local circulation, performed one year after the latest outbreak, revealed WNV neutralizing bodies in 59 out of 499 tested participants (El Rhaffouli et al., 2012). The country also shares common borders with northern Mauritania, where RVF is often documented. Human movement, livestock trade, climate changes and the availability of susceptible mosquito vectors are expected to increase the spread of these diseases in the country. Thus, in this study, we gathered a data set summarizing occurrences of Ae. caspius, Ae. detritus and Cx. pipiens in the country, and generated model prediction for their potential distribution under both current and future (2050) climate conditions, as a proxy to identify regions at-risk of RVF and WNV probable expansion. We found that the north-western regions (where the population is most concentrated), specifically along the Atlantic coastline, are highly suitable for Ae. caspius, Ae. detritus and Cx. pipiens, under present-day conditions. Future model scenarios anticipated possible range changes for the three mosquitoes under all climatic assumptions. All of the studied species are prospected to gain new areas that are currently not suitable, even under the most optimist scenario, thus placing additional human populations at risk. Our maps and predictions offer an opportunity to strategically target surveillance and control programmes. Public health officials, entomological surveillance and control delegation must augment efforts and continuously monitor these areas to reduce and minimize human infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelkrim Outammassine
- Laboratoire de Lutte contre les Maladies Infectieuses, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Said Zouhair
- Laboratoire de Lutte contre les Maladies Infectieuses, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.,Laboratory of Bacteriology-Virology, Avicienne Hospital Military, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Souad Loqman
- Laboratoire de Lutte contre les Maladies Infectieuses, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
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13
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Abdelkrim O, Samia B, Said Z, Souad L. Modeling and mapping the habitat suitability and the potential distribution of Arboviruses vectors in Morocco. Parasite 2021; 28:37. [PMID: 33861197 PMCID: PMC8051322 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2021030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes transmit several agents of diseases and the presence of different species represents a threat to animal and public health. Aedes and Culex mosquitoes are of particular concern giving their potential vector competence for Arbovirus transmission. In Morocco, the lack of detailed information related to their spatial distribution raises major concerns and hampers effective vector surveillance and control. Using maximum entropy (Maxent) modeling, we generated prediction models for the potential distribution of Arboviruses vectors (Aedes aegypti, Ae. vexans, Ae. caspius, Ae. detritus, and Culex pipiens) in Morocco, under current climatic conditions. Also, we investigated the habitat suitability for the potential occurrence and establishment of Ae. albopictus and Ae. vittatus recorded only once in the country. Prediction models for these last two species were generated considering occurrence datasets from close countries of the Mediterranean Basin, where Ae. albopictus is well established, and from a worldwide database for the case of Ae. vittatus (model transferability). With the exception of Ae. vittatus, the results identify potential habitat suitability in Morocco for all mosquitos considered. Existing areas with maximum risk of establishment and high potential distribution were mainly located in the northwestern and central parts of Morocco. Our results essentially underline the assumption that Ae. albopictus, if not quickly controlled, might find suitable habitats and has the potential to become established, especially in the northwest of the country. These findings may help to better understand the potential distribution of each species and enhance surveillance efforts in areas identified as high risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Outammassine Abdelkrim
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Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University PO Box 7010 40000 Marrakech Morocco
| | - Boussaa Samia
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ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Technology 40000 Marrakech Morocco
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Ecology and the Environment Laboratory L2E (URAC 32, CNRST ERACNERS 06), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University 2390-40080 Marrakech Morocco
| | - Zouhair Said
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Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University PO Box 7010 40000 Marrakech Morocco
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Laboratory of Bacteriology–Virology, Avicienne Hospital Military 40000 Marrakech Morocco
| | - Loqman Souad
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Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University PO Box 7010 40000 Marrakech Morocco
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14
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Saiz JC, Martín-Acebes MA, Blázquez AB, Escribano-Romero E, Poderoso T, Jiménez de Oya N. Pathogenicity and virulence of West Nile virus revisited eight decades after its first isolation. Virulence 2021; 12:1145-1173. [PMID: 33843445 PMCID: PMC8043182 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1908740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus which transmission cycle is maintained between mosquitoes and birds, although it occasionally causes sporadic outbreaks in horses and humans that can result in serious diseases and even death. Since its first isolation in Africa in 1937, WNV had been considered a neglected pathogen until its recent spread throughout Europe and the colonization of America, regions where it continues to cause outbreaks with severe neurological consequences in humans and horses. Although our knowledge about the characteristics and consequences of the virus has increased enormously lately, many questions remain to be resolved. Here, we thoroughly update our knowledge of different aspects of the WNV life cycle: virology and molecular classification, host cell interactions, transmission dynamics, host range, epidemiology and surveillance, immune response, clinical presentations, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prophylaxis (antivirals and vaccines), and prevention, and we highlight those aspects that are still unknown and that undoubtedly require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Carlos Saiz
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Martín-Acebes
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana B Blázquez
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Estela Escribano-Romero
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Poderoso
- Molecular Virology Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nereida Jiménez de Oya
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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15
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Metz MBC, Olufemi OT, Daly JM, Barba M. Systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence studies of West Nile virus in equids in Europe between 2001 and 2018. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:1814-1823. [PMID: 33012076 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
There is some evidence that West Nile virus (WNV), which causes encephalomyelitis in equids, is an emerging disease in Europe. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyse seroprevalence studies of WNV in equids in European countries between 2001 and 2018. Two electronic databases, PubMed and Scopus, were searched for relevant publications published from 2001 to 2018 using predetermined keywords. A total of 1,484 papers were initially found. After applying the eligibility criteria, 39 papers were finally included in the systematic review. Analysis of 28,089 equids from 16 European countries revealed a pooled seroprevalence of 8% (95% CI 5%-12%, p < .001, I2 = 99.3%) in Europe. The pooled seroprevalence was slightly higher in Mediterranean basin countries than other countries and when calculated for samples collected between 2001 and 2009 compared to 2010 to 2018. Differences in study design (e.g. sampling associated with recent outbreaks of WNV) contributed to a high degree of variability among studies. Further studies with harmonized study design and reporting of the results are recommended to better estimate and monitor European seroprevalence of WNV in equids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine B C Metz
- Agentes Microbiológicos asociados a la Reproducción Animal (ProVaginBio), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
| | - Olaolu T Olufemi
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Janet M Daly
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Marta Barba
- Agentes Microbiológicos asociados a la Reproducción Animal (ProVaginBio), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
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16
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Ergünay K, Polat C, Özkul A. Vector-borne viruses in Turkey: A systematic review and bibliography. Antiviral Res 2020; 183:104934. [PMID: 32949637 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Turkey serves as a natural hub for the dissemination of vector-borne viruses and provides many suitable habitats with diverse ecologies for introduction and establishment of new pathogens. This manuscript provides an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the vector-borne viruses documented in Turkey. Following web-based identification, screening and eligibility evaluation, 291 published reports were reviewed. The publications were categorized and listed as a supplementary bibliography accompanying the manuscript. In brief, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are currently documented as prominent tick and mosquito-borne viral pathogens in Turkey. CCHFV produces a significant number of infections annually, with severe outcome or death in a portion of cases. WNV gained attention following the clustering of cases in 2010. Exposure and infections with sandfly-borne phleboviruses, such as Toscana virus, are indigenous and widespread. Epidemiology, risk factors, symptomatic infections in susceptible hosts, vectors and reservoirs for these pathogens have been explored in detail. Detection of novel viruses in mosquitoes, sandflies and ticks from several regions is of particular interest, despite scarce information on their epidemiology and pathogenicity in vertebrates. Introduction and emergence of viruses transmitted by invasive Aedes mosquitoes constitute a threat, albeit only imported infections have so far been documented. Detection of Rift valley fever virus exposure is also of concern, due to its detrimental effects on livestock and spillover infections in humans. Vigilance to identify and diagnose probable cases as well as vector surveillance for established and potential pathogens is therefore, imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergünay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.
| | - Ceylan Polat
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
| | - Aykut Özkul
- Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Ankara, 06110, Turkey
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17
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Bakhshi H, Mousson L, Vazeille M, Zakeri S, Raz A, de Lamballerie X, Dinparast-Djadid N, Failloux AB. High Transmission Potential of West Nile Virus Lineage 1 for Cx. pipiens s.l. of Iran. Viruses 2020; 12:E397. [PMID: 32260215 PMCID: PMC7232300 DOI: 10.3390/v12040397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
: Vector competence is an important parameter in evaluating whether a species plays a role in transmission of an arbovirus. Although the protocols are similar, interpretation of results is unique given the specific interactions that exist between a mosquito population and a viral genotype. Here, we assessed the infection (IR), dissemination (DR), and transmission (TR) rates of Cx. pipiens s.l., collected from Iran, for West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 1a. We showed that Cx. pipiens s.l. mosquitoes in Iran were susceptible to WNV with IR up to 89.7%, 93.6%, and 83.9% at 7, 14, and 21 days post-infection (dpi) respectively. In addition, DR and TR reached respectively 92.3% and 75.0% at 21 dpi, and the number of viral particles delivered with saliva reached up to 1.33 × 105 particles. Therefore, an unexpected high risk of WNV dissemination in the region where Cx. pipiens s.l. mosquitoes are well established should be considered carefully and surveillance measures implemented accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Bakhshi
- Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran P.O. Box 1316943551, Iran; (H.B.); (S.Z.); (A.R.)
| | - Laurence Mousson
- Institut Pasteur, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, 75724 Paris, France; (L.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Marie Vazeille
- Institut Pasteur, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, 75724 Paris, France; (L.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Sedigheh Zakeri
- Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran P.O. Box 1316943551, Iran; (H.B.); (S.Z.); (A.R.)
| | - Abbasali Raz
- Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran P.O. Box 1316943551, Iran; (H.B.); (S.Z.); (A.R.)
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE), Aix Marseille Université, IRD 190, INSERM 1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France;
| | - Navid Dinparast-Djadid
- Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran P.O. Box 1316943551, Iran; (H.B.); (S.Z.); (A.R.)
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Institut Pasteur, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, 75724 Paris, France; (L.M.); (M.V.)
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18
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Selim A, Radwan A, Arnaout F. Seroprevalence and molecular characterization of West Nile Virus in Egypt. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 71:101473. [PMID: 32289595 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a flavivirus, mosquito-borne infection and have public health importance worldwide. WNV infection have highly significant impact on animal and human health. The virus has been detected serologically in Egypt among equids. Therefore, the aim of the present study to investigate the serological situation of WNV among horse in north of Egypt and identification of WNV in vector. The serological survey was conducted on 500 serum samples that collected from horses from four governorates at north of Egypt. The infection rate was non-significant differed between four localities and the highest rate was reported in Qalyubia governorate (25.5 %) in comparison with other areas. Moreover, the WNV RNA was detected in mosquitoes and the obtained WNV sequence showed high similarity with Eg101 strain and characterized as lineage 1. The obtained findings confirm the circulation of WNV in mosquitoes and animals in Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelfattah Selim
- Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed Radwan
- Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt
| | - Faysal Arnaout
- Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt
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19
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Chevalier V, Marsot M, Molia S, Rasamoelina H, Rakotondravao R, Pedrono M, Lowenski S, Durand B, Lecollinet S, Beck C. Serological Evidence of West Nile and Usutu Viruses Circulation in Domestic and Wild Birds in Wetlands of Mali and Madagascar in 2008. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17061998. [PMID: 32197367 PMCID: PMC7142923 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The geographical distribution and impact on animal and human health of both West Nile and Usutu viruses, two flaviviruses of the Japanese encephalitis complex, have been increasing during the past two decades. Both viruses circulate in Europe and Africa within a natural cycle between wild birds and mosquitoes, mainly from the Culex genus. We retrospectively analyzed sera from domestic and wild birds sampled in 2008 in two wetlands, namely the Inner Niger Delta, Mali, and the Lake Alaotra area, Madagascar. Sera were first tested using a commercial ID Screen West Nile Competition Multi-species ELISA kit. Then, positive sera and sera with insufficient volume for testing with ELISA were tested with a Microneutralization Test. In Mali, the observed seroprevalence in domestic birds was 28.5% [24.5; 32.8] 95%CI, 3.1 % [1.8; 5.2] 95%CI, 6.2% [3.4; 10.2] 95%CI and 9.8 % [7.3; 12.8] 95%CI, for West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), undetermined flavivirus, and WNV/USUV respectively. Regarding domestic birds of Madagascar, the observed seroprevalence was 4.4 % [2.1; 7.9]95%CI for WNV, 0.9% [0.1; 3.1] 95%CI for USUV, 1.3% [0.5; 2.8] 95%CI for undetermined flavivirus, and null for WNV/USUV. Among the 150 wild birds sampled in Madagascar, two fulvous whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) were positive for WNV and two for an undetermined flavivirus. One white-faced whistling-duck (Dendrocygna viduata) and one Hottentot teal (Spatula hottentota) were tested positive for USUV. African and European wetlands are linked by wild bird migrations. This first detection of USUV—as well as the confirmed circulation of WNV in domestic birds of two wetlands of Mali and Madagascar—emphasizes the need to improve the surveillance, knowledge of epidemiological patterns, and phylogenetic characteristics of flavivirus in Africa, particularly in areas prone to sustained, intense flavivirus transmission such as wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Chevalier
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34090 Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier, F-34090 Montpellier, France
- Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh PO Box 983, Cambodia
| | - Maud Marsot
- University Paris Est, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sophie Molia
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34090 Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier, F-34090 Montpellier, France
- Centre Régional de Santé Animale, Parc Sotuba, Bamako, Mali
| | | | | | - Miguel Pedrono
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, F-34090 Montpellier, France
- Université Montpellier, F-34090 Montpellier, France
- FOFIFA-DRZV, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Steve Lowenski
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, EURL for Equine Diseases, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Benoit Durand
- University Paris Est, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sylvie Lecollinet
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, EURL for Equine Diseases, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Cécile Beck
- UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, EURL for Equine Diseases, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
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20
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Detection of diflubenzuron and pyrethroid resistance mutations in Culex pipiens from Muğla, Turkey. Acta Trop 2020; 203:105294. [PMID: 31836282 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chemical insecticides are the main tool for vector control worldwide with pyrethroids and the larvicide diflubenzuron (DFB) used extensively against the primary West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens. In this study we monitored the presence, frequency and geographical distribution of the Chitin synthase 1 gene mutations I1043L, I1043M associated with striking diflubenzuron resistance and the knock down resistance mutation L1014F associated with pyrehtroid resistance, in Cx. pipiens populations from Turkey. DFB resistance mutations I1043L, I1043M were found at high frequencies ranging from 15.7% to 37.5% and 25% to 52.7% in all study sites (first report for the presence of DFB resistant mutations, anywhere outside Italy). The L1014F pyrethroid resistance mutation was also present at relatively high frequencies, ranging from 40% to 50%. The high frequency of both DFB and pyrethroid resistance mutations are possibly associated with the intense use of these insecticides in agricultural and mosquito control applications in the region. Given the limited number of available insecticides for vector control these findings are of major importance for public health in Turkey and neighboring countries.
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21
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Balaman N, Gazi U, Imir T, Sanlidag T, Ruh E, Tosun O, Ozkul A, Taylan-Ozkan A. Serological screening of West Nile virus among blood donors in northern Cyprus. J Med Virol 2020; 92:1035-1039. [PMID: 31925797 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic arbovirus that can also be transmitted through blood transfusion. Even though its geographic distribution has been expanding, there has not yet been any epidemiological data on WNV in northern Cyprus. The aim of our study is to fill this gap by using donated blood samples. METHODS Samples collected from the main government hospital blood bank in Nicosia were analyzed by anti-WNV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (immunoglobulin M [IgM] and immunoglobulin G [IgG]). Seropositive samples were subjected to plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for confirmation and analyzed by ELISA IgG avidity test and reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). RESULTS Of the 760 sera samples, 2 (0.3%) were IgM+ and 31 (4.1%) were IgG+. Neutralization activity was detected in none (0.0%) of the IgM+ and 26 (83.9%) of IgG+ donor specimens. ELISA IgG avidity test reported high avidity in 21 (67.7%) and low avidity in one (3.2%) IgG+ sample. PRNT-confirmed anti-WNV IgG+ samples exhibited only borderline (19.2%) or high avidity (80.8%) values. rRT-PCR results were negative for both IgM+ and IgG+ samples. CONCLUSION Anti-WNV antibodies were detected in northern Cyprus among blood donors. The establishment of preventive measures and evaluation of the geographic extent of the WNV in northern Cyprus are highly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagat Balaman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Umut Gazi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Turgut Imir
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Tamer Sanlidag
- Research Centre of Experimental Health Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Emrah Ruh
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Ozgur Tosun
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Aykut Ozkul
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Taylan-Ozkan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hitit University, Corum, Turkey
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Barba M, Fairbanks EL, Daly JM. Equine viral encephalitis: prevalence, impact, and management strategies. VETERINARY MEDICINE-RESEARCH AND REPORTS 2019; 10:99-110. [PMID: 31497528 PMCID: PMC6689664 DOI: 10.2147/vmrr.s168227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Members of several different virus families cause equine viral encephalitis, the majority of which are arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) with zoonotic potential. The clinical signs caused are rarely pathognomonic; therefore, a clinical diagnosis is usually presumptive according to the geographical region. However, recent decades have seen expansion of the geographical range and emergence in new regions of numerous viral diseases. In this context, this review presents an overview of the prevalence and distribution of the main viral causes of equine encephalitis and discusses their impact and potential approaches to limit their spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Barba
- Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain
| | - Emma L Fairbanks
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Janet M Daly
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, UK
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23
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Jourdain F, Samy AM, Hamidi A, Bouattour A, Alten B, Faraj C, Roiz D, Petrić D, Pérez-Ramírez E, Velo E, Günay F, Bosevska G, Salem I, Pajovic I, Marić J, Kanani K, Paronyan L, Dente MG, Picard M, Zgomba M, Sarih M, Haddad N, Gaidash O, Sukhiasvili R, Declich S, Shaibi T, Sulesco T, Harrat Z, Robert V. Towards harmonisation of entomological surveillance in the Mediterranean area. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007314. [PMID: 31194743 PMCID: PMC6563966 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Mediterranean Basin is historically a hotspot for trade, transport, and migration. As a result, countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea share common public health threats. Among them are vector-borne diseases, and in particular, mosquito-borne viral diseases are prime candidates as (re)emerging diseases and are likely to spread across the area. Improving preparedness and response capacities to these threats at the regional level is therefore a major issue. The implementation of entomological surveillance is, in particular, of utmost importance. Guidance in designing entomological surveillance systems is critical, and these systems may pursue different specific objectives depending on the disease. The purpose of the proposed review is to draw up guidelines for designing effective and sustainable entomological surveillance systems in order to improve preparedness and response. However, we make it clear that there is no universal surveillance system, so the thinking behind harmonisation is to define evidence-based standards in order to promote best practises, identify the most appropriate surveillance activities, and optimise the use of resources. Such guidance is aimed at policymakers and diverse stakeholders and is intended to be used as a framework for the implementation of entomological surveillance programmes. It will also be useful to collaborate and share information with health professionals involved in other areas of disease surveillance. Medical entomologists and vector control professionals will be able to refer to this report to advocate for tailored entomological surveillance strategies. The main threats targeted in this review are the vectors of dengue virus, chikungunya virus, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and Rift Valley fever virus. The vectors of all these arboviruses are mosquitoes. METHODS Current knowledge on vector surveillance in the Mediterranean area is reviewed. The analysis was carried out by a collaboration of the medical entomology experts in the region, all of whom belong to the MediLabSecure network, which is currently funded by the European Union and represents an international effort encompassing 19 countries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. FINDINGS Robust surveillance systems are required to address the globalisation of emerging arboviruses. The prevention and management of mosquito-borne viral diseases must be addressed in the prism of a One Health strategy that includes entomological surveillance as an integral part of the policy. Entomological surveillance systems should be designed according to the entomological and epidemiological context and must have well-defined objectives in order to effect a tailored and graduated response. We therefore rely on different scenarios according to different entomological and epidemiological contexts and set out detailed objectives of surveillance. The development of multidisciplinary networks involving both academics and public authorities will provide resources to address these health challenges by promoting good practises in surveillance (identification of surveillance aims, design of surveillance systems, data collection, dissemination of surveillance results, evaluation of surveillance activities) and through the sharing of effective knowledge and information. These networks will also contribute to capacity building and stronger collaborations between sectors at both the local and regional levels. Finally, concrete guidance is offered on the vector of the main arbovirus based on the current situation in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Jourdain
- French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Research unit MIVEGC IRD-CNRS-Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Abdallah M. Samy
- Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Afrim Hamidi
- University of Prishtina, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Ali Bouattour
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT03 Service d’entomologie médicale, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Bülent Alten
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Ecology Section, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Chafika Faraj
- Laboratoire d'Entomologie Médicale, Institut National d'Hygiène, Rabat, Morocco
| | - David Roiz
- French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Research unit MIVEGC IRD-CNRS-Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Dušan Petrić
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Phytomedicine and Environment Protection, Laboratory for Medical Entomology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Elisa Pérez-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CISA), Carretera Algete-El Casar, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enkeledja Velo
- Control of Infectious Diseases Department, Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania
| | - Filiz Günay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Ecology Section, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Golubinka Bosevska
- Institute of Public Health of R. Macedonia, Laboratory for virology and molecular diagnostics, Skopje, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
| | - Ibrahim Salem
- Ministry of Health, Central public health laboratory, Ramallah, Palestine
| | - Igor Pajovic
- University of Montenegro, Biotechnical Faculty, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | - Jelena Marić
- PI Veterinary Institute of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Khalil Kanani
- Parasitic and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Vector-Borne Diseases programmes manager, MOH, Ramallah, Jordan
| | - Lusine Paronyan
- Epidemiology of Vector borne and Parasitic diseases, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Maria-Grazia Dente
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marie Picard
- French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Research unit MIVEGC IRD-CNRS-Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Marija Zgomba
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Phytomedicine and Environment Protection, Laboratory for Medical Entomology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - M'hammed Sarih
- Laboratoire des Maladies Vectorielles, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Nabil Haddad
- Laboratory of Immunology and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Fanar, Lebanon
| | - Oleksandr Gaidash
- State Body “Ukrainian I. I. Mechnikov Research Anti-Plague Institute of Ministry of Health of Ukraine”, Laboratory of Especially Dangerous Infections Epizootology, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - Roena Sukhiasvili
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Silvia Declich
- National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Taher Shaibi
- Reference Laboratory of Parasites & Vector Borne Diseases, NCDC Libya, and Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, Libya
| | - Tatiana Sulesco
- Institute of Zoology, Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Zoubir Harrat
- Laboratoire éco-épidémiologie Parasitaire et Génétique des Populations, Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Vincent Robert
- French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Research unit MIVEGC IRD-CNRS-Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
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Akıner MM, Öztürk M, Başer AB, Günay F, Hacıoğlu S, Brinkmann A, Emanet N, Alten B, Özkul A, Nitsche A, Linton YM, Ergünay K. Arboviral screening of invasive Aedes species in northeastern Turkey: West Nile virus circulation and detection of insect-only viruses. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007334. [PMID: 31059502 PMCID: PMC6522068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The recent reports of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus populations in Turkey, in parallel with the territorial expansion identified in several surrounding countries, have raised concerns about the establishment and re-establishment of these invasive Aedes mosquitoes in Turkey. This cross-sectional study was performed to detect Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus in regions of recent incursions, and screen for viral pathogens known to be transmitted elsewhere by these species. METHODOLOGY Mosquitoes were collected at several locations in Artvin, Rize and Trabzon provinces of the Black Sea region during 2016-2017, identified morphologically, pooled and analyzed via generic or specific nucleic acid amplification assays. Viruses in positive pools were identified by product sequencing, cell culture inoculation and next generation sequencing (NGS) in selected specimens. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The study group comprised 791 specimens. Aedes albopictus was the most abundant species in all locations (89.6%), followed by Ae. aegypti (7.8%) and Culex pipiens (2.5%). Mosquitoes were screened for viruses in 65 pools where fifteen (23.1%) were reactive. The infecting strains was identified as West Nile virus (WNV) in 5 pools (7.7%) with Ae. albopictus or Cx. pipiens mosquitoes. The obtained WNV sequences phylogenetically grouped with local and global lineage 1 clade 1a viruses. In 4 (6.2%) and 6 (9.2%) pools, respectively, cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) and Aedes flavivirus (AEFV) sequences were characterized. NGS provided a near-complete AEFV genome in a pool of Ae. albopictus. The strain is provisionally called "AEFV-Turkey", and functional analysis of the genome revealed several conserved motifs and regions associated with virus replication. Merida-like virus Turkey (MERDLVT), a recently-described novel rhabdovirus, was also co-detected in a Cx. pipiens pool also positive for WNV. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Invasive Aedes mosquitoes are established in certain locations of northeastern Turkey. Herein we conclusively show the role of these species in WNV circulation in the region. Biosurveillance is imperative to monitor the spread of these species further into Asia Minor and to detect possible introduction of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M. Akıner
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Rize, TURKEY
| | - Murat Öztürk
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Rize, TURKEY
| | - Aykut Buğra Başer
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Rize, TURKEY
| | - Filiz Günay
- Hacettepe University; Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, TURKEY
| | - Sabri Hacıoğlu
- Ankara University; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Ankara, TURKEY
| | - Annika Brinkmann
- Robert Koch Institute; Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, GERMANY
| | - Nergis Emanet
- Hacettepe University; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, TURKEY
| | - Bülent Alten
- Hacettepe University; Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, TURKEY
| | - Aykut Özkul
- Ankara University; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Ankara, TURKEY
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Robert Koch Institute; Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, GERMANY
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, United States of America
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Smithsonian Institution Museum Support Center, Suitland, United States of America
| | - Koray Ergünay
- Hacettepe University; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, TURKEY
- * E-mail:
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25
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Billioud G, Tryfonos C, Richter J. The Prevalence of Antibodies against Sandfly Fever Viruses and West Nile Virus in Cyprus. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2019; 13:116-125. [PMID: 31346541 PMCID: PMC6643013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sandfly fever is an incapacitating disease caused by sandfly-borne Phleboviruses that can lead to meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis. West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne Flavivirus, can induce neuroinvasive disease manifested by meningitis, encephalitis or acute flaccid paralysis. Both vectors are endemic in Cyprus and very active during summer. The aims of this study were to determine first the prevalence of sandfly fever viruses (SFV) and WNV infections in Cyprus and second, to investigate their role in central nervous system (CNS) infections. METHODS For the prevalence study, 327 sera collected in 2013 and 2014 were tested for anti-SFV and anti-WNV IgG using indirect immunofluorescence assay and ELISA, respectively. In order to investigate a possible role of SFV and WNV in CNS infections, 127 sera of patients presenting symptoms of SFV or WNV infections were screened for IgM specific to SFV and WNV. RESULTS The overall anti-SFV IgG seroprevalence was 28% and was increasing with age (P< 0.01). The seroprevalence rate for anti-WNV IgG in Cyprus was 5%. Concerning the role of SFVs in CNS infections, anti-SFV IgM was detected in 8 out of 127 sera from selected patients presenting relevant symptoms of infections during vector's active period. In addition, anti-WNV IgM were detected in 17 out of the 127 patients with compatible symptoms. CONCLUSION The findings confirm the presence of sandfly fever and WNV in Cyprus and should, therefore, be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with febrile illness/meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan Richter
- Corresponding author: Dr Jan Richter, E-mail:
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26
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Ziyaeyan M, Behzadi MA, Leyva-Grado VH, Azizi K, Pouladfar G, Dorzaban H, Ziyaeyan A, Salek S, Jaber Hashemi A, Jamalidoust M. Widespread circulation of West Nile virus, but not Zika virus in southern Iran. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0007022. [PMID: 30557321 PMCID: PMC6312345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are mosquito-borne viral infections. Over the past few decades, WNV has been associated with several outbreaks involving high numbers of neuroinvasive diseases among humans. The recent re-emergence of ZIKV has been associated with congenital malformation and also with Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. The geographic range of arthropod-borne viruses has been rapidly increasing in recent years. The objectives of this study were to determine the presence of IgG specific antibodies and the genome of WNV and ZIKV in human samples, as well as WNV and ZIKV genomes in wild-caught mosquitoes in urban and rural areas of the Hormozgan province, in southern Iran. A total of 494 serum samples were tested for the presence of WNV and ZIKV IgG antibodies using ELISA assays. One hundred and two (20.6%) samples were reactive for WNV IgG antibodies. All serum samples were negative for ZIKV IgG antibodies. Using the multivariable logistic analysis, age (45+ vs. 1-25; OR = 3.4, 95% C.I.: 1.8-6.3), occupation (mostly outdoor vs. mostly indoor; OR = 2.4, 95% C.I.: 1.1-5.2), and skin type(type I/II vs. type III/IV and type V/VI; OR = 4.3, 95% C.I.: 1.7-10.8 and OR = 2.7, 95% C.I.: 1.3-5.5 respectively, skin types based on Fitzpatrick scale) showed significant association with WNV seroreactivity. We collected 2,015 mosquitoes in 136 pools belonging to 5 genera and 14 species. Three pools of Culex pipiens complex were positive for WNV RNA using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR). ZIKV RNA was not detected in any of the pools. All WNV ELISA reactive serum samples were negative for WNV RNA. In conclusion, we provided evidence of the establishment of WNV in southern Iran and no proof of ZIKV in serum samples or in mosquito vectors. The establishment of an organized arbovirus surveillance system and active case finding strategies seems to be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazyar Ziyaeyan
- Department of Clinical Virology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Behzadi
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Victor Hugo Leyva-Grado
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Kourosh Azizi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Pouladfar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hedayat Dorzaban
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Sanaz Salek
- Department of Clinical Virology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Aghyl Jaber Hashemi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Research Center for Health Sciences, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Marzieh Jamalidoust
- Department of Clinical Virology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
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Lustig Y, Sofer D, Bucris ED, Mendelson E. Surveillance and Diagnosis of West Nile Virus in the Face of Flavivirus Cross-Reactivity. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2421. [PMID: 30369916 PMCID: PMC6194321 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus whose zoonotic cycle includes both mosquitoes and birds as amplifiers and humans and horses as dead-end hosts. In recent years WNV has been spreading globally and is currently endemic in Africa, The Middle East, India, Australia, central and southern Europe, and the Americas. Integrated surveillance schemes and environmental data aim to detect viral circulation and reduce the risk of infection for the human population emphasizing the critical role for One Health principles in public health. Approximately 20% of WNV infected patients develop West Nile Fever while in less than 1%, infection results in West Nile Neurological Disease. Currently, the diagnosis of WNV infection is primarily based on serology, since molecular identification of WNV RNA is unreliable due to the short viremia. The recent emergence of Zika virus epidemic in America and Asia has added another layer of complexity to WNV diagnosis due to significant cross-reactivity between several members of the Flaviviridae family such as Zika, dengue, Usutu, and West Nile viruses. Diagnosis is especially challenging in persons living in regions with flavivirus co-circulation as well as in travelers from WNV endemic countries traveling to Zika or dengue infected areas or vise-versa. Here, we review the recent studies implementing WNV surveillance of mosquitoes and birds within the One Health initiative. Furthermore, we discuss the utility of novel molecular methods, alongside traditional molecular and serological methods, in WNV diagnosis and epidemiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaniv Lustig
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Danit Sofer
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Efrat Dahan Bucris
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Kumar B, Manuja A, Gulati BR, Virmani N, Tripathi B. Zoonotic Viral Diseases of Equines and Their Impact on Human and Animal Health. Open Virol J 2018; 12:80-98. [PMID: 30288197 PMCID: PMC6142672 DOI: 10.2174/1874357901812010080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Zoonotic diseases are the infectious diseases that can be transmitted to human beings and vice versa from animals either directly or indirectly. These diseases can be caused by a range of organisms including bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. Viral diseases are highly infectious and capable of causing pandemics as evidenced by outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, West Nile, SARS-Corona, Nipah, Hendra, Avian influenza and Swine influenza. EXPALANTION Many viruses affecting equines are also important human pathogens. Diseases like Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Western equine encephalitis (WEE), and Venezuelan-equine encephalitis (VEE) are highly infectious and can be disseminated as aerosols. A large number of horses and human cases of VEE with fatal encephalitis have continuously occurred in Venezuela and Colombia. Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is prevalent in horses in North America and has zoonotic potential causing encephalitis in children. Hendra virus (HeV) causes respiratory and neurological disease and death in man and horses. Since its first outbreak in 1994, 53 disease incidents have been reported in Australia. West Nile fever has spread to many newer territories across continents during recent years.It has been described in Africa, Europe, South Asia, Oceania and North America. Japanese encephalitis has expanded horizons from Asia to western Pacific region including the eastern Indonesian archipelago, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Rabies is rare in horses but still a public health concern being a fatal disease. Equine influenza is historically not known to affect humans but many scientists have mixed opinions. Equine viral diseases of zoonotic importance and their impact on animal and human health have been elaborated in this article. CONCLUSION Equine viral diseases though restricted to certain geographical areas have huge impact on equine and human health. Diseases like West Nile fever, Hendra, VS, VEE, EEE, JE, Rabies have the potential for spread and ability to cause disease in human. Equine influenza is historically not known to affect humans but some experimental and observational evidence show that H3N8 influenza virus has infected man. Despite our pursuit of understanding the complexity of the vector-host-pathogen mediating disease transmission, it is not possible to make generalized predictions concerning the degree of impact of disease emergence. A targeted, multidisciplinary effort is required to understand the risk factors for zoonosis and apply the interventions necessary to control it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balvinder Kumar
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar-125001, India
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Morçiçek B, Taskin BG, Doğaç E, Doğaroğlu T, Taskin V. Evidence of natural Wolbachia infections and molecular identification of field populations of Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes in western Turkey. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2018; 43:44-51. [PMID: 29757522 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Establishing reliable risk projection information about the distribution pattern of members of the Culex pipiens complex is of particular interest, as these mosquitoes are competent vectors for certain disease-causing pathogens. Wolbachia, a maternally inherited bacterial symbiont, are distributed in various arthropod species and can induce cytoplasmic incompatibility, i.e., reduced egg hatch, in certain crosses. It is being considered as a tool for population control of mosquito disease vectors. The Aegean region is characterized by highly populated, rural, and agricultural areas and is also on the route of the migratory birds. In this study, a fragment of the 658 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene, which includes the barcode region, was employed to differentiate Cx. pipiens complex species found in this region. Moreover, for the first time, the prevalence of Wolbachia endobacteria in these natural populations was examined using PCR amplification of a specific wsp gene. Our results revealed a widespread (more than 90%, n=121) presence of the highly efficient West Nile virus vector Cx. quinquefasciatus in the region. We also found that Wolbachia infection is widespread; the average prevalence was 62% in populations throughout the region. This study provided valuable information about the composition of Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes and the prevalence of Wolbachia infection in these populations in the Aegean region. This information will be helpful in tracking mosquito-borne diseases and designing and implementing Wolbachia-based control strategies in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burçin Morçiçek
- Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 48100 Kotekli, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Belgin Gocmen Taskin
- Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 48100 Kotekli, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Ersin Doğaç
- Koycegiz Vocational School, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Mugla Sitki Kocman University Mugla, Turkey
| | - Taylan Doğaroğlu
- Ula Vocational School, Department of Bee Breeding, Mugla Sitki Kocman University Mugla, Turkey
| | - Vatan Taskin
- Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 48100 Kotekli, Muğla, Turkey
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Altinli M, Gunay F, Alten B, Weill M, Sicard M. Wolbachia diversity and cytoplasmic incompatibility patterns in Culex pipiens populations in Turkey. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:198. [PMID: 29558974 PMCID: PMC5859491 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2777-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wolbachia are maternally transmitted bacteria that can manipulate their hosts’ reproduction causing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). CI is a sperm-egg incompatibility resulting in embryonic death. Due to this sterilising effect on mosquitoes, Wolbachia are considered for vector control strategies. Important vectors for arboviruses, filarial nematodes and avian malaria, mosquitoes of Culex pipiens complex are suitable for Wolbachia-based vector control. They are infected with Wolbachia wPip strains belonging to five genetically distinct groups (wPip-I to V) within the Wolbachia B supergroup. CI properties of wPip strongly correlate with this genetic diversity: mosquitoes infected with wPip strains from a different wPip group are more likely to be incompatible with each other. Turkey is a critical spot for vector-borne diseases due to its unique geographical position as a natural bridge between Asia, Europe and Africa. However, general wPip diversity, distribution and CI patterns in natural Cx. pipiens (s.l.) populations in the region are unknown. In this study, we first identified wPip diversity in Turkish Cx. pipiens (s.l.) populations, by assigning them to one of the five groups within wPip (wPip-Ito V). We further investigated CI properties between different wPip strains from this region. Results We showed a wPip fixation in Cx. pipiens (s.l.) populations in Turkey by analysing 753 samples from 59 sampling sites. Three wPip groups were detected in the region: wPip-I, wPip-II and wPip-IV. The most dominant group was wPip-II. While wPip-IV was restricted to only two locations, wPip-I and wPip-II had wider distributions. Individuals infected with wPip-II were found co-existing with individuals infected with wPip-I or wPip-IV in some sampling sites. Two mosquito isofemale lines harbouring either a wPip-I or a wPip-II strain were established from a population in northwestern Turkey. Reciprocal crosses between these lines showed that they were fully compatible with each other but bidirectionally incompatible with wPip-IV Istanbul infected line. Conclusion Our findings reveal a high diversity of wPip and CI properties in Cx. pipiens (s.l.) populations in Turkey. Knowledge on naturally occurring CI patterns caused by wPip diversity in Turkey might be useful for Cx. pipiens (s.l.) control in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mine Altinli
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (CNRS-Université de Montpellier-IRD-EPHE), Montpellier, France.
| | - Filiz Gunay
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, VERG Laboratories, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bulent Alten
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, VERG Laboratories, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mylene Weill
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (CNRS-Université de Montpellier-IRD-EPHE), Montpellier, France
| | - Mathieu Sicard
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (CNRS-Université de Montpellier-IRD-EPHE), Montpellier, France.
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Mosquito community influences West Nile virus seroprevalence in wild birds: implications for the risk of spillover into human populations. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2599. [PMID: 29422507 PMCID: PMC5805708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20825-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquito community composition plays a central role in the transmission of zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. We evaluated how the mosquito community affects the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) in house sparrows along an urbanisation gradient in an area with the endemic circulation of this virus. We sampled 2544 birds and 340829 mosquitoes in 45 localities, analysed in 15 groups, each containing one urban, one rural and one natural area. WNV seroprevalence was evaluated using an epitope-blocking ELISA kit and a micro virus-neutralization test (VNT). The presence of WNV antibodies was confirmed in 1.96% and 0.67% of birds by ELISA and VNT, respectively. The VNT-seropositive birds were captured in rural and natural areas, but not in urban areas. Human population density was zero in all the localities where VNT-positive birds were captured, which potentially explains the low incidence of human WNV cases in the area. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against WNV was positively correlated with the abundance of the ornithophilic Culex perexiguus but negatively associated with the abundance of the mammophilic Ochlerotatus caspius and Anopheles atroparvus. These results suggest that the enzootic circulation of WNV in Spain occurs in areas with larger populations of Cx. perexiguus and low human population densities.
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Öncü C, Brinkmann A, Günay F, Kar S, Öter K, Sarıkaya Y, Nitsche A, Linton YM, Alten B, Ergünay K. West Nile virus, Anopheles flavivirus, a novel flavivirus as well as Merida-like rhabdovirus Turkey in field-collected mosquitoes from Thrace and Anatolia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 57:36-45. [PMID: 29128516 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are involved in the transmission and maintenance of several viral diseases with significant health impact. Biosurveillance efforts have also revealed insect-specific viruses, observed to cocirculate with pathogenic strains. This report describes the findings of flavivirus and rhabdovirus screening, performed in eastern Thrace and Aegean region of Anatolia during 2016, including and expanding on locations with previously-documented virus activity. A mosquito cohort of 1545 individuals comprising 14 species were collected and screened in 108 pools via generic and specific amplification and direct metagenomics by next generation sequencing. Seven mosquito pools (6.4%) were positive in the flavivirus screening. West Nile virus lineage 1 clade 1a sequences were characterized in a pool Culex pipiens sensu lato specimens, providing the initial virus detection in Aegean region following 2010 outbreak. In an Anopheles maculipennis sensu lato pool, sequences closely-related to Anopheles flaviviruses were obtained, with similarities to several African and Australian strains of this new insect-specific flavivirus clade. In pools comprising Uranotaenia unguiculata (n=3), Cx. pipiens s.l. (n=1) and Aedes caspius (n=1) mosquitoes, sequences of a novel flavivirus, distantly-related to Flavivirus AV2011, identified previously in Spain and Turkey, were characterized. Moreover, DNA forms of the novel flavivirus were detected in two Ur. unguiculata pools. These sequences were highly-similar to the sequences amplified from viral RNA, with undisrupted reading frames, suggest the occurrence of viral DNA forms in natural conditions within mosquito hosts. Rhabdovirus screening revealed sequences of a recently-described novel virus, named the Merida-like virus Turkey (MERDLVT) in 5 Cx. pipiens s.l. pools (4.6%). Partial L and N gene sequences of MERDLVT were well-conserved among strains, with evidence for geographical clustering in phylogenetic analyses. Metagenomics provided the near-full genomic sequence in a specimen, revealing an identical genome organization and limited divergence from the prototype MERDLVT isolate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceren Öncü
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Annika Brinkmann
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Filiz Günay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sırrı Kar
- Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Kerem Öter
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Turkey
| | - Yasemen Sarıkaya
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, MD, USA; Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bülent Alten
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Koray Ergünay
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany; Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, Turkey.
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Azmi K, Tirosh-Levy S, Manasrah M, Mizrahi R, Nasereddin A, Al-Jawabreh A, Ereqat S, Abdeen Z, Lustig Y, Gelman B, Schvartz G, Steinman A. West Nile Virus: Seroprevalence in Animals in Palestine and Israel. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017. [PMID: 28628400 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) epidemiological situation in Israel and Palestine, due to their unique location, draws attention following to the global spread of West Nile fever (WNF). Although much information is available from Israel on clinical cases and prevalence of WNV, clinical cases are rarely reported in Palestine, and prevalence is not known. The objectives of this study were to determine WNV seroprevalence in various domestic animals in Palestine and to reevaluate current seroprevalence, force of infection, and risk factors for WNV exposure in horses in Israel. Sera samples were collected from 717 animals from Palestine and Israel (460 horses, 124 donkeys, 3 mules, 50 goats, 45 sheep, and 35 camels). Two hundred and ten horses were sampled twice. The level of WNV antibodies was determined using commercial Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit. Seroprevalence in equids was 73%. Seroprevalence in Israel (84.6%) was significantly higher than in Palestine (48.6%). Seroprevalence in horses (82.6%) was significantly higher than in donkeys and mules (39.3%). Multivariable statistical analysis showed that geographical area, landscape features (altitude), environmental factors (land surface temperature during the day [LSTD]), species, and age significantly influenced WNV seroprevalence. Fourteen of 95 (14.7%) sheep and goats and 14/35 camels (40%) sampled in Palestine were seropositive for WNV. Of the horses that were sampled twice, 82.8% were seropositive for WNV at the first sampling, and all remained seropositive. Three of the seronegative horses, all from Palestine, converted to positive when resampled (8.5%). The results indicate that domestic animals in Palestine were infected with WNV in the past, and the seroconversion indicates that WNV was circulating in Palestine in the summer of 2014. Control measures to prevent human infection should be implemented in Palestine. Anti WNV antibodies in domestic animals suggest that those species can be used as sentinels for WNV activity in areas where most horses are either seropositive or vaccinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kifaya Azmi
- 1 Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University , Abu-Deis, Palestine.,2 Al-Quds Public Health Society , Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Sharon Tirosh-Levy
- 3 Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mu'taz Manasrah
- 1 Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University , Abu-Deis, Palestine.,2 Al-Quds Public Health Society , Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Rotem Mizrahi
- 3 Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot, Israel
| | - Abed Nasereddin
- 1 Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University , Abu-Deis, Palestine.,2 Al-Quds Public Health Society , Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Amer Al-Jawabreh
- 1 Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University , Abu-Deis, Palestine.,2 Al-Quds Public Health Society , Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Suheir Ereqat
- 1 Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University , Abu-Deis, Palestine.,2 Al-Quds Public Health Society , Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Ziad Abdeen
- 1 Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University , Abu-Deis, Palestine.,2 Al-Quds Public Health Society , Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Yaniv Lustig
- 4 Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health , Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Boris Gelman
- 5 Kimron Veterinary Institute , Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Gili Schvartz
- 3 Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot, Israel
| | - Amir Steinman
- 3 Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot, Israel
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Ergünay K, Litzba N, Brinkmann A, Günay F, Sarıkaya Y, Kar S, Örsten S, Öter K, Domingo C, Erisoz Kasap Ö, Özkul A, Mitchell L, Nitsche A, Alten B, Linton YM. Co-circulation of West Nile virus and distinct insect-specific flaviviruses in Turkey. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:149. [PMID: 28320443 PMCID: PMC5360070 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2087-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Active vector surveillance provides an efficient tool for monitoring the presence or spread of emerging or re-emerging vector-borne viruses. This study was undertaken to investigate the circulation of flaviviruses. Mosquitoes were collected from 58 locations in 10 provinces across the Aegean, Thrace and Mediterranean Anatolian regions of Turkey in 2014 and 2015. Following morphological identification, mosquitoes were pooled and screened by nested and real-time PCR assays. Detected viruses were further characterised by sequencing. Positive pools were inoculated onto cell lines for virus isolation. Next generation sequencing was employed for genomic characterisation of the isolates. RESULTS A total of 12,711 mosquito specimens representing 15 species were screened in 594 pools. Eleven pools (2%) were reactive in the virus screening assays. Sequencing revealed West Nile virus (WNV) in one Culex pipiens (s.l.) pool from Thrace. WNV sequence corresponded to lineage one clade 1a but clustered distinctly from the Turkish prototype isolate. In 10 pools, insect-specific flaviviruses were characterised as Culex theileri flavivirus in 5 pools of Culex theileri and one pool of Cx. pipiens (s.l.), Ochlerotatus caspius flavivirus in two pools of Aedes (Ochlerotatus) caspius, Flavivirus AV-2011 in one pool of Culiseta annulata, and an undetermined flavivirus in one pool of Uranotaenia unguiculata from the Aegean and Thrace regions. DNA forms or integration of the detected insect-specific flaviviruses were not observed. A virus strain, tentatively named as "Ochlerotatus caspius flavivirus Turkey", was isolated from an Ae. caspius pool in C6/36 cells. The viral genome comprised 10,370 nucleotides with a putative polyprotein of 3,385 amino acids that follows the canonical flavivirus polyprotein organisation. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses revealed the close relationship of this strain with Ochlerotatus caspius flavivirus from Portugal and Hanko virus from Finland. Several conserved structural and amino acid motifs were identified. CONCLUSIONS We identified WNV and several distinct insect-specific flaviviruses during an extensive biosurveillance study of mosquitoes in various regions of Turkey in 2014 and 2015. Ongoing circulation of WNV is revealed, with an unprecedented genetic diversity. A probable replicating form of an insect flavivirus identified only in DNA form was detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergünay
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. .,Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Nadine Litzba
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Annika Brinkmann
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Filiz Günay
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yasemen Sarıkaya
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sırrı Kar
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Namık Kemal University, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Serra Örsten
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kerem Öter
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cristina Domingo
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Özge Erisoz Kasap
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aykut Özkul
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Luke Mitchell
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Maryland, USA
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Robert Koch Institute, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Bülent Alten
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Maryland, USA.,Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA
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Surveillance of Arthropod-Borne Viruses and Their Vectors in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions Within the MediLabSecure Network. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2017; 4:27-39. [PMID: 28386524 PMCID: PMC5362652 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-017-0101-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Arboviruses, viruses transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and fleas are a significant threat to public health because of their epidemic and zoonotic potential. The geographical distribution of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile (WN), Rift Valley fever (RVF), Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika has expanded over the last decades. Countries of the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions are not spared. Outbreaks of WN are repeatedly reported in the Mediterranean basin. Human cases of RVF were reported at the southern borders of the Maghreb region. For this reason, establishing the basis for the research to understand the potential for the future emergence of these and other arboviruses and their expansion into new geographic areas became a public health priority. In this context, the European network "MediLabSecure" gathering laboratories in 19 non-EU countries from the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions seeks to improve the surveillance (of animals, humans, and vectors) by reinforcing capacity building and harmonizing national surveillance systems to address this important human and veterinary health issue. The aim of this review is to give an exhaustive overview of arboviruses and their vectors in the region. RECENT FINDINGS The data presented underline the importance of surveillance in the implementation of more adapted control strategies to combat vector-borne diseases. Partner laboratories within the MediLabSecure network present a wide range of infrastructures and have benefited from different training programs. SUMMARY Although reporting of arboviral presence is not carried out in a systematic manner, the expansion of the area where arboviruses are present cannot be disputed. This reinforces the need for increasing surveillance capacity building in this region to prevent future emergences.
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Ergünay K, Brinkmann A, Litzba N, Günay F, Kar S, Öter K, Örsten S, Sarıkaya Y, Alten B, Nitsche A, Linton YM. A novel rhabdovirus, related to Merida virus, in field-collected mosquitoes from Anatolia and Thrace. Arch Virol 2017; 162:1903-1911. [PMID: 28283817 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-017-3314-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing technologies have significantly facilitated the discovery of novel viruses, and metagenomic surveillance of arthropods has enabled exploration of the diversity of novel or known viral agents. We have identified a novel rhabdovirus that is genetically related to the recently described Merida virus via next-generation sequencing in a mosquito pool from Thrace. The complete viral genome contains 11,798 nucleotides with 83% genome-wide nucleotide sequence similarity to Merida virus. Five major putative open reading frames that follow the canonical rhabdovirus genome organization were identified. A total of 1380 mosquitoes comprising 13 species, collected from Thrace and the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Anatolia were screened for the novel virus using primers based on the N and L genes of the prototype genome. Eight positive pools (6.2%) exclusively comprised Culex pipiens sensu lato specimens originating from all study regions. Infections were observed in pools with female as well as male or mixed-sex individuals. The overall and Cx. pipiens-specific minimal infection rates were calculated to be 5.7 and 14.8, respectively. Sequencing of the PCR products revealed marked diversity within a portion of the N gene, with up to 4% divergence and distinct amino acid substitutions that were unrelated to the collection site. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete and partial viral polymerase (L gene) amino acid sequences placed the novel virus and Merida virus in a distinct group, indicating that these strains are closely related. The strain is tentatively named "Merida-like virus Turkey". Studies are underway to isolate and further explore the host range and distribution of this new strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergünay
- Virology Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Morphology Building 3rd Floor, Sihhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. .,Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Annika Brinkmann
- Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Litzba
- Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Filiz Günay
- Division of Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sırrı Kar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Namık Kemal University, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Kerem Öter
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serra Örsten
- Virology Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Morphology Building 3rd Floor, Sihhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yasemen Sarıkaya
- Division of Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bülent Alten
- Division of Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD, USA.,Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.,Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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Paphitou NI, Tourvas A, Floridou D, Richter J, Tryfonos C, Christodoulou C. The first human case of neuroinvasive West Nile virus infection identified in Cyprus. J Infect Public Health 2017; 10:891-893. [PMID: 28233724 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus infection can pose a diagnostic challenge to clinicians, especially in geographic areas where human cases of this disease have never been encountered before. In August 2016, the first human case of West Nile virus infection was diagnosed in Cyprus. An elderly non immunosuppressed patient with a history of recent travel, presented with a clinical picture of rapidly progressing ascending paralysis mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome. Neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease was diagnosed by detecting West Nile virus nucleic acid in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid. Public health measures were taken raising awareness regarding this disease and its prevention. Clinical vigilance to consider West Nile virus as a possible emerging pathogen in the appropriate clinical setting is warranted and could benefit individual patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki I Paphitou
- Nicosia General Hospital Intensive Care Clinic, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | | | - Dora Floridou
- Nicosia General Hospital Intensive Care Clinic, Nicosia, Cyprus; Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Virology, 6 International Airport Ave., Agios Dometios, 2379 Nicosia Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Jan Richter
- Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Virology, 6 International Airport Ave., Agios Dometios, 2379 Nicosia Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Christina Tryfonos
- Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Virology, 6 International Airport Ave., Agios Dometios, 2379 Nicosia Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Christina Christodoulou
- Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Virology, 6 International Airport Ave., Agios Dometios, 2379 Nicosia Nicosia, Cyprus.
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Khan SA, Chowdhury P, Choudhury P, Dutta P. Detection of West Nile virus in six mosquito species in synchrony with seroconversion among sentinel chickens in India. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:13. [PMID: 28061903 PMCID: PMC5219652 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1948-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic flavivirus maintained in mosquito-bird transmission cycle. Although humans are accidental hosts, fatal outcomes following WNV infection have been reported from India. Studies have identified WNV as an important etiological agent causing acute encephalitis syndrome in Assam, Northeast India. While circulation of WNV is evident, the role of vectors and avian hosts involved in the transmission remains unclear. In this study we identified local mosquito species for evidence of WNV infection along with seroconversion among sentinel chickens. Methods Mosquitoes were collected and pooled species wise from June 2014 through December 2015. Virus was screened using reverse transcriptase PCR followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Sentinel chicken blood was screened for WNV antibody to assess their role in WNV transmission. Results A total of 52,882 mosquitoes belonging to 16 species were collected. WNV was detected in 18 pools of Culex vishnui, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex whitmorei, Culex pseudovishnui and Mansonia uniformis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all mosquito derived sequences belonged to Lineage 5 and were 99–100% similar to the Assam strain of WNV isolated from human CSF sample in 2007. All sentinel chickens had seroconverted by the month of July that happens to be the peak WNV transmission month among humans as well. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of WNV identification from field-collected Cx. pseudovishnui and Mansonia uniformis in India. Our study demonstrates potential vectors which may play a crucial role in WNV transmission and should be considered in the vector control strategies. Additionally, our study highlights the role of sentinel chickens for WNV surveillance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1948-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siraj A Khan
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, ICMR, Dibrugarh, 786001, Assam, India.
| | - Purvita Chowdhury
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, ICMR, Dibrugarh, 786001, Assam, India
| | - Parveena Choudhury
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, ICMR, Dibrugarh, 786001, Assam, India
| | - Prafulla Dutta
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, ICMR, Dibrugarh, 786001, Assam, India
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Ergünay K, Litzba N, Brinkmann A, Günay F, Kar S, Öter K, Örsten S, Sarıkaya Y, Alten B, Nitsche A, Linton YM. Isolation and genomic characterization of Culex theileri flaviviruses in field-collected mosquitoes from Turkey. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 46:138-147. [PMID: 27840255 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vector surveillance for the arthropod-borne infections has resulted in the isolation of a growing number of novel viruses, including several flavivirus strains that exclusively replicate in insects. This report describes the isolation and genomic characterization of four insect-specific flaviviruses from mosquitoes, previously collected from various locations in Turkey. C6/36 Aedes albopictus and Vero cell lines were inoculated with mosquito pools. On C6/36 cells, mild cytopathic effects, characterized as rounding and detachment, were observed in four pools that comprised female Culex theileri mosquitoes. Complete (3 isolates, 10,697 nucleotides) or near-complete (1 isolate, 10,452 nucleotides) genomic characterization was performed in these culture supernatants via next generation sequencing. All strains demonstrated high genetic similarities, with over 99% identity match on nucleotide and amino acid alignments, revealing them to be different isolates of the same virus. Sequence comparisons identified the closest relative to be the Culex theileri flavivirus (CTFV) strains, originally characterized in Portugal. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the isolates remained distinct as a cluster but formed a monophyletic group with CTFV strains, and shared a common ancestor with Quang Binh or related Culex flaviviruses. The organization of the viral genome was consistent with the universal flavivirus structure and stem-loops; conserved motifs and imperfect tandem repeats were identified in the non-coding ends of the viral genomes. A potential ribosomal shifting site, resulting in the translation of an additional reading frame, was detected. The deduced viral polyprotein comprised 3357 amino acids and was highly-conserved. Amino acid variations, presumably associated with adaptive environmental pressures, were identified. These isolates comprise the first fully characterized insect-specific flaviviruses in Turkey. Their impact on West Nile virus circulation, which is also endemic in the study region, remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergünay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, Turkey; Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS 1), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Nadine Litzba
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS 1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Annika Brinkmann
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS 1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Filiz Günay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sırrı Kar
- Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Kerem Öter
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serra Örsten
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yasemen Sarıkaya
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bülent Alten
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS 1), Berlin, Germany
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD, USA; Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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Kalaiyarasu S, Mishra N, Khetan RK, Singh VP. Serological evidence of widespread West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis virus infection in native domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos var domesticus) in Kuttanad region, Kerala, India. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2016; 48:61-8. [PMID: 27638121 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Birds can act as reservoirs of West Nile virus (WNV) with a key role in its epidemiology. WNV lineage 1 associated fatal cases of human encephalitis in 2011 and acute flaccid paralysis in 2013 were reported in Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. But no information is available on WNV circulation in domestic ducks, which are abundant, cohabit with humans and occupy wetlands and water bodies in the region. To determine the extent of WNV infection, we investigated 209 sera, 250 oral and 350 cloacal swab samples from local Chara and Chemballi domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos var domesticus) in the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kollam and Pathanamthitta collected during January and March 2015. The serum samples were tested for WNV antibodies first by a competition ELISA and then by a micro virus neutralization test (micro-VNT), while oral and cloacal swabs were subjected to WNV real-time RT-PCR. Ninety five ducks showed evidence of flavivirus antibodies by ELISA. End point neutralizing antibody titre against WNV and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) revealed WNV specific antibodies in 24 (11.5%) ducks in 3 districts, JEV specific antibodies in 21 (10%) ducks in 2 districts and flavivirus specific antibodies in 19 (9%) ducks. However, no WNV genomic RNA could be detected. The results of this study demonstrate evidence of widespread WNV and JEV infection in domestic ducks in Kuttanad region, Kerala with a higher seroprevalence to WNV than JEV. Additionally, it highlights the utility of domestic ducks as a surveillance tool to detect WNV/JEV circulation in a region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semmannan Kalaiyarasu
- ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Anand Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 022, India
| | - Niranjan Mishra
- ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Anand Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 022, India.
| | - Rohit Kumar Khetan
- ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Anand Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 022, India
| | - Vijendra Pal Singh
- ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Anand Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462 022, India
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Khan J, Khan I, Amin I. A Comprehensive Entomological, Serological and Molecular Study of 2013 Dengue Outbreak of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147416. [PMID: 26848847 PMCID: PMC4746065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus play a fundamental role in transmission of dengue virus to humans. A single infected Aedes mosquito is capable to act as a reservoir/amplifier host for dengue virus and may cause epidemics via horizontal and vertical modes of dengue virus (DENV) transmission. The present and future dengue development can be clarified by understanding the elements which help the dissemination of dengue transmission. The current study deals with molecular surveillance of dengue in addition to ecological and social context of 2013 dengue epidemics in Swat, Pakistan. METHODS Herein, we reported dengue vectors surveillance in domestic and peridomistic containers in public and private places in 7 dengue epidemic-prone sites in District Swat, Pakistan from July to November 2013. Using the Flaviviruses genus-specific reverse transcriptase (RT) semi nested-PCR assay, we screened blood samples (N = 500) of dengue positive patients, 150 adult mosquito pools and 25 larval pools. RESULTS The 34 adult and 7 larval mosquito pools were found positive. The adult positive pools comprised 30 pools of Ae. aegypti and 4 pools of Ae. albopictus, while among the 7 larval pools, 5 pools of Ae. aegypti and 2 pools of Ae. albopictus were positive. The detected putative genomes of dengue virus were of DENV-2 (35% in 14 mosquito pools & 39% in serum) and DENV-3 (65% in 27 mosquito pools & 61% in serum). The higher vector density and dengue transmission rate was recorded in July and August (due to favorable conditions for vector growth). About 37% of Ae. aegpti and 34% Ae. albopictus mosquitoes were collected from stagnant water in drums, followed by drinking water tanks (23% & 26%), tires (20% & 18%) and discarded containers (10% & 6%). Among the surveyed areas, Saidu was heavily affected (26%) by dengue followed by Kanju (20% and Landikas (12%). The maximum infection was observed in the age group of <15 (40%) followed by 15-45 (35%) and >45 (25%) years and was more in males (55.3%) as compare to females (44.7%). The increase in vector mosquito density and the subsequent viral transmission was determined by a complex interplay of ecological, biological and social factors. CONCLUSION The suitable environmental conditions and discriminable role of Aedes through trans-ovarial transmission of DENV is indispensable in the recent geographic increase of dengue in Pakistan. Climate change affects the survival and dispersion of vectors as well as the transmission rates of dengue. Control of Aedes mosquitoes (vectors) and elimination of breeding sources must be emphasized and prioritized. Such actions may not only reduce the risk of dengue transmission during epidemics, but also minimize the chances of dengue viruses establishment in new (non endemic) areas of the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehangir Khan
- Zoology Department, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), Bunir Campus, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan
- * E-mail:
| | - Inamullah Khan
- Nuclear Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), G.T Road, Tarnab Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Ibne Amin
- Zoology Department, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), Bunir Campus, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan
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Conte A, Candeloro L, Ippoliti C, Monaco F, De Massis F, Bruno R, Di Sabatino D, Danzetta ML, Benjelloun A, Belkadi B, El Harrak M, Declich S, Rizzo C, Hammami S, Ben Hassine T, Calistri P, Savini G. Spatio-Temporal Identification of Areas Suitable for West Nile Disease in the Mediterranean Basin and Central Europe. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0146024. [PMID: 26717483 PMCID: PMC4696814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-transmitted Flavivirus belonging to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the Flaviviridae family. Its spread in the Mediterranean basin and the Balkans poses a significant risk to human health and forces public health officials to constantly monitor the virus transmission to ensure prompt application of preventive measures. In this context, predictive tools indicating the areas and periods at major risk of WNV transmission are of paramount importance. Spatial analysis approaches, which use environmental and climatic variables to find suitable habitats for WNV spread, can enhance predictive techniques. Using the Mahalanobis Distance statistic, areas ecologically most suitable for sustaining WNV transmission were identified in the Mediterranean basin and Central Europe. About 270 human and equine clinical cases notified in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Morocco, and Tunisia, between 2008 and 2012, have been considered. The environmental variables included in the model were altitude, slope, night time Land Surface Temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Enhanced Vegetation Index, and daily temperature range. Seasonality of mosquito population has been modelled and included in the analyses to produce monthly maps of suitable areas for West Nile Disease. Between May and July, the most suitable areas are located in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and North Cyprus. Summer/Autumn months, particularly between August and October, characterize the suitability in Italy, France, Spain, the Balkan countries, Morocco, North Tunisia, the Mediterranean coast of Africa, and the Middle East. The persistence of suitable conditions in December is confined to the coastal areas of Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Israel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Conte
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Luca Candeloro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Carla Ippoliti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio De Massis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Rossana Bruno
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Daria Di Sabatino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Danzetta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Abdennasser Benjelloun
- Société de Produits Biologiques et Pharmaceutiques vétérinaires (Biopharma), Rabat, Morocco
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University Mohamed V, Faculty of Science, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Bouchra Belkadi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University Mohamed V, Faculty of Science, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mehdi El Harrak
- Société de Produits Biologiques et Pharmaceutiques vétérinaires (Biopharma), Rabat, Morocco
| | - Silvia Declich
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Reparto Epidemiologia delle Malattie Infettive, Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Rizzo
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Reparto Epidemiologia delle Malattie Infettive, Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute, Rome, Italy
| | - Salah Hammami
- Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet (ENMV), Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Thameur Ben Hassine
- Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet (ENMV), Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Paolo Calistri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
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Bagheri M, Terenius O, Oshaghi MA, Motazakker M, Asgari S, Dabiri F, Vatandoost H, Mohammadi Bavani M, Chavshin AR. West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes of Iranian Wetlands. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015; 15:750-4. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Masoomeh Bagheri
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Olle Terenius
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Ali Oshaghi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Motazakker
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Sassan Asgari
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Farrokh Dabiri
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Hassan Vatandoost
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mulood Mohammadi Bavani
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Reza Chavshin
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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Ergunay K, Bakonyi T, Nowotny N, Ozkul A. Close relationship between West Nile virus from Turkey and lineage 1 strain from Central African Republic. Emerg Infect Dis 2015; 21:352-5. [PMID: 25625703 PMCID: PMC4313653 DOI: 10.3201/eid2102.141135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We sequenced West Nile viruses (WNVs) from Turkey and found close relationships to WNV lineage 1 strain ArB310/67 from the Central African Republic, distinct from other WNVs circulating in the Mediterranean Basin, eastern Europe, and the Middle East. These findings suggest independent introductions of WNV strains from Africa to the Middle East.
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Ergunay K, Karagul A, Abudalal A, Hacioglu S, Us D, Erdem Y, Ozkul A. Prospective investigation of the impact of West Nile Virus infections in renal diseases. J Med Virol 2015; 87:1625-32. [PMID: 25965349 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
An increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) after West Nile Virus (WNV) infections has been suggested but the association of WNV infections with renal damage remain inconclusive. This study was undertaken to characterize WNV infections in individuals with acute kidney injury (AKI) and CKD, and to evaluate hemodialysis as a probable transmission route. A total of 463 plasma and urine samples were collected from 45 AKI and 77 CKD patients. Nested and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were employed for viral RNA detection. Specific immunoglobulins were investigated via immunofluorescence and plaque reduction neutralization assays. Consecutive pre and post-dialysis samples were evaluated in CKD cases. WNV RNA and specific immunoglobulins were detected in 7 (5.7%) and 5 (4.1%) individuals, respectively. The AKI patients with WNV RNA in blood and urine had underlying diseases requiring immunosuppressive therapy and demonstrated moderate to high viral loads. No clinical symptom related to WNV infection were observed in CKD cases with detectable viral nucleic acids. All WNV sequences were characterized as lineage 1 clade 1a and several amino acid substitutions with unknown impact were noted. Detailed epidemiologic investigation of WNV RNA positive CKD cases revealed probable vector-borne virus exposure, without the evidence for transmission via hemodialysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ergunay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University; Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aydan Karagul
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University; Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ayman Abudalal
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University; Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sabri Hacioglu
- Department of Virology, Ankara University; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Durdal Us
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University; Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yunus Erdem
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University; Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozkul
- Department of Virology, Ankara University; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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Gunay F, Alten B, Simsek F, Aldemir A, Linton YM. Barcoding Turkish Culex mosquitoes to facilitate arbovirus vector incrimination studies reveals hidden diversity and new potential vectors. Acta Trop 2015; 143:112-20. [PMID: 25446171 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Revised: 10/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
As a precursor to planned arboviral vector incrimination studies, an integrated systematics approach was adopted using morphology and DNA barcoding to examine the Culex fauna present in Turkey. The mitochondrial COI gene (658bp) were sequenced from 185 specimens collected across 11 Turkish provinces, as well as from colony material. Although by morphology only 9 species were recognised, DNA barcoding recovered 13 distinct species including: Cx. (Barraudius) modestus, Cx. (Culex) laticinctus, Cx. (Cux.) mimeticus, Cx. (Cux.) perexiguus, Cx. (Cux.) pipiens, Cx. (Cux.) pipiens form molestus, Cx. (Cux.) quinquefasciatus, Cx. (Cux.) theileri, Cx. (Cux.) torrentium, Cx. (Cux.) tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. (Maillotia) hortensis. The taxon formerly identified as Cx. (Neoculex) territans was shown to comprise two distinct species, neither of which correspond to Cx. territans s.s. These include Cx. (Neo.) impudicus and another uncertain species, which may be Cx. (Neo.) europaeus or Cx. (Neo.) martinii (herein=Cx. (Neo.) sp. 1). Detailed examination of the Pipiens Group revealed Cx. pipiens, Cx. pipiens f. molestus and the widespread presence of the highly efficient West Nile virus vector Cx. quinquefasciatus for the first time. Four new country records are reported, increasing the Culex of Turkey to 15 recognised species and Cx. pipiens f. molestus. A new taxonomic checklist is provided, annotated with respective vector competencies for transmission of arboviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filiz Gunay
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ecology Section, ESRL Laboratories, 06800, Beytepe-Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Bulent Alten
- Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ecology Section, ESRL Laboratories, 06800, Beytepe-Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Fatih Simsek
- Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Science and Literature, Department of Biology, Ecology Division, 09010, Kepez-Aydin, Turkey.
| | - Adnan Aldemir
- Kafkas University, Faculty of Science and Literature, Department of Biology, 36100 Kars, Turkey
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Entomology Branch, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA; Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center, MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Rd, Suitland, MD 20746-2863, USA; Smithsonian Institution, Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. & Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Faculty of Preventative Medicine and Biometrics, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
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