1
|
Bourke BP, Dusek RJ, Ergunay K, Linton YM, Drovetski SV. Viral pathogen detection in U.S. game-farm mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos) flags spillover risk to wild birds. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1396552. [PMID: 38860005 PMCID: PMC11163284 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1396552] [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: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The threat posed by emerging infectious diseases is a major concern for global public health, animal health and food security, and the role of birds in transmission is increasingly under scrutiny. Each year, millions of mass-reared game-farm birds are released into the wild, presenting a unique and a poorly understood risk to wild and susceptible bird populations, and to human health. In particular, the shedding of enteric pathogens through excrement into bodies of water at shared migratory stop-over sites, and breeding and wintering grounds, could facilitate multi-species long-distance pathogen dispersal and infection of high numbers of naive endemic birds annually. The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most abundant of all duck species, migratory across much of its range, and an important game species for pen-rearing and release. Major recent population declines along the US Atlantic coast has been attributed to game-farm and wild mallard interbreeding and the introduction maladaptive traits into wild populations. However, pathogen transmission and zoonosis among game-farms Mallard may also impact these populations, as well as wildlife and human health. Here, we screened 16 game-farm Mallard from Wisconsin, United States, for enteric viral pathogens using metatranscriptomic data. Four families of viral pathogens were identified - Picobirnaviridae (Genogroup I), Caliciviridae (Duck Nacovirus), Picornaviridae (Duck Aalivirus) and Sedoreoviridae (Duck Rotavirus G). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Aalivirus in the Americas, and the first report of Calicivirus outside domestic chicken and turkey flocks in the United States. Our findings highlight the risk of viral pathogen spillover from peri-domestically reared game birds to naive wild bird populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian P. Bourke
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD, United States
- One Health Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution—National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Robert J. Dusek
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Koray Ergunay
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD, United States
- One Health Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution—National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States
- Hacettepe University, Department of Medical Microbiology, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD, United States
- One Health Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
- Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution—National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Sergei V. Drovetski
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hacioglu S, Ozkul A. Do birds play a role in the transmission of Toscana virus? Initial isolation results from birds in northernmost Türkiye. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:225-235. [PMID: 38041213 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Recent research has prioritized emerging and re-emerging diseases that affect human and animal health, particularly to describe how these diseases enter countries and determine their transmission cycles. Given that migratory birds play a significant role in spreading infections, the present study analysed their migration paths and specimens to investigate Orthoflavivirus, Orthonairovirus, Alphavirus and Phlebovirus in birds in Samsun province, Türkiye. METHODS AND RESULTS For these viruses, 312 samples from 56 birds were analysed using RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Toscana virus (TOSV) was identified in 14 birds (four mallards, five partridges, four quails and one pigeon), representing 25% of the birds sampled. Genotype B was reported in all 14 birds. After inoculating the positive tissues in cell cultures, TOSV was isolated from the organs of pigeons, mallards and partridges. CONCLUSIONS This is the first time TOSV has been isolated in cell culture from birds and indicates that they may play a role in spreading TOSV in Türkiye. The results also suggest that TOSV might be carried between countries by migratory birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabri Hacioglu
- Virological Diagnostic Laboratory, Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aykut Ozkul
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rekik S, Hammami I, Timoumi O, Maghzaoua D, Khamassi Khbou M, Schulz A, Groschup MH, Gharbi M. A Review on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Infections in Tunisia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38457645 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0079] [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: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic tick-borne disease, caused by an arbovirus of the genus Orthonairovirus and the family Nairoviridae. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is widespread in several regions of the world. While the virus is not pathogenic to all susceptible livestock and wild mammals, it can lead to severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. In this review, we compiled published data on CCHFV infections in humans, animals, and ticks in Tunisia. Based on that, we discussed the epidemiology and the distribution patterns of CCHFV infections highlighting the risk factors for this virus in the country. CCHF infection prevalence in humans was estimated to 2.76% (5/181) and 5% (2/38) in Tunisian febrile patients and Tunisian slaughterhouse workers, respectively. Concurrently, seroprevalence in domestic ungulates (sheep, goats, cattle, and dromedaries) ranged from zero to 89.7%, and only one Hyalomma impeltatum tick specimen collected from dromedaries in southern Tunisian was positive for CCHFV by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (0.6%; 1/165). As Tunisian studies on CCHFV are geographically scattered and limited due to very small sample sizes, further studies are needed to improve the knowledge on the epidemiology of CCHF in Tunisia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syrine Rekik
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Ines Hammami
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Oumayma Timoumi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Dhekra Maghzaoua
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Médiha Khamassi Khbou
- Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu G, Jiang F, Luo Q, Zong K, Dong L, Mei G, Du H, Dong H, Song Q, Song J, Xia Z, Gao C, Han J. Diversity Analysis of Tick-Borne Viruses from Hedgehogs and Hares in Qingdao, China. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0534022. [PMID: 37074196 PMCID: PMC10269667 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05340-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) have attracted increasingly global public health attention. In this study, the viral compositions of five tick species, Haemaphysalis flava, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor sinicus, Haemaphysalis longicornis, and Haemaphysalis campanulata, from hedgehogs and hares in Qingdao, China, were profiled via metagenomic sequencing. Thirty-six strains of 10 RNA viruses belonging to 4 viral families, including 3 viruses of Iflaviridae, 4 viruses of Phenuiviridae, 2 viruses of Nairoviridae, and 1 virus of Chuviridae, were identified in five tick species. Three novel viruses of two families, namely, Qingdao tick iflavirus (QDTIFV) of the family of Iflaviridae and Qingdao tick phlebovirus (QDTPV) and Qingdao tick uukuvirus (QDTUV) of the family of Phenuiviridae, were found in this study. This study shows that ticks from hares and hedgehogs in Qingdao harbored diverse viruses, including some that can cause emerging infectious diseases, such as Dabie bandavirus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these tick-borne viruses were genetically related to viral strains isolated previously in Japan. These findings shed new light on the cross-sea transmission of tick-borne viruses between China and Japan. IMPORTANCE Thirty-six strains of 10 RNA viruses belonging to 4 viral families, including 3 viruses of Iflaviridae, 4 viruses of Phenuiviridae, 2 viruses of Nairoviridae, and 1 virus of Chuviridae, were identified from five tick species in Qingdao, China. A diversity of tick-borne viruses from hares and hedgehogs in Qingdao was found in this study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that most of these TBVs were genetically related to Japanese strains. These findings indicate the possibility of the cross-sea transmission of TBVs between China and Japan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Fachun Jiang
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Kexin Zong
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Liyan Dong
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guoyong Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Haijun Du
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hongming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Qinqin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Čisovská Bazsalovicsová E, Víchová B, Oboňa J, Radačovská A, Blažeková V, Králová-Hromadová I. Bird Louse Flies Ornithomya spp. (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) as Potential Vectors of Mammalian Babesia and Other Pathogens. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:275-283. [PMID: 36944122 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0088] [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: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Birds and mammals share various ectoparasites, which are responsible for the transmission of a wide range of pathogens. The louse flies (family Hippoboscidae) are ectoparasitic dipterans feeding strictly on the blood of mammals and birds. Both sexes of the louse flies are obligatory hematophagous and are known to act as the vectors of infectious agents. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 specimens of Ornithomya sp. were collected by hand on birds caught in nets or by hand from humans in two localities in Eastern Slovakia in 2021. The DNA samples were individually screened by species-specific PCRs for the presence of selected vector-borne pathogens. Results: Taxonomic identification folowed by molecular analyses revealed two louse fly species of Ornithomya spp. (O. avicularia and O. biloba). The molecular screening provided negative PCR results for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Hepatozoon canis. In contrast, positive PCR results were obtained for Babesia spp., Wolbachia spp., and Trypanosoma corvi. Conclusions: Of epidemiological importance is that the louse flies can presumably spread Babesia and other pathogens by host switching which facilitates the transmission and spread of numerous pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jozef Oboňa
- Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovakia
| | | | - Veronika Blažeková
- Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Košice, Slovakia
- The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe tick-borne illness with a wide geographical distribution and case fatality rates of 30% or higher. Caused by infection with the CCHF virus (CCHFV), cases are reported throughout Africa, the Middle East, Asia and southern and eastern Europe. The expanding range of the Hyalomma tick vector is placing new populations at risk for CCHF, and no licensed vaccines or specific antivirals exist to treat CCHF. Furthermore, despite cases of CCHF being reported annually, the host and viral determinants of CCHFV pathogenesis are poorly understood. CCHFV can productively infect a multitude of animal species, yet only humans develop a severe illness. Within human populations, subclinical infections are underappreciated and may represent a substantial proportion of clinical outcomes. Compared with other members of the Bunyavirales order, CCHFV has a more complex genomic organization, with many viral proteins having unclear functions in viral pathogenesis. In recent years, improved animal models have led to increased insights into CCHFV pathogenesis, and several antivirals and vaccines for CCHFV have shown robust efficacy in preclinical models. Translation of these insights and candidate therapeutics to the clinic will hopefully reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by CCHFV.
Collapse
|
7
|
Hoffman T, Olsen B, Lundkvist Å. The Biological and Ecological Features of Northbound Migratory Birds, Ticks, and Tick-Borne Microorganisms in the African-Western Palearctic. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010158. [PMID: 36677450 PMCID: PMC9866947 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying the species that act as hosts, vectors, and vehicles of vector-borne pathogens is vital for revealing the transmission cycles, dispersal mechanisms, and establishment of vector-borne pathogens in nature. Ticks are common vectors for pathogens causing human and animal diseases, and they transmit a greater variety of pathogenic agents than any other arthropod vector group. Ticks depend on the movements by their vertebrate hosts for their dispersal, and tick species with long feeding periods are more likely to be transported over long distances. Wild birds are commonly parasitized by ticks, and their migration patterns enable the long-distance range expansion of ticks. The African-Palearctic migration system is one of the world's largest migrations systems. African-Western Palearctic birds create natural links between the African, European, and Asian continents when they migrate biannually between breeding grounds in the Palearctic and wintering grounds in Africa and thereby connect different biomes. Climate is an important geographical determinant of ticks, and with global warming, the distribution range and abundance of ticks in the Western Palearctic may increase. The introduction of exotic ticks and their microorganisms into the Western Palearctic via avian vehicles might therefore pose a greater risk for the public and animal health in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tove Hoffman
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åke Lundkvist
- Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zając Z, Kulisz J, Kunc-Kozioł R, Woźniak A, Filipiuk M, Rudolf R, Bartosik K, Cabezas-Cruz A. Tick Infestation in Migratory Birds of the Vistula River Valley, Poland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192113781. [PMID: 36360665 PMCID: PMC9655835 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Migratory birds play an important role in the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne diseases due to their ability to carry ticks for long distances. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and factors influencing the intensity of tick infestation in migratory birds. The study was conducted in a locality situated in the Vistula River valley, eastern Poland, during autumn, when the high migratory activity of birds is registered in the region. The birds were captured using ornithological nets and identified at the species level. In the next step, they were carefully inspected for attached ticks. Tick infestation was observed in 4.43% of the captured birds. The highest mean intensity of tick infestation was observed in birds foraging on the ground or in low shrubs and by long- and medium-distance migrants, i.e., Turdus merula (2.73), T. philomelos (2.04), and Erithacus rubecula (1.58). Ixodes ricinus was found to infest the birds most frequently. However, other tick species, i.e., I. trianguliceps, I. crenulatus (synonym I. canisuga), and I. apronophorus, rarely found in eastern Poland, were also found parasitizing birds. The occurrence of I. persulcatus, I. frontalis, and I. acuminatus (synonym I. redikorzevi) was confirmed in the region for the first time. The results of the study suggest that captured bird species are susceptible to tick infestation and could play an important role in the circulation of some tick-borne pathogens. They also play a significant role in the spread of ticks. The ecology and ethology of birds, including their foraging styles and migratory habits, are factors determining the risk of exposure of birds to tick attacks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Renata Kunc-Kozioł
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Woźniak
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Maciej Filipiuk
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Robert Rudolf
- Kaliszany Ornithological Station, 24-340 Stare Kaliszany, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bartosik
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Direct and Indirect Role of Migratory Birds in Spreading CCHFV and WNV: A Multidisciplinary Study on Three Stop-Over Islands in Italy. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11091056. [PMID: 36145488 PMCID: PMC9505975 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11091056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The annual movements of migratory birds can contribute to the spread of African ticks and tick-borne pathogens of potential public health concern across Europe. The aim of the study was to investigate their role in the possible introduction of African ticks and tick-borne pathogens into European countries during spring migration. A total of 2344 ticks were collected during three spring seasons from 1079 birds captured on three Italian stop-over islands during their northbound migration. Once identified, each tick was tested by RT-PCR for the presence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHFV), West Nile (WNV), and Usutu (USUV) viruses. Moreover, carcasses of birds found dead were collected and tested for the possible presence of WNV and USUV. Results confirmed a higher contribution of trans-Saharan migrants compared to intra-Palearctic ones and the prevalence of African tick species in the sample. CCHFV was detected for the second time in Italy in a Hyalomma rufipes, and WNV was found in two ticks of the same genus, all carried by trans-Saharan birds. WNV lineage 1 was also found in the organs of a Garden warbler. These results confirm the role of migratory birds in carrying African ticks, as well as viruses of zoonotic importance, from Africa into Europe.
Collapse
|
10
|
Keve G, Sándor AD, Hornok S. Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) associated with birds in Europe: Review of literature data. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:928756. [PMID: 36090176 PMCID: PMC9453168 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.928756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are considered the most important transmitters of pathogens in the temperate zone that covers most of Europe. In the era of climate change tick-borne diseases are predicted to undergo geographical range expansion toward the north through regions that are connected to southern areas of the continent by bird migration. This alone would justify the importance of synthesized knowledge on the association of tick species with avian hosts, yet birds also represent the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse part of urban vertebrate fauna. Birds frequently occur in gardens and near animal keeping facilities, thus playing a significant role in the dispersal of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in synanthropic environments. The primary aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive reference source (baseline data) for future studies, particularly in the context of discovering new tick-host associations after comparison with already published data. The records on the ixodid tick infestations of birds were assessed from nearly 200 papers published since 1952. In this period, 37 hard tick species were reported from 16 orders of avian hosts in Europe. Here we compile a list of these tick species, followed by the English and Latin name of all reported infested bird species, as well as the tick developmental stage and country of origin whenever this information was available. These data allowed a first-hand analysis of general trends regarding how and at which developmental stage of ticks tend to infest avian hosts. Five tick species that were frequently reported from birds and show a broad geographical distribution in the Western Palearctic (Ixodes arboricola, I. frontalis, I. ricinus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Hyalomma marginatum) were also selected for statistical comparisons. Differences were demonstrated between these tick species regarding their association with bird species that typically feed from the ground and those that rarely occur at the soil level. The ecology of these five bird-infesting tick species is also illustrated here according to avian orders, taking into account the ecology (habitat type) and activity (circadian rhythm and feeding level) of most bird species that represent a certain order.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gergő Keve
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- *Correspondence: Attila D. Sándor
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tsapko NV. Importation of Hyalomma rufipes Koch, 1844, Vectors of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus to the South Russia by Migratory Birds: Epidemiological Aspect. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s2075111722020126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
12
|
THE TICKS <i>HYALOMMA RUFIPES</i> KOCH, 1844 IMPORTATION BY MIGRATORY BIRDS TO THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA - VECTORS OF CRIMEAN-CONGO HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER VIRUS: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECT. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.35885/1996-1499-15-1-129-135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Koch, 1844 (Acari, Ixodidae) is the main vector of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus in southern and eastern Africa. In the spring migrations of birds, immature stages of this species are carried out beyond the range of the parasite and are often found in various countries of Europe. Finds of adult ticks in Europe are single. In June 2018, in the north of the Stavropol Territory, one male of with characteristic features was removed from a cow. Prior to this, single registrations of this species were known on the territory of the Astrakhan Region, Dagestan and the Stavropol Territory in the middle of the last century.
Collapse
|
13
|
Frątczak M, Petko B, Sliwowska JH, Szeptycki J, Tryjanowski P. Similar Trajectories in Current Alcohol Consumption and Tick-Borne Diseases: Only Parallel Changes in Time or Links Between? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:790938. [PMID: 34976865 PMCID: PMC8716731 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.790938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In a modern world, both tick-borne diseases and alcohol consumption are among major public health threats. In the present opinion article, we pose the question, whether these two health problems: alcohol consumption and tick-borne diseases prevalence can be related. We hypothesize that it is possible due to at least three factors: outdoor places chosen for alcohol consumption, behavioral changes induced by alcohol, and possible stronger attraction of human hosts after alcohol consumption to ticks. Many important clues are coming from social studies about people’s preference of places to consume alcohol and from studies regarding the attraction of people consuming alcohol to mosquitos. These data, however, cannot be directly transferred to the case of alcohol consumption and ticks. Therefore, we suggest that more detailed studies are needed to better understand the possible individual attractiveness of people to ticks and ways alcohol may influence it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Frątczak
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Branislav Petko
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.,The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Joanna H Sliwowska
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jan Szeptycki
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Tryjanowski
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hoffman T, Carra LG, Öhagen P, Fransson T, Barboutis C, Piacentini D, Figuerola J, Kiat Y, Onrubia A, Jaenson TGT, Nilsson K, Lundkvist Å, Olsen B. Association between guilds of birds in the African-Western Palaearctic region and the tick species Hyalomma rufipes, one of the main vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. One Health 2021; 13:100349. [PMID: 34825045 PMCID: PMC8605260 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The ecology of the vertebrate host contributes to the geographical range expansion of ticks. In this study, we investigated which tick taxa that infest and are dispersed by birds along African-Western Palaearctic flyways during northward migration, and whether bird ecology was associated with tick taxa. Materials and methods Ticks were collected from birds trapped at bird observatories in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Israel during the spring migration of 2014 and 2015, using mist nets. The tick-infested bird species were classified into guilds, using different combinations of the variables: migration distance, wintering region, foraging behaviour, and winter habitat. Ticks were molecularly determined to genus and species level by sequencing fragments of the 12S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene and by phylogenetic inference, using the Maximum Likelihood algorithm. Data were analysed using descriptive measures, graphs, Chi2 tests, the Tukey-Kramer test, and a parametric linear model (generalized linear model) in order to analyse and adjust for characteristics in the bird guilds and their relationship to collected tick taxa. Results Most (84.2%) of the 10,209 trapped birds were long-distance migrants, of which 2.4% were infested by ticks. The most common tick species was Hyalomma rufipes (77.7%; 447/575), a known vector and reservoir of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Bird guilds containing only long-distance migrants with wintering areas in Africa were associated with the tick species H. rufipes (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, bird winter habitat was associated with H. rufipes (p = 0.003); with bird species overwintering in open habitat (p = 0.014) and wetlands (p = 0.046) having significantly more H. rufipes as compared to birds with a winter habitat comprising forest and shrubs (p = 0.82). Conclusions With climate change, the likelihood of establishment of permanent Hyalomma populations in central and northern Europe is increasing. Thus, surveillance programs for monitoring the risk of introduction and establishment of H. rufipes in the Western-Palaearctic should be established. Our study suggests that migratory bird species wintering in African open habitats and wetlands are good candidates for monitoring potential introduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tove Hoffman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laura G Carra
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrik Öhagen
- Uppsala Clinical Research Center, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 38, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thord Fransson
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christos Barboutis
- Antikythira Bird Observatory, Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife Greece, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, 410 92 Sevilla, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 280 29 Madrid, Spain
| | - Yosef Kiat
- Israeli Bird Ringing Center (IBRC), Israel Ornithological Center (IOC), Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Thomas G T Jaenson
- Department of Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18d, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åke Lundkvist
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kajihara M, Simuunza M, Saasa N, Dautu G, Mori-Kajihara A, Qiu Y, Nakao R, Eto Y, Furumoto H, Hang’ombe BM, Orba Y, Sawa H, Simulundu E, Fukushi S, Morikawa S, Saijo M, Arikawa J, Kabilika S, Monze M, Mukonka V, Mweene A, Takada A, Yoshimatsu K. Serologic and molecular evidence for circulation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in ticks and cattle in Zambia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009452. [PMID: 34061841 PMCID: PMC8195391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonosis with a high case fatality rate in humans. Although the disease is widely found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, the distribution and genetic diversity of CCHF virus (CCHFV) are poorly understood in African countries. To assess the risks of CCHF in Zambia, where CCHF has never been reported, epidemiologic studies in cattle and ticks were conducted. Through an indirect immunofluorescence assay, CCHFV nucleoprotein-specific serum IgG was detected in 8.4% (88/1,047) of cattle. Among 290 Hyalomma ticks, the principal vector of CCHFV, the viral genome was detected in 11 ticks. Phylogenetic analyses of the CCHFV S and M genome segments revealed that one of the detected viruses was a genetic reassortant between African and Asian strains. This study provides compelling evidence for the presence of CCHFV in Zambia and its transmission to vertebrate hosts. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe viral disease mainly transmitted by ticks. Effective prophylactics and therapeutics have not been established for this disease yet. While CCHF is endemic in Africa, information on the distribution and genetic diversity of CCHF virus (CCHFV) is quite limited in many Sub-Saharan African countries. In this study, we conducted serologic and molecular epidemiologic investigations for CCHFV infection in cattle and ticks in Zambia. Serologic screening revealed that 8.4% of cattle were tested positive for CCHFV-specific IgG. Hyalomma ticks infected with CCHFV were also identified by genetic screening. Phylogenetic analyses showed that one of the CCHFVs detected in Zambia was a genetic reassortant between African and Asian CCHFV strains. Currently, Zambia is considered CCHF-free country because CCHF cases have never been reported. However, the findings in this study indicate that CCHFV is maintained in Hyalomma ticks and occasionally transmitted to vertebrate hosts such as cattle in Zambia. Further epidemiologic studies and continuous monitoring of CCHFV infection should be implemented in the southern African region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Kajihara
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Martin Simuunza
- School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Ngonda Saasa
- School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - George Dautu
- Central Veterinary Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Yongjin Qiu
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Eto
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hayato Furumoto
- JICA Zambia Office, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Bernard M. Hang’ombe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Yasuko Orba
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Sawa
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Edgar Simulundu
- School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Shuetsu Fukushi
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeru Morikawa
- Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayuki Saijo
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jiro Arikawa
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Swithine Kabilika
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Mwaka Monze
- Virology Laboratory, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Aaron Mweene
- School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Ayato Takada
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- * E-mail: (AT); (KY)
| | - Kumiko Yoshimatsu
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- * E-mail: (AT); (KY)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
Identifying the animal reservoirs from which zoonotic viruses will likely emerge is central to understanding the determinants of disease emergence. Accordingly, there has been an increase in studies attempting zoonotic “risk assessment.” Herein, we demonstrate that the virological data on which these analyses are conducted are incomplete, biased, and rapidly changing with ongoing virus discovery. Together, these shortcomings suggest that attempts to assess zoonotic risk using available virological data are likely to be inaccurate and largely only identify those host taxa that have been studied most extensively. We suggest that virus surveillance at the human–animal interface may be more productive. Determining which organisms harbour viruses that could potentially infect humans is of great topical interest. This Essay demonstrates that the data on which such zoonotic risk assessments are conducted are incomplete, biased, and rapidly changing with ongoing virus discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Wille
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Jemma L. Geoghegan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Edward C. Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
de Angeli Dutra D, Filion A, Fecchio A, Braga ÉM, Poulin R. Migrant birds disperse haemosporidian parasites and affect their transmission in avian communities. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Univ. Federal de Mato Grosso Cuiabá Brazil
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Depto de Parasitologia, Inst. de Ciências Biológicas, Univ. Federal de Minas Gerais Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Epidemiological Aspects of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Western Europe: What about the Future? Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030649. [PMID: 33801015 PMCID: PMC8003855 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus), mainly transmitted by ticks, belonging to the genus Orthonairovirus (family Nairoviridae, order Bunyavirales). CCHFV causes a potentially severe, or even fatal, human disease, and it is widely distributed in Africa, Asia, eastern Europe and, more recently, in South-western Europe. Until a few years ago, no cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) had been reported in western Europe, with the exception of several travel-associated cases. In 2010, the CCHFV was reported for the first time in South-western Europe when viral RNA was obtained from Hyalomma lusitanicum ticks collected from deer in Cáceres (Spain). Migratory birds from Africa harboring CCHFV-infected ticks and flying to Spain appear to have contributed to the establishment of the virus (genotype III, Africa-3) in this country. In addition, the recent findings in a patient and in ticks from deer and wild boar of viral sequences similar to those from eastern Europe (genotype V, Europe-1), raise the possibility of the introduction of CCHFV into Spain through the animal trade, although the arrival by bird routes cannot be ruled out (Africa-4 has been also recently detected). The seropositive rates of animals detected in regions of South-western Spain suggest an established cycle of tick-host-tick in certain areas, and the segment reassortment detected in the sequenced virus from one patient evidences a high ability to adaptation of the virus. Different ixodid tick genera can be vectors and reservoirs of the virus, although Hyalomma spp. are particularly relevant for its maintenance. This tick genus is common in Mediterranean region but it is currently spreading to new areas, partly due to the climate change and movement of livestock or wild animals. Although to a lesser extent, travels with our pets (and their ticks) may be also a factor to be considered. As a consequence, the virus is expanding from the Balkan region to Central Europe and, more recently, to Western Europe where different genotypes are circulating. Thus, seven human cases confirmed by molecular methods have been reported in Spain from 2016 to August 2020, three of them with a fatal outcome. A One Health approach is essential for the surveillance of fauna and vector populations to assess the risk for humans and animals. We discuss the risk of CCHFV causing epidemic outbreaks in Western Europe.
Collapse
|
19
|
Kuehnert PA, Stefan CP, Badger CV, Ricks KM. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV): A Silent but Widespread Threat. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2021; 8:141-147. [PMID: 33747715 PMCID: PMC7959879 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-021-00235-4] [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] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review This review is aimed at highlighting recent research and articles on the complicated relationship between virus, vector, and host and how biosurveillance at each level informs disease spread and risk. Recent Findings While human cases of CCHFV and tick identification in non-endemic areas in 2019–2020 were reported to sites such as ProMed, there is a gap in recent published literature on these and broader CCHFV surveillance efforts from the late 2010s. Summary A review of the complex aspects of CCHFV maintenance in the environment coupled with high fatality rate and lack of vaccines and therapeutics warrants the need for a One-Health approach toward detection and increased biosurveillance programs for CCHFV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Kuehnert
- Diagnostic Systems Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Christopher P Stefan
- Diagnostic Systems Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Catherine V Badger
- Virology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Keersten M Ricks
- Diagnostic Systems Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Wampande EM, Waiswa P, Allen DJ, Hewson R, Frost SDW, Stubbs SCB. Phylogenetic Characterization of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Detected in African Blue Ticks Feeding on Cattle in a Ugandan Abattoir. Microorganisms 2021; 9:438. [PMID: 33672497 PMCID: PMC7923759 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the most geographically widespread of the tick-borne viruses. However, African strains of CCHFV are poorly represented in sequence databases. In addition, almost all sequence data collected to date have been obtained from cases of human disease, while information regarding the circulation of the virus in tick and animal reservoirs is severely lacking. Here, we characterize the complete coding region of a novel CCHFV strain, detected in African blue ticks (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus) feeding on cattle in an abattoir in Kampala, Uganda. These cattle originated from a farm in Mbarara, a major cattle-trading hub for much of Uganda. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the newly sequenced strain belongs to the African genotype II clade, which predominantly contains the sequences of strains isolated from West Africa in the 1950s, and South Africa in the 1980s. Whilst the viral S (nucleoprotein) and L (RNA polymerase) genome segments shared >90% nucleotide similarity with previously reported genotype II strains, the glycoprotein-coding M segment shared only 80% nucleotide similarity with the next most closely related strains, which were derived from ticks in Western India and Northern China. This genome segment also displayed a large number of non-synonymous mutations previously unreported in the genotype II strains. Characterization of this novel strain adds to our limited understanding of the natural diversity of CCHFV circulating in both ticks and in Africa. Such data can be used to inform the design of vaccines and diagnostics, as well as studies exploring the epidemiology and evolution of the virus for the establishment of future CCHFV control strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eddie M. Wampande
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; (E.M.W.); (P.W.)
| | - Peter Waiswa
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; (E.M.W.); (P.W.)
| | - David J. Allen
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (D.J.A.); (R.H.)
| | - Roger Hewson
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (D.J.A.); (R.H.)
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Simon D. W. Frost
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
- Microsoft Research, Redmond, Washington, DC 98052, USA
| | - Samuel C. B. Stubbs
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Purification of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus nucleoprotein and its utility for serological diagnosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2324. [PMID: 33504869 PMCID: PMC7840982 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81752-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causes a zoonotic disease, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) endemic in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Southeastern Europe. However, the prevalence of CCHF is not monitored in most of the endemic countries due to limited availability of diagnostic assays and biosafety regulations required for handling infectious CCHFV. In this study, we established a protocol to purify the recombinant CCHFV nucleoprotein (NP), which is antigenically highly conserved among multiple lineages/clades of CCHFVs and investigated its utility in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect CCHFV-specific antibodies. The NP gene was cloned into the pCAGGS mammalian expression plasmid and human embryonic kidney 293 T cells were transfected with the plasmid. The expressed NP molecule was purified from the cell lysate using cesium-chloride gradient centrifugation. Purified NP was used as the antigen for the ELISA to detect anti-CCHFV IgG. Using the CCHFV NP-based ELISA, we efficiently detected CCHFV-specific IgG in anti-NP rabbit antiserum and CCHFV-infected monkey serum. When compared to the commercially available Blackbox CCHFV IgG ELISA kit, our assay showed equivalent performance in detecting CCHFV-specific IgG in human sera. These results demonstrate the usefulness of our CCHFV NP-based ELISA for seroepidemiological studies.
Collapse
|
22
|
Toma L, Mancuso E, d'Alessio SG, Menegon M, Spina F, Pascucci I, Monaco F, Goffredo M, Di Luca M. Tick species from Africa by migratory birds: a 3-year study in Italy. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 83:147-164. [PMID: 33206312 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00573-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The role of resident or migratory birds in dispersal of tick species and tick-borne pathogens is still poorly known in Italy. We report here the results of a 3-year project based on sampling ticks from migratory birds, as well as from the vegetation at three stop-over sites for migrants, namely the islands of Ventotene (Latium), Asinara (Sardinia) and Ustica (Sicily). During the spring seasons from 2017-2019, in total 2681 ticks were collected, 2344 of which were sampled from migratory birds and 337 from the vegetation. Ticks were identified by morphology or by molecular tools when necessary. In total, 16 tick species were identified among which the following were exclusively found on birds: Hyalomma rufipes (43.3%), Hy. truncatum (0.1%), Ixodes frontalis (11.8%), Ix. inopinatus (0.2%), Ix. ricinus (3%), Haemaphysalis punctata (0.08%), Hae. erinacei (0.1%), Amblyomma variegatum (0.08%) and Argas vulgaris 0.1%), whereas five species were exclusively collected from the vegetation: Rhipicephalus bursa (10.5%), Rh. turanicus (5.9%), Rh. sanguineus sensu lato (2%), Rh. pusillus (2.4%), Hae. sulcata (0.08%). Hy. marginatum (10.3%) and Ix. ventalloi (9.3%) were found both on birds and on the vegetation on the island Ustica. It is worth noting that the search for ticks on the vegetation did not detect allochthonous tick species. Although we found several interesting local species and allochthonous ticks like Hy. rufipes, Am. variegatum and Ar. vulgaris on birds, further investigations are needed to better define the possible role of migratory birds in the introduction of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Italy, above all after the evidence of imported ticks positive to Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus in several European countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Toma
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - E Mancuso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - S G d'Alessio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Menegon
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F Spina
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Bird Migration Research Area, Via Ca' Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell' Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - I Pascucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "T. Rosati" Sezione Di Pesaro, Via Canonici 140, 61122, Villa Fastiggi, Pesaro, Italy
| | - F Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Goffredo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Di Luca
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Migratory birds as disseminators of ticks and the tick-borne pathogens Borrelia bacteria and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus: a seasonal study at Ottenby Bird Observatory in South-eastern Sweden. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:607. [PMID: 33272317 PMCID: PMC7713317 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04493-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Birds can act as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens and can also disperse pathogen-containing ticks to both nearby and remote localities. The aims of this study were to estimate tick infestation patterns on migratory birds and the prevalence of different Borrelia species and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in ticks removed from birds in south-eastern Sweden. Methods Ticks were collected from resident and migratory birds captured at the Ottenby Bird Observatory, Öland, Sweden, from March to November 2009. Ticks were molecularly identified to species, and morphologically to developmental stage, and the presence of Borrelia bacteria and TBEV was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results A total of 1339 ticks in the genera Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, and Ixodes was recorded of which I. ricinus was the most abundant species. Important tick hosts were the European robin (Erithacus rubecula), Blackbird (Turdus merula), Tree pipit (Anthus trivialis), Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), and Common whitethroat (Sylvia communis). Borrelia bacteria were detected in 25% (285/1,124) of the detached ticks available for analysis. Seven Borrelia species (B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi (s.s.), B. garinii, B. lusitaniae, B. turdi, B. valaisiana, and B. miyamotoi) were identified. B. turdi was recorded for the first time in ticks in Sweden. The number of Borrelia cells per tick ranged from 2.0 × 100 to 7.0 × 105. B. miyamotoi-containing ticks contained a significantly higher median number of Borrelia cells than B. burgdorferi (s.l.)-containing ticks. B. garinii and B. miyamotoi were the most prevalent Borrelia species in tick larvae. Larvae of I. ricinus with B. garinii were removed from seven bird species, particularly S. communis and A. trivialis, which may suggest that the larvae had contracted the Borrelia bacteria from or via these birds. Also, a high percentage of tick larvae containing B. miyamotoi was removed from E. rubecula. All ticks were negative for TBEV. Conclusions The results corroborate the view that the contributions of birds to human disease are substantial, particularly as blood hosts for ticks and for their short-, medium-, and long-distance dispersal. Moreover, several ground-foraging bird species appear to be important for the maintenance and dispersal of Borrelia species. The absence of TBEV in the ticks conforms to other similar studies.![]()
Collapse
|
24
|
Miao D, Liu MJ, Wang YX, Ren X, Lu QB, Zhao GP, Dai K, Li XL, Li H, Zhang XA, Shi WQ, Wang LP, Yang Y, Fang LQ, Liu W. Epidemiology and Ecology of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in China, 2010‒2018. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 73:e3851-e3858. [PMID: 33068430 PMCID: PMC8664468 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The growing epidemics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), an emerging tick-borne disease in East Asia, and its high case fatality rate have raised serious public health concerns. Methods Surveillance data on laboratory-confirmed SFTS cases in China were collected. The spatiotemporal dynamics and epidemiological features were explored. The socioeconomic and environmental drivers were identified for SFTS diffusion using survival analysis and for SFTS persistence using a two-stage generalized boosted regression tree model. Results During 2010‒2018, a total of 7721 laboratory-confirmed SFTS cases were reported in China, with an overall case fatality rate (CFR) of 10.5%. The average annual incidence increased >20 times and endemic areas expanded from 27 to 1574 townships, whereas the CFR declined from 19% to 10% during this period. Four geographical clusters—the Changbai Mountain area, the Jiaodong Peninsula, the Taishan Mountain area, and the Huaiyangshan Mountain area—were identified. Diffusion and persistence of the disease were both driven by elevation, high coverages of woods, crops, and shrubs, and the vicinity of habitats of migratory birds but had different meteorological drivers. Residents ≥60 years old in rural areas with crop fields and tea farms were at increased risk to SFTS. Conclusions Surveillance of SFTS and intervention programs need to be targeted at areas ecologically suitability for vector ticks and in the vicinity of migratory birds to curb the growing epidemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Ming-Jin Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A
| | - Yi-Xing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xiang Ren
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Qing-Bin Lu
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Guo-Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Ke Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xin-Lou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Ai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Qiang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Li-Ping Wang
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U. S. A
| | - Li-Qun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Wille M, Holmes EC. Wild birds as reservoirs for diverse and abundant gamma- and deltacoronaviruses. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 44:631-644. [PMID: 32672814 PMCID: PMC7454673 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild birds interconnect all parts of the globe through annual cycles of migration with little respect for country or continental borders. Although wild birds are reservoir hosts for a high diversity of gamma- and deltacoronaviruses, we have little understanding of the ecology or evolution of any of these viruses. In this review, we use genome sequence and ecological data to disentangle the evolution of coronaviruses in wild birds. Specifically, we explore host range at the levels of viral genus and species, and reveal the multi-host nature of many viral species, albeit with biases to certain types of avian host. We conclude that it is currently challenging to infer viral ecology due to major sampling and technical limitations, and suggest that improved assay performance across the breadth of gamma- and deltacoronaviruses, assay standardization, as well as better sequencing approaches, will improve both the repeatability and interpretation of results. Finally, we discuss cross-species virus transmission across both the wild bird - poultry interface as well as from birds to mammals. Clarifying the ecology and diversity in the wild bird reservoir has important ramifications for our ability to respond to the likely future emergence of coronaviruses in socioeconomically important animal species or human populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Wille
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Krasteva S, Jara M, Frias-De-Diego A, Machado G. Nairobi Sheep Disease Virus: A Historical and Epidemiological Perspective. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:419. [PMID: 32793646 PMCID: PMC7387652 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nairobi Sheep Disease virus (NSDv) is a zoonotic and tick-borne disease that can cause over 90% mortality in small ruminants. NSDv has historically circulated in East Africa and has recently emerged in the Asian continent. Despite efforts to control the disease, some regions, mostly in warmer climates, persistently report disease outbreaks. Consequently, it is necessary to understand how environmental tolerances and factors that influence transmission may shed light on its possible emergence in other regions. In this study, we quantified the available literature of NSDv from which occurrence data was extracted. In total, 308 locations from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, India, Sri Lanka and China were coupled with landscape conditions to reconstruct the ecological conditions for NSDv circulation and identify areas of potential disease transmission risk. Our results identified areas suitable for NSDv in Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Southeastern China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Unsuitable areas included Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Southern Somalia. In summary, soil moisture, livestock density, and precipitation predispose certain areas to NSDv circulation. It is critical to investigate the epidemiology of NSDv in order to promote better allocation of resources to control its spread in regions that are more at risk. This will help reduce disease impact worldwide as climate change will favor emergence of such vector-borne diseases in areas with dense small ruminant populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Krasteva
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Manuel Jara
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Alba Frias-De-Diego
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Gustavo Machado
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Valcárcel F, González J, González MG, Sánchez M, Tercero JM, Elhachimi L, Carbonell JD, Olmeda AS. Comparative Ecology of Hyalomma lusitanicum and Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844 (Acarina: Ixodidae). INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11050303. [PMID: 32414220 PMCID: PMC7290797 DOI: 10.3390/insects11050303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The genus Hyalomma belongs to the Ixodidae family and includes many tick species. Most species in this genus are African species, but two of them, Hyalomma lusitanicum and Hyalomma marginatum, are also found in Europe and, owing to their morphological similarity, it is very difficult to tell them apart. This is a major concern because their phenology and vector capacities are quite different. Moreover, they share many habitats and both are currently spreading to new areas, probably due to climate change and animal/human movements. In this study, we review the described ecology of the two species and provide further interesting data on H. lusitanicum based on the authors' experience, which could be useful in assessing the risk they pose to humans and animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Félix Valcárcel
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Animalario del Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.G.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Julia González
- Villamagna S.A., Finca ‘‘La Garganta’’, 14440 Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain; (J.G.); (J.M.T.)
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Marta G. González
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Animalario del Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.G.); (M.S.)
- Villamagna S.A., Finca ‘‘La Garganta’’, 14440 Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain; (J.G.); (J.M.T.)
| | - María Sánchez
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Animalario del Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.G.); (M.S.)
- Villamagna S.A., Finca ‘‘La Garganta’’, 14440 Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain; (J.G.); (J.M.T.)
| | - José María Tercero
- Villamagna S.A., Finca ‘‘La Garganta’’, 14440 Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain; (J.G.); (J.M.T.)
| | - Latifa Elhachimi
- Département de Parasitologie et Santé Publique, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat-Instituts B.P. 6202, Morocco;
| | - Juan D. Carbonell
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.D.C.); (A.S.O.)
| | - A. Sonia Olmeda
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.D.C.); (A.S.O.)
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yanase T, Murota K, Hayama Y. Endemic and Emerging Arboviruses in Domestic Ruminants in East Asia. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:168. [PMID: 32318588 PMCID: PMC7154088 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epizootic congenital abnormalities caused by Akabane, Aino, and Chuzan viruses have damaged the reproduction of domestic ruminants in East Asia for many years. In the past, large outbreaks of febrile illness related to bovine ephemeral fever and Ibaraki viruses severely affected the cattle industry in that region. In recent years, vaccines against these viruses have reduced the occurrence of diseases, although the viruses are still circulating and have occasionally caused sporadic and small-scaled epidemics. Over a long-term monitoring period, many arboviruses other than the above-mentioned viruses have been isolated from cattle and Culicoides biting midges in Japan. Several novel arboviruses that may infect ruminants (e.g., mosquito- and tick-borne arboviruses) were recently reported in mainland China based on extensive surveillance. It is noteworthy that some are suspected of being associated with cattle diseases. Malformed calves exposed to an intrauterine infection with orthobunyaviruses (e.g., Peaton and Shamonda viruses) have been observed. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 6 caused a sudden outbreak of hemorrhagic disease in cattle in Japan. Unfortunately, the pathogenicity of many other viruses in ruminants has been uncertain, although these viruses potentially affect livestock production. As global transportation grows, the risk of an accidental incursion of arboviruses is likely to increase in previously non-endemic areas. Global warming will also certainly affect the distribution and active period of vectors, and thus the range of virus spreads will expand to higher-latitude regions. To prevent anticipated damages to the livestock industry, the monitoring system for arboviral circulation and incursion should be strengthened; moreover, the sharing of information and preventive strategies will be essential in East Asia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tohru Yanase
- Kyushu Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Katsunori Murota
- Kyushu Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yoko Hayama
- Viral Disease and Epidemiology Research Division, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, Tsukuba, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Hoffman T, Wilhelmsson P, Barboutis C, Fransson T, Jaenson TGT, Lindgren PE, Von Loewenich FD, Lundkvist Å, Olsen B, Salaneck E. A divergent Anaplasma phagocytophilum variant in an Ixodes tick from a migratory bird; Mediterranean basin. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2020; 10:1729653. [PMID: 32284823 PMCID: PMC7144310 DOI: 10.1080/20008686.2020.1729653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum (AP) has vast geographical and host ranges and causes disease in humans and domesticated animals. We investigated the role of northward migratory birds in the dispersal of tick-borne AP in the African-Western Palearctic. Ticks were collected from northward migratory birds trapped during spring migration of 2010 at two localities in the central Mediterranean Sea. AP DNA was detected by PCR (gltA and 16S rRNA) and variant determination was performed using ankA sequences. In total, 358 ticks were collected. One of 19 ticks determined as Ixodes was confirmed positive for AP DNA. The tick was collected from a woodchat shrike (Lanius senator senator) trapped in Greece, and molecularly determined to belong to the I. ricinus complex and sharing highest (95%) 16S RNA sequence identity to I. gibbosus. The ankA AP sequence exhibited highest similarity to sequences from rodents and shrews (82%) and ruminants (80%). Phylogenetic analyses placed it convincingly outside other clades, suggesting that it represents a novel AP variant. The divergent Ixodes species harboring a novel AP variant could either indicate an enzootic cycle involving co-evolution with birds, or dissemination from other regions by avian migration. None of the 331 Hyalomma marginatum sensu lato ticks, all immature stages, were positive for AP DNA, lending no evidence for the involvement of Hyalomma ticks transported by birds in the ecology of AP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tove Hoffman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM), Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden.,Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Christos Barboutis
- Antikythira Bird Observatory, Hellenic Ornithological Society/Birdlife Greece, Athens, Greece
| | - Thord Fransson
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden.,Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Åke Lundkvist
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM), Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Salaneck
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Aijazi I, Al Shama FMA, Shandala Y, Varghese RM. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever presenting with acute compartment syndrome of the extremities (think beyond normal infections). BMJ Case Rep 2020; 13:13/2/e232323. [PMID: 32033997 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-232323] [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: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonosis transmitted to humans and animals (which act as a reservoir) through the bite of a 'Hyalomma' tick. CCHF virus belongs to the genus Nairovirus Humans are infected when they come in direct contact with the blood or secretions of infected livestock or other infected humans. This disease initially presents with non-specific febrile symptoms common to many viral illnesses and later progresses to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with haemorrhagic manifestations.We present the case of a middle-aged man with CCHF. He presented to the hospital with DIC and acute compartment syndrome in the right forearm, requiring urgent orthopaedic intervention. The diagnosis was delayed because there was no clear history of contact. The patient was started taking ribavirin on the fifth day of hospital admission. He recovered fully.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ishma Aijazi
- Internal Medicine, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Yaseen Shandala
- Orthopedic Department, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
First records of adult Hyalomma marginatum and H. rufipes ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Sweden. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101403. [PMID: 32037097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
From July 2018 to January 2019 we recorded 41 specimens of adult Hyalomma ticks, which had been found on horses, cattle or humans in 14 Swedish provinces. In 20 cases we received tick specimens, which were identified morphologically as adults of H. marginatum (n = 11) or H. rufipes (n = 9). These are the first documented records in Sweden of adults of H. marginatum and H. rufipes. Molecular tests for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus and piroplasms (Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) proved negative; 12 out of 20 tested specimens were positive for rickettsiae (R. aeschlimannii was identified in 11 of the ticks). All ticks originated from people or animals that had not been abroad during the previous two months. These data suggest (i) that the adult Hyalomma ticks originated from immature ticks, which had been brought from the south by migratory birds arriving in Sweden during spring or early summer; and that (ii) due to the exceptionally warm summer of 2018 these immature ticks had been able to develop to the adult stage in the summer and/or autumn of the same year. The rapidly changing climate most likely now permits these two Hyalomma species to develop to the adult, reproductive stage in northern Europe. There is consequently a need to revise the risk maps on the potential geographic occurrence of relevant tick species and related tick-borne pathogens in Sweden and in the neighbouring countries.
Collapse
|
32
|
Negredo A, Habela MÁ, Ramírez de Arellano E, Diez F, Lasala F, López P, Sarriá A, Labiod N, Calero-Bernal R, Arenas M, Tenorio A, Estrada-Peña A, Sánchez-Seco MP. Survey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Enzootic Focus, Spain, 2011-2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1177-1184. [PMID: 31107219 PMCID: PMC6537724 DOI: 10.3201/eid2506.180877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During 2011–2015, we conducted a Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) survey in captured ticks that were feeding mainly on wild and domestic ungulates in Spain, where presence of this virus had been reported previously. We detected CCHFV RNA in Hyalomma lusitanicum and H. marginatum ticks for 3 of the 5 years. The rate of infected ticks was 2.78% (44/1,579), which was similar to those for other countries in Europe with endemic foci for CCHFV (Kosovo, Bulgaria, and Albania). These data confirm the established spread of CCHFV into western Europe. Phylogenetic study of the small RNA segment showed Africa-3 clade as the only genotype identified, although we observed cocirculation of genetic variants during 2011 and 2015. We could not rule out genetic reassortments because of lack of sequence data for the medium and large RNA segments of the virus genome.
Collapse
|
33
|
Mancuso E, Toma L, Polci A, d'Alessio SG, Di Luca M, Orsini M, Di Domenico M, Marcacci M, Mancini G, Spina F, Goffredo M, Monaco F. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Genome in Tick from Migratory Bird, Italy. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 25:1418-1420. [PMID: 31211933 PMCID: PMC6590740 DOI: 10.3201/eid2507.181345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We detected Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in a Hyalomma rufipes nymph collected from a whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) on the island of Ventotene in April 2017. Partial genome sequences suggest the virus originated in Africa. Detection of the genome of this virus in Italy confirms its potential dispersion through migratory birds.
Collapse
|
34
|
Pascucci I, Di Domenico M, Capobianco Dondona G, Di Gennaro A, Polci A, Capobianco Dondona A, Mancuso E, Cammà C, Savini G, Cecere JG, Spina F, Monaco F. Assessing the role of migratory birds in the introduction of ticks and tick-borne pathogens from African countries: An Italian experience. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101272. [PMID: 31481344 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The continuous flow of billions of birds between Africa and Europe creates an "ecological bridge" between physically remote areas. Migratory birds fly south from their breeding grounds during late summer/fall and fly back in spring. These movements regulate the spread of internal and external parasites, as well as pathogens of potential public health concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible introduction of exotic tick species and tick-borne pathogens into Europe via migratory birds. At the bird observatory of Ventotene island (Italy), 443 feeding ticks were collected from 249 birds captured and ringed during their northbound migration in spring 2013. Each tick was identified by morphological and molecular methods and then tested for bacterial and viral pathogens: Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia ruminantium and Coxiella burnetii, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and Flavivirus. Morphological and molecular identification confirmed Hyalomma rufipes as the most abundant species among the collected arthropods (366/443; 82.6%) followed by Hyalomma marginatum (10/433; 2.3%). Rickettsia aeschlimannii was identified in 158 ticks, while one engorged Amblyomma variegatum nymph was infected with Rickettsia africae. The other bacteria were not detected in any specimen. Among viruses, RNA belonging to West Nile virus and other Flavivirus were detected whereas all ticks were negative for CCHFV RNA. These results confirm how migratory birds play a role in carrying Rickettsia-infected ticks, as well as viruses of zoonotic importance, from Africa into Europe. To what extent tick species are capable of establishing a permanent population once introduced in naïve areas, is far from defined and deserve further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Pascucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giulia Capobianco Dondona
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Annapia Di Gennaro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Polci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Capobianco Dondona
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Elisa Mancuso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Cesare Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Jacopo G Cecere
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Fernando Spina
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), via Ca' Fornacetta 9, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Susceptibility of spotted doves (Streptopelia chinensis) to experimental infection with the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006982. [PMID: 31276495 PMCID: PMC6636776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), an emerging human pathogen naturally transmitted by ticks, has spread widely since it was first detected in 2010. Although SFTSV-specific antibodies have been detected in wild birds, these natural reservoir and amplifying hosts for the virus have not been well studied. Methodology/Principle findings Here we report an experimental infection of spotted doves (Streptopelia chinensis) with two strains of SFTSV, JS2010-14, a Chinese lineage strain, and JS2014-16, a Japanese lineage strain, which represent the main viral genotypes currently circulating in East Asia. In these studies, we have determined that spotted doves are susceptible to SFTSV and the severity of the viremia is dose-dependent. When challenged with 107 and 105 PFU, all doves developed viremia which peaked 3–5 days post infection (dpi). Only a subset (25–62.5%) of the birds developed viremia when challenged at 103 PFU. Virulence of SFTSV in spotted doves was strain dependent. Infection with 107 PFU of strain JS2014-16 resulted in 12.5% mortality over 6.8 days and mean peak viremia titers of 106.9 PFU/mL in experimentally inoculated birds. All doves inoculated with 107 PFU of the JS2010-14 strain survived infection with relatively lower mean viremia titers (105.6 PFU/mL at peak) over 6.1 days. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest that spotted doves, one of the most abundant bird species in China, could be a competent amplifying host for SFTSV and play an important role in its ecology. Between the two SFTSV strains, the strain of the Japanese lineage caused mortality, higher viremia titers in infected birds over a longer time period than did the Chinese strain. Our observations shed light on the ecology of SFTSV, which could benefit the implementation of surveillance and control programs. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging human pathogen naturally transmitted by ticks. Our recent study has showed that some species of migratory birds, such as swan geese and spotted doves, can be parasitized by Haemaphysalis longicornis, an SFTSV vector, and antibodies against the SFTSV detected in these species. These data demonstrate that migratory birds are infected with SFTSV and may also play a role in the infection of ticks with SFTSV. Other studies have reported that migratory bird routes and the distribution of H. longicornis in East Asia overlap with the geographic distribution of SFTSV. Migratory birds are known to be carriers and transmitters of infectious agents, like the causative agents of influenza, West Nile encephalitis, and Lyme disease. Wild birds often travel long distances carrying various parasites, including ticks, which may be infected with viruses and bacteria. It is therefore reasonable to hypothesize that migratory birds may have played an important role in spreading SFTSV in two potential transmission scenarios: 1) birds are infected with the virus and transmit it back to ticks endemically or in a distal region, or 2) they are carriers of parasitic ticks that are infected with the virus. Here we report an experimental infection of spotted doves (Streptopelia chinensis) with two strains of SFTSV, JS2010-14 from a Chinese lineage and JS2014-16 from a Japanese lineage, which represent the main viral genotypes currently circulating in East Asia. We determined that spotted doves are susceptible to SFTSV and that the severity of the viremia was dose and strain dependent. Infection with the strain of JS2014-16 led to a death rate of 12.5% and higher viremia titers in experimentally inoculated birds while doves inoculated with the JS2010-14 strain survived infection with relatively lower virus titers in the blood. These findings provide novel insights for understanding the rapid spread of the virus in a short time span, in particular the SFTSV strains from the Japanese lineage (genotype E).
Collapse
|
36
|
Voorhees MA, Padilla SL, Jamsransuren D, Koehler JW, Delp KL, Adiyadorj D, Baasandagwa U, Jigjav B, Olschner SP, Minogue TD, Schoepp RJ. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Mongolia, 2013-2014. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:2202-2209. [PMID: 30457521 PMCID: PMC6256378 DOI: 10.3201/eid2412.180175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During 2013–2014, we collected 1,926 serum samples from humans and 4,583 ticks (Hyalomma asiaticum or Dermacentor nuttalli) in select regions of Mongolia to determine the risk for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) infection among humans in this country. Testing of human serum samples by ELISA demonstrated an overall CCHFV antibody prevalence of 1.4%; Bayankhongor Province had the highest prevalence, 2.63%. We pooled and analyzed tick specimens by real-time reverse transcription PCR; 1 CCHFV-positive H. asiaticum tick pool from Ömnögovi was identified. In phylogenetic analyses, the virus’s partial small segment clustered with CCHFV isolates from Central Asia, and the complete medium segment grouped with CCHFV isolates from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This study confirms CCHFV endemicity in Mongolia and provides information on risk for CCHFV infection. Further research is needed to better define the risk for CCHFV disease to improve risk mitigation, diagnostics, and surveillance.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Computational Biology
- Geography, Medical
- Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo/classification
- Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo/genetics
- Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo/isolation & purification
- Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/epidemiology
- Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/history
- Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/transmission
- Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/virology
- History, 21st Century
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Mongolia/epidemiology
- Neutralization Tests
- Phylogeny
- RNA, Viral
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Serologic Tests
- Ticks/virology
Collapse
|
37
|
Hansford KM, Carter D, Gillingham EL, Hernandez-Triana LM, Chamberlain J, Cull B, McGinley L, Paul Phipps L, Medlock JM. Hyalomma rufipes on an untraveled horse: Is this the first evidence of Hyalomma nymphs successfully moulting in the United Kingdom? Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:704-708. [PMID: 30876825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
During September 2018, a tick was submitted to Public Health England's Tick Surveillance Scheme for identification. The tick was sent from a veterinarian who removed it from a horse in Dorset, England, with no history of overseas travel. The tick was identified as a male Hyalomma rufipes using morphological and molecular methods and then tested for a range of tick-borne pathogens including; Alkhurma virus, Anaplasma, Babesia, Bhanja virus, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever virus, Rickettsia and Theileria. The tick tested positive for Rickettsia aeschlimannii, a spotted fever group rickettsia linked to a number of human cases in Africa and Europe. This is the first time H. rufipes has been reported in the United Kingdom (UK), and the lack of travel by the horse (or any in-contact horses) suggests that this could also be the first evidence of successful moulting of a Hyalomma nymph in the UK. It is postulated that the tick was imported into the UK on a migratory bird as an engorged nymph which was able to complete its moult to the adult stage and find a host. This highlights that passive tick surveillance remains an important method for the detection of unusual species that may present a threat to public health in the UK. Horses are important hosts of Hyalomma sp. adults in their native range, therefore, further surveillance studies should be conducted to check horses for ticks in the months following spring bird migration; when imported nymphs may have had time to drop off their avian host and moult to adults. The potential human and animal health risks of such events occurring more regularly are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK.
| | - Daniel Carter
- Diagnostic and Genomic Technologies, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, UK
| | - Emma L Gillingham
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK
| | - Luis M Hernandez-Triana
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - John Chamberlain
- Virology & Pathogenesis, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Benjamin Cull
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Liz McGinley
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - L Paul Phipps
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK; Virology & Pathogenesis, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
William W, Bülent A, Thomas B, Eduardo B, Marieta B, Olivier B, Celine G, Jolyon M, Dusan P, Francis S, Ducheyne E. The importance of vector abundance and seasonality. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.2903/sp.efsa.2018.en-1491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
|
39
|
The microbiota of hematophagous ectoparasites collected from migratory birds. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202270. [PMID: 30148833 PMCID: PMC6110481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod vectors are responsible for the transmission of human pathogens worldwide. Several arthropod species are bird ectoparasites, however, no study to date has characterized their microbiota as a whole. We sampled hematophagous ectoparasites that feed on migratory birds and performed 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding to characterize their microbial community. A total of 194 ectoparasites were collected from 115 avian hosts and classified into three groups: a) Hippoboscidae diptera; b) ticks; c) other arthropods. Metabarcoding showed that endosymbionts were the most abundant genera of the microbial community, including Wolbachia for Hippoboscidae diptera, Candidatus Midichloria for ticks, Wolbachia and Arsenophonus for the other arthropod group. Genera including pathogenic species were: Rickettsia, Borrelia, Coxiella, Francisella, Bartonella, Anaplasma. Co-infection with Borrelia-Rickettsia and Anaplasma-Rickettsia was also observed. A global overview of the microbiota of ectoparasites sampled from migratory birds was obtained with the use of 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. A novel finding is the first identification of Rickettsia in the common swift louse fly, Crataerina pallida. Given their possible interaction with pathogenic viruses and bacteria, the presence of endosymbionts in arthropods merits attention. Finally, molecular characterization of genera, including both pathogenic and symbiont species, plays a pivotal role in the design of targeted molecular diagnostics.
Collapse
|
40
|
Pajoro M, Pistone D, Varotto Boccazzi I, Mereghetti V, Bandi C, Fabbi M, Scattorin F, Sassera D, Montagna M. Molecular screening for bacterial pathogens in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) collected on migratory birds captured in northern Italy. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2018; 65. [PMID: 29925679 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2018.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Migratory birds have an important role in transporting ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens over long distances. In this study, 2,793 migratory birds were captured by nets in a ringing station, located in northern Italy, and checked for the presence of ticks. Two-hundred and fifty-one ticks were identified as nymphs and larvae of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) and they were PCR-screened for the presence of bacteria belonging to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii. Four species of Borrelia (B. garinii, B. afzelii, B. valaisiana and B. lusitaniae) and three species of Rickettsia (R. monacensis, R. helvetica and Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii) were detected in 74 (30%) and 25 (10%) respectively out of 251 ticks examined. Co-infection with Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in the same tick sample was encountered in 7 (7%) out of the 99 infected ticks. We report for the first time the presence of Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii in I. ricinus collected on birds in Italy. This study, besides confirming the role of birds in dispersal of I. ricinus, highlights an important route by which tick-borne pathogens might spread across different countries and from natural environments towards urbanised areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Pajoro
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, University of Milano, Italy
| | - Dario Pistone
- University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Bioscience, University of Milano, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Mereghetti
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano, Italy
| | - Claudio Bandi
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, University of Milano, Italy.,Department of Bioscience, University of Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Fabbi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emila Romagna, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Montagna
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
NOURANI L, ALIABADIAN M, DINPARAST DJADID N, MIRSHAMSI O. Occurrence of Haemoproteus spp. (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in New Host Records of Passerine Birds from the East of Iran. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2018; 13:267-274. [PMID: 30069211 PMCID: PMC6068377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Avian haemosporidians are able to parasitize numerous bird species all over the world. The extensive range of blood parasites infection rate is between 50% and 100% or less percentage. Haemoparasites with major effects on physiology, ecology, health, population dynamics, sexual selection and production success of avian hosts may promote species extinction. METHODS To evaluate haemosporidians infection rate in Iranian birds, 136 individuals were examined by microscopic observation of stained blood smears under light microscope. These samples belonged to 10 different families of Songbirds from the east of Iran from April to August 2014-2016. RESULTS Fifty-one passerine birds were detected as harboring Haemoproteus spp. Furthermore, we recorded Haemoproteus spp. infection of Granativora bruniceps, Oenanthe pleschanka for the first time in the world and eight more species for Iran. CONCLUSION Age and sampling localities do not influence the infection rate of Haemoproteus spp. from the eastern provinces of Iran. The relative high infection of avian haematozoa revealed this region might provide suitable sites for future studies on these parasites and the relationship with their hosts and vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leila NOURANI
- Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran, Iran
| | - Mansour ALIABADIAN
- Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, Research Department of Zoological Innovations, Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran,Correspondence
| | - Navid DINPARAST DJADID
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid MIRSHAMSI
- Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, Research Department of Zoological Innovations, Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Suliman HM, Adam IA, Saeed SI, Abdelaziz SA, Haroun EM, Aradaib IE. Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever among the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedaries) in Central Sudan. Virol J 2017; 14:147. [PMID: 28774342 PMCID: PMC5543554 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-017-0816-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral zoonotic disease caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a member of the genus Nairovirus in the family Bunyaviridae. CCHF is typically asymptomatic in animals but can be highly fatal in humans approaching case fatality rate of approximately 30%. In the present investigation, a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of CCHF and to identify the potential risk factors associated with CCHFV seropositivity among the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedaries) in Central Sudan. Methods A total of 361 camels selected randomly from six localities were employed in the study. Sera sampled were tested for the presence of CCHFV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results CCHFV seropositivity was recorded in 77 out of 361 animals accounting for a prevalence rate of 21.3%. Age (OR = 3.6, CI = 1.72–7.79, p-value = 0.026); locality (OR = 5.85, CI = 1.81–18.83, p- value = 0.003), tick number (OR = 4.6, CI = 1.37–9.81, P-value 0.04); tick control (OR = 2.2, CI, 1.11–4.35, P-value = 0.023) and breed (OR = 6.60, CI = 2.38–18.36, P-value = 0.001) were recorded as potential risk factors for contracting CCHF. Conclusions The prevalence of CCHF is significantly high among camels in Khartoum State, Sudan. Age, breed, locality and tick control are considered as potential risk factors for contracting CCHF. This study would be expected to reduce the impact on the livelihood of pastoral communities and ultimately avoid disease spread in human.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hajer M Suliman
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (MBL), Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | - Ibrahim A Adam
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (MBL), Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | - Shamseldin I Saeed
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (MBL), Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | - Sanaa A Abdelaziz
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | - Eltahir M Haroun
- Scientific Research Directorate, Al-Mughtaribeen University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Imadeldin E Aradaib
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (MBL), Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan. .,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North, Sudan.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
New Host Records for Haemoproteus Spp. (Apicomplexa: Haemosporidiasina) in Passeriformes from North-West of Iran. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2017; 11:236-241. [PMID: 29062848 PMCID: PMC5641612] [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: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Haemoproteus occur in different avian hosts all over the world. Various genus of blood sucking insects' families such as Hippoboscidae and Ceratopogonidae could transmit Haemoproteus in avian hosts. There are very limited number of studies on wild infected birds with blood parasites in Iran, so the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of Haemoproteus spp. infection in passerine birds from northwest of Iran. METHODS Passerines were collected from four different localities in Zanjan Province, northwest Iran during June to August 2014. RESULTS Of 86 passerines, we found Haemoproteus infection in 19 (22.09%) individuals. In general, 15 bird species were observed for haemosporidians, of which 53% were infected. CONCLUSION Three species of passerines: Petronia petronia, Sitta tephronota and Acrocephalus melanopogon are new host records for Haemoproteus infection in the world. Results acquired by this study support widespread distribution of Haemoproteus in passerines and illustrated the prevalence of Haemoproteus species in wild birds of northwest of Iran. Conclusively, our study specified that more investigations are needed to reach exact prevalence rate in different families of birds in Iran.
Collapse
|
44
|
Bażanów BA, Pacoń J, Gadzała Ł, Frącka A, Welz M, Paweska J. Vector and Serologic Survey for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Poland. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:510-513. [PMID: 28514225 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to animals, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) causes a severe disease in humans with a high mortality rate. The etiological agent, CCHF virus (CCHFV), can be transmitted by argasid and ixodid ticks, but arachnids of the genus Hyalomma, followed by Rhipicephalus and Dermacentor serve as the major vectors of this virus. The goal of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation of CCHFV infection in cattle in south-east Poland, and survey for potential tick vector species. A total of 592 bovine blood samples from animals located in the southernmost region in Poland were tested by IgG sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ticks (n = 993) from south-east Poland were collected from dogs, cats, cattle, and horses and tested by RT-PCR. All 592 serum samples were negative for IgG antibodies to CCHFV. Of the ticks collected, 125 were Dermacentor reticulatus and 868 represented Ixodes ricinus, both species are regarded as potential vectors of CCHFV. All tick samples were negative for the presence of CCHFV. Considering the zoonotic nature, public health importance, and the virus increasing spread, it was prudent to assess the seroprevalence of CCHFV in the south-east area of Poland, bordering with CCHFV endemic areas. It seems unlikely that CCHFV infection will suddenly spread in Poland, but considering the multiple possibilities of the virus introduction, serosurveys and vector biosurveillance should be conducted at regular intervals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara A Bażanów
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences , Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jarosław Pacoń
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences , Wrocław, Poland
| | - Łukasz Gadzała
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences , Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Frącka
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences , Wrocław, Poland
| | - Mirosław Welz
- 2 Voivodeship Veterinary Inspectorate in Krosno , Krosno, Poland
| | - Janusz Paweska
- 3 Department of Virology, NICD/NHLS , Sandringham-Johannesburg, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Heylen D, Krawczyk A, Lopes de Carvalho I, Núncio MS, Sprong H, Norte AC. Bridging of cryptic Borrelia cycles in European songbirds. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:1857-1867. [PMID: 28152581 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The principal European vector for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., the causative agents of Lyme disease, is the host-generalist tick Ixodes ricinus. Almost all terrestrial host-specialist ticks have been supposed not to contribute to the terrestrial Borrelia transmission cycles. Through an experiment with blackbirds, we show successful transmission by the widespread I. frontalis, an abundant bird-specialized tick that infests a broad range of songbirds. In the first phase of the experiment, we obtained Borrelia-infected I. frontalis (infection rate: 19%) and I. ricinus (17%) nymphs by exposing larvae to wild blackbirds that carried several genospecies (Borrelia turdi, B. valaisiana, B. burgdorferi s.s.). In the second phase, pathogen-free blackbirds were exposed to these infected nymphs. Both tick species were able to infect the birds, as indicated by the analysis of xenodiagnostic I. ricinus larvae which provided evidence for both co-feeding and systemic transmission (infection rates: 10%-60%). Ixodes frontalis was shown to transmit B. turdi spirochetes, while I. ricinus transmitted both B. turdi and B. valaisiana. Neither species transmitted B. burgdorferi s.s. European enzootic cycles of Borrelia between songbirds and their ornithophilic ticks do exist, with I. ricinus potentially acting as a bridging vector towards mammals, including man.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Heylen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Aleksandra Krawczyk
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Ana Cláudia Norte
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.,MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Lukashev AN, Klimentov AS, Smirnova SE, Dzagurova TK, Drexler JF, Gmyl AP. Phylogeography of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166744. [PMID: 27880794 PMCID: PMC5120814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is one of the most severe viral zoonozes. It is prevalent throughout Africa, Asia and southern Europe. Limited availability of sequence data has hindered phylogeographic studies. The complete genomic sequence of all three segments of 14 Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus strains isolated from 1958–2000 in Russia, Central Asia and Africa was identified. Each genomic segment was independently subjected to continuous Bayesian phylogeographic analysis. The origin of each genomic segment was traced to Africa about 1,000–5,000 years ago. The virus was first introduced to South and Central Asia in the Middle Ages, and then spread to China, India and Russia. Reverse transfers of genomic segments from Asia to Africa were also observed. The European CCHFV genotype V was introduced to Europe via the Astrakhan region in South Russia 280–400 years ago and subsequently gradually spread westward in Russia, to Turkey and the Balkans less than 150 years ago. Only a few recombination events could be suggested in S and L genomic segments, while segment reassortment was very common. The median height of a non-reassortant phylogenetic tree node was 68–156 years. There were reassortment events within the European CCHFV lineage, but not with viruses from other locations. Therefore, CCHFV in Europe is a recently emerged zoonosis that represents a spillover from the global gene pool.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N. Lukashev
- Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- RUDN University, Moscow, Russia
- * E-mail:
| | - Alexander S. Klimentov
- Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides, Moscow, Russia
- D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology of N.F. Gamaleya Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Tamara K. Dzagurova
- Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Bonn-Cologne, Germany
| | - Anatoly P. Gmyl
- Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Shi J, Hu S, Liu X, Yang J, Liu D, Wu L, Wang H, Hu Z, Deng F, Shen S. Migration, recombination, and reassortment are involved in the evolution of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 47:109-117. [PMID: 27884653 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus (SFTSV) has been identified as the etiological agent causing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). SFTSV was reported in recent years as a newly emerging tick-borne virus in China, Japan and South Korea and is a novel member of the genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae, which is suspected to be transmitted by the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. The genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships between geographically distributed SFTSV strains are currently unclear. In this study we used extensive bioinformatics analyses to provide deep insight into the mechanisms of evolution and relationships among SFTSV strains. The genetic diversity of SFTSV was characterized and found to be generated through recombination and reassortment events. Further, potential correlations between the geographic distribution and migration pathways of SFTSV were subject to in-depth analysis. The potential of birds migration related to SFTSV migration were also discussed. The results of this study will facilitate better understanding of the mechanisms of evolution of SFTSV, which will be important in developing public-health interventions and strategies for SFTS disease control and prevention in endemic areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junming Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Sheng Hu
- School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Juan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Dan Liu
- School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Liang Wu
- School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Hualin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhihong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shu Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Leblebicioglu H, Ozaras R, Erciyas-Yavuz K. Emergence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2016; 109:676-8. [PMID: 26464230 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trv083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a life-threatening tick-borne infection in Africa and Eurasia. Although knowledge of epidemiology is increasing, the global extent and risk of infection is not well described. A niche-modeling framework has been used to map the global distribution of risk for CCHF based on analysis of human CCHF reports. The new risk maps provide a valuable starting point for understanding the zoonotic niche of CCHF. Migratory birds travelling across continents may also introduce CCHF to new areas through attached ticks. There is an overlap between CCHF endemic areas and breeding and wintering grounds of migratory birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Leblebicioglu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ondokuz Mayis University Medical School, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Resat Ozaras
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
England ME, Phipps P, Medlock JM, Atkinson PM, Atkinson B, Hewson R, Gale P. Hyalomma ticks on northward migrating birds in southern Spain: Implications for the risk of entry of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus to Great Britain. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2016; 41:128-34. [PMID: 27232135 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a zoonotic virus transmitted by Hyalomma ticks, the immature stages of which may be carried by migratory birds. In this study, a total of 12 Hyalomma ticks were recovered from five of 228 migratory birds trapped in Spring, 2012 in southern Spain along the East Atlantic flyway. All collected ticks tested negative for CCHFV. While most birds had zero Hyalomma ticks, two individuals had four and five ticks each and the statistical distribution of Hyalomma tick counts per bird is over-dispersed compared to the Poisson distribution, demonstrating the need for intensive sampling studies to avoid underestimating the total number of ticks. Rates of tick exchange on migratory birds during their northwards migration will affect the probability that a Hyalomma tick entering Great Britain is positive for CCHFV. Drawing on published data, evidence is presented that the latitude of a European country affects the probability of entry of Hyalomma ticks on wild birds. Further data on Hyalomma infestation rates and tick exchange rates are required along the East Atlantic flyway to further our understanding of the origin of Hyalomma ticks (i.e., Africa or southern Europe) and hence the probability of entry of CCHFV into GB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion E England
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
| | - Paul Phipps
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, MRA, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Peter M Atkinson
- Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Engineering Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YR, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Barry Atkinson
- Public Health England, Virology and Pathogenesis Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Hewson
- Public Health England, Virology and Pathogenesis Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Gale
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Evidence for widespread infection of African bats with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever-like viruses. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26637. [PMID: 27217069 PMCID: PMC4877572 DOI: 10.1038/srep26637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a highly virulent tick-borne pathogen that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans. The geographic range of human CCHF cases largely reflects the presence of ticks. However, highly similar CCHFV lineages occur in geographically distant regions. Tick-infested migratory birds have been suggested, but not confirmed, to contribute to the dispersal. Bats have recently been shown to carry nairoviruses distinct from CCHFV. In order to assess the presence of CCHFV in a wide range of bat species over a wide geographic range, we analyzed 1,135 sera from 16 different bat species collected in Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Germany, and Panama. Using a CCHFV glycoprotein-based indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT), we identified reactive antibodies in 10.0% (114/1,135) of tested bats, pertaining to 12/16 tested species. Depending on the species, 3.6%–42.9% of cave-dwelling bats and 0.6%–7.1% of foliage-living bats were seropositive (two-tailed t-test, p = 0.0447 cave versus foliage). 11/30 IIFT-reactive sera from 10 different African bat species had neutralizing activity in a virus-like particle assay. Neutralization of full CCHFV was confirmed in 5 of 7 sera. Widespread infection of cave-dwelling bats may indicate a role for bats in the life cycle and geographic dispersal of CCHFV.
Collapse
|