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Golding ME, Wu G, Wilkie R, Picard-Meyer E, Servat A, Marston DA, Aegerter JN, Horton DL, McElhinney LM. Investigating the emergence of a zoonotic virus: phylogenetic analysis of European bat lyssavirus 1 in the UK. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae060. [PMID: 39193178 PMCID: PMC11345707 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1, Lyssavirus hamburg) is predominantly detected in serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus) and is responsible for the majority of bat rabies cases in mainland Europe. A passive bat rabies surveillance scheme detected the virus in a serotine bat in the UK for the first time in October 2018. As of May 2024, 34 cases have been reported, 20 of which involved contact with an animal and 5 reported human contact. We investigated the emergence of EBLV-1 by undertaking comprehensive sequence analysis and Bayesian phylogenetics, based on complete virus genomes of 33 UK sequences and 108 sequences covering six countries in mainland Europe (1968-2023), including 21 French EBLV-1-positive RNA samples sequenced for this study. Sequence analysis revealed extreme similarity among UK EBLV-1 sequences (99.9%-100%), implying a single source of introduction rather than multiple independent introductions. Bayesian analysis revealed that the UK EBLV-1 sequences shared their most recent common ancestor with an EBLV-1 sequence from a serotine bat detected in Brittany, France, in 2001, with an estimated date of divergence of 1997. Within the UK sequences, the earliest divergence was estimated to occur in 2007. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular epidemiology of an emerging zoonotic pathogen and improved understanding of the risks posed to public and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Golding
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Guanghui Wu
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Rebekah Wilkie
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alexandre Servat
- Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Malzéville 51220, France
| | - Denise A Marston
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
- Department of Science, Strategy and Planning, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - James N Aegerter
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Wildlife Epidemiology and Modelling, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel L Horton
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Lorraine M McElhinney
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
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2
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Nauwelaers I, Van den Eynde C, Terryn S, Vandendriessche B, Willems W, Dekeukeleire D, Van Gucht S. Detection and Serological Evidence of European Bat Lyssavirus 1 in Belgian Bats between 2016 and 2018. Trop Med Infect Dis 2024; 9:151. [PMID: 39058193 PMCID: PMC11281572 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed9070151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Lyssaviruses are neurotropic viruses capable of inducing fatal encephalitis. While rabies virus has been successfully eradicated in Belgium, the prevalence of other lyssaviruses remains uncertain. In this study, we conducted a survey on live animals and passive surveillance to investigate the presence of lyssaviruses in Belgium. In 2018, a total of 113 saliva samples and 87 blood samples were collected from bats. Saliva was subjected to RT-qPCR to identify lyssavirus infections. Additionally, an adapted lyssavirus neutralisation assay was set up for the detection of antibodies neutralising EBLV-1 in blood samples. Furthermore, we examined 124 brain tissue samples obtained from deceased bats during passive surveillance between 2016 and 2018. All saliva samples tested negative for lyssaviruses. Analysis of the blood samples uncovered the presence of lyssavirus-neutralising antibodies in five bat species and 32% of samples with a wide range depending on bat species, suggesting past exposure to a lyssavirus. Notably, EBLV-1 was detected in brain tissue samples from two Eptesicus serotinus specimens collected in 2016 near Bertrix and 2017 near Étalle, confirming for the first time the presence of EBLV-1 in Belgium and raising awareness of the potential risks associated with this species of bats as reservoirs of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inne Nauwelaers
- Viral Diseases Unit, Sciensano, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (I.N.); (S.T.)
| | | | - Sanne Terryn
- Viral Diseases Unit, Sciensano, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (I.N.); (S.T.)
| | | | - Wout Willems
- Natuurpunt Studie, Vleermuizenwerkgroep, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium (W.W.)
| | - Daan Dekeukeleire
- Natuurpunt Studie, Vleermuizenwerkgroep, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium (W.W.)
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Van Gucht
- Viral Diseases Unit, Sciensano, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (I.N.); (S.T.)
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3
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Antúnez MP, Marín Montesinos JC, Corduneanu A, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Tick-borne viruses and their risk to public health in the Caribbean: Spotlight on bats as reservoirs in Cuba. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26118. [PMID: 38375245 PMCID: PMC10875593 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26118] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have surged and expanded globally due to factors like changes in human activities, land use patterns, and climate change, and it have been associated with the emergence of zoonotic diseases. Cuba faces the impact of ticks on human health and the economy. Although Cuba has studied TBDs extensively for the past 50 years, focus on tick-borne viral pathogens affecting humans remains scant. Despite TBDs not currently being a major health concern in Cuba, factors like inadequate clinician awareness, climate conditions, global tick emergence, and evidence of zoonotic pathogens in ticks underscore the importance of enhanced TBD surveillance in the country. Here we revised the available information on ticks as vectors of pathogenic viruses to humans, spotlighting bats as potential reservoirs of tick-borne viruses (TBVs). Ticks on bats have gained interest as potential reservoirs of pathogenic viruses to humans in Cuba and worldwide. Understanding their role in maintaining viruses and their potential transmission to humans is crucial for the implementation of surveillance and control programs to reduce the risk of tick-borne viral diseases and public health management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritza Pupo Antúnez
- Laboratorio de Virología. Departamento de Microbiología y Virología. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, C.P. 10400, Plaza de la Revolución, Cuba
| | - José Carlos Marín Montesinos
- Laboratorio de Virología. Departamento de Microbiología y Virología. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, C.P. 10400, Plaza de la Revolución, Cuba
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Animal Breeding and Animal Production, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Sara Moutailler
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
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4
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Arnaout Y, Picard-Meyer E, Robardet E, Cappelle J, Cliquet F, Touzalin F, Jimenez G, Djelouadji Z. Assessment of virus and Leptospira carriage in bats in France. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292840. [PMID: 37862301 PMCID: PMC10588846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
With over 1,400 species worldwide, bats represent the second largest order of mammals after rodents, and are known to host major zoonotic pathogens. Here, we estimate the presence of pathogens in autochthonous bat populations. First, we set out to check our samples for PCR amplification efficiency by assessing the occurrence of inhibited PCR reactions from different types of bat samples with amplifying the housekeeping gene β-actin. Second, we investigated the presence of five targeted pathogens in a French bat population using PCR. We targeted viral RNA of Canine distemper virus, Alphacoronavirus, Lyssavirus, Rotavirus and bacterial Leptospira DNA. To do so, we screened for these viruses in bat faecal samples as well as in oropharyngeal swab samples. The presence of Leptospira was assessed in urine, kidney, lung and faecal samples. Results showed a frequency of inhibited reactions ranging from 5 to 60% of samples, varying according to the sample itself and also suspected to vary according to sampling method and the storage buffer solution used, demonstrating the importance of the sampling and storage on the probability of obtaining negative PCR results. For pathogen assessment, rotavirus and alphacoronavirus RNA were detected in Myotis myotis, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum bats. Rotaviruses were also detected in Barbastella barbastellus. The presence of alphacoronavirus also varied seasonally, with higher frequencies in late summer and October, suggesting that juveniles potentially play an important role in the dynamics of these viruses. Leptospira DNA was detected in M. myotis and M. daubentonii colonies. The 16S rRNA sequences obtained from Leptospira positive samples showed 100% genetic identity with L. borgpetersenii. Neither canine distemper virus nor lyssavirus RNA were detected in any of the tested samples. This study is the first to show the presence of Leptospira in autochthonous French bats in addition to coronavirus and rotavirus RNA previously reported in European autochthonous bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Arnaout
- Lyssavirus Unit, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Malzéville, France
- USC 1233-INRAE Rongeurs Sauvages, Risque Sanitaire et Gestion des Populations, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l’Etoile, France
| | - Evelyne Picard-Meyer
- Lyssavirus Unit, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Malzéville, France
| | - Emmanuelle Robardet
- Lyssavirus Unit, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Malzéville, France
| | - Julien Cappelle
- UMR ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- UMR EPIA, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Theix, France
| | - Florence Cliquet
- Lyssavirus Unit, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, ANSES, Malzéville, France
| | - Frédéric Touzalin
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Zouheira Djelouadji
- USC 1233-INRAE Rongeurs Sauvages, Risque Sanitaire et Gestion des Populations, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l’Etoile, France
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5
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Dundarova H, Ivanova-Aleksandrova N, Bednarikova S, Georgieva I, Kirov K, Miteva K, Neov B, Ostoich P, Pikula J, Zukal J, Hristov P. Phylogeographic Aspects of Bat Lyssaviruses in Europe: A Review. Pathogens 2023; 12:1089. [PMID: 37764897 PMCID: PMC10534866 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last few decades, bat lyssaviruses have become the topic of intensive molecular and epidemiological investigations. Since ancient times, rhabdoviruses have caused fatal encephalitis in humans which has led to research into effective strategies for their eradication. Modelling of potential future cross-species virus transmissions forms a substantial component of the recent infection biology of rabies. In this article, we summarise the available data on the phylogeography of both bats and lyssaviruses in Europe and the adjacent reg ions, especially in the contact zone between the Palearctic and Ethiopian realms. Within these zones, three bat families are present with high potential for cross-species transmission and the spread of lyssaviruses in Phylogroup II to Europe (part of the western Palearctic). The lack of effective therapies for rabies viruses in Phylogroup II and the most divergent lyssaviruses generates impetus for additional phylogenetic and virological research within this geographical region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heliana Dundarova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Sarka Bednarikova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Irina Georgieva
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 26 Yanko Sakazov Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Krasimir Kirov
- Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”, 24 Tzar Assen Str., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Kalina Miteva
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Boyko Neov
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Peter Ostoich
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Hristov
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
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6
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Shepherd JG, Davis C, Streicker DG, Thomson EC. Emerging Rhabdoviruses and Human Infection. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:878. [PMID: 37372162 PMCID: PMC10294888 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdoviridae is a large viral family, with members infecting a diverse range of hosts including, vertebrate species, arthropods, and plants. The predominant human pathogen within the family is Rabies lyssavirus, the main cause of human rabies. While rabies is itself a neglected disease, there are other, less well studied, rhabdoviruses known to cause human infection. The increasing application of next-generation sequencing technology to clinical samples has led to the detection of several novel or rarely detected rhabdoviruses associated with febrile illness. Many of these viruses have been detected in low- and middle-income countries where the extent of human infection and the burden of disease remain largely unquantified. This review describes the rhabdoviruses other than Rabies lyssavirus that have been associated with human infection. The discovery of the Bas Congo virus and Ekpoma virus is discussed, as is the re-emergence of species such as Le Dantec virus, which has recently been detected in Africa 40 years after its initial isolation. Chandipura virus and the lyssaviruses that are known to cause human rabies are also described. Given their association with human disease, the viruses described in this review should be prioritised for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G. Shepherd
- Centre for Virus Research, MRC-University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (C.D.); (D.G.S.)
| | - Chris Davis
- Centre for Virus Research, MRC-University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (C.D.); (D.G.S.)
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- Centre for Virus Research, MRC-University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (C.D.); (D.G.S.)
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Emma C. Thomson
- Centre for Virus Research, MRC-University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK; (C.D.); (D.G.S.)
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Černe D, Hostnik P, Toplak I, Presetnik P, Maurer-Wernig J, Kuhar U. Discovery of a novel bat lyssavirus in a Long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii) from Slovenia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011420. [PMID: 37384601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyssaviruses are the causative agents of rabies, a zoonotic, fatal disease that is thought to be ancestral to bats. In the last decade, the detection of bat associated lyssaviruses is increasing also in Europe. Within a retrospective bat associated lyssavirus surveillance study a total of 225 dead bats of 21 bat species were collected in Slovenia between 2012 and 2019 and tested by specific real-time RT-PCR method. The first lyssavirus positive sample in bats in Slovenia was detected using the real-time RT-PCR, the fluorescent antibody test, and next generation sequencing, while the rabies tissue culture inoculation test was unsuccessful due to sample degradation and storage conditions. The nearly complete genome of Divača bat lyssavirus from Slovenia consists of 11,871 nucleotides and reflects the characteristic gene organization known for lyssaviruses, encoding the five viral proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of Divača bat lyssavirus revealed that it belongs to phylogroup I lyssaviruses and is most closely related to Kotalahti bat lyssavirus (KBLV) with 87.20% nucleotide and 99.22% amino acid identity. Together with KBLV, Khujand virus, European bat lyssavirus 2, Bakeloh bat lyssavirus, and Aravan virus, Divača bat lyssavirus was detected in the genus Myotis suggesting its key role in the transmission and maintenance of certain lyssaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danijela Černe
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Virology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Hostnik
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Virology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ivan Toplak
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Virology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Primož Presetnik
- Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora, Ljubljana office, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jedrt Maurer-Wernig
- Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for food safety, veterinary sector, and plant protection, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urška Kuhar
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Virology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Shipley R, Wright E, Smith SP, Selden D, Fooks AR, Banyard AC. Taiwan Bat Lyssavirus: In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of the Ability of Rabies Vaccine-Derived Antibodies to Neutralise a Novel Lyssavirus. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122750. [PMID: 36560754 PMCID: PMC9781811 DOI: 10.3390/v14122750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a neglected tropical disease. The prototype virus, the rabies virus, still causes tens of thousands of human fatalities annually. Rabies is one member of the genus Lyssavirus. The burden of other lyssaviruses is unclear. The continued emergence of novel lyssaviruses means that assessment of vaccine efficacy against these viruses is critical, as standard rabies vaccines are not efficacious against all lyssaviruses. Taiwan bat lyssavirus (TWBLV) was first reported in 2018 following isolation from Japanese house bats. Since the initial detection and genetic characterisation, no attempts have been made to antigenically define this virus. Due to the inaccessibility of the wildtype isolate, the successful generation of a live recombinant virus, cSN-TWBLV, is described, where the full-length genome clone of the RABV vaccine strain, SAD-B19, was constructed with the glycoprotein of TWBLV. In vitro and in vivo characterization of cSN-TWBLV was undertaken and demonstrated evidence for cross-neutralisation of cSN-TWBLV with phylogroup I -specific sera and rabies virus standard sera. For neutralisation equivalent to 0.5 IU/mL of WHO and World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) sera against CVS, 0.5 IU/mL of WOAH sera and 2.5 IU/mL of WHO sera were required to neutralise cSN-TWBLV. In addition, specific sera for ARAV and EBLV-1 exhibited the highest neutralising antibody titres against cSN-TWBLV, compared to other phylogroup I-specific sera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Shipley
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, London KT15 3NB, UK
- Viral Pseudotype Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Edward Wright
- Viral Pseudotype Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Samuel P. Smith
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, London KT15 3NB, UK
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - David Selden
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, London KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Anthony R. Fooks
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, London KT15 3NB, UK
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Ashley C. Banyard
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, London KT15 3NB, UK
- Viral Pseudotype Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
- Correspondence:
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Novel Bat Lyssaviruses Identified by Nationwide Passive Surveillance in Taiwan, 2018–2021. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071562. [PMID: 35891542 PMCID: PMC9316062 DOI: 10.3390/v14071562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bat lyssaviruses were identified in Taiwan’s bat population during 2016–2017. The lyssavirus surveillance system was continuously conducted to understand the epidemiology. Through this system, the found dead bats were collected for lyssavirus detection by direct fluorescent antibody test and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Three bats were identified as positive during 2018–2021. A novel lyssavirus, designated as Taiwan bat lyssavirus 2, was detected in a Nyctalus plancyi velutinus. This lyssavirus had less than 80% nucleotide identity in the nucleoprotein (N) gene with other lyssavirus species, forming a separate branch in the phylogenetic analysis. The other two cases were identified in Pipistrellus abramus (Japanese pipistrelles); they were identified to be similar to the former lyssavirus identified in 2016–2017, which was renominated as Taiwan bat lyssavirus 1 (TWBLV-1) in this study. Even though one of the TWBLV-1 isolates showed high genetic diversity in the N gene compared with other TWBLV-1 isolates, it may be a TWBLV-1 variant but not a new species based on its high amino acid identities in the nucleoprotein, same host species, and same geographic location as the other TWBLV-1.
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Retrospective Enhanced Bat Lyssavirus Surveillance in Germany between 2018-2020. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081538. [PMID: 34452403 PMCID: PMC8402685 DOI: 10.3390/v13081538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyssaviruses are the causative agents for rabies, a zoonotic and fatal disease. Bats are the ancestral reservoir host for lyssaviruses, and at least three different lyssaviruses have been found in bats from Germany. Across Europe, novel lyssaviruses were identified in bats recently and occasional spillover infections in other mammals and human cases highlight their public health relevance. Here, we report the results from an enhanced passive bat rabies surveillance that encompasses samples without human contact that would not be tested under routine conditions. To this end, 1236 bat brain samples obtained between 2018 and 2020 were screened for lyssaviruses via several RT-qPCR assays. European bat lyssavirus type 1 (EBLV-1) was dominant, with 15 positives exclusively found in serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus) from northern Germany. Additionally, when an archived set of bat samples that had tested negative for rabies by the FAT were screened in the process of assay validation, four samples tested EBLV-1 positive, including two detected in Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of 17 full genomes assigned all except one of these viruses to the A1 cluster of the EBLV-1a sub-lineage. Furthermore, we report here another Bokeloh bat lyssavirus (BBLV) infection in a Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) found in Lower Saxony, the tenth reported case of this novel bat lyssavirus.
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11
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Assessing Rabies Vaccine Protection against a Novel Lyssavirus, Kotalahti Bat Lyssavirus. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050947. [PMID: 34065574 PMCID: PMC8161192 DOI: 10.3390/v13050947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a fatal encephalitis caused by an important group of viruses within the Lyssavirus genus. The prototype virus, rabies virus, is still the most commonly reported lyssavirus and causes approximately 59,000 human fatalities annually. The human and animal burden of the other lyssavirus species is undefined. The original reports for the novel lyssavirus, Kotalahti bat lyssavirus (KBLV), were based on the detection of viral RNA alone. In this report we describe the successful generation of a live recombinant virus, cSN-KBLV; where the full-length genome clone of RABV vaccine strain, SAD-B19, was constructed with the glycoprotein of KBLV. Subsequent in vitro characterisation of cSN-KBLV is described here. In addition, the ability of a human rabies vaccine to confer protective immunity in vivo following challenge with this recombinant virus was assessed. Naïve or vaccinated mice were infected intracerebrally with a dose of 100 focus-forming units/30 µL of cSN-KBLV; all naïve mice and 8% (n = 1/12) of the vaccinated mice succumbed to the challenge, whilst 92% (n = 11/12) of the vaccinated mice survived to the end of the experiment. This report provides strong evidence for cross-neutralisation and cross-protection of cSN-KBLV using purified Vero cell rabies vaccine.
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Full-Genome Sequences and Phylogenetic Analysis of Archived Danish European Bat Lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1) Emphasize a Higher Genetic Resolution and Spatial Segregation for Sublineage 1a. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040634. [PMID: 33917139 PMCID: PMC8067844 DOI: 10.3390/v13040634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
European bat lyssavirus type 1 (EBLV-1) is the causative agent for almost all reported rabies cases found in European bats. In recent years, increasing numbers of available EBLV-1 full genomes and their phylogenetic analyses helped to further elucidate the distribution and genetic characteristics of EBLV-1 and its two subtypes, namely EBLV-1a and EBLV-1b. Nonetheless, the absence of full-genome sequences from regions with known detections of EBLV-1 still limit the understanding of the phylogeographic relations between viruses from different European regions. In this study, a set of 21 archived Danish EBLV-1 samples from the years 1985 to 2009 was processed for the acquisition of full-genome sequences using a high-throughput sequencing approach. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis encompassing all available EBLV-1 full genomes from databases revealed the Danish sequences belong to the EBLV-1a subtype and further highlighted the distinct, close phylogenetic relationship of Danish, Dutch and German isolates in this region. In addition, the formation of five putative groups nearly exclusively formed by Danish isolates and the overall increased resolution of the EBLV-1a branch indicate a higher genetic diversity and spatial segregation for this sublineage than was previously known. These results emphasize the importance of phylogenetic analyses of full-genome sequences of lyssaviruses for genetic geography.
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Calvelage S, Tammiranta N, Nokireki T, Gadd T, Eggerbauer E, Zaeck LM, Potratz M, Wylezich C, Höper D, Müller T, Finke S, Freuling CM. Genetic and Antigenetic Characterization of the Novel Kotalahti Bat Lyssavirus (KBLV). Viruses 2021; 13:69. [PMID: 33419096 PMCID: PMC7825429 DOI: 10.3390/v13010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing diversity of bat-associated lyssaviruses in the Old World. In August 2017, a dead Brandt's bat (Myotis brandtii) tested positive for rabies and based on partial sequence analysis, the novel Kotalahti bat lyssavirus (KBLV) was identified. Because the bat was in an autolyzed state, isolation of KBLV was neither successful after three consecutive cell passages on cells nor in mice. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was applied using Ion Torrent ™ S5 technology coupled with target enrichment via hybridization-based capture (myBaits®) was used to sequence 99% of the genome, comprising of 11,878 nucleotides (nt). KBLV is most closely related to EBLV-2 (78.7% identity), followed by KHUV (79.0%) and BBLV (77.6%), supporting the assignment as phylogroup I lyssavirus. Interestingly, all of these lyssaviruses were also isolated from bat species of the genus Myotis, thus supporting that M. brandtii is likely the reservoir host. All information on antigenic and genetic divergence fulfil the species demarcation criteria by ICTV, so that we recommend KBLV as a novel species within the Lyssavirus genus. Next to sequence analyses, assignment to phylogroup I was functionally corroborated by cross-neutralization of G-deleted RABV, pseudotyped with KBLV-G by sera from RABV vaccinated humans. This suggests that conventional RABV vaccines also confer protection against the novel KBLV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sten Calvelage
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.C.); (C.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Niina Tammiranta
- Finnish Food Authority, Research Department, Virology Unit, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland; (N.T.); (T.N.); (T.G.)
| | - Tiina Nokireki
- Finnish Food Authority, Research Department, Virology Unit, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland; (N.T.); (T.N.); (T.G.)
| | - Tuija Gadd
- Finnish Food Authority, Research Department, Virology Unit, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland; (N.T.); (T.N.); (T.G.)
| | - Elisa Eggerbauer
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (E.E.); (L.M.Z.); (M.P.); (T.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Luca M. Zaeck
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (E.E.); (L.M.Z.); (M.P.); (T.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Madlin Potratz
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (E.E.); (L.M.Z.); (M.P.); (T.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Claudia Wylezich
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.C.); (C.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Dirk Höper
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (S.C.); (C.W.); (D.H.)
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (E.E.); (L.M.Z.); (M.P.); (T.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Stefan Finke
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (E.E.); (L.M.Z.); (M.P.); (T.M.); (S.F.)
| | - Conrad M. Freuling
- Central Duties, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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14
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Flis M. Rabies in Europe in 2010-2019. BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.15547/bjvm.2020-0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The paper presents the epizootic and epidemiological situation of rabies in European countries during the last decade. The presented results indicate that the oral immunisation of fox anti-rabies (ORV), used in many European countries, significantly reduced the number of rabies cases found in ground mammals, but did not eliminate the virus at all. Currently, the largest reservoir of the virus are Eastern European countries where there are no immunisation activities or their effectiveness is low. Due to the absence of geographical barriers, the virus reappears in countries that have been described as free from rabies. As a rule, it is dragged into these areas along with the movement of companion animals and by people travelling to countries where the prevalence of the virus is common. It should be emphasised that due to the significant elimination of the virus in wild and domestic animals, it found quite quickly found a new reservoir in a specific group of mammals, having the ability to fly, like bats. Currently there is no possibility of carrying out any preventive measures in bats, so all the virus strains found in this group of animals are dangerous to humans, raising possibilities of epidemiological threat. It should be noted that despite the significant elimination of rabies in many European countries, given the almost unlimited possibilities of virus transmission to new areas, it still poses a serious threat to public health. Thus, it is necessary to constantly monitor the occurrence of the virus and possibly take preventive actions in terms of its elimination from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Flis
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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15
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Forró B, Marton S, Fehér E, Domán M, Kemenesi G, Cadar D, Hornyák Á, Bányai K. Phylogeny of Hungarian EBLV-1 strains using whole-genome sequence data. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:1323-1331. [PMID: 33460276 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1) is a widespread lyssavirus across Europe, whose epizootic cycle is linked to a few bat species. Occasionally, EBLV-1 infection may occur in domestic animals and humans. EBLV-1 can be classified into two subtypes, where subtype EBLV-1a shows a wide geographic distribution between France and Russia whereas subtype EBLV-1b is distributed between Spain and Poland. In this study, we determined the genome sequence of two recent EBLV-1a strains detected in Hungary and analysed their adaptive evolution and phylodynamics. The data set that included 100 EBLV-1 genome sequences identified positive selection at selected sites in genes coding for viral proteins (N, codon 18; P, 141 and 155; G, 244 and 488; L, 168, 980, 1597 and 1754). A major genetic clade containing EBLV-1a isolates from Hungary, Slovakia, Denmark and Poland was estimated to have diverged during the 19th century whereas the divergence of the most recent ancestor of Hungarian and Slovakian isolates dates back to 1950 (time span, 1930 to 1970). Phylogeographic analysis of the EBLV-1a genomic sequences demonstrated strong evidence of viral dispersal from Poland to Hungary. This new information indicates that additional migratory flyways may help the virus spread, a finding that supplements the general theory on a west-to-east dispersal of EBLV-1a strains. Long-distance migrant bats may mediate the dispersal of EBLV-1 strains across Europe; however, structured surveillance and extended genome sequencing would be needed to better understand the epizootiology of EBLV-1 infections in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Forró
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Marton
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Enikő Fehér
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marianna Domán
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- Szentágothai Research Centre, Virological Research Group Pécs Hungary, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Daniel Cadar
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, National Reference Centre for Tropical Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ákos Hornyák
- Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
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16
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Parize P, Travecedo Robledo IC, Cervantes‐Gonzalez M, Kergoat L, Larrous F, Serra‐Cobo J, Dacheux L, Bourhy H. Circumstances of Human–Bat interactions and risk of lyssavirus transmission in metropolitan France. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:774-784. [DOI: 10.1111/zph.12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Perrine Parize
- Unit Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Institut Pasteur National Reference Center for Rabies and WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies Paris France
| | - Isabel Cristina Travecedo Robledo
- Unit Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Institut Pasteur National Reference Center for Rabies and WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies Paris France
| | - Minerva Cervantes‐Gonzalez
- Unit Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Institut Pasteur National Reference Center for Rabies and WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies Paris France
| | - Lauriane Kergoat
- Unit Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Institut Pasteur National Reference Center for Rabies and WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies Paris France
| | - Florence Larrous
- Unit Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Institut Pasteur National Reference Center for Rabies and WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies Paris France
| | - Jordi Serra‐Cobo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBIO) University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain
| | - Laurent Dacheux
- Unit Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Institut Pasteur National Reference Center for Rabies and WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies Paris France
| | - Hervé Bourhy
- Unit Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation Institut Pasteur National Reference Center for Rabies and WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies Paris France
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17
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Orłowska A, Smreczak M, Freuling CM, Müller T, Trębas P, Rola J. Serological Survey of Lyssaviruses in Polish Bats in the Frame of Passive Rabies Surveillance Using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Viruses 2020; 12:v12030271. [PMID: 32121200 PMCID: PMC7150987 DOI: 10.3390/v12030271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Bats are known to host a number of nonpathogenic viruses, as well as highly pathogenic viruses causing fatal diseases like rabies. Serological surveys as part of active and passive bat rabies surveillance mainly use seroneutralization assays, demonstrating the presence of lyssavirus-specific antibodies in a variety of European bats, particularly against European bat lyssaviruses type 1 (EBLV-1). Here, we present the first serological survey in European bats of this kind during which European bats from Poland collected in the frame of passive rabies surveillance between 2012 and 2018, as well as Serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus) and North American Big Brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) from previous experimental studies, were tested using a commercial ELISA kit for the detection of anti-lyssavirus antibodies. Results: Lyssavirus-specific antibodies were detected in 35 (30.4%) out of 115 Polish bats of both sexes, representing nine out of 13 identified bat species endemic mainly to Central Southern Europe and Western Asia, i.e., Eptesicus serotinus, Nyctalus noctula, Myotis daubentonii, Plecotus auritus, Vespertillo murinus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pipilstrellus/Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Myotis brandtii, and Barbastella barbastellus. Seroprevalence was highest in bat species of Nyctalus noctula, Eptesicus serotinus, Plecotus auritus, and Myotis daubentonii. More than 60% of the ELISA seropositive bats originated from the voivodeships of Silesia, Lower-Silesian, Warmian-Mazurian, and Mazowian. Rabies-specific antibodies were also found in Eptesicus fuscus bats from North America. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the principal application of the BioPro Rabies ELISA Ab Kit for the detection of anti-lyssavirus specific antibodies in body fluids and serum samples of bats. However, results may only be reliable for North American bats, whereas interpretation of results for European bats per se is difficult because proper validation of the test is hampered by the protected status of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Orłowska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (P.T.); (J.R.)
- Correspondence: (A.O.); (M.S.); Tel.: +48-818-893-072 (A.O.); +48818-893-029 (M.S.)
| | - Marcin Smreczak
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (P.T.); (J.R.)
- Correspondence: (A.O.); (M.S.); Tel.: +48-818-893-072 (A.O.); +48818-893-029 (M.S.)
| | - Conrad Martin Freuling
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, FLI, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.M.F.); (T.M.)
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, FLI, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, OIE Reference Laboratory for Rabies, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (C.M.F.); (T.M.)
| | - Paweł Trębas
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (P.T.); (J.R.)
| | - Jerzy Rola
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (P.T.); (J.R.)
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18
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Human Tibroviruses: Commensals or Lethal Pathogens? Viruses 2020; 12:v12030252. [PMID: 32106547 PMCID: PMC7150972 DOI: 10.3390/v12030252] [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: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdoviruses are a large and ecologically diverse family of negative-sense RNA viruses (Mononegavirales: Rhabdoviridae). These viruses are capable of infecting an unexpectedly wide variety of plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates distributed over all human-inhabited continents. However, only a few rhabdoviruses are known to infect humans: a ledantevirus (Le Dantec virus), several lyssaviruses (in particular, rabies virus), and several vesiculoviruses (e.g., Chandipura virus, vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus). Recently, several novel rhabdoviruses have been discovered in the blood of both healthy and severely ill individuals living in Central and Western Africa. These viruses—Bas-Congo virus, Ekpoma virus 1, and Ekpoma virus 2—are members of the little-understood rhabdoviral genus Tibrovirus. Other than the basic genomic architecture, tibroviruses bear little resemblance to well-studied rhabdoviruses such as rabies virus and vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus. These three human tibroviruses are quite divergent from each other, and each of them clusters closely with tibroviruses currently known only from biting midges or healthy cattle. Seroprevalence studies suggest that human tibrovirus infections may be common but are almost entirely unrecognized. The pathogenic potential of this diverse group of viruses remains unknown. Although certain tibroviruses may be benign and well-adapted to humans, others could be newly emerging and produce serious disease. Here, we review the current knowledge of tibroviruses and argue that assessing their impact on human health should be an urgent priority.
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Between roost contact is essential for maintenance of European bat lyssavirus type-2 in Myotis daubentonii bat reservoir: 'The Swarming Hypothesis'. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1740. [PMID: 32015375 PMCID: PMC6997190 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58521-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many high-consequence human and animal pathogens persist in wildlife reservoirs. An understanding of the dynamics of these pathogens in their reservoir hosts is crucial to inform the risk of spill-over events, yet our understanding of these dynamics is frequently insufficient. Viral persistence in a wild bat population was investigated by combining empirical data and in-silico analyses to test hypotheses on mechanisms for viral persistence. A fatal zoonotic virus, European Bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2), in Daubenton’s bats (Myotis daubentonii) was used as a model system. A total of 1839 M. daubentonii were sampled for evidence of virus exposure and excretion during a prospective nine year serial cross-sectional survey. Multivariable statistical models demonstrated age-related differences in seroprevalence, with significant variation in seropositivity over time and among roosts. An Approximate Bayesian Computation approach was used to model the infection dynamics incorporating the known host ecology. The results demonstrate that EBLV-2 is endemic in the study population, and suggest that mixing between roosts during seasonal swarming events is necessary to maintain EBLV-2 in the population. These findings contribute to understanding how bat viruses can persist despite low prevalence of infection, and why infection is constrained to certain bat species in multispecies roosts and ecosystems.
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20
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Hölzer M, Schoen A, Wulle J, Müller MA, Drosten C, Marz M, Weber F. Virus- and Interferon Alpha-Induced Transcriptomes of Cells from the Microbat Myotis daubentonii. iScience 2019; 19:647-661. [PMID: 31465999 PMCID: PMC6718828 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiviral interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) are possibly responsible for the high tolerance of bats to zoonotic viruses. Previous studies focused on the IFN system of megabats (suborder Yinpterochiroptera). We present statistically robust RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data on transcriptomes of cells from the “microbat” Myotis daubentonii (suborder Yangochiroptera) responding at 6 and 24 h to either an IFN-inducing virus or treatment with IFN. Our data reveal genes triggered only by virus, either in both humans and Myotis (CCL4, IFNL3, CH25H), or exclusively in Myotis (STEAP4). Myotis cells also express a series of conserved IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) and an unusually high paralog number of the antiviral ISG BST2 (tetherin) but lack several ISGs that were described for megabats (EMC2, FILIP1, IL17RC, OTOGL, SLC24A1). Also, in contrast to megabats, we detected neither different IFN-alpha subtypes nor an unusually high baseline expression of IFNs. Thus, Yangochiroptera microbats, represented by Myotis, may possess an IFN system with distinctive features. Virus- and IFN-responsive transcriptomes of the microbat Myotis daubentonii CCL4, IFNL3, CH25H, STEAP4 are IFNB-like genes triggered by virus only Microbats encode more paralogs of BST2 (tetherin) than any other mammal Clear differences between the IFN systems of microbats and megabats
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hölzer
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Schoen
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Institute for Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Wulle
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Institute for Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany; Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Christian Drosten
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany; Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany.
| | - Friedemann Weber
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Institute for Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner sites Marburg, Giessen, and Charité Berlin, Germany.
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21
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Rupprecht CE, Salahuddin N. Current status of human rabies prevention: remaining barriers to global biologics accessibility and disease elimination. Expert Rev Vaccines 2019; 18:629-640. [PMID: 31159618 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2019.1627205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Rabies is a serious, neglected tropical disease. Zoonotic agents are RNA viruses (Genus Lyssavirus, Family Rhabdoviridae), global in distribution. As an acute, progressive, incurable encephalitis, rabies has the highest case fatality of any infectious disease. Warm-blooded vertebrates are susceptible hosts. Major mammalian reservoirs include mesocarnivores and bats. Given wildlife perpetuation, rabies is not eradicable, but is preventable and controllable, especially under newly available international guidelines. Areas covered: Literature review over the past 5 years reveals development of sensitive, specific diagnostic tests and safe and highly effective human and veterinary vaccines. Yet, tens of thousands of human fatalities occur annually, usually in Africa and Asia, primarily after canine exposure. Human and domestic animal vaccination, before or after exposure, is the single greatest preventative strategy following a rabid animal bite. Expert opinion: Significant progress occurred during the twenty-first century regarding vaccine development, doses, and schedules. Remaining barriers to widespread rabies vaccination include an inter-related set of economic, cultural, social, educational, ecological and technological factors. A basic understanding of local and regional root causes of cases historically allows for broader accessibility to vaccination in a trans-disciplinary fashion to meet the global elimination of human rabies caused via dogs (GEHRD) by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naseem Salahuddin
- b Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine , The Indus Hospital , Karachi , Pakistan
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Smreczak M, Orłowska A, Marzec A, Trębas P, Müller T, Freuling CM, Żmudziński JF. Bokeloh bat lyssavirus isolation in a Natterer's bat, Poland. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 65:1015-1019. [PMID: 30198169 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, Bokeloh bat lyssavirus (BBLV), a member of the novel lyssavirus genus Bokeloh bat lyssavirus in the family Rhabdoviridae, has been detected in Germany (five cases) and France (two cases). Here, we report the isolation of BBLV in a Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) in Poland. The bat brain tested positive for rabies using classical diagnostics tests (FAT and RTCIT) and then subsequently confirmed by molecular techniques. Viral RNA was found in all peripheral organs tested, and the highest viral loads were detected in brain, the salivary gland and bladder. Phylogenetic analysis performed on complete viral genome sequences revealed the closest homology to representatives of BBLV lineage B, isolated previously in southern Germany. This case provides further evidence that BBLV is widespread in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Smreczak
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Anna Orłowska
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Anna Marzec
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Paweł Trębas
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, Friedrich - Loeffler Institut, Greiifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Conrad M Freuling
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research, Friedrich - Loeffler Institut, Greiifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jan F Żmudziński
- Department of Virology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
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Šimić I, Lojkić I, Krešić N, Cliquet F, Picard-Meyer E, Wasniewski M, Ćukušić A, Zrnčić V, Bedeković T. Molecular and serological survey of lyssaviruses in Croatian bat populations. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:274. [PMID: 30189884 PMCID: PMC6127996 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1592-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabies is the only known zoonotic disease of bat origin in Europe. The disease is caused by species belonging to the genus Lyssavirus. Five Lyssavirus species, i.e., European bat lyssavirus (EBLV)-1, EBLV-2, Bokeloh bat lyssavirus, Lleida bat lyssavirus, and West Caucasian bat virus, have been identified in European bats. More recently, a proposed sixth species, Kotalahti bat lyssavirus, was detected. Thus, in this study, active surveillance was initiated in order to obtain insights into the prevalence of lyssaviruses in Croatian bat populations and to improve our understanding of the public health threat of infected bats. RESULTS In total, 455 bats were caught throughout Continental and Mediterranean Croatia. Antibodies were found in 20 of 350 bats (5.71%, 95% confidence interval 3.73-8.66). The majority of seropositive bats were found in Trbušnjak cave (Continental Croatia, Eastern part), and most seropositive bats belonged to Myotis myotis (13/20). All oropharyngeal swabs were negative for the presence of Lyssavirus. CONCLUSIONS The presence of lyssaviruses in bat populations was confirmed for the first time in Croatia and Southeastern Europe. The results of this study suggest the need for further comprehensive analyses of lyssaviruses in bats in this part of Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Šimić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Lojkić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nina Krešić
- Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Florence Cliquet
- ANSES - Nancy Laboratory for rabies and wildlife, Batiment H CS 40009, 54220 Malzeville, France
| | - Evelyne Picard-Meyer
- ANSES - Nancy Laboratory for rabies and wildlife, Batiment H CS 40009, 54220 Malzeville, France
| | - Marine Wasniewski
- ANSES - Nancy Laboratory for rabies and wildlife, Batiment H CS 40009, 54220 Malzeville, France
| | - Anđela Ćukušić
- Croatian Biospeleological Society, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vida Zrnčić
- Croatian Biospeleological Society, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Comprehensive Analysis of Codon Usage on Rabies Virus and Other Lyssaviruses. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19082397. [PMID: 30110957 PMCID: PMC6121662 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies virus (RABV) and other lyssaviruses can cause rabies and rabies-like diseases, which are a persistent public health threat to humans and other mammals. Lyssaviruses exhibit distinct characteristics in terms of geographical distribution and host specificity, indicative of a long-standing diversification to adapt to the environment. However, the evolutionary diversity of lyssaviruses, in terms of codon usage, is still unclear. We found that RABV has the lowest codon usage bias among lyssaviruses strains, evidenced by its high mean effective number of codons (ENC) (53.84 ± 0.35). Moreover, natural selection is the driving force in shaping the codon usage pattern of these strains. In summary, our study sheds light on the codon usage patterns of lyssaviruses, which can aid in the development of control strategies and experimental research.
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