Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV)-specific RT-PCR for Characterization of Natural Foci of TBE and for Other Applications

Studying of immune interlayer value to tick-borne encephalitis virus in human population of the Transbaikalia Territory resulted from natural immunization of the healthy population in 31 Municipal areas in 2011–2016 is presented. Human selections were formed proportionally to the population size in the concrete human settlement among persons of the various age and professional groups living at this territory not less than 10 years and unvaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis virus. Total 4367 blood sera were investigated. Laboratory testing for antibodies of G class to tick-borne encephalitis virus in blood sera of the human population was performed by immune-enzyme analysis using a set of reagents “VektoVKE-IgG” of Joint-Stock Company “Vektor-Best” (Novosibirsk city). The monitoring data indicated the presence of natural immunity to tick-borne encephalitis virus in the human population. Mean annual level of immune interlayer in Municipal areas varied from 3.1 to 52.7% (in Transbaikalian Territory — 13.1±0.51%). High level (from 20 to 52.7%) was characteristic for mountain-taiga-forest-steppe zone (Krasnochikoisky — 23.8±3.36%; Uletovsky — 52.4±4.48%; Gazimuro-Zavodsky — 29.4±4.94% districts) and mountain-tundra-taiga zone (Tungokochensky district — 20.0±3.58%). In steppe zone the level of immune interlayer was lower and observed in districts with elements of south-taiga larch and pine forests. It was established that levels of the immune interlayer in human population living in mountain-taiga-foreststeppe and mountain-tundra-taiga zones authentically higher than in steppe area — t = 3.8; Р < 0.001 and t = 2.27; Р < 0.05, respectively. Distinctions in the value of the immune interlayer between mountain-tundra-taiga and mountain-taigaforest-steppe zones were non-authentic: t = 0.1; P > 0.05. Active circulation of tick-borne encephalitis virus was accompanied by authentic (Р < 0.01) increase of the interlayer in persons with the virus antibodies in 2014–2016 (15.8±0.69%) in comparison with 2011–2013 (9.7±0.78%). Also it was noted in all landscape zones: in steppe zone the increase was to 42.8% (P > 0.05); in mountain-taiga-forest-steppe — to 61.3% (P > 0.05); in mountain-tundra-taiga — to 150.0% (Р < 0.01). It was not possible to reveal correlation between the recourse for medical aid and the value of immune interlayer in the population formed as a result of latent immunization. Results of the population immunity studying essentially expand our knowledge about the condition of the natural foci and dynamics of development of the epidemic processes in it, and can be used at planning of the preventive actions.

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Comparative analysis of genomes of tick-borne encephalitis virus strains isolated from mosquitoes and ticks

Voprosy Virusologii ◽

10.18821/0507-4088-2017-62-1-30-35 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 30-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

N. M. Pukhovskaya ◽

O. V. Morozova ◽

N. B. Belozerova ◽

S. V. Bakhmetyeva ◽

N. P. Vysochina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Strain ◽

Far East ◽

Encephalitis Virus ◽

Ixodes Persulcatus ◽

Aedes Vexans ◽

Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽

Tbev Strain ◽

Natural Foci ◽

Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽

Far Eastern

The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strain Lazo MP36 was isolated from the pool of mosquitoes Aedes vexans collected in Lazo region of Khabarovsk territory in August 2014. Phylogenetic analysis of the strain Lazo MP36 complete genome (GenBank accession number KT001073) revealed its correspondence to the TBEV Far Eastern subtype and differences from the following strains: 1) from ticks Ixodes persulcatus P. Schulze, 1930 [vaccine strain 205 (JX498939) and strains Khekhtzir 1230 (KF880805), Chichagovka (KP844724), Birobidzhan 1354 (KF880805) isolated in 2012-2013]; 2) from mosquitoes [strain Malyshevo (KJ744034) isolated in 1978 from Aedes vexans nipponii in Khabarovsk territory; strain Sakhalin 6-11 isolated from the pool of mosquitoes in 2011 (KF826916)]; 3) from human brain [vaccine strain Sofjin (JN229223), Glubinnoe/2004(DQ862460). Kavalerovo (DQ862460), Svetlogorie (DQ862460)]. The fusion peptide necessary for flavivirus entry to cells of the three TBEV strains isolated from mosquitoes (Lazo MP36, Malyshevo and Sakhalin 6-11) has the canonical structure 98-DRGWGNHCGLFGKGSI-113 for the tick-borne flaviviruses. Amino acid transition H104G typical for the mosquito-borne flaviviruses was not found. Structures of 5’- and 3’-untranslated (UTR) regions of the TBEV strains from mosquitoes were 85-98% homologous to the TBEV strains of all subtypes without recombination with mosquito-borne flaviviruses found in the Far East of Russia. Secondary structures of 5’- and 3'-UTR as well as cyclization sequences (CS) of types a and B are highly homologous for all TBEV isolates independently of the biological hosts and vectors. similarity of the genomes of the TBEV isolates from mosquitoes, ticks and patients as well as pathogenicity of the isolates for new-borne laboratory mice and tissue cultures might suggest a possible role of mosquitoes in the TBEV circulation in natural foci as an accidental or additional virus carrier.

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