scholarly journals High and novel genetic diversity of Francisella tularensis in Germany and indication of environmental persistence

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (14) ◽  
pp. 3025-3036 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. SCHULZE ◽  
K. HEUNER ◽  
K. MYRTENNÄS ◽  
E. KARLSSON ◽  
D. JACOB ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Phylogenomic Analysis ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Eurasian Beaver ◽  
Natural Hosts ◽  
Serological Studies

SUMMARYIn Germany tularemia is a re-emerging zoonotic disease. Therefore, we investigated wild animals and environmental water samples for the presence and phylogenetic diversity of Francisella tularensis in the poorly studied Berlin/Brandenburg region. The phylogenomic analysis of three isolates from wild animals revealed three new subclades within the phylogenetic tree of F. tularensis [B.71 from a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides); B.74 from a red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and B.75 from a Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber albicus)]. The results from histological, PCR, and genomic investigations on the dead beaver showed that the animal suffered from a systemic infection. Indications were found that the bacteria were released from the beaver carcass into the surrounding environment. We demonstrated unexpectedly high and novel phylogenetic diversity of F. tularensis in Germany and the fact that the bacteria persist in the environment for at least one climatic season. These findings support a broader host species diversity than previously known regarding Germany. Our data further support the assumption derived from previous serological studies of an underestimated frequency of occurrence of the pathogen in the environment and in wild animals. F. tularensis was isolated from animal species not previously reported as natural hosts in Germany.

scholarly journals Tularemia Outbreaks in Spain from 2007 to 2020 in Humans and Domestic and Wild Animals

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 892
Author(s):  
Olga Mínguez-González ◽  
César-Bernardo Gutiérrez-Martín ◽  
María del Carmen Martínez-Nistal ◽  
María del Rosario Esquivel-García ◽  
José-Ignacio Gómez-Campillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Environmental Water ◽  
Environmental Water Samples ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Crocidura Russula ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Wild Canids ◽  
First Time

In this study, tularemia outbreaks associated with humans and several domestic and wild animals (Iberian hares, wild rabbits, voles, mice, grey shrews, sheep, dogs, foxes, wolves, ticks, and river crayfish) are reported in Spain from 2007 to 2020. Special attention was paid to the outbreaks in humans in 2007–2009 and 2014–2015, when the most important waves occurred. Moreover, positive rates of tularemia in lagomorphs were detected in 2007–2010, followed by negative results in 2011–2013, before again returning to positive rates in 2014 and in 2017 and in 2019–2020. Lagomorphs role in spreading Francisella tularensis in the epidemiological chain could not be discarded. F. tularensis is described for the first time infecting the shrew Crocidura russula worldwide, and it is also reported for the first time infecting wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Spain. Serological positives higher than 0.4% were seen for sheep only from 2007–2009 and again in 2019, while serological rates greater than 1% were revealed in dogs in 2007–2008 and in wild canids in 2016. F. tularensis were detected in ticks in 2009, 2014–2015, 2017, and 2019. Lastly, negative results were achieved for river crayfish and also in environmental water samples from 2007 to 2020.

scholarly journals The Presence of Rabies Virus-Neutralizing Antibody in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa), a Non-Target Bait Vaccine Animal in Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Ha-Hyun Kim ◽  
Dong-Kun Yang ◽  
Ja-Young Wang ◽  
Dong-Jun An
Keyword(s):  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Antibody Formation ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Oral Vaccination ◽  
Wild Boars ◽  
Target Animal ◽  
Raccoon Dogs

Oral vaccination with bait is an effective method to prevent rabies in wildlife, but non-target wild animals may also ingest the bait vaccine. In Korea, the target animal of the rabies bait vaccine is the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). Bait vaccines have been distributed in Korea for 20 years; although wild raccoon dogs have been tested for antibodies, rabies antibodies have never been investigated in non-target wild animals. Therefore, this study investigated rabies antibody formation in wild boars (Sus scrofa), which is likely the main competitor for the bait vaccine in Korea. In bait areas, 20 of 109 wild boars (18.3%) were seropositive, and 39 of 470 wild boars (8.3%) in non-bait areas were also seropositive. These results provide insights regarding bait uptake or vaccination in non-target wild boars.

Further studies on Carrot virus Y: hosts, symptomatology, search for resistance, and tests for seed transmissibility

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 859 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. C. Jones ◽  
L. J. Smith ◽  
B. E. Gajda ◽  
T. N. Smith ◽  
L. J. Latham
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Seed Transmission ◽  
Anethum Graveolens ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Wild Carrot ◽  
Natural Hosts ◽  
New Locations ◽  
Seed Transmissibility

Carrot virus Y (CarVY) was studied to provide information on its host range and symptoms, identify any alternative natural hosts and sources of host resistance in carrot germplasm, and determine whether it is seed-borne. Twenty-two species belonging to the Apiaceae were inoculated with CarVY by viruliferous aphids in the glasshouse. Systemic infection with CarVY developed in carrot itself, 4 other Daucus species, 5 herbs, 1 naturalised weed, and 2 Australian native plants. When 7 of these host species were exposed to infection in the field, all became infected systemically. In both glasshouse and field, the types of symptoms that developed in infected plants and their severity varied widely from host to host. Following inoculation with infective sap, the virus was detected in inoculated leaves of 1 additional species in the Apiacaeae, and 2 species of Chenopodiaceae. A field survey did not reveal any alternative hosts likely to be important as CarVY infection reservoirs. When 34 accessions of wild carrot germplasm and 16 of other Daucus spp. were inoculated with infective aphids, symptom severity varied widely among accessions but no source of extreme resistance to CarVY was found. Tests on seedlings grown from seed collected from individual infected plants or field plantings (most with CarVY incidences of >92%) of cultivated carrot (34 135 seeds), wild carrot (20 978 seeds), Anethum graveolens (22 921 seeds), and 3 other host species (3304 seeds) did not detect any seed transmission of CarVY. The implications of these results for control of the virus in carrot crops, minimising the losses it causes, and avoiding its introduction to new locations are discussed.

scholarly journals Analysis of Genetic Variability in Farmed and Wild Populations of Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes Procyonoides) Using Microsatellite Sequences

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 889-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kornel Kasperek ◽  
Beata Horecka ◽  
Andrzej Jakubczak ◽  
Brygida Ślaska ◽  
Magdalena Gryzińska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
Kaliningrad Region ◽  
Raccoon Dogs

Abstract The aim of this study was to detect possible differences between farmed and wild-living raccoon dogs. Analysis of polymorphism in 15 microsatellite sequences led to the conclusion that raccoon dogs raised on Polish farms and wild raccoon dogs living in Poland are two genetically distinct groups of animals. Wild Polish raccoon dogs are genetically more similar to the population of wild animals from the Kaliningrad Region than to farmed animals. The analysis of microsatellite loci showed clear genetic differences between farmed and wild-living populations of raccoon dog, despite only 50 years of isolation of the two groups of animals. The farmed population was characterized by higher genetic variation than the wild-living population. On the basis of the analyses three microsatellite loci (INU014, Ren13J22 and Ren41D20) were proposed for determination of the origin of animals that have escaped from farms.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL FOR SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL OF FLAVIVIRUSES IN HUMAN POPULATION

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-87
Author(s):  
Vesna Milošević ◽  
Sandra Stefan Mikić ◽  
Dušan Petrić ◽  
Tamaš Petrović ◽  
Jelena Radovanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Climatic Changes ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Molecular Investigation ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Serological Studies ◽  
Is Development ◽  
And Control ◽  
Specific Antiviral Therapy

The aim of this study is development of a model for monitoring and control of vector-transmitted diseases, which manifest increasing tendency during the last few decades. Th e main infection reservoirs are domestic and wild animals as well as various birds, and the disease is transmitted to humans indirectly - by vectors. Recently detected epidemics of Dengue virus, Chikungunya and West Nile virus in countries where these diseases are not common strongly indicate the expansion of infections transmitted by mosquitoes and other vectors, and are the consequence of climatic changes, international trade and travelling. Currently, there are neither vaccines nor specific antiviral therapy for these infections, while the efforts put on vector control did not halt the rapid increase and global spread of the disease. Serological studies and molecular investigation on humans, mosquitoes, horses and birds have suggested the activity of flaviviruses in Serbia. The obtained information on fl avivirus infections in our region are of use in modelling the control and vector monitoring and the prevention of these infections in humans.

scholarly journals Identification of Differentially Regulated Francisella tularensis Genes by Use of a Newly Developed Tn5-Based Transposon Delivery System

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 2637-2645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake W. Buchan ◽  
Molly K. McLendon ◽  
Bradley D. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
Iron Acquisition ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Gene ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Nucleotide Sequence Analysis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Dependent Manner

ABSTRACT Francisella tularensis is the etiologic agent of an intracellular systemic infection of the lymphatic system in humans called tularemia. The organism has become the subject of considerable research interest due to its classification as a category A select agent by the CDC. To aid genetic analysis of this pathogen, we have constructed a temperature-sensitive Tn5-based transposon delivery system that is capable of generating chromosomal reporter fusions with lacZ or luxCDABE, enabling us to monitor gene expression. Transposition is catalyzed by the hyperactive Tn5 transposase, whose expression is driven by the Francisella groES promoter. When high-temperature selection (42°C) is applied to a bacterial culture carrying the transposon delivery plasmid, ∼0.1% of the population is recovered with Tn5 insertions in the chromosome. Nucleotide sequence analysis of a sample of mutants revealed that the insertions occur randomly throughout the chromosome. The kanamycin-selectable marker of the transposon is also flanked by FLP recombination target sequences that allow deletion of the antibiotic resistance gene when desired. This system has been used to generate transposon mutant libraries for the F. tularensis live vaccine strain as well as two different virulent F. tularensis strains. Chromosomal reporters delivered with the transposon were used to identify genes upregulated by growth in Chamberlain's defined medium. Genes in the fsl operon, reported to be involved in iron acquisition, as well as genes in the igl gene cluster were among those identified by the screen. Further experiments implicate the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) protein in the negative regulation of fsl but not igl reporters, which occurs in an iron-dependent manner. Our results indicate that we have created a valuable new transposon that can be used to identify and characterize virulence genes in F. tularensis strains.

scholarly journals Francisella tularensis in Swedish predators and scavengers

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Hestvik ◽  
H. Uhlhorn ◽  
M. Koene ◽  
S. Åkerström ◽  
A. Malmsten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Slide Agglutination ◽  
Microagglutination Test ◽  
Wild Predators

Abstract Tularaemia is a zoonotic disease, in Europe caused by Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica. Many lagomorphs and a variety of small rodents are wildlife species prone to develop clinical disease, while predators and scavengers are relatively resistant and may serve as sentinels. Blood samples from 656 Swedish wild predators and scavengers were serologically investigated using slide agglutination and microagglutination. In the slide agglutination test, 34 seropositive animals were detected, and they were found among all species investigated: brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wolf (Canis lupus) and wolverine (Gulo gulo). Due to haemolysis the microagglutination test was more difficult to read at low titres, and only 12 animals were classified as seropositive. F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was detected by a polymerase chain reaction in lymphatic tissues of the head in one brown bear, one red fox and one wolf. The significance of this finding regarding possible latency of infection is not clear. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that all predator and scavenger species included in this study may serve as sentinels for tularaemia in Sweden. Their role as reservoirs is unclear.

scholarly journals Pathology of Acute Henipavirus Infection in Humans and Animals

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. T. Wong ◽  
K. C. Ong
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Tissue Injury ◽  
Parenchymal Cell ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Cell Infection ◽  
Natural Hosts ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Human Infections

Zoonoses as causes of human infections have been increasingly reported, and many of these are viruses that cause central nervous system infections. This paper focuses on the henipaviruses (family Paramyxoviridae, genus henipavirus) that have recently emerged to cause severe encephalitis and systemic infection in humans and animals in the Asia-Pacific region. The pathological features in the human infections comprise vasculopathy (vasculitis, endothelial multinucleated syncytia, thrombosis, etc.) and parenchymal cell infection in the central nervous system, lung, kidney, and other major organs. Most animals naturally or experimentally infected show more or less similar features confirming the dual pathogenetic mechanism of vasculopathy-associated microinfarction and direct extravascular parenchymal cell infection as causes of tissue injury. The most promising animal models include the hamster, ferret, squirrel monkey, and African green monkey. With increasing evidence of infection in the natural hosts, the pteropid bats and, hence, probable future outbreaks in many more countries, a greater awareness of henipavirus infection in both humans and animals is imperative.

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