Seroprevalence of West Nile fever virus in horses in the Belgrade epizootiological area

West Nile fever is a vector borne viral disease that can affect humans, horses, birds and sometimes other species of animals. Every year West Nile fever is detected in the human population in Serbia. The disease often occurs in a subclinical form, but most clinically evident cases occur in horses. Therefore, horses are recommended as a sentinel species for monitoring the general incidence of West Nile fever in a specific territory. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of antibodies against West Nile fever virus in horses in the Belgrade epizootiological area. We examined serum samples from 77 horses to determine the seroprevalence of West Nile fever virus in horses throughout the city of Belgrade. Sera were tested by commercial ELISA tests for detection of specific IgG-class antibodies to West Nile fever virus and for the detection of specific IgM-class antibodies to confirm the presence of old and acute (recent) infections in horses. The results confirmed that West Nile fever virus is widespread, detected in 70.1% of the surveyed horse population in Belgrade, and we also detected 5.1% of acute cases had occurred due to horses being infected in 2019. The seroprevalence of West Nile virus in the horse population in the municipality of Belgrade is increasing.

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Examination of convalescents after West Nile fever for the specific IgM, IgG and neutralizing antibodies

Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases (Russian Journal) ◽

10.17816/eid40890 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 82-86

Author(s):

Alla R. Azaryan ◽

A. A Kozlova ◽

A. P Grishanova ◽

E. I Ivashchenko ◽

G. L Shendo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

West Nile Fever ◽

Serum Samples ◽

West Nile ◽

Negative Results ◽

Igm Elisa ◽

Control Research ◽

Specific Igg ◽

Specific Igg Antibodies

The examination was executed in the Astrakhan region over 2013-2014 with participation of three laboratories. In 26 convalescents after West Nile Fever (WNF) with the serological confirmed diagnosis of WNF blood sera were examined. Neurological form of WNF was observed in 8 cases, and febrile form - in 8 convalescents. Sera have been collected in 243-358 days, on average, in 308 days after the beginning of a disease. For their examination there were used IFA-IgM ELISA (MAC-ELISA), IgG ELISA methods as well as neutralization test in Vero E6 cell culture. The results of the examination in 24 of 26 patients (92, 3%) for IgM antibodies to the virus WNF were negative. In two convalescents according to the laboratories in Astrakhan and Moscow in sera there were observed low titers of IgM (1:400) with minor indices of sera optical density (0.3 to 0.4) and negative results in the Volgograd Plague Control Research Institute. Serum samples of other two convalescents were weakly positive or questionable in testing in Volgograd, but were negative when examined in the Institute of Virology. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in 23 of 26 convalescents (88.5%), neutralizing in 22 of 24 (91.7 %). These data confirm the adequacy of the criteria and tactics for WNF serodiagnosis adopted in Russia based on the application of the MAC -ELISA (IFA - IgM).

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Rhombencephalitis caused by West Nile fever virus

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.55.1.153 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 153-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

C. A. Nichter ◽

S. G. Pavlakis ◽

U. Shaikh ◽

K. A. Cherian ◽

J. Dobrosyzcki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fever Virus ◽

West Nile Fever ◽

West Nile

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International network for capacity building for the control of emerging viral vector-borne zoonotic diseases: ARBO-ZOONET

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/ese.14.12.19160-en ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

Author(s):

J Ahmed ◽

M Bouloy ◽

O Ergonul ◽

A. R. Fooks ◽

J Paweska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Capacity Building ◽

Viral Vector ◽

Rift Valley Fever Virus ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Zoonotic Diseases ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

West Nile Fever ◽

The Balkans ◽

Vector Borne

Arboviruses are arthropod-borne viruses, which include West Nile fever virus (WNFV), a mosquito-borne virus, Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a mosquito-borne virus, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a tick-borne virus. These arthropod-borne viruses can cause disease in different domestic and wild animals and in humans, posing a threat to public health because of their epidemic and zoonotic potential. In recent decades, the geographical distribution of these diseases has expanded. Outbreaks of WNF have already occurred in Europe, especially in the Mediterranean basin. Moreover, CCHF is endemic in many European countries and serious outbreaks have occurred, particularly in the Balkans, Turkey and Southern Federal Districts of Russia. In 2000, RVF was reported for the first time outside the African continent, with cases being confirmed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. This spread was probably caused by ruminant trade and highlights that there is a threat of expansion of the virus into other parts of Asia and Europe. In the light of global warming and globalisation of trade and travel, public interest in emerging zoonotic diseases has increased. This is especially evident regarding the geographical spread of vector-borne diseases. A multi-disciplinary approach is now imperative, and groups need to collaborate in an integrated manner that includes vector control, vaccination programmes, improved therapy strategies, diagnostic tools and surveillance, public awareness, capacity building and improvement of infrastructure in endemic regions.

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WEST NILE FEVER IN THE SARATOV REGION IN 2013-2015

Voprosy Virusologii ◽

10.18821/0507-4088-2017-62-5-219-226 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (5) ◽

pp. 219-226

Author(s):

E. V. Kazorina ◽

T. Yu. Krasovskaya ◽

A. V. Kazantsev ◽

E. V. Naydenova ◽

I. N. Sharova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Nile Virus ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

West Nile Fever ◽

West Nile ◽

Saratov Region ◽

Stable Domain ◽

Field Samples ◽

Live Stock ◽

Regional Population ◽

The City

West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in the territory of Saratov region and its role in the infectious pathology were investigated. For this purpose, in studies conducted in 2013-2015, suspensions of bloodsucking arthropods, organs of birds and small mammals were analyzed for the presence of WNV markers (antigens and/or RNA). The seroprevalence level in live-stock animals and population of the region was evaluated; clinical samples from patients with symptoms compatible with West Nile fever (WNF) were analyzed. As a result of the investigations, WNV markers were detected in field samples gathered in natural biotopes and in the city of Saratov. Immunity to WNV was detected in horses. A stable domain of persons with immunity to this agent was revealed among regional population. Patients with WNF have been annually registered in the region since 2012. The obtained results confirm active circulation of WNF in the Saratov region, as well as formation of stable natural and anthropourgic foci.

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Effects of climate change on the spread of zika virus: a public health threat

Reviews on Environmental Health ◽

10.1515/reveh-2017-0042 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 31-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hina Asad ◽

David O. Carpenter

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Climate Change ◽

South America ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Human Disease ◽

Human Population ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Health Concerns ◽

Public Health Threat ◽

Vector Borne

Abstract Zika is a vector-borne viral disease transmitted to humans primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The increased climate instability has contributed to the emergence of infections carried by mosquitoes like dengue, chikungunya and zika. While infection with the zika virus is not new, the recent epidemic of microcephaly in Brazil and other countries in South America resulting from the infection of pregnant women with the zika virus raise a number of serious public health concerns. These include the question of how climate change affects the range of zika vectors, what can we do to shorten the length of mosquito season, how and why the symptoms of zika infection have changed and what can be done to reduce the burden of human disease from this infection? Another important question that needs to be answered is what are the factors that caused the zika virus to leave the non-human primates and/or other mammals and invade the human population?

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Development of an Indirect ELISA to Detect African Swine Fever Virus pp62 Protein-Specific Antibodies

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.798559 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Kexin Zhong ◽

Mengmeng Zhu ◽

Qichao Yuan ◽

Zhibang Deng ◽

Simeng Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Indirect Elisa ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Swine Industry ◽

Detection Techniques ◽

Positive Serum ◽

Great Reactivity

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly detrimental viral disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). The occurrence and prevalence of this disease have become a serious threat to the global swine industry and national economies. At present, the detection volume of African swine fever is huge, more sensitive and accurate detection techniques are needed for the market. pp62 protein, as a protein in the late stage of infection, has strong antigenicity and a high corresponding antibody titer in infected pigs. In this study, the CP530R gene was cloned into expression vector pET-28a to construct a prokaryotic expression plasmid, which was induced by IPTG to express soluble pp62 protein. Western blot analysis showed that it had great reactivity. Using the purified recombinant protein as an antigen, an indirect ELISA method for detecting ASFV antibody was established. The method was specific only to ASFV-positive serum, 1:1600 diluted positive serum could still be detected, and the coefficients of variation (CV) of the intra assay and inter assay were both <10%. It turns out that the assays had excellent specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability. This provides an accurate, rapid, and economical method for the detection of ASFV antibody in clinical pig serum samples.

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Serological Investigations of Bluetongue Virus (BTV) among Sheep and Goats in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan

Veterinary Medicine International ◽

10.1155/2020/8863971 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Molhima M. Elmahi ◽

Abdel Rahim E. Karrar ◽

Amira M. Elhassan ◽

Mohammed O. Hussien ◽

Khalid A. Enan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Winter Season ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

Domestic Ruminants ◽

The Family ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Center Section

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, noncontagious, vector-borne viral disease of wild and domestic ruminants. BTV is a member of the Orbivirus genus of the family Reoviridae. The present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of BTV in sheep and goats in Kassala State, Sudan. It also aimed to determine risk factors associated with BTV infection. The study was carried out by a structured questionnaire survey, and a total of 809 serum samples were collected from sheep (n = 459) and goats (n = 350) from 9 different localities in Kassala state. These samples were analyzed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for the detection of BTV antibodies. The overall seroprevalence of BTV was 91.2% (738/809). In goats, the prevalence of BTV antibodies was comparatively higher (100%) than in sheep (84.5%). The prevalence differed between localities and was the highest in the center section of Kassala and Western Kassala (100%). Animals aged 6–11 months were highly infected (93.9%) compared to 1-year-old (85.5%). Caprine species was more likely to be infected (100%) than ovine (84.5%), and females were highly infected (92.8%) than males (85.5%). BTV infections were higher in the winter season (91.4%). Risk factors that showed significant associations with cELISA positivity included locality and sex (p≤0.003) and species and age (p≤0.000). Factors significantly associated with cELISA positivity in multivariate analysis were localities, species, age, and sex. BTV infection is prevalent in sheep and goat populations in Kassala state.

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Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.3885 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (07) ◽

pp. 914-918 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Strahinja Medić ◽

Rene Van den Hoven ◽

Tamaš Petrović ◽

Diana Lupulović ◽

Norbert Nowotny

Keyword(s):

West Nile Virus ◽

West Nile Virus Infection ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Manuscript Preparation ◽

Serum Samples ◽

West Nile ◽

Horse Population ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Antibody Elisa ◽

Lineage 2

Introduction: This study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) in the horse population of northern Serbia. Furthermore, it aimed to provide insight and an updated overview on the circulation of this re-emerging pathogen in this part of southeastern Europe. At the time of manuscript preparation, no clinical cases of WNV infection in horses were reported in this area. Methodology: Between 2007 and 2011, a total of 252 equine serum samples were collected from seven different locations in northern Serbia. The presence of WNV-reactive IgG antibodies was examined by using commercial and in-house ELISAs. Selected ELISA-positive samples were re-tested by a WNV lineage 2 plaque reduction neutralization test 90% (PRNT-90). Results: In 28.6% of the 252 tested equine serum samples antibodies against WNV were detected. The results obtained with the in-house ELISA corresponded to the outcome of the commercial kit in 90% of the samples. All selected WNV antibody ELISA-positive samples were confirmed by PRNT-90 with neutralizing antibody titers of 1:23 to > 1:512. Conclusion: This study confirms the circulation of WNV in northern Serbia. No striking regional differences in seroprevalences were identified suggesting WNV circulation also in other parts of Serbia. Distances between wetlands or forests and stud farms do not appear to have an influence on WNV seroprevalence.

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