scholarly journals First Isolation and Phylogenetic Analyses of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Lower Saxony, Germany

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Boelke ◽  
Malena Bestehorn ◽  
Birgit Marchwald ◽  
Mareike Kubinski ◽  
Katrin Liebig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Tbe Virus ◽  
Tbev Strain ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
German Federal State

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important tick-borne arboviral disease in Europe. Presently, the main endemic regions in Germany are located in the southern half of the country. Although recently, sporadic human TBE cases were reported outside of these known endemic regions. The detection and characterization of invading TBE virus (TBEV) strains will considerably facilitate the surveillance and assessment of this important disease. In 2018, ticks were collected by flagging in several locations of the German federal state of Lower Saxony where TBEV-infections in humans (diagnosed clinical TBE disease or detection of TBEV antibodies) were reported previously. Ticks were pooled according to their developmental stage and tested for TBEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. Five of 730 (0.68%) pools from Ixodes spp. ticks collected in the areas of “Rauher Busch” and “Barsinghausen/Mooshuette” were found positive for TBEV-RNA. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole genomes and E gene sequences revealed a close relationship between the two TBEV isolates, which cluster with a TBEV strain from Poland isolated in 1971. This study provides first data on the phylogeny of TBEV in the German federal state of Lower Saxony, outside of the known TBE endemic areas of Germany. Our results support the hypothesis of an east-west invasion of TBEV strains in Western Europe.

scholarly journals Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Habitats in North East Germany: Reemergence of TBEV in Ticks after 15 Years of Inactivity

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvius Frimmel ◽  
Anja Krienke ◽  
Diana Riebold ◽  
Micha Loebermann ◽  
Martina Littmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Case ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Natural Focus ◽  
North East ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Natural Foci ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Migrating Birds

The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis has risen in Europe since 1990 and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) has been documented to be spreading into regions where it was not previously endemic. In Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, a federal state in Northern Germany, TBEV was not detectable in over 16,000 collected ticks between 1992 and 2004. Until 2004, the last human case of TBE in the region was reported in 1985. Following the occurrence of three autochthonous human cases of TBE after 2004, however, we collected ticks from the areas in which the infections were contracted. To increase the chance of detecting TBEV-RNA, some of the ticks were fed on mice. Using nested RT-PCR, we were able to confirm the presence of TBEV in ticks for the first time after 15 years. A phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between the sequences we obtained and a TBEV sequence from Mecklenburg-East Pomerania published in 1992 and pointed to the reemergence of a natural focus of TBEV after years of low activity. Our results imply that natural foci of TBEV may either persist at low levels of activity for years or reemerge through the agency of migrating birds.

scholarly journals New tick-borne encephalitis virus hot spot in Northern Zealand, Denmark, October 2019

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (43) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte N Agergaard ◽  
Maiken W Rosenstierne ◽  
René Bødker ◽  
Morten Rasmussen ◽  
Peter H S Andersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Whole Genome Sequencing ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Tick Bites ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Tbe Virus ◽  
Tbev Strain ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus

During summer 2019, three patients residing by Tisvilde Hegn, Denmark were hospitalised with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) after tick bites. A new TBE virus (TBEV) micro-focus was identified in tick nymphs collected around a playground in Tisvilde Hegn forest. Estimated TBEV prevalence was 8%, higher than in endemic areas around Europe. Whole genome sequencing showed clustering to a TBEV strain from Norway. This is the second time TBEV is found in Ixodes ricinus outside Bornholm, Denmark.

scholarly journals Tick populations from endemic and non-endemic areas in Germany show differential susceptibility to TBEV

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Liebig ◽  
Mathias Boelke ◽  
Domenic Grund ◽  
Sabine Schicht ◽  
Andrea Springer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Differential Susceptibility ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
In Vitro Feeding ◽  
Tbev Infection

Abstract Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is endemic in twenty-seven European countries, transmitted via the bite of an infected tick. TBEV is the causative agent of one of the most important viral diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). In Germany, 890 human cases were registered between the years 2018–2019. The castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus, is the TBEV vector with the highest importance in Central Europe, including Germany. Despite the nationwide distribution of this tick species, risk areas of TBEV are largely located in Southern Germany. To increase our understanding of TBEV-tick interactions, we collected ticks from different areas within Germany (Haselmühl/Bavaria, Hanover/Lower Saxony) and infected them via an in vitro feeding system. A TBEV isolate was obtained from an endemic focus in Haselmühl. In two experimental series conducted in 2018 and 2019, ticks sampled in Haselmühl (TBEV focus) showed higher artificial feeding rates, as well as higher TBEV infections rates than ticks from the non-endemic area (Hanover). Other than the tick origin, year and month of the infection experiment as well as co-infection with Borrelia spp., had a significant impact on TBEV Haselmühl infection rates. Taken together, these findings suggest that a specific adaptation of the tick populations to their respective TBEV virus isolates or vice versa, leads to higher TBEV infection rates in those ticks. Furthermore, co-infection with other tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia spp. can lower TBEV infection rates in specific populations.

Strategies of LMS Implementation at German Universities

2012 ◽  
pp. 522-541
Author(s):  
Carola Kruse ◽  
Thanh-Thu Phan Tan ◽  
Arne Koesling ◽  
Marc Krüger
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
Online Tool ◽  
General Aspects ◽  
The University ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
German Federal State ◽  
German Universities

In Germany, a learning management system (LMS) has become an everyday online tool for the academic staff and students at almost every university. Implementing an LMS, however, can be very different depending on the university. We introduce some general aspects on the strategies at German universities on how to implement an LMS. These aspects are mainly influenced by two main approaches, the top-down and bottom-up approach, which determine the decisions and actions on different levels at the university. In order to show how the strategies are carried out, we are presenting three case studies from universities based in the German federal state of Lower Saxony. We are going to reveal that both approaches play a part in each strategy, however differently weighted. It becomes clear that networking and collaboration plays a crucial role, not only concerning the technical development of the LMS software but also in organisational and educational terms.

Strategies of LMS Implementation at German Universities

2012 ◽  
pp. 315-334
Author(s):  
Carola Kruse ◽  
Thanh-Thu Phan Tan ◽  
Arne Koesling ◽  
Marc Krüger
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
Online Tool ◽  
General Aspects ◽  
The University ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
German Federal State ◽  
German Universities

In Germany, a learning management system (LMS) has become an everyday online tool for the academic staff and students at almost every university. Implementing an LMS, however, can be very different depending on the university. We introduce some general aspects on the strategies at German universities on how to implement an LMS. These aspects are mainly influenced by two main approaches, the top-down and bottom-up approach, which determine the decisions and actions on different levels at the university. In order to show how the strategies are carried out, we are presenting three case studies from universities based in the German federal state of Lower Saxony. We are going to reveal that both approaches play a part in each strategy, however differently weighted. It becomes clear that networking and collaboration plays a crucial role, not only concerning the technical development of the LMS software but also in organisational and educational terms.

scholarly journals Spectrum of antiviral activity of 4-aminopyrimidine N-oxides against a broad panel of tick-borne encephalitis virus strains

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 204020662094346
Author(s):  
Evgenia V Dueva ◽  
Ksenia K Tuchynskaya ◽  
Liubov I Kozlovskaya ◽  
Dmitry I Osolodkin ◽  
Kseniya N Sedenkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Northern Eurasia ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
E Protein ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Tbev Strain ◽  
Amino Phenol ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Immature Virus

Tick-borne encephalitis is an important human arbovirus neuroinfection spread across the Northern Eurasia. Inhibitors of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strain Absettarov, presumably targeting E protein n-octyl-β-d-glucoside (β-OG) pocket, were reported earlier. In this work, these inhibitors were tested in vitro against seven strains representing three main TBEV subtypes. The most potent compound, 2-[(2-methyl-1-oxido-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolin-4-yl)amino]-phenol, showed EC50 values lower than 22 µM against all the tested strains. Nevertheless, EC50 values for virus samples of certain strains demonstrated a substantial variation, which appeared to be consistent with the presence of E protein not only in infectious virions, but also in non-infectious and immature virus particles, protein aggregates, and membrane complexes.

scholarly journals Study Distribute Pathogens of Tick-Borne Infections, Transmitted of Ticks in the South of the Far East

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
G. N. Leonova ◽  
E. I. Bondarenko ◽  
A. A. Khvorostyanko ◽  
A. V. Kurlovskaya
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Far East ◽  
Tick Bite ◽  
The Far East ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Tbe Virus ◽  
Ixodes Ticks ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
First Time ◽  
Southern Far East

The first time was identified by PCR in real time in Ixodes ticks and leukocyte blood fractions of persons tested after a tick bite, the existence of a number of pathogens of tick-borne infections (B. burgdorferi s.l., B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, E. chaffeensis/E. muris, tick-borne encephalitis virus) on two focal areas adjacent to Vladivostok. The infection of I. persulcatus B. burgdorferi s.l. reached 31%, and for the first time identified B. miyamotoi, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia - 4%. Detection of RNA of TBE virus in 2 cases in epidemiological season in 2014, indicating a low potential epizootological natural focuses of TBE in the southern Far East.

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

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
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.

Incidence from coincidence: patterns of tick infestations on rodents facilitate transmission of tick-borne encephalitis virus

Parasitology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. RANDOLPH ◽  
D. MIKLISOVÁ ◽  
J. LYSY ◽  
D. J. ROGERS ◽  
M. LABUDA
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Dynamics ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Dermacentor Reticulatus ◽  
Reproductive Number ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Tbe Virus ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Systemic Infections

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus has a highly focal distribution through Eurasia. Endemic cycles appear to depend on the transmission of non-systemic infections between ticks co-feeding on the same rodent hosts. The particular features of seasonal dynamics and infestation patterns of larval and nymphal Ixodes ricinus, but not Dermacentor reticulatus, from 4 regions within TBE foci in Slovakia, are such as to promote TBE virus transmission. The distributions of larvae and nymphs on their principal rodent hosts are highly aggregated and, rather than being independent, the distributions of each stage are coincident so that the same ca. 20% of hosts feed about three-quarters of both larvae and nymphs. This results in twice the number of infectible larvae feeding alongside potentially infected nymphs compared with the null hypothesis of independent distributions. Overall, co-feeding transmission under these circumstances brings the reproductive number (R0) for TBE virus to a level that accounts quantitatively for maintained endemic cycles. Essential for coincident aggregated distributions of larvae and nymphs is their synchronous seasonal activity. Preliminary comparisons support the prediction of a greater degree of coincident seasonality within recorded TBE foci than outside. This identifies the particular climatic factors that permit such patterns of tick seasonal dynamics as the primary predictors for the focal distribution of TBE.

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