Detection of West Nile virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus in birds in Slovakia, using a universal primer set

Csank, Tomáš; Bhide, Katarína; Bencúrová, Elena; Dolinska, Saskia; Drzewnioková, Petra; Major, Péter; Korytár, Ľuboš; Bocková, Eva; Bhide, Mangesh; Pistl, J.

doi:10.1007/s00705-016-2828-5

Cited by 32 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…The role of dogs as a reservoir of WNV is improbable due to low levels of viremia, but they can serve as sentinels of the infection [ 38 ]. In Slovakia, the circulation of WNV in birds was also confirmed recently [ 39 ], but extensive research for identifying the real potential of pipiens / molestus hybrid occurrence should be done. Two female specimens of another principal vector of WNV in Europe, Cx.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Urbanization impact on mosquito community and the transmission potential of filarial infection in central Europe

et al. 2018

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BackgroundDespite long-term research on dirofilariosis in Slovakia, little attention has thus far been paid to Dirofilaria vectors. The particular aim of the present study was molecular screening for filarioid parasites in two different habitats of Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. In addition, the effect of urbanisation on mosquito species abundance and composition, associated with the risk of mosquito-borne infections, was studied and discussed.MethodsMosquitoes were identified by morphological features, and molecular methods were also used for determination of selected individuals belonging to cryptic species from the Anopheles maculipennis and Culex pipiens complexes. The presence of filarioid DNA (Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis and Setaria spp.) was detected using standard PCR approaches and sequencing.ResultsA total of 6957 female mosquitoes were collected for the study. Overall, the most abundant mosquito species was Aedes vexans, closely followed by unidentified members of the Cx. pipiens complex and the less numerous but still plentiful Ochlerotatus sticticus species. Further investigation of mosquito material revealed 4.26% relative prevalence of Dirofilaria spp., whereby both species, D. repens and D. immitis, were identified. The majority of positive mosquito pools had their origin in a floodplain area on the outskirts of the city, with a relative prevalence of 5.32%; only two mosquito pools (1.26%) were shown to be positive in the residential zone of Bratislava. Setaria spp. DNA was not detected in mosquitoes within this study.ConclusionsThe study presented herein represents initial research focused on molecular mosquito screening for filarioid parasites in urban and urban-fringe habitats of Bratislava, Slovakia. Molecular analyses within the Cx. pipiens complex identified two biotypes: Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens and Cx. pipiens biotype molestus. To our knowledge, Dirofilaria spp. were detected for the first time in Slovakia in mosquitoes other than Ae. vexans, i.e. D. repens in Anopheles messeae and unidentified members of An. maculipennis and Cx. pipiens complexes, and D. immitis in Coquillettidia richiardii and Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens. Both dirofilarial species were found in Och. sticticus. The suitable conditions for the vectors’ biology would represent the main risk factor for dirofilariosis transmission.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Urbanization impact on mosquito community and the transmission potential of filarial infection in central Europe

et al. 2018

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“…The WNV seroprevalence rate in horses reported in this study is similar or higher than in neighboring countries. For example, in Slovak Republic, the reported seropositivity was 8.3% in 2008–2011, 4.8% in 2012 and 0% in 2013 [ 42 , 43 ]. However, a higher proportion of seropositive horses (13.5%) was detected in 2010–2011 in Ukraine [ 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey on West Nile and Usutu Viruses in Horses and Birds in Poland

Bażanów

Vuren

Szymański³

et al. 2018

Viruses

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West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are members of the family Flaviviridae which, natural life cycles involve mosquito–bird–mosquito transmission. Both represent emerging viruses in Europe with potential to cause neuroinvasive disease in humans. This study investigates the seroprevalence of serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV and to USUV in birds and in horses in Poland. Antibodies against WNV and USUV were detected in 5 (35.7%) and in 1 (7.14%) of 14 birds and in 62 (15.08%) and in 115 (27.98%) of 411 horses, respectively. Twenty-one WNV serologically positive horses (33.87%) and 67 USUV serologically positive horses (58.26%) did not travel outside Polish borders. Given the high abundance of potentially competent mosquito species in Poland, high populations of horses and different bird species, our findings highlight implementation of active control programs, including monitoring of geographic spread and dynamics of WNV and USUV transmission in both primary and accidental hosts. It is also important to improve public health awareness about the disease these viruses may cause.

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“…Five goshawks and one gyrfalcon were found dead due to WNV‐2 in eastern Austria (2). Recently, WNV‐2 was also detected in the brain of two goshawks that died after showing neurological signs in west Slovakia (Csank et al, ), and in two captive goshawks in south Moravia, Czechland (Hubálek et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In central Europe, a highly neurotropic WNV lineage 2 (WNV‐2) emerged in Hungary (Bakonyi et al, ) then it spread to neighbouring eastern Austria (Wodak et al, ), south‐eastern Czech Republic (Rudolf et al, ) and west Slovakia (Csank et al, ). Several European species of birds of prey were previously found to be susceptible to WNV disease: golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos (Jimenez‐Clavero et al, ), Spanish imperial eagle Aquila adalberti (Höfle et al, ), goshawk Accipiter gentilis and sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus (Busquets et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile virus outbreak in captive and wild raptors, Czech Republic, 2018

Hubálek

Tomešek

Kosina

et al. 2019

Zoonoses and Public Health

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West Nile virus lineage 2 (WNV‐2) was detected in the brain of 17 goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) that succumbed to neuroinvasive disease in the Czech Republic during 2018: twelve birds were captive and five wild. Furthermore, two wild sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) and three other captive birds of prey (golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos, hybrid saker falcon Falco cherrug × F. rusticolus and Harris's hawk Parabuteo unicinctus) also died due to WNV encephalitis. The 2018 outbreak in Czech raptors clearly reflects a new epidemiological situation and indicates an increasing risk of both raptor and human infection with WNV‐2 in the country.

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Detection of West Nile virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus in birds in Slovakia, using a universal primer set

Cited by 32 publications

References 14 publications

Urbanization impact on mosquito community and the transmission potential of filarial infection in central Europe

Urbanization impact on mosquito community and the transmission potential of filarial infection in central Europe

A Survey on West Nile and Usutu Viruses in Horses and Birds in Poland

West Nile virus outbreak in captive and wild raptors, Czech Republic, 2018

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