Detection of West Nile virus in a common whitethroat (Curruca communis) and Culex mosquitoes in the Netherlands, 2020

Sikkema, Reina S.; Schrama, Maarten; Berg, Tijs van den; Morren, Jolien; Munger, Emmanuelle; Krol, Louie; Beek, Jordy G. van der; Blom, Rody; Chestakova, Irina; Linden, A. van der; Boter, Marjan; Mastrigt, Tjomme van; Molenkamp, Richard; Koenraadt, Constantianus J. M.; Brand, Judith M. van den; Munnink, Bas B. Oude; Jeugd, Henk van der

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.40.2001704

Cited by 47 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Outbreaks were reported in Greece, Romania, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Russia, and EU neighboring countries, such as Israel and Turkey, becoming, as a matter of fact, the most widely spread arbovirus in the old continent [11,59]. Then, since 2018 with the first detection of WNV lineage 2 in Germany, this virus has been spreading towards northern Europe to the Netherlands in 2020 [60] and again in southern France in 2018 [61] and Spain in 2020 [62]. From an Italian perspective, this implies an increased risk of introduction of WNV in the country with the potential exposure to novel viral influxes twice a year, in spring from southern areas, as claimed in the past, and from Central and North-Eastern European countries in autumn.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile and Usutu Virus Introduction via Migratory Birds: A Retrospective Analysis in Italy

Mancuso

Cecere

Iapaolo

et al. 2022

Viruses

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The actual contribution of migratory birds in spreading West Nile (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) across Europe and from Africa to old countries is still controversial. In this study, we reported the results of molecular and serological surveys on migrating birds sampled during peaks of spring and autumn migration at 11 Italian sites located along important flyways, from 2012 to 2014. A total of 1335 specimens made of individual or pooled sera, and organs from 275 dead birds were tested for WNV and USUV RNA by real time PCR (RT-PCR). Furthermore, sera were tested by serum neutralization assay for detecting WNV and USUV neutralizing antibodies. Molecular tests detected WNV lineage 2 RNA in a pool made of three Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) sera sampled in autumn, and lineage 1 in kidneys of six trans-Saharan birds sampled in spring. Neutralizing antibodies against WNV and USUV were found in 5.80% (n = 72; 17 bird species) and 0.32% (n = 4; 4 bird species) of the tested sera, respectively. Our results do not exclude the role of migratory birds as potential spreaders of WNV and USUV from Africa and Central Europe to Mediterranean areas and highlight the importance of a more extensive active surveillance of zoonotic viruses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile and Usutu Virus Introduction via Migratory Birds: A Retrospective Analysis in Italy

Mancuso

Cecere

Iapaolo

et al. 2022

Viruses

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“…So far, only a single case of WNV and USUV co‐infection was reported in humans (Aberle et al., 2018). This is somewhat surprising since co‐circulation of both viruses was reported from 14 European countries (Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the Republic of Serbia, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom) (Bahuon et al., 2016; Bażanów et al., 2018; Čabanová et al., 2019; Eiden et al., 2018; Folly et al., 2020; Lim et al., 2018; Nikolay, 2015; Rijks et al., 2016; Sikkema et al., 2020). The co‐circulation of WNV and USUV was confirmed in at least 34 common bird species (Nikolay, 2015) and mammals including horses and humans (Zannoli & Sambri., 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co‐infections: Simultaneous detections of West Nile virus and Usutu virus in birds from Germany

Santos

Michel

Wylezich

et al. 2021

Transbounding Emerging Dis

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The emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) in Europe resulted in significant outbreaks leading to avifauna mortality and human infections. Both viruses have overlapping geographical, host and vector ranges, and are often co‐circulating in Europe. In Germany, a nationwide bird surveillance network was established to monitor these zoonotic arthropod‐borne viruses in migratory and resident birds. In this framework, co‐infections with WNV and USUV were detected in six dead birds collected in 2018 and 2019. Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses classified the detected WNV strains as lineage 2 and the USUV strains as lineages Africa 2 (n = 2), Africa 3 (n = 3) and Europe 2 (n = 1). Preliminary attempts to co‐propagate both viruses in vitro failed. However, we successfully cultivated WNV from two animals. Further evidence for WNV‐USUV co‐infection was obtained by sampling live birds in four zoological gardens with confirmed WNV cases. Three snowy owls had high neutralizing antibody titres against both WNV and USUV, of which two were also positive for USUV‐RNA. In conclusion, further reports of co‐infections in animals as well as in humans are expected in the future, particularly in areas where both viruses are present in the vector population.

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“…In addition, a significant increase in human WNV cases was recorded in 2020, including the first fatal case [43,44]. Currently, WNV is spreading farther northwards, with a recent publication on the first detection of WNV in the Netherlands in mosquitoes, birds, and humans [45,46].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroepidemiological Survey of West Nile Virus Infections in Horses from Berlin/Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Bergmann

Trachsel

Stoeckle

et al. 2022

Viruses

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Following the introduction of the West Nile virus (WNV) into eastern Germany in 2018, increasing infections have been diagnosed in birds, equines, and humans over time, while the spread of WNV into western Germany remained unclear. We screened 437 equine sera from 2018 to 2020, excluding vaccinated horses, collected from convenience sampled patients in the eastern and western parts of Germany, for WNV-specific antibodies (ELISAs followed by virus/specific neutralization tests) and genomes (RT-qPCRs). Clinical presentations, final diagnoses, and demographic data were also recorded. In the eastern part, a total of eight horses were found WNV seropositive in 2019 (seroprevalence of 8.16%) and 27 in 2020 (13.77%). There were also two clinically unsuspected horses with WNV-specific antibodies in the western part from 2020 (2.63%), albeit travel history-related infections could not be excluded. None of the horse sera contained WNV-specific genomes. Eight horses in eastern Germany carried WNV-IgM antibodies, but only four of these showed typical clinical signs. These results underline the difficulty of detecting a WNV infection in a horse solely based on clinical signs. Thus, WNV circulation is established in the horse population in eastern Germany, but not yet in the western part.

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Detection of West Nile virus in a common whitethroat (Curruca communis) and Culex mosquitoes in the Netherlands, 2020

Cited by 47 publications

References 20 publications

West Nile and Usutu Virus Introduction via Migratory Birds: A Retrospective Analysis in Italy

West Nile and Usutu Virus Introduction via Migratory Birds: A Retrospective Analysis in Italy

Co‐infections: Simultaneous detections of West Nile virus and Usutu virus in birds from Germany

Seroepidemiological Survey of West Nile Virus Infections in Horses from Berlin/Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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