Flaviviruses at the territory of Serbia – present situation and challenges

Šekler, Milanko; Petrić, Dušan; Vidanović, Dejan; Potkonjak, Aleksandar; Cvjetković, Ivana Hrnjaković; Savić, Sara; Debeljak, Zoran; Lazić, Gospava; Ćupina, Aleksandra Ignjatović; Lupulović, Diana; Samojlović, Milena; Jurišić, Aleksandar; Petrović, Aleksandra; Ivanović, Ivana; Milosevic, Vesna; Lazić, Sava

doi:10.46784/e-avm.v11i2.26

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Circulation of different USUV lineages, including European and African, suggests multiple introduction events to Europe from Africa. The Europe 2 lineage is the most commonly detected USUV lineage in the European countries [ 16 , 32 , 55 , 73 ]. The USUV Europe 3 lineage was predominantly circulating in southern Belgium in 2017 and 2018 [ 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemiology of Usutu Virus: The European Scenario

et al. 2020

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Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging arbovirus isolated in 1959 (Usutu River, Swaziland). Previously restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, the virus was introduced in Europe in 1996. While the USUV has received little attention in Africa, the virus emergence has prompted numerous studies with robust epidemiological surveillance programs in Europe. The natural transmission cycle of USUV involves mosquitoes (vectors) and birds (amplifying hosts) with humans and other mammals considered incidental (“dead-end”) hosts. In Africa, the virus was isolated in mosquitoes, rodents and birds and serologically detected in horses and dogs. In Europe, USUV was detected in bats, whereas antibodies were found in different animal species (horses, dogs, squirrels, wild boar, deer and lizards). While bird mortalities were not reported in Africa, in Europe USUV was shown to be highly pathogenic for several bird species, especially blackbirds (Turdus merula) and great gray owls (Strix nebulosa). Furthermore, neurotropism of USUV for humans was reported for the first time in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Epizootics and genetic diversity of USUV in different bird species as well as detection of the virus in mosquitoes suggest repeated USUV introductions into Europe with endemization in some countries. The zoonotic potential of USUV has been reported in a growing number of human cases. Clinical cases of neuroinvasive disease and USUV fever, as well as seroconversion in blood donors were reported in Europe since 2009. While most USUV strains detected in humans, birds and mosquitoes belong to European USUV lineages, several reports indicate the presence of African lineages as well. Since spreading trends of USUV are likely to continue, continuous multidisciplinary interventions (“One Health” concept) should be conducted for monitoring and prevention of this emerging arboviral infection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…pipiens pools in 2017. One isolate from 2014 was genotyped as USUV Europe 1 lineage [ 72 ] and two isolates from 2017 as USUV Europe 2 lineage [ 73 ]. Moreover, USUV antibodies were detected in 5% human serum samples in South Bačka District (Vojvodina) tested during 2015 [ 54 ].…”

Section: Serbiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of Usutu Virus: The European Scenario

et al. 2020

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“…Instead, the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for the detection of anti-TBEV IgM and IgG is regularly described for serology testing and etiological confirmation [ 18 ]. The main drawback of using IFA or ELISA assays for TBEV seroprevalence examination is the occurrence of cross-reactivity with antibodies against related flaviviruses such as the West Nile Virus (WNV) and Usutu Virus (USUV), which have been reported in Serbia [ 28 ]. To overcome the limitation of testing TBEV seroprevalence by IFA and reduce the possible bias associated with it, in the present study we introduced a control group that consisted of sera samples from blood donors living in the same municipalities as patients infested with ticks (i.e., municipalities at the northern side of the Fruška Gora mountains).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Seropositivity among Tick Infested Individuals in Serbia

Banović

Obregón

Mijatović³

et al. 2021

Pathogens

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Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), caused by the TBE virus (TBEV), is a life-threatening disease with clinical symptoms ranging from non-specific to severe inflammation of the central nervous system. Despite TBE is a notifiable disease in Serbia since 2004, there is no active TBE surveillance program for the serologic or molecular screening of TBEV infection in humans in the country. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the TBEV exposure among tick-infested individuals in Serbia during the year 2020. A total of 113 individuals exposed to tick bites were recruited for the study and screened for anti-TBEV antibodies using a commercial indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) test. Blood samples from 50 healthy donors not exposed to tick bites were included as a control group. Most of the enrolled patients reported infestations with one tick, being I. ricinus the most frequent tick found in the participants. The TBEV seroprevalence was higher (13.27%, 15 total 113) in tick-infested individuals than in healthy donors (4%, 2 total 50), although the difference was not significant. Notably, male individuals exposed to tick bites showed five times higher relative risk (RR) of being TBEV-seropositive than healthy donors of the same gender (RR= 5.1, CI = 1.6–19; p = 0.007). None of the seropositive individuals developed clinical manifestations of TBE, but the first clinical-stage of Lyme borreliosis (i.e., erythema migrans) was detected in seven of them. Potential TBEV foci were identified in rural areas, mostly in proximity or within the Fruška Gora mountain. We conclude that the Serbian population is at high risk of TBEV exposure. Further epidemiological studies should focus on potential TBEV foci identified in this study. The implementation of active surveillance for TBEV might contribute to evaluating the potential negative impact of TBE in Serbia.

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“…The pools originated from 66 localities in 29 settlements in Vojvodina (60). More than 9% of the mosquito pools examined during 2012–2013 were positive for WNV (93). Thereafter, country-wide surveys detected WNV in 2.31, 2.09, and 2.51% of Cx.…”

Section: Serbiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections in Southern Europe

et al. 2019

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The epidemiology of West Nile (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Since 1999, there have been regular reports of WNV outbreaks and the virus has expanded its area of circulation in many Southern European countries. After emerging in Italy in 1996, USUV has spread to other countries causing mortality in several bird species. In 2009, USUV seroconversion in horses was reported in Italy. Co-circulation of both viruses was detected in humans, horses and birds. The main vector of WNV and USUV in Europe is Culex pipiens, however, both viruses were found in native Culex mosquito species (Cx. modestus, Cx. perexiguus). Experimental competence to transmit the WNV was also proven for native and invasive mosquitoes of Aedes and Culex genera (Ae. albopictus, Ae. detritus, Cx. torrentium). Recently, Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus naturally-infected with USUV were reported. While neuroinvasive human WNV infections are well-documented, USUV infections are sporadically detected. However, there is increasing evidence of a role of USUV in human disease. Seroepidemiological studies showed that USUV circulation is more common than WNV in some endemic regions. Recent data showed that WNV strains detected in humans, horses, birds, and mosquitoes mainly belong to lineage 2. In addition to European USUV lineages, some reports indicate the presence of African USUV lineages as well. The trends in WNV/USUV range and vector expansion are likely to continue in future years. This mini-review provides an update on the epidemiology of WNV and USUV infections in Southern Europe within a multidisciplinary “One Health” context.

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Flaviviruses at the territory of Serbia – present situation and challenges

Cited by 11 publications

References 27 publications

Epidemiology of Usutu Virus: The European Scenario

Epidemiology of Usutu Virus: The European Scenario

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Seropositivity among Tick Infested Individuals in Serbia

Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections in Southern Europe

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