Serosurvey of West Nile virus (WNV) in free-ranging raptors from Brazil

Morel, Ana Paula; Webster, Anelise; Zitelli, Larissa Caló; Umeno, Karen; Souza, Ugo Araújo; Prusch, Fabiane; Anicet, Marina; Marsicano, Gleide; Bandarra, Paulo Mota; Trainini, Gustavo; Stocker, Julian; Giani, Denise; Fortes, Flávia Borges; Goenaga, Silvina; Reck, José

doi:10.1007/s42770-020-00393-z

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Evidence of WNV circulation in Brazil has been reported since 2011, but potential amplifying bird species in the country remain unknown. In the most recent WNV investigation conducted with free-ranging bird of prey in the country, all samples from southern Brazil tested negative by real-time RT-PCR and PRNT [ 60 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil

Chalhoub

Queiroz-Junior²,

Duarte³

et al. 2021

Microorganisms

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In June 2019, a horse with neurological disorder was diagnosed with West Nile virus (WNV) in Boa Viagem, a municipality in the state of Ceará, northeast Brazil. A multi-institutional task force coordinated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was deployed to the area for case investigation. A total of 513 biological samples from 78 humans, 157 domestic animals and 278 free-ranging wild birds, as well as 853 adult mosquitoes of 22 species were tested for WNV by highly specific serological and/or molecular tests. No active circulation of WNV was detected in vertebrates or mosquitoes by molecular methods. Previous exposure to WNV was confirmed by seroconversion in domestic birds and by the detection of specific neutralizing antibodies in 44% (11/25) of equids, 20.9% (14/67) of domestic birds, 4.7% (13/278) of free-ranging wild birds, 2.6% (2/78) of humans, and 1.5% (1/65) of small ruminants. Results indicate that not only equines but also humans and different species of domestic animals and wild birds were locally exposed to WNV. The detection of neutralizing antibodies for WNV in free-ranging individuals of abundant passerine species suggests that birds commonly found in the region may have been involved as amplifying hosts in local transmission cycles of WNV.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil

Chalhoub

Queiroz-Junior²,

Duarte³

et al. 2021

Microorganisms

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“…Whole blood samples obtained from the three horses were centrifuged at 1260× g for 20 min, and the plasma and buffy coat fractions were collected and stored at 4 °C. Red blood cells (RBC) were washed by centrifugation three times in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 1260× g for 10 min and stored also at 4 °C [ 15 ]. RNA from each unit (washed RBC, plasma and buffy coat) were extracted using the QIAmp Viral RNA Mini kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), following manufacturer’s recommendations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite multiple studies reporting serological evidence suggestive of past WNV circulation in Brazil (e.g., [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]) and reports of human WNV disease in confirmed cases in the Piauí state [ 13 ], much is unknown about genomic diversity, evolution, and transmission dynamics across the country. The reality of WNV in Brazil is likely characterised by endemic circulation within the mosquito–bird cycle [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], with occasional transmission to humans. The so far lack of reported human epidemics with significant public health impact remains a puzzle, given that Brazil harbors the necessary vectors, avian species, and climate—combination amenable at sustaining endemicity [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus in Brazil

et al. 2021

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Background: West Nile virus (WNV) was first sequenced in Brazil in 2019, when it was isolated from a horse in the Espírito Santo state. Despite multiple studies reporting serological evidence suggestive of past circulation since 2004, WNV remains a low priority for surveillance and public health, such that much is still unknown about its genomic diversity, evolution, and transmission in the country. Methods: A combination of diagnostic assays, nanopore sequencing, phylogenetic inference, and epidemiological modeling are here used to provide a holistic overview of what is known about WNV in Brazil. Results: We report new genetic evidence of WNV circulation in southern (Minas Gerais, São Paulo) and northeastern (Piauí) states isolated from equine red blood cells. A novel, climate-informed theoretical perspective of the potential transmission of WNV across the country highlights the state of Piauí as particularly relevant for WNV epidemiology in Brazil, although it does not reject possible circulation in other states. Conclusion: Our output demonstrates the scarceness of existing data, and that although there is sufficient evidence for the circulation and persistence of the virus, much is still unknown on its local evolution, epidemiology, and activity. We advocate for a shift to active surveillance, to ensure adequate preparedness for future epidemics with spill-over potential to humans.

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“…Although the first detection of WNV in South America occurred in Argentina (2006) when the virus was isolated from a horse with encephalitis, the first genome sequenced in Brazil was obtained only by the end of 2018. Despite little serological evidence and reports of WNV infections in humans and other animals [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ], much is still unknown regarding the genomic diversity, evolution and transmission dynamics of this virus in the country. Recently, genomic monitoring activities in horses revealed the circulation of WNV in several states located in southeastern and northeastern Brazil [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrospective Investigation in Horses with Encephalitis Reveals Unnoticed Circulation of West Nile Virus in Brazil

Fritsch

Pereira²,

Costa

et al. 2022

Viruses

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During these past years, several studies have provided serological evidence regarding the circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) in Brazil. Despite some reports, much is still unknown regarding the genomic diversity and transmission dynamics of this virus in the country. Recently, genomic monitoring activities in horses revealed the circulation of WNV in several Brazilian regions. These findings on the paucity of genomic data reinforce the need for prompt investigation of WNV infection in horses, which may precede human cases of encephalitis in Brazil. Thus, in this study, we retrospectively screened 54 suspicious WNV samples collected between 2017 and 2020 from the spinal cord and brain of horses with encephalitis and generated three new WNV genomes from the Ceará and Bahia states, located in the northeastern region of Brazil. The Bayesian reconstruction revealed that at least two independent introduction events occurred in Brazil. The first introduction event appears to be likely related to the North American outbreak, and was estimated to have occurred in March 2013.The second introduction event appears to have occurred in September 2017 and appears to be likely related to the South American outbreak. Together, our results reinforce the importance of increasing the priority of WNV genomic monitoring in equines with encephalitis in order to track the dispersion of this emerging pathogen through the country.

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Serosurvey of West Nile virus (WNV) in free-ranging raptors from Brazil

Cited by 8 publications

References 51 publications

West Nile Virus in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil

West Nile Virus in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil

West Nile Virus in Brazil

Retrospective Investigation in Horses with Encephalitis Reveals Unnoticed Circulation of West Nile Virus in Brazil

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