Terrestrial Bird Migration and West Nile Virus Circulation, United States

Swetnam, Daniele M.; Widen, Steven G.; Wood, Thomas G.; Reyna, Martin; Wilkerson, Lauren; Debboun, Mustapha; Symonds, Dreda A.; Mead, Daniel G.; Beaty, Barry J.; Guzmán, Hilda; Tesh, Robert B.; Barrett, Alan D.T.

doi:10.3201/eid2412.180382

Cited by 23 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…When testing the impact of flyways on the five different subsets of lineages, we reach the same result of no preferential circulation within flyways. This overall result contrasts with previously reported phylogenetic clustering by flyways 31,42 . However, the clustering analysis of Di Giallonardo et al 31 was based on a discrete phylogeographic analysis and, as recognised by the authors, it is difficult to distinguish the effect of these flyways from those of geographic distance.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…However, the absence of clear within flyway clustering of viral lineages could also arise when different avian migration routes intersect at southern connections. If local WNV transmission occurs at these locations, viruses could travel along different flyways when the birds make their return northward migration, as proposed by Swetnam et al 42 . While this scenario is possible, there is insufficient data to formally investigate with our approaches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemiological hypothesis testing using a phylogeographic and phylodynamic framework

et al. 2020

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Computational analyses of pathogen genomes are increasingly used to unravel the dispersal history and transmission dynamics of epidemics. Here, we show how to go beyond historical reconstructions and use spatially-explicit phylogeographic and phylodynamic approaches to formally test epidemiological hypotheses. We illustrate our approach by focusing on the West Nile virus (WNV) spread in North America that has substantially impacted public, veterinary, and wildlife health. We apply an analytical workflow to a comprehensive WNV genome collection to test the impact of environmental factors on the dispersal of viral lineages and on viral population genetic diversity through time. We find that WNV lineages tend to disperse faster in areas with higher temperatures and we identify temporal variation in temperature as a main predictor of viral genetic diversity through time. By contrasting inference with simulation, we find no evidence for viral lineages to preferentially circulate within the same migratory bird flyway, suggesting a substantial role for non-migratory birds or mosquito dispersal along the longitudinal gradient.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological hypothesis testing using a phylogeographic and phylodynamic framework

et al. 2020

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“…The migratory behavior of raptors may provide a significant contribution to long- (intercontinental) and short- (neighboring countries) distance movement of the virus. Recently, a study was able to demonstrate the relationship between WNV L1 circulation in the US and the flight pathways of terrestrial birds [ 124 ]. Moreover, during the WNV epidemic that occurred in Europe in 2018, phylogenetic analysis identified identical viruses from Spain and Austria, and viral strains isolated in Germany were reported to be descended from WNV strains isolated in the Czech Republic, suggesting that migratory birds may have been involved in the spatial spread of the virus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Birds of Prey in West Nile Virus Epidemiology

et al. 2020

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Reported human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in Europe increased dramatically in 2018. Lineage 1 strains had been circulating in Euro-Mediterranean countries since the early 1990s. The subsequent introduction of WNV lineage 2 has been responsible for the remarkable upsurge of European WNV outbreaks since 2004, including the dramatic increase in human cases observed since 2018. The virus exists in a natural cycle between mosquitoes and wild birds, with humans and horses acting as dead-end hosts. As the key vertebrate hosts in the transmission cycle of WNV, avian species have been the focus of surveillance across many countries. Raptors appear particularly susceptible to WNV infection, resulting in higher prevalence, and in some cases exhibiting neurological signs that lead to the death of the animal. In addition, birds of prey are known to play an important role as WNV reservoir and potentially amplifying hosts of infection. Importantly, raptor higher susceptibility/prevalence may indicate infection through predation of infected prey. Consequently, they are considered important target species when designing cost-effective surveillance for monitoring both seasonal WNV circulation in endemic countries and its emergence into new areas, where migrating raptors may play a critical role in virus introduction. This review summarizes the different aspects of the current knowledge of WNV infection in birds of prey and evaluates their role in the evolution of the epizootic that is spreading throughout Europe.

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“…Rising temperatures also affect the spread of infectious diseases, e.g., West Nile Virus recorded in new niches as consequence of changes in the mosquito's lifecycle and distribution range [116]. Likewise, the migration behavior of wild birds (amplifying hosts of, e.g., West Nile Virus and Borrelia burgdorferi) is changing, which leads to the emergence of new infection centers [120][121][122][123]. De la Roque et al (2008) stressed that extreme weather conditions are of greater concern in the transmission of infectious diseases [117].…”

Section: Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Horses as a Crucial Part of One Health

Lönker

Fechner

Wahed

2020

Veterinary Sciences

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One Health (OH) is a crucial concept, where the interference between humans, animals and the environment matters. This review article focusses on the role of horses in maintaining the health of humans and the environment. Horses' impact on environmental health includes their influence on soil and the biodiversity of animal and plant species. Nevertheless, the effect of horses is not usually linear and several factors like plant-animal coevolutionary history, climate and animal density play significant roles. The long history of the relationship between horses and humans is shaped by the service of horses in wars or even in mines. Moreover, horses were essential in developing the first antidote to cure diphtheria. Nowadays, horses do have an influential role in animal assisted therapy, in supporting livelihoods in low income countries and as a leisure partner. Horses are of relevance in the spillover of zoonotic and emerging diseases from wildlife to human (e.g., Hendra Virus), and in non-communicable diseases (e.g., post-traumatic osteoarthritis in horses and back pain in horse riders). Furthermore, many risk factors-such as climate change and antimicrobial resistance-threaten the health of both horses and humans. Finally, the horse is a valuable factor in sustaining the health of humans and the environment, and must be incorporated in any roadmap to achieve OH.Vet. Sci. 2020, 7, 28 2 of 17 crucial part in developing the first antidote to cure diphtheria. Since then, the rate of contact between domesticated horses and humans steadily increased. Nowadays, for example, horses play an important role in animal-assisted therapy. Furthermore, the detection of infectious diseases that affect both humans and horses are crucial, especially in cases of highly transmissible diseases. Beside infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as skeletal and joint diseases or metabolic disorders are of concern to both. Several risk factors concerning the health of humans and horses exist. Therefore, this article will give an overview of OH with a focus on horses and their relation to the environment and humans, along with the influence of other factors such as climate change (see Figure 1). Vet. Sci. 2020, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 15 crucial part in developing the first antidote to cure diphtheria. Since then, the rate of contact between 46 domesticated horses and humans steadily increased. Nowadays, for example, horses play an 47 important role in animal-assisted therapy. Furthermore, the detection of infectious diseases that affect 48 both humans and horses are crucial, especially in cases of highly transmissible diseases. Beside 49 infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as skeletal and joint diseases or 50metabolic disorders are of concern to both. Several risk factors concerning the health of humans and 51 horses exist. Therefore, this article will give an overview of OH with a focus on horses and their 52 relation to the environment and humans, along with the influence of other factors such a...

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Terrestrial Bird Migration and West Nile Virus Circulation, United States

Cited by 23 publications

References 40 publications

Epidemiological hypothesis testing using a phylogeographic and phylodynamic framework

Epidemiological hypothesis testing using a phylogeographic and phylodynamic framework

The Role of Birds of Prey in West Nile Virus Epidemiology

Horses as a Crucial Part of One Health

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