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evidence of exposure of laughing doves (spilopelia senegalensis) to west nile and usutu viruses in southern tunisian oases.it has previously been suggested that southern tunisian oases may be suitable areas for the circulation of flaviviruses. in order to anticipate and prevent possible epidemiological spread of flaviviruses in humans and domestic animals, the ecology of their transmission in the oasis system needs to be better understood. thus, the aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of anti-flavivirus antibodies in the laughing dove (spilopelia senegalensis), an abundant resident bird in tunisian oa ...201728803560
outbreak and cocirculation of three different usutu virus strains in eastern germany.usutu virus (usuv) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus accounting for large-scale deaths in resident bird populations. in this study, we show the introduction of usuv to eastern germany resulting in massive death of birds, particularly blackbirds (turdus merula). we found that three diverse usuv lineages ("europe 3," "africa 2," and "africa 3-like") circulated simultaneously. moreover, we detected usuv in culex pipiens in a region where no dead birds were reported, strengthening the need for mosquito ...201728816628
control of mosquito-borne diseases in northwestern italy: preparedness from one season to the next.mosquito-borne diseases (mbds) are spreading worldwide due to globalization and climate change, representing a threat for both humans and animals. of great concern are the infections caused by viruses belonging to the flavivirus genus as west nile virus (wnv) and usutu virus (usuv) transmitted by culex sp. or dengue virus and zika virus (zikv), transmitted by aedes sp. this work describes the surveillance protocol enforced in piedmont (northwestern italy) to control mbds spread, focusing on the ...201728437184
usutu virus antibodies in blood donors and healthy forestry workers in the lombardy region, northern italy.usutu virus (usuv), a member of the genus flavivirus, is known to circulate at low prevalence in northern italy, and has been reported to cause overt infection. usuv was first reported in europe in 2001, but a retrospective study showed that it has been present in italy at least since 1996. seroprevalence data for usuv antibodies in sera are being collected in different european countries, showing circulation at low prevalence in human populations. interestingly, two consecutive studies in north ...201728759350
is usutu virus ready for prime time?although considered a neglected tropical disease, the mosquito-borne usutu virus has demonstrated signs of emergence from africa to europe. while human cases are infrequent, the potential for neuroinvasive infection, even in immunocompetent individuals, suggests a need for increased research into virus biology and pathogenesis, as well as rapid measures for diagnosis and environmental surveillance.201728619684
an overview of usutu virus.usutu virus (usuv) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that emerged in africa in the middle of the 16th century and currently widely circulates in several european countries. herein, we summarize current knowledge about usuv from ecology, epidemiology, phylogeny to clinical manifestations and diagnosis and discuss the role as human pathogen.201728602915
does aedes albopictus (diptera: culicidae) play any role in usutu virus transmission in northern italy? experimental oral infection and field evidences.this study evaluated the vector competence of aedes albopictus in transmitting usuv after oral infection under laboratory conditions. ae. albopictus showed a low vector competence for usuv, although the positive body sample found with a very high number of viral copies at one week post infection indicates that a replication in the mosquito body can occur, and that usuv can escape the midgut barrier. field data from an extensive entomological arboviruses surveillance program showed a relevant inc ...201728495404
blood donor screening for west nile virus (wnv) revealed acute usutu virus (usuv) infection, germany, september 2016.between 1 june and 31 december 2016, 13,023 blood donations from the university hospital aachen in germany were routinely screened for west nile virus (wnv) rna using the cobas taqscreen wnv test. on 28 september 2016, one blood donor was tested positive. subsequent analysis revealed an acute usutu virus (usuv) infection. during the ongoing usuv epizootics in germany, blood transfusion services, public health authorities and clinicians should be aware of increased human usuv infections.201728422005
usutu virus, belgium, 2016.during late summer 2016, in a northwest european region extending over belgium, the netherlands and the eastern border of the german state of north rhine westphalia, an outbreak of wild bird deaths occurred similar to those reported on the continent since 1996. dead birds were necropsied and examined by complementary methods. pathologic and immunohistological investigations strongly suggested an infection by usutu virus. subsequently, genomic segments of the said virus were detected, the virus w ...201728017913
serological survey of hantavirus and flavivirus among wild rodents in central italy.hantaviruses are a group of zoonotic viruses carried by rodents. puumala virus (puuv) and dobrava virus (dobv) are the causative agents of human hantavirus infections in europe. knowledge about hantavirus circulation in italy is very scarce. west nile virus (wnv) and usutu virus (usuv) are emerging neuropathogenic flaviviruses, both endemic in most part of the italian territories. to monitor the circulation of puuv, dobv, wnv, and usuv in natural environment in central italy, we carried out sero ...201728953448
mating behavior of the west nile virus vector culex pipiens - role of behavioral asymmetries.culex pipiens is a vector of west nile, rift valley fever, japanese encephalitis and usutu viruses. in agreement with the criteria of integrated vector management, several research efforts have been devoted to develop behavior-based control tools to fight mosquito vectors. however, our knowledge of mosquito mating biology and sexual communication is still patchy. despite the high relevance of c. pipiens as a vector of medical and veterinary importance, no studies on its mating behavior and the f ...201729288628
molecular detection and serological evidence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in serbia.tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) is a zoonotic flaviviral infection that is a growing public health concern in european countries. the aims of this research were to detect and characterize tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) in ixodes ricinus ticks at presumed natural foci in serbia, and to determine seroprevalence of tbev igg antibodies in humans and animals. a total of 500 i. ricinus ticks were examined for the presence of tbev by real-time rt-pcr, and conventional nested pcr and sequencing. to ...201729064333
assessing the zoonotic potential of arboviruses of african origin.several african arboviruses have emerged over the past decade in new regions where they caused major outbreaks in humans and/or animals including west nile virus, chikungunya virus and zika virus. this raise questions regarding the importance of less known zoonotic arboviruses in local epidemics in africa and their potential to emerge internationally. syndromic surveillance in animals may serve as an early warning system to detect zoonotic arbovirus outbreaks. rift valley fever and wesselsbronvi ...201729216533
investigation into usutu and west nile viruses in ticks from wild birds in northwestern italy, 2012-2014.to assess the potential role of ticks as carriers of west nile virus (wnv) and usutu virus (usuv), we tested 1721 ticks from 379 wild birds in northwestern italy between 2012 and 2014. ticks were analyzed in pools using a pan-flavivirus real-time rt-pcr and positive pools were subjected to rt-pcr for usuv and wnv genome detection. all the tested samples resulted negative, suggesting that ixodes spp. ticks, at least in our study area, are not competent vectors and not even exploitable sentinels f ...201727819397
usutu virus infections in humans: a retrospective analysis in the municipality of modena, italy.to monitor the spread and to evaluate the role for public health of usutu virus (usuv) in an endemic area of italy.201727677699
usutu virus infection in latin america: a new emerging threat. 201727546284
co-circulation of two usutu virus strains in northern italy between 2009 and 2014.usutu virus is an arbovirus closely related to west nile virus (genus flavivirus), which circulates between mosquitoes and wild birds. this virus has been increasingly reported in europe, raising concerns for its possible pathogenic potential for wild birds and humans. this study reports the whole genome sequences of 15 strains of usuv, isolated between 2010 and 2014 from mosquitoes and wild birds in the course of west nile virus surveillance in the emilia-romagna and lombardy regions of norther ...201728341546
complete coding sequence of usutu virus strain gracula religiosa/u1609393/belgium/2016 obtained from the brain tissue of an infected captive common hill myna (gracula religiosa).the complete and annotated coding sequence and partial noncoding sequence of an usutu virus genome were sequenced from rna extracted from a clinical brain tissue sample obtained from a common hill myna (gracula religiosa), demonstrating close homology with usutu viruses circulating in europe.201728336592
computational prediction of usutu virus e protein b-cell and t-cell epitopes for potential vaccine development.usutu virus (family flaviviridae), once confined to africa, has emerged in europe a decade ago. the virus has been spreading throughout europe at a greater pace mostly affecting avian species. while most bird species remain asymptomatic carriers of this virus, few bird species are highly susceptible. lately, usutu virus (usuv) infections in humans were reported sporadically with severe neuroinvasive symptoms like meningoencephalitis. since so much is unknown about this virus, which potentially m ...201728273384
widespread activity of multiple lineages of usutu virus, western europe, 2016.in the summer of 2016, belgium, france, germany and the netherlands reported widespread usutu virus (usuv) activity based on live and dead bird surveillance. the causative usuv strains represented four lineages, of which two putative novel lineages were most likely recently introduced into germany and spread to other western european countries. the spatial extent of the outbreak area corresponded with r0 values > 1. the occurrence of the outbreak, the largest usuv epizootic registered so far in ...201728181903
discovery of flavivirus-derived endogenous viral elements in anopheles mosquito genomes supports the existence of anopheles-associated insect-specific flaviviruses.the flavivirus genus encompasses several arboviruses of public health significance such as dengue, yellow fever, and zika viruses. it also includes insect-specific flaviviruses (isfs) that are only capable of infecting insect hosts. the vast majority of mosquito-infecting flaviviruses have been associated with mosquito species of the aedes and culex genera in the culicinae subfamily, which also includes most arbovirus vectors. mosquitoes of the anophelinae subfamily are not considered significan ...201728078104
utility of japanese encephalitis virus subgenomic replicon-based single-round infectious particles as antigens in neutralization tests for zika virus and three other flaviviruses.the introduction of a foreign virus into an area may cause an outbreak, as with the zika virus (zikv) outbreak in the americas. preparedness for handling a viral outbreak involves the development of tests for the serodiagnosis of foreign virus infections. we previously established a gene-based technology to generate some flaviviral antigens useful for functional antibody assays. the technology utilizes a japanese encephalitis virus subgenomic replicon to generate single-round infectious particle ...201728219763
a serological protein microarray for detection of multiple cross-reactive flavivirus infections in horses for veterinary and public health surveillance.the genus flavivirus in the family flaviviridae includes some of the most important examples of emerging zoonotic arboviruses that are rapidly spreading across the globe. japanese encephalitis virus (jev), west nile virus (wnv), st. louis encephalitis virus (slev) and usutu virus (usuv) are mosquito-borne members of the jev serological group. although most infections in humans are asymptomatic or present with mild flu-like symptoms, clinical manifestations of jev, wnv, slev, usuv and tick-borne ...201627633257
waiting in the wings: the potential of mosquito transmitted flaviviruses to emerge.the sudden dramatic emergence of the mosquito transmitted flavivirus zika virus has bought to the world's attention a relatively obscure virus that was previously only known to specialist researchers. the genus flavivirus of the family flaviviridae contains a number of well-known mosquito transmitted human pathogenic viruses including the dengue, yellow fever, japanese encephalitis and west nile viruses. however, the genus also contains a number of lesser known human pathogenic viruses transmitt ...201627800692
outdoor and indoor monitoring of livestock-associated culicoides spp. to assess vector-free periods and disease risks.within the last few decades culicoides spp. (diptera: ceratopogonidae) emerged europe-wide as a major vector for epizootic viral diseases e.g. caused by bluetongue (bt) or schmallenberg virus. in accordance with the eu regulation 1266/2007, veterinary authorities are requested to determine vector-free periods for loosing trade and movement restrictions of susceptible livestock. additionally, the widely used basic reproduction number [formula: see text] is optionally applied for risk assessment o ...201627259473
geographic variation in the response of culex pipiens life history traits to temperature.climate change is predicted to alter the transmission of many vector-borne pathogens. the quantitative impact of climate change is usually estimated by measuring the temperature-performance relationships for a single population of vectors, and then mapping this relationship across a range of temperatures or locations. however, life history traits of different populations often differ significantly. specifically, performance across a range of temperatures is likely to vary due to local adaptation ...201626928181
spatio-temporal trends and risk factors affecting west nile virus and related flavivirus exposure in spanish wild ruminants.during the last decade, the spread of many flaviviruses (genus flavivirus) has been reported, representing an emerging threat for both animal and human health. to further study utility of wild ruminant samples in west nile virus (wnv) surveillance, we assessed spatio-temporal trends and factors associated with wnv and cross-reacting flaviviruses exposure, particularly usutu virus (usuv) and meaban virus (mbv), in wild ruminants in spain. serum samples from 4693 wild ruminants, including 3073 fre ...201627829427
genetic contribution of mhc class ii genes in susceptibility to west nile virus infection.wnv is a zoonotic neurotropic flavivirus that has recently emerged globally as a significant cause of viral encephalitis. the last five years, 624 incidents of wnv infection have been reported in greece. the risk for severe wnv disease increases among immunosuppressed individuals implying thus the contribution of the mhc locus to the control of wnv infection. in order to investigate a possible association of mhc class ii genes, especially hla-dpa1, hla-dqa1, hla-drb1, we examined 105 wnv patient ...201627812212
zika virus (zikv). 201627994533
evaluation of realstar reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction kits for filovirus detection in the laboratory and field.diagnosis of ebola virus (ebov) disease (evd) requires laboratory testing.201627549586
japanese encephalitis virus tropism in experimentally infected pigs.pigs are considered to be the main amplifying host for japanese encephalitis virus (jev), and their infection can correlate with human cases of disease. despite their importance in the ecology of the virus as it relates to human cases of encephalitis, the pathogenesis of jev in pigs remains obscure. in the present study, the localization and kinetics of virus replication were investigated in various tissues after experimental intravenous infection of pigs. the data demonstrate a rapid and broad ...201626911997
reconstruction of the evolutionary history and dispersal of usutu virus, a neglected emerging arbovirus in europe and africa.usutu virus (usuv), one of the most neglected old world encephalitic flaviviruses, causes epizootics among wild and captive birds and sporadic infection in humans. the dynamics of usuv spread and evolution in its natural hosts are unknown. here, we present the phylogeny and evolutionary history of all available usuv strains, including 77 newly sequenced complete genomes from a variety of host species at a temporal and spatial scaled resolution. the results showed that usuv can be classified into ...201626838717
evaluating the feeding preferences of west nile virus mosquito vectors using bird-baited traps.the total contact rates (tcrs) between mosquito vectors and their potential hosts have a serious impact on disease transmission dynamics. culex pipiens (sensu stricto) (s.s.) is considered the main vector of the west nile virus (wnv) in europe and birds are the reservoir hosts. the results of our previous study showed that wnv seroreactors are significantly more prevalent among raptors compared to a range of other wild avian groups. the current study aims to assess the role of bird type (raptor ...201627580694
an overview of mosquitoes and emerging arboviral infections in the zagreb area, croatia.mosquito control in the zagreb area has been conducted for many years, whereas the fauna has only been investigated in the last 20 years. so far 30 mosquito species have been detected in the city area. culex pipiens form molestus is the dominant mosquito species in indoor breeding sites. in forested areas and areas exposed to flooding, the active period is early spring and the dominant species are ochlerotatus sticticus, ochlerotatus cantans, ochlerotatus geniculatus and aedes vexans. the eudomi ...201628036307
evidence for an independent third usutu virus introduction into germany.usutu virus (usuv) is an arbovirus within the genus flavivirus, which was first introduced to southern europe approximately twenty years ago causing epizootics among wild and captive birds. in germany usuv was initially discovered in wild birds, mainly common blackbirds (turdus merula), in the upper rhine valley in southwest of the country in 2011 and has not spread much northwards since. phylogenetic analyses revealed that the still ongoing usuv epidemic is caused by two different usuv strains, ...201627527765
west nile virus and usutu--a threat to poland.in recent years emergence of new infectious diseases and the growing spread of pathogens to new areas is observed. most of these pathogens are zoonotic viruses and their transmission route is from animals to humans and vice versa. these so called emerging and re-emerging pathogens that were present previously only in africa and asia are becoming a threat to european countries. these include, e.g. west nile virus and usutu virus. the aim of the study is to present the clinical course of infection ...201627344466
serosurvey reveals exposure to west nile virus in asymptomatic horse populations in central spain prior to recent disease foci.west nile fever/encephalitis (wnf) is an infectious disease affecting horses, birds and humans, with a cycle involving birds as natural reservoirs and mosquitoes as transmission vectors. it is a notifiable disease, re-emerging in europe. in spain, it first appeared in horses in the south (andalusia) in 2010, where outbreaks occur every year since. however, in 2014, an outbreak was declared in horses in central spain, approximately 200 km away from the closest foci in andalusia. before that, evid ...201627156847
a recombinant dna vaccine protects mice deficient in the alpha/beta interferon receptor against lethal challenge with usutu virus.usutu virus (usuv) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus whose circulation had been confined to africa since it was first detected in 1959. however, in the last decade usuv has emerged in europe causing episodes of avian mortality and sporadic severe neuroinvasive infections in humans. remarkably, adult laboratory mice exhibit limited susceptibility to usuv infection, which has impaired the analysis of the immune responses, thus complicating the evaluation of virus-host interactions and of vaccine cand ...201626993334
detection of west nile and usutu viruses in italian free areas: entomological surveillance in piemonte and liguria regions, 2014.west nile virus and usutu virus have established in different parts of italy over the past 10 years. piemonte and liguria regions (northwestern italy) are known to be nonendemic areas, despite the presence of competent vectors and environmental conditions conducive to maintaining infection. this work evidences for the first time, through an entomological surveillance implemented on the basis of risk factor approach, the presence of west nile and usutu viruses in piemonte and liguria regions (nor ...201626862776
west nile virus-neutralizing antibodies in wild birds from southern spain.west nile virus (wnv) is an emerging vector-borne arbovirus with a zoonotic life-cycle whose main reservoir hosts are birds. in humans and horses, wnv infections rarely result in clinical disease but on occasions - depending on factors such as climatic conditions, insect communities and background immunity levels in local populations - they can lead to outbreaks that threaten public and animal health. we tested for the presence of wnv antibodies in 149 birds belonging to 32 different species. sa ...201626846720
seroprevalence of west nile and usutu viruses in military working horses and dogs, morocco, 2012: dog as an alternative wnv sentinel species?a serosurvey of 349 military working horses and 231 military working dogs was conducted in ten sites in morocco in 2012. this survey revealed a high level of exposure of these animals to flaviviruses: seroprevalence rates of 60% in horses and of 62% in dogs were observed using a competitive west nile virus (wnv) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (celisa). seroneutralization test results showed that the majority of celisa-positive results were due to exposure to wnv. further assays conducted in v ...201626838515
serological evidence for the circulation of flaviviruses in seabird populations of the western indian ocean.birds play a central role in the epidemiology of several flaviviruses of concern for public and veterinary health. seabirds represent the most abundant and widespread avifauna in the western indian ocean and may play an important role as host reservoirs and spreaders of arthropod-borne pathogens such as flaviviruses. we report the results of a serological investigation based on blood samples collected from nine seabird species from seven islands in the indian ocean. using a commercial competitiv ...201626194365
monitoring of west nile virus, usutu virus and meaban virus in waterfowl used as decoys and wild raptors in southern spain.in the last decade, the number of emerging flaviviruses described worldwide has increased considerably, with wild birds acting as the main reservoir hosts of these viruses. we carried out an epidemiological survey to determine the seroprevalence of antigenically related flaviviruses, particularly west nile virus (wnv), usutu virus (usuv) and meaban virus (mbv), in waterfowl used as decoys and wild raptors in andalusia (southern spain), the region considered to have the highest risk of flavivirus ...201627865265
host-feeding patterns of mosquito species in germany.mosquito-borne pathogens are of growing importance in many countries of europe including germany. at the same time, the transmission cycles of most mosquito-borne pathogens (e.g. viruses or filarial parasites) are not completely understood. there is especially a lack of knowledge about the vector capacity of the different mosquito species, which is strongly influenced by their host-feeding patterns. while this kind of information is important to identify the relevant vector species, e.g. to dire ...201627259984
tick infestation in birds and prevalence of pathogens in ticks collected from different places in germany.the importance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens for human and animal health has been increasing over the past decades. for their transportation and dissemination, birds may play a more important role than wingless hosts. in this study, tick infestation of birds in germany was examined. eight hundred ninety-two captured birds were infested with ticks and belonged to 48 different species, of which blackbirds (turdus merula) and song thrushes (turdus philomelos) were most strongly infested. ground ...201627048511
surveillance for western equine encephalitis, st. louis encephalitis, and west nile viruses using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification.collection of mosquitoes and testing for vector-borne viruses is a key surveillance activity that directly influences the vector control efforts of public health agencies, including determining when and where to apply insecticides. vector control districts in california routinely monitor for three human pathogenic viruses including west nile virus (wnv), western equine encephalitis virus (weev), and st. louis encephalitis virus (slev). reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction ...201626807734
an updated checklist of mosquito species (diptera: culicidae) from madagascar.an updated checklist of 235 mosquito species from madagascar is presented. the number of species has increased considerably compared to previous checklists, particularly the last published in 2003 (178 species). this annotated checklist provides concise information on endemism, taxonomic position, developmental stages, larval habitats, distribution, behavior, and vector-borne diseases potentially transmitted. the 235 species belong to 14 genera: aedeomyia (3 species), aedes (35 species), anophel ...201627101839
first report on human-biting culex pipiens in sweden.culex mosquitoes are vectors of several bird-hosted arboviruses that cause outbreaks in europe, such as sindbis virus and west nile virus. recently, the human-biting form of culex pipiens, cx. pipiens biotype molestus, was found causing big nuisance in a housing cooperative in gothenburg in southern sweden, confirmed by molecular identification. this is the first report of human-biting culex in scandinavia, signalling increased risk of arbovirus infection in northern europe.201627927233
working with zika and usutu viruses in vitro.usutu (usuv) and zika (zikv) viruses are emerging arboviruses of significant medical and veterinary importance. these viruses have not been studied as well as other medically important arboviruses such as west nile (wnv), dengue (denv), or chikungunya (chikv) viruses. as such, information regarding the behavior of zikv and usuv viruses in the laboratory is dated. usutu virus re-emerged in austria in 2001 and has since spread throughout the european and asian continents causing significant mortal ...201627541001
the role of climatic and density dependent factors in shaping mosquito population dynamics: the case of culex pipiens in northwestern italy.culex pipiens mosquito is a species widely spread across europe and represents a competent vector for many arboviruses such as west nile virus (wnv), which has been recently circulating in many european countries, causing hundreds of human cases. in order to identify the main determinants of the high heterogeneity in cx. pipiens abundance observed in piedmont region (northwestern italy) among different seasons, we developed a density-dependent stochastic model that takes explicitly into account ...201627105065
pilot longitudinal mosquito surveillance study in the danube delta biosphere reserve and the first reports of anopheles algeriensis theobald, 1903 and aedes hungaricus mihályi, 1955 for romania.mosquito-borne viruses (moboviruses) are of growing importance in many countries of europe. in romania and especially in the danube delta biosphere reserve (ddbr), mosquito and mobovirus surveillance are not performed on a regular basis. however, this type of study is crucially needed to evaluate the risk of pathogen transmission, to understand the ecology of emerging moboviruses, or to plan vector control programmes.201627066827
ecological characterization and molecular differentiation of culex pipiens complex taxa and culex torrentium in eastern austria.culex pipiens complex taxa differ in behaviour, ecophysiology and epidemiologic importance. despite their epidemiologic significance, information on genetic diversity, occurrence and seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of the cx. pipiens complex is still insufficient. assessment of seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of culex pipiens forms and their congener cx. torrentium is crucial for the understanding of their vector-pathogen dynamics.201627067139
assessment of productivity of culex spp. larvae (diptera: culicidae) in urban storm water catch basin system in wrocław (sw poland).in urban environments, catch basins serve as major developmental and resting sites for anthropophilic and zoophilic mosquitoes. however, the use of this habitat is inconsistent, with abundance of larvae varying significantly across catch basins at a fine spatial scale. during seasonal summer investigations on mosquito species composition, their spatial and temporal distribution and the environmental characteristic of the breeding sites in the underground storm drain systems of the wrocław urban ...201626809340
molecular diagnosis of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by puumala virus.rodent-borne hantaviruses cause two severe acute diseases: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (hfrs) in eurasia, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (hps; also called hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome [hcps]) in the americas. puumala virus (puuv) is the most common causative agent of hfrs in europe. current routine diagnostic methods are based on serological analyses and can yield inconclusive results. hantavirus-infected patients are viremic during the early phase of disease; therefore, dete ...201626962084
zika virus: the latest newcomer.since the beginning of this century, humanity has been facing a new emerging, or re-emerging, virus threat almost every year: west nile, influenza a, avian flu, dengue, chikungunya, sars, mers, ebola, and now zika, the latest newcomer. zika virus (zikv), a flavivirus transmitted by aedes mosquitoes, was identified in 1947 in a sentinel monkey in uganda, and later on in humans in nigeria. the virus was mainly confined to the african continent until it was detected in south-east asia the 1980's, t ...201627148186
first tbev serological screening in flemish wild boar.in the frame of a flemish wildlife surveillance in 2013, a serological screening was performed on sera from wild boar (sus scrofa; n=238) in order to detect tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev)-specific antibodies. neutralising antibodies were titrated with a seroneutralisation test (snt), using two cut-off titres (1/10-1/15). seven wild boars were found tbev-seropositive and showed moderate (>1/15) to high (>1/125) snt-titres; three individuals had borderline results (1/10-1/15). this study dem ...201627087689
neglected tropical diseases among the association of southeast asian nations (asean): overview and update.the ten member states of the association of southeast asian nations (asean) constitute an economic powerhouse, yet these countries also harbor a mostly hidden burden of poverty and neglected tropical diseases (ntds). almost 200 million people live in extreme poverty in asean countries, mostly in the low or lower middle-income countries of indonesia, the philippines, myanmar, viet nam, and cambodia, and many of them are affected by at least one ntd. however, ntds are prevalent even among upper mi ...201525880767
vector borne infections in italy: results of the integrated surveillance system for west nile disease in 2013.the epidemiology of west nile disease (wnd) is influenced by multiple ecological factors and, therefore, integrated surveillance systems are needed for early detecting the infection and activating consequent control actions. as different animal species have different importance in the maintenance and in the spread of the infection, a multispecies surveillance approach is required. an integrated and comprehensive surveillance system is in place in italy aiming at early detecting the virus introdu ...201525874224
occurrence of west nile virus antibodies in wild birds, horses, and humans in poland.serum samples of 474 wild birds, 378 horses, and 42 humans with meningitis and lymphocytic meningitis were collected between 2010 and 2014 from different areas of poland. west nile virus (wnv) antibodies were detected using competition enzyme linked immunosorbent assays: elisa-1 id screen west nile competition, idvet, elisa-2 id screen west nile igm capture, and elisa-3 ingezim west nile compac. the antibodies were found in 63 (13.29%) out of 474 wild bird serum samples and in one (0.26%) out of ...201525866767
amino acid substitutions in the non-structural proteins 4a or 4b modulate the induction of autophagy in west nile virus infected cells independently of the activation of the unfolded protein response.west nile virus (wnv) is a neurotropic mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for outbreaks of meningitis and encephalitis. whereas the activation of autophagy in cells infected with other flaviviruses is well known, the interaction of wnv with the autophagic pathway still remains unclear and there are reports describing opposite findings obtained even analyzing the same viral strain. to clarify this controversy, we first analyzed the induction of autophagic features in cells infected with a pane ...201525642225
spot the difference-development of a syndrome based protein microarray for specific serological detection of multiple flavivirus infections in travelers.the family flaviviridae, genus flavivirus, holds many of the world's most prevalent arboviral diseases that are also considered the most important travel related arboviral infections. in most cases, flavivirus diagnosis in travelers is primarily based on serology as viremia is often low and typically has already been reduced to undetectable levels when symptoms set in and patients seek medical attention. serological differentiation between flaviviruses and the false-positive results caused by va ...201525767876
usutu virus: an emerging flavivirus in europe.usutu virus (usuv) is an african mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex. usuv is closely related to murray valley encephalitis virus, japanese encephalitis virus, and west nile virus. usuv was discovered in south africa in 1959. in europe, the first true demonstration of circulation of usuv was reported in austria in 2001 with a significant die-off of eurasian blackbirds. in the subsequent years, usuv expanded to neighboring countries, including italy, ...201525606971
ecuador paraiso escondido virus, a new flavivirus isolated from new world sand flies in ecuador, is the first representative of a novel clade in the genus flavivirus.a new flavivirus, ecuador paraiso escondido virus (epev), named after the village where it was discovered, was isolated from sand flies (psathyromyia abonnenci, formerly lutzomyia abonnenci) that are unique to the new world. this represents the first sand fly-borne flavivirus identified in the new world. epev exhibited a typical flavivirus genome organization. nevertheless, the maximum pairwise amino acid sequence identity with currently recognized flaviviruses was 52.8%. phylogenetic analysis o ...201526355096
new insights into flavivirus evolution, taxonomy and biogeographic history, extended by analysis of canonical and alternative coding sequences.to generate the most diverse phylogenetic dataset for the flaviviruses to date, we determined the genomic sequences and phylogenetic relationships of 14 flaviviruses, of which 10 are primarily associated with culex spp. mosquitoes. we analyze these data, in conjunction with a comprehensive collection of flavivirus genomes, to characterize flavivirus evolutionary and biogeographic history in unprecedented detail and breadth. based on the presumed introduction of yellow fever virus into the americ ...201525719412
direct pcr of indigenous and invasive mosquito species: a time- and cost-effective technique of mosquito barcoding.millions of people die each year as a result of pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes. however, the morphological identification of mosquito species can be difficult even for experts. the identification of morphologically indistinguishable species, such as members of the anopheles maculipennis complex (diptera: culicidae), and possible hybrids, such as culex pipiens pipiens/culex pipiens molestus (diptera: culicidae), presents a major problem. in addition, the detection and discrimination of newly ...201526663040
understanding west nile virus ecology in europe: culex pipiens host feeding preference in a hotspot of virus emergence.understanding wildlife disease ecology is becoming an urgent need due to the continuous emergence and spread of several wildlife zoonotic diseases. west nile virus (wnv) is the most widespread arthropod-borne virus in the world, and in recent decades there has been an increase both in geographic range, and in the frequency of symptomatic infections in humans and wildlife. the principal vector for wnv in europe is the common house culex pipiens mosquito, which feeds on a wide variety of vertebrat ...201525888754
impacts of the creation, expansion and management of english wetlands on mosquito presence and abundance - developing strategies for future disease mitigation.the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases is increasing in europe, partly due to the incursion of a number of invasive species known to be vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses, but also due to the involvement of native species in the transmission of west nile virus and malaria. for some of these pathogens, there is a risk of the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases that were once widespread in europe, but declined partly due to large-scale land-drainage projects. some mosquito species explo ...201525889666
preparing for the next epidemic with basic virology. 201526492495
epidemiological survey of zoonotic pathogens in feral pigeons (columba livia var. domestica) and sympatric zoo species in southern spain.a cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of pathogenic zoonotic agents (flaviviruses, avian influenza viruses (aivs), salmonella spp. and toxoplasma gondii) in feral pigeons and sympatric zoo animals from córdoba (southern spain) between 2013 and 2014. antibodies against flaviviruses were detected in 7.8% out of 142 (ci95%: 3.7-11.8) pigeons, and 8.2% of 49 (ci95%: 0.9-15.4) of zoo animals tested. antibodies with specificity against west nile virus (wnv) and usutu viru ...201526616657
comparative usutu and west nile virus transmission potential by local culex pipiens mosquitoes in north-western europe.originating from africa, usutu virus (usuv) first emerged in europe in 2001. this mosquito-borne flavivirus caused high mortality rates in its bird reservoirs, which strongly resembled the introduction of west nile virus (wnv) in 1999 in the united states. mosquitoes infected with usuv incidentally transmit the virus to other vertebrates, including humans, which can result in neuroinvasive disease. usuv and wnv co-circulate in parts of southern europe, but the distribution of usuv extends into c ...201528616462
[usutu virus: a novel flavivirus in croatia]. 201526065292
[usutu virus: a novel flavivirus in croatia].usutu virus (usuv) belongs to the family flaviviridae, genus flavivirus, japanese encephalitis serocomplex. the virus was discovered in 1959 in south africa and has emerged since 1996 causing epizootics with high avian mortality in europe. the importance of usuv in humans is not fully understood. however, several human clinical cases of usuv infection described so far indicate the role of this virus as an antropozoonotic agent. in croatia, serologic evidence of usuv was first documented in 2011 ...201525906549
limited susceptibility of mice to usutu virus (usuv) infection and induction of flavivirus cross-protective immunity.flaviviruses are rna viruses that constitute a worrisome threat to global human and animal health. in europe, west nile virus (wnv) outbreaks have dramatically increased in number and severity in recent years, with dozens of human and horse deaths and a high avian mortality across the continent. besides wnv, the only clinically relevant mosquito-borne flavivirus detected so far in europe has been the usutu virus (usuv), which after being reported for the first time in austria in 2001, quickly sp ...201525827530
further circulation of west nile and usutu viruses in wild birds in italy.usutu virus (usuv) and west nile virus (wnv) are emerging pathogens that can cause neurological disease in humans. from march 2012 to june 2013, a sero-survey on wild birds was carried out to investigate the circulation of both viruses in northwest (nw) italy. samples belonging to 47 different bird species have been collected using a volunteer based network and a wildlife rehabilitation center. four of 297 serum samples had neutralizing antibodies against usuv (p=1.34%, ic 95% 0.36-3.4), while 1 ...201525818400
west nile virus serosurveillance in pigs, wild boars, and roe deer in serbia.west nile virus (wnv) is maintained in nature in an enzootic transmission cycle between birds and mosquitoes, but it also infects many other vertebrates, including humans and horses, in which it can induce severe neurological diseases; however, data about virus circulation in other mammals is scarce. wnv has a history of recent outbreaks in europe, including serbia, where it was identified for the first time in 2010 in mosquitoes and in 2012 in birds and humans, being responsible for over 300 co ...201525724332
lack of usutu virus rna in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology, tuscany, italy.usutu virus (usuv) is an african mosquito-borne flavivirus associated with human neurological disorders in europe. recently, usuv introduction in europe has been traced back to eurasian blackbirds deaths in the tuscany region of italy in 1996. ninety-six cerebrospinal fluid (csf) samples from patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology diagnosed in 2010-2013 were screened to determine whether usuv circulates in humans in tuscany. using real-time polymerase chain reaction, no positive patient ...201525712912
first cases of human usutu virus neuroinvasive infection in croatia, august-september 2013: clinical and laboratory features.few reports of human usutu virus (usuv) infection have been reported to date. we describe the first three patients with usuv neuroinvasive infection in zagreb and its surroundings from 30 august to 7 september 2013 during a west nile virus (wnv) outbreak. patients were aged 29, 56, and 61 years. the two older patients had several comorbidities (arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus). all patients presented with meningitis and meningoencephalitis closely resembling wnv neur ...201525361698
wide detection of aedes flavivirus in north-eastern italy--a european hotspot of emerging mosquito-borne diseases.the pattern of flavivirus infection in mosquitoes belonging to the genera aedes and culex collected in two regions of north-eastern italy (trentino and veneto) was assessed. mosquitoes were collected during 2012 and screened for flaviviruses using a generic reverse transcription-nested-pcr targeted on a region of the non-structural ns5 gene. the phylogenetic analysis was performed on a fragment of ~1000 bp. virus isolation was attempted in c6/36 insect cell lines and the infected cell cultures w ...201525326313
variation in interferon sensitivity and induction between usutu and west nile (lineages 1 and 2) viruses.given the pivotal role of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (dcs) in determining the magnitude of the antiviral innate immune response, we sought to determine whether usutu virus (usuv) and west nile virus (wnv) lineages (l)1 and l2 can infect dcs and affect the rate of type i interferon (ifn) activation. the sensitivity of these viruses to types i and iii ifns was also compared. we found that usuv can infect dcs, induce higher antiviral activities, ifn alpha subtypes and the ifn stimulated gene ...201526280469
landscape effects on the presence, abundance and diversity of mosquitoes in mediterranean wetlands.environment determines the distribution of mosquito-borne diseases in that it influences the vector-host-pathogen transmission cycle, including vector distribution, abundance and diversity. in this study, we analyse the relationship between environmental variables estimated by remote sensing and the spatial distribution (presence, abundance and diversity) of seven mosquito species vectors of west nile and other pathogens (usutu, avian malaria and dirofilariasis) in the doñana natural park, spain ...201526086804
west nile virus: high transmission rate in north-western european mosquitoes indicates its epidemic potential and warrants increased surveillance.west nile virus (wnv) is a highly pathogenic flavivirus transmitted by culex spp. mosquitoes. in north america (na), lineage 1 wnv caused the largest outbreak of neuroinvasive disease to date, while a novel pathogenic lineage 2 strain circulates in southern europe. to estimate wnv lineage 2 epidemic potential it is paramount to know if mosquitoes from currently wnv-free areas can support further spread of this epidemic.201526225555
co-circulation of usutu virus and west nile virus in a reed bed ecosystem.mosquito-borne flaviviruses are a major public health threat in many countries worldwide. in central europe, west nile virus (wnv) and usutu virus (usuv), both belonging to the japanese encephalitis virus group (flaviviridae) have emerged in the last decennium. surveillance of mosquito vectors for arboviruses is a sensitive tool to evaluate virus circulation and consequently to estimate the public health risk.201526459018
differential replicative ability of clinical dengue virus isolates in an immunocompetent c57bl/6 mouse model.several experimental animal models have been used to study the pathogenesis of dengue disease; however, most of the studies used laboratory-adapted viruses, which lack the virulence of viruses circulating in humans. the aim of this study was to analyze the ability of clinical dengue virus (denv) isolates (d2/br/rp/rmb/09 and d3/br/sl3/02) to infect immunocompetent c57bl/6 mice.201526415508
a high-performance multiplex immunoassay for serodiagnosis of flavivirus-associated neurological diseases in horses.west nile virus (wnv), japanese encephalitis virus (jev), and tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) are flaviviruses responsible for severe neuroinvasive infections in humans and horses. the confirmation of flavivirus infections is mostly based on rapid serological tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisas). these tests suffer from poor specificity, mainly due to antigenic cross-reactivity among flavivirus members. robust diagnosis therefore needs to be validated through virus neut ...201526457301
dna vaccines encoding the envelope protein of west nile virus lineages 1 or 2 administered intramuscularly, via electroporation and with recombinant virus protein induce partial protection in large falcons (falco spp.).as west nile virus (wnv) can cause lethal diseases in raptors, a vaccination prophylaxis of free-living and captive populations is desirable. in the absence of vaccines approved for birds, equine vaccines have been used in falcons, but full protection against wnv infection was not achieved. therefore, two dna vaccines encoding the ectodomain of the envelope protein of wnv lineages 1 and 2, respectively, were evaluated in 28 large falcons. four different vaccination protocols were used, including ...201526282836
modification of the host cell lipid metabolism induced by hypolipidemic drugs targeting the acetyl coenzyme a carboxylase impairs west nile virus replication.west nile virus (wnv) is a neurotropic flavivirus transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes that causes meningitis and encephalitis in humans, horses, and birds. several studies have highlighted that flavivirus infection is highly dependent on cellular lipids for virus replication and infectious particle biogenesis. the first steps of lipid synthesis involve the carboxylation of acetyl coenzyme a (acetyl-coa) to malonyl-coa that is catalyzed by the acetyl-coa carboxylase (acc). this makes acc a key ...201526503654
enhanced west nile virus surveillance in the north kent marshes, uk.as part of efforts to more fully understand the potential risks posed by west nile virus (wnv) and usutu virus (usuv) in the uk, and following on from previous reports of a potential bridge vector culex modestus for these viruses, at wetland sites in north kent, mosquito surveillance was undertaken more widely across the isle of sheppey, the hoo peninsula and the kent mainland.201525884920
on risk appraisal of behaviour. 201526674817
one-step real-time rt-pcr assays for serotyping dengue virus in clinical samples.dengue is one of the leading causes of morbidity in tropical and subtropical regions and infection with any of the four dengue virus serotypes (denv1-4) result in a wide range of clinical manifestations. given the geographic expansion of denv1-4, assays for serotyping are needed to be able to perform surveillance and epidemiological studies. in this study, we describe the design and validation of one-step real-time serotype-specific denv rt-pcr assays.201526527283
west nile virus surveillance in 2013 via mosquito screening in northern italy and the influence of weather on virus circulation.west nile virus (wnv) is a recently re-emerged health problem in europe. in italy, an increasing number of outbreaks of west nile disease, with occurrences of human cases, have been reported since 2008. this is particularly true in northern italy, where entomological surveillance systems have been implemented at a regional level. the aim of this study was to use, for the first time, all the entomological data collected in the five regions undergoing surveillance for wnv in northern italy to char ...201526488475
west nile virus seroprevalence in the greek population in 2013: a nationwide cross-sectional survey.cases of west nile virus (wnv) disease were recorded for three consecutive years in greece following the year 2010 outbreak. a cross-sectional serologic survey was conducted to estimate the wnv seroprevalence and assess the ratio of infection to neuroinvasive disease. a stratified left-over sampling methodology was used including age and residence strata. a total of 3,962 serum samples was collected and tested for wnv immunoglobulin g (igg) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) ...201526605539
the common coot as sentinel species for the presence of west nile and usutu flaviviruses in central europe.we examined 146 common coots (fulica atra) on fishponds in central moravia, czech republic, for antibodies to west nile (wnv) and usutu (usuv) flaviviruses. eighteen birds reacted in the plaque-reduction neutralization test against wnv; these wnv seropositive samples were then titrated in parallel against usuv and tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) to exclude flavivirus cross-reactivity. two birds (1.4% overall) had the highest titers against wnv while 9 birds (6.2% overall) were seropositive ...201526412536
a review of west nile and usutu virus co-circulation in europe: how much do transmission cycles overlap?due to the increasing global spread of arboviruses, the geographic extent of virus co-circulation is expanding. this complicates the diagnosis of febrile conditions and can have direct effects on the epidemiology. as previously demonstrated, subsequent infections by two closely related viruses, such as those belonging to the japanese encephalitis virus (jev) serocomplex, can lead to partial or complete cross-immunity, altering the risk of infections or the outcome of disease. two flaviviruses th ...201526286946
epidemic spread of usutu virus in southwest germany in 2011 to 2013 and monitoring of wild birds for usutu and west nile viruses.mosquito-borne viruses are becoming an increasing threat for europe. one of these viruses is usutu virus (usuv), a single-stranded rna virus belonging to the japanese encephalitis virus group within the family flaviviridae. since the occurrence of usuv among wild birds in june, 2011, infected blackbirds (turdus merula) have frequently been found dead in southwest germany, cumulating in a massive die-off. moreover, other bird species (strigiformes) in this region have been affected. in a first st ...201526273809
a model of laboratory surveillance for neuro-arbovirosis applied during 2012 in the emilia-romagna region, italy.arboviruses with neuroinvasive potential are gaining more attention due to the increased number of cases of autochthonous and imported infections in the human host. diagnosis of infection caused by these viruses in patients with central nervous system (cns) diseases is still underestimated and these infections represent an emerging threat to public health. we describe a model suitable for the laboratory surveillance of neuro-arbovirosis that was applied in the emilia-romagna region, north-easter ...201424329773
implementation of surveillance of invasive mosquitoes in belgium according to the ecdc guidelines.in 2012, the new guidelines for the surveillance of ims in europe, produced by the european centre for disease prevention and control (ecdc), were tested in belgium. this study aimed at (1) testing the usefulness and applicability in the field of the ecdc guidelines for the surveillance of ims in europe and (2) surveying ims throughout belgium.201424766783
limited efficacy of west nile virus vaccines in large falcons (falco spp.).west nile virus (wnv) can lead to fatal diseases in raptor species. unfortunately, there is no vaccine which has been designed specifically for use in breeding stocks of falcons. therefore the immunogenicity and protective capacity of two commercially available wnv vaccines, both approved for use in horses, were evaluated in large falcons. one vaccine contained adjuvanted inactivated wnv lineage 1 immunogens, while the second represented a canarypox recombinant live virus vector vaccine. the eff ...201424708385
vector competence of aedes aegypti and aedes vittatus (diptera: culicidae) from senegal and cape verde archipelago for west african lineages of chikungunya virus.to assess the risk of emergence of chikungunya virus (chikv) in west africa, vector competence of wild-type, urban, and non-urban aedes aegypti and ae. vittatus from senegal and cape verde for chikv was investigated. mosquitoes were fed orally with chikv isolates from mosquitoes (ard30237), bats (cs13-288), and humans (hd180738). after 5, 10, and 15 days of incubation following an infectious blood meal, presence of chikv rna was determined in bodies, legs/wings, and saliva using real-time revers ...201425002293
climatic effects on mosquito abundance in mediterranean wetlands.the impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases is highly controversial. one of the principal points of debate is whether or not climate influences mosquito abundance, a key factor in disease transmission.201425030527
early warning of west nile virus mosquito vector: climate and land use models successfully explain phenology and abundance of culex pipiens mosquitoes in north-western italy.west nile virus (wnv) is an emerging global health threat. transmission risk is strongly related to the abundance of mosquito vectors, typically culex pipiens in europe. early-warning predictors of mosquito population dynamics would therefore help guide entomological surveillance and thereby facilitate early warnings of transmission risk.201424924622
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