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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2021; 10(2); 140; doi: 10.3390/pathogens10020140

Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence and Factors Influencing Occurrence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Horses in Lithuania.

Abstract: Various animal species have been evaluated in depth for their potential as Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) sentinel species, although evidence for equine capacity is incomplete. Therefore, a comprehensive cross-sectional stratified serosurvey and PCR analysis of selected horses ( = 301) were performed in TBEV endemic localities in Lithuania. Attached and moving ticks ( = 241) have been collected from aforementioned hosts to evaluate natural infectivity of TBEV vectors () in the recreational environments surrounding equestrian centers. All samples were screened for TBEV IgG and positive samples were confirmed by virus neutralization test (VNT). 113 (37.5%) horses from all counties of Lithuania tested positive for TBEV IgG, revealing age and sex indifferent results of equine seroprevalence that were significantly dependent on pedigree: horses of mixed breed were more susceptible to infection possibly due to their management practices. TBEV prevalence in equine species corresponded to TBEV-confirmed human cases in the precedent year. As much as 3.9% of horses were viraemic with TBEV-RNA with subsequent confirmation of TBEV European subtype. 4/38 of tested tick pools were positive for TBEV-RNA (Minimal infectious rate 1.2%). Several unknown microfoci were revealed during the study indicating areas of extreme risk close to popular human entertainment sites. The study provides important evidence in favor of horses' usage as sentinel species, as equines could provide more detailed epidemiological mapping of TBEV, as well as more efficient collection of ticks for surveillance studies.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-31 PubMed ID: 33572628PubMed Central: PMC7911650DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020140Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper focuses on the investigation and analysis of the prevalence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) in horses, and how these animals could potentially be used as indicator or “sentinel” species for monitoring the spread of the disease.

Study Design and Procedure

  • This is a cross-sectional study that examined and tested 301 horses from various TBEV-endemic localities in Lithuania. They also investigated 241 ticks that were either attached to or found moving on these horses. The research was aimed at evaluating the natural infectivity of TBEV vectors (i.e., ticks).
  • The horses and ticks were tested for the presence of TBEV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and those that were positive were further confirmed by a virus neutralization test (VNT).

Study Findings

  • The study revealed that 37.5% of the horses from all counties in Lithuania tested positive for TBEV IgG. The susceptibility of horses to the infection did not depend on their age or sex, but was significantly tied to their breed. Specifically, the study found that mixed breed horses were more predisposed to TBEV infection, possibly due to their management practices.
  • The research also found that the prevalence of TBEV in horses corresponded with the number of confirmed human TBEV cases in the previous year, indicating that the virus is similarly distributed in both human and equine populations.
  • Additionally, the study revealed that 3.9% of the horses were viremic, meaning they had the virus in their bloodstream. The TBEV present was confirmed as the European subtype.
  • Of the tested tick pools, 4 out of 38 were positive for TBEV, indicating an infection rate of 1.2%. The study also uncovered several unknown microfoci of TBEV, which are areas of extreme risk that are close to human entertainment sites.

Implications of the findings

  • The findings indicate that horses can be used as sentinel species for TBEV. By monitoring equine populations, scientists could develop a more detailed and localized epidemiological map of TBEV and track its spread in real-time.
  • On top of that, the use of horses for tick collection could make surveillance studies more effective and efficient.

Cite This Article

APA
Pautienius A, Armonaite A, Simkute E, Zagrabskaite R, Buitkuviene J, Alpizar-Jara R, Grigas J, Zakiene I, Zienius D, Salomskas A, Stankevicius A. (2021). Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence and Factors Influencing Occurrence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Horses in Lithuania. Pathogens, 10(2), 140. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10020140

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
PII: 140

Researcher Affiliations

Pautienius, Arnoldas
  • Virology Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
  • Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Armonaite, Austeja
  • Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Simkute, Evelina
  • Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Zagrabskaite, Ruta
  • National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio Str. 10, LT-08409 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Buitkuviene, Jurate
  • National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio Str. 10, LT-08409 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Alpizar-Jara, Russell
  • Research Center in Mathematics and Applications (CIMA-UE), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Department of Mathematics, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal.
Grigas, Juozas
  • Virology Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
  • Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Zakiene, Indre
  • Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Zienius, Dainius
  • Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Salomskas, Algirdas
  • Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Stankevicius, Arunas
  • Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.

Grant Funding

  • MT-18-5 / Funded by Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic Lithuania

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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