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Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)2013; 13(10); 772-774; doi: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1236

Demonstration of Usutu virus antibodies in horses, Croatia.

Abstract: We report the first serological evidence of Usutu virus (USUV) infection in horses in Croatia. During 2011, 1380 horse serum samples from healthy animals were collected from six northern Croatian counties. All samples were first screened for West Nile virus (WNV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sixty-nine WNV ELISA-reactive samples were further tested for WNV antibodies by a virus neutralization assay (VN assay) and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), and USUV by a VN assay and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) antibodies by PRNT. During the same period, 306 human serum samples from patients coming for routine testing with no symptoms of acute febrile disease were tested for USUV IgG using ELISA. Reactive samples were tested for both USUV and WNV using a VN assay. USUV-specific neutralizing antibodies were detected in two of 69 WNV ELISA-reactive horse serum samples. Seropositive animals were found in two different regions of Croatia. One additional sample showed specific WNV-neutralizing antibodies that cross-neutralized USUV. Only one human sample (0.3%) was reactive to USUV antibodies in an ELISA test. In a confirmatory test, WNV-neutralizing antibodies were detected, indicating cross-reactive antibodies with USUV in ELISA. The exposure to USUV was documented in two WNV ELISA-reactive horses at distant locations. These results indicate the presence of USUV in northern Croatia.
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Publication Date: 2013-06-29 PubMed ID: 23808977DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1236Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 demonstrates the first documented presence of Usutu virus (an infection typically carried by mosquitoes) in horses in Croatia, revealed through serological (blood) tests during the year of 2011. The researchers also examined the presence of this virus in a smaller selection of tested humans.

Background and Methodology

  • The research was conducted in the wake of an increase in West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) occurrences in Europe.
  • The researchers collected 1380 horse serum samples from healthy horses across six counties in Northern Croatia over the course of 2011.
  • In order to identify the potential presence of the USUV, they initially screened all collected samples for WNV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  • A smaller selection of samples (69 in total) that showed a response to WNV in the ELISA test was further examined for WNV and USUV with additional tests, including a virus neutralization assay (VN assay), a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) and a tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) test.

Investigation on Human Samples

  • Alongside horses, 306 human serum samples were also collected and examined in the same year.
  • These humans were chosen as they were partaking in routine medical tests and did not show symptoms of acute febrile disease, a condition typically associated with mosquito-borne infections such as USUV.
  • These human samples were also subjected to ELISA tests for antibodies against USUV. If the ELISA test was positive for USUV, further tests were conducted to validate the results.

Results and Findings

  • The research found that two of the 69 horse serum samples which initially showed a response to the WNV ELISA test had USUV-specific neutralizing antibodies, indicating the presence of USUV in these horses.
  • This marked the first time USUV was identified in horses from Croatia, and these two horses were from different regions of Croatia, suggesting the spread of the virus.
  • One additional horse serum sample was found to contain WNV-neutralizing antibodies that could also neutralize USUV.
  • In human samples however, only one (0.3%) reacted to USUV antibodies in an ELISA test.
  • The serological test results in both horses and humans thus highlight the presence of USUV in Northern Croatia, affirming the need for further epidemiological studies in this region.

Cite This Article

APA
Barbic L, Vilibic-Cavlek T, Listes E, Stevanovic V, Gjenero-Margan I, Ljubin-Sternak S, Pem-Novosel I, Listes I, Mlinaric-Galinovic G, Di Gennaro A, Savini G. (2013). Demonstration of Usutu virus antibodies in horses, Croatia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 13(10), 772-774. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2012.1236

Publication

Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
ISSN: 1557-7759
NlmUniqueID: 100965525
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 10
Pages: 772-774

Researcher Affiliations

Barbic, Ljubo
  • 1 Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb , Zagreb, Croatia .
Vilibic-Cavlek, Tatjana
    Listes, Eddy
      Stevanovic, Vladimir
        Gjenero-Margan, Ira
          Ljubin-Sternak, Suncanica
            Pem-Novosel, Iva
              Listes, Irena
                Mlinaric-Galinovic, Gordana
                  Di Gennaro, Annapia
                    Savini, Giovanni

                      MeSH Terms

                      • Animals
                      • Antibodies, Neutralizing
                      • Antibodies, Viral / blood
                      • Croatia / epidemiology
                      • Cross Reactions
                      • Encephalitis Viruses, Japanese / genetics
                      • Encephalitis Viruses, Japanese / immunology
                      • Encephalitis Viruses, Japanese / isolation & purification
                      • Encephalitis, Arbovirus / epidemiology
                      • Encephalitis, Arbovirus / veterinary
                      • Encephalitis, Arbovirus / virology
                      • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
                      • Flavivirus Infections / epidemiology
                      • Flavivirus Infections / veterinary
                      • Flavivirus Infections / virology
                      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                      • Horse Diseases / virology
                      • Horses
                      • Humans
                      • Neutralization Tests / veterinary
                      • Seroepidemiologic Studies
                      • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
                      • West Nile Fever / veterinary
                      • West Nile Fever / virology
                      • West Nile virus / immunology
                      • West Nile virus / isolation & purification

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