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Home / Equine Research Bank / Viruses / Exposure of Horses in Israel to West Nile Virus and Usutu Vi...
Viruses2020; 12(10); 1099; doi: 10.3390/v12101099

Exposure of Horses in Israel to West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus.

Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are arboviruses transmitted by mosquito vectors. Whereas WNV is endemic in Israel, the Middle East, Europe, and in the Americas, data regarding the prevalence of USUV in the Middle East is limited. While both viruses share similar reservoirs and vectors, exposure of horses in the area to USUV have never been assessed. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and co-exposure of WNV and USUV in horses in Israel. A total of 327 serum samples from healthy unvaccinated horses in Israel collected in 2018 were tested for neutralizing antibodies against WNV and USUV. Seroprevalence for neutralizing antibodies against WNV and USUV was 84.1% and 10.8%, respectively. Management and age were significantly associated with WNV and USUV seropositivity. This is the first report describing exposure of horses in Israel to USUV, which indicates that this zoonotic pathogen should be included in the differential diagnosis list of neuroinvasive disease in this country.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-28 PubMed ID: 32998459PubMed Central: PMC7650752DOI: 10.3390/v12101099Google 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.

This research investigates the exposure of horses in Israel to West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), both transmitted by mosquitos. The study discovered a significant presence of these viruses in the local horse population, indicating a need to include USUV in diagnosis considerations for diseases in the country.

Key Objectives

  • The ultimate objective of this research was to evaluate and establish the seroprevalence and co-exposure of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) in the horse population in Israel. This was done to fill gaps in knowledge about the exposure of horses to these two mosquitoes transmitted viruses, especially since very little is known about the prevalence of USUV in the Middle East.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved testing 327 serum samples from healthy unvaccinated horses in Israel. This was done in the year 2018.
  • The testing was focused on assessing the presence of neutralizing antibodies against West Nile virus and Usutu virus. The presence of these antibodies in the serum samples would indicate a previous exposure to the respective viruses.

Results and Findings

  • The seroprevalence for neutralizing antibodies against West Nile virus was found to be 84.1%. This shows that the majority of the horses in the tested sample had been exposed to the virus at some point.
  • Meanwhile, the seroprevalence for antibodies against Usutu virus was determined to be 10.8%. Even though this is a minority of the sample, it’s significant because it’s the first time exposure of horses in Israel to Usutu virus has been confirmed.
  • The study also identified significant correlations between management and age with seropositivity to both West Nile virus and Usutu virus.

Implications

  • In light of these findings, the researchers recommend including Usutu virus in the differential diagnosis list of neuroinvasive diseases in Israel. This step is important in ensuring that diseases caused by the virus are accurately diagnosed and treated.

Cite This Article

APA
Schvartz G, Tirosh-Levy S, Erester O, Shenhar R, Levy H, Bazanow B, Gelman B, Steinman A. (2020). Exposure of Horses in Israel to West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus. Viruses, 12(10), 1099. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12101099

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 10
PII: 1099

Researcher Affiliations

Schvartz, Gili
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
  • Department of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan 50200, Israel.
Tirosh-Levy, Sharon
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Erester, Oran
  • Central Virology Laboratory, Haim Sheba Medical Center, Ministry of Health, Ramat-Gan 5265601, Israel.
Shenhar, Roni
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Levy, Hadas
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Bazanow, Barbara
  • Department of Pathology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Gelman, Boris
  • Department of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan 50200, Israel.
Steinman, Amir
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Flavivirus
  • Flavivirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Flavivirus Infections / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Mosquito Vectors / virology
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / immunology
  • West Nile Fever / veterinary
  • West Nile virus

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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This article has been cited 9 times.
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