First Serological Evidence of West Nile Virus in Horses and Dogs from Corsica Island, France.
Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is widely distributed over the world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia and spread over the past two decades to North and South America. In the south of France, sporadic cases are frequently described and the virus is endemic in Italy with frequent cases and outbreaks. The aim of this study was to identify a possible WNV circulation in Corsica (French island in the Mediterranean Sea) in sheep, horses, and dogs as sentinel animals for the virus surveillance. In 2014, 386 blood samples were collected from 219 sheep, 96 horses, and 71 dogs, in 12 localities in Corsica, in the oriental coast of Corsica. Each sample was systematically tested for WNV immunoglobulin G using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with inactivated WNV as antigen. The result of the ELISA for the WNV antibody test on the sheep sera was all negative, whereas 9 of 96 horses (9.4%) and 6 of 71 dogs (8.4%) presented WNV antibodies. All the positive samples from horses and dogs were confirmed by serum neutralization test. Although no clinical case in humans and horses was reported to date, this report highlights the necessity to improve WNV surveillance in animals and humans, as well as in blood donors in Corsica.
Publication Date: 2017-01-11 PubMed ID: 28075236DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2024Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article focuses on the detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) in horses and dogs in Corsica, an island in France. The researchers tested serum samples from sheep, horses, and dogs and found evidence that the virus had circulated among the horse and dog populations.
Objective of the Study
- This study aimed to detect the presence of West Nile virus in the animal population of Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea.
- It focused on sheep, horses, and dogs as they can serve as sentinel animals to monitor for the spread of the virus.
- Given the prevalent spread of the WNV in many parts of the world and its endemic presence in nearby Italy, the researchers sought to understand if the virus had made its way to Corsica.
Sampling and Testing Methodologies
- In 2014, the researchers collected 386 blood samples from 219 sheep, 96 horses, and 71 dogs.
- These samples came from 12 different locations on the eastern coast of Corsica.
- Each sample was tested for the presence of West Nile virus immunoglobulin G using a proprietary enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The ELISA test used inactivated WNV as the antigen.
Findings of the Study
- The results of the ELISA tests showed that all the sheep samples tested negative for the West Nile virus.
- On the other hand, 9.4% of the horse samples and 8.4% of the dog samples were found with WNV antibodies. This provides serological evidence that WNV has circulated in Corsica’s horse and dog populations.
- All positive cases in horses and dogs were further confirmed using a serum neutralization test.
Conclusions and Implications
- Despite no reported cases of WNV infections in humans and horses in Corsica, this study highlights the need to intensify surveillance efforts.
- These enhanced precautions are necessary not just in animals and humans, but also for blood donors given the potential transmission of the virus through blood transfusions.
Cite This Article
APA
Maquart M, Dahmani M, Marié JL, Gravier P, Leparc-Goffart I, Davoust B.
(2017).
First Serological Evidence of West Nile Virus in Horses and Dogs from Corsica Island, France.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 17(4), 275-277.
https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2016.2024 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1 French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus-Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute , Marseille, France .
- 2 Research Unit of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases (URMITE) UMR CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095, Aix-Marseille University , Marseille, France .
- 3 Animal Working Group on Animal Epidemiology , Regional Medical Command, Toulon, France .
- 1 French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus-Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute , Marseille, France .
- 1 French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus-Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute , Marseille, France .
- 2 Research Unit of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases (URMITE) UMR CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095, Aix-Marseille University , Marseille, France .
- 3 Animal Working Group on Animal Epidemiology , Regional Medical Command, Toulon, France .
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dog Diseases / blood
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dog Diseases / virology
- Dogs
- France / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- West Nile Fever / epidemiology
- West Nile Fever / veterinary
- West Nile Fever / virology
- West Nile virus / isolation & purification
Citations
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