Screening for West Nile virus infections of susceptible animal species in Austria.
Abstract: Avian mortality and encephalomyelitis in equines are considered good indicators for West Nile virus (WNV) activity. We retrospectively tested 385 horse sera for WNV antibodies and looked for WNV nucleic acid and/or WNV antigen in paraffin embedded tissues from 12 horses with aetiologically unresolved encephalomyelitis and 102 free-living birds of different species which had been found dead. With the exception of four horses originating from eastern European countries investigated on the occasion of transit through Austria, all horse sera were negative. Nested RT-PCR of the horse tissues yielded no amplification of WNV-RNA. Also, all bird samples, examined by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and nested RT-PCR were negative for WNV. These results indicate that currently WNV cannot be considered a significant pathogen in Austria.
Publication Date: 2003-11-05 PubMed ID: 14596545PubMed Central: PMC2870048DOI: 10.1017/s0950268803001031Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research studied the occurrence of West Nile virus in susceptible animal species in Austria, including horses and birds. The results indicated that the virus is currently not considered a significant pathogen in Austria.
Objective of the Study
- The aim of this research was to investigate the presence and impact of the West Nile Virus (WNV) in susceptible animal populations in Austria, namely horses and birds. The researchers retrospectively tested horse sera (blood serum) for WNV antibodies and examined tissues from horses and free-living birds for presence of WNV nucleic acid and/or WNV antigen.
Research Procedure
- A total of 385 horse sera were tested for the presence of antibodies that target the West Nile Virus.
- The researchers also examined paraffin-embedded tissues from 12 horses that had previously displayed signs of encephalomyelitis of unknown origin.
- Tissues from 102 free-living birds of different species, which were found dead, were also tested. Birds are considered good bioindicators of viral presence due to their high mortality rate when infected.
Investigation Methods
- The tests involved looking for WNV nucleic acid and/or WNV antigen through nested Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) – a laboratory technique used to detect the presence of certain types of RNA or DNA in a sample.
- Researchers also performed immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization – procedures that are used to help identify the presence and localization of specific antigens or proteins in tissues.
Research Findings
- None of the tested horse sera from Austria showed any signs of WNV antibodies.
- No WNV-RNA was found in the horse tissue samples upon performing nested RT-PCR.
- All bird samples investigated via immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and nested RT-PCR were negative for WNV.
Conclusion
- Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that the West Nile Virus can currently not be considered a significant pathogen in Austria as the tested horses and free-living birds did not exhibit signs of the presence of the virus.
Cite This Article
APA
Weissenböck H, Hubálek Z, Halouzka J, Pichlmair A, Maderner A, Fragner K, Kolodziejek J, Loupal G, Kölbl S, Nowotny N.
(2003).
Screening for West Nile virus infections of susceptible animal species in Austria.
Epidemiol Infect, 131(2), 1023-1027.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0950268803001031 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Austria / epidemiology
- Bird Diseases / epidemiology
- Birds
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- In Situ Hybridization
- Retrospective Studies
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- West Nile Fever / diagnosis
- West Nile Fever / epidemiology
- West Nile Fever / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Gothe LMR, Ganzenberg S, Ziegler U, Obiegala A, Lohmann KL, Sieg M, Vahlenkamp TW, Groschup MH, Hörügel U, Pfeffer M. Horses as Sentinels for the Circulation of Flaviviruses in Eastern-Central Germany. Viruses 2023 Apr 30;15(5).
- de Heus P, Kolodziejek J, Hubálek Z, Dimmel K, Racher V, Nowotny N, Cavalleri JV. West Nile Virus and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Are Endemic in Equids in Eastern Austria. Viruses 2021 Sep 19;13(9).
- Trimmel NE, Walzer C. Infectious Wildlife Diseases in Austria-A Literature Review From 1980 Until 2017. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:3.
- de Heus P, Kolodziejek J, Camp JV, Dimmel K, Bagó Z, Hubálek Z, van den Hoven R, Cavalleri JV, Nowotny N. Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 in Europe: Characteristics of the first seven cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in horses in Austria. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020 May;67(3):1189-1197.
- Hubálek Z, Ludvíková E, Jahn P, Treml F, Rudolf I, Svobodová P, Šikutová S, Betášová L, Bíreš J, Mojžíš M, Tinák M, Boldižár M, Citsoňová G, Staššíková Z. West Nile Virus equine serosurvey in the Czech and Slovak republics. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013 Oct;13(10):733-8.
- Mostegl MM, Richter B, Nedorost N, Maderner A, Dinhopl N, Weissenböck H. Investigations on the prevalence and potential pathogenicity of intestinal trichomonads in pigs using in situ hybridization. Vet Parasitol 2011 May 31;178(1-2):58-63.
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