Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in wild and domestic animals in northern Germany.
Abstract: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a tick-transmitted flavivirus, which can infect humans and animals, sometimes even with a fatal outcome. Since many decades, TBEV is endemic in southern Germany, while only sporadic occurrence has been noted in northern parts of the country so far. Nevertheless, autochthonous human clinical cases are increasing in the federal state of Lower Saxony in north-western Germany, and several natural foci of TBEV transmission have recently been detected in this federal state. In order to shed more light on the current distribution of TBEV in Lower Saxony, the present study examined blood samples from wild and domestic animals for antibodies against TBEV. Overall, samples from 4,085 animals were tested by ELISA, including wild boar (N = 1,208), roe deer (N = 149), red deer (N = 61), fallow deer (N = 18), red foxes (N = 9), nutria (N = 9), raccoon dogs (N = 3), raccoons (N = 3), badgers (N = 1), European pine martens (N = 1), horses (N = 574), sheep (N = 266), goats (N = 67), dogs (N = 1,317) and cats (N = 399). Samples with an ELISA result of ≥60 Vienna units (VIEU)/ml were subjected to confirmatory serum neutralization tests (SNT). In total, 343 of 4,085 (8.4%) animals tested positive for anti-TBEV-IgG by ELISA, of which 60 samples were confirmed by SNT. Samples of 89 animals showed a cytotoxic effect in the SNT and were excluded from seroprevalence calculation, resulting in an overall seroprevalence of 1.5% (60/3,996). Seroprevalence was higher among wild animals (wild boar: 2.9% [34/1,190], roe deer: 2.7% [4/149], red deer: 1.7% [1/60], fallow deer: 5.6% [1/18]) than among domestic animals (dogs: 1.1% [15/1,317], horses: 0.8% [4/505], sheep: 0.4% [1/266]). No anti-TBEV-antibodies were detected in the other wild animal species as well as goats and cats. A notable clustering of positive samples was observed in districts where TBEV transmission foci have been described. Further clusters in other districts suggest the existence of so far undetected transmission foci, underlining the fact that both wild and domestic animals are useful sentinels for monitoring the spread of TBEV.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier GmbH.
Publication Date: 2023-06-23 PubMed ID: 37356181DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102220Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research reveals that tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is prevalent both in wild and domestic animals in northern Germany, particularly in areas known to be TBEV transmission hotspots.
Objective of the Study
- The main purpose of this study was to determine the distribution and prevalence of TBEV among wild and domestic animals in Lower Saxony, northern Germany. This area has seen an increase in autochthonous human clinical cases of the virus, and there have been discoveries of several natural sources of TBEV transmission.
Methodology
- For the study, blood samples were collected and examined from 4,085 animal species, both wild and domestic. The list of sampled species included a broad range, from wild boar and red deer to horses, sheep, dogs, and cats.
- The samples were tested for the presence of anti-TBEV IgG antibodies using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).
- Samples with a certain antibody concentration, measured as 60 Vienna units (VIEU/ml), were subjected to a confirmatory Serum Neutralization Test (SNT).
Findings
- Out of all the tested samples, 343 proved positive for anti-TBEV-IgG antibodies in the initial ELISA test. However, only 60 of these were confirmed positive using the SNT.
- The overall prevalence of TBEV was determined to be 1.5% (60 out of 3,996). The prevalence among wild animals was generally higher than domestic animals. For instance, 2.9% of wild boars and 2.7% of roe deer had TBEV as opposed to 1.1% dogs and 0.4% sheep among the domestic animals tested.
- No TBEV antibodies were found among certain wild species, plus goats and cats.
- Positive samples were notably clustered in areas already known to be TBEV transmission hotspots. However, the presence of other clusters hinted at the possibility of yet undetected transmission sources.
Conclusion
- The results underscore the significance of both wild and domestic animals as valuable sentinels for monitoring the spread of TBEV.
Cite This Article
APA
Topp AK, Springer A, Mischke R, Rieder J, Feige K, Ganter M, Nagel-Kohl U, Nordhoff M, Boelke M, Becker S, Pachnicke S, Schunack B, Dobler G, Strube C.
(2023).
Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in wild and domestic animals in northern Germany.
Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 14(6), 102220.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102220 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany.
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany.
- Clinic for Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30559, Germany.
- Clinic for Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30559, Germany.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30559, Germany.
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30173, Germany.
- Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Veterinary Institute Hannover, Hannover 30173, Germany.
- Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Food and Veterinary Institute Oldenburg, Oldenburg 26133, Germany.
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany.
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany.
- Elanco Deutschland GmbH, Monheim am Rhein 40789, Germany.
- Elanco Animal Health, Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Monheim 40789, Germany.
- National Reference Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich 80937, Germany.
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, Hannover 30559, Germany. Electronic address: christina.strube@tiho-hannover.de.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest SP is an employee of Elanco Deutschland GmbH, BS is an employee of Elanco Animal Health. Study data collection and interpretation is completely independent from the company's opinion and the authors declare that there is no conflict with commercial interests. The remaining authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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