Sindbis virus neutralising antibodies detected in Swedish horses.
Abstract: A number of viruses transmitted by mosquitoes are well known to cause disease in both humans and horses, ranging from mild fevers to mortal neurological disease. A recently discovered connection between the alphavirus Sindbis virus (SINV) and neurological disease in horses in South Africa initiated this serological study in northern Europe, where the same genotype of SINV (SINV-I) is also highly endemic. We tested 171 serum samples, originally obtained from horses for other reasons from April to October 2019, for presence of SINV neutralising antibodies using a plaque reduction neutralisation test (PRNT). The serum from six horses reduced the plaque count more than 80%, and two out of these reduced the plaque count more than 90%. These horses were sampled in six different regions of Sweden, and included individuals sampled from April to August. This study shows that horses in Sweden have become infected with SINV and developed neutralising antibodies. Potential connections between infection and development of disease are important questions for future studies.
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2021-03-25 PubMed ID: 33851003PubMed Central: PMC8039815DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100242Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Alphavirus
- Antibodies
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Endemic Disease
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Infectious Disease
- Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Neurological Diseases
- Public Health
- Serological Surveys
- Serology
- Seroprevalence
- Vector-borne disease
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Virus
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 article explores the presence of Sindbis virus (SINV) neutralising antibodies found in horses in Sweden. The study was prompted by the discovery of a link between this virus and neurological disease in horses in South Africa.
Context and Rationale
- The focus of the research was on the Sindbis virus (SINV), an alphavirus that is transmitted by mosquitoes.
- Similar viruses cause a range of illnesses in both humans and horses, from mild fevers to severe neurological disease.
- The decision to undertake this study came after a discovery linking SINV to neurological disease in horses in South Africa.
- Given that the same genotype of the virus, SINV-I, is also prevalent in northern Europe, the researchers sought to investigate a similar connection in this region.
Methodology
- The team started by testing 171 serum samples, which had been gathered from horses for different reasons between April and October 2019.
- These samples were tested for the presence of SINV neutralising antibodies using a technique known as a plaque reduction neutralisation test (PRNT).
- With this test, the reduction in plaque count illustrates the presence of neutralising antibodies in the serum.
Findings
- The researchers found that the serum from six out of the 171 horses reduced the plaque count by more than 80%, indicating the presence of neutralising antibodies.
- Furthermore, two out of these six horses had a more significant reduction in plaque count of over 90%.
- These horses were found across six different regions in Sweden and included a range of individuals sampled from April to August.
Conclusions and Further Research
- The results of the study reveal that horses in Sweden have been infected with SINV and have hence developed neutralising antibodies.
- This provides evidence that the virus successfully infects horses in regions where the SINV-I genotype is endemic.
- The researchers assert that future studies should seek to explore potential connections between infection and the development of disease in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Björnström A, Blomström AL, Singh MC, Hesson JC.
(2021).
Sindbis virus neutralising antibodies detected in Swedish horses.
One Health, 12, 100242.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100242 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Sweden.
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Sweden.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Jansen S, Lühken R, Helms M, Pluskota B, Pfitzner WP, Oerther S, Becker N, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Heitmann A. Vector Competence of Mosquitoes from Germany for Sindbis Virus. Viruses 2022 Nov 26;14(12).
- Streng K, Holicki CM, Hesson JC, Graham H, Chandler F, Krol L, Blom R, Münger E, van der Linden A, Koenraadt CJM, Schrama M, de Saint Lary CB, Visser LG, Munnink BO, Lundkvist Å, Koopmans MPG, van der Jeugd HP, van der Poel WHM, Sikkema RS. Local Circulation of Sindbis Virus in Wild Birds and Horses, the Netherlands, 2021-2022. Emerg Infect Dis 2025 Apr;31(4):863-866.
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