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International journal of environmental research and public health2013; 10(8); 3112-3120; doi: 10.3390/ijerph10083112

Use of competition ELISA for monitoring of West Nile virus infections in horses in Germany.

Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne viral pathogen of global importance and is considered to be the most widespread flavivirus in the World. Horses, as dead-end hosts, can be infected by bridge mosquito vectors and undergo either subclinical infections or develop severe neurological diseases. The aim of this study was to detect WNV specific antibodies in horses in Germany as an indicator for an endemic circulation of WNV. Sera from more than 5,000 horses (primarily fallen stock animals) were collected in eight different federal states of Germany from 2010 to 2012. Sera were screened by a competitive ELISA and positive reactions were verified by an indirect IgM ELISA and/or by virus neutralization tests (VNT) for WNV and Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in order to exclude cross-reacting antibody reactions. In essence WNV specific antibodies could not be detected in any of the horse sera. Not surprisingly, a small number of sera contained antibodies against TBEV. It is noteworthy that equine sera were often collected from horse carcasses and therefore were of poor quality. Nonetheless, these sera were still suitable for WNV ELISA testing, i.e., they did not produce a high background reaction which is a frequently observed phenomenon. According to these data there is no evidence for indigenous WNV infections in horses in Germany at present.
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Publication Date: 2013-07-24 PubMed ID: 23887620PubMed Central: PMC3774427DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10083112Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research paper discusses a study in which more than 5000 horses in Germany were tested for the West Nile virus (WNV) using a competitive ELISA. Despite the poor quality of the samples, no WNV specific antibodies were found, offering no evidence of indigenous WNV infections in horses in Germany.

Research Aim and Methodology

  • The study sought to detect WNV specific antibodies in horses in Germany as a measure of endemic WNV circulation. West Nile virus is a globally significant, mosquito-borne viral pathogen considered to be the world’s most widespread flavivirus. Despite horses serving as dead-end hosts, these animals can encounter infections from bridge mosquito vectors that may either result in subclinical infections or severe neurological diseases.
  • A competitive ELISA was used to screen sera from over 5000 horses, primarily those that had fallen (died). These samples were collected in eight different federal states in Germany between 2010 and 2012.
  • Positive reactions obtained from competitive ELISA were subsequently verified using an indirect IgM ELISA and/or virus neutralization tests (VNT) for both WNV and Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). This was done to exclude possible cross-reacting antibody reactions, which could skew results.

Key Findings

  • The study found that none of the horse sera tested contained WNV specific antibodies. Consequently, these results revealed no proof of indigenous WNV infections in German horses.
  • A notable observation was that, even though the majority of the equine sera samples were of poor quality due to collection from horse carcasses, they were still suitable for WNV ELISA testing. The results did not indicate a high incidence of background reaction, which is a commonly observed phenomenon.
  • Interestingly, a small number of sera samples did contain antibodies against TBEV, highlighting the prevalence of this virus in the population under study.

Conclusion

  • In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the epidemiology of WNV in Germany. The lack of WNV specific antibodies in horse sera indicates that, at present, there is no evidence to support the existence of WNV in the horse populations across the country.

Cite This Article

APA
Ziegler U, Angenvoort J, Klaus C, Nagel-Kohl U, Sauerwald C, Thalheim S, Horner S, Braun B, Kenklies S, Tyczka J, Keller M, Groschup MH. (2013). Use of competition ELISA for monitoring of West Nile virus infections in horses in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 10(8), 3112-3120. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10083112

Publication

International journal of environmental research and public health
ISSN: 1660-4601
NlmUniqueID: 101238455
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 8
Pages: 3112-3120

Researcher Affiliations

Ziegler, Ute
  • Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. ute.ziegler@fli.bund.de
Angenvoort, Joke
    Klaus, Christine
      Nagel-Kohl, Uschi
        Sauerwald, Claudia
          Thalheim, Sabine
            Horner, Steffen
              Braun, Bettina
                Kenklies, Susanne
                  Tyczka, Judith
                    Keller, Markus
                      Groschup, Martin H

                        MeSH Terms

                        • Animals
                        • Antibodies, Viral / blood
                        • Antibody Specificity
                        • Cross Reactions
                        • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / immunology
                        • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
                        • Flavivirus
                        • Germany / epidemiology
                        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                        • Horses
                        • Seroepidemiologic Studies
                        • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
                        • West Nile Fever / veterinary
                        • West Nile virus / immunology

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