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Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses

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A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 21033

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marta Giovanetti

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Guest Editor

1. Instituto Rene Rachou Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte 30.190-009, Minas Gerais, Brazil
2. Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, University of Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
Interests: phylogenetic; phylodynamic; molecular evolution; genomic surveillance; WGS; emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Fernanda De Bruycker Nogueira

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Flavivirus, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: arbovirus; flavivirus; phylogenetics; molecular screening

Dr. Ana Maria Bispo De Filippis

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Guest Editor

Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Interests: arbovirus; flavivirus; surveillance; molecular screening

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Flaviviruses continue to fascinate scientists from Africa to the Americas. Flaviviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses belonging to the family Flaviviridae, which are maintained in nature in complex transmission cycles. The genus includes the West Nile virus, dengue virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus, and several other viruses which may cause encephalitis. Research over the past few decades has unraveled many aspects of flaviviral behavior in natural conditions and has pointed toward their multifaceted virulence mechanisms. These viruses pose a significant global public health risk and, thus, have triggered intensive research into many areas related to their transmission dynamics, pathogenesis, and disease. In this Special Issue, we welcome research papers and review articles related to all aspects of Flavivirus research. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) virus genetics, epidemiology, virus–host interactions, pathogenesis, vaccine development, improvement in diagnostics, as well as vector entomology.

Dr. Marta Giovanetti
Dr. Fernanda De Bruycker Nogueira
Dr. Ana Maria Bispo De Filippis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

flavivirus
evolution
genomic epidemiology
phylodynamics

Published Papers (13 papers)

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16 pages, 1548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DENV-1 Titer Impacts Viral Blocking in wMel Aedes aegypti with Brazilian Genetic Background

by Jessica Corrêa-Antônio, Mariana R. David, Dinair Couto-Lima, Gabriela Azambuja Garcia, Milan S. G. Keirsebelik, Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas and Márcio Galvão Pavan

Viruses 2024, 16(2), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16020214 - 31 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1201

Abstract

Several countries have been using Wolbachia deployments to replace highly competent native Aedes aegypti populations with Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes with lower susceptibility to arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. In Rio de Janeiro, Wolbachia deployments started in 2015 and still present a moderate introgression with a modest reduction in dengue cases in humans (38%). Here, we evaluated the vector competence of wild-type and wMel-infected Ae. aegypti with a Brazilian genetic background to investigate whether virus leakage could contribute to the observed outcomes in Brazil. We collected the specimens in three areas of Rio de Janeiro with distinct frequencies of mosquitoes with wMel strain and two areas with wild Ae. aegypti. The mosquitoes were orally exposed to two titers of DENV-1 and the saliva of DENV-1-infected Ae. aegypti was microinjected into wMel-free mosquitoes to check their infectivity. When infected with the high DENV-1 titer, the presence of wMel did not avoid viral infection in mosquitoes’ bodies and saliva but DENV-1-infected wMel mosquitoes produced lower viral loads than wMel-free mosquitoes. On the other hand, wMel mosquitoes infected with the low DENV-1 titer were less susceptible to virus infection than wMel-free mosquitoes, although once infected, wMel and wMel-free mosquitoes exhibited similar viral loads in the body and the saliva. Our results showed viral leakage in 60% of the saliva of wMel mosquitoes with Brazilian background; thus, sustained surveillance is imperative to monitor the presence of other circulating DENV-1 strains capable of overcoming the Wolbachia blocking phenotype, enabling timely implementation of action plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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7 pages, 407 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Direct Dengue Virus Genome Sequencing from Antigen NS1 Rapid Diagnostic Tests: A Proof-of-Concept with the Standard Q Dengue Duo Assay

by Francisco-Javier Pérez-Rodríguez, Florian Laubscher, Valentin Chudzinski, Laurent Kaiser and Samuel Cordey

Viruses 2023, 15(11), 2167; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15112167 - 28 Oct 2023

Viewed by 932

Abstract

With nearly half of the world’s population being at risk of infection, dengue virus represents a major global health issue. The use of dengue antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) represents an alternative to PCR methods for the diagnosis of acute infections since they display excellent sensitivities and specificities and can be performed outside the laboratory. The high genetic diversity of the dengue virus genome represents a challenge for vaccine development, and the progressive expansion of this virus into previously nonendemic regions justifies the implementation of a genomic surveillance program. In this proof-of-concept study, we show the feasibility of sequencing dengue virus genomes directly from positive Ag-RDT (Standard Q Dengue Duo Test assay, n = 7) cassettes stored up to 31 days at room temperature after testing. For 5 of the 7 samples, a high number of reads were obtained allowing phylogenetic analyses to be carried out to determine not only the serotypes (dengue 1, 2, 3 and 4 were detected) but also the genotypes. Furthermore, in one sample, our unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing approach made it possible to detect epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus sequences, an arthropod-transmitted virus in ruminants. To conclude, as such an approach requires no cold storage or freezing of samples, dengue Ag-RDTs represent a very pragmatic and robust alternative for the genomic surveillance of dengue virus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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10 pages, 1671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dengue Fever Surveillance in Mato Grosso do Sul: Insights from Genomic Analysis and Implications for Public Health Strategies

by Larissa Domingues Castilho de Arruda, Marta Giovanetti, Vagner Fonseca, Marina Castilhos Souza Umaki Zardin, Gislene Garcia de Castro Lichs, Silvia Asato, Ana Olivia Pascoto Esposito, Miriam Tokeshi Müller, Joilson Xavier, Hegger Fritsch, Mauricio Lima, Carla de Oliveira, Elaine Vieira Santos, Livia de Mello Almeida Maziero, Danila Fernanda Rodrigues Frias, Danielle Ahad das Neves, Liliane Ferreira da Silva, Ellen Caroline Rodrigues Barretos, Paulo Eduardo Tsuha Oshiro, Bianca Modafari Goday, Jéssica Klener Lemos dos Santos, Simone Kashima, Carlos F. C. de Albuquerque, Rodrigo Fabiano do Carmo Said, Alexander Rosewell, Luiz Henrique Ferraz Demarchi, Julio Croda, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara and Crhistinne Cavalheiro Maymone Gonçalves Show full author list Hide full author list

Viruses 2023, 15(9), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15091790 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1146

Abstract

Since its discovery in early 1916, dengue fever, a common vector-borne illness in Brazil, has resulted in extensive urban outbreaks and poses a serious threat to the public’s health. Understanding the dynamics of Dengue Virus (DENV) serotypes circulating in different regions of Brazil is essential for implementing effective disease control and prevention measures. In response to this urgent need, we conducted an on-site training program in genomic surveillance in collaboration with the Central Laboratory of Health and the Secretary of Health of the Mato Grosso do Sul state. This initiative resulted in the generation of 177 DENV genome sequences collected between May 2021 and May 2022, a period during which over 11,391 dengue fever cases were reported in the state. Through this approach, we were able to identify the co-circulation of two different dengue serotypes (DENV1 and DENV2) as well as the existence of diverse viral lineages within each genotype, suggesting that multiple introduction events of different viral strains occurred in the region. By integrating epidemiological data, our findings unveiled temporal fluctuations in the relative abundance of different serotypes throughout various epidemic seasons, highlighting the complex and changing dynamics of DENV transmission throughout time. These findings demonstrate the value of ongoing surveillance activities in tracking viral transmission patterns, monitoring viral evolution, and informing public health actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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14 pages, 3462 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Cluster Detection of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika Viruses’ Infection in Rio de Janeiro State from 2010 to 2019

by Paula Maria Pereira de Almeida, Daniel Cardoso Portela Câmara, Aline Araújo Nobre, Tania Ayllón, Mário Sérgio Ribeiro, Cristina Maria Giordano Dias, Eduardo Mesquita Peixoto, Maíra Mendonça da Rocha, Silvia Carvalho and Nildimar Alves Honório

Viruses 2023, 15(7), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071496 - 01 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1267

Abstract

Dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV), and Zika (ZIKV) virus infections are widespread throughout the Rio de Janeiro state. The co-circulation of these emergent arboviruses constitutes a serious public health problem, resulting in outbreaks that can spatially and temporally overlap. Environmental conditions favor the presence, maintenance, and expansion of Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of these urban arboviruses. This study assessed the detection of clusters of urban arboviruses in the Rio de Janeiro state from 2010 to 2019. Notified cases of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika were grouped by year according to the onset of symptoms and their municipality of residence. The study period recorded the highest number of dengue epidemics in the state along with the simultaneous circulation of chikungunya and Zika viruses. The analyzes showed that the central municipalities of the metropolitan regions were associated with higher risk areas. Central municipalities in metropolitan regions were the first most likely clusters for dengue and Zika, and the second most likely cluster for chikungunya. Furthermore, the northwest and north regions were comprised clusters with the highest relative risk for the three arboviruses, underscoring the impact of these arboviruses in less densely populated regions of Brazil. The identification of high-risk areas over time highlights the need for effective control measures, targeted prevention and control interventions for these urban arboviral diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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10 pages, 846 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Analyses of Early ZIKV Genomes Are Consistent with Viral Spread from Northeast Brazil to the Americas

by Laise de Moraes, Moyra M. Portilho, Bram Vrancken, Frederik Van den Broeck, Luciane Amorim Santos, Marina Cucco, Laura B. Tauro, Mariana Kikuti, Monaise M. O. Silva, Gúbio S. Campos, Mitermayer G. Reis, Aldina Barral, Manoel Barral-Netto, Viviane Sampaio Boaventura, Anne-Mieke Vandamme, Kristof Theys, Philippe Lemey, Guilherme S. Ribeiro and Ricardo Khouri

Viruses 2023, 15(6), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15061236 - 25 May 2023

Viewed by 1390

Abstract

The Americas, particularly Brazil, were greatly impacted by the widespread Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in 2015 and 2016. Efforts were made to implement genomic surveillance of ZIKV as part of the public health responses. The accuracy of spatiotemporal reconstructions of the epidemic spread relies on the unbiased sampling of the transmission process. In the early stages of the outbreak, we recruited patients exhibiting clinical symptoms of arbovirus-like infection from Salvador and Campo Formoso, Bahia, in Northeast Brazil. Between May 2015 and June 2016, we identified 21 cases of acute ZIKV infection and subsequently recovered 14 near full-length sequences using the amplicon tiling multiplex approach with nanopore sequencing. We performed a time-calibrated discrete phylogeographic analysis to trace the spread and migration history of the ZIKV. Our phylogenetic analysis supports a consistent relationship between ZIKV migration from Northeast to Southeast Brazil and its subsequent dissemination beyond Brazil. Additionally, our analysis provides insights into the migration of ZIKV from Brazil to Haiti and the role Brazil played in the spread of ZIKV to other countries, such as Singapore, the USA, and the Dominican Republic. The data generated by this study enhances our understanding of ZIKV dynamics and supports the existing knowledge, which can aid in future surveillance efforts against the virus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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12 pages, 1621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogenetic Reconstructions Reveal the Circulation of a Novel Dengue Virus-1V Clade and the Persistence of a Dengue Virus-2 III Genotype in Northeast Brazil

by Hegger Fritsch, Keldenn Moreno, Italo Andrade Barbosa Lima, Cleiton Silva Santos, Bernardo Gratival Gouvea Costa, Breno Lima de Almeida, Ronald Alves dos Santos, Marcos Vinicius Lima de Oliveira Francisco, Maria Paula Souza Sampaio, Maricelia Maia de Lima, Felicidade Mota Pereira, Vagner Fonseca, Stephane Tosta, Joilson Xavier, Carla de Oliveira, Talita Adelino, Arabela Leal e Silva de Mello, Tiago Gräf, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara, Marta Giovanetti and Isadora Cristina de Siqueira Show full author list Hide full author list

Viruses 2023, 15(5), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15051073 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1814

Abstract

Dengue fever is among the most significant public health concerns in Brazil. To date, the highest number of Dengue notifications in the Americas has been reported in Brazil, with cases accounting for a total number of 3,418,796 reported cases as of mid-December 2022. Furthermore, the northeastern region of Brazil registered the second-highest incidence of Dengue fever in 2022. Due to the alarming epidemiological scenario, in this study, we used a combination of portable whole-genome sequencing, phylodynamic, and epidemiological analyses to reveal a novel DENV-1 genotype V clade and the persistence of DENV-2 genotype III in the region. We further report the presence of non-synonymous mutations associated with non-structural domains, especially the NS2A (non-structural protein 2A), as well as describe synonymous mutations in envelope and membrane proteins, distributed differently between clades. However, the absence of clinical data at the time of collection and notification, as well as the impossibility of monitoring patients in order to observe worsening or death, restricts our possibility of correlating mutational findings with possible clinical prognoses. Together, these results reinforce the crucial role of genomic surveillance to follow the evolution of circulating DENV strains and understand their spread across the region through inter-regional importation events, likely mediated by human mobility, and also the possible impacts on public health and outbreak management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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13 pages, 4015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conserved Sequences in the 5′ and 3′ Untranslated Regions of Jingmenvirus Group Representatives

by Alexander G. Litov, Egor V. Okhezin, Ivan S. Kholodilov, Oxana A. Belova and Galina G. Karganova

Viruses 2023, 15(4), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15040971 - 15 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1603

Abstract

The Jingmenvirus group (JVG), with members such as Jingmen tick virus (JMTV), Alongshan virus (ALSV), Yanggou tick virus (YGTV), and Takachi virus (TAKV), is drawing attention due to evidence of it causing disease in humans and its unique genome architecture. In the current work, complete untranslated regions (UTRs) of four strains of ALSV and eight strains of YGTV were obtained. An analysis of these sequences, as well as JVG sequences from GenBank, uncovered several regions within viral UTRs that were highly conserved for all the segments and viruses. Bioinformatics predictions suggested that the UTRs of all the segments of YGTV, ALSV, and JMTV could form similar RNA structures. The most notable feature of these structures was a stable stem-loop with one (5′ UTR) or two (3′ UTR) AAGU tetraloops on the end of a hairpin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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14 pages, 6442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yellow Fever Virus Maintained by Sabethes Mosquitoes during the Dry Season in Cerrado, a Semiarid Region of Brazil, in 2021

by Cirilo H. de Oliveira, Miguel S. Andrade, Fabrício S. Campos, Jader da C. Cardoso, Maria Eduarda Gonçalves-dos-Santos, Ramon Silva Oliveira, Sandy Micaele Aquino-Teixeira, Aline AS Campos, Marco AB Almeida, Danilo Simonini-Teixeira, Anaiá da P. Sevá, Andrea Oliveira Dias Temponi, Fernando Maria Magalhães, Agna Soares da Silva Menezes, Bartolomeu Teixeira Lopes, Hermes P. Almeida, Ana Lúcia Pedroso, Giovani Pontel Gonçalves, Danielle Costa Capistrano Chaves, Givaldo Gomes de Menezes, Sofía Bernal-Valle, Nicolas FD Müller, Luis Janssen, Edmilson dos Santos, Maria A. Mares-Guia, George R. Albuquerque, Alessandro PM Romano, Ana C. Franco, Bergmann M. Ribeiro, Paulo M. Roehe, Ricardo Lourenço-de-Oliveira and Filipe Vieira Santos de Abreu Show full author list Hide full author list

Viruses 2023, 15(3), 757; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030757 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2580

Abstract

In recent decades, waves of yellow fever virus (YFV) from the Amazon Rainforest have spread and caused outbreaks in other regions of Brazil, including the Cerrado, a savannah-like biome through which YFV usually moves before arriving at the Atlantic Forest. To identify the vectors involved in the maintenance of the virus in semiarid environments, an entomological survey was conducted after confirmation of yellow fever (YF) epizootics at the peak of the dry season in the Cerrado areas of the state of Minas Gerais. In total, 917 mosquitoes from 13 taxa were collected and tested for the presence of YFV. Interestingly, mosquitoes of the Sabethes genus represented 95% of the diurnal captured specimens, displaying a peak of biting activity never previously recorded, between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Molecular analysis identified three YFV-positive pools, two from Sabethes chloropterus—from which near-complete genomes were generated—and one from Sa. albiprivus, whose low viral load prevented sequencing. Sa. chloropterus was considered the primary vector due to the high number of copies of YFV RNA and the high relative abundance detected. Its bionomic characteristics allow its survival in dry places and dry time periods. For the first time in Brazil, Sa. albiprivus was found to be naturally infected with YFV and may have played a role as a secondary vector. Despite its high relative abundance, fewer copies of viral RNA were found, as well as a lower Minimum Infection Rate (MIR). Genomic and phylogeographic analysis showed that the virus clustered in the sub-lineage YFV_PA-MG, which circulated in Pará in 2017 and then spread into other regions of the country. The results reported here contribute to the understanding of the epidemiology and mechanisms of YFV dispersion and maintenance, especially in adverse weather conditions. The intense viral circulation, even outside the seasonal period, increases the importance of surveillance and YFV vaccination to protect human populations in affected areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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20 pages, 2861 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Re-Introduction of West Nile Virus Lineage 1 in Senegal from Europe and Subsequent Circulation in Human and Mosquito Populations between 2012 and 2021

by Marie Henriette Dior Ndione, El Hadji Ndiaye, Martin Faye, Moussa Moïse Diagne, Diawo Diallo, Amadou Diallo, Amadou Alpha Sall, Cheikh Loucoubar, Oumar Faye, Mawlouth Diallo, Ousmane Faye, Mamadou Aliou Barry and Gamou Fall

Viruses 2022, 14(12), 2720; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122720 - 06 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1649

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex and belongs to the family Flaviviridae of the genus flavivirus. The virus can cause infection in humans which in most cases is asymptomatic, however symptomatic cases exist and the disease can be severe causing encephalitis and meningoencephalitis. The virus is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes and birds, humans and other mammals such as horses can be accidental hosts. A mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance system and the sentinel syndromic surveillance network (4S) have been in place since 1988 and 2015 respectively, to better understand the transmission dynamics of arboviruses including WNV in Senegal. Arthropod and human samples have been collected from the field and analysed at Institut Pasteur de Dakar using different methods including RT-PCR, ELISA, plaque reduction neutralization test and viral isolation. RT-PCR positive samples have been analysed by Next Generation Sequencing. From 2012 to 2021, 7912 samples have been analysed and WNV positive cases have been detected, 20 human cases (19 IgM and 1 RT-PCR positive cases) and 41 mosquito pools. Phylogenetic analyzes of the sequences of complete genomes obtained showed the circulation of lineage 1a, with all these recent strains from Senegal identical to each other and very close to strains isolated from horse in France in 2015, Italy and Spain. Our data showed lineage 1a endemicity in Senegal as previously described, with circulation of WNV in humans and mosquitoes. Phylogenetic analyzes carried out with the genome sequences obtained also revealed exchanges of WNV strains between Europe and Senegal which could be possible via migratory birds. The surveillance systems that have enabled the detection of WNV in humans and arthropods should be extended to animals in a one-health approach to better prepare for global health threats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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21 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution and Characterisation of Tick-Borne Flavi-, Flavi-like, and Phenuiviruses in the Chelyabinsk Region of Russia

by Ivan S. Kholodilov, Oxana A. Belova, Anna Y. Ivannikova, Magomed N. Gadzhikurbanov, Marat T. Makenov, Alexander S. Yakovlev, Alexandra E. Polienko, Alena V. Dereventsova, Alexander G. Litov, Larissa V. Gmyl, Egor V. Okhezin, Svetlana V. Luchinina, Alexander S. Klimentov and Galina G. Karganova

Viruses 2022, 14(12), 2699; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122699 - 01 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1953

Abstract

In this work, we presented data from a two-year study of flavi-, flavi-like, and phenuiviruses circulation in the population of ixodid ticks in the Chelyabinsk region. We isolated three tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains from I. persulcatus, which was not detected in the ticks of the genus Dermacentor. The virus prevalence ranged from 0.66% to 2.28%. The Yanggou tick virus (YGTV) is widespread in steppe and forest-steppe zones and is mainly associated with ticks of the genus Dermacentor. We isolated 26 strains from D. reticulatus, D. marginatus, and I. persulcatus ticks in the HAE/CTVM8 tick cell line. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.58% to 4.18% in D. reticulatus, ranged from 0.78% to 3.93% in D. marginatus, and was 0.66% in I. persulcatus. There was combined focus of TBEV and YGTV in the territory of the Chelyabinsk region. The Alongshan virus (ALSV) was found to be associated with I. persulcatus ticks and is spread in forest zone. We detected 12 amplicons and isolated 7 strains of ALSV in tick cells. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.13% to 6.00%. The phlebovirus Gomselga and unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol were associated with I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus ticks, respectively. Virus prevalence of the unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol in the Chelyabinsk region is lower than that in neighbouring regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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14 pages, 1526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Prevalence in Sheep, Wild Boar and Ticks in Belgium

by Nadjah Radia Adjadj, Muriel Vervaeke, Charlotte Sohier, Mickaël Cargnel and Nick De Regge

Viruses 2022, 14(11), 2362; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14112362 - 26 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1818

Abstract

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most important tick-borne zoonotic virus in Europe. In Belgium, antibodies to TBEV have already been detected in wildlife and domestic animals, but up-to-date prevalence data for TBEV are lacking, and no studies have assessed its seroprevalence in sheep. Serum samples of 480 sheep from all over Belgium and 831 wild boar hunted in Flanders (northern Belgium) were therefore screened for TBEV antibodies by ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), respectively. The specificity of positive samples was assessed by PRNTs for TBEV and the Louping Ill, West Nile, and Usutu viruses. TBEV seroprevalence was 0.42% (2/480, CI 95%: 0.11–1.51) in sheep and 9.27% (77/831, CI 95%: 7.48–11.43) in wild boar. TBEV seroprevalence in wild boar from the province of Flemish Brabant was significantly higher (22.38%, 15/67) compared to Limburg (7.74%, 34/439) and Antwerp (8.61%, 28/325). Oud-Heverlee was the hunting area harboring the highest TBEV seroprevalence (33.33%, 11/33). In an attempt to obtain a Belgian TBEV isolate, 1983 ticks collected in areas showing the highest TBEV seroprevalence in wild boars were tested by real-time qPCR. No TBEV-RNA-positive tick was detected. The results of this study suggest an increase in TBEV prevalence over the last decade and highlight the need for One-Health surveillance in Belgium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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8 pages, 986 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Assessing the Risk of Dengue Virus Local Transmission: Study on Vector Competence of Italian Aedes albopictus

by Claudia Fortuna, Francesco Severini, Giulia Marsili, Luciano Toma, Antonello Amendola, Giulietta Venturi, Claudio Argentini, Francesca Casale, Ilaria Bernardini, Daniela Boccolini, Cristiano Fiorentini, Hapuarachchige Chanditha Hapuarachchi, Fabrizio Montarsi and Marco Di Luca

Viruses 2024, 16(2), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16020176 - 24 Jan 2024

Viewed by 835

Abstract

The frequency of locally transmitted dengue virus (DENV) infections has increased in Europe in recent years, facilitated by the invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus, which is well established in a large area of Europe. In Italy, the first indigenous dengue outbreak was reported in August 2020 with 11 locally acquired cases in the Veneto region (northeast Italy), caused by a DENV-1 viral strain closely related to a previously described strain circulating in Singapore and China. In this study, we evaluated the vector competence of two Italian populations of Ae. albopictus compared to an Ae. aegypti lab colony. We performed experimental infections using a DENV-1 strain that is phylogenetically close to the strain responsible for the 2020 Italian autochthonous outbreak. Our results showed that local Ae. albopictus is susceptible to infection and is able to transmit the virus, confirming the relevant risk of possible outbreaks starting from an imported case. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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14 pages, 1302 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Retrospective Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Dengue Virus 1, 2 and 4 in Paraguay

by Cynthia Vazquez, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara, Vagner Fonseca, Mauricio Lima, Joilson Xavier, Talita Adelino, Hegger Fritsch, Emerson Castro, Carla de Oliveira, Gabriel Schuab, Alex Ranieri Jerônimo Lima, Shirley Villalba, Andrea Gomez de la Fuente, Analia Rojas, Cesar Cantero, Fatima Fleitas, Carolina Aquino, Andrea Ojeda, Guillermo Sequera, Juan Torales, Julio Barrios, Maria Carolina Elias, Felipe C. M. Iani, Maria Jose Ortega, Maria Liz Gamarra, Romeo Montoya, Evandra Strazza Rodrigues, Simone Kashima, Sandra Coccuzzo Sampaio, Norma Coluchi, Juliana Leite, Lionel Gresh, Leticia Franco, José Lourenço, Jairo Mendez Rico, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis and Marta Giovanetti Show full author list Hide full author list

Viruses 2023, 15(6), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15061275 - 30 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1658

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) has been a major public health concern in Paraguay, with frequent outbreaks occurring since early 1988. Although control measures have been implemented, dengue remains a significant health threat in the country, and continued efforts are required for prevention and control. In response to that, in collaboration with the Central Public Health Laboratory in Asunción, we conducted a portable whole-genome sequencing and phylodynamic analysis to investigate DENV viral strains circulating in Paraguay over the past epidemics. Our genomic surveillance activities revealed the co-circulation of multiple DENV serotypes: DENV-1 genotype V, the emerging DENV-2 genotype III, BR4-L2 clade, and DENV-4 genotype II. Results additionally highlight the possible role of Brazil as a source for the international dispersion of different viral strains to other countries in the Americas emphasizing the need for increased surveillance across the borders, for the early detection and response to outbreaks. This, in turn, emphasizes the critical role of genomic surveillance in monitoring and understanding arbovirus transmission and persistence locally and over long distances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, and Dispersion of Flaviviruses)

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