The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic arbovirus (TBEV). In Germany, TBE is classified as a notifiable disease with an average of 350 autochthonous human cases annually. The incidence-based risk assessment in Germany came under criticism bec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-11-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/11/1817 |
| _version_ | 1797547560252997632 |
|---|---|
| author | Maja Haut Philipp Girl Beate Oswald Thomas Romig Anna Obiegala Gerhard Dobler Martin Pfeffer |
| author_facet | Maja Haut Philipp Girl Beate Oswald Thomas Romig Anna Obiegala Gerhard Dobler Martin Pfeffer |
| author_sort | Maja Haut |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic arbovirus (TBEV). In Germany, TBE is classified as a notifiable disease with an average of 350 autochthonous human cases annually. The incidence-based risk assessment in Germany came under criticism because every year, a number of autochthonous human TBE cases have been detected outside of the official risk areas. Therefore, it is necessary to find additional parameters to strengthen TBEV surveillance. The aim of this study was to examine red foxes as sentinels for TBE. Thus far, there are no published data about the sensitivity and specificity for serological methods testing fox samples. Hence, we aimed to define a system for the screening of TBEV-specific antibodies in red foxes. A total of 1233 fox sera were collected and examined by ELISA and IIFA and confirmed by micro-NT. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies against TBEV in red foxes from Germany confirmed by micro-NT was 21.1%. The seroprevalence differed significantly between risk (30.5%) and non-risk areas (13.1%), with good correlations to local TBE incidence in humans. In conclusion, serological monitoring of red foxes represents a promising surrogate marker system and may even determine unexpected TBEV foci in regions currently regarded as non-risk areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:45:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c97e34d1687486f8cbafd28e964b0d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:45:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c97e34d1687486f8cbafd28e964b0d52023-11-20T21:24:26ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072020-11-01811181710.3390/microorganisms8111817The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic AreasMaja Haut0Philipp Girl1Beate Oswald2Thomas Romig3Anna Obiegala4Gerhard Dobler5Martin Pfeffer6Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyGerman National Consultant Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, GermanyGerman National Consultant Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, GermanyParasitology Unit, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyInstitute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyGerman National Consultant Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyTick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic arbovirus (TBEV). In Germany, TBE is classified as a notifiable disease with an average of 350 autochthonous human cases annually. The incidence-based risk assessment in Germany came under criticism because every year, a number of autochthonous human TBE cases have been detected outside of the official risk areas. Therefore, it is necessary to find additional parameters to strengthen TBEV surveillance. The aim of this study was to examine red foxes as sentinels for TBE. Thus far, there are no published data about the sensitivity and specificity for serological methods testing fox samples. Hence, we aimed to define a system for the screening of TBEV-specific antibodies in red foxes. A total of 1233 fox sera were collected and examined by ELISA and IIFA and confirmed by micro-NT. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies against TBEV in red foxes from Germany confirmed by micro-NT was 21.1%. The seroprevalence differed significantly between risk (30.5%) and non-risk areas (13.1%), with good correlations to local TBE incidence in humans. In conclusion, serological monitoring of red foxes represents a promising surrogate marker system and may even determine unexpected TBEV foci in regions currently regarded as non-risk areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/11/1817FlavivirusELISAIIFAmicro-NTseroprevalenceTBE |
| spellingShingle | Maja Haut Philipp Girl Beate Oswald Thomas Romig Anna Obiegala Gerhard Dobler Martin Pfeffer The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas Microorganisms Flavivirus ELISA IIFA micro-NT seroprevalence TBE |
| title | The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas |
| title_full | The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas |
| title_fullStr | The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas |
| title_short | The Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas |
| title_sort | red fox i vulpes vulpes i as sentinel for tick borne encephalitis virus in endemic and non endemic areas |
| topic | Flavivirus ELISA IIFA micro-NT seroprevalence TBE |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/11/1817 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT majahaut theredfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT philippgirl theredfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT beateoswald theredfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT thomasromig theredfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT annaobiegala theredfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT gerharddobler theredfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT martinpfeffer theredfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT majahaut redfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT philippgirl redfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT beateoswald redfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT thomasromig redfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT annaobiegala redfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT gerharddobler redfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas AT martinpfeffer redfoxivulpesvulpesiassentinelfortickborneencephalitisvirusinendemicandnonendemicareas |