-
Viruses Sep 2022The rapid and disorderly urbanization in the Amazon has resulted in the insertion of forest fragments into cities, causing the circulation of arboviruses, which can...
Arboviruses in Free-Ranging Birds and Hematophagous Arthropods (Diptera, Nematocera) from Forest Remnants and Urbanized Areas of an Environmental Protection Area in the Amazon Biome.
The rapid and disorderly urbanization in the Amazon has resulted in the insertion of forest fragments into cities, causing the circulation of arboviruses, which can involve hematophagous arthropods and free-ranging birds in the transmission cycles in urban environments. This study aimed to evaluate the circulation of arboviruses in free-ranging birds and hematophagous arthropods captured in an Environmental Protection Area in the Belem metropolitan area, Brazil. Birds were captured using mist nets, and hematophagous arthropods were collected using a human protected attraction technique and light traps. The birds' sera were subjected to a hemagglutination inhibition test to detect antibodies against 29 arbovirus antigens. Arthropod macerates were inoculated into C6/36 and VERO cell cultures to attempt viral isolation and were tested using indirect immunofluorescence, subsequent genetic sequencing and submitted for phylogenetic analysis. Four bird sera were positive for arbovirus, and one batch of was positive for on viral isolation and indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, the was detected in the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The presence of antibodies in sera from free-ranging birds and the isolation of in indicate the circulation of arboviruses in forest remnants in the urban center of Belem.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Arboviruses; Arthropods; Conservation of Natural Resources; Nematocera; Phylogeny; Birds; Forests; Ecosystem; Culicidae; Arbovirus Infections
PubMed: 36298656
DOI: 10.3390/v14102101 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Many mosquito-borne viruses (arboviruses) are endemic in Africa, contributing to systemic and neurological infections in various geographical locations on the continent.... (Review)
Review
Many mosquito-borne viruses (arboviruses) are endemic in Africa, contributing to systemic and neurological infections in various geographical locations on the continent. While most arboviral infections do not lead to neuroinvasive diseases of the central nervous system, neurologic diseases caused by arboviruses include flaccid paralysis, meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis, encephalomyelitis, neuritis, and post-infectious autoimmune or memory disorders. Here we review endemic members of the and families that cause neurologic infections, their neuropathogenesis and host neuroimmunological responses in Africa. We also discuss the potential for neuroimmune responses to aide in the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics, and current knowledge gaps to be addressed by arbovirus research.
Topics: Africa; Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Bunyaviridae; Central Nervous System; Encephalitis, Arbovirus; Epidemics; Flaviviridae; Humans; Togaviridae
PubMed: 35003087
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.769942 -
Annual Review of Virology Sep 2022Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging arboviral pathogen that causes disease in both livestock and humans. Severe disease manifestations of Rift Valley fever... (Review)
Review
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging arboviral pathogen that causes disease in both livestock and humans. Severe disease manifestations of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in humans include hemorrhagic fever, ocular disease, and encephalitis. This review describes the current understanding of the pathogenesis of RVF encephalitis. While some data from human studies exist, the development of several animal models has accelerated studies of the neuropathogenesis of RVFV. We review current animal models and discuss what they have taught us about RVFV encephalitis. We briefly describe alternative models that have been used to study other neurotropic arboviruses and how these models may help contribute to our understanding RVFV encephalitis. We conclude with some unanswered questions and future directions.
Topics: Animals; Arboviruses; Encephalitis; Humans; Rift Valley Fever; Rift Valley fever virus
PubMed: 36173701
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-091919-065806 -
Science Translational Medicine Oct 2023Emerging zoonotic mosquito-borne viruses pose increasing health threats because of growing mosquito population, geographic expansions, and control challenges. We... (Review)
Review
Emerging zoonotic mosquito-borne viruses pose increasing health threats because of growing mosquito population, geographic expansions, and control challenges. We emphasize the need for global preparedness to effectively mitigate the health, societal, and economic impacts of spillover by these viruses through proactive measures of prediction, surveillance, prevention, and treatment.
Topics: Animals; Arboviruses; Arbovirus Infections; Culicidae
PubMed: 37851824
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj2166 -
Nature Communications Apr 2024Arboviral infections are major public health threats, with 100 million people estimated to get sick annually from dengue infection alone. Globally, the risk of...
Arboviral infections are major public health threats, with 100 million people estimated to get sick annually from dengue infection alone. Globally, the risk of arboviruses is likely to further increase both within, and outside of, affected regions due to a combination of factors including climate change, human mobility, and other societal factors. Despite the availability of vaccines for some arbovirus infections, there is a lack of specific antiviral treatment options. at the University of Leuven, Belgium, has been working on developing antiviral strategies for more than 30 years. His current research focuses on developing antiviral drugs and vaccines against emerging and neglected viruses many of which are arboviruses. In this Q&A, he discusses the risks associated with vector-borne virus infections, challenges in developing efficient drugs for treatment, and current promising efforts to address these challenges.
Topics: Humans; Arbovirus Infections
PubMed: 38637542
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47161-3 -
Microorganisms Jun 2023The "One Health" concept considers that human and animal health, and ecosystems are closely related and aims to make a link between ecology and human and veterinary...
The "One Health" concept considers that human and animal health, and ecosystems are closely related and aims to make a link between ecology and human and veterinary medicine. Due to the explosion in population growth along with the geographic and climatic conditions (equatorial and/or tropical climate), Africa is becoming a major hotspot for various socio-health issues associated with infectious diseases, including arboviruses. The incontestable advantages of a One Health approach in Africa lie in the fight against pathogens, such as arboviruses, and in the preservation of environmental, animal, and human health to ensure that the increasing high needs of this population are met as well as their protection against potential epidemics. The One Health strategy gives us a glimpse of the difficulties and challenges that the African continent faces. The importance of this approach in Africa is to establish guidelines and strategies for effective solutions and changes in behavior and harmful activities. Overall, the establishment of high-quality global health policies in the framework of the global health standards program would provide healthy and sustainable human-animal-environmental interactions for the welfare of all.
PubMed: 37374998
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061496 -
PLoS Pathogens Mar 2023Toscana virus (TOSV) (Bunyavirales, Phenuiviridae, Phlebovirus, Toscana phlebovirus) and other related human pathogenic arboviruses are transmitted by phlebotomine sand...
Toscana virus (TOSV) (Bunyavirales, Phenuiviridae, Phlebovirus, Toscana phlebovirus) and other related human pathogenic arboviruses are transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. TOSV has been reported in nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea among other regions. Infection can result in febrile illness as well as meningitis and encephalitis. Understanding vector-arbovirus interactions is crucial to improving our knowledge of how arboviruses spread, and in this context, immune responses that control viral replication play a significant role. Extensive research has been conducted on mosquito vector immunity against arboviruses, with RNA interference (RNAi) and specifically the exogenous siRNA (exo-siRNA) pathway playing a critical role. However, the antiviral immunity of phlebotomine sand flies is less well understood. Here we were able to show that the exo-siRNA pathway is active in a Phlebotomus papatasi-derived cell line. Following TOSV infection, distinctive 21 nucleotide virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) were detected. We also identified the exo-siRNA effector Ago2 in this cell line, and silencing its expression rendered the exo-siRNA pathway largely inactive. Thus, our data show that this pathway is active as an antiviral response against a sand fly transmitted bunyavirus, TOSV.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Sandfly fever Naples virus; Phlebotomus; Psychodidae; RNA Interference; Phlebovirus; Arboviruses; RNA, Small Interfering
PubMed: 36996243
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011283 -
The Journal of General Virology Oct 2021Mosquito-transmitted arboviruses constitute a large proportion of emerging infectious diseases that are both a public health problem and a threat to animal populations.... (Review)
Review
Mosquito-transmitted arboviruses constitute a large proportion of emerging infectious diseases that are both a public health problem and a threat to animal populations. Many such viruses were identified in East Africa, a region where they remain important and from where new arboviruses may emerge. We set out to describe and review the relevant mosquito-borne viruses that have been identified specifically in Uganda. We focused on the discovery, burden, mode of transmission, animal hosts and clinical manifestation of those previously involved in disease outbreaks. A search for mosquito-borne arboviruses detected in Uganda was conducted using search terms 'Arboviruses in Uganda' and 'Mosquitoes and Viruses in Uganda' in PubMed and Google Scholar in 2020. Twenty-four mosquito-borne viruses from different animal hosts, humans and mosquitoes were documented. The majority of these were from family , followed by , , and only one each from family and . Sixteen (66.7%) of the viruses were associated with febrile illnesses. Ten (41.7%) of them were first described locally in Uganda. Six of these are a public threat as they have been previously associated with disease outbreaks either within or outside Uganda. Historically, there is a high burden and endemicity of arboviruses in Uganda. Given the many diverse mosquito species known in the country, there is also a likelihood of many undescribed mosquito-borne viruses. Next generation diagnostic platforms have great potential to identify new viruses. Indeed, four novel viruses, two of which were from humans (Ntwetwe and Nyangole viruses) and two from mosquitoes (Kibale and Mburo viruses) were identified in the last decade using next generation sequencing. Given the unbiased approach of detection of viruses by this technology, its use will undoubtedly be critically important in the characterization of mosquito viromes which in turn will inform other diagnostic efforts.
Topics: Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Culicidae; Disease Outbreaks; Endemic Diseases; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Mosquito Vectors; Prevalence; Uganda
PubMed: 34609940
DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001680 -
Viruses Feb 2021Mosquito-borne viruses are well recognized as a global public health burden amongst humans, but the effects on non-human vertebrates is rarely reported. Australia,... (Review)
Review
Mosquito-borne viruses are well recognized as a global public health burden amongst humans, but the effects on non-human vertebrates is rarely reported. Australia, houses a number of endemic mosquito-borne viruses, such as Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, and Murray Valley encephalitis virus. In this review, we synthesize the current state of mosquito-borne viruses impacting non-human vertebrates in Australia, including diseases that could be introduced due to local mosquito distribution. Given the unique island biogeography of Australia and the endemism of vertebrate species (including macropods and monotremes), Australia is highly susceptible to foreign mosquito species becoming established, and mosquito-borne viruses becoming endemic alongside novel reservoirs. For each virus, we summarize the known geographic distribution, mosquito vectors, vertebrate hosts, clinical signs and treatments, and highlight the importance of including non-human vertebrates in the assessment of future disease outbreaks. The mosquito-borne viruses discussed can impact wildlife, livestock, and companion animals, causing significant changes to Australian ecology and economy. The complex nature of mosquito-borne disease, and challenges in assessing the impacts to non-human vertebrate species, makes this an important topic to periodically review.
Topics: Alphavirus; Alphavirus Infections; Animals; Animals, Wild; Australia; Culicidae; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Encephalitis Virus, Murray Valley; Encephalitis, Arbovirus; Humans; Livestock; Mosquito Vectors; Pets; Public Health; Ross River virus
PubMed: 33572234
DOI: 10.3390/v13020265 -
Parasites & Vectors Aug 2022Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the main vectors of highly pathogenic viruses for humans, such as dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV), and Zika (ZIKV), which cause... (Review)
Review
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the main vectors of highly pathogenic viruses for humans, such as dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV), and Zika (ZIKV), which cause febrile, hemorrhagic, and neurological diseases and remain a major threat to global public health. The high ecological plasticity, opportunistic feeding patterns, and versatility in the use of urban and natural breeding sites of these vectors have favored their dispersal and adaptation in tropical, subtropical, and even temperate zones. Due to the lack of available treatments and vaccines, mosquito population control is the most effective way to prevent arboviral diseases. Resident microorganisms play a crucial role in host fitness by preventing or enhancing its vectorial ability to transmit viral pathogens. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analyses have advanced our understanding of the composition and functionality of the microbiota of Aedes spp. Interestingly, shotgun metagenomics studies have established that mosquito vectors harbor a highly conserved virome composed of insect-specific viruses (ISV). Although ISVs are not infectious to vertebrates, they can alter different phases of the arboviral cycle, interfering with transmission to the human host. Therefore, this review focuses on the description of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus as vectors susceptible to infection by viral pathogens, highlighting the role of the microbiota-virome in vectorial competence and its potential in control strategies for new emerging and re-emerging arboviruses.
Topics: Aedes; Animals; Arboviruses; Humans; Mosquito Vectors; Virome; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 35945559
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05401-9