TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the use of alternative sample types for mosquito-borne flavivirus surveillance
T2 - Using Usutu virus as a model
AU - Atama, Nnomzie C.
AU - Chestakova, Irina V.
AU - de Bruin, Erwin
AU - van den Berg, Tijs J.
AU - Munger, Emmanuelle
AU - Reusken, Chantal
AU - Oude Munnink, Bas B.
AU - van der Jeugd, Henk
AU - van den Brand, Judith M.A.
AU - Koopmans, Marion P.G.
AU - Sikkema, Reina S.
N1 - Data archiving: data made available on request.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Wild birds are reservoirs of several zoonotic arboviruses including West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), and are often monitored as indicators for virus introduction and spread. To optimize the bird surveillance for arboviruses in the Netherlands and to explore the possibilities for citizen science in surveillance, we investigated the suitability of using alternative sample types from live and dead birds. The sensitivity of molecular detection via RT-PCR of viral RNA in feather, heart, lung, throat and cloaca swabs from dead birds, and serum, dried blood spots (DBS) and throat and cloaca swabs from live birds were compared. IgY antibody detection was also assessed from DBS relative to serum on protein-microarray and virus neutralization test. Feathers showed a high detection sensitivity for USUV RNA in both live and dead birds, and no significant decrease was observed in the RNA loads in the feathers after being stored dry at room temperature for 43 days. Additionally, viral RNAs extracted from feathers of day 0 and 43 were successfully sequenced. The results indicated no statistical significant difference in sensitivity and viral loads detection in heart, spleen, and lung relative to corresponding brain samples in dead birds. In live birds, viral RNA loads did not differ between throat and cloaca swabs. This study identified less-invasive sample types that allows involvement of citizens in collecting samples from wild birds for arbovirus surveillance. Sensitivity and specificity of DBS-based antibody detections were significantly lower and therefore need optimization.
AB - Wild birds are reservoirs of several zoonotic arboviruses including West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), and are often monitored as indicators for virus introduction and spread. To optimize the bird surveillance for arboviruses in the Netherlands and to explore the possibilities for citizen science in surveillance, we investigated the suitability of using alternative sample types from live and dead birds. The sensitivity of molecular detection via RT-PCR of viral RNA in feather, heart, lung, throat and cloaca swabs from dead birds, and serum, dried blood spots (DBS) and throat and cloaca swabs from live birds were compared. IgY antibody detection was also assessed from DBS relative to serum on protein-microarray and virus neutralization test. Feathers showed a high detection sensitivity for USUV RNA in both live and dead birds, and no significant decrease was observed in the RNA loads in the feathers after being stored dry at room temperature for 43 days. Additionally, viral RNAs extracted from feathers of day 0 and 43 were successfully sequenced. The results indicated no statistical significant difference in sensitivity and viral loads detection in heart, spleen, and lung relative to corresponding brain samples in dead birds. In live birds, viral RNA loads did not differ between throat and cloaca swabs. This study identified less-invasive sample types that allows involvement of citizens in collecting samples from wild birds for arbovirus surveillance. Sensitivity and specificity of DBS-based antibody detections were significantly lower and therefore need optimization.
KW - Arboviruses
KW - Flavivirus
KW - Surveillance
KW - Usutu virus
KW - West Nile virus
KW - Wild birds
U2 - 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100456
DO - 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100456
M3 - Article
C2 - 36532676
AN - SCOPUS:85143284852
SN - 2352-7714
VL - 15
SP - 100456
JO - One Health
JF - One Health
M1 - 100456
ER -