Evaluation of the use of alternative sample types for mosquito-borne flavivirus surveillance: Using Usutu virus as a model

Nnomzie C. Atama, Irina V. Chestakova, Erwin de Bruin, Tijs J. van den Berg, Emmanuelle Munger, Chantal Reusken, Bas B. Oude Munnink, Henk van der Jeugd, Judith M.A. van den Brand, Marion P.G. Koopmans, Reina S. Sikkema*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100456
JournalOne Health
Volume15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work is part of a One Health PACT the research programme with project number 109986 , which is (partly) funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). RS and HJ received funding from the Dutch Academy Institutes Fund 2021 (Linking ecological analysis to plant and animal historical collections for tracking urban evolution). RS and MK received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 874735 (WVO project).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022

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