Insights on Transmission, Spread, and Possible Endemization of Selected Arboviruses in Israel-Interim Results from Five-Year Surveillance.

Adi Behar,Asael Rot,Ricardo Wolkomirsky,Lior Zamir,Ditza Rotenberg,Orly Friedgut,Omer Izhaki,Faris Hmd,Amit Yulzary,Jacob Brenner,Olga Zalesky

doi:10.3390/vetsci9020065

Abstract

Outbreaks of arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses that infect livestock impact the health and welfare of domestic and wild animals are often responsible for significant economic losses in livestock production. Surveillance and early warning systems effectively predict the emergence and re-emergence of arboviral disease. This paper presents the interim results of five years monitoring the exposure of sentinel naïve heifers and Culicoides biting midges (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) to bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV), Simbu serogroup viruses, bluetongue viruses (BTV), and epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses (EHDV). The data were collected from 11 dairy farms situated within eight different geographical regions in Israel. The results indicate that cattle in Israel are affected by all four viruses from the early summer onward. The investigated viruses exhibit unique site-specific profiles in both ruminants and vectors. The potential of several vectors to transmit these viruses and lack of cross-protection to re-infection with multiple serotypes (BTV and EHDV) or species (Simbu serogroup viruses) highlights some likely mechanisms that may play a role in these viruses’ maintenance cycle and possible endemization in our region.

Highlights

Published: 2 February 2022Outbreaks of arthropod-borne viruses that infect livestock impact the health and welfare of domestic and wild animals are often responsible for significant economic losses in livestock production
This paper presents the interim results of five years monitoring the exposure of sentinel naïve heifers and Culicoides biting midges to BEF, Simbu serogroup viruses, bluetongue viruses (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease viruses (EHDV)
We focused our efforts either on arboviruses recommended by the OIE (i.e., BTV and EHDV) or on arboviruses that the incidence of the diseases caused by them increased in the last 20 years (i.e., BEF and Simbu serogroup viruses)

Summary

Introduction

Published: 2 February 2022Outbreaks of arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses that infect livestock impact the health and welfare of domestic and wild animals are often responsible for significant economic losses in livestock production. The ability of a virus to infect, replicate in, and be transmitted by the vector(s) into a new host, the genetics of both pathogen(s) and vector(s), the virulence of the pathogen(s), the immune status and genetics of the host(s) are all crucial in determining the course of the infection and its results. Global trends such as the changing climate and ecological conditions, trade, and human behavior are triggering the emergence and re-emergence of arboviral diseases. By targeting vector populations and sentinels, these systems can successfully identify areas where pathogens are circulating, provide accurate data for epidemiological models, assist in predicting the course and timing of infectious disease, and simulate the impact of control strategies such as vaccines, for example [1]

Methods

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Conclusion