Bogdanic Maja, Savic Vladimir, Klobucar Ana, Barbic Ljubo, Sabadi Dario, Tomljenovic Morana, Madic Josip, Hruskar Zeljka, Curman Posavec Marcela, Santini Marija, Stevanovic Vladimir, Petrinic Suncica, Antolasic Ljiljana, Milasincic Ljiljana, Al-Mufleh Mahmoud, Roncevic Dobrica, Vilibic-Cavlek Tatjana
Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Microorganisms. 2024 Oct 31;12(11):2210. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12112210.
(Re-)emerging arboviruses, such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Usutu virus (USUV), are continuously increasing in incidence. We analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of flavivirus infections in humans, sentinel animals, and mosquitoes detected in the 2022 transmission season in Croatia. From April to November 2022, 110 hospitalized patients with neuroinvasive diseases (NID) were tested for the presence of arboviruses. RT-qPCR was used to detect TBEV, WNV, and USUV RNA. An ELISA and virus neutralization tests were used for the detection of flavivirus antibodies. TBEV infection was confirmed in 22 patients with NID. WNV NID was detected in six patients. TBE showed male predominance (81.8%; male-to-female ratio of 4.5:1). All but one WNV patients were males. TBE occurred from April to August, with the majority of patients (83.3%) being detected during the May-June-July period. WNV infections were recorded in August and September. In addition to human cases, asymptomatic WNV infections (IgM positive) were reported in 10 horses. For the first time in Croatia, WNV NID was observed in one horse that presented with neurological symptoms. Furthermore, USUV was confirmed in one dead blackbird that presented with neurological symptoms. A total of 1984 mosquitoes were collected in the City of Zagreb. Two pools tested positive for flavivirus RNA: one collected in July (USUV) and the other collected in August (WNV). A phylogenetic analysis of detected human and avian strains confirmed WNV lineage 2 and the USUV Europe 2 lineage. The presented results confirm the endemic presence of neuroinvasive flaviviruses in continental Croatia. The continuous monitoring of virus circulation in humans, sentinel animals, and mosquitoes is needed to reduce the disease burden.
蜱传脑炎病毒（TBEV）、西尼罗河病毒（WNV）和乌苏图病毒（USUV）等（再）出现的虫媒病毒发病率持续上升。我们分析了2022年克罗地亚传播季节在人类、哨兵动物和蚊子中检测到的黄病毒感染的流行病学特征。2022年4月至11月，对110例患有神经侵袭性疾病（NID）的住院患者进行了虫媒病毒检测。采用逆转录定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）检测TBEV、WNV和USUV RNA。采用酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）和病毒中和试验检测黄病毒抗体。22例NID患者确诊为TBEV感染。6例患者检测到WNV NID。TBE以男性为主（81.8%；男女比例为4.5:1）。除1例WNV患者外，其余均为男性。TBE发病时间为4月至8月，大多数患者（83.3%）在5月至6月至7月期间被检测到。WNV感染记录于8月和9月。除人类病例外，10匹马报告了无症状WNV感染（IgM阳性）。在克罗地亚，首次在1匹出现神经症状的马中观察到WNV NID。此外，在1只出现神经症状的死亡黑鹂中确诊为USUV。在萨格勒布市共采集了1984只蚊子。两个样本池黄病毒RNA检测呈阳性：一个于7月采集（USUV），另一个于8月采集（WNV）。对检测到的人类和禽类毒株进行的系统发育分析证实了WNV 2系和USUV欧洲2系。呈现的结果证实了神经侵袭性黄病毒在克罗地亚大陆的地方性存在。需要持续监测人类、哨兵动物和蚊子中的病毒传播情况，以减轻疾病负担。
