title: Autochthonous tick-borne encephalitis virus-seropositive cattle in Belgium: a risk-based targeted serological survey.
abstract: The risk of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) introduction into Belgium remains high, and the presence of infected wildlife in Belgium is suspected. Domestic animals can serve as excellent sentinels for TBEV surveillance to install an early warning surveillance component for this emerging zoonotic disease of public health importance. In a targeted, risk-based and cross-sectional sampling design, serological screening was performed on Belgian cattle (n=650), selected from the 2010 Belgian national cattle surveillance serum bank. All samples were subjected to a gold standard TBEV seroneutralization test (SNT), based on the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) protocol. Seventeen bovines were seropositive (titer >1/15) and six had borderline results (1/10 < titer < 1/15). The accuracy of the RFFIT-SNT was confirmed in a mouse inoculation test. The overall bovine TBEV seroprevalence in the targeted area was estimated between 2.61% and 4.29%. This confirms for the first time the presence of infected foci in Belgium. Further surveillance in cattle, other sentinels, ticks, and humans at risk is recommended to further determine the location and size of endemic foci and the risk for public health.
authors.affiliation: 1 Unit for Coordination of Veterinary Diagnosis, Epidemiology and Risk Assessment (CVD-ERA), Operational Directorate of Interactions and Surveillance, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (VAR-CODA-CERVA) , Brussels, Belgium .
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roelandt
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suin
authors.forename: Flavien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riocreux
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamoral
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van der Heyden
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Van der Stede
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lambrecht
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caij
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brochier
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roels
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Gucht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018884:Ixodes / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D012306:Risk; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Bovine; Cattle; Endemic focus.; Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT); Sentinel; Seroneutralization test (SNT); TBE(V); Tick-borne encephalitis (virus)