title: Detection of West Nile virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus in birds in Slovakia, using a universal primer set.
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne neurotropic pathogen that presents a major public health concern. Information on WNV prevalence and circulation in Slovakia is insufficient. Oral and cloacal swabs and bird brain samples were tested for flavivirus RNA by RT-PCR using newly designed generic primers. The species designation was confirmed by sequencing. WNV was detected in swab and brain samples, whereas one brain sample was positive for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The WNV sequences clustered with lineages 1 and 2. These results confirm the circulation of WNV in birds in Slovakia and emphasize the risk of infection of humans and horses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Csank
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Katarína
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhide
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bencúrová
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dolinská
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drzewnioková
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Major
authors.affiliation: Department of the Environment, Veterinary Legislation and Economy, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Ľuboš
authors.initials: Ľ
authors.lastname: Korytár
authors.affiliation: Department of Epizootology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bocková
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Mangesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhide
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia. pistl@uvlf.sk.
authors.forename: Juraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pistl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000821:virology; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000635:transmission; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018154:Slovakia; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Birds; Flavivirus; Raptors; Tick-borne encephalitis virus; West Nile virus