title: Circulation of Zoonotic Arboviruses in Equine Populations of Mallorca Island (Spain).
abstract: The presence of major arbovirus vector species, climate change that promotes the expansion and increase of their populations, and potential animal reservoirs mean that vector-borne diseases represent a significant health risk for Mallorca's inhabitants. Microbiological monitoring of circulating arboviruses, particularly flaviviruses causing encephalitis, was initiated using domestic horses from localities near wetlands as "sentinel" hosts. A total of 291 blood samples were taken from 172 horses between 2011 and 2012, using paired samples to highlight seroconversion events. A multiplex immunoassay and confirmatory reference serological assays were used to screen sera for immunoglobulin G antibodies against West Nile (WNV), Usutu (USUV), and tick-borne encephalitis (TBEV) viruses. The seroprevalence was 6.4% (confidence interval [95% CI] 3.2%-11.0%) for WNV, 1.2% (95% CI 0.1%-4.1%) for USUV, and 0.6% (95% CI 0.0%-3.2%) for TBEV. In addition, eight horses (4.6%; 95% CI 2.0%-8.9%) were found positive for unidentified flaviviruses. Seroconversion events were detected for WNV and USUV, reflecting recent arboviral infections. These results highlight the active transmission of zoonotic arboviruses in Mallorca wetlands.
authors.affiliation: 1 Environment and Infectious Risks Research and Expertise Unit, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur , Paris, France .
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanhomwegen
authors.affiliation: 2 UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory , EU-RL on Equine Diseases, UPE, Maisons-Alfort, France .
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: 3 UMR PIMIT (12T) Université de La Réunion , INSERM U1187, CNRS 9192, IRD 249, GIP-CYROI, Sainte-Clotilde, France .
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desprès
authors.affiliation: 4 Col·legi Oficial de Veterinaris de les Illes Balears , Mallorca, Spain .
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Figuerola
authors.affiliation: 4 Col·legi Oficial de Veterinaris de les Illes Balears , Mallorca, Spain .
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: 2 UMR 1161 Virology, ANSES, INRA, ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory , EU-RL on Equine Diseases, UPE, Maisons-Alfort, France .
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecollinet
authors.affiliation: 5 Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, IRBIO, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain .|6 Centre de Recerca en Infeccions Víriques , Illes Balears (CRIVIB), Conselleria de Salut i Consum, Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain .
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Roig
authors.affiliation: 1 Environment and Infectious Risks Research and Expertise Unit, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur , Paris, France .
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Manuguerra
authors.affiliation: 5 Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, IRBIO, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona, Spain .|6 Centre de Recerca en Infeccions Víriques , Illes Balears (CRIVIB), Conselleria de Salut i Consum, Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain .
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serra-Cobo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D001103:Arboviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Usutu; West Nile; arbovirus; equine; seroprevalence; serosurvey; tick-borne encephalitis; vectorborne