Martin Pfeffer | Universität Leipzig (original) (raw)
Papers by Martin Pfeffer
Eurosurveillance, 2020
We illustrate the potential for specialist laboratory networks to be used as preparedness and res... more We illustrate the potential for specialist laboratory networks to be used as preparedness and response tool through rapid collection and sharing of data. Here, the Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (EVD-LabNet) and a laboratory assessment of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in returning European travellers related to an ongoing outbreak in Thailand was used for this purpose. EVD-LabNet rapidly collected data on laboratory requests, diagnosed CHIKV imported cases and sequences generated, and shared among its members and with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Data across the network showed an increase in CHIKV imported cases during 1 October 2018–30 April 2019 vs the same period in 2018 (172 vs 50), particularly an increase in cases known to be related to travel to Thailand (72 vs 1). Moreover, EVD-LabNet showed that strains were imported from Thailand that cluster with strains of the ECSA-IOL E1 A226 variant emerging in Pakistan in 2016 and involved in ...
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis infecting domestic ruminants and ... more Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis infecting domestic ruminants and humans. Currently used routine diagnostic tools offer limited sensitivity and specificity and symptomless infected animals may be missed. Therefore, diagnostic tools of higher sensitivity and specificity must be developed. For this purpose, the C. burnetii outer membrane protein Com1 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The His-tagged recombinant protein was purified and used in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Assay performance was tested with more than 400 positive and negative sera from sheep, goats and cattle from 36 locations. Calculation of sensitivity and specificity was undertaken using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The sensitivities and specificities for sheep were 85% and 68% (optical density at 450nm, OD 450 cutoff value 0.32), for goats 94% and 77% (OD 450 cutoff value 0.23) and for cattle 71% and 70% (OD 450 cutoff value 0.18), respectively. These results correspond to excellent, outstanding and acceptable discrimination of positive and negative sera. In summary, recombinant Com1 can provide a basis for more sensitive and specific diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine.
SSRN Electronic Journal
Mongolia is an expansive nation, dominated by agriculture with livestock under nomadic herder car... more Mongolia is an expansive nation, dominated by agriculture with livestock under nomadic herder care contributing significantly to the economy. Mongolian veterinarians service these herder's livestock and dogs, and are often the first point of contact for animal health advice, including ectoparasite prophylaxis. Dogs are competent reservoir and sentinel hosts for several zoonotic vector-borne diseases (VBD). These diseases in dogs can be dependent on the presence of other sylvatic or domestic reservoir hosts, the abundance of competent vectors and supporting environmental and climatic conditions. Therefore, VBD present a true One Health challenge. The direct and close association of nomadic herders with livestock and livestock protection dogs coupled with frequent relocation (associated with nomadic lifestyles) places all three host groups (herders, livestock and livestock protection dogs) at risk of acquiring VBD. Our study set out to investigate the overall knowledge, perceptions and practices of Mongolian veterinarians towards canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD). A hardcopy questionnaire was delivered through the Mongolian Veterinary Medical Association to a cohort of veterinarians representing 39% of Mongolia's total veterinary workforce with a 53% response rate. A total of 297 participants were included in the final study. The bulk of participants were livestock veterinarians, followed by mixed animal veterinarians. Overall Mongolian veterinarians' knowledge of CVBD were scored as low (58%; 0-3 points) or medium (32%; 4-6 points) on a ten-point scale. There was a significant discrepancy between self-rated and actual knowledge. Females had 1.7 (95% CI 1.1, 2.8) times higher knowledge compared with males and those veterinarians who had 3-5 canine consultations per day were also found to have higher knowledge (odds ratio 1.4, 95% CI 0.4, 4.5). Most veterinarians utilised two or less resources to source information on CVBD over the previous 12 months. The potential of climate-induced emergence of vector populations and their associated pathogens makes it imperative that veterinarians in Mongolia have the necessary resources and knowledge to be on the forefront of CVBD preparedness and mitigation. This study identifies the knowledge gaps and addresses the need for further resources for Mongolian veterinarians to effectively engage in a One Health approach for negating CVBD in animals and humans.
Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe G: Großtiere / Nutztiere, 2014
ZusammenfassungBeschreibungen von Infektionen mit Orthopockenviren bei Neuweltkameliden beschränk... more ZusammenfassungBeschreibungen von Infektionen mit Orthopockenviren bei Neuweltkameliden beschränken sich in der Literatur auf einzelne Fallberichte. Ausgehend von einer generalisierten Kuhpockenvirusinfektion eines Alpakas werden klinische Symptomatik, Diagnostik und pathologische Befunde dargestellt. Laut Vorbericht wurde das Tier bereits über einen längeren Zeitraum aufgrund von Hautveränderungen behandelt. Bei der klinischen Untersuchung fielen papulöse Veränderungen auf der gesamten Hautoberfläche auf. Außerdem lagen eine beidseitige mukopurulente Konjunktivitis sowie starke Salivation infolge einer hochgradigen erosiv-ulzerativen Stomatitis vor. Trotz intensivmedizinischer Versorgung verstarb das Alpaka 8 Tage nach Einweisung in die Klinik. Bei der Sektion fanden sich weiterhin eine erosiv-ulzerative Laryngitis sowie eine nekrotisierende Pneumonie und Lymphadenitis. Histologisch wurde der Verdacht auf eine Orthopockenvirusinfektion gestellt. Diese ließ sich in der elektronenmik...
Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe G: Großtiere / Nutztiere, 2019
Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Atemwegs- und Lungenerkrankungen sind eine häufige Ursache fü... more Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Atemwegs- und Lungenerkrankungen sind eine häufige Ursache für Kälberverluste. Ziel dieser Arbeit war, das Management der Kälberhaltung in Milchviehbetrieben zu beschreiben und dabei nach Beziehungen zwischen dem Auftreten der enzootischen Bronchopneumonie (EBP) und der Kälbersterblichkeit sowie Beziehungen zu Managementfaktoren zu suchen. Material und Methoden In 153 Betrieben, die zwischen November 2006 und Juli 2007 auf freiwilliger Basis an der Studie teilnahmen, wurde das Management der Kälberhaltung im Rahmen einer Bestandsvisitation und Betriebsleiterbefragung erfasst und zu der aus der Datenbank HI-Tier ermittelten Kälbersterblichkeitsrate des Referenzjahres 2006 in Beziehung gesetzt. Pro Betrieb wurden Serumproben einer Stichprobe von 7 Tieren ab dem 6. Lebensmonat auf Antikörper gegen das bovine respiratorische Synzytialvirus (BRSV-Ak) und das Parainfluenzavirus Typ 3 (PIV3-Ak) untersucht und die Betriebe entsprechend dem Anteil der Kälb...
Parasites & Vectors
Background Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with... more Background Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with zoonotic potential. Bartonella infections in humans range from mild with unspecific symptoms to life threatening, and can be transmitted via arthropod vectors or through direct contact with infected hosts, although the latter mode of transmission is rare. Among the small mammals that harbour Bartonella spp., rodents are the most speciose group and harbour the highest diversity of these parasites. Human–rodent interactions are not unlikely as many rodent species live in proximity to humans. However, a surprisingly low number of clinical cases of bartonellosis related to rodent-associated Bartonella spp. have thus far been recorded in humans. Methods The main purpose of this review is to determine explanatory factors for this unexpected finding, by taking a closer look at published clinical cases of bartonellosis connected with rodent-associated Bartonella species, some of which have been...
Arboviruses are transmitted in nature exclusively or to a major extend by arthropods. They belong... more Arboviruses are transmitted in nature exclusively or to a major extend by arthropods. They belong to the most important viruses invading new areas in the world and their occurrence is strongly influenced by climatic changes due to the life cycle of the transmitting vectors. Several arboviruses have emerged in new regions of the world during the last years, like West Nile virus (WNV) in the Americas, Usutu virus (USUV) in Central Europe, or Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in the Arabian Peninsula. In most instances the ways of introduction of arboviruses into new regions are not known. Infections acquired during stays in the tropics and subtropics are diagnosed with increasing frequency in travellers returning from tropical countries, but interestingly no attention is paid on accompanying pet animals or the hematophagous ectoparasites that may still be attached to them. Here we outline the known ecology of the mosquito-borne equine encephalitis viruses (WEEV, EEEV, and VEEV), WNV, USU...
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2020
It is commonly assumed that Dermacentor reticulatus immature life stages are nidicolous and there... more It is commonly assumed that Dermacentor reticulatus immature life stages are nidicolous and therefore cannot be collected from vegetation. However, in June and July of 2018 and 2019, a total of 47 questing D. reticulatus larvae and two nymphs were collected by the flagging method in two different sites close to the city of Leipzig, Germany. To confirm their role in the transmission of tick-borne pathogens, 45 larvae (pooled by 2 in 21 pools and 1 pool with three individuals) and one nymph were tested either by conventional or real-time PCR for the presence of Bartonella spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and Babesia spp. All samples tested negative for Bartonella spp., N. mikurensis, and Babesia spp.; while the minimal infection rate of larvae for Rickettsia spp. was 42%, and the one tested nymph was also positive. Sequencing partial ompB genes revealed the presence of Rickettsia raoultii in larvae and nymph. Further research needs to be done to determine under which circumstances immature D. reticulatus ticks are found outside the burrows of their hosts and can be collected from vegetation.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 2020
Background Human obesity is linked with systemic inflammation. However, it is still controversial... more Background Human obesity is linked with systemic inflammation. However, it is still controversial if equines produce more inflammatory cytokines with increasing body weight and if the production of those show breed type specific patterns. The main objective of this study was to determine if diet induced obesity is associated with increased inflammatory signatures in adipose tissue of equines and if a breed predisposition exists between ponies and horses. Additionally, we aimed to identify adipose tissue depot differences in inflammatory cytokine expression. Nineteen healthy, non-overweight and metabolically healthy equines received a hypercaloric diet for 2 years. Body weight, body condition score and cresty neck score were assessed weekly throughout the study. At three time points, insulin sensitivity was determined by a combined glucose-insulin test. Adipose tissue samples were collected from two intra-abdominal and two subcutaneous depots under general anesthesia at each time poi...
Systematic and Applied Acarology, 2017
Morphological abnormalities in ticks seem to be very rare phenomena. In this paper, we describe i... more Morphological abnormalities in ticks seem to be very rare phenomena. In this paper, we describe interesting anomalies in adult Dermacentor reticulatus collected as questing ticks by flagging as part of a tick-borne encephalitis program in Battaune, Federal State of Saxony, Germany, at the end of September 2016. The observed anomalies in the three D. reticulatus adults were: general anomalies (gynandromorphism) and local anomalies (malformation of capitulum and abnormalities of appendages). One D. reticulatus specimen displayed gynandromorphism, the presence of both male and female features within the same organism. One female showed abnormal morphology of right palp, while also missing the right porose area, and multiple atrophied extremities: i.e. of the right leg IV and of the left legs III and IV. The third specimen, a male, presented an atrophied extremity of the right leg III (meiomely). This is the first report of complete mosaic type gynandromorphism in a flagged D. reticulat...
Tierärztliche Praxis. Ausgabe G, Grosstiere/Nutztiere, 2014
Orthopoxvirus infections appear to be rare in South American Camelids, because only a few cases h... more Orthopoxvirus infections appear to be rare in South American Camelids, because only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Based on a generalized infection with cowpox virus in an alpaca, the clinical symptoms, laboratory diagnostic findings and the pathological changes are described. The case history showed a long treatment because of chronic skin lesions. The main clinical symptom was miliary papules over the entire skin. Furthermore, a bilateral mucopurulent conjunctivitis occurred as well as excessive salivation due to a severe erosive-ulcerative stomatitis. Although the animal received intensive treatment, it died 8 days after admission to the clinic. During necropsy, an erosive-ulcerative laryngitis as well as a necrotising pneumonia and lymphadenitis were observed. Histopathological examination of representative organ samples led to the diagnosis of a suspected orthopoxvirus infection. Electron microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of tissue ...
Comparative medicine, 2000
Mousepox was identified in a single mouse-holding room in early 1999 after a group of 20 CAF1/Hsd... more Mousepox was identified in a single mouse-holding room in early 1999 after a group of 20 CAF1/Hsd mice were inoculated SC with a killed murine spindle cell tumor line, S1509A. The cell line had been used without complications multiple times and was determined to be free of viral contamination on the basis of results of mouse antibody production testing. Of the 20 mice inoculated, 12 mice died by postinoculation day 8. Severe lymphoid and hepatic necrosis was observed in select mice subjected to histologic examination. Ballooning degeneration of epithelial cells with intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies was observed in the skin overlying the inoculation site of the single mouse from which this tissue site was evaluated. Presence of ectromelia virus was confirmed by use of immunohistochemical and polymerase chain reaction analyses, and the virus was isolated after serum, pooled from 5 of the index cases, was inoculated into an immune-naive mouse. Investigation into the sourc...
Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.), 2015
Tick-transmitted spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) are considered emerging disease pathogens... more Tick-transmitted spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) are considered emerging disease pathogens in Europe. To assess the situation in Germany, a seroepidemiologic survey of dogs (n=605, which have never left Germany) was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies to SFGR. For this purpose, a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for all SFGR was used. A total of 78% of the dogs were positive for antibodies of the SFGR, and there was a positive correlation between age, tick-infestation, and seropositivity. There was no correlation between clinical state, location, and seropositivity, suggesting that infection with rickettsia is neither related to the health condition of the dogs nor to their abode in Germany. According to our results, all of Germany can be considered as an endemic area for SFGR. This should be taken into account when assessing the epidemiology of human rickettsioses and their impact on public health.
Parasites & Vectors
Background Ixodid ticks are important vectors for zoonotic pathogens, with Ixodes ricinus being t... more Background Ixodid ticks are important vectors for zoonotic pathogens, with Ixodes ricinus being the most important in Europe. Rodents are hosts of immature life stages of I. ricinus ticks and are considered main reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens, e.g. Borrelia burgdorferi. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence as well as genospecies and sequence type (ST) diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks and small mammals from central Germany and to elaborate on the influence of environmental and/or individual host and vector factors on Borrelia prevalence. Methods After species identification, 1167 small mammal skin samples and 1094 ticks from vegetation were screened by B. burgdorferi sensu lato real-time polymerase chain reaction, and positive samples were characterized by multilocus sequence typing. Generalized linear (mixed) models were used to estimate how seasonality, small mammal species/tick life stage and habitat affect individual infection status. Resu...
Viruses
West Nile virus (WNV) infections were first detected in Germany in 2018, but information about WN... more West Nile virus (WNV) infections were first detected in Germany in 2018, but information about WNV seroprevalence in horses is limited. The study’s overall goal was to gather information that would help veterinarians, horse owners, and veterinary-, and public health- authorities understand the spread of WNV in Germany and direct protective measures. For this purpose, WNV seroprevalence was determined in counties with and without previously registered WNV infections in horses, and risk factors for seropositivity were estimated. The cohort consisted of privately owned horses from nine counties in Eastern Germany. A total of 940 serum samples was tested by competitive panflavivirus ELISA (cELISA), and reactive samples were further tested by WNV IgM capture ELISA and confirmed by virus neutralization test (VNT). Information about potential risk factors was recorded by questionnaire and analyzed by logistic regression. A total of 106 serum samples showed antibodies against flaviviruses b...
This report describes the first isolation and molecular characterisation of a chikungunya virus f... more This report describes the first isolation and molecular characterisation of a chikungunya virus from two German tourists who became ill after a visit to the Maldives in September 2009. The virus contained the E1 A226V mutation, shown to be responsible for an adaptation to the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. The E1 coding sequence was identical to chikungunya virus isolates from Sri Lanka and showed three nt-mismatches to the only available E1 nt sequence from the Maldives.
Microorganisms, 2020
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic... more Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic arbovirus (TBEV). In Germany, TBE is classified as a notifiable disease with an average of 350 autochthonous human cases annually. The incidence-based risk assessment in Germany came under criticism because every year, a number of autochthonous human TBE cases have been detected outside of the official risk areas. Therefore, it is necessary to find additional parameters to strengthen TBEV surveillance. The aim of this study was to examine red foxes as sentinels for TBE. Thus far, there are no published data about the sensitivity and specificity for serological methods testing fox samples. Hence, we aimed to define a system for the screening of TBEV-specific antibodies in red foxes. A total of 1233 fox sera were collected and examined by ELISA and IIFA and confirmed by micro-NT. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies against TBEV in red foxes from Germany confirmed by micro-NT was 21.1...
Eurosurveillance, 2020
We illustrate the potential for specialist laboratory networks to be used as preparedness and res... more We illustrate the potential for specialist laboratory networks to be used as preparedness and response tool through rapid collection and sharing of data. Here, the Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network (EVD-LabNet) and a laboratory assessment of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in returning European travellers related to an ongoing outbreak in Thailand was used for this purpose. EVD-LabNet rapidly collected data on laboratory requests, diagnosed CHIKV imported cases and sequences generated, and shared among its members and with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Data across the network showed an increase in CHIKV imported cases during 1 October 2018–30 April 2019 vs the same period in 2018 (172 vs 50), particularly an increase in cases known to be related to travel to Thailand (72 vs 1). Moreover, EVD-LabNet showed that strains were imported from Thailand that cluster with strains of the ECSA-IOL E1 A226 variant emerging in Pakistan in 2016 and involved in ...
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis infecting domestic ruminants and ... more Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis infecting domestic ruminants and humans. Currently used routine diagnostic tools offer limited sensitivity and specificity and symptomless infected animals may be missed. Therefore, diagnostic tools of higher sensitivity and specificity must be developed. For this purpose, the C. burnetii outer membrane protein Com1 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The His-tagged recombinant protein was purified and used in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Assay performance was tested with more than 400 positive and negative sera from sheep, goats and cattle from 36 locations. Calculation of sensitivity and specificity was undertaken using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The sensitivities and specificities for sheep were 85% and 68% (optical density at 450nm, OD 450 cutoff value 0.32), for goats 94% and 77% (OD 450 cutoff value 0.23) and for cattle 71% and 70% (OD 450 cutoff value 0.18), respectively. These results correspond to excellent, outstanding and acceptable discrimination of positive and negative sera. In summary, recombinant Com1 can provide a basis for more sensitive and specific diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine.
SSRN Electronic Journal
Mongolia is an expansive nation, dominated by agriculture with livestock under nomadic herder car... more Mongolia is an expansive nation, dominated by agriculture with livestock under nomadic herder care contributing significantly to the economy. Mongolian veterinarians service these herder's livestock and dogs, and are often the first point of contact for animal health advice, including ectoparasite prophylaxis. Dogs are competent reservoir and sentinel hosts for several zoonotic vector-borne diseases (VBD). These diseases in dogs can be dependent on the presence of other sylvatic or domestic reservoir hosts, the abundance of competent vectors and supporting environmental and climatic conditions. Therefore, VBD present a true One Health challenge. The direct and close association of nomadic herders with livestock and livestock protection dogs coupled with frequent relocation (associated with nomadic lifestyles) places all three host groups (herders, livestock and livestock protection dogs) at risk of acquiring VBD. Our study set out to investigate the overall knowledge, perceptions and practices of Mongolian veterinarians towards canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD). A hardcopy questionnaire was delivered through the Mongolian Veterinary Medical Association to a cohort of veterinarians representing 39% of Mongolia's total veterinary workforce with a 53% response rate. A total of 297 participants were included in the final study. The bulk of participants were livestock veterinarians, followed by mixed animal veterinarians. Overall Mongolian veterinarians' knowledge of CVBD were scored as low (58%; 0-3 points) or medium (32%; 4-6 points) on a ten-point scale. There was a significant discrepancy between self-rated and actual knowledge. Females had 1.7 (95% CI 1.1, 2.8) times higher knowledge compared with males and those veterinarians who had 3-5 canine consultations per day were also found to have higher knowledge (odds ratio 1.4, 95% CI 0.4, 4.5). Most veterinarians utilised two or less resources to source information on CVBD over the previous 12 months. The potential of climate-induced emergence of vector populations and their associated pathogens makes it imperative that veterinarians in Mongolia have the necessary resources and knowledge to be on the forefront of CVBD preparedness and mitigation. This study identifies the knowledge gaps and addresses the need for further resources for Mongolian veterinarians to effectively engage in a One Health approach for negating CVBD in animals and humans.
Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe G: Großtiere / Nutztiere, 2014
ZusammenfassungBeschreibungen von Infektionen mit Orthopockenviren bei Neuweltkameliden beschränk... more ZusammenfassungBeschreibungen von Infektionen mit Orthopockenviren bei Neuweltkameliden beschränken sich in der Literatur auf einzelne Fallberichte. Ausgehend von einer generalisierten Kuhpockenvirusinfektion eines Alpakas werden klinische Symptomatik, Diagnostik und pathologische Befunde dargestellt. Laut Vorbericht wurde das Tier bereits über einen längeren Zeitraum aufgrund von Hautveränderungen behandelt. Bei der klinischen Untersuchung fielen papulöse Veränderungen auf der gesamten Hautoberfläche auf. Außerdem lagen eine beidseitige mukopurulente Konjunktivitis sowie starke Salivation infolge einer hochgradigen erosiv-ulzerativen Stomatitis vor. Trotz intensivmedizinischer Versorgung verstarb das Alpaka 8 Tage nach Einweisung in die Klinik. Bei der Sektion fanden sich weiterhin eine erosiv-ulzerative Laryngitis sowie eine nekrotisierende Pneumonie und Lymphadenitis. Histologisch wurde der Verdacht auf eine Orthopockenvirusinfektion gestellt. Diese ließ sich in der elektronenmik...
Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe G: Großtiere / Nutztiere, 2019
Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Atemwegs- und Lungenerkrankungen sind eine häufige Ursache fü... more Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Atemwegs- und Lungenerkrankungen sind eine häufige Ursache für Kälberverluste. Ziel dieser Arbeit war, das Management der Kälberhaltung in Milchviehbetrieben zu beschreiben und dabei nach Beziehungen zwischen dem Auftreten der enzootischen Bronchopneumonie (EBP) und der Kälbersterblichkeit sowie Beziehungen zu Managementfaktoren zu suchen. Material und Methoden In 153 Betrieben, die zwischen November 2006 und Juli 2007 auf freiwilliger Basis an der Studie teilnahmen, wurde das Management der Kälberhaltung im Rahmen einer Bestandsvisitation und Betriebsleiterbefragung erfasst und zu der aus der Datenbank HI-Tier ermittelten Kälbersterblichkeitsrate des Referenzjahres 2006 in Beziehung gesetzt. Pro Betrieb wurden Serumproben einer Stichprobe von 7 Tieren ab dem 6. Lebensmonat auf Antikörper gegen das bovine respiratorische Synzytialvirus (BRSV-Ak) und das Parainfluenzavirus Typ 3 (PIV3-Ak) untersucht und die Betriebe entsprechend dem Anteil der Kälb...
Parasites & Vectors
Background Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with... more Background Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with zoonotic potential. Bartonella infections in humans range from mild with unspecific symptoms to life threatening, and can be transmitted via arthropod vectors or through direct contact with infected hosts, although the latter mode of transmission is rare. Among the small mammals that harbour Bartonella spp., rodents are the most speciose group and harbour the highest diversity of these parasites. Human–rodent interactions are not unlikely as many rodent species live in proximity to humans. However, a surprisingly low number of clinical cases of bartonellosis related to rodent-associated Bartonella spp. have thus far been recorded in humans. Methods The main purpose of this review is to determine explanatory factors for this unexpected finding, by taking a closer look at published clinical cases of bartonellosis connected with rodent-associated Bartonella species, some of which have been...
Arboviruses are transmitted in nature exclusively or to a major extend by arthropods. They belong... more Arboviruses are transmitted in nature exclusively or to a major extend by arthropods. They belong to the most important viruses invading new areas in the world and their occurrence is strongly influenced by climatic changes due to the life cycle of the transmitting vectors. Several arboviruses have emerged in new regions of the world during the last years, like West Nile virus (WNV) in the Americas, Usutu virus (USUV) in Central Europe, or Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in the Arabian Peninsula. In most instances the ways of introduction of arboviruses into new regions are not known. Infections acquired during stays in the tropics and subtropics are diagnosed with increasing frequency in travellers returning from tropical countries, but interestingly no attention is paid on accompanying pet animals or the hematophagous ectoparasites that may still be attached to them. Here we outline the known ecology of the mosquito-borne equine encephalitis viruses (WEEV, EEEV, and VEEV), WNV, USU...
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2020
It is commonly assumed that Dermacentor reticulatus immature life stages are nidicolous and there... more It is commonly assumed that Dermacentor reticulatus immature life stages are nidicolous and therefore cannot be collected from vegetation. However, in June and July of 2018 and 2019, a total of 47 questing D. reticulatus larvae and two nymphs were collected by the flagging method in two different sites close to the city of Leipzig, Germany. To confirm their role in the transmission of tick-borne pathogens, 45 larvae (pooled by 2 in 21 pools and 1 pool with three individuals) and one nymph were tested either by conventional or real-time PCR for the presence of Bartonella spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and Babesia spp. All samples tested negative for Bartonella spp., N. mikurensis, and Babesia spp.; while the minimal infection rate of larvae for Rickettsia spp. was 42%, and the one tested nymph was also positive. Sequencing partial ompB genes revealed the presence of Rickettsia raoultii in larvae and nymph. Further research needs to be done to determine under which circumstances immature D. reticulatus ticks are found outside the burrows of their hosts and can be collected from vegetation.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 2020
Background Human obesity is linked with systemic inflammation. However, it is still controversial... more Background Human obesity is linked with systemic inflammation. However, it is still controversial if equines produce more inflammatory cytokines with increasing body weight and if the production of those show breed type specific patterns. The main objective of this study was to determine if diet induced obesity is associated with increased inflammatory signatures in adipose tissue of equines and if a breed predisposition exists between ponies and horses. Additionally, we aimed to identify adipose tissue depot differences in inflammatory cytokine expression. Nineteen healthy, non-overweight and metabolically healthy equines received a hypercaloric diet for 2 years. Body weight, body condition score and cresty neck score were assessed weekly throughout the study. At three time points, insulin sensitivity was determined by a combined glucose-insulin test. Adipose tissue samples were collected from two intra-abdominal and two subcutaneous depots under general anesthesia at each time poi...
Systematic and Applied Acarology, 2017
Morphological abnormalities in ticks seem to be very rare phenomena. In this paper, we describe i... more Morphological abnormalities in ticks seem to be very rare phenomena. In this paper, we describe interesting anomalies in adult Dermacentor reticulatus collected as questing ticks by flagging as part of a tick-borne encephalitis program in Battaune, Federal State of Saxony, Germany, at the end of September 2016. The observed anomalies in the three D. reticulatus adults were: general anomalies (gynandromorphism) and local anomalies (malformation of capitulum and abnormalities of appendages). One D. reticulatus specimen displayed gynandromorphism, the presence of both male and female features within the same organism. One female showed abnormal morphology of right palp, while also missing the right porose area, and multiple atrophied extremities: i.e. of the right leg IV and of the left legs III and IV. The third specimen, a male, presented an atrophied extremity of the right leg III (meiomely). This is the first report of complete mosaic type gynandromorphism in a flagged D. reticulat...
Tierärztliche Praxis. Ausgabe G, Grosstiere/Nutztiere, 2014
Orthopoxvirus infections appear to be rare in South American Camelids, because only a few cases h... more Orthopoxvirus infections appear to be rare in South American Camelids, because only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Based on a generalized infection with cowpox virus in an alpaca, the clinical symptoms, laboratory diagnostic findings and the pathological changes are described. The case history showed a long treatment because of chronic skin lesions. The main clinical symptom was miliary papules over the entire skin. Furthermore, a bilateral mucopurulent conjunctivitis occurred as well as excessive salivation due to a severe erosive-ulcerative stomatitis. Although the animal received intensive treatment, it died 8 days after admission to the clinic. During necropsy, an erosive-ulcerative laryngitis as well as a necrotising pneumonia and lymphadenitis were observed. Histopathological examination of representative organ samples led to the diagnosis of a suspected orthopoxvirus infection. Electron microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of tissue ...
Comparative medicine, 2000
Mousepox was identified in a single mouse-holding room in early 1999 after a group of 20 CAF1/Hsd... more Mousepox was identified in a single mouse-holding room in early 1999 after a group of 20 CAF1/Hsd mice were inoculated SC with a killed murine spindle cell tumor line, S1509A. The cell line had been used without complications multiple times and was determined to be free of viral contamination on the basis of results of mouse antibody production testing. Of the 20 mice inoculated, 12 mice died by postinoculation day 8. Severe lymphoid and hepatic necrosis was observed in select mice subjected to histologic examination. Ballooning degeneration of epithelial cells with intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies was observed in the skin overlying the inoculation site of the single mouse from which this tissue site was evaluated. Presence of ectromelia virus was confirmed by use of immunohistochemical and polymerase chain reaction analyses, and the virus was isolated after serum, pooled from 5 of the index cases, was inoculated into an immune-naive mouse. Investigation into the sourc...
Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.), 2015
Tick-transmitted spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) are considered emerging disease pathogens... more Tick-transmitted spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) are considered emerging disease pathogens in Europe. To assess the situation in Germany, a seroepidemiologic survey of dogs (n=605, which have never left Germany) was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies to SFGR. For this purpose, a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for all SFGR was used. A total of 78% of the dogs were positive for antibodies of the SFGR, and there was a positive correlation between age, tick-infestation, and seropositivity. There was no correlation between clinical state, location, and seropositivity, suggesting that infection with rickettsia is neither related to the health condition of the dogs nor to their abode in Germany. According to our results, all of Germany can be considered as an endemic area for SFGR. This should be taken into account when assessing the epidemiology of human rickettsioses and their impact on public health.
Parasites & Vectors
Background Ixodid ticks are important vectors for zoonotic pathogens, with Ixodes ricinus being t... more Background Ixodid ticks are important vectors for zoonotic pathogens, with Ixodes ricinus being the most important in Europe. Rodents are hosts of immature life stages of I. ricinus ticks and are considered main reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens, e.g. Borrelia burgdorferi. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence as well as genospecies and sequence type (ST) diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks and small mammals from central Germany and to elaborate on the influence of environmental and/or individual host and vector factors on Borrelia prevalence. Methods After species identification, 1167 small mammal skin samples and 1094 ticks from vegetation were screened by B. burgdorferi sensu lato real-time polymerase chain reaction, and positive samples were characterized by multilocus sequence typing. Generalized linear (mixed) models were used to estimate how seasonality, small mammal species/tick life stage and habitat affect individual infection status. Resu...
Viruses
West Nile virus (WNV) infections were first detected in Germany in 2018, but information about WN... more West Nile virus (WNV) infections were first detected in Germany in 2018, but information about WNV seroprevalence in horses is limited. The study’s overall goal was to gather information that would help veterinarians, horse owners, and veterinary-, and public health- authorities understand the spread of WNV in Germany and direct protective measures. For this purpose, WNV seroprevalence was determined in counties with and without previously registered WNV infections in horses, and risk factors for seropositivity were estimated. The cohort consisted of privately owned horses from nine counties in Eastern Germany. A total of 940 serum samples was tested by competitive panflavivirus ELISA (cELISA), and reactive samples were further tested by WNV IgM capture ELISA and confirmed by virus neutralization test (VNT). Information about potential risk factors was recorded by questionnaire and analyzed by logistic regression. A total of 106 serum samples showed antibodies against flaviviruses b...
This report describes the first isolation and molecular characterisation of a chikungunya virus f... more This report describes the first isolation and molecular characterisation of a chikungunya virus from two German tourists who became ill after a visit to the Maldives in September 2009. The virus contained the E1 A226V mutation, shown to be responsible for an adaptation to the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. The E1 coding sequence was identical to chikungunya virus isolates from Sri Lanka and showed three nt-mismatches to the only available E1 nt sequence from the Maldives.
Microorganisms, 2020
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic... more Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic arbovirus (TBEV). In Germany, TBE is classified as a notifiable disease with an average of 350 autochthonous human cases annually. The incidence-based risk assessment in Germany came under criticism because every year, a number of autochthonous human TBE cases have been detected outside of the official risk areas. Therefore, it is necessary to find additional parameters to strengthen TBEV surveillance. The aim of this study was to examine red foxes as sentinels for TBE. Thus far, there are no published data about the sensitivity and specificity for serological methods testing fox samples. Hence, we aimed to define a system for the screening of TBEV-specific antibodies in red foxes. A total of 1233 fox sera were collected and examined by ELISA and IIFA and confirmed by micro-NT. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies against TBEV in red foxes from Germany confirmed by micro-NT was 21.1...