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Whilst multiple countries in Europe have wildlife health surveillance (WHS) programmes, they vary in scope. In many countries, coordinated general surveillance at a national scale is not conducted and the knowledge of wildlife health status in Europe remains limited. Learning lessons from countries with established systems may help others to effectively implement WHS schemes. In order to facilitate information exchange, the WHS Network of the European Wildlife Disease Association organised a workshop to both collate knowledge and experience from countries that had started or expanded WHS programmes and to translate this information into practical recommendations. Presentations were given by invited representatives of European countries with different WHS levels. Events that led to the start-up and fostered growth spurts of WHS were highlighted, including action plan creation, partnership formation, organisation restructuring and appraisal by external audit. Challenges to programme development, such as a lack of funding, data sharing, infrastructural provision and method harmonisation, were explored. Recommendations to help overcome key challenges were summarised as: understanding and awareness; cross-sectoral scope; national-scale collaboration; harmonisation of methods; government support; academic support; other funding support; staff expertise and capacity; leadership, feedback and engagement; and threat mitigation and wildlife disease management. This resource may enable the development of WHS programmes in Europe and beyond.
Becki Lawson; Aleksija Neimanis; Antonio Lavazza; Jorge Ramón López-Olvera; Paul Tavernier; Charalambos Billinis; J. Paul Duff; Daniel T. Mladenov; Jolianne M. Rijks; Sara Savić; Gudrun Wibbelt; Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis; Thijs Kuiken. How to Start Up a National Wildlife Health Surveillance Programme. Animals 2021, 11, 2543 .
AMA StyleBecki Lawson, Aleksija Neimanis, Antonio Lavazza, Jorge Ramón López-Olvera, Paul Tavernier, Charalambos Billinis, J. Paul Duff, Daniel T. Mladenov, Jolianne M. Rijks, Sara Savić, Gudrun Wibbelt, Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis, Thijs Kuiken. How to Start Up a National Wildlife Health Surveillance Programme. Animals. 2021; 11 (9):2543.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBecki Lawson; Aleksija Neimanis; Antonio Lavazza; Jorge Ramón López-Olvera; Paul Tavernier; Charalambos Billinis; J. Paul Duff; Daniel T. Mladenov; Jolianne M. Rijks; Sara Savić; Gudrun Wibbelt; Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis; Thijs Kuiken. 2021. "How to Start Up a National Wildlife Health Surveillance Programme." Animals 11, no. 9: 2543.
The understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and the clinicopathological forms caused by currently circulating African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates is incomplete. So far, most of the studies have been focused on isolates classified within genotypes I and II, the only genotypes that have circulated outside of Africa. However, less is known about the clinical presentations and lesions induced by isolates belonging to the other twenty-two genotypes. Therefore, the early clinicopathological identification of disease outbreaks caused by isolates belonging to, as yet, not well-characterised ASFV genotypes may be compromised, which might cause a delay in the implementation of control measures to halt the virus spread. To improve the pathological characterisation of disease caused by diverse isolates, we have refined the macroscopic and histopathological evaluation protocols to standardise the scoring of lesions. Domestic pigs were inoculated intranasally with different doses (high, medium and low) of ASFV isolate Ken05/Tk1 (genotype X). To complement previous studies, the distribution and severity of macroscopic and histopathological lesions, along with the amount and distribution of viral antigen in tissues, were characterised by applying the new scoring protocols. The intranasal inoculation of domestic pigs with high doses of the Ken05/Tk1 isolate induced acute forms of ASF in most of the animals. Inoculation with medium doses mainly induced acute forms of disease. A less severe but longer clinical course, typical of subacute forms, characterised by the presence of more widespread and severe haemorrhages and oedema, was observed in one pig inoculated with the medium dose. The severity of vascular lesions (haemorrhages and oedema) induced by high and medium doses was not associated with the amount of virus antigen detected in tissues, therefore these might be attributed to indirect mechanisms not evaluated in the present study. The absence of clinical signs, lesions and detectable levels of virus genome or antigen in blood from the animals inoculated with the lowest dose ruled out the existence of possible asymptomatic carriers or persistently infected pigs, at least for the 21 days period of the study. The results corroborate the moderate virulence of the Ken05/Tk1 isolate, as well as its capacity to induce both the acute and, occasionally, subacute forms of ASF when high and medium doses were administered intranasally.
Pedro Sánchez-Cordón; Tobias Floyd; Daniel Hicks; Helen Crooke; Stephen McCleary; Ronan McCarthy; Rebecca Strong; Linda Dixon; Aleksija Neimanis; Emil Wikström-Lassa; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Alejandro Núñez. Evaluation of Lesions and Viral Antigen Distribution in Domestic Pigs Inoculated Intranasally with African Swine Fever Virus Ken05/Tk1 (Genotype X). Pathogens 2021, 10, 768 .
AMA StylePedro Sánchez-Cordón, Tobias Floyd, Daniel Hicks, Helen Crooke, Stephen McCleary, Ronan McCarthy, Rebecca Strong, Linda Dixon, Aleksija Neimanis, Emil Wikström-Lassa, Dolores Gavier-Widén, Alejandro Núñez. Evaluation of Lesions and Viral Antigen Distribution in Domestic Pigs Inoculated Intranasally with African Swine Fever Virus Ken05/Tk1 (Genotype X). Pathogens. 2021; 10 (6):768.
Chicago/Turabian StylePedro Sánchez-Cordón; Tobias Floyd; Daniel Hicks; Helen Crooke; Stephen McCleary; Ronan McCarthy; Rebecca Strong; Linda Dixon; Aleksija Neimanis; Emil Wikström-Lassa; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Alejandro Núñez. 2021. "Evaluation of Lesions and Viral Antigen Distribution in Domestic Pigs Inoculated Intranasally with African Swine Fever Virus Ken05/Tk1 (Genotype X)." Pathogens 10, no. 6: 768.
Recombination is one of the major sources of genetic variation in viruses. RNA viruses, such as rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), are among the viruses with the highest recombination rates. Several recombination events have been described for RHDV, mostly as a consequence of their genomic architecture. Here, we undertook phylogenetic and recombination analyses of French and Swedish RHDV strains from 1994 to 2016 and uncovered a new intergenotypic recombination event. This event occurred in the late 1990s/early 2000s and involved nonpathogenic GI.3 strains as donors for the nonstructural part of the genome of these recombinants, while pathogenic GI.1d strains contributed to the structural part. These GI.3P–GI.1d recombinant strains did not entirely replace GI.1d (nonrecombinant) strains, but became the dominant strains in France and Sweden, likely due to a fitness advantage associated with this genomic architecture. GI.3P–GI.1d (P stands for polymerase) strains persisted until 2013 and 2016 in Sweden and France, respectively, and cocirculated with the new genotype GI.2 in France. Since strains from the first GI.2 outbreaks were GI.3P–GI.2, we hypothesize that GI.3P–GI.1d could be the parental strain. Our results confirm the outstanding recombination ability of RHDV and its importance in the evolution of lagoviruses, which was only revealed by studying complete genomic sequences.
Joana Abrantes; Ana M. Lopes; Evelyne Lemaitre; Harri Ahola; Fereshteh Banihashem; Clément Droillard; Stéphane Marchandeau; Pedro J. Esteves; Aleksija Neimanis; Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé. Retrospective Analysis Shows That Most RHDV GI.1 Strains Circulating Since the Late 1990s in France and Sweden Were Recombinant GI.3P–GI.1d Strains. Genes 2020, 11, 910 .
AMA StyleJoana Abrantes, Ana M. Lopes, Evelyne Lemaitre, Harri Ahola, Fereshteh Banihashem, Clément Droillard, Stéphane Marchandeau, Pedro J. Esteves, Aleksija Neimanis, Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé. Retrospective Analysis Shows That Most RHDV GI.1 Strains Circulating Since the Late 1990s in France and Sweden Were Recombinant GI.3P–GI.1d Strains. Genes. 2020; 11 (8):910.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoana Abrantes; Ana M. Lopes; Evelyne Lemaitre; Harri Ahola; Fereshteh Banihashem; Clément Droillard; Stéphane Marchandeau; Pedro J. Esteves; Aleksija Neimanis; Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé. 2020. "Retrospective Analysis Shows That Most RHDV GI.1 Strains Circulating Since the Late 1990s in France and Sweden Were Recombinant GI.3P–GI.1d Strains." Genes 11, no. 8: 910.
After the re-introduction of African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype II isolates into Georgia in 2007, the disease spread from Eastern to Western Europe and then jumped first up to Mongolian borders and later into China in August 2018, spreading out of control and reaching different countries of Southeast Asia in 2019. From the initial incursion, along with domestic pigs, wild boar displayed a high susceptibility to ASFV and disease development. The disease established self-sustaining cycles within the wild boar population, a key fact that helped its spread and that pointed to the wild boar population as a substantial reservoir in Europe and probably also in Asia, which may hinder eradication and serve as the source for further geographic expansion. The present review gathers the most relevant information available regarding infection dynamics, disease pathogenesis and immune response that experimental infections with different ASFV isolates belonging to genotype I and II in wild boar and feral pigs have generated. Knowledge gaps in areas such as disease pathogenesis and immune response highlights the importance of focusing future studies on unravelling the early mechanisms of virus-cell interaction and innate and/or adaptive immune responses, knowledge that will contribute to the development of efficacious treatments/vaccines against ASFV.
Pedro J. Sánchez-Cordón; Alejandro Nunez; Aleksija Neimanis; Emil Wikström-Lassa; María Montoya; Helen Crooke; Dolores Gavier-Widén. African Swine Fever: Disease Dynamics in Wild Boar Experimentally Infected with ASFV Isolates Belonging to Genotype I and II. Viruses 2019, 11, 852 .
AMA StylePedro J. Sánchez-Cordón, Alejandro Nunez, Aleksija Neimanis, Emil Wikström-Lassa, María Montoya, Helen Crooke, Dolores Gavier-Widén. African Swine Fever: Disease Dynamics in Wild Boar Experimentally Infected with ASFV Isolates Belonging to Genotype I and II. Viruses. 2019; 11 (9):852.
Chicago/Turabian StylePedro J. Sánchez-Cordón; Alejandro Nunez; Aleksija Neimanis; Emil Wikström-Lassa; María Montoya; Helen Crooke; Dolores Gavier-Widén. 2019. "African Swine Fever: Disease Dynamics in Wild Boar Experimentally Infected with ASFV Isolates Belonging to Genotype I and II." Viruses 11, no. 9: 852.
Prior to 2010, the lagoviruses that cause rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in hares (Lepus spp.) were generally genus-specific. However, in 2010, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2), also known as Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, emerged and had the distinguishing ability to cause disease in both rabbits and certain hare species. The mountain hare (Lepus timidus) is native to Sweden and is susceptible to European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV), also called Lagovirus europaeus GII.1. While most mountain hare populations are found on the mainland, isolated populations also exist on islands. Here we investigate a mortality event in mountain hares on the small island of Hallands Väderö where other leporid species, including rabbits, are absent. Post-mortem and microscopic examination of three mountain hare carcasses collected from early November 2016 to mid-March 2017 revealed acute hepatic necrosis consistent with pathogenic lagovirus infection. Using immunohistochemistry, lagoviral capsid antigen was visualized within lesions, both in hepatocytes and macrophages. Genotyping and immunotyping of the virus independently confirmed infection with L. europaeus GI.2, not GII.1. Phylogenetic analyses of the vp60 gene grouped mountain hare strains together with a rabbit strain from an outbreak of GI.2 in July 2016, collected approximately 50 km away on the mainland. This is the first documented infection of GI.2 in mountain hares and further expands the host range of GI.2. Lesions and tissue distribution mimic those of GII.1 in mountain hares. The virus was most likely initially introduced from a concurrent, large-scale GI.2 outbreak in rabbits on the adjacent mainland, providing another example of how readily this virus can spread. The mortality event in mountain hares lasted for at least 4.5 months in the absence of rabbits, which would have required virus circulation among mountain hares, environmental persistence and/or multiple introductions. This marks the fourth Lepus species that can succumb to GI.2 infection, suggesting that susceptibility to GI.2 may be common in Lepus species. Measures to minimize the spread of GI.2 to vulnerable Lepus populations therefore are prudent.
Aleksija S. Neimanis; Harri Ahola; Ulrika Larsson Pettersson; Ana M. Lopes; Joana Abrantes; Siamak Zohari; Pedro J. Esteves; Dolores Gavier-Widén. Overcoming species barriers: an outbreak of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 in an isolated population of mountain hares (Lepus timidus). BMC Veterinary Research 2018, 14, 1 -12.
AMA StyleAleksija S. Neimanis, Harri Ahola, Ulrika Larsson Pettersson, Ana M. Lopes, Joana Abrantes, Siamak Zohari, Pedro J. Esteves, Dolores Gavier-Widén. Overcoming species barriers: an outbreak of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 in an isolated population of mountain hares (Lepus timidus). BMC Veterinary Research. 2018; 14 (1):1-12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAleksija S. Neimanis; Harri Ahola; Ulrika Larsson Pettersson; Ana M. Lopes; Joana Abrantes; Siamak Zohari; Pedro J. Esteves; Dolores Gavier-Widén. 2018. "Overcoming species barriers: an outbreak of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 in an isolated population of mountain hares (Lepus timidus)." BMC Veterinary Research 14, no. 1: 1-12.
Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, also known as RHDV2 or RHDVb, is an emerging virus that causes rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In contrast to L. europaeus GI.1 (or RHDV/RHDVa) viruses that are only pathogenic for adults, GI.2 causes clinical disease in both adults and kittens. However, detailed descriptions of the pathology of this virus that may provide insight into its pathogenicity and emergence are lacking. Using an Australian GI.2 field strain isolated in 2015, we provide the first detailed description of pathology, viral antigen distribution and tissue load of GI.2 in adult and 5-week old New Zealand white rabbits using histology, immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. Liver was the target organ, but in contrast to GI.1 viruses, lesions and inflammatory responses did not differ between adults and kittens. Lymphocytic inflammation, proposed to be protective in kittens infected with GI.1, was notably absent. We also present the first descriptions of bone marrow changes in RHD, including decreased myeloid-to-erythroid ratio. Consistent with other pathogenic lagoviruses, intracellular viral antigen was demonstrated in hepatocytes and cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system. In terminal stages of disease, viral loads were highest in liver, serum and spleen. Despite the small sample size, our data suggest that unlike early European GI.2 strains, the pathogenicity of the Australian GI.2 virus is similar to GI.1 viruses. Additionally, GI.2 was fatal for all (n = 5) inoculated kittens in this study. This may significantly alter RHD epidemiology in the field, and may impact biocontrol programs for invasive rabbits in Australia where GI.1 viruses are intentionally released.
Aleksija Neimanis; Ulrika Larsson Pettersson; Nina Huang; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Tanja Strive. Elucidation of the pathology and tissue distribution of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2) in young and adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Veterinary Research 2018, 49, 46 .
AMA StyleAleksija Neimanis, Ulrika Larsson Pettersson, Nina Huang, Dolores Gavier-Widén, Tanja Strive. Elucidation of the pathology and tissue distribution of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2) in young and adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Veterinary Research. 2018; 49 (1):46.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAleksija Neimanis; Ulrika Larsson Pettersson; Nina Huang; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Tanja Strive. 2018. "Elucidation of the pathology and tissue distribution of Lagovirus europaeus GI.2/RHDV2 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2) in young and adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)." Veterinary Research 49, no. 1: 46.
M. Isomursu; Aleksija Neimanis; V. Karkamo; R. Holopainen; T. Nokireki; T. Gadd. First Outbreak of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in Rabbits in Finland. Journal of Comparative Pathology 2018, 158, 144 .
AMA StyleM. Isomursu, Aleksija Neimanis, V. Karkamo, R. Holopainen, T. Nokireki, T. Gadd. First Outbreak of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in Rabbits in Finland. Journal of Comparative Pathology. 2018; 158 ():144.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Isomursu; Aleksija Neimanis; V. Karkamo; R. Holopainen; T. Nokireki; T. Gadd. 2018. "First Outbreak of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in Rabbits in Finland." Journal of Comparative Pathology 158, no. : 144.
At the end of World War II, tens of thousands of tons of chemical warfare agents – mostly mustard gas – were dumped in the Gotland Deep – a deep basin in the middle of the otherwise shallow Baltic Sea. Decades later, these weapons are being reactivated – both literally (perhaps on the faces of dead seals, and in fishermen’s nets) and also in our imaginations. In this story that recounts the beginning of our research into this situation, militarization meets with environmental concern: the past floats into the present, where humans and non-humans are equally implicated, where the sea itself conditions the kinds of questions we can ask, and answers we might get, and where terms like ‘threat’ and ‘risk’ remain undecided. After spending time on Gotland Island – the closest terrestrial site to these weapons dumps – we ask what kinds of research methods might be adequate to these tangled, underwater tales that we find so difficult to fathom.
Astrida Neimanis; Aleksija Neimanis; Cecilia Åsberg. Fathoming chemical weapons in the Gotland Deep. cultural geographies 2017, 24, 631 -638.
AMA StyleAstrida Neimanis, Aleksija Neimanis, Cecilia Åsberg. Fathoming chemical weapons in the Gotland Deep. cultural geographies. 2017; 24 (4):631-638.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAstrida Neimanis; Aleksija Neimanis; Cecilia Åsberg. 2017. "Fathoming chemical weapons in the Gotland Deep." cultural geographies 24, no. 4: 631-638.
Lagoviruses belong to the Caliciviridae family. They were first recognized as highly pathogenic viruses of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) that emerged in the 1970–1980s, namely, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV), according to the host species from which they had been first detected. However, the diversity of lagoviruses has recently expanded to include new related viruses with varying pathogenicity, geographic distribution and host ranges. Together with the frequent recombination observed amongst circulating viruses, there is a clear need to establish precise guidelines for classifying and naming lagovirus strains. Therefore, here we propose a new nomenclature based on phylogenetic relationships. In this new nomenclature, a single species of lagovirus would be recognized and called Lagovirus europaeus. The species would be divided into two genogroups that correspond to RHDV- and EBHSV-related viruses, respectively. Genogroups could be subdivided into genotypes, which could themselves be subdivided into phylogenetically well-supported variants. Based on available sequences, pairwise distance cutoffs have been defined, but with the accumulation of new sequences these cutoffs may need to be revised. We propose that an international working group could coordinate the nomenclature of lagoviruses and any proposals for revision.
Jacques Le Pendu; Joana Abrantes; Stéphane Bertagnoli; Jean-Sébastien Guitton; Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé; Ana Lopes; Stéphane Marchandeau; Fernando Alda; Tereza Almeida; Alves Paulo Célio; Juan Barcena; Galina Burmakina; Esther Blanco; Carlos Calvete; Patrizia Cavadini; Brian Cooke; Kevin P. Dalton; Miguel Delibes Mateos; Wiesław Deptuła; John-Sebastian Eden; Fang Wang; Catarina C Ferreira; Paula G Ferreira; Pilar Foronda; Paulo Célio Alves; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Robyn Hall; Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz; Peter Kerr; John Kovaliski; Antonio Lavazza; Jackie Mahar; Alexander Malogolovkin; Raquel M. Marques; Sara Marques; Aaron Martin-Alonso; Pedro Monterroso; Sacramento Moreno; Greg Mutze; Aleksija Neimanis; Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej; David Peacock; Francisco Parra; Mara Rocchi; Carlos Rouco; Nathalie Ruvoën-Clouet; Eliane Silva; Diogo Silvério; Tanja Strive; Gertrude Thompson; Beata Tokarz-Deptuła; Pedro Esteves. Proposal for a unified classification system and nomenclature of lagoviruses. Journal of General Virology 2017, 98, 1658 -1666.
AMA StyleJacques Le Pendu, Joana Abrantes, Stéphane Bertagnoli, Jean-Sébastien Guitton, Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé, Ana Lopes, Stéphane Marchandeau, Fernando Alda, Tereza Almeida, Alves Paulo Célio, Juan Barcena, Galina Burmakina, Esther Blanco, Carlos Calvete, Patrizia Cavadini, Brian Cooke, Kevin P. Dalton, Miguel Delibes Mateos, Wiesław Deptuła, John-Sebastian Eden, Fang Wang, Catarina C Ferreira, Paula G Ferreira, Pilar Foronda, Paulo Célio Alves, Dolores Gavier-Widén, Robyn Hall, Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz, Peter Kerr, John Kovaliski, Antonio Lavazza, Jackie Mahar, Alexander Malogolovkin, Raquel M. Marques, Sara Marques, Aaron Martin-Alonso, Pedro Monterroso, Sacramento Moreno, Greg Mutze, Aleksija Neimanis, Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej, David Peacock, Francisco Parra, Mara Rocchi, Carlos Rouco, Nathalie Ruvoën-Clouet, Eliane Silva, Diogo Silvério, Tanja Strive, Gertrude Thompson, Beata Tokarz-Deptuła, Pedro Esteves. Proposal for a unified classification system and nomenclature of lagoviruses. Journal of General Virology. 2017; 98 (7):1658-1666.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJacques Le Pendu; Joana Abrantes; Stéphane Bertagnoli; Jean-Sébastien Guitton; Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé; Ana Lopes; Stéphane Marchandeau; Fernando Alda; Tereza Almeida; Alves Paulo Célio; Juan Barcena; Galina Burmakina; Esther Blanco; Carlos Calvete; Patrizia Cavadini; Brian Cooke; Kevin P. Dalton; Miguel Delibes Mateos; Wiesław Deptuła; John-Sebastian Eden; Fang Wang; Catarina C Ferreira; Paula G Ferreira; Pilar Foronda; Paulo Célio Alves; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Robyn Hall; Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz; Peter Kerr; John Kovaliski; Antonio Lavazza; Jackie Mahar; Alexander Malogolovkin; Raquel M. Marques; Sara Marques; Aaron Martin-Alonso; Pedro Monterroso; Sacramento Moreno; Greg Mutze; Aleksija Neimanis; Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej; David Peacock; Francisco Parra; Mara Rocchi; Carlos Rouco; Nathalie Ruvoën-Clouet; Eliane Silva; Diogo Silvério; Tanja Strive; Gertrude Thompson; Beata Tokarz-Deptuła; Pedro Esteves. 2017. "Proposal for a unified classification system and nomenclature of lagoviruses." Journal of General Virology 98, no. 7: 1658-1666.
Incursion of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) into Sweden was documented in 1990 and it is now considered endemic in wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2), a new, related lagovirus was first detected in France in 2010, and has spread rapidly throughout Europe and beyond. However, knowledge of RHDV2 in northern Europe is sporadic and incomplete, and in Sweden, routinely available diagnostic methods to detect rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) do not distinguish between types of virus causing disease. Using RHDV2-specific RT-qPCR, sequencing of the VP60 gene and immunological virus typing of archived and prospective case material from the National Veterinary Institute's (SVA) wildlife disease surveillance programme and diagnostic pathology service, we describe the emergence of RHDV2 in Sweden in both wild and domestic rabbits. The earliest documented outbreak occurred on 22 May 2013, and from May 2013 to May 2016, 10 separate incidents of RHDV2 were documented from six different municipalities in the southern half of Sweden. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP60 gene shows clear clustering of Swedish isolates into three separate clusters within two different clades according to geographic location and time, suggesting viral evolution, multiple introduction events or both. Almost all cases of RHD examined by SVA from May 2013 to May 2016 were caused by RHDV2, suggesting that RHDV2 may be replacing RHDV as the predominant cause of RHD in Sweden.
A. S. Neimanis; H. Ahola; Siamak Zohari; U. Larsson Pettersson; C. Bröjer; Lorenzo Capucci; D. Gavier-Widén. Arrival of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 to northern Europe: Emergence and outbreaks in wild and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Sweden. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2017, 65, 213 -220.
AMA StyleA. S. Neimanis, H. Ahola, Siamak Zohari, U. Larsson Pettersson, C. Bröjer, Lorenzo Capucci, D. Gavier-Widén. Arrival of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 to northern Europe: Emergence and outbreaks in wild and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Sweden. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2017; 65 (1):213-220.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. S. Neimanis; H. Ahola; Siamak Zohari; U. Larsson Pettersson; C. Bröjer; Lorenzo Capucci; D. Gavier-Widén. 2017. "Arrival of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 to northern Europe: Emergence and outbreaks in wild and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Sweden." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 65, no. 1: 213-220.
The biliary trematode Pseudamphistomum truncatum parasitizes a wide range of fish-eating mammals, including humans. Here we report the emergence of this parasite in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea. One hundred eighty-three of 1 554 grey seals (11.9%) examined from 2002–2013 had detectable hepatobiliary trematode infection. Parasite identification was confirmed as P. truncatum by sequencing the ITS2 region of a pool of five to 10 trematodes from each of ten seals collected off the coast of seven different Swedish counties. The proportion of seals parasitized by P. truncatum increased significantly over time and with increasing age of seals. Males were 3.1 times more likely to be parasitized than females and animals killed in fishery interactions were less likely to be parasitized than animals found dead or hunted. There was no significant difference in parasitism of seals examined from the Gulf of Bothnia versus those examined from the Baltic Proper. Although the majority of infections were mild, P. truncatum can cause severe hepatobiliary disease and resulted in liver failure in at least one seal. Because cyprinid fish are the second intermediate host for opisthorchiid trematodes, diets of grey seals from the Baltic Sea were analysed regarding presence of cyprinids. The proportion of gastrointestinal tracts containing cyprinid remains was ten times higher in seals examined from 2008 to 2013 (12.2%) than those examined from 2002 to 2007 (1.2%) and coincided with a general increase of trematode parasitism in the host population. The emergence and relatively common occurrence of P. truncatum in grey seals signals the presence of this parasite in the Baltic Sea ecosystem and demonstrates how aquatic mammals can serve as excellent sentinels of marine ecosystem change. Investigation of drivers behind P. truncatum emergence and infection risk for other mammals, including humans, is highly warranted.
Aleksija S. Neimanis; Charlotta Moraeus; Anders Bergman; Anders Bignert; Johan Höglund; Karl Lundström; Annika Stromberg; Britt-Marie Bäcklin. Emergence of the Zoonotic Biliary Trematode Pseudamphistomum truncatum in Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea. PLOS ONE 2016, 11, e0164782 .
AMA StyleAleksija S. Neimanis, Charlotta Moraeus, Anders Bergman, Anders Bignert, Johan Höglund, Karl Lundström, Annika Stromberg, Britt-Marie Bäcklin. Emergence of the Zoonotic Biliary Trematode Pseudamphistomum truncatum in Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea. PLOS ONE. 2016; 11 (10):e0164782.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAleksija S. Neimanis; Charlotta Moraeus; Anders Bergman; Anders Bignert; Johan Höglund; Karl Lundström; Annika Stromberg; Britt-Marie Bäcklin. 2016. "Emergence of the Zoonotic Biliary Trematode Pseudamphistomum truncatum in Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Baltic Sea." PLOS ONE 11, no. 10: e0164782.
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a lagovirus that can cause fatal hepatitis (rabbit haemorrhagic disease, RHD) with mortality of 80–90% in farmed and wild rabbits. Since 1986, RHDV has caused outbreaks in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Europe, but never in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus, EBH). In 2010, a new RHDV-related virus, called RHDV2, emerged in Europe, causing extended epidemics because it largely overcame the immunity to RHDV present in most rabbit populations. RHDV2 also was identified in Cape hare (Lepus capensis subsp. mediterraneus) and in Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus). Here, we describe two distinct incidents of RHDV2 infection in EBH that occurred in Italy (2012) and Spain (2014). The two RHDV2 strains caused macroscopic and microscopic lesions similar to European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in hares, and they were genetically related to other RHDV2 strains in Europe. EBHs are common in Europe, often sharing habitat with rabbits. They likely have been exposed to high levels of RHDV2 during outbreaks in rabbits in recent years, yet only two incidents of RHDV2 in EBHs have been found in Italy and Spain, suggesting that EBHs are not a primary host. Instead, they may act as spillover hosts in situations when infection pressure is high and barriers between rabbits and hares are limited, resulting in occasional infections causing EBHS-like lesions. The serological survey of stocked hare sera taken from Italian and Spanish hare populations provided an understanding of naturally occurring RHDV2 infection in the field confirming its sporadic occurrence in EBH. Our findings increase the knowledge on distribution, host range and epidemiology of RHDV2.
Roser Velarde; Patrizia Cavadini; Aleksija Neimanis; Oscar Cabezon; M. Chiari; A. Gaffuri; Santiago Lavín; Guido Grilli; D. Gavier-Widén; A. Lavazza; Lorenzo Capucci. Spillover Events of Infection of Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus ) with Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Type 2 Virus (RHDV2) Caused Sporadic Cases of an European Brown Hare Syndrome-Like Disease in Italy and Spain. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2016, 64, 1750 -1761.
AMA StyleRoser Velarde, Patrizia Cavadini, Aleksija Neimanis, Oscar Cabezon, M. Chiari, A. Gaffuri, Santiago Lavín, Guido Grilli, D. Gavier-Widén, A. Lavazza, Lorenzo Capucci. Spillover Events of Infection of Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus ) with Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Type 2 Virus (RHDV2) Caused Sporadic Cases of an European Brown Hare Syndrome-Like Disease in Italy and Spain. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2016; 64 (6):1750-1761.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoser Velarde; Patrizia Cavadini; Aleksija Neimanis; Oscar Cabezon; M. Chiari; A. Gaffuri; Santiago Lavín; Guido Grilli; D. Gavier-Widén; A. Lavazza; Lorenzo Capucci. 2016. "Spillover Events of Infection of Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus ) with Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Type 2 Virus (RHDV2) Caused Sporadic Cases of an European Brown Hare Syndrome-Like Disease in Italy and Spain." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 64, no. 6: 1750-1761.
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Pedro José Esteves; Joana Abrantes; Stéphane Bertagnoli; Patrizia Cavadini; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Jean-Sébastien Guitton; Antonio Lavazza; Evelyne Lemaitre; Jérôme Letty; Ana Lopes; Aleksija Neimanis; Nathalie Ruvoën-Clouet; Jacques Le Pendu; Stéphane Marchandeau; Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé. Emergence of Pathogenicity in Lagoviruses: Evolution from Pre-existing Nonpathogenic Strains or through a Species Jump? PLOS Pathogens 2015, 11, e1005087 .
AMA StylePedro José Esteves, Joana Abrantes, Stéphane Bertagnoli, Patrizia Cavadini, Dolores Gavier-Widén, Jean-Sébastien Guitton, Antonio Lavazza, Evelyne Lemaitre, Jérôme Letty, Ana Lopes, Aleksija Neimanis, Nathalie Ruvoën-Clouet, Jacques Le Pendu, Stéphane Marchandeau, Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé. Emergence of Pathogenicity in Lagoviruses: Evolution from Pre-existing Nonpathogenic Strains or through a Species Jump? PLOS Pathogens. 2015; 11 (11):e1005087.
Chicago/Turabian StylePedro José Esteves; Joana Abrantes; Stéphane Bertagnoli; Patrizia Cavadini; Dolores Gavier-Widén; Jean-Sébastien Guitton; Antonio Lavazza; Evelyne Lemaitre; Jérôme Letty; Ana Lopes; Aleksija Neimanis; Nathalie Ruvoën-Clouet; Jacques Le Pendu; Stéphane Marchandeau; Ghislaine Le Gall-Reculé. 2015. "Emergence of Pathogenicity in Lagoviruses: Evolution from Pre-existing Nonpathogenic Strains or through a Species Jump?" PLOS Pathogens 11, no. 11: e1005087.
ASF was reintroduced into continental Europe via an incursion in Georgia in April 2007 from where it rapidly spread into Armenia, affecting domestic pigs and wild boar (Sanchez-Vizcaino and others 2013). ASF further expanded through wild boar populations around the Caucasus mountains (OIE 2012, Sanchez-Vizcaíno and others 2013). Spread into Azerbajan, Chechnya, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus caused large-scale epidemics in domestic pigs. Concurrent infection of domestic pig and wild boar populations has led to the persistence of ASF in many areas. Controlling ASF in Russia and the Caucasus region proved to be extremely difficult, reflecting the complexity of regional sanitary, economic, environmental and sociocultural factors (Sanchez-Vizcaino and others 2013). There are no vaccines and ASF is still on the move (Oura 2014). ASF entered the European Union in 2014, with the first cases in Lithuania followed by Poland, Latvia and Estonia. The first detections in all of these EU member states were in wild boar found dead.
D. Gavier-Widén; K. Ståhl; Aleksija Neimanis; C. Hård Av Segerstad; C. Gortázar; S. Rossi; Thijs Kuiken. African swine fever in wild boar in Europe: a notable challenge. Veterinary Record 2015, 176, 199 -200.
AMA StyleD. Gavier-Widén, K. Ståhl, Aleksija Neimanis, C. Hård Av Segerstad, C. Gortázar, S. Rossi, Thijs Kuiken. African swine fever in wild boar in Europe: a notable challenge. Veterinary Record. 2015; 176 (8):199-200.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Gavier-Widén; K. Ståhl; Aleksija Neimanis; C. Hård Av Segerstad; C. Gortázar; S. Rossi; Thijs Kuiken. 2015. "African swine fever in wild boar in Europe: a notable challenge." Veterinary Record 176, no. 8: 199-200.
An estimated 6051 tons of active substances went into the production of veterinary pharmaceuticals (VPs) for the treatment of food animals in the European Union (EU) in 2004, including 5393 tons of antibiotics and 194 tons of antiparasitics (1). With global meat production projected to increase (2) and the growing market for companion animal pharmaceuticals (3), the use of VPs will continue to increase. Although VPs may benefit the health and welfare of domestic animals and the efficiency of food animal production, they can contaminate the environment through manufacturing, treatment of animals, and disposal of carcasses, offal, urine, feces, and unused products (4) (see the chart). This contamination is a threat to nontarget species, including humans. With Spain having recently authorized marketing of a VP that was banned in South Asia in the past decade in light of environmental impacts, we recommend strengthening of current procedures and addition of a more proactive, holistic, One Health approach applicable to all VPs.
Antoni Margalida; Giuseppe Bogliani; C. G. R. Bowden; José Antonio Donázar; F. Genero; M. Gilbert; William Karesh; Richard Kock; J. Lubroth; X. Manteca; Vinny Naidoo; Aleksija Neimanis; Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata; Mark Taggart; J. Vaarten; Lisa Yon; T. Kuiken; R. E. Green. One Health approach to use of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Science 2014, 346, 1296 -1298.
AMA StyleAntoni Margalida, Giuseppe Bogliani, C. G. R. Bowden, José Antonio Donázar, F. Genero, M. Gilbert, William Karesh, Richard Kock, J. Lubroth, X. Manteca, Vinny Naidoo, Aleksija Neimanis, Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata, Mark Taggart, J. Vaarten, Lisa Yon, T. Kuiken, R. E. Green. One Health approach to use of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Science. 2014; 346 (6215):1296-1298.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntoni Margalida; Giuseppe Bogliani; C. G. R. Bowden; José Antonio Donázar; F. Genero; M. Gilbert; William Karesh; Richard Kock; J. Lubroth; X. Manteca; Vinny Naidoo; Aleksija Neimanis; Jose Antonio Sanchez-Zapata; Mark Taggart; J. Vaarten; Lisa Yon; T. Kuiken; R. E. Green. 2014. "One Health approach to use of veterinary pharmaceuticals." Science 346, no. 6215: 1296-1298.
We provide the first scientific report of influenza A virus involvement in a mass mortality event among harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) off the west coast of Sweden. Avian influenza A (H10N7) virus was detected in the lungs of two affected animals. This subtype has not been reported in seals to date, nor has influenza A-associated mortality been reported in seals in Europe. Circulation of avian influenza viruses in mammals may have implications for public health.
Siamak Zohari; Aleksija Neimanis; T Härkönen; C Moraeus; Jean Francois Valarcher. Avian influenza A(H10N7) virus involvement in mass mortality of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Sweden, March through October 2014. Eurosurveillance 2014, 19, 20967 .
AMA StyleSiamak Zohari, Aleksija Neimanis, T Härkönen, C Moraeus, Jean Francois Valarcher. Avian influenza A(H10N7) virus involvement in mass mortality of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Sweden, March through October 2014. Eurosurveillance. 2014; 19 (46):20967.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSiamak Zohari; Aleksija Neimanis; T Härkönen; C Moraeus; Jean Francois Valarcher. 2014. "Avian influenza A(H10N7) virus involvement in mass mortality of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Sweden, March through October 2014." Eurosurveillance 19, no. 46: 20967.
Aleksija Neimanis; Stephanie Speck. ClostridiumSpecies and Botulism. Infectious Diseases of Wild Mammals and Birds in Europe 2012, 417 -427.
AMA StyleAleksija Neimanis, Stephanie Speck. ClostridiumSpecies and Botulism. Infectious Diseases of Wild Mammals and Birds in Europe. 2012; ():417-427.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAleksija Neimanis; Stephanie Speck. 2012. "ClostridiumSpecies and Botulism." Infectious Diseases of Wild Mammals and Birds in Europe , no. : 417-427.
Aleksija Neimanis; H. Uhlhorn; E. Ågren; K. Bernodt; G. Hestvik. Clinical and Pathological Findings in Wild Pigeons (Columba livia) Infected with Pigeon Paramyxovirus-1. Journal of Comparative Pathology 2012, 146, 89 .
AMA StyleAleksija Neimanis, H. Uhlhorn, E. Ågren, K. Bernodt, G. Hestvik. Clinical and Pathological Findings in Wild Pigeons (Columba livia) Infected with Pigeon Paramyxovirus-1. Journal of Comparative Pathology. 2012; 146 (1):89.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAleksija Neimanis; H. Uhlhorn; E. Ågren; K. Bernodt; G. Hestvik. 2012. "Clinical and Pathological Findings in Wild Pigeons (Columba livia) Infected with Pigeon Paramyxovirus-1." Journal of Comparative Pathology 146, no. 1: 89.
Finch trichomonosis emerged in Great Britain in 2005 and led to epidemic mortality and a significant population decline of greenfinches, Carduelis chloris and chaffinches, Fringilla coelebs, in the central and western counties of England and Wales in the autumn of 2006. In this article, we show continued epidemic spread of the disease with a pronounced shift in geographical distribution towards eastern England in 2007. This was followed by international spread to southern Fennoscandia where cases were confirmed at multiple sites in the summer of 2008. Sequence data of the ITS1/5.8S/ITS2 ribosomal region and part of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene showed no variation between the British and Fennoscandian parasite strains of Trichomonas gallinae. Epidemiological and historical ring return data support bird migration as a plausible mechanism for the observed pattern of disease spread, and suggest the chaffinch as the most likely primary vector. This finding is novel since, although intuitive, confirmed disease spread by migratory birds is very rare and, when it has been recognised, this has generally been for diseases caused by viral pathogens. We believe this to be the first documented case of the spread of a protozoal emerging infectious disease by migrating birds
Becki Lawson; Robert A. Robinson; Aleksija Neimanis; Kjell Handeland; Marja Isomursu; Erik O. Ågren; Inger S. Hamnes; Kevin M. Tyler; Julian Chantrey; Laura A. Hughes; Tom W. Pennycott; Vic R. Simpson; Shinto K. John; Kirsi M. Peck; Mike P. Toms; Malcolm Bennett; James K. Kirkwood; Andrew A. Cunningham. Evidence of Spread of the Emerging Infectious Disease, Finch Trichomonosis, by Migrating birds. EcoHealth 2011, 8, 143 -153.
AMA StyleBecki Lawson, Robert A. Robinson, Aleksija Neimanis, Kjell Handeland, Marja Isomursu, Erik O. Ågren, Inger S. Hamnes, Kevin M. Tyler, Julian Chantrey, Laura A. Hughes, Tom W. Pennycott, Vic R. Simpson, Shinto K. John, Kirsi M. Peck, Mike P. Toms, Malcolm Bennett, James K. Kirkwood, Andrew A. Cunningham. Evidence of Spread of the Emerging Infectious Disease, Finch Trichomonosis, by Migrating birds. EcoHealth. 2011; 8 (2):143-153.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBecki Lawson; Robert A. Robinson; Aleksija Neimanis; Kjell Handeland; Marja Isomursu; Erik O. Ågren; Inger S. Hamnes; Kevin M. Tyler; Julian Chantrey; Laura A. Hughes; Tom W. Pennycott; Vic R. Simpson; Shinto K. John; Kirsi M. Peck; Mike P. Toms; Malcolm Bennett; James K. Kirkwood; Andrew A. Cunningham. 2011. "Evidence of Spread of the Emerging Infectious Disease, Finch Trichomonosis, by Migrating birds." EcoHealth 8, no. 2: 143-153.
An outbreak of bovine tuberculosis was detected in the Hook Lake Wood Bison Recovery Project captive-breeding herd in March 2005. This study investigates the most likely source of Mycobacterium bovis and identifies difficulties associated with salvaging tuberculosis-free animals from an endemically infected herd.
Chelsea G. Himsworth; Brett T. Elkin; John S. Nishi; Aleksija Neimanis; Gary A. Wobeser; Claude Turcotte; Fredrick A. Leighton. An outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in an intensively managed conservation herd of wild bison in the Northwest Territories. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne 2010, 51, 593 -597.
AMA StyleChelsea G. Himsworth, Brett T. Elkin, John S. Nishi, Aleksija Neimanis, Gary A. Wobeser, Claude Turcotte, Fredrick A. Leighton. An outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in an intensively managed conservation herd of wild bison in the Northwest Territories. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne. 2010; 51 (6):593-597.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChelsea G. Himsworth; Brett T. Elkin; John S. Nishi; Aleksija Neimanis; Gary A. Wobeser; Claude Turcotte; Fredrick A. Leighton. 2010. "An outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in an intensively managed conservation herd of wild bison in the Northwest Territories." The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne 51, no. 6: 593-597.