42 results on '"Uusitalo, Ruut"'
Search Results
2. Spatiotemporal clustering patterns and sociodemographic determinants of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in Helsinki, Finland
- Author
-
Siljander, Mika, Uusitalo, Ruut, Pellikka, Petri, Isosomppi, Sanna, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodesricinus and Ixodespersulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Stable Levels of Antibodies Against Unrelated Toxoid Vaccines After COVID-19: COVID-19 Infection Does Not Affect Toxoid Vaccine Antibody Levels
- Author
-
Jokiranta, Suvi T., primary, Miettinen, Simo, additional, Salonen, Sami, additional, Kareinen, Lauri, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Korhonen, Essi M., additional, Virtanen, Jenni, additional, Kivistö, Ilkka, additional, Aaltonen, Kirsi, additional, Mosselhy, Dina A., additional, Lääveri, Tinja, additional, Kantele, Anu, additional, Arstila, T. Petteri, additional, Jarva, Hanna, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, Heinonen, Santtu, additional, and Kekäläinen, Eliisa, additional
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia miyamotoi strains from ticks collected in the capital region of Finland
- Author
-
Zakham, Fathiah, Jääskeläinen, Anne J., Castrén, Janne, Sormunen, Jani J., Uusitalo, Ruut, Smura, Teemu, Von Troil, Gabriel, Kuivanen, Suvi, Sironen, Tarja, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Current and future environmental suitability for bats hosting potential zoonotic pathogens in rural Kenya.
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut J., Jackson, Reilly T., Lunn, Tamika J., Korhonen, Essi M., Ogola, Joseph G., Webala, Paul W., Sironen, Tarja A., and Forbes, Kristian M.
- Subjects
- *
PUBLIC health officers , *POPULATION density , *BATS , *DOMESTIC animals , *CITIES & towns , *RABIES virus - Abstract
Synanthropic bats live in close proximity to humans and domestic animals, creating opportunities for potential pathogen spillover. We explored environmental correlates of occurrence for a widely distributed synanthropic African bat, Mops pumilus—a species associated with potential zoonotic viruses—and estimated current and future environmental suitability in the Taita Hills region and surrounding plains in Taita–Taveta County in southeast Kenya. To project future environmental suitability, we used four Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 general circulation models that capture temperature and precipitation changes for East Africa. The models were parameterized with empirical capture data of M. pumilus collected from 2016 to 2023, combined with satellite‐based vegetation, topographic, and climatic data to identify responses to environmental factors. The strongest drivers for current environmental suitability for M. pumilus were short distance to rivers, higher precipitation during the driest months, sparse vegetation—often related to urban areas—and low yearly temperature variation. To predict current and future areas suitable for M. pumilus, we created ensemble niche models, which yielded excellent predictive accuracies. Current suitable environments were located southward from the central and southern Taita Hills and surrounding plains, overlapping with urban centers with the highest human population densities in the area. Future projections for 2050 indicated a moderate increase in suitability range in the southern portion of the region and surrounding plains in human‐dominated areas; however, projections for 2090 showed a slight contraction of environmental suitability for M. pumilus, potentially due to the negative impact of increased temperatures. These results show how environmental changes are likely to impact the human exposure risk of bat‐borne pathogens and could help public health officials develop strategies to prevent these risks in Taita–Taveta County, Kenya, and other parts of Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Modelling habitat suitability for occurrence of human tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Dub, Timothée, Sane, Jussi, Sormunen, Jani J., Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Game Animal Density, Climate, and Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Finland, 2007-2017
- Author
-
Dub, Timothee, Ollgren, Jukka, Huusko, Sari, Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Vapalahti, Olli, and Sane, Jussi
- Subjects
Big game animals -- Statistics -- Health aspects ,Wildlife diseases -- Statistics -- Risk factors ,Game and game-birds -- Statistics -- Health aspects ,Tick-borne encephalitis -- Statistics -- Risk factors ,Health - Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an endemic vectorborne infectious disease of public health importance in Finland. It is caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the Flavivirus genus of [...]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
9. A novel negevirus isolated from Aedes vexans mosquitoes in Finland
- Author
-
Suvanto, Maija T., Truong Nguyen, Phuoc, Uusitalo, Ruut, Korhonen, Essi M., Faolotto, Giulia, Vapalahti, Olli, Huhtamo, Eili, and Smura, Teemu
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. Predictive mapping of mosquito distribution based on environmental and anthropogenic factors in Taita Hills, Kenya
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Culverwell, C. Lorna, Mutai, Noah C., Forbes, Kristian M., Vapalahti, Olli, and Pellikka, Petri K.E.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Equine dermatitis outbreak associated with parapoxvirus
- Author
-
Virtanen, Jenni, primary, Hautala, Katja, additional, Utriainen, Mira, additional, Dutra, Lara, additional, Eskola, Katarina, additional, Airas, Niina, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Ahvenainen, Ella, additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, Sironen, Tarja, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, Kant, Ravi, additional, Virtala, Anna-Maija, additional, and Kinnunen, Paula M, additional
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Molecular detection of pathogens from ticks collected from dogs and cats at veterinary clinics in Finland
- Author
-
Zakham, Fathiah, primary, Korhonen, Essi M, additional, Puonti, Petteri T, additional, Castrén, Robert S, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, Kant, Ravi, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, Sironen, Tarja, additional, and Kinnunen, Paula M, additional
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Vector Competence of Northern European Culex pipiens Biotype pipiens and Culex torrentium to West Nile Virus and Sindbis Virus
- Author
-
Jansen, Stephanie, primary, Heitmann, Anna, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Korhonen, Essi M., additional, Lühken, Renke, additional, Kliemke, Konstantin, additional, Lange, Unchana, additional, Helms, Michelle, additional, Kirjalainen, Lauri, additional, Nykänen, Roope, additional, Gregow, Hilppa, additional, Pirinen, Pentti, additional, Rossini, Giada, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, Schmidt-Chanasit, Jonas, additional, and Huhtamo, Eili, additional
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, primary, Siljander, Mika, additional, Lindén, Andreas, additional, Sormunen, Jani J., additional, Aalto, Juha, additional, Hendrickx, Guy, additional, Kallio, Eva, additional, Vajda, Andrea, additional, Gregow, Hilppa, additional, Henttonen, Heikki, additional, Marsboom, Cedric, additional, Korhonen, Essi M., additional, Sironen, Tarja, additional, Pellikka, Petri, additional, and Vapalahti, Olli, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. Sindbis virus outbreak and evidence for geographical expansion in Finland, 2021
- Author
-
Suvanto, Maija T, primary, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Otte im Kampe, Eveline, additional, Vuorinen, Tytti, additional, Kurkela, Satu, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, Dub, Timothée, additional, Huhtamo, Eili, additional, and Korhonen, Essi M, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. Geospatial risk analysis of disease vectors and vector-borne diseases in boreal and tropical landscapes
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Science, Doctoral Programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, Helsingin yliopisto, matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta, Ympäristöalan tieteidenvälinen tohtoriohjelma, Helsingfors universitet, matematisk-naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Doktorandprogrammet i tvärvetenskaplig miljöforskning, Messina, Janey P., Pellikka, Petri, Vapalahti, Olli, Siljander, Mika, and Huhtamo, Eili
- Subjects
gIScience, Spatial epidemiology, vector ecology, environmental studies - Abstract
Emerging vector-borne infectious diseases pose one of the most significant global threats to human health. The outbreaks and burden of vector-borne infectious diseases are estimated to rise in the face of climate warming. Many emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and Ebola virus disease, are zoonoses; diseases caused by an agent transmitted between animals and humans, but these diseases are also followed by human-to-human transmission. In this thesis, we consider arthropod-borne infectious diseases, which are also zoonoses but in which humans are most commonly infected as dead-end hosts. Mosquitoes and ticks are vectors for numerous pathogens causing infectious diseases and are globally responsible for millions of human deaths each year. Most vector-borne diseases emerge in the subtropics and tropics, but endemic diseases are present also in northern latitudes. Due to climate warming, numbers of disease cases, and disease severity and also variety are expected to increase especially in Northern Hemisphere which become more suitable for vectors to spread. To avoid costs from the loss of human lives or money, there is a strong need to assess impacts on vector species and their habitats. It is a global responsibility to focus on improving vector control strategies, and disease prevention, first, to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” (The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3), but also to understand that human health is closely connected to animal health and environment (One Health- approach). As such, it is vital to produce new information on vectors’ and vector-borne disease’ (VBD) distributions and the influential factors on their emergence, particularly, in understudied regions. In this thesis, environmentally suitable areas for the mosquito and tick species of medical importance in boreal and tropical landscapes, and the risk areas for two endemic VBDs in Finland were identified for the first time. We utilized climate, vegetation, host and vector data known to affect emergence of these vectors and VBDs at varying spatial scales. To our knowledge, this is the first species distribution modelling (SDM) study on vector species which uses good quality host data, and there are only a handful of earlier studies which included suitability data of vectors to predict VBD occurrence. We used SDM approach with a suite of predictive modelling techniques in two different platforms to explore correlations in species-host-disease-environment relationships and to predict spatial patterns of vector distributions and VBD risk in Finland, and in Kenya. Although SDM approaches are widely used by international and national health agencies such as European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) in their vector control strategy and disease prevention programs, it is a new study approach in Finland with no earlier research. In tropical regions, including Kenya, where the need for vector control and disease prevention is highest, rural regions, particularly, remain understudied. Using data on mosquito collections in the Taita Hills region in Kenya, we found that Stegomyia (St., Aedes) and Culex (Cx.) genera, of which species are vectors of many significant pathogens in the tropics, are widely distributed across the region, both in villages and rural areas with rich and sparse vegetation. In Finland, we identified high-risk areas for tick-borne-encephalitis (TBE), one of the most severe endemic infectious disease in the country, based on environmental and host data, and under current and future climate. Future climate forecasts indicated a wider geographical extent of TBE risk especially in southern and western coast, and southern Lapland. We also identified environmentally suitable areas for the potential SINV vectors Aedes (Ae.) cinereus/geminus, Cx. pipiens/torrentium and Culiseta (Cs.) morsitans in Finland, and estimated the risk areas for SINV infections on environmental, host and produced habitat suitability data on vectors. Municipalities with an increased risk for SINV infections were characterized by high environmental suitability for Ae. cinereus/geminus, high densities of black grouse, capercaillie and hazel grouse, a high proportion of mixed forest in peatlands, and a high number of lakes. The risk of transmission was predicted to be greatest in eastern and central Finland, along the western coast up to southern Lapland in latitudes between 61–64°N. Two tick species; Ixodes (I.) ricinus and Ixodes (I.) persulcatus are responsible of transmitting TBE virus (TBEV) in Finland, and we estimated their distributions utilizing historical data, and newly collected ticks, of which we also screened pathogens TBEV and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (b.s.l.). In these ticks, we found none positive for TBEV, but ≈ 47 % of the tick pools were positive for Borrelia b.s.l. High suitability areas for I. ricinus occurred throughout southern and central Finland up to Central Ostrobothnia (64°N), excluding the narrow areas in Ostrobothnia and Pirkanmaa. For I. persulcatus, the regions northwards from Ostrobothnia along the northern coast up to southern Lapland (66°N), Kainuu, North Savo, North Karelia, and areas in Pirkanmaa and Päijät-Häme were estimated to be suitable areas. Based on the predictions, locations with higher air temperature, higher relative humidity, higher precipitation sum and middle infrared reflectance (MIR) levels, and higher densities of white-tailed deer, European hare and red fox were suitable for I. ricinus. For I. persulcatus, higher mean precipitation, higher densities of white-tailed deer, roe deer and mountain hare indicated higher probability of occurrence. Together, these results have implications for improving knowledge on disease prevention, applying geographic information systems (GIS) and SDM approaches for identifying risk areas and environmental determinants, optimizing the use of limited resources for mitigation strategies, and improving public health outcomes. This data is vital for better understanding of the current and future threats, and will help to find facts which assist the authorities in decision-making on correct and effective actions. The results can be applied to other regions located in similar environmental conditions to study regions. Within this work, we also created a framework in which multidisciplinary and multi-organizational data were combined to the same database. With the produced data, we researchers can prioritize the research topics and funding to correct targets and actions in future studies. During the ongoing and following decades, further actions and research are needed to combat new emergences of vectors and VBDs. Vector surveillance, vector distribution studies in space and time, and mapping risks of VBDs under current and future climate, are essential to gain deeper insights into the spatial nature of recent and future global threats for which we have a shared responsibility to combat. Uhkaavat vektorivälitteiset tartuntataudit ovat yksi suurimmista globaaleista uhkakuvista ihmisen terveydelle. Vektorivälitteisten tartuntatautien aiheuttaman taakan odotetaan lisääntyvän voimakkaasti ilmastonmuutoksen seurauksena. Monet uhkaavat tartuntataudit, kuten COVID-19 ja ebola, ovat alkujaan eläimistä ihmisiin tarttuvia tauteja, zoonooseja, jotka kykenevät edelleen siirtymään ihmisestä toiseen. Tässä työssä käsitellään niveljalkaisvälitteisiä infektiotauteja, jotka ovat myös zoonooseja, mutta joissa ihminen on useimmiten taudinaiheuttajan leviämisen kannalta umpikuja. Hyttyset ja puutiaiset ovat välittäjiä monille taudinaiheuttajille ja ovat vastuussa miljoonien ihmisten kuolemista vuosittain. Useimmat vektorivälitteiset tartuntataudit ilmaantuvat subtrooppisilla ja trooppisilla alueilla, mutta endeemisiä tartuntatauteja on aina esiintynyt myös pohjoisilla leveysasteilla. Tartuntatautilukujen ja vakavien tartuntatautien odotetaan kuitenkin lisääntyvän ilmaston lämpenemisen vaikutuksesta myös pohjoisella pallonpuoliskolla, jossa alueet tulevat suotuisimmiksi monien vektorilajien leviämiselle. Jotta ihmisten ja talouden menetyksistä maksettava hinta olisi minimoitavissa, tulee meidän arvioida nykytilannetta ja tulevia ilmaston lämpenemisestä johtuvia vaikutuksia vektorilajeihin ja niiden elinympäristöihin. Meillä on globaali vastuu keskittyä tartuntatauteja välittävien lajien ohjaus- ja lieventämisstrategioiden kehittämiseen sekä tartuntatautien ehkäisyyn, ei vain jotta ”kaikenikäisille taataan terveellinen elämä ja hyvinvointi” (YK:n kestävän kehityksen tavoite 3), mutta myös ymmärtääksemme, että ihmisen terveys on läheisesti yhteydessä eläinten terveyteen ja ympäristöön (One Health- näkökulma). Siksi on tärkeää tuottaa uutta tietoa vektorilajien ja vektorivälitteisten tautien levinneisyydestä ja näiden ilmaantumiseen vaikuttavista tekijöistä erityisesti alueilla, joissa aiempi tutkimus on vähäistä. Tässä työssä lääketieteellisesti merkittävien hyttys- ja puutiaislajien ympäristöllisesti soveltuvia alueita boreaalisella ja trooppisella alueella sekä kahden endeemisen vektorivälitteisen tartuntataudin riskialueita Suomessa arvioitiin ensimmäistä kertaa. Hyödynsimme ilmasto-, kasvillisuus-, isäntäeläin- ja vektorilajiaineistoa, joiden tiedetään vaikuttaneen kyseisten vektorilajien ja vektorivälitteisten infektiotautien ilmaantumiseen eri spatiaalisilla mittakaavoilla. Tietääksemme tämä työ on ensimmäinen vektorilajilevinneisyyteen liittyvä tutkimus, jossa hyödynnetään korkealaatuista isäntäeläinaineistoa. Lisäksi vain muutama aiempi tutkimus on sisällyttänyt vektorilajilevinneisyyden yhtenä muuttujana vektorivälitteisen taudin riskimallinnuksessa. Käytimme lajilevinneisyysmallinnusmenetelmää ja useaa ennustemallinnustekniikkaa kahdella eri mallinnusalustalla vektori-isäntä-tauti-ympäristö-välisten suhteiden korrelaatioiden tutkimiseen ja vektorilajien tilallisten kuvioiden sekä vektorivälitteisten tautiriskien ennustamiseen Suomessa ja Keniassa. Vaikka kansainväliset ja kansalliset terveysjärjestöt, kuten Euroopan tautienehkäisy- ja -valvontakeskus (ECDC), Yhdysvaltain tautikeskus (CDC) sekä Maailman terveysjärjestö (WHO) käyttävät laajasti lajilevinneisyysmallinnusta vektorivalvonta- ja tartuntatautien ehkäisemisohjelmissaan, lajilevinneisyysmallinnuksen ja terveyskysymysten yhdistäminen on uusi lähestymistapa Suomessa ilman aiempaa tutkimusta. Trooppisilla alueilla, kuten Keniassa, jossa tarve vektorivalvontaan ja tautien ehkäisemiseen on suurin, erityisesti kaukaisimmat maaseutualueet pysyvät tutkimattomina. Taita Hills- alueella Keniassa keräämäämme hyttysaineistoa hyödyntäen havaitsimme, että Stegomyia- (St., Aedes) ja Culex- hyttyssuvut, joiden lajit ovat vektoreita monille merkittäville taudinaiheuttajille tropiikissa, ovat laajasti levittäytyneet biodiversiteetiltään monipuolisen Taita Hillsin alueelle. Stegomyia- ja Culex-hyttysten arvioitiin esiintyvän niin vuoristoisilla maaseutualueilla kuin alangon kylissä runsaan ja harvan kasvillisuuden peittämillä alueilla. Tässä työssä tunnistimme myös puutiaisaivokuumetulehduksen, yhden vakavimman Suomessa esiintyvän infektiotaudin, riskialueita ympäristö- ja isäntälajiaineistoon sekä nykyisen ja tulevaisuuden ilmastoaineistoon pohjautuen. Tulevaisuuden ilmastoon pohjautuvat riskimallinnukset osoittivat maantieteellisesti laajemman puutiaisaivokuumetulehdusriskin esiintyvän erityisesti etelä- ja länsirannikolla sekä Etelä-Lapissa. Tunnistimme myös ympäristön kannalta soveltuvia alueita mahdollisille Sindbis- viruksen välittäjinä toimiville hyttyslajeille Aedes (Ae.) cinereus/geminukselle, Culex (Cx.) pipiens/torrentiumille sekä Culiseta (Cs.) morsitansille, sekä arvioimme sindbis-virusinfektion riskialueita. Korkea elinympäristön soveltuvuus Ae. cinereus/geminus-hyttyslajille, korkeat teeri-, metso- ja pyytiheydet, korkea sekametsien osuus sekä järvien korkea lukumäärä kunnissa olivat yhteydessä korkeaan Sindbis-viruksen aiheuttamaan infektioriskiin. Tartuntariskin ennustettiin olevan suurin Itä- ja Keski-Suomessa, sekä länsirannikolla ulottuen eteläiseen Lappiin saakka 61–64°N leveysasteille asti. Arvioimme myös kahden, muun muassa puutiaisaivokuumetulehdusta levittävän Ixodes (I.) ricinus- ja I. persulcatus- puutiaislajin levinneisyyttä Suomessa hyödyntäen historiallista aineistoa ja uutta, vuoden 2021 kesällä keräämäämme puutiaisaineistoa, josta myös seuloimme TBEV- ja Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (b.s.l.)- taudinaiheuttajia. Kerätyistä puutiaisista ei löytynyt TBE- virusta, mutta n. 47 % puutiaispooleista seulottiin Borrelia b.s.l.-positiivisiksi. Alueet, joissa elinympäristöjen soveltuvuus I. ricinus -lajille arvioitiin olevan suuri, sijaitsivat Etelä- ja Keski- Suomessa ulottuen Keski-Pohjanmaan maakuntaan saakka (64°N) lukuun ottamatta muutamaa kapeaa kaistaletta Pohjanmaalla ja Pirkanmaalla. Ennusteiden mukaan korkea ilmalämpötila, korkea suhteellinen ilmankosteus ja sademäärän summa, korkea kasvillisuuden runsautta kuvaava keski-infrapunasäteily sekä korkeat valkohäntäpeura-, rusakko- ja kettutiheydet sijainneissa osoittivat korkeaa soveltuvuutta I. ricinus- lajille. Ixodes persulcatukselle sen sijaan alueet Pohjanmaalta rannikkoa pitkin Etelä-Lappiin saakka (66°N), Kainuun, Pohjois-Savon ja Pohjois-Karjalan maakunnat, sekä kapeammat kaistaleet Pirkanmaalla ja Päijät-Hämeessä arveltiin soveltuvan lajille elinympäristöiltään. Korkeampi sademäärä I. persulcatuksen aktiivisena aikana, sekä korkeammat valkohäntäpeura-, metsäkauris- ja metsäjänistiheydet viittasivat lajin korkeampaan esiintymistodennäköisyyteen. Tämän työn tulokset kehittävät tietoa vektorivälitteisten tartuntatautien ehkäisyä varten, jossa paikkatieto- ja lajilevinneisyysmallinnusmenetelmiä hyödyntäen tunnistetaan riskialueita ja määritetään riskiin vaikuttavien ympäristötekijöiden suhdetta riskin lisääntymiseen, jotta lieventämisstrategioihin käytettyjä rajoitettuja resursseja voidaan optimoida ja näin parantaa kansanterveydellisiä tuloksia. Tuotettu aineisto on tärkeä, jotta ymmärrämme nykyhetken ja tulevaisuuden terveyteemme kohdistuneet uhat. Se auttaa kansanterveysviranomaisia ja asiantuntijoita päätöksenteossa kohdistamaan toimintoja ja valvontatoimenpiteitä oikein ja tehokkaasti. Työn tuloksia voidaan myös soveltaa muihin ympäristöolosuhteiltaan tutkimusalueita vastaaviin maailman alueisiin. Työn ohessa luotiin myös puitteet tietokannalle, jossa monitieteinen ja eri hallinnon aloilta peräisin oleva aineisto yhdistettiin samaan spatiaaliseen tietopohjaan. Työssä tuotettu tieto auttaa meitä tutkijoita priorisoimaan tutkimusaiheita ja kohdistamaan rahoitusta oikeisiin tavoitteisiin ja toimiin tulevissa tutkimuksissa. Meneillään olevan vuosikymmenen ja tulevien vuosikymmenten aikana tarvitsemme lisää tutkimusta ja konkreettisia tekoja, jotta voimme taistella uusia vektorilajeja ja voimakkaasti lisääntyviä vektorivälitteisiä infektiotauteja vastaan. Vektorilajien valvonta, niiden levinneisyyden tutkiminen tilassa ja ajassa sekä vektorivälitteisten tautien kartoitus nyky- ja tulevaisuuden ilmastossa ovat oleellisia toimia, jotta voimme saavuttaa syvempiä oivalluksia nykyhetken ja tulevaisuuden globaaleista uhkakuvista, joista meillä on yhteinen vastuu.
- Published
- 2022
17. Characterisation of the RNA Virome of Nine Ochlerotatus Species in Finland
- Author
-
Truong Nguyen, Phuoc T., primary, Culverwell, C. Lorna, additional, Suvanto, Maija T., additional, Korhonen, Essi M., additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, and Huhtamo, Eili, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
18. Serological Evidence of Exposure to Onyong-Nyong and Chikungunya Viruses in Febrile Patients of Rural Taita-Taveta County and Urban Kibera Informal Settlement in Nairobi, Kenya
- Author
-
Masika, Moses Muia, primary, Korhonen, Essi M., additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Ogola, Joseph, additional, Mwaengo, Dufton, additional, Jääskeläinen, Anne J., additional, Alburkat, Hussein, additional, Gwon, Yong-Dae, additional, Evander, Magnus, additional, Anzala, Omu, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, and Huhtamo, Eili, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
19. Serological Evidence of Exposure to Onyong-Nyong and Chikungunya Viruses in Febrile Patients of Rural Taita-Taveta County and Urban Kibera Informal Settlement in Nairobi, Kenya
- Author
-
Masika, Moses Muia, Korhonen, Essi M., Smura, Teemu, Uusitalo, Ruut, Ogola, Joseph, Mwaengo, Dufton, Jääskeläinen, Anne J., Alburkat, Hussein, Yong-Dae, Gwon, Evander, Magnus, Anzala, Omu, Vapalahti, Olli, Huhtamo, Eili, Masika, Moses Muia, Korhonen, Essi M., Smura, Teemu, Uusitalo, Ruut, Ogola, Joseph, Mwaengo, Dufton, Jääskeläinen, Anne J., Alburkat, Hussein, Yong-Dae, Gwon, Evander, Magnus, Anzala, Omu, Vapalahti, Olli, and Huhtamo, Eili
- Abstract
Several alphaviruses, such as chikungunya (CHIKV) and Onyong-nyong (ONNV), are endemic in Kenya and often cause outbreaks in different parts of the country. We assessed the seroprevalence of alphaviruses in patients with acute febrile illness in two geographically distant areas in Kenya with no previous record of alphavirus outbreaks. Blood samples were collected from febrile patients in health facilities located in the rural Taita-Taveta County in 2016 and urban Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi in 2017 and tested for CHIKV IgG and IgM antibodies using an in-house immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and a commercial ELISA test, respectively. A subset of CHIKV IgG or IgM antibody-positive samples were further analyzed using plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT) for CHIKV, ONNV, and Sindbis virus. Out of 537 patients, 4 (0.7%) and 28 (5.2%) had alphavirus IgM and IgG antibodies, respectively, confirmed on PRNT. We show evidence of previous and current exposure to alphaviruses based on serological testing in areas with no recorded history of outbreaks.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Additional file 6 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 6: Figure S5. Partial dependency plots for (a) I. ricinus and (b) I. persulcatus solely based on environmental data.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Additional file 4 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 4: Figure S4. The relative contributions of the explanatory variables in the data set of (a) host only, (b) environment only based on the mean ensemble model.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Additional file 7 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 7: Figure S6. Partial dependency plots for (a) I. ricinus and (b) I. persulcatus solely based on host data.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Additional file 5 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 5: Table S1. The number of times each model contributed to the final ensemble in different data sets.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Additional file 3 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 3: Figure S3. The range (lines) and mean (dots) of model performances over 50 model runs in each model algorithm estimating habitat suitabilities for I. persulcatus in different variable compositions: (a) environmental only, (b) host only, (c) environmental and host, and (d) environmental, host, and suitability for I. ricinus.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Additional file 8 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 8: Figure S7. Partial dependency plots for (a) I. ricinus and (b) I. persulcatus based on combined host and environmental data, and habitat suitability data for the other tick species.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Additional file 2 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 2: Figure S2. The range (lines) and mean (dots) of model performances over 50 model runs in each model algorithm estimating habitat suitabilities for I. ricinus in different variable compositions: (a) environmental only, (b) host only, (c) environmental and host, and (d) environmental, host, and suitability for I. ricinus.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Additional file 1 of Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Lindén, Andreas, Sormunen, Jani J., Aalto, Juha, Hendrickx, Guy, Kallio, Eva, Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Henttonen, Heikki, Marsboom, Cedric, Korhonen, Essi M., Sironen, Tarja, Pellikka, Petri, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Additional file 1: Figure S1. (a) The sampling strategy for new collections in 2021 was created based on the following criteria. Subdivisions of landscape areas (Area1–Area4), CORINE land cover 2018, a 5-km buffer around existing I. persulcatus occurrences (grey circles), and a 500-m buffer around roads were used to delimit the four sampling areas (light grey lines). For each sampling area, a random sample of 25 collection locations was created depending on the relative shares of forest and meadow categories in each area. (b) The map showing the 2021 results indicates the locations where I. ricinus was found with B. burgdorferi (s.l.)-positive locations.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Seroevidence of Zoonotic Viruses in Rodents and Humans in Kibera Informal Settlement, Nairobi, Kenya
- Author
-
Ogola, Joseph Ganda, primary, Alburkat, Hussein, additional, Masika, Moses, additional, Korhonen, Essi, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Nyaga, Philip, additional, Anzala, Omu, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, Sironen, Tarja, additional, and Forbes, Kristian M., additional
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Predicting Spatial Patterns of Sindbis Virus (SINV) Infection Risk in Finland Using Vector, Host and Environmental Data
- Author
-
Uusitalo, Ruut, Siljander, Mika, Culverwell, C. Lorna, Hendrickx, Guy, Lindén, Andreas, Dub, Timothée, Aalto, Juha, Sane, Jussi, Marsboom, Cedric, Suvanto, Maija T., Vajda, Andrea, Gregow, Hilppa, Korhonen, Essi M., Huhtamo, Eili, Pellikka, Petri, Vapalahti, Olli, Department of Geosciences and Geography, Department of Virology, Veterinary Biosciences, Medicum, Earth Change Observation Laboratory (ECHOLAB), HUSLAB, Viral Zoonosis Research Unit, BioGeoClimate Modelling Lab, Helsinki One Health (HOH), Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Veterinary Microbiology and Epidemiology, and Olli Pekka Vapalahti / Principal Investigator
- Subjects
NORTHERN ,TRANSMISSION ,MOSQUITOS ,UNCERTAINTY ,Mosquito Vectors ,vector-borne disease ,WEST-NILE-VIRUS ,Pogosta disease ,DISEASE ,Article ,South Africa ,Aedes ,EPIDEMIOLOGY ,Animals ,predictive mapping ,Finland ,mosquitoes ,11832 Microbiology and virology ,OCKELBO VIRUS ,Alphavirus Infections ,3142 Public health care science, environmental and occupational health ,disease modelling ,Europe ,CULEX-PIPIENS ,Medicine ,TORRENTIUM ,Sindbis virus infection ,Sindbis Virus - Abstract
Pogosta disease is a mosquito-borne infection, caused by Sindbis virus (SINV), which causes epidemics of febrile rash and arthritis in Northern Europe and South Africa. Resident grouse and migratory birds play a significant role as amplifying hosts and various mosquito species, including Aedes cinereus, Culex pipiens, Cx. torrentium and Culiseta morsitans are documented vectors. As specific treatments are not available for SINV infections, and joint symptoms may persist, the public health burden is considerable in endemic areas. To predict the environmental suitability for SINV infections in Finland, we applied a suite of geospatial and statistical modeling techniques to disease occurrence data. Using an ensemble approach, we first produced environmental suitability maps for potential SINV vectors in Finland. These suitability maps were then combined with grouse densities and environmental data to identify the influential determinants for SINV infections and to predict the risk of Pogosta disease in Finnish municipalities. Our predictions suggest that both the environmental suitability for vectors and the high risk of Pogosta disease are focused in geographically restricted areas. This provides evidence that the presence of both SINV vector species and grouse densities can predict the occurrence of the disease. The results support material for public-health officials when determining area-specific recommendations and deliver information to health care personnel to raise awareness of the disease among physicians.
- Published
- 2021
30. Kinetics of Neutralizing Antibodies of COVID-19 Patients Tested Using Clinical D614G, B.1.1.7, and B 1.351 Isolates in Microneutralization Assays
- Author
-
Virtanen, Jenni, primary, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Korhonen, Essi M., additional, Aaltonen, Kirsi, additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, Kuivanen, Suvi, additional, Pakkanen, Sari H., additional, Mero, Sointu, additional, Patjas, Anu, additional, Riekkinen, Marianna, additional, Kantele, Anu, additional, Nurmi, Visa, additional, Hedman, Klaus, additional, Hepojoki, Jussi, additional, Sironen, Tarja, additional, Huhtamo, Eili, additional, and Vapalahti, Olli, additional
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Kinetics of Neutralizing Antibodies of COVID-19 Patients Tested Using Clinical D614G, B.1.1.7, and B 1.351 Isolates in Microneutralization Assays
- Author
-
Virtanen, Jenni, Uusitalo, Ruut; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4170-8809, Korhonen, Essi M; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4730-7715, Aaltonen, Kirsi, Smura, Teemu, Kuivanen, Suvi, Pakkanen, Sari H, Mero, Sointu; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3625-6273, Patjas, Anu, Riekkinen, Marianna, Kantele, Anu; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0004-1000, Nurmi, Visa; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8052-5592, Hedman, Klaus; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1779-7960, Hepojoki, Jussi; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5699-214X, Sironen, Tarja; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2344-2755, Huhtamo, Eili; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9640-6547, Vapalahti, Olli, Virtanen, Jenni, Uusitalo, Ruut; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4170-8809, Korhonen, Essi M; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4730-7715, Aaltonen, Kirsi, Smura, Teemu, Kuivanen, Suvi, Pakkanen, Sari H, Mero, Sointu; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3625-6273, Patjas, Anu, Riekkinen, Marianna, Kantele, Anu; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0004-1000, Nurmi, Visa; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8052-5592, Hedman, Klaus; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1779-7960, Hepojoki, Jussi; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5699-214X, Sironen, Tarja; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2344-2755, Huhtamo, Eili; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9640-6547, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that some newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) resist neutralization by antibodies elicited by the early-pandemic wild-type virus. We applied neutralization tests to paired recoveree sera (n = 38) using clinical isolates representing the first wave (D614G), VoC1, and VoC2 lineages (B.1.1.7 and B 1.351). Neutralizing antibodies inhibited contemporary and VoC1 lineages, whereas inhibition of VoC2 was reduced 8-fold, with 50% of sera failing to show neutralization. These results provide evidence for the increased potential of VoC2 to reinfect previously SARS-CoV-infected individuals. The kinetics of NAbs in different patients showed similar decline against all variants, with generally low initial anti-B.1.351 responses becoming undetectable, but with anti-B.1.1.7 NAbs remaining detectable (>20) for months after acute infection.
- Published
- 2021
32. Sindbis Virus Strains of Divergent Origin Isolated from Humans and Mosquitoes During a Recent Outbreak in Finland
- Author
-
Korhonen, Essi M., Suvanto, Maija T., Uusitalo, Ruut, Faolotto, Giulia, Smura, Teemu, Sane, Jussi, Vapalahti, Olli, Huhtamo, Eili, Viral Zoonosis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Veterinary Biosciences, Department of Geosciences and Geography, HUSLAB, Helsinki One Health (HOH), Veterinary Microbiology and Epidemiology, and Olli Pekka Vapalahti / Principal Investigator
- Subjects
11832 Microbiology and virology ,virus isolation ,Alphavirus Infections ,Sindbis virus ,Ochlerotatus ,POGOSTA DISEASE ,Original Articles ,Mosquito Vectors ,CULEX-TORRENTIUM ,SEQUENCE ,3142 Public health care science, environmental and occupational health ,Disease Outbreaks ,Culicidae ,parasitic diseases ,INFECTION ,Animals ,Humans ,RNA, Viral ,alphavirus ,Phylogeny ,mosquito-borne virus ,Finland ,AGENT - Abstract
Sindbis virus (SINV) is a mosquito-borne avian hosted virus that is widely distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Disease in humans is documented mainly from Northern Europe and South Africa and associated with genotype I. In 2018 under extremely warm climatic conditions, a small outbreak of 71 diagnosed SINV infections was recorded in Finland. We screened 52 mosquito pools (570 mosquitoes) and 223 human sera for SINV with real-time RT-PCR and the positive samples with virus isolation. One SINV strain was isolated from a pool (n = 13) of genusOchlerotatusmosquitoes and three strains from patient serum samples. Complete genome analysis suggested all the isolates to be divergent from one another and related to previous Finnish, Swedish, and German strains. The study provides evidence of SINV strain transfer within Europe across regions with different epidemiological characteristics. Whether these are influenced by different mosquito genera involved in the transmission remains to be studied.
- Published
- 2020
33. Reduced neutralization of B.1.351 variant SARS-CoV-2 by convalescent sera of COVID-19 patients
- Author
-
Virtanen, Jenni, primary, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Korhonen, Essi, additional, Aaltonen, Kirsi, additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, Kuivanen, Suvi, additional, Pakkanen, Sari, additional, Mero, Sointu, additional, Patjas, Anu, additional, Riekkinen, Marianna, additional, Kantele, Anu, additional, Nurmi, Visa, additional, Hedman, Klaus, additional, Hepojoki, Jussi, additional, Sironen, Tarja, additional, Huhtamo, Eili, additional, and Vapalahti, Olli, additional
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. SARS-CoV-2 infections among healthcare workers at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, spring 2020: Serosurvey, symptoms and risk factors
- Author
-
Kantele, Anu, primary, Lääveri, Tinja, additional, Kareinen, Lauri, additional, Pakkanen, Sari H., additional, Blomgren, Karin, additional, Mero, Sointu, additional, Patjas, Anu, additional, Virtanen, Jenni, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Lappalainen, Maija, additional, Järvinen, Asko, additional, Kurkela, Satu, additional, Jääskeläinen, Anne J., additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, and Sironen, Tarja, additional
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Sindbis Virus Strains of Divergent Origin Isolated from Humans and Mosquitoes During a Recent Outbreak in Finland
- Author
-
Korhonen, Essi M., primary, Suvanto, Maija T., additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Faolotto, Giulia, additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, Sane, Jussi, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, and Huhtamo, Eili, additional
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Detection of dengue virus type 2 of Indian origin in acute febrile patients in rural Kenya
- Author
-
Masika, Moses Muia, primary, Korhonen, Essi M., additional, Smura, Teemu, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Vapalahti, Katariina, additional, Mwaengo, Dufton, additional, Jääskeläinen, Anne J., additional, Anzala, Omu, additional, Vapalahti, Olli, additional, and Huhtamo, Eili, additional
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Recent establishment of tick-borne encephalitis foci with distinct viral lineages in the Helsinki area, Finland
- Author
-
Smura, Teemu, primary, Tonteri, Elina, additional, Jääskeläinen, Anu, additional, von Troil, Gabriel, additional, Kuivanen, Suvi, additional, Huitu, Otso, additional, Kareinen, Lauri, additional, Uusitalo, Joni, additional, Uusitalo, Ruut, additional, Hannila-Handelberg, Tuula, additional, Voutilainen, Liina, additional, Nikkari, Simo, additional, Sironen, Tarja, additional, Sane, Jussi, additional, Castrén, Janne, additional, and Vapalahti, Olli, additional
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia miyamotoistrains from ticks collected in the capital region of Finland
- Author
-
Zakham, Fathiah, Jääskeläinen, Anne J., Castrén, Janne, Sormunen, Jani J., Uusitalo, Ruut, Smura, Teemu, Von Troil, Gabriel, Kuivanen, Suvi, Sironen, Tarja, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoiis an emerging pathogen that shares high similarity with relapsing fever Borrelia,but has an atypical clinical presentation. Within the framework of tick-borne disease surveillance in Finland, human serum samples suspected for tick-borne encephalitis (n=974) and questing ticks (n=739) were collected from the capital region in Finland to determine the prevalence of B. miyamotoi.All tested human samples were negative and 5 (0.68 %) Ixodes ricinusticks were positive for B. miyamotoi. Partial sequencing of the flagellin (flaB) gene of 3 positive samples and 27 B. miyamotoi-positive tick samples obtained from previous studies across Finland were amplified, sequenced, and included in the phylogenetic analysis.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Kinetics of Neutralizing Antibodies of COVID-19 Patients Tested Using Clinical D614G, B.1.1.7, and B 1.351 Isolates in Microneutralization Assays
- Author
-
Virtanen, Jenni, Uusitalo, Ruut, Korhonen, Essi M, Aaltonen, Kirsi, Smura, Teemu, Kuivanen, Suvi, Pakkanen, Sari H, Mero, Sointu, Patjas, Anu, Riekkinen, Marianna, Kantele, Anu, Nurmi, Visa, Hedman, Klaus, Hepojoki, Jussi, Sironen, Tarja, Huhtamo, Eili, and Vapalahti, Olli
- Subjects
3. Good health
40. Equine dermatitis outbreak associated with parapoxvirus.
- Author
-
Virtanen J, Hautala K, Utriainen M, Dutra L, Eskola K, Airas N, Uusitalo R, Ahvenainen E, Smura T, Sironen T, Vapalahti O, Kant R, Virtala AK, and Kinnunen PM
- Subjects
- Humans, Animals, Horses, Disease Outbreaks, Skin, Coinfection epidemiology, Coinfection veterinary, Dermatitis epidemiology, Dermatitis veterinary, Parapoxvirus genetics
- Abstract
Parapoxviruses (PPV) cause skin and mucous membrane lesions in several animal species, and of the five recognized PPVs, at least three are zoonotic. Equine PPV (EqPPV) is the sixth one initially described in humans in the United States and later in a severely sick horse in Finland in 2013-2015. In 2021-2022, a large-scale pustulo-vesicular pastern dermatitis outbreak occurred in horses all over Finland. This study aimed at analysing the outbreak, identifying and describing the causative agent, describing clinical signs, and searching for risk factors. EqPPV was identified as a probable causative agent and co-infections with several potentially pathogenic and zoonotic bacteria were observed. Histopathologically, suppurative and ulcerative dermatitis was diagnosed. Due to the lack of specific tests for this virus, we developed a novel diagnostic EqPPV-PCR with sensitivity of 10 copies/reaction. Based on a large proportion of the genome sequenced directly from clinical samples, very little variation was detected between the sequences of the case from 2013 and the cases from 2021 to 2022. Based on an epidemiological survey, the main risk factor for pastern dermatitis was having racehorses. Approximately one third of the horses at each affected stable got clinical dermatitis, manifesting as severe skin lesions. Skin lesions were also occasionally reported in humans, indicating potential zoonotic transmission. Case stables commonly reported attendance at race events before acquiring the disease. Survey also identified differences in practises between case and control stables. Taken together, these results enable a better preparedness, diagnostics, and guidelines for future outbreaks.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Seroevidence of Zoonotic Viruses in Rodents and Humans in Kibera Informal Settlement, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Author
-
Ogola JG, Alburkat H, Masika M, Korhonen E, Uusitalo R, Nyaga P, Anzala O, Vapalahti O, Sironen T, and Forbes KM
- Subjects
- Animals, Humans, Kenya epidemiology, Poverty Areas, Rodentia, Orthohantavirus, Viruses
- Abstract
Rodents are known reservoir hosts for a number of pathogens that can spillover into humans and cause disease. These threats are likely to be elevated in informal urban settlements ( i.e ., slums), where rodent and human densities are often high, rodents live in close proximity to humans, and human knowledge of disease risks and access to health care is often limited. While recent research attention has focused on zoonotic risks posed by urban rodents in major cities around the world, informal urban settlements have received far less attention. Here we report on a study in which samples were collected from 195 commensal rodents and 124 febrile human patients in the Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya (one of the largest informal urban settlements in the world). Using immunofluorescence assays, samples were screened for antibodies against common rodent-borne zoonotic virus groups, namely orthopoxviruses, arenaviruses, and hantaviruses. We detected antibodies against orthopoxviruses in rodents (4.1% positive) and antibodies in humans against orthopoxviruses, arenaviruses, and hantaviruses (4.8%, 3.2%, and 8.1% positive, respectively). No rodents had antibodies against arenaviruses or hantaviruses. These results provide strong evidence for the circulation of zoonotic viruses in rodents and humans in Kibera urban settlement, but discordance between viruses detected in host groups indicates that other species or taxa may also serve as reservoirs for these zoonotic viruses or that humans testing positive could have been exposed outside of the Kibera settlement. More broadly, this study highlights the threat posed by zoonotic viruses in informal urban settlements and the need to mitigate human exposure risks.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Sindbis Virus Strains of Divergent Origin Isolated from Humans and Mosquitoes During a Recent Outbreak in Finland.
- Author
-
Korhonen EM, Suvanto MT, Uusitalo R, Faolotto G, Smura T, Sane J, Vapalahti O, and Huhtamo E
- Subjects
- Alphavirus Infections blood, Animals, Culicidae classification, Disease Outbreaks, Finland epidemiology, Humans, Mosquito Vectors classification, Mosquito Vectors virology, Phylogeny, RNA, Viral genetics, Sindbis Virus genetics, Alphavirus Infections epidemiology, Alphavirus Infections virology, Culicidae virology, Sindbis Virus isolation & purification
- Abstract
Sindbis virus (SINV) is a mosquito-borne avian hosted virus that is widely distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Disease in humans is documented mainly from Northern Europe and South Africa and associated with genotype I. In 2018 under extremely warm climatic conditions, a small outbreak of 71 diagnosed SINV infections was recorded in Finland. We screened 52 mosquito pools (570 mosquitoes) and 223 human sera for SINV with real-time RT-PCR and the positive samples with virus isolation. One SINV strain was isolated from a pool ( n = 13) of genus Ochlerotatus mosquitoes and three strains from patient serum samples. Complete genome analysis suggested all the isolates to be divergent from one another and related to previous Finnish, Swedish, and German strains. The study provides evidence of SINV strain transfer within Europe across regions with different epidemiological characteristics. Whether these are influenced by different mosquito genera involved in the transmission remains to be studied.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.