Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of Croatia
Surveillance is crucial in controlling and preventing vector-borne zoonotic diseases (VBDs). We analyzed the seroprevalence of selected vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in sheep from endemic areas and their role as possible sentinels for VBDs. A total of 300 sheep from seven farms at three micro-loca...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1602706/full |
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| author | Ljubo Barbic Vladimir Stevanovic Maja Mauric Maljkovic Gorana Miletic Ivona Coric Vladimir Savic Viktor Masovic Maja Bogdanic Maja Bogdanic Alan Medic Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek |
| author_facet | Ljubo Barbic Vladimir Stevanovic Maja Mauric Maljkovic Gorana Miletic Ivona Coric Vladimir Savic Viktor Masovic Maja Bogdanic Maja Bogdanic Alan Medic Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek |
| author_sort | Ljubo Barbic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Surveillance is crucial in controlling and preventing vector-borne zoonotic diseases (VBDs). We analyzed the seroprevalence of selected vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in sheep from endemic areas and their role as possible sentinels for VBDs. A total of 300 sheep from seven farms at three micro-locations were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) using ELISA with confirmation of borderline/positive results by VNT. Seropositivity for at least one pathogen was observed in 18.0% (54/300) of sheep. The highest seroprevalence was confirmed for TBEV (9.7%; 29/300), followed by WNV (3.0%; 9/300) and B. burgdorferi s.l. (2.7%; 8/300), while USUV and inconclusive flavivirus (TBEV/WNV/USUV) infections had the same seroprevalence of 1.3% (4/300). None of the serum samples tested positive for CCHFV. Geographic micro-location was a significant risk factor for USUV (p = 0.045), TBEV (p = 0.03), and B. burgdorferi s.l. (p = 0.015) infections, but not for WNV. The farm distance from the household (TBEV p < 0.001, B. burgdorferi s.l. p = 0.005) and sheep breed (TBEV p < 0.001, B. burgdorferi s.l. p < 0.001) were found as risk factors for seropositivity to tick-borne (TBEV, B. burgdorferi s.l.), but not to mosquito-borne diseases (WNV, USUV). Of the other risk factors, sheep shearing was statistically significant, with unshared sheep showing a higher probability of tick-borne diseases (p = 0.048). Sex, age, herd size, and the presence of clinical signs were not associated with the seroprevalence. Serologic evidence of VBDs suggests their sentinel potential for mapping micro-foci of zoonotic pathogens’ activity and identifying high-risk areas for public health. Further studies are needed to confirm this observation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5359e84a8ee94dfebd69bcc2cf2de668 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-5359e84a8ee94dfebd69bcc2cf2de6682025-08-20T02:08:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-06-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16027061602706Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of CroatiaLjubo Barbic0Vladimir Stevanovic1Maja Mauric Maljkovic2Gorana Miletic3Ivona Coric4Vladimir Savic5Viktor Masovic6Maja Bogdanic7Maja Bogdanic8Alan Medic9Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek10Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek11Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Animal Breeding and Livestock Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaPoultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, CroatiaPoultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaSchool of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Epidemiology, Zadar County Institute of Public Health, Zadar, CroatiaDepartment of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, CroatiaSchool of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaSurveillance is crucial in controlling and preventing vector-borne zoonotic diseases (VBDs). We analyzed the seroprevalence of selected vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in sheep from endemic areas and their role as possible sentinels for VBDs. A total of 300 sheep from seven farms at three micro-locations were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) using ELISA with confirmation of borderline/positive results by VNT. Seropositivity for at least one pathogen was observed in 18.0% (54/300) of sheep. The highest seroprevalence was confirmed for TBEV (9.7%; 29/300), followed by WNV (3.0%; 9/300) and B. burgdorferi s.l. (2.7%; 8/300), while USUV and inconclusive flavivirus (TBEV/WNV/USUV) infections had the same seroprevalence of 1.3% (4/300). None of the serum samples tested positive for CCHFV. Geographic micro-location was a significant risk factor for USUV (p = 0.045), TBEV (p = 0.03), and B. burgdorferi s.l. (p = 0.015) infections, but not for WNV. The farm distance from the household (TBEV p < 0.001, B. burgdorferi s.l. p = 0.005) and sheep breed (TBEV p < 0.001, B. burgdorferi s.l. p < 0.001) were found as risk factors for seropositivity to tick-borne (TBEV, B. burgdorferi s.l.), but not to mosquito-borne diseases (WNV, USUV). Of the other risk factors, sheep shearing was statistically significant, with unshared sheep showing a higher probability of tick-borne diseases (p = 0.048). Sex, age, herd size, and the presence of clinical signs were not associated with the seroprevalence. Serologic evidence of VBDs suggests their sentinel potential for mapping micro-foci of zoonotic pathogens’ activity and identifying high-risk areas for public health. Further studies are needed to confirm this observation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1602706/fulltick-borne encephalitis virusBorrelia burgdorferi s.l.West Nile virusUsutu virusCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virussentinels |
| spellingShingle | Ljubo Barbic Vladimir Stevanovic Maja Mauric Maljkovic Gorana Miletic Ivona Coric Vladimir Savic Viktor Masovic Maja Bogdanic Maja Bogdanic Alan Medic Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of Croatia Frontiers in Veterinary Science tick-borne encephalitis virus Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. West Nile virus Usutu virus Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus sentinels |
| title | Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of Croatia |
| title_full | Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of Croatia |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of Croatia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of Croatia |
| title_short | Seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector-borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of Croatia |
| title_sort | seroprevalence study for selected zoonotic vector borne pathogens in sheep from endemic areas of croatia |
| topic | tick-borne encephalitis virus Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. West Nile virus Usutu virus Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus sentinels |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1602706/full |
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