Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia

Introduction: This study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) in the horse population of northern Serbia. Furthermore, it aimed to provide insight and an updated overview on the circulation of this re-emerging pathogen in this part of southeastern Europe. At the time...

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Main Authors: Strahinja Medić, Rene van den Hoven, Tamaš Petrović, Diana Lupulović, Norbert Nowotny
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2014-07-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3885
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author Strahinja Medić
Rene van den Hoven
Tamaš Petrović
Diana Lupulović
Norbert Nowotny
author_facet Strahinja Medić
Rene van den Hoven
Tamaš Petrović
Diana Lupulović
Norbert Nowotny
author_sort Strahinja Medić
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: This study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) in the horse population of northern Serbia. Furthermore, it aimed to provide insight and an updated overview on the circulation of this re-emerging pathogen in this part of southeastern Europe. At the time of manuscript preparation, no clinical cases of WNV infection in horses were reported in this area. Methodology: Between 2007 and 2011, a total of 252 equine serum samples were collected from seven different locations in northern Serbia. The presence of WNV-reactive IgG antibodies was examined by using commercial and in-house ELISAs. Selected ELISA-positive samples were re-tested by a WNV lineage 2 plaque reduction neutralization test 90% (PRNT-90). Results: In 28.6% of the 252 tested equine serum samples antibodies against WNV were detected. The results obtained with the in-house ELISA corresponded to the outcome of the commercial kit in 90% of the samples. All selected WNV antibody ELISA-positive samples were confirmed by PRNT-90 with neutralizing antibody titers of 1:23 to > 1:512. Conclusion: This study confirms the circulation of WNV in northern Serbia. No striking regional differences in seroprevalences were identified suggesting WNV circulation also in other parts of Serbia. Distances between wetlands or forests and stud farms do not appear to have an influence on WNV seroprevalence.
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spelling doaj-art-80e32c4211c64272ade14fceb21b826a2025-08-20T02:57:25ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802014-07-0180710.3855/jidc.3885Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern SerbiaStrahinja Medić0Rene van den Hoven1Tamaš Petrović2Diana Lupulović3Norbert Nowotny4University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, AustriaScientific Veterinary Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, SerbiaScientific Veterinary Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, SerbiaCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, OmanIntroduction: This study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) in the horse population of northern Serbia. Furthermore, it aimed to provide insight and an updated overview on the circulation of this re-emerging pathogen in this part of southeastern Europe. At the time of manuscript preparation, no clinical cases of WNV infection in horses were reported in this area. Methodology: Between 2007 and 2011, a total of 252 equine serum samples were collected from seven different locations in northern Serbia. The presence of WNV-reactive IgG antibodies was examined by using commercial and in-house ELISAs. Selected ELISA-positive samples were re-tested by a WNV lineage 2 plaque reduction neutralization test 90% (PRNT-90). Results: In 28.6% of the 252 tested equine serum samples antibodies against WNV were detected. The results obtained with the in-house ELISA corresponded to the outcome of the commercial kit in 90% of the samples. All selected WNV antibody ELISA-positive samples were confirmed by PRNT-90 with neutralizing antibody titers of 1:23 to > 1:512. Conclusion: This study confirms the circulation of WNV in northern Serbia. No striking regional differences in seroprevalences were identified suggesting WNV circulation also in other parts of Serbia. Distances between wetlands or forests and stud farms do not appear to have an influence on WNV seroprevalence. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3885West Nile virusSeroprevalenceSerbiaHorseELISAPlaque reduction neutralization test
spellingShingle Strahinja Medić
Rene van den Hoven
Tamaš Petrović
Diana Lupulović
Norbert Nowotny
Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
West Nile virus
Seroprevalence
Serbia
Horse
ELISA
Plaque reduction neutralization test
title Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia
title_full Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia
title_fullStr Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia
title_full_unstemmed Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia
title_short Serological evidence of West Nile virus infection in the horse population of northern Serbia
title_sort serological evidence of west nile virus infection in the horse population of northern serbia
topic West Nile virus
Seroprevalence
Serbia
Horse
ELISA
Plaque reduction neutralization test
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3885
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AT tamaspetrovic serologicalevidenceofwestnilevirusinfectioninthehorsepopulationofnorthernserbia
AT dianalupulovic serologicalevidenceofwestnilevirusinfectioninthehorsepopulationofnorthernserbia
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