scholarly journals Infection Load and Prevalence of Novel Viruses Identified from the Bank Vole Do Not Associate with Exposure to Environmental Radioactivity

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Kesäniemi ◽  
Anton Lavrinienko ◽  
Eugene Tukalenko ◽  
Tapio Mappes ◽  
Phillip C. Watts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bank Vole ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Environmental Radioactivity ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Environmental Radiation ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses ◽  
Repair Activity ◽  
Radiation Contamination

Bank voles (Myodes glareolus) are host to many zoonotic viruses. As bank voles inhabiting areas contaminated by radionuclides show signs of immunosuppression, resistance to apoptosis, and elevated DNA repair activity, we predicted an association between virome composition and exposure to radionuclides. To test this hypothesis, we studied the bank vole virome in samples of plasma derived from animals inhabiting areas of Ukraine (contaminated areas surrounding the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, and uncontaminated areas close to Kyiv) that differed in level of environmental radiation contamination. We discovered four strains of hepacivirus and four new virus sequences: two adeno-associated viruses, an arterivirus, and a mosavirus. However, viral prevalence and viral load, and the ability to cause a systemic infection, was not dependent on the level of environmental radiation.

scholarly journals Bank vole immunoheterogeneity may limit Nephropatia Epidemica emergence in a French non-endemic region

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. DUBOIS ◽  
G. CASTEL ◽  
S. MURRI ◽  
C. PULIDO ◽  
J.-B. PONS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bank Vole ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Disease Emergence ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Natural Reservoir ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Free Region ◽  
Limited Dispersal ◽  
Antiviral Gene ◽  
French Region

SUMMARYEcoevolutionary processes affecting hosts, vectors and pathogens are important drivers of zoonotic disease emergence. In this study, we focused on nephropathia epidemica (NE), which is caused by Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) whose natural reservoir is the bank vole,Myodes glareolus. We questioned the possibility of NE emergence in a French region that is considered to be NE-free but that is adjacent to a NE-endemic region. We first confirmed the epidemiology of these two regions and we demonstrated the absence of spatial barriers that could have limited dispersal, and consequently, the spread of PUUV into the NE-free region. We next tested whether regional immunoheterogeneity could impact PUUV chances to circulate and persist in the NE-free region. We showed that bank voles from the NE-free region were sensitive to experimental PUUV infection. We observed high levels of immunoheterogeneity between individuals and also between regions. Antiviral gene expression (TnfandMx2) reached higher levels in bank voles from the NE-free region. During experimental infections, anti-PUUV antibody production was higher in bank voles from the NE-endemic region. These results indicated a lower susceptibility to PUUV for bank voles from this NE-free region, which might limit PUUV persistence and therefore, the risk of NE.

scholarly journals Environmental radiation alters the gut microbiome of the bank vole Myodes glareolus

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2801-2806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Lavrinienko ◽  
Tapio Mappes ◽  
Eugene Tukalenko ◽  
Timothy A. Mousseau ◽  
Anders P. Møller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bank Vole ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Environmental Radiation ◽  
Bank Vole Myodes Glareolus

scholarly journals In Vivo Characterization of a Bank Vole-Derived Cowpox Virus Isolate in Natural Hosts and the Rat Model

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Saskia Weber ◽  
Kathrin Jeske ◽  
Rainer G. Ulrich ◽  
Christian Imholt ◽  
Jens Jacob ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bank Vole ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Replication Capacity ◽  
Cowpox Virus ◽  
Saguinus Oedipus ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Common Voles

Cowpox virus (CPXV) belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus in the Poxviridae family and is endemic in western Eurasia. Based on seroprevalence studies in different voles from continental Europe and UK, voles are suspected to be the major reservoir host. Recently, a CPXV was isolated from a bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in Germany that showed a high genetic similarity to another isolate originating from a Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). Here we characterize this first bank vole-derived CPXV isolate in comparison to the related tamarin-derived isolate. Both isolates grouped genetically within the provisionally called CPXV-like 3 clade. Previous phylogenetic analysis indicated that CPXV is polyphyletic and CPXV-like 3 clade represents probably a different species if categorized by the rules used for other orthopoxviruses. Experimental infection studies with bank voles, common voles (Microtus arvalis) and Wistar rats showed very clear differences. The bank vole isolate was avirulent in both common voles and Wistar rats with seroconversion seen only in the rats. In contrast, inoculated bank voles exhibited viral shedding and seroconversion for both tested CPXV isolates. In addition, bank voles infected with the tamarin-derived isolate experienced a marked weight loss. Our findings allow for the conclusion that CPXV isolates might differ in their replication capacity in different vole species and rats depending on their original host. Moreover, the results indicate host-specific differences concerning CPXV-specific virulence. Further experiments are needed to identify individual virulence and host factors involved in the susceptibility and outcome of CPXV-infections in the different reservoir hosts.

scholarly journals Radiocesium levels in contaminated forests has remained stable, even after heavy rains due to typhoons and localized downpours

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuyuki Taira ◽  
Masahiko Matsuo ◽  
Takumi Yamaguchi ◽  
Yumiko Yamada ◽  
Makiko Orita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Environmental Radiation ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Radiation Contamination ◽  
Personal Dosimeter ◽  
Ambient Dose ◽  
Heavy Rains

Abstract In recent years, Japan has suffered serious damage due to natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rains due to tropical storms (typhoons) and localized downpours. To assess the chronological changes in the attenuation of external exposure doses and environmental radiation contamination due to the rainfall associated with typhoons and heavy rains during October to December 2019 in Fukushima, we measured environmental radiation levels in forest areas along the Mt Okura hiking trail in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture, near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. We confirmed that (1) current ambient dose rates of 0.38–0.95 μSv/h in most forest areas were 79.9–84.7% higher than in residential areas; (2) the number of sites along the hiking trail where 137Cs was detected was limited (1.1–4.7%); and (3) individual dose rates of 0.21–0.34 μSv/h were lower than ambient dose rates. These findings suggest that radiocesium has remained stable in natural forests that have not been decontaminated even though current levels are low, despite the occurrence of heavy rainfall associated with Super Typhoon Hagibis in 2019 and localized downpours. Hiking while managing exposure to environmental contamination using a personal dosimeter may be the safest model for spending time of leisure activities.

scholarly journals Glareosin: a novel sexually dimorphic urinary lipocalin in the bank vole, Myodes glareolus

Open Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 170135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace M. Loxley ◽  
Jennifer Unsworth ◽  
Michael J. Turton ◽  
Alexandra Jebb ◽  
Kathryn S. Lilley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bank Vole ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Odorant Binding Proteins ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Odorant Binding ◽  
Bank Vole Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Novel Protein

The urine of bank voles ( Myodes glareolus ) contains substantial quantities of a small protein that is expressed at much higher levels in males than females, and at higher levels in males in the breeding season. This protein was purified and completely sequenced at the protein level by mass spectrometry. Leucine/isoleucine ambiguity was completely resolved by metabolic labelling, monitoring the incorporation of dietary deuterated leucine into specific sites in the protein. The predicted mass of the sequenced protein was exactly consonant with the mass of the protein measured in bank vole urine samples, correcting for the formation of two disulfide bonds. The sequence of the protein revealed that it was a lipocalin related to aphrodisin and other odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), but differed from all OBPs previously described. The pattern of secretion in urine used for scent marking by male bank voles, and the similarity to other lipocalins used as chemical signals in rodents, suggest that this protein plays a role in male sexual and/or competitive communication. We propose the name glareosin for this novel protein to reflect the origin of the protein and to emphasize the distinction from known OBPs.

scholarly journals Accumulation of point mutations and reassortment of genomic RNA segments are involved in the microevolution of Puumala hantavirus in a bank vole (Myodes glareolus) population

2008 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 1649-1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Razzauti ◽  
Angelina Plyusnina ◽  
Heikki Henttonen ◽  
Alexander Plyusnin
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Genetic Lineage ◽  
Nucleotide Substitutions ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
L Segment

The genetic diversity of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) was studied in a local population of its natural host, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). The trapping area (2.5×2.5 km) at Konnevesi, Central Finland, included 14 trapping sites, at least 500 m apart; altogether, 147 voles were captured during May and October 2005. Partial sequences of the S, M and L viral genome segments were recovered from 40 animals. Seven, 12 and 17 variants were detected for the S, M and L sequences, respectively; these represent new wild-type PUUV strains that belong to the Finnish genetic lineage. The genetic diversity of PUUV strains from Konnevesi was 0.2–4.9 % for the S segment, 0.2–4.8 % for the M segment and 0.2–9.7 % for the L segment. Most nucleotide substitutions were synonymous and most deduced amino acid substitutions were conservative, probably due to strong stabilizing selection operating at the protein level. Based on both sequence markers and phylogenetic clustering, the S, M and L sequences could be assigned to two groups, ‘A’ and ‘B’. Notably, not all bank voles carried S, M and L sequences belonging to the same group, i.e. SAMALA or SBMBLB. A substantial proportion (8/40, 20 %) of the newly characterized PUUV strains possessed reassortant genomes such as SBMALA, SAMBLB or SBMALB. These results suggest that at least some of the PUUV reassortants are viable and can survive in the presence of their parental strains.

scholarly journals Validation of the Puumala virus rapid field test for bank voles in Germany

2016 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 434-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. REIL ◽  
C. IMHOLT ◽  
U. M. ROSENFELD ◽  
S. DREWES ◽  
S. FISCHER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Test ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Myodes Glareolus ◽  
Puumala Virus ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Moderate Disease ◽  
Comparison Of The Results ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Puuv Strain

SUMMARYPuumala virus (PUUV) causes many human infections in large parts of Europe and can lead to mild to moderate disease. The bank vole (Myodes glareolus) is the only reservoir of PUUV in Central Europe. A commercial PUUV rapid field test for rodents was validated for bank-vole blood samples collected in two PUUV-endemic regions in Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg). A comparison of the results of the rapid field test and standard ELISAs indicated a test efficacy of 93–95%, largely independent of the origin of the antigens used in the ELISA. In ELISAs, reactivity for the German PUUV strain was higher compared to the Swedish strain but not compared to the Finnish strain, which was used for the rapid field test. In conclusion, the use of the rapid field test can facilitate short-term estimation of PUUV seroprevalence in bank-vole populations in Germany and can aid in assessing human PUUV infection risk.

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