[Detection of the West Nile Virus and its genetic typing in ixodid ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) in Tomsk City and its suburbs]

Parazitologiia. 2008 May-Jun;42(3):210-25.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

Four tick species, Ixodes persulcatus, I. pavlovskyi, I. trianguliceps, and Dermacentor reticulatus, were found in Tomsk and its suburbs in 2006. The species I. pavlovskyi was found to be dominant in the localities situated in Tomsk City, and I. persulcatus was dominant in its suburbs. Viral RNA and viral antigen of the West Nile virus (WNV) were detected in the ticks I. pavlovskyi and I. persulcatus collected in the city and its suburbs by the RT PCR method and enzyme immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies against protein E of the WNV. Average rate of the WNV infected ticks varied from 5.2 up to 11.7% in different localities. Identification of the nucleotide sequence of the protein E gene fragment allowed classifying the cDNA obtained as genotype Ia of the WNV. The sequences are proved similar to the strain LEIV-Vlg99-27889-human of the WNV isolated in Volgograd. The obtained data showed that natural foci of the WNV virus can appear in the city and its suburbs probably involving two dominant tick species. The WNV infected imagoes, larvae, and nymphs of I. persulcatus and I. pavlovskyi were collected from small mammals, lizards, and birds. Therefore we presume that these hosts can be involved in the circulation and distribution of WNV on the territory of Tomsk Region.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / analysis
  • Arachnid Vectors / classification
  • Arachnid Vectors / virology*
  • Birds / parasitology
  • Dermacentor / classification
  • Dermacentor / virology*
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Genotype
  • Ixodes / classification
  • Ixodes / virology*
  • Larva / virology
  • Lizards / parasitology
  • Phylogeny
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Siberia
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
  • West Nile Fever / virology*
  • West Nile virus / classification*
  • West Nile virus / genetics
  • West Nile virus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins