West Nile virus (lineage 2) in mosquitoes in southern Moravia - awaiting the first autochthonous human cases.

Here we report repeated detection of lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV-2) from Culex modestus and Cx. pipiens mosquitoes collected at fishponds in the Lednice-Valtice Area during the mosquito seasons 2015 and 2016. The WNV strains recovered share genetic homology with WNV strains isolated during an extensive monitoring in 2013 as well as with strains circulating in southern and central Europe at the same time. Repeated detection of WNV indicates its establishment in the area and also warns infection specialists and epidemiologists about possible emergence of human cases or even outbreaks of West Nile fever in the region.

West Nile virus lineage 2 isolated from Culex modestus mosquitoes in the Czech Republic, 2013: expansion of the European WNV endemic area to the North?

We report the detection and isolation of four almost identical strains of West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2from Culex modestus mosquitoes collected at three fish ponds in South Moravia, Czech Republic, during August 2013. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the Czech WNV strains isolated are closely related to Austrian, Italian and Serbian strains reported in 2008,2011 and 2012, respectively. Our findings show the current northernmost range of lineage 2 WNV in Europe.

Isolation of Tahyna Virus (California Encephalitis Group) From Anopheles hyrcanus (Diptera, Culicidae), a Mosquito Species New to, and Expanding in, Central Europe.

Two strains of Tahyna virus (TAHV; Orthobunyavirus, Bunyaviridae) were isolated from 4,568 (92 pools) female Anopheles hyrcanus Pallas (Diptera, Culicidae) mosquitoes collected on the fishponds in South Moravia (Czechland, central Europe) during July-August 2013. This is the first isolation of TAHV from An. hyrcanus in Europe. An. hyrcanus is a species new to Czechland since 2007; its population density was very high in the year 2013 at these ponds. The virus isolation procedure was based on intracerebral inoculation of newborn mice; moreover, the positive pools were also tested by polymerase chain reaction and found to contain TAHV RNA. An. hyrcanus, feeding preferentially on mammals including humans, may be a new potential vector for TAHV in Europe.

An invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus found in the Czech Republic, 2012.

Between July and September 2012, seventeen larvae of the invasive mosquito species Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) were discovered using 60 ovitraps at four study sites alongside two main road exits in South Moravia, Czech Republic. This is the first report of imported Ae. albopictus in the Czech Republic. The findings highlight the need for a regular surveillance programme to monitor this invasive species throughout western and central Europe.

Emmonsiosis of subterranean rodents (Bathyergidae, Spalacidae) in Africa and Israel.

The presence of adiaspores of the fungal genus Emmonsia was examined in the lungs of 85 mole rats representing 3 subterranean genera: blind mole rats (Spalax galili and S. golani) from Israel, Ansell's mole-rats (Cryptomys anselli) from Zambia, and silvery mole-rats (Heliophobius argenteocinereus) from Malawi and Zambia. Emmonsiosis was found in 28% of the blind mole rats, 100% of the Ansell's mole-rats, but in none of the silvery mole-rats. Infection in African mole-rats was caused by Emmonsia parva, and infection in Israeli blind mole rats was caused by E. parva and E. crescens. The study indicates that the perennial burrow system of the Ansell's mole-rat forms an appropriate microhabitat for the saprophytic growth of E. parva in Lusaka region, Zambia. We suggest that factors contributing to the striking difference in prevalence of emmonsiosis between the two African mole-rat genera (Cryptomys, Heliophobius) may be their differing burrow types, burrow longevity, and social lives.

[Use of a fixation device and hematocrit capillaries for the collection of blood in wild birds for virologico-serologic examination]. / Vyuzití fixacního zarízení a hematokritových kapilár pri odberu krve volne zijícím ptákum pro virologicko-sérologická vysetrení.

There is a description of the fixation and blood sampling in small birds by means of hematocrit capillaries. The volume of 25-30 microliters serum can be taken safely from a 75 cm long capillary filled with blood. This amount is large enough for examination by the micromethod of hemagglutination-inhibition test (HIT) and component-fixation reaction (KFR). Even potentially infectious material can be centrifuged in a capillary sealed at both ends. The procedure is suitable to be used for repeated samplings during long-term experiments or for biochemical examinations of small birds kept in cages.

Identification of Tettnang virus ('possible arbovirus') as mouse hepatitis virus.

Virus isolation attempts in specific-pathogen-free suckling mice (strain ICR) yielded 21 virus strains initially shown to be closely related to or identical with Tettnang virus. Subsequent studies showed them, as well as standard strains of Tettnang virus, to be closely related to or identical with mouse hepatitis virus. Tettnang virus is not an arbovirus.

Is Tettnang virus a possible arbovirus?

The paper describes the isolation of 21 identical virus strains during virus isolation experiments in SPF suckling mice strain ICR. The isolated strains were first identified as closely related or identical to Tettnang virus and later as closely related to mouse hepatitis virus. Tettnang virus seems not to be an arbovirus.