Brigitta Zana

Candidate new rotavirus species in Schreiber's bats, Serbia

Abstract The genus Rotavirus comprises eight species designated A to H and one tentative species, Rotavirus I. In a virus metagenomic analysis of Schreibers bats sampled in Serbia in 2014 we obtained sequences likely representing novel rotavirus species. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis classified the representative strain into a tentative tenth rotavirus species, we provisionally called Rotavirus J. The novel virus shared a maximum of 50% amino acid sequence identity within the VP6 gene to currently known members of the genus. This study extends our understanding of the genetic diversity of rotaviruses in bats.

Emergence of Aedes koreicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in an urban area, Hungary, 2016

In June 2016, three adult females of Aedes koreicus mosquitoes were trapped in the urban area of Pécs, Southwest Hungary. The introduction of this invasive mosquito species in this region, along with the recent detection in Germany, may indicate the capability of the species to spread across Europe. Along with Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus mosquitoes, this is the third invasive mosquito species occurred in Hungary.

Re-emergence of Lloviu virus in Miniopterus schreibersii bats, Hungary, 2016

Members of the virus family Filoviridae, such as ebola viruses and marburgviruses, cause hemorrhagic fevers associated with high mortality and are, therefore, of major public health importance worl...

Genetic Characterization of Providence Virus Isolated from Bat Guano in Hungary

ABSTRACT We report the complete genome sequence and genetic characterization of a novel strain of Providence virus, detected in Barbastella barbastellus bat guano, collected in Hungary in 2014. Our data may facilitate the understanding of the evolutionary processes of this unique viral family of Carmotetraviridae.

Filarial nematode (order: Spirurida) surveillance in urban habitats, in the city of Pécs (Hungary)

As part of the seasonal mosquito control activities in the city of Pécs (Baranya County, Hungary), a total of 1123 adult female mosquitoes belonging to 18 species (including the invasive species Aedes koreicus) were collected from human-inhabited areas, using CO2-baited traps, during two consecutive years. To survey the presence and prevalence of filarial parasites in these mosquitoes, we performed a molecular survey for filarial DNA, attempted by PCR using generic primers (COI), and followed by DNA sequencing. Filaroid nematode DNA was detected in 4% of investigated mosquito pools. Out of 410 pools, 9 pools of mosquitoes were positive for Dirofilaria repens (Aedes vexans, Aedes koreicus, Coquillettidia richiardii), and/or Dirofilaria immitis (Ae. vexans, Cq. richiardii), and further 8 pools were positive for Setaria tundra (Ae. vexans, Cq. richiardii). Our study provides novel insight for prevalence of filaroid nematodes in mosquitoes occurring in close proximity to humans, thereby highlights the possible human and veterinary health importance of these mosquito species, including the recently introduced invasive mosquito Ae. koreicus.

First genetic characterization of Usutu virus from Culex pipiens mosquitoes Serbia, 2014

Since its first appearance in Europe, Usutu virus (USUV) diverged to several different genetic lineages. The virus was reported to date from multiple countries across Europe (Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium). Considering the more frequently published impact of the virus on humans it is crucial to investigate locally circulating genetic variants and trace its evolution. We retrospectively analyzed mosquito samples from Serbia Vojvodina region, collected during 2014. In this study we report the results of the screening of 23,753 female mosquitoes (753 pools) for USUV-specific nucleic-acid. Out of the 753 pools sampled, the presence of USUV RNA was confirmed in 3 pools of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, collected in August. Based on their partial NS5 sequence, all strains were identical, therefore we adjusted one representative strain for complete genome sequencing. Based on phylogenetic analysis the Serbian USUV sequences were most closely related to the virus that emerged in Austria in 2001, in Hungary in 2005 and was circulating until 2015 in Hungary. This data presents a wider geographic distribution of this genetic variant and provides the first genetic data from this region.

Diverse replication-associated protein encoding circular DNA viruses in guano samples of Central-Eastern European bats.

AbstractCircular replication-associated protein encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS DNA) viruses are increasingly recognized worldwide in a variety of samples. Representative members include well-described veterinary pathogens with worldwide distribution, such as porcine circoviruses or beak and feather disease virus. In addition, numerous novel viruses belonging to the family Circoviridae with unverified pathogenic roles have been discovered in different human samples. Viruses of the family Genomoviridae have also been described as being highly abundant in different faecal and environmental samples, with case reports showing them to be suspected pathogens in human infections. In order to investigate the genetic diversity of these viruses in European bat populations, we tested guano samples from Georgia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. This resulted in the detection of six novel members of the family Circoviridae and two novel members of the family Genomoviridae. Interestingly, a gemini-like virus, namely niminivirus, which was originally found in raw sewage samples in Nigeria, was also detected in our samples. We analyzed the nucleotide composition of members of the family Circoviridae to determine the possible host origins of these viruses. This study provides the first dataset on CRESS DNA viruses of European bats, and members of several novel viral species were discovered.

Metagenomic analysis of bat guano samples revealed the presence of viruses potentially carried by insects, among others by Apis mellifera in Hungary

The predominance of dietary viruses in bat guano samples had been described recently, suggesting a new opportunity to survey the prevalence and to detect new viruses of arthropods or even plant-infecting viruses circulating locally in the ecosystem. Here we describe the diversity of viruses belonging to the order Picornavirales in Hungarian insectivorous bat guano samples. The metagenomic analysis conducted on our samples has revealed the significant predominance of aphid lethal paralysis virus (ALPV) and Big Sioux River virus (BSRV) in Hungary for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis was used to clarify the relationship to previously identified ALPV strains infecting honey bees, showing that our strain possesses a close genetic relationship with the strains that have already been described as pathogenic to honey bees. Furthermore, studies have previously confirmed the ability of these viruses to replicate in adult honey bees; however, no signs related to these viruses have been revealed yet. With the identification of two recently described possibly honey bee infecting viruses for the first time in Hungary, our results might have importance for the health conditions of Hungarian honey bee colonies in the future.

Highly divergent cyclo-like virus in a great roundleaf bat (Hipposideros armiger) in Vietnam

Members of the viral family Circoviridae are increasingly recognized worldwide. Bats seem to be natural reservoirs or dietary-related dispensers of these viruses. Here, we report a distantly related member of the genus Cyclovirus detected in the faeces of a great roundleaf bat (Hipposideros armiger). Interestingly, the novel virus lacks a Circoviridae-specific stem-loop structure, although a Geminiviridae-like nonamer sequence was detected in the large intergenic region. Based on these differences and its phylogenetic position, we propose that our new virus represents a distant and highly divergent member of the genus Cyclovirus. However it is lacking several characteristics of members of the genus, which raises a challenge in its taxonomic classification.