Seroprevalence of TBEV in bank voles from Poland—a long-term approach

Abstract

Rodents are known to play a significant role as reservoir hosts for TBEV. During three sequential expeditions at 4-year intervals to three ecologically similar study sites in NE Poland, we trapped bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and then tested their blood for the presence of specific antiviral antibodies to TBEV. The strongest effects on seroprevalence were the extrinsic factors, site of capture of voles and year of sampling. Seroprevalence increased markedly with increasing host age, and our analysis revealed significant interactions among these three factors. Seroprevalence did not differ between the sexes. Therefore, based on the seroprevalence results, the dynamics of TBEV infection differ significantly in time, between local sub-populations of bank voles and with increasing host age. To fully understand the circulation of the virus among these reservoir hosts and in the environment, long-term monitoring is required and should employ a multi-site approach, such as the one adopted in the current study.

These authors contributed equally: Jerzy M. Behnke, Anna Bajer

These authors contributed equally: Jerzy M. Behnke, Anna Bajer

Acknowledgements

We thank the University of Nottingham, Warsaw University, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, and the Medical University of Gdańsk for financial support. J.M.B. was supported by the Royal Society, the British Ecological Society and the Grabowski Fund. A.B. was supported by the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research and the British Council’s Young Scientist Programme. M.G. was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland, Fellowship for Outstanding Scientists (428/STYP/11/2016).

Author contributions

The study was conceived and designed by M.G., B.B., J.M.B., and A.B. Supervision of the long-term monitoring of bank vole populations in the region was conducted by J.M.B. and A.B. Samples were collected in the field by J.M.B., A.B., M.A., K.T., J.B.B., and M.G. The immunological analysis and laboratory work was conducted by M.G., A.S., K.S., L.G., and J.P. Data analysis was carried out by MG, AB, and JMB. The manuscript was written by M.G., B.B., A.B., J.S., and J.M.B. in consultation with all co-authors. M.G., A.B., J.S., J.P., and J.M.B. revised the manuscript. All authors accepted the final manuscript version.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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