Academic Journal
Widespread circulation of Alongshan virus in Austria and serological evidence for infection in humans: a nationwide molecular and serological observational study.
| Τίτλος: | Widespread circulation of Alongshan virus in Austria and serological evidence for infection in humans: a nationwide molecular and serological observational study. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Florian DM; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Jetzinger P; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Schötta AM; Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria., Medits-Weiss I; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Irgang M; Veterinary Clinic Schwarzmann, Rankweil, Austria., Ebert CL; Working Group for Vector-associated Biodiversity and Infection, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany; Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, Hanover, Germany., Bauer M; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Popovitsch A; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Leitner A; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Raffl S; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Han E; Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Becker SC; Working Group for Vector-associated Biodiversity and Infection, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany; Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, Hanover, Germany., Deutz A; Veterinary Department, Styrian District Government, Murau, Austria; Company for Wildlife and Habitat, Murau, Austria., Ahmeti S; Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo., Emmerich P; Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany., Markowicz M; Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria., Duscher GG; Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Vienna, Austria., Aberle SW; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Wijnveld M; Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Stiasny K; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Camp JV; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Aberle JH; Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: judith.aberle@meduniwien.ac.at. |
| Πηγή: | The Lancet. Microbe [Lancet Microbe] 2026 Aug; Vol. 7 (8), pp. 101404. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 08. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Observational Study; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101769019 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2666-5247 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 26665247 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Lancet Microbe Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [Oxford] : Elsevier Ltd., [2020]- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Encephalitis, Tick-Borne*/blood , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne*/epidemiology , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne*/virology , Flavivirus*/genetics , Flavivirus*/isolation & purification , Flavivirus*/classification , Flavivirus*/immunology , Flavivirus Infections*/blood , Flavivirus Infections*/epidemiology , Flavivirus Infections*/virology, Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Austria/epidemiology ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Ticks/virology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Phylogeny |
| Περίληψη: | Background: Alongshan virus, a segmented RNA virus in the Jingmenvirus group of flaviviruses, was first identified in 2017 in China in patients with tick-borne encephalitis-like illness. Alongshan virus has since been detected in ticks and mammals in several European countries. In this study, we aimed to characterise the temporal and geographical distribution of Alongshan virus in Austria through nationwide tick surveillance combined with serological and molecular screening in individuals with suspected tick-borne encephalitis or tick exposure. Methods: In this nationwide molecular and serological observational study, we conducted a PCR-based screening of ticks collected across Austria in 2024, using flagging, animal hosts, and citizen submissions. We also collated genomic data from stored nucleic acid extracts from ticks collected in Austria in 2005 and 2013 in previous surveillance studies and stored extracts of paired tick-human samples collected between 2015 and 2018. Alongshan virus-positive tick samples were subjected to whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. In addition to tick samples, blood samples from Austrian patients with reported tick bite or suspected tick-borne encephalitis, submitted to the National Reference Center for Human Arbovirus Infections, Austria, were screened for Alongshan virus infection and subjected to serological and molecular testing. Findings: 2952 ticks were collected between Feb 1, 2024, and Dec 6, 2024, from 29 (83%) of 35 NUTS-3 regions in Austria; the median detection rate for Alongshan virus was 1·2% (IQR 0·4-3·5). In addition, 1816 archived tick samples were analysed, with three testing positive for Alongshan virus. For the virus-positive samples, phylogenetic analysis showed that sequences from Austria grouped within the European clade, with Austrian sequences from the same region showing high sequence similarity. 1361 human serum samples collected between March 1, 2023, and May 16, 2025, were assessed for anti-Alongshan virus IgG antibodies. Two individuals had high antibody titres against Alongshan virus proteins VP1a and VP2. Interpretation: Our study shows detection of Alongshan virus in archived tick samples dating back to 2005, representing the earliest documented occurrence of the virus to date and suggesting that Alongshan virus has been circulating in Austria for at least two decades. The detection of Alongshan virus-specific antibody titres in two individuals suggests past infection and previously unrecognised exposure. These results highlight the need for continued molecular surveillance of tick populations and serological monitoring in humans to define the epidemiology and public health relevance of Alongshan virus in Europe. Funding: One Health surveillance and Vector monitoring for cross-border pathogens (OH SURVector) and UNITED4Surveillance. (Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of interests GGD, MM, and A-MS received funding from the EU (EU project IDs 101132974 from One Health surveillance and Vector monitoring for cross-border pathogens [OH SURVector] and 101102070 from UNITED4Surveillance). DMF received travel support for conference attendance from the European Society for Clinical Virology. All other authors declare no competing interests. |
| Molecular Sequence: | GENBANK PX499395; PX499466 |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Antibodies, Viral) 0 (RNA, Viral) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260608 Date Completed: 20260810 Latest Revision: 20260911 |
| Update Code: | 20260911 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.lanmic.2026.101404 |
| PMID: | 42259351 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2666-5247 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.lanmic.2026.101404 |