Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in Finland in 2021-2023 - Genetic diversity of the viruses and infection kinetics in human dendritic cells.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is known for its virulence and zoonotic potential, infecting birds and mammals, thus raising public health concerns. Since 2021 its spread among birds has led to cross-species transmission causing epizootics among mammals, eventually impacting fur animal farms in Finland in 2023. To analyze the infectivity of the Finnish H5N1 isolates in human cells, representatives of diverse H5N1 isolates were selected based on the genetic differences, host animal species, and the year of occurrence.

Complete coding sequence of an Aedes flavivirus strain isolated from collected in Northern Italy.

Complete genome data for the globally distributed Aedes flavivirus (AEFV) is scarce. We analyzed a new Italian AEFV strain isolated from . The results demonstrated genetic diversity among Italian AEFVs.

Current and future environmental suitability for bats hosting potential zoonotic pathogens in rural Kenya.

Synanthropic bats live in close proximity to humans and domestic animals, creating opportunities for potential pathogen spillover. We explored environmental correlates of occurrence for a widely distributed synanthropic African bat, a species associated with potential zoonotic virusesand estimated current and future environmental suitability in the Taita Hills region and surrounding plains in Taita-Taveta County in southeast Kenya. To project future environmental suitability, we used four Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 general circulation models that capture temperature and precipitation changes for East Africa.

Stable Levels of Antibodies Against Unrelated Toxoid Vaccines After COVID-19: COVID-19 Infection Does Not Affect Toxoid Vaccine Antibody Levels.

Background: Lymphopenia is common in COVID-19. This has raised concerns that COVID-19 could affect the immune system akin to measles infection, which causes immune amnesia and a reduction in protective antibodies.

Methods: We recruited COVID-19 patients (n = 59) in Helsinki, Finland, and collected plasma samples on 2 to 3 occasions during and after infection.

SARS-CoV-2 infections among pregnant women, 2020, Finland-Cross-testing of neutralization assays.

We studied the development of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in southern Finland in 2020 and evaluated the performance of two surrogate immunoassays for the detection of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). The data set consisted of 12 000 retrospectively collected samples from pregnant women in their first trimester throughout 2020. All the samples were initially screened for immunoglobulin G (IgG) with SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody assay (EIM-S1, Euroimmun) followed by confirmation with nucleocapsid antibody assay (Architect SARS-CoV-2, Abbott).

Molecular detection of pathogens from ticks collected from dogs and cats at veterinary clinics in Finland.

Background: Ticks carry microbes, some of which are pathogenic for humans and animals. To assess this One Health challenge, 342 ticks were collected from pet dogs and cats at 10 veterinary clinics in Finland as part of the European project "Protect Our Future Too".

Methods: The tick species were identified, and ticks were screened with quantitative PCR (qPCR) for tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp.

Vector Competence of Northern European Biotype and to West Nile Virus and Sindbis Virus.

The West Nile Virus (WNV) and Sindbis virus (SINV) are avian-hosted mosquito-borne zoonotic viruses that co-circulate in some geographical areas and share vector species such as and . These are widespread in Europe, including northern parts and Finland, where SINV is endemic, but WNV is currently not. As WNV is spreading northwards in Europe, we wanted to assess the experimental vector competence of Finnish and mosquitoes to WNV and SINV in different temperature profiles.

Predicting habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Finland.

Background: Ticks are responsible for transmitting several notable pathogens worldwide. Finland lies in a zone where two human-biting tick species co-occur: Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus. Tick densities have increased in boreal regions worldwide during past decades, and tick-borne pathogens have been identified as one of the major threats to public health in the face of climate change.

Sindbis virus outbreak and evidence for geographical expansion in Finland, 2021.

Sindbis virus (SINV) caused a large outbreak in Finland in 2021 with 566 laboratory-confirmed human cases and a notable geographical expansion. Compared with the last large outbreak in 2002, incidence was higher in several hospital districts but lower in traditionally endemic locations in eastern parts of the country. A high incidence is also expected in 2022.

Characterisation of the RNA Virome of Nine Species in Finland.

RNA viromes of nine commonly encountered mosquito species collected around Finland in 2015 and 2017 were studied using next-generation sequencing. Mosquito homogenates were sequenced from 91 pools comprising 16-60 morphologically identified adult females of , , , , , , , and /. In total 514 viral Reverse dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) sequences of 159 virus species were recovered, belonging to 25 families or equivalent rank, as follows: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and .

Seroevidence of Zoonotic Viruses in Rodents and Humans in Kibera Informal Settlement, Nairobi, Kenya.

Rodents are known reservoir hosts for a number of pathogens that can spillover into humans and cause disease. These threats are likely to be elevated in informal urban settlements (., slums), where rodent and human densities are often high, rodents live in close proximity to humans, and human knowledge of disease risks and access to health care is often limited.

Predicting Spatial Patterns of Sindbis Virus (SINV) Infection Risk in Finland Using Vector, Host and Environmental Data.

Pogosta disease is a mosquito-borne infection, caused by Sindbis virus (SINV), which causes epidemics of febrile rash and arthritis in Northern Europe and South Africa. Resident grouse and migratory birds play a significant role as amplifying hosts and various mosquito species, including , , and are documented vectors. As specific treatments are not available for SINV infections, and joint symptoms may persist, the public health burden is considerable in endemic areas.

Kinetics of Neutralizing Antibodies of COVID-19 Patients Tested Using Clinical D614G, B.1.1.7, and B 1.351 Isolates in Microneutralization Assays.

Increasing evidence suggests that some newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) resist neutralization by antibodies elicited by the early-pandemic wild-type virus. We applied neutralization tests to paired recoveree sera ( = 38) using clinical isolates representing the first wave (D614G), VoC1, and VoC2 lineages (B.1.

A novel negevirus isolated from Aedes vexans mosquitoes in Finland.

Negeviruses are insect-specific enveloped RNA viruses that have been detected in mosquitoes and sandflies from various geographical locations. Here, we describe a new negevirus from Northern Europe, isolated from pool of Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected in Finland, designated as Mekrijärvi negevirus (MEJNV). MEJNV had a typical negevirus genome organization, is 9,740 nucleotides in length, and has a GC content of 47.

Sindbis Virus Strains of Divergent Origin Isolated from Humans and Mosquitoes During a Recent Outbreak in Finland.

Sindbis virus (SINV) is a mosquito-borne avian hosted virus that is widely distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Disease in humans is documented mainly from Northern Europe and South Africa and associated with genotype I. In 2018 under extremely warm climatic conditions, a small outbreak of 71 diagnosed SINV infections was recorded in Finland.

Detection of dengue virus type 2 of Indian origin in acute febrile patients in rural Kenya.

Dengue virus (DENV) has caused recent outbreaks in coastal cities of Kenya, but the epidemiological situation in other areas of Kenya is largely unknown. We investigated the role of DENV infection as a cause of acute febrile disease in non-epidemic settings in rural and urban study areas in Kenya. Altogether, 560 patients were sampled in 2016-2017 in rural Taita-Taveta County (n = 327) and urban slums of Kibera, Nairobi (n = 233).

Immunoassay for serodiagnosis of Zika virus infection based on time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen causing a febrile illness with arthralgia, conjunctivitis and rash. The complications include Guillain-Barré syndrome, congenital brain and other abnormalities and miscarriage. The serodiagnosis of ZIKV infection is hampered by cross-reactivity with other members of the Flavivirus family, notably dengue (DENV).

Bombali Virus in Mops condylurus Bat, Kenya.

Bombali virus (genus Ebolavirus) was identified in organs and excreta of an Angolan free-tailed bat (Mops condylurus) in Kenya. Complete genome analysis revealed 98% nucleotide sequence similarity to the prototype virus from Sierra Leone. No Ebola virus-specific RNA or antibodies were detected from febrile humans in the area who reported contact with bats.

Validation of serological and molecular methods for diagnosis of zika virus infections.

The laboratory confirmation of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, and the differential diagnosis from other flavivirus infections such as dengue virus (DENV), often requires the use of several diagnostic test types. Cross-reactions and secondary infections complicate the serological diagnosis and specific viral RNA detection assays are often needed for confirming the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to validate serological and molecular methods for diagnosing ZIKV infection.

Differences in the growth properties of Zika virus foetal brain isolate and related epidemic strains in vitro.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has recently emerged into new areas in the Americas and Asia, causing an epidemic characterized by severe congenital infections. While ZIKV infection is usually asymptomatic or causes mild symptoms, it has now caused a high rate of foetal brain and ocular abnormalities. The underlying reasons for the varying severity of disease outcomes is poorly understood.

Recent Zika Virus Isolates Induce Premature Differentiation of Neural Progenitors in Human Brain Organoids.

The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic is associated with microcephaly in newborns. Although the connection between ZIKV and neurodevelopmental defects is widely recognized, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that two recently isolated strains of ZIKV, an American strain from an infected fetal brain (FB-GWUH-2016) and a closely-related Asian strain (H/PF/2013), productively infect human iPSC-derived brain organoids.

Zika Virus Infection with Prolonged Maternal Viremia and Fetal Brain Abnormalities.

The current outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has been associated with an apparent increased risk of congenital microcephaly. We describe a case of a pregnant woman and her fetus infected with ZIKV during the 11th gestational week. The fetal head circumference decreased from the 47th percentile to the 24th percentile between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation.

Zika virus infection in a traveller returning from the Maldives, June 2015.

We report a Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in a patient with fever and rash after returning to Finland from Maldives, June 2015. The patient had dengue virus (DENV) IgG and IgM antibodies but pan-flavivirus RT-PCR and subsequent sequencing showed presence of ZIKV RNA in urine. Recent association of ZIKV with microcephaly highlights the need for laboratory differentiation of ZIKV from DENV infection and the circulation of ZIKV in areas outside its currently known distribution range.