Implementation of the One Health approach to fight arbovirus infections in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region: Assessing integrated surveillance in Serbia, Tunisia and Georgia

Background In the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region, arbovirus infections are emerging infectious diseases. Their surveillance can benefit from one health inter-sectoral collaboration; however, no standardized methodology exists to study One Health surveillance. Methods We designed a situation analysis study to document how integration of laboratory/clinical human, animal and entomological surveillance of arboviruses was being implemented in the Region. We applied a framework designed to assess three levels of integration: policy/institutional, data collection/data analysis and dissemination. We tested the use of Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) to graphically present evidence of inter-sectoral integration. Results Serbia, Tunisia and Georgia participated in the study. West Nile Virus surveillance was analysed in Serbia and Tunisia, Crimea-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever surveillance in Georgia. Our framework enabled a standardized analysis of One Health surveillance integration, and BPMN was easily understandable and conducive to detailed discussions among different actors/institutions. In all countries, we observed integration across sectors and levels except in data collection and data analysis. Data collection was interoperable only in Georgia without integrated analysis. In all countries, surveillance was mainly oriented towards outbreak response, triggered by an index human case. Discussion The three surveillance systems we observed prove that integrated surveillance can be operationalized with a diverse spectrum of options. However, in all countries, the integrated use of data for early warning and inter-sectoral priority setting is pioneeristic. We also noted that early warning before human case occurrence is recurrently not operationally prioritized

Regional study of anthrax foci

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to describe anthrax foci alongthe Georgia-Azerbaijan border and to describe control measures inidentified areas.IntroductionAnthrax is endemic in the South Caucasus region. There is alack of understanding of the regional epidemiology of the causativepathogen,Bacillus anthracis, and the trans-boundary factors relatedto its persistence.MethodsTo increase the local and regional understanding of anthraxecology, ecological risk factors, and the genetic relationships anddistribution among Georgian and AzerbaijaniB. anthracisstrains, aregional study of the ecology of anthrax foci was conducted in Georgiaand Azerbaijan. Six regions in Georgia (that border Azerbaijan)were selected for environmental sampling based on historical data.Soil samples were collected in Lagodekhi and Sagarejo and testedat the Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture using standardbacteriological and molecular biology methods.ResultsA total of 185 soil samples were collected. Bacteriological testsrevealed four positive samples from Kakheti (two from Lagodekhi,Gelati; two from Dedoplistskaro), from which, cultures were isolatedand confirmed by PCR. Georgian scientists continue collecting andtesting soil samples. After sample collection and bacteriologicaltesting is completed, the molecular characteristics of the pathogenwill be examined.ConclusionsThis study will assist in the formulation of targeted public healthinterventions aimed at increasing knowledge of the disease withinspecific demographics. Public health interventions can focus onlivestock surveillance and control in identified areas

Intra-epidemic genome variation in highly pathogenic African swine fever virus (ASFV) from the country of Georgia

Abstract Background African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes an acute hemorrhagic infection in suids with a mortality rate of up to 100%. No vaccine is available and the potential for catastrophic disease in Europe remains elevated due to the ongoing ASF epidemic in Russia and Baltic countries. To date, intra-epidemic whole-genome variation for ASFV has not been reported. To provide a more comprehensive baseline for genetic variation early in the ASF outbreak, we sequenced two Georgian ASFV samples, G-2008/1 and G-2008/2, derived from domestic porcine blood collected in 2008. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted directly from low-volume ASFV PCR-positive porcine blood samples and subjected to next generation sequencing on the Illumina Miseq platform. De novo and mapped sequence assemblies were performed using CLCBio software. Genomic illustrations, sequence alignments and assembly figures were generated using Geneious v10.2.4. Sequence repeat architecture was analyzed using DNASTAR GeneQuest 14.1.0. Results The G-2008/1 and G-2008/2 genomes were distinguished from each other by coding changes in seven genes, including MGF 110-1 L, X69R, MGF 505-10R, EP364R, H233R, E199L, and MGF 360-21R in addition to eight homopolymer tract variations. The 2008/2 genome possessed a novel allele state at a previously undescribed intergenic repeat locus between genes C315R and C147L. The C315R/C147L locus represents the earliest observed variable repeat sequence polymorphism reported among isolates from this epidemic. No sequence variation was observed in conventional ASFV subtyping markers. The two genomes exhibited complete collinearity and identical gene content with the Georgia 2007/1 reference genome. Approximately 56 unique homopolymer A/T-tract variations were identified that were unique to the Georgia 2007/1 genome. In both 2008 genomes, within-sample sequence read heterogeneity was evident at six homopolymeric G/C-tracts confined to the known hypervariable ~ 7 kb region in the left terminal region of the genome. Conclusions This is the first intra-epidemic comparative genomic analysis reported for ASFV and provides insight into the intra-epidemic microevolution of ASFV. The genomes reported here, in addition to the G-2007/1 genome, provide an early baseline for future genome-level comparisons and epidemiological tracing efforts

Regional study of anthrax foci

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to describe anthrax foci alongthe Georgia-Azerbaijan border and to describe control measures inidentified areas.IntroductionAnthrax is endemic in the South Caucasus region. There is alack of understanding of the regional epidemiology of the causativepathogen,Bacillus anthracis, and the trans-boundary factors relatedto its persistence.MethodsTo increase the local and regional understanding of anthraxecology, ecological risk factors, and the genetic relationships anddistribution among Georgian and AzerbaijaniB. anthracisstrains, aregional study of the ecology of anthrax foci was conducted in Georgiaand Azerbaijan. Six regions in Georgia (that border Azerbaijan)were selected for environmental sampling based on historical data.Soil samples were collected in Lagodekhi and Sagarejo and testedat the Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture using standardbacteriological and molecular biology methods.ResultsA total of 185 soil samples were collected. Bacteriological testsrevealed four positive samples from Kakheti (two from Lagodekhi,Gelati; two from Dedoplistskaro), from which, cultures were isolatedand confirmed by PCR. Georgian scientists continue collecting andtesting soil samples. After sample collection and bacteriologicaltesting is completed, the molecular characteristics of the pathogenwill be examined.ConclusionsThis study will assist in the formulation of targeted public healthinterventions aimed at increasing knowledge of the disease withinspecific demographics. Public health interventions can focus onlivestock surveillance and control in identified areas

Risk factors associated with the occurrence of anthrax outbreaks in livestock in the country of Georgia: A case-control investigation 2013-2015.

IntroductionAnthrax is considered endemic in livestock in Georgia. In 2007, the annual vaccination became the responsibility of livestock owners, while contracting of private veterinarians was not officially required. Six years later, due to increase in human outbreaks associated with livestock handling, there is a need to find out the risk factors of livestock anthrax in Georgia.ObjectiveTo identify exposures and risk factors associated with livestock anthrax.MethodsA matched case-control study design was used to recruit the owners of individual livestock anthrax cases that occurred between June 2013 and May 2015, and owners of unaffected livestock from within ("village control") and outside the village ("area control"). We collected data about the case and control livestock animals' exposure and risk factors within the one-month prior to the disease onset of the case livestock (or matched case for the controls). We used logistic regression analysis (univariate and multivariable) to calculate the odds ratios of exposures and risk factors.ResultsDuring the study period, 36 anthrax cases met the case definition and were enrolled in the study; 67 matched village control livestock and 71 matched area control livestock were also enrolled. The findings from multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrate that vaccination within the last two years significantly reduced the odds of anthrax in cattle (OR = 0.014; 95% Confidence interval = ConclusionsThe information obtained from this study has involved and been presented to decision makers, used to build technical capacity of veterinary staff, and to foster a One Health approach to the control of zoonotic diseases which will optimize prevention and control strategies. Georgia has embedded the knowledge and specific evidence that vaccination is a highly protective measure to prevent anthrax deaths among livestock, to which primary emphasis of the anthrax control program will be given. Education of livestock keepers in Georgia is an overriding priority

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Livestock within Three Endemic Regions of the Country of Georgia

Brucellosis is the one of most common livestock zoonoses in Georgia, resulting in significant economic losses. Livestock were sampled in three regions of Georgia (Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Imereti). Districts that historically reported high numbers of brucellosis related morbidity were selected for serological, bacteriological and molecular surveys. Surveying efforts yielded samples from 10,819 large and small ruminants. In total, 735 serological tests were positive on Rose Bengal and 33 bacterial isolates were recovered and identified as Brucella melitensis or Brucella abortus by microbiology and AMOS-PCR. A Bayesian framework was implemented to estimate the true prevalence of the disease given an imperfect diagnostic test. Regional posterior median true prevalence estimates ranged from 2.7% (95% CI: 1.4, 7.2) in Kvemo Kartli, 0.8% (95% CI: 0.0, 3.6) in Kakheti, to an estimate of 0.6% (95% CI: 0.0, 2.9) in Imereti. Accurate and efficient surveillance of brucellosis is not only of economic value, but also informs efforts to reduce the disease impact on the human population

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to anthrax and animal care: A case-control study in Georgia.

INTRODUCTION:Anthrax is endemic in Georgia and recent outbreaks prompted a livestock-handler case-control study with a component to evaluate anthrax knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among livestock handlers or owners. METHODS:Cases were handlers of livestock with confirmed animal anthrax from June 2013-May 2015. Handlers of four matched unaffected animals were selected as controls, two from the same village as the case animal ("village control") and two from 3-10 km away ("area control"). Descriptive statistics were reported and conditional logistic regression was performed to estimate the magnitude of the association of cases with specific study KAP factors. RESULTS:Cases were more likely male, had lower level college education, less animal care experience, and provided more animal care to their cattle. Cases had lower odds of burying a suddenly dead animal compared to all controls (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.32, 95% Confidence interval [CI]:0.12, 0.88) and area controls (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.91). On an 8-point knowledge scale, cases having an animal with anthrax had a 1.31 times greater knowledge score compared to all controls (95% CI: 1.03, 1.67). Cases had higher odds of ever having human anthrax or knowing another person who had anthrax compared to all controls (OR: 4.56, 95% CI: 1.45, 14.30) and area controls (OR: 7.16, 95% CI: 1.52, 33.80). DISCUSSION:Cases were more knowledgeable of anthrax and had better anthrax prevention practices, but these are likely a result of the case investigation and ring vaccination following the death of their animal. CONCLUSIONS:The findings reveal a low level of knowledge and practices related to anthrax control and prevention, and will guide educational material development to fill these gaps

Genome Sequences of Akhmeta Virus, an Early Divergent Old World Orthopoxvirus

Annotated whole genome sequences of three isolates of the Akhmeta virus (AKMV), a novel species of orthopoxvirus (OPXV), isolated from the Akhmeta and Vani regions of the country Georgia, are presented and discussed. The AKMV genome is similar in genomic content and structure to that of the cowpox virus (CPXV), but a lower sequence identity was found between AKMV and Old World OPXVs than between other known species of Old World OPXVs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AKMV diverged prior to other Old World OPXV. AKMV isolates formed a monophyletic clade in the OPXV phylogeny, yet the sequence variability between AKMV isolates was higher than between the monkeypox virus strains in the Congo basin and West Africa. An AKMV isolate from Vani contained approximately six kb sequence in the left terminal region that shared a higher similarity with CPXV than with other AKMV isolates, whereas the rest of the genome was most similar to AKMV, suggesting recombination between AKMV and CPXV in a region containing several host range and virulence genes