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Abstract

Following the discovery in 2015 of the variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) in fatal encephalitis cases among exotic squirrel breeders and a zoo animal caretaker in Germany, a case definition was developed. It was employed during trace-back animal trade investigations and sero-epidemiological studies among breeders and zoo animal caretakers of holdings with VSBV-1 infected squirrels. During the investigation, two possible human cases who had died of encephalitis were identified retrospectively among the squirrel breeders. Moreover, one probable human case was detected among the breeders who had a positive memory T-cell response to VSBV-1 antigen and antibodies against VSBV-1. The low rate of seropositivity found among living persons in risk groups that handle exotic squirrels privately or at zoos may reflect rareness of exposure to VSBV-1 during animal contact, a high lethality of infection or a combination of these factors. As a precaution against human exposure, testing of exotic squirrels for VSBV-1 infection and/or avoiding direct contact with exotic squirrels in zoos and private holdings is strongly advised.

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/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.8.1800483
2019-02-21
2024-12-22
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.8.1800483
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Analysis of exotic squirrel trade and detection of human infections with variegated squirrel bornavirus 1, Germany, 2005 to 2018
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Dennis+Tappe&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Tappe Dennis</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Christina+Frank&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Frank Christina</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Timo+Homeier-Bachmann&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Homeier-Bachmann Timo</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Hendrik+Wilking&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Wilking Hendrik</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Valerie+Allendorf&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Allendorf Valerie</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Kore+Schlottau&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Schlottau Kore</a>, <a href="/search?value1=C%C3%A9sar+Mu%C3%B1oz-Fontela&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Muñoz-Fontela César</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Monika+Rottstegge&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Rottstegge Monika</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Julia+R+Port&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Port Julia R</a>, <a href="/search?value1=J%C3%BCrgen+Rissland&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Rissland Jürgen</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Philip+Eisermann&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Eisermann Philip</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Martin+Beer&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Beer Martin</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jonas+Schmidt-Chanasit&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Schmidt-Chanasit Jonas</a></span>. Analysis of exotic squirrel trade and detection of human infections with variegated squirrel bornavirus 1, Germany, 2005 to 2018. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2019;24(8):pii=1800483. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.8.1800483" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.8.1800483</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 31 Aug 2018;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 23 Nov 2018 </span> </p>
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.8.1800483
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.8.1800483
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