Dolores Gavier-Widén

National Veterinary Institute, Sweden | SVA · Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases

Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative, transmissible, and fatal disorders that affect several animal species. They are characterized by the conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) into the pathological prion protein (PrP Sc ). In 2016, chronic wasting disease (CWD) gained great importance at European level due to...

A small proportion of disease surveillance programs target environment compartment, and in the EU these are restricted to few countries. The present report is composed of two literature reviews (i) on the main existing structures and systematic/academic initiatives for surveillance in the EU for zoonoses in the environment, and (ii) on the methods...

The present report describes and maps the main existing structures and systematic initiatives and academic activities for surveillance in the EU for transboundary, emerging and re‐emerging zoonoses in domestic animals, wildlife, and the environment, developed by the different sectors, namely human, domestic animal, wildlife and environmental, under...

Surveillance systems for zoonotic and transboundary emerging pathogens that are structured following the holistic principles of joint work efforts from the human health, animal health and environmental health sectors are reviewed to provide a summary of one‐health based surveillance systems existing worldwide. A systematic search of available liter...

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders with known natural occurrence in humans and a few other mammalian species. The diseases are experimentally transmissible, and the agent is derived from the host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrP C ), which is misfolded into a pathogenic conformer, designated PrP Sc (scrapie). Aggregates of PrP...

The understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and the clinicopathological forms caused by currently circulating African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates is incomplete. So far, most of the studies have been focused on isolates classified within genotypes I and II, the only genotypes that have circulated outside of Africa. However, less is known ab...

We report the first detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Sweden, in three old female moose (Alces alces). Prions (PrPCWD) were detected in brain but not in lymph nodes. The findings are similar to previously described CWD cases in old moose in Norway, where a spontaneous origin is hypothesized.

The COST Action ASF-STOP brought together an extensive network of scientists of remarkable excellence on African swine fever (ASF) vaccinology, virology, immunology, diagnostics and pathology. The network also includes global leaders in wild boar ecology and management, renowned epidemiologists specialized in ASF and disease control and scientists...

The recent introduction and spread of African swine fever (ASF) into Europe and Asia has shown that an integrated, multidisciplinary effort is needed to tackle this disease and the complex challenges it poses. This book presents practical guidelines on surveillance for detection of ASF virus, how to prevent outbreaks in the domestic pig sector thro...

In France, tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica and is a sporadic disease affecting mainly wildlife animals and humans. F. tularensis species presents low genetic diversity that remains poorly described in France, as only a few genomes of isolates from the country are available so far. The objective of this study was to c...

African swine fever vaccines could pose risk of causing disease and spreading the virus further

After the re-introduction of African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype II isolates into Georgia in 2007, the disease spread from Eastern to Western Europe and then jumped first up to Mongolian borders and later into China in August 2018, spreading out of control and reaching different countries of Southeast Asia in 2019. From the initial incursion,...

In 2007, the current outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), which severely affects wild boar populations and pigs, reached the Caucasus region. Since then, the virus has spread into eastern Europe and some places in central and western Europe (such as Belgium) through wild boar, domestic pigs, and human activities. The virus has raised serious conc...

Background Due to increasing popularity in Sweden during the last decade, alpacas are frequently encountered by practising veterinarians and pathologists. Knowledge regarding their health and diseases under Swedish conditions is, however, limited. Objectives To improve knowledge about the health of alpacas in Sweden by collecting information on di...

Background Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It has a wide host range, which includes mammals, birds and invertebrates. F. tularensis has often been isolated from various species of small rodents, but the pathology in naturally infected wild rodent species has rarely been reported. Case presentationHerein, we d...

Wildlife health is important for conservation, healthy ecosystems, sustainable development and biosecurity. It presents unique challenges for national programme governance and delivery because wildlife health not only crosses jurisdictional responsibilities and authorities but also inherently spans multiple sectors of expertise. The World Organisat...

Background Prior to 2010, the lagoviruses that cause rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in hares (Lepus spp.) were generally genus-specific. However, in 2010, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2), also known as Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, emerged and had the disti...

The importance of infectious diseases originating from or carried by wildlife is increasingly being recognised. An understanding of these diseases is based on knowledge of their epidemiology; thus, it is essential to gather pathogen data which are region-specific. The objective of this review was to provide an update on changes in the epidemiology...

Lagovirus europaeus GI.2, also known as RHDV2 or RHDVb, is an emerging virus that causes rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In contrast to L. europaeus GI.1 (or RHDV/RHDVa) viruses that are only pathogenic for adults, GI.2 causes clinical disease in both adults and kittens. However, detailed descriptions...

Background Transarterial embolization with particles is a relatively common treatment method in both malignant and benign disorders. Permanent occlusion of the uterine arteries may sometimes be disadvantageous. Purpose To compare the local tissue effects, possible side effects, and extent of recanalization following uterine artery embolization, us...

Abstract The European Commission asked EFSA for a scientific opinion on chronic wasting disease in two parts. Part one, on surveillance, animal health risk‐based measures and public health risks, was published in January 2017. This opinion (part two) addresses the remaining Terms of Reference, namely, ‘are the conclusions and recommendations in the...

Author summary We studied the role of STAT3, a major regulator of immunity, in the control of the infection with M. tuberculosis. Stat3fl/fllysm cre mice, deficient in STAT3 in myeloid cells, showed lower bacterial levels in organs and reduced extension of lung granulomas after infection with M. tuberculosis. STAT3-deficient APCs stimulated with in...

Background Transarterial particle embolization is a common treatment of uterine fibroids, aiming to obtain ischemia resulting in shrinking of the fibroid with preservation of normal uterine tissue. Embolization with non-degradable microspheres is established, but causes permanent occlusion of the arteries, affecting both the uterus as well as the f...

Lagoviruses belong to the Caliciviridae family. They were first recognized as highly pathogenic viruses of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) that emerged in the 1970-1980s, namely, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV), according to the host specie...

Incursion of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) into Sweden was documented in 1990 and it is now considered endemic in wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2), a new, related lagovirus was first detected in France in 2010, and has spread rapidly throughout Europe and beyond. However, knowle...

In April and May of 2016, Norway confirmed two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a wild reindeer and a wild moose, respectively. In the light of this emerging issue, the European Commission requested EFSA to recommend surveillance activities and, if necessary, additional animal health risk-based measures to prevent the introduction of the d...

Isolates, geographic origin, host species as well as full hybridization and typing data. (PDF)

African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating haemorrhagic disease of suids endemic to Africa. Outbreaks of ASF out of the African continent occurred in Europe and in the Caribbean on the second half of the 20th Century. The disease was eradicated from those territories and until 2007 the only non-African ASF endemic territory was Sardinia (Italy). Af...

Infectious disease surveillance is key to limiting the consequences from infectious pathogens and maintaining animal and public health. Following the detection of a disease outbreak, a response in proportion to the severity of the outbreak is required. It is thus critical to obtain accurate information concerning the origin of the outbreak and its...

Extended simulation results, details on data generation and implementation and convergence evaluation of the MCMC sampler. (DOCX)

Ceftaroline is a new cephalosporin with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A collection of 17 clinical and veterinary mecC-positive MRSA isolates was tested to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of ceftaroline against recently emerged mecC-MRSA isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal...

Wildlife disease surveillance is the first line of defence against infectious disease. Fluctuations in host populations and disease prevalence are a known feature of wildlife disease systems. However, the impact of such heterogeneities on the performance of surveillance is currently poorly understood. We present the first systematic exploration of...

Reports describing the isolation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus (H5N1) clade 2.3.2 in feces from apparently healthy wild birds and the seemingly lower pathogenicity of this clade compared to clade 2.2 in several experimentally infected species, caused concern that the new clade might be maintained in the wild bird population. To...

Background Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a major cause of respiratory disease in cattle worldwide. Calves are particularly affected, even with low to moderate levels of BRSV-specific maternally derived antibodies (MDA). Available BRSV vaccines have suboptimal efficacy in calves with MDA, and published infection models in this target...

AFRICAN swine fever (ASF) has recently emerged in several European countries, with cases often linked to the movement of native Eurasian wild boar ( Sus scrofa ). ASF is devastating for the pork industry, causing massive losses of animals due to mortality and stamping out and further economic loss from trade restrictions. ASF was reintroduced into...

European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) is the aetiological agent of European brown hare syndrome (EBHS), a disease affecting Lepus europaeus and Lepus timidus first diagnosed in Sweden in 1980. To characterize EBHSV evolution we studied hare samples collected in Sweden between 1982 and 2008. Our molecular clock dating is compatible with EBHSV e...

The bacterium Francisella tularensis causes the vector-borne zoonotic disease tularemia, and may infect a wide range of hosts including invertebrates, mammals and birds. Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, or through arthropod vectors. Tularemia has a broad geographical distribution, and...

Seasonal variation in reproduction is common in mammals as an adaptation to annual changes in the habitat. In lynx, male reproduction activity is of special interest because female lynxes are monoestric with an unusual narrow (about 1 month) breeding season. In Eurasian lynx, mating occurs between January and April depending on the latitude. To cha...

To investigate the current status of forensic veterinary pathology, a survey was composed directed at pathology laboratories and institutes, mostly in Europe. The questions included number of and type of cases, resources available, level of special training of the investigating pathologists and the general view on the current status and future of t...

We describe tularaemia in a Norwegian dog caused by Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica. A Hamilton Hound and his owner developed tulaeremia after hunting an infected mountain hare (Lepus timidus). The dog showed signs of lethargy, anorexia and fever during a period two to four days after hunting and thereafter fully recovered. Its antibod...

Full array hybridisation and PCR results of the hedgehog isolates from this study and, for comparison, of CC130-MRSA-XI isolates from [7]. (PDF)

The moose (Alces alces) is an intensively managed keystone species in Fennoscandia. Several aspects of reproduction in moose have not been fully elucidated, including puberty, timing of mating and oestrus, and the length of the oestrus period. These aspects are relevant for an adaptive management of moose with respect to harvest, population size, d...

Recently, a novel methicillin resistance gene was discovered in Staphylococcus aureus and designated mecC. There is growing evidence for a zoonotic background of mecC-positive MRSA although it also has been found in humans. In order to obtain an insight into the prevalence and distribution of mecC, clinical isolates from a university hospital in Dr...

SUMMARY The occurrence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum was investigated in spleen and serum samples from Swedish moose (Alces alces) in southern Sweden (island and mainland). Samples were analysed for presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA by real-time PCR (n = 263), and for Anaplasma antibodies with ELISA serology (n = 234). All serum samples had antibod...

Diminished IL-12-secretion by BCG-infected SOCS3-deficient BMM. The levels of Il-12 p40 mRNA were measured in triplicate cultures of BCG-infected gp130F/F, gp130F/F Il-6−/− and WT BMM (A). Differences with WT BMM are significant (*p<0.05, **p<0.01 Student t test). Isolated Socs3fl/fl LysM cre and Socs3fl/fl CD11c+ splenic DCs were infected with M....

Secretion of IL-6 in Socs3fl/fl lck cre mice during mycobacterial infection. M. tuberculosis-infected Socs3fl/fl lck cre and Socs3fl/fl mice were sacrificed at the indicated time points and the total RNA was extracted from lungs. The accumulation of Il-6 (A) transcripts was measured by real time PCR. The mean fold mRNA increase ± SEM in lungs from...

Diminished IL-6 and TNF-secretion by BCG-infected SOCS3-deficient BMM. IL-6 concentration was determined in supernatants of BCG-infected BMM (A, D) or peritoneal macrophages (B). The mean IL-6 in Socs3fl/fl and Socs3fl/fl LysM cre (A, B) and gp130F/F and WT (D) BMM ± SEM as determined by ELISA is depicted. Differences with control BMM are significa...

Increased NO release in SOCS3-deficient BCG-infected BMM. Mouse BMM were infected with BCG (A, B). BMM were treated with the indicated concentrations of BAY-117082 1 h before BCG infection (B). Total RNA was isolated from Irf3−/−, MyD88−/− and WT (C57Bl/6) BMM at the indicated time points after infection. A MOI of 5∶1 was used all over. Real time P...

Immune response parameters of Socs3fl/fl LysM cre and Socs3fl/fl mice after infection with M. tuberculosis. In vivo depletion of CD4+ cells after inoculation with GK1.5 anti-mouse CD4 monoclonal antibodies. The FACS plots of CD3+ gated spleen cells from anti-CD4-treated or untreated Socs3fl/fl LysM cre and Socs3fl/fl mice 2.5 weeks after M. tubercu...

T cell subpopulations in Socs3fl/fl lck cre mice. Lung and spleen cells obtained from Socs3fl/fl lck cre and Socs3fl/fl mice before or 2.5. weeks after infection with M. tuberculosis were stained for CD3, CD4 and CD8 (A–D). Mean frequencies of CD4+ (A, C) and CD8+ (B, D) CD3+ T cells in lungs (A, B) and spleens (C, D) ± SEM are shown. (EPS)

Suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) negatively regulates STAT3 activation in response to several cytokines such as those in the gp130-containing IL-6 receptor family. Thus, SOCS3 may play a major role in immune responses to pathogens. In the present study, the role of SOCS3 in M. tuberculosis infection was examined. All Socs3(fl/fl) LysM cr...

Recently, a novel mec gene conferring beta-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus has been discovered. This gene, mecC, is situated on a SCCmec XI element that has to date been identified in clonal complexes 49, 130, 425, 599 and 1943. Some of the currently known isolates have been identified from animals. This, and observations of mecA alleles...

European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is characterised by high mortality of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hares (Lepus timidus). European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) and the closely related rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) comprise the genus Lagovirus, family Caliciviridae. In contrast to RHDV, which is well studie...

We have used humanized mice, in which human immune cells differentiate de novo from transplanted cord blood progenitor cells, to study the human immune responses to infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Granulomas with a core containing giant cells, human CD68(+) macrophages, and high bacilli nu...

Low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses in wild birds are important as they can constitute the basis for the development of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses or form part of human-adapted strains with pandemic potential. However, the pathogenesis of LPAI viruses is not well characterized in dabbling ducks, one of the natural reservoir...

IntroductionHerpesvirus Infections in Wild MammalsAujeszky's Disease, or PseudorabiesMalignant Catarrhal FeverRuminant Alphaherpesvirus InfectionsHerpesvirus Infections in Aquatic MammalsOther Herpesvirus InfectionsHerpesvirus Infections in Wild BirdsReferences

IntroductionTuberculosis, Mycobacterium Bovis and Mycobacterium Caprae InfectionsAvian TuberculosisParatuberculosis or Johne's DiseaseInfections by Other Mycobacteria of the M. Tuberculosis ComplexReferences

Fusobacterium Necrophorum InfectionHelicobacter InfectionsBartonella InfectionsStaphylococcus InfectionsStreptococcus InfectionsRhodococcus Equi InfectionCorynebacterium InfectionsDermatophilus InfectionsBrachyspira Infections in BirdsActinomyces InfectionsArcanobacterium InfectionsErysipelothrix InfectionsActinobacillus InfectionsHaemophilus Infec...