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Comeau D, Spinato MT, Ojkic D, Foster RA, Caswell JL. Bovine astrovirus and its role in lymphocytic encephalitis in cattle in Ontario, Canada, 1988-2019. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024; 36:447-456. [PMID: 38500024 PMCID: PMC11110778 DOI: 10.1177/10406387241237192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Astroviruses have been found in cattle and other species with encephalitis. Our objective was to determine the frequency of neurotropic bovine astrovirus (BoAstV) in cases of encephalitis in cattle ≥ 4-mo-old. Of 56 cases of idiopathic lymphocytic encephalitis examined retrospectively (1988-2019), fixed brain from 11 cases (19%) tested positive by semi-quantitative RT-PCR for BoAstV CH13/NeuroS1. None of the control cases tested positive, including 32 with other forms of encephalitis and 40 with no neurologic disease. Most astrovirus-positive cases were 1-2-y-old, with a range of 7 mo to 7 y, and affected both beef and dairy breeds with wide geographic distribution. BoAstV-positive cases had acute onset of neurologic signs of 12 h to 7 d before death or euthanasia. Affected cattle had lymphocytic inflammation throughout the brain including cerebrum, thalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord, and affecting gray and white matter. Further PCR testing identified a possible cause in 9 of the 45 (20%) remaining idiopathic cases of lymphocytic encephalitis, including eastern equine encephalitis virus, Listeria monocytogenes, bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine alphaherpesvirus 1, and ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (malignant catarrhal fever); we found no cases of infection by West Nile virus, rabies virus, or Chlamydia spp. No cause was identified in 36 of 56 (64%) cases of lymphocytic encephalitis. We frequently identified neurotropic BoAstV in cases of lymphocytic encephalitis that had no previously identified cause. Neurotropic BoAstV infections had gone undetected for decades, but the frequency of BoAstV infections has not increased among contemporary cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Comeau
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria T. Spinato
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Davor Ojkic
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert A. Foster
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeff L. Caswell
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Zhu Q, Li B, Sun D. Bovine Astrovirus—A Comprehensive Review. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061217. [PMID: 35746688 PMCID: PMC9228355 DOI: 10.3390/v14061217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine astrovirus (BoAstV) is a small non-enveloped virus with a single-stranded positive-sense RNA. In 1978, BoAstV was first found in calf diarrhea fecal samples in the United Kingdom and since then it has been reported in many other countries. It has wide tissue tropism and can infect multiple organs, including the intestine, nerves and respiratory tract. Since BoAstV is prevalent in healthy as well as clinically infected bovines, and is mostly associated with co-infection with other viruses, the pathogenic nature of BoAstV is still unclear. At present, there are no stable passage cell lines available for the study of BoAstV and animal model experiments have not been described. In addition, it has been reported that BoAstV may have the possibility of cross-species transmission. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about BoAstV, including the epidemiology, evolution analysis, detection methods, pathogenesis and potential cross species transmission, to provide reference for further research of BoAstV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghe Zhu
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of the Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinfeng Road, Sartu District, Daqing 163319, China;
| | - Bin Li
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biological Engineering and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences Nanjing 210014, China
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (D.S.); Tel.: +86-04596819121 (D.S.)
| | - Dongbo Sun
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of the Prevention and Control of Bovine Diseases, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, No. 5 Xinfeng Road, Sartu District, Daqing 163319, China;
- Correspondence: (B.L.); (D.S.); Tel.: +86-04596819121 (D.S.)
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Küchler L, Rüfli I, Koch MC, Hierweger MM, Kauer RV, Boujon CL, Hilbe M, Oevermann A, Zanolari P, Seuberlich T, Gurtner C. Astrovirus-Associated Polioencephalomyelitis in an Alpaca. Viruses 2020; 13:v13010050. [PMID: 33396858 PMCID: PMC7824642 DOI: 10.3390/v13010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An 8-year-old alpaca was admitted to the emergency service of the Clinic for Ruminants in Bern due to a reduced general condition and progressive neurological signs. Despite supportive treatment, its condition deteriorated and the animal had to be euthanized. Histopathological analysis revealed a severe non-suppurative polioencephalomyelitis with neuronal necrosis, most likely of viral origin. We detected abundant neuronal labelling with antibodies directed against two different epitopes of Bovine Astrovirus CH13/NeuroS1 (BoAstV-CH13/NeuroS1), which is a common viral agent associated with non-suppurative encephalitis in Swiss cattle. These findings were further verified by detection of viral RNA by use of in-situ hybridization and real-time RT-PCR. Next generation sequencing revealed that the detected virus genome had a pairwise identity of 98.9% to the genome of BoAstV-CH13/NeuroS1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an astrovirus-associated polioencephalomyelitis in an alpaca. These results point to the possibility of an interspecies transmission of BoAstV-CH13/NeuroS1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonore Küchler
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, Universitiy of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Isabelle Rüfli
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (I.R.); (P.Z.)
| | - Michel C. Koch
- Division of Experimental Clinical Research, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.C.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.V.K.); (C.L.B.); (A.O.); (T.S.)
| | - Melanie M. Hierweger
- Division of Experimental Clinical Research, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.C.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.V.K.); (C.L.B.); (A.O.); (T.S.)
| | - Ronja V. Kauer
- Division of Experimental Clinical Research, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.C.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.V.K.); (C.L.B.); (A.O.); (T.S.)
| | - Céline L. Boujon
- Division of Experimental Clinical Research, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.C.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.V.K.); (C.L.B.); (A.O.); (T.S.)
| | - Monika Hilbe
- Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Anna Oevermann
- Division of Experimental Clinical Research, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.C.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.V.K.); (C.L.B.); (A.O.); (T.S.)
| | - Patrik Zanolari
- Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (I.R.); (P.Z.)
| | - Torsten Seuberlich
- Division of Experimental Clinical Research, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (M.C.K.); (M.M.H.); (R.V.K.); (C.L.B.); (A.O.); (T.S.)
| | - Corinne Gurtner
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, Universitiy of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;
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Detection of Astrovirus in a Cow with Neurological Signs by Nanopore Technology, Italy. Viruses 2020; 12:v12050530. [PMID: 32403368 PMCID: PMC7290991 DOI: 10.3390/v12050530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, starting from nucleic acids purified from the brain tissue, Nanopore technology was used to identify the etiological agent of severe neurological signs observed in a cow which was immediately slaughtered. Histological examination revealed acute non-suppurative encephalomyelitis affecting the brainstem, cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata, while by using PCR-based assays, the nucleic acids of major agents for neurological signs were not detected. By using Nanopore technology, 151 sequence reads were assigned to Bovine Astrovirus (BoAstV). Real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) confirmed the presence of viral RNA in the brain. Moreover, using the combination of fluorescent ISH and immunofluorescence (IF) techniques, it was possible to detect BoAstV RNA and antigens in the same cells, suggesting the active replication of the virus in infected neurons. The nearly whole genome of the occurring strain (BoAstV PE3373/2019/Italy), obtained by Illumina NextSeq 500, showed the highest nucleotide sequence identity (94.11%) with BoAstV CH13/NeuroS1 26,730 strain, an encephalitis-associated bovine astrovirus. Here, we provide further evidence of the role of AstV as a neurotropic agent. Considering that in a high proportion of non-suppurative encephalitis cases, which are mostly indicative of a viral infection, the etiologic agent remains unknown, our result underscores the value and versatility of Nanopore technology for a rapid diagnosis when the PCR-based algorithm gives negative results.
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Parainfluenza Virus 5 Infection in Neurological Disease and Encephalitis of Cattle. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21020498. [PMID: 31941046 PMCID: PMC7013525 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiology of viral encephalitis in cattle often remains unresolved, posing a potential risk for animal and human health. In metagenomics studies of cattle with bovine non-suppurative encephalitis, parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) was identified in three brain samples. Interestingly, in two of these animals, bovine herpesvirus 6 and bovine astrovirus CH13 were additionally found. We investigated the role of PIV5 in bovine non-suppurative encephalitis and further characterized the three cases. With traditional sequencing methods, we completed the three PIV5 genomes, which were compared to one another. However, in comparison to already described PIV5 strains, unique features were revealed, like an 81 nucleotide longer open reading frame encoding the small hydrophobic (SH) protein. With in situ techniques, we demonstrated PIV5 antigen and RNA in one animal and found a broad cell tropism of PIV5 in the brain. Comparative quantitative analyses revealed a high viral load of PIV5 in the in situ positive animal and therefore, we propose that PIV5 was probably the cause of the disease. With this study, we clearly show that PIV5 is capable of naturally infecting different brain cell types in cattle in vivo and therefore it is a probable cause of encephalitis and neurological disease in cattle.
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Kauer RV, Koch MC, Hierweger MM, Werder S, Boujon CL, Seuberlich T. Discovery of novel astrovirus genotype species in small ruminants. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7338. [PMID: 31396439 PMCID: PMC6679648 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroviruses (AstV) are single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses, best known for causing diarrhea in humans and are also found in many other mammals; in those, the relevance in gastroenteritis remains unclear. Recently described neurotropic AstV showed associations with encephalitis in humans as well as in other mammals. In Switzerland, two different neurotropic AstV were identified in cattle, as well as one in a sheep. The high genetic similarity between the ovine and one of the bovine AstV strengthens the hypothesis of an interspecies transmission. In humans, AstV associated with encephalitis were found also in human stool samples, suggesting that in these patients the infection spreads from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain under certain conditions, such as immunosuppression. Whether a similar pathogenesis occurs in ruminants remains unknown. The aims of this study were (1) the investigation of the potential occurrence of neurotropic AstV in feces samples, (2) the discovery and analysis of so far unknown AstV in small ruminants and other ruminant species’ fecal samples and (3) the examination of a potential interspecies transmission of AstV. To achieve these aims, RNA extraction out of 164 fecal samples from different ruminant species was performed and all samples were screened for known neurotropic AstV occurring in Switzerland, as well as for various AstV using RT-PCR. Positive tested samples were submitted to next generation sequencing. The generated sequences were compared to nucleotide- and amino acid databases, virus properties were identified, and phylogenetic analyses as well as recombination analysis were performed. The excretion of neurotropic AstV in small ruminants’ feces could not be demonstrated, but this work suggests the first identification of AstV in goats as well as the discovery of multiple and highly diverse new genetic variants in small ruminants, which lead to a classification into novel genotype-species. Additionally, the prediction of multiple recombination events in four of five newly discovered full or almost full-length genome sequences suggests a plausible interspecies transmission. The findings point out the occurrence and fecal shedding of previously unknown AstV in sheep and goats and pave the way towards a better understanding of the diversity and transmission of AstV in small ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronja V Kauer
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michel C Koch
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Melanie M Hierweger
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simea Werder
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Céline L Boujon
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Seuberlich
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Boujon CL, Koch MC, Kauer RV, Keller-Gautschi E, Hierweger MM, Hoby S, Seuberlich T. Novel encephalomyelitis-associated astrovirus in a muskox (Ovibos moschatus): a surprise from the archives. Acta Vet Scand 2019; 61:31. [PMID: 31234899 PMCID: PMC6591865 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-019-0466-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The small, single-stranded positive-sense RNA astroviruses are mostly known to be enteric viruses. In recent years, though, different astroviruses were reported in association with neurological disease in various species. In cattle, two distinct neurotropic astrovirus genotype species were described in numerous cases of nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis, with one of these viruses also reported in similar circumstances in several sheep. Here, we retrieved archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brain tissues of a muskox diagnosed with a comparable disease pattern in 1982 and investigated them for the presence of neurotropic astroviruses with various techniques. Results Initially, tissue samples scored positive for both neurotropic astroviruses by immunohistochemistry; however, unexpected results with further immunohistochemical testing, in situ hybridization and qRT-PCR prompted us to submit an RNA extract from the animal’s brain material to next-generation sequencing. We were thus able to obtain the full genome of a novel astrovirus, muskox astrovirus CH18 (MOxAstV-CH18), whose closest relative is an enteric ovine astrovirus. Subsequently, viral RNA could be detected with a specific RT-PCR in the brain of the affected animal, but not in faecal samples from the current muskoxen herd of the animal park where the animal used to be kept. Conclusions We identified a novel astrovirus in a historical case of a captive muskox with nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis. Unfortunately, our results and the fact that no material from organs other than of the nervous system was available do not allow any assumption about the epidemiology or pathogenesis of the virus. Still, these findings are yet another piece of evidence that the tropism and species specificity of astroviruses could be more deceptive than generally assumed.
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