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Palombieri A, Di Profio F, Sarchese V, Fruci P, Suffredini E, Martella V, Veneri C, Bonanno Ferraro G, Mancini P, La Rosa G, Di Martino B. Surveillance for rat hepatitis E in wastewater networks, Italy. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0267523. [PMID: 37850788 PMCID: PMC10714833 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02675-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection constitutes a significant health problem worldwide. In recent years, in addition to the zoonotic HEV3 and HEV4, emerging highly divergent hepevirus of rat origin (rat HEV [RHEV]) has been associated with human acute and chronic hepatitis. As environmental surveillance can be a complementary tool to explore emerging viruses of human and rodent origin, we investigated the epidemiology and the genetic variability of RHEV targeting 14 wastewater treatment plants in an Italian geographic area considered a hot spot for HEV infection in humans. Our results revealed that RHEV is a significant component of the wastewater microbiota with viral RNA detected in 43.9% of the specimens tested, adding further evidence to the need to investigate more in depth the real burden of RHEV infections in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Palombieri
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Teramo, Località Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Teramo, Località Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Teramo, Località Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Teramo, Località Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Carolina Veneri
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Pamela Mancini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Teramo, Località Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
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2
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Capozza P, Pellegrini F, Camero M, Diakoudi G, Omar AH, Salvaggiulo A, Decaro N, Elia G, Catucci L, Di Martino B, Fruci P, Tomassini L, Lepri E, Martella V, Lanave G. Hepadnavirus Infection in a Cat with Chronic Liver Disease: A Multi-Disciplinary Diagnostic Approach. Vet Sci 2023; 10:668. [PMID: 38133220 PMCID: PMC10747313 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10120668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A 3-year-old female stray, shorthair cat, with clinical signs and serum chemistry markers indicative of hepatic disease, was diagnosed with domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) infection. Coupling molecular and serological data, the infection was seemingly contextualized into a chronic phase, since IgM anti-core antibodies, a marker of early-stage Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, were not detected. However, the cat possessed IgG anti-core, a common indicator of chronic HBV infection in human patients and did not show seroconversion to the anti-DCH surface antigen, considered protective during HBV infection and associated with long-term protective immunity. On genome sequencing, the DCH strain showed 98.3% nucleotide identity to strains previously identified in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Capozza
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Francesco Pellegrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Michele Camero
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Georgia Diakoudi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Ahmed Hassan Omar
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Anna Salvaggiulo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Nicola Decaro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Gabriella Elia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | | | - Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (B.D.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (B.D.M.); (P.F.)
| | - Letizia Tomassini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Elvio Lepri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
| | - Gianvito Lanave
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy; (P.C.); (F.P.); (M.C.); (G.D.); (A.H.O.); (A.S.); (N.D.); (G.E.); (G.L.)
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3
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Nippert S, Rubbenstroth D, Geers JA, Ebinger A, Hoffmann D, Breithaupt A, Wylezich C, Wang X, Haring VC, Starcky P, Fruci P, Langner C, Trapp C, Schulz H, Stubbe W, Imholt C, Heckel G, Beer M, Pfaff F, Ulrich RG. Continuous presence of genetically diverse rustrela virus lineages in yellow-necked field mouse reservoir populations in northeastern Germany. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead048. [PMID: 37744713 PMCID: PMC10516363 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Rustrela virus (RusV; species Rubivirus strelense, family Matonaviridae) was discovered in different zoo animal species affected by fatal encephalitis. Simultaneous RusV RNA detection in multiple yellow-necked field mice (Apodemus flavicollis) suggested this rodent as a reservoir of RusV. Here, we investigated 1,264 yellow-necked field mice and sympatric other small mammals from different regions in Germany for RusV RNA using an optimized reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) protocol and high-throughput sequencing. The investigation resulted in the detection of RusV RNA exclusively in 50 of 396 (12.6 per cent) yellow-necked field mice but absence in other sympatric species. RT-qPCR-determined tissue distribution of RusV RNA revealed the highest viral loads in the central nervous system, with other tissues being only very rarely affected. The histopathological evaluation did not reveal any hints of encephalitis in the brains of infected animals despite the detection of viral RNA in neurons by in situ hybridization (ISH). The positive association between the body mass of yellow-necked field mice and RusV RNA detection suggests a persistent infection. Phylogenetic analysis of partial E1 and full-genome sequences showed a high diversification with at least four RusV lineages (1A-1D) in northeastern Germany. Moreover, phylogenetic and isolation-by-distance analyses indicated evolutionary processes of RusV mostly in local reservoir populations. A comparison of complete genome sequences from all detected RusV lineages demonstrated a high level of amino acid and nucleotide sequence variability within a part of the p150 peptide of the non-structural polyprotein and its coding sequence, respectively. The location of this region within the RusV genome and its genetic properties were comparable to the hypervariable region of the rubella virus. The broad range of detected RusV spillover hosts in combination with its geographical distribution in northeastern Germany requires the assessment of its zoonotic potential and further analysis of encephalitis cases in mammals. Future studies have to prove a putative co-evolution scenario for RusV in the yellow-necked field mouse reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Nippert
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Dennis Rubbenstroth
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Jessica Anna Geers
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Arnt Ebinger
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Donata Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Angele Breithaupt
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Claudia Wylezich
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Xuejing Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstraße 6, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Viola C Haring
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Philip Starcky
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Paola Fruci
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Via Renato Balzarini 1, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Christoph Langner
- Stralsund Zoological Garden, Grünhufer Bogen 2, Stralsund 18437, Germany
| | - Christin Trapp
- Tierpark Grimmen, Friedrichstraße 20, Grimmen 18507, Germany
| | - Heiko Schulz
- Betriebsteil Forstplanung/Versuchswesen/Informationssysteme, Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern—Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts, Zeppelinstraße 3, Schwerin 19061, Germany
| | - Wilko Stubbe
- Institut für Allgemeine und Systematische Zoologie, Universität Greifswald, Loitzer Straße 26, Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Rodent Research, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Toppheideweg 88, Münster 48161, Germany
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstraße 6, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Florian Pfaff
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Germany
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Di Profio F, Sarchese V, Fruci P, Aste G, Martella V, Palombieri A, Di Martino B. Exploring the Enteric Virome of Cats with Acute Gastroenteritis. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050362. [PMID: 37235445 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in cats, chiefly in younger animals. Enteric specimens collected from 29 cats with acute enteritis and 33 non-diarrhoeic cats were screened in PCRs and reverse transcription (RT) PCR for a large panel of enteric viruses, including also orphan viruses of recent identification. At least one viral species, including feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline enteric coronavirus (FCoV), feline chaphamaparvovirus, calicivirus (vesivirus and novovirus), feline kobuvirus, feline sakobuvirus A and Lyon IARC polyomaviruses, was detected in 66.1% of the samples.. Co-infections were mainly accounted for by FPV and FCoV and were detected in 24.2% of the samples. The virome composition was further assessed in eight diarrhoeic samples, through the construction of sequencing libraries using a sequence-independent single-primer amplification (SISPA) protocol. The libraries were sequenced on Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. A total of 41 contigs (>100 nt) were detected from seven viral families infecting mammals, included Parvoviridae, Caliciviridae, Picornaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Anelloviridae, Papillomaviridae and Paramyxoviridae, revealing a broad variety in the composition of the feline enteric virome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Di Profio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Aste
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Andrea Palombieri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
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Fruci P, Palombieri A, Sarchese V, Aste G, Friedrich KG, Martella V, Di Martino B, Di Profio F. Serological and Molecular Survey on Domestic Dog Hepadnavirus in Household Dogs, Italy. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040729. [PMID: 36830516 PMCID: PMC9951874 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of hepadnaviruses in cats (domestic cat hepadnavirus, DCH) and of a DCH-like virus in dogs has raised several questions regarding the role of these viruses in pets, with particular emphasis on their potential impact on animal health and epidemiology, as well as possible zoonotic implications. In this study, by screening an age-stratified collection of 600 canine serum samples for DCH with an ELISA assay based on the recombinant core antigen (DCHCAg), specific antibodies were found with an overall prevalence of 10.0% (60/600), with a higher prevalence in younger and older dogs. By retesting the canine DCHCAbs-positive sera with an ELISA test based on the recombinant surface protein of DCH (DCHSAg), a total of 18 sera (30%, 18/60) also contained IgG anti-DCHSAg. All the sera were also assessed molecularly using either a consensus hepadnavirus PCR or a specific real-time PCR for DCH. Hepadnavirus DNA was detected in four seronegative dogs, with a prevalence rate of 0.7% (4/600). On sequence analysis of the polymerase region amplified with pan-hepadnavirus primers, the amplicons displayed the highest nucleotide identity (97.3-99.6%) to DCH sequences detected in cats and to the domestic dog hepadnavirus recently identified in a canine serum sample from Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fruci
- University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Palombieri
- University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Aste
- University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Klaus G. Friedrich
- University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- Fondazione Bioparco, Viale del Giardino Zoologico 20, 00197 Rome, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Bari, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Di Profio
- University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-086-126-6885
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Palombieri A, Sarchese V, Giordano MV, Fruci P, Crisi PE, Aste G, Bongiovanni L, Rinaldi V, Sposato A, Camero M, Lanave G, Martella V, Marsilio F, Di Martino B, Di Profio F. Detection and Characterization of Feline Calicivirus Associated with Paw and Mouth Disease. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010065. [PMID: 36611675 PMCID: PMC9818015 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Feline calicivirus (FCV) infection in cats can led to several diverse clinical presentations, ranging from mild upper respiratory signs to virulent systemic disease. Herein, we report a paw and mouth disease case in a 7-year-old household cat due to an FCV infection. An asymptomatic cat living in the same household was also infected with FCV. Clinical and pathological investigations were combined with the molecular and phenotypical characterization of the FCV strains. The RNA of the FCV was detected using qualitative and quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays, and FCV antigen was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. After the whole genome analysis, the strains detected in the two cats appeared to be genetically diverse from FCVs previously detected in association with paw and mouth disease and with virulent systemic disease. Interestingly, the isolates obtained in this study were resistant to low pH conditions and slightly susceptible to bile salts, but they were susceptible to a trypsin treatment, revealing a phenotype pattern that is different from that which has been observed for respiratory FCVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Palombieri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Paola Fruci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Paolo Emidio Crisi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Aste
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Laura Bongiovanni
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Valentina Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Alessio Sposato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Camero
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Gianvito Lanave
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0861-266845
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Palombieri A, Fruci P, Sarchese V, Robetto S, Orusa R, Arbuatti A, Martella V, Di Martino B, Di Profio F. Detection and Characterization of a Novel Picornavirus in European Badger (Meles meles). Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9110645. [PMID: 36423093 PMCID: PMC9696597 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9110645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A molecular survey was performed to investigate the gut virome of wild mustelids and sciurids found dead in Northwestern Italy. Using pan-picornavirus primer pair, we discovered a new picornavirus (PV) in the intestinal content of a European badger (Meles meles). The full-length genome of this novel strain was obtained by a sequence-independent single-primer amplification procedure in combination with Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. On sequence analysis, the badger PV could be considered the prototype of a new species, proposed as Sakobuvirus B, classified within the still poorly characterized genus Sakobuvirus. The finding of this study poses interesting questions about the genetic diversity of these viruses, suggesting that the PV host range could be wider than expected. Abstract The recent development of unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing has provided a richer view of the wild animal virome making it necessary to expand the knowledge about virus diversity in wildlife, as well as to monitor their potential transmission to domestic animals or humans. In the present study, by screening collections of enteric specimens from wild animals, a novel picornavirus was identified in the intestinal content of a badger (Meles meles). By enrichment with a sequence-independent single-primer amplification (SISPA) approach and deep sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platform, the genome sequence of a novel picornavirus strain, Badger/3A-2019/ITA, was reconstructed. On comparison based on the polyprotein sequences, the virus was distantly related (58.7% and 59.7% sequence identity at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively) to the feline picornavirus strain FFUP1, identified in 2012 in Portugal and classified into genus Sakobovirus within the species Sakobuvirus A. Upon phylogenetic, pairwise homology, and distance analyses performed on the P1, 2Chel, 3Cpro, and 3Dpol proteins and the complete genomic sequence, the badger picornavirus may be considered a member of a new sakobuvirus species, which we propose as Sakobuvirus B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Palombieri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Serena Robetto
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Malattie degli Animali Selvatici (CeRMAS), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, della Liguria e della Valle d’Aosta, 11020 Aosta, Italy
| | - Riccardo Orusa
- Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Malattie degli Animali Selvatici (CeRMAS), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, della Liguria e della Valle d’Aosta, 11020 Aosta, Italy
| | - Alessio Arbuatti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0861-266845
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Palombieri A, Fruci P, Di Profio F, Sarchese V, Robetto S, Martella V, Di Martino B. Detection and characterization of bopiviruses in domestic and wild ruminants. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:3972-3978. [PMID: 35933587 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Highly divergent picornaviruses (PVs) classified in the genus Bopivirus have been recently discovered on faecal samples from sheep and goats in Hungary and from fallow and red deer in Australia. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology of these novel viruses in domestic and wild ruminants from Northwestern Italian Alps by testing archival faecal samples collected from 128 sheep, 167 goats, 61 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 77 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 43 chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) and 32 Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). Bopivirus RNA was detected in a total of 19 animals, including 14 sheep (10.9%), 2 red deer (3.3%), 1 roe deer (1.3%), 1 chamois (2.3 %) and 1 Alpine ibex (3.3 %), but not in goats. Upon sequence analysis of the 3DRdRp region, the sequences generated from chamois, roe deer, Alpine ibex and ovine faecal samples showed the highest nucleotide identity (96.8-100%) to bopiviruses detected in goats and sheep from Hungarian farms, whereas strains found in red deer displayed the closest relatedness (90.8%-91.2%) to bopiviruses identified in fallow and red deer in Australia. The nearly complete genome sequence of strains 12/2020/ITA (ON497046) and 14-73/2020/ITA (ON497047) detected in an Alpine ibex and in a sheep, respectively, was determined by combining a modified 3'-RACE protocol with Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. On phylogenetic analysis based on the complete polyprotein, both strains segregated into the candidate species Bopivirus B along with ovine and caprine strains detected in Hungary (90.0-94.6% nucleotide and 94.6-98.0% amino acid identities). The findings of this study expand the host range of these novel viruses and hint to a possible virus circulation between domestic ruminants and wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Serena Robetto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, CeRMAS, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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9
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Palombieri A, Di Profio F, Fruci P, Sarchese V, Martella V, Marsilio F, Di Martino B. Emerging Respiratory Viruses of Cats. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040663. [PMID: 35458393 PMCID: PMC9030917 DOI: 10.3390/v14040663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, advances in diagnostics and deep sequencing technologies have led to the identification and characterization of novel viruses in cats as protoparviruses and chaphamaparvoviruses, unveiling the diversity of the feline virome in the respiratory tract. Observational, epidemiological and experimental data are necessary to demonstrate firmly if some viruses are able to cause disease, as this information may be confounded by virus- or host-related factors. Also, in recent years, researchers were able to monitor multiple examples of transmission to felids of viruses with high pathogenic potential, such as the influenza virus strains H5N1, H1N1, H7N2, H5N6 and H3N2, and in the late 2019, the human hypervirulent coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. These findings suggest that the study of viral infections always requires a multi-disciplinary approach inspired by the One Health vision. By reviewing the literature, we provide herewith an update on the emerging viruses identified in cats and their potential association with respiratory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Palombieri
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Paola Fruci
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Vito Martella
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy;
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0861-26-6871
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (P.F.); (V.S.); (B.D.M.)
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Fruci P, Profio FD, Palombieri A, Massirio I, Lanave G, Diakoudi G, Pellegrini F, Marsilio F, Martella V, Martino BD. Detection of antibodies against Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus using baculovirus-expressed core protein. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:2980-2986. [PMID: 35077025 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
A novel orthohepadnavirus (Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus: DCH) similar to human hepatitis B virus has been recently detected in serum and liver samples from domestic cats with chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Molecular investigations by independent research groups around the world have revealed positivity rates ranging from 6.5% to 12.5% in blood samples and up to 14.0% in liver tissue. In this study, we screened an age-stratified collection of feline sera (n = 256) by using an antibody detection ELISA assay based on the recombinant core antigen of DCH (DCHc). Specific antibodies (DCHc Abs) were detected with a prevalence of 25.0%. The DNA of DCH was detected in 35.9% (23/64) of seropositive cats and only in 1.0% (2/192) of seronegative animals. Based on the serological (IgG and IgM anti-DCHc) and virological status, the possible stages of DCH infection were predicted. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Gianvito Lanave
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Georgia Diakoudi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Francesco Pellegrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
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11
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Sarchese V, Fruci P, Palombieri A, Di Profio F, Robetto S, Ercolini C, Orusa R, Marsilio F, Martella V, Di Martino B. Molecular Identification and Characterization of a Genotype 3 Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Strain Detected in a Wolf Faecal Sample, Italy. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123465. [PMID: 34944242 PMCID: PMC8698176 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. In developed countries, zoonotic transmission of HEV genotypes (Gt) 3 and 4 is caused by the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected pigs and wild boars, the main reservoirs of HEV. However, additional animals may harbour HEV or HEV-related strains, including carnivores. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of orthohepeviruses in wild canids by screening a total of 136 archival faecal samples, collected from wolves (42) and red foxes (94) in Northwestern Italy. Orthohepevirus RNA was identified in a faecal specimen, collected from a wolf carcass in the province of La Spezia (Liguria Region, Italy). The nearly full-length (7212 nucleotides) genome of the strain HEV/81236/Wolf/2019/ITA (GenBank accession no. MZ463196) was determined by combining a sequence-independent single-primer amplification (SISPA) approach with the Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. Upon phylogenetic analysis, the HEV detected in wolf was segregated into clade HEV-3.1, displaying the highest nucleotide (nt) identity (89.0-93.3%) to Gt3 strains belonging to subtype c. Interestingly, the wolf faecal sample also contained porcine astrovirus sequences, endorsing the hypothesis of a dietary origin of the HEV strain due to preying habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Sarchese
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.S.); (P.F.); (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.S.); (P.F.); (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.S.); (P.F.); (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.S.); (P.F.); (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Serena Robetto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Malattie degli Animali Selvatici (CeRMAS), 11020 Aosta, Italy; (S.R.); (R.O.)
| | - Carlo Ercolini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, SC Liguria e Portualità Marittima, 19100 La Spezia, Italy;
| | - Riccardo Orusa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Malattie degli Animali Selvatici (CeRMAS), 11020 Aosta, Italy; (S.R.); (R.O.)
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.S.); (P.F.); (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70121 Valenzano, Italy;
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.S.); (P.F.); (A.P.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
- Correspondence:
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12
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Palombieri A, Tsachev I, Sarchese V, Fruci P, Di Profio F, Pepovich R, Baymakova M, Marsilio F, Martella V, Di Martino B. A Molecular Study on Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Pigs in Bulgaria. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8110267. [PMID: 34822640 PMCID: PMC8619608 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8110267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Information on hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains circulating in animal reservoirs in Bulgaria is currently lacking. Herein, by screening HEV seropositive sera obtained from Bulgarian swine and wild boars, viral RNA was detected at high prevalence rate (28.2%) in industrial pigs. Sequence analysis of the partial polymerase (RdRp) region revealed the highest genetic correlation with HEVs of genotype (Gt) 3 identified in French and Dutch patients. For three such strains, a 700-bp fragment of the open reading frame 2 gene was generated. On phylogenetic analysis, the Bulgarian strains clustered tightly (93.8-98.3% nt) with human and animal HEVs classified within the Gt3 subtype c.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (V.S.); (P.F.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Ilia Tsachev
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria;
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (V.S.); (P.F.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (V.S.); (P.F.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (V.S.); (P.F.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Roman Pepovich
- Department of Infectious Pathology, Hygiene, Technology and Control of Foods from Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Magdalena Baymakova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (V.S.); (P.F.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy;
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.P.); (V.S.); (P.F.); (F.D.P.); (F.M.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Di Martino B, Di Profio F, Robetto S, Fruci P, Sarchese V, Palombieri A, Melegari I, Orusa R, Martella V, Marsilio F. Molecular Survey on Kobuviruses in Domestic and Wild Ungulates From Northwestern Italian Alps. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:679337. [PMID: 34195249 PMCID: PMC8237713 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.679337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the first identification in 1989 in humans, kobuviruses (KoVs) have been identified from a wide range of animal species including carnivores, rodents, birds, ungulates, rabbits, and bats. Several studies have described the identification of genetically related KoVs in the fecal virome of domestic and wild animals suggesting a mutual exchange of viruses. By screening a total of 231 fecal samples from wild and domestic ungulates, KoVs RNA was detected in wild boars (3.2%; 2/63), chamois (4.6%; 2/43), and goats (2.6%; 2/77). On phylogenetic analysis of the partial RdRp sequence, the wild boar strains clustered within the species Aichivirus C whilst the strains identified in domestic and wild ruminants grouped into the species Aichivirus B. The complete VP1 gene was obtained for chamois and goat KoVs. Interestingly, upon phylogenetic analysis the strains grouped together with a KoV of ovine origin within a distinct genetic type (B3) of the species Aichivirus B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Serena Robetto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Malattie degli Animali Selvatici (CeRMAS), Aosta, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Irene Melegari
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Riccardo Orusa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Malattie degli Animali Selvatici (CeRMAS), Aosta, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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14
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Di Profio F, Sarchese V, Palombieri A, Fruci P, Massirio I, Martella V, Fulvio M, Di Martino B. Feline chaphamaparvovirus in cats with enteritis and upper respiratory tract disease. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:660-668. [PMID: 33559350 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Feline chaphamaparvovirus (FeChPV) is a novel parvovirus, first discovered in a multi-facility feline shelter in Canada in 2019, during an outbreak of acute gastro-enteritis (AGE) in cats, and detected at high prevalence (47.0%) in faecal samples. Whether this finding was anecdotal or similar viruses are common components of feline virome is still unclear. Also, the potential impact of this virus on feline health is uncertain. Herewith, a case-control study was performed to investigate whether this novel parvovirus may play a role as enteric pathogen, screening samples collected from cats with and without AGE signs. Furthermore, we extended the research by testing archival paired oropharyngeal and ocular samples collected from cats with or without upper respiratory tract disease (URTD). FeChPV DNA was detected at high prevalence rate (36.8%, 14/38) in clinical cases, representing the most frequently identified enteric virus, followed by feline panleukopenia parvovirus (23.7%, 9/38), feline coronavirus (5.3%, 2/38), feline kobuvirus (5.3%, 2/38) and noroviruses (5.3%, 2/38). The different prevalence rates of FeChPV between the case and control group were statistically significant, suggesting a possible association of the virus with acute gastro-enteric disease. The virus was also detected at low rate in the respiratory samples of cats with (3.3%, 6/183) or without URTD (4.3%, 6/140), although there was no significant association between FeChPV and URTD. The complete VP encoding gene was determined for five viruses and the nearly full-length genome was reconstructed for three viruses, namely 313R/2019/ITA, 284R/2019/ITA and 49E/2019/ITA. In the NS1-based tree, the Italian strains clustered tightly with the two FeChPV prototypes detected in Canada, within a monophyletic cluster related to but clearly distinct from canine chaphamaparvovirus, currently classified in the species Carnivore chaphamaparvovirus 1 (CaChPV-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Di Profio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Marsilio Fulvio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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Di Martino B, Sarchese V, Di Profio F, Palombieri A, Melegari I, Fruci P, Aste G, Bányai K, Fulvio M, Martella V. Genetic heterogeneity of canine bufaviruses. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:802-812. [PMID: 32688446 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Canine bufavirus (CBuV) is a protoparvovirus, genetically related to human and non-human primate bufaviruses and distantly related to canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). CBuV was initially identified from young dogs with respiratory signs but subsequent studies revealed that this virus is also a common component of the canine enteric virome. In this survey, by assessing archival and recent collections of dogs faecal samples, CBuV DNA was detected with a higher prevalence rate (8.8%) in animals with enteritis than in control animals (5.0%), although this difference was not statistically significant. The rate of co-infections with other enteric viruses in diarrhoeic dogs was high (84.6%), mostly in association with canine parvovirus CPV-2 (90.1%). The complete ORF2 gene was determined in five samples, and the nearly full-length genome was reconstructed for three strains, 62/2017/ITA, 9AS/2005/ITA and 35/2018/ITA. Upon sequence comparison, the viruses appeared highly conserved in the NS1 (97.2%-97.9% nt and 97.5%-98.1% aa identities). In the complete VP2 coding region, three strains were similar to the prototype viruses (99.7-99.8 nt and 99.6%-99.8% aa) whilst strains 9AS/2005/ITA and 35/2016/ITA were distantly related (87.6%-89.3% nt and 93.9%-95.1% aa identities). Interestingly, genetic diversification occurred downstream conserved regions such as the VP1/VP2 splicing signals and/or the G-rich motif in the N terminus of the VP2, suggesting a potential recombination nature. Upon phylogenetic analysis, the two divergent CBuV strains formed a distinct cluster/genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Federica Di Profio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Irene Melegari
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Aste
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Krisztián Bányai
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences Centre for Agricultural Research Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marsilio Fulvio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
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16
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Di Profio F, Melegari I, Palombieri A, Sarchese V, Arbuatti A, Fruci P, Marsilio F, Martella V, Di Martino B. High prevalence of hepatitis E virus in raw sewage in Southern Italy. Virus Res 2019; 272:197710. [PMID: 31415790 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2019.197710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections constitute a significant health problem worldwide. The burden of hepatitis E in Italy seems low when compared with other European countries. In recent years, improved surveillance activities in Italy have revealed marked geographical differences in HEV epidemiology, with some regions characterised by higher seroprevalence rates. Abruzzo Region (Southern Italy) is currently recognised as a high-risk area for HEV infection. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology of HEV in Teramo Province by monitoring four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Out of 56 influent sewage specimens collected during 2016-2017, HEV RNA was detected in 13/56 (23.2%) sewage samples from all the four WWTPs. Upon sequence analysis of the partial ORF2 gene, four strains showed the highest nucleotide identity to Gt3 subtype c, being more closely related to other HEVs previously identified in human and animal hosts in Abruzzo. For one strain, sequence data were generated only for a short region of the ORF1 gene, revealing the highest identity to HEVs Gt3 of subtype f. Altogether, the findings of this study confirm that HEV largely circulates in the setting investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irene Melegari
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Andrea Palombieri
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sarchese
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Alessio Arbuatti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Paola Fruci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Fulvio Marsilio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Vito Martella
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università Aldo Moro di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Barbara Di Martino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy.
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