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Szirovicza L, Hetzel U, Kipar A, Hepojoki J. Short '1.2× Genome' Infectious Clone Initiates Kolmiovirid Replication in Boa constrictor Cells. Viruses 2022; 14:107. [PMID: 35062311 PMCID: PMC8778117 DOI: 10.3390/v14010107] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human hepatitis D virus (HDV) depends on hepatitis B virus co-infection and its glycoproteins for infectious particle formation. HDV was the sole known deltavirus for decades and believed to be a human-only pathogen. However, since 2018, several groups reported finding HDV-like agents from various hosts but without co-infecting hepadnaviruses. In vitro systems enabling helper virus-independent replication are key for studying the newly discovered deltaviruses. Others and we have successfully used constructs containing multimers of the deltavirus genome for the replication of various deltaviruses via transfection in cell culture. Here, we report the establishment of deltavirus infectious clones with 1.2× genome inserts bearing two copies of the genomic and antigenomic ribozymes. We used Swiss snake colony virus 1 as the model to compare the ability of the previously reported "2× genome" and the "1.2× genome" infectious clones to initiate replication in cell culture. Using immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, immuno- and northern blotting, we found the 2× and 1.2× genome clones to similarly initiate deltavirus replication in vitro and both induced a persistent infection of snake cells. The 1.2× genome constructs enable easier introduction of modifications required for studying deltavirus replication and cellular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonora Szirovicza
- Medicum, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Udo Hetzel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland; (U.H.); (A.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anja Kipar
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland; (U.H.); (A.K.)
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jussi Hepojoki
- Medicum, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland;
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland; (U.H.); (A.K.)
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Hepojoki J, Hepojoki S, Smura T, Szirovicza L, Dervas E, Prähauser B, Nufer L, Schraner EM, Vapalahti O, Kipar A, Hetzel U. Characterization of Haartman Institute snake virus-1 (HISV-1) and HISV-like viruses-The representatives of genus Hartmanivirus, family Arenaviridae. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007415. [PMID: 30427944 PMCID: PMC6261641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Arenaviridae comprises three genera, Mammarenavirus, Reptarenavirus and the most recently added Hartmanivirus. Arenaviruses have a bisegmented genome with ambisense coding strategy. For mammarenaviruses and reptarenaviruses the L segment encodes the Z protein (ZP) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and the S segment encodes the glycoprotein precursor and the nucleoprotein. Herein we report the full length genome and characterization of Haartman Institute snake virus-1 (HISV-1), the putative type species of hartmaniviruses. The L segment of HISV-1 lacks an open-reading frame for ZP, and our analysis of purified HISV-1 particles by SDS-PAGE and electron microscopy further support the lack of ZP. Since we originally identified HISV-1 in co-infection with a reptarenavirus, one could hypothesize that co-infecting reptarenavirus provides the ZP to complement HISV-1. However, we observed that co-infection does not markedly affect the amount of hartmanivirus or reptarenavirus RNA released from infected cells in vitro, indicating that HISV-1 does not benefit from reptarenavirus ZP. Furthermore, we succeeded in generating a pure HISV-1 isolate showing the virus to replicate without ZP. Immunofluorescence and ultrastructural studies demonstrate that, unlike reptarenaviruses, HISV-1 does not produce the intracellular inclusion bodies typical for the reptarenavirus-induced boid inclusion body disease (BIBD). While we observed HISV-1 to be slightly cytopathic for cultured boid cells, the histological and immunohistological investigation of HISV-positive snakes showed no evidence of a pathological effect. The histological analyses also revealed that hartmaniviruses, unlike reptarenaviruses, have a limited tissue tropism. By nucleic acid sequencing, de novo genome assembly, and phylogenetic analyses we identified additional four hartmanivirus species. Finally, we screened 71 individuals from a collection of snakes with BIBD by RT-PCR and found 44 to carry hartmaniviruses. These findings suggest that harmaniviruses are common in captive snake populations, but their relevance and pathogenic potential needs yet to be revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Hepojoki
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Satu Hepojoki
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Teemu Smura
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leonóra Szirovicza
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Dervas
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Prähauser
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lisbeth Nufer
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth M. Schraner
- Institutes of Veterinary Anatomy and Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Virology and Immunology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anja Kipar
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Udo Hetzel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki, Finland
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Hyndman TH, Shilton CM, Stenglein MD, Wellehan JFX. Divergent bornaviruses from Australian carpet pythons with neurological disease date the origin of extant Bornaviridae prior to the end-Cretaceous extinction. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006881. [PMID: 29462190 PMCID: PMC5834213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue samples from Australian carpet pythons (Morelia spilota) with neurological disease were screened for viruses using next-generation sequencing. Coding complete genomes of two bornaviruses were identified with the gene order 3'-N-X-P-G-M-L, representing a transposition of the G and M genes compared to other bornaviruses and most mononegaviruses. Use of these viruses to search available vertebrate genomes enabled recognition of further endogenous bornavirus-like elements (EBLs) in diverse placental mammals, including humans. Codivergence patterns and shared integration sites revealed an ancestral laurasiatherian EBLG integration (77 million years ago [MYA]) and a previously identified afrotherian EBLG integration (83 MYA). The novel python bornaviruses clustered more closely with these EBLs than with other exogenous bornaviruses, suggesting that these viruses diverged from previously known bornaviruses prior to the end-Cretaceous (K-Pg) extinction, 66 MYA. It is possible that EBLs protected mammals from ancient bornaviral disease, providing a selective advantage in the recovery from the K-Pg extinction. A degenerate PCR primer set was developed to detect a highly conserved region of the bornaviral polymerase gene. It was used to detect 15 more genetically distinct bornaviruses from Australian pythons that represent a group that is likely to contain a number of novel species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy H. Hyndman
- College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - Catherine M. Shilton
- Berrimah Veterinary Laboratories, Department of Primary Industry and Resources, Northern Territory Government, Berrimah, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Mark D. Stenglein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - James F. X. Wellehan
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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Eleni C, Corteggio A, Altamura G, Meoli R, Cocumelli C, Rossi G, Friedrich KG, Di Cerbo P, Borzacchiello G. Detection of Papillomavirus DNA in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Multiple Papillomas in Captive Reptiles. J Comp Pathol 2017; 157:23-26. [PMID: 28735666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [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: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Papillomaviruses (PVs) are small, non-enveloped DNA viruses that cause mucocutaneous tumours including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in man. In animals, evidence supports a causal role for PVs in the development of cutaneous and oral SCC in some species. In reptiles, three cases of papilloma or fibropapilloma have been associated with PV infection, but no association has been reported to date with SCC. Two cases of cutaneous epithelial tumours, multiple papillomas in a spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx acanthinura) and SCC in a Dumeril's boa (Acrantophis dumerili), were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. PV DNA was amplified from samples of both lesions. Typical microscopical features suggestive of PV infection (e.g. the presence of koilocytes) were observed in the lesions from the spiny-tailed lizard. This is the first report of an association between PV and SCC in reptiles. Further studies are needed to better clarify the role of PVs in these species and to characterize the PV strains involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Eleni
- Laboratory of Anatomo-histopathology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana 'M. Aleandri', Via Appia Nuova 1411, Rome, Italy.
| | - A Corteggio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, Italy
| | - G Altamura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, Italy
| | - R Meoli
- Laboratory of Anatomo-histopathology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana 'M. Aleandri', Via Appia Nuova 1411, Rome, Italy
| | - C Cocumelli
- Laboratory of Anatomo-histopathology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana 'M. Aleandri', Via Appia Nuova 1411, Rome, Italy
| | - G Rossi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, Matelica, Italy
| | - K G Friedrich
- Fondazione Bioparco di Roma, Viale del Giardino Zoologico 20, Rome, Italy
| | - P Di Cerbo
- Fondazione Bioparco di Roma, Viale del Giardino Zoologico 20, Rome, Italy
| | - G Borzacchiello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, Italy
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Vancraeynest D, Pasmans F, Martel A, Chiers K, Meulemans G, Mast J, Zwart P, Ducatelle R. Inclusion body disease in snakes: a review and description of three cases in boa constrictors in Belgium. Vet Rec 2006; 158:757-60. [PMID: 16751310 DOI: 10.1136/vr.158.22.757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Inclusion body disease, a fatal disorder in Boidae, is reviewed, and three cases in boa constrictors, the first reported cases in Belgium, are described. The snakes showed nervous signs, and numerous eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions, which are considered to be characteristic of the disease, were found in the liver and pancreas. The disease is suspected to be caused by a retrovirus, but transmission electron microscopic examinations of several tissues from one of the snakes did not reveal particles with a typical retroviral morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Vancraeynest
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Farkas SL, Zádori Z, Benkő M, Essbauer S, Harrach B, Tijssen P. A parvovirus isolated from royal python (Python regius) is a member of the genus Dependovirus. J Gen Virol 2004; 85:555-561. [PMID: 14993638 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.19616-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvoviruses were isolated from Python regius and Boa constrictor snakes and propagated in viper heart (VH-2) and iguana heart (IgH-2) cells. The full-length genome of a snake parvovirus was cloned and both strands were sequenced. The organization of the 4432-nt-long genome was found to be typical of parvoviruses. This genome was flanked by inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of 154 nt, containing 122 nt terminal hairpins and contained two large open reading frames, encoding the non-structural and structural proteins. Genes of this new parvovirus were most similar to those from waterfowl parvoviruses and from adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), albeit to a relatively low degree and with some organizational differences. The structure of its ITRs also closely resembled those of AAVs. Based on these data, we propose to classify this virus, the first serpentine parvovirus to be identified, as serpentine adeno-associated virus (SAAV) in the genus Dependovirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szilvia L Farkas
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 18, H-1581 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Zádori
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Université du Québec, 531 boul. des Praires, Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 1B7
| | - Mária Benkő
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 18, H-1581 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sandra Essbauer
- Institute for Zoology, Fish Biology, Fish Diseases, University of Munich, Germany
| | - Balázs Harrach
- Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 18, H-1581 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Tijssen
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Université du Québec, 531 boul. des Praires, Laval, Quebec, Canada H7V 1B7
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Corcoran JA, Duncan R. Reptilian reovirus utilizes a small type III protein with an external myristylated amino terminus to mediate cell-cell fusion. J Virol 2004; 78:4342-51. [PMID: 15047847 PMCID: PMC374291 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.78.8.4342-4351.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2003] [Accepted: 12/16/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Reptilian reovirus is one of a limited number of nonenveloped viruses that are capable of inducing cell-cell fusion. A small, hydrophobic, basic, 125-amino-acid fusion protein encoded by the first open reading frame of a bicistronic viral mRNA is responsible for this fusion activity. Sequence comparisons to previously characterized reovirus fusion proteins indicated that p14 represents a new member of the fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) protein family. Topological analysis revealed that p14 is a representative of a minor subset of integral membrane proteins, the type III proteins N(exoplasmic)/C(cytoplasmic) (N(exo)/C(cyt)), that lack a cleavable signal sequence and use an internal reverse signal-anchor sequence to direct membrane insertion and protein topology. This topology results in the unexpected, cotranslational translocation of the essential myristylated N-terminal domain of p14 across the cell membrane. The topology and structural motifs present in this novel reovirus membrane fusion protein further accentuate the diversity and unusual properties of the FAST protein family and clearly indicate that the FAST proteins represent a third distinct class of viral membrane fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Corcoran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4H7
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Duncan R, Corcoran J, Shou J, Stoltz D. Reptilian reovirus: a new fusogenic orthoreovirus species. Virology 2004; 319:131-40. [PMID: 14967494 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2003.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2003] [Revised: 10/20/2003] [Accepted: 10/20/2003] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The fusogenic subgroup of orthoreoviruses contains most of the few known examples of non-enveloped viruses capable of inducing syncytium formation. The only unclassified orthoreoviruses at the species level represent several fusogenic reptilian isolates. To clarify the relationship of reptilian reoviruses (RRV) to the existing fusogenic and nonfusogenic orthoreovirus species, we undertook a characterization of a python reovirus isolate. Biochemical, biophysical, and biological analyses confirmed the designation of this reptilian reovirus (RRV) isolate as an unclassified fusogenic orthoreovirus. Sequence analysis revealed that the RRV S1 and S3 genome segments contain a novel conserved 5'-terminal sequence not found in other orthoreovirus species. In addition, the gene arrangement and the coding potential of the bicistronic RRV S1 genome segment differ from that of established orthoreovirus species, encoding a predicted homologue of the reovirus cell attachment protein and a unique 125 residue p14 protein. The RRV S3 genome segment encodes a homologue of the reovirus sigma-class major outer capsid protein, although it is highly diverged from that of other orthoreovirus species (amino acid identities of only 16-25%). Based on sequence analysis, biological properties, and phylogenetic analysis, we propose this python reovirus be designated as the prototype strain of a fifth species of orthoreoviruses, the reptilian reoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Duncan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4H7.
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Huder JB, Böni J, Hatt JM, Soldati G, Lutz H, Schüpbach J. Identification and characterization of two closely related unclassifiable endogenous retroviruses in pythons (Python molurus and Python curtus). J Virol 2002; 76:7607-15. [PMID: 12097574 PMCID: PMC136364 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.76.15.7607-7615.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) is a fatal disorder of boid snakes that is suspected to be caused by a retrovirus. In order to identify this agent, leukocyte cultures (established from Python molurus specimens with symptoms of BIBD or kept together with such diseased animals) were assessed for reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. Virus from cultures exhibiting high RT activity was banded on sucrose density gradients, and the RT peak fraction was subjected to highly efficient procedures for the identification of unknown particle-associated retroviral RNA. A 7-kb full retroviral sequence was identified, cloned, and sequenced. This virus contained intact open reading frames (ORFs) for gag, pro, pol, and env, as well as another ORF of unknown function within pol. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus is distantly related to viruses from both the B and D types and the mammalian C type but cannot be classified. It is present as a highly expressed endogenous retrovirus in all P. molurus individuals; a closely related, but much less expressed virus was found in all tested Python curtus individuals. All other boid snakes tested, including Python regius, Python reticulatus, Boa constrictor, Eunectes notaeus, and Morelia spilota, were virus negative, independent of whether they had BIBD or not. Virus isolated from P. molurus could not be transmitted to the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of B. constrictor or P. regius. Thus, there is no indication that this novel virus, which we propose to name python endogenous retrovirus (PyERV), is causally linked with BIBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon B Huder
- Swiss National Center for Retroviruses, University of Zurich, CH-8028 Zurich
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Hyatt AD, Williamson M, Coupar BEH, Middleton D, Hengstberger SG, Gould AR, Selleck P, Wise TG, Kattenbelt J, Cunningham AA, Lee J. First identification of a ranavirus from green pythons (Chondropython viridis). J Wildl Dis 2002; 38:239-52. [PMID: 12038121 DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-38.2.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Ten juvenile green pythons (Chondropython viridis) died or were euthanized shortly after having been illegally imported into Australia from Indonesia in 1998. Histologic examination of two of the three snakes that died revealed moderately severe chronic ulceration of the nasal mucosa and focal or periacinar degeneration and necrosis of the liver. In addition there was severe necrotizing inflammation of the pharyngeal submucosa accompanied by numerous macrophages, heterophils, and edema. An iridovirus was isolated in culture from several tissues and characterized by immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis, restriction endonuclease digestion, and DNA hybridization. This is the first report of a systemic ranavirus infection in any species of snake and is a new member of the genus, Ranavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Hyatt
- CSIRO, Division of Animal Health, Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL), P.O. Bag 24, Geelong, 3220, Australia
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11
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Jacobson ER, Orós J, Tucker SJ, Pollock DP, Kelley KL, Munn RJ, Lock BA, Mergia A, Yamamoto JK. Partial characterization of retroviruses from boid snakes with inclusion body disease. Am J Vet Res 2001; 62:217-24. [PMID: 11212031 DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize retroviruses isolated from boid snakes with inclusion body disease (IBD). ANIMALS 2 boa constrictors with IBD and 1 boa exposed to an affected snake. PROCEDURE Snakes were euthanatized, and tissue specimens and blood samples were submitted for virus isolation. Tissue specimens were cultured with or without commercially available viper heart cells and examined by use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for evidence of viral replication. Reverse transcriptase activ ty was determined in sucrose gradient-purified virus. Western blotting was performed, using polyclonal antibodies against 1 of the isolated viruses. Specificity of the rabbit anti-virus antibody was evaluated, using an immunogold-labeling TEM technique. RESULTS 3 viruses (RV-1, RV-2, and RV-3) were isolated. The isolates were morphologically comparable to members of the Retroviridae family. Reverse transcriptase activity was high in sucrose gradient fractions that were rich in virus. Polyclonal antibody against RV-1 reacted with proteins of similar relative mobility in RV-1 and RV-2. By use of immunogold labeling, this antibody also recognized virions of both RV-1 and RV-2. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A retrovirus was isolated from boid snakes with IBD or exposed to IBD. Western blot analysis of viral proteins indicated that viruses isolated from the different snakes were similar. Whether this virus represents the causative agent of IBD is yet to be determined. The isolation of retroviruses from boid snakes with IBD is an important step n the process of identifying the causative agent of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Jacobson
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA
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12
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Manvell RJ, Drury SE, Geach M, Lewis JC. Isolation of ophidian paramyxovirus type 7 from a reticulated python in the UK. Vet Rec 2000; 147:696. [PMID: 11132681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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13
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Wozniak E, McBride J, DeNardo D, Tarara R, Wong V, Osburn B. Isolation and characterization of an antigenically distinct 68-kd protein from nonviral intracytoplasmic inclusions in Boa constrictors chronically infected with the inclusion body disease virus (IBDV: Retroviridae). Vet Pathol 2000; 37:449-59. [PMID: 11055868 DOI: 10.1354/vp.37-5-449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between a retroviral infection and the development of nonviral intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies was studied in a Boa constrictor model. Twelve juvenile age- and size-matched inclusion body disease (IBD)-negative boas were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was inoculated intraperitoneally with 1 ml of an IBD virus (IBDV)-infected liver homogenate or 1 ml of normal boa liver homogenate (sham-inoculated control) or was left untreated. All boas were monitored for development of IBD by daily examination and serial liver biopsy over 1 year. The 4 IBDV-inoculated boas became IBDV and inclusion positive by 10 weeks postinoculation. The average size and density of inclusion bodies increased with the duration of infection. Ultrastructurally, inclusion bodies <2 microm in diameter consisted of intracytoplasmic aggregates of granular electron-dense material that were not membrane limited. Larger inclusions (3-6 microm in diameter) were characterized as membrane-bound aggregates of amorphous to granular electron-dense material admixed with membranelike fragments. The sham-inoculated and untreated control snakes did not become inclusion or IBDV positive. Direct comparison of the protein electrophoretograms of IBDV-infected and normal boa tissues demonstrated a prominent 68-kd protein band unique to infected inclusion-positive tissues. Monoclonal antibodies directed against the 68-kd protein band specifically labeled inclusion bodies. The results of this study demonstrate that IBD inclusions represent an intracytoplasmic accumulation of an antigenically distinct IBDV-associated protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Wozniak
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
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Abstract
The extraction and amplification of nucleic acid from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues has become an important exercise in the collection of retrospective epidemiological data. A protocol is described that enables the extraction and amplification of dsDNA from fixed tissues within paraffin blocks and from specimens stored in 10% (aq) formalin. The procedure can be used for the examination of ranavirus DNA within archival tissues thereby providing valuable data for identifying the origin and tracing the spread of ranaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Kattenbelt
- CSIRO, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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15
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Carlisle-Nowak MS, Sullivan N, Carrigan M, Knight C, Ryan C, Jacobson ER. Inclusion body disease in two captive Australian pythons (Morelia spilota variegata and Morelia spilota spilota). Aust Vet J 1998; 76:98-100. [PMID: 9578777 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1998.tb14535.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Two captive Australian pythons, one carpet and one diamond python, presented with signs of central nervous system dysfunction. The carpet python was agitated. Its head was tilting and it was incoordinated and had convulsions. It was treated with antibiotics and anthelmintics but was eventually euthanased after failing to respond to therapy. The diamond python had flaccid paralysis of the caudal half. It was not treated and became disoriented and died. Hepatocytes from both pythons contained irregular 2 to 10 micron eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. The brain of the diamond python was not available for examination. Occasional neurones in the carpet python brain contained similar inclusion bodies and other changes suggestive of viral infection. The clinical signs and histopathological findings in both pythons were consistent with boid inclusion body disease.
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