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An outbreak of ulcerative stomatitis was observed in a donkey (Equus asinus) dairy herd. Similar lesions were also observed on the dams' udders and, sporadically, in genital areas. The lesions typically resolved in 1-3 weeks. An α-herpesvirus, Varicellovirus, genetically related to equid herpesvirus type 3, was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bovine alphaherpesvirus type 2 (BoHV-2) belongs to family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesviridae and can cause two distinct, well-defined conditions: a generalized benign skin infection that somewhat mimics lumpy skin disease (LSD), referred to as Pseudo-Lumpy Skin Disease (PSLD) and a localized ulcerative mammillitis, referred to as Bovine Herpetic Mammillitis (BHM). BHM is a localized form of BoHV-2 infection that causes erosive-ulcerative self-limiting lesions on breast and nipples. BHM is chiefly a disease of lactating dairy cows and has been described sporadically in several countries. In this study we describe an outbreak of bovine herpetic mammillitis caused by BoHV-2 occurred in a dairy farm in Southern Italy. Clinical signs were observed in 26/59 lactating cows with the age ranging between 2 and 6 years. The affected animals were afebrile, showed lesions on the skin of nipples, breast and ventral surface of the abdomen, near the mammary veins and spontaneously recovered within 2 months. Results: BoHV-2 DNA was detected in the crust samples by pan-herpes PCR and real-time quantitative PCR. The virus was isolated on bovine kidney cells and was characterised by deep sequencing technologies. The nucleotide identity to BoHV-2 of the strain ITA/2018/468 retrieved in this study ranged from 98.83 to 100%. Phylogenetic analyses based on three full-length gene (glycoprotein B, thymidine kinase and glycoprotein G) sequences confirmed the close relatedness of the strain ITA/2018/468 to BoHV-2 sequences. Conclusions: The report represents a significant outbreak of BHM in a dairy farm 50 years after the last description in Italy. However, outbreaks of PLSD have been described in Europe recently, indicating that the virus is present in European territories. Improving the diagnostic algorithms and enacting specific surveillance plans could be useful to understand better the epidemiological and pathogenetic patterns of BoHV-2 infection in livestock animals, and to develop, eventually, effective prophylaxis plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FeHV-1) can induce infections that are difficult to prevent and to treat due to the involvement of host genetic factors and immune mechanisms. These two viruses areimportant examples of viral immune evasion of the host's innate immune response. The innate immune system provides an early form of host protection from infectious diseases without pre-exposure and plays an essential role in determining the outcome of viral infections. The mechanisms that the innate immune system utilizes to counteract infections are based on therecognition of a relatively limited set of molecular structures that are either products of microbes (virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites) or expressed by injured or dead host cells. This review provides a brief overview of the main mechanisms achieved by host's innate immunity, focusing primarily on the immune escape mechanisms developed and carried out by FCoV and FeHV-1 during infection. Over time, feline viruses have acquired elaborateopportunistic properties, making their infections particularly difficult to prevent and treat. Feline coronavirus (FCoV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FeHV-1), due to the involvement of host genetic factors and immune mechanisms in the development of the disease and more severe forms, are important examples of immune evasion of the host's innate immune response by feline viruses.It is widely accepted that the innate immune system, which providesan initial universal form of the mammalian host protection from infectious diseases without pre-exposure, plays an essential role in determining the outcome of viral infection.The main components of this immune systembranchare represented by the internal sensors of the host cells that are able to perceive the presence of viral component, including nucleic acids, to start and trigger the production of first type interferon and to activate the cytotoxicity by Natural Killercells, often exploited by viruses for immune evasion.In this brief review, we providea general overview of the principal tools of innate immunity, focusing on the immunologic escape implemented byFCoVand FeHV-1 duringinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]