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The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur; species Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis, family Flaviviridae) was the only tick-borne flavivirus present in central Europe known to cause neurologic disease in humans and several animal species. Here, we report a tick-borne flavivirus isolated from Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) with encephalitis and attached ticks, present over a wide area in the Alps. Cases were detected in 2017 in Salzburg, Austria, and 2023 in Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy. The virus strains exhibit 94.8–97.3% nucleotide identities to each other and are more closely related to Louping ill viruses (LIV; Orthoflavivirus loupingi; 90–92% identities) than to TBEV-Eur (less than 88%). The chamois-derived virus strains, tentatively termed "Alpine chamois encephalitis virus", form a well-supported independent genetic clade with Spanish goat encephalitis virus, clearly separated from other LIV. This supports its designation as a new virus subtype with the proposed shared taxonomic name "Spanish goat and Alpine chamois encephalitis virus subtype" within the species Orthoflavivirus loupingi. The zoonotic potential of this newly identified virus subtype as well as its host range in other animal species including farm animals needs to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tickborne nairovirus (order Bunyavirales) that is maintained primarily in Hyalomma ticks (Ixodidae), and various mammalian livestock serve as amplifying hosts. Humans might become [...]

Knowledge of bornaviruses has expanded considerably during the last decade. A possible reservoir of mammalian Borna disease virus has been identified, divergent bornaviruses have been detected in birds and reptiles, and endogenous bornavirus-like elements have been discovered in the genomes of vertebrates of several species. Previous sequence comparisons and alignments have indicated that the members of the current family Bornaviridae are phylogenetically diverse and are not adequately classified in the existing bornavirus taxonomy supported by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). We provide an update of these analyses and describe their implications for taxonomy. We propose retaining the family name Bornaviridae and the genus Bornavirus but reorganizing species classification. PAirwise Sequence Comparison (PASC) of bornavirus genomes and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) comparison of genomic and protein sequences, in combination with other already published phylogenetic analyses and known biological characteristics of bornaviruses, indicate that this genus should include at least five species: Mammalian 1 bornavirus (classical Borna disease virus and divergent Borna disease virus isolate No/98), Psittaciform 1 bornavirus (avian/psittacine bornaviruses 1, 2, 3, 4, 7), Passeriform 1 bornavirus (avian/canary bornaviruses C1, C2, C3, LS), Passeriform 2 bornavirus (estrildid finch bornavirus EF), and Waterbird 1 bornavirus (avian bornavirus 062CG). This classification is also in line with biological characteristics of these viruses and their vertebrate hosts. A snake bornavirus, proposed to be named Loveridge's garter snake virus 1, should be classified as a member of an additional species (Elapid 1 bornavirus), unassigned to a genus, in the family Bornaviridae. Avian bornaviruses 5, 6, MALL, and another "reptile bornavirus" ("Gaboon viper virus") should stay unclassified until further information becomes available. Finally, we propose new virus names and abbreviations when necessary to achieve clear differentiation and unique identification.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV; order Bunyavirales, family Nairoviridae, genus Orthonairovirus) is a geographically widespread species of tickborne virus. Enzootic transmission cycles involve livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) and tick species [...]

Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), a serious and frequent disease of predominantly psittacine birds, was reported for the first time in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, [...]

The recent COVID‐19 pandemic has demonstrated again the global threat posed by emerging zoonotic coronaviruses. During the past two decades alone, humans have experienced the emergence of several coronaviruses, such as SARS‐CoV in 2003, MERS‐CoV in 2012, and SARS‐CoV‐2 in 2019. To date, MERS‐CoV has been detected in 27 countries, with a case fatality ratio of approximately 34.5%. Similar to other coronaviruses, MERS‐CoV presumably originated from bats; however, the main reservoir and primary source of human infections are dromedary camels. Other species within the Camelidae family, such as Bactrian camels, alpacas, and llamas, seem to be susceptible to the infection as well, although to a lesser extent. In contrast, susceptibility studies on sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, chickens, and horses obtained divergent results. In the present study, we tested nasal swabs and/or sera from 55 sheep, 45 goats, and 52 cattle, collected at the largest livestock market in the United Arab Emirates, where dromedaries are also traded, for the presence of MERS‐CoV nucleic acid by RT‐qPCR, and for specific antibodies by immunofluorescence assay. All sera were negative for MERS‐CoV‐reactive antibodies, but the nasal swab of one sheep (1.8%) repeatedly tested positive for MERS‐CoV nucleic acid. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the complete N gene of the sheep‐derived MERS‐CoV revealed >99% nucleotide identity to MERS‐CoV sequences of five dromedaries in nearby pens and to three reference sequences. The NGS sequence of the sheep‐derived MERS‐CoV was confirmed by conventional RT‐PCR of a part of the N gene and subsequent Sanger sequencing. All MERS‐CoV sequences clustered within clade B, lineage 5. In conclusion, our study shows that noncamelid livestock, such as sheep, goats, and cattle do not play a major role in MERS‐CoV epidemiology. The one sheep that tested positive most likely reflects an accidental viral spillover event from infected dromedaries in nearby pens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased globalization and international transportation have resulted in the inadvertent introduction of exotic mosquitoes and new mosquito‐borne diseases. International airports are among the possible points of entry for mosquitoes and their pathogens. We established a mosquito and mosquito‐borne diseases monitoring programme at the largest international airport in Austria and report the results for the first two years, 2018 and 2019. This included weekly monitoring and sampling of adult mosquitoes, and screening them for the presence of viral nucleic acids by standard molecular diagnostic techniques. Additionally, we surveyed the avian community at the airport, as birds are potentially amplifying hosts. In 2018, West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in 14 pools and Usutu virus (USUV) was detected in another 14 pools of mosquitoes (minimum infection rate [MIR] of 6.8 for each virus). Of these 28 pools, 26 consisted of female Culex pipiens/torrentium, and two contained male Culex sp. mosquitoes. Cx. pipiens/torrentium mosquitoes were the most frequently captured mosquito species at the airport. The detected WNV strains belonged to five sub‐clusters within the sub‐lineage 2d‐1, and all detected USUV strains were grouped to at least seven sub‐clusters among the cluster Europe 2; all strains were previously shown to be endemic in Austria. In 2019, all mosquito pools were negative for any viral nucleic acids tested. Our study suggests that airports may serve as foci of arbovirus activity, particularly during epidemic years, and should be considered when designing mosquito control and arbovirus monitoring programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During late summer 2001 in Austria, a series of deaths in several species of birds occurred, similar to the beginning of the West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic in the United [...]

Borna disease (BD), a frequently fatal neurologic disorder caused by Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV‐1), has been observed for decades in horses, sheep, and other mammals in certain regions of Europe. The bicoloured white‐toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) was identified as a persistently infected species involved in virus transmission. Recently, BoDV‐1 attracted attention as a cause of fatal encephalitis in humans. Here, we report investigations on BoDV‐1‐infected llamas from a farm in a BD endemic area of Switzerland, and alpacas from holdings in a region of Germany where BD was last seen in the 1960s but not thereafter. All New World camelids showed apathy and abnormal behaviour, necessitating euthanasia. Histologically, severe non‐suppurative meningoencephalitis with neuronal Joest‐Degen inclusion bodies was observed. BoDV‐1 was confirmed by immunohistology, RT‐qPCR, and sequencing in selected animals. Analysis of the llama herd over 20 years showed that losses due to clinically suspected BD increased within the last decade. BoDV‐1 whole‐genome sequences from one Swiss llama and one German alpaca and—for comparison—from one Swiss horse and one German shrew were established. They represent the first published whole‐genome sequences of BoDV‐1 clusters 1B and 3, respectively. Our analysis suggests that New World camelids may have a role as a sentinel species for BoDV‐1 infection, even when symptomatic cases are lacking in other animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]