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The article presents evidence of antibodies against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in various livestock species in Nigeria. The study screened 467 serum samples from cattle, goats, sheep, and camels collected between 2019-2020 in four Nigerian states. The results showed an overall seroprevalence of 37.7%, with the highest prevalence observed in camels from Kano State. The findings suggest that domestic animals in Nigeria may play a role in the epidemiology of the disease, highlighting the potential risk of human infection. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Animal rabies is a viral disease that poses a significant threat to domestic and wild animal populations, with devastating consequences for animal health and human life. Understanding and assessing the risk factors associated with the transmission and persistence of the rabies virus in wild and domestic animal populations is crucial for developing effective strategies to control and mitigate cases. Studies of the spatial and temporal distribution of rabies cases in the Nizhny Novgorod region during 2012-2022 provided epidemiological evidence of the circulation of infection between animals in the presence of vaccination. Among the wild animals in the area, red foxes play a major role in the spread of rabies, accounting for 96.4% of all wild animal cases. Methods: We used spatiotemporal cluster analysis and a negative binomial regression algorithm to study the relationships between animal rabies burden by municipality and a series of environmental and sociodemographic factors. Results: The spatiotemporal cluster analysis suggests the concentration of wild animal rabies cases in the areas of high fox population density and insufficient vaccination rates. The regression models showed satisfactory performance in explaining the observed distribution of rabies in different animals (R 2 = 0.71, 0.76, and 0.79 in the models for wild, domestic and all animals respectively), with rabies vaccination coverage and fox population density being among the main risk factors. Conclusion: We believe that this study can provide valuable information for a better understanding of the geographical and temporal patterns of rabies distribution in different animal species, and will provide a basis for the development of density-dependent planning of vaccination campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe zoonotic arboviral disease that occurs widely in Eastern and Western Europe, Asia and Africa. The disease is becoming of growing public health importance in Senegal. However, analysis of tick infestation, CCHF virus (CCHFV) circulation extent and risk factors during ongoing outbreak are scarce. A thorough outbreak investigation was carried out during a CCHF outbreak in Podor (Northern Senegal) in August 2022. Methods: Ticks and blood samples were collected from animals (cattle, goats and sheep) randomly selected from confirmed CCHF human cases houses, neighbourhoods and surrounding villages. Blood samples were tested for CCHFV antibodies using a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Tick samples were screened for CCHFV RNA by RT‐PCR. Results: Overall, tick infestation rate (TIR) and CCHFV seroprevalence of livestock were 52.12% (95% confidence interval (CI): 45.54%–58.64%) and 43.28% (95% CI: 36.33%–50.44%), respectively. The TIRs were 87.7% in cattle, 57.6% in sheep and 20.0% in goats. These rates were significantly associated with location, host species and tick control (p < 0.001) but not with animal age and sex (p > 0.7). CCHFV seroprevalence was 80.4% (95% CI: 67.57%–89.77%) in cattle, 35.4% (95% CI: 25.00%–47.01%) in sheep and 21.2% (95% CI: 12.11%–33.02%) in goats. Age, sex, location, animal host and presence of ticks were significantly associated to the presence of antibodies. The 950 ticks collected included among other species, Hyalomma impeltatum (48.84%) and H. rufipes (10.21%). Five pools of Hyalomma ssp. were found CCHFV RT‐PCR positive. These infected ticks included 0.86% (4/464) of H. impeltatum collected on cattle and sheep and 1.03% (1/97) of H. rufipes collected on a sheep. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the extend of tick infestation and CCHFV infection in livestock during an outbreak in Senegal. The results highlight the risk of human infections and the importance of strengthening vector, animal and human surveillance as well as tick control measures in this area to prevent CCHF infections in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For centuries, disease outbreak has posed a threat to livestock production. Corona virus disease, also known as COVID-19 is a novel disease that brought with it economic havoc and affected the livestock industry adversely. Animal Production and processing plants were heavily affected as a result of difficulty buying production inputs such as feed for animals, transportation of live animals including inter border crossing restrictions, assess to professional care, reduced workforce and decrease in supply of meat and meat products to the market. With the pandemic, importation and exportation of animals and livestock products were affected. There was reduction in the number of animals slaughtered daily and also a reduction in processing plant capacity across all species. Majority of workers in the livestock industry were infected with corona virus, which resulted to financial instability, loss of jobs as well as loss of animals. Better policies to reduce the economic loss through partial or full opening of both intra and interstate borders, providing funds to farmers, opening up processing plants and slaughtering houses will aid in cushioning the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livestock industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study was to analyse the hygienic suitability of wood often used in animal husbandry. To this end, the inactivation of viruses (Enterovirus E as a surrogate for non-enveloped viruses and Newcastle disease virus as a surrogate for enveloped viruses) on germ carriers consisting of various types of wood was studied over an extended period to assess the biosafety of wood as an agricultural building material. The study was designed to assess the intrinsic biocidal activity of the wood itself, without the use of a disinfectant. The laboratory tests were based on German test guidelines and current European standards. Five different types of wood germ carriers, i.e., spruce (Picea abies), pine (Pinus sylvestris), poplar (Populus sp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), as well as stainless-steel carriers, were inoculated with enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and stored for up to four months, and the remaining infectivity of the viruses was continuously assessed. The results showed that intact, finely sawn timber with a low depth of roughness had an inactivating effect on the viruses up to 7.5 decadal logarithmic levels. For the non-enveloped virus, inactivation was fastest on Douglas fir wood, with the target reduction for effective inactivation (reduction by factor 4.0 log10) being achieved after two weeks, and for the enveloped virus on pine wood, it was already achieved from the day of drying. The hygienic effects of the wood carriers may be due to their hygroscopic properties and wood constituents. These effects offer potential for further investigation, including tests with other wood species rich in extractives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging tick-borne viruses such as Powassan virus (POWV), Bourbon virus (BRBV), and Heartland virus (HRTV), whilst rare, can cause severe health problems in humans. While limited clinical cases have been reported thus far in Virginia, the presence of tick-borne viruses poses a serious health threat, and the extent of their prevalence in Virginia is unknown. Here, we sought evidence of POWV, BRBV, and HRTV exposure in Virginia via a serological assessment of wildlife and livestock. Wildlife in Virginia were found to be seropositive against POWV (18%), BRBV (8%), and HRTV (5%), with western and northern regions of the state having a higher prevalence. Multiple wildlife species were shown to have been exposed to each virus examined. To a lesser extent, cattle also showed exposure to tick-borne viruses, with seroprevalences of 1%, 1.2%, and 8% detected in cattle against POWV, BRBV, and HRTV, respectively. Cross-reactivity against other known circulating mosquito-borne flaviviruses was ruled out. In conclusion, there is widespread exposure to tick-borne viruses in western and northern Virginia, with exposure to a diverse range of animal populations. Our study provides the first confirmation that HRTV is circulating in the Commonwealth. These findings strengthen the existing evidence of emerging tick-borne viruses in Virginia and highlight the need for public health vigilance to avoid tick bites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a critical need for an inactivation method that completely inactivates pathogens at the time of sample collection while maintaining the nucleic acid quality required for diagnostic PCR testing. This inactivation method is required to alleviate concerns about transmission potential, minimize shipping complications and cost, and enable testing in lower containment laboratories, thereby enhancing disease diagnostics through improved turn-around time. This study evaluated a panel of 10 surrogate viruses that represent highly pathogenic animal diseases. These results showed that a commercial PrimeStore® molecular transport media (PSMTM) completely inactivated all viruses tested by >99.99%, as determined by infectivity and serial passage assays. However, the detection of viral nucleic acid by qRT-PCR was comparable in PSMTM and control-treated conditions. These results were consistent when viruses were evaluated in the presence of biological material such as sera and cloacal swabs to mimic diagnostic sample conditions for non-avian and avian viruses, respectively. The results of this study may be utilized by diagnostic testing laboratories for highly pathogenic agents affecting animal and human populations. These results may be used to revise guidance for select agent diagnostic testing and the shipment of infectious substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Commercial foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines have limitations, such as local side effects, periodic vaccinations, and weak host defenses. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel FMD vaccine by combining an inactivated FMD viral antigen with the small molecule isoprinosine, which served as an adjuvant (immunomodulator). Method: We evaluated the innate and adaptive immune responses elicited by the novel FMD vaccine involved both in vitro and in vivo using mice and pigs. Results: We demonstrated isoprinosine-mediated early, mid-term, and long-term immunity through in vitro and in vivo studies and complete host defense against FMD virus (FMDV) infection through challenge experiments in mice and pigs. We also elucidated that isoprinosine induces innate and adaptive (cellular and humoral) immunity via promoting the expression of immunoregulatory gene such as pattern recognition receptors [PRRs; retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I and toll like receptor (TLR)9], transcription factors [T-box transcription factor (TBX)21, eomesodermin (EOMES), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB)], cytokines [interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL- 23p19, IL-23R, and IL-17A)], and immune cell core receptors [cluster of differentiation (CD)80, CD86, CD28, CD19, CD21, and CD81] in pigs. Conclusion: These findings present an attractive strategy for constructing novel FMD vaccines and other difficult-to-control livestock virus vaccine formulations based on isoprinosine induced immunomodulatory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) that can infect domestic and wild animals. Although the RVFV transmission cycle has been well documented across Africa in savanna ecosystems, little is known about its transmission in tropical rainforest settings, particularly in Central Africa. We therefore conducted a survey in northeastern Gabon to assess RVFV circulation among wild and domestic animals. Among 163 wildlife samples tested using RVFV-specific RT-qPCR, four ruminants belonging to subfamily Cephalophinae were detected positive. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the four RVFV sequences clustered together with a virus isolated in Namibia within the well-structured Egyptian clade. A cross-sectional survey conducted on sheep, goats and dogs living in villages within the same area determined the IgG RVFV-specific antibody prevalence using cELISA. Out of the 306 small ruminants tested (214 goats, 92 sheep), an overall antibody prevalence of 15.4% (95% CI [11.5–19.9]) was observed with a higher rate in goats than in sheep (20.1% versus 3.3%). RVFV-specific antibodies were detected in a single dog out of the 26 tested. Neither age, sex of domestic animals nor season was found to be significant risk factors of RVFV occurrence. Our findings highlight sylvatic circulation of RVFV for the first time in Gabon. These results stress the need to develop adequate surveillance plan measures to better control the public health threat of RVFV. Author summary: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) that can affect wild and domestic animals. Although the RVFV transmission cycle has been well documented across Africa in savanna ecosystems, little is known about its transmission in tropical rainforests, especially in Central Africa. We thus conducted a survey in northeastern Gabon to assess RVFV circulation among wild and domestic animals. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time in Gabon the presence of the RVFV in two wildlife species (Peter's duiker Cephalophus callipygus and the blue duiker Philantomba monticola). In addition, we detected RVFV-specific antibodies in small domestic ruminants (sheep and goats) at an overall antibody prevalence of 15.4%, with a much higher seroprevalence rate in goats than sheep (20.1% versus 3.3%). Furthermore, RVFV-specific antibodies were also observed in a single (hunting) dog out of the 26 tested. These results stress the need to develop adequate surveillance plan measures to better control the public health threat of RVFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild species are susceptible to several typical domestic animal pathogens, and the increasingly close contact between these groups is a predictive factor for disease exposure. Some viruses are important and old-known, and others are emerging or reemerging for domestic carnivorans and have been identified as threats to the conservation of wild mammals. The purpose of the study was to investigate the occurrence of bocaparvoviruses (BoVs, Parvoviridae family, Parvovirinae subfamily, Bocaparvovirus genus), parvoviruses (Parvoviridae family, Parvovirinae subfamily, Protoparvovirus genus, Protoparvovirus carnivoran1), hepadnaviruses (Hepadnaviridae family), coronaviruses (Coronaviridae family, Orthocoronavirinae subfamily), paramyxoviruses (Paramyxoviridae family) and canine distemper virus (Orthoparamyxovirinae subfamily, Morbillivirus genus, Morbillivirus canis), poxviruses (Poxviridae family), feline herpesvirus (Orthoherpesviridae family, Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily, Varicellovirus genus, Varicellovirus felidalpha1), feline calicivirus (Caliciviridae family, Vesivirus genus, FCV), feline immunodeficiency virus (Retroviridae family, Orthoretrovirinae subfamily, Lentivirus genus, FIV), feline leukemia virus (Retroviridae family, Orthoretrovirinae subfamily, Gammaretrovirus genus, FeLV), and gammaherpesviruses (Orthoherpesviridae family, Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily) in wild carnivorans. A total of 30 biological samples from the families Canidae, Felidae, Mephitidae, Mustelidae, and Procyonidae were evaluated. All animals were victims of vehicular collisions in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Canine parvovirus (CPV-2) DNA was detected in the spleen of a bush dog (Speothos venaticus), a jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), and a jaguar (Panthera onca), FeLV proviral DNA was found in the spleen of an ocelot (Leopardus pardalis); while CDV RNA was detected in the liver of a jaguarundi. Phylogenetic analysis carried out with the partial sequence of the CPV-2 VP2 gene and the U3 (LTR) gag region of FeLV showed 100% identity with strains obtained from domestic dogs and cats, respectively. The approximation between wild and domestic animals favors the transmission of pathogens, especially between phylogenetically close species, such as members of the Canidae and Felidae families. Identification of the DNA and RNA of potentially fatal viruses such as CPV-2, FeLV, and CDV in four wilds endangered to extinction and understudied species contributes to our understanding of the pathogens circulating in this free-ranging and vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of viral diseases in animals are a cause of concern for animal welfare and economics of animal production. One way to disrupt the cycle of infection is by combating viruses in the environment and prohibiting them from being transmitted to a new host. Viral contamination of the environment can be reduced using well-tested and efficacious disinfectants. Duplalim is a commercially available disinfectant consisting of 12% glutaraldehyde and 10% quaternary ammonium compounds. We evaluated this disinfectant for its efficacy against several viruses in poultry (n = 3), pigs (n = 5), dogs (n = 2), and cattle (n = 4). In suspension tests, 1:100 dilution of Duplalim was found to inactivate more than 99% of these 14 viruses in 15 min or less. The titers of a majority of these viruses decreased by ≥99.99% in <60 min of contact time. In conclusion, the ingredient combination in Duplalim is very effective in inactivating common viruses of domestic animals and poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine enterovirus (BEV) infection is a common viral disease in cattle. Although the infection is often subclinical, it is among the possible causes of gastroenteritis. BEV infections have also been associated with respiratory and reproductive system disorders and signs of diarrhea. BEV is divided into two serotypes, enterovirus serotype E (EV-E) and enterovirus serotype F (EV-F). This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of EV-E in calves in Konya province. For this purpose, 504 BEV unvaccinated calf blood serum samples from the Selcuk University Veterinary Faculty Virology Department laboratory were used. A serum neutralization test (SNT) was used to determine EV-E seroprevalence. 342 (67.85%) samples were found to be seropositive, and 162 (32.14%) were seronegative. In addition, as the serum neutralization 50 (SN50) antibody titers of seropositive animals were examined, the titers determined as 1/10, 1/15 and 1/20. Among the results we obtained, the highest antibody titers were defined as 1/80 and 1/120; the total number of animals with these values was In conclusion, bovine enteroviruses are an infection of importance for cattle breeding. Therefore, necessary precautions must be taken to protection infection. It is thought that the results of the present study will provide important data for future studies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a significant pathogen that affects wild and domestic dogs globally, resulting in intricate pathological and epidemiological consequences, primarily observed in puppies, such as haemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis. This virus is categorized into three strains: CPV-2a (which replaced the original strain CPV-2), CPV-2b, and CPV-2c. The objective of this study was to determine the status of CPV-2 and its circulating variants in domestic dogs residing in the Morogoro and Arusha regions of Tanzania. Rectal swabs were collected from a total of 143 domestic dogs with gastroenteritis between 2020 and 2021. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the VP2 gene was used to detect canine parvovirus and its circulating variants. Out of 143 dogs, 10.48% tested positive for CPV-2. Five of the positive PCR products were sequenced using primers targeting the CPV-2b variant and showed nucleotide identities of 99.53% to 100% with other CPV-2 isolates deposited in GenBank from South Korea and China. This study documents the first detection of the CPV-2b variant in Tanzania using PCR and partial sequencing of the CPV-2 VP2 gene. The findings stand as significant milestone, shedding light on the global distribution of this variant of parvovirus. Further studies on the detection of circulating variants in other regions and characterization of the CPV-2 VP2 gene are recommended to aid strategic parvovirus infection preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, total of 32 ante-mortem (AM) samples (saliva = 18 and corneal smears = 14) from six animal species (cattle = 5; camel = 1; goat = 1; horse = 1; buffalo = 4; dog = 6) and 28 post-mortem (PM) samples of domestic (cattle = 6; camel = 1; goat = 1; buffalo = 5; dog = 7) and wild animals (lion = 4, mongoose = 2; bear = 1; leopard = 1) were examined for rabies diagnosis in Gujarat, India. Direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were applied on AM samples, whereas along with dFAT and RT-PCR, histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real time PCR (qPCR) were used for PM diagnosis. Nucleotide sequencing of full nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes were carried out upon representative amplicons. In AM examination, 7/18 saliva and 5/14 corneal impressions samples were found positive in dFAT and 8/18 saliva samples were found positive in RT-PCR. In PM examination, 14/28 samples showed positive results in dFAT and IHC with unusual large fluorescent foci in two samples. In histopathology, 11/28 samples showed appreciable lesion and Negri bodies were visible in 6 samples, only. Out of 23 brain samples examined. 12 samples were found positive in N gene RT-PCR and qPCR, and 10 samples in G gene RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of N gene revealed that test isolates (except sample ID: lion-1; lion, Gir) form a close group with sequence ID, KM099393.1 (Mongoose, Hyderabad) and KF660246.1 (Water Buffalo, Hyderabad) which was far from some south Indian and Sri Lankan isolates but similar to Indian isolates from rest of India and neighboring countries. In G gene analysis, the test isolates form a close group with sequence ID, KP019943.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heartland virus was first isolated in 2009 from two patients in Missouri and is transmitted by the Lone Star tick, Amblyomma americanum. To understand disease transmission and pathogenesis, it is necessary to develop an animal model which utilizes the natural route of transmission and manifests in a manner similar to documented human cases. Herein we describe our investigations on identifying A129 mice as the most appropriate small animal model for HRTV pathogenesis that mimics human clinical outcomes. We further investigated the impact of tick saliva in enhancing pathogen transmission and clinical outcomes. Our investigations revealed an increase in viral load in the groups of mice that received both virus and tick salivary gland extract (SGE). Spleens of all infected mice showed extramedullary hematopoiesis (EH), depleted white pulp, and absence of germinal centers. This observation mimics the splenomegaly observed in natural human cases. In the group that received both HRTV and tick SGE, the clinical outcome of HRTV infection was exacerbated compared to HRTV only infection. EH scores and the presence of viral antigens in spleen were higher in mice that received both HRTV and tick SGE. In conclusion, we have developed a small animal model that mimics natural human infection and also demonstrated the impact of tick salivary factors in exacerbating the HRTV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circoviruses are a group of small circular, single-stranded DNA viruses that belong to the family Circoviridae. They are known to infect a wide variety of animals. Rhizomys sinensis is a species of rodent that is the reservoir of many zoonotic pathogens. Our previous study identified many sequencing reads mapped to the genome of viruses in Circoviridae in R. sinensis. However, little is known about the circulation and genetic characterization of circoviruses in R. sinensis. This study identified three different circoviruses in samples from 195 R. sinensis. First, the bamboo rat circovirus is widely prevalent in R. sinensis in Guangdong Province, and all strains could be divided into three clades based on nucleotide substitutions at specific sites. Second, and more important, porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) was isolated for the first time from R. sinensis, which expanded the host range of PCV2 and indicated extra procedures would be required to protect livestock from this virus. Finally, a novel circovirus phylogenetically close to the dromedary stool-associated circular ssDNA virus was detected in 86 (44.1%) samples, which may represent a new circovirus species. These results not only expand our understanding of the circovirus diversity in rodents, particularly in R. sinensis, but also underscore the importance of continued surveillance of viruses in wildlife populations, particularly in rodents, to prevent and control the spread of zoonotic pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an important zoonotic disease transmitted to humans both by tick vectors and contact with fluids from an infected animal or human. Although animals are not symptomatic when infected, they are the main source of human infection. Uganda has reported sporadic human outbreaks of CCHF in various parts of the country since 2013. We designed a nationwide epidemiological study to investigate the burden of CCHF in livestock. A total of 3181 animals were sampled; 1732 cattle (54.4%), 1091 goats (34.3%), and 358 sheep (11.3%) resulting in overall livestock seropositivity of IgG antibodies against CCHF virus (CCHFV) of 31.4% (999/3181). Seropositivity in cattle was 16.9% and in sheep and goats was 48.8%. Adult and juvenile animals had higher seropositivity compared to recently born animals, and seropositivity was higher in female animals (33.5%) compared to male animals (24.1%). Local breeds had higher (36.8%) compared to exotic (2.8%) and cross breeds (19.3%). Animals that had a history of abortion or stillbirth had higher seropositivity compared to those without a history of abortion or stillbirth. CCHFV seropositivity appeared to be generally higher in northern districts of the country, though spatial trends among sampled districts were not examined. A multivariate regression analysis using a generalized linear mixed model showed that animal species, age, sex, region, and elevation were all significantly associated with CCHFV seropositivity after adjusting for the effects of other model predictors. This study shows that CCHFV is actively circulating in Uganda, posing a serious risk for human infection. The results from this study can be used to help target surveillance efforts for early case detection in animals and limit subsequent spillover into humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a public health problem worldwide, as it is an important food pathogen that humans can obtain from animals. The most common way to infect humans is by consuming contaminated, undercooked meat or raw meat from infected pigs. However, domestic cattle, small ruminants such as sheep and goats, and farm rabbits should not be underestimated as possible sources of HEV infection for humans. Many studies have detected HEV in milk from infected ruminants. Thus, the consumption of raw milk might lead to infection. Among livestock, chickens are susceptible to avian HEV, which can cause symptomatic disease but is not dangerous to humans. Avoiding eating undercooked meat from certain livestock species and following basic hygiene rules when in contact with animals that may be a source of HEV are effective preventive measures for hepatitis E in humans. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a public health problem worldwide and an important food pathogen known for its zoonotic potential. Increasing numbers of infection cases with human HEV are caused by the zoonotic transmission of genotypes 3 and 4, mainly by consuming contaminated, undercooked or raw porcine meat. Pigs are the main reservoir of HEV. However, it should be noted that other animal species, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and rabbits, may also be a source of infection for humans. Due to the detection of HEV RNA in the milk and tissues of cattle, the consumption of infected uncooked milk and meat or offal from these species also poses a potential risk of zoonotic HEV infections. Poultry infected by avian HEV may also develop symptomatic disease, although avian HEV is not considered a zoonotic pathogen. HEV infection has a worldwide distribution with different prevalence rates depending on the affected animal species, sampling region, or breeding system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nairobi sheep disease (NSD), caused by the viral agent NSD virus (NSDV), is a haemorrhagic fever disease affecting and inducing high mortality in sheep and goat populations. NSDV belongs to the genus Orthonairovirus of the Nairoviridae family from the order Bunyavirales. Other viruses circulating in livestock such as Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and Dugbe virus (DUGV) are members of the same genus and are reported to share antigenic features. There are very few available materials to study NSDV infection both in vitro and in vivo. In the present work, we characterised two monoclonal antibodies generated in mice that recognise NSDV specifically but not CCHFV or DUGV, along with a potential use to define virus-infected cells, using flow cytometry. We believe this tool can be useful for research, but also NSDV diagnostics, especially through immunological staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the success of oral rabies vaccination (ORV) campaigns in controlling fox-mediated rabies in Europe, with topics including the historical context, the implementation of ORV, and the progress made in different geographical regions. It mentions the European Union's ambitious goal to eliminate fox-mediated rabies by 2020 has seen a 74 present reduction in rabies incidence over the past 40 years through ORV programs.

Simple Summary: Enteric viruses cause gastroenteritis in humans and animals, but have also been associated with several extraintestinal diseases. These viruses affect a wide range of vertebrate species, including birds and mammals. Frequent and close contact between humans and animals can potentially lead to the emergence of zoonoses. Approximately 60% of zoonotic diseases in humans are spillovers from wildlife. Preventing future outbreaks of emerging zoonotic diseases calls for better description of the viruses that circulate in domestic animals, because they are located at the human/wildlife interface. We therefore screened for the presence of astroviruses, enteroviruses, and caliciviruses—three of the main viral families causing enteric diseases both in humans and animals—in goats, sheep and dogs living in villages in northeastern Gabon. We identified the presence of astroviruses in goats, a calicivirus in a dog, and enteroviruses in all three species. All detected viruses were animal-related, but not those from wildlife. However, we showed that some human-pathogenic enteroviruses infect goats and dogs. Therefore, further studies are required to better understand the role of domestic animals as amplifiers of reverse zoonotic viruses. Astroviruses (AstVs), enteroviruses (EVs), and caliciviruses (CaVs) infect several vertebrate taxa. Transmitted through the fecal–oral route, these enteric viruses are highly resistant and can survive in the environment, thereby increasing their zoonotic potential. Here, we screened for AstVs, EVs, and CaVs to investigate the role of domestic animals in the emergence of zoonoses, because they are situated at the human/wildlife interface, particularly in rural forested areas in Central Africa. Rectal swabs were obtained from 123 goats, 41 sheep, and 76 dogs in 10 villages located in northeastern Gabon. Extracted RNA reverse-transcribed into cDNA was used to detect AstVs, EVs, and CaVs by amplification of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), or capsid protein (VP1) gene using PCR. A total of 23 samples tested positive, including 17 goats for AstVs, 2 goats, 2 sheep, 1 dog for EVs, and 1 dog for CaVs. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that AstV RdRp sequences clustered with sheep-, goat-, or bovine-related AstVs. In addition, one goat and two sheep VP1 sequences clustered with caprine/ovine-related Evs within the Enterovirus G species, and the CaV was a canine vesivirus. However, human-pathogenic Evs, EV-B80 and EV-C99, were detected in goats and dogs, raising questions on the maintenance of viruses able to infect humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are thought to be the major cause of neonatal calf diarrhea worldwide. RVA-induced diarrhea in calves results in large economic losses to farmers in terms of treatment costs and reduced weight gain. Recent studies reveal that bovine RVA is caused predominantly by G6P[1] in China, G10P[11] in Japan, and G6P[5] in South Korea, Bangladesh, and Uruguay. In Vietnam, most RVA studies have been conducted in humans, with little information available for viruses in livestock. Therefore, for the first time, we performed a genetic analysis of RVAs prevalent in Vietnamese cows. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of G- and P-type bovine RVAs (BoRVAs) prevalent in Vietnam. Between 2017 and 2018, the prevalence of BoRVAs detected in diarrhea samples from 8 regions was as low as 1.9% (11/582). The prevalence of the G-type was 45.5% for G6 and 18.2% for G10; however, 36.3% remain unidentified. Interestingly, all BoRVAs were investigated as P[11], and there was no diversity within this P-type. Geographically, the G6 and G10 types were not identified in any specific area; rather, they occurred in both Northern and Southern Vietnam. G6P[11] and G10P[11], which are combined G- and P-types, were identified in 71.4% and 28.6% of BoRVA-positive samples, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the G6-type detected in Vietnamese cows is similar to strains derived from China, Japan, and Korea, whereas the G10 type is closely related to the Chinese strain. In addition, the P11 strain detected in Vietnamese cows is similar to the Spanish and Chinese strains. The BoRVA-positive rate was higher in cows aged less than 2 months (3.2%, 3/94) than in those aged 2 months or more (1.6%, 8/488). In summary, we detected the presence of G6P11 and G10P11 BoVRAs on Vietnamese cow farms, and found that they were more predominant in young calves than in older cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background - Rabies is an acute highly fatal communicable disease. Most of the death occurs due to lack of awareness about the urgency of local wound treatment & vaccination of the animal bite cases. Objective of the study - 1. To asses the knowledge of medical students regarding the human rabies. 2. To asses the knowledge on post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of rabies. Study Design - Cross-sectional study. Place of study - PRM Medical College, Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha. Study Subject - All the MBBS students of Phase - III Part-1 & Part-2 students of 2021 Batch. Study Instrument - A per-designed pretested questionnaires. Data analysis - It was analyzed with MS Excel. Result - Out of 157 study subjects all the students 100% know the disease Rabies and 96.82% know the causation agent of Rabies. Almost 86% had knowledge regarding the animals transmits the disease virus. About 96% subjects had knowledge of wound washing after animal bite. Around 97% had knowledge of post-exposure prophylaxis. 76% were aware of availability of various types of Vaccines & 74.5% had correct knowledge of vaccine regimen. 45% had answered correctly about the IM dose & 56% ID dose. Almost 92% had correct knowledge about dose of ERIG & 87% had HRIG. Only 78% had knowledge about per-exposure prophylaxis. ilonidal sinus over sacrococcygeal area is an acquired condition which affects young male adults usually. We did a retrospective chart review in the department of general surgery,Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences,Bhubaneswar, for patients who underwent limberg flap repair for pilonidal sinus from sept 2015 to sept 2021 (6 years and 8 months) .A total of 49 patients with 40 males and 9 females respectively, were operated and they had a minimal post operative pain,average post operative hospital stay of 6 days and early return to work in 3 weeks. Four out of 49 patients developed seroma,out of which 1 was lost to follow up .Remaining 3 took two weeks to heal with regular dressings and no recurrence so far .One patient developed stitch granuloma and was treated conservatively. Hence Limberg flap for sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus was found to be very useful in terms of post operative pain,infection rate,patient compliance,early return to work and almost nil recurrence rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period from 2019 to 2021, a total of 45 tissue samples were collected from pigs in Kerala and tested for the presence of porcine parvovirus (PPV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting NS1 gene of the virus. Of the samples tested, 4 (8.89 per cent) were found to be positive which was higher than the positivity reported for the virus in Kerala in 2016. Sequence analysis of the amplicons revealed a high degree of similarity to PPV sequences previously reported from India. Biosecurity measures should be adopted to control the spread of viral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigs are under constant threat from many infectious diseases and post-weaning multisystemic syndrome (PWMS) is one among them. The syndrome is caused by the Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) which belongs to the Circoviridae family. Because the symptoms of PCV2 infection and other porcine infectious illnesses, especially porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) overlap, diagnosis of the former based on clinical indicators could be challenging. A study was conducted to develop a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of PCV2 genotypes prevalent in Kerala. Primers and TaqMan probes based on the ORF2 nucleotide sequences of the PCV2 prevalent in Kerala were designed. On testing, it was observed that the TaqMan real-time PCR was not able to detect the PCV2genotypes prevalent in Kerala. However, the designed primers (but not the probe) were able to detect these genotypes. Hence, another TaqMan assay specific for detection of 2d was designed as that genotype was predominant in Kerala. The detection limit estimated using the cloned template was found to be 310 copies of the viral genome. The assay was more sensitive in detecting the virus compared to conventional PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken anaemia virus (CAV) is the aetiological agent of chicken infectious anaemia (CIA), an immunosuppressive disease, which brings a huge economic burden to the poultry industry globally. Concurrent infections and vaccination failures further aggravate the impact of the disease on the sector. The epidemiology of the disease and virulence of the circulating strains is to be known while formulating prevention strategies for any infectious disease. So far, there are no reports regarding the presence of CAV among poultry flocks in Kerala. In this scenario, the present study contemplated the investigation of the chicken anaemia virus using ELISA and PCR techniques. Indirect ELISA revealed the presence of CAV antibodies in 80 samples out of the 92 serum samples screened. Among the 100 samples collected from suspected cases, 29 were found to be positive for CAV infection with detection primers targeting the VP2 gene. This implies widespread distribution of the virus in Kerala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccination of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus needs the examination of the prevalent virus serotypes in the area. The current cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bahawalpur district of Punjab, Pakistan, with the purpose to determine the prevalence of FMD virus serotypes Asia 1, O and A in bovines. A total of 838 bovine sera samples were tested through Solid phase competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SPC-ELISA), based on structural proteins at the National Veterinary Laboratory (NVL), Islamabad from 10 January 2021 to 09 January 2022. The overall bovine population was carrying maximum seroprevalence of serotype O (28.52%) followed by serotype Asia 1 (23.63%) and serotype A (13.6%) in district Bahawalpur. Majority of the bovine population (50.26%) was detected seropositive for type O of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDv) followed by serotype Asia 1 with (37.17%) in tehsil Ahmedpur East and type A with 21.83% prevalence in tehsil Bahawalpur. Moreover, it was emphasized that seropositive cases of type O (42.88%), Asia 1(36.69%) and type A (21.33%) were significantly higher in vaccinated bovine group as compared to non-vaccinated bovine with (12.93%), (9.45%) and (5.22%) respectively across the district. More specifically the cow population was carrying maximum seroprevalence of type O with (60.55%) compared to buffalo with (36.58%). It was concluded that serotype O was more prevalent in district Bahawalpur followed by serotype Asia 1 and serotype A and cow population was found more susceptible than buffalo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a re-emerging zoonotic disease of domestic ruminants and humans. While neighbouring countries have reported outbreaks of RVF, Ghana has not yet identified any cases. The aim of this study was to determine whether RVF virus (RVFV) was circulating in livestock and herders in the southern part of Ghana, to estimate its seroprevalence, and to identify associated risk factors. The study surveyed 165 livestock farms randomly selected from two districts in southern Ghana. Serum samples of 253 goats, 246 sheep, 220 cattle, and 157 herdsmen were tested to detect IgG and IgM antibodies against RVFV. The overall seroprevalence of anti-RVF antibodies in livestock was 13.1% and 30.9% of farms had RVFV seropositive animals. The species-specific prevalence was 24.1% in cattle, 8.5% in sheep, and 7.9% in goats. A RVFV IgG seroprevalence of 17.8% was found among the ruminant herders, with 8.3% of all herders being IgM positive. RVFV was shown, for the first time, to have been circulating in southern Ghana, with evidence of a recent outbreak in Kwahu East; however, it was clinically undetected despite significant recent human exposure. A One Health approach is recommended to better understand RVF epidemiology and socio-economic impact in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimated the diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) and specificity (DSp) of an immunohistochemistry (IHC) protocol compared to the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT), which is the gold standard test for rabies diagnosis. We obtained brain samples from 199 domestic and wild animal cases (100 DFAT-negative, 99 DFAT-positive), by convenience sampling from 2 government-accredited rabies virus (RABV) testing laboratories in South Africa, between February 2015 and August 2017. Tissues that had been stored at 4–8°C for several days to weeks at the 2 accredited laboratories were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. Nighty-eight cases tested IHC-positive using a polyclonal anti-RABV nucleoprotein antibody and a polymer detection system. The overall DSe and DSp for the RABV IHC test were 98% (95% CI: 93–100%) and 99% (95% CI: 95–100%), respectively. Domestic dogs accounted for 41 of 98 RABV IHC–positive cases, with the remainder in 4 domestic cats, 25 livestock, and 28 wildlife. Herpestidae species, including 7 meerkats and 9 other mongoose species, were the most frequently infected wild carnivores, followed by 11 jackals. Three cases in domestic dogs had discordant test results; 2 cases were IHC–/DFAT+ and 1 case was IHC+/DFAT–. Considering the implications of a false-negative rabies diagnosis, participating in regular inter-laboratory comparisons is vital, and a secondary or confirmatory method, such as IHC, should be performed on all submitted specimens, particularly negative cases with human contact history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, the Brazilian Society for Virology promotes a national meeting during the second semester of the year. In October 2022, the 33rd meeting took place at Arraial da Ajuda, Porto Seguro, Bahia, in-person:.this was the first in-person meeting since 2019, as the 2020 and 2021 events occurred online due to the issues imposed by COVID-19. It was a great pleasure for the whole audience to return to an in-person event, which certainly improved the interactions between the attendees in all ways. As usual, the meeting involved massive participation of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc students, and several noteworthy international researchers were present. During five afternoons and evenings, attendees could discuss and learn about the most recent data presented by distinguished scientists from Brazil and other countries. In addition, young virology researchers from all levels could present their latest results as oral presentations and posters. The meeting covered all virology areas, with conferences and roundtables about human, veterinary, fundamental, environmental, invertebrate, and plant virology. The costs associated with attending the in-person event caused a slight reduction in the number of attendees compared to the two online events. However, even with this issue, the attendance was impressive. The meeting successfully achieved its most important goals: inspiring young and senior scientists and discussing high-quality, up-to-date virology research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of biosecurity in the swine industry, specifically in relation to the prevention and elimination of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The article highlights the significant economic losses caused by PRRS and emphasizes the need for advanced biosecurity approaches to prevent the introduction and spread of the virus. The article describes the evolution of biosecurity protocols in the swine industry, including the use of quarantine and testing, personnel shower-in procedures, decontamination of transport and farm supplies, air filtration, and feed mitigation. The article also discusses the challenges and variations in implementing biosecurity measures across farms and suggests conducting surveys and prioritizing elimination efforts based on farm location, biosecurity level, facility design, and economic benefit. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration and education among swine veterinarians to improve biosecurity practices and prevent the spread of PRRS. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the rapid spread of bluetongue disease in northwestern Europe despite the introduction of new vaccines. Topics include the disease's resurgence in the Netherlands and its spread to other European countries, the limited effectiveness of the new vaccines, and the significant economic and agricultural impacts of the outbreak.

Background and Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that attacks the respiratory and digestive tract. The SARS-CoV-2 showed systemic characteristics with various clinical symptoms from subclinical to fatal (causing death). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to occur from humans to pets (cats, dogs, tigers, ferrets, and poultry). Knowledge about the role of domestic animals in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans, and as reservoirs of this virus needs to be investigated further. This study aimed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, cows, birds, and bats that are often in contact with humans. Materials and Methods: A total of 157 samples, which included nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, along with sera samples from domestic animals such as cats, pigs, cows, birds, and bats, were taken from Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics, and farms around the Yogyakarta region. Detection of the virus was done using rapid detection of viral antigens, antibodies, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Results: The results showed that 5/157 (3.1%) samples found positive against the COVID-19 virus using a rapid antibody test; however, the results were negative on the rapid antigen and RT-PCR tests. Antibody-positive samples came from animals that had a history of household COVID-19 human infection. Conclusion: Thus, findings of the present study conclude that there is a potential for transmission of the COVID-19 virus between animals and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the most severe emerging infectious disease in the current century. The discovery of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoV-2) in bats and pangolins in South Asian countries indicates that SARS-CoV-2 likely originated from wildlife. To date, two SARSr-CoV-2 strains have been isolated from pangolins seized in Guangxi and Guangdong by the customs agency of China, respectively. However, it remains unclear whether these viruses cause disease in animal models and whether they pose a transmission risk to humans. In this study, we investigated the biological features of a SARSr-CoV-2 strain isolated from a smuggled Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) captured by the Guangxi customs agency, termed MpCoV-GX, in terms of receptor usage, cell tropism, and pathogenicity in wild-type BALB/c mice, human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-transgenic mice, and human ACE2 knock-in mice. We found that MpCoV-GX can utilize ACE2 from humans, pangolins, civets, bats, pigs, and mice for cell entry and infect cell lines derived from humans, monkeys, bats, minks, and pigs. The virus could infect three mouse models but showed limited pathogenicity, with mild peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration observed in lungs. Our results suggest that this SARSr-CoV-2 virus from pangolins has the potential for interspecies infection, but its pathogenicity is mild in mice. Future surveillance among these wildlife hosts of SARSr-CoV-2 is needed to monitor variants that may have higher pathogenicity and higher spillover risk. IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2, which likely spilled over from wildlife, is the third highly pathogenic human coronavirus. Being highly transmissible, it is perpetuating a pandemic and continuously posing a severe threat to global public health. Several SARSCoV-2-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoV-2) in bats and pangolins have been identified since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. It is therefore important to assess their potential of crossing species barriers for better understanding of their risk of future emergence. In this work, we investigated the biological features and pathogenicity of a SARSr-CoV-2 strain isolated from a smuggled Malayan pangolin, named MpCoV-GX. We found that MpCoV-GX can utilize ACE2 from 7 species for cell entry and infect cell lines derived from a variety of mammalian species. MpCoV-GX can infect mice expressing human ACE2 without causing severe disease. These findings suggest the potential of crossspecies transmission of MpCoV-GX, and highlight the need of further surveillance of SARSr-CoV-2 in pangolins and other potential animal hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Eastern roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is a small ruminant and is widespread across China. This creature plays an important role in our ecological system. Although a few studies have been conducted to investigate pathogens harbored by this species, our knowledge of the virus diversity is still very sparse. In this study, we conducted the whole virome profiling of a rescue-failed roe deer, which revealed a kobuvirus (KoV), a bocaparvovirus (BoV), and multiple circular single-stranded viruses. These viruses were mainly recovered from the rectum, but PCR detection showed systematic infection of the KoV. Particularly, the KoV and BoV exhibited closely genetic relationships with bovine and canine viruses, respectively, highly suggesting the spillover of viruses from domestic animals to wildlife. Although these viruses were unlikely to have been responsible for the death of the animal, they provide additional data to understand the virus spectrum harbored by roe deer. The transmission of viruses between domestic animals and wildlife highlights the need for extensive investigation of wildlife viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is a global pandemic of zoonotic origin that has affected more than 620 million people and is caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. This is a compilation of recent literature on the characteristics, genome, epidemiology, transmission, interspecies transmission, interspecies barrier jumping, genetic characteristics and evolutionary potential of this virus. Some evidence suggests that the virus uses ACE2 to infect various wild animals such as bats, ferrets, pangolins, monkeys, mink, snakes, tigers and lions; and domestic animals such as cats, dogs, cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigeons. However, they can jump the species barrier and infect humans. In addition, coronaviruses can adapt to any ecosystem, especially in wild environments, where they can be maintained through a transmission network in various wild and domestic animals, but they can break paradigms at any time. SARS-CoV-2 has caused a great impact on health systems and economies on all continents, but it is also causing radical damage, changes in habits and common lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis is suppressed by pro-inflammatory mediators in systemic disease, which affects the thyroid hormone level. Canine parvovirus is one of the important infectious diseases which causes profound morbidity as well as mortality in dogs. It is found that canine parvovirus infection can result in non-thyroidal sickness syndrome. The relation between thyroid pathology and canine parvovirus infection will pave the way for therapeutic and preventive measures for this infectious disease. This study was conducted on 61 dog carcasses brought to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode during one year period. Among 61 cases, nine were found to be positive for canine parvovirus which constitutes an incidence of 14.75 per cent. Analysis of gross and histopathological lesions in canine parvovirus positive cases was the goal of this investigation. The gross lesions observed were paleness and nodular growth and histopathological lesions encountered were lymphocytic thyroiditis, colloidal goiter, c cell hyperplasia, severe fibrotic changes and neoplastic lesions. Further research is required to understand the pathophysiology of the euthyroid sick syndrome in canine parvoviral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats with as high as 90% morbidity and 80% mortality rates. Although, its substantial economic consequences are reported in goats worldwide, there are currently little information regarding abortion cases in PPR endemic areas in Nigeria. This study investigated occurrences of abortion among PPR infected goats in Yola North and Askira Uba local government areas of Adamawa and Borno States respectively. The study involved analysis of clinical case records of two thousand Sahel goats (n = 2000) procured as part of a livestock restocking program by a government agency. The goats were purchased from local markets and held in quarantine for 2 weeks during which PPR infection was monitored. In the study, a fast spreading infection characterized by severe dehydration, respiratory difficulty, pyrexia, depression, anorexia, nasal and ocular discharges and death of many infected goats informed a suspicion of PPR infection. The number of abortions, mortality and age of the animals were recorded during the investigation. Data were organized in a 2×2 contingency table and analyzed using Chi-square. The overall mortality in both populations was 42% and the occurrence of abortion was 1% and 3% in Yola North and Askira Uba holding sites respectively. The proportion of abortions did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between both populations but there was a positive association indicated as r = 0.4264 and 0.4638 between the occurrence of abortion and mortality in Yola North and Askira Uba holding sites respectively. In addition, the severity in clinical manifestation of the disease appeared higher in younger goats (< 1 years) than the adult ones. These findings suggest that PPR infection could be associated with abortions in goat flocks found in these PPR endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the spread of the avian influenza A-H5N1 virus (clade 2.3.4.4b), which has infected millions of birds, mammals, and some humans, and recently spilled over into cattle in the U.S.

Background: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) is a positive-sense RNA virus of the family of the picornaviridæ that is responsible for one of the livestock diseases with the highest economic impact, the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). FMD is endemic in Rwanda but there are gaps in knowing its seroprevalence and molecular epidemiology. This study reports the FMD seroprevalence and molecular characterization of FMDV in Eastern Rwanda. Results: The overall seroprevalence of FMD in the study area is at 9.36% in cattle and 2.65% in goats. We detected FMDV using molecular diagnostic tools such as RT-PCR and RT-LAMP and the phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences revealed the presence of FMDV serotype SAT 2, lineage II. Sequencing of the oropharyngeal fluid samples collected from African buffaloes revealed the presence of Prevotela ruminicola, Spathidium amphoriforme, Moraxella bovoculi Onchocerca flexuosa, Eudiplodinium moggii, Metadinium medium and Verrucomicrobia bacterium among other pathogens but no FMDV was detected in African buffaloes. Conclusions: We recommend further studies to focus on sampling more African buffaloes since the number sampled was statistically insignificant to conclusively exclude the presence or absence of FMDV in Eastern Rwanda buffaloes. The use of RT-PCR alongside RT-LAMP demonstrates that the latter can be adopted in endemic areas such as Rwanda to fill in the gaps in terms of molecular diagnostics. The identification of lineage II of SAT 2 in Rwanda for the first time shows that the categorised FMDV pools as previously established are not static over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the host pathways that define susceptibility to Severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and disease are essential for the design of new therapies. Oxygen levels in the microenvironment define the transcriptional landscape, however the influence of hypoxia on virus replication and disease in animal models is not well understood. In this study, we identify a role for the hypoxic inducible factor (HIF) signalling axis to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection, epithelial damage and respiratory symptoms in the Syrian hamster model. Pharmacological activation of HIF with the prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor FG-4592 significantly reduced infectious virus in the upper and lower respiratory tract. Nasal and lung epithelia showed a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 RNA and nucleocapsid expression in treated animals. Transcriptomic and pathological analysis showed reduced epithelial damage and increased expression of ciliated cells. Our study provides new insights on the intrinsic antiviral properties of the HIF signalling pathway in SARS-CoV-2 replication that may be applicable to other respiratory pathogens and identifies new therapeutic opportunities. Author summary: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is a global health challenge. While multiple public health approaches including mass vaccination are needed to bring the pandemic under control, there is an urgent need to understand the biology of this virus. This is of particular importance as we learn to live with SARS-CoV-2 as a new endemic disease in the post-vaccine era. Although COVID-19 is mild in most cases, a defining feature of severe disease is systemic low oxygen levels or hypoxaemia. Mammalian cells adapt to low oxygen through an orchestrated transcriptional response regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). We previously identified a role for HIFs to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in simple culture systems in the laboratory. We now show that a licensed drug targeting the HIF prolyl hydroxylases inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in the Golden Syrian hamster model of infection and ongoing research is investigating the mechanisms responsible for restricting viral replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory disease is one of the most important causes of economic loss in swine production. In the USA, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and influenza A virus (IAV) are currently the top two primary viruses causing swine respiratory diseases. The commonly used PCR-based virus detection methods require virus extraction, nucleic acid purification, and detection, which are relatively time-consuming and expensive. This work reports an integrated magneto-opto-fluidic (iMOF) platform, in which antibody functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can enable efficient enrichment of multiple swine respiratory viruses and a photonic crystal (PC) biosensor can transduce the amount of captured MNP–virus nanoparticles to the change of their reflection signatures. Owing to the high refractive index of Fe2O3 MNPs, the use of MNPs can significantly enhance the PC sensor output. The proof-of-concept validation involves using antibody-functionalized MNPs to recognize IAV and PRRSV and transferring the formed MNP–virus conjugates onto the surface of the PC biosensors to quantify these viruses. The iMOF platform offers a high sensitivity of 3.5 TCID50 mL−1 and 5.9 TCID50 mL−1 for detecting IAV and PRRSV, respectively, and a rapid turnaround within one hour, including the MNP–virus conjugation, enrichment, and detection. The on-chip virus platform has a great potential for in-field surveillance of viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a pathogenic human and livestock RNA virus that poses a significant threat to public health and biosecurity. During RVFV infection, the atypical kinase RIOK3 plays important roles in the innate immune response. Although its exact functions in innate immunity are not completely understood, RIOK3 has been shown to be necessary for mounting an antiviral interferon (IFN) response to RVFV in epithelial cells. Furthermore, after immune stimulation, the splicing pattern for RIOK3 mRNA changes markedly, and RIOK3′s dominant alternatively spliced isoform, RIOK3 X2, exhibits an opposite effect on the IFN response by dampening it. Here, we further investigate the roles of RIOK3 and its spliced isoform in other innate immune responses to RVFV, namely the NFκB-mediated inflammatory response. We find that while RIOK3 is important for negatively regulating this inflammatory pathway, its alternatively spliced isoform, RIOK3 X2, stimulates it. Overall, these data demonstrate that both RIOK3 and its X2 isoform have unique roles in separate innate immune pathways that respond to RVFV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]