Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging arbovirus endemic in Latin America and the Caribbean that causes Oropouche fever, a febrile illness that clinically resembles some other arboviral infections. It is currently spreading through Brazil and surrounding countries, where, from 1 January to 1 August 2024, more than 8000 cases have been identified in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, and Peru and for the first time in Cuba. Travelers with Oropouche fever have been identified in the United States and Europe. A significant occurrence during this epidemic has been the report of pregnant women infected with OROV who have had miscarriages and stillborn fetuses with placental, umbilical blood and fetal somatic organ samples that were RT-PCR positive for OROV and negative for other arboviruses. In addition, there have been four cases of newborn infants having microcephaly, in which the cerebrospinal fluid tested positive for IgM antibodies to OROV and negative for other arboviruses. This communication examines the biology, epidemiology, and clinical features of OROV, summarizes the 2023–2024 Oropouche virus epidemic, and describes the reported cases of vertical transmission and congenital infection, fetal death, and microcephaly in pregnant women with Oropouche fever, addresses experimental animal infections and potential placental pathology findings of OROV, and reviews other bunyavirus agents that can cause vertical transmission. Recommendations are made for pregnant women travelling to the regions affected by the epidemic.
{"title":"Oropouche Virus (OROV) in Pregnancy: An Emerging Cause of Placental and Fetal Infection Associated with Stillbirth and Microcephaly following Vertical Transmission","authors":"David A. Schwartz, Pradip Dashraath, David Baud","doi":"10.3390/v16091435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091435","url":null,"abstract":"Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging arbovirus endemic in Latin America and the Caribbean that causes Oropouche fever, a febrile illness that clinically resembles some other arboviral infections. It is currently spreading through Brazil and surrounding countries, where, from 1 January to 1 August 2024, more than 8000 cases have been identified in Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, and Peru and for the first time in Cuba. Travelers with Oropouche fever have been identified in the United States and Europe. A significant occurrence during this epidemic has been the report of pregnant women infected with OROV who have had miscarriages and stillborn fetuses with placental, umbilical blood and fetal somatic organ samples that were RT-PCR positive for OROV and negative for other arboviruses. In addition, there have been four cases of newborn infants having microcephaly, in which the cerebrospinal fluid tested positive for IgM antibodies to OROV and negative for other arboviruses. This communication examines the biology, epidemiology, and clinical features of OROV, summarizes the 2023–2024 Oropouche virus epidemic, and describes the reported cases of vertical transmission and congenital infection, fetal death, and microcephaly in pregnant women with Oropouche fever, addresses experimental animal infections and potential placental pathology findings of OROV, and reviews other bunyavirus agents that can cause vertical transmission. Recommendations are made for pregnant women travelling to the regions affected by the epidemic.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caio Cesar L. B. Barrionuevo, Pedro P. A. Baptista, Ewerton F. da Silva, Bernardo M. da Silva, Cássia da L. Goulart, Sabrina A. de Melo, Valderjane A. da Silva, Lara Laycia A. de Souza, Rossicleia L. Monte, Fernando F. Almeida-Val, Pablo Vinícius S. Feitoza, Michele de S. Bastos
Human Herpesviruses (HHVs) play a significant role in neurological diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis, adding significant morbidity. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the effect of HHVs on patients with neurological symptoms, focusing on the Herpesviridae family’s contributions to central nervous system (CNS) infections. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 895 patients suspected of viral CNS infections, utilizing molecular diagnosis via qPCR to identify HHVs in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. This was conducted at a reference tertiary care hospital for infectious diseases in the western Brazilian Amazon from January 2015 to December 2022, focusing on the Herpesviridae family’s clinical repercussions and of Cytomegalovirus in CNS infections. Results: The findings revealed that 7.5% of the analyzed samples tested positive for HHVs, with Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) being the most prevalent. A significant association was found between HHVs and neurological diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis, especially among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), highlighting the opportunistic nature of these viruses. The study underscores the critical role of CSF analysis in diagnosing CNS infections and the complexity of managing these infections in HIV patients due to their immunocompromised status. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches and tailored treatment strategies for CNS infections in immunocompromised individuals. The study calls for ongoing research and advancements in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes facing CNS infections, particularly those caused by HHVs.
{"title":"Unveiling the Impact of Human Herpesviruses-Associated on CNS Infections: An Observational Study","authors":"Caio Cesar L. B. Barrionuevo, Pedro P. A. Baptista, Ewerton F. da Silva, Bernardo M. da Silva, Cássia da L. Goulart, Sabrina A. de Melo, Valderjane A. da Silva, Lara Laycia A. de Souza, Rossicleia L. Monte, Fernando F. Almeida-Val, Pablo Vinícius S. Feitoza, Michele de S. Bastos","doi":"10.3390/v16091437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091437","url":null,"abstract":"Human Herpesviruses (HHVs) play a significant role in neurological diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis, adding significant morbidity. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the effect of HHVs on patients with neurological symptoms, focusing on the Herpesviridae family’s contributions to central nervous system (CNS) infections. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 895 patients suspected of viral CNS infections, utilizing molecular diagnosis via qPCR to identify HHVs in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. This was conducted at a reference tertiary care hospital for infectious diseases in the western Brazilian Amazon from January 2015 to December 2022, focusing on the Herpesviridae family’s clinical repercussions and of Cytomegalovirus in CNS infections. Results: The findings revealed that 7.5% of the analyzed samples tested positive for HHVs, with Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) being the most prevalent. A significant association was found between HHVs and neurological diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis, especially among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), highlighting the opportunistic nature of these viruses. The study underscores the critical role of CSF analysis in diagnosing CNS infections and the complexity of managing these infections in HIV patients due to their immunocompromised status. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches and tailored treatment strategies for CNS infections in immunocompromised individuals. The study calls for ongoing research and advancements in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes facing CNS infections, particularly those caused by HHVs.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sabaparvin Shaikh, Michael Carpenter, Lisa Lin, Jasmine Rae Frost, Elizabeth McLachlan, Derek Stein, Paul Van Caeseele, Alberto Severini
Recent mumps outbreaks have been observed in vaccinated young adults due to the mumps virus (MuV) of genotype G, whereas the current vaccine is a mixture of two genotype A strains. These outbreaks could be attributed to waning vaccine immunity or the antigenic differences between the HN and F glycoproteins in the vaccine and circulating MuV. These glycoproteins are essential targets for the immune system, and antigenic variations may reduce the recognition of mumps antibodies, rendering the population susceptible to the MuV. We established stable cell lines expressing the MuV glycoproteins to study cross-reactivity between genotype A and genotype G. Cross-reactivity between the genotypes was evaluated via immunofluorescence using patient sera from vaccinated individuals, infected individuals, and vaccinated individuals infected with genotype G. Titer ratios showed that the vaccinated individuals exhibited a titer 3.68 times higher for the HN protein and 2.3 times higher for the F protein when comparing genotype A with genotype G. In contrast, the infected individuals showed a lower titer for genotype A compared with genotype G, at 0.43 and 0.33 for the HN and F proteins, respectively. No difference in titer ratio was observed for individuals vaccinated and subsequently infected with mumps. These findings suggest that antigenic variations between the two genotypes may potentially result in immune escape of the circulating strain, resulting in individuals susceptible to the MuV.
最近在接种疫苗的青壮年中发现了流行性腮腺炎疫情，这是由于基因型为 G 的流行性腮腺炎病毒（MuV）引起的，而目前的疫苗是两种基因型为 A 的毒株的混合物。这些疫情爆发的原因可能是疫苗免疫力下降或疫苗中的 HN 和 F 糖蛋白与流行的 MuV 之间存在抗原差异。这些糖蛋白是免疫系统的重要靶标，抗原变异可能会降低腮腺炎抗体的识别能力，使人群对 MuV 易感。我们建立了表达 MuV 糖蛋白的稳定细胞系，以研究基因型 A 和基因型 G 之间的交叉反应。滴度比显示，基因型 A 与基因型 G 相比，接种者的 HN 蛋白滴度高出 3.68 倍，F 蛋白高出 2.3 倍。接种疫苗和随后感染流行性腮腺炎的人的滴度比没有差异。这些研究结果表明，两种基因型之间的抗原变异可能会导致循环株的免疫逃逸，从而使个体对腮腺炎病毒易感。
{"title":"Serologic Cross-Reactivity between the Mumps Virus Vaccine Genotype A Strain and the Circulating Genotype G Strain","authors":"Sabaparvin Shaikh, Michael Carpenter, Lisa Lin, Jasmine Rae Frost, Elizabeth McLachlan, Derek Stein, Paul Van Caeseele, Alberto Severini","doi":"10.3390/v16091434","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091434","url":null,"abstract":"Recent mumps outbreaks have been observed in vaccinated young adults due to the mumps virus (MuV) of genotype G, whereas the current vaccine is a mixture of two genotype A strains. These outbreaks could be attributed to waning vaccine immunity or the antigenic differences between the HN and F glycoproteins in the vaccine and circulating MuV. These glycoproteins are essential targets for the immune system, and antigenic variations may reduce the recognition of mumps antibodies, rendering the population susceptible to the MuV. We established stable cell lines expressing the MuV glycoproteins to study cross-reactivity between genotype A and genotype G. Cross-reactivity between the genotypes was evaluated via immunofluorescence using patient sera from vaccinated individuals, infected individuals, and vaccinated individuals infected with genotype G. Titer ratios showed that the vaccinated individuals exhibited a titer 3.68 times higher for the HN protein and 2.3 times higher for the F protein when comparing genotype A with genotype G. In contrast, the infected individuals showed a lower titer for genotype A compared with genotype G, at 0.43 and 0.33 for the HN and F proteins, respectively. No difference in titer ratio was observed for individuals vaccinated and subsequently infected with mumps. These findings suggest that antigenic variations between the two genotypes may potentially result in immune escape of the circulating strain, resulting in individuals susceptible to the MuV.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stacey L. P. Scroggs, Dustin A. Swanson, Taylor D. Steele, Amy R. Hudson, Lindsey M. Reister-Hendricks, Jessica Gutierrez, Phillip Shults, Bethany L. McGregor, Caitlin E. Taylor, Travis M. Davis, Nadine Lamberski, Kristen A. Phair, Lauren L. Howard, Nathan E. McConnell, Nikos Gurfield, Barbara S. Drolet, Angela M. Pelzel-McCluskey, Lee W. Cohnstaedt
Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease that affects horses, cattle, and swine that is transmitted by direct contact and hematophagous insects. In 2023, a multi-state outbreak of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) occurred in California, Nevada, and Texas, infecting horses, cattle, and rhinoceros. To identify possible insect vectors, we conducted insect surveillance at various locations in San Diego County, CA, including at a wildlife park. CO2 baited traps set from mid-May to mid-August 2023 collected 2357 Culicoides biting midges and 1215 Simulium black flies, which are insect genera implicated in VSNJV transmission. Insects were pooled by species, location, and date, then tested for viral RNA. Nine RNA-positive pools of Culicoides spp. and sixteen RNA-positive pools of Simulium spp were detected. Infectious virus was detected by cytopathic effect in 96% of the RNA-positive pools. This is the first report of VSNJV in wild-caught C. bergi, C. freeborni, C. occidentalis, S. argus, S. hippovorum, and S. tescorum. The vector competency of these species for VSNJV has yet to be determined but warrants examination. Active vector surveillance and testing during disease outbreaks increases our understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of VS and informs vector control efforts.
{"title":"Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Detected in Biting Midges and Black Flies during the 2023 Outbreak in Southern California","authors":"Stacey L. P. Scroggs, Dustin A. Swanson, Taylor D. Steele, Amy R. Hudson, Lindsey M. Reister-Hendricks, Jessica Gutierrez, Phillip Shults, Bethany L. McGregor, Caitlin E. Taylor, Travis M. Davis, Nadine Lamberski, Kristen A. Phair, Lauren L. Howard, Nathan E. McConnell, Nikos Gurfield, Barbara S. Drolet, Angela M. Pelzel-McCluskey, Lee W. Cohnstaedt","doi":"10.3390/v16091428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091428","url":null,"abstract":"Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease that affects horses, cattle, and swine that is transmitted by direct contact and hematophagous insects. In 2023, a multi-state outbreak of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) occurred in California, Nevada, and Texas, infecting horses, cattle, and rhinoceros. To identify possible insect vectors, we conducted insect surveillance at various locations in San Diego County, CA, including at a wildlife park. CO2 baited traps set from mid-May to mid-August 2023 collected 2357 Culicoides biting midges and 1215 Simulium black flies, which are insect genera implicated in VSNJV transmission. Insects were pooled by species, location, and date, then tested for viral RNA. Nine RNA-positive pools of Culicoides spp. and sixteen RNA-positive pools of Simulium spp were detected. Infectious virus was detected by cytopathic effect in 96% of the RNA-positive pools. This is the first report of VSNJV in wild-caught C. bergi, C. freeborni, C. occidentalis, S. argus, S. hippovorum, and S. tescorum. The vector competency of these species for VSNJV has yet to be determined but warrants examination. Active vector surveillance and testing during disease outbreaks increases our understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of VS and informs vector control efforts.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elena Pomari, Andrea Matucci, Silvia Accordini, Rebeca Passarelli Mantovani, Natasha Gianesini, Antonio Mori, Concetta Castilletti
Background: Oropouche virus (OROV) is a segmented RNA virus belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus in the family Peribunyaviridae. Herein, an in-house droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay was used for the detection and quantification of OROV. Methods: The ddPCR reaction was assessed as duplex assay using the human housekeeping gene RPP30. Limit of detection (LoD) analysis was performed in whole blood, serum, and urine. The assay was executed on a total of 28 clinical samples (whole blood n = 9, serum n = 11, and urine n = 8), of which 16 specimens were tested positive at the routine molecular diagnostics (endpoint and real-time PCRs). Results: The LoD of the ddPCR performed using 10-fold serial dilution of OROV detected up to 1 cp/µL in all the biological matrices. Compared to the routine molecular diagnostics, the ddPCR assay showed 100% sensitivity for whole blood and serum and 75% for urine, highlighting higher positive rate of ddPCR. Conclusion: We have established a quantitative RNA detection method of OROV with high sensitivity and specificity based on ddPCR. This test is capable of quantitatively monitoring the viral load of OROV and can contribute, in addition to laboratory diagnosis, to shed light on the pathogenesis, filling in the knowledge gaps of this neglected disease and to the vector control programs.
{"title":"ddPCR for the Detection and Absolute Quantification of Oropouche Virus","authors":"Elena Pomari, Andrea Matucci, Silvia Accordini, Rebeca Passarelli Mantovani, Natasha Gianesini, Antonio Mori, Concetta Castilletti","doi":"10.3390/v16091426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091426","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Oropouche virus (OROV) is a segmented RNA virus belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus in the family Peribunyaviridae. Herein, an in-house droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay was used for the detection and quantification of OROV. Methods: The ddPCR reaction was assessed as duplex assay using the human housekeeping gene RPP30. Limit of detection (LoD) analysis was performed in whole blood, serum, and urine. The assay was executed on a total of 28 clinical samples (whole blood n = 9, serum n = 11, and urine n = 8), of which 16 specimens were tested positive at the routine molecular diagnostics (endpoint and real-time PCRs). Results: The LoD of the ddPCR performed using 10-fold serial dilution of OROV detected up to 1 cp/µL in all the biological matrices. Compared to the routine molecular diagnostics, the ddPCR assay showed 100% sensitivity for whole blood and serum and 75% for urine, highlighting higher positive rate of ddPCR. Conclusion: We have established a quantitative RNA detection method of OROV with high sensitivity and specificity based on ddPCR. This test is capable of quantitatively monitoring the viral load of OROV and can contribute, in addition to laboratory diagnosis, to shed light on the pathogenesis, filling in the knowledge gaps of this neglected disease and to the vector control programs.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
For nearly twenty years, gnotobiotic (Gn) pigs have been used as a model of human norovirus (HuNoV) infection and disease. Unique in their ability to develop diarrhea and shed virus post oral challenge, Gn pigs have since been used to evaluate the infectivity of several genogroup II HuNoV strains. Nearly all major pandemic GII.4 variants have been tested in Gn pigs, with varying rates of infectivity. Some induce an asymptomatic state despite being shed in large quantities in stool, and others induce high incidence of both diarrhea and virus shedding. Non-GII.4 strains, including GII.12 and GII.6, have also been evaluated in Gn pigs. Again, rates of diarrhea and virus shedding tend to vary between studies. Several factors may influence these findings, including age, dosage, biological host factors, or bacterial presence. The impact of these factors is nuanced and requires further evaluation to elucidate the exact mechanisms behind increases or decreases in infection rates. Regardless, the value of Gn pig models in HuNoV research cannot be understated, and the model will surely continue to contribute to the field in years to come.
近二十年来，非生物（Gn）猪一直被用作人类诺如病毒（HuNoV）感染和疾病的模型。Gn 猪具有独特的腹泻和口服病毒后脱落的能力，因此被用来评估几种基因组 II HuNoV 毒株的感染性。几乎所有主要的大流行 GII.4 变异株都在 Gn 猪身上进行过测试，其感染率各不相同。一些变异株尽管在粪便中大量脱落，但却会引起无症状状态，而另一些变异株则会引起高发病率的腹泻和病毒脱落。在 Gn 猪中还评估了非 GII.4 株系，包括 GII.12 和 GII.6。同样，腹泻率和病毒脱落率往往因研究而异。有几个因素可能会影响这些结果，包括年龄、剂量、生物宿主因素或细菌的存在。这些因素的影响是微妙的，需要进一步评估，以阐明感染率增减背后的确切机制。无论如何，Gn 猪模型在 HuNoV 研究中的价值不容低估，该模型在未来几年必将继续为该领域做出贡献。
{"title":"Virus Shedding and Diarrhea: A Review of Human Norovirus Genogroup II Infection in Gnotobiotic Pigs","authors":"Charlotte Nyblade, Lijuan Yuan","doi":"10.3390/v16091432","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091432","url":null,"abstract":"For nearly twenty years, gnotobiotic (Gn) pigs have been used as a model of human norovirus (HuNoV) infection and disease. Unique in their ability to develop diarrhea and shed virus post oral challenge, Gn pigs have since been used to evaluate the infectivity of several genogroup II HuNoV strains. Nearly all major pandemic GII.4 variants have been tested in Gn pigs, with varying rates of infectivity. Some induce an asymptomatic state despite being shed in large quantities in stool, and others induce high incidence of both diarrhea and virus shedding. Non-GII.4 strains, including GII.12 and GII.6, have also been evaluated in Gn pigs. Again, rates of diarrhea and virus shedding tend to vary between studies. Several factors may influence these findings, including age, dosage, biological host factors, or bacterial presence. The impact of these factors is nuanced and requires further evaluation to elucidate the exact mechanisms behind increases or decreases in infection rates. Regardless, the value of Gn pig models in HuNoV research cannot be understated, and the model will surely continue to contribute to the field in years to come.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142226354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giuliana Rosato, Grace Makanaka Makoni, Àlex Cobos, Marina Sibila, Joaquim Segalés, Hanna Marti, Barbara Prähauser, Frauke Seehusen
Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) has emerged as a significant pathogen affecting global swine populations, yet its epidemiology and clinical implications remain incompletely understood. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prevalence and histopathological features of PCV-3 infection in pigs from Switzerland, focusing on archival cases of suckling and weaner piglets presenting with suggestive lesions. An in-house qPCR assay was developed for detecting PCV-3 in frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, enhancing the national diagnostic capabilities. Histopathological reassessment identified PCV-3 systemic disease (PCV-3-SD) compatible lesions in 19 (6%) of archival cases, with 47% testing positive by qPCR across various organs. Notably, vascular lesions predominated, particularly in mesenteric arteries, heart, and kidneys. The study confirms the presence of PCV-3 in Switzerland since at least 2020, marking the first documented cases within the Swiss swine population. Despite challenges in in situ hybridization validation due to prolonged formalin fixation, the findings indicate viral systemic dissemination. These results contribute to the understanding of PCV-3 epidemiology in Swiss pigs, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance and further research on its clinical implications and interaction with host factors. Our study underscores the utility and limitations of molecular techniques in confirming PCV-3 infections.
{"title":"Retrospective Analyses of Porcine Circovirus Type 3 (PCV-3) in Switzerland","authors":"Giuliana Rosato, Grace Makanaka Makoni, Àlex Cobos, Marina Sibila, Joaquim Segalés, Hanna Marti, Barbara Prähauser, Frauke Seehusen","doi":"10.3390/v16091431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091431","url":null,"abstract":"Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) has emerged as a significant pathogen affecting global swine populations, yet its epidemiology and clinical implications remain incompletely understood. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prevalence and histopathological features of PCV-3 infection in pigs from Switzerland, focusing on archival cases of suckling and weaner piglets presenting with suggestive lesions. An in-house qPCR assay was developed for detecting PCV-3 in frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, enhancing the national diagnostic capabilities. Histopathological reassessment identified PCV-3 systemic disease (PCV-3-SD) compatible lesions in 19 (6%) of archival cases, with 47% testing positive by qPCR across various organs. Notably, vascular lesions predominated, particularly in mesenteric arteries, heart, and kidneys. The study confirms the presence of PCV-3 in Switzerland since at least 2020, marking the first documented cases within the Swiss swine population. Despite challenges in in situ hybridization validation due to prolonged formalin fixation, the findings indicate viral systemic dissemination. These results contribute to the understanding of PCV-3 epidemiology in Swiss pigs, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance and further research on its clinical implications and interaction with host factors. Our study underscores the utility and limitations of molecular techniques in confirming PCV-3 infections.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Chaves, Amro Hashish, Onyekachukwu Osemeke, Yuko Sato, David L. Suarez, Mohamed El-Gazzar
Avian influenza virus (AIV) is a significant threat to the poultry industry, necessitating rapid and accurate diagnosis. The current AIV diagnostic process relies on virus identification via real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Subsequently, the virus is further characterized using genome sequencing. This two-step diagnostic process takes days to weeks, but it can be expedited by using novel sequencing technologies. We aim to optimize and validate nucleic acid extraction as the first step to establishing Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) as a rapid diagnostic tool for identifying and characterizing AIV from clinical samples. This study compared four commercially available RNA extraction protocols using AIV-known-positive clinical samples. The extracted RNA was evaluated using total RNA concentration, viral copies as measured by rRT-PCR, and purity as measured by a 260/280 absorbance ratio. After NGS testing, the number of total and influenza-specific reads and quality scores of the generated sequences were assessed. The results showed that no protocol outperformed the others on all parameters measured; however, the magnetic particle-based method was the most consistent regarding CT value, purity, total yield, and AIV reads, and it was less error-prone. This study highlights how different RNA extraction protocols influence ONT sequencing performance.
{"title":"Evaluation of Commercial RNA Extraction Protocols for Avian Influenza Virus Using Nanopore Metagenomic Sequencing","authors":"Maria Chaves, Amro Hashish, Onyekachukwu Osemeke, Yuko Sato, David L. Suarez, Mohamed El-Gazzar","doi":"10.3390/v16091429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091429","url":null,"abstract":"Avian influenza virus (AIV) is a significant threat to the poultry industry, necessitating rapid and accurate diagnosis. The current AIV diagnostic process relies on virus identification via real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Subsequently, the virus is further characterized using genome sequencing. This two-step diagnostic process takes days to weeks, but it can be expedited by using novel sequencing technologies. We aim to optimize and validate nucleic acid extraction as the first step to establishing Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) as a rapid diagnostic tool for identifying and characterizing AIV from clinical samples. This study compared four commercially available RNA extraction protocols using AIV-known-positive clinical samples. The extracted RNA was evaluated using total RNA concentration, viral copies as measured by rRT-PCR, and purity as measured by a 260/280 absorbance ratio. After NGS testing, the number of total and influenza-specific reads and quality scores of the generated sequences were assessed. The results showed that no protocol outperformed the others on all parameters measured; however, the magnetic particle-based method was the most consistent regarding CT value, purity, total yield, and AIV reads, and it was less error-prone. This study highlights how different RNA extraction protocols influence ONT sequencing performance.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common eye disease associated with CMV infection in immunocompromised individuals. The CMVR may initially be asymptomatic; however, relatively mild vitreous inflammation at the onset may be an important differential point from other diseases in HIV patients. Fundus photography, CD4 T-cell count, and telemedicine could be used to screen and monitor the high-risk population, particularly in resource-limited regions. Retinitis generally starts in the peripheral retina and advances toward the posterior pole, which could develop to the characteristic “pizza pie” appearance marked by central retinal necrosis and intraretinal hemorrhage. CMVR causes vision loss if left untreated, and early antiviral therapy significantly reduces the risk of vision loss. Alongside traditional antiviral treatments, immunotherapies including CMV-specific adoptive T-cell therapy and CMV immunoglobulin (CMVIG) are emerging as promising treatment options due to their favorable tolerability and reduced mortality. This review comprehensively examines CMV retinitis, encompassing the clinical features, differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, and updated treatment strategies to inform clinical management.
巨细胞病毒（CMV）视网膜炎是免疫功能低下者感染 CMV 后最常见的眼病。CMVR 最初可能没有症状，但发病时相对轻微的玻璃体炎症可能是 HIV 患者与其他疾病鉴别的重要依据。眼底摄影、CD4 T 细胞计数和远程医疗可用于筛查和监测高危人群，尤其是在资源有限的地区。视网膜炎一般从周边视网膜开始，向后极发展，可发展成以视网膜中央坏死和视网膜内出血为特征的 "披萨饼 "外观。如果不及时治疗，CMVR 会导致视力丧失，而早期抗病毒治疗可显著降低视力丧失的风险。除了传统的抗病毒治疗外，包括 CMV 特异性收养 T 细胞疗法和 CMV 免疫球蛋白（CMVIG）在内的免疫疗法也因其良好的耐受性和较低的死亡率而成为有前景的治疗选择。这篇综述全面探讨了 CMV 视网膜炎，包括临床特征、鉴别诊断、实验室检查和最新的治疗策略，为临床治疗提供了参考。
{"title":"Cytomegalovirus Retinitis: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis and Treatment","authors":"Jing Zhang, Koju Kamoi, Yuan Zong, Mingming Yang, Yaru Zou, Miki Miyagaki, Kyoko Ohno-Matsui","doi":"10.3390/v16091427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091427","url":null,"abstract":"Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common eye disease associated with CMV infection in immunocompromised individuals. The CMVR may initially be asymptomatic; however, relatively mild vitreous inflammation at the onset may be an important differential point from other diseases in HIV patients. Fundus photography, CD4 T-cell count, and telemedicine could be used to screen and monitor the high-risk population, particularly in resource-limited regions. Retinitis generally starts in the peripheral retina and advances toward the posterior pole, which could develop to the characteristic “pizza pie” appearance marked by central retinal necrosis and intraretinal hemorrhage. CMVR causes vision loss if left untreated, and early antiviral therapy significantly reduces the risk of vision loss. Alongside traditional antiviral treatments, immunotherapies including CMV-specific adoptive T-cell therapy and CMV immunoglobulin (CMVIG) are emerging as promising treatment options due to their favorable tolerability and reduced mortality. This review comprehensively examines CMV retinitis, encompassing the clinical features, differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, and updated treatment strategies to inform clinical management.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142226353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bacteriophages have been proposed as biological controllers to protect plants against different bacterial pathogens. In this scenario, one of the main challenges is the low viability of phages in plants and under adverse environmental conditions. This work explores the use of 12 compounds and 14 different formulations to increase the viability of a phage mixture that demonstrated biocontrol capacity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) in kiwi plants. The results showed that the viability of the phage mixture decreases at 44 °C, at a pH lower than 4, and under UV radiation. However, using excipients such as skim milk, casein, and glutamic acid can prevent the viability loss of the phages under these conditions. Likewise, it was demonstrated that the use of these compounds prolongs the presence of phages in kiwi plants from 48 h to at least 96 h. In addition, it was observed that phages remained stable for seven weeks when stored in powder with skim milk, casein, or sucrose after lyophilization and at 4 °C. Finally, the phages with glutamic acid, sucrose, or skim milk maintained their antimicrobial activity against Psa on kiwi leaves and persisted within kiwi plants when added through roots. This study contributes to overcoming the challenges associated with the use of phages as biological controllers in agriculture.
{"title":"Evaluation of Different Formulations on the Viability of Phages for Use in Agriculture","authors":"Marcela León, Jorge Araya, Mauricio Nuñez, Manuel Arce, Fanny Guzmán, Carolina Yáñez, Ximena Besoain, Roberto Bastías","doi":"10.3390/v16091430","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091430","url":null,"abstract":"Bacteriophages have been proposed as biological controllers to protect plants against different bacterial pathogens. In this scenario, one of the main challenges is the low viability of phages in plants and under adverse environmental conditions. This work explores the use of 12 compounds and 14 different formulations to increase the viability of a phage mixture that demonstrated biocontrol capacity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) in kiwi plants. The results showed that the viability of the phage mixture decreases at 44 °C, at a pH lower than 4, and under UV radiation. However, using excipients such as skim milk, casein, and glutamic acid can prevent the viability loss of the phages under these conditions. Likewise, it was demonstrated that the use of these compounds prolongs the presence of phages in kiwi plants from 48 h to at least 96 h. In addition, it was observed that phages remained stable for seven weeks when stored in powder with skim milk, casein, or sucrose after lyophilization and at 4 °C. Finally, the phages with glutamic acid, sucrose, or skim milk maintained their antimicrobial activity against Psa on kiwi leaves and persisted within kiwi plants when added through roots. This study contributes to overcoming the challenges associated with the use of phages as biological controllers in agriculture.","PeriodicalId":501326,"journal":{"name":"Viruses","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142206892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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