scholarly journals Report on the First African Swine Fever Case in Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Georgia D. Brellou ◽  
Panagiotis D. Tassis ◽  
Emmanouela P. Apostolopoulou ◽  
Paschalis D. Fortomaris ◽  
Leonidas S. Leontides ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Infection ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Diagnostic Investigation ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Fever Case ◽  
Lymph Node Enlargement ◽  
Regional Unit ◽  
Loss Of Appetite ◽  
Emergency Measures

African swine fever (ASF) poses a major threat to swine health and welfare worldwide. After several European countries have reported cases of ASF, Greece confirmed officially the first positive case on 5 February 2020. The owner of a backyard farm in Nikoklia, a village in Serres regional unit, Central Macedonia, reported a loss of appetite, weakness, dyspnea, and the sudden death of 6 domestic pigs. Necropsy was performed in one gilt and findings were compatible with acute to subacute septicemic disease. Predominantly, hyperemic enlargement of spleen and lymph node enlargement and/or hemorrhage were observed. Description of vague clinical signs by the farmer suggested a limited resemblance to ASF-acute infection. However, the disease could not be ruled out once septicemic condition including splenomegaly, was diagnosed macroscopically at necropsy. In addition, considering the farm’s location near to ASF protection zones, a further diagnostic investigation followed. Confirmation of the disease was obtained using a series of diagnostic tests on several tissue samples. Further clinical, molecular, and epidemiologic evaluation of the farm was performed. According to the contingency plan, authorities euthanized all 31 pigs on the farm, whilst blood testing revealed ASF virus infection. Further emergency measures were implemented to contain the spread of the disease.

scholarly journals Pathogenicity of an African swine fever virus strain isolated in Vietnam and alternative diagnostic specimens for early detection of viral infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu Suk Lee ◽  
Vuong Nghia Bui ◽  
Duy Tung Dao ◽  
Ngoc Anh Bui ◽  
Thanh Duy Le ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Oral Fluid ◽  
African Swine Fever Virus ◽  
Fluid Collection ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Specimen Collection

Abstract Background African swine fever (ASF), caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), was first reported in Vietnam in 2019 and spread rapidly thereafter. Better insights into ASFV characteristics and early detection by surveillance could help control its spread. However, the pathogenicity and methods for early detection of ASFV isolates from Vietnam have not been established. Therefore, we investigated the pathogenicity of ASFV and explored alternative sampling methods for early detection. Results Ten pigs were intramuscularly inoculated with an ASFV strain from Vietnam (titer, 103.5 HAD50/mL), and their temperature, clinical signs, and virus excretion patterns were recorded. In addition, herd and environmental samples were collected daily. The pigs died 5–8 days-post-inoculation (dpi), and the incubation period was 3.7 ± 0.5 dpi. ASFV genome was first detected in the blood (2.2 ± 0.8) and then in rectal (3.1 ± 0.7), nasal (3.2 ± 0.4), and oral (3.6 ± 0.7 dpi) swab samples. ASFV was detected in oral fluid samples collected using a chewed rope from 3 dpi. The liver showed the highest viral loads, and ear tissue also exhibited high viral loads among 11 tissues obtained from dead pigs. Overall, ASFV from Vietnam was classified as peracute to acute form. The rope-based oral fluid collection method could be useful for early ASFV detection and allows successful ASF surveillance in large pig farms. Furthermore, ear tissue samples might be a simple alternative specimen for diagnosing ASF infection in dead pigs. Conclusions Our data provide valuable insights into the characteristics of a typical ASFV strain isolated in Vietnam and suggest an alternative, non-invasive specimen collection strategy for early detection.

scholarly journals Live Attenuated African Swine Fever Viruses as Ideal Tools to Dissect the Mechanisms Involved in Cross-Protection

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1474
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Lopez ◽  
Juanita van Heerden ◽  
Laia Bosch-Camós ◽  
Francesc Accensi ◽  
Maria Jesus Navas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
African Swine Fever Virus ◽  
Virulent Strain ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Cross Protection ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Genotype I ◽  
Genotype Ii

African swine fever (ASF) has become the major threat for the global swine industry. Furthermore, the epidemiological situation of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in some endemic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa is worse than ever, with multiple virus strains and genotypes currently circulating in a given area. Despite the recent advances on ASF vaccine development, there are no commercial vaccines yet, and most of the promising vaccine prototypes available today have been specifically designed to fight the genotype II strains currently circulating in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Previous results from our laboratory have demonstrated the ability of BA71∆CD2, a recombinant LAV lacking CD2v, to confer protection against homologous (BA71) and heterologous genotype I (E75) and genotype II (Georgia2007/01) ASFV strains, both belonging to same clade (clade C). Here, we extend these results using BA71∆CD2 as a tool trying to understand ASFV cross-protection, using phylogenetically distant ASFV strains. We first observed that five out of six (83.3%) of the pigs immunized once with 106 PFU of BA71∆CD2 survived the tick-bite challenge using Ornithodoros sp. soft ticks naturally infected with RSA/11/2017 strain (genotype XIX, clade D). Second, only two out of six (33.3%) survived the challenge with Ken06.Bus (genotype IX, clade A), which is phylogenetically more distant to BA71∆CD2 than the RSA/11/2017 strain. On the other hand, homologous prime-boosting with BA71∆CD2 only improved the survival rate to 50% after Ken06.Bus challenge, all suffering mild ASF-compatible clinical signs, while 100% of the pigs immunized with BA71∆CD2 and boosted with the parental BA71 virulent strain survived the lethal challenge with Ken06.Bus, without almost no clinical signs of the disease. Our results confirm that cross-protection is a multifactorial phenomenon that not only depends on sequence similarity. We believe that understanding this complex phenomenon will be useful for designing future vaccines for ASF-endemic areas.

scholarly journals African Swine Fever Laboratory Diagnosis—Lessons Learned from Recent Animal Trials

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Jutta Pikalo ◽  
Paul Deutschmann ◽  
Melina Fischer ◽  
Hanna Roszyk ◽  
Martin Beer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Swine Fever Virus ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Passive Surveillance ◽  
Animal Trials ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
The Impact

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a hemorrhagic disease in pigs with high socio-economic consequences. To lower the impact of disease incursions, early detection is crucial. In the context of experimental animal trials, we evaluated diagnostic workflows for a high sample throughput in active surveillance, alternative sample matrices for passive surveillance, and lateral flow devices (LFD) for rapid testing. We could demonstrate that EDTA blood is significantly better suited for early ASFV detection than serum. Tissues recommended by the respective diagnostic manuals were in general comparable in their performance, with spleen samples giving best results. Superficial lymph nodes, ear punches, and different blood swabs were also evaluated as potential alternatives. In summary, all matrices yielded positive results at the peak of clinical signs and could be fit for purpose in passive surveillance. However, weaknesses were discovered for some matrices when it comes to the early phase of infection or recovery. The antigen LFD showed variable results with best performance in the clinical phase. The antibody LFD was quite comparable with ELISA systems. Concluding, alternative approaches are feasible but have to be embedded in control strategies selecting test methods and sample materials following a “fit-for-purpose” approach.

Histopathologic lesions in conventional pigs experimentally infected with Haemophilus parasuis serovar 5

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (02) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.-L. Austin-Busse ◽  
A. Ladinig ◽  
G. Balka ◽  
S. Zoels ◽  
M. Ritzmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Haemophilus Parasuis ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Group A ◽  
Pathologic Lesions ◽  
Group B ◽  
Kidney Lesions ◽  
Challenge Group

Summary Objective: In the present study various tissues of pigs were investigated for the presence of histopathologic lesions after an experimental infection with Haemophilus (H.) parasuis serovar 5. Material and methods: Conventional pigs (n = 36) were divided into a control group B (n = 9) and a challenge group A (n = 27), which was infected intratracheally. Pigs that did not die prior to study termination were euthanized on day 14 post inoculation. Postmortem samples of the lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, left tarsal joint capsule and brain were collected. Results: All but one pig with detectable histopathologic lesions (n = 11) showed typical macroscopic changes. Histopatho logic examination of all tissue samples identified pyelitis (n = 10), synovitis (n = 7) and meningitis (n = 7) and all those animals were euthanized prior to study termination. No histopathologic lesions were found in pigs of the control group. The correlations between pyelitis and meningitis, pyelitis and synovitis and synovitis and meningitis were significant (p < 0.001). No significant correlation could be observed between the histopathologic and the clinical examination of the joints. The investigation of samples from the joints by PCR was not significantly correlated with the observed synovitis. The clinical observation of neurologic signs was significantly correlated with meningitis (p = 0.03). A significant correlation (p < 0.001) could be detected between meningitis and the detection of H. parasuis by PCR in brain samples. Conclusions: H. parasuis constantly causes clinical signs and pathologic lesions as soon as it infects the brain while it can infect the joints without causing histopathologic lesions. Pigs with histopathologic lesions do not always show typical clinical signs. Only few studies described the finding of kidney lesions in pigs with Glässer’s disease and this is the first study to describe a pyelitis in pigs experimentally infected with H. parasuis. The observed pyelitis mainly occurred in acute cases.

scholarly journals Deletion of the L7L-L11L Genes Attenuates ASFV and Induces Protection against Homologous Challenge

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Jingyuan Zhang ◽  
Yanyan Zhang ◽  
Teng Chen ◽  
Jinjin Yang ◽  
Huixian Yue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Swine Fever Virus ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Swine Industry ◽  
Epidemic Disease ◽  
Intramuscular Inoculation ◽  
Homologous Challenge

African swine fever (ASF), caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a major epidemic disease endangering the swine industry. Although a number of vaccine candidates have been reported, none are commercially available yet. To explore the effect of unknown genes on the biological characteristics of ASFV and the possibility of a gene-deleted isolate as a vaccine candidate, the strain SY18ΔL7-11, with deletions of L7L–L11L genes from ASFV SY18, was constructed, and its biological properties were analyzed. The results show that deletion of genes L7L-L11L did not affect replication of the virus in vitro. Virulence of SY18△L7-11 was significantly reduced, as 11 of the 12 pigs survived for 28 days after intramuscular inoculation with a low dose (103 TCID50) or a high dose (106 TCID50) of SY18ΔL7-11. All 11 surviving pigs were completely protected against challenge with the parental ASFV SY18 on 28 days postinoculation (dpi). Transient fever and/or irregularly low levels of genomic DNA in the blood were monitored in some pigs after inoculation. No ASF clinical signs or viremia were monitored after challenge. Antibodies to ASFV were induced in all pigs from 14 to 21 days postinoculation. IFN-γ was detected in most of the inoculated pigs, which is usually inhibited in ASFV-infected pigs. Overall, the results demonstrate that SY18ΔL7-11 is a candidate for further constructing safer vaccine(s), with better joint deletions of other gene(s) related to virulence.

Some skin conditions in pigs: types, control and prevention

Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 300-308
Author(s):  
John Carr ◽  
Mark Howells ◽  
William Hersey
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Careful Clinical Examination ◽  
Welfare Problem ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Veterinary Surgeon ◽  
Skin Conditions

Skin conditions in pigs are common problems presented to the veterinary surgeon. A careful clinical examination, especially considering the age of the pig and the distribution of the lesions, all aids making an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Pain management is essential in clinical management. Sarcoptic mange is a condition that can be eliminated from pigs and should be considered a welfare problem. Ear necrosis and trauma injuries can be particularly problematic and must be treated aggressively. African swine fever (ASF) presents with a range of clinical signs including skin lesions, and all veterinary surgeons must be able to put ASF as a differential where appropriate.

Haematogenous osteomyelitis: clinical presentation and outcome in three dogs

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (02) ◽  
pp. 146-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rabillard ◽  
L. Souchu ◽  
G. W. Niebauer ◽  
O. Gauthier
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Pelvic Abscess ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Diagnostic Investigation ◽  
Pathological Fractures ◽  
Surgical Biopsy ◽  
Biopsy Specimens ◽  
Haematogenous Osteomyelitis

SummaryHaematogenous osteomyelitis is a rare form of bone infection in adult dogs. Most commonly the infection is iatrogenic or traumatic in origin. The authors report three different presentations of haematogenous osteomyelitis: a focal pelvic localisation in a growing dog, a vertebral lesion in an adult dog with associated neurological signs and a multifocal affection in another adult dog with concomitant pathological fractures.Clinical signs included pyrexia of undetermined origin, focal pain and lameness. Diagnostic investigation included radiographic imaging, bone scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, surgical biopsy, and bacteriological culture with sensitivity testing of biopsy specimens as well as of peripheral blood samples. Treatment consisted of long-term antimicrobial therapy and surgical debridement with curettage of the pelvic abscess of the young dog and decompressive hemilaminectomy of the second dog, with excellent recovery. The dog affected by polyostotic bone involvement and suffering pathological fractures was euthanatized.Haematogenous osteomyelitis may be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and may present as a devastating skeletal condition, even in adult dogs, and should be considered amongst the differential diagnoses early on to allow effective treatment.

scholarly journals Experimental infection of domestic dogs and cats with SARS-CoV-2: Pathogenesis, transmission, and response to reexposure in cats

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (42) ◽  
pp. 26382-26388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Bosco-Lauth ◽  
Airn E. Hartwig ◽  
Stephanie M. Porter ◽  
Paul W. Gordy ◽  
Mary Nehring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibody Response ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Vaccine Strategy ◽  
Animal Reservoir ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
Contact Transmission ◽  
Infection Resistance

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has reached nearly every country in the world with extraordinary person-to-person transmission. The most likely original source of the virus was spillover from an animal reservoir and subsequent adaptation to humans sometime during the winter of 2019 in Wuhan Province, China. Because of its genetic similarity to SARS-CoV-1, it is probable that this novel virus has a similar host range and receptor specificity. Due to concern for human–pet transmission, we investigated the susceptibility of domestic cats and dogs to infection and potential for infected cats to transmit to naive cats. We report that cats are highly susceptible to infection, with a prolonged period of oral and nasal viral shedding that is not accompanied by clinical signs, and are capable of direct contact transmission to other cats. These studies confirm that cats are susceptible to productive SARS-CoV-2 infection, but are unlikely to develop clinical disease. Further, we document that cats developed a robust neutralizing antibody response that prevented reinfection following a second viral challenge. Conversely, we found that dogs do not shed virus following infection but do seroconvert and mount an antiviral neutralizing antibody response. There is currently no evidence that cats or dogs play a significant role in human infection; however, reverse zoonosis is possible if infected owners expose their domestic pets to the virus during acute infection. Resistance to reinfection holds promise that a vaccine strategy may protect cats and, by extension, humans.

scholarly journals Safety and immunogenicity of a glycoprotein E gene-deleted bovine herpesvirus 1 strain as a candidate vaccine strain

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 1067-1074
Author(s):  
Marcelo Weiss ◽  
◽  
Deniz Anziliero ◽  
Mathias Martins ◽  
Rudi Weiblen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Infection ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Bovine Herpesvirus ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Bovine Herpesvirus 1 ◽  
Glycoprotein E ◽  
Virus Shedding ◽  
Group I ◽  
Virus Dose ◽  
Herpesvirus 1

ABSTRACT: A glycoprotein E-deleted Brazilian bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1gEΔ) was tested regarding to safety and immunogenicity. Intramuscular inoculation of young calves with a high virus dose did not result in clinical signs or virus shedding during acute infection or after dexamethasone administration. Calves vaccinated once IM (group I) or subcutaneously (group II) with live BoHV-1gEΔ or twice with inactivated virus plus aluminum hydroxide (group IV) or Montanide™ (group V) developed VN titers of 2 to 8 (GMT:2); 2 to 4 (GMT:1.65); 2 to 16 (GMT:2.45) and 2 to 128 (GMT:3.9), respectively. All BoHV-1gEΔ vaccinated calves remained negative in an anti-gE ELISA. Lastly, six young calves vaccinated with live BoHV-1gEΔ and subsequently challenged with a virulent BoHV-1 strain shed less virus and developed only mild and transient nasal signs comparing to unvaccinated calves. Thus, the recombinant BoHV-1gEΔ is safe and immunogenic for calves and allows for serological differentiation by a gE-ELISA test.

scholarly journals Clinical, pathological and epidemiological aspects of outbreaks of bluetongue disease in sheep in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 1443-1452
Author(s):  
Ronaldo M. Bianchi ◽  
Welden Panziera ◽  
Tatiane C. Faccin ◽  
Gisane L. de Almeida ◽  
Juliana F. Cargnelutti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Region ◽  
Striated Muscle ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Nasal Discharge ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Area At Risk ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Facial Swelling

ABSTRACT: This article describes the clinical, pathological and epidemiological aspects of 17 outbreaks of bluetongue (BT) disease in sheep occurring between December 2014 and July 2015 in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state (RS), southern Brazil. Affected farms were visited for clinical examination, necropsy, sample collection and epidemiological investigation. The outbreaks were seasonal and occurred during the summer and autumn. A total of 180 sheep (20.4%) out of 884 in 17 small herds were affected. All ages of Texel and mixed breed sheep were affected. However, lambs (younger than one year) had higher morbidity than adult sheep. The most frequent clinical signs were anorexia, lethargy, loss of body condition, facial swelling mainly involving the lips, and greenish seromucous or mucous nasal discharge. Pulmonary lesions characterized by edema were the most prevalent findings; however, erosive and ulcerative lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract, as well as cardiac, skeletal muscle and esophageal striated muscle necrosis, and hemorrhage in the pulmonary artery were also frequent. The bluetongue virus (BTV) genome was detected by RT-PCR in blood and tissue samples (spleen and lungs) of 21 animals from 17 outbreaks. The virus involved in the outbreak 3 was subsequently isolated and shown to belong to serotype 17, for the first time reported in Brazil. In summary, our data support the BTV genotype 17 as the etiological agent of the outbreaks and indicate that the central region of RS is an area at risk for BT in sheep, a disease previously not recognized in the region.

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