Advance on Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute,febrile and highly contagious animal disease caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV),and has been recognized as the most important constraint to international trade in animals and animal products.An outstanding feature for FMDV infection is that the FMDV infected animals may remain as a carrier state,some of the animals exposed to FMDV may have a long term asymptomatic infection.This article will review the advance of FMDV in the following aspects,epidemiology,etiology and pathogenesis.     

口蹄疫病毒研究进展

口蹄疫(foot-and-mouth disease,FMD)是由口蹄疫病毒(foot-and-mouth disease virus,FMDV)引起的一种急性、热性、高度接触传染性动物疫病,是全球范围内家畜及其产品贸易最大的羁绊。FMDV通过逃避宿主的免疫监视建立持续性感染,使患畜持续向外界排毒,成为传染源。作者查阅了近几年FMDV的国内外研究进展,对其流行病学、病原学及致病机理进行了概述。     

The relationship between cellular immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus Asia 1 and viral persistence in Indian cattle (Bosindicus)

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the most contagious animal disease, is associated with persistent viral infection in ruminants, despite the induction of systemic immune response. The present study was performed to decipher the relation between the persistent FMD virus (FMDV) infection and cellular immune response in Indian cattle (Bosindicus) following experimental inoculation of FMDV Asia 1. Persistent viral infection (carriers) was detected by antigen capture RT-PCR on the oesophageal-pharyngeal fluid. Viral excretion was found to be intermittent and strongly variable among the persistently infected Indian cattle. Lymphocyte proliferative (LP) response, assessed as reactivity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to FMDV Asia 1 antigen (Ag) was of low magnitude indicating a weak primary cellular immune response following infection. LP response to FMDV Ag was higher among the non-carriers than carriers of FMDV Asia 1. An enhanced LP response was associated with the lack of virus shedding in the OPF. The findings of this study are suggestive of relationship between cellular immune response and virus excretion during persistence of FMDV Asia 1 in infected cattle.     

Immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus in an experimental murine model. II. Basis of persistent antibody reaction

A murine model was used to study the mechanisms involved in the prolonged immune response to live and inactivated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The antibody response elicited by the infection persisted throughout the entire life of the animal, while immunization with inactivated virus induced a transient response. The administration of inactivated virus in a water-in-oil emulsion increased antibody titres to values as high as those obtained by infection. There was a high correlation between neutralizing antibody titre and transfer of immunity with primed cells, and the protection afforded against challenge with infectious virus. It appears that the mechanism involved in the induction of prolonged immune memory in infected animals is not due to viral persistence. Nude mice infected with FMDV also evidenced a prolonged immune response, showing marked differences in antibody levels but equal effectiveness against challenge when nu/nu and nu/+ animals were compared. Furthermore, athymic and euthymic littermates were efficient in conferring protection when cells were transferred to irradiated animals. It is concluded that there is an effective, T-cell-independent, prolonged immune memory against FMDV in this murine model, and that the difference in the immune responses to live and inactivated virus is due mainly to differential antigenic processing rather than to a difference in the degree of sensitization of effector cells.     

Identification of factors associated with increased excretion of foot-and-mouth disease virus

We investigated which variables possibly influence the amount of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) shed in secretions and excretions by FMDV infected animals, as it is likely that the amount of FMDV shed is related to transmission risk. First, in a separate analysis of laboratory data, we showed that the total amount of FMDV in secretions and excretions from infected animals is highly correlated with maximum titres of FMDV. Next, we collected data from 32 published scientific articles in which FMDV infection experiments were described. The maximum titres of FMDV reported in different secretions and excretions (the response variable) and the experimental conditions in which they occurred (the explanatory variables), were recorded in a database and analyzed using multivariate regression models with and without random effects. In both types of models, maximum titres of FMDV were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with types of secretions and excretions, animal species, stage of the disease and days post infection. These results can be used to prioritize biosecurity measures in contingency plans.     

Short-lived carriage of foot-and-mouth disease virus in human nasal cavities after exposure to infected animals

A quarantine period for potentially contaminated personnel can be used to reduce the risk of transfer of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) from infected to susceptible premises. This is set at 72 hours in the UK, on the basis of results from laboratory studies and field observations. Previous analysis of FMDV carriage within human nasal cavities has relied upon virus isolation by culture in susceptible cells. This study, involving 51 people, evaluated a PCR method, which detected viral genomic material within 35 nasal swabs taken from personnel after up to eight hours exposure to infected animals. Only one of 23 people who was PCR-positive immediately after exposure to FMDV-infected animals remained positive the following day, indicating a low risk of prolonged carriage of virus in the nasal cavities.     

Evolution of foot-and-mouth disease virus intra-sample sequence diversity during serial transmission in bovine hosts

RNA virus populations within samples are highly heterogeneous, containing a large number of minority sequence variants which can potentially be transmitted to other susceptible hosts. Consequently, consensus genome sequences provide an incomplete picture of the within- and between-host viral evolutionary dynamics during transmission. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is an RNA virus that can spread from primary sites of replication, via the systemic circulation, to found distinct sites of local infection at epithelial surfaces. Viral evolution in these different tissues occurs independently, each of them potentially providing a source of virus to seed subsequent transmission events. This study employed the Illumina Genome Analyzer platform to sequence 18 FMDV samples collected from a chain of sequentially infected cattle. These data generated snap-shots of the evolving viral population structures within different animals and tissues. Analyses of the mutation spectra revealed polymorphisms at frequencies >0.5% at between 21 and 146 sites across the genome for these samples, while 13 sites acquired mutations in excess of consensus frequency (50%). Analysis of polymorphism frequency revealed that a number of minority variants were transmitted during host-to-host infection events, while the size of the intra-host founder populations appeared to be smaller. These data indicate that viral population complexity is influenced by small intra-host bottlenecks and relatively large inter-host bottlenecks. The dynamics of minority variants are consistent with the actions of genetic drift rather than strong selection. These results provide novel insights into the evolution of FMDV that can be applied to reconstruct both intra- and inter-host transmission routes.     

Detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus RNA in pharyngeal epithelium biopsy samples obtained from infected cattle: investigation of possible sites of virus replication and persistence

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection of significant financial importance to the export and trade of agricultural products. The occurrence of persistently infected "carriers" of FMD-virus (FMDV) in ruminant species adds further complications to disease control. There have been significant discrepancies in reports regarding the pathogenesis of FMDV infection in cattle with specific emphasis on the anatomical sites involved in early and persistent virus replication. In this study, collection of small biopsy samples from the dorsal soft palate (DSP) of live animals was used to investigate the level of FMDV RNA present at this site at sequential time points during the infection. Results were compared to measurements of virus excretion in samples of oropharyngeal fluid collected at corresponding time points. Possible sites of virus persistence were investigated through measurements of the levels of FMDV RNA in the DSP as well as mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes beyond 28 days after infection. Results indicated only low levels of FMDV RNA present in samples of pharyngeal epithelia during both early and persistent phases of infection with significantly higher levels of virus detected in pharyngeal excretions. It is concluded that the targeted area for sampling within the DSP does not harbour significant levels of virus replication during acute or persistent FMDV infection in cattle. Furthermore, the DSP and the mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes cannot be concluded to be principal sites for persistence of FMDV.     

Evaluation of a 3A-truncated foot-and-mouth disease virus in pigs for its potential as a marker vaccine

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and economically devastating disease of cloven-hoofed animals in the world. The disease can be effectively controlled by vaccination of susceptible animals with the conventional inactivated vaccine. However, one major concern of the inactivated FMD virus (FMDV) vaccine is that it does not allow serological discrimination between infected and vaccinated animals, and therefore interferes with serologic surveillance and the epidemiology of disease. A marker vaccine has proven to be of great value in disease eradication and control programs. In this study, we constructed a marker FMDV containing a deletion of residues 93 to 143 in the nonstructural protein 3A using a recently developed FMDV infectious cDNA clone. The marker virus, r-HN/3A_93–143, had similar growth kinetics as the wild type virus in culture cell and caused a symptomatic infection in pigs. Pigs immunized with chemically inactivated marker vaccine were fully protected from the wild type virus challenge, and the potency of this marker vaccine was 10 PD₅₀ (50% pig protective dose) per dose, indicating it could be an efficacious vaccine against FMDV. In addition, we developed a blocking ELISA targeted to the deleted epitope that could clearly differentiate animals infected with the marker virus from those infected with the wild type virus. These results indicate that a marker FMDV vaccine can be potentially developed by deleting an immunodominant epitope in NSP 3A.     

Non-structural protein 3A for differentiation of foot-and-mouth disease infected and vaccinated animals in Haryana (India)

There are severe international trade restrictions on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) affected areas. Because of endemic nature of FMD, India started FMD control programme (FMD-CP) using mass vaccination in selected states including Haryana (year 2003). Although no significant incidence of the disease was reported after launching FMD-CP in the state but in order to participate in international trade of animal and animal products, veterinary authorities have to prove that there is no FMD virus (FMDV) circulation in the animal population, for which it is necessary to differentiate the FMD infected and vaccinated animals. For this purpose, an in-house indirect ELISA utilizing baculovirus-expressed FMDV non-structural protein (NSP) 3A was used to find evidence for virus circulation (prevalence of anti-NSP 3A-specific antibodies) by examining serum samples that were collected either before start of FMD-CP or after completion of third phase (Pre-4th) of vaccination in Haryana (India). A significant reduction (P < 0.01) in prevalence of anti-NSP 3A-specific antibodies (possibly carriers) was observed 2 years after launching FMD-CP in Haryana. However, in cattle the percentage of animals with anti-NSP 3A-specific antibodies was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.01) than buffalo, both before (P < 0.01) and after (P < 0.01) launching FMD-CP in the state. The findings of this study suggest that use of FMDV vaccine in cattle and buffaloes in endemic areas reduces virus circulation (carriers) in the vaccinated herds and that the current 3ANSP-ELISA can be successfully used to monitor the FMDV circulation in endemic areas.     

Identification of a novel foot-and-mouth disease virus specific T-cell epitope with immunodominant characteristics in cattle with MHC serotype A31

To identify foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) specific T-cell epitopes within the entire polyprotein sequence of the virus, 442 overlapping pentadecapeptides were tested in proliferation assays using lymphocytes from cattle experimentally infected with FMDV. Four months post-infection cells from all investigated animals (n = 4) responded by proliferation and interferon-gamma production to a peptide located on the structural protein 1D (VP1), amino acid residues 66-80. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) serotyping of the investigated cattle indicated that all animals shared the MHC serotype A31 which comprises the class II allele DRB3 0701. This may explain the common recognition of this newly discovered epitope. Responses to other peptides could only be observed in one animal and rapidly declined during the time course of the study. These observations point to an immunodominant role of this epitope located on the protein 1D in cattle with MHC serotype A31.     

Development and validation of a 3ABC indirect ELISA for differentiation of foot-and-mouth disease virus infected from vaccinated animals

Non-structural protein (NSP) 3ABC antibody is considered to be the most reliable indicator of present or past infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in vaccinated animals. An indirect ELISA was established, using purified His-tagged 3ABC fusion protein as antigen, for detection of the antibody response to FMDV NSP 3ABC in different animal species. The method was validated by simultaneous detection of the early antibody responses to NSP and structural protein (SP) in FMDV Asia 1 infected animals. The performance of the method was also validated by detection of antibody in reference sera from the FMD World Reference Laboratory (WRL) in Pirbright, UK, and comparison with two commercial NSP ELISA kits. The results showed that the antibody response to SP developed more quickly than that to NSP 3ABC in FMDV infected animals. In contact-infected cattle, the antibody response to NSP 3ABC was significantly delayed compared with that to SP antibody. The early antibody responses to SP and NSP 3ABC in FMDV inoculated cattle and contact-infected or inoculated sheep and pigs were generally consistent. In pigs, 3ABC antibody was linked to the presence of clinical signs; however, in sheep, subclinical infection was detected by the development of 3ABC antibodies. Therefore, the antibody responses to 3ABC varied between host species. Eight out of 10 positive serum samples from FMD WRL were tested to be positive at cutoff value of 0.2. The rate of agreement with the ceditest FMDV-NS and the UBI NSP ELISA were 98.05% (302/308) and 93.2% (287/308), respectively. The prevalence of 3ABC antibodies reached 71.4% in some diseased cattle herds. The further work is required to evaluation the performance of this method in different animal species and different field situations.     

进境动物及动物产品传带SAT型口蹄疫的风险评估

SAT型口蹄疫(foot and mouth disease,FMD)已从传统流行区域非洲大陆传播至西亚、中东地区,对我国畜牧业发展构成了潜在威胁。为评估SAT型FMD跨境传入风险,采用定性评估方法,对进境动物及动物产品传带SAT型FMD的风险进行了综合评估。结果表明,从疫区进口相关动物及动物产品传入SAT型FMD的风险高,因此需采取严格的风险管理措施,将FMD传入风险降低至我国可接受的水平。     

Detection of carriers of foot-and-mouth disease virus among vaccinated cattle

To investigate and optimise detection of carriers, we vaccinated 15 calves with an inactivated vaccine based on foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) A Turkey strain and challenged them and two further non-vaccinated calves with the homologous virus four weeks later. To determine transmission to a sensitive animal, we put a sentinel calf among the infected cattle from 60 days post-infection until the end of the experiment at 609 days post-infection. Samples were tested for the presence of FMDV, viral genome, specific IgA antibodies, antibodies against FMDV non-structural (NS) proteins or neutralising antibodies. Virus and viral genome was intermittently isolated from probang samples and the number of isolations decreased over time. During the first 100 days significantly more samples were positive by RT-PCR than by virus isolation (VI), whereas, late after infection more samples were positive by virus isolation. All the inoculated cattle developed high titres of neutralising antibodies that remained high during the entire experiment. An IgA antibody response was intermittently detected in the oropharyngeal fluid of 14 of the 17 calves, while all of them developed detectable levels of antibodies to NS proteins of FMDV in serum, which declined slowly beyond 34 days post-infection. Nevertheless, at 609 days after inoculation, 10 cattle (60%) were still positive by NS ELISA. Of the 17 cattle in our experiment, 16 became carriers. Despite frequent reallocation between a different pair of infected cattle no transmission to the sentinel calf occurred. It remained negative in all assays during the entire experiment. The results of this experiment show that the NS ELISA is currently the most sensitive method to detect carriers in a vaccinated cattle population.     

Host cell modulation of foot-and-mouth disease virus procapsid synthesis

BHK21 (clone 13S) cells of high (BHK-SH) and low (BHK-SL) passage number were infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) subtypes A24, A25 and C3. While the amount of virus specific RNA produced in BHK-SH cells was 25% of that in BHK-SL cells and the virion production was 27% (C3) to 53% (A24) lower, the synthesis of viral proteins was comparable, associated with an accumulation of procapsids in BHK-SH cells. The results suggest that changes in viral infection pattern with increasing BHK21 cell passage number should be considered in FMDV vaccine production.     

Foot-and-mouth disease virus subtyping by sequencing VP1 genes

In order to use nucleotide sequencing for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) diagnostic subtyping, it is necessary to shorten the time required for preparation of suitable templates. The time required for analysis was reduced by use of the viral RNA present in the total RNA extract of tissue from infected cattle as a template in the Sanger sequencing reaction. Results are now available within 3 days. The sequences determined encode capsid protein VP1 and therefore major neutralization epitopes. Such a sequence of FMDV O1Kaufbeuren, cultured in the animal, was compared with those of tissue-cultured viruses. They did not differ. It was concluded that a change of virus culture conditions does not necessarily account for antigenic variation.     

口蹄疫病毒2C3AB基因的原核表达及ELISA方法的建立

口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)的2C蛋白中存在对自然感染和灭活疫苗免疫动物具有鉴别诊断意义的抗原表位。为建立一种敏感的血清学鉴别诊断方法,本研究截取FMDV 2C蛋白的C端B细胞表位较为富集的区域与全长3AB基因组合,经原核表达获得分子量约为44 ku的目的蛋白。Western blot分析表明,表达产物2C3AB与FMDV感染动物的阳性血清呈特异性反应。以纯化的目的蛋白作为包被抗原建立间接ELISA方法,敏感性检测表明该方法比3ABC-ELISA具有更高的敏感性;同时检测猪圆环病毒、猪繁殖和呼吸障碍综合征病毒、猪瘟病毒标准阳性血清均无交叉反应。批内和批间重复性试验显示,OD450nm值的变异系数小于9%。采用该方法检测不同背景的临床样品,并与3ABC-ELISA及进口试剂盒比较,总符合率分别为98.5%和90%。结果表明,该ELISA检测方法具有更高的敏感性和良好的特异性、重复性。