Molecular characterization of Japanese encephalitis virus strains prevalent in Chinese swine herds

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia and domestic pigs serve as the amplifying hosts. In the present study, the full genomic sequences of two JEV strains (HEN0701 and SH0601) isolated from pigs in China were determined and compared with other 12 JEV strains deposited in GenBank. These two strains had an 88.8% nucleotide sequence similarity and 97.9% deduced amino acid sequence homology. HEN0701 had high nucleotide sequence and high amino acid sequence identity with genotype I (GI) strains, while SH0601 had high nucleotide sequence and high amino acid sequence identity with GIII strains at both the gene and full genome levels. Further phylogenetic analysis showed that HEN0701 belonged to the JEV GI group and SH0601 was classified as a GIII strain. Analysis of codon usage showed there were a few differences between the GI and GIII strains in nucleotide composition and codon usage for the open reading frames.     

云南省种公猪精液中乙型脑炎病毒的监测

应用RT-PCR技术开展云南省种公猪精液中乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)感染监测,进而对阳性样品病毒基因扩增产物进行克隆、测序、比对及系统发育分析。从云南省16个地州797份猪精液中检出JEV阳性样品7份,阳性率0.88%。阳性精液样品中的JEV与基因Ⅰ型毒株PrM基因核苷酸序列同源性为97.5%～98.8%,与其他基因型毒株的同源性介于76.9%～89.8%之间,与疫苗毒株(基因Ⅲ型毒株,S19980008)的同源性为89.1%～89.8%。云南省种公猪精液中JEV属于基因Ⅰ型毒株,与人、猪、蚊虫基因Ⅰ型分离毒株遗传关系密切。     

Serological evidence for Japanese encephalitis and West Nile viruses in domestic animals of Nepal

A regional survey was conducted in Nepal for antibody to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in domestic animals. Sera from pigs, and limited numbers of ducks and horses were collected from 16 districts in 2002-2003 and subjected to three serological tests. Of 270 porcine sera tested by C-ELISA, 55% were found positive for the presence of antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus. Additional testing for IgM antibody to JEV revealed less than 2% of C-ELISA positive sera had evidence of recent JEV infection. Plaque reduction neutralisation tests (PRNT) using JEV, Murray Valley encephalitis (MVEV) and Kunjin (KUNV) viruses implicated JEV as the flavivirus associated with the observed antibody response in most sero-positive pigs. However, eight porcine sera with predominant neutralising antibody for KUNV (an Australasian subtype of West Nile Virus) provided evidence for the circulation of West Nile virus in Nepal.     

Seroprevalence of Japanese encephalitis virus and risk factors associated with seropositivity in pigs in four mountain districts in Nepal*

Japanese encephalitis was recently reported from individuals in the mountain districts of Nepal without travel history to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) endemic areas. We performed a cross-sectional study to estimate the seroprevalence of JEV in pigs and subsequently conducted a survey of farmers to identify risk factors associated with seropositivity. In July and August, 2010, 454 pig serum samples were collected and tested by competitive ELISA. Data from a 35-question survey of 109 pig owners were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. Seventy-six (16.7, 95% CI 13.6-20.4) pigs tested positive for anti-JEV antibodies, none of which had been vaccinated against JEV or sourced from JEV endemic areas. Risk factors associated with JEV seropositivity were 'summer abortion', 'wells as a water source', 'urban location', 'reported presence of mosquitoes' and 'lower elevation'. Our results suggest that JEV is likely circulating in the mountain districts of Nepal, and that locally acquired JEV should be considered a risk for residents and travellers in these areas.     

Japanese encephalitis virus immunoglobulin M antibodies in porcine sera

A solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for detection of porcine immunoglobulin (Ig)M antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Antibodies in sera were captured onto the solid phase of Microtiter plates sensitized with mouse monoclonal antibodies to porcine mu heavy chain. Virus antigen binding to the lawn of IgM was quantitated by subsequent binding of peroxidase-labeled human hyperimmune anti-JEV IgG, which in the final step, catalyzed a substrate color change. In sucrose density-gradient fractionated sera from recently infected pigs, the peak of ELISA JEV IgM activity corresponded to the peak of 18-S, 2-mercaptoethanol-sensitive hemagglutination-inhibiting (HAI) antibody activity. Within 2 to 3 days, JEV-infected sentinel pigs developed high JEV IgM activity; this activity decreased within 2 weeks. Among specimens collected from 99 random swine at abattoirs in Thailand during a period of low JEV transmission, none of 25 JEV HAI-negative sera had JEV IgM activity, 7 of 74 JEV HAI-positive sera did have JEV IgM activity, and the remaining 67 sera had readily detectable JEV HAI antibodies, but lacked JEV IgM. The JEV IgM solid-phase ELISA was useful for rapidly diagnosing active or recent JEV infections in swine.     

日本乙型脑炎病毒的分离与鉴定

收集一例疑为乙型脑炎病毒感染的种公猪肿大的睾丸病料,并将其处理制成匀浆过滤后,用乳鼠脑内接毒和细胞接毒相结合的方法盲传并分离病毒,然后设计一对PrM/E基因的特异性引物,采用RT-PCR方法对所分离的病毒进行鉴定,并将其PrM/E基因扩增产物测序,测序结果与乙型脑炎GenBank登陆的SA14-14-2株(AF315119)和SA14株(U14163)进行比较。结果表明,所分离病毒的PrM/E基因序列与JEV强毒株SA14和弱毒株SA14-14-2相应序列同源性分别为98.1%和97.1%,证实分离毒株为乙型脑炎病毒。     

猪乙脑病毒CSF.XZ-2D株的分离鉴定及其体外培养特性研究

为了解河南省规模化猪场日本乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)流行株的特征,本研究对临床流产胎儿脑脊液进行病毒盲传分离,经RT-PCR等分子生物学方法及乳鼠感染试验,分离鉴定了1株基因Ⅲ型JEV株,命名为CSF.XZ-2D。采用BHK-21细胞对该分离株的体外培养特性进行研究,结果表明,在25 cm2细胞瓶中,用1.25×106个细胞/瓶的初始量制备细胞单层,以较低剂量的病毒液吸附细胞并洗涤弃去游离病毒粒子,可在感染后60 h达到最大增殖量,病毒效价为105.0TCID50/0.1 mL以上。本研究为其他JEV分离株的体外培养提供了参考。     

检测猪乙型脑炎病毒抗体间接ELISA方法的建立与应用

以乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)弱毒疫苗株作为诊断抗原,对ELISA反应条件进行优化,初步建立了检测猪乙型脑炎病毒血清抗体的间接ELISA方法。应用该法检测从江苏、安徽、山东、浙江4省部分地区收集到的1089份血样,对华东地区猪乙型脑炎血清流行病学进行初步调查。结果JEV抗体阳性率为68.2%,其中,种猪JEV抗体阳性率为82.1%,商品猪JEV抗体阳性率为62.6%。从中随机抽取135份血样与国产商品化试剂盒进行比较,间接ELISA方法的特异性和敏感性分别为92%和96.4%,2种方法的符合率为95.6%;与NS1蛋白包被建立的ELISA比较,两者的符合率为97.7%;同时,本法的阳性检出率显著高于临床普遍使用的乳胶凝集试验结果。由此表明,本试验建立的间接ELISA方法具有较高的敏感性和特异性,适于大规模猪乙型脑炎血清流行病学调查。     

Prevalence and risk factors of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in livestock and companion animal in high-risk areas in Malaysia

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is vector-borne zoonotic disease which causes encephalitis in humans and horses. Clinical signs for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection are not clearly evident in the majority of affected animals. In Malaysia, information on the prevalence of JEV infection has not been established. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted during two periods, December 2015 to January 2016 and March to August in 2016, to determine the prevalence and risk factors in JEV infections among animals and birds in Peninsular Malaysia. Serum samples were harvested from the 416 samples which were collected from the dogs, cats, water birds, village chicken, jungle fowls, long-tailed macaques, domestic pigs, and cattle in the states of Selangor, Perak, Perlis, Kelantan, and Pahang. The serum samples were screened for JEV antibodies by commercial IgG ELISA kits. A questionnaire was also distributed to obtain information on the animals, birds, and the environmental factors of sampling areas. The results showed that dogs had the highest seropositive rate of 80% (95% CI: ±?11.69) followed by pigs at 44.4% (95% CI: ±?1.715), cattle at 32.2% (95% CI: ±?1.058), birds at 28.9% (95% CI: ±?5.757), cats at 15.6% (95% CI: ±?7.38), and monkeys at 14.3% (95% CI: ±?1.882). The study also showed that JEV seropositivity was high in young animals and in areas where mosquito vectors and migrating birds were prevalent.     

云南红河州猪繁殖障碍综合征病因研究

针对红河州猪繁殖障碍综合征危害日趋严重的现象,进行了该病的流行病学、病原学、人工感染及免疫试验。结果表明,种公猪发病率为23.77%、妊娠母猪发病率为41.38%,仔猪死亡率为19.94%、流产率11.19%、死胎率47.96%、弱仔率31.78%;血清学调查阳性检出率分别为猪瘟(CSF)1.1%、细小病毒(PPV)43.97%、鹦鹉热衣原体(CP)36.98%、伪狂犬病毒(PRV)24.6%、乙型脑炎(JEV)20.9%、弓形虫(Tg)14.66%、蓝耳病病毒(PRRSV)11.5%、猪圆环病毒(PCV)7.2%、布鲁氏菌(Br)2.44%。其中单一感染占39.6%,混合感染占35.6%。从死亡新生仔猪和流产胎儿的脑及内脏中分离获得PPV、PRV、CP各2株病原,经细胞传代,鸡胚传代,毒价测定、形态观察、动物感染试验和应用PCR技术等鉴定,确证为伪狂犬、细小病毒病、衣原体三种。应用猪伪狂犬、细小病毒病、衣原体三种疫苗免疫注射,使本地区猪群的受胎率由92.7%提高到99.5%,妊娠母猪发病率从31.43%下降到0.77%,初生乳猪发病死亡率从24.9%下降到0.27%。调查研究表明,近年来引起红河州地区猪繁殖障碍综合征广泛流行的主要病因是PPV、PRV、CP三种病原单一或混合感染所致,而且动物感染试验证实是PPV、PRV、CP是造成猪繁殖障碍病的主要病原。     

Full genome sequence and virulence analyses of the recent equine isolate of Japanese encephalitis virus

In the past 25 years, there has been only one case of Japanese encephalitis in horses in Japan. We determined the full genome sequence of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strain JEV/eq/Tottori/2003 isolated from an afflicted horse and also analyzed its virulence in mice. The sequence analysis showed that the genome of JEV/eq/Tottori/2003 is similar to that of genotype I, a dominant genotype of JEV presently circulating in Japan. Its neurovirulence, but not neuroinvasiveness, was still as high as it was for genotype III, thus indicating the necessity for continuation of a vaccination program of horses against JEV.     

Isolation and genetic analysis of Japanese encephalitis virus from a diseased horse in Japan

Japanese encephalitis (JE) developed in an unvaccinated half-bred horse kept in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. The animal showed ataxia with pyrexia and low appetite, and ultimately died. A viral strain was isolated from the cerebrum of the horse and was identified as JE virus (JEV) by RT-PCR using JEV specific primers. The isolated JEV was classified into genotype I by nucleotide sequence analysis of the viral envelope gene. We believe that this is the first report of the genotype I strain being isolated from a horse.     

Development and evaluation of indirect ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus in swine

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is one of causative agents of reproductive failure in pregnant sows. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) was examined for its potential use in the rapid monitoring of the JEV, and the results were compared with those from the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and serum neutralization (SN) tests. The comparative analysis showed that the results of I-ELISA showed a significant correlation with the conventional HI (r = 0.867) and SN tests (r = 0.804), respectively. When the I-ELISA results were compared with the traditional diagnostic assays, the sensitivity of the I-ELISA was 94.3% with the HI test and 93.7% with the SN test, respectively. The specificity was found to be 81.4% and 80.0% with the HI and SN tests, respectively. To determine the applicability of I-ELISA in the field, the serum samples from 720 pigs were collected from 4 regions in Korea between July and August 2004. The results indicated that 21.7% of screened pigs were seropositive for the JEV. The seropositive rates of JEV in the 4 provinces were 12.6% in Gyeonggi, 45.0% in Gyeongnam, 16.7% in Jeonbuk, and 12.2% in Jeju. The I-ELISA methodology developed in this study was shown to have considerable sensitivity and specificity through a comparison with HI and the SN tests. Therefore, it might be one of convenient methods for screening a large number of samples in various fields.     

猪日本脑炎病毒RT-PCR检测方法的建立

设计了1对引物,利用RT-PCR技术检测乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)。从GenBank中查出收录的31株猪乙型脑炎病毒E基因的已知序列,用DNA star软件对这31株猪乙型脑炎病毒E基因进行同源性分析,以确定扩增的靶序列。以这段靶区域为模板,利用Primer 5软件设计了1对引物,用减毒株SA14-14-2建立了检测乙脑病毒的RT-PCR方法,经敏感性,特异性试验测定,证明该方法敏感,特异;该法可检出样品稀释至256倍的鼠脑毒,相当于0.06个TCID50,对4株河北地区JEV分离株进行检测,结果所设计引物对4株病毒均能扩增出预期的片段。     

实验室人工感染诱发猪瘟野毒垂直传播

利用2头人工感染中等毒力猪瘟野毒耐过猪进行配种,诱发了猪瘟野毒垂直传播.带毒母猪于带毒后171 d产下9头仔猪,其中3头为死胎,6头为木乃伊.直接免疫荧光抗体试验和RT-PCR检测,9头均为阳性.测序结果表明,3头测序仔猪中,2头仔猪所分离病毒E2基因主要抗原编码区序列与公猪所接种病毒的一致;另1头仔猪所分离病毒E2基因主要抗原编码区序列与公猪所接种病毒的同源性高于与母猪所接种病毒的同源性.母猪在与公猪配种前后,其所分离病毒E2基因主要抗原编码区序列发生了变化,配种后与公猪所分离病毒的一致,说明猪瘟病毒在猪体内的繁殖存在一定的优势选择现象.     

河南省猪场蚊虫中Ⅰ、Ⅲ型乙型脑炎病毒的分离及鉴定

用Vero细胞对2010年河南省采集的猪舍蚊虫标本进行病毒分离,对新分离的乙型脑炎病毒（JEV）进行分子生物学鉴定,并对其PrM基因进行克隆、测序及病毒进化分析。结果显示,从采集的蚊虫标本中分离到1株基因Ⅰ型JEV（HN10-1）和1株基因Ⅲ型JEV（HN10-2）。结果表明,河南省同时存在Ⅰ、Ⅲ2种基因型JEV的传播和流行。     

乙型脑炎重组伪狂犬病病毒TK-/gG-/NS+1的安全性及免疫性

用含有日本乙型脑炎病毒 (SA14 - 14 - 2株 )非结构蛋白 NS1基因的重组伪狂犬病病毒 TK- / g G- / NS 1 免疫BAL B/ c小鼠和断奶仔猪。结果表明 ,该重组病毒对 BAL B/ c小鼠和断奶仔猪是安全的 ,免疫的 BAL B/ c小鼠能抵抗伪狂犬病病毒 (PRV )强毒 (Ea株 )的致死性攻击 ,免疫的断奶仔猪能产生乙型脑炎病毒 (JEV)特异性抗体和 JEV特异性 CTL 活性。     

日本脑炎病毒弱毒疫苗株全长cDNA的体外合成及恢复病毒的拯救

将病毒的全基因组分成3个重叠的区段分别扩增出来,把这3个片段连接到载体中。以这3个片段为模板,通过融合PCR方法,获得JEV的全长cDNA。以cDNA为体外转录的模板,体外转录获得病毒mRNA,转染BHK-21细胞,拯救JEV病毒。通过生物学特性、分子生物学、蛋白水平等几个方面对恢复病毒进行鉴定,并测定恢复病毒的生长曲线和LD50。结果显示,获得了全长cDNA,体外转录获得的病毒RNA转染BHK-21细胞后,二代恢复病毒可引起明显的细胞病变,间接免疫荧光试验和RT-PCR均为阳性。空斑试验表明,拯救病毒与原病毒空斑表型类似;恢复病毒与亲本毒相比在BHK-21细胞上生长更快;恢复病毒的LD50与亲本毒类似。     

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in histologically confirmed Pug dog encephalitis

The purpose of the study was to describe magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of histologically confirmed necrotizing encephalitis in four Pugs and to compare those findings with MR imaging characteristics of necrotizing encephalitis in other breeds. All dogs had the following common findings: lesions restricted to the forebrain, both cerebral hemispheres diffusely but asymmetrically affected, lesions affected gray and white matter resulting in loss of distinction between both, most severe lesions in occipital and parietal lobes, lesions were irregularly T2-hyperintense and T1-isointense to slightly T1-hypointense, and no cavitation. There were various degrees of contrast enhancement of brain and leptomeninges. Asymmetry of lateral ventricles and midline shift was seen in one dog each. Two dogs had brain herniation, which may have contributed to the progression of neurologic signs. Hyperintensity on T2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery images in the hippocampus and piriform lobe was consistent with excitotoxic edema, whereas similar imaging features in other forebrain areas corresponded to areas of inflammation or liquefaction on histopathology. In comparison with necrotizing encephalitis in other canine breeds, Pug dog encephalitis has some unique MR imaging features. Therefore, these characteristics cannot be applied to other breeds, nor should imaging features of necrotizing encephalitis of other canine breeds be used for interpretation of MR images in Pug dogs.     

Japanese encephalitis virus infection in meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection has been recognized as a serious disease in humans. Wildlife animal infections due to JEV have not been well described. This study identified JEV infection in two deceased meerkats in Thailand, with clinical signs of neurological disease. Histopathology of brains revealed severe lymphoplasmacytic necrotizing meningoencephalitis, while similar inflammation was observed in the lung and liver. Partial JEV sequences were identified from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded-derived brain sections of two meerkats and were found to be genetically similar to a JEV strain detected in China but not from a local strain. Using immunohistochemistry, the virus was identified in neurons and glial cells, and also found in bronchial glands, Kupffer's cells in liver, lymphocytes in the spleen and pancreatic acini, which suggests extraneural infection. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of spheroid viral particles in the lungs. These findings may suggest that infection of extraneural organs in meerkats is similar to that described in JEV-infected humans. In conclusion, this study identified the first JEV infection in meerkats as an interesting case study. The JEV should be considered as an important differential diagnosis in meerkats with encephalitis. Further surveillance on JEV infection in meerkats and other wildlife species in a large cohort is needed in the future study.