Contact transmission of vesicular stomatitis virus New Jersey in pigs

OBJECTIVE: To determine how viral shedding and development or lack of clinical disease relate to contact transmission of vesicular stomatitis virus New Jersey (VSV-NJ) in pigs and determine whether pigs infected by contact could infect other pigs by contact. ANIMALS: 63 pigs. PROCEDURE: Serologically naive pigs were housed in direct contact with pigs that were experimentally inoculated with VSV-NJ via ID inoculation of the apex of the snout, application to a scarified area of the oral mucosa, application to intact oral mucosa, or ID inoculation of the ear. In a second experiment, pigs infected with VSV-NJ by contact were moved and housed with additional naive pigs. Pigs were monitored and sampled daily for clinical disease and virus isolation and were serologically tested before and after infection or contact. RESULTS: Contact transmission developed only when vesicular lesions were evident. Transmission developed rapidly; contact pigs shed virus as early as 1 day after contact. In pens in which contact transmission was detected, 2 of 3 or 3 of 3 contact pigs were infected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Transmission was lesion-dependent; however, vesicular lesions often were subtle with few or no clinical signs of infection. Contact transmission was efficient, with resulting infections ranging from subclinical (detected only by seroconversion) to clinical (development of vesicular lesions). Long-term maintenance of VSV-NJ via contact transmission alone appears unlikely. Pigs represent an efficient large-animal system for further study of VSV-NJ pathogenesis and transmission.     

二重RT-PCR同时检测VSV与BVDV核酸

水泡性口炎病毒(VSV)与牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)具有相近的传播途径与类似的检测方法，本文参照文献报道的基因序列，设计合成了两对能分别扩增VSV(202bp)、BVDV(341bp)基因片段的引物，并对PCR扩增条件进行优化，建立了二重RT-PCR方法，可同时检测VSV与BVDV病毒核酸。VSV产物经测序显示与报道的核酸序列同源性为88．6％。二重RT-PCR同时检测VSV与BVDV经济、快速、敏感、特异，可用于实验研究和流行病学调查。     

Antigenic variation among strains of the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Four strains of vesicular stomatitis virus--New Jersey (Hazelhurst, Guatemala, Panama, and Concan) were compared by cross-neutralization and complement-fixation tests. They were indistinguishable by complement-fixation test; however, by plaque-reduction neutralization method, slight antigenic differences were observed between the Hazelhurst and the three other strains. It is concluded that these antigenic differences are insufficient to warrant reclassification of vesicular stomatitis virus--New Jersey into two distinct subtypes, as has been recently proposed.     

Dynamics of African swine fever virus shedding and excretion in domestic pigs infected by intramuscular inoculation and contact transmission

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly virulent swine pathogen that has spread across Eastern Europe since 2007 and for which there is no effective vaccine or treatment available. The dynamics of shedding and excretion is not well known for this currently circulating ASFV strain. Therefore, susceptible pigs were exposed to pigs intramuscularly infected with the Georgia 2007/1 ASFV strain to measure those dynamics through within- and between-pen transmission scenarios. Blood, oral, nasal and rectal fluid samples were tested for the presence of ASFV by virus titration (VT) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Serum was tested for the presence of ASFV-specific antibodies. Both intramuscular inoculation and contact transmission resulted in development of acute disease in all pigs although the experiments indicated that the pathogenesis of the disease might be different, depending on the route of infection. Infectious ASFV was first isolated in blood among the inoculated pigs by day 3, and then chronologically among the direct and indirect contact pigs, by day 10 and 13, respectively. Close to the onset of clinical signs, higher ASFV titres were found in blood compared with nasal and rectal fluid samples among all pigs. No infectious ASFV was isolated in oral fluid samples although ASFV genome copies were detected. Only one animal developed antibodies starting after 12 days post-inoculation. The results provide quantitative data on shedding and excretion of the Georgia 2007/1 ASFV strain among domestic pigs and suggest a limited potential of this isolate to cause persistent infection.     

Bluetongue virus serotype 26: Infection kinetics,pathogenesis and possible contact transmission in goats

The aim of this study was to assess the pathogenicity and infection kinetics of Bluetongue virus serotype 26 (BTV-26) in goats. Out of a group of six goats housed in insect free accommodation, five were experimentally infected with BTV-26 and one was kept uninfected as an in-contact control. Samples taken throughout the study were used to determine the kinetics of infection using a pan specific BTV real time RT-PCR assay and a group specific ELISA. The five infected goats did not show clinical signs of BTV, however high levels of viral RNA were detected and virus was isolated from the blood of all 5 goats. Antibodies against BTV were first detected between 7 and 11 dpi in all 5 experimentally infected goats. Interestingly at 21 dpi viral RNA was detected in, and virus was isolated from, the blood of the in-contact control goat, which also seroconverted. These results suggest that BTV-26 replicates to high levels in goats, causing no obvious clinical disease, suggesting that goats may be the natural host for this virus. Preliminary evidence also indicates that BTV-26 may be spread by contact transmission between goats, however a more detailed study is required in order to confirm this observation.     

Stability and inactivation of vesicular stomatitis virus,a prototype rhabdovirus

Viruses may remain infectious outside the host cell for considerable time and represent a source of accidental infection if not properly inactivated. In this study, the survival of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in suspension and dried on surfaces was analyzed. In addition, the sensitivity of VSV to disinfectants and physicochemical changes was investigated. VSV showed a notable stability in suspension at 4 °C with virus titers remaining high over several weeks. The presence of serum proteins had a stabilizing effect on virus infectivity, whereas elevated temperatures reduced survival times. VSV dried on polystyrene, glass or stainless steel surfaces remained infectious for at least 6 days at ambient temperature. VSV showed a remarkable resistance to extreme pH in particular in the alkaline range, but could be rapidly inactivated by heating at 55 °C or higher. The virus was highly sensitive to inactivation by commonly used disinfectants such as aldehydes, alcohols, and detergents. The high stability of VSV on surfaces and in suspension may facilitate dissemination of the virus in livestock by contaminated feeding and water troughs, hands, and milking equipment. This knowledge on the sensitivity of VSV to disinfectants will help to set up appropriate hygiene measures.     

Oral vesicular lesions in horses without evidence of vesicular stomatitis virus infection

OBJECTIVE: To report clinical and serologic findings in horses with oral vesicular lesions that were consistent with vesicular stomatitis (VS) but apparently were not associated with VS virus (VSV) infection. DESIGN: Serial case study. ANIMALS: 8 horses. PROCEDURE: Horses were quarantined after appearance of oral lesions typical of VS. Severity of clinical signs was scored every 2 to 5 days for 3 months. Serum samples were tested for antibodies by use of competitive ELISA (cELISA), capture ELISA for IgM, serum neutralization, and complement fixation (CF). Virus isolation was attempted from swab specimens of active lesions. RESULTS: 2 horses with oral vesicular lesions on day 1 had antibodies (cELISA and CF) against VSV; however, results of CF were negative by day 19. Five of the 6 remaining horses were seronegative but developed oral lesions by day 23. Virus isolation was unsuccessful for all horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Horses were quarantined for 75 days in compliance with state and federal regulations. However, evidence suggests that oral lesions were apparently not associated with VSV infection. The occurrence in livestock of a vesicular disease that is not caused by VSV could confound efforts to improve control of VS in the United States and could impact foreign trade. Vesicular stomatitis is of substantial economic and regulatory concern.     

宿主基因TBL1XR1沉默对水疱性口炎病毒复制的影响

为揭示转导蛋白(β)样1X连接受体1(TBL1XR1)对水疱性口炎病毒(VSV)复制的影响,首先设计并构建沉默TBL1XR1的shRNA表达载体,并以其作为包装慢病毒的穿梭质粒,同骨架质粒共转染239T细胞后,成功包装出表达shTBL1XR1的慢病毒颗粒。以慢病毒感染小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7并建立TBL1XR1表达沉默的细胞系,同时构建不靶向任何基因的对照细胞系。最后,用VSV感染TBL1XR1沉默细胞系,并通过荧光定量PCR方法检测VSV的复制能力。结果发现,对TBL1XR1进行沉默能显著抑制VSV的复制,推测TBL1XR1及其相关复合物在VSV侵染过程中起到了一定的辅助作用。研究结果不仅为揭示VSV的致病机理奠定基础,也对VSV的疫病防控起到一定的指导作用。     

Effect of human interferon on vesicular stomatitis virus released from bovine embryonic kidney cells

Human lymphoblastoid interferon (IFN) had an antiviral activity in bovine embryonic kidney cells that resulted in the release of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) particles with decreased infectivity. The inhibition was dose dependent and the cells were highly sensitive to human IFN. Examination of the proteins of VSV released from bovine cells after IFN treatment showed a reduction in the glycoprotein. Electron microscopic studies revealed a large number of VSV particles with characteristic spike-like surface projections released from nontreated cells. There was a reduction in the number of mature virions produced in IFN-treated cells and the virions lacked the characteristic surface projections.     

水疱性口炎病毒糖蛋白基因的克隆和表达

对一株实验室保存多年的水疱性口炎病毒(VSV)的囊膜糖蛋白(VSV_G)基因进行了克隆和测序,并且构建了重组VSV_G真核系统表达载体。结果表明克隆的VSV_G基因全长1536个核苷酸(nt),其编码的G蛋白长为511个氨基酸(aa),氨基酸序列与20个Indiana血清型VSV毒株的同源性在95.4%左右(94.1%～98.0%)。种系发生树分析表明此病毒株属于水疱病毒属的VSV_Indiana血清型。经免疫荧光检测证明构建的重组VSV_G表达质粒pCIVG5和pCRVG6转染23T细胞后能够有效地转录和表达,这为进一步开发利用VSV_G奠定了基础。     

水泡性口炎病毒单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

将水泡性口炎病毒（VSV）经差速离心和蔗糖密度梯度离心法进行纯化后,以纯化的VSV作为免疫原免疫8～10周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞进行融合,经间接ELISA方法筛选能稳定分泌抗VSV单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,并对制备出的抗VSV单抗的特异性、抗体亚类等生物学特性进行鉴定。结果显示,试验成功筛选出2株能稳定分泌抗VSV单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为1A2、4C3。ELISA鉴定结果表明,2株单抗均能特异性地与VSV结合,而与口蹄疫病毒（FMDV）、猪水泡病病毒（SVDV）均不发生交叉反应;诱生小鼠腹水产生的抗体效价可达1∶25 600～1∶51 200。杂交瘤细胞染色体核型鉴定结果显示,杂交瘤细胞染色体数为95～105,均高于2个亲本细胞的染色体数目,说明这2株细胞是两者的杂交产物。抗体亚类鉴定结果显示,所获得2株单抗1A2、4C3均为IgG1。Western blot分析结果表明,1A2可识别VSV G蛋白。2株抗VSV单克隆抗体的成功制备将为VSV快速检测方法的建立以及检测试剂的研制等奠定基础。     

Pathogenesis of experimental vesicular stomatitis virus (New Jersey serotype) infection in the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

The pathogenesis of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection has not been investigated previously in native New World rodents that may have a role in the epidemiology of the disease. In the present study, 45 juvenile and 80 adult deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were inoculated intranasally with VSV New Jersey serotype (VSV-NJ) and examined sequentially over a 7-day period. Virus was detected by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in all tissues containing histologic lesions. Viral antigen and mRNA were observed initially in olfactory epithelium neurons, followed by olfactory bulbs and more caudal olfactory pathways in the brain. Virus also was detected throughout the ventricular system in the brain and central canal of the spinal cord. These results support both viral retrograde transneuronal transport and viral spread within the ventricular system. Other tissues containing viral antigen included airway epithelium and macrophages in the lungs, cardiac myocytes, and macrophages in cervical lymph nodes. In a second experiment, 15 adult, 20 juvenile, and 16 nestling deer mice were inoculated intradermally with VSV-NJ. Adults were refractory to infection by this route; however, nestlings and juveniles developed disseminated central nervous system infections. Viral antigen also was detected in cardiac myocytes and lymph node macrophages in these animals. Viremia was detected by virus isolation in 35/72 (49%) intranasally inoculated juvenile and adult mice and in 17/36 (47%) intradermally inoculated nestlings and juveniles from day 1 to day 3 postinoculation. The documentation of viremia in these animals suggests that they may have a role in the epidemiology of vector-borne vesicular stomatitis.     

Immunogenicity of replication-deficient vesicular stomatitis virus based rabies vaccine in mice

BackgroundRabies is a viral disease that causes severe neurological manifestations both in humans and various mammals. Although inactivated and/or attenuated vaccines have been developed and widely used around the world, there are still concerns with regard to their safety, efficacy, and costs.ObjectiveAs demand has grown for a new rabies vaccine, we have developed a new vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSVs) based rabies vaccine that replaces glycoproteins with rabies virus (RABV) glycoprotein (GP), or so-called VSV/RABV-GP.MethodsVSV/RABV-GP production was measured by sandwich ELISA. The generation of VSV/RABV-GP was evaluated with GP-specific antibodies and reduced transduction with GP-specific neutralizing antibodies. Virus entry was quantified by measuring the luciferase levels at 18-h post-transduction. BALB/c mice (three groups of six mice each) were intraperitoneally immunized with PBS, RABA, or VSV/RABV-GP at 0 and 14 days. At 28 days post-immunization serology was performed. Statistical significance was calculated using the Holm–Sidak multiple Student’s t test.ResultsMice immunized with VSV/RABV-GP produced IgM and IgG antibodies, whereas IgM titers were significantly higher in mice immunized with VSV/RABV-GP compared to inactivated RABV. The secretion profiles of IgG1 and IgG2a production suggested that VSV/RAVB-GP induces the T helper cell type-2 immune bias. In addition, the average (±SD; n = 3) serum neutralization titers of the inactivated RABV and VSV/RABV-GP groups were 241 ± 40 and 103 ± 54 IU/mL, respectivelyConclusionOur results confirm that VSV/RABV-GP could be a new potential vaccination platform for RABV.