A chimeric vaccine derived from Australian genotype IV Japanese encephalitis virus protects mice from lethal challenge.

In 2022, a genotype IV (GIV) strain of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) caused an unprecedented and widespread outbreak of disease in pigs and humans in Australia. As no veterinary vaccines against JEV are approved in Australia and all current approved human and veterinary vaccines are derived from genotype (G) III JEV strains, we used the recently described insect-specific Binjari virus (BinJV) chimeric flavivirus vaccine technology to produce a JEV GIV vaccine candidate. Herein we describe the production of a chimeric virus displaying the structural prM and E proteins of a JEV GIV isolate obtained from a stillborn piglet (JEV) in the genomic backbone of BinJV (BinJ/JEVprME).

A chimeric vaccine protects farmed saltwater crocodiles from West Nile virus-induced skin lesions.

West Nile virus (WNV) causes skin lesions in farmed crocodiles leading to the depreciation of the value of their hides and significant economic losses. However, there is no commercially available vaccine designed for use in crocodilians against WNV. We tested chimeric virus vaccines composed of the non-structural genes of the insect-specific flavivirus Binjari virus (BinJV) and genes encoding the structural proteins of WNV.

Evidence of Infection with Zoonotic Mosquito-Borne Flaviviruses in Saltwater Crocodiles () in Northern Australia.

The risk of flavivirus infections among the crocodilian species was not recognised until West Nile virus (WNV) was introduced into the Americas. The first outbreaks caused death and substantial economic losses in the alligator farming industry. Several other WNV disease episodes have been reported in crocodilians in other parts of the world, including Australia and Africa.

Infectious coryza in a grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) recovered from captivity.

We report Avibacterium paragallinarum and Klebsiella pneumoniae coinfection in a grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum). The crane was recovered from illegal captivity and released at a grey crowned crane (GCC) rehabilitation facility located at Akagera National Park in Rwanda. One year after being transferred, the bird presented with clinical signs suggesting a respiratory disease.

Canine Gastrointestinal Nematodiases and Associated Risk Factors in Kigali City, Rwanda.

Canine nematodes pose a public health risk to humans and livestock; however, the prevalence of canine nematodiases in Rwanda is unknown. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of canine nematodiases and identifying the risk factors for such infections in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. A cross-sectional study involved 93 dogs selected across Kigali city.

West Nile Virus: An Update on Pathobiology, Epidemiology, Diagnostics, Control and "One Health" Implications.

West Nile virus (WNV) is an important zoonotic flavivirus responsible for mild fever to severe, lethal neuroinvasive disease in humans, horses, birds, and other wildlife species. Since its discovery, WNV has caused multiple human and animal disease outbreaks in all continents, except Antarctica. Infections are associated with economic losses, mainly due to the cost of treatment of infected patients, control programmes, and loss of animals and animal products.

Protective Efficacy of a Chimeric Insect-Specific Flavivirus Vaccine against West Nile Virus.

Virulent strains of West Nile virus (WNV) are highly neuro-invasive and human infection is potentially lethal. However, no vaccine is currently available for human use. Here, we report the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a vaccine derived from a chimeric virus, which was constructed using the structural proteins (prM and E) of the Kunjin strain of WNV (WNV) and the genome backbone of the insect-specific flavivirus Binjari virus (BinJV).

NS4/5 mutations enhance flavivirus Bamaga virus infectivity and pathogenicity in vitro and in vivo.

Flaviviruses such as yellow fever, dengue or Zika viruses are responsible for significant human and veterinary diseases worldwide. These viruses contain an RNA genome, prone to mutations, which enhances their potential to emerge as pathogens. Bamaga virus (BgV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus in the yellow fever virus group that we have previously shown to be host-restricted in vertebrates and horizontally transmissible by Culex mosquitoes.

Mosquito-Independent Transmission of West Nile virus in Farmed Saltwater Crocodiles ().

West Nile virus, Kunjin strain (WNV) is endemic in Northern Australia, but rarely causes clinical disease in humans and horses. Recently, WNV genomic material was detected in cutaneous lesions of farmed saltwater crocodiles (), but live virus could not be isolated, begging the question of the pathogenesis of these lesions. Crocodile hatchlings were experimentally infected with either 10 ( = 10) or 10 ( = 11) TCID-doses of WNV and each group co-housed with six uninfected hatchlings in a mosquito-free facility.

First confirmed case of bovine besnoitiosis in Rwanda.

An-eighteen months (one and half years) old heifer was presented with a progressive loss of weight leading to cachexia and was attended to by a team of doctors from the ambulatory clinic of the School of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda. Clinical examination revealed scleroderma of both sides of the neck and pinpoint cysts in the sclera and conjunctiva as well as corneal opacity of the left eye. Histological examination of skin biopsy showed a mononuclear dermatitis with several cysts of 100-300 μm filled up with bradyzoites in the subcutis and dermis.

An epidemiological survey of the magnitude and local perceptions of porcine cysticercosis by two methods in Nyaruguru district, Rwanda.

This study investigated the magnitude of porcine cysticercosis (PC), its risk factors, economic effects and the perceptions of 80 pig farmers from Nyabimata (n = 38) and Muganza (n = 42) and 20 registered butchers in the Nyaruguru district of Rwanda. January to December 2013 slaughter records from Kamirabagenzi market were also analysed for PC diagnoses based on the tongue test and meat inspection. During this period, the responding farmers' records showed a tongue test-based PC magnitude (3.

Study of Incidence of Gross Urogenital Lesions and Abnormalities on Does Slaughtered at Nyagatare Slaughterhouse, Eastern Province, Rwanda.

Reproductive and urinary tract abnormalities are a cause of infertility, reproductive inefficiency, and economic losses in goats. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and nature of reproductive and urinary tract abnormalities encountered in female goats slaughtered at Nyagatare abattoir in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Reproductive and urinary organs from 369 female goat carcasses were opened by incision and then given a thorough macroscopic examination by visually inspecting and palpating for evidence of abnormalities.

A 4-year study of the proportional distribution of male reproductive organ abnormalities in cattle slaughtered at Nyagatare abattoir, Eastern Rwanda.

Male reproductive performance has more impact on overall herd productivity than in the female. In order to assess herd productivity in cattle in Nyagatare, Eastern Rwanda, the proportional distribution of male reproductive organ abnormalities was investigated in 3087 bulls slaughtered over a 4-year period. The aim of the study was to investigate the proportional distribution of male reproductive organ abnormalities in exotic and indigenous bulls slaughtered over a 4-year period at Nyagatare abattoir in Eastern Rwanda.

A 3-year prospective study of the incidence of gastric ulcers in pigs slaughtered at Base Abattoir in Rwanda.

Aim: Determination of the incidence of gastric ulcers in pigs slaughtered at Base Abattoir in Rwanda.

Materials And Methods: Stomachs from all 5040 pigs that were slaughtered at Base Abattoir in Rwanda from August 2012 to August 2015 were examined for the presence and location of gastric ulcers. The results of the inspections were recorded and analyzed.

A study of the incidence of milk fever in Jersey and Holstein cows at a dairy farm in Beatrice, Zimbabwe.

A 3-year prospective study investigated the incidence of milk fever in Jersey and Holstein cows at a commercial dairy farm in Beatrice, Zimbabwe. The overall incidence of milk fever at the farm was 7.98%.

Pathological findings of condemned bovine liver specimens and associated economic loss at Nyabugogo abattoir, Kigali, Rwanda.

There are no published abattoir bovine hepatic lesion prevalence studies in cattle in Rwanda. This study estimated that 12.3% of the livers (n=4751) examined at Nyabugogo slaughterhouse in Kigali were condemned.

Investigations of foreign bodies in the fore-stomach of cattle at Ngoma Slaughterhouse, Rwanda.

Ingestion of indigestible foreign bodies in cattle is a pathological condition of both economic and health importance. It is has mostly been reported in association with feed scarcity. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and nature of indigestible foreign materials in abattoir fore-stomach specimens in Ngoma district, Rwanda.

Bovine tuberculosis in Rwanda: Prevalence and economic impact evaluation by meat inspection at Société des Abattoirs de Nyabugogo-Nyabugogo Abattoir, Kigali.

Despite the significant public health burden of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Rwanda, the prevalence of bTB is poorly documented. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of bTB in cattle using gross examination of granulomatous lesions, to identify mycobacteria species in suspected samples, and to evaluate the economic impact of meat condemnation based on bTB-like lesions in the meat industry in Rwanda. Routine meat inspection was conducted at Société des Abattoirs de Nyabugogo (SABAN)-Nyabugogo Abattoir.