Development of a luminex-based assay for the detection of anti-capripoxvirus and rift valley fever virus antibodies in domestic ruminants.

The three members of the genus capripoxvirus (CaPV), lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), sheeppox virus (SPPV), and goatpox virus (GTPV) have common hosts and areas of overlapping geographical distribution with Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). Hence, to ensure more cost-effective disease surveillance we developed and evaluated a Luminex assay for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against CaPV and RVFV in domestic ruminants. In cattle, the assay had a sensitivity (Se) of 98.

Neprilysin-Mediated Amyloid Beta Clearance and Its Therapeutic Implications in Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Neprilysin (NEP) is a neutral endopeptidase, important for the degradation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides and other neuropeptides, including enkephalins, substance P, and bradykinin, in the brain, that influences various physiological processes such as blood pressure homeostasis, pain perception, and neuroinflammation. NEP breaks down Aβ peptides into smaller fragments, preventing the development of detrimental aggregates such as Aβ plaques. NEP clears Aβ plaques predominantly by enzymatic breakdown in the extracellular space.

Structure-based drug designing for potential antiviral activity of selected natural product against Monkeypox (Mpox) virus and its host targets.

Unlabelled: (MPV/MPXV/hMPXV) is a zoonotic infection that is a causative agent of monkeypox disease, which is mainly endemic in West and Central Africa regions, but recent trends suggested that the virus is transmitted around 116 countries worldwide and is still spreading in multiple non-endemic countries, causing global outbreaks. The current therapeutic options for Mpox are limited, with the WHO temporarily recommending smallpox drugs. This suggests an urgent need to discover new therapeutics that may target both viral and host markers involved in the virus life cycle.

Attempted Transmission of Marburg Virus by Bat-Associated Fleas (Ischnopsyllidae: Thaumapsyllinae) to the Egyptian Rousette Bat ().

Egyptian rousette bats (ERBs) are implicated as reservoir hosts for Marburg virus (MARV), but natural mechanisms involved in maintenance of MARV in ERB populations remain undefined. A number of hematophagous ectoparasites, including fleas, parasitize bats. Subcutaneous (SC) inoculation of ERBs with MARV consistently results in viremia, suggesting that infectious MARV could be ingested by blood-sucking ectoparasites during feeding.

Genome Sequencing of Historical Encephalomyocarditis Viruses from South Africa Links the Historical 1993/4 Savanna Elephant () Outbreak to Cryptic Rodents.

From 1993 to 1994, 64 free-ranging elephants () succumbed to encephalomyocarditis in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, of which 83% were adult bulls. rodents were implicated as the reservoir host of the (EMCV) based on serology and RT-PCR. However, in the absence of sequence-confirmation of both the virus and the rodent host, definitive links between the elephant outbreak strains and rodent reservoir could not be established.

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: 2024.

is a family of negative-sense RNA viruses with genomes of about 13.1-20.9 kb that infect fish, mammals and reptiles.

Viral maintenance and excretion dynamics of coronaviruses within an Egyptian rousette fruit bat maternal colony: considerations for spillover.

Novel coronavirus species of public health and veterinary importance have emerged in the first two decades of the twenty-first century, with bats identified as natural hosts for progenitors of many coronaviruses. Targeted wildlife surveillance is needed to identify the factors involved in viral perpetuation within natural host populations, and drivers of interspecies transmission. We monitored a natural colony of Egyptian rousette bats at monthly intervals across two years to identify circulating coronaviruses, and to investigate shedding dynamics and viral maintenance within the colony.

Renaming of genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus to Orthoebolavirus and Orthomarburgvirus, respectively, and introduction of binomial species names within family Filoviridae.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Filoviridae Study Group continues to prospectively refine the established nomenclature for taxa included in family Filoviridae in an effort to decrease confusion of genus, species, and virus names and to adhere to amended stipulations of the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature (ICVCN). Recently, the genus names Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus were changed to Orthoebolavirus and Orthomarburgvirus, respectively. Additionally, all established species names in family Filoviridae now adhere to the ICTV-mandated binomial format.

Evidence of Rift Valley Fever Virus Circulation in Livestock and Herders in Southern Ghana.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a re-emerging zoonotic disease of domestic ruminants and humans. While neighbouring countries have reported outbreaks of RVF, Ghana has not yet identified any cases. The aim of this study was to determine whether RVF virus (RVFV) was circulating in livestock and herders in the southern part of Ghana, to estimate its seroprevalence, and to identify associated risk factors.

Antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity of natural compounds against Japanese encephalitis virus via inhibition of NS5 protein and regulation of key immune and inflammatory signaling pathways.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the foremost cause of viral encephalitis in Southeast Asia and Australia leading to approximately 68 000 clinical cases and about 13 600-20 400 deaths annually. Vaccination is not completely sure and safe. Despite this, no specific antiviral has been available or approved for JEV infection yet and treatment is generally symptomatic.

First report of an imported case of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in South Africa.

Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is caused by hantavirus infection. Hantaviruses are not endemic to South Africa, and we report the first detection of an imported case of HFRS in the country. The case involved a traveller from Croatia who presented to a Johannesburg hospital with an acute febrile illness with renal dysfunction.

Tracing the origin of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2): A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

The aim of the study was to trace and understand the origin of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) through various available literatures and accessible databases. Although the world enters the third year of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, health and socioeconomic impacts continue to mount, the origin and mechanisms of spill-over of the SARS-CoV-2 into humans remain elusive. Therefore, a systematic review of the literature was performed that showcased the integrated information obtained through manual searches, digital databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE) searches, and searches from legitimate publications (1966-2022), followed by meta-analysis.

Re-emerging human monkeypox: A major public-health debacle.

A multicountry outbreak of the monkeypox virus has gained global attention. As of May 25, 250 confirmed human monkeypox cases have been reported globally. Monkeypox is caused by the Monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus and Poxviridae family.

Transmission dynamics and mutational prevalence of the novel Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 Omicron Variant of Concern.

The novel Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, Omicron (PANGO lineage B.1.1.

Safety, Immunogenicity and Antibody Persistence of Rift Valley Fever Virus Clone 13 Vaccine in Sheep, Goats and Cattle in Tanzania.

Vaccination is considered to be the best approach to control Rift Valley fever (RVF) in animals and consequently in humans. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of the RVF virus (RVFV) Clone 13 vaccine under field conditions. A vaccine trial was conducted in sheep (230), goats (230), and cattle (140) in Ngorongoro district, Tanzania.

Seasonal shedding patterns of diverse henipavirus-related paramyxoviruses in Egyptian rousette bats.

Bat-borne viruses in the Henipavirus genus have been associated with zoonotic diseases of high morbidity and mortality in Asia and Australia. In Africa, the Egyptian rousette bat species (Rousettus aegyptiacus) is an important viral host in which Henipavirus-related viral sequences have previously been identified. We expanded these findings by assessing the viral dynamics in a southern African bat population.

Vector Competence of (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) for Marburg Virus Transmission in (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae).

This study aimed to determine the vector competence of bat-associated nycteribiid flies () for Marburg virus (MARV) in the Egyptian Rousette Bat (ERB), . In flies fed on subcutaneously infected ERBs and tested from 3 to 43 days post infection (dpi), MARV was detected only in those that took blood during the peak of viremia, 5-7 dpi. Seroconversion did not occur in control bats in contact with MARV-infected bats infested with bat flies up to 43 days post exposure.