A novel Betaretrovirus discovered in cattle with neurological disease and encephalitis.

Background: The majority of emerging infectious diseases in humans are of animal origin, and many of them are caused by neuropathogenic viruses. Many cases of neurological disease and encephalitis in livestock remain etiologically unresolved, posing a constant threat to animal and human health. Thus, continuous extension of our knowledge of the repertoire of viruses prone to infect the central nervous system (CNS) is vital for pathogen monitoring and the early detection of emerging viruses.

Astrovirus-Associated Polioencephalomyelitis in an Alpaca.

An 8-year-old alpaca was admitted to the emergency service of the Clinic for Ruminants in Bern due to a reduced general condition and progressive neurological signs. Despite supportive treatment, its condition deteriorated and the animal had to be euthanized. Histopathological analysis revealed a severe non-suppurative polioencephalomyelitis with neuronal necrosis, most likely of viral origin.

Cerebral Ovine Herpesvirus 2 Infection of Cattle Is Associated With a Variable Neuropathological Phenotype.

Cross-species infection with ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) in cattle causes malignant catarrhal fever (MCF). MCF may involve the central nervous system (CNS) with necrotizing arteritis and/or vasculitis described to be unique to MCF and discriminatory compared to other viral CNS infections. However, a systematic histopathological characterization of the neural form of MCF in cattle is lacking.

Diffuse Leptomeningeal Oligodendrogliomatosis in a Cow.

A 4.5-year-old cow showing neurological signs consistent with predictors of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was investigated as a potential BSE-suspect case and proved to be negative. Macroscopic analysis revealed a tan neoplastic mass growing along the leptomeninges of the caudal brain and extending into the third (III) ventricle without significantly involving the neuroparenchyma.

Discovery of novel astrovirus genotype species in small ruminants.

Astroviruses (AstV) are single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses, best known for causing diarrhea in humans and are also found in many other mammals; in those, the relevance in gastroenteritis remains unclear. Recently described neurotropic AstV showed associations with encephalitis in humans as well as in other mammals. In Switzerland, two different neurotropic AstV were identified in cattle, as well as one in a sheep.

Novel encephalomyelitis-associated astrovirus in a muskox (Ovibos moschatus): a surprise from the archives.

Background: The small, single-stranded positive-sense RNA astroviruses are mostly known to be enteric viruses. In recent years, though, different astroviruses were reported in association with neurological disease in various species. In cattle, two distinct neurotropic astrovirus genotype species were described in numerous cases of nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis, with one of these viruses also reported in similar circumstances in several sheep.

Accurate and precise real-time RT-PCR assays for the identification of astrovirus associated encephalitis in cattle.

A novel bovine astrovirus genotype species (BoAstV-CH13/NeuroS1) was recently identified in brain tissues of cattle as a plausible cause of encephalitis. The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate real time RT-PCR assays for the detection of BoAstV-CH13/NeuroS1 in brain tissues of cattle. Three different primer-probe combinations were designed based on BoAstV-CH13/NeuroS1 full-genome sequences of 11 different strains identified in cattle, and established in three distinct one-step real time RT-PCR protocols.