摘要 :
Objective: To study the genetic diversity of Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Methods: MVEV envelope gene sequences were aligned using Clustal X and manual editing was performed with Bioed...
展开
Objective: To study the genetic diversity of Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Methods: MVEV envelope gene sequences were aligned using Clustal X and manual editing was performed with Bioedit. ModelTest v. 3.7 was used to select the simplest evolutionary model that adequately fitted the sequence data. Maximum likelihood analysis was performed using PhyML. The phylogenetic signal of the dataset was investigated by the likelihood mapping analysis. The Bayesian phylogenetic tree was built using BEAST. Results: The phylogenetic trees showed two main clades. The clade @? including eight strains isolated from West Australia. The clade @? was characterized by at least four epidemic entries, three of which localized in Northern West Australia and one in Papua New Guinea. The estimated mean evolutionary rate value of the MVEV envelope gene was 0.407 x 10^-^3 substitution/site/year (95% HPD: 0.623 x 10^-^4-0.780 x 10^-^3). Population dynamics defines a relative constant population until the year 2000, when a reduction occurred, probably due to a bottleneck. Conclusions: This study has been useful in supporting the probable connection between climate changes and viral evolution also by the vector point of view; multidisciplinary monitoring studies are important to prevent new viral epidemics inside and outside new endemic areas.
收起
摘要 :
BackgroundMurray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes encephalitis in some cases of infection. It is endemic in Northern Australia and cases occasionally occur in South Eastern Australia. The...
展开
BackgroundMurray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes encephalitis in some cases of infection. It is endemic in Northern Australia and cases occasionally occur in South Eastern Australia. The long-term sequelae of MVEV infection have not previously been well described.
收起
摘要 :
Case reportThis report summarises the findings from a case of naturally-occurring Murray Valley encephalitis in a 2-year-old filly presenting with acute onset of depression and weakness. Serum samples tested at the onset of clinic...
展开
Case reportThis report summarises the findings from a case of naturally-occurring Murray Valley encephalitis in a 2-year-old filly presenting with acute onset of depression and weakness. Serum samples tested at the onset of clinical signs were negative for Hendra and Kunjin virus antibodies, but positive for Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) using IgM-capture ELISA (1:300 dilution). A virus neutralisation assay performed 4 weeks later confirmed a titre of 1:160. Sera collected in the weeks preceding neurological signs returned a negative titre for MVEV 2 weeks prior followed by a titre of 1:80 in the week prior to illness. Serological surveillance conducted on 67 co-located horses returned a positive titre of 1:20 in one in-contact horse. There was no history of clinical disease in that horse. At 3 months after the onset of clinical signs in the index case, the filly continued to show mild facial paresis and hypermetria; the owners elected euthanasia and gave permission for necropsy. Histopathological analysis of the brain showed a mild meningoencephalitis.
收起
摘要 :
Virus was detected in the central nervous system (CNS) tissue of 11 horses from Victoria that died displaying neurological symptoms during an outbreak of disease in Australia in 2011. Five horses were identified as being infected ...
展开
Virus was detected in the central nervous system (CNS) tissue of 11 horses from Victoria that died displaying neurological symptoms during an outbreak of disease in Australia in 2011. Five horses were identified as being infected with Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) and 6 as being infected with West Nile virus subtype Kunjin (WNVKUN). Analysis of partial sequence information from the NS5 and E genes indicated that the MVEVs within the samples were highly homogenous and all belonged to lineage I, which is enzootic to the tropical regions of northern Australia. Likewise, analysis of partial NS5 and E gene and full genome sequences indicated that the WNVKUN within the samples were also highly homogenous and clustered with WNV lineage 1, clade b, which is consistent with other WNVKUN isolates. Full genomes of 1 MVEV isolate and 2 WNVKUN isolates were sequenced and characterized. The genome sequences of Victorian WNVKUN are almost identical (3 amino acid differences) to that of the recently sequenced WNV isolate WNVNSW2011. Metagenome sequencing directly from CNS tissue identified the presence of WNVKUN and MVEV within infected CNS tissue.
收起
摘要 :
Objective: To provide an overview and descriptive analysis of the 2011 arboviral disease epidemic in horses that involved three important Australian mosquito-borne viruses: Murray Valley encephalitis virus, West Nile virus (Kunjin...
展开
Objective: To provide an overview and descriptive analysis of the 2011 arboviral disease epidemic in horses that involved three important Australian mosquito-borne viruses: Murray Valley encephalitis virus, West Nile virus (Kunjin strain) and Ross River virus. Methods: Data from states affected between January and June 2011 were collated and comprised reports of horses showing signs of neuromuscular disease and the associated laboratory findings. A summary of the data is presented, together with a spatiotemporal analysis of cases and preliminary assessment of rainfall patterns and case distribution. Results: A total of 982 cases of equine arboviral disease were reported across Australia between January and June 2011. The majority of cases were reported from south-east Australia and included horses that developed neurological signs consistent with encephalitis. It was the largest epidemic of equine arboviral disease in Australia's history. Two likely causes for this unprecedented epidemic were the unusual weather events that preceded the epidemic and the emergence of a new strain of Kunjin virus. Conclusions: The epidemic highlights to horse owners and policy makers the potential for future outbreaks of arboviral diseases and the need for vigilance. It also highlights the complex interactions among hosts, vectors and climatic conditions that are required for such an outbreak to occur.
收起
摘要 :
Background Between February and June 2011, more than 300 horses with unexplained neurological disease were observed in New South Wales, Australia. A virulent strain of West Nile virus (WNVNSW2011), of Australian origin, was shown ...
展开
Background Between February and June 2011, more than 300 horses with unexplained neurological disease were observed in New South Wales, Australia. A virulent strain of West Nile virus (WNVNSW2011), of Australian origin, was shown to be the cause of many of these cases. Methods We reviewed the clinical descriptions provided by veterinary practitioners and the associated laboratory results. Although there was a range of clinical signs described, ataxia was the only sign that was consistently described in laboratory-confirmed cases. Results WNV was detected in brain samples by real-time reverse transcription PCR assay and virus isolation. For serological confirmation of clinical cases, an equine IgM ELISA specific for WNV was shown to be the most effective tool. Conclusion A state-wide serological survey undertaken after the outbreak indicated that, contrary to expectation, although infection had been widespread, the seroprevalence of antibodies to WNV was very low, suggesting that there could be a significant risk of future disease outbreaks.
收起
摘要 :
Flaviviruses of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) serocomplex include major human and animal pathogens that have a propensity to spread and emerge in new geographic areas. Different genotypes or genetic lineages have been defi...
展开
Flaviviruses of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) serocomplex include major human and animal pathogens that have a propensity to spread and emerge in new geographic areas. Different genotypes or genetic lineages have been defined for many of these viruses, and they are distributed worldwide. Tools enabling rapid detection of new or emerging flaviviruses and differentiation of important subgroups have widespread application for arbovirus diagnosis and surveillance, and are crucial for detecting virus incursions, tracking virus emergence and for disease control. A microsphere suspension array assay was developed to identify JEV serocomplex flaviviruses of medical and veterinary importance. Assay performance was evaluated using representative virus strains as well as clinical and surveillance samples. The assay detected all JEV serocomplex viruses tested in this study with an apparent analytical sensitivity equal or better than the reference real-time or conventional RT-PCR assays and was able to identify mixed virus populations. The ability to identify mixed virus populations at a high analytical sensitivity would be pertinent in the Australian context when attempting to detect exotic JEV or West Nile virus (WNV), and differentiate from endemic Murray Valley encephalitis virus and WNV-Kunjin virus. The relatively low cost, the ability to identify mixed virus populations and the multiplex nature makes this assay valuable for a wide range of applications including diagnostic investigations, virus exclusions, and surveillance programs
收起
摘要 :
Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is the most common cause of viral encephalitis in the tropical 'Top End' of northern Australia. Clinical encephalitis due to MVE virus has a mortality rate of ap...
展开
Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is the most common cause of viral encephalitis in the tropical 'Top End' of northern Australia. Clinical encephalitis due to MVE virus has a mortality rate of approximately 30%, with a similar proportion of patients being left with significant neurological deficits. We report the case of a 25-year-old man from the UK who acquired MVE while travelling through northern Australia. He required prolonged admission to the Intensive Care Unit and several years later remains partly ventilator-dependent, with flaccid quadriparesis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of MVE virus-induced flaccid paralysis in an adult in northern Australia, although it is well described in children. Paralysis was thought to be due to anterior horn cell involvement in the spinal cord and extensive bilateral thalamic destruction, both of which are well recognised complications of infection with MVE virus. Cases of flaccid paralysis with similar pathology have been described following infection with the related flavivirus Japanese encephalitis virus as well as more recently with West Nile virus. Our case highlights the potential severity of flavivirus-induced encephalitis and the importance of avoiding mosquito bites while travelling through endemic areas.
收起
摘要 :
We previously showed that New Zealand White (NZWRs) and cottontail rabbits (CTRs) are a suitable model for studying immune mechanisms behind virus control and non-lethal neuropathogenesis associated with West Nile virus (WNV) and ...
展开
We previously showed that New Zealand White (NZWRs) and cottontail rabbits (CTRs) are a suitable model for studying immune mechanisms behind virus control and non-lethal neuropathogenesis associated with West Nile virus (WNV) and Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) infections. In the current study, we observed that MVEV infection induced high IFN alpha, TNF alpha, IL6, and CXCL10 transcript levels in the brains of weanling NZWRs, unlike infection with the less virulent WNVNSW2011. These transcript levels also correlated with encephalitis severity. Widespread STAT1 protein expression in brain with moderate neuropathology suggests that IFN-I signaling is crucial for limiting neural infection and mediating non-lethal neuropathogenesis. Unlike NZWRs, CTRs limit neuroinvasion without upregulation of many cytokine/chemokine transcripts, suggesting a species-dependent virus control mechanism. However, the common IFN gamma, INF alpha and IL6 transcript upregulation in specific lymphoid organs suggest some conserved elements in the response against flaviviruses, unique to all rabbits. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
收起
摘要 :
Background Waterbirds are the major hosts of various arboviruses. Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is an arbovirus native to northern Australia, the major hosts of which are Phalacrocoraciformes (cormorants), Ciconiiformes ...
展开
Background Waterbirds are the major hosts of various arboviruses. Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is an arbovirus native to northern Australia, the major hosts of which are Phalacrocoraciformes (cormorants), Ciconiiformes (herons) and other waterbirds. MVEV is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes and can cause acute encephalomyelitis. In Victoria, MVEV is restricted to the northern side of the Great Dividing Range (GDR), suggesting that waterbirds cannot cross the high country. Methods and results We tested this hypothesis by analysing data on waterbird banding and recovery and discovered that 12 species can cross the GDR. Conclusion Waterbirds have the potential to carry arboviruses, including MVEV, into southern Victoria.
收起