Detection and genome sequencing of lumpy skin disease viruses in wildlife game species in South Africa

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : Sequences of assembled and annotated genomes are available at GenBank under the accessions: OR644282 to OR644284.Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) has recently undergone rapid spread, now being reported from more than 80 countries, affecting predominantly cattle and to a lesser extent, water buffalo. This poxvirus was previously considered to be highly host-range restricted. However, there is an increasing number of published reports on the detection of the virus from different game animal species. The virus has not only been shown to infect a wide range of game species under experimental conditions, but has also been naturally detected in oryx, giraffe, camels and gazelle. In addition, clinical lumpy skin disease has previously been described in springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), an African antelope species, in South Africa. This report describes the characterization of lumpy skin disease virus belonging to cluster 1.2, from field samples from springbok, impala (Aepyceros melampus) and a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in South Africa using PCR, Sanger and whole genome sequencing. Most of these samples were submitted from wild animals in nature reserves or game parks, indicating that the disease is not restricted to captive-bred animals on game farms or zoological gardens. The potential role of wildlife species in the transmission and maintenance of LSDV is further discussed and requires continuing investigation, as the virus and disease may pose a serious threat to endangered species.The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).https://www.mdpi.com/journal/viruseshj2024BiochemistryGeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyVeterinary Tropical DiseasesSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Peste des petits ruminants virus tissue tropism and pathogenesis in sheep and goats following experimental infection

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease which primarily affects small ruminants, causing significant economic losses for the livestock industry in developing countries. It is endemic in Saharan and sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent. The primary hosts for peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) are goats and sheep; however recent models studying the pathology, disease progression and viremia of PPRV have focused primarily on goat models. This study evaluates the tissue tropism and pathogenesis of PPR following experimental infection of sheep and goats using a quantitative time-course study. Upon infection with a virulent strain of PPRV, both sheep and goats developed clinical signs and lesions typical of PPR, although sheep displayed milder clinical disease compared to goats. Tissue tropism of PPRV was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Lymph nodes, lymphoid tissue and digestive tract organs were the predominant sites of virus replication. The results presented in this study provide models for the comparative evaluation of PPRV pathogenesis and tissue tropism in both sheep and goats. These models are suitable for the establishment of experimental parameters necessary for the evaluation of vaccines, as well as further studies into PPRV-host interactions.A Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) grant (no. 106930: Livestock vaccines against viral diseases for sub-Saharan Africa) by the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).http://www.plosone.orgam201

Determination and analysis of the complete genome sequences of a vaccine strain and field isolate of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV)

In this study, the genomes of both the attenuated South African lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) Neethling vaccine strain (LW) and a virulent field isolate from a recent outbreak namely the South African lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) Neethling Warmbaths isolate (LD) have been cloned, sequenced and analysed. The genomic sequences of the South African LSDV Neethling Warmbaths isolate (LD) and the South African LSDV Neethling vaccine strain (LW), were compared to each other. The virulent South African isolate, LD was also compared to the previously sequenced virulent LSDV Neethling strain 2490 (LK), to determine molecular differences. The LSDV genome is approximately 150 kbp in size and consists of 156 putative genes. Of the 156 potential encoded proteins of the virulent LSDV field isolates, the South African LSDV Neethling Warmbaths isolate (LD) and the LSDV Kenyan Neethling strain 2490 (LK), 120 were identical, 21 showed differences of a single amino acid, 7 showed two amino acid differences, while only one showed three amino acid differences. These were mostly found in the variable terminal regions. The LSDV Kenyan Neethling strain 2490 (LK) was isolated in Kenya in 1958 and than re-isolated in 1987 from lesions of an experimentally infected cow (Tulmanet al. 2001). The South African LSDV Neethling Warmbaths isolate (LD) was isolated from lesions of a severely infected calf in the Northern Province of the Republic of South Africa, on the farm Bothasvlei in 2001 (David Wallace, Biotechnology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Republic of South Africa; Personal communication, 2001). Considering the geographically distant African regions of the isolates, namely South Africa (LD) and Kenya (LK) as well as the time when these viruses were isolated, minimal genetic variation was observed thereby suggesting that lumpy skin disease virus is genetically stable. When the attenuated vaccine strain (L W) was compared with the South African field isolate LD, a total of 480 amino acid differences were observed in 121 of the 156 potential encoded proteins. These were again mainly in genes of the terminal regions and a number of these led to frameshifts that caused truncated open reading frames (ORFs) as well as deletions of up to nine amino acids and insertions of up to 42 amino acids. These modified open reading frames (ORFs) encode proteins that are involved in various aspects, such as the regulation of host immune responses [a soluble interferon (IFN)-gamma receptor, and an interleukin-l (IL-l) receptor-like protein], gene expression (mutT motif proteins), DNA repair (superoxide dismutase), host-range specificity (ankyrin-repeat protein, kelch-like proteins) including proteins with unassigned functions. These differences could lead to a reduction in immuno evasive mechanisms and virulence factors present in attenuated LSDV strains. At this stage, it is not possible to define which amino acid differences in particular are responsible for dramatic alterations in viral virulence. A good indication, however are differences occurring in functional domains. A mutation in a trans-membrane region, for example, could alter the levels of secretion of a protein involved in the regulation of the host immune response. We conclude that the attenuated effect is likely to be the sum of the altered phenotypes of the expressed proteins, although it is also likely that a few specific proteins carry more weight. Further studies to determine the functions of the relevant encoded gene products will hopefully confirm this. The molecular design of an effective vaccine is likely to be based on the strategic manipulation of such genes.Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Microbiology and Plant Pathologyunrestricte