Investigations into the presence of nidoviruses in pythons

Blahak, Silvia; Jenckel, Maria; Höper, Dirk W.; Beer, Martin; Schlottau, Kore

doi:10.1186/s12985-020-1279-5

Cited by 22 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Since Serpentovirinae sp. isolate L1 was sequenced from a Python regius in the United States in 2015 (14), whereas the strains BH171/14-7, BH128/14-12 (15), and CH-F1 were isolated from a Morelia viridis in Germany (2015) and in Switzerland (2018), it is likely that the recombination events have occurred between the ancestors of these lineages.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serpentoviruses: More than Respiratory Pathogens

Dervas

Hepojoki

Smura

et al. 2020

J Virol

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In recent years nidoviruses have emerged as important respiratory pathogens of reptiles, affecting captive python populations. In pythons, nidovirus (recently reclassified as serpentovirus) infection induces an inflammation of the upper respiratory and alimentary tract which can develop into a severe, often fatal proliferative pneumonia. We observed pyogranulomatous and fibrinonecrotic lesions in organ systems other than the respiratory tract during full post mortem examinations on 30 serpentovirus RT-PCR positive pythons of varying species originating from Switzerland and Spain. The observations prompted us to study whether this not yet reported wider distribution of lesions is associated with previously unknown serpentoviruses or changes in the serpentovirus genome. RT-PCR and inoculation of Morelia viridis cell cultures served to recruit the cases and obtain virus isolates. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining against serpentovirus nucleoprotein demonstrated that the virus not only infects a broad spectrum of epithelia (respiratory and alimentary epithelium, hepatocytes, renal tubules, pancreatic ducts etc.), but also intravascular monocytes, intralesional macrophages and endothelial cells. By next-generation sequencing we obtained full length genome for a novel serpentovirus species circulating in Switzerland. Analysis of viral genomes recovered from pythons showing serpentovirus infection associated respiratory or systemic disease did not reveal sequence association to phenotypes, however, functional studies with different strains are needed to confirm this observation. The results indicate that serpentoviruses have a broad cell and tissue tropism, further suggesting that the course of infection could vary and involve lesions in a broad spectrum of tissues and organ systems as a consequence of monocyte-mediated viral systemic spread. IMPORTANCE During the last years, python nidoviruses (now reclassified as serpentoviruses) have become a primary cause of fatal disease in pythons. Serpentoviruses represent a threat to captive snake collections, as they spread rapidly and can be associated with high morbidity and mortality. Our study indicates that, different from previous evidence, the viruses do not only affect the respiratory tract, but can spread in the entire body with blood monocytes, have a broad spectrum of target cells, and can induce a variety of lesions. Nidovirales is an order of animal and human viruses that compromise important zoonotic pathogens such as MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. Serpentoviruses belong to the same order as the mentioned human viruses and show similar characteristics (rapid spread, respiratory and gastrointestinal tropism, etc.). The present study confirms the relevance of natural animal diseases to better understand the complexity of viruses of the order nidovirales.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serpentoviruses: More than Respiratory Pathogens

Dervas

Hepojoki

Smura

et al. 2020

J Virol

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“…The viruses had been reported in some species of snakes which is transmitted to human [ 45 ]. They are highly contagious viruses which induce infection associated with respiratory signs in human, and they are transmitted by respiratory secretions [ 46 ].…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug repurposing of nitazoxanide: can it be an effective therapy for COVID-19?

Mahmoud

Shitu²,

Mostafa

2020

Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

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Background: The current outbreak of pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) aggravates serious need for effective therapeutics. Over recent years, drug repurposing has been accomplished as an important opportunity in drug development as it shortens the time consumed for development, besides sparing the cost and the efforts exerted in the research and development process. Main body of the abstract: The FDA-approved antiparasitic drug, nitazoxanide (NTZ), has been found to have antiviral activity against different viral infections such as coronaviruses, influenza, hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other viruses signifying its potential as a broad spectrum antiviral drug. Moreover, it has been recently reported that NTZ exhibited in vitro inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 at a small micromolar concentration. Additionally, NTZ suppresses the production of cytokines emphasizing its potential to manage COVID-19-induced cytokine storm. Furthermore, the reported efficacy of NTZ to bronchodilate the extremely contracted airways can be beneficial in alleviating COVID-19-associated symptoms. Short conclusion: All these findings, along with the high safety record of the drug, have gained our interest to urge conductance of clinical trials to assess the potential benefits of using it in COVID-19 patients. Thus, in this summarized article, we review the antiviral activities of NTZ and highlight its promising therapeutic actions that make the drug worth clinical trials.

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“…Morelia viridis nidovirus isolates BH171/14-7 and BH128/14-12 (33) cluster together with Serpentovirinae sp. isolate L1 based on 5’ and 3’ ends of the genome (corresponding to nucleotides 1-14704 and 36100-37869 in the alignment), whereas based on nucleotides 14705-25143 and 27808-36099 these strains cluster together with Serpentovirinae sp.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since Serpentovirinae sp. isolate L1 was sequenced from a Python regius in the USA in 2015 (14), whereas the strains BH171/14-7, BH128/14-12 (33) and CH-F1 were isolated from a Morelia viridis in Germany (2015) and Switzerland (2018), it is likely that the recombination events have occurred between the ancestors of these lineages.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Python nidoviruses, more than respiratory pathogens

Dervas

Hepojoki

Smura

et al. 2020

Preprint

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28In recent years nidoviruses have emerged as an important respiratory pathogen of reptiles, 29 affecting especially captive python populations. In pythons, nidovirus infection induces an 30 inflammation of the upper respiratory and alimentary tract which can develop into a severe and 31 often fatal proliferative pneumonia. We observed pyogranulomatous and fibrinonecrotic lesions 32 in organ systems other than the respiratory tract during full post mortem examinations on 30 33 nidovirus RT-PCR positive pythons of varying species originating from Switzerland and Spain. 34The observations prompted us to study whether the atypical tissue tropism associates with 35 previously unknown nidoviruses or changes in the nidovirus genome. RT-PCR and inoculation 36 of Morelia viridis cell cultures served to recruit the cases and to obtain virus isolates. 37 Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining against nidovirus nucleoprotein 38 demonstrated that the virus not only infects a broad spectrum of epithelial (respiratory and 39 alimentary epithelium, hepatocytes, renal tubules, pancreatic ducts etc.), but also intravascular 40 monocytes, intralesional macrophages and endothelial cells. By next-generation sequencing we 41 obtained full length genome for a novel nidovirus species circulating in Switzerland. Analysis of 42 viral genomes recovered from pythons showing nidovirus infection-associated respiratory or 43 systemic disease did not explain the observed phenotypes. The results indicate that python 44 nidoviruses have a broad cell and tissue tropism, further suggesting that the course of infection 45 could vary and involve lesions in a broad spectrum of tissues and organ systems as a 46 consequence of monocyte-mediated systemic spread of the virus. 47 IMPORTANCE 49During the last years, python nidoviruses have become a primary cause of fatal disease in 50 pythons. Nidoviruses represent a threat to captive snake collections, as they spread rapidly and 51 can be associated with high morbidity and mortality. Our study indicates that, different from 52 previously evidence, the viruses do not only affect the respiratory tract, but can spread in the 53 entire body with blood monocytes, have a broad spectrum of target cells, and can induce a 54 variety of lesions. Nidovirales is an order of animal and human viruses that compromise 55 important zoonotic pathogens such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, as well as the recently 56 emerged SARS-CoV-2. Python nidoviruses belong to the same subfamily as the mentioned 57 human viruses and show similar characteristics (rapid spread, respiratory and gastrointestinal 58 tropism, etc.). The present study confirms the relevance of natural animal diseases to better 59 understand the complexity of viruses of the order nidovirales.

show abstract

Investigations into the presence of nidoviruses in pythons

Cited by 22 publications

References 31 publications

Serpentoviruses: More than Respiratory Pathogens

Serpentoviruses: More than Respiratory Pathogens

Drug repurposing of nitazoxanide: can it be an effective therapy for COVID-19?

Python nidoviruses, more than respiratory pathogens

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