Isolation and characterization of an astrovirus causing fatal visceral gout in domestic goslings

Abstract

Astroviruses are recognized as a leading cause of gastroenteritis in humans and animals. They are also associated with extra-intestinal diseases, such as hepatitis in ducklings, nephritis in chickens, and encephalitis in cattle. In February 2017, a fatal infection of goslings characterized by visceral urate deposition was reported in the Shandong province, China. Our systematic investigation led to the isolation of an astrovirus, designated AAstV/Goose/CHN/2017/SD01, and similar disease was reproduced by experimental infection of healthy goslings, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. The isolated astrovirus replicated well and resulted in 100% mortality of goose embryos. Complete genome sequence analysis revealed that the isolate was genetically distinct from known astroviruses and closely related to members of the avastrovirus genogroup II. Experimental infection showed that the isolate was highly pathogenic in goslings, causing clinical signs, growth repression and in many cases mortality. Histopathological examination indicated that lesions occurred mainly in the kidneys of infected birds. However, virus-specific genomic RNA was detected in all representative tissues, and virus shedding was detected up to 12 days after inoculation, suggesting that the isolate was able to spread systemically and replicate efficiently in vivo. Collectively, our study demonstrates, for the first time, the etiological role of a genetically distinct astrovirus in the fatal infection of goslings.

First report of a novel goose astrovirus outbreak in Cherry Valley ducklings in China

“…Astrovirus has been reported in poultry flocks, where it causes different clinical symptoms. Previous studies have revealed that gout in poultry was associated with ANV, CAstV and GoAstV field strain infections (Baxendale & Mebatsion, 2004;Bulbule et al, 2013;De Wit et al, 2011;Zhang, Cao, et al, 2018) In conclusion, this study described the isolation of a novel GoAstV strain, the SDXT strain, that caused visceral urate deposition in ducklings. Based on our genomic and phylogenetic analyses, the SDXT strain should be classified into a novel GoAstV group as a member of the Avastrovirus three species.…”

“…Astrovirus has been reported in poultry flocks, where it causes different clinical symptoms. Previous studies have revealed that gout in poultry was associated with ANV, CAstV and GoAstV field strain infections (Baxendale & Mebatsion, ; Bulbule et al, ; De Wit et al, ; Zhang, Cao, et al, ). Beginning in 2016, several novel GoAstVs emerged in gosling flocks in most goose‐breeding regions as major causative agents of diseases in geese, leading to huge economic losses in the poultry industry.…”

Human Astrovirus MLB Replication In Vitro : Persistence in Extraintestinal Cell Lines

“…Novel HAstVs are part of the neurovirulent astroviruses, which also include animal astroviruses (30). Other unexpected clinical manifestations recently associated with human and animal astroviruses include respiratory tract infections (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37), fever of unknown etiology (38,39), hepatitis (40,41), and severe gout in geese (42). Altogether, these findings suggest that there are probably other still unrecognized divergent astroviruses with clinical implications beyond gastroenteritis in humans and animals.…”

Characterization and genomic analysis of emerging astroviruses causing fatal gout in goslings

“…ORF1a encodes non‐structural proteins, ORF1b encodes RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, and ORF2 encodes nucleocapsid proteins. Avastrovirus (AAstV) isolated from avian species (Bulbule et al, ; Fu et al, ; Kaithal, Jindal, Kumar, & Mor, ; Mándoki, Dobos‐Kovács, Bakonyi, & Rusvai, ; Ter Veen, de Bruijn, Dijkman, & de Wit, ) is one of the leading causes of diseases in birds such as nephritis in chickens, hepatitis and stunting in ducks and gout in goslings (Bidin, Lojkic, Tisljar, Bidin, & Majnaric, ; Liu et al, ; Jin et al, ; Liu, Jiang, Dong, Wang, & Zhang, ; Yang, Tian, Tang, & Diao, ; Zhang, Cao, et al, ; Zhang, Wang, Liu, Yang, & Zhang, ).…”

“…diseases in birds such as nephritis in chickens, hepatitis and stunting in ducks and gout in goslings (Bidin, Lojkic, Tisljar, Bidin, & Majnaric, 2012;Liu et al, 2016;Jin et al, 2018;Liu, Jiang, Dong, Wang, & Zhang, 2018;Yang, Tian, Tang, & Diao, 2018;Zhang, Cao, et al, 2018;Zhang, Wang, Liu, Yang, & Zhang, 2017).…”