Occupation-Associated Fatal Limbic Encephalitis Caused by Variegated Squirrel Bornavirus 1, Germany, 2013

Tappe, Dennis; Schlottau, Kore; Cadar, Dániel; Hoffmann, Bernd; L, Balke; Bewig, Burkhard; Hoffmann, Donata; Eisermann, Philip; Fickenscher, Helmut; Krumbholz, Andi; Laufs, Helmut; Huhndorf, Monika; Rosenthal, Maria; Schulz‐Schaeffer, Walter; Ismer, Gabriele; Hotop, Sven-Kevin; Brönstrup, Mark; Ott, Anthonina; Schmidt‐Chanasit, Jonas; Beer, Martin

doi:10.3201/eid2406.172027

Cited by 41 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Recently a novel zoonotic bornavirus, variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1), was detected in five different squirrel species from private holdings and zoos, including Sciurus variegatoides and Callosciurus prevostii and is associated with cases of fatal encephalitis of their breeders and care takers [17,[21][22][23]. Bornaviruses (family Bornaviridae) are enveloped spherically structured viruses with a single-stranded RNA genome of negative polarity (size around 8.9 kilobases (kb)).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search for polyoma-, herpes-, and bornaviruses in squirrels of the family Sciuridae

Schulze

Lurz

Ferrari

et al. 2020

Virol J

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Squirrels (family Sciuridae) are globally distributed members of the order Rodentia with wildlife occurrence in indigenous and non-indigenous regions (as invasive species) and frequent presence in zoological gardens and other holdings. Multiple species introductions, strong inter-species competition as well as the recent discovery of a novel zoonotic bornavirus resulted in increased research interest on squirrel pathogens. Therefore we aimed to test a variety of squirrel species for representatives of three virus families. Methods: Several species of the squirrel subfamilies Sciurinae, Callosciurinae and Xerinae were tested for the presence of polyomaviruses (PyVs; family Polyomaviridae) and herpesviruses (HVs; family Herpesviridae), using generic nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specificity for the PyV VP1 gene and the HV DNA polymerase (DPOL) gene, respectively. Selected animals were tested for the presence of bornaviruses (family Bornaviridae), using both a broad-range orthobornavirus-and a variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1)-specific reverse transcriptionquantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: In addition to previously detected bornavirus RNA-positive squirrels no more animals tested positive in this study, but four novel PyVs, four novel betaherpesviruses (BHVs) and six novel gammaherpesviruses (GHVs) were identified. For three PyVs, complete genomes could be amplified with long-distance PCR (LD-PCR). Splice sites of the PyV genomes were predicted in silico for large T antigen, small T antigen, and VP2 coding sequences, and experimentally confirmed in Vero and NIH/3T3 cells. Attempts to extend the HV DPOL sequences in upstream direction resulted in contiguous sequences of around 3.3 kilobase pairs for one BHV and two GHVs. Phylogenetic analysis allocated the novel squirrel PyVs to the genera Alpha-and Betapolyomavirus, the BHVs to the genus Muromegalovirus, and the GHVs to the genera Rhadinovirus and Macavirus.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search for polyoma-, herpes-, and bornaviruses in squirrels of the family Sciuridae

Schulze

Lurz

Ferrari

et al. 2020

Virol J

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…accompanied by activation of glia cells. These lesions resemble the inflammatory pattern in the CNS found in humans infected with VSBV-1 [1,3,4]. Detailing the CNS lesions in human VSBV-1-infection led to the assumption of an immune-mediated pathogenesis with comparable but also different features as known for BoDV-1 infections [4].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) is one of the most recently discovered zoonotic viruses associated with fatal encephalitis in human patients [1][2][3][4]. Variegated squirrels (Sciurus variegatoides), red-tailed squirrels (Sciurus granatensis), Finlayson's squirrels (Calloscirurus finlaysonii) and Swinhoei's striped squirrels (Tamiops swinhoei) were tested positive for this pathogen, in addition to Prevost squirrels (Callosciurus prevostii), which exhibit even higher total case numbers [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variegated squirrels (Sciurus variegatoides), red-tailed squirrels (Sciurus granatensis), Finlayson's squirrels (Calloscirurus finlaysonii) and Swinhoei's striped squirrels (Tamiops swinhoei) were tested positive for this pathogen, in addition to Prevost squirrels (Callosciurus prevostii), which exhibit even higher total case numbers [5,6]. While the squirrels positively tested for VSBV-1 genome appeared to be in good health, humans infected with VSBV-1 developed a severe and fatal immune-pathogenic mediated encephalitis [1][2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

First isolation, in-vivo and genomic characterization of zoonotic variegated squirrel Bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) isolates

Schlottau

Nobach

Herden

et al. 2020

Emerging Microbes & Infections

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1), a member of the family Bornaviridae, was discovered in 2015 in a series of lethal human infections. Screening approaches revealed kept exotic squirrels as the putative source of infection. Infectious virus was successfully isolated by co-cultivation of infected primary squirrel cells with permanent cell lines. For in vivo characterization, neonatal and adult Lewis rats were inoculated either intracranially, intranasally or subcutaneously. After 4.5 months, three out of fifteen neonatal intracranially inoculated rats were VSBV-1 genome positive in the central nervous system without showing clinical signs. Pathohistological examination revealed a nonpurulent encephalitis. While infection of immune incompetent rats (neonatal) using the type species of mammalian bornaviruses, the Borna disease virus 1, proceed to an immune tolerant status, VSBV-1 infection could result in inflammation of neuronal tissue. Sequencing showed minor adaptations within the VSBV-1 genome comparing to the viral genomes from infected squirrels, cell cultures or rat tissues. In conclusion, we were able to generate the first VSBV-1 isolates and provide in vivo animal model data in Lewis rats revealing substantial differences between VSBV-1 and BoDV-1. Furthermore, the presented data are a precondition for insights into the transmission and pathogenesis of this novel zoonotic pathogen.

show abstract

“…Sowohl bei den erkrankten Transplantierten als auch bei den Patienten, die unabhängig von einer Transplantation infolge einer BoDV-1-bzw. VSBV-1-Infektion Symptome entwickelten, konnten im Verlauf der Infektion Serokonversionen mit hohen Antikörperanstiegen gemessen werden [1,2,4,76]. Ebenso wurden bei den persistent infizierten Spitzmäusen und Hörnchen hohe Antikörpertiter nachgewiesen [4,107].…”

Section: Infektionen Von Vögeln Mit Viren Des Genus Orthobornavirusunclassified

Bornavirus

2019

Bundesgesundheitsbl

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Occupation-Associated Fatal Limbic Encephalitis Caused by Variegated Squirrel Bornavirus 1, Germany, 2013

Abstract: This case underscores the risk for spillover infections to humans who work with exotic squirrels.

Cited by 41 publications

References 30 publications

Search for polyoma-, herpes-, and bornaviruses in squirrels of the family Sciuridae

Search for polyoma-, herpes-, and bornaviruses in squirrels of the family Sciuridae

First isolation, in-vivo and genomic characterization of zoonotic variegated squirrel Bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) isolates

Bornavirus

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About