Sporadic bovine meningo-encephalitis-isolation of a paramyxovirus

Abstract

Isolation of a viral agent (107) directly from brain explants of a 15-month-old heifer with symptoms of a sporadic encephalomyelitis is described. The virus shares properties with the paramyxovirus family. It grows in a variety of cell cultures from different species, and induces nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in infected cells. Nucleocapsids measuring 17 nm in diameter were found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of these cells when studied electron microscopically, thus indicating a close relationship of the agent to the measles-distemper-rinderpest group. No infectious virus was released from infected cells, although alignment of nucleocapsids was observed beneath the cell membrane, and no hemagglutinating activity could be detected with the methods employed. The 107 agent was compared serologically with parainfluenza viruses type 1, 2 and 3, simian virus 5, mumps and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), two bovine respiratory syncytial viruses and measles/subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, distemper and rinderpest viruses, always using 107 virus infected CV1 cells and antiserum of the different viruses in indirect FA tests. Positive FA reactions were observed only with two sera obtained from SSPE patients with high antibody titer to SSPE virus, and with one rabbit-anti-rinderpest serum. The titers of these sera to 107 virus, however, were significantly lower than those against homologous viruses. Five out of 9 sera from randomly selected healthy cattle showed antibody titers between 1:10 and 1:80 to 107 virus in FA tests. The significance of these results is discussed with respect to the epidemiology of SSPE in children and its possible implication with rinderpest in Europe.

The Proteins of Morbilliviruses

“…Persistent infections with morbilliviruses have been reviewed recently by ter . Neurological diseases involving RPV and PPR viruses have not been described so far, but a case of bovine sporadic meningoencephalitis has been associated with a morbillivirus (Lu-107) by Bachmann et al (1975). However, no biochemical studies have appeared on PPR and Lu-107 viruses.…”

Neurologic Clinical Signs in Cattle With Astrovirus‐Associated Encephalitis

“…Examination of brain tissue collected in Switzerland in the time frame of BSE and rabies surveillance indicated that a causative diagnosis could only be made for some, but not all cattle presented with neurologic disease. Several retrospective studies in different countries have aimed at the detection of bacteria, viruses, or parasites as causative agents of neurologic disease, often without success, especially in cases of nonsuppurative encephalitis . This type of CNS lesion also has been referred to as European sporadic bovine meningoencephalitis (SBE) and has been diagnosed in 9.8% of cattle subjected to histological brain examination as part of the Swiss statutory reporting of rabies and BSE suspects between 1985 and 1994.…”

“…Several retrospective studies in different countries have aimed at the detection of bacteria, viruses, or parasites as causative agents of neurologic disease, often without success, especially in cases of nonsuppurative encephalitis. [2][3][4][5][6][7] This type of CNS lesion also has been referred to as European sporadic bovine meningoencephalitis (SBE) 8 and has been diagnosed in 9.8% of cattle subjected to histological brain examination as part of the Swiss statutory reporting of rabies and BSE suspects between 1985 and 1994. No etiologic agent could be found in these cases at that time, but brain tissue showed a histological pattern characteristic of SBE.…”

Enhanced immunosurveillance for animal morbilliviruses using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotypes

“…There is a compelling precedent for the existence of an RPV-related bovine morbillivirus in cattle populations. In 1975, a “bovine paramyxovirus” was isolated from cattle displaying symptoms of sporadic encephalomyelitis in Germany and Switzerland [49]. Serological tests on cells infected with the agent confirmed reactivity with sera raised against RPV, or convalescent sera from measles patients with sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) [49].…”

“…In 1975, a “bovine paramyxovirus” was isolated from cattle displaying symptoms of sporadic encephalomyelitis in Germany and Switzerland [49]. Serological tests on cells infected with the agent confirmed reactivity with sera raised against RPV, or convalescent sera from measles patients with sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) [49]. In 1976, a morbillivirus was identified in cattle affected with malignant catarrhal fever in Colorado [50].…”