Arthrogryposis, hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia syndrome in neonatal calves resulting from intrauterine infection with Aino virus

Abstract

-To determine the teratogenic potential of Aino virus (AINOV) in cattle, pregnant cows and fetal cattle were infected with a fresh isolate of AINOV. Five pregnant cows were inoculated intravenously with the virus at 122 to 162 days of gestation and allowed to give birth. All of the cows developed neutralizing antibodies to the virus, indicating that the cows had been infected with the virus; however, no clinical abnormalities were seen in their six newborn calves, and no specific antibodies to the virus were detected in the precolostral serum of calves. Five fetuses with fetal ages ranging from 132 to 156 days were inoculated in utero with the virus. One weak newborn and four stillborn calves were delivered at gestation days 256 to 263, i.e., less than the standard gestation term; they had congenital abnormalities including arthrogryposis, hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia. Antibodies specific to AINOV were detected in their precolostral serum. These results demonstrate that AINOV is a potential etiological agent of congenital malformation of cattle. Aino virus / cattle / congenital malformation / experimental infection

Epidemiology and Emergence of Schmallenberg Virus Part 1: Origin, Transmission and Differential Diagnosis

“…Aino virus is a member of the Simbu serogroup of the genus Orthobunyavirus, family Bunyaviridae [29,93]. This virus infection is closely related to the Akabane and SBV infection; therefore, confirmatory diagnosis requires viral detection to differentiate infection between these three viruses [98].…”

“…Aino virus infection in adult animals is subclinical, and newborn calves infected can exhibit a wide variety of skeletal and neurological abnormalities [29,93,96]. This virus infection is closely related to the Akabane and SBV infection; therefore, confirmatory diagnosis requires viral detection to differentiate infection between these three viruses [94,98].…”

“…In naturally infected pregnant cattle, Aino virus has been associated with abortion [97], stillbirths, premature births and birth congenital malformation, including severe hydranencephaly [98] and/or arthrogryposis [99], unilateral cavitation in the cerebrum, microcephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia [92,93]. The type of abnormality seen can be related to the time of infection of the foetus [93]: early infection results in hydranencephaly and later infection results in arthrogryposis [99].…”

“…The type of abnormality seen can be related to the time of infection of the foetus [93]: early infection results in hydranencephaly and later infection results in arthrogryposis [99]. Scoliosis [93], sunken eyes, cataracts, maxillary retraction and dental irregularities are also clinical findings. Surviving calves may be weak and can have difficulty suckling or standing.…”

Schmallenberg virus: continuing a trend?

“…21,[25][26][27][28][29][30] However, some clinical signs reported for Akabane, such as epizootic encephalomyelitis, 31 have not yet been reported for Schmallenberg virus. Relatively little description of clinical disease has been reported for Sathuperi virus.…”