First molecular characterization of poxviruses in cattle, sheep, and goats in Botswana

Abstract

Background Poxviruses within the Capripoxvirus, Orthopoxvirus, and Parapoxvirus genera can infect livestock, with the two former having zoonotic importance. In addition, they induce similar clinical symptoms in common host species, creating a challenge for diagnosis. Although endemic in the country, poxvirus infections of small ruminants and cattle have received little attention in Botswana, with no prior use of molecular tools to diagnose and characterize the pathogens. Methods A high-resolution melting (HRM) assay was used to detect and differentiate poxviruses in skin biopsy and skin scab samples from four cattle, one sheep, and one goat. Molecular characterization of capripoxviruses and parapoxviruses was undertaken by sequence analysis of RPO30 and GPCR genes. Results The HRM assay revealed lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) in three cattle samples, pseudocowpox virus (PCPV) in one cattle sample, and orf virus (ORFV) in one goat and one sheep sample. The phylogenetic analyses, based on the RPO30 and GPCR multiple sequence alignments showed that the LSDV sequences of Botswana were similar to common LSDV field isolates encountered in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The Botswana PCPV presented unique features and clustered between camel and cattle PCPV isolates. The Botswana ORFV sequence isolated from goat differed from the ORFV sequence isolated from sheep. Conclusions This study is the first report on the genetic characterization of poxvirus diseases circulating in cattle, goats, and sheep in Botswana. It shows the importance of molecular methods to differentially diagnose poxvirus diseases of ruminants.

Poxvirus Infections in Dairy Farms and Transhumance Cattle Herds in Nigeria

“…This emphasizes the need to use differential diagnosis that can detect co-infection, even when the direct detection method identifies a primary pathogen [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]. The application of such tools has previously enabled the identification of PCPV in LSD suspicions in Zambia and Botswana, revealing, for the first time, the presence of these pathogens using molecular tools and genomic approaches [ 42 , 43 ]. In Brazil, the co-infection of poxviruses such as VACV and Orf virus (ORFV), VACV and PCPV, or even the triple infection of the bovine papular stomatitis virus (BPSV), PCPV, and VACV has been reported in Bovine based on serological and molecular methods [ 35 , 40 , 62 ].…”

“…Although PCPV and other parapoxviruses of cattle are known to occur worldwide, there is little molecular evidence and sequence information regarding PCPV in Africa. Recently, Zambia and Botswana have described molecular PCPV for the first time [ 42 , 43 ]. However, in Nigeria, no molecular information is available.…”

Understanding the research advances on lumpy skin disease: A comprehensive literature review of experimental evidence

“…The gene that specifically targets LSDV is LSDV-ORF010, which has the unique species-specific nucleotide differences. Subsequently, Modise et al (2021) found on this basis that the type of virus can be analyzed by the high-resolution melting (HRM) assay of PCR amplification products generated after genus-specific primers amplify sample viral DNA and bind dyes. Some farms do not have expensive and high-precision instruments, such as PCR machines, and the staff that on the farm may not have the skills to operate PCR machines, so a cheaper, convenient, reliable and easy-to-operate method is needed to replace PCR.…”

Clinicopathological and molecular studies on cattle naturally infected with lumpy skin diseases in selected districts of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…Poxviruses are complex, linear, enveloped, doublestranded DNA viruses with large genomes [48], which are responsible for several economically significant zoonotic diseases affecting humans, wildlife, farm animals, and domestic animals [23]. They belong to the Poxviridae family, which is divided into two subfamilies: Entomopoxvirinae, which infect invertebrates, and Chordopoxvirinae, which infect vertebrates [30,42,45].…”

“…They belong to the Poxviridae family, which is divided into two subfamilies: Entomopoxvirinae, which infect invertebrates, and Chordopoxvirinae, which infect vertebrates [30,42,45]. Among the Chord poxvirus subfamily, Capripoxvirus is capable of infecting the cattle, sheep, and goats, which is comprised of goat pox virus (GTPV), sheep pox virus (SPPV), and LSDV and Parapoxvirus [5,16,21,48,72].…”