Lecture 8 - Rift Valley fever, African horse sickness & Glanders Flashcards
RVFV
Rift Valley Fever virus
another name for Rift Valley Fever virus
Infectious Enzootic Hepatitis of Sheep and Cattle
RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) is a
mosquito-borne viral disease of animals and humans,
caused by Bunyavirus,
characterized by a short incubation period,
fever, hepatitis, abortion, and death of young animals.
RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral disease of animals and humans, caused by
Bunyavirus,
characterized by a short incubation period,
fever, hepatitis, abortion, and death of young animals.
RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral disease of animals and humans, caused by Bunyavirus, characterized by
a short incubation period,
fever, hepatitis, abortion, and death of young animals.
RVFV belongs to what genus and family?
Genus Phlebovirus,
family Bunyaviridae
What type of virus is RVFV?
RNA-virus
How many serotypes does RVFV have?
One serotype, a lot of strains with variable virulence.
How is RVFV inactivated?
Inactivated pH ≤ 6.2
In what conditions can RVFV survive/persist?
Survives in freeze dried form, and aerosols at 23°C and 50-85% humidity.
Host range of RVFV?
Host range: various.
Sheep, goats and cattle are primary amplifying hosts.
Ruminants, monkeys, rodents may also be infected.
NB! ZOONOSIS! Humans too!
Morbidity of RVFV?
Morbidity varies between outbreaks: pre-existing immunity, pregnancy status and age influence.
Abortion rate in sheep 5-100%, cattle <10%.
Mortality of RVFV?
Newborn lambs and kids 70-100%
Calves and older lambs and kids 10-70%
Adult sheep 10-30% - most common in pregnant ewes that abort.
Adult cattle abortion rate <10%
RVFV epidemics occur when?
Cyclic epidemics: every 5-20 years.
The long intervals between outbreaks allow for development of a susceptible animal population that is severely affected by the following outbreak.
RVFV does not cause
persistent infection (carrier state)
Currently RVF is endemic throughout
most of Africa.
Transmission of RVFV. (3)
Biological vectors: mosquito bites – transcutaneous route.
Transovarial from adult insect to insect larvae. Virus survives in dried eggs and hatching is associated with heavy rainfall and flooding.
In utero transmission in animals.
Excretion of RVFV. (4)
oral fluids and nasal discharge, semen, milk
(but these are not significant modes of transmission, arthropod vectors are more important)
Transmission of RVFV to humans?
mainly direct contact with tissues of infected animals
Also in utero
Once a ruminant is infected with RVFV, it serves as an
amplifying host.
Infected livestock can be highly viremic and cause infection of other mosquitoes.
Name a reservoir and vector for RVFV.
Mosquitoes are both.
The most characteristic clinical signs of RVFV are: (2)
High mortality rates among newborns
Abortions in adults
Clinical signs of RVFV in adult cattle (4)
ADULTS are moderately susceptible.
Usually asymptomatic, some acute cases.
Abortions <85%.
Fever, dry and/or dull coat, anorexia, weakness, diarrhea, fall in milk yield.
Clinical signs of RVFV in calves (3)
CALVES are highly susceptible.
Fever
Loss of appetite
Weakness and depression
Bloody or fetid diarrhea
Icterus
Mortality 10-70%
Incubation period of RVFV?
<3 days (lambs: 12-36 h)
Clinical signs of RVFV in sheep & goats:
ADULTS & LAMBS that are >2 weeks old are highly susceptible.
Peracute disease: sudden death (20-30%).
Acute disease more often in adult sheep & goats.
Fever, anorexia, weakness, depression.
Increased RR, vomiting, diarrhea, mucopurulent nasal discharge.
Icterus in some animals.
In pregnant ewes: ‘abortion storms’ <100%
NB! Parturient material can contain virus!
Mortality in lambs >2 weeks old 20%
Clinical signs of RVFV in sheep & goats: neonates specifically.
NEWBORN & <2 week olds are extremely susceptible.
Biphasic fever – subsides just before death.
Anorexia, weakness, listlessness
Abdominal pain; rapid, abdominal respiration prior to death
Death in 24-36 hours
Mortality >90%
Clinical signs of RVFV in humans.
Often asymptomatic, or Influenza-like syndrome.
Fever, headache, muscular pain, weakness, nausea, epigastric discomfort, photophobia.
Recovery: 4-7 days
Complications: retinopathy, blindness, meningo-encephalitis, hemorrhagic syndrome with jaundice, petechiae, death.
Tx: supportive care
Incubation period of RVFV in humans.
2-6 days
Post mortem hepatic signs of RVFV. (3)
Hepatic necrosis, focal or generalised.
Liver enlarged, yellow, friable.
Petechial hemorrhages prominent:
Cutaneous & serosal.
Post mortem signs of RVFV other than hepatic. (4)
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Congestion and cortical haemorrhages of kidneys & gallbladder.
Haemorrhagic enteritis.
Icterus in calves!
DDx for RVFV.
Bluetongue
Enterotoxemia
Brucellosis (also abortions as a sign)
Vibriosis (bact.)
Trichomonosis (protozoa)
Nairobi sheep disease
Toxins
Bacterial septicemias (Pasteurella, Salmonella, Anthrax)
Rinderpest and PPR (enteritis and fever are similarities, and mucopurulent nasal discharge is in both PPR and RVFV)
Material for diagnosis of RVFV. (3)
Blood
Liver, spleen, kidney, lymph nodes, brain
Aborted fetuses
Laboratory analyses for diagnosis of RVFV. (4)
Culture
PCR (RNA)
Histopathology
Serology (virus neutralization, ELISA)
Treatment for RVFV in animals.
none
Prevention & control of RVFV. (5)
Vector control
Restriction of movements, quarantine
Vaccination
PPE to prevent exposure to infectious tissues or blood.
Milk: pasteurized or boiled
Meat & tissues: cooked thoroughly
Vaccination and RVFV.
Vaccination in endemic areas using live attenuated vaccine which gives better immunity but may cause abortions and birth defects in pregnant animals.
Inactivated vax also avail. Both options may be used during outbreaks.
RVFV as a biological weapon.
Aerosols or droplets – hypothesis:
50 kg of agent dropped 1 km downwind could affect
35 000 humans and cause 400 deaths if 1% mortality rate.
AHSV
African horse sickness virus
African horse sickness (AHS) is
an acute or subacute (non contagious), insect-borne, viral disease of Equidae,
caused by Orbivirus,
characterized by clinical signs and lesions associated with respiratory and circulatory impairment.