TY - JOUR

T1 - Natural and Experimental Infection of Sheep with European Bat Lyssavirus Type-1 of Danish Bat Origin

AU - Tjørnehøj, K.

AU - Fooks, A. R.

AU - Agerholm, J. S.

AU - Rønsholt, L.

PY - 2006/2

Y1 - 2006/2

N2 - In 1998 and 2002, European bat lyssavirus type-1 (EBLV-1) was demonstrated in brain tissue of five Danish sheep suffering from neurological disorders. Four of the five sheep also had encephalic listeriosis. The animals originated from four flocks on pastures within a limited area of western Jutland. In a serological investigation in two of the herds, from which three of the diseased animals originated, EBLV-1 neutralizing antibodies were detected in only one of 69 sheep. In follow-up surveys, 2110 sheep sera collected at Danish slaughterhouses during 2000 were all negative for EBLV-1-antibodies, and EBLV-1 was not demonstrated in 87 ruminants displaying neurological symptoms. To investigate the pathogenic effects of EBLV-1, four sheep were inoculated intralabially with either brain material from one of the naturally infected sheep or virus isolated from the same sheep. These animals developed EBLV-1 neutralizing antibodies at 5-9 weeks post-inoculation but did not exhibit neurological signs during a 33-week observation period. It was speculated that the immune response prevented viral dissemination to the brain, resulting in an abortive peripheral infection. It was concluded that EBLV-1 can infect sheep under natural conditions as an incidental event.

AB - In 1998 and 2002, European bat lyssavirus type-1 (EBLV-1) was demonstrated in brain tissue of five Danish sheep suffering from neurological disorders. Four of the five sheep also had encephalic listeriosis. The animals originated from four flocks on pastures within a limited area of western Jutland. In a serological investigation in two of the herds, from which three of the diseased animals originated, EBLV-1 neutralizing antibodies were detected in only one of 69 sheep. In follow-up surveys, 2110 sheep sera collected at Danish slaughterhouses during 2000 were all negative for EBLV-1-antibodies, and EBLV-1 was not demonstrated in 87 ruminants displaying neurological symptoms. To investigate the pathogenic effects of EBLV-1, four sheep were inoculated intralabially with either brain material from one of the naturally infected sheep or virus isolated from the same sheep. These animals developed EBLV-1 neutralizing antibodies at 5-9 weeks post-inoculation but did not exhibit neurological signs during a 33-week observation period. It was speculated that the immune response prevented viral dissemination to the brain, resulting in an abortive peripheral infection. It was concluded that EBLV-1 can infect sheep under natural conditions as an incidental event.

KW - bat

KW - EBLV-1

KW - Listeria monocytogenes

KW - Lyssavirus

KW - rabies

KW - sheep

KW - viral infection

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646472440&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jcpa.2005.10.005

DO - 10.1016/j.jcpa.2005.10.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16545840

AN - SCOPUS:33646472440

VL - 134

SP - 190

EP - 201

JO - Journal of Comparative Pathology

JF - Journal of Comparative Pathology

SN - 0021-9975

IS - 2-3

ER -