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Characterization of classical swine fever virus associated with defective interfering particles containing a cytopathogenic subgenomic RNA isolated from wild boar.

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain WB82, isolated from a wild boar in 1982, induced a distinct cytopathic effect (CPE) in primary swine testicle cell culture and in most of the porcine cell lines. This strain of CSFV was found to be composed of two biotypes. cytopathogenic (cp) CSFV, as a minor population, and noncytopathogenic (noncp) CSFV, as a major population. The noncp CSFV (designated strain WB82/E+) was obtained by biological cloning, and it showed the exaltation of Newcastle disease virus phenomenon. In Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR assay, CSFV RNA with a subgenomic (sg) length was detected in addition to full-length viral RNA only in the cells in which a CPE had been revealed. These RNAs represent the genomes of typical defective interfering (DI) particles because of the strict dependence on a complementing helper virus and interference with replication of the helper virus. The sg RNA, which exhibits the genomes of the DI particles, lacked the nucleotides of the viral genomic region from Npro to NS2 (4764 bases). When extracted sg RNA was transfected to the cells infected with the WB82/E+ strain, a distinct CPE was observed. Interestingly, the CPE was observed in cells infected with other heterologous noncp CSFV ALD and GPE- strains by sg RNA transfection. The results suggested that these noncp CSFVs act as helper viruses for the replication of sg RNA (DI particles). It was also shown that the cytopathogenicity of strain WB82 is caused by apoptosis.

Animals↗

Quality management in reference tests for the diagnosis of classical swine fever.

Inter-laboratory comparison tests for the diagnosis of classical swine fever (CSF) have been established by the national swine fever laboratories of European Union (EU) Member States. They provide a method of measuring both the quality of the results of diagnostic tests performed by laboratories and the competence with which they were performed. The objective is that all laboratories obtain the same result when investigating the same sample. This study evaluates the results of serological and virological reference tests for CSF (neutralisation test and virus isolation) performed over a period of three years. The sensitivity of the serological diagnosis for the detection of CSF antibodies was very good and revealed a tolerance limit of the scored antibody titres of one dilution step. Results on the same sample in two consecutive years were similar. The variation of the scored antibody titres was larger when testing sera with a low CSF antibody titre. The interpretation of the antibody titres as 'CSF positive or negative' was only slightly altered by these variations. The backtitration of a neutralisation test (used as a control measure) is a more mathematical value which does not correlate directly with the biological system. Commercial CSF antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays still display a lower sensitivity on individual samples compared to the reference neutralisation test. Classical swine fever virus isolation was well established in all participating laboratories and caused very few problems. Specificity of CSF diagnosis by investigating CSF antibody and CSF virus negative sera was not problematic either. In general, the reference tests for CSF diagnosis are well established in the EU. They are based on living systems, e.g. cells and virus, and consequently they have a different tolerance limit than pure mathematical values. What is important is that the interpretation of the test result is identical in all laboratories.

Animals↗

Comparative sequence analysis of classical swine fever virus isolates from the epizootic in The Netherlands in 1997-1998.

Sixteen classical swine fever virus (CSFV) field isolates from outbreaks of classical swine fever from the period between February 1997 and March 1998 in the Netherlands were sequence analysed. Parts of the 5' noncoding region (5'NCR) and the E1/E2 gene were sequenced after RT-PCR. The obtained sequences were compared with isolates of recent outbreaks in Europe and those of former outbreaks in the Netherlands. Sequence alignment of the 5'NCR region (321 bp) revealed that the isolates of the Dutch outbreak of 1997-1998 were closely linked to an isolate of the CSF outbreak that started in Paderborn, Germany in 1996. A relatively large fragment of the E1/E2 gene of 850 bp, including the antigenic region of E2, which is one of the most variable regions of the CSFV genome, was sequenced to determine whether this region can be used for epidemiology within an epizootic. Epidemiological tracing of transmission of virus was followed, starting from the first isolate and a line of five generations of viruses was analysed. Besides this, new isolates which could not be epidemiologically linked to preceding ones were also characterised. Differences between the isolates of the Dutch outbreak were minor both for the linked as well as for the non-linked isolates, indicating that all isolates have a common origin. Furthermore, our data show for the first time the genetic stability of CSFV even in the highly variable antigenic region of the E2 gene during a major epidemic lasting more than 1 year.

Animals↗

Development and evaluation of a novel antigen capture assay for the detection of classical swine fever virus antigens.

An antigen-capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed to detect classical swine fever virus (CSFV) antigen directly from 10% w/v tissue suspension. The assay, based on the sandwich principle, uses a biotinylated monoclonal antibody bound to streptavidin-coated microplates as the capture system and a swine anti-CSFV antibody and rabbit anti-swine HRPO-conjugate as the detector system. The antigen-capture EIA was compared with conventional virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of CSFV in tissues. The ability of the antigen-capture EIA to discriminate classical swine fever (CSF) from bovine viral diarrhea and African swine fever viruses was also tested. The assay was shown to detect 21 different strains of CSFV and was unreactive with tissues from uninfected animals. Signal to noise (S/N) ratios were calculated from the EIA absorbance values. Readings from samples positive by virus isolation (n = 47) averaged a S/N ratio of 5.34. In contrast, samples negative by virus isolation (n = 96) demonstrated a mean S/N ratio of 0.16. At S/N cut-off value of 1.0, all samples that yield virus isolation and PCR negative result were negative in the antigen-capture EIA. Compared with virus propagation in tissue culture using PK15 cells (followed by indirect peroxidase assay detection) and PCR, the EIA had a specificity of 98.7% and a sensitivity of 91.4%. The EIA is simple, can be performed in 4 h and lends itself to automation for screening of tissues sample from pigs suspected of CSFV infection.

African Swine Fever↗

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) envelope glycoprotein E2 containing one structural antigenic unit protects pigs from lethal CSFV challenge.

Envelope glycoprotein E2, formerly called E1 or gp51-54, of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) expressed in insect cells protects swine from classical swine fever. Monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes of domains B and C and subdomain A1 are neutralizing. The domains are located on two structural antigenic units in a proposed model of the antigenic structure of E2. One unit consists of nonconserved antigenic domains B and C and the other contains highly conserved antigenic domain A. We produced several mutant E2 proteins by use of the baculovirus expression system. Two selected mutants were E2 proteins in which one of the two structural antigenic units, unit B/C or unit A, was deleted. The protective capacity of the mutant E2 proteins was investigated in an immunization experiment in pigs. Titres of the neutralizing responses in pigs immunized with mutant E2 proteins were all comparable with that of intact E2. These vaccinated pigs were protected against an intranasal lethal CSFV challenge, indicating that the immune response induced by one structural antigenic unit of E2 can protect pigs against classical swine fever.

Animals↗

Depletion of CD4(+) and CD8(high+) T-cells before the onset of viraemia during classical swine fever.

Leukopenia, in particular lymphopenia, is a characteristic early event during classical swine fever (CSF). This was the case in both highly virulent (CSF virus (CSFV) strain Brescia) and moderately virulent (CSFV Uelzen) infections. The leukopenia involved leukocyte sub-populations in a disparate manner, with B-lymphocytes, helper T-cells and cytotoxic T-cells being the most affected. Depletion of lymphocyte sub-populations occurred 1-4 days before virus could be detected by RT-PCR in the serum. With the virulent Brescia virus, depletion was evident by 2 days post-infection (p.i.) but not until 3 days p.i. with an equivalent dose of the low virulent Uelzen strain. A lower (1000-fold) dose of the latter virus delayed these kinetics. gammadelta-TCR(+) T-cells were also reduced, but more so with the virulent Brescia infection. The final level of B-and alphabeta-T-cell lymphopenia was similar for all animals, including those infected with the lower virus dose. AnnexinV staining revealed that cell viability was clearly diminished, particularly interesting, considering the clinical differences between infections by Brescia and Uelzen viruses. It was the time p.i. and rate of appearance of dying cells which was more rapid in the virulent Brescia infections. Interestingly, the repeated blood sampling resulted in depletion of some leukocyte populations also in non-infected control animals. Particularly neutrophils and NK cells, and to a lower extent CD4(+), CD8(+) T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes were affected. Taken together, the data show that the alphabeta-T-lymphocyte subsets are particularly susceptible to modulation during the acute phase of CSF, being detectable before the onset of viraemia. The pathogenic mechanism therein would involve indirect virus-host interactions, probably originating from the site of primary infection, rather than a direct effect of the virus or viral protein. Furthermore, these characteristics offer an explanation for the retardation of the cellular and humoral immune response observed during classical swine fever.

Animals↗

Quadruple antigenic epitope peptide producing immune protection against classical swine fever virus.

Research on epitope-based vaccines is a current focus in the development of new vaccines against classical swine fever virus (CSFV). The present study aimed to engineer a quadruple antigenic epitope peptide of the CSFV immunogen E2 glycoprotein by splice overlap extension (SOE) PCR, expressed in E. coli fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST), and named rGST-4E. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis showed that purified rGST-4E had an excellent immunoreactivity with swine anti-CSFV serum and rabbit anti-E2 serum. Animal vaccination trials showed that the rGST-4E was more immunogenic than mono-epitope peptide and was able to produce effective immune protection in rabbits against challenge with hog cholera lapinized virus, and in pigs against challenge with virulent CSFV. These data show that the recombinant repeated epitope peptide could be considered a potential epitope-based vaccine for prevention of the disease.

Animals↗

Classical swine fever in Sardinia: epidemiology of recent outbreaks.

A variable region of the gene encoding the major glycoprotein (E2) of Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) was sequenced from 12 Sardinian isolates which had been obtained from three geographically distinct regions of the Island. Phylogenetic analysis of these viruses and others characterized in previous studies [1, 2] indicated that (a) the Sardinian viruses were all members of the common European subgroup 2.3 and were clearly distinct from live vaccines recently used in this area; (b) they could be resolved into four distinct groups in accordance with the region or date of isolation; (c) in at least two regions wild boar/domestic swine contact was implicated in virus spread; (d) the oldest isolate (1983) and some of the recent isolates were possibly introduced from mainland Italy. In addition, this study has wider implications for the interpretation of CSFV variation. We have been able to demonstrate that small variations within this region of the virus genome (possibly less than 2.7% or five nucleotide substitutions) can be used to separate isolates into groups that precisely fit their geographical distribution. This finding is especially important for deducing the epidemiological relationships between multiple outbreaks caused by similar viruses that occur in close proximity.

Animals↗

Oral and sub-cutaneous vaccination of commercial pigs with a recombinant porcine adenovirus expressing the classical swine fever virus gp55 gene.

A recombinant porcine adenovirus expressing the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) gp55/E2 gene was administered to commercially available pigs via oral or subcutaneous routes and their susceptibility to oral and subcutaneous challenge with CSFV was determined. 100% of animals vaccinated and challenged subcutaneously were protected. In the groups of pigs vaccinated either orally or subcutaneously and then challenged orally, 60% of animals were protected. Before challenge, neutralising antibodies to CSFV were detected in 60% of pigs vaccinated subcutaneously, but in none of those given the vaccine orally. CSFV antigen was found in the spleens of surviving pigs that had been vaccinated orally. In contrast, subcutaneous vaccination was shown to preclude the presence of CSFV in the spleen of animals that survived challenge.

Adenoviruses, Porcine↗

Classical swine fever virus in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of acutely infected swine.

The distribution of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in plasma, monocytes, T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood was monitored during experimentally induced acute classical swine fever infection in piglets. Six piglets were infected with 10(3.8) TCID50 of virus and blood samples taken up to 18 days post-inoculation (p.i.). Infectious virus was detected in monocytes, T and B lymphocytes to similar titres in five of the six infected piglets. Infectious virus was detected earlier in plasma than in any of the mononuclear cell subpopulations. No significant difference was observed in the period of time in which virus could be isolated from the three cell subpopulations. While a progressive lymphopenia developed, a marked B cell depletion was observed. However, B cells were apparently replaced by non-IgM-bearing mononuclear cells, as the proportion 'total lymphocyte/total leucocytes' remained unaltered throughout the experiment. Virus titres in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed a tendency to increase as the disease progressed to its outcome.

Acute Disease↗

Interaction of classical swine fever virus with membrane-associated heparan sulfate: role for virus replication in vivo and virulence.

Passage of native classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in cultured swine kidney cells (SK6 cells) selects virus variants that attach to the surface of cells by interaction with membrane-associated heparan sulfate (HS). A Ser-to-Arg change in the C terminus of envelope glycoprotein E(rns) (amino acid 476 in the open reading frame of CSFV) is responsible for selection of these HS-binding virus variants (M. M. Hulst, H. G. P. van Gennip, and R. J. M. Moormann, J. Virol. 74:9553-9561, 2000). In this investigation we studied the role of binding of CSFV to HS in vivo. Using reverse genetics, an HS-independent recombinant virus (S-ST virus) with Ser(476) and an HS-dependent recombinant virus (S-RT virus) with Arg(476) were constructed. Animal experiments indicated that this adaptive Ser-to-Arg mutation had no effect on the virulence of CSFV. Analysis of viruses reisolated from pigs infected with these recombinant viruses indicated that replication in vivo introduced no mutations in the genes of the envelope proteins E(rns), E1, and E2. However, the blood of one of the three pigs infected with the S-RT virus contained also a low level of virus particles that, when grown under a methylcellulose overlay, produced relative large plaques, characteristic of an HS-independent virus. Sequence analysis of such a large-plaque phenotype showed that Arg(476) was mutated back to Ser(476). Removal of HS from the cell surface and addition of heparin to the medium inhibited infection of cultured (SK6) and primary swine kidney cells with S-ST virus reisolated from pigs by about 70% whereas infection with the administered S-ST recombinant virus produced in SK6 cells was not affected. Furthermore, E(rns) S-ST protein, produced in insect cells, could bind to immobilized heparin and to HS chains on the surface of SK6 cells. These results indicated that S-ST virus generated in pigs is able to infect cells by an HS-dependent mechanism. Binding of concanavalin A (ConA) to virus particles stimulated the infection of SK6 cells with S-ST virus produced in these cells by 12-fold; in contrast, ConA stimulated infection with S-ST virus generated in pigs no more than 3-fold. This suggests that the surface properties of S-ST virus reisolated from pigs are distinct from those of S-ST virus produced in cell culture. We postulate that due to these surface properties, in vivo-generated CSFV is able to infect cells by an HS-dependent mechanism. Infection studies with the HS-dependent S-RT virus, however, indicated that interaction with HS did not mediate infection of lung macrophages, indicating that alternative receptors are also involved in the attachment of CSFV to cells.

Animals↗

Phylogenetic analysis of the E2 gene of classical swine fever viruses from Lao PDR.

The E2 genes of 21 classical swine fever viruses (CSFV) were genetically characterized and compared with reference CSF viruses. The viruses originated from CSF outbreaks that occurred in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) during 1997 though to 1999. All viruses characterized belonged to genogroup 2 and were members of subgroups 2.1 and 2.2. Results demonstrated a geographic delineation between subgroups 2.1 that was only found in the North-Central region, and subgroup 2.2 that was mostly found in the South-Central regions of Lao PDR. Although it was not possible to determine the origin of these viruses, it is probable that they may have been introduced to Lao PDR following cross-border trade. Alternatively, they have evolved independently of other viruses in the region.

Animals↗

Sequence analysis of E2 glycoprotein genes of classical swine fever viruses: identification of a novel genogroup in Thailand.

Thirty classical swine fever viruses (CSFV) isolated in Thailand between 1988 and 1996 were characterised by genetic sequence analysis of a part of their E2 coding regions, comparing the new data with that for representative reference viruses from other countries and continents. Thai isolates were divided into three distinct genogroups, indicating multiple origins for the outbreaks. Eighteen isolates from 1988-1995 form a new genogroup not previously described from any other geographical region. Eleven isolates from 1988-1995 are in the same genogroup as old US and European strains represented by reference strains Alfort 187 and Brescia. The viruses of this group seem to have died out in Europe but still persist in Thailand. One recent isolate from 1996 represents another previously described genogroup being closely related to Italian viruses isolated in the same year.

Animals↗

Pathogenesis of granulocytopenia and bone marrow atrophy during classical swine fever involves apoptosis and necrosis of uninfected cells.

Granulocytopenia, a hematological hallmark of classical swine fever, is partially responsible for the suppression of innate immune defenses during classical swine fever. The present report demonstrates that this depletion was apparent as early as 3 days postinfection (p.i.). Both mature peripheral and bone marrow neutrophils were affected, whereas immature neutrophils increased absolutely in the periphery and coincidentally immature myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow. These data suggest that a pathogenic relationship exists between these compartments. The central event was not the arrest of hematopoietic cell proliferation or of the mobilization process, but instead apoptosis and possibly also necrosis were shown to play a role. This increase in apoptotic and dead cells was detected as early as 1-3 days p.i. In contrast, viral RNA in bone marrow hematopoietic cells (BMHC) was first detected 5 days p.i., and significant amounts of infected BMHC were detected only 7 days p.i., with the major target being the myeloid compartment. The increased caspase-3 activity observed supported a role for apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, the elevated caspase-9 activity indicated the involvement of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Taken together, the results demonstrate that granulocytopenia and bone marrow atrophy are mediated by hematopoietic cell death and that indirect virus-host-mediated mechanisms are likely to be responsible.

Agranulocytosis↗

Determination of the onset of the herd-immunity induced by the E2 sub-unit vaccine against classical swine fever virus.

For a recently developed E2 subunit vaccine against classical swine fever (CSF), the reduction in transmission, at different moments after vaccination, was assessed by animal experiments and statistical calculations. Two experiments were performed to estimate the reproduction ratio R. Experiment 1 consisted of three groups and experiment 2 of two groups each of 10 pigs. In four of these groups, all pigs were vaccinated intramuscularly with the vaccine. The pigs in the fifth group remained unvaccinated (control group). After treatment, half of each group was intranasally inoculated with the virulent CSFV strain Brescia. In the vaccine groups, the following vaccination-challenge intervals were applied: 14, 14, 10, and 7 days, respectively. The occurrence of (contact-) infection was determined using the E(rns) ELISA. In the 7-days interval group and in the control group, virus transmission to all contact pigs occurred, indicating R1. Neither in the two 2-week interval groups nor in the 10-day interval group did contact-infections occur. Hence, the estimated R is less than one, which indicates that an epidemic would fade out. Therefore, the E2 subunit vaccine may be an efficacious tool in a control program during an outbreak of CSF as from 10 days after vaccination.

Animals↗

Are low-density granulocytes the major target cells of classical swine fever virus in the peripheral blood?

The target cells of classical swine fever (CSF) virus in the peripheral blood of pigs infected with recent field isolates from Germany were studied. Eight weaned pigs were inoculated oronasally with the CSF virus field isolate Visbek/Han 95 and three weaners were inoculated with the isolate Losten/Freese 98. All pigs showed severe clinical signs typical of CSF and died or had to be euthanized between 9 and 24 days post-infection (dpi). The first cells in the peripheral blood which became infected with CSF virus were mixed granulocytes (a combination of low- and high-density granulocytes). These cells yielded the highest infectivity for PK 15 cell cultures. On day 7 post-infection, the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) fraction was virus positive, while the peripheral blood leucocyte (PBL), peripheral blood T lymphocyte (PBT) and high-density granulocyte fractions were either negative or their infectivity was lower than the infectivity of the PBMC fraction. These results indicate that PBMC contain more virus-positive cells than other fractions of leucocytes. These findings may also have diagnostic implications for the detection of CSF virus in blood samples. Because PBMC showed the highest infectivity in the early stages of CSF, it should be the sample of choice for CSF virus isolation.

Animals↗

High IFN-alpha responses associated with depletion of lymphocytes and natural IFN-producing cells during classical swine fever.

During the acute phase of the viral hemorrhagic disease, classical swine fever (CSF), a severe hematologic depletion in primary lymphoid organs and depletion of peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes are observed. The onset of these pathologic events is before viremia and independent of leukocyte infection, indicating a host-mediated effect possibly through a cytokine storm. Here, we show that high serum levels of interferon- alpha (IFN-alpha) were found during this phase of CSF, detectable as early as 2 days postinfection and reaching maximum levels 3-5 days postinfection (250-1300 U/mL). This IFN-alpha response was related to the virulence of the viral strain used, with avirulent virus not inducing any detectable serum IFN-alpha. A progressive depletion of natural IFN-producing cells/plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), the likely in vivo source of IFN-alpha, was also induced by the viral infection. An important finding was that the onset of severe lymphopenia was concomitant with the IFN-alpha responses, and all animals with serum IFN-alpha had depleted B and T lymphocytes. A statistically significant correlation between lymphocyte depletion and serum IFN-alpha indicates a relationship between the two events, which is supported by the known hematologic effects of high IFN-alpha doses in vivo.

Animals↗

The role of B cells in the immune response to pestivirus (classical Swine Fever virus).

Pigs inoculated with the Alfort 187 isolate of classical swine fever (CSF) virus were used to study the immunological mechanisms associated with the humoral immune response in the disease. Quantitative and qualitative changes in the B-cell population (lambda light chain [C-lambda]-positive, immunoglobulins [Ig]-M-positive, and IgG-positive were demonstrated in the spleen, thymus and ileocaecal lymph node. Blood and serum samples were used to examine changes in leucocytes, albumin/globulin ratios and specific antibodies against CSF virus titration. Despite the lymphoid depletion shown by infected animals, an increase in B cells and potentially immunoglobulin-producing C-lambda+ plasma cells was observed in the lymphoid organs from the onset of disease. The increase in C-lambda+ B cells was matched by a parallel increase in IgM+ cells, which attained peak values from 7 days post-inoculation (dpi), while IgG+ cells increased from 11 dpi onwards. The enhanced biosynthetic capacity of these cells may have been linked to the initiation of a humoral response to CSF virus, and to the progressive decline in the albumin/globulin ratios of inoculated animals. Activation, proliferation and differentiation of B cells coincided with the presence of viral antigen, and with an intense phagocytic and biosynthetic activity of monocytes-macrophages and T lymphocytes. The previously reported increase of cytokine (TNFalpha, IL-1alpha and IL-6) production by monocytes-macrophages, and the release of IL-2, IL-4 and IFNgamma by T lymphocytes, may play a role in the initiation of the humoral immune response in CSF. These changes may have influenced the late appearance of virus-specific antibodies in the study, as well as the progressive increase of immunoglobulins.

Animals↗