Key result
A novel enterovirus was identified by next-generation sequencing and localized in affected spinal cord motoneurons via in situ hybridization in lambs with severe encephalomyelitis.
Why the study?
An Austrian organic dairy sheep farm experienced cases of recumbency and sudden deaths in 3- to 4-week-old lambs.
Case Report (n=2)
No
A novel enterovirus was identified as the likely causative agent of severe nonsuppurative myelitis and encephalitis in colostrum-deprived lambs.
Alerts clinicians to novel enterovirus in lamb encephalomyelitis; leaves open prevalence, transmission, and impact.
An Austrian organic dairy sheep farm experienced cases of recumbency and sudden deaths in 3- to 4-week-old lambs. Two animals were subjected to thorough clinical and pathological investigations. Pathohistological analysis identified severe nonsuppurative myelitis and mild nonsuppurative encephalitis. A reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay for the recently discovered ovine picornavirus causing comparable lesions scored negative. By next-generation sequencing-based metagenomics, a nearly complete genome of a novel enterovirus could be detected and assembled. In situ hybridization using a specifically designed probe revealed robust signals in affected motoneurons of the spinal cord suggesting a causative role of the novel virus.
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Weißenböck et al. (2021) conducted a case report in Poliomyelitis and brain stem encephalitis (n=2). Novel enterovirus infection was evaluated on Identification of the causative pathogen. A novel enterovirus was identified by next-generation sequencing and localized in affected spinal cord motoneurons via in situ hybridization in lambs with severe encephalomyelitis.
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