Polioencephalomyelitis in Domestic Swine Associated With Porcine Astrovirus Type 3. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matias Ferreyra, Franco S.; Bradner, Laura K.; Burrough, Eric R.; Cooper, Vickie L.; Derscheid, Rachel J.; Gauger, Phillip C.; Harmon, Karen M.; Madson, Darin; Piñeyro, Pablo E.; Schwartz, Kent J.; Stevenson, Gregory W.; Zeller, Michel A.; Arruda, Bailey L.
• Is Part Of: Veterinary pathology. Volume 57:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 82
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: astrovirus -- swine -- polioencephalomyelitis -- myelitis -- encephalitis -- neurologic disease; Veterinary pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Veterinary -- Periodicals; 636.089607
• DOI: 10.1177/0300985819875741
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-9858

Abstract

In the past decade, different members of the genus Mamastrovirus have been associated with outbreaks of neurologic disease in humans, cattle, sheep, mink, and, most recently, porcine astrovirus 3 (PoAstV3) in swine. We performed a retrospective analysis of 50 cases of porcine neurologic disease of undetermined cause but with microscopic lesions compatible with a viral encephalomyelitis to better understand the role and pathogenesis of PoAstV3 infection. Nucleic acid was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue for reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) testing for PoAstV3. In addition, 3 cases with confirmed PoAstV3-associated disease were assayed by RT-qPCR to investigate PoAstV3 tissue distribution. PoAstV3 was detected in central nervous system (CNS) tissue via RT-qPCR and in situ hybridization in 13 of 50 (26%) FFPE cases assayed. PoAstV3 was rarely detected in any tissues outside the CNS. Positive cases from the retrospective study included pigs in various production categories beginning in 2010, the earliest year samples were available. Based on these results, PoAstV3 appears to be a recurring putative cause of viral encephalomyelitis in swine that is rarely detected outside of the CNS at the time of clinical neurologic disease, unlike other common viral causes of neurologic disease in swine.