scholarly journals Update on Senecavirus A research: Epidemiology of infection, evolution of the virus and its oncolytic activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 6526-2021
Author(s):  
WIESŁAW NIEDBALSKI
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Vascular System ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cytolytic Activity ◽  
Oncolytic Viruses ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Sudden Increase ◽  
Oncolytic Therapy

Senecavirus A (SVA), formerly known as Seneca valley virus (SVV) (20), is a critical pathogen causing vesicular lesions in pigs and acute death of newborn piglets, resulting in very large economic losses in the pig industry. The aim of this paper was to present the current knowledge about the epidemiology and evolution of Senecavirus A, as well as the role of the virus in oncolytic therapy. From 1988 to 2005, a number of virus isolates were sporadically recovered from pigs in various regions of the United States, but without a detailed description of the clinical signs. After 2014, a sudden increase in SVA outbreaks appeared outside the United States and Canada, and SVA infection was reported in more regions of the United States, in Brazil, China, Colombia, Thailand and Vietnam with extensive distribution. After the expansion of the SVA area, complete and partial SVA genomic sequences were determined from SVA strains in most of these regions. Therefore, advances were also possible in the molecular epidemiology of the virus. A certain genetic distance has been determined between SVA strains isolated in various countries and at different times, suggesting a constant and rapid evolvement of SVA. It was shown that a combination of evolutionary processes, such as multiple mutations at variable sites and purifying selection, drove the genetic diversity and evolution of SVA. Evolutionary changes that accumulated in the SVA genome over the years may have contributed to the increased incidence of the disease. SVA is the first oncolytic picornavirus to be tested in humans and to penetrate solid tumours through the vascular system, unlike many other oncolytic viruses. SVA has a potential cytolytic activity and high selectivity for tumour cell lines with neuroendocrine properties versus adult normal cells

scholarly journals Senecavirus A: An emerging pathogen causing vesicular disease in pigs

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (02) ◽  
pp. 6200-2019
Author(s):  
WIESŁAW NIEDBALSKI ◽  
ANDRZEJ FITZNER
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Cytolytic Activity ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Nasal Secretions

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a single representative species of the Senecavirus genus within the family Picornaviridae. This review presents the current knowledge regarding SVA epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, clinical signs, differential diagnosis and control measures. SVA is not debilitating, but significant because of its resemblance to acute, highly contagious and economically devastating viral diseases, such as FMD. The incubation period of SVA is 4-5 days, the viremia period is short, lasting 3 to 10 days post infection (dpi). SVA shedding lasts up to 28 days. SVA can be shed by oral and nasal secretions and by faeces. The virus excretion peak occurs between 1 and 5 dpi, especially in oral secretions, which contain higher virus loads relative to nasal secretions and faeces. SVA lesions are found most frequently on the snout, lips and tongue, as well as on hooves, specifically, on coronary bands, dewclaws, hoof pads and in interdigital space. The vesicles quickly rupture to form ulcers that may be covered by serofibrinous exudates. The ulcers begin to repair in 7 days, and the regeneration of epithelium is usually complete within 2 weeks. Since clinical lesions induced by SVA are indistinguishable from those observed in other vesicular diseases of swine, accurate and reliable laboratory differential diagnosis is critical to the precise identification of the infectious agent. SVA has potential cytolytic activity and high selectivity for tumour cell lines with neuroendocrine properties versus adult normal cells. Because of its potential oncolytic activity, the virus can be useful in human cancer therapy. The example of SVA shows that the risk of emerging infectious diseases in swine populations is high and that emerging diseases of swine have significant potential impact on the productivity and economics of the pork industry. The SVA infection is currently limited to the United States, Canada, Brazil, China and Thailand. However, descriptions of the SVA infection in Asia suggest that the virus is not restricted to a specific geographic region and may be distributed on a global scale in the future.

scholarly journals Origin, Evolution, and Virulence of Porcine Deltacoronaviruses in the United States

mBio ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanmei Ma ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Xueya Liang ◽  
Fangfei Lou ◽  
Michael Oglesbee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Immune Serum ◽  
Watery Diarrhea ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Diarrhea Virus ◽  
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea

ABSTRACTA novel porcine deltacoronavirus (PdCV) was first discovered in Ohio and Indiana in February 2014, rapidly spread to other states in the United States and Canada, and caused significant economic loss in the swine industry. The origin and virulence of this novel porcine coronavirus are not known. Here, we characterized U.S. PdCV isolates and determined their virulence in gnotobiotic and conventional piglets. Genome analyses revealed that U.S. PdCV isolates possess unique genetic characteristics and share a close relationship with Hong Kong and South Korean PdCV strains and coronaviruses (CoVs) of Asian leopard cats and Chinese ferret-badgers. The PdCV-positive intestinal content (Ohio CVM1) and the cell culture-adapted PdCV Michigan (MI) strain were orally inoculated into gnotobiotic and/or conventional piglets. Within 1 to 3 days postinfection, profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration were observed. Clinical signs were associated with epithelial necrosis in the gastric pits and small intestine, the latter resulting in severe villous atrophy. Mild interstitial pneumonia was identified in the lungs of PdCV-infected piglets. High levels of viral RNA (8 to 11 log RNA copies/g) were detected in intestinal tissues/luminal contents and feces of infected piglets, whereas moderate RNA levels (2 to 5 log RNA copies/g) were detected in blood, lung, liver, and kidney, indicating multisystemic dissemination of the virus. Polyclonal immune serum against PdCV but not immune serum against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) reacted with PdCV-infected small-intestinal epithelial cells, indicating that PdCV is antigenically distinct from PEDV. Collectively, we demonstrate for the first time that PdCV caused severe gastrointestinal diseases in swine.IMPORTANCEPorcine coronaviruses (CoVs) are major viral infectious diseases of swine. Examples of porcine CoVs include porcine transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV). In February 2014, another porcine CoV, porcine deltacoronavirus (PdCV), emerged in Ohio and Indiana and subsequently spread rapidly across the United States and Canada,causing significant economic losses. Here, we report the detailed genetic characterization, phylogeny, and virulence of emergent PdCV strains in the United States. We found that PdCV caused severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration in gnotobiotic and conventional piglets, signs that were clinically indistinguishable from those caused by PEDV and TGEV. In addition to extensive intestinal lesions, PdCV caused significant lesions in the stomach and mild pulmonary lesions that have not been reported for TGEV and PEDV. The finding that PdCV is a significant enteric disease of swine highlights the need to develop effective measures to control this disease.

scholarly journals Current knowledge of Chagas-related heart disease among pediatric cardiologists in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanchi Malhotra ◽  
Imran Masood ◽  
Noberto Giglio ◽  
Jay D. Pruetz ◽  
Pia S. Pannaraj
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cardiac Complications ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Background Chagas disease is a pathogenic parasitic infection with approximately 8 million cases worldwide and greater than 300,000 cases in the United States (U.S.). Chagas disease can lead to chronic cardiomyopathy and cardiac complications, with variable cardiac presentations in pediatrics making it difficult to recognize. The purpose of our study is to better understand current knowledge and experience with Chagas related heart disease among pediatric cardiologists in the U.S. Methods We prospectively disseminated a 19-question survey to pediatric cardiologists via 3 pediatric cardiology listservs. The survey included questions about demographics, Chagas disease presentation and experience. Results Of 139 responses, 119 cardiologists treat pediatric patients in the U.S. and were included. Most providers (87%) had not seen a case of Chagas disease in their practice; however, 72% also had never tested for it. The majority of knowledge-based questions about Chagas disease cardiac presentations were answered incorrectly, and 85% of providers expressed discomfort with recognizing cardiac presentations in children. Most respondents selected that they would not include Chagas disease on their differential diagnosis for presentations such as conduction anomalies, myocarditis and/or apical aneurysms, but would be more likely to include it if found in a Latin American immigrant. Of respondents, 87% agreed that they would be likely to attend a Chagas disease-related lecture. Conclusions Pediatric cardiologists in the U.S. have seen very few cases of Chagas disease, albeit most have not sent testing or included it in their differential diagnosis. Most individuals agreed that education on Chagas disease would be worth-while.

scholarly journals The Economic Effects of COVID-19 on the Producers of Ethanol, Corn, Gasoline, and Oil

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Schmitz ◽  
Charles B. Moss ◽  
Troy G. Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
The United States ◽  
Welfare Economic ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Corn Ethanol ◽  
Empirical Estimation ◽  
Total Oil

AbstractThe COVID-19 crisis created large economic losses for corn, ethanol, gasoline, and oil producers and refineries both in the United States and worldwide. We extend the theory used by Schmitz, A., C. B. Moss, and T. G. Schmitz. 2007. “Ethanol: No Free Lunch.” Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization 5 (2): 1–28 as a basis for empirical estimation of the effect of COVID-19. We estimate, within a welfare economic cost-benefit framework that, at a minimum, the producer cost in the United States for these four sectors totals $176.8 billion for 2020. For U.S. oil producers alone, the cost was $151 billion. When world oil is added, the costs are much higher, at $1055.8 billion. The total oil producer cost is $1.03 trillion, which is roughly 40 times the effect on U.S. corn, ethanol, and gasoline producers, and refineries. If the assumed unemployment effects from COVID-19 are taken into account, the total effect, including both producers and unemployed workers, is $212.2 billion, bringing the world total to $1266.9 billion.

scholarly journals First Report of Impatiens Downy Mildew Outbreaks Caused by Plasmopara obducens Throughout the Hawai'ian Islands

Plant Disease ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 696-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Crouch ◽  
M. P. Ko ◽  
J. M. McKemy
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
The United States ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Voucher Specimen ◽  
First Report ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Leaf Surfaces ◽  
Impatiens Walleriana

Downy mildew of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.) was first reported from the continental United States in 2004. In 2011 to 2012, severe and widespread outbreaks were documented across the United States mainland, resulting in considerable economic losses. On May 5, 2013, downy mildew disease symptoms were observed from I. walleriana ‘Super Elfin’ at a retail nursery in Mililani, on the Hawai'ian island of Oahu. Throughout May and June 2013, additional sightings of the disease were documented from the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawai'i from nurseries, home gardens, and botanical park and landscape plantings. Symptoms of infected plants initially showed downward leaf curl, followed by a stippled chlorotic appearance on the adaxial leaf surfaces. Abaxial leaf surfaces were covered with a layer of white mycelia. Affected plants exhibited defoliation, flower drop, and stem rot as the disease progressed. Based on morphological and molecular data, the organism was identified as Plasmopara obducens (J. Schröt.) J. Schröt. Microscopic observation disclosed coenocytic mycelium and hyaline, thin-walled, tree-like (monopodial branches), straight, 94.0 to 300.0 × 3.2 to 10.8 μm sporangiophores. Ovoid, hyaline sporangia measuring 11.0 to 14.6 × 12.2 to 16.2 (average 13.2 × 14.7) μm were borne on sterigma tips of rigid branchlets (8.0 to 15.0 μm) at right angle to the main axis of the sporangiophores (1,3). Molecular identification of the pathogen was conducted by removing hyphae from the surface of three heavily infected leaves using sterile tweezers, then extracting DNA using the QIAGEN Plant DNA kit (QIAGEN, Gaithersburg, MD). The nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer was sequenced from each of the three samples bidirectionally from Illustra EXOStar (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ) purified amplicon generated from primers ITS1-O and LR-0R (4). Resultant sequences (GenBank KF366378 to 80) shared 99 to 100% nucleotide identity with P. obducens accession DQ665666 (4). A voucher specimen (BPI892676) was deposited in the U.S. National Fungus Collections, Beltsville, MD. Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying 6-week-old impatiens plants (I. walleriana var. Super Elfin) grown singly in 4-inch pots with a suspension of 1 × 104 P. obducens sporangia/ml until runoff using a handheld atomizer. Control plants were sprayed with distilled water. The plants were kept in high humidity by covering with black plastic bags for 48 h at 20°C, and then maintained in the greenhouse (night/day temperature of 20/24°C). The first symptoms (downward curling and chlorotic stippling of leaves) and sporulation of the pathogen on under-leaf surfaces of the inoculated plants appeared at 10 days and 21 days after inoculation, respectively. Control plants remained healthy. Morphological features and measurements matched those of the original inoculum, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of downy mildew on I. walleriana in Hawai'i (2). The disease appears to be widespread throughout the islands and is likely to cause considerable losses in Hawai'ian landscapes and production settings. References: (1) O. Constantinescu. Mycologia 83:473, 1991. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ July 16, 2013. (3) P. A. Saccardo. Syllogue Fungorum 7:242, 1888. (4) M. Thines. Fungal Genet Biol 44:199, 2007.

scholarly journals First Report of Okra yellow mosaic Mexico virus in Okra in the United States

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 924-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hernandez-Zepeda ◽  
T. Isakeit ◽  
A. Scott ◽  
J. K. Brown
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Bipartite Begomoviruses ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
First Report ◽  
Total Dna ◽  
Hidalgo County ◽  
Whitefly Vector

During the okra growing season from August to November of 2009, symptoms reminiscent of geminivirus infection were observed on 75% of ‘Green Emerald’ Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, plants in a 0.2-km2 field in Hidalgo County, TX. Visible symptoms consisted of irregular yellow patches on leaves, distinctive yellow borders on leaf edges, and chlorosis of subsequently developing leaves. The whitefly vector of begomoviruses, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), infested okra plants in the early growth stages during late July 2009. Total DNA was isolated from the leaves of three symptomatic okra plant samples (1) and used as the PCR template to amplify a 575-bp fragment of the coat protein gene (CP) using the universal begomovirus primers AV494 and AC1048 (2). PCR products of the expected size were cloned into the pGEM-T Easy (Promega, Madison, WI) and sequenced using the universal M13F and M13 R primers. ClustalV alignment indicated 99 to 100% shared nucleotide (nt) identity, and BLAST analysis revealed that the closest relative was Okra yellow mosaic Mexico virus - Tetekalitla (OkYMMV) (GenBank Accession No. EF591631) at 98%. To amplify the full-length DNA-A and a possible cognate DNA-B component, one plant that was positive by CP-PCR and DNA sequencing was selected for further analysis. Total DNA from this plant was used as template for a second detection method that consisted of rolling circle amplification (RCA) using the TempliPhi 100 Amplification System (GE Healthcare). RCA is a non-sequence-specific approach that permits amplification of circular DNA. The RCA products were linearized to release unit length ~2.6 kb DNA-A and DNA-B components using BamHI, and EcoRI, respectively. These products were cloned into pGEM3zf+ (Promega) and sequenced using M13F and M13 R primers and then by primer walking (>300 base overlap). Full-length DNA-A and DNA-B components were obtained, respectively, at 2,613 bp (GenBank Accession No. HM035059) and 2,594 bp (GenBank Accession No HM035060). Alignment of the DNA-A component using ClustalV (MegAlign, DNASTAR, Madison, WI) with begomoviral sequences available in GenBank indicated that it was 99% identical to OkYMMV DNA-A (GenBank Accession No. DQ022611). The closest relative to the DNA-B component (ClustalV) was Sida golden mosaic virus (SiGMV) (GenBank Accession No. AJ250731) at 73%. The nt identity of the 172-nt ‘common region’ present in the DNA-A and DNA-B components was 99%, and the iterons (predicted Rep binding motif) were identical for the two components, indicating that they are a cognate pair. The genome organization was typical of other New World bipartite begomoviruses. The economic losses due to infection by this virus could not be determined because an early freeze killed the plants. Hidalgo County is adjacent to Tamaulipas, Mexico, where ~50 km2 of okra are grown and the whitefly vector is also present. The identification of OkYMMV based on two independent detection methods, and the presence of begomovirus-like symptoms together with the whitefly vector, provide robust evidence for the association of OkYMMV-TX with diseased okra plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of OkYMMV-TX infecting okra crops in Texas and in the continental United States. References: (1) J. J. Doyle and J. L. Doyle. Focus 12:13, 1990. (2) S. Wyatt and J. K. Brown. Phytopathology 86:1288, 1996.

Intrauterine Infections (Ciba Foundation Symposium 10, new series). Amsterdam/London/New York: Associated Scientific Publishers, 1973, 219 pp., $10.50

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-134
Author(s):  
Alex J. Steigman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Ciba Foundation Symposium ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Intrauterine Infections ◽  
Scientific Publishers

This interesting volume is the result of a proper symposium rather than a collection of submitted reports. The authoritative findings are sprinkled generously with a free flowing discussion which brings sharply into focus what remains to be learned and how to go about it. The 22 well-qualified participants include 17 from Great Britain, 4 from the European continent, and 1 from the United States. Wisely included are the observations of a veterinarian-scientist; lessons learned from studies made primarily to prevent economic losses in animals may become useful to clinicians.

On the synthesis of shear-coupled PL waves

1968 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1849-1877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Chander ◽  
L. E. Alsop ◽  
Jack Oliver
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Phase Velocity ◽  
Travel Time ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Shear Waves ◽  
The United States ◽  
Synthetic Seismograms ◽  
Travel Times ◽  
Precise Knowledge ◽  
S Curve

ABSTRACT Using the shear-coupled PL wave hypothesis of Oliver as a basis, a method is developed for computing synthetic long-period seismograms between the onset of the initial S-type body phase and the beginning of surface waves. Comparison of observed and synthetic siesmograms shows that this hypothesis can explain, in considerable detail, most of the waves with periods greater than about 20 sec recorded during this interval. The synthetic seismograms are computed easily on a small digital computer; they resemble the observed seismograms much more closely than the synthetic seismograms obtained through the superposition of normal modes of the Earth that have been reported in the literature. The synthesis of shear-coupled PL waves depends on a precise knowledge of the phase-velocity curve of the PL wave and travel-time curves of shear waves. Hence, in principle, if one of these quantities is well-known the other can be determined by this method. Phase-velocity curves of the PL wave are determined for the Baltic shield, the Russian platform, the Canadian shield, the United States, and the western North-Atlantic ocean, on the assumption that J-B travel-time curves of shear waves apply to these areas. These dispersion curves show the type of variations to be expected on the basis of the current knowledge of the crustal structures in these areas. Examples are presented to show that J-B travel-times of shear waves along paths between Kenai Peninsula, Alaska and Palisades, equatorial mid-Atlantic ridge and Palisades, and Kurile Islands and Uppsala need to be revised. Shear-wave travel-time curves that are not unique for reasons explained in the study but that give synthetic seismograms in agreement with the observed seismograms were obtained. The new S curves are compared with the J-B travel-time curves for S; and they all predict S waves to arrive later than the time given by J-B tables for epicentral distances smaller than about 30°. The new S curve for the Alaska to Palisades path appears to agree with one of the branches of a multi-branched S curve proposed recently by Ibrahim and Nuttli for the ‘average United States’ insofar as travel-times are concerned, but there are some differences in the slopes of the two curves.

scholarly journals Public perceptions of a rip current hazard education program: “Break the Grip of the Rip!”

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 1003-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Houser ◽  
Sarah Trimble ◽  
Robert Brander ◽  
B. Chris Brewster ◽  
Greg Dusek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rip Current ◽  
Rip Currents ◽  
Safety Education ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Education Material

Abstract. Rip currents pose a major global beach hazard; estimates of annual rip-current-related deaths in the United States alone range from 35 to 100 per year. Despite increased social research into beach-goer experience, little is known about levels of rip current knowledge within the general population. This study describes the results of an online survey to determine the extent of rip current knowledge across the United States, with the aim of improving and enhancing existing beach safety education material. Results suggest that the US-based Break the Grip of the Rip!® campaign has been successful in educating the public about rip current safety directly or indirectly, with the majority of respondents able to provide an accurate description of how to escape a rip current. However, the success of the campaign is limited by discrepancies between personal observations at the beach and rip forecasts that are broadcasted for a large area and time. It was the infrequent beach user that identified the largest discrepancies between the forecast and their observations. Since infrequent beach users also do not seek out lifeguards or take the same precautions as frequent beach users, it is argued that they are also at greatest risk of being caught in a dangerous situation. Results of this study suggest a need for the national campaign to provide greater focus on locally specific and verified rip forecasts and signage in coordination with lifeguards, but not at the expense of the successful national awareness program.

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