Encephalomyocarditis virus infection in alpacas

Encephalomyocarditis virus infection in alpacas

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection was detected by real‐time reverse transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR) in four adult alpacas (Vicugna pacos) from two properties on the Far North Coast of New South Wales (NSW) in April and May 2018 and in two adult alpacas from a third property on the Central Coas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian veterinary journal Vol. 98; no. 10; pp. 486 - 490
Main Authors: O'Connor, TW, Finlaison, DS, Manning, LK, Hazelton, MS, Spiers, ZB, Pinczowski, P, Bolin, EM, Kemsley, PD, Horadagoda, NU, Dart, AJ, Cook, RW, Kirkland, PD
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Melbourne Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd 01-10-2020
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:
alpaca
Appetite loss
Cardiovirus
Differential diagnosis
Edema
Effusion
encephalomyocarditis virus
Infections
Leukocytes (neutrophilic)
Meningoencephalitis
Mucosa
Necropsy
Neurodegeneration
Reverse transcription
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
Spleen
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Summary:Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection was detected by real‐time reverse transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR) in four adult alpacas (Vicugna pacos) from two properties on the Far North Coast of New South Wales (NSW) in April and May 2018 and in two adult alpacas from a third property on the Central Coast of NSW in October 2018. Viral RNA was detected in a range of samples, including blood, fresh body organs and mucosal swabs. EMCV was isolated from the blood and body organs of five of these alpacas. These animals displayed a range of clinical signs, including inappetence, colic, recumbency and death. Necropsy findings included multifocal to coalescing areas of myocardial pallor, pulmonary congestion and oedema, hepatic congestion and serosal effusion. Histopathological changes comprised acute, multifocal myocardial degeneration and necrosis, with mild, neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammation (5/5 hearts) and mild, perivascular neutrophilic meningoencephalitis (1/3 brains). This is the first report of disease due to EMCV in alpacas under farm conditions, and it identifies EMCV infection as a differential diagnosis for acute disease and death in this camelid species. In addition to the samples traditionally preferred for EMCV isolation (fresh heart, brain and spleen), blood samples are also appropriate for EMCV detection by qRT‐PCR assay.
ISSN:0005-0423
1751-0813
DOI:10.1111/avj.12962