Nucleotide sequences and phylogeny of the nucleocapsid gene of Oropouche virus. (1/21)

The nucleotide sequence of the S RNA segment of the Oropouche (ORO) virus prototype strain TRVL 9760 was determined and found to be 754 nucleotides in length. In the virion-complementary orientation, the RNA contained two overlapping open reading frames of 693 and 273 nucleotides that were predicted to encode proteins of 231 and 91 amino acids, respectively. Subsequently, the nucleotide sequences of the nucleocapsid genes of 27 additional ORO virus strains, representing a 42 year interval and a wide geographical range in South America, were determined. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all the ORO virus strains formed a monophyletic group that comprised three distinct lineages. Lineage I contained the prototype strain from Trinidad and most of the Brazilian strains, lineage II contained six Peruvian strains isolated between 1992 and 1998, and two strains from western Brazil isolated in 1991, while lineage III comprised four strains isolated in Panama during 1989.  (+info)

Comparison of intertypic antigenicity of Aino virus isolates by dot immunobinding assay using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. (2/21)

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the Aino virus were prepared, and the neutralizing epitopes of the virus were defined by competitive binding assay. Seven continuous and overlapping neutralizing epitopes existed on the G1 glycoprotein of the Aino virus. Two antigenic domains were identified and were designated I and II, with domain II consisting of six epitopes. Dot immunobinding assays (DIAs) were performed with MAbs that recognized these seven neutralizing epitopes. DIAs were performed with 1 Australian strain and 21 isolates found in Japan between the years 1964 and 1995. The MAb response patterns of all isolates were divided into four groups. The Japanese isolates did not show large differences in antigenicity, but the antigenicity of the Australian strain collected in 1968 was significantly different from that of the Japanese strains; the Australian strain lacked reactivity to three epitopes and showed only low reactivity to one epitope.  (+info)

Diagnosis of Oropouche virus infection using a recombinant nucleocapsid protein-based enzyme immunoassay. (3/21)

Oropouche (ORO) virus is an emerging infectious agent that has caused numerous outbreaks of an acute febrile (dengue-like) illness among humans in Brazil, Peru, and Panama. Diagnosis of ORO virus infection is based mainly on serology. Two different antigens, hamster serum antigen (HSA) and Vero cell lysate antigen (VCLA), are currently used in enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) in Brazil and Peru, respectively, to investigate the epidemiology of ORO virus infection. Both antigens involve use of infectious virus, and for this reason their use is restricted. Consequently, the frequency and distribution of ORO virus infection are largely unexplored in other countries of South America. This report describes the use of a bacterially expressed recombinant nucleocapsid (rN) protein of ORO virus in EIAs for the diagnosis of ORO virus infection. The data revealed that the purified rN protein is comparable to the authentic viral N protein in its antigenic characteristics and is highly sensitive and specific in EIAs. Among 183 serum samples tested, a high degree of concordance was found between rN protein-based EIA and HSA- and VCLA-based EIAs for the detection of both ORO virus-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies. The high sensitivity, specificity, and safety of the rN protein-based EIA make it a useful diagnostic technique that can be widely used to detect ORO virus infection in South America.  (+info)

Encephalomyelitis associated with akabane virus infection in adult cows. (4/21)

Between August and September 2000, five 2-7-year-old cows in Korea exhibited neurologic signs and were diagnosed as infected with Akabane virus based on the results of histopathology, immunohistochemistry, serology, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were equally effective and sensitive for diagnosing Akabane virus infection during the early stage of infection. Typical lymphohistiocytic inflammation characterized by perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration, gliosis, neuronophagia, and neuronal loss was noted in the brain and the ventral horn gray matter of the spinal cord. The lesions in the brain were most prominent in the pons and medulla oblongata. Akabane virus antigen was detected in the brain and spinal cord, mainly in degenerating neurons and glial cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed a target band of expected size in four cows. This is the first report on an outbreak of natural Akabane virus infection in adult cattle.  (+info)

Rapid detection of human pathogenic orthobunyaviruses. (5/21)

Modern detection and identification tools can help to provide answers to urgent questions about the incidence, prevalence, and epidemiology of currently emerging diseases. We developed highly sensitive one-step TaqMan reverse transcription-PCR assays with sensitivities ranging from 10(4) to 10(1) molecules for 11 human pathogens of the orthobunyaviruses. We compared the performances of these assays on three currently available cyclers (ABI-PRISM 7700, LightCycler, and SmartCycler). The assay for Oropouche virus (OROV) was tested using sera collected from days 1 to 5 after onset of OROV disease and was found to be greatly superior to an established nested PCR system. A mean copy number of 1.31 x 10(7) OROV RNA/ml of serum was detected. Diagnostic RNA detection can be used as early as day 1 after onset of OROV disease. The use of a mobile SmartCycler and a hands-on time of less than 3 h could help to intensify outbreak surveillance and control, especially in field studies.  (+info)

Reemergence of Oropouche fever, northern Brazil. (6/21)

Oropouche fever has reemerged in Parauapebas and Porto de Moz municipalities, Para State, Brazil. Serologic analysis (immunoglobulin M-ELISA) and virus isolation confirmed Oropouche virus (OROV) in both municipalities. Nucleotide sequencing of 2 OROV isolates from each location indicated genotypes I (Parauapebas) and II (Porto de Moz) in Brazil.  (+info)

Isolation and identification of arboviruses from the Sultanate of Oman. (7/21)

Sentinel herds and a vector surveillance system were used to identify the presence of arboviruses in Oman. Two strains of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 4 and two strains of Akabane virus, were isolated and identified. Both BTV isolates and one Akabane virus isolate came from goats while the second Akabane isolate came from Culicoides imicola. This is the first isolation of an Akabane virus from Culicoides in Arabia. Vector competence studies with the Oman viruses in laboratory reared C. variipennis showed that after oral infection both viruses replicated in Culicoides and were maintained at high titre for at least 10 days post infection.  (+info)

Experimental infection of suckling mice by subcutaneous inoculation with Oropouche virus. (8/21)

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