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Microorganisms
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Animal Viral Infectious Diseases
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Animal Viral Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2025) | Viewed by 2708

Special Issue Editor

Dr. He Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, National Poultry Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
Interests: porcine sapelovirus; porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animal viral infectious diseases are a significant threat to animal health. Unraveling how animal viral proteins exploit the host system to facilitate invasion and how hosts resist infection is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of animal viruses. This knowledge can guide the formulation of strategies to combat infections, such as the development of new drugs or diagnostic tools. In animal research, the complex interactions between host cells and various livestock- and poultry-related infectious viral pathogens, including Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV), Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), Avian Influenza Virus (AIV), Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), and others, remain insufficiently explored. This Special Issue welcomes research on host–animal virus interactions, aiming to uncover the molecular mechanisms and devise clinical solutions for major animal diseases. Meanwhile, the detection of animal infectious viruses is also key to preventing outbreaks, and novel detection methods enable faster and more accurate viral diagnosis. Therefore, we also encourage the submission of innovative detection kits and methods for clinical diagnosis and epidemiological investigations. By advancing research in this field, we hope to contribute to effective strategies for controlling animal viral infectious diseases.

Dr. He Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • animal viral infectious diseases
  • host–animal virus interactions
  • pathogenesis
  • strategies to combat infections
  • new drug development
  • diagnostic tools
  • virus detection
  • epidemiological investigation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3179 KiB  
Article
Development of a Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection of Eight Pathogens Associated with Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex from Clinical Samples
by Fuxing Hao, Chunhao Tao, Ruilong Xiao, Ying Huang, Weifeng Yuan, Zhen Wang and Hong Jia
Microorganisms 2025, 13(7), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071629 - 10 Jul 2025
Abstract
Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is one of the primary causes of morbidity, mortality, and economic loss in cattle worldwide. Accurate and rapid identification of causative pathogenic agents is essential for effective disease management and control. In this study, a novel multiplex fluorescence-based [...] Read more.
Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is one of the primary causes of morbidity, mortality, and economic loss in cattle worldwide. Accurate and rapid identification of causative pathogenic agents is essential for effective disease management and control. In this study, a novel multiplex fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of eight major pathogens associated with BRDC. The targeted pathogens included the following: bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine coronavirus (BcoV), Mycoplasma bovis (M.bovis), Pasteurella multocida (PM), Mannheimia haemolytica (MH), and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV). The assay was rigorously optimized to ensure high specificity with no cross-reactivity among targets. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be as low as 5 copies per reaction for all target pathogens. The coefficient of variation (CVs) for both intra-assay and inter-assay measurements were consistently below 2%, demonstrating excellent reproducibility. To validate the clinical utility of the assay, a total of 1012 field samples were tested, including 504 nasal swabs from Farm A and 508 from Farm B in Jiangsu Province. BVDV, BcoV, PM, and MH were detected from Farm A, with a BVDV-positive rate of 21.63% (109/504), BcoV-positive rate of 26.79% (135/504), PM-positive rate of 28.77% (145/504), and MH-positive rate of 15.08% (76/504). Also, BcoV, PM, MH, and IBRV were detected from Farm B, with a BcoV-positive rate of 2.36% (12/508), PM-positive rate of 1.38% (7/508), MH-positive rate of 14.76% (75/508), and IBRV-positive rate of 5.51% (28/508). Notably, a significant proportion of samples showed evidence of mixed infections, underscoring the complexity of BRDC etiology and the importance of a multiplex diagnostic approach. In conclusion, the developed multiplex qPCR assay provides a reliable, rapid, and cost-effective tool for simultaneous detection of multiple BRDC-associated pathogens, which will hold great promise for enhancing disease surveillance, early diagnosis, and targeted intervention strategies, ultimately contributing to improved BRDC management and cattle health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viral Infectious Diseases)
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22 pages, 2913 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of PRV-1 in Atlantic Salmon and PRV-3 in Coho Salmon: Host-Specific Immune Responses and Apoptosis in Red Blood Cells
by Laura V. Solarte-Murillo, Sebastián Salgado, Tomás Gatica, Juan Guillermo Cárcamo, Thomais Tsoulia, Maria K. Dahle and Carlos Loncoman
Microorganisms 2025, 13(5), 1167; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051167 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 737
Abstract
Fish red blood cells (RBCs) are nucleated, transcriptionally active, and key players in both gas transport and immune responses. They are the primary targets of Orthoreovirus piscis (PRV), the etiological agent of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), which includes three genotypes (PRV-1, [...] Read more.
Fish red blood cells (RBCs) are nucleated, transcriptionally active, and key players in both gas transport and immune responses. They are the primary targets of Orthoreovirus piscis (PRV), the etiological agent of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), which includes three genotypes (PRV-1, PRV-2, and PRV-3), linked to circulatory disorders in farmed salmon. In Chile, PRV-3 affects the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), but host–pathogen interactions remain poorly characterized. This study compared the interactions of PRV-3 in coho salmon and PRV-1 in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using RBC infection models. RBCs were isolated from healthy juvenile salmon (n = 3) inoculated with either PRV-1 (Ct = 18.87) or PRV-3 (Ct = 21.86). Poly I:C (50 µg/mL) was used as a positive control for the antiviral response. Cells were monitored for up to 14 days post-infection (dpi). PRV-3 infection in coho salmon RBCs caused significant metabolic disruption, apoptosis from 7 dpi, and correlated with increasing viral loads. In contrast, PRV-1 infection in Atlantic salmon RBCs showed limited apoptosis and maintained cell viability. Coho salmon RBCs upregulated rig-i, mx, and pkr transcripts, indicating activation of the type I interferon pathway, whereas Atlantic salmon RBCs exhibited a more attenuated response. PRV-3 induced notable morphological changes in coho salmon RBCs, although neither PRV-3 nor PRV-1 caused hemolysis. These findings highlight species-specific differences in RBC responses to PRV infection and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of PRV-3 and PRV-1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viral Infectious Diseases)
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15 pages, 9268 KiB  
Article
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Prevalence and Pathogenicity of One NADC34-like Virus Isolate Circulating in China
by Yongjie Mei, Jianguo Chen, Yingyu Chen, Changmin Hu, Xi Chen and Aizhen Guo
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040796 - 31 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 727
Abstract
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is one of the most significant infectious agents threatening the global pig industry. Due to its high mutation and recombination rates, the prevalence of PRRSV in domestic pig populations is complex. To better understand the epidemiology [...] Read more.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is one of the most significant infectious agents threatening the global pig industry. Due to its high mutation and recombination rates, the prevalence of PRRSV in domestic pig populations is complex. To better understand the epidemiology of PRRSV, we conducted a large-scale investigation in eastern China, focusing on pig farms with a history of high abortion rates. A total of 14,934 pig samples were collected from 11 sow farms and 53 fattening farms across three provinces. Among these, 13.0% of the collected samples tested positive for PRRSV, with specific prevalence rates of 19.7% in sows and 12.4% in piglets. Genetic evolution analysis of the GP5 gene from 43 PRRSV strains identified in this study revealed that NADC30-like, NADC34-like, and HP-PRRSV were the predominant lineages in domestic pig farms. The NADC30-like genotype was the most dominant and had evolved into three subgenotypes, while the NADC34-like strains had diverged into two subgenotypes. Further analysis of the Nsp2 gene from 18 strains indicated that the NSP2 gene of multiple NADC34-like strains was closely related to that of the NADC30-like, suggesting that the NADC34-like strains are primarily recombinant viruses. Sequence comparison of the Nsp2 gene showed that both NADC30-like and NADC34-like viruses share 111 amino acid deletions at positions 322–433 and 21 amino acid deletions at positions 539–558 in the Nsp2 gene coding region. For the first time, the pathogenicity of a representative NADC34-like virus isolated in China was evaluated in pregnant sow. The results showed that infected sows exhibited an increased body temperature, ear cyanosis, and typical edema and cyanosis of the external genitalia. Moreover, all infected sows experienced miscarriage, with 100% of the aborted piglets being stillbirths exhibiting a high virus load. These findings indicate that this NADC34-like virus is highly virulent to sows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viral Infectious Diseases)
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15 pages, 1289 KiB  
Article
Induction of Immune Responses in Mice and Newborn Piglets by Oral Immunization with Recombinant Lactococcus lactis Expressing S1 and M Proteins of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
by Xiulei Cai, Zhikui Wang, Xinping Yan, Xu Wang, Xiaoxue Yue and Hongliang Zhang
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040714 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 442
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a severe gastrointestinal disease caused by the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a virus that spreads through the intestinal tract, leading to significant economic losses in the global swine industry. Therefore, compared to traditional injection method, developing vaccines [...] Read more.
Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a severe gastrointestinal disease caused by the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a virus that spreads through the intestinal tract, leading to significant economic losses in the global swine industry. Therefore, compared to traditional injection method, developing vaccines that effectively stimulate the mucosal immune system to induce a protective immune response is crucial for PED prevention. This study evaluated the immunogenicity of recombinant Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) strains expressing the PEDV S1 and M proteins (MG1363/pMG36e-S1 and MG1363/pMG36e-M) via oral administration in BALB/c mice and neonatal piglets, assessing cellular, humoral, and mucosal immune responses in the host. The results demonstrated that the recombinant strains significantly stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in mice and increased the proportion of CD3+, CD4+, and CD3+, CD8+ double-positive cells in the spleens of mice and the peripheral blood of piglets (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the recombinant strains significantly increased serum IgG, IgA, and mucosal SIgA levels in piglets (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, serum cytokine levels, including IL-4 and IFN-γ, were significantly elevated in piglets when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the recombinant L. lactis demonstrated promising potential as a novel live vector vaccine against PEDV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viral Infectious Diseases)
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Review

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58 pages, 1833 KiB  
Review
Animal Models of Pathogenic New World Arenaviruses
by Alexander V. Alvarado, Robert W. Cross, Thomas W. Geisbert and Courtney Woolsey
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061358 - 11 Jun 2025
Viewed by 441
Abstract
Since the emergence of Junín virus in 1953, pathogenic New World arenaviruses have remained a public health concern. These viruses, which also include Machupo virus, Guanarito virus, Sabiá virus, and Chapare virus, cause acute viral hemorrhagic fever and neurological complications, resulting in significant [...] Read more.
Since the emergence of Junín virus in 1953, pathogenic New World arenaviruses have remained a public health concern. These viruses, which also include Machupo virus, Guanarito virus, Sabiá virus, and Chapare virus, cause acute viral hemorrhagic fever and neurological complications, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Given the dearth of licensed therapeutics or vaccines against these pathogens, animal models of infection that recapitulate human manifestations of disease remain critically important to the development of efficacious medical countermeasures. Rodents and non-human primates have been successfully used to model human New World arenaviral infections, with guinea pigs, rhesus macaques, and cynomolgus macaques being the most successful models of infection for most major pathogenic New World arenaviruses. Here, we provide a highly comprehensive review of publicly reported animal models of pathogenic New World arenavirus infections, with a discussion of advantages and disadvantages for each model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Viral Infectious Diseases)
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