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Analysis of avian Usutu virus infections in Germany from 2011 to 2018 with focus on dsRNA detection to demonstrate viral infections.

ABSTRACT: Usutu virus (USUV) is a zoonotic arbovirus causing avian mass mortalities. The first outbreak in North-Western Germany occurred in 2018. This retrospective analysis focused on combining virological and pathological findings in birds and immunohistochemistry. 25 common blackbirds, one great grey owl, and one kingfisher collected from 2011 to 2018 and positive for USUV by qRT-PCR were investigated. Macroscopically, most USUV infected birds showed splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. Histopathological lesions included necrosis and lymphohistiocytic inflammation within spleen, Bursa fabricii, liver, heart, brain, lung and intestine. Immunohistochemistry revealed USUV antigen positive cells in heart, spleen, pancreas, lung, brain, proventriculus/gizzard, Bursa fabricii, kidney, intestine, skeletal muscle, and liver. Analysis of viral genome allocated the virus to Europe 3 or Africa 2 lineage. This study investigated whether immunohistochemical detection of double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) serves as an alternative tool to detect viral intermediates. Tissue samples of six animals with confirmed USUV infection by qRT-PCR but lacking viral antigen in liver and spleen, were further examined immunohistochemically. Two animals exhibited a positive signal for dsRNA. This could indicate either an early state of infection without sufficient formation of virus translation products, occurrence of another concurrent virus infection or endogenous dsRNA not related to infectious pathogens and should be investigated in more detail in future studies.

SUBMITTER: Stork T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8683490 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Evidence for West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus Infections in Wild and Resident Birds in Germany, 2017 and 2018.

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Project description: Not available

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Serological evidence of asymptomatic infections during Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak in Germany in 2011.

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Project description:The emergence of the new COVID-19 virus is proving to be a challenge in seeking effective therapies. Since the most severe clinical manifestation of COVID-19 appears to be a severe acute respiratory syndrome, azithromycin has been proposed as a potential treatment. Azithromycin is known to have immunomodulating and antiviral properties. In vitro studies have demonstrated the capacity of azithromycin in reducing production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8, IL-6, TNF alpha, reduce oxidative stress, and modulate T-helper functions. At the same time there are multiple clinical evidences of the role of azithromycin in acute respiratory distress syndrome and against Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS). Some preliminary evidence has demonstrated controversial results regarding efficacy of azithromycin in combination with hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19. First, a French trial demonstrated 100% virological negativizing of six patients treated with azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine vs. 57.1% of patients treated with only hydroxychloroquine and 12.5% of the control group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, another case series revealed no efficacy at all on 11 patients treated with the same combination and doses. Furthermore, there are some concerns regarding the association of azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine because of potential QT prolongation. In fact, both drugs have this as a potential side effect and evidence regarding the safe use of this combination is controversial. Despite the necessity to quickly find solutions for COVID-19, extreme caution must be used in evaluating the risk-benefit balance. However, based on preclinical and clinical evidence and some preliminary results in COVID-19, azithromycin could have potential in the fight against this new disease.

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