Indication of Cross-Species Transmission of Astrovirus Associated with Encephalitis in Sheep and Cattle

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 23; no. 9; pp. 1604 - 1608
• Main Authors: Boujon, Céline L, Koch, Michel C, Wüthrich, Daniel, Werder, Simea, Jakupovic, Dennis, Bruggmann, Rémy, Seuberlich, Torsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.09.2017; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Animals; Astroviridae; Astroviridae - classification; Astroviridae - genetics; Astroviridae - isolation & purification; Astroviridae Infections - epidemiology; Astroviridae Infections - pathology; Astroviridae Infections - transmission; Astroviridae Infections - veterinary; Beef cattle; Brain - pathology; Brain - virology; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - pathology; Cattle Diseases - transmission; Encephalitis; Encephalitis, Viral - epidemiology; Encephalitis, Viral - pathology; Encephalitis, Viral - transmission; Encephalitis, Viral - veterinary; Gastroenteritis; Genome, Viral; Genomics; Health aspects; Host Specificity; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Indication of Cross-Species Transmission of Astrovirus Associated with Encephalitis in Sheep and Cattle; meningitis/encephalitis; neurology; Phylogeny; Research Letter; ruminants; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - epidemiology; Sheep Diseases - pathology; Sheep Diseases - transmission; Switzerland - epidemiology; Astroviridae; cross-species transmission; viruses; astrovirus; metagenomics; enteric infections; ruminants; zoonoses; cattle; meningitis/encephalitis; neurology; sheep
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2309.170168

We report the identification of a neurotropic astrovirus associated with encephalitis in a sheep. This virus is genetically almost identical to an astrovirus recently described in neurologically diseased cattle. The similarity indicates that astroviruses of the same genotype may cause encephalitis in different species.