title: Lethal herpesvirosis in 16 captive horned vipers (Vipera ammodytes ammodytes): pathological and ultrastructural findings.
abstract: Sixteen captive adult horned vipers (Vipera ammodytes ammodytes) were submitted for necropsy examination following a 2-week history of lethargy, anorexia and dyspnoea. Gross lesions included widespread haemorrhage, serosanguineous effusions in the body cavities and multiple pinpoint white to yellow foci in the liver. Microscopically, there was multifocal hepatic coagulative necrosis associated with intranuclear acidophilic inclusion bodies in sinusoidal endothelial cells. Similar endothelial lesions were observed in the myocardium, fat bodies, kidneys and spleen. Transmission electron microscopy revealed numerous virions (100-110 nm) in the nuclei of endothelial cells and intracytoplasmic enveloped virions (140-150 nm) were also found. The gross and histological findings and the ultrastructural features of the intranuclear inclusions and viral particles were consistent with herpesviral infection. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of a lethal herpesvirosis in horned vipers and the second report in snakes.
authors: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology Department, 3-5 Calea Mãnãştur, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Catoi
authors: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology Department, 3-5 Calea Mãnãştur, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Gal
authors: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology Department, 3-5 Calea Mãnãştur, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Electronic address: taulescumarian@yahoo.com.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Taulescu
authors: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, 4343 Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Palmieri
authors: Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Physiology, 13 Emil Isac Street, 400023 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Catoi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D017819:Viperidae / Q000821:virology*; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure*
keywords: Vipera ammodytes; herpesvirus; inclusion bodies; transmission electron microscopy