title: Investigation into an outbreak of encephalomyelitis caused by a neuroinvasive porcine sapelovirus in the United Kingdom.
abstract: An outbreak of neurological disease in grower pigs characterised by ataxia and paraparesis was investigated in this study. The outbreak occurred 3-4 weeks post weaning in grower pigs which displayed signs of spinal cord damage progressing to recumbency. Pathology in the affected spinal cords and to a lesser extent in the brainstem was characterised by pronounced inflammation and neuronophagia in the grey matter. Molecular investigation using a pan-virus microarray identified a virus related to porcine sapelovirus (PSV) in the spinal cord of the two affected pigs examined. Analysis of 802 nucleotides of the virus polymerase gene showed the highest homology with those of viruses in the genus Sapelovirus of Picornaviridae. This PSV, strain G5, shared 91-93%, 67-69% and 63% nucleotide homology with porcine, simian and avian sapeloviruses, respectively. The nucleotide homology to other members of the Picornaviridae ranged from 41% to 62%. Furthermore, viral antigen was detected and co-localised in the spinal cord lesions of affected animals by an antibody known to react with PSV. In conclusion, clinical and laboratory observations of the diseased pigs in this outbreak are consistent with PSV-G5 being the causative agent. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first unequivocal report of polioencephalomyelitis in pigs by a neuroinvasive PSV in the United Kingdom.
authors.affiliation: Mammalian Pathology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Lasswade, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schock
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Virology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gurrala
authors.affiliation: Marches Veterinary Group, Ryelands Road, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 8PN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Solander Road, Townsville 4811, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foyle
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dauber
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.affiliation: Mammalian Pathology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Lasswade, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scholes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Falko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steinbach
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: akbar.dastjerdi@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk.
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dastjerdi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010849:Picornaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Microarray; Picornaviridae; Polioencephalomyelitis; Porcine enterovirus; Sapelovirus; Swine