Intra-erythrocytic location of Colorado tick fever virus

Colorado tick fever virus: a review of historical literature and research emphasis for a modern era

Colorado tick fever virus is an understudied tick-borne virus of medical importance that is primarily transmitted in the western United States and southwestern Canada. The virus is the type species of the genus Coltivirus (Spinareoviridae) and consists of 12 segments that remain largely uncharacterized. Patterns of viral distribution are driven by the presence of the primary vector, the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni. Infection prevalence in D. andersoni can range from 3% to 58% across the geographic distribution of the tick. Infection in humans can be severe and often presents with fever relapses but is rarely fatal. Here, we review the literature from primary characterizations in the early 20th century to current virus/vector research being conducted and identify vacancies in current research.

The Impact of Tick-Borne Diseases on the Bone

Tick-borne infectious diseases can affect many tissues and organs including bone, one of the most multifunctional structures in the human body. There is a scarcity of data regarding the impact of tick-borne pathogens on bone. The aim of this review was to survey existing research literature on this topic. The search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. From our search, we were able to find evidence of eight tick-borne diseases (Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Lyme disease, Bourbon virus disease, Colorado tick fever disease, Tick-borne encephalitis, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever) affecting the bone. Pathological bone effects most commonly associated with tick-borne infections were disruption of bone marrow function and bone loss. Most research to date on the effects of tick-borne pathogen infections on bone has been quite preliminary. Further investigation of this topic is warranted.

Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) infects Atlantic salmon erythrocytes

Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) belongs to the Reoviridae family and is the only known fish virus related to the Orthoreovirus genus. The virus is the causative agent of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), an emerging disease in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). PRV is ubiquitous in farmed Atlantic salmon and high loads of PRV in the heart are consistent findings in HSMI. The mechanism by which PRV infection causes disease remains largely unknown. In this study we investigated the presence of PRV in blood and erythrocytes using an experimental cohabitation challenge model. We found that in the early phases of infection, the PRV loads in blood were significantly higher than in any other organ. Most virus was found in the erythrocyte fraction, and in individual fish more than 50% of erythrocytes were PRV-positive, as determined by flow cytometry. PRV was condensed into large cytoplasmic inclusions resembling viral factories, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. By electron microscopy we showed that these inclusions contained reovirus-like particles. The PRV particles and inclusions also had a striking resemblance to previously reported viral inclusions described as Erythrocytic inclusion body syndrome (EIBS). We conclude that the erythrocyte is a major target cell for PRV infection. These findings provide new information about HSMI pathogenesis, and show that PRV is an important factor of viral erythrocytic inclusions.

Non-lyme tick-borne diseases: a neurological perspective

Tick-borne diseases are prevalent throughout the world and present a diagnostic challenge owing to their nonspecific clinical symptoms. Many tick-borne diseases involve the central and peripheral nervous systems. Early diagnosis or at least suspicion of a tick-borne cause is necessary to institute early empiric treatment. After a brief review of tick biology, we present the most common tick-borne diseases. A brief discussion of epidemiology, the transmission route, and pathogenesis is followed by a discussion of the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment options when available. The review emphasizes the infectious causes with a significant neurological manifestation.

Powassan encephalitis and Colorado tick fever

This article discusses two tick-borne illnesses: Powassan encephalitis, a rare cause of central nervous system infection caused by the Powassan virus, and Colorado tick fever, an acute febrile illness caused by the Colorado tick fever virus common to the Rocky Mountain region of North America.

Coltiviruses and seadornaviruses in North America, Europe, and Asia

Coltiviruses are tickborne viruses of the genus Coltivirus. The type species, Colorado tick fever virus (from North America), has been isolated from patients with flulike syndromes, meningitis, encephalitis, and other severe complications. Another coltivirus, Eyach virus, has been isolated from ticks in France and Germany and incriminated in febrile illnesses and neurologic syndromes. Seadornaviruses are endemic in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and China. The prototype virus of the genus, Banna virus (BAV), has been isolated from many mosquito species, humans with encephalitis, pigs, and cattle. Two other seadornaviruses, Kadipiro and Liao Ning, were isolated only from mosquitoes. The epidemiology of seadornaviruses remains poorly documented. Evidence suggests that BAV is responsible for encephalitis in humans. Infection with BAV may be underreported because it circulates in regions with a high incidence of Japanese encephalitis and could be misdiagnosed as this disease.

Tick-borne viruses

At least 38 viral species are transmitted by ticks. Virus–tick–vertebrate host relationships are highly specific and less than 10% of all tick species (Argasidae and Ixodidae) are known to play a role as vectors of arboviruses. However, a few tick species transmit several (e.g.Ixodes ricinus,Amblyomma variegatum) or many (I. uriae) tick-borne viruses. Tick-borne viruses are found in six different virus families (Asfarviridae, Reoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Flaviviridae) and at least 9 genera. Some as yet unassigned tick-borne viruses may belong to a seventh family, theArenaviridae. With only one exception (African swine fever virus, family Asfarviridae) all tick-borne viruses (as well as all other arboviruses) are RNA viruses. Tick-borne viruses are found in all the RNA virus families in which insect-borne members are found, with the exception of the family Togaviridae. Some tick-borne viruses pose a significant threat to the health of humans (Tick-borne encephalitis virus,Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus) or livestock (African swine fever virus,Nairobi sheep disease virus). Key challenges are to determine the molecular adaptations that allow tick-borne viruses to infect and replicate in both tick and vertebrate cells, and to identify the principal ecological determinants of tick-borne virus survival.

Tick-borne diseases in transfusion medicine

Ticks are effective vectors of viral, bacterial, rickettsial and parasitic diseases. Many of the tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are of significance to transfusion medicine, either because of the risks they pose to the blood supply or the necessity for blood products required in their treatment. The transmission of tick-borne pathogens via blood transfusion is of global concern. However, among transfusion medicine practitioners, experience with most of these microorganisms is limited. Transfusion transmission of TBDs has been documented largely by means of single case reports. A better understanding of the epidemiology, biology and management of this group of diseases is necessary in order to assess the risks they pose to the blood supply and to help guide effective prevention strategies to reduce this risk. Unique methods are required to focus on donor selection, predonation questioning, mass screening and inactivation or eradication procedures. The role of the transfusion medicine service in their treatment also needs to be better defined. This article reviews the growing body of literature pertaining to this emerging field of transfusion medicine and offers some recommendations for transfusionists in dealing with TBDs.

Persistence of arboviruses and antiviral antibodies in vertebrate hosts: its occurrence and impacts

The recent isolation of West Nile virus from a bird in mid-winter in New York immediately raised, as one of a few explanations, the possibility of long-term persistence of arboviruses in vertebrate hosts. Although it was a highly popular topic for research many years ago, generally it has since been neglected and its meaning under appreciated. This comprehensive survey of literature worldwide uncovered, contrary to the general perception that it is a rather infrequent phenomenon, a large number of important observations involving all groups of arboviruses that have been accumulating over the years without drawing much attention. In this review, the data and observations were analysed in terms of the occurrence, role in natural transmission, mechanisms and genesis of persistence, source of problems in research and impact. The outcome of the analyses clearly demonstrates that asymptomatic, long-term infection in the absence of viraemia with or without the induction of neutralising antibody, the most frequent characteristics of arboviral persistence, presents a serious question about the validity of some of the past animal experiments that were conducted without the consideration of such a possibility. Likewise, significant impacts are felt on diverse fields ranging from epidemiology to diagnostic virology and from veterinary medicine to agricultural commerce. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The pathogenesis of bluetongue virus infection of bovine blood cells in vitro: ultrastructural characterization

Cattle are proposed to be reservoir hosts of bluetongue virus (BTV) because infected animals typically have a prolonged cell-associated viremia. Enriched populations of bovine monocytes, erythrocytes and lymphocytes were inoculated with BTV serotype 10 (BTV 10) and the infected cells then were examined by transmission electron microscopy to characterize the interaction of BTV with bovine blood cells. Replication of BTV 10 in monocytes and stimulated (replicating) lymphocytes was morphologically similar to that which occurred in Vero cells, with formation of viral inclusion bodies and virus-specific tubules. In contrast, BTV 10 infection of unstimulated (non-replicating) lymphocytes and erythrocytes did not progress beyond adsorption, after which virus particles persisted in invaginations of the cell membrane. Studies with core particles and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies established that outer capsid protein VP2 is necessary for attachment of BTV 10 to erythrocytes. These in vitro virus-cell interactions provide a cogent explanation for the pathogenesis of BTV infection of cattle, especially the prolonged cell associated viremia that occurs in BTV-infected cattle.

Replication of Colorado tick fever virus within human hematopoietic progenitor cells

Significant neutropenia, as well as thrombocytopenia and a mild anemia, occurs in patients infected with Colorado tick fever virus. In this study, human bone marrow CD34+ cells and KG-1a cells, a human hematopoietic progenitor cell line, were infected in vitro with Colorado tick fever virus. The time course and morphological appearance of viral replication in human progenitor cells were similar to those seen in erythroblasts and in HEL cells and suggest one possible mechanism for the clinical hematologic findings.

The detection of intracellular bluetongue virus particles within ovine erythrocytes

1. We report here a simplified method for detecting viruses and other antigenic agents in red blood cells (RBCs). Using a nonionic detergent to prepare cytoskeletons, the interior of RBCs can be scanned rapidly using immunoelectron microscopy. 2. In this study, RBCs from bluetongue (BLU) virus-infected sheep were adsorbed directly onto Formvar-coated, gold electron microscope grids. 3. Cytoskeletons were prepared and then probed using a monoclonal antibody to VP 7, a structural BLU-virus protein and Protein-A gold. 4. Of the ca 32,000 RBCs that were examined from BLU virus-infected sheep, 34 (0.106%) contained labelled BLU virus particles. 5. No labelled particles were observed in any of ca 8000 RBCs taken prior to BLU virus inoculation of sheep. 6. If the antigenic BLU virus particles (which may be viral cores) are in fact infectious, this method of sequestration of virus within RBCs could contribute to the prolonged viremia typical of this arboviral disease, which is known to occur concurrently with circulating neutralizing antibody.

The pathogenesis of experimental bluetongue virus infection of calves

Eleven seronegative calves were intravenously inoculated with bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 10, and two calves were inoculated with a placebo. Cellular association of BTV during viremia was investigated in three of the calves by titrating virus present in plasma and different blood cell fractions at weekly intervals after infection. Viremia persisted 35 to 49 days in individual calves. Virus was transiently isolated from blood mononuclear cells and plasma collected from two of the calves but was consistently isolated from erythrocytes throughout infection of all three animals. Titers of BTV present in the erythrocyte fraction were comparable to those of the unseparated blood cell fraction. Tissue tropism of BTV was determined by viral isolation from tissues collected from calves euthanatized at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 56 (2 calves) days after inoculation with BTV. Tropism was also determined by immunohistochemical staining of selected tissues with an avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase staining procedure using three BTV-specific monoclonal antibodies. The BTV infected calves remained healthy throughout the study. Virus was isolated from at least one tissue collected from calves euthanatized at 1 through 28 days after inoculation, but not thereafter. High titers of BTV were present in the lungs, prescapular and mesenteric lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen of calves euthanatized at 1 to 4 days after inoculation, whereas BTV was either not isolated or isolated in low titer from bone marrow collected from these animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagnosis of Colorado tick fever virus infection by enzyme immunoassays for immunoglobulin M and G antibodies

An immunoglobulin M (IgM) capture enzyme immunoassay technique was adapted for the detection of antibody to Colorado tick fever virus in sera from 84 individuals for whom diagnosis had been confirmed by virus isolation or neutralization test. Titers were compared with those for IgG and neutralizing antibodies in these Colorado tick fever cases. IgM antibody titers were higher than neutralizing antibody titers, but neither appeared until 1 to 2 weeks after the onset of illness. Neutralizing antibodies were detected earlier than IgM antibodies, and both were detected with greater frequency than IgG antibodies. Late-convalescent-phase sera contained both neutralizing and IgG antibodies, but IgM was all but undetectable by 2 months after onset. Although the neutralization test may remain the serological test of choice, the enzyme immunoassay for IgM antibody offers a simple and more rapid method of serodiagnosis; the enzyme immunoassay is, however, less sensitive than the neutralization test. Furthermore, because there was a sharp decline in IgM antibody after 45 days, the presence of IgM antibody in a single serum sample provides a basis for the presumptive serodiagnosis of recent Colorado tick fever virus infection.

Isolation of Eyach virus (Reoviridae, Colorado tick fever group) from Ixodes ricinus and I. ventalloi ticks in France

During the spring of 1981, two strains of an identical virus were isolated in Mayenne, France, from Ixodes ricinus L. and Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado, parasiting a wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.). Virological and serological results indicated that these strains belong to the Colorado tick fever serogroup and are indistinguishable from Eyach virus, a tick-borne virus previously described from West Germany. Study of dsRNA PAGE profiles confirmed these conclusions. The morphology and morphogenesis of French isolates were studied in infected suckling mouse brains showing some peculiar features previously described for Colorado tick fever virus. The importance of the isolation of Eyach virus in France is discussed.

Response of Erythrocebus patas monkeys to experimental infection with the orbivirus Orungo virus

The response of Erythrocebus patas monkeys experimentally inoculated by the intravenous and subcutaneous routes with Orungo virus (family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus) was studied with reference to development of clinical signs, circulation of virus and antibody response. None of the animals showed clinical disease nor did they circulate virus. However, all the animals developed complement fixing (CF), neutralizing (N) and agar gel (AG) precipitating antibodies between day seven and day 14 post infection (p.i.). The CF antibodies appeared earlier and lasted for a longer period than did the N antibodies. The presence of transient 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) sensitive CF antibodies was demonstrated in sera collected between day seven and day 14 p.i. The significance of these findings in the interpretation of serological surveys in man for Orungo virus antibody is discussed.