The role of gastropods in African swine fever virus ecology.

The spread of the African swine fever virus (ASF virus) genotype ii in the Eurasian region has been very successful and often inexplicable. The virus spreads rapidly and persists in areas with wild boar populations, but areas without feral pig populations are also affected. The virus has shown the ability to survive for a long time in the environment without a population of susceptible hosts, both pigs and Ornithodoros soft ticks. Published data indicated that ASF viruses persist significantly longer in an environment with some freshwater snails (especially Pomacea bridgesii, Tarebia granifera, Asolene spixii, Melanoides tuberculate, and Physa fontinalis), compared to freshwater without snails. Data obtained in this study suggest that gastropods theoretically can be the hosts of the ASF virus. Also, we have proven the possibility of long-term existence of an infectious virus when infected in vitro.

Pathology and Clinics of Naturally Occurring Low-Virulence Variants of African Swine Fever Emerged in Domestic Pigs in the South Caucasus.

Shortly after the establishment of African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype II in 2007, cases of acute fatal infection were observed. However, after several years of circulation in the Eurasian region, the clinical signs of the disease changed. Currently, this disease can occur acutely, subclinically, chronically, or asymptomatically. Cases of the complete recovery of infected pigs, and the disappearance of ASFV from their tissues and secretions have been described. This form of the disease first appeared in Armenia at the end of 2011. This virus was described and identified as the Dilijan2011IMB strain. The goal of our research was to study the main features of clinical, pathological, immunological, virological, and genetic parameters involved in the development of new forms of African swine fever (ASF). Chronic ASF was characterized with low titers of the virus and a decrease in the intensity of hemadsorption. Additionally, a reduced intensity in clinical symptoms and pathoanatomical results was noted. The absolute, but not the relative number of immune cells changes; the neutropenia (in bone marrow and spleen), lymphopenia (in bone marrow), lymphocytosis (only in spleen), lymphoid cell depletion (in bone marrow), and pancytopenia (in bone marrow) observed in the chronic form of ASF were less pronounced compared to in the acute form. When comparing the late stage of chronic ASF to the acute form, the key cytological indicators in the spleen, lymph nodes, and blood were less severe in the chronic stage. Bone marrow failure in the chronic form, expressed in a pronounced decrease in all cell types, generally coincided with the data in the acute form of ASF. The same data were obtained after assessing serum TNF-alpha levels. Thus, we can conclude that the chronic form of ASF occurs due to a less pronounced immune response, as well as a decrease in virus titers in the blood and tissues of infected pigs.

Study of different heterocycles showing significant anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 activity in vitro and in vivo.

Background and Aim: With the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), antiviral drug development has gained increased significance due to the high incidence and potentially severe complications of the resulting coronavirus infection. Heterocycle compounds, acting as antimetabolites of DNA and RNA monomers, rank among the most effective antiviral drugs. These compounds' antiviral effects on various SARS-CoV-2 isolates, as found in existing data collections, form the basis for further research. The aim of this study was to examine the possible antiviral effect of some originally synthesized heterocyclic compounds. Materials and Methods: The main methods were cell culturing, cytotoxicity assay, qRT-PCR assay, tissue and blood cells analysis, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging. Results: In both in vitro and in vivo conditions, the elimination of SARS-Cov-2 occurred significantly earlier after administration of the compounds compared to the control group. In hamsters, the primary symptoms of coronavirus disease disappeared following administration of heterocycle compounds. Conclusion: Using delta and omicron strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, newly created heterocycle compound analogs dramatically reduced SARS-CoV-2 multiplication, resulting in a drop in viral RNA load in the supernatant under in vitro conditions. Improvements in pathological manifestations in the blood, bone marrow, and internal organs of hamsters demonstrated that heterocycle compounds inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication both in vitro and in vivo.