Preliminary characterization of Tasmanian aquareovirus (TSRV) isolates.

In an attempt to determine whether or not genetic variants of the Tasmanian strain of Atlantic salmon aquareovirus (TSRV) exist, 14 isolates of TSRV, originating from various locations in Tasmania, covering a 20-year period (1990-2010), obtained from various host species and tissues, and isolated on different cell lines, were selected for this study. Two categories, termed "typical" and "atypical", of variants of TSRV were identified based on preliminary genotypic and phenotypic characterization carried out on these 14 different isolates. In addition, electron microscopic examination indicated the existence of at least three variants based on viral particle size. Finally, this study demonstrated the existence of at least one new variant of TSRV isolates, other than the more commonly isolated typical TSRV isolates, in farmed Tasmanian Atlantic salmon.

Isolation of a novel aquatic birnavirus from rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in Australia.

In November 2010, a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hatchery in Victoria reported increased mortality rates in diploid and triploid female fingerlings. Live and moribund fish were submitted for laboratory investigation. All fish showed hyperpigmentation of the cranial half of the body. Histological lesions were seen in all areas of skin examined despite the localised nature of the gross lesions. There was irregular hyperplasia and spongiosis, alternating with areas of thinning and architectural disturbance. Occasionally, particularly in superficial layers of epithelium, cells showed large, eosinophilic inclusions that obscured other cellular detail. A small number of fish had necrosis in dermis, subcutis and superficial muscles. Bacteriological culture of skin and gills was negative for all bacterial pathogens, including Flavibacterium columnare, the agent of columnaris disease. Attempts at virus isolation from the skin of affected fish resulted in the development of a cytopathic effect in RTG-2 cell cultures suggestive of the presence of a virus. Negative contrast electron microscopy of cell culture supernatant demonstrated the presence of viral particles with the typical morphology of birnaviruses. Preliminary molecular characterisation identified an aquabirnavirus that differed from both the Tasmanian aquabirnavirus (TABV) and other aquabirnaviruses exotic to Australia. Previous isolates of aquabirnaviruses in Australia and New Zealand have been from healthy fish in a marine environment. This is the first report of an aquabirnavirus isolated from young salmonids at a freshwater hatchery in Australia. The role of the virus in the mortality event on the farm is uncertain as no further deaths attributable to this virus have occurred in the 4 yr since its initial discovery. The virus has been provisionally named Victorian trout aquabirnavirus (VTAB).

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis zoospore secretions rapidly disturb intercellular junctions in frog skin.

Global amphibian declines are in part driven by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, causing superficial dermatomycosis with epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis in infected amphibians. The susceptibility to chytridiomycosis and the severity of epidermal lesions in amphibians with chytridiomycosis are not consistent across species or even among individuals. Severe infections cause death of the animal most likely through disturbance of ion homeostasis. The mechanism by which this superficial skin infection results in epidermal lesions has so far eluded precise definition. It was the aim of this study to unravel how B. dendrobatidis causes alterations that affect skin integrity. Exposure of Xenopus laevis skin to B. dendrobatidis zoospore supernatant using skin explants and Ussing chambers caused rapid disruption of intercellular junctions, demonstrated using histology and transmission electron microscopy. The loss of intercellular junctions led to detachment-induced cell apoptosis, or anoikis. The zoospore supernatant induced neither apoptosis nor necrosis in isolated primary keratinocytes of X. laevis. This supports the idea that the loss of cell contacts triggered apoptosis in the skin explants. Mass spectrometric analysis of the protein composition of the supernatant revealed a complex mixture, including several new virulence associated proteins, such as proteases, biofilm-associated proteins and a carotenoid ester lipase. Protease and lipase activity of the supernatant was confirmed with a protease and lipase assay. In conclusion, B. dendrobatidis zoospores produce a complex mixture of proteins that quickly disturbs epidermal intercellular junctions leading to anoikis in the anuran skin. The role of the identified proteins in this process remains to be determined.

Amphibian chytridiomycosis.

Amphibian chytridiomycosis is a fungal disease caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. It is arguably the most significant recorded infectious disease of any vertebrate class. The disease is reducing amphibian biodiversity across most continents and regions of the world, affecting the resilience of surviving populations and driving multiple species to extinction. It is now recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as an internationally notifiable disease. Collaborative research in areas including the development of diagnostic assays, distribution and impact of the disease, and management (treatment and policy) has assisted in leading a paradigm shift in accepting infectious disease as a major factor influencing wildlife population stability and biodiversity.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: requirement for further isolate collection and archiving.

The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes the disease chytridiomycosis, which is lethal to many species of amphibians worldwide. Many studies have investigated the epidemiology of chytridiomycosis in amphibian populations, but few have considered possible host-pathogen coevolution. More specifically, investigations focused on the evolution of Bd, and the link with Bd virulence, are needed. Such studies, which may be important for conservation management of amphibians, depend on access to Bd isolates. Here we provide a summary of known Bd isolates that have been collected and archived in various locations around the world. Of 257 Bd isolates, we found that 53% originate from ranids in the United States. In many cases, detailed information on isolate origin is unavailable, and it is unknown how many isolates are cryo-archived. We suggest the creation of a centralized database of isolate information, and we urge researchers and managers to isolate and archive Bd to facilitate future research on chytridiomycosis.

Amphibian chytridiomycosis in Japan: distribution, haplotypes and possible route of entry into Japan.

A serious disease of amphibians caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was first found in Japan in December 2006 in imported pet frogs. This was the first report of chytridiomycosis in Asia. To assess the risk of pandemic chytridiomycosis to Japanese frogs, we surveyed the distribution of the fungus among captive and wild frog populations. We established a nested PCR assay that uses two pairs of PCR primers to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of a ribosomal RNA cassette to detect mild fungal infections from as little as 0.001 pg (1 fg) of B. dendrobatidis DNA. We collected swab samples from 265 amphibians sold at pet shops, 294 bred at institutes and 2103 collected at field sites from northern to southwestern Japan. We detected infections in native and exotic species, both in captivity and in the field. Sequencing of PCR products revealed 26 haplotypes of the B. dendrobatidis ITS region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that three of these haplotypes were specific to the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and appeared to have established a commensal relationship with this native amphibian. Many other haplotypes were carried by alien amphibians. The highest genetic diversity of B. dendrobatidis was found in the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Some strains of B. dendrobatidis appeared to be endemic to Japanese native amphibians, but many alien strains are being introduced into Japan via imported amphibians. To improve chytridiomycosis risk management, we must consider the risk of B. dendrobatidis changing hosts as a result of anthropogenic disturbance of the host-specific distribution of the fungus.

Henipavirus susceptibility to environmental variables.

The routes of henipavirus transmission between hosts are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to measure the persistence of henipaviruses under various environmental conditions and thereby gain an insight into likely mechanisms of transmission. Henipaviruses survived for more than 4 days at 22 degrees C in pH-neutral fruit bat urine but were sensitive to higher temperatures and pH changes. On mango flesh, survival time varied depending on temperature and fruit pH, ranging from 2h to more than 2 days. Desiccation of viruses substantially reduced survival time to less than 2h. The sensitivity of henipaviruses to pH, temperature and desiccation indicates a need for close contact between hosts for transmission to occur, although under ideal conditions henipaviruses can persist for extended periods facilitating vehicle-borne transmission.

Environmental detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in a temperate climate.

The aetiological agent of amphibian chytridiomycosis Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a primary cause of amphibian population declines. Current surveillance is based on the detection of B. dendrobatidis in its host but in vitro work suggests infective stages may survive in the abiotic environment for at least 3 mo. We describe here a surveillance system using filtration and quantitative PCR that can detect B. dendrobatidis in small (< 1 l) volumes of water. After assessing the analytical sensitivity of the protocol for both water and sediment samples in the laboratory, we analyzed environmental samples from the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range in Spain at locations associated with chytrid-related die-offs and at other sites across Spain. B. dendrobatidis was detected in samples from 64% of the ponds in the Sierra de Guadarrama and at 2 sites outside this region, showing that levels of amphibian exposure to B. dendrobatidis are spatially heterogeneous. In experimental microcosms, we detected B. dendrobatidis for up to 12 wk, though we found no evidence for an overall increase in biomass. Our results emphasise the need to further investigate the life cycle of B. dendrobatidis to more completely understand the epidemiology of this emerging pathogen.

Role of electron microscopy in Nipah virus outbreak investigation and control.

In 1998, a novel paramyxovirus (order Mononegavirales, family Paramyxoviridae, subfamily Paramyxovirinae, genus Henipavirus) emerged in peninsular Malaysia causing fatal encephalitis in humans and severe respiratory illness with encephalitis in pigs. The virus was successfully isolated in cultured mammalian cells. Transmission electron microscopy of infected tissue culture cells played a crucial role in the early preliminary identification of the causative agent of the outbreak. This in turn was pivotal to determine the correct direction of control measures that subsequently brought the epidemic under control. In light of this investigation, and indeed identification of infectious agents associated with other disease episodes, electron microscopy will remain an important frontline method for rapid diagnostic virology and investigation of any future outbreak of new and unusual cases of illness suspected of an infectious aetiology.

Techniques for detecting chytridiomycosis in wild frogs: comparing histology with real-time Taqman PCR.

Chytridiomycosis is a lethal disease of amphibians associated with mass mortalities and population declines worldwide. An accurate, non-invasive technique for detecting chytridiomycosis is urgently needed to determine the current geographical distribution of the disease, and its prevalence in wild amphibian populations. Herein we evaluate a recently devised, rapid, non-invasive, swab-PCR assay. We sampled 101 wild juvenile Mixophyes iteratus by both a skin swab for use in PCR analysis, and a toe-clip for examination by histological methods. The swab-PCR assay detected chytridiomycosis infection in a minimum of 14.9% of frogs, whereas histology detected infection in no more than 6.9% of frogs. We conclude that the swab-PCR technique is the more reliable means of detecting chytridiomycosis in wild amphibians, and that it precludes the need for toe-clipping as a means of sampling for the presence of the disease in future surveys. Further, we document a significant negative relationship between a juvenile frog's snout-vent length and its likelihood of being infected with the disease.

Characterisation of an emerging rickettsia-like organism in Tasmanian farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar.

A rickettsia-like organism (RLO) was observed in farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar located in south-east Tasmania, Australia. Several assays such as immunoperoxidase, immunoelectron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction and nucleic acid sequencing, as well as phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences, were performed on infected fish tissues. Immunohistochemistry results suggested the presence of related antigenic determinants between the Tasmanian RLO and the type strain LF-89 of Piscirickettsia salmonis. However, sequence alignment demonstrated that the Tasmanian RLO contains a 19 bp deletion at the 3'-end of the internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA operon, indicating a genetic divergence from P. salmonis isolates, which are exotic to Australia.

Life cycle stages of the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

An overview of the morphology and life cycle of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the cause of chytridiomycosis of amphibians, is presented. We used a range of methods to examine stages of the life cycle in culture and in frog skin, and to assess ultrastructural pathology in the skin of 2 frogs. Methods included light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy with conventional methods as well as high pressure freezing and freeze substitution, and scanning electron microscopy with critical point drying as well as examination of bulk-frozen and freeze-fractured material. Although chytridiomycosis is an emerging disease, B. dendrobatidis has adaptations that suggest it has long been evolved to live within cells in the dynamic tissue of the stratified epidermis. Sporangia developed at a rate that coincided with the maturation of the cell, and fungal discharge tubes usually opened onto the distal surface of epidermal cells of the stratum corneum. A zone of condensed, fibrillar, host cytoplasm surrounded some sporangia. Hyperkeratosis may be due to (1) a hyperplastic response that leads to an increased turnover of epidermal cells, and (2) premature keratinization and death of infected cells.

Co-localisation of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and keratin for enhanced diagnosis of chytridiomycosis in frogs.

Chytridiomycosis is a disease of post-metamorphic frogs caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and is associated with large declines in frog populations on a global scale. B. dendrobatidis is found only in the keratinised tissues, which include the mouthparts of healthy tadpoles. The epidermis of infected post-metamorphic frogs is thickened (hyperkeratosis) and the superficial layer can sometimes slough. Diagnosis is most commonly performed on stained sections of toe clips or ventral skin. Accurate interpretation can be difficult and requires a high level of expertise, particularly in infected animals exhibiting hyperkeratosis with sloughing. Misdiagnosis can occur when zoosporangia of B. dendrobatidis are shed with the superficial keratin layers. We have developed a staining protocol based on previously described methods to detect both B. dendrobatidis and keratin, to improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis of chytridiomycosis by inexperienced diagnosticians.

Production of polyclonal antibodies to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and their use in an immunoperoxidase test for chytridiomycosis in amphibians.

Polyclonal antibodies were produced for diagnosing chytridiomycosis in amphibians. Two sheep and 4 rabbits were inoculated with homogenized whole culture of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Freund's complete adjuvant or triple adjuvant. Antisera from all animals reacted strongly with all stages of B. dendrobatidis and stained the walls, cytoplasm, rhizoids and zoospores in an indirect immunoperoxidase test. Significant cross-reactivity occurred only with some fungi in the Chytridiomycota, and there are no members of this phylum besides B. dendrobatidis that infect frogs. The immunoperoxidase stain is a useful screening test when combined with recognition of the morphology and infection site of B. dendrobatidis.

Use of immunohistochemistry to diagnose chytridiomycosis in dyeing poison dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius).

Chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is an emerging disease of both wild and captive amphibians, posing a threat to their survival in many parts of the world. As the disease can be difficult to diagnose on routine pathologic sections, the purpose of this study was to develop an additional method for visualization. To accomplish this, immunohistochemical staining was applied to histologic skin sections from four experimentally infected Dyeing poison dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius). Staining of the positive tissue sections was distinct and readily visualized, making this technique a valuable ancillary diagnostic test for this important disease.

Agricultural intensification, priming for persistence and the emergence of Nipah virus: a lethal bat-borne zoonosis.

Emerging zoonoses threaten global health, yet the processes by which they emerge are complex and poorly understood. Nipah virus (NiV) is an important threat owing to its broad host and geographical range, high case fatality, potential for human-to-human transmission and lack of effective prevention or therapies. Here, we investigate the origin of the first identified outbreak of NiV encephalitis in Malaysia and Singapore. We analyse data on livestock production from the index site (a commercial pig farm in Malaysia) prior to and during the outbreak, on Malaysian agricultural production, and from surveys of NiV's wildlife reservoir (flying foxes). Our analyses suggest that repeated introduction of NiV from wildlife changed infection dynamics in pigs. Initial viral introduction produced an explosive epizootic that drove itself to extinction but primed the population for enzootic persistence upon reintroduction of the virus. The resultant within-farm persistence permitted regional spread and increased the number of human infections. This study refutes an earlier hypothesis that anomalous El Niño Southern Oscillation-related climatic conditions drove emergence and suggests that priming for persistence drove the emergence of a novel zoonotic pathogen. Thus, we provide empirical evidence for a causative mechanism previously proposed as a precursor to widespread infection with H5N1 avian influenza and other emerging pathogens.

Pteropid bats are confirmed as the reservoir hosts of henipaviruses: a comprehensive experimental study of virus transmission.

Bats of the genus Pteropus have been identified as the reservoir hosts for the henipaviruses Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV). The aim of these studies was to assess likely mechanisms for henipaviruses transmission from bats. In a series of experiments, Pteropus bats from Malaysia and Australia were inoculated with NiV and HeV, respectively, by natural routes of infection. Despite an intensive sampling strategy, no NiV was recovered from the Malaysian bats and HeV was reisolated from only one Australian bat; no disease was seen. These experiments suggest that opportunities for henipavirus transmission may be limited; therefore, the probability of a spillover event is low. For spillover to occur, a range of conditions and events must coincide. An alternate assessment framework is required if we are to fully understand how this reservoir host maintains and transmits not only these but all viruses with which it has been associated.