Genomic characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 virus newly emerged in dairy cattle.

In March 2024, the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) infections in dairy cattle was detected in the United Sates for the first time. We genetically characterize HPAI viruses from dairy cattle showing an abrupt drop in milk production, as well as from two cats, six wild birds, and one skunk. They share nearly identical genome sequences, forming a new genotype B3.13 within the 2.3.4.4b clade. B3.13 viruses underwent two reassortment events since 2023 and exhibit critical mutations in HA, M1, and NS genes but lack critical mutations in PB2 and PB1 genes, which enhance virulence or adaptation to mammals. The PB2 E627 K mutation in a human case associated with cattle underscores the potential for rapid evolution post infection, highlighting the need for continued surveillance to monitor public health threats.

Bovine Rhinitis B Virus Variant as the Putative Cause of Bronchitis in Goat Kids.

A diagnostic investigation into an outbreak of fatal respiratory disease among young goats in Iowa, USA revealed bronchitis lesions of unknown etiology and secondary bacterial bronchopneumonia. Hypothesis-free metagenomics identified a previously unreported picornavirus (USA/IA26017/2023), and further phylogenetic analysis classified USA/IA26017/2023 as an aphthovirus related to bovine rhinitis B virus. Viral nucleic acid was localized to lesions of bronchitis using in situ hybridization. This marks the first report of a picornavirus putatively causing respiratory disease in goats and highlights the potential for cross-species transmission of aphthoviruses.

A recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus type 2 field strain derived from two PRRSV-2-modified live virus vaccines.

A porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) type 2 (PRRSV-2) isolate was obtained from lung samples collected from a 4.5-month-old pig at a wean-to-finish site in Indiana, USA, although no gross or microscopic lesions suggestive of PRRSV infection were observed in the lung tissue. Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analyses based on the obtained virus sequences indicated that PRRSV USA/IN105404/2021 was a natural recombinant isolate from Ingelvac PRRS® MLV and Prevacent® PRRS, which are PRRSV-2-modified live virus vaccines commercially available in the United States. This study is the first to report the detection of a PRRSV-2 recombinant strain consisting entirely of two modified live virus vaccine strains under field conditions. Based on clinical data and the absence of lung lesions, this PRRSV-2 recombinant strain was not virulent in swine, although its pathogenicity needs to be confirmed by clinical trials.

Use of the ISU FLUture multisequence identity tool for rapid interpretation of swine influenza A virus sequences in the United States.

Rapid and reliable identification of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genetic clades of an influenza A virus (IAV) sequence from swine can inform control measures and multivalent vaccine composition. Current approaches to genetically characterize HA or NA sequences are based on nucleotide similarity or phylogenetic analyses. Public databases exist to acquire IAV genetic sequences for comparison, but personnel at the diagnostic or production level have difficulty in adequately updating and maintaining relevant sequence datasets for IAV in swine. Further, phylogenetic analyses are time intensive, and inference drawn from these methods is impacted by input sequence data and associated metadata. We describe here the use of the IAV multisequence identity tool as an integrated public webpage located on the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ISU-VDL) FLUture website: https://influenza.cvm.iastate.edu/. The multisequence identity tool uses sequence data derived from IAV-positive cases sequenced at the ISU-VDL, employs a BLAST algorithm that identifies sequences that are genetically similar to submitted query sequences, and presents a tabulation and visualization of the most genetically similar IAV sequence and associated metadata from the FLUture database. Our tool removes bioinformatic barriers and allows clients, veterinarians, and researchers to rapidly classify and identify IAV sequences similar to their own sequences to augment interpretation of results.

Clinical and microbiological evaluation of 940-nm diode laser as an adjunct to modified Widman flap for the management of chronic periodontitis: A 6-month randomized split-mouth clinical trial.

Background. The present randomized clinical trial aimed to determine the additive clinical and microbiological benefits of diode laser (DL) with modified Widman flap (MWF) to manage chronic periodontitis. Methods. Seventy-two sites in 36 healthy non-smoking patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to the test group (MWF + active DL) or control group (MWF + sham DL). Clinical (probing pocket depth [PPD], clinical attachment level [CAL]) and microbiological (colony-forming units [CFUs]) measurements were recorded at baseline and 6- and 6-month postoperative intervals. Results. Compared to baseline, 6-month results showed significant changes in clinical and microbiological parameters in both groups. However, the intergroup comparison revealed significantly lower PPD (1.90±0.48 mm vs. 2.35±0.41 mm), CAL (4.43±0.57 mm vs. 4.93±0.58 mm), and CFUs for Porphyromonas gingivalis (6.32±0.18 vs. 8.88 ±1.88), Prevotella intermedia (7.62±1.86 vs. 8.12±1.78), and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (6.43±1.44 vs. 7.24±1.22) in the test group after six months. Conclusion. Within the limitations, the present study confirmed the useful role of DL with MWF to manage chronic periodontitis.