Goats naturally infected with the Spanish goat encephalitis virus (SGEV): pathological features and an outbreak

Balseiro, A., Pérez-Martínez, C., Dagleish, M. P., Royo, L. J., Polledo, L. and García Marín, J. F. (2023) Goats naturally infected with the Spanish goat encephalitis virus (SGEV): pathological features and an outbreak. Animals, 13(1), 72. (doi: 10.3390/ani13010072) (PMID:36611682) (PMCID:PMC9817905)

Abstract

In autumn 2011, a disease outbreak caused by Spanish goat encephalitis virus (SGEV) was reported in a herd of goats from Asturias (north-western Spain), expanding the known geographic distribution of tick-borne encephalitis in Europe. The virus was classified as a new subtype (subspecies) within the Louping-ill virus species of the mammalian tick-borne flavivirus group. The aims of the present study were to describe the pathology in goats naturally infected with SGEV, as well as discuss the pathogenesis of the disease in that outbreak. A total of 22/85 (25.88%) goats (20 adults and 2 kids) died between October 2011 and June 2012, showing neurological clinical signs. Over three years, the mortality rate in the herd reached 100%. Neuropathological lesions caused by SGEV were severe and widespread throughout the central nervous system but were more severe and numerous in the proximal cervical spinal cord, medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellar cortex. They consisted of neuron necrosis, neuronophagia, mononuclear inflammatory cell perivascular cuffs (lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages) and gliosis. The distribution of viral antigens was restricted to the cytoplasm of neurons in several brain areas but not associated with inflammatory foci nor inflammatory cells. SGEV should be considered a significant pathogen of goats that results in severe neurological clinical disease and high mortality.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was partially funded by the Principality of Asturias (PCTI 2021–2023, GRUPIN: IDI-2021-000102) and European Regional Development Fund.
• Keywords: Outbreak, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, goat, Spanish goat encephalitis virus (SGEV).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dagleish, Dr Mark
• Authors: Balseiro, A., Pérez-Martínez, C., Dagleish, M. P., Royo, L. J., Polledo, L., and García Marín, J. F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Animals
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-2615
• ISSN (Online): 2076-2615
• Published Online: 24 December 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Animals 13(1): 72
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License