Encephalomyocarditis virus

Description and Significance

Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV)is a member of the genus Cardiovirus of the family Picornaviridae. It's said that the Picornavirusinfects many animal species, including pigs, rodents, cattle, elephants, raccoons, marsupials, and primate such as baboons, monkeys, chimpanzees, as well as humans. There are two types of Encephalomyocarditis Virus. One is Encephalomyocarditis Virus type A, which causes reproductive problems. The other one is Encephalolmyocarditis Virus type B, which causes heart failure in pigs. African elephants were the first species that were infected with the virus. The first outbreak ever seen was in South Africa in 1993. Between December 1993 and August 1994, a number of acute deaths occurred in free-ranging African Elephants in the Kruger National Park KNP.

Genome and Structure

The main host of Encephalomycarditis Virus (EMVC) are the rat and mouse. The virus is passed through fecal-oral transmission. This was discovers after a large population explosion in rodents was documented during a period of time in which a large amount of elephants were dying. Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV) attacks many animals, but pigs have been studied and are said to be the most susceptible species. This virus causes acute myocarditis and sudden death in preweaned pigs, whereas trans placental infections of sows cause fetal mummification, abortion, still birth, and neonatal death.

Cell Structure and Metabolism

When humans are infected with this virus, the symptoms they may be face with include fever, neck stiffness, lethergy, delirium, headches, and vomiting. In primated such as gibbons and owl monkeys, Encephalomyocarditis Virus can cause necrotizing and interstitial myocarditis. Transmission and pathogenesis occurs by :incubation from nine to ten days, oral, fecal and urine contamination of food, subclinical infections, replication in myocardial calls and kills them.

Some diagnoses may be antermortem due to rapid clinical course, gross lessions such as pale streaks in the myocardium, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, pulmonary edema, froth in tracheobrochial tree. Other diagnoses are Histopathology: myocardial degeneration and necrosis with lymphocytic infiltrates, virus particles may be visible on electron microscopy, definitive diagnosis: virus isolation, PCR, mouse inoculation, serological test for antibodies available

Ecology and Pathology

The only treatment I have read about it not actually a treatment, but prevention, the oil-adjuvant Encephalomyocarditis vaccine. This vaccine has been given to elephants, mice and pigs so far. Also, scientists are finding that controlling the rodent population is crucial to preventing the spread of this disease. Immune prophylaxis is considered to be another one of the effective strategies for controlling this virus in pigs and other animals who may possibly carry the virus. In humans it's very rare to get this virus; you're more likely to get it if you work like in laboratories or aseptic meningitis, polio like syndrome. However, in the end, further studies are needed.

References

Aravindan, V., Vickraman, P. 2007. A novel gel electrolyte with lithium difluoro(oxalato) borate salt and Sb2O3 nanoparticles for lithium ion batteries. Solid State Sciences 9(11): 1069-1073

Brewer, L.A., Lwamba, H.C.M., Murtaugh, M.P., Palamnberg, A.C., Brown, C., Njenga, M.K.2001. Porcine Encephalomyocarditis Virus Persists in Pig Myocardium and Infects Human Myocardial Cells. Journal of Virology 75(23):11621-11629

Gandolf, DVM A.R. 2003. Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV):Options for Vaccation of Elephants. Retrieved 2009, from American Association of Zoo Veterinarians website: [1]