Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2
Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is a common transmissible ocular disease in semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>). In large outbreaks, IKC may affect tens of animals in a herd, with the most severe cases often requiring euthanasia due to the...
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/9/1007 |
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| author | Javier Sánchez Romano Karen K. Sørensen Anett K. Larsen Torill Mørk Morten Tryland |
| author_facet | Javier Sánchez Romano Karen K. Sørensen Anett K. Larsen Torill Mørk Morten Tryland |
| author_sort | Javier Sánchez Romano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is a common transmissible ocular disease in semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>). In large outbreaks, IKC may affect tens of animals in a herd, with the most severe cases often requiring euthanasia due to the destruction of the affected eyes and permanent blindness. An experimental inoculation with cervid herpesvirus 2 (CvHV2), alone or in combination with <i>Moraxella bovoculi</i>, demonstrated that CvHV2 has the ability to cause clinical signs of IKC in previously unexposed reindeer. Tissues collected from upper and lower eyelids, lacrimal gland and cornea, were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Histopathological analysis of the eyes inoculated with CvHV2 showed widespread and severe pathological findings. Mucosal tissues from these eyes showed fibrinous and purulent exudates, hyperemia, hemorrhages, necrosis, vascular thrombosis, vascular necrosis, infiltration of mononuclear cells and neutrophils, and lymphoid follicle reaction, which matches the described histopathology of IKC in reindeer. Characteristic alpha-herpesvirus particles matching the size and morphology of CvHV2 were identified by transmission electron microscopy in the conjunctival tissue. The quantification of viral particles by qPCR revealed high copy numbers of viral DNA in all CvHV2 inoculated eyes, but also in the non-inoculated eyes of the same animals. The histopathology of eye tissues obtained from the CvHV2 inoculated reindeer and the lack of inflammation from bacterial infection, together with the detection of CvHV2 DNA in swabs from the inoculated and non-inoculated eyes of the same animals, verified that CvHV2 was the primary cause of the observed histopathological changes. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-36bbbcddc2ea4f14b44acb4052bfe3442023-11-20T13:07:57ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152020-09-01129100710.3390/v12091007Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2Javier Sánchez Romano0Karen K. Sørensen1Anett K. Larsen2Torill Mørk3Morten Tryland4Arctic Infection Biology Research Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, NorwayVascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, NorwayVascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, NorwaySection for Research in Food Safety and Animal Health, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9010 Tromsø, NorwayArctic Infection Biology Research Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, NorwayInfectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is a common transmissible ocular disease in semi-domesticated Eurasian tundra reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>). In large outbreaks, IKC may affect tens of animals in a herd, with the most severe cases often requiring euthanasia due to the destruction of the affected eyes and permanent blindness. An experimental inoculation with cervid herpesvirus 2 (CvHV2), alone or in combination with <i>Moraxella bovoculi</i>, demonstrated that CvHV2 has the ability to cause clinical signs of IKC in previously unexposed reindeer. Tissues collected from upper and lower eyelids, lacrimal gland and cornea, were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Histopathological analysis of the eyes inoculated with CvHV2 showed widespread and severe pathological findings. Mucosal tissues from these eyes showed fibrinous and purulent exudates, hyperemia, hemorrhages, necrosis, vascular thrombosis, vascular necrosis, infiltration of mononuclear cells and neutrophils, and lymphoid follicle reaction, which matches the described histopathology of IKC in reindeer. Characteristic alpha-herpesvirus particles matching the size and morphology of CvHV2 were identified by transmission electron microscopy in the conjunctival tissue. The quantification of viral particles by qPCR revealed high copy numbers of viral DNA in all CvHV2 inoculated eyes, but also in the non-inoculated eyes of the same animals. The histopathology of eye tissues obtained from the CvHV2 inoculated reindeer and the lack of inflammation from bacterial infection, together with the detection of CvHV2 DNA in swabs from the inoculated and non-inoculated eyes of the same animals, verified that CvHV2 was the primary cause of the observed histopathological changes.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/9/1007alpha-herpesvirusCvHV2histologyinfectious keratoconjunctivitisophthalmologypathology |
| spellingShingle | Javier Sánchez Romano Karen K. Sørensen Anett K. Larsen Torill Mørk Morten Tryland Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2 Viruses alpha-herpesvirus CvHV2 histology infectious keratoconjunctivitis ophthalmology pathology |
| title | Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2 |
| title_full | Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2 |
| title_fullStr | Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2 |
| title_short | Ocular Histopathological Findings in Semi-Domesticated Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) with Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis after Experimental Inoculation with Cervid Herpesvirus 2 |
| title_sort | ocular histopathological findings in semi domesticated eurasian tundra reindeer i rangifer tarandus tarandus i with infectious keratoconjunctivitis after experimental inoculation with cervid herpesvirus 2 |
| topic | alpha-herpesvirus CvHV2 histology infectious keratoconjunctivitis ophthalmology pathology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/9/1007 |
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