Coxsackie b virus transmission

She was a West African chimpanzee P. Following 36 hours with respiratory symptoms, lethargy, and decreased appetite, the chimpanzee died on October Figure 1. Postmortem tissue sections from chimpanzee with coxsackie virus B infection, Denmark. A Myocardial section showing artifacts of freezing and a diffuse lymphocytic infiltration. Postmortem examination revealed marked hepatic congestion and mild congestion of the small intestine. The heart was flaccid, and pale streaks were observed in the myocardium.

On histographic examination, the lungs showed mild mononuclear interstitial infiltration, and there was marked infiltration in the myocardium consisting mainly of CD3 positive T lymphocytes mixed with a few granulocytes. In addition, multifocal severe myonecrosis was observed; cardiac myocytes were completely engulfed by inflammatory cells Figure 1.

One-step real-time PCR was performed on RNA extracted from blood, myocardial tissue, and feces to assay for the presence of enterovirus sequences. All results were strongly positive; cycle threshold values of samples were unusually low, in comparison with general values observed for enterovirus-infected samples from humans 7 , 8. On the basis of histopathologic and microbiologic findings, we concluded that the chimpanzee died from generalized infection by an enterovirus, which caused an overwhelming inflammation of the heart muscle.

We further characterized the virus by using RNA extracted from the heart. Figure 2. Phylogenetic tree of coxsackie B viruses inferred by using neighbor-joining analysis. The tree was generated by using the Tamura-Nei distance model and 1, bootstrap replicates. Scale bar represents estimated A local database containing all virus sequences, except those for HIV, retrieved from the Viral Genomes database in GenBank downloaded June 7, ; www.

A consensus sequence constituting the reported CB3 virus was constructed from the mapped reads GenBank accession no. To assess the likelihood of the reported CB3 virus being of human origin, we performed phylogenetic analysis by using a neighbor-joining method. The phylogeny shows a topology in which the new CB3 virus is clustered within a clade containing human CB3 viruses.

Thus, it is most likely that the CB3 virus that infected the female chimpanzee was of human origin rather than a novel type. In addition, a similarity plot with the chimpanzee CB3 virus protein sequence and the CB3 reference strain protein sequence GenBank accession no.

AAA was generated data not shown. Such a change in the 2A protein could theoretically contribute to altered pathogenicity of the CB3 virus, although whether this is the case would require additional analyses.

A CB3 virus was detected at extremely high concentration in the heart muscle of a chimpanzee that died from myocarditis.

Given the close similarity of the near-complete viral genome sequence to that of human CB3 viruses, the source of the virus was likely a human. Infection of the chimpanzee colony most likely occurred through close contact with an animal keeper or other zoo employee.

Alternate explanations, such as transmission by contact between the chimpanzee colony and other zoo animals or zoo visitors, are unlikely because the chimpanzees had no contact with other animals, and they are separated from the public by a 4-m-high glass wall. Within the Enterovirus genus, some enteroviruses that infect humans also infect animals e.

CB5 virus was isolated from an infant chimpanzee with a fatal illness 12 , and mice can be infected by several coxsackie viruses. Moreover, swine vesicular disease virus, which infects swine, is serotypically identical and antigenically closely related to human coxsackie B5 virus 9 — This report shows that transmission of viruses from humans to chimpanzees is possible and can be fatal.

Whether enteroviruses are regularly transmitted between humans, chimpanzees, and other primates, and whether some primates serve as reservoirs for mutation of enteroviruses that can then infect other primates remains to be investigated.

Her research interests include infectious disease, high-throughput sequencing, and virus discovery. Table of Contents — Volume 18, Number 7—July Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:.

Sandra C. Highlight and copy the desired format. Coxsackievirus can produce a wide variety of symptoms. About half of all kids with an infection have no symptoms. Others suddenly get a high fever, headache, and muscle aches, and some also develop a sore throat, abdominal discomfort, or nausea. A child with a coxsackievirus infection may simply feel hot but have no other symptoms.

In most kids, the fever lasts about 3 days, then disappears. Occasionally, coxsackieviruses can cause more serious infections that may need to be treated in a hospital, including:. Mothers can pass an infection to their newborns during or just after birth.

Babies are more at risk for a serious infection, including myocarditis, hepatitis, and meningoencephalitis an inflammation of the brain and meninges. In newborns, symptoms can develop within 2 weeks after birth. Coxsackieviruses are very contagious. They can be passed from person to person on unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated by feces.

They also can be spread through droplets of fluid sprayed into the air when someone sneezes or coughs. Sensitive to UV mediated inactivation. Can be resistant to inactivation by common laboratory disinfectants such as alcohol and cresols. Can survive for months under favorable conditions of neutral pH, moisture, and low temperature; enhanced by presence of organic matter.

Personal protective equipment includes but is not limited to laboratory coats or gowns, disposable gloves, and safety glasses. Face shields may be recommended based on risk assessment.

BSL-2 practices, containment equipment, and facilities are recommended for all activities utilizing Coxsackie virus infectious culture fluids, environmental samples, clinical materials, and potentially infectious materials collected for any purpose. ABSL-2 practices, containment equipment, and facilities are recommended for studies of virulent viruses in animals. Person to person transmission can occur through fecal oral route and via infected feces and body fluids.

Can also occur through ocular and respiratory routes. Contact precautions should be used. Monitor for symptoms; confirm by serology, virus isolation, or PCR from lesions or nasopharyngeal and fecal specimens. There is no approved treatment for CVB.

Persons infected with Coxsackie need supportive therapy, such as bed rest and fluids. Open Menu. Symptoms The majority of Coxsackie infections are asymptomatic and self-limiting.