A novel enterovirus in lambs with poliomyelitis and brain stem encephalitis

An Austrian organic dairy sheep farm experienced cases of recumbency and sudden deaths in 3- to 4-week-old lambs. Two animals were subjected to thorough clinical and pathological investigations. Pathohistological analysis identified severe nonsuppurative myelitis and mild nonsuppurative encephalitis. A reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay for the recently discovered ovine picornavirus causing comparable lesions scored negative. By next-generation sequencing-based metagenomics, a nearly complete genome of a novel enterovirus could be detected and assembled. In situ hybridization using a specifically designed probe revealed robust signals in affected motoneurons of the spinal cord suggesting a causative role of the novel virus.

Automated summary

An Austrian organic dairy sheep farm experienced cases of recumbency and sudden deaths in 3- to 4-week-old lambs. Pathological analysis identified a new enterovirus causing severe myelitis in affected motoneurons of the spinal cord, indicating a causative role of the novel virus. The reverse-transcription quantitative PCR assay for the recently discovered ovine picornavirus showed negative results, leading to the detection of the new enterovirus through next-generation sequencing-based metagenomics.