Encephalomyocarditis virus

Description and Significance

Encephalomyocarditis Virus(EMCV) is a member of the genus Cardiovirus of the family Picornaviridae. It's said that the Pacornavirusinfects many animal species, including pigs, rodents, cattle, elephants, raccons, marsupials, and primates such as baboons, monkeys, chimpanzees, as well as humans. There are two type of Encephalomyocarditis Virus. One is Encephalomyocarditis Virus type A, which causes reproductive problems. The other one is Encephalomyocarditis 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 Africa elephants in the Kruger National Park KNP. 4

Cell Structure and metabolism

Once humans are infected with this virus, the symptoms they may be faced with include fever, neck stiffness, lethargy, delirium, headaches, and vomiting. In primates such as gibbons and owl monkeys, Encephalomyocarditis Virus can cause necrotizing and interstitial myocarditis.[6] Transmission and pathogenesis occurs by ; incubation from nine to ten days, oral, fecal and urine contamination of food, sub clinical infections, replication in myocardial and kills them.

Some diagnoses may be antermorten due to rapid clinical course, gross lesions such as pale streak in the myocardium, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, pulmonary edema, froth in tracheobronchial 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-Texas A&m. 5

References

1 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

2Brewer, 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

3[1] Gandolf, DVM A.R. 2003. Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV):Options for Vaccation of Elephants. Retrieved 2009, from American Association of Zoo Veterinarians website:

4Hunter, P., Swanepoel, S.P., Esterhuysen,J.J., Raath,J.p., Bengis,R.G.,and Van Der Lugt,J.J.1998. The efficacy of an experimental oil-adjuvanted encephalomyocarditis vaccine in elephants, mice and pigs. Vaccine 16(1):55-61

5[2]Mikota, DVM Susan. Encephalomycarditis (EMC, EMCV). Retrieved 2009, from Elephant Care International Website:

6[3] Encephalomyocarditis (EMCV). Retrieved 2009, from Zoologix, Inc. Website:

7[4]Encephalomyocarditis virus type A, causes reproductive problems, type B causes heart failure in pigs. Retrieved 2009, from European Bioinformatics Institute website