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Teschovirus Encephalomyelitis

(Porcine Polioencephalomyelitis, Teschen Disease, Talfan Disease)

By

Franco Matias Ferreyra

, DVM, PhD, Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University

Reviewed/Revised Jul 2022
Topic Resources

Teschovirus encephalomyelitis (TE) is a sporadic disease of swine caused by neurotropic infection with Teschovirus A (TV A). The severity of clinical signs correlates with the severity and distribution of lesions within the spinal cord and brain. The disease was initially reported in 1929 in the district of Teschen, Czech Republic (Teschen disease), and it was later recognized in England (Talfan disease) and Denmark (benign enzootic paresis). Severe outbreaks are usually associated with highly pathogenic strains of Teschovirus A1, whereas less-severe outbreaks are frequently associated with other genotypes (ie, TV A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A11). Currently, commercial vaccines are unavailable for prevention of teschovirus encephalomyelitis, and treatment of affected animals is frequently palliative, consisting of supportive care. No outbreaks of CNS disease have been associated with Teschovirus B.

Etiology, Epidemiology, and Pathogenesis of Teschovirus Encephalomyelitis

Teschovirus A, genus Teschovirus, family Picornaviridae (previously porcine teschovirus), the etiologic agent of TE, is a single-stranded, linear, nonsegmented RNA virus. Teschovirus A includes 14 different known genotypes (TV A1–A14), although only a few have been associated with CNS disease. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) and domestic pigs (Sus Scrofa f domesticus) have been identified as the natural host for Teschovirus A. It is unknown whether other animals are susceptible to natural infection.

The most severe forms of TE are associated with highly pathogenic strains of Teschovirus A1 (TV A1). The virus is ubiquitous and has a worldwide distribution. Outbreaks of disease associated with neuropathogenic strains other than TV A1 have been widely reported.

Economic losses in affected herds can be extensive, and currently there are no effective treatments. TV A strains not previously described appear to be emerging, in addition to strains that have traditionally predominated. A majority of infections are asymptomatic; clinical signs of disease are thought to occur sporadically. The virus is consistently found in feces from all age categories.

The pathogenicity of all serotypes has not been fully assessed, and sero(geno)types can be further divided into different biotypes that can be either pathogenic or nonpathogenic. The different genotypes of Teschovirus A conceptually exist in nature as quasispecies, and events of interspecies recombination have been described. In the past, TV A has also been implicated as the putative cause of reproductive (abortions), respiratory, and gastroenteric (diarrhea) disease. In 1959, with the release of the FAO/WHO/OIE Animal Health Yearbook, TE was made internationally notifiable. In 2006, the OIE removed former List B of notifiable diseases, establishing a single list (OIE listed diseases) that excluded the reporting of TE as a notifiable disease. However, in many countries, outbreaks of TE must still be reported to regulatory authorities.

Direct and indirect contact with secretions (mostly feces) from infected animals has been reported as the most relevant route of transmission for TV A. After oral ingestion, the virus replicates in the tonsils and in different portions of the gastrointestinal tract. The large intestine and the ileum appear to be more prone to primary replication when compared with other segments of the gastrointestinal tract; however, differences across genotypes may exist. Some studies have documented a transient viremia after the initial replication in the gastrointestinal tract, while other research has suggested that the virus enters via neurons within the enteric nervous system and disseminates to the CNS by retrograde axonal transport. Both routes of dissemination have been documented.

Clinical Findings of Teschovirus Encephalomyelitis

Natural presentation of teschovirus encephalomyelitis in piglets
VIDEO

The incubation period of teschovirus encephalomyelitis is variable but typically is approximately 8–14 days postexposure. Initial clinical signs may include pyrexia, lethargy, anorexia, and, less commonly, diarrhea. Locomotor deficits (ataxia, hypermetria, paresis, and hemiparesis) are usually the first clinical signs noted by attending veterinarians. The severity and progression of clinical signs is highly dependent on the infectious dose, the neurovirulence of the strain involved (highly pathogenic versus low pathogenic), and the presence of homologous neutralizing antibodies in the affected animal. In mild cases, animals may recover days after the onset of disease. In severe cases, disease progression is followed by severe clinical signs (lateral recumbency, tremors, flaccid paralysis, nystagmus, and opisthotonus). In terminal stages, dehydration, hypothermia, and coma are commonly reported. Death follows shortly after.

Lesions

No specific gross lesions are observed within the CNS. Lesions in other organs are nonspecific and usually are related to prolonged prostration. Occasionally, soft intestinal and colonic contents may be noted in necropsy. Histologic lesions are characterized as mild to severe and include multifocal nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis, with degeneration and necrosis of neurons particularly affecting the grey substance in the ventral horns of the spinal cord; also lymphocytic infiltration of perivascular spaces, multifocal areas of gliosis, satellitosis and ganglioneuritis of spinal root, and spinal ganglion.

Diagnosis of Teschovirus Encephalomyelitis

  • Presumptive diagnosis by evaluation of histologic lesions post-mortem.

  • The absence of specific gross lesions at necropsy and a previous history of disease supports a presumptive diagnosis.

  • Diagnostic confirmation requires virus isolation via specific laboratory testing, ruling out similar viral illnesses

A presumptive diagnosis of teschovirus encephalomyelitis is mostly achieved by means of evaluation of histologic lesions in animals that die (or are euthanized). Submission of samples for laboratory analysis of multiple segments of spinal cord (lumbar, thoracic, cervical), brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebrum (fresh and fixed in formalin) is essential for accurate diagnosis. Recently, with the identification of other neurotropic viral infections in swine (eg, porcine astrovirus type 3, Sapelovirus A), the diagnosis of TE has become more challenging; it is difficult to differentiate clinical disease and histologic lesions from TE from those due to other viruses. Multiple diagnostic techniques (virus isolation, PCR assay, in situ hybridization, next-generation sequencing, immunofluorescence) can identify the agent or detect the specific immune response mounted against the virus (ELISA, agar gel immunodiffusion, complement fixation and virus neutralization) and are available to identify TV A. Definitive diagnosis requires viral isolation from CNS samples of affected animals obtained aseptically, with the ruling out of other neurotropic agents.

Teschovirus Encephalomyelitis

Differential diagnoses include neurotropic infections due to porcine astrovirus type 3, Sapelovirus A, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is a viral disease first reported in 1987 in the USA and now found throughout North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. There are two distinct... read more virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus 2 Porcine Circovirus Diseases Porcine circoviruses have been associated with multiple disease conditions in pigs, including postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome and reproductive disorders. Virus has been detected in... read more Porcine Circovirus Diseases (PCV2), suid herpesvirus 1 (pseudorabies Pseudorabies in Pigs Pseudorabies is an acute, often fatal, viral disease with a worldwide distribution. Swine are the primary host, but other species are also occasionally infected. Clinical signs include reproductive... read more ), classical swine fever virus Classical Swine Fever Classical swine fever is a highly infectious and often fatal viral disease of swine. Swine infected with classical swine fever virus usually develop fever, hemorrhages, lethargy, yellowish diarrhea... read more Classical Swine Fever , Japanese encephalitis virus, porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus Porcine Hemagglutinating Encephalomyelitis Porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis is a viral disease of piglets, characterized by a vomiting and wasting syndrome and/or encephalomyelitis. Although the virus is widespread, outbreaks... read more and rabies virus Rabies in Animals Rabies is an acute, progressive encephalomyelitis caused by lyssaviruses. This zoonosis occurs worldwide in mammals, with dogs, bats, and wild carnivores as the principal reservoirs. Typical... read more Rabies in Animals . Other differentials include, salt, selenium, and insecticide intoxication, aflatoxicosis, lead poisoning Lead Poisoning in Animals Lead poisoning in mammalian and avian species is characterized by neurologic disturbances, gastrointestinal upset, hematologic abnormalities, immunosuppression, infertility, and renal disease... read more Lead Poisoning in Animals , peracute cases of S suis meningoencephalitis, and edema disease (enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli Enteric Colibacillosis in Pigs Enteric colibacillosis is a common disease of nursing and weanling pigs caused by colonization of the small intestine by enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli (ETEC). Colonization... read more Enteric Colibacillosis in Pigs ).

Treatment and Control of Teschovirus Encephalomyelitis

  • Treatment of affected animals is palliative, including supportive care

  • Rapid diagnosis and appropriate biosecurity measures are key to controlling the disease

Complete eradication of Teschovirus A in commercial herds is virtually impossible. Control measures primarily focus on decreasing the likelihood of introduction of new, highly virulent strains. Disease control and spread have been successfully achieved via the implementation of nonspecific strategies, including stamping out of disease in affected areas, vaccination in response to the outbreak (ring vaccination), restriction of animal movements, and disinfection of premises. Currently, disease prevention in countries where highly pathogenic strains of TV A are not endemic is attained mostly by practicing strict general biosecurity measures. Additionally, a timely and appropriate diagnosis followed by the implementation of strict biosecurity measures may decrease the spread of disease in a specific population.

Key Points

  • The characteristic locomotor clinical signs (ataxia, paresis, paralysis) are frequently the first clinical signs noted by attending veterinarians.

  • The severity of clinical signs correlates with the severity and distribution of lesions within the spinal cord and brain.

  • Animal age is an important risk factor when considering the likelihood of severe clinical disease; mature animals appear less susceptible than younger animals (suckling and nursery pigs).

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