What is it about?
We studied the distribution of Rift Valley fever virus in the tissues and cells of 99 sheep that died from naturally acquired disease during an outbreak in South Africa. Our findings show that the minimum set of specimens to be submitted from autopsied sheep to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of Rift Valley fever virus are liver, spleen and kidney. Skin from areas with visible crusts and lung could be useful additional samples.
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Why is it important?
The virus primarily causes necrotizing hepatitis in sheep in addition to necrosis in the spleen and acute kidney injury. However, kidney injury was the most significant lesion in a few cases, with lesions and viral antigen detected in kidney but not in the liver. This suggests that an atypical renal form of Rift Valley fever might occur in sheep. A renal form of the diseases has been described in humans. This was also the first report of acute infection of Rift Valley fever virus in the testis.
Perspectives
We hope this article will be useful for those researchers developing new vaccines against Rift Valley fever virus infection. Our findings may make it easier to contextualize lesions and viral antigen detected in vaccine candidate trials.
Dr Lieza Odendaal
University of Pretoria
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Lesions and Cellular Tropism of Natural Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection in Adult Sheep, Veterinary Pathology, October 2018, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0300985818806049.
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