Clinical and Serological Evaluation of LINDA Virus Infections in Post-Weaning Piglets
Alexandra Kiesler,
Kerstin Seitz,
Lukas Schwarz,
Katharina Buczolich,
Helga Petznek,
Elena Sassu,
Sophie Dürlinger,
Sandra Högler,
Andrea Klang,
Christiane Riedel,
Hann-Wei Chen,
Marlene Mötz,
Peter Kirkland,
Herbert Weissenböck,
Andrea Ladinig,
Till Rümenapf,
Benjamin Lamp
Affiliations
Alexandra Kiesler
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Kerstin Seitz
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Lukas Schwarz
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University Clinic for Swine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Katharina Buczolich
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Helga Petznek
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Elena Sassu
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University Clinic for Swine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Sophie Dürlinger
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University Clinic for Swine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Sandra Högler
Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Andrea Klang
Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Christiane Riedel
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Hann-Wei Chen
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Marlene Mötz
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Peter Kirkland
Virology Laboratory, Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute, Woodbridge Rd, Menangle, New South Wales 2568, Australia
Herbert Weissenböck
Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Andrea Ladinig
Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University Clinic for Swine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Till Rümenapf
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Benjamin Lamp
Institute of Virology, Department for Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
The novel pestivirus species known as lateral-shaking inducing neuro-degenerative agent (LINDA) virus emerged in 2015 in a piglet-producing farm in Austria. Affected piglets showed strong congenital tremor as a result of severe lesions in the central nervous system. Here, we report the results of a controlled animal infection experiment. Post-weaning piglets were infected with LINDA to determine the susceptibility of pigs, the clinical consequences of infection and the humoral immune response against LINDA. No clinically overt disease signs were observed in the piglets. Viremia was hardly detectable, but LINDA was present in the spleen and several lymphatic organs until the end of the experiment on day 28 post-infection. Oronasal virus shedding together with the infection of one sentinel animal provided additional evidence for the successful replication and spread of LINDA in the piglets. Starting on day 14 post-infection, all infected animals showed a strong humoral immune response with high titers of neutralizing antibodies against LINDA. No cross-neutralizing activity of these sera with other pestiviral species was observed. According to these data, following postnatal infection, LINDA is a rather benign virus that can be controlled by the pig’s immune system. However, further studies are needed to investigate the effects of LINDA on the fetus after intrauterine infection.
