Bovine viral diarrhea virus eradication in Germany: A never-ending success story or just the last 46 PI animals?

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a globally significant pathogen of cattle, causing significant reproductive failure, immunosuppression, and economic losses. In Germany, a national bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) control program was initiated in 2011, aiming to eliminate the virus through systematic testing and early removal of persistently infected (PI) animals, supported by optional vaccination in the early stage of the program, biosecurity measures, and trade with certified unsuspicious cattle only. By 2024, the PI prevalence among newborn calves had declined from 0.

Application of a comprehensive approach to pathogen screening in a stowaway rat on an airplane.

In April 2017, a rat was observed on an airplane during a flight from Miami (USA) to Berlin (Germany). After landing in Berlin, significant efforts were made to trap the rat and disinfect the airplane. As rats are known reservoir hosts for a variety of zoonotic pathogens, this event necessitated the establishment of a standard workflow for the detection of rodent-borne pathogens.

Maternal immunity and African swine fever virus: understanding the limits of passive protection.

African swine fever (ASF) is an often-fatal disease impacting domestic and wild pigs world-wide. Understanding the role of maternal immunity in ASF pathogenesis is crucial for effective control. This study characterized kinetics and protective potential of maternal immunity against ASF virus (ASFV) in neonatal piglets.

Recombinant Myxoma Virus in European Brown Hares, 2023-2024.

Recombinant myxoma virus has emerged in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus), causing increased deaths associated with swollen eyelids, head edema, and dermatitis at face, legs, and perineum. Introduction may date back as far as September 2020. As of August 2024, the disease is spreading radially from the Germany-Netherlands border area.

Benefit risk considerations for African swine fever virus live attenuated vaccines.

In response to the recent publication on safety concerns related to “ASFV-G-∆I177L” by van den Born et al. (2025), we emphasize the need for a thorough, context-specific risk assessment before drawing conclusions about the general field use of the ASFV-G-∆I177L vaccine strain. While valid safety concerns were raised, historical precedents highlight that potential risks, including reversion or recombination, can be managed effectively within structured vaccination strategies.

Monitoring of Schmallenberg virus, bluetongue virus and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus in biting midges in Germany 2019-2023.

Background: Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was first detected in Germany in 2011 and today has an enzootic status in Central Europe. It is transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides, which have a high abundance in livestock farms. In addition to SBV, Culicoides are considered vectors of other viruses relevant to livestock such as bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV).

Experimental BTV-3 and BTV-8 infection of Culicoides sonorensis biting midges.

Background: Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the etiologic agent of a major infectious disease of livestock and is transmitted between its ruminant hosts by Culicoides biting midges. The first outbreak ever recorded in central Europe was caused by serotype BTV-8 and led to a major epidemic. In 2023, serotype BTV-3 emerged in the Netherlands and spread rapidly to neighbouring countries.

Annual (2024) taxonomic update of RNA-directed RNA polymerase-encoding negative-sense RNA viruses (realm : kingdom : phylum ).

In April 2024, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum was expanded by 1 new order, 1 new family, 6 new subfamilies, 34 new genera and 270 new species. One class, two orders and six species were renamed. Seven families and 12 genera were moved; ten species were renamed and moved; and nine species were abolished.

Live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine OTS-228 demonstrates efficacy, safety, and stability in preclinical model.

Live attenuated vaccines (LAV) have the potential to meet all the criteria for an efficacious vaccine. In addition to providing protection against the target disease, they offer the potential to prevent transmission, provide cross-protection by stimulating humoral and cellular immunity, and allow versatility in application routes. The SARS-CoV-2 LAV candidate, OTS-228, has demonstrated excellent safety and high efficacy in preclinical models, inducing transmission-blocking immunity and providing full protection, even against variants such as Omicron BA.

Schmallenberg virus non-structural proteins NSs and NSm are not essential for experimental infection of biting midges.

The teratogenic orthobunyavirus Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is transmitted between its mammalian hosts by biting midges. The genome of circulating SBV, i.e.

Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Five Vaccines Against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1, Clade 2.3.4.4b, in Fattening Geese.

The risk of the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in geese breeding and fattening flocks is heightened due to the necessity of free-range access to grazing grounds. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of five commercial vaccines against HPAIV subtype H5N1 (clade 2.3.

Retrospective analysis of clustered neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases in captive lions in the early 1970s.

Rustrela virus (RusV), a recently discovered pathogen for domestic and wildlife animals, was identified as the causative agent of meningoencephalomyelitis in domestic cats and various zoo animals including lions. To analyze a past outbreak of increased mortality in lions and to reveal its possible etiological relationship with an RusV infection, this retrospective study re-evaluates 20 cases of lions originating from a zoo in Western Germany using archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Animals with different neurologic signs were submitted for necropsy between December 1970 and April 1971.

Borna disease virus 2 maintains genomic polymorphisms by superinfection in persistently infected cells.

Mammalian orthobornaviruses, such as Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) and variegated squirrel bornavirus 1, are zoonotic pathogens that cause fatal encephalitis in humans. BoDV-2, another mammalian orthobornavirus with high genetic homology to BoDV-1, is believed to share the same geographical distribution as BoDV-1, indicating its potential risk to human health. However, due to the limited number of isolations, the virological characteristics of BoDV-2, such as pathogenicity and infectivity, remain largely unexplored.

Dominant HPAIV H5N1 genotypes of Germany 2021/2022 are linked to high virulence in Pekin ducklings.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of H5 clade 2.3.4.

Panzootic HPAIV H5 and risks to novel mammalian hosts.

The H5 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses represents a significant challenge to animal and human health. H5 clade 2.3.

Influenza H5Nx viruses are susceptible to MEK1/2 inhibition by zapnometinib.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses (HPAIV) pose a significant threat to both animal and human health. These viruses have the potential to cause severe respiratory and systemic infections in birds and several mammalian species. The recent global outbreak of the H5N1 clade 2.

Distinct mutations emerge in the genome of serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus during persistence in cattle.

Unlabelled: Like other RNA viruses, foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has a high mutation rate. After the acute phase of infection, about half of infected cattle develop a persistent FMDV infection that can last for weeks or months. During this persistent phase, the virus continues to replicate, resulting in the emergence of genomic heterogeneity.

Integrated analysis of protein sequence and structure redefines viral diversity and the taxonomy of the .

The are a family of non-segmented positive-sense enveloped RNA viruses containing significant pathogens including hepatitis C virus and yellow fever virus. Recent large-scale metagenomic surveys have identified many diverse RNA viruses related to classical orthoflaviviruses and pestiviruses but quite different genome lengths and configurations, and with a hugely expanded host range that spans multiple animal phyla, including molluscs, cnidarians and stramenopiles,, and plants. Grouping of RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRP) hallmark gene sequences of flavivirus and 'flavi-like' viruses into four divergent clades and multiple lineages within them was congruent with helicase gene phylogeny, PPHMM profile comparisons, and comparison of RdRP protein structure predicted by AlphFold2.

Replication Restriction of Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Viruses by Human Immune Factor, 2023-2024.

We show that human myxovirus resistance protein 1 (MxA) suppresses replication of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses isolated from mammals in vitro and in MxA-transgenic mice. However, H5N1 can evade MxA restriction through replacement of individual viral polymerase complex components from a human-adapted MxA-resistant strain in vitro.

mRNA vaccine-induced IgG mediates nasal SARS-CoV-2 clearance in mice.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines that have contributed to controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic induce specific serum antibodies, which correlate with protection. However, the neutralizing capacity of antibodies for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants is altered. Suboptimal antibody responses are observed in patients with humoral immunodeficiency diseases, ongoing B cell depletion therapy, and aging.