导读:据国外媒体报道,一支香港研究团队在猫身上发现了一种新的病毒,他们将其称为猫科麻疹病毒(FmoPV)。该病毒明显与一种导致人类的麻疹腮腺炎病毒,以及另一种导致犬类患犬瘟热的病毒具有密切关系。
据国外媒体报道,一支香港研究团队发现了一种新的病毒,他们将其称为猫科麻疹病毒(FmoPV)。该病毒明显与一种导致人类的麻疹腮腺炎病毒,以及另一种导致犬类患犬瘟热的病毒具有密切关系。该团队认为,这种新病毒是引起肾小管间质性肾炎的罪魁祸首,而猫如若患有这种疾病将会导致致命的肾脏疾病。到目前为止,这种疾病的根源仍不甚明了。他们在研究报告中称,这一新发现的病毒和众所周知的猫肾脏疾病之间似乎有着明确的联系。他们的论文已发表在PNAS。
肾小管间质性肾炎就是肾小管之间的物质发炎。而肾小管需要运输保证肾功能正常进行的液体,当疾病发生时,肾小管会将这些液体排出,甚至阻碍这些液体的流动。当情况足够严重,甚至会导致患病者死亡。虽然人类得这种病的机理很早之前就已经被探明,但是猫患病的原因仍是未解之谜。
因为科学家已经在人类和狗的身上发现类似的病毒,所以香港的研究人员推测,患病的猫身上应该携带有类似的病毒。为了找到答案,他们开始在香港和中国大陆测试流浪猫,试图寻找到与人和狗身上发现病毒的DNA相似的病毒。在测试的457只猫中,56只经测试所携带的猫科麻疹病毒呈阳性。接近28%的猫携带有该病毒的抗体,这一状况表明,这些猫曾经染上过该病毒。
该研究小组随后又对27只死亡的流浪猫进行解剖检查,发现其中12只携带的猫科麻疹病毒(FmoPV)呈阳性,而其中七只猫正是死于肾小管间质性肾炎,其余只有两只猫的肾脏有被损害的迹象。该研究小组认为,这些发现表明猫科麻疹病毒(FmoPV)和肾小管间质肾炎之间有着明确联系。如论文所述,“我们通过对国内猫体内发现的的副粘病毒,猫科麻疹病毒(FmoPV)进行隔离。实验测试了457只流浪猫的尿液,直肠拭片,血液样本,通过RT-PCR检测法对该病毒进行完整的基因组测序……电子显微镜显示,病毒呈现典型的‘人字形’螺旋列外观,FmoPV和肾小管间质肾炎之间有着明显关联。”
该小组随后指出,现在新的病毒还没有能够感染人类的能力,所以不存在任何健康风险。不幸的是,猫如若患病,仍然没有治愈的可能,然而研究小组下一计划就是马上开始研制疫苗。
Feline morbillivirus, a previously undescribed paramyxovirus associated with tubulointerstitial nephritis in domestic cats
Patrick C. Y. Wooa,b,c,d,1, Susanna K. P. Laua,b,c,d,1, Beatrice H. L. Wongb, Rachel Y. Y. Fanb, Annette Y. P. Wongb, Anna J. X. Zhangb, Ying Wub, Garnet K. Y. Choib, Kenneth S. M. Lib, Janet Huie, Ming Wangf, Bo-Jian Zhenga,b,c,d, K. H. Chanb, and Kwok-Yung Yuena,b,c,d,2
We describe the discovery and isolation of a paramyxovirus, feline morbillivirus (FmoPV), from domestic cat (Felis catus). FmoPV RNA was detected in 56 (12.3%) of 457 stray cats (53 urine, four rectal swabs, and one blood sample) by RT-PCR. Complete genome sequencing of three FmoPV strains showed genome sizes of 16,050 bases, the largest among morbilliviruses, because of unusually long 5′ trailer sequences of 400 nt. FmoPV possesses identical gene contents (3′-N-P/V/C-M-F-H-L-5′) and is phylogenetically clustered with other morbilliviruses. IgG against FmoPV N protein was positive in 49 sera (76.7%) of 56 RT-PCR–positive cats, but 78 (19.4%) of 401 RT-PCR–negative cats (P < 0.0001) by Western blot. FmoPV was isolated from CRFK feline kidney cells, causing cytopathic effects with cell rounding, detachment, lysis, and syncytia formation. FmoPV could also replicate in subsequent passages in primate Vero E6 cells. Infected cell lines exhibited finely granular and diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence on immunostaining for FmoPV N protein. Electron microscopy showed enveloped virus with typical “herringbone” appearance of helical N in paramyxoviruses. Histological examination of necropsy tissues in two FmoPV-positive cats revealed interstitial inflammatory infiltrate and tubular degeneration/necrosis in kidneys, with decreased cauxin expression in degenerated tubular epithelial cells, compatible with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). Immunohistochemical staining revealed FmoPV N protein-positive renal tubular cells and mononuclear cells in lymph nodes. A case-control study showed the presence of TIN in seven of 12 cats with FmoPV infection, but only two of 15 cats without FmoPV infection (P < 0.05), suggesting an association between FmoPV and TIN.
文献链接:https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/03/13/1119972109