Piewbang Chutchai, Yi Le, Zahro Aisyah Nikmatuz, Poonsin Panida, Panyathi Panitnan, Kasantikul Tanit, Kosoltanapiwat Nathamon, He Biao, Techangamsuwan Somporn
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Animal Virome and Diagnostic Development Research Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 22;15(1):9917. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-93477-5.
Interspecies transmission of viruses poses significant risks to animal and human health. Tembusu virus (TMUV), an emerging flavivirus, is primarily associated with avian diseases. This study reports the first documented natural infection of TMUV in mammals, specifically zoo dolphins in Thailand, offering insights into its evolution, transmission dynamics, and zoonotic potential. In July 2023, three bottlenose dolphins developed neurological symptoms and died. Postmortem analyses, including histopathology, immunohistochemistry, high-throughput sequencing, and transmission electron microscopy, confirmed TMUV infection. Viral loads were high in brain and lung tissues, followed by kidney and spleen whereas the TMUV antigen was identified in only brain tissue. TMUV was localized in neurons and astroglia cells, and immunohistochemistry revealed CD3-positive T lymphocyte perivascular cuffing in the brain. Phylogenetic analysis placed the dolphin TMUV strains within cluster 3, related to strains found in mosquitoes in China. Retrospective analysis of dolphin samples from 2019 confirmed persistent TMUV circulation. Viral isolation on Vero cells showed characteristic cytopathic effects, and transmission electron microscopy revealed enveloped virions. This study highlights the virus's ability to infect diverse hosts, including mammals. The findings underscore the need for continuous surveillance and a One Health approach to mitigate emerging viral threats.
病毒的跨物种传播对动物和人类健康构成重大风险。坦布苏病毒（TMUV）是一种新兴的黄病毒，主要与禽类疾病有关。本研究报告了TMUV在哺乳动物（具体为泰国动物园的海豚）中的首次自然感染记录，为其进化、传播动态和人畜共患病潜力提供了见解。2023年7月，三头宽吻海豚出现神经症状并死亡。死后分析，包括组织病理学、免疫组织化学、高通量测序和透射电子显微镜检查，证实了TMUV感染。脑和肺组织中的病毒载量很高，其次是肾脏和脾脏，而TMUV抗原仅在脑组织中被鉴定出来。TMUV定位于神经元和星形胶质细胞，免疫组织化学显示脑中存在CD3阳性T淋巴细胞血管周围套袖现象。系统发育分析将海豚TMUV毒株置于第3簇内，与在中国蚊子中发现的毒株相关。对2019年海豚样本的回顾性分析证实了TMUV的持续传播。在Vero细胞上进行病毒分离显示出特征性的细胞病变效应，透射电子显微镜检查显示有包膜病毒粒子。本研究强调了该病毒感染包括哺乳动物在内的多种宿主的能力。这些发现强调了持续监测和采取“同一健康”方法以减轻新出现的病毒威胁的必要性。
