Isolation and characterization of an astrovirus causing fatal visceral gout in domestic goslings

Zhang, Qingshui; Cao, Yanxin; Wang, Jun; Fu, Guanghua; Sun, Mengxu; Zhang, Lijiao; Meng, Li; Cui, Guolin; Huang, Yu; Hu, Xueying; Su, Jingliang

Histologic examination revealed the presence of a proteinaceous substance in the renal tubules, indicating that AAstV SD01 infection caused increased permeability of the kidney epithelia barrier. Degeneration and necrosis of tubular epithelial cells found in the deceased goslings provided further evidence of kidney function damage. These results could explain the development of visceral urate deposition in infected goslings. Increased epithelium permeability due to AstV infection has been reported in both human and avian species 24, 25 . Extra-intestinal infection with nephritis has been reported in birds infected with chicken astrovirus and avian nephritis virus 16, 26 . Viral RNA was found in all of the tissues sampled from the infected goslings killed on 5 dpi, indicating that the goose AstV has a wide tissue tropism and spread systemically after inoculation. Virus shedding was detected by RT-PCR and persisted in the infected goslings for about 12 days, further indicating that the virus replicated efficiently in vivo.