ArticlePLoS pathogens2024
Mosquito-independent milk-associated transmission of zoonotic Wesselsbron virus in sheep.
Article in PLoS pathogens, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Wesselsbron Virus-Induced Hepatitis in Ewes and Lambs Unraveled Through Machine Learning-Driven Digital Histopathology.Transboundary and emerging diseases · 2026Article
- Zoonotic Orthoflaviviruses Related to Birds: A Literature Review.Microorganisms · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Wesselsbron virus (WSLV) is a zoonotic, mosquito-borne orthoflavivirus endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, causing abortions and stillbirths in small ruminants. The life cycle of WSLV involves Aedes mosquitoes and various wildlife and domestic animals. Seminal studies in the 1950s have shown the zoonotic potential of WSLV, notably in accidental infections of laboratory workers exposed to infected material. More recent epidemiological studies suggest the emergence of clade I WSLV strains in peri-domestic and rural areas of western and eastern Africa. The pathobiology of recent clade I WSLV strains is unknown and no virus isolate is available. To address these gaps, we generated a recombinant clade I WSLV SA999 infectious clone (rSA999) by reverse genetics. Subsequently, lactating ewes were inoculated intravenously with the WSLV rSA999 strain or the clade II SAH177 strain in insect-free biocontainment stables. Inoculated ewes developed fever, viremia, and showed high levels of viral RNA at mucosal surfaces, and elevated viral titers in milk. Milk production was reduced, which directly affected the growth of the lambs, particularly within the rSA999 group. The ewes with higher WSLV titers in their milk in each group transmitted the infection to their lambs, which developed fever, prolonged viremia, and virus secretion. All infected animals produced high antibody titers with cross-neutralizing activity against both WSLV strains. Histopathology and blood biochemistry analysis indicated liver damage associated with necrotizing hepatitis lesions and active viral replication in some cases, which was more pronounced in the rSA999 group. Notably, only the SAH177-infected animals exhibited lesions consistent with meningoencephalitis, suggesting that WSLV clade II strains are neurotropic and that clade I strain are more hepatotropic. These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized mode of vector-free transmission of WSLV that raises significant concerns for public and animal health.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.