Pseudorabies Virus As a Zoonosis: Scientific and Public Health Implications

Overview

Journal Virus Genes

Specialties Microbiology
Molecular Biology

Date 2024 Dec 18

PMID 39692808

Authors

Yumei Chen

Jie Gao

Rongqian Hua

Gaiping Zhang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a herpes virus, also known as Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), which can cause a highly infectious disease pseudorabies (PR) in a variety of mammals. In the past, it has been debated whether PRV can infect humans, but more and more cases of PRV infection have been reported since 2017. The illness has claimed many victims and left survivors with serious sequelae. This indicates that humans may ignore the zoonotic ability of PRV. This review aims to summarize the pathology and pathogenesis of PRV and speculate on how it infects humans. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the progression of PRV, including its virology characteristics, genomic organization, and genetic evolution. It also synthesises the existing literature on PRV infection in humans, and analyses the factors contributing to PRV zoonosis. Finally, the pathogenesis of PRV-infected pigs and other mammals was summarized, and the pathogenesis of PRV-infected humans was speculated.

Citing Articles

Long noncoding RNA SNHG4 promotes glioma progression via regulating miR-367-3p/MYO1B axis in zebrafish xenografts.

Zhang Y, Wang Y, Yang Y, Sun C Hum Cell. 2025; 38(2):53.

PMID: 39951205 PMC: 11828807. DOI: 10.1007/s13577-025-01183-1.

References

Zhang L, Ren W, Chi J, Lu C, Li X, Li C . Epidemiology of Porcine Pseudorabies from 2010 to 2018 in Tianjin, China. Viral Immunol. 2021; 34(10):714-721. DOI: 10.1089/vim.2021.0069. View

Pomeranz L, Reynolds A, Hengartner C . Molecular biology of pseudorabies virus: impact on neurovirology and veterinary medicine. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2005; 69(3):462-500. PMC: 1197806. DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.69.3.462-500.2005. View

Konjevic D, Sucec I, Turk N, Barbic L, Prpic J, Krapinec K . Epidemiology of Aujeszky disease in wild boars (Sus scrofa L.) in Croatia. Vet Res Commun. 2022; 47(2):631-639. DOI: 10.1007/s11259-022-10017-6. View

Fonseca Jr A, Camargos M, de Oliveira A, Ciacci-Zanella J, Patricio M, Braga A . Molecular epidemiology of Brazilian pseudorabies viral isolates. Vet Microbiol. 2009; 141(3-4):238-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.09.018. View

Ji C, Feng J, Li S, Yang H, Wang H, Geng X . Factors Associated with Dog Rabies Immunization in Changsha, China: Results of a Cross-Sectional Cluster Survey, 2015-2021. Viruses. 2023; 15(1). PMC: 9863250. DOI: 10.3390/v15010138. View

Ou J, Cai S, Zheng F, Lu G, Zhang G . Human pseudorabies virus infection: A new threat in China. J Infect. 2020; 80(5):578-606. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.12.018. View

Sun Y, Luo Y, Wang C, Yuan J, Li N, Song K . Control of swine pseudorabies in China: Opportunities and limitations. Vet Microbiol. 2016; 183:119-24. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.12.008. View

Laval K, Enquist L . The Neuropathic Itch Caused by Pseudorabies Virus. Pathogens. 2020; 9(4). PMC: 7238046. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9040254. View

Ai J, Weng S, Cheng Q, Cui P, Li Y, Wu H . Human Endophthalmitis Caused By Pseudorabies Virus Infection, China, 2017. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018; 24(6):1087-1090. PMC: 6004832. DOI: 10.3201/eid2406.171612. View

10.

Zhao W, Wu Y, Li H, Li S, Fan S, Wu H . [Clinical experience and next-generation sequencing analysis of encephalitis caused by pseudorabies virus]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2018; 98(15):1152-1157. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0376-2491.2018.15.006. View

11.

Mock R, CRANDELL R, Mesfin G . Induced latency in pseudorabies vaccinated pigs. Can J Comp Med. 1981; 45(1):56-9. PMC: 1320121. View

12.

Hanson R . The history of pseudorabies in the United States. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1954; 124(925):259-61. View

13.

Shope R . AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF "MAD ITCH" WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS RELATIONSHIP TO PSEUDORABIES. J Exp Med. 2009; 54(2):233-48. PMC: 2131951. DOI: 10.1084/jem.54.2.233. View

14.

Shope R . PSEUDORABIES AS A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE IN SWINE. Science. 1934; 80(2065):102-3. DOI: 10.1126/science.80.2065.102. View

15.

Mettenleiter T . Pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease) virus: state of the art. August 1993. Acta Vet Hung. 1994; 42(2-3):153-77. View

16.

Sabin A, Wright A . ACUTE ASCENDING MYELITIS FOLLOWING A MONKEY BITE, WITH THE ISOLATION OF A VIRUS CAPABLE OF REPRODUCING THE DISEASE. J Exp Med. 2009; 59(2):115-36. PMC: 2132353. DOI: 10.1084/jem.59.2.115. View

17.

Hahn E, Page G, Hahn P, Gillis K, Romero C, Annelli J . Mechanisms of transmission of Aujeszky's disease virus originating from feral swine in the USA. Vet Microbiol. 1997; 55(1-4):123-30. DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(96)01309-0. View

18.

Romero C, Meade P, Shultz J, Chung H, Gibbs E, Hahn E . Venereal transmission of pseudorabies viruses indigenous to feral swine. J Wildl Dis. 2001; 37(2):289-96. DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-37.2.289. View

19.

Yu X, Zhou Z, Hu D, Zhang Q, Han T, Li X . Pathogenic pseudorabies virus, China, 2012. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014; 20(1):102-4. PMC: 3884716. DOI: 10.3201/eid2001.130531. View

20.

Cheng T, Buckley A, Van Geelen A, Lager K, Henao-Diaz A, Poonsuk K . Detection of pseudorabies virus antibody in swine oral fluid using a serum whole-virus indirect ELISA. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2020; 32(4):535-541. PMC: 7438652. DOI: 10.1177/1040638720924386. View