Viral Zoonoses and Food of Animal Origin: A Re-Evaluation of Possible Hazards for Human Health (Archives of Virology. Supplementa, 13)

Since the central theme of this book is the transmission of disease agents through the food chain, we will examine influenza viruses from this perspective. Influenza A viruses are found in humans, pigs, horses, sea mammals, and also in wild aquatic and domestic birds [23]. How are they spread? Between mammals, influenza is an airborne infection, but between birds, influenza can be either an airborne or waterborne infection. Influenza viruses of aquatic birds periodically transmit to domestic birds sometimes with catastrophic effects; this transmis­ sion can be either airborne or waterborne. Less frequently, avian influenza viruses transmit to mammals and three to four times in the past century this transmission has initiated a pandemic of influenza in humans. The method of spread of avian influenza viruses to mammals remains unresolved, but could be either airborne or waterborne. In this report we will consider recent examples of interspecies transmission of influenza A viruses and the possible prevention of emergence of the next human pandemic which is considered imminent. The reservoirs of influenza A viruses The available evidence indicates that aquatic birds are the reservoirs of all 15 subtypes of influenza A viruses. We will first consider the replication of influenza A in aquatic birds. In wild ducks, influenza viruses replicate preferentially in the cells lining the intestinal tract, cause no disease signs, and 8 7 are excreted in high concentrations in the feces (up to 10 . Front Matter....Pages I-VIII Cowpox: a re-evaluation of the risks of human cowpox based on new epidemiological information....Pages 1-12 Characterization of a cowpox-like orthopox virus which had caused a lethal infection in man....Pages 13-24 Molecular genetic analyses of parapoxviruses pathogenic for humans....Pages 25-34 Recent advances in molluscum contagiosum virus research....Pages 35-47 Molecular anatomy of lymphocystis disease virus....Pages 49-56 Detection of virus or virus specific nucleic acid in foodstuff or bioproducts — hazards and risk assessment....Pages 57-66 Rapid molecular detection of microbial pathogens: breakthroughs and challenges....Pages 67-82 Where do we stand with oral vaccination of foxes against rabies in Europe?....Pages 83-94 Foot-and-mouth disease as zoonosis....Pages 95-97 Molecular epidemiology of influenza....Pages 99-103 Influenza virus: transmission between species and relevance to emergence of the next human pandemic....Pages 105-113 Functional chimeric HN glycoproteins derived from Newcastle disease virus and human parainfluenza virus-3....Pages 115-130 Viral factors determining rotavirus pathogenicity....Pages 131-139 Viral zoonoses and food of animal origin: caliciviruses and human disease....Pages 141-152 The role of human caliciviruses in epidemic gastroenteritis....Pages 153-165 Clinical similarities and close genetic relationship of human and animal Borna disease virus....Pages 167-182 Molecular characterization of Borna disease virus from naturally infected animals and possible links to human disorders....Pages 183-190 Haemorrhagic fevers and ecological perturbations....Pages 191-199 Transmission, species specificity, and pathogenicity of Aujeszky’s disease virus....Pages 201-206 The role of veterinary public health in the prevention of zoonoses....Pages 207-218 Viral infections transmitted by food of animal origin: the present situation in the European Union....Pages 219-228 Viral zoonosis from the viewpoint of their epidemiological surveillance: tick-borne encephalitis as a model....Pages 229-243 Strategies to avoid virus transmissions by biopharmaceutic products....Pages 245-256 The investigations of virus infections naturally transmitted from animals to men are a challenge to multidisciplinary science. Some of these zoonoses are very common, others are sporadic but show a life-threatening clinical course. The contributions presented by world-wide leading experts are going to update the present scientific, administrative and legislative knowledge in the field of food-borne virus infections in men. Major topics include classic zoonoses, pox, irido, influenza, enteric and newly emerging virus diseases and their role for Public Health including strategies to avoid virus transmission by biopharmaceutical products. The contributions are aimed at public and veterinary public health authorities, diagnostic and scientific institutes as well as food producing and pharmaceutical companies