Risk of equine infectious anemia virus disease transmission through in vitro embryo production using somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Abstract: Prevention and regulation of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) disease transmission solely depend on identification, isolation, and elimination of infected animals because of lack of an effective vaccine. Embryo production via the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology uses oocytes collected mainly from untested animals, which creates a potential risk of EIAV transmission through infected embryos. The current review examines the risk of EIAV disease transmission through SCNT embryo production and transfer. Equine infectious anemia virus is a lentivirus from the family Retroviridae. Because of a lack of direct reports on this subject, relevant information gathered from close relatives of EIAV, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs), is summarized and used to predict the biological plausibility of EIAV disease transmission through transfers of the equine SCNT embryos. Based on published information regarding interaction of oocytes with lentiviruses and the sufficiency of oocyte and embryo washing procedures to prevent lentivirus transmission from in vitro-produced embryos of various species, we predicted the risk of EIAV transmission through SCNT embryo production and transfer to be very small or absent.
Publication Date: 2009-05-30 PubMed ID: 19482352DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.03.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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The study explores the risk of transmitting equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) through embryo production using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The researchers found that despite utilizing oocytes collected from largely untested sources, the risk of EIAV transmission via this procedure is minimal or non-existent due to effective washing procedures of oocytes and embryos.
Understanding Equine Infectious Anemia Virus and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
- EIAV is a type of lentivirus from the Retroviridae family. Similar lentiviruses include HIV, BIV, FIV, and SRLVs.
- The control of EIAV transmission relies on identifying and eliminating infected horses as there’s no effective vaccine currently available.
- Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is a technology used for producing embryos. It involves the transfer of a nucleus from a somatic cell to an egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed. This egg then develops into an embryo.
- Most of the oocytes (or egg cells) used in SCNT are sourced from animals that have not been tested for EIAV, which might increase the risk of virus transmission.
Assessing the Risk of EIAV Transmission Via SCNT
- In the study, researchers review how lentiviruses interact with oocytes and examine the efficacy of washing these cells to prevent virus transmission.
- Due to the limited direct information regarding EIAV and SCNT, the researchers use data from studies on similar lentiviruses such as HIV, BIV, FIV, and SRLVs.
- Through this cross-referencing, they assess the likelihood of EIAV being transmitted through the process of SCNT.
Conclusion: Low Risk for EIAV Transmission
- Despite the inherent risk of using oocytes from untested animals, the researchers concluded that the risk of EIAV transmission through SCNT embryo production and its subsequent transfer to be negligible or non-existent.
- This conclusion is based on the robust washing procedures of oocytes and embryos that effectively prevent lentivirus transmission.
- The researchers openly acknowledge the need for direct research into EIAV and SCNT interaction for a more definitive assessment of the risk involved.
Cite This Article
APA
Gregg K, Polejaeva I.
(2009).
Risk of equine infectious anemia virus disease transmission through in vitro embryo production using somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Theriogenology, 72(3), 289-299.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.03.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Viagen, Inc., 12357-A Riata Trace Parkway, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78727, USA. Keqin.gregg@viagen.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cats
- Cattle
- Cloning, Organism / adverse effects
- Cloning, Organism / methods
- Embryo Transfer / veterinary
- Embryo, Mammalian / virology
- Equine Infectious Anemia / transmission
- Horses
- Humans
- Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine / physiology
- Nuclear Transfer Techniques / adverse effects
- Nuclear Transfer Techniques / veterinary
- Risk Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Hisey EA, Ross PJ, Meyers S. Genetic Manipulation of the Equine Oocyte and Embryo. J Equine Vet Sci 2021 Apr;99:103394.
- He K, Qu H, Xu LN, Gao J, Cheng FY, Xiang P, Zhou CQ. Epigenetics changes caused by the fusion of human embryonic stem cell and ovarian cancer cells. Biosci Rep 2016 Oct;36(5).
- Asseged BD, Habtemariam T, Tameru B, Nganwa D. The risk of introduction of equine infectious anemia virus into USA via cloned horse embryos imported from Canada. Theriogenology 2012 Jan 15;77(2):445-58.
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