The Infection Properties of Trionyx sinensis Hemorrhagic Syndrome Virus and the Antiviral Effect of Curcumin In Vivo

Jinbiao Jiao; Jiayun Yao; Feng Lin; Xuemei Yuan; Lei Huang; Jing Chen; Xianqi Peng; Haiqi Zhang; Shengqi Su

doi:10.3390/ani13233665

The Infection Properties of Trionyx sinensis Hemorrhagic Syndrome Virus and the Antiviral Effect of Curcumin In Vivo

Animals (Basel). 2023 Nov 27;13(23):3665. doi: 10.3390/ani13233665.

Authors

Jinbiao Jiao^{1

2}, Jiayun Yao², Feng Lin², Xuemei Yuan², Lei Huang², Jing Chen², Xianqi Peng², Haiqi Zhang², Shengqi Su¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Research Center of Fishery Resources and Environment, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
² Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Fishery Environment and Aquatic Product Quality and Safety of Huzhou City, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313001, China.

Abstract

Trionyx sinensis hemorrhagic syndrome virus (TSHSV) is an aquatic arterivirus causing a high mortality rate for T. sinensis (Chinese soft-shelled turtle), but the detailed infection properties of TSHSV are unclear, and no effective treatment is available. In this study, cell culture and histopathology were performed to elucidate the infection properties of TSHSV. Furthermore, the anti-TSHSV and immune-enhancing effects of curcumin were evaluated using survival statistics, qPCR, and tissue immunofluorescence. The results demonstrated that TSHSV could proliferate in the spleen cell line of T. sinensis, leading to cytopathic effects. TSHSV damaged the livers, kidneys, and lungs, characterized by cell disintegration and hyperemia. Curcumin at 250 mg/kg improved the survival of T. sinensis, and significantly reduced the viral load in the spleens, kidneys, and lungs. Moreover, curcumin inhibited the mRNA expression of immune-related genes, RSAD2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these results imply that TSHSV is pathogenic to the spleen cell line, liver, spleen, kidney, and lung of T. sinensis. Curcumin effectively inhibits TSHSV and modulates the immune function of T. sinensis, so it holds promise as a means to prevent TSHSV.

Keywords: TSHSV; Trionyx sinensis; antiviral; curcumin; immune regulation.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Key Scientific and Technological Grant of Zhejiang for Breeding New Agricultural Varieties (No.: 2021C02069-8), the Major Agricultural Technology Collaboration and Extension Project of Zhejiang Province (No.: 2022XTTGSC05-1), the Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Province (No.: 2021SNLF026), and the Exploratory Disruptive Innovation Project of Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries (Nos.: 2022TSX01 and 2021TSX02).