Molecular detection of Leptospira spp. in small wild rodents from rural areas of São Paulo State, Brazil.

Background: Leptospirosis represents a One Health issue, affecting humans and animals. This study investigated pathogenic leptospires in small wild rodents in São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods: Kidney samples from 164 rodents underwent qPCR testing, targeting pathogenic Leptospira spp.

Exposure of free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) to the vaccinia virus.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of free-ranging animals/hunting dogs as sources of infection in the vaccinia virus (VACV) transmission chain. Serological, cell culture and molecular assays were conducted in 56 free-ranging animals and 22 hunting dogs. ELISA/neutralizing assays showed that two (2.

Real-time quantitative PCR-based detection of Coxiella burnetii in unpasteurized cow's milk sold for human consumption.

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic pathogen with a worldwide distribution that is responsible for Q fever in humans. It is a highly infectious bacterium that can be transmitted from cattle to humans through the consumption of unpasteurized milk. We report the molecular identification of C.

Author Correction: Septicemia due to Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies dysgalactiae in vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus).

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Septicemia due to Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies dysgalactiae in vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus).

Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae is a well-known pathogen for a wide range of animals and humans. Two subspecies are recognized: (i) equisimilis, associated to disease in horses and humans, and (ii) dysgalactiae mainly isolated from animal illness with only a few humans' cases. This study describes the isolation and characterization of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp.

Brucellosis Prevalence in Brazilian Slaughterhouses with Different Meat Inspection Systems.

In Brazil, meat inspection occurs in a decentralized manner and consists of three types: (i) federal inspection (SIF), (ii) state inspection (SISP), and (iii) municipal inspection (SIM). The objective of this work was to discuss the three current inspection systems through the apparent prevalence of bovine brucellosis, a zoonosis that has an eradication program implemented by the Brazilian government. Nine abattoirs from federal, state, and municipal inspection systems were assessed and 1,490 animals were sampled.

Vaccinia virus in Feces and Urine of Wild Rodents from São Paulo State, Brazil.

The origin of (VACV) outbreaks in Brazil remains unknown, but since the isolation of VACV in mice during a zoonotic outbreak affecting cattle and milkers, peridomestic rodents have been suggested to be a link between cows and wild animals. Considering that experimentally infected mice eliminate viral particles in their feces, we investigated the presence of VACV in the feces and urine of wild rodents that were captured in the forest areas surrounding milking farms in the central west region of São Paulo State. For the first time, this work reports the detection of VACV by PCR in the feces of naturally infected and and in the urine of which raises important questions about the spread of VACV by rodent feces and its potential to induce clinical infections in cows.

Vaccinia Virus in Blood Samples of Humans, Domestic and Wild Mammals in Brazil.

Outbreaks of Vaccinia virus (VACV) affecting cattle and humans have been reported in Brazil in the last 15 years, but the origin of outbreaks remains unknown. Although VACV DNA have been already detected in mice (), opossums () and dogs during VACV zoonotic outbreaks, no transmission to cattle or humans from any of these were reported during Brazilian outbreaks. In this work, we assessed the PCR positivity to VACV in blood samples of cows and other domestic mammals, wild rodents and other wild mammals, and humans from areas with or without VACV infection reports.

Dogs and Opossums Positive for Vaccinia Virus during Outbreak Affecting Cattle and Humans, São Paulo State, Brazil.

During a vaccinia virus (VACV) outbreak in São Paulo State, Brazil, blood samples were collected from cows, humans, other domestic animals, and wild mammals. Samples from 3 dogs and 3 opossums were positive for VACV by PCR. Results of gene sequencing yielded major questions regarding other mammalian species acting as reservoirs of VACV.

Profile of Cytokines and Chemokines Triggered by Wild-Type Strains of Rabies Virus in Mice.

Rabies is a lethal infectious disease that causes 55,000 human deaths per year and is transmitted by various mammalian species, such as dogs and bats. The host immune response is essential for avoiding viral progression and promoting viral clearance. Cytokines and chemokines are crucial in the development of an immediate antiviral response; the rabies virus (RABV) attempts to evade this immune response.

Fluorescent antibody test, quantitative polymerase chain reaction pattern and clinical aspects of rabies virus strains isolated from main reservoirs in Brazil.

Rabies virus (RABV) isolated from different mammals seems to have unique characteristics that influence the outcome of infection. RABV circulates in nature and is maintained by reservoirs that are responsible for the persistence of the disease for almost 4000 years. Considering the different pattern of pathogenicity of RABV strains in naturally and experimentally infected animals, the aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of RABV variants isolated from the main Brazilian reservoirs, being related to a dog (variant 2), Desmodus rotundus (variant 3), crab eating fox, marmoset, and Myotis spp.

Evaluation of short-interfering RNAs treatment in experimental rabies due to wild-type virus.

We have evaluated the efficacy of short-interfering RNAs targeting the nucleoprotein gene and also the brain immune response in treated and non-treated infected mice. Mice were inoculated with wild-type virus, classified as dog (hv2) or vampire bat (hv3) variants and both groups were treated or left as controls. No difference was observed in the lethality rate between treated and non-treated groups, although clinical evaluation of hv2 infected mice showed differences in the severity of clinical disease (p=0.

Evaluation of three formulations of culture media for isolation of Brucella spp. regarding their ability to inhibit the growth of contaminating organisms.

Three culture media (Brucella agar, Farrell medium, and CITA) were compared for their effectiveness in inhibiting contamination and for isolating Brucella spp. One hundred lymph nodes from pigs (n = 50) and wild boars (n = 50) with lymphadenitis were collected in slaughterhouses in the State of São Paulo and were assessed on these three selective media for Brucella spp. All of the samples were negative for Brucella spp.

Serological study of vaccinia virus reservoirs in areas with and without official reports of outbreaks in cattle and humans in São Paulo, Brazil.

Vaccinia virus (VACV), the etiological agent of an exanthematic disease, has been associated with several bovine outbreaks in Brazil since the end of the global vaccination campaign against smallpox. It was previously believed that the vaccine virus used for the WHO global campaign had adapted to an unknown wild reservoir and was sporadically re-emerging in outbreaks in cattle and milkers. At present, it is known that Brazilian VACV is phylogenetically different from the vaccinia virus vaccinal strain, but its origin remains unknown.

Rabies virus distribution in tissues and molecular characterization of strains from naturally infected non-hematophagous bats.

Bats are main reservoirs for Lyssavirus worldwide, which is an important public health issue because it constitutes one of the big challenges in rabies control. Yet, little is known about how the virus is maintained among bats, and the epidemiological relationships remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of the rabies virus (RABV) in bat tissues and organs and to genetically characterize virus isolates from naturally infected non-hematophagous bats.