Schmallenberg virus: research on viral circulation in Brazil.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV-Orthobunyavirus serogroup Simbu) is an emerging RNA vector-borne virus which has an important impact in animal health within Europe, and some Asian and African countries. It is mainly reported in ruminants, causing congenital malformations and stillbirths. However, there are no studies regarding the occurrence, diagnosis, or surveillance of SBV in Brazil, due to the lack of diagnostic techniques available so far.

Near-Complete Genome Sequence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus from Colombia.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important pathogen of domestic and wild felids. Although serological tests suggest the presence of FIV in cats from Colombia, no molecular characterization has been reported. Here, we describe the near-complete genome of FIV subtype A from a Colombian domestic cat.

Gonadal pathogenicity of an infectious bronchitis virus strain from the Massachusetts genotype.

An outbreak of infectious bronchitis caused by the IBVPR03 strain of the Massachusetts genotype affected H-120 vaccinated laying hens in South Brazil. We investigated the cross protection of the vaccine by assessing the traqueal ciliostasis, virus recovery, and histopathological changes typically observed in the respiratory tract. Although the IBVPR03 strain is S1-genotyped as Massachusetts with a high genomic similarity to the H-120 vaccine strains, surprisingly, we found no tropism or pathogenicity to the trachea in birds infected with this strain.

Comparison among three different serological methods for the detection of equine influenza virus infection.

The equine influenza virus (EIV) H3N8 subtype is responsible for all EIV outbreaks worldwide while the H7N7 subtype is less pathogenic and is considered extinct as it has not been confirmed in outbreaks since 1980. Although EIV is enzootic in Brazil, few reports describe the actual EIV antibody status in the country. The aims of this study were: - to evaluate the efficiency of different serum treatments described by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to remove non-specific haemagglutination inhibitors for the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay for EIV - to evaluate the presence of EIV antibodies by HI, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and agar gel immunodiffusion in 83 non-vaccinated equines from São Paulo State - to evaluate a strategy to better analyse equine sera for EIV antibodies.

Evolution of equine influenza viruses (H3N8) during a Brazilian outbreak, 2015.

Equine influenza is one of the major respiratory infectious diseases in horses. An equine influenza virus outbreak was identified in vaccinated and unvaccinated horses in a veterinary school hospital in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, in September 2015. The twelve equine influenza viruses isolated belonged to Florida Clade 1.

Feline Coronavirus 3c Protein: A Candidate for a Virulence Marker?

Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) is highly virulent and responsible for the highly fatal disease feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), whereas feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) is widespread among the feline population and typically causes asymptomatic infections. Some candidates for genetic markers capable of differentiating these two pathotypes of a unique virus (feline coronavirus) have been proposed by several studies. In the present survey, in order to search for markers that can differentiate FECV and FIPV, several clones of the 3a-c, E, and M genes were sequenced from samples obtained from cats with or without FIP.

Preliminary evidence of age-dependent clinical signs associated with porcine circovirus 2b in experimentally infected CH3/Rockefeller mice.

Mice and rats are susceptible to porcine circovirus 2b (PCV2) infection under field and experimental conditions. However, whether PCV2 induces disease in rodents remains a matter of debate. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether PCV2-induced disease in mice is age-dependent and whether intranasally inoculated animals are able to infect animals they come into contact with.

Molecular characterization of Brazilian equid herpesvirus type 1 strains based on neuropathogenicity markers.

Partial nucleotide sequences of ORF72 (glycoprotein D, gD), ORF64 (infected cell protein 4, ICP4) and ORF30 (DNA polymerase) genes were compared with corresponding sequences of EHV-1 reference strains to characterize the molecular variability of Brazilian strains. Virus isolation assays were applied to 74 samples including visceral tissue, total blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and nasal swabs of specimens from a total of 64 animals. Only one CSF sample (Iso07/05 strain) was positive by virus isolation in cell culture.

Genetic characterisation of Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) strains from feral pigs in the Brazilian Pantanal: An opportunity to reconstruct the history of PCV2 evolution.

Since its discovery, Porcine circovirus type 2 has emerged as one of the most relevant swine infectious diseases, causing relevant economic losses for the pig industry. While four genotypes were identified, only three (PCV2a, PCV2b and PCV2d) are currently circulating and display a worldwide distribution. Another genotype, PCV2c, has been described only once in Danish archive samples collected between 1980 and 1990.

Presence of respiratory viruses in equines in Brazil.

Equines are susceptible to respiratory viruses such as influenza and parainfluenza. Respiratory diseases have adversely impacted economies all over the world. This study was intended to determine the presence of influenza and parainfluenza viruses in unvaccinated horses from some regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

An Avian coronavirus in quail with respiratory and reproductive signs.

An Avian coronavirus was detected in pools of lungs, tracheas, female reproductive tracts, kidneys, and enteric contents from quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and laying hen flocks, with and without infectious bronchitis (IB)-like signs, cohoused in farms located in two states of southeastern Brazil during 2009-2010. Although Avian metapneumovirus subtype B was found in two layers samples, Newcastle disease virus was not found in quail or in hens. Based on DNA sequences for the 3'-untranslated region and the gene encoding the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, this avian coronaviruses in quail is an IB virus-like gammacoronavirus.

Swine infectious agents in Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu tissue samples from Brazil.

Peccaries and pigs, Tayassuidae and Suidae respectively, diverged approximately one million years ago from a common ancestor. Because these families share some pathogens, peccaries can act as reservoirs of infectious pathogens for domestic and wild swine. We evaluated the presence of swine infectious agents in the spleen and lung tissues of white-lipped peccaries (WLP; Tayassu pecari) and collared peccaries (CP; Pecari tajacu) in Brazil.

A multigene approach for comparing genealogy of Betacoronavirus from cattle and horses.

Gastroenteritis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among young and newborn animals and is often caused by multiple intestinal infections, with rotavirus and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) being the main viral causes in cattle. Given that BCoV is better studied than equine coronaviruses and given the possibility of interspecies transmission of these viruses, this research was designed to compare the partial sequences of the spike glycoprotein (S), hemagglutinin-esterase protein (HE), and nucleoprotein (N) genes from coronaviruses from adult cattle with winter dysentery, calves with neonatal diarrhea, and horses. To achieve this, eleven fecal samples from dairy cows with winter dysentery, three from calves, and two from horses, all from Brazil, were analysed.

A new set of primers directed to 18S rRNA gene for molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. and their performance in the detection and differentiation of oocysts shed by synanthropic rodents.

Cryptosporidium spp. are cosmopolitan protozoa that infect fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. More than 20 species are recognized within this genus.

Bovine papillomavirus in Brazil: detection of coinfection of unusual types by a PCR-RFLP method.

Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) is recognized as a causal agent of benign and malignant tumors in cattle. Thirteen types of BPV are currently characterized and classified into three distinct genera, associated with different pathological outcomes. The described BPV types as well as other putative ones have been demonstrated by molecular biology methods, mainly by the employment of degenerated PCR primers.

Simultaneous detection of group a rotavirus in Swine and rat on a pig farm in Brazil.

This study investigated the occurrence of rotavirus in porcine and Rattus norvegicus, at the same time, on a pig farm in the city of Jaguariúna, São Paulo, Brazil. Swine (n = 21) and rat (n = 6) fecal samples were analyzed by nested RT-PCR assay. Rotavirus occurred in seven porcine and two rat samples.

First detection and molecular diversity of Brazilian bovine torovirus (BToV) strains from young and adult cattle.

Bovine torovirus (BToV) is an established enteric pathogen of cattle, but its occurrence in Brazilian cattle had not been reported until now. This article describes a survey on BToV in Brazil carried out on 80 fecal samples from diarrheic young and adult cattle, using a nested-RT-PCR targeting the nucleocapsid (N) gene. BToV was detected in 6.

Intrahost diversity of feline coronavirus: a consensus between the circulating virulent/avirulent strains and the internal mutation hypotheses?

To evaluate the most controversial issue concerning current feline coronavirus (FCoV) virology, the coexisting hypotheses of the intrahost and interhost origins of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) in regard to the pathogenesis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), this study aimed to assess the molecular diversity of the membrane gene FCoVs in 190 samples from 10 cats with signs of FIP and in 5 faecal samples from cats without signs of FIP. All samples from the non-FIP cats and 25.26% of the samples from the FIP cats were positive for the FCoV membrane (M) gene.

Extensively variable surface antigens of Sarcocystis spp. infecting Brazilian marsupials in the genus Didelphis occur in myriad allelic combinations, suggesting sexual recombination has aided their diversification.

Sarcocystis neurona and Sarcocystis falcatula are very similar species of Apicomplexan protozoa that use marsupials of the genus Didelphis as definitive hosts. These mammals can serve as definitive hosts not only for these two parasites, but for other Sarcocystis such as Sarcocystis speeri and Sarcocystis lindsayi. Sarcocystis shed by opossums (with the exception of S.

Preliminary study of Porcine circovirus type 2 and Torque teno sus virus coinfection frequencies in Brazilian pig herds.

Torque teno sus virus (TTSuV) is emergent in swine herds. Recent studies have shown an increased frequency of TTSuV2 in Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-associated diseases (PCVAD), which are endemic in many swine-producing countries, including Brazil. Coinfection with several other viral and bacterial agents results in an increased incidence of more severe PCVAD.

Detection of Genetic characterization of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) in Brazilian wildlife boars.

A semi-intensive wildlife boars farm presented a clinical history of high mortality in 70 - 90 days-old pigs (> 50 %). Two 90 days-old animals with weight loss and wasting were necropsied and the samples tested for PCV2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The genetic material of PCV2 was sequenced and classified into the PCV2a genotype together with PCV2 sequences obtained from samples of Poland, Brazil, Slovenia and Greece wild boars.

Rickettsial infection in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected on birds in southern Brazil.

The aim of the study was to evaluate rickettsial infection in ticks from wild birds of the Semidecidual and Atlantic Rainforest remnants of three municipalities of the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. Overall, 53 larvae and nymphs collected from birds were checked for the presence of Rickettsia DNA by molecular tests. Five tick species were tested: Amblyomma aureolatum (Pallas), Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, Amblyomma longirostre (Koch), Amblyomma ovale Koch, and Amblyomma parkeri Fonseca and Aragão.

Detection of porcine circovirus genotypes 2a and 2b in aborted foetuses from infected swine herds in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been associated with several disease complexes, including reproductive failure. The aim of this study was to identify the subtypes of PCV2 that are associated with reproductive failure in pigs from the State of São Paulo, Brazil and to investigate co-infections with other infectious organisms.

Findings: Samples of 168 aborted foetuses or mummified foetuses from five farrow-to-finish swine farms known to be infected with PCV2 and located in the State of São Paulo were tested for PCV2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

First detection of the equine herpesvirus 1 neuropathogenic variant in Brazil.

This report describes the first detection of an equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) neuropathogenic variant (G2254/D752) in Brazil from a case of fatal equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in a mare. The results of nucleotide sequencing of the EHV-1 ORF30 gene showed that two other Brazilian EHV-1 isolates from EHM cases are representatives of the non-neuropathogenic variant (A2254/N752), suggesting that other unidentified factors are probably also involved in the neuropathogenicity of EHV-1 in horses. These findings will contribute to the epidemiological knowledge of EHV-1 infection in Brazil.

Bovine rotavirus in turkeys with enteritis.

Rotaviruses are the main agents responsible for diarrhea in different animal species and for infantile gastroenteritis. These viruses have been isolated from various avian species and have often been associated with poult enteritis and mortality syndrome. Nevertheless, the knowledge of rotavirus infection in turkeys is scarce.