Search

Canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine circovirus (CanineCV) have been described worldwide in multi-systemic disease in dogs. Both agents may be occasionally associated with other viral pathogens, but reports of coinfection by CDV and CanineCV associated with disease are rare. In this article, we report a coinfection between CDV and CanineCV detected during an investigation of viral agents involved in multisystemic disease in dogs in Southern Brazil. Molecular testing by PCR in lungs and intestines of 77 dogs necropsied in pathology services (2015–2020) revealed several single and mixed viral infections, including a CDV/CanineCV coinfection. In the case reported here, gross and histological findings were compatible with CDV pathology (bronchointerstitial pneumonia and viral intracytoplasmatic inclusions in pneumocytes and transitional epithelial cells of urinary bladder). CanineCV DNA and CDV antigens were detected in lung and intestine fragments by PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. CanineCV PCR amplicons subjected to nucleotide sequencing showed > 98.6% nucleotide identity with CanineCV sequences from GenBank. Although the role of CanineCV in the pathogenesis of the reported case could not be determined, our results show that CanineCV may be associated with other viral infections in cases of multisystemic disease in dogs. These results reinforce the circulation of CanineCV in dogs in Brazil and highlight the importance of including this virus in the list of differential diagnoses of respiratory and gastroenteric infectious diseases in dogs.

For approximately one decade, a novel papillomavirus termed Equus caballuspapillomavirus-2 (EcPV-2) has been associated with equine penile/preputial papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). It is currently believed that the virus has a carcinogenic activity, being able to induce such neoplastic lesions. After being first described, EcPV-2 has been detected in many countries from North America, Europe, and Asia; however, to date, it has not been reported in Brazil. The aim of this research was to investigate the presence of EcPV-2 in penile/preputial papillomas and SCCs of Brazilian horses. Forty samples diagnosed as equine penile and/or preputial papillomas, carcinomas in situ (CIS), or SCCs in two veterinary anatomic pathology services from southern Brazil were investigated. Histologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using a BPV-1 antibody were performed. Posteriorly, the samples were submitted to polymerase chain reaction using two broad-spectrum (MY09/11 and FAP) and one EcPV-2-specific primer sets. Positive samples were sequenced. PV antigen expression was detected in one papilloma, one CIS, and two SCCs by IHC. Five SCCs, one papilloma, and one CIS were PV-positive on PCR. Sequencing of the seven PCR products revealed homology with EcPV-2. This study confirms the occurrence of EcPV-2 infection in Brazilian horses. Moreover, the results presented here provide useful information concerning the phylogeny from the viruses detected in our samples. We hope to encourage further studies on this novel agent, contributing to its characterization, and, possibly, to the eventual development of preventive measurements, including a possible vaccine.

Ocular diseases are an important category in equine medicine; however, most articles regarding histologic ocular lesions in horses are exclusive to a specific condition and do not provide a complete review of clinically significant ocular disease frequency in a diagnostic laboratory. We reviewed sections of equine eyes from 140 cases (98 enucleations [biopsies] and 42 autopsies) with clinically relevant ocular alterations at 2 diagnostic centers in the United States. The most common primary conditions were non-traumatic keratitis (36), equine recurrent uveitis (ERU; 31), traumatic injuries (22), ocular and periocular neoplasms (19), and uveitis and/or endophthalmitis resulting from sepsis (18). Congenital anomalies (3) and retinal atrophy and detachment alone (3) were infrequent. Non-traumatic keratitis was frequently accompanied by anterior uveitis (22), corneal rupture (16), pre-iridal fibrovascular membrane formation (13), and secondary mycotic infection (11). ERU was the second and third most prevalent disease in autopsies and enucleations, respectively. This condition was commonly associated with glaucoma (15). Glaucoma (25) and cataract (20) were the most prevalent secondary alterations in the evaluated cases. Keratitis (20) and corneal rupture (16) were among the most prevalent consequences of trauma. Information presented herein may guide clinicians and pathologists, contributing to the early diagnosis of potentially vision-impairing conditions and raising the chances of successful treatment and cure.

Pseudocowpox virusis a parapoxvirus frequently associated with papulovesicular and scabby lesions on the teats and udders of milking cows and is often transmitted to human beings. An unusual outbreak of skin disease in fattening calves in southern Brazil is described. Fourteen of 17 male cattle (82%), aged 6–48 months, feeding on grass pastures were affected. Animals developed papules, vesicles, and scabby proliferative lesions on the muzzle in a clinical course of approximately 10–15 days. The scabby lesions often presented with exudation and bleeding. Histological examination of mucocutaneous tissue in detached scabs revealed acanthosis with thickening of the corneal layer and premature keratinization (parakeratotic hyperkeratosis). The dermis had multifocal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates. Electron microscopic examination of scab specimens revealed typical parapoxvirus particles: oval shaped (260 nm × 160 nm), enveloped, and covered with a helical layer. Polymerase chain reaction using a set of pan-parapoxvirus primers for the B2L gene amplified a 590-bp product out of DNA extracted from scabs. Nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons revealed a nucleotide homology of 97% with Pseudocowpox virusand lower homology with other parapoxviruses: Bovine papular stomatitis virus(84%) and Orf virus(94%). A phylogenetic tree based on the B2L sequence was constructed, showing that the virus clustered with Pseudocowpox virusisolates.