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Mimivirus fibrils are intriguing structures that have drawn attention since their discovery. Although still under investigation, the function of fibrils may be related to host cell adhesion.

Background and Aim: Molecular approaches to diagnose respiratory viruses have provided an opportunity for early and subclinical pathogen detection, particularly in samples from the upper respiratory tract. This study aimed to investigate the presence of herpesviruses, particularly equid herpesvirus (EHV)-2 and EHV-5, in samples from the lower respiratory tract of healthy racehorses from Southern Brazil. Materials and Methods: Samples from the lower respiratory tract (i.e., bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BALF]) were assessed by video endoscopy, cytological evaluation of BALF, and tracheal aspirates (TA), along with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), to detect equine herpesvirus infection in the lower respiratory tract samples and compare corresponding cytological and endoscopic findings. Results: At least one abnormality per horse during endoscopy examination was observed, including, but not limited to, mucous secretion in the airways and pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia. The presence of EHV-2 and/or EHV-5 was detected by qPCR in 3/10 animals. One horse was positive for EHV-2 alone, one for EHV-5 alone, and one for both. Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of EHV-2 and EHV-5 in Brazilian thoroughbred horses. These findings may provide new insights into the epidemiology of EHV-2 and EHV-5 in Brazilian horses, evidencing the importance of the molecular investigation, early detection, and prevention of respiratory diseases. State Jockey Club, Paran Published version The authors are thankful to State Jockey Club, Paran?, Brazil, or providing the necessary facilities for the study. The authors did not receive any funds for this study.

Studies related to the prevalence of leptospirosis in the semiarid region showed that even during long periods of drought, the disease has a remarkable frequency in herds in the region. It is a neglected disease and the extent of its effects in the Brazilian semiarid region is not known. The dynamics of this agent is well studied in the urinary tract, however, there are not many studies regarding the genital tract in female goats. Observing this scenario, the present work aimed to diagnose Leptospira spp. in female goats kept in the Brazilian semiarid region by means of serological, molecular and isolation techniques. Blood samples, vaginal fluid, urine and fragments of organs from the genitourinary tract were collected from 40 goats destined for slaughter. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used as a serological technique, with a battery of 24 serovars. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the vaginal fluid, urine and organ fragments was performed, as well as the bacterial growth of these same products in a selective medium. Isolation positive samples were subjected to PCR. It was observed that two (5%) animals were serologically positive for the Pyrogenes serogroup. A total of 29 (72.5%) animals were PCR positive, with DNA present in 51/160 (31.8%) samples from the genital tract and 34/120 (28.3%) from the urinary tract, with no statistical difference. For bacterial growth, 22/40 (55%) animals were positive for growth, with morphology being observed in 19/160 (11.8%) for the genital tract and 16/120 (13.3%) for the urinary tract, with no statistical difference. Two uterus samples showed 99% similarity with L. interrogans after sequencing. Thus, female goats kept under semiarid conditions were positive for Leptospira spp, with positive samples from both the urinary and genital tracts, which possible is an alternative way of adapting and maintaining the agent for severe and adverse conditions.

Leptospirosis is poorly studied in small ruminants raised in field semiarid conditions. In this study we compared serological, bacteriological and molecular diagnostic methods in ewes maintained in field Brazilian semiarid conditions. Blood, vaginal fluid and urine samples were collected from 60 Morada Nova ewes raised in a semi-intensive system in the Brazilian semiarid. Diagnostic tests performed were microscopic agglutination test (MAT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial isolation. Anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies were found in eight (13.33%) animals analyzed by MAT at reciprocal titer 25 (cut-off 25), while Leptospira sp. DNA was detected in urine or vaginal fluid of 56 animals (93.33%). There was growth of leptospires in 10 urine cultures and in 11 vaginal fluid cultures, however, two of urine (2/60-3.33%) and eight cultures of vaginal fluid (8/60-13.33%) were confirmed by PCR. Two samples of vaginal fluid (one of each animal) were submitted to sequencing demonstrating 99% similarity with L. santarosai and L. interrogans. The highest MAT sensitivities were obtained with reciprocal titer 25 (cut-off 25) compared to 50 and 100. The performance of different diagnostic techniques for leptospirosis in ewes raised in field semiarid conditions allowed a better evaluation of the herd, as well as made it possible to identify carrier animals. Genital route may be important for efficient transmission and without dependence on environmental factors in ewes from semiarid, as well as it's highlighted that titer 1:25 in serology was more efficient, indicating its use in ewes in field semiarid conditions.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:24:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Haemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are small pleomorphic bacteria infecting erythrocytes of several mammalian species, including human beings. No study to date has focused on the risk of bacteria exposure in hunting activities, particularly in natural environments of highly tick-infested areas. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess haemoplasma occurrence in the complex encompassing wild boars, hunting dogs and hunters of Brazil. A total of 38/65 (58.5%) wild boars and 94/159 (59.1%) dogs were positive by qPCR for at least one haemoplasma. All 25 hunters were negative. Dogs with high hunting frequency were 2.4 more likely to be infected. Sequencing revealed a probable novel haemoplasma species in wild boars. Although exposure to haemoplasma species was present, the study herein found no evidence of cross-species transmission. Department of Comparative Pathobiology Purdue University Department of Cell and Molecular Biology Universidade Federal do Paraná Biotechnology Institute Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Department of Preventive Medicine Universidade de São Paulo Department of Medicine Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa Department of Veterinary Medicine Universidade Federal do Paraná Department of Parasitology Institute of Biological Sciences Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Biotechnology Institute Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Zika virus (ZIKV) was discovered in 1947 with the virus isolation from Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) in Uganda forest, Africa. Old World Primates are involved in a sylvatic cycle of maintenance of this arbovirus, however a limited knowledge about the role of New World primates in ZIKV transmission cycles has been established.This work aimed to investigate the presence of enzootic circulation of ZIKV in New World Primates from three Brazilian states: São Paulo, Paraíba, and Paraná.We analyzed 100 non-human primate samples collected in 2018 and 2020 from free-ranging and captive environments from São Paulo (six municipalities belonging to Sorocaba region), Paraíba (João Pessoa municipality), and Paraná (Foz do Iguaçu municipality) using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase reaction (RT-qPCR) assays, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT).All samples (n = 141) tested negative for the presence of ZIKV genome from tissue and blood samples. In addition, all sera (n = 58) from Foz do Iguaçu' non-human primates (NHPs) were negative in serological assays.No evidence of ZIKV circulation (molecular and serological) was found in neotropical primates. In addition, the absence of antibodies against ZIKV suggests the absence of previous viral exposure of NHPs from Foz do Iguaçu-PR.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:46:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-10-01 This study focused on the epidemiological characterization and spatial distribution of bat shelters concerning livestock animal rabies in Paraná State, southern Brazil. A spatiotemporal cluster analysis was performed based on rabies-positive cases and the Desmodus rotundus shelters. A total of 1742 suspect rabies cases submitted for diagnosis from 2011 to 2017 were analyzed; 481 (27.61%) were positive, and 1261 (72.39%) were negative by direct immunofluorescence and biological testing in mice. Out of the positive samples, 413/481 (85.8%) was bovine, 44/481 (9.1%) equine, 6/481 (1.2%) sheep, 5/481 (1.0%) bubaline, and 14/481 (2.9%) were bats. From 22 Regional Units of Agricultural Health, the northeast 129 (26.82%) and central 86 (17.88%) units had the highest recurrence rates of positive cases. Paraná State was continuously endemic for livestock rabies, with the highest caseload seen in the southern-central regions, which was associated with the highest number of vampire bat shelters and natural geographical characteristics favoring bat housing. There was a decrease in the number of rabies cases in livestock in 2013 and 2014. Spatiotemporal analyses of point process mapping and control of D. rotundus shelters and suspected livestock rabies cases in the study area were steady and statistically correlated. However, as bats may travel up to 35-40 km to prey on cattle clusters, bat shelter locations may not be the most sensitive measure of exposure. Furthermore, future studies should consider landscape features such as altitude as potential associated risk factors. Rabies vaccination of livestock and bat hematophagous shelters identification combined with bat control is recommended to increase the efficacy of preventive measures, particularly in natural geographic characteristics favoring local bat housing. Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology Federal University of Paraná Agency of Agricultural Defense of Paraná-ADAPAR Program Surveillance and Prevention of Transmissible Nervous Syndromes in Production Animals Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health University of São Paulo Institute of Biotechnology UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista Campus de Botucatu Department of Comparative Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine Purdue University Department of Veterinary Medicine Federal University of Paraná Department of Comparative Pathobiology Purdue University Institute of Biotechnology UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista Campus de Botucatu

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:35:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-10-01 Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Center for Information Technology Center for Scientific Review National Institutes of Health Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, National Institutes of Health Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) The emergence of several SARS-CoV-2 lineages presenting adaptive mutations is a matter of concern worldwide due to their potential ability to increase transmission and/or evade the immune response. While performing epidemiological and genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in samples from Porto Ferreira—São Paulo—Brazil, we identified sequences classified by pangolin as B.1.1.28 harboring Spike L452R mutation, in the RBD region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these sequences grouped into a monophyletic branch, with others from Brazil, mainly from the state of São Paulo. The sequences had a set of 15 clade defining amino acid mutations, of which six were in the Spike protein. A new lineage was proposed to Pango and it was accepted and designated P.4. In samples from the city of Porto Ferreira, P.4 lineage has been increasing in frequency since it was first detected in March 2021, corresponding to 34.7% of the samples sequenced in June, the second in prevalence after P.1. Also, it is circulating in 30 cities from the state of São Paulo, and it was also detected in one sample from the state of Sergipe and two from the state of Rio de Janeiro. Further studies are needed to understand whether P.4 should be considered a new threat. Laboratório de Estudos Genômicos Departamento de Biologia Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) São José do Rio Preto Instituto de Biotecnologia Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Laboratório de Bioinformática Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica (LNCC) Laboratório de Síntese e Estudos de Biomoléculas (LaSEBio) Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Laboratório de Química Medicinal Síntese Orgânica e Modelagem Molecular (LaQMedSOMM) Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Laboratório de Pesquisas em Virologia (LPV) Departamento de Doenças Dermatológicas Infecciosas e Parasitárias Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP) Laboratório de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva Aplicada Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA) Universidade de São Paulo (USP) Departamento de Análises Clínicas Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR) Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular Instituto de Ciências da Saúde Universidade Feevale Novo Hamburgo Laboratório de Estudos Genômicos Departamento de Biologia Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) São José do Rio Preto Instituto de Biotecnologia Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Laboratório de Síntese e Estudos de Biomoléculas (LaSEBio) Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Laboratório de Química Medicinal Síntese Orgânica e Modelagem Molecular (LaQMedSOMM) Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Departamento de Análises Clínicas Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR) Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos: 01.20.0029.000462/20 FAPESP: 20/04836-0 CNPq: 303170/2017-4 CNPq: 404096/2020-4 Center for Information Technology: CREATE-NEO 1 U01 AI151807-01 Center for Scientific Review: CREATE-NEO 1 U01 AI151807-01 National Institutes of Health: CREATE-NEO 1 U01 AI151807-01 Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health: CREATE-NEO 1 U01 AI151807-01 Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, National Institutes of Health: CREATE-NEO 1 U01 AI151807-01 FAPERJ: E-26/202.903/20

Background: The emergence of the Brazilian variant of concern, Gamma lineage (P.1), impacted the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 cases due to its higher transmissibility rate and immune evasion ability. Methods: We sequenced 305 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genomes and performed phylogenetic analyses to identify introduction events and the circulating lineages. Additionally, we use epidemiological data of COVID-19 cases, severe cases, and deaths to measure the impact of vaccination coverage and mortality risk. Results: Here we show that Gamma introduction in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, was followed by the displacement of seven circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and a rapid increase in prevalence two months after its first detection in January 2021. Moreover, Gamma variant is associated with increased mortality risk and severity of COVID-19 cases in younger age groups, which corresponds to the unvaccinated population at the time. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the beneficial effects of vaccination indicated by a pronounced reduction of severe cases and deaths in immunized individuals, reinforcing the need for rapid and massive vaccination.

The emergence of the new Brazilian variant of concern, P.1 lineage (Gamma), raised concern about its impact on the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 cases due to its higher transmissibility rate and immune evasion ability. Using 272 whole-genome sequences combined with epidemiological data, we showed that P.1 introduction in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, was followed by the displacement of eight circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and a rapid increase in prevalence two months after its first detection. Our findings support that the P.1 variant is associated with an increase in mortality risk and severity of COVID-19 cases in younger aged groups, which corresponds to the unvaccinated population at the time. Moreover, our data highlight the beneficial effects of vaccination indicated by a pronounced reduction of severe cases and deaths in immunized individuals, reinforcing the need for rapid and massive vaccination.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-05-01T08:15:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-08-01 Soil is the principal habitat and reservoir of fungi that act on ecological processes vital for life on Earth. Understanding soil fungal community structures and the patterns of species distribution is crucial, considering climatic change and the increasing anthropic impacts affecting nature. We evaluated the soil fungal diversity in southeastern Brazil, in a transitional region that harbors patches of distinct biomes and ecoregions. The samples originated from eight habitats, namely: Semi-deciduous forest, Brazilian savanna, pasture, coffee and sugarcane plantation, abandoned buildings, owls’ and armadillos’ burrows. Forty-four soil samples collected in two periods were evaluated by metagenomic approaches, focusing on the high-throughput DNA sequencing of the ITS2 rDNA region in the Illumina platform. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used for vegetation cover analysis. NDVI values showed a linear relationship with both diversity and richness, reinforcing the importance of a healthy vegetation for the establishment of a diverse and complex fungal community. The owls’ burrows presented a peculiar fungal composition, including high rates of Onygenales, commonly associated with keratinous animal wastes, and Trichosporonales, a group of basidiomycetous yeasts. Levels of organic matter and copper influenced all guild communities analyzed, supporting them as important drivers in shaping the fungal communities’ structures. Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ Center for Tropical Medicine Faculty of Medicine University of Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Distrito Federal Department of Biostatistics Plant Biology Parasitology and Zoology Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ Institute for Biotechnology São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ Laboratory of Molecular Biology Medical School São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ Department of Biostatistics Plant Biology Parasitology and Zoology Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ Institute for Biotechnology São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’ Laboratory of Molecular Biology Medical School São Paulo State University ‘Júlio de Mesquita Filho’

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:43:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-07-01 Universidade Federal do Paraná Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Isfahan University of Technology Purdue University Homeless persons have been considered as one of the most susceptible populations to sexually transmitted infections. In Brazil, these population experienced an increase of 140% from 2012 to 2020. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-Treponema pallidum, anti-HCV, anti-HIV antibodies, and the risk factors associated with homeless persons in a daytime attendance shelter of São Paulo city during the syphilis epidemic in Brazil. Blood samples of 116 volunteers and epidemiological data were conveniently collected in the shelter from June through August 2018. Detection of syphilis, HCV, and HIV antibodies was performed by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). CMIA-reagent samples for anti-T. pallidum antibodies were confirmed by Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) non-treponemal test. VDRL non-reagent samples were confirmed by treponemal rapid immunochromatographic test. A rapid immunoblot assay confirmed seropositivity to HIV. Overall, anti-T. pallidum antibodies were observed in 29/116 (25.0%), anti-HCV antibodies in 4/116 (3.4%), and anti-HIV antibodies in 2/116 (1.7%) individuals, both co-infected with anti-T. pallidum antibodies. Associated risk factors for syphilis in homeless persons were being born or previously living in another city (p = 0.043) and becoming homeless due to family conflicts (p = 0.035). Besides homeless vulnerability, worldwide shortage of benzathine penicillin supply and increasing of syphilis testing access through rapid testing in primary health care services may have also impacted disease spreading at the time. The prevalence of syphilis found herein is the highest worldwide to date in this population. Federal University of Paraná Department of Veterinary Medicine College of Veterinary Science Federal University of Paraná Clinics Hospital Clinical Analysis Laboratory Unit Federal University of Paraná Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology College of Cellular and Molecular Biology State University of Ponta Grossa Department of Nursing and Public Health São Paulo State University Institute of Biotechnology, Botucatu University of São Paulo Department of Medical Microbiology Purdue University Department of Comparative Pathobiology Federal University of Paraná Department of Veterinary Medicine Brazil São Paulo State University Institute of Biotechnology, Botucatu

Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic zoonosis that mainly affects poorest and most vulnerable populations, and domestic dogs are considered to be the main source of infection to the vector and therefore humans. However, several studies have investigated the role of other vertebrate hosts in the disease cycle. In this context, the aim of the present study was to conduct a survey of Leishmania infantum infection in donkeys and mules living in a semiarid region of Brazil. Whole blood sampled from 72 equids (65 donkeys and 7 mules) was used to perform molecular diagnosis using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. A total of 25% of the samples (18/72) were positive through qPCR, but there were no significant differences between the species (donkeys or mules), sex (male or female) and abandonment situation of the animals (yes or no). Donkeys and mules living under semiarid conditions have high frequency of L. infantum infection. It is therefore worth assigning importance to these species in the epidemiological cycle of visceral leishmaniasis, either as potential reservoirs or just as an abundant food source for vectors. Resumo A leishmaniose visceral é uma zoonose parasitária que afeta principalmente populações mais pobres e vulneráveis, e os cães domésticos são considerados as principais fontes de infecção para o vetor e, portanto, para os humanos. Porém diversos estudos têm pesquisado o papel de outros hospedeiros vertebrados no ciclo da doença. Neste contexto, objetivou-se realizar um levantamento da infecção por Leishmania infantum em asininos e muares, vivendo em região semiárida do Brasil. Foi utilizado sangue total de 72 equídeos (65 asininos e 7 muares) para a realização de diagnóstico molecular por meio da técnica de Reação em Cadeia de Polimerase em Tempo Real (qPCR). Um total de 25% das amostras (18/72) resultaram positivas na qPCR, porém não houve diferença significativa entre as espécies (asininos e muares), sexo (macho e fêmea) e situação de abandono dos animais (sim ou não). Asininos e muares, vivendo em condições semiáridas, apresentam alta frequência de infecção por L. infantum, sendo válido atribuir importância a essas espécies no ciclo epidemiológico da leishmaniose visceral, seja como um reservatório em potencial, seja apenas como uma fonte alimentar abundante para os vetores.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:07:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Even in the adverse environmental conditions of the semiarid region, leptospires can survive and spread by alternative routes of transmission, such as sexual in ewes, however, there is no data on rams. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the use of serological, molecular and microbial tools applied to diagnosis of Leptospira sp. Infection in rams maintained in semiarid conditions. Biological samples of urinary (urine, kidney and bladder) and genital (vas deferens, epididymis tail and vesicular gland) tracts were collected from 40 slaughtered rams for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial isolation, as well as blood samples for antibody detection through microscopic serum agglutination test (MAT). Anti-Leptospira antibodies were found in five (12.5%) animals with antibody titer of 50 and 2 (5%) for the titer 100 for serogroups Pyrogenes, Ballum, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Australis. Leptospira sp. DNA was found in PCR of organs and urine of 30 (75%) animals. Overall, 240 fragments of organs from the urinary and genital tracts and urine were evaluated, with 93 (38.7%) positive samples, being 48/120 (40%) for the urinary tract and 45/120 (37.5%) for the genital. There was no statistically significant difference between the tracts. A bladder sample was sent for sequencing and showed 99% similarity with L. interrogans. Of the 240 cultures evaluated, 59 (24.5%) had leptospire growth, being that 23 (39%) were confirmed in PCR. Considering the PCR of organs and urine and bacterial growth as gold standards, the cut-off 50 in MAT showed greater sensitivity when compared to cut-off 100, regardless of the material used. The great proportion of leptospiral DNA in organs, urine and culture and bacterial growth from the genital tracts reinforce its importance as an extra-renal site and highlights the possible role of rams in venereal transmission, as well as the sensitivity of the cut-off 50 suggested its adoption in the serology of rams maintained in semiarid conditions. Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural (CSTR), Av. Universitária, s/n, Santa Cecília Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 1280 Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, campus de Botucatu Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB) Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA), Rodovia BR 079, Km 02 Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, campus de Botucatu

Background: Respiratory conditions are the leading cause of training disruption in racing horses. Molecular approaches to diagnose respiratory viruses have provided an opportunity for early and subclinical pathogen detection, particularly in samples from the upper respiratory tract. Gammaherpesvius (EHV-2 and EHV-5) have variable presentations in horses. However, the infection can be asymptomatic and act as a co-factor for the development of other diseases. In this descriptive observational study, 10 healthy, young horses at regular training in Southern Brazil underwent clinical examination, videoendoscopy of the respiratory system, cytological evaluation of TA (tracheal aspirate) and BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid), along with qPCR, in order to evaluate the presence of EHV-2 and EHV-5 in lower respiratory tract samples and compare with correspondent cytological and endoscopical findings. Results: At least one abnormality per horse during endoscopy examination was observed, including, but not limited to, mucous secretion in the airways and pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia. The presence of EHV-2 and EHV-5 was detected by qPCR in three out of ten animals. One horse was positive for EHV-2 alone, one for EHV-5 alone, and one was positive for both viruses. No videoendoscopic finding correlated with each other neither predicts gammaherpesvirus status (positive or negative test). Additionally, there was no relationship between the percentage of cells in both TA and BALF and the probability to test positive for herpesvirus.Conclusions: To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of EHV-2 and 5 in Brazilian Thoroughbred horses. These findings may provide new insights into the epidemiological situation of EHV-2 and 5 in Brazilian athletic young horses, evidencing the importance of the molecular investigation, early detection, and prevention of respiratory diseases.

Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease present in two thirds of all countries, and causes the death of one person every 10 minutes (~70,000 deaths/year). The reservoirs of the Rabies Virus (RABV) are bats and canids, and it has also been found in other animals, including Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) and Pseudalopex vetulus (hoary fox). Here we used Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), phylogenetic, and in vitro/in vivo analyses, to characterized the genome of a new subtype of RABV circulating in foxes of the Northeastern region of Brazil. We verified that although these variants were similar to existing strains from wild canids and domestic canines from Brazil, the samples contained escape mutants, suggesting that it was a heterogeneous virus population. In all, we used several molecular techniques to characterize a new RABV strain circulating in wild-foxes in Northeastern Brazil, and verified still manifested its notorious pathogenic characteristics.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:14:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-07-01 Carrier animals are considered key in the transmission cycle of leptospirosis. Although investigations have been carried out on several species, the role of pigs in the epidemiology of the disease is still poorly studied in the semi-arid region. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the presence of Leptospira spp. in the genitourinary tract of pigs intended for slaughter. Fifty pigs were used: adults and unvaccinated. Samples of the kidney, urine, and vaginal fluid were collected for the molecular detection of Leptospira spp. and blood samples for the serological test. The molecular test was performed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the serological test was performed with the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Samples with DNA amplification were submitted to genetic sequencing. Twenty (40%) animals were found with anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies, and the majority of the reactions (50%) occurred for the serogroup Tarassovi. Leptospiral DNA was found in the tissue of 11 (22%) pigs. The gene from a urine sample was sequenced and showed similarity to L. borgpetersenii. The results evidenced a high rate of porcine carriers; therefore, they appear to be important sources of agent infection, being potential transmitters of the disease to other animal species and man. Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Av. Universitária, no number, Santa Cecília Paulista State University (Unesp) Paulista State University (Unesp)

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T02:39:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-07-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) It is possible that there are peculiarities in the epidemiology of leptospirosis in regions with a semiarid climate, where the environment is often adverse, allowing the occurrence of alternative transmission routes. The objective of the work was to generate contributions to the diagnosis and epidemiology of Leptospira sp. infection in sheep reared in semiarid conditions, using serological, molecular and microbiological techniques for diagnosis in dry and rainy seasons. Samples of blood, vaginal fluid, urine, bladder, kidney, uterus, uterine tube, ovary and placenta were collected from 104 sheep (52 animals per season – dry and rainy) slaughtered in the Brazilian semiarid. Diagnostic tests performed were microscopic agglutination test (MAT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial isolation. Anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies were found in 26 (25%) of the animals analyzed by MAT at 1:50 dilution (cut-off 50), while 69 (66.3%) animals had at least one organ/fluid with the presence of Leptospira sp. DNA. Overall, PCR was performed on 758 fragments of organs/fluids from the genital and urinary tracts, and 519 (68.5%) samples tested positive. PCR-positivity was statistically different in dry (46.2%) and rainy (11.5%) seasons for vaginal fluid. It was possible to perform the DNA sequencing in nine samples with 99% similarity to L. interrogans and recovery of viable strains in three samples of vaginal fluid. Regardless of the biological material used in PCR to detect carrier animals and the season, the highest MAT sensitivity values were obtained with cut-off 50 compared to 100. The results obtained indicate that, even in the adverse environmental conditions of the semiarid region, leptospires may survive and propagate by alternative routes of transmission, such as sexual, and the presence of PCR-positive genital tracts in ewes suggests that sexual transmission may play an important role in the epidemiology of the disease in sheep in Brazilian semiarid. In addition, it is suggested the use of titer 50 as cut-off point at serology in semiarid conditions. Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural (CSTR) Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Av. Universitária, s/n, Santa Cecília Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias (DCV) Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), PB-079, s/n, Cidade Universitária Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, campus de Botucatu Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n, campus de Botucatu CNPq: 302222/2016-2 CNPq: 423836/2018-8

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T17:40:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-03-06 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance caused by an obligate aerobic spirochaete that infects a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. Natural hosts are asymptomatic or show moderate signs of the disease. Accidental hosts develop a severe, often lethal, form of the disease. All young southern tamanduas died suddenly at the zoo in the city of Joao Pessoa, Brazil. The animals were found dead without any noticeable clinical signs. Necropsy revealed extensive haemorrhage in the subcutaneous tissues, kidneys, lungs in addition to the presence of red fluid in the thoracic, abdominal and pericardial cavities. Histopathology of kidneys exhibited acute interstitial nephritis and tubular necrosis. Immunohistochemical staining revealed typical leptospiral wavy forms and aggregates in the lumen of several kidney tubules and lungs. Pathological and molecular investigations confirmedLeptospira interrogansinfection. The adult tamanduas did not present with clinical alterations. To our knowledge, this investigation is the first study to report that leptospirosis should be considered as a possible cause of death in tamanduas. This article warns of the risks of anthropization with respect to Leptospira transmission to tamanduas, other animals and humans. Univ Fed Paraiba, Areia, Paraiba, Brazil Univ Fed Campina Grande, Patos de Minas, Paraiba, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil Parque Zoobot Arruda Camara, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil CNPq: 429862/2016-4

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:18:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T15:04:36Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0103-84782020001200454.pdf: 850016 bytes, checksum: 77e5fcaa5c1275c720ca5b83a4e453a6 (MD5) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) We used 12 tegu lizards (Tupinambis merianae) from northeastern Brazil, and we reported nine (75%) Leptospira sp. PCR-positive animals and six (50%) seropositive. Leptospira sp. DNA sequencing revealed 99% similarity with L. interrogans. Our findings indicated that this species may play a role in the transmission of human leptospirosis. Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB) Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp) CNPq: 404039/2016-2