Caracterização genética e distribuição geográfica do vírus rábico isolado de bovinos no estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil / Genetic characterization and geographic distribution of rabies virus isolates from cattle in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Foram caracterizados, geneticamente e geograficamente, o sequenciamento parcial da nucleoproteína (gene N) de 53 isolados do vírus da raiva (VR) originários do Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. Os isolados de bovinos, que se encontravam no grupo do VR relacionado a morcegos hematófagos, foram posteriormente subdivididos em sete subgrupos genéticos. Estes subgrupos foram distribuídos em regiões de terras planas, com alguns subgrupos separados por formações de pequenas montanhas e hidrografia. Estes resultados indicam que a raiva em bovinos é derivada de diversas variantes regionalmente definidas, o que sugere que sua distribuição geográfica está relacionada as populações de morcegos hematófagos.

A total of 53 rabies virus (RV) isolates originating from cattle in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, were genetically characterized. Partial nucleoprotein gene sequences of these isolates were phylogenetically and geographically analyzed. Cattle isolates, which clustered with the vampire bat related RV group, were further subdivided into 7 subgroups. These subgroups were distributed widely in lowland regions, with some subgroups separated from each other by small mountains and hydrographical features. These results indicate that cattle rabies is derived from several regionally-defined variants, which suggests that its geographical distribution is related to that of the vampire bat population.

Human leptospirosis: management and prognosis.

As leptospirosis is a treatable disease, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are important for better prognosis. Early diagnosis depends on the knowledge of epidemiological factors, presenting features and use of appropriate laboratory tests. Early institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy in combination with supportive therapy reduces the mortality from this disease. Leptospires are sensitive to a variety of antimicrobial agents, including penicillin, cephems, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines and macrolides. Of these antimicrobial agents, short-term treatment with streptomycin exterminates, leptospires. When penicillin, cephems, tetracylines and macrolides are used, long-term therapy with large doses may be required from the early stage of the disease until the appearance of antibodies.