Identification and molecular characterization of Orfvirus infection in occupationally exposed women inSouth America

Abstract Contagious Ecthyma (CE) is a severe exanthematous dermatitis caused by the Orf virus (ORFV) that mainly affects domestic small ruminants such as sheep and goats. It is a worldwide-distributed occupational zoonosis, particularly infecting those in close contact with animals or animal products such as shepherds, farmers and veterinarians, among others. In the present work, we report the first human CE case confirmed in Argentina. A phylogenetic analysis based on four gene sequences of the isolated strain responsible for the disease showed that this isolate grouped with other ORFV sequences that caused reported CE cases in sheep from the same Argentine province. We also sequenced a sample from a Chilean human case reported in 2017, whose phylogenetic analysis showed that it groups together with other Argentine isolates from locations close to the border with Chile. Keywords: Contagious Ecthyma; Dermatitis; Human Orf; Zoonosis; Molecular characterization.

Resumen El ectima contagioso (EC) es una dermatitis exantemática grave causada por el virus Orf (ORFV), que afecta mayormente a pequeños rumiantes domésticos, como ovinos y caprinos. Es una zoonosis ocupacional con distribución mundial, infecta a humanos en estrecho contacto con animales o sus productos, como granjeros, esquiladores y veterinarios, entre otros. En este trabajo se informa el primer caso humano de EC confirmado en Argentina. Un análisis filogenético basado en cuatro genes de la cepa responsable de este caso mostró que el aislamiento agrupa con otras secuencias de ORFV que causaron casos en ovinos en la misma provincia argentina. También se secuenció una muestra del caso de ectima humano reportado en Chile en 2017 y el análisis filogenético mostró que dicho aislamiento forma un grupo con otros aislamientos argentinos de localidades cercanas a la frontera con Chile. Palabras clave: Ectima contagioso; Dermatitis; Orf en humanos; Zoonosis; Caracterización molecular.

Mycoplasma bovis-pneumonia and polyarthritis in feedlot calves in Argentina: First local isolation / Neumonía y poliartritis por Mycoplasma bovis en terneros de feedlot: primeraislamiento local

Abstract Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the most frequent clinical concerns inweaned calves after their arrival at the feedlot. This work reports the first local isolation ofMycoplasma bovis from feedlot calves with pneumonia and polyarthritis in Argentina. Twentyfour out of 545 calves showed progressive, subacute to chronic respiratory distress, coughing,and fever. Thirty percent of the affected calves also showed lameness and swelling of elbowor carpal, and knee or tarsal joints. Five necropsies were performed and severe multifocal tocoalescent pulmonary nodules, containing white-yellowish caseous exudate encircled by fibroustissue, and fibrinonecrotic arthritis and tenosynovitis were detected. Mycoplasma was isolatedfrom lung and joint samples. The 16S-23S rRNA ITS consensus sequence obtained from theseisolates showed 100% similarity with the same region of M. bovis strains. Since there are no com-mercially available vaccines in the region for the prevention and control of M. bovis pneumoniaand arthritis, surveillance is a priority to reduce the source of disease to naïve animals.

Resumen La enfermedad respiratoria bovina es uno de los problemas sanitarios más fre-cuentes en terneros recién destetados luego de su arribo a los corrales de encierre (feedlots).Este trabajo describe el primer aislamiento local de Mycoplasma bovis de terneros de feedlotcon neumonía y poliartritis en Argentina. Se vieron afectados 24 de 545 terneros; mostraron enfermedad respiratoria progresiva, subaguda a crónica, tos y fiebre. De los terneros afecta-dos, el 30% presentó, además, problemas en articulaciones carpales o tarsales. Se realizaron5 necropsias de terneros afectados y se observaron nódulos pulmonares multifocales a coa-lescentes, que contenían un exudado caseoso blanco-amarillento, rodeados de tejido fibroso,artritis y tenosinovitis fibrinonecrótica. Se aisló Mycoplasma de muestras de pulmón y artic-ulación. La secuencia consenso del gen codificante del ARNr 16S-23S rRNA obtenido de estosaislamientos mostró un 100% de similitud con la misma región de cepas de M. bovis. Teniendoen cuenta que no hay vacunas disponibles comercialmente en la región para la prevencióny el control de neumonías y poliartritis por M. bovis, es importante realizar una vigilanciaepidemiológica a fin de reducir las fuentes de infección para animales susceptibles.

Comparación de ELISAs comerciales para la detección de anticuerpos en la investigación diagnóstica del aborto asociado a Neospora caninum en rodeos lecheros de Uruguay Comparación de ELISAs comerciales para detección de anticuerpos contra N. caninum / A comparative study of commercial ELISAs for antibody detection in the diagnostic investigation of Neospora caninum-associated abortion in dairy cattle herds in Uruguay

Resumen A pesar de su importancia, el diagnóstico etiológico del aborto en bovinos representa un desafío técnico para los veterinarios clínicos y laboratoristas, en parte debido a la dificultad de recuperar los fetos abortados en condiciones extensivas de campo. Dicha dificultad limita la posibilidad de detectar tempranamente los vientres abortados y de efectuar la investigación patológica y microbiológica de los abortos. Neospora caninum es un protozoario cosmopolita identificado como uno de los principales agentes abortigénicos en bovinos. En este estudio proponemos una aproximación seroepidemiológica para diagnosticar abortos por N. caninum en bovinos lecheros usando kits de ELISA comerciales. Se procesaron muestras de entre 12 y 93 vacas y/o vaquillonas con (casos) y sin (controles) historia reciente de aborto en 4 tambos comerciales de Uruguay. La proporción controles:casos analizados varió entre 1:1 y 4,6:1. Las muestras (n=230) fueron analizadas mediante 3 kits comerciales para la detección de anticuerpos IgG anti-N. caninum. En los 4 tambos la proporción de vacas y/o vaquillonas seropositivas por cualquier kit fue significativamente mayor en los casos respecto de los controles (odds ratio=5,13 a 36; p=0,0002 a 0,0485). La concordancia entre los kits varió de débil a fuerte (coeficiente Kappa de Cohen=0,58 a 0,83). Concluimos que, a pesar de la imperfecta concordancia entre estos kits, el empleo de todos ellos permitió arribar a conclusiones similares respecto de la asociación estadísticamente significativa entre seropositividad a N. caninum y aborto, lo que demuestra la utilidad de estos kits para la aproximación diagnóstica del aborto a nivel poblacional en condiciones de campo.

Abstract Bovine abortion causes considerable economic losses to the livestock industry worldwide and is of concern for public health and food safety, given that many abortigenic infectious agents of cattle are zoonotic. Despite its importance, the etiological diagnosis of abortion in cattle is challenging both for veterinary practitioners and laboratory technicians, partly due to the difficulty in recovering aborted fetuses under extensive field conditions for pathological and microbiological diagnostic investigation, and in the early identification of aborted dams. Neospora caninum is a cosmopolitan protozoon identified as one of the main abortigenic agents in cattle worldwide. In this study we propose a comparative seroepidemiological approach for the diagnosis of abortion by N. caninum in dairy cattle. Samples from 12 to 93 cows/heifers with and without recent history of abortion (cases and controls) in four commercial dairy farms were tested. The ratio of controls to cases tested varied from 1:1 to 4.6:1. All samples (n=230) were analyzed by three commercial ELISA kits for the detection of anti-N. caninum antibodies. In all four dairy farms, the proportion of seropositive cows and/or heifers per kit was significantly higher in the cases than in the controls (Odds Ratios=5.13 to 36, p=0.0002 to 0.0485). The agreement among the three kits varied from weak to strong (Cohen´s kappa coefficients=0.58 to 0.83). We conclude that, despite the imperfect agreement between these kits, all of them allowed to arrive at similar conclusions regarding the statistical association between N. caninum seropositivity and abortion, thus representing a useful tool for the diagnostic approach at the population level under field conditions.

Current trends in bovine abortion in Argentina / Tendências atuais do aborto bovino na Argentina

Bovine abortion is an important cause of significant economic losses in beef and dairy herds. This syndrome is usually difficult to diagnose. The aim of this study was to characterize bovine abortion causes in Argentina by standard diagnosis procedures (histology, bacterial and viral isolation) and other diagnostic tests like direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT), fetal serology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and PCR, showing their specific advantages and limitations. Necropsies were performed in 150 aborted bovine fetuses submitted to the diagnostic laboratories of Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) Balcarce, Argentina. Etiological diagnosis was confirmed in 78 fetuses (52% of the cases). Most causes of abortion were of infectious origin, being Neospora caninum (14.67%), Campylobacter fetus sp. (9.33%), Leptospira spp. (7.33%) and Brucella abortus (6.65%) the main microorganisms identified. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpes virus (BHV) were diagnosed in 2 (1.33%) and 3 (2%) cases, respectively. This study showed a better characterization of bovine abortion compared with previous researches done on this topic.(AU)

O aborto bovino é uma causa importante de perdas econômicas significativas em rebanhos bovinos e leiteiros. Esta síndrome é geralmente difícil de diagnosticar. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o aborto bovino na Argentina por procedimentos diagnósticos de rotina (histologia, isolamento viral e bacteriana) e outros testes diagnósticos como ensaio directo de anticorpos fluorescentes (DFAT), sorologia fetal, imuno-histoquica (IHC), e PCR; mostrando suas vantagens e limitações específicas. As necropsias foram realizadas em 150 fetos bovinos abortados submetidos aos laboratórios de diagnóstico do Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuária (INTA) de Balcarce, na Argentina. O diagnóstico etiológico foi confirmado em 78 fetos (52% dos casos). A maioria das causas de aborto foram de origem infecciosa, sendo Neospora caninum (14,67%), Campylobacter fetus sp. (9,33%), Leptospira spp. (7,33%) e Brucella abortus (6,65%) os principais microrganismos identificados. O vírus da diarréia viral bovina (BVDV) e o herpesvírus bovino (BHV) foram diagnosticados em 2 (1,33%) e 3 (2%) casos, respectivamente. Este estudo mostrou uma melhor caracterização do aborto bovino em comparação com pesquisas anteriores feita sobre este tema.(AU)

White muscle disease in three selenium deficient beef and dairy calves in Argentina and Uruguay / Doença do músculo branco em três bezerros para carne e leite deficientes em selênio na Argentina e Uruguai

ABSTRACT: White muscle disease (WMD), nutritional myodegeneration or enzootic muscular dystrophy, is a nutritional condition associated with selenium and/or vitamin E deficiency in ruminants. These elements are constituents of the major body antioxidant systems. Depletion of selenium results in oxidative damage to cardiac and skeletal muscle cells, resulting in myodegeneration and myonecrosis, typical lesions of WMD. Selenium deficiency is common in South America, but WMD is underreported. This research describes clinical, biochemical and pathological findings in two episodes of WMD associated with selenium deficiency in beef and dairy calves in Argentina and Uruguay with concurrent copper deficiency in one of them, which resulted in spontaneous calf mortality. Further studies are necessary to estimate the true incidence and economic impact of clinical and subclinical mineral deficiencies in livestock production systems in the southern cone of South America.

RESUMO: Doença do músculo branco (DMB), miodegeneração nutricional ou distrofia muscular enzoótica é uma condição nutricional associada à deficiência de selênio e/ou vitamina E em ruminantes. Esses elementos são constituintes dos principais sistemas antioxidantes do corpo. O esgotamento de selênio resulta em dano oxidativo às células musculares cardíacas e esqueléticas, resultando em miodegeneração e mionecrose, lesões típicas da DMB. A deficiência de selênio é comum na América do Sul, mas a DMB está subnotificada. Este trabalho descreve os achados clínicos, bioquímicos e patológicos em dois surtos de DMB associados à deficiência de selênio em bezerros para carne e leite na Argentina e Uruguai com concomitante deficiência de cobre em um surto, que resultaram em mortalidade espontânea de bezerros. São necessários mais estudos para estimar a verdadeira incidência e impacto econômico das deficiências minerais clínicas e subclínicas nos sistemas de produção pecuária no sul da América do Sul.

Virus orf en humanos, confirmación molecular de un caso clínico en Chile / Orf virus in human, confirmation in case report from Chile

Resumen La infección por el virus orf, también conocida como ectima contagioso, es reconocida una zoonosis ocupacional. Se diagnostica por lesiones cutáneas que evolu cionan rápidamente desde máculas a pápulas, vesículas y pústulas. Se presenta el caso clínico de una estudiante de medicina veterinaria que había tenido contacto con caprinos, clínicamente sanos y sin lesiones aparentes, hacía 19 días. Presentó dos lesiones vesiculares que coalescieron hasta formar una lesión de mayor tamaño rodeada por un halo eritematoso. Las lesiones fueron compatibles con la presentación clásica de las producidas por el virus orf en humanos. Se confirmó la presencia del virus orf mediante una RPC anidada del tejido de biopsia. Es uno de los primeros casos confirmados mediante técnicas moleculares en seres humanos en Chile.

Infection with the orf virus, also known as contagious ecthyma, is recognized as an occupational zoonosis worldwide. It is diagnosed by cutaneous lesions that progress rapidly from macules to papules, vesicles and pustules. The clinical case of a student of veterinary medicine who had had contact with goats, clinically healthy and without apparent lesions, which occured 19 days ago, is reported. She presented two vesicular lesions that coalesced to form a larger lesion surrounded by an erythematous halo. The lesions were compatible with the classical presentation of those produced by the orf virus in humans. The presence of the orf virus was confirmed by a nested PCR from biopsy tissue. It is one of the first cases confirmed by molecular techniques in humans in Chile.

Occurrence of abortions induced by Neospora caninum in dairy cattle from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil / Ocorrência de abortamentos induzidos por Neospora caninum em vacas de leite de Santa Catarina, sul do Brasil

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of N. caninum associated with abortions of dairy cattle from Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Blood from dairy cows that aborted along with intrathoracic fluid and tissue samples (brain, heart, liver, and lung) from their fetuses were collected and used for serology; PCR, histopathological, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) evaluations were also conducted. Twenty-one cows (51.2%) out of 41, and eight fetuses (26.7%) out of 30 were ELISA (HerdCheck, IDEXX) positive for N. caninum. Dams > 36 months of age had a higher risk of being serum positive than younger animals. PCR and IHC revealed that 38.8% (14/36) and 25.0% (9/36) of the fetuses were positive for N. caninum, respectively for each of the tests. Seropositive cows had a higher frequency of fetuses that were also positive by either intrathoracic fluid, PCR, or IHC. In summary, the present study observed a high frequency of N. caninum in abortions from dairy cows from southern Brazil, with a higher N. caninum prevalence found in cows that were older than 36 months. In addition, serology, PCR, and IHC should be used all together for better diagnosis of neosporosis in cattle.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência de N. caninum associado a abortamentos em vacas de leite do estado de Santa Catarina, sul do Brasil pelo uso das técnicas de ELISA (HerdCheck, IDEXX), reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR) e imunohistoquímica (IHC). O sangue das vacas leiteiras que abortaram, bem como, o líquido intratorácico e amostras de tecidos (cérebro, coração, fígado e pulmão) de seus fetos foram coletados e usados para sorologia, PCR (Np21+ e Np6+), e IHC. Vinte e uma vacas (51,2%) de um total de 41, bem como, oito fetos (26,7%) de um total de 30 foram positivos no ELISA (IDEXX) para N. caninum. As vacas > 36 meses de idade tiveram um maior risco de serem soropositivas do que os animais mais jovens. PCR e IHC revelaram que 38,8% e 25,0% dos fetos foram positivos para N. caninum, respectivamente para cada um dos testes. As vacas soropositivas tiveram uma maior frequência de fetos que também foram positivos no fluído intratorácico, na PCR ou na IHC. Em resumo, o presente estudo observou uma alta frequência de N. caninum em abortos de vacas leiteiras na região estudada, com maior prevalência de N. caninum em vacas com mais de 36 meses de idade. Além disso, sorologia, PCR e IHC deveriam ser utilizadas ​​conjuntamente para melhor diagnóstico de neosporose em bovinos.

Retrospective analysis of cattle poisoning in Argentina (2000-2013)

A retrospective analysis (2000 to 2013) of cattle poisoning caused by toxic plants and other compounds was carried out in the Pampas region of Argentina by the Animal Health Group of INTA-EEA, Balcarce. During this period, 1263 reports of diseases of different etiologies (infectious, parasitic, toxic, metabolic and miscellaneous) were recorded in cattle, by collecting anamnestic, clinical and pathological information. A toxic etiology was diagnosed in 21.1% of these reports. Iatrogenic poisoning caused by ionophores was the most frequently recorded etiology. Consumption of toxic plants (Wedelia glauca, Solanum glaucophyllum, among others), mycotoxins (Claviceps purpurea, Claviceps paspali, Epichloë coenophiala, among others), and plants producing cyanide and nitrates/nitrites were also commonly diagnosed. The high frequency of toxic episodes and the difficulties in their diagnosis by practitioners in our livestock production systems emphasizes the importance of this report.(AU)

Caudal vena cava thrombosis in a dairy cow (Bos taurus) in Argentina / Trombose da veia cava caudal em uma vaca leiteira (Bos taurus) na Argentina

ABSTRACT: Caudal vena cava thrombosis (CVCT) is an acute disease secondary to ruminal lactic acidosis and rumenitis with fatal outcome in cattle fed with a high-grain diet. The aim of this paper is to describe CVCT in an adult Holstein cow from a herd in Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Clinical signs included dyspnea, weakness, recumbence, and hemoptysis, followed by death in 3.5 days. Important necropsy findings included multiple hepatic abscesses, a septic thrombus (4.0cm x 2.0cm) in the vena cava adjacent to the liver, and a 15cm hematoma in the right lung. Histological lesions observed in the pulmonary parenchyma included suppurative pneumonia with embolic bacterial colonies and severe interstitial fibroplasia. Dissociation and degeneration of elastic fibers were observed in the pulmonary arteries, and necrotizing vasculitis was present in the caudal vena cava. We concluded that CVCT should be included in the differential diagnosis of diseases with acute respiratory signs. The preventive measures to control the CVCT include the reduction of lactic acidosis.

RESUMO: A trombose da veia cava caudal (TVCC) é uma doença aguda, letal, secundária à acidose láctica ruminal e rumenite, em gado alimentado com dieta rica em grãos. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever um caso de TVCC em uma vaca de um rebanho leiteiro Holstein localizado em Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Os sinais clínicos observados foram dispneia, fraqueza, decúbito, hemoptise e morte dentro de 3 ½ dias. Os principais achados de necropsia foram múltiplos abscessos hepáticos, um trombo séptico de 4.0cm × 2.0cm na veia cava caudal adjacente ao fígado e um hematoma de 15cm de diâmetro no pulmão direito. As lesões histológicas observadas no parênquima pulmonar foram pneumonia embólica supurativa com colonias de bactérias e fibroplasia intersticiais graves; na túnica adventicia das artérias pulmonares observou-se degeneração e dissociação das fibras elásticas e na veia cava caudal havia vasculite necrosante. A TVCC deve ser incluído no diagnóstico diferencial de doenças com sinais respiratórios agudos. É necessário estabelecer medidas preventivas para reduzir a acidose láctica e controlar a TVCC.

Atypical actinobacillosis in bulls in Argentina: granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis / Actinobacilose atípica em touros na Argentina: dermatite granulomatosa e linfadenite

Actinobacillosis is a common cause of sporadic infection in cattle. It was mostly characterized as a pyogranulomatous inflammation of the tongue, but also soft tissues as lymph nodes, other digestive tract localization and skin. The aim of this study was to describe an episode of granulomatous dermatitis and lymphadenitis affecting a bull herd in Argentina during 2010. Actinobacillus lignieresii was isolated from samples collected from one of the affected bulls, and characteristic lesions were observed. Lesions other than 'wooden tongue' are usually uncommon; however, actinobacillosis should be included as a differential diagnosis for cutaneous diseases.

A actinobacilose é causa comum de infecções esporádicas em bovinos. Esta afeção tem sido caracterizada como uma infecção piogranulomatosa não somente da língua como também de tecidos moles tais como linfonodos, ou outras localizações no trato digestivo e na pele. O objetivo do presente trabalho é descrever um episódio de dermatite piogranulomatosa e linfadenite que afetou um rebanho de touros na Argentina em 2010. As amostras recolhidas de um dos animais afetados permitiram o isolamento de Actinobacillus lignieresii. Observaram-se as lesões características da doença. Habitualmente não são comuns outras lesões para além das descritas como "língua de pau", no entanto, a actinobacilose deve ser incluída como um possível diagnóstico diferencial de doenças cutâneas.

Acute and chronic nervous signs in cattle associated with Phalaris angusta poisoning in Argentina / Sinais nervosos agudos e crônicos em bovinos na Argentina associados à intoxicação por Phalaris angusta

Phalaris angusta is a South American natural grass that produces poisoning in sheep and cattle in Argentina and Brazil. Phalaris spp. can produce unrelated forms of poisoning in ruminants, acute and chronic syndromes. The objective of this paper was to describe an outbreak of acute and chronic Phalaris nervous syndrome in 53 of 980 fattening steers and heifers in a farm of Buenos Aires province. On September of 2006 the animals developed nervous signs and died after 3-5 days. The herd was removed to a phalarisfree pasture. Three months later (on December) 15 new clinical cases developed in the herd. Necropsy performed in one affected calf showed neither grossly nor microscopic changes. Microscopically, there were no major alterations in tissues. Nervous signs had been described in some field cases where neither pigment deposition nor axonal degeneration could be detected. Clinical findings displayed by affected cattle after consumption of Phalaris angusta pastures resemble those observed by other authors in Phalaris staggers. This is the first report in Argentina where both syndromes were seen in the same herd.

Phalaris angusta é uma gramínea originária da América do Sul, que causa intoxicação em ovinos e bovinos na Argentina e Brasil. A intoxicação pode ocasionar quadros nervosos agudos ou crônicos, independentes um do outro. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever ambos os quadros (agudo e crônico) da intoxicação por Phalaris em um rebanho de 980 garrotes em engorda na província de Buenos Aires. Em setembro de 2006, 53 animais desenvolveram sinais nervosos e morreram após um curso clínico de 3-5 dias. O rebanho foi trocado para uma pastagem sem Phalaris. Em dezembro, alguns animais apresentaram diarréia, depressão e perda progressiva de peso. Quando eram forçados a se movimentar, os sinais progrediam para incoordenação dos membros torácicos, impossibilidade de se manter em pé e decúbito lateral. Havia perda de peso e os animais morriam após um curso clínico de 5-7 dias. Não foram observadas lesões macroscópicas nem histológicas nos animais com as duas formas da doença. Os sinais clínicos observados são semelhantes aos observados em outros surtos de intoxicação aguda ou crônica por Phalaris angusta.

Facial paralysis and vestibular syndrome in feedlot cattle in Argentina / Paralisia facial e síndrome vestibular de bovinos em confinamento

This paper reports 6 outbreaks of neurological disease associated with paralysis of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves caused by intracranial space occupying lesions in feedlot cattle. The clinical signs observed were characterized by head tilt, uni or bilateral drooping and paralysis of the ears, eyelid ptosis, keratoconjunctivitis, and different degrees of ataxia. Morbidity and mortality rates ranged from 1.1 to 50 percent and 0 to 1 percent, respectively. Gross lesions observed included yellow, thickened leptomeninges, and marked enlargement of the roots of cranial nerves VII (facial) and VIII (vestibulocochlear). Histopathologically, there was severe, chronic, granulomatous meningitis and, in one case, chronic, granulomatous neuritis of the VII and VIII cranial nerves. Attempts to identify bacterial, viral, or parasitic agents were unsuccessful. Based on the morphologic lesions, the clinical condition was diagnosed as facial paralysis and vestibular syndrome associated with space occupying lesions in the meninges and the cranial nerves VII and VIII. Feedlot is a practice of growing diffusion in our country and this is a first report of outbreaks of facial paralysis and vestibular disease associated with space occupying lesions in Argentina.

Descrevem-se 6 surtos de uma doença neurológica com paralisia dos nervos facial e vestibulo-coclear causada por lesões intracraniais que ocupam espaço em bovinos em confinamento. Os sinais clínicos foram desvio da cabeça, queda e paralisia das orelhas, ptose palpebral, ceratoconjuntivite e diferentes graus de ataxia. As taxas de morbidade e mortalidade foram de 1.1 por cento-50 por cento e de 0-1 por cento, respectivamente. As lesões macroscópicas incluíram engrossamento das meninges, que se apresentavam amareladas, e marcado engrossamento das raízes dos nervos cranianos VII (facial) e VIII (vestíbulo-coclear). Histologicamente observaram-se meningite crônica granulomatosa e, em um caso, neurite granulomatosa crônica do VII e VIII pares cranianos. Cultivos para bactérias ou vírus resultaram negativos. De acordo com as lesões observadas o quadro clínico foi diagnosticado como paralisia facial e síndrome vestibular associadas a lesões que ocupam espaço nas meninges e nervos cranianos VII e VIII. O confinamento é uma prática em expansão na Argentina e este é o primeiro relato, neste país, de surtos de paralisia facial e síndrome vestibular associados com lesões que ocupam espaço.