Serosurvey of bluetongue, caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) of a southern Brazilian zoo / Estudo sorológico dos vírus da língua azul, da artrite-encefalite caprina e Maedi-Visna em aoudads (Ammotragus lervia) em um zoológico do Sul do Brasil

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious and non-contagious disease of compulsory notification which may affect domestic and wild ruminants, transmitted by Culicoides spp. midges. Despite the high morbidity and mortality in sheep, role of wild animals in the BT cycle remains unclear. Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) have been reportedly found in goats and sheep, but not described in wildlife species. Accordingly, serum samples from 17 captive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) from Curitiba zoo, southern Brazil, were tested for bluetongue, caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna viruses by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Antibodies for bluetongue were observed in 6/17 (35.3%) Barbary sheep by AGID test and in 7/17 (41.2%) by ELISA. All samples were negative for the presence of antibodies against caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) and Maedi-Visna viruses. These findings indicate that Barbary sheep may be infected by bluetongue virus and act as wildlife reservoir in both captive and free-range environments.(AU)

A língua azul é uma doença infecciosa e não contagiosa, de notificação obrigatória, que pode afetar ruminantes domésticos e silvestres, transmitida por mosquitos do gênero Culicoides spp. Apesar da alta morbidade e mortalidade em ovelhas, o papel de animais silvestres no ciclo do vírus da língua azul é desconhecido. A artrite encefalite caprina (CAE) e Maedi-visna vírus (MVV) tem sido encontrados em cabras e ovelhas, porém não há descrição em espécies selvagens. Amostras de soro de 17 aoudads (Ammotragus lervia), mantidos em cativeiro no Zoológico de Curitiba, Sul do Brasil, foram testadas para os vírus da língua azul, da artrite encefalite caprina (CAE) e Maedi-visna, utilizando imunodifusão em gel de ágar e o teste de ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). Foram observados anticorpos para o vírus da língua azul em 35,3% (6/17) aoudads utilizando a imunodifusão em gel de ágar e 41,2% (7/17) no ELISA. Todas as amostras foram negativas para a presença de anticorpos contra os vírus da artrite encefalite caprina e Maedi-visna. Esses resultados indicam que os aoudads podem ser infectados pelo vírus da língua azul e atuar como um reservatório silvestre tanto em cativeiro quanto em vida livre.(AU)

Seroprevalence of Visna-Maedi Virus (VMV) and Border Disease Virus (BDV) in Van province and around / Seroprevalência de Visna-Maedi Virus (VMV) e Border Disease Virus (BDV) na Província de Van e Proximidades

The present study investigated the seroprevalance of Visna Maedi Virus (VMV) and Border Disease Virus (BDV) infections in sheeps in regions in and around Van province, Turkey. Sample materials were taken from 360 sheep sent to slaughterhouses around Van. All serum samples were examined using ELISA for antibodies for Visna Maedi (VMV) and Border Disease (BDV) viruses. Of these, 38 (10.5%) tested positive for Visna Maedi virus antibodies and 163 (45.2%) for Border Disease virus antibodies. Varying numbers of samples were positive for both virus antibodies across the towns of Ercis, Çaldiran, Erçek and Baskale in Van, Agri and Hakkari provinces. Both infections should be eliminated by informing veterinarians and animal owners, identifying and eliminating persistently infected animals from flocks, and conducting appropriate eradication measures. Economic support should be provided for this.(AU)

O presente estudo investigou a seroprevalência de infecções por Visna Maedi Virus (VMV) e Border Disease Virus (BDV) em ovelhas nas redondezas da província de Van, na Turquia. Amostras foram retiradas de 360 ovelhas enviadas a um matadouro próximo de Van. Todas as amostras foram examinadas usando ELISA para anticorpos de visna Maedi (VMW) e Border Disease (BDV). Destes, 38 (10.5%) foram positivos para anticorpos virais de Visna Maedi e 163 (45.2%) para anticorpos virais de Border Disease. Números variados de amostras foram positivos para ambos os anticorpos nos municípios de Ercis, Çaldiran, Erçek e Baskale, nas províncias Van, Agri e Hakkari. Ambas as infecções devem ser eliminadas informando veterinários e proprietários, identificando e eliminando animais persistentemente infectados de rebanhos, e conduzindo medidas apropriadas de erradicação. Suporte financeiro deve ser providenciado para tal.(AU)

Interspecific transmission of small ruminant lentiviruses from goats to sheep

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the transmission of caprine lentivirus to sheep using different experimental groups. The first one (colostrum group) was formed by nine lambs receiving colostrum from goats positive for small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). The second group (milk group) was established by nine lambs that received milk of these goats. Third was a control group, consisting of lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of negative mothers. Another experimental group (contact group) was formed by eight adult sheep, confined with two naturally infected goats. The groups were monitored by immunoblotting (IB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). All lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of infected goats and six sheep of the contact group had positive results in the nPCR, although seroconversion was detected only in three of the exposed animals, with no clinical lentiviruses manifestation, in 720 days of observation. There was a close relationship between viral sequences obtained from infected animals and the prototype CAEV-Cork. Thus, it was concluded that SRLV can be transmitted from goats to sheep, however, the degree of adaptation of the virus strain to the host species probably interferes with the infection persistence and seroconversion rate.

Inquérito sorológico de lentiviroses de pequenos ruminantes (Maedi-Visna e artrite-encefalite caprina) no estado de São Paulo / Serologic survey of small ruminants lentiviruses (Maedi-Visna and caprine arthritis-encephalitis) in São Paulo state

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a frequência de animais soropositivos ao vírus da Maedi-Visna (MVV) em ovinos e ao vírus da CAE (CAEV) em caprinos criados no estado de São Paulo. Na pesquisa dos anticorpos séricos anti- MVV e anti-CAEV foi utilizada a técnica de imunodifusão em gel de ágar (IDGA). Dentre os ovinos estudados, 0,3% (4/1235) eram sororreagentes ao MVV e 15,1% caprinos (30/199) ao CAEV. Foi realizada a análise de fatores de risco associados à condição de propriedade positiva para CAEV e Maedi-Visna. Foram selecionadas variáveis para as duas enfermidades, no entanto, quando essas variáveis foram usadas na regressão logística múltipla, não foram identificados fatores de risco para as infecções. A infecção pelo CAEV no estado de São Paulo tem uma ampla disseminação e com uma alta prevalência enquanto que o MVV apresenta baixa prevalência. Ressalta-se a importância de medidas de prevenção e controle para diminuir a ocorrência da CAE e evitar a disseminação da Maedi-Visna.

The aim of this study was to carry out the serological occurrence of Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) and CAE virus (CAEV) in ovines and caprines breeding in São Paulo state. The test to detect MVV and CAEV antibodies was agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID). The detection of antibodies against MVV was 0,3% (4/1235) and against CAEV was 15,1% (30/199). Was carried analysis of risk factors associated with the presence of positive property for CAEV and Maedi-Visna. Variables were selected for both diseases, however, when these variables were used in multivariate logistic regression model were not identified risk factors for the infections. The CAEV infection in the São Paulo state has a wide spread and a high prevalence while MVV has low prevalence. It emphasizes the importance of prevention and control measures to reduce CAEV occurrence and prevent the spread of Maedi-Visna.