Diverse DNA virus genomes identified in fecal samples of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) captured in Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Arizona (USA).

Bats (order Chiroptera) are some of the most abundant mammals on earth and their species ecology strongly influences zoonotic potential. While substantial research has been conducted on bat-associated viruses, particularly on those that can cause disease in humans and/or livestock, globally, limited research has focused on endemic bats in the USA. The southwest region of the US is of particular interest because of its high diversity of bat species. We identified 39 single-stranded DNA virus genomes in the feces of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) sampled in the Rucker Canyon (Chiricahua Mountains) of southeast Arizona (USA). Twenty-eight of these belong to the virus families Circoviridae (n = 6), Genomoviridae (n = 17), and Microviridae (n = 5). Eleven viruses cluster with other unclassified cressdnaviruses. Most of the viruses identified represent new species. Further research on identification of novel bat-associated cressdnaviruses and microviruses is needed to provide greater insights regarding their co-evolution and ecology relative to bats.

Novel Circoviruses Detected in Feces of Sonoran Felids.

Sonoran felids are threatened by drought and habitat fragmentation. Vector range expansion and anthropogenic factors such as habitat encroachment and climate change are altering viral evolutionary dynamics and exposure. However, little is known about the diversity of viruses present in these populations. Small felid populations with lower genetic diversity are likely to be most threatened with extinction by emerging diseases, as with other selective pressures, due to having less adaptive potential. We used a metagenomic approach to identify novel circoviruses, which may have a negative impact on the population viability, from confirmed bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) scats collected in Sonora, Mexico. Given some circoviruses are known to cause disease in their hosts, such as porcine and avian circoviruses, we took a non-invasive approach using scat to identify circoviruses in free-roaming bobcats and puma. Three circovirus genomes were determined, and, based on the current species demarcation, they represent two novel species. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that one circovirus species is more closely related to rodent associated circoviruses and the other to bat associated circoviruses, sharing highest genome-wide pairwise identity of approximately 70% and 63%, respectively. At this time, it is unknown whether these scat-derived circoviruses infect felids, their prey, or another organism that might have had contact with the scat in the environment. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the host of these viruses and assess health impacts in felids.

Liver virome of healthy pigs reveals diverse small ssDNA viral genomes.

Brazil is a major exporter of pork meat worldwide. Swine liver is a common ingredient in food consumed by humans, thus emphasizing the importance of evaluating the presence of associated pathogens in swine liver. To obtain knowledge, this study aimed to provide insights into the viral communities of livers collected from slaughtered pigs from southern Brazil. The 46 livers were processed and submitted for high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The sequences were most closely related to Anelloviridae, Circoviridae and Parvoviridae families. The present work also describes the first Brazilian PCV1 and the first PPV6 and PPV7 from South America. Virus frequencies revelead 63% of samples positive for TTSuV1, 71% for TTSuVk2, 10.8% for PCV, 13% for PPV and 6% for PBov. This report addresses the diversity of the liver virome of healthy pigs and expands the number of viruses detected, further characterizing their genomes to assist future studies.

Serological survey of porcine circovirus 2 antibodies in Northeastern Brazil by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay / Investigação sorológica de circovirus suíno 2 em granjas comerciais de suínos da região Nordeste do Brasil pela técnica de imunoperoxidase em monocamada de células

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) specific antibodies were evaluated in pigs at 15 to 25 weeks of age by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. Serum samples (n = 575) were obtained from 16 commercial farms located in six states of northeastern Brazil, including two in Ceará (n = 85), three in Rio Grande do Norte (n = 92), two in Paraíba (n = 49), three in Pernambuco (n = 107), two in Alagoas (n = 39), and four in Bahia (n = 203). Out of the 575 evaluated sera, 470 (81.74%) were reagents with antibody titers ranging from 20 to 5,120. All farms presented reactive animals. There was a statistically significant difference in reactivity proportions between the states of Bahia and Ceará (p < 0.05) and between Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte (p < 0.05). This study provides the first serological investigation for PCV2 in pigs from commercial farms in Northeastern Brazil.(AU)

A presença de anticorpos específicos contra o circovirus suíno 2 (PCV2) foi avaliada em suínos com 15 a 25 semanas de idade pela técnica de imunoperoxidase em monocamada de células. As amostras de soros (n = 575) foram procedentes de 16 granjas comerciais localizadas em seis Estados da região Nordeste do Brasil, incluindo duas no Ceará (n = 85), três no Rio Grande do Norte (n = 92), duas na Paraíba (n=49), três em Pernambuco (n = 107), duas em Alagoas (n = 39) e quatro na Bahia (n = 203). Dos 575 soros avaliados, 470 (81,74%) foram reagentes com títulos de anticorpos que variaram de 20 até 5.120. Todas as granjas avaliadas apresentaram animais reagentes. Houve diferença estatística significante nas proporções de sororeatividade entre os Estados da Bahia e Ceará (p < 0,05) e entre os Estados Bahia e Rio Grande do Norte (p < 0,05). Este estudo mostra a primeira investigação sorológica para PCV2 em suínos de granjas comerciais da região Nordeste do Brasil.(AU)

Serological survey of porcine circovirus 2 antibodies in Northeastern Brazil by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay / Investigação sorológica de circovirus suíno 2 em granjas comerciais de suínos da região Nordeste do Brasil pela técnica de imunoperoxidase em monocamada de células

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) specific antibodies were evaluated in pigs at 15 to 25 weeks of age by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. Serum samples (n = 575) were obtained from 16 commercial farms located in six states of northeastern Brazil, including two in Ceará (n = 85), three in Rio Grande do Norte (n = 92), two in Paraíba (n = 49), three in Pernambuco (n = 107), two in Alagoas (n = 39), and four in Bahia (n = 203). Out of the 575 evaluated sera, 470 (81.74%) were reagents with antibody titers ranging from 20 to 5,120. All farms presented reactive animals. There was a statistically significant difference in reactivity proportions between the states of Bahia and Ceará (p < 0.05) and between Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte (p < 0.05). This study provides the first serological investigation for PCV2 in pigs from commercial farms in Northeastern Brazil.

A presença de anticorpos específicos contra o circovirus suíno 2 (PCV2) foi avaliada em suínos com 15 a 25 semanas de idade pela técnica de imunoperoxidase em monocamada de células. As amostras de soros (n = 575) foram procedentes de 16 granjas comerciais localizadas em seis Estados da região Nordeste do Brasil, incluindo duas no Ceará (n = 85), três no Rio Grande do Norte (n = 92), duas na Paraíba (n=49), três em Pernambuco (n = 107), duas em Alagoas (n = 39) e quatro na Bahia (n = 203). Dos 575 soros avaliados, 470 (81,74%) foram reagentes com títulos de anticorpos que variaram de 20 até 5.120. Todas as granjas avaliadas apresentaram animais reagentes. Houve diferença estatística significante nas proporções de sororeatividade entre os Estados da Bahia e Ceará (p < 0,05) e entre os Estados Bahia e Rio Grande do Norte (p < 0,05). Este estudo mostra a primeira investigação sorológica para PCV2 em suínos de granjas comerciais da região Nordeste do Brasil.

Single Stranded DNA Viruses Associated with Capybara Faeces Sampled in Brazil.

Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the world's largest rodents, are distributed throughout South America. These wild herbivores are commonly found near water bodies and are well adapted to rural and urban areas. There is limited information on the viruses circulating through capybaras. This study aimed to expand the knowledge on the viral diversity associated with capybaras by sampling their faeces. Using a viral metagenomics approach, we identified diverse single-stranded DNA viruses in the capybara faeces sampled in the Distrito Federal, Brazil. A total of 148 complete genomes of viruses in the Microviridae family were identified. In addition, 14 genomoviruses (family Genomoviridae), a novel cyclovirus (family Circoviridae), and a smacovirus (family Smacoviridae) were identified. Also, 37 diverse viruses that cannot be assigned to known families and more broadly referred to as unclassified circular replication associated protein encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses were identified. This study provides a snapshot of the viral diversity associated with capybaras that may be infectious to these animals or associated with their microbiota or diet.

Hallazgos histopatológicos, hibridización in situ y estudio ultraestructural del Síndrome de Emaciación Multisistémico Porcino (PMWS) en granjas en Venezuela / Histopathological findings, in situ hybridization and ultrastructural study of Porcine Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in pig farms in Venezuela

El síndrome multisistémico de emaciación post destete porcino (PMWS, por sus siglas en Inglés) ha tenido en años recientes extraordinaria importancia en la industria porcina en muchos países, particularmente en Canadá, Estados Unidos de América, Comunidad Europea, Asia y Sur América. El síndrome afecta a cerdos jóvenes, en edad comprendida generalmente entre las 8 y 14 semanas. El PMWS se caracteriza por emaciación, diarrea, ictericia y aumento de volumen de los linfonódulos. El circovirus porcino tipo 2 (PCV2, por sus siglas en inglés) ha sido descrito como el principal agente infeccioso en el PMWS y simultáneamente puede concurrir con otras enfermedades virales tales como: parvovirus porcino, virus del síndrome respiratorio y reproductivo porcino, además de otras entidades bacterianas. El diagnóstico del PMWS se basa en la edad de los cerdos, aspectos clínicos, emaciación, palidez de mucosas, hallazgos de necropsia, estudios histopatológicos, exámenes de hibridización in situ (HIS) en tejidos que revelan la presenciadel PCV2, además de estudios ultraestructurales. El objetivo principal de la presente investigación fue mostrar una mayor y actualizada casuística del PMWS en nuestro país. El presente estudio se realizó en 120 lechones de 8 a 16 semanas de edad, ubicados en 10 granjas porcinas de los estados Aragua y Carabobo, Venezuela. Los lechones presentaban pobre condición corporal, severa palidez, disnea, diarrea, dificultad respiratoria e hipertrofia de los linfonodos inguinales superficiales. Al realizar las necropsias se evidenció neumonía en grado variable e incremento del tamaño de los nódulos linfáticos inguinales, mesentéricos y traqueobronquiales, mientras que la histopatología revelaba depleción linfoide, con pérdida de la arquitectura de los linfonódulos con histiocitosis, células sincitiales e histiocitos con corpúsculos basófilos intensos intracitoplasmáticos, hallazgos altamente sugestivos del PMWS. Adicionalmente, se procesaron muestras de estos mismos tejidos mediante la técnica HIS, lo que permitió demostrar la presencia de PCV2 en todos los tejidos linfoides afectados y confirmar el diagnóstico de PMWS. El estudio ultraestrutural permitió observar las características del ente viral involucrado. Este es el primer trabajo que incluye métodos ultraestructurales para describir este síndrome en Venezuela.

Nowadays, the postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is an important disease in the swine industry, particularly in Canada, United States of America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The PMWS mainly affects pigs between 8 and 14 weeks of age. The PMWS is characterized by emaciation, diarrhea, icterus, and an enlargement of lymph nodes. The porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been described as the main infectious agent responsible for PMWS. It can concurrently occur with other viral diseases such as porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine respiratory and reproductive viral syndrome, as well as other bacterial entities. The PMWS diagnosis is based on the pig’s age, clinical aspects, weight loss, macro and microscopic findings, presence of nucleic acids in tissues which reveal the existence of the PCV2, detected by an in situ hybridization (ISH) technique, and ultrastructural studies. This investigation studied the histological findings, in situ hybridization, and ultrastructural assessment of PMWS in pig farms in Venezuela. The main purpose of this study was to show a greater and updated cases of PMWS in our country. A total of 120 piglets ages 8 to 16 weeks, from 10 pig farms of the States of Aragua and Carabobo, Venezuela, were evaluated. The piglets showed poor body condition, pale appearance of mucous membranes, dyspnea, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and hypertrophy of superficial inguinal lymph nodes. At necropsy, diverse degrees of pneumonia, enlargement of superficial inguinal, mesenteric, and tracheobronquial lymph nodes were found, while the histological findings showed lymphoid depletion, loss of lymph nodes architecture, hystiocytosis, syncitial cells, and the presence of cytoplasmic inclusions in hystiocitic cells. All these findings were suggestive of PMWS. Furthermore, samples of the same tissues were processed through the ISH, which allowed showing the presence of PCV2 in all affected lymphoid tissues, confirming the diagnosis of PMWS. The ultrastructural study showed the characteristics of the virus involved. This is the first study in Venezuela that includes ultrastructural methods describing the PMWS.