Canine distemper virus active infection in order Pilosa, family Myrmecophagidae, species Tamandua tetradactyla.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious disease pathogen which causes disease in the domestic dog and species classified in the Canidae, Procyonidae, Mustelidae, Hyaenidae, Ursidae, Viveridae, Felidae, Tayassuidae, and Cercopithecidae families. A combined strategy that involved the direct sequencing of amplicons from genes coding for nucleocapsid, large polymerase, and hemagglutinin proteins of CDV, as well as the pathological findings and the immunohistochemical detection of viral nucleocapsid protein in diverse tissues, confirmed the participation of CDV in the development of a neurological disease in a southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) from Midwestern Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis based on the hemagglutinin gene sequences revealed that the strain from this study grouped with isolates from the Europe 1/South America 1 lineage. The specific polymorphisms at the SLAM receptor-binding site of the hemagglutinin gene, previously linked to disease emergence in novel hosts, were not detected in this genome. These findings represent the first description of CDV-induced infection in the Tamandua tetradactyla and extend the distribution of this infection to include members of the family Myrmecophagidae, order Pilosa.

Characterization of the Bujaru, frijoles and Tapara antigenic complexes into the sandfly fever group and two unclassified phleboviruses from Brazil.

The genus Phlebovirus includes the sandfly fever viruses and tick-transmitted uukuviruses. Sandfly fever group viruses have been isolated from various vertebrate species and from phlebotomines and occasionally alternative arthropods, e.g. mosquitoes, or ceratopogonids of the genus Culicoides. Uukuniemi serogroup viruses have been isolated from various vertebrate species and from ticks. Despite the public health importance of some viruses of the genus, the genomic diversity of phleboviruses that could be incriminated as causative of human or veterinary diseases remains underestimated. Here we describe the nearly complete sequences and genomic characterization of two phleboviruses belonging to the Bujaru antigenic complex: the prototype species and the Munguba virus. Furthermore, six previously unclassified phleboviruses isolated in Brazil were also sequenced and characterized: Ambe, Anhanga, Joa, Uriurana, Urucuri and Tapara viruses. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicated that these viruses group with viruses of three antigenic complexes (Bujaru, Tapara and frijoles clades), with two unclassified phleboviruses. We also performed genomic reassortment analysis and confirmed that there were no events for the viruses described in this study, but we found a new potential reassortment in Medjerda Valley virus, which contains S and L segments of Arbia virus, and probably a unique M segment, both viruses circulate in the same geographic region, indicating these two isolates represent two distinct viruses. This study provides insights into the genetic diversity, classification and evolution of phleboviruses.

Serosurvey of Leptospira interrogans, Brucella abortus and Chlamydophila abortus infection in free-ranging giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) from Brazil / Inquérito sorológico de Leptospira interrogans, Brucella abortus e Chlamydophila abortus em tamanduás-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) de vida livre no Brasil

A serological survey for antibodies against Leptospira interrogans, Brucella abortus, and Chlamydophila abortus was conducted in 21 clinically healthy, free-ranging giant ant- eaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) from Parque Nacional das Emas (Goiás State, Brazil; n=6), Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra (Minas Gerais State, Brazil; n=9), and RPPN SESC Pantanal (Mato Grosso State, Brazil; n=6) between July 2001 and September 2006. Sera were screened for antibodies against 22 serovars of Leptospira interrogans with a microscopic agglutination test. Twelve tested positive for L. interrogansserovars sentot (n=5 in PN Emas, n=2 in PN Serra da Canastra), butembo (n=2 in PN Serra da Canastra), autumnalis, bataviae, and shermani/icterohaemorrhagiae(n=1 each in SESC Pantanal)One adult female tested positive for B. abortus with the buffered plate antigen test. All sera were negative for C. abortususing the complement fixation text. This is the first report of pathogens that may interfere with the reproduction and population dynamics of free-ranging giant anteaters.

Inquéritos sorológicos para detecção de anticorpos contra Leptospira interrogans, Brucella abortus, e Chlamydophila abortus foram realizados em 21 tamanduás-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) de vida livre do Parque Nacional das Emas (Goiás, Brasil, n=6), o Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra (Minas Gerais, Brasil, n=9) e RPPN SESC Pantanal (Mato Grosso, Brasil, n=6) entre julho de 2001 e setembro de 2006. Os sor os foram testados para anticorpos contra 22 sorotipos de Leptospira interrogans com um teste de aglutinação microscópica. Doze animais foram considerados positivos para L. interrogans sorovares sentot (n=5 em PN Emas, n=2 em PN Serra da Canastra), butembo (n=2 em PN Serra da Canastra), autumnalis, bataviae e shermani/icterohaemorrhagiae(n=1 para cada sorovar em SESC Pantanal). Uma fêmea adulta testou positivo para B. abortuscom o teste do antígeno tamponado. Todos os soros se mostraram negativos para C. abortusatravés do teste de fixação do complemento. Este é o primeiro relato de patógenos que podem interferir na dinâmica reprodutiva de populações de tamanduás em estado selvagem.

[Isolation, identification and full-length genome sequence analysis of encephalomyocarditis virus from local aardvarks].

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a natural epidemic zoonotic pathogen. However, no reports have been published regarding the isolation, identification and full-length genome of EMCV from a local aardvark population. In present study, an EMCV isolate HNXX13 was isolated from aardvarks named Huainan-pig in Henan Province. The systematic identification, full-length genome sequencing and molecular characteristic analysis of the isolate HNXX13 were conducted. The result showed that the isolate was spherical with a diameter of 24-30 nm, neither heat- nor acid-resistant, sensitive to trypsin, insensitive to chloroform, not protected by bivalent cationic, and the specific fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm of BHK-21 cells infected with the isolate by using indirect fluorescence assay. The full-length genome of EMCV HNXX13 generated a 7 725bp sequence (GenBank: F771002), with 81.0%-99.9% nucleotide identity to reference strains from different animals, and 99.5% with a Chinese reference strain isolated earlier from a commercial pig herd. The phylogenetic tree based on the full-length genome and ORF sequences identified that all EMCV strains were divided into three groups G1, G2 and G3, and strain HNXX13 belonging to the G1 group with other Chinese reference strains. The result also identified that this EMCV infection could cause severe clinical signs in a local aardvark population, and enriches the molecular epidemiological data of EMCV in China. Regional differences exist in EMCV genome and transmission is limited within a certain area. However, the cross-infection and transmission of EMCV between aardvark and mice appears most likely. Mutations have occurred in some amino acids of EMCV strain HNXX13 during the transmission in local aardvark herd and these mutations might make the virus easier to infect the aardvark.

Influenza virus A (H1N1) in giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).

In February 2007, an outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in a group of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) at the Nashville Zoo. Isolates from 2 affected animals were identified in March 2007 as a type A influenza virus related to human influenza subtype H1N1.