Phylogenetic characterization of the first Ungulate tetraparvovirus 2 detected in pigs in Brazil

Abstract Ungulate tetraparvovirus 2 (UTV2) , formerly known as porcine hokovirus due to its discovery in Hong Kong, is closely related to a Primate tetraparvovirus (human PARV-4) and Ungulate tetraparvovirus 1 (bovine hokovirus). Until now, UTV2 was detected in European, Asian and North American countries, but its occurrence in Latin America is still unknown. This study describes the first report of UTV2 in Brazil, as well as its phylogenetic characterization. Tissue samples (lymph node, lung, liver, spleen and kidney) of 240 piglets from eight different herds (30 animals each herd) were processed for DNA extraction. UTV2 DNA was detected by PCR and the entire VP1/VP2 gene was sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. All pigs from this study displayed postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). UTV2 was detected in 55.3% of the samples distributed in the variety of porcine tissues investigated, as well as detected in almost all herds, with one exception. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that Brazilian UTV2 sequences were more closely related to sequences from Europe and United States.

Phylogenetic characterization of the first Ungulate tetraparvovirus 2 detected in pigs in Brazil.

Ungulate tetraparvovirus 2 (UTV2), formerly known as porcine hokovirus due to its discovery in Hong Kong, is closely related to a Primate tetraparvovirus (human PARV-4) and Ungulate tetraparvovirus 1 (bovine hokovirus). Until now, UTV2 was detected in European, Asian and North American countries, but its occurrence in Latin America is still unknown. This study describes the first report of UTV2 in Brazil, as well as its phylogenetic characterization. Tissue samples (lymph node, lung, liver, spleen and kidney) of 240 piglets from eight different herds (30 animals each herd) were processed for DNA extraction. UTV2 DNA was detected by PCR and the entire VP1/VP2 gene was sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. All pigs from this study displayed postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). UTV2 was detected in 55.3% of the samples distributed in the variety of porcine tissues investigated, as well as detected in almost all herds, with one exception. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that Brazilian UTV2 sequences were more closely related to sequences from Europe and United States.

Genotyping of canine distemper virus strains circulating in Brazil from 2008 to 2012.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a major pathogen of dogs and represents a serious threat to both unvaccinated and vaccinated animals. This study surveyed dogs with or without clinical signs related to canine distemper from different regions of Brazil from 2008 to 2012. A total of 155 out of 386 animals were found to be CDV positive by RT-PCR; 37 (23.8%) dogs were asymptomatic at the time of sampling, and 90 (58%) displayed clinical signs suggestive of distemper. Nineteen (12.2%) dogs had a record of complete vaccination, 15 (9.6%) had an incomplete vaccination protocol, and 76 (49%) had no vaccination record. Based on the sequence analysis of the complete hemagglutinin gene of 13 samples, 12 of the strains were characterized as Genotype South America-I/Europe. Considering criteria of at least 95% nucleotide identity to define a genotype and 98% to define a subgenotype, South America-I/Europe sequences segregated into eight different phylogenetically well-defined clusters that circulated or co-circulated in distinct geographical areas. Together, these findings highlight the relevance of CDV infection in Brazilian dogs, demonstrate the predominance of one genotype in Brazil and support the need to intensify the current control measures.

Typing of canine parvovirus strains circulating in Brazil between 2008 and 2010.

Detection and characterisation of the canine parvovirus (CPV-2) strains that are currently circulating are essential for the understanding of viral evolution and the development of measures to control its spread. In the present study, stool samples from 144 dogs were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for CPV-2, and 29.2% (42/144) of them were positive. From the 42 positive strains, 71.4% (30) of the dogs had signs of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. The sequencing of the 583 bp fragment of the VP2 gene from the positive strains identified 78.6% (33/42) of them as type 2c, 19% (8/42) as type 2b and 2.4% (1/42) as type 2a. A phylogenetic analysis of the variants circulating in the canine population of Brazil showed that they are very similar to those found in other countries and type 2c has become the predominant type circulating in Brazil.

Soroepidemiologia de Toxoplasma gondii em gatos domiciliados atendidos em clínicas particulares de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil / Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats treated in private clinics of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Com o objetivo de contribuir com dados sobre freqüência de anticorpos para Toxoplasma em felinos domiciliados da cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, soros de 245 animais foram testados pelas técnicas sorológicas de Hemaglutinação Indireta (HAI) e Imunofluorescência Indireta (IFI). Informações sobre o animal, tais como raça, sexo, idade, acesso ou não à rua e tipo de alimentação, foram avaliadas por meio de questionário epidemiológico e análise estatística para correlacionar com os resultados obtidos na sorologia. Os resultados dos testes mostraram que os valores encontrados foram de 26,9 por cento (HAI) e 37,9 por cento (IFI), inferindo que esses gatos em algum momento de sua vida foram fonte de contaminação ambiental, sendo eliminadores potenciais de oocistos, principalmente aqueles que tiveram livre acesso à rua.

The sera of 245 cats from Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, were tested by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) in order to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma antibodies. Information such as breed, sex, age and access or not to the street and dietary habits were assessed using an epidemiological questionnaire and also statistical analysis for correlation with the serological results obtained. The test results showed rates of 26,9 and 37,9 percent for IHA and IIF, respectively, suggesting that these cats have acted as a source of environmental contamination at some time during the course of their lifetime, possibly shedding oocysts, especially those with free access to the street.

First detection of canine parvovirus type 2c in Brazil / Detecção de parvovírus canino tipo 2c no Brasil

The presence of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), 2a and 2b has been described in Brazil, however, the type 2c had not been reported until now. In the current study, seven out of nine samples from dogs with diarrhea were characterized as CPV-2c, indicating that this virus is already circulating in the Brazilian canine population.

No Brasil, a presença do parvovírus canino do tipo 2 (CPV-2), 2a e 2b já havia sido descrita, contudo, ainda não havia sido verificada a presença do tipo 2c. No presente trabalho, sete de nove amostras de cães com diarréia foram caracterizadas como CPV-2c, indicando que este vírus já está circulando na população canina no Brasil.

First detection of canine parvovirus type 2c in Brazil.

The presence of canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), 2a and 2b has been described in Brazil, however, the type 2c had not been reported until now. In the current study, seven out of nine samples from dogs with diarrhea were characterized as CPV-2c, indicating that this virus is already circulating in the Brazilian canine population.