Feline coronavirus isolates from a part of Brazil: insights into molecular epidemiology and phylogeny inferred from the 7b gene.

The Feline coronavirus (FCoV) can lead to Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which the precise cause is still unknown. The theory of internal mutation suggests that a less virulent biotype of FCoV (FECV) would lead to another more pathogenic biotype (FIPV) capable of causing FIP. In this work, the 7b gene was amplified from 51 domestic cat plasma samples by semi-nested PCR and tested through phylogenetic and phylogeographical approaches. The 7b gene of Brazilian isolates displayed high conservation, a strong correlation between the geographic origin of the viral isolates and their genealogy, and its evolution was possibly shaped by a combination of high rates of nucleotide substitution and purifying selection.

Evaluation of cardiac involvement during dengue viral infection.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a disease whose clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic infections to a severe disease. There have been some previous reports of myocardial involvement in dengue, but this association has not been completely established. METHODS: From January to July of 2011, patients hospitalized with dengue, confirmed through dengue nonstructural protein 1 and/or immunoglobulin M detection, were included in this study and troponin I and N terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide levels were determined. Patients with abnormal biomarkers underwent echocardiography and when any abnormality was detected, they underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were evaluated and 12 patients (15%) presented with elevated biomarker levels. Compared to controls, they had higher leukocyte (P < .001) and platelet counts (P = .005); higher C-reactive protein (P = .02), and a lower viral load (P = .03). There was no difference according to clinical dengue classification; dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome severity; duration of symptoms; or prevalence of secondary infection between the 2 groups. Two patients died secondary to cardiogenic shock before imaging studies. Necroscopic findings were compatible to myocarditis in both, and immunohistochemistry for dengue virus showed increased staining on mononuclear cells located in the myocardial tissue. Of the 10 patients who underwent echocardiography, depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was identified in 1, left ventricular segmental abnormalities with preserved LVEF in 2, and an important pericardial effusion with tamponade in another. Cardiac involvement was confirmed by CMR in these 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue viruses were shown to cause cardiac disease with clinical manifestations ranging from mild elevation of biomarkers to myocarditis and/or pericarditis.

Retrospective study on Porcine circovirus-2 by nested pcr and real time pcr in archived tissues from 1978 in Brazil

Porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) infection is currently considered an important disease of swine. The pathogenic agent was first described in Brazil in 2000. This study detected the PCV-2 DNA in four Brazilian pig tissues collected between 1978 and 1979. This observation is the oldest description of this virus in Brazil.

The paradox of feline coronavirus pathogenesis: a review.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus, of the family Coronaviridae and the order Nidovirales. FCoV is an important pathogen of wild and domestic cats and can cause a mild or apparently symptomless enteric infection, especially in kittens. FCoV is also associated with a lethal, systemic disease known as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Although the precise cause of FIP pathogenesis remains unclear, some hypotheses have been suggested. In this review we present results from different FCoV studies and attempt to elucidate existing theories on the pathogenesis of FCoV infection.

Retrospective study on Porcine circovirus-2 by nested pcr and real time pcr in archived tissues from 1978 in brazil.

Porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) infection is currently considered an important disease of swine. The pathogenic agent was first described in Brazil in 2000. This study detected the PCV-2 DNA in four Brazilian pig tissues collected between 1978 and 1979. This observation is the oldest description of this virus in Brazil.