Multiple bluetongue virus serotypes causing death in Brazilian dwarf brocket deer (Mazama nana) in Brazil, 2015-2016.

Bela Vista Biological Sanctuary (RBV) is a protected area of Itaipu Binacional, a hydroelectric power company located on the border of Brazil and Paraguay. A captive population of Brazilian dwarf brocket deer (Mazama nana, Cervidae, Artiodactyla) is maintained for conservation purposes. Despite the reproductive success of the animals, outbreaks of a fatal hemorrhagic disease have been registered over the years, compromising conservation efforts. In order to identify the etiological agents of these hemorrhagic diseases, 32 captive Brazilian dwarf brockets were sampled to investigate bluetongue virus (BTV), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and adenovirus hemorrhagic disease (AHD), in 2015. Only one deer (1/32; 3.12%) was seropositive for BTV. After this survey, five animals died in the early autumn of 2015 and 2016, again presenting clinical signs of hemorrhagic disease. Using RT-qPCR, RT-PCR and DNA sequencing, five BTV serotypes (3, 14, 18, 19, and 22) were identified in blood and tissues collected during necropsies. These BTV serotypes had not been previously described or isolated in Brazil, either in wild or domestic ruminants. Additionally, differential diagnosis was performed for EHD and AHD, but all samples were negative for both diseases. The multiple distinct BTV serotypes identified in these outbreaks resulted in a high lethality (100%) of Brazilian dwarf brockets and indicated that various BTV serotypes are circulating in the area.

First molecular screening of Plasmodium species in ungulates from Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Despite malaria epidemiology has been extensively studied in primates, few studies were conducted in ungulates. After half a century without descriptions of Plasmodium spp. in deer since its first identification, recent research has rediscovered Plasmodium on ungulates in Africa, Asia, North America and South America, including Central Brazil. Here, a captive herd was evaluated in southern Brazil using light microscopy and PCR. DNA samples were tested for fragment amplification of two Plasmodium spp. genes: mitochondrial cytochrome b and small subunit ribosomal RNA. RESULTS: All analyses were negative. However, the tests were performed on samples that were collected at a single time point, and parasitemia may fluctuate over the parasite's life cycle. Thus, the possibility of occult infection cannot be ruled out. Despite the negative results of all of the methods applied, it cannot be categorically stated that these animals are free from Plasmodium sp. infection. Further monitoring and/or multiple sequential sampling may improve the success rate of detecting parasites. Moreover, although this survey of Plasmodium represents the first molecular study on ungulate malaria parasites from Southern Brazil, further analysis of samples from different ungulate species is important for characterizing the epidemiology of Plasmodium of these mammals in this region.

Occurrence of antibodies anti -Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leptospira interrogans in a captive deer herd in Southern Brazil.

A large number of Brazilian zoos keep many endangered species of deer, however, very few disease surveillance studies have been conducted among captive cervids. Blood samples from 32 Brazilian deer (Blastocerus dichotomus, Mazama nana and Mazama americana) kept in captivity at Bela Vista Biological Sanctuary (Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil) were investigated for 10 ruminant pathogens, with the aims of monitoring deer health status and evaluating any potential zoonotic risk. Deer serum samples were tested for Brucella abortus, Leptospira (23 serovars), Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, bovine viral diarrhea virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, western equine encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Antibodies against T. gondii (15.6%), N. caninum (6.2%) and L. interrogans serogroup Serjoe (3.1%) were detected. The serological results for all other infectious agents were negative. The deer were considered to be clinically healthy and asymptomatic regarding any disease. Compared with studies on free-ranging deer, the prevalences of the same agents tested among the captive deer kept at the Sanctuary were lower, thus indicating good sanitary conditions and high-quality management practices at the zoo.

Mycoplasma ovis in captive cervids: prevalence, molecular characterization and phylogeny.

Hemotrophic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are bacteria that attach to red blood cells of mammals, leading to acute and/or subclinical disease in infected animals. It has been suggested that Mycoplasma ovis, a hemoplasma that infects sheep and goats worldwide, may also infect deer. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether South American deer are infected with M. ovis. EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples from a herd of 32 captive South American deer were collected. DNA extraction of blood samples was performed followed by PCR amplification of the 16S and 23S rRNA genes, and sequencing of products. Using M. ovis PCR, 27/31 (87%) were positive, including 21/22 Mazama nana; 2/3 Mazama americana and 4/6 Blastocerus dichotomus. Sequencing of the nearly entire 16S rRNA gene of 26/27 positive samples showed 98.2-98.8% identity to M. ovis of sheep (GenBank, AF338268) and 98.6-99.4% identity to M. ovis-like of a fawn (FJ824847); the 23S rRNA gene from one of these isolates and the fawn's had 97.6% identity. The remaining isolate had just 94.9% identity to the 16S rRNA gene of M. ovis and only 89.4% identity to the 23S rRNA gene of the fawn's M. ovis. This is the first report of M. ovis in captive South American deer, revealing a high prevalence of hemoplasma infection in these animals.