PNEUMONIA ASIÁTICA: UMA PEQUENA REVISÃO

Neste artigo abordam-se alguns aspectos da “SARS” (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) ouPneumonia Asiática como ficou conhecida no Brasil. A epidemiologia, os sinais clínicos, o diagnóstico e as estratégias de tratamento utilizadas para controlar a enfermidade são aqui revisados deforma resumida. Enfatiza-se a história natural desta importante doença infecciosa emergente e seurápido controle através da ação conjunta de microbiologistas, epidemiologistas, e clínicos de váriospaíses. Esta ação não teria sido possível sem o conhecimento acumulado ao longo de muitasdécadas de pesquisa básica

Ocorrência de Leptospira spp. e fatores associados à infecção em equinos de contingente militar no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

The seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. and infection risk factors were investigated in horses from a military contingent in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A total of 446 horses were evaluated and categorized into 309 mares, 11 stallions, and 126 horses with an average age of three years. To determine seroprevalence, serum samples from all horses were submitted to the microscopic agglutination test against 12 serovars belonging to nine serogroups, usually circulating in equine populations. To investigate the possible risk factors of infection by Leptospira spp., questionnaires were applied in that military unit. The seroprevalence in the horses with an average age of 3 years, mares, and stallions were 57.94% (73/126), 54.05% (165/309), and 45.45% (5/11), respectively. The main risk factors identified were contact with different water sources, the presence of rodents, and contact with wild and domestic animals. The high seroprevalence of anti‑Leptospira spp. antibodies may be associated with the presence of these risk factors. Therefore, the exposure of horses to possible reservoirs of Leptospira spp. should be minimized. Also, the immunoprophylaxis protocol should be reviewed and a shorter interval between vaccinations adopted to control leptospirosis in this herd. A soroprevalência de Leptospira spp. e os fatores de risco para infecção foram investigados em cavalos de um contingente militar no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Um total de 446 cavalos foram avaliados e categorizados em 309 éguas, 11 garanhões e 126 cavalos com idade média de três anos. Para determinação da soroprevalência, amostras de soro de todos os equinos foram submetidas ao teste de aglutinação microscópica contra 12 sorovares pertencentes a nove sorogrupos, normalmente circulantes em populações equinas. Para investigar os possíveis fatores de risco da infecção por Leptospira spp., foi aplicado um questionário naquela unidade militar. A soroprevalência nos cavalos com idade média de três anos, éguas e garanhões foi de 57,94% (73/126), 54,05% (165/309) e 45,45% (5/11), respectivamente. Os principais fatores de risco identificados foram o contato com diferentes fontes de água, a presença de roedores e o contato com animais silvestres e domésticos. A alta soroprevalência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. pode estar associada à presença desses fatores de risco. Portanto, a exposição destes equinos aos possíveis reservatórios de Leptospira spp. deve ser minimizada. Além disso, o protocolo de imunoprofilaxia deve ser revisto e, possivelmente, um menor intervalo entre as vacinas deve ser adotado para o controle da leptospirose neste plantel

Analysis of virus host interactions following infection with bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1)

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is an important pathogen of cattle that causes respiratory and reproductive disease. BHV-1 induces latency in sensory ganglia that innervate the site of primary infection. The latency-related (LR) gene is the only BHV-1 gene abundantly expressed during latency, suggesting that LR gene products regulate the latency/reactivation cycle. A mutant virus with three stop codons at the beginning of the open reading frames within the LR gene has been constructed in our laboratory (Inman, M, Lovato, L, Doster, A, Jones, C. J. Virol. 75:8507–8515, 2001). To determine the effects of LR gene products on distinct aspects of BHV-1 pathogenesis, calves were infected with the LR mutant virus or wt BHV-1 and virological and molecular studies performed. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the LR mutant virus does not efficiently colonize the trigeminal ganglia (TG) or conjunctiva of infected calves when compared to the wt BHV-1. Apoptosis analysis by TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry for cleaved capase 3 indicated that the LR mutant virus induced higher amounts of apoptosis in TG when compared to wt. The ability of the virus to induce latency in lymphoreticular tissues was also examined. Viral DNA was consistently detected in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) of calves infected with wt BHV-1 or LR mutant virus after acute infection, suggesting viral DNA persisted in these cell types. The levels of heat shock proteins (hsp) were examined in cultured cells following infection with wt BHV-1 or the LR mutant virus. Hsps 60, 70, 90, and 25, protein levels were not dramatically altered after infection. In summary, a mutation in the LR gene of BHV-1 impaired establishment and reactivation from latency, in part, because LR gene products inhibit apoptosis. In contrast, the LR gene mutation does not appear to affect viral persistence in PBMC

Epidemiological status of felid herpesvirus type-1 and feline calicivirus infections in Brazil

Feline calicivirus (FCV) and felid herpesvirus type-1 (FeHV-1) are the main infectious agents of domestic and wild felines worldwide. The FCV and FeHV-1 viruses were isolated in Brazil in 1988 and 2012, respectively. Serology surveys were performed among domestic feline in the State of Rio Grande do Sul and among wild felines in central Brazilian States. Felines with acute or chronic infections may become carriers for both viruses and, viral transmission occurs mainly by ocular and nasal secretions. In addition, FCV may be transmitted by oropharyngeal secretion and fomites. The clinical signs commonly observed in cats are fever, sneezing, coughing and nasal and ocular discharge; however, oral lesions are restricted to FCV infection. A systemic syndrome showing hemorrhagic lesions, alopecia, facial edema and jaundice has been associated with FCV. Attenuated as well as inactivated vaccines against FCV and FeHV-1 were developed in the middle 1970s, and they are effective at reducing the presentation/development of the diseases, but they are not capable of eliminating the persistence of FCV and FeHV-1. This article presents a brief review of the main aspects of the FCV and FeHV-1 infections, with an emphasis in the current situation on the domestic feline population from Brazil