Canine distemper in neotropical procyonids: Molecular evidence, humoral immune response and epidemiology.

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) can produce a fatal multisystem disease in carnivores and other mammals and is an important threat for wildlife conservation. However, integrative and comparative studies in wild carnivores are scarce and some areas of the world lack of genetic studies. We explore the dynamic of host-CDV in a procyonid community during an outbreak. This study reports for the first time an index case occurred in a common raccoon (Procyon lotor) and for which a complete CDV diagnosis was performed. The long-term epidemiological analysis in two sympatric populations of common raccoons and white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica) was achieved through seroneutralization, RT-PCR and direct immunofluorescence assays. Additionally, hematologic analyses were performed and phylogenetic reconstruction of CDV was done using molecular data from this study. Overall prevalence for white-nosed coatis was 19.6 % and for common raccoons was 25.3 % by seroneutralization, and 13.3 % and 17.3 % by RT-PCR. Antibodies titer average for white-nosed coatis was 1:512 and 1:156 for common raccoons. Significant difference in prevalence between white-nosed coatis and common raccoons was detected during one season (summer 2013). White-nosed coatis showed differences in erythrocytes and monocytes counts between positives and negative animals. A 100 % similarity was found between CDV of white-nosed coati and CDV of common raccoon and is a new CDV sequence not previously described; this sequence is close to Asian and European lineage. An endemic state of distemper in both species was observed but showed different dynamics over time per host species. Differences in cellular and humoral responses were also detected between procyonids. The evidence found here may have serious implications for CDV understanding in wild carnivores, it reveals clear differences in the response over time to the same CDV strain, in two close related carnivore species.

Unexpected rabies variant identified in kinkajou (Potos flavus), Mato Grosso, Brazil.

A second case of a novel rabies variant described once in a capuchin monkey from Mato Grosso, Brazil, was discovered in a rabid wild kinkajou from the same region, indicating a public health risk following exposure to either of the two animals.

Canine parvovirus 2b in fecal samples of asymptomatic free-living South American coatis (Nasua nasua, Linnaeus, 1766).

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is classified into three subtypes (CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c) and is the main cause of enteritis and myocarditis in young domestic and wild animals. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of CPV-2 in the feces of asymptomatic free-living coatis from Garden Forest Reserve, Palmital city, SP, Brazil. Fecal samples from 21 coatis (both sexes, different ages, and different aspects of feces) were collected in August 2014 and March 2015. The nucleic acid extracted was submitted to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to amplify a fragment of the VP2 gene of CPV-2. Eight (38%) fecal samples were positive in the PCR assay and were confirmed by sequencing. The 7 nucleotide (nt) sequences analyzed showed 100% nt identity with the prototype strain of CPV-2b (CPV-39 strain). The analysis of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence revealed the presence of the GAT codon (aa D-Asp) at position 426 of the VP2 viral protein (subtype 2b). This study describes for the first time the identification of CPV-2b in asymptomatic free-living coatis (Nasua nasua) and suggests that coatis are susceptible to Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 infection and are important as a reservoir and an asymptomatic carrier to other wild and domestic animal species.

Immunohistochemical evidence of canine morbillivirus (canine distemper) infection in coatis (Nasua nasua) from Southern Brazil.

The pathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) findings associated with infection due to canine morbilivírus (canine distemper virus, CDV) are described in coatis (Nasua nasua). Tissue fragments of coatis (n = 13) that died at the Bela Vista Sanctuary, Paraná, Southern Brazil, were routinely processed for histopathology to identify the main histopathologic patterns as compared to that of the domestic dog. Selected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue fragments of the lungs, liver, urinary bladder and small intestine were used in IHC assays designed to identify the antigens of CDV, canine adenovirus (CAdV-1 and CAdV-2) and canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). The main histopathologic patterns identified were interstitial pneumonia (n = 9), interstitial nephritis (n = 6), atrophic enteritis (n = 4) and ballooning degeneration of the uroepithelium (n = 3). Positive immunolabelling for intralesional antigens of CDV was identified in the lung with interstitial pneumonia (n = 3), in the intestine (n = 2) and in the degenerated epithelium of the urinary bladder (n = 2). Antigens of CPV-2, CAdV-1 and CAdV-2 were not identified in any FFPE tissue sections evaluated. These findings indicate that these wild carnivores were infected by a viral disease pathogen common to the domestic dog and develop similar histopathologic findings. Collectively, these findings suggest that these coatis were infected by CDV and can serve as a potential host for this infectious disease pathogen.

First characterization of a canine parvovirus causing fatal disease in coatis (Nasua nasua).

A canine parvovirus (CPV)-like virus was detected by PCR and isolated from dead coatis in Argentina. Analysis of the full-length genome sequence revealed that it resembled CPV-but also contained a mutation in the VP2 protein (Arg377Ser) that has not been described previously. This is the first report of a CPV-like virus producing clinical disease in coatis. Genetic similarity to CPV-2c viruses detected in Brazil suggests a strong relationship between these viruses. Although the pathogenic potential of CPV- and feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)-like strains in wild animals is still not completely understood, this study highlights the importance of parvoviruses as a threat to wildlife if proper conditions are present.

ENDEMIC ORTHOPOXVIRUS CIRCULATING IN PROCYONIDS IN MEXICO.

Limited serosurveillance studies suggested that orthopoxviruses (OPXV) are widespread in the US (e.g., Raccoonpox virus, Skunkpox virus, Volepox virus) and Brazil (Vaccinia virus); however, their animal reservoir(s) remain unconfirmed. Mexican mammal diversity includes several species related to those in which evidence for OPXV infections has been found (Oryzomys, Peromyscus, Microtus, and Procyonidae). The presence of these groups of mammals in Mexico and the evidence of their possible involvement in the maintenance of OPXV in nature suggest the same or similar OPXV are circulating in Mexico. We tested 201 sera from 129 procyonids via modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) to estimate OPXV antibody prevalence in these animals. We detected a prevalence of 16.67% in Nasua narica (white-nosed coati), 35% in Procyon lotor (raccoon), and 30.4% in Bassariscus astutus (ring-tailed cat) when tested by either ELISA or WB. Western blot results presented protein bands consistent with the size of some OPXV immunodominant bands (14, 18, 32, 36, and 62 kDa). These results support the hypothesis that OPXV circulate in at least three genera of Procyonidae in Central and Southeast Mexico.

Poxvirus infection outbreak in common ringtails (Pseudocheirus peregrinus).

Viruses belonging to the Poxviridae family have long been recognised as pathogens of invertebrates and vertebrates alike. Poxvirus infection in Australian macropodids is well described, but few cases have been documented in marsupial species beyond this family. Only one instance has been previously reported in the common ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). This case report describes a poxvirus infection outbreak in a group of common ringtails held within a zoological collection in eastern Australia.