Dinâmica comportamental do citomegalovírus (CMV) em uma população de macacos Rhesus (Macaca mulata) cativos / Behavioural dynamics of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in a captive Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) population

O citomegalovírus (CMV) é uma zoonose oportunista de primatas do gênero Macaca imunocomprometidos e representa uma importante variável na interferência dos resultados experimentais das pesquisas realizadas em primatas infectados por este agente. Tendo em vista que o CMV é uma das principais viroses capaz de acarretar infecções congênitas e problemas reprodutivos, o presente estudo teve o objetivo de traçar o perfil sorológico de uma colônia de criação de macacos rhesus destinados à pesquisa biomédica, analisando a dinâmica comportamental deste vírus endêmico na população animal. Um total de 272 amostras sorológicas foram analisadas pelo teste de ELISA para detecção de anticorpos IgG anti-RhCMV. A soroprevalência da criação estudada foi de 95%, com elevado percentual de anticorpos em todas as faixas etárias. Com exceção dos juvenis (62% de machos positivos e 74% de fêmeas positivas), 100% de soropositividade foi detectada nas outras idades. Além disso, nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada na prevalência entre os sexos. Os resultados fornecem subsídios importantes para investigar fatores que podem interferir nos índices reprodutivos da colônia, bem como para direcionar condutas futuras no manejo animal, a fim de prevenir esta zoonose e conseqüentemente, obter animais de melhor qualidade nas pesquisas biomédicas.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic zoonosis of immunocompromised macaques and represents an important confounding variable for researches using this simian gender. Since CMV is one of the main viruses capable of leading to congenital infections and reproductive problems, the present study aimed to describe the serological profile of a breeding colony of rhesus monkeys used for biomedical research, analyzing the behavioral dynamics of this endemic virus in this animal population. A total of 272 serum samples were analyzed by ELISA for detection of anti-RhCMV IgG antibodies. Seroprevalence of the study colony was 95%, with a high percentage of antibodies in all age groups. With the exception of juvenile animals (62% of positive males and 74% of positive females), 100 % of seropositivity was detected in the other ages. Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the prevalence between sex. Results provide important insights to investigate factors that may interfere with the reproductive rates of the colony, as well as to guide future conduct in animal handling, in order to avoid this zoonosis and consequently obtaint better quality animals for biomedical research.

Dinâmica comportamental do citomegalovírus (CMV) em uma população de macacos Rhesus (Macaca mulata) cativos / Behavioural dynamics of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in a captive Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) population

O citomegalovírus (CMV) é uma zoonose oportunista de primatas do gênero Macaca imunocomprometidos e representa uma importante variável na interferência dos resultados experimentais das pesquisas realizadas em primatas infectados por este agente. Tendo em vista que o CMV é uma das principais viroses capaz de acarretar infecções congênitas e problemas reprodutivos, o presente estudo teve o objetivo de traçar o perfil sorológico de uma colônia de criação de macacos rhesus destinados à pesquisa biomédica, analisando a dinâmica comportamental deste vírus endêmico na população animal. Um total de 272 amostras sorológicas foram analisadas pelo teste de ELISA para detecção de anticorpos IgG anti-RhCMV. A soroprevalência da criação estudada foi de 95%, com elevado percentual de anticorpos em todas as faixas etárias. Com exceção dos juvenis (62% de machos positivos e 74% de fêmeas positivas), 100% de soropositividade foi detectada nas outras idades. Além disso, nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada na prevalência entre os sexos. Os resultados fornecem subsídios importantes para investigar fatores que podem interferir nos índices reprodutivos da colônia, bem como para direcionar condutas futuras no manejo animal, a fim de prevenir esta zoonose e conseqüentemente, obter animais de melhor qualidade nas pesquisas biomédicas. (AU)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic zoonosis of immunocompromised macaques and represents an important confounding variable for researches using this simian gender. Since CMV is one of the main viruses capable of leading to congenital infections and reproductive problems, the present study aimed to describe the serological profile of a breeding colony of rhesus monkeys used for biomedical research, analyzing the behavioral dynamics of this endemic virus in this animal population. A total of 272 serum samples were analyzed by ELISA for detection of anti-RhCMV IgG antibodies. Seroprevalence of the study colony was 95%, with a high percentage of antibodies in all age groups. With the exception of juvenile animals (62% of positive males and 74% of positive females), 100 % of seropositivity was detected in the other ages. Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the prevalence between sex. Results provide important insights to investigate factors that may interfere with the reproductive rates of the colony, as well as to guide future conduct in animal handling, in order to avoid this zoonosis and consequently obtaint better quality animals for biomedical research. (AU)

PP65 antigenemia in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in AIDS patients

Cytomegalovirus causes significant morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients and those having undergone bone marrow or another transplant. PP65 antigenemia is based on detecting viral antigen in peripheral blood leukocytes through immunochemistry and by monitoring the infection in immunocompromised individuals. The present study aimed to set up this diagnostic technique in AIDS patients with active cytomegalovirus infection and verify its occurrence in the Botucatu region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Fifty patients, 35 men and 15 women aged from 24 to 69 years, were recruited from those attended at the Department of Tropical Diseases of Botucatu Medical School, UNESP, and divided into three groups according to CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and antiretroviral treatment. The control group comprised bone marrow transplant patients. Fourteen AIDS patients with low CD4+ cell counts tested positive for PP65 antigenemia, which could predict cytomegalovirus infection and indicate prophylactic treatment.(AU)

Detection of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in coronary atherosclerotic tissue

Previous studies indicated that patients with atherosclerosis are predominantly infected by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), but rarely infected by type 1 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-1). In this study, atheromas of 30 patients who underwent aortocoronary bypass surgery with coronary endartherectomy were tested for the presence of these two viruses. HCMV occurred in 93.3% of the samples and EBV-1 was present in 50% of them. Concurrent presence of both pathogens was detected in 43.3% of the samples.

Active human Cytomegalovirus infection and Glycoprotein B genotypes in Brazilian pediatric renal or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients

A prospective analysis of active Human Cytomegalovirus infection (HCMV) was conducted on 33 pediatric renal or hematopoietic stem cell post-transplant patients. The HCMV-DNA positive samples were evaluated for the prevalence of different gB subtypes and their subsequent correlation with clinical signs. The surveillance of HCMV active infection was based on the monitoring of antigenemia (AGM) and on a nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) for the detection of HCMV in the patients studied. Using restriction analysis of the gB gene sequence by PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism), different HCMV strains could be detected and classified in at least four HCMV genotypes. Thirty-three pediatric recipients of renal or bone marrow transplantation were monitored. Twenty out of thirty-three (60.6%) patients demonstrated active HCMV infection. gB1 and gB2 genotypes were more frequent in this population. In this study, we observed that gB2 had correlation with reactivation of HCMV infection and that patients with mixture of genotypes did not show any symptoms of HCMV disease. Future studies has been made to confirm this.

Active human Cytomegalovirus infection and Glycoprotein B genotypes in Brazilian pediatric renal or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients

A prospective analysis of active Human Cytomegalovirus infection (HCMV) was conducted on 33 pediatric renal or hematopoietic stem cell post-transplant patients. The HCMV-DNA positive samples were evaluated for the prevalence of different gB subtypes and their subsequent correlation with clinical signs. The surveillance of HCMV active infection was based on the monitoring of antigenemia (AGM) and on a nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) for the detection of HCMV in the patients studied. Using restriction analysis of the gB gene sequence by PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism), different HCMV strains could be detected and classified in at least four HCMV genotypes. Thirty-three pediatric recipients of renal or bone marrow transplantation were monitored. Twenty out of thirty-three (60.6%) patients demonstrated active HCMV infection. gB1 and gB2 genotypes were more frequent in this population. In this study, we observed that gB2 had correlation with reactivation of HCMV infection and that patients with mixture of genotypes did not show any symptoms of HCMV disease. Future studies has been made to confirm this.

Cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in a Brazilian liver transplant waiting

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplantation. Disseminated toxoplasmosis after liver transplantation is a rare but fatal event. Serologic screening of the donor and the recipient is essential to prophylactic management, early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies to minimize the consequences of these infections. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of CMV and Toxoplasma gondii (TG) in a Brazilian liver transplant waiting list (LTWL). Serological data were collected from 44 candidates on the LTWL between May 2003 and November 2004. Serological investigation of antibodies IgM and IgG against CMV (anti-CMV) and TG (anti-T. gondii) was performed using fluorometry commercial kits. IgG anti-CMV was positive in 37 patients (94.9%) out of 39 available results. There were not IgM anti-CMV positive results. Out of 36 analyzed patients, 22 (61.1%) presented positive IgG anti-T. gondii and none had positive IgM anti-T. gondii. The high CMV seroprevalence among our LTWL reinforces the need for appropriate protocols to avoid related complications, like reactivation and superinfection by CMV. Environmental and drug prophylactic strategies against primary infection and reactivation, as well as early diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis complications, are essential for the good outcome of transplant patients.

HCMV gB genotypes in cervical secretion and placenta tissues in the state of Espírito Santo, Southeastearn Brazil

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) displays genetic variability in several regions, supposed to be related with strain-specific tissue tropism and immunopathogenesis. Based on sequence variation in the UL55 gene that encodes gB glycoprotein, HCMV strains can be assigned to one of four genotypes. Previous studies have addressed gB genotyping mostly by investigating strains derived from immunosuppressed patients, sometimes without previous knowledge about genotype distribution in a geographic area. The present study verified the distribution of HCMV gB genotypes of strains obtained from immunocompetent women at Vitória City, Espírito Santo State, Southeastern, Brazil. The HCMV genome was extracted from their cervical secretion, fetal and maternal placenta tissues (chorionic villous and decidua) from abortion cases and from white blood cells (WBCs). HCMV genotyping was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of amplified product from the high variability site of the UL55 gene. All four genotypes were observed in both cervical secretion and placenta, whereas in WBCs a single gB1 genotype was detected. HCMV gB1 and gB2 genotypes were detected, respectively, in nine and in six of the 23 studied samples, while gB3 and gB4 were each found in four separate samples of the total. The differences in genotype frequency were not considered statistically significant. No mixed genotype infection was observed. The results indicated that the four gB HCMV genotypes had no particular tropism for placenta tissues and that all genotypes circulated within immunocompetent women at the time and in the region of study.

O citomegalovírus humano (HCMV) apresenta variabilidade em diversas regiões do genoma, supostamente relacionada ao tropismo tecidual e imunopatogênese viral. Baseando-se na variação de seqüência do gene UL55 que codifica a glicoproteína gB, o HCMV pode ser classificado em um dos quatro genótipos. Estudos prévios têm investigado a associação destes genótipos a partir de cepas obtidas de pacientes imunossuprimidos. O presente estudo determinou os genótipos gB de cepas de HCMV obtidas de mulheres imunocompetentes em Vitória, Espírito Santo, Sudeste do Brasil. O genoma do HCMV foi extraído de secreção cervical, tecidos placentários fetais e maternos (vilosidade coriônica e decídua) obtidos de casos de aborto e de leucócitos do sangue periférico. A genotipagem foi realizada através da análise de polimorfismo de fragmentos de restrição do produto amplificado da região de alta variabilidade do gene UL55. Todos os quatro genótipos foram detectados na secreção cervical e na placenta, enquanto que somente o genótipo gB1 foi detectado em leucócitos. Genótipos gB1 e gB2 foram detectados em nove e seis das 23 cepas estudadas, respectivamente, enquanto gB3 e gB4 foram encontrados cada um em quatro casos. A diferença na freqüência de genótipos não foi estatisticamente significante. Infecção mista não foi detectada. Estes resultados indicam que os quarto genótipos de HCMV apresentam tropismo para os tecidos placentários e que todos eles circularam nas mulheres imunocompetentes no período e região geográfica do estudo.

Perfil de eliminação de agentes infecciosos envolvidos em rinite na espécie suína / Elimination profile of infectious agents related with rhinitis in swine specie

As doenças respiratórias estão entre as maiores causas de prejuízo para a indústria suinícola, seja pelo retardo no crescimento e ganho de peso, mortalidade de animais ou pelos gastos com vacinas, medicamentos e assistência veterinária. Neste contexto os quadros de rinite têm apresentado uma contribuição significativa. O presente estudo propõe a determinação dos perfis de eliminação de agentes envolvidos em rinite nos suínos avaliando diferentes faixas etárias em nove propriedades de ciclo completo com histórico de lesão em cornetos e que utilizem diferentes formas de prevenção e controle destas manifestações. Foram avaliados suabes de tonsilas de 12 animais, nas seguintes faixas etárias: matrizes, leitões de 20, 40 e 60 dias, suínos de 90, 110 e 140 dias, totalizando 84 animais por propriedade e 756 amostras em todo o estudo. As amostras foram submetidas à pesquisa de P. multocida tipo capsular A e D, gene codificador de toxina dermonecrótica de P. multocida, B. bronchiseptica e cytomegalovirus suíno através da reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR). Apesar do histórico de lesões em corneto em todas as propriedades apenas um animal foi positivo para presença de P. multocida tipo A e todos foram negativos para a presença do gene codificador da toxina dermonecrótica. Dentre os 756 animais 22 (2,9%) foram positivos para presença de B. bronchiseptica e 198 (26,1%) para detecção cytomegalovirus suíno. A presença B. bronchiseptica apresentou associação estatisticamente significativa com as fases de maternidade e terminação. A maior freqüência de cytomegalovirus suíno apresentou associação estatisticamente significativa com a fase de creche. Observaram-se matrizes eliminando B. bronchiseptica nos três tipos de granjas avaliadas, indicando que a fêmeas tem participação ativa na infecção dos leitões pelo agente. O mesmo não foi detectado na disseminação do cytomegalovirus suíno. Maiores estudos devem ser realizados para esclarecer a baixa eliminação de P. multocida e o verdadeiro impacto do cytomegalovirus nos rebanhos suínos

Respiratory diseases are one of the largest cause of economic losses in swine industry, it is related with grown and weight gain reduction, mortality, vaccines and medicaments costs, veterinary assistance. In that context, rinithis cases have been a major contribution. The present study propose the determination of elimination profile of agents related with rhinitis evaluating different ages in nine swine herds with history of cornet lesions and that uses different ways to control and prevent this problem. There were examined tonsils swabs from 12 animals in the following ages: sows, piglets of 20, 40 60 days and pigs of 90, 110 and 140 days, totalizing 84 pigs for farm. The swabs were searched to P. multocida capsular type A and D, dermonecrotic toxin gene from P. multocida, B. bronchiseptica and porcine cytomegalovirus through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Despite de turbinate bones lesions present in all herds P. multocida type A was detected in only one pig and none were positive to dermonecrotic toxin gene. From 756 animals, 22 (2.9%) were positive to B. bronchiseptica and 198 (26.1%) to porcine cytomegalovirus detection. The presence of B. bronchiseptica presented statistical association with the farrowing and finishing times. Larger number of animals positive to cytomegalovirus show statistical association with the post weaning pigs. Sows carrying B. bronchiseptica in the three types of herds examined, suggesting that sows have an active participation in piglet infection by this agent. The same was not observed in porcine cytomegalovirus spread. More projects were need to clarify the low detection of P. multocida and to understand the impact of cytomegalovirus in swine production