ABSTRACT
Orf virus (ORFV), the prototype of the genus Parapoxvirus, is the aetiological agent of contagious ecthyma (CE), a pustular dermatitis that afflicts domestic and wild small ruminants. CE is one of the most widespread poxvirus diseases in the world, causing public health impacts. Outbreaks of ORFV have been observed in all geographical regions of Brazil, affecting ovine and caprine herds. The origins, epidemiology and identity of Brazilian ORFVs are unknown, and no comparative or phylogenetic studies of these viruses have been performed. In the present study, we revisited CE outbreaks which occurred until 32 years ago, and we assessed, genetically, five viral isolates. We performed the sequencing and analysis of the three ORFV molecular markers: B2L gene, virus interferon resistance gene (VIR) and the vascular endothelial growth factor gene. Nucleotide and amino acid analysis of the analysed genes demonstrated that Brazilian ORFVs do not form a unique cluster, and presented more similarity to other worldwide ORFV samples than with each other. These data raise the questions of whether there are different worldwide ORFVs circulating in Brazil, or if all the Brazilian ORFV samples are of the same virus taken at distinct time points.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Ecthyma, Contagious/virology , Goat Diseases/virology , Orf virus/genetics , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Ecthyma, Contagious/epidemiology , Genetic Markers/genetics , Goat Diseases/epidemiology , Goats , Orf virus/isolation & purification , Retrospective Studies , SheepABSTRACT
Estudou-se a presença de anticorpos para o vírus da influenza aviária, subtipos H1N1 e H3N2, por meio da técnica de inibiçäo da hemaglutinaçäo no plasma de 225 aves da Fundaçäo RIO-ZOO, do Bwana Park e de pequenas criaçöes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Entre as aves estudadas 60 (26,6 por cento) foram soropositivas, sendo 22 (9,8 por cento) para o subtipo H1N1, 28 (12,4 por cento) para o subtipo H3N2 e 10 (4,4 por cento) para os dois subtipos. Esses resultados indicam a ocorrência dos subtipos do vírus da influenza aviária investigados no Rio de Janeiro e apontam para o risco potencial de sua transmissäo para a avicultura industrial e para pessoas
Subject(s)
Animals , Birds , Hemagglutination , Influenza A virus , Orthomyxoviridae , PoultryABSTRACT
The presence of antibodies to the avian influenza virus subtypes H1N1 and H3N2, was studied through the technique of hemagglutination inhibition in the plasma of 225 birds of RIO-ZOO Foundation, Bwana Park and of small flocks of the Rio de Janeiro State. Among the studied birds, 60 (26.6%) were seropositives, being 22 (9.8%) for the subtype H1N1, 28 (12.4%) for the subtype H3N2 and 10 (4.4%) for both subtypes. These results indicate the occurrence of these avian influenza virus subtypes in Rio de Janeiro and point out the potential risk of their transmission for the industrial poultry and humans.
Estudou-se a presença de anticorpos para o vírus da influenza aviária, subtipos H1N1 e H3N2, por meio da técnica de inibição da hemaglutinação no plasma de 225 aves da Fundação RIO-ZOO, do Bwana Park e de pequenas criações do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Entre as aves estudadas 60 (26,6%) foram soropositivas, sendo 22 (9,8%) para o subtipo H1N1, 28 (12,4%) para o subtipo H3N2 e 10 (4,4%) para os dois subtipos. Esses resultados indicam a ocorrência dos subtipos do vírus da influenza aviária investigados no Rio de Janeiro e apontam para o risco potencial de sua transmissão para a avicultura industrial e para pessoas.
ABSTRACT
This preliminary report describes human and cow cases of poxvirus that recently occurred in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The electron microscopic findings were consistent with parapoxviral and orthopoxviral infection. Orthopoxvirus strains were isolated from human and cow cases. Detailed viral characterization by means of genetical techniques is under investigation. Based on these informations, poxviral diseases should be also considered an emerging viral zoonosis that can affect human beings.
Subject(s)
Cattle Diseases/virology , Cattle/virology , Orthopoxvirus/isolation & purification , Parapoxvirus/isolation & purification , Poxviridae Infections/veterinary , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Brazil , Humans , Microscopy, Electron , Middle Aged , Poxviridae Infections/transmission , Poxviridae Infections/virologyABSTRACT
Outbreaks of an epidermic disease suggesting parapox virus infections have been observed in all major herds of sheep and goats from different geographical areas of Brazil. Clinical samples (dried scabs) were collected and orf virus was isolated and characterized by electron microscopy in previous work. In order to characterize these viruses at the molecular level, a modified methodology for genomic DNA extraction directly from scabs was used and such DNA was used to derive the restriction enzyme digestion patterns for clinical samples from three distinct geographic origins. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis was used to separate restriction enzyme DNA fragments and heterogeneity among isolates from different geographic areas could be observed on stained gels. The HindIII-G DNA fragment from orf-A virus genome was cloned and hybridized to DNA of other orf virus isolates. Further heterogeneity was confirmed by these hybridizations.
Subject(s)
Ecthyma, Contagious/virology , Goat Diseases/virology , Orf virus/genetics , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Cloning, Molecular , DNA Probes/chemistry , DNA, Viral/chemistry , DNA, Viral/isolation & purification , Deoxyribonuclease HindIII/chemistry , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Ecthyma, Contagious/epidemiology , Electrophoresis, Agar Gel/veterinary , Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field/veterinary , Goat Diseases/epidemiology , Goats , Microscopy, Electron/veterinary , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , Orf virus/chemistry , Orf virus/classification , SheepABSTRACT
A new simplified method of DNA extraction of contagious pustular dermatitis virus directly from scab material of natural and experimental infections is described. Scabs are suspended in buffer solution and an enriched core suspension is obtained after treatment with detergent, quelants and centrifugation. DNA is isolated after proteinase digestion and phenolchloroform extraction. Viral DNA and fragments with sizes ranging from 23-25 kb were observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. This DNA was used for digestion with several restriction endonucleases which produced parapoxvirus-specific patterns. Southern blots with the TK gene of vaccinia virus as probe confirmed the virus as being poxvirus-related and allowed a preliminary TK gene location for our isolates. The method was developed in order to allow a quick epidemiological survey of contagious pustular dermatitis virus in Brazil, eliminating the need for time-consuming and expensive viral propagation in cell culture and purification.