Novel Gyrovirus genomes recovered from free-living pigeons in Southern Brazil.

Wild birds carry a number of infectious agents, some of which may have pathogenic potential for the host and others species, including humans. Domestic pigeons (Columba livia) are important targets of study since these increasingly cohabit urban spaces, being possible spillover sources of pathogens to humans. In the present study, two genomes (PiGyV_Tq/RS/Br and PiGyV_RG/RS/Br), representative of Gyrovirus genus, family Anelloviridae, were detected in sera of free-living pigeons collected in Southern Brazil. The genomes exhibit less than 50% identity to previously described members of Gyrovirus genus, suggesting that they constitute a new viral species circulating in pigeons, to which the name "pigeon gyrovirus (PiGyV)" is proposed. The current study characterizes these two PiGyV genomes which, to date, are the first gyrovirus species identified in domestic pigeons.

Columbid circoviruses detected in free ranging pigeons from Southern Brazil: insights on PiCV evolution.

Pigeon circovirus (PiCV) is taxonomically classified as a member of the Circovirus genus, family Circoviridae. The virus contains a single stranded DNA genome of approximately 2 kb, with minor length variations among different isolates. The occurrence of PiCV infections in pigeons (Columba livia) has been documented worldwide over the past 20 years; however, in Brazil there were still no reports on PiCV detection. This study identifies seven PiCV genomes recovered from domestic pigeons of South Brazil through high-throughput sequencing and shows a high frequency of PiCV infection, through quantitative real-time PCR. Phylogenetic classification was performed by maximum likelihood analysis of the full genomes, ORF V1 (Rep) and ORF C1 (Cap). The results show that either full genome or Cap based analysis allowed PiCV classification into five major clades (groups A to E), where Brazilian sequences were classified as A, C or D. Recombination analyses were carried out with Simplot and RDP4 and the results show that both Rep and Cap ORFs contain several recombination hotspots, pointing to an important role for such events in PiCV evolution.

Correction to: Columbid circoviruses detected in free ranging pigeons from Southern Brazil: insights on PiCV evolution.

Unfortunately, the word "evolution" was found missing in title of the original article which is corrected here by this erratum. The original article has been corrected.

Full-Genome Sequence of Porcine Circovirus type 3 recovered from serum of sows with stillbirths in Brazil.

Two full-genome sequences of porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) are reported. The genomes were recovered from pooled serum samples from sows who had just delivered litters with variable numbers of stillbirths. The two circular genomes (PCV3-BR/RS/6 and PCV3-BR/RS/8) are 2,000 nucleotides long and contain two open reading frames (ORFs) oriented in opposite directions that encode the putative capsid (Cap) and replicase (Rep) proteins. The intergenic region contains a stem-loop motif, as reported for other circoviruses. Rolling circle replication motifs and putative helicase domains were identified in the Rep coding region. The degree of overall nucleotide similarity between the genomes reported here and those available at GenBank was higher than 97%. No PCV3 sequence was detected in pooled serum samples from sows which had no stillbirths on the same farms. However, further studies are necessary to confirm the association between PCV3 and the occurrence of stillbirths.

Hepatitis B reactivation characterized by HBsAg negativity and anti-HbsAg antibodies persistence in haematopoietic stem cell transplanted patient after lamivudine withdrawal.

BACKGROUND: HBV reactivation is associated with high mortality rates in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and prophylactic lamivudine (LMV) treatment is suggested to prevent this phenomenon. However, the duration of LMV treatment in HSCT patients is not fully defined and the time of immune recovery is considered the best parameter for a drug to be safely interrupted. In patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT, the time of immune recovery is not easy to define and may take years after transplantation and prolonged LMV treatments, which can lead to drug-resistant viral strains. CASE PRESENTATION: An anti-HBc-positive hematological patient who was undergoing prolonged immunosuppression and who experienced HBV reactivation 3 months after the suspension of a prolonged LMV prophylaxis is described. HBV-DNA matching an atypical serological profile characterized by HbsAg negativity and anti-HBs positivity was detected in the patient. The genotypic analysis of the HBV strain identified T127P, F170FL and S204R mutations of HbsAg, which can hinder HBsAg recognition in a diagnostic assay. CONCLUSIONS: HBV reactivation in the HSCT host can be sustained by HBsAg viral variants with characteristics of altered immunogenicity that cannot be detected by usual laboratory tests. This clinical case description suggests the importance of screening for serum HBV-DNA levels in the diagnosis of HBV reactivation and monitoring HBV-DNA after prophylaxis suspension, particularly in HSCT subjects who have undergone prolonged periods of LMV treatment.

Persistent risk of HBV reactivation despite extensive lamivudine prophylaxis in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients who are anti-HBc-positive or HBV-negative recipients with an anti-HBc-positive donor.

The overall rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation was evaluated in a population of 373 haematological stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients treated with lamivudine (LMV) if they were anti-HBc-positive/HBV-DNA-negative recipients or if they were HBV-negative recipients with an anti-HBc-positive donor. The incidence of HBV reactivation was calculated in two groups of autologous (auto) or allogeneic (allo) HSCT patients who were stratified according to their HBV serostatus. The former group included 57 cases: 10 auto-HSCT and 27 allo-HSCT anti-HBc-positive recipients, two auto-HSCT and three allo-HSCT inactive carriers, and 15 allo-HSCT recipients with an anti-HBc-positive donor. Forty-seven (82.4%) patients in this group received LMV prophylaxis (the median (interquartile range, IQR) of LMV treatment was 30 (20-38) months). The second group consisted of 320 anti-HBc-negative auto-HSCT and allo-HSCT recipients with anti-HBc-negative donors. None of these patients received any prophylaxis. Two patients in the first group and two in the second group experienced reactivation of HBV infection, with an incidence of 3.5% (95% CI 0.4-12.1%) and 0.6% (95% CI 0.1-2.2%), respectively. Only one out of four reactivated patients was LMV-treated. The cumulative probability of HBV reactivation at 6 years from HSCT was 15.8% (95% CI 15.2-16.4%). Three of four viral isolates obtained from the HBV-reactivated patients harboured mutations in the immune-active HBsAg-region. In a HSCT population carefully evaluated for HBV prophylaxis, a risk of HBV reactivation persisted in the group of patients who were not LMV-treated. Only one LMV-treated patient experienced reactivation of HBV with a resistant HBV isolate.

Chicken parvovirus and its associations with malabsorption syndrome.

Malabsorption syndrome (MAS) is a multifactorial syndrome which is characterized by enteric disorders and reduced growth rates of broilers. Such condition is responsible for significant economic losses to the poultry industry. A possible association between chicken parvovirus (ChPV) infections and the occurrence of MAS has been proposed. However, such association has not to date been elucidated in view that ChPV has been detected in healthy as well as in MAS-affected chickens. This study aimed to detect and quantify ChPV loads in sera and tissues of MAS-affected, as well as in healthy broilers. Fifty nine, 39-day-old broilers (50 diseased, 9 healthy birds), obtained from the same flocks, were examined. The highest ChPV DNA loads were detected in MAS-affected broilers, particularly in fecal samples and intestinal tissues (~5500 genomic copies/300ng of total DNA). The average viral genome load in serum in MAS-affected birds was 1134copies/mL, whereas no viral DNA was found in sera and thymus tissues from healthy animals. These findings reveal that MAS-affected broilers consistently carry ChPV DNA is serum, whereas healthy animals do not. In addition, viral loads in tissues (bursa of Fabricius, spleen, intestine and liver) of MAS-affected birds were significantly higher in comparison to the same tissues from healthy broilers. Although preliminary, the results obtained here indicate an association between the detection of ChPV DNA in serum, in addition to high ChPV viral loads in tissues, and the occurrence of MAS in broilers. Further experiments should be performed to confirm such results.

[Pseudoterranovosis and sushi]. / Pseudoterranovosis y sushi.

A case of accidental ingestión of Pseudoterranova decipiens is reported, on account of this patient we review main concepts related to this emerging pathology in Chile. Consumption of raw fish in different preparations such as sushi or sashimi, cebiche and seafood is becoming more and more popular. Through intermediary hosts used in the preparation, one can acquire the third stage larval of Anisakis simplex or P. decipiens. These parasites frequently cause gastritis, acutely after the consumption of raw fish, or more rarely intestinal involvement. It may also cause allergic symptoms such as urticaria, angioedema and anaphylactic shock. The larvae is eliminated spontaneously in most cases; others need to be removed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopio examination. In Chile, the most common species is P. decipiens, which are generally no invasive, rarely migrate beyond the stomach and cause mild or no symptoms. Prevention strategies include avoid eating raw fish or undercooked seafood containing the parasite, to cook food with high temperatures or to freeze raw fish prior to preparation of meals, which inactivates the larvae.

Pseudoterranovosis y sushi / Pseudoterranovosis and sushi

Se comunica un caso de ingestión accidental de Pseudoterranova decipiens. A raíz de esta paciente se revisan los principales conceptos relativos a esta naciente patología en Chile. El consumo de platos preparados con pescados crudos como el sushi, sashimi, cebiche y mariscal es cada vez más popular. A través de la ingesta de hospederos intermediarios usados en la preparación, se puede adquirir la larva de tercer estadio de Anisakis simplex o P. decipiens. Estos parásitos pueden provocar gastritis aguda que se manifiesta inmediatamente después de consumido el pescado crudo. En ocasiones puede haber compromiso intestinal e invasión del tracto gastrointestinal con manifestaciones en otros órganos. Se asocia a manifestaciones alérgicas como urticaria, angioedema y shock anafiláctico. La larva se elimina en forma espontánea en la mayoría de los casos, pero en otros debe removerse por vía endoscópica. En Chile, es más frecuente la presencia de P. decipiens, que por lo general no migra a la mucosa gástrica, no invade y produce pocos síntomas. Las medidas de prevención son no comer pescados crudos, cocinarlos a temperaturas elevadas o congelación previa a la preparación de los alimentos, para inactivar las larvas.

A case of accidental ingestión of Pseudoterranova decipiens is reported, on account of this patient we review main concepts related to this emerging pathology in Chile. Consumption of raw fish in different preparations such as sushi or sashimi, cebiche and seafood is becoming more and more popular. Through intermediary hosts used in the preparation, one can acquire the third stage larval of Anisakis simplex or P. decipiens. These parasites frequently cause gastritis, acutely after the consumption of raw fish, or more rarely intestinal involvement. It may also cause allergic symptoms such as urticaria, angioedema and anaphylactic shock. The larvae is eliminated spontaneously in most cases; others need to be removed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopio examination. In Chile, the most common species is P. decipiens, which are generally no invasive, rarely migrate beyond the stomach and cause mild or no symptoms. Prevention strategies include avoid eating raw fish or undercooked seafood containing the parasite, to cook food with high temperatures or to freeze raw fish prior to preparation of meals, which inactivates the larvae.

Hidatidosis en la infancia: albendazol en su tratamiento médico y quirúrgico / Hydatid disease in childhood: albendazole in its medical and surgical treatment

El objetivo de este trabajo fue observar la respuesta a albendazol en niños con hidatidosis como terapia exclusiva o complementaria al tratamiento quirúrgico. Entre 1997 y 2000 se enrolaron 15 casos que consultaron consecutivamente al Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna con diagnóstico de quiste hidatídico. En 13 se realizó cirugía y tratamiento médico asociado. En 2 el tratamiento fue sólo farmacológico. El albendazol se administró en dosis de 10 mg/kg/día por un promedio de 25 días (entre 1 y 5 curas). Los niños fueron controlados cada 3 meses con evaluación clínica, determinación de parámetros bioquímicos y hematológicos, además de los estudios image-nológicos procedentes (radiografía, ecotomografía, tomografía axial computarizada) y serológicos (ELISA IgG específica). Siete pacientes curaron y el resto mostró notable mejoría (clínica, serológica e imagenológica). Debe destacarse el albendazol como terapia paliativa, curativa y como complemento a la cirugía. Con las dosis y períodos utilizados hubo buena tolerancia, escasos efectos adversos y adecuada adhesión al tratamiento.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of bovine digital lesions in southern Brazil

Realizaram-se o diagnóstico e o tratamento de afecções podais responsáveis por claudicação em bovinos leiteiros no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Durante 18 meses, 524 animais apresentaram 883 lesões digitais clínicas. A prevalência de bovinos afetados foi de 50,2% e as lesões mais comuns foram dermatite digital (29,9%), úlceras de sola (18,3%) e dermatite interdigital (17,8%). Das lesões córneas, 91,5% ocorreram nas unhas laterais posteriores.

Granuloma cerebral por toxocara sp: comunicación de un caso pediátrico / Brain granuloma produced by toxacara sp: report of a pediatric case

La toxocarosis es la infección parasitaria producida en el hombre por la migración de larvas de Toxocara sp a través de diferentes parénquimas: hígado, pulmón, sistema nervioso central (SNC) y ojo. Se presenta el caso de un escolar de 7 años con un cuadro convulsivo focal secundariamente generalizado e imagen de nódulo hipodenso en la tomografía axial computarizada. Ella vivía en una región rural y tenía estrecho contacto con perros. Recibió tratamiento antibiótico oral con cotrimoxazol, rifampicina y metronidazol durante 82 días. Por persistencia de la lesión, recurrencia de la convulsión y antecedentes epidemiológicos, se realizó estudio serológico para toxocarosis (test de ELISA IgG), que fue positivo en dilución de 1:512. Se trató con albendazol por 21 días y posteriormente se controló con resonancia magnética cerebral que fue normal, la serología se negativizó y las convulsiones no se repitieron. El compromiso de SNC por Toxocara sp puede producir encefelitis, mielitis, meningitis eosinofílica, granuloma cerebral, encefalopatía estática, alteraciones motoras y psiquiátricas. Es fundamental la educación sobre las medidas de prevención

Comensalismo en pediatria: riesgo de adquirir enteroparasitosis a mediano plazo / Commensalism in pediatrics: risk for acquiring enteric parasites on a short term follow up

El pediatra se enfrenta con frecuencia al hallazgo de sólo comensales en el examen coproparasitológico seriado en niños. Su presencia indica que están dadas las condiciones para adquirir una enteroparasitosis, pues el mecanismo de infección es igual. Con el fin de evaluar el riesgo de que este fenómeno ocurra se estudió en forma correlativa a 36 escolares cuyo examen coproparasitológico seriado inicial (método PAFS), presentó sólo comensales y 35 escolares con ese examen negativo (grupo control). Ambos grupos eran comparables en su distribución por edad y sexo. Se controlaron mensualmente mediante examen coproparasitológico seriado por tres trimestres. Fueron tratados todos aquellos niños que presentaron infección por enteroparásitos en el control respectivo. Se aplicó encuesta socioeconómica para caracterizar bajo este parámetro a los grupos en estudio, que resultó comparable en ambos y correspondió al nivel bajo medio. Nueve escolares (25 por ciento) del grupo con comensales presentaron infección por enteroparásitos en el primer trimestre, 9 (25 por ciento) en el segundo y 4 (1 1 por ciento) en el tercero; del grupo control presentaron infección enteroparasitaria 3 (8,5 por ciento), 2 (5,6 por ciento) y 3 (8,5 por ciento) casos, respectivamente. Esta diferencia es estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,01). El parásito más frecuentemente encontrado en cada trimestre fue Giardía lamblia, con un total de 18 casos en ambos grupos. Esto representa una frecuencia de 25,3 por ciento para el total de 71 niños estudiados y,-a su vez, corresponde al 60 por ciento de los casos que fueron encontrados infectados con parásitos en los controles sucesivos. El riesgo relativo de adquirir una enteroparasitosis en escolares con comensales resultó de 2,9 durante el primer trimestre de observación, 4,4 en el segundo y de 1,3 durante el tercero, con un promedio de 2,7. Se concluye que escolares de nivel socioeconómico bajo medio que presenten comensales deben controlarse con exámenes coproparasitológicos pues tienen riesgo de presentar un patógeno parasitario, especialmente en los primeros seis meses de diagnosticado el comensal