Experimental Frog Virus 3 infection using Brazilian strain: amphibians susceptibility / Infecção experimental utilizando estirpe brasileira de Frog Virus 3: suceptibilidade de anfíbios

An alarming number of global warnings concerning amphibian mortality outbreaks have been released in recent years. Emerging diseases stand out as the main potential causes. Ranavirus is a worldwide-spread highly infectious disease capable of affecting even other ectothermic animals such as fish and reptiles. One major issue regarding this pathology is the lack of clinical signs before it leads up to death. Aiming at having a better understanding of anurans susceptibility, this study analyzed bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) survival rate, when challenged with three doses of a Brazilian strain of Frog Virus 3 (FV3). The qPCR analysis indicated a low infectivity rate in these animals both as larvae and as adults. To elucidate the results, the following hypothesis was performed: 1) The amount of inoculum used on the frogs was insufficient to trigger an infection; 2) For the FV3 to produce clinical signs in this species, there is the need for a cofactor; 3) The animals did undergo FV3 infection but recovered in the course of the experiment, and 4) The inoculum utilized might have been low-virulence. Finally, the presence of actual clinical signs of ranavirus is discussed, with the more likely hypothesis.(AU)

Um número alarmante de notificações globais sobre surtos de mortalidade de anfíbios tem sido realizado nos últimos anos. As doenças emergentes destacam-se como as principais causas potenciais. O ranavírus é uma doença altamente infecciosa disseminada em todo o mundo, capaz de afetar até outros animais ectotérmicos como peixes e répteis. Uma questão importante em relação a essa patologia é a falta de sinais clínicos antes de levar à morte. Com o objetivo de compreender melhor a suscetibilidade dos anuros, o presente trabalho analisou a taxa de sobrevivência de rãs-touro (Lithobates catesbeianus), desafiadas com três doses de uma estirpe brasileira do Frog virus 3 (FV3). A análise de qPCR indicou baixa taxa de infectividade nesses animais, tanto como larvas quanto como adultos. Procurando esclarecer os resultados, foram formuladas as seguintes hipóteses: 1) A quantidade de inóculo aplicada nas rãs foi insuficiente para desencadear uma infecção; 2) Para que o FV3 dê sinais clínicos nesta espécie, é necessário um cofator; 3) Os animais sofreram infecção por FV3, mas se recuperaram no decorrer do experimento, e 4) O inóculo utilizado pode ter sido de baixa virulência. Finalmente, foi discutida a presença de sinais clínicos reais de ranavírus e levantada a hipótese mais provável(AU)

Genome analysis of Ranavirus frog virus 3 isolated from American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in South America.

Ranaviruses (family Iridoviridae) cause important diseases in cold-blooded vertebrates. In addition, some occurrences indicate that, in this genus, the same virus can infect animals from different taxonomic groups. A strain isolated from a Ranavirus outbreak (2012) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, had its genome sequenced and presented 99.26% and 36.85% identity with samples of Frog virus 3 (FV3) and Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) ranaviruses, respectively. Eight potential recombination events among the analyzed sample and reference FV3 samples were identified, including a recombination with Bohle iridovirus (BIV) sample from Oceania. The analyzed sample presented several rearrangements compared to FV3 reference samples from North America and European continent. We report for the first time the complete genome of Ranavirus FV3 isolated from South America, these results contribute to a greater knowledge related to evolutionary events of potentially lethal infectious agent for cold-blooded animals.

Discovery of Wild Amphibians Infected with Ranavirus in Brazil.

Ranavirus is a double-stranded DNA virus associated with amphibian, fish and reptile die-offs worldwide. International trade of live animals farmed for human consumption, such as the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), plays a key role in spreading the pathogen. In Brazil, ranavirus has only been reported in captive bullfrog farms. We found infected tadpoles of both native species and the American bullfrog in the wild, and a case of mass mortality of amphibians and fish potentially associated with ranavirus. Dead animals presented skin ulcerations, hemorrhages, and edemas. We also found an overall prevalence of 37% of the amphibian chytrid in the area, and two bullfrog tadpoles were co-infected with both pathogens. We suggest that the interaction between the two pathogens should be investigated to improve global conservation of ectothermic vertebrates.

Genetic diversity of bovine Picobirnavirus, Brazil.

Picobirnaviruses (PBVs) are emerging and opportunistic viruses with possible zoonotic potential. In this study, we present the detection, molecular characterization, and genotypic differentiation of PBVs from genogroup I in bovine stool samples from different Brazilian regions. A high proportion of PCR-positive samples (23.4%) was detected in a total of 77 analyzed. Nucleotide identity, alignment, and phylogenetic analyses revealed high diversity among the studied sequences. The results obtained indicate, for the first time, the circulation of bovine PBVs belonging to genogroup I in different Brazilian states, with heterogeneous phylogenetic-clustering profiles.

Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of bovine Kobuvirus, Brazil.

It is suggested that Bovine kobuvirus (BKV) is involved in the etiology of gastroenteric diseases especially among calves; however, this association remains unknown. This study evaluated 216 fecal samples from cattle with and without diarrhea symptoms obtained from different regions of Brazil. A 216 bp fragment of the BKV 3D gene was amplified by RT-PCR in 14.4 % (31/216) of the studied samples, and 17 samples were subjected to nucleotide sequencing. All positive samples were obtained from animals aged less than 5 months, and most of animals presented diarrhea (p < 0.05). Phylogenetic analyses showed that the obtained sequences were grouped within the genogroup 2 of BKV forming subclades specific for each Brazilian municipality sampled. In addition, the alignment of the sequences revealed differences of nucleotides between sequences from different locations. Our results indicate for the first time that there is a regional genotypic differentiation of BKV in Brazil.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of bovine astrovirus in Brazil.

Bovine astrovirus (BoAstV) is associated with gastroenterical disorders such as diarrhea, particularly in neonates and immunocompromised animals. Its prevalence is >60 % in the first five weeks of the animal's life. The aim of this study was to detect and perform a phylogenetic analysis of BoAstV in Brazilian cattle. A prevalence of 14.3 % of BoAstV in fecal samples from 272 head of cattle from different Brazilian states was detected, and 11 samples were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing. The majority of positive samples were obtained from diarrheic animals (p < 0.01). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Brazilian samples were grouped in clades along with other BoAstV isolates. There was 74.3 %-96.5 % amino acid sequence similarity between the samples in this study and >74.8 % when compared with reference samples for enteric BoAstV. Our results indicate, for the first time, the occurrence of BoAstV circulation in cattle from different regions of Brazil, prevalently in diarrheic calves.

Níveis de interesses profissionais em soldados do exército brasileiro / Levels of professional interests in soldiers of the brazilian army

Este trabalho investiga o perfil de interesses profissionais de soldados do Exército Brasileiro e diferenças médias para cada Tipo de Personalidade Vocacional por Faixa Etária. Uma amostra de 352 soldados, com idades entre 18 e 32 anos e oriundos de várias localidades do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, responderam ao Inventário Tipológico de Interesses Profissionais (ITIP-156). A partir dos procedimentos éticos e metodológicos, os resultados indicam que os soldados investigados manifestam níveis mais elevados de interesses profissionais nas seguintes personalidades vocacionais: Empreendedor, Convencional e Social (ECS), nessa ordem. Também indicam existir diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) na média do tipo Social (p = 0,046), em função de suas faixas etárias. Limitações são apresentadas e discutidas. Novos estudos devem ser conduzidos a fim de aprofundar este tema (AU)

Níveis de interesses profissionais em soldados do exército brasileiro / Levels of professional interests in soldiers of the brazilian army

Este trabalho investiga o perfil de interesses profissionais de soldados do Exército Brasileiro e diferenças médias para cada Tipo de Personalidade Vocacional por Faixa Etária. Uma amostra de 352 soldados, com idades entre 18 e 32 anos e oriundos de várias localidades do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, responderam ao Inventário Tipológico de Interesses Profissionais (ITIP-156). A partir dos procedimentos éticos e metodológicos, os resultados indicam que os soldados investigados manifestam níveis mais elevados de interesses profissionais nas seguintes personalidades vocacionais: Empreendedor, Convencional e Social (ECS), nessa ordem. Também indicam existir diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) na média do tipo Social (p = 0,046), em função de suas faixas etárias. Limitações são apresentadas e discutidas. Novos estudos devem ser conduzidos a fim de aprofundar este tema