Identification of a Virulent Newcastle Disease Virus Strain Isolated from Pigeons (Columbia livia) in Northeastern Brazil Using Next-Generation Genome Sequencing.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), also known as avian paramyxoviruses 1 (APMV-1) is among the most important viruses infecting avian species. Given its widespread circulation, there is a high risk for the reintroduction of virulent strains into the domestic poultry industry, making the surveillance of wild and domestic birds a crucial process to appropriately respond to novel outbreaks. In the present study, we investigated an outbreak characterized by the identification of sick pigeons in a large municipality in Northeastern Brazil in 2018. The affected pigeons presented neurological signs, including motor incoordination, torticollis, and lethargy. Moribund birds were collected, and through a detailed histopathological analysis we identified severe lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis with perivascular cuffs and gliosis in the central nervous system, and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation in the liver, kidney, and intestine. A total of five pigeons tested positive for NDV, as assessed by rRT-PCR targeted to the M gene. Laboratory virus isolation on Vero E6 cells confirmed infection, after the recovery of infectious NVD from brain and kidney tissues. We next characterized the isolated NDV/pigeon/PE-Brazil/MP003/2018 by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the virus with other NDV class II isolates from subgenotype VI.2.1.2, including two previous NDV isolates from Brazil in 2014 and 2019. The diversity of aminoacid residues at the fusion F protein cleavage site was analyzed identifying the motif RRQKR↓F, typical of virulent strains. Our results all highlight the importance of virus surveillance in wild and domestic birds, especially given the risk of zoonotic NDV.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in a sheep / Osteoartropatia hipertrófica em um ovino

ABSTRACT: This research described the radiological, clinical and pathological aspects of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in a seven-year-old Santa Inês ram. The main clinical features were lameness of the thoracic and pelvic limbs, rigid, cracking and enlarged of the humeroradial, humeroulnar and tibiofemoral joints, cervical spine stiffness, and severe lordosis of the thoracolumbar vertebrae. Dyspnea, nasal discharge and abdominal breathing were also observed. On radiographic examination of the thoracic and pelvic limbs, osteoarthrosis with the formation of osteophyte bridging, intra-articular calcification and periosteum reaction were observed. At necropsy were reported bilateral osteophytosis in the humeroradial, humeroulnar, tibiofemoral and interphalangeal joints, and fusion of the bodies of thoracic vertebrae T5-13 T6 and T12-T13. Microscopically, extensive areas of fibrosis were observed in the lungs and the affected joints were thickened by well demarcated and perpendicular orientated woven and trabecular bone proliferation in the epiphysis. The periosteum was also expanded by fibrous connective tissue that extended into and between the new proliferated bone. Based on these findings, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, which is an unusual condition in sheep, was diagnosed.

RESUMO: Este trabalho descreve os aspectos radiográficos e clínico-patológicos de um caso de osteoartropatia hipertrófica em um ovino, macho, de sete anos de idade, da raça Santa Inês. Os principais sinais clínicos consistiram em claudicação dos membros torácicos e pélvicos, rigidez, crepitação e aumento das articulações úmero-radio-ulnar e femoro-tibio-patelar, rigidez na coluna cervical e severa lordose das vértebras toracolombares. Dispneia, secreção nasal e respiração abdominal também foram observadas. No exame radiográfico dos membros torácicos e pélvicos, foram observadas osteoartrose com formação de osteófitos em ponte, calcificação intra-articular e reação do periósteo. À necropsia notou-se osteofitose bilateral nas articulações umerorradioulnar, femorotibiopatelar e interfalangiana e fusão dos corpos das vértebras torácicas T5-T6 e T12-T13. Microscopicamente, havia áreas extensivas de fibrose pulmonar e as articulações afetadas encontravam-se expandidas pela proliferação de tecido ósseo recém-formado e trabecular, bem demarcado na epífise. O periósteo também estava expandido por tecido conjuntivo fibroso que se estendia dentro e entre o novo osso proliferado. Com base nestes achados, osteoartropatia hipertrófica, que é uma condição inusual em ovinos, foi diagnosticada.