Lessons from a Multilaboratorial Task Force for Diagnosis of a Fatal Toxoplasmosis Outbreak in Captive Primates in Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and is especially fatal for neotropical primates. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health is responsible for national epizootic surveillance, but some diseases are still neglected. Here, we present an integrated investigation of an outbreak that occurred during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among eleven neotropical primates housed at a primatology center in Brazil. After presenting non-specific clinical signs, all animals died within four days. A wide range of pathogens were evaluated, and we successfully identified T. gondii as the causative agent within four days after necropsies. The liver was the most affected organ, presenting hemorrhage and hepatocellular necrosis. Tachyzoites and bradyzoite cysts were observed in histological examinations and immunohistochemistry in different organs; in addition, parasitic DNA was detected through PCR in blood samples from all specimens evaluated. A high prevalence of Escherichia coli was also observed, indicating sepsis. This case highlights some of the obstacles faced by the current Brazilian surveillance system. A diagnosis was obtained through the integrated action of researchers since investigation for toxoplasmosis is currently absent in national guidelines. An interdisciplinary investigation could be a possible model for future epizootic investigations in animals.

Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from a captive black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya Humboldt, 1812) in Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii was isolated in mice from different tissues of a captive black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) kept in a colony at the Primatology Center of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and it was genotypically characterized based on using PCR-RFLP and Microsatellite Analysis (MS), later on. T. gondii was successfully isolated from inocula deriving from heart, liver and tissue pool (heart, liver, lungs, axillary lymph nodes and cerebellum) samples. The isolate was named TgBgHmBrRJ1. The high virulence of the aforementioned strain was observed in infected mice. Non-archetypal genotype (ToxoDB PCR-RFLP #206) was obtained through PCR-RFLP. This genotype had been previously described in 12 isolates from different hosts, also in Southeastern Brazil, a fact that indicates likely high circulation of this genotype in this region. The isolate was also classified as non-archetypal, based on MS genotyping, as well as presented genotypic identity close to that of strains isolated from free-range non-symptomatic chickens (TgCkBr244,245,278,279) in Espírito Santo State. It is worth emphasizing that despite the large number of reports about clinical toxoplasmosis in neotropical primates in Brazil, this is just the second isolate of this parasite ever reported in this group of animals.

Subacute multisystemic toxoplasmosis in a captive black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) indicates therapy challenging.

A 10-year-old black howler monkey presented with a 36-day subacute clinicopathological picture of fever, prostration, inappetence, intestinal hypomotility, and emaciation. Therapy was trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with streptomycin. The liver, lungs, lymph nodes, and spleen presented lesions. Toxoplasma gondii isolation and PCR determined the diagnosis, and indirect fluorescent antibody tests confirmed an increase in antibody titers.

Metastatic endometrioid carcinoma in a hybrid Leontopithecus sp.

Primary female reproductive neoplasms in Platyrrhines species are few reported. We present the gross, histological, and immunohistochemical findings of metastatic endometrioid carcinoma in the uterus, urinary bladder, jejunum, and rectum of a Leontopithecus sp. The neoplastic endometrial cells expressed strong cytoplasmic immunolabeling of cytokeratin 7.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigen presence in multiple organs of a naturally infected cat from Brazil.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in cats with or without clinical signs. Case presentation: We describe the pathological and molecular findings in a six-month-old asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 infection from Brazil, belonging to a human family with COVID-19 cases. The pool of nasopharynx and oropharynx swabs at day zero tested positive by RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. No amplification resulted from molecular testing performed on days 7 and 14. The cat was hit by a car and died 43 days after the molecular diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry at post-mortem examination demonstrated nucleocapsid protein in samples from the lungs, kidneys, nasal conchae, trachea, intestine, brain and spleen. Conclusion: The present study has highlighted the possibility that viral antigens can be detected by immunohistochemistry in multiple organs six weeks after infection, although the same tissues tested negative by RT-PCR.

A Novel Host of an Emerging Disease: SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) Kept Under Clinical Care in Brazil.

A young male free-ranging giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) was found with paralysis of pelvic limbs on a highway and kept under human care. Radiographs confirmed multiple incomplete fractures in the thoracolumbar vertebrae. Due to the poor prognosis, euthanasia was chosen. The infection was established by viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in the rectal swab, spleen and kidney samples. Immunohistochemistry detected the viral nucleocapsid protein in sections of the lungs, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and large intestine sections, and spike protein antigen in the lung tissue. Pilosa order species should be included as potential hosts of natural infection of SARS-CoV-2.

Spontaneous disseminated T-cell lymphoma in a buff-headed capuchin (Sapajus xanthosternos).

Reports of spontaneous hematopoietic neoplasms in Platyrrhines species are scarce. We present the gross, histological, and immunohistochemical findings of disseminated T-cell lymphoma in a male 25-year-old Sapajus xanthosternos kept in a Brazilian conservation center. No molecular evidence of betaherpesvirus or gammaherpesvirus was associated with the occurrence of this neoplasm.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigen presence in multiple organs of a naturally infected cat from Brazil

Abstract Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in cats with or without clinical signs. Case presentation: We describe the pathological and molecular findings in a six-month-old asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 infection from Brazil, belonging to a human family with COVID-19 cases. The pool of nasopharynx and oropharynx swabs at day zero tested positive by RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. No amplification resulted from molecular testing performed on days 7 and 14. The cat was hit by a car and died 43 days after the molecular diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry at post-mortem examination demonstrated nucleocapsid protein in samples from the lungs, kidneys, nasal conchae, trachea, intestine, brain and spleen. Conclusion: The present study has highlighted the possibility that viral antigens can be detected by immunohistochemistry in multiple organs six weeks after infection, although the same tissues tested negative by RT-PCR.

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigen presence in multiple organs of a naturally infected cat from Brazil

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the disease coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in cats with or without clinical signs. Case presentation: We describe the pathological and molecular findings in a six-month-old asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 infection from Brazil, belonging to a human family with COVID-19 cases. The pool of nasopharynx and oropharynx swabs at day zero tested positive by RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. No amplification resulted from molecular testing performed on days 7 and 14. The cat was hit by a car and died 43 days after the molecular diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry at post-mortem examination demonstrated nucleocapsid protein in samples from the lungs, kidneys, nasal conchae, trachea, intestine, brain and spleen. Conclusion: The present study has highlighted the possibility that viral antigens can be detected by immunohistochemistry in multiple organs six weeks after infection, although the same tissues tested negative by RT-PCR.(AU)

Toxoplasma gondii induced abortions in a goat herd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Aborto por Toxoplasma gondii em um rebanho de caprinos no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

ABSTRACT: Although, serological assays for detecting immune response against Toxoplasma gondii in goats and sheep are frequent in Brazil, studies showing lesions and confirmation of infectious causes of abortion in goats in the state of Rio de Janeiro have not been reported. This study aimed to describe an abortion outbreak caused by T. gondii in a goat herd in the state of Rio de Janeiro. At histological examination, necrotizing encephalitis and lymphoplasmacytic myositis were observed in goat fetuses submitted to necropsy. The diagnoses were confirmed by immunohistochemistry, which revealed positive marking structures compatible with T. gondii bradyzoites in the brain and skeletal muscle cysts. T. gondii should be included among the causes of abortion in goats in the Southeast region of Brazil.

RESUMO: Embora sejam frequentes as pesquisas sorológicas da toxoplasmose em caprinos e ovinos no Brasil, os estudos que apresentam as lesões e a confirmação das causas infecciosas de aborto em caprinos no estado do Rio de Janeiro não foram encontrados. Neste trabalho descreve-se Toxoplasma gondii como causa de aborto em uma criação de caprinos no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Ao exame histológico foi observada encefalite necrosante e miosite linfoplasmocítica nos fetos caprinos submetidos à necropsia. A confirmação do diagnóstico foi realizada com o exame de imuno-histoquímica, que revelou marcação positiva de cistos com bradizoítos de T. gondii no encéfalo e em músculo esquelético. T. gondii deve ser incluído entre as causas de aborto em cabras na região sudeste do Brasil.

A novel Betacoronavirus characterised in collared peccaries from the Rio de Janeiro Zoo (Brazil) killed by unknown disease.

In an enclosure with nine collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) from the Rio de Janeiro city Zoo, Brazil, one specimen was found dead and two others developed prostration, apathy and dehydration, resulting on its death. Necropsy of two animals pointed to pulmonary and renal damage. Histological examination revealed vasculitis in spleen from both P. tajacu, suggesting a systemic viral infection. Lungs from one specimen showed fibrinoid vasculitis, alveolar damage with hyaline membrane, and interstitial lymphocytes infiltration. Virome analysis in anal wash samples from the latter two animals revealed a new type of Betacoronavirus, lineage A, provisionally named Ptajacu-CoV.

Segmental hypoplasia of the spinal cord and syringomyelia in a calf / Hipoplasia segmentar de medula espinhal e siringomielia em um bezerro

ABSTRACT: Congenital malformations are functional and structural changes in organ systems, tissues, or organs that may develop during the embryonic or fetal phase. Spinal cord malformations, such as segmental hypoplasia of the spinal cord (SHSC) and syringomyelia, are rare in bovines. A Girolando calf from Valença, Rio de Janeiro, was admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro because of motor incoordination. Clinical evaluation revealed a 5-cm depression area in the spine at the dorsal line of the thoracic region. Neurological examination revealed reduced proprioception, pelvic limb extension with increased nociceptive activity, and reduced anal reflex. In radiographic examination, the body of the T11 vertebra had a trapezoidal wedge shape with ventral hemivertebra, probable agenesis or hypoplasia of the T11-T12 spinous processes, and fusion of the T9-T10 spinous processes. Myelography revealed extradural spinal compression caused by vertebral malformations. Necropsy showed no spinous processes (T11-T12), cranial stenosis in the medullary canal (T11-T13), and 1-3-mm pores in the white matter of the thoracic spinal cord (T8-T11). Microscopy revealed cystic dilatations in the white matter (T9-T11), cystic areas of varying sizes (T8-T9), and moderate reduction in the gray matter around the central canal of the medulla (T11-T13). Here, we reported the clinical and pathological findings of SHSC and syringomyelia in a Girolando calf. The features should be differentiated from other spinal cord syndromes. Congenital malformations are of economic importance, and their etiology and diagnosis are fundamental to disease control and progenitor-selection programs.

RESUMO: Malformações congênitas são alterações funcionais e estruturais dos sistemas, tecidos ou órgãos que podem ocorrer na fase embrionária ou fetal. Malformações na medula espinhal, como hipoplasia segmentar da medula espinhal (HSME) e siringomielia, possuem raras descrições em bovinos. Uma bezerra Girolando, proveniente do Município de Valença, RJ, foi atendida no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), com quadro de incoordenação motora. À avaliação clínica, na coluna vertebral, à linha dorsal da região torácica havia uma área com depressão de 5 cm. Ao exame neurológico foi observado propriocepção reduzida, extensão de membros pélvicos com aumento da atividade nociceptiva e redução de reflexo anal. Ao exame radiográfico, o corpo vertebral T11 apresentou forma trapezoidal em cunha com hemivértebra ventral, provável agenesia ou hipoplasia dos processos espinhosos T11-T12 e fusão dos processos espinhosos T9-T10. À mielografia indicou compressão medular extradural provocada pelas malformações vertebrais. À necropsia não foram observados os processos espinhosos T11-T12, o canal medular apresentou estenose cranial (T11-T13) e, na medula espinhal torácica (T8-T11) foram observados poros de 1-3 mm na substância branca. À microscopia, os segmentos T9-T11 apresentaram dilatações císticas na substância branca e os segmentos T8-T9, formações de áreas císticas de tamanhos variados; nos segmentos T11-T13 denotou-se moderada redução da substância cinzenta ao redor do canal central da medula. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de apresentar os achados clínicos e patológicos desta bezerra Girolando com HSME e siringomielia, que devem ser diferenciadas de outras síndromes da medula espinhal. As malformações congênitas possuem importância econômica e sua etiologia e diagnóstico são fundamentais para a condução de programas de controle de doenças e seleção de progenitores.

A novel Betacoronavirus characterised in collared peccaries from the Rio de Janeiro Zoo (Brazil) killed by unknown disease

In an enclosure with nine collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) from the Rio de Janeiro city Zoo, Brazil, one specimen was found dead and two others developed prostration, apathy and dehydration, resulting on its death. Necropsy of two animals pointed to pulmonary and renal damage. Histological examination revealed vasculitis in spleen from both P. tajacu, suggesting a systemic viral infection. Lungs from one specimen showed fibrinoid vasculitis, alveolar damage with hyaline membrane, and interstitial lymphocytes infiltration. Virome analysis in anal wash samples from the latter two animals revealed a new type of Betacoronavirus, lineage A, provisionally named Ptajacu-CoV.

Paratuberculosis in buffaloes in Northeast Brazil.

Several farms in the Northeast of Brazil were investigated for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in order to identify the occurrence of paratuberculosis in buffaloes. Samples were obtained from 17 farms, two slaughter houses, and a quarantine area in the Northeast. About 15,000 buffaloes of the Murrah, Mediterranean, and Jafarabadi breed as well as their crossbreeds were evaluated for meat, dairy, and mixed farms with semi-intensive or extensive breeding practices. For diagnostic purposes, postmortem and histopathological examination, including Ziehl-Neelsen test of fecal smears and scraped intestinal mucosa were performed. PCR was applied for fecal samples, mesenteric lymph nodes, and intestines. Six Johne's disease-positive farms, which together with those previously identified, indicate that the disease is spread through the Brazilian Northeast, similar to what occurs in cattle herds in other regions of the country. The increase in prevalence of paratuberculosis is a consequence of introduction of animals from other regions without adequate veterinary assistance and due to the little official attention paid to this initially silent and chronic disease.

Outbreak of caprine abortion by Toxoplasma gondii in Midwest Brazil / Surto de aborto por Toxoplasma gondii em caprinos na região Centro-Oeste do Brasil

An outbreak of abortion by Toxoplasma gondii in goats on a farm in the Brazilian Midwest is reported. Gross lesions were not observed in seven aborted fetuses submitted to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Mato Grosso, for necropsy investigation. The main histologic lesions were mononuclear cell pneumonia and necrotizing encephalitis in varying degrees of intensity. PCR for Brucella abortus and Neospora caninum and aerobic cultures were negative in all cases. Antibody titles against T. gondii varying from 1:1024 to 1:32.768 were detected in serum samples from four aborted goats. Nested-PCR assay for T. gondii were positive in brain samples of all cases submitted. These findings indicate that T. gondii infection should be considered in the diagnosis of abortion in goats in Midwest Brazil.

Descreve- -se um surto de aborto em caprinos por T. gondii em uma propriedade situada na região Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Não foram observadas lesões macroscópicas em sete fetos abortados encaminhados ao Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso para necropsia. As principais lesões histopatológicas foram encefalite necrosante e pneumonia mononuclear em variados graus de intensidade. PCR para Brucella abortus e Neospora caninum e cultivos em aerobiose obtiveram resultado negativo em todos os casos. Anticorpos anti-T. gondii em titulações de 1:1024 a 1:32.768 foram detectados no soro de quatro cabras que abortaram. Amostras de todos os cérebros enviados foram positivos para T. gondii pela técnica de Nested-PCR. Estes achados indicam que a infecção por T. gondii deve ser considerada no diagnóstico de aborto em caprinos na região Centro-Oeste do Brasil.

Spinal cord compression in cattle after the use of an oily vaccine / Compressão medular em bovinos após o uso de vacina oleosa

An outbreak of compressive myelopathy in cattle associated with the improper use of an oil vaccine is described. Neurological signs were observed in 25 out of 3,000 cattle after 60 days of being vaccinated against foot and mouth disease. The clinical picture was characterized by progressive paralysis of the hind limbs, difficulty in standing up, and sternal recumbency during the course of 2-5 months. A filling defect between the L1 and L3 vertebrae was seen through myelography performed in one of the affected animals. A yellow-gray, granular and irregular mass was observed in four necropsied animals involving the spinal nerve roots and epidural space of the lumbar (L1-L4) spinal cord; the mass was associated with a whitish oily fluid. This fluid was also found in association with necrosis of the longissimus dorsi muscle. Microscopic changes in the epidural space, nerve roots, and spinal musculature were similar and consisted of granulomas or pyogranulomas around circular unstained spaces (vacuoles). These spaces were located between areas of severe diffuse hyaline necrosis of muscle fibers and resembled the drops of oil present in the vaccine.

Relatamos um surto de mielopatia sas medulares e espaço epidural da região lombar (L1-L4); compressiva lombar em bovinos associada à aplicação de esse material era associado com líquido brancacento e vacina oleosa de forma inadequada. De um total de 3000 oleoso. Havia também áreas de necrose no músculo Lonbovinos, 25 apresentaram distúrbios neurológicos apro-gissimus dorsi com material similar ao do espaço epidural. ximadamente 60 dias após terem sido vacinados contra a Microscopicamente, as alterações observadas no espaço febre aftosa. O quadro clínico foi caracterizado por parali-epidural, raízes nervosas medulares e na musculatura fosia progressiva de membros posteriores, dificuldade para ram similares sendo caracterizadas pela formação de múlpermanecer em estação e decúbito esternal com evolução tiplos granulomas ou piogranulomas envolvendo espaços de 2-5 meses. A mielografia realizada em um animal reve-(vacúolos) circulares não corados (aparentemente, o local lou defeito de enchimento na altura das vértebras L1 e L3. antes ocupado por gotículas de óleo presente na vacina), Quatro animais foram necropsiados e foi visualizado massa além de necrose hialina severa difusa de fibras musculares.