An outbreak of orthopoxvirus-associated disease in horses in southern Brazil.
Abstract: An outbreak of severe cutaneous disease associated with an orthopoxvirus in horses in southern Brazil is described. Fourteen Crioulo mares and foals from a husbandry farm developed papules, and vesicles progressing to proliferative and exudative lesions on the muzzle, external nares, and external and internal lips. The vesicles eroded, and the proliferative lesions eventually bled and progressed to moist crusts and scars. The clinical signs lasted approximately 6-12 days, after which the animals progressively recovered. Direct electron microscopy of skin biopsies revealed brick-shaped, 250-300-nm virus particles with orthopoxvirus morphology. Histological examination of the lesions revealed vacuolar degeneration of the cells of the stratum spinosum and the presence of large intracytoplasmic, eosinophilic inclusion bodies. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of poxvirus A-type inclusion body gene confirmed the presence of orthopoxvirus DNA in horse tissues. Inoculation of tissue homogenates into the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken embryonated eggs and intraperitoneally in mice resulted in pock-like lesions with the microscopic appearance of poxvirus-induced histopathology. Taken together, these results demonstrate the association of an orthopoxvirus with the outbreak of cutaneous disease in horses. The origin of the agent causing the outbreak is uncertain because no similar condition has been reported in Brazil.
Publication Date: 2010-01-23 PubMed ID: 20093706DOI: 10.1177/104063871002200132Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses an outbreak of skin disease in horses in southern Brazil associated with an Orthopoxvirus. This disease resulted in visible physical changes on affected horses and was confirmed through a series of tests, including direct electron microscopy, histological examination, and polymerase chain reaction amplification.
Research Background
- The study revolves around an outbreak of a severe skin disease in horses linked to an orthopoxvirus.
- This incident occurred on a husbandry farm in southern Brazil.
- The affected horses include fourteen Crioulo mares and foals.
Disease Manifestation
- The horses developed several physical symptoms such as papules, vesicles that led to proliferative, and exudative lesions on various parts including muzzle, external nares, and both external and internal lips.
- The vesicles then eroded and resulted in the lesions bleeding into moist crusts and scars.
- The clinical signs lasted around 6-12 days, with the animals progressively recovering thereafter.
Confirmation of Orthopoxvirus
- Using direct electron microscopy conducted on the horses’ skin biopsies, virus particles of 250-300 nm with Orthopoxvirus morphology were visualized.
- Further histological examination revealed vacuolar degeneration of cells of the stratum spinosum and eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies.
- To confirm the orthopoxvirus DNA presence, polymerase chain reaction was amplified of the poxvirus A-type inclusion body gene.
- Inoculation tests were also carried out where the tissue homogenates were inoculated into the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken embryonated eggs and intraperitoneally in mice.
- The inoculation resulted in pock-like lesions, exhibiting microscopic appearance of poxvirus-induced histopathology.
Concluding Remarks
- The collective results of these tests demonstrated that there was indeed an association of an orthopoxvirus with the outbreak of the cutaneous disease in horses.
- However, the origin of the agent causing the outbreak remains uncertain because no identical situation has been reported previously in the region.
Cite This Article
APA
Brum MC, Anjos BL, Nogueira CE, Amaral LA, Weiblen R, Flores EF.
(2010).
An outbreak of orthopoxvirus-associated disease in horses in southern Brazil.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 22(1), 143-147.
https://doi.org/10.1177/104063871002200132 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- DMVP/CCR/UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, CEP: 97105-900.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Male
- Orthopoxvirus
- Poxviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Poxviridae Infections / pathology
- Poxviridae Infections / veterinary
- Poxviridae Infections / virology
- Skin / pathology
- Skin Diseases, Viral / pathology
- Skin Diseases, Viral / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- MacNeill AL. Comparative Pathology of Zoonotic Orthopoxviruses. Pathogens 2022 Aug 9;11(8).
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