Detection of Vaccinia virus during an outbreak of exanthemous oral lesions in Brazilian equids.
Abstract: In August 2014, an outbreak of oral exanthematous disease in equids was reported in Brazil, affecting 11 donkeys and 3 mules. Objective: To investigate if Vaccinia virus (VACV) was the aetiological agent in this outbreak. Methods: Investigation of clinical cases using serological, molecular and phylogenetic approaches. Methods: To analyse the presence of neutralising antibodies against VACV, samples were submitted in triplicate to a plaque-reduction neutralisation test (PRNT ). On the basis of previous studies which detected VACV DNA in sera, we submitted extracted DNA samples to different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platforms targeting Orthopoxvirus (OPV) genes (C11R, A56R and A26L). The PCR products were directly sequenced in both orientations using specific primers and capillary electrophoresis. The alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the A26L and A56R nucleotide sequences (maximum likelihood) were prepared with the obtained nucleotide fragments. Results: Serological and molecular data suggested VACV as the aetiological agent. The neutralising antibodies against OPV were detected in 5 (55.5%) of the equids, with titres ≥40 neutralising u/ml. Based on the results obtained from all PCR platforms, all samples were positive for OPV: 9 (100%) for A56R, 4 (44.4%) for C11R and 3 (33.3%) for A26L. The alignment of the nucleotide sequences of the A26L and A56R fragments revealed that the samples were highly similar to the homologous genes from other Brazilian VACV Group 1 isolates (98.8% identity on average). Furthermore, both the A26L and A56R sequences showed signature deletions also present in the sequences of Group 1 VACV isolates from Brazil. Conclusions: Our data raises questions about the role of equids in the chain of VACV epidemiology. The surveillance of equids in VACV-affected areas worldwide is relevant.
© 2016 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2016-03-23 PubMed ID: 26875684DOI: 10.1111/evj.12571Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article covers the identification of Vaccinia virus (VACV) as the cause of an outbreak of oral exanthematous disease in donkeys and mules in Brazil, studying the clinical cases and using different methods to detect the presence of the virus.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
The objective of this study was to determine if Vaccinia virus (VACV) caused an outbreak of oral diseases in equids (comprising of 11 donkeys and 3 mules) reported in Brazil in August 2014.
- The research included investigation of clinical cases and used serological, molecular, and phylogenetic methods for the analysis.
- Samples were tested in triplicate using a plaque-reduction neutralisation test (PRNT) to analyse the presence of neutralising antibodies against VACV. Prior studies have found VACV DNA in sera, so DNA samples were extracted and submitted to different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platforms targeting Orthopoxvirus (OPV) genes (C11R, A56R and A26L).
- PCR was followed by direct sequencing of PCR products, alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of A26L and A56R fragments.
Results of the Research
Findings from the study suggested that the Vaccinia virus (VACV) was indeed responsible for the outbreak.
- Serological and molecular data pointed towards VACV as the cause. Neutralising antibodies against OPV were found in 5 (55.5%) of the equids, with titres ≥40 neutralising u/ml.
- PCR results indicated that all samples were positive for OPV.
- The alignment of the nucleotide sequences of the A26L and A56R fragments revealed strong similarity with genes from other Brazilian VACV Group 1 isolates. Signature deletions delineated in both the A26L and A56R sequences were also found, in line with those in Group 1 VACV isolates from Brazil.
Conclusions of the Research
Following the results, the study poses questions about the role of equids in the VACV epidemiology chain.
- The researchers concluded that it’s important to monitor equids in areas affected by VACV worldwide due to their possible role in spreading the virus.
Cite This Article
APA
Abrahão JS, de Souza Trindade G, Pereira-Oliveira G, de Oliveira Figueiredo P, Costa G, Moreira Franco-Luiz AP, Lopes Assis F, Bretas de Oliveira D, Mattos Paim LR, de Araújo Oliveira CE, Lemos Maia Neto A, Geessien Kroon E.
(2016).
Detection of Vaccinia virus during an outbreak of exanthemous oral lesions in Brazilian equids.
Equine Vet J, 49(2), 221-224.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12571 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- ADAB - Agência Estadual de Defesa Agropecuária da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
- ADAB - Agência Estadual de Defesa Agropecuária da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
- ADAB - Agência Estadual de Defesa Agropecuária da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Vírus, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Equidae
- Exanthema / pathology
- Exanthema / veterinary
- Exanthema / virology
- Mouth Diseases / epidemiology
- Mouth Diseases / pathology
- Mouth Diseases / veterinary
- Mouth Diseases / virology
- Vaccinia / diagnosis
- Vaccinia / epidemiology
- Vaccinia / pathology
- Vaccinia / veterinary
- Vaccinia virus / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- José da Silva Domingos I, Silva de Oliveira J, Lorene Soares Rocha K, Bretas de Oliveira D, Geessien Kroon E, Barbosa Costa G, de Souza Trindade G. Twenty Years after Bovine Vaccinia in Brazil: Where We Are and Where Are We Going?. Pathogens 2021 Mar 31;10(4).
- Silva NIO, de Oliveira JS, Kroon EG, Trindade GS, Drumond BP. Here, There, and Everywhere: The Wide Host Range and Geographic Distribution of Zoonotic Orthopoxviruses. Viruses 2020 Dec 30;13(1).
- Lima MT, Oliveira GP, Afonso JAB, Souto RJC, de Mendonça CL, Dantas AFM, Abrahao JS, Kroon EG. An Update on the Known Host Range of the Brazilian Vaccinia Virus: An Outbreak in Buffalo Calves. Front Microbiol 2018;9:3327.
- Borges IA, Reynolds MG, McCollum AM, Figueiredo PO, Ambrosio LLD, Vieira FN, Costa GB, Matos ACD, de Andrade Almeida VM, Ferreira PCP, Lobato ZIP, Dos Reis JKP, Kroon EG, Trindade GS. Serological Evidence of Orthopoxvirus Circulation Among Equids, Southeast Brazil. Front Microbiol 2018;9:402.
- Oliveira JS, Figueiredo PO, Costa GB, Assis FL, Drumond BP, da Fonseca FG, Nogueira ML, Kroon EG, Trindade GS. Vaccinia Virus Natural Infections in Brazil: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Viruses 2017 Nov 15;9(11).
- Quiner CA, Nakazawa Y. Ecological niche modeling to determine potential niche of Vaccinia virus: a case only study. Int J Health Geogr 2017 Aug 7;16(1):28.
- Pauvolid-Corrêa A, de Jesus LBG, Barbosa VAP, Oliveira YET, da Silva MAN, de Paula Rebello M, de Freitas GS, Bem GS, Pimenta-Pereira AA, Rabelo AGC, Gonçalves EVJD, Moreira MF, Morente BB, Tomich MS, Domingues LSS, Magalhães MML, Cavalheiro TCBS, do Lago EP, de Barros JJF, Barreto-Vieira DF. Isolation of Orthopoxvirus vaccinia during an outbreak of vesicular disease in dairy cattle from Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2025 Dec;56(4):2619-2625.
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