West Nile virus (WNV) infection causes diseases that vary in intensity from asymptomatic to fatal encephalitis in humans and animals. The etiological agent is a Flavivirus belonging to Japanesse Encephalitis complex. This zoonotic virus is maintained in nature in an enzootic cycle between mosquitoes and birds as amplifying hosts. Except birds, a wide variety of animals develop seroconversion caused by infection, and previous studies indicated that dogs may be considered as sentinel for WNV. The importance of studying this virus is caused by its zoonotic character, limited possibilities of active surveillance and real-time alertness of the infection’s presence in the human and animal populations. The aim of the study was to demonstrate and estimate the seroconversion in dogs within an area with confirmed cases in humans and animals. A total number of 76 serum samples were evaluated for the presence of specific anti WNV antibodies using a commercial competitive ELISA kit, for the detection of anti-pr-E antibodies (ID Screen® West Nile Competition Multi-species). The results indicated specific antibodies in 32 (42.1%) out of 76 samples tested. Positive results were recorded in all four counties from which samples were collected. Our preliminary results proved the circulation of WNV in dogs in areas where the infection was previously reported in animals and humans.

Parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) is the most common virus infection of the respiratory tract of sheep and goats throughout the world. The virus belongs to family Paramyxoviridae of order Mononegaviralis, the non-segmented negative single stranded RNA viruses. Often, infection is complicated by coinfection with respiratory bacteria (Mannheimia haemolytica). In this study, detection of PI-3 virus as causative agent of pneumonia in goat kids was investigated.The virus was detected in lung tissues using direct immunofluorescence method (DFAT) with anti-PI-3 polyclonal antiserum conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate (VMRD, cat. no. CJ-F-PI3-10ML). The samples were collected from twelve diseased goat kids from a farm where were diagnosed respiratory signs.The outbreak dynamics was characterized by high morbidity and mortality in goat kids aged between one to four weeks. Clinically all affected animals were presenting respiratory manifestation (coughing and nasal discharge). At the necropsy pneumonic apical and cardiac lobes in lungs were observed in all died goat kids. The positive result of DFAT was considered based on the specific fluorescence localized in the cytoplasm of bronchiolar epithelial cells.In the present research work, we demonstrated the suitability of the immunodetection of viral antigens in routinely fixed tissue specimens as a diagnostic tool for PI-3 infection in goats.