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Clinical, gross, and histopathology lesions and molecular characterization of Trichomonas spp. infection were described in two striped owls (Asio (Rhinoptynx) clamator), one American kestrel (Falco sparverius), two green-winged saltators (Saltator similis), and in a toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) from Brazil. These birds presented clinical signs including emaciation, ruffled feathers, abundant salivation and open mouth breathing presumably due to abundant caseous material. Gross lesions were characterized by multifocal yellow friable plaques on the surface of the tongue, pharynx and/or caseous masses partially occluding the laryngeal entrance. In the owls, the caseous material extended into the mandibular muscles and invaded the sinuses of the skull. Histopathologically, marked necrotic and inflammatory lesions were associated with numerous round to oval, pale eosinophilic structures (6-10μm) with basophilic nuclei, consistent with trichomonads. Organisms similar to those described above also were found in the liver of the two green-winged saltators. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of trichomonosis in a striped owl and a toco toucan. Sequence analysis of the Trichomonas spp. internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) region and partial 5.8S of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) disclosed significant genetic diversity. Two sequences had 100% identity to Trichomonas gallinae, whereas two sequences had a 99% and 92% identity to a Trichomonas vaginalis-like sequence, respectively. One sequence (green-winged saltator 502-08) had a 100% identity to a newly recognized genus Simplicomonas.

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A nested-PCR (n-PCR) was used to detect feline leukemia virus (FeLV) proviral DNA in blood samples from 464 sick and 608 healthy domestic cats (Felis catus) selected by convenience, and a significantly high prevalence of FeLV infection was observed. n-PCR results revealed the presence of FeLV proviral DNA in 47.2 % of sick cats and 47.4 % of healthy cats. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FeLV samples from healthy or sick cats were grouped into separate clades. We determined FeLV subgroups by an n-PCR based on the envelope (env) gene. The partial env gene of FeLV Minas Gerais (MG) samples were compared to various exogenous FeLV isolates and endogenous (enFeLV) provirus from the same region. FeLV-B MG samples were more similar to endogenous sequences and to natural FeLV-B isolates than to either FeLV-A or FeLV-C. The results revealed the circulation of FeLV-B in large populations of urban domestic cats in Brazil.Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an exogenous retrovirus, belonging to the genus Gammaretrovirus, which infects domestic and sporadically wild cats (Daniels et al., 1999; Arjona et al., 2007). By comparison of the envelope (env) sequence variation it has been possible to identify four FeLV subgroups: FeLV-A, -B, -C and -T, each of which uses distinct cellular receptors to initiate infection of the host cell (Boomer et al., 1997;Tailor et al., 1999; Anderson et al., 2001;Mendoza et al., 2006;Cheng et al., 2007). FeLV has been associated with fatal neoplasia, degenerative diseases of the haematopoietic system and immunodeficiency (Chandhasin et al., 2004;Hofmann-Lehmann et al., 2006;Collado et al., 2007).Traditionally, FeLV infections are diagnosed by virus isolation (VI), immunofluorescent antibody tests (IFA) or ELISA for the detection of soluble antigens (usually the p27 core protein) in whole blood, serum or plasma (Levy et al., 2008). However, FeLV infections in cats with a weakened immune response are not reliably detected by serological methods . Recently, molecular methods such as PCR assays have been described for the use of detection of FeLV provirus DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), allowing virus detection independently of antibodies presence or viraemia, and enabling detection in latently infected cats (Hofmann-Lehmann et al., 2001;Torres et al., 2005;Tandon et al., 2008). Moreover, a highly sensitive nested-PCR (n-PCR) assay was developed and it is able to distinguish between endogenous and exogenous FeLV by using inner and outer pairs of primers based on the U3 long terminal repeat (LTR) region of FeLV provirus (Miyazawa & Jarrett, 1997 Veterinarians were requested to take EDTA-blood samples (1.0 ml) from the cats regardless of their clinical status. Written consent was obtained from each cat owner, and ethical guidelines were always followed.Statistical analyses were performed using the x 2 or Fisher's exact tests using the GraphPad InStat version 3.05 for Windows (GraphPad Software). Sample prevalence estimates were calculated and reported as the per cent of cats with ...

ABSTRACT:Human herpesvirus type 1 (HHV-1) is widely dispersed among the human population. Although infection is often asymptomatic in humans, nonhuman primates develop a severe and often fatal infection. In August 2006, 13 black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penincillata) from a group of 14 presented with clinical apathy, anorexia, and ataxia. Physical examination revealed conjunctivitis, erosive or ulcerative lesions on the skin, and swollen lymph nodes. Of the 14 animals captured, 10 died. Grossly, ulcers and erosions were observed on the skin of face, nasal planum, lips, and oral mucosa. Histologically, superficial vesicular and erosive stomatitis with associated basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in the squamous epithelium were observed. Swabs from oral lesions and tissue samples from necropsied animals were positive for HHV-1 by nested polymerase chain reaction for eight animals.

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Blood samples from 1,072 domestic cats of nine administrative regions of Belo Horizonte, MG, were collected and tested using PCR nested for the occurrence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Overall occurrence was 47.5% (507/1072) being North (68.1%) and East (54.4%) the most prevalent areas. Epidemiological data showed that FeLV infection was very common among examined cats and breed neither gender nor were predisposing factors for FeLV. The results suggest that the agglomeration of a large number of cats in the same environment can be an important factor for the increase in the rate of transmission of this retrovirus among domestic cats in the studied city.

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