Ranaviruses (Iridoviridae) are increasingly associated with mortality events in amphibians, fish, and reptiles. They have been recently associated with mass mortality events in Brazilian farmed tadpoles of the American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802. The objectives of the present study were to further characterize the virus isolated from sick R. catesbeiana tadpoles and confirm the etiology in these outbreaks. Sick tadpoles were collected in 3 farms located in Goiás State, Brazil, from 2003 to 2005 and processed for virus isolation and characterization, microbiology, histopathology, and parasitology. The phylogenetic relationships of Rana catesbeiana ranavirus (RCV-BR) with other genus members was investigated by PCR with primers specific for the major capsid protein gene (MCP) and the RNA polymerase DNA-dependent gene (Pol II). Sequence analysis and multiple alignments for MCP products showed > 99% amino acid identity with other ranaviruses, while Pol II products showed 100% identity. Further diagnostics of the pathology including histology and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the viral etiology of these mass deaths. As far as we know, this is the first report of a ranaviral infection affecting aquatic organisms in Brazil. Additionally, our results suggest that American bullfrogs may have served as a vector of transmission of this virus, which highlights the potential threat of amphibian translocation in the world distribution of pathogens. KEY WORDS: Iridovirus · FV3 · Ranavirus · Rana catesbeianaResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

Bovine tuberculosis results in economic losses in livestock production and poses a risk to public health. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological status of bovine tuberculosis in adult cows in the state of Goiás, Brazil. The state was divided into three sampling strata, corresponding to different livestock production circuits. A total of 18,659 animals were tested with the comparative cervical tuberculin test (CCT), in 300 randomly sampled bovine herds per stratum. An epidemiological questionnaire was used to identify health and management practices that may be associated with the presence of tuberculosis infection in the herd. In Stratum 1, dominated by beef cattle, no animals reacted to the CCT. In Stratum 2, which covers the main dairy regions of the state, the prevalence was estimated at 8.67% [5.73 to 12.74%] for herds and at 0.9% [0.21 to 1.58%] for animals. In Stratum 3, characterized by a mix of dairy, beef and dual-purpose herds, the prevalence was estimated at 1. . These results indicate that bovine tuberculosis is endemic in the state; its spatial distribution is heterogeneous with a strong concentration in dairy regions. The most intensive dairy farms are those with the highest risk, which is consistent with what other authors' found elsewhere in Brazil. The epidemiological information generated by this study provides information for planning of risk-based surveillance actions, and justifies the adoption of free-herd certification programs for bovine tuberculosis in the main dairy regions of Goiás. ResumoEm virtude da tuberculose bovina produzir prejuízos econômicos na pecuária e ter impacto na saúde pública, realizou-se, no Estado de Goiás, um estudo para caracterizar a situação epidemiológica da enfermidade em fêmeas bovinas adultas. O Estado foi estratificado em três circuitos produtores. Em cada circuito foram amostradas aleatoriamente 300 propriedades, onde foi sorteado um número pré-estabelecido de animais que foram submetidos à tuberculinização cervical comparada, totalizando 18.659 animais. Foi aplicado, em cada propriedade, questionário epidemiológico para verificar as práticas sanitárias e de manejo que poderiam estar associadas ao risco de infecção pela doença. No estrato 1, onde predominam propriedades de bovinocultura de corte, não foi detectado nenhum animal reagente ao teste. No estrato 2, que abrange as principais regiões leiteiras do Estado, a prevalência foi de 8,67% [5,73-12,74%] para propriedades e de 0,9% [0,21-1,58%] para animais. No estrato 3, onde existe um equilíbrio entre a produção de leite e corte, estimou-se a prevalência em 1,00% [0,21-2,89] para propriedades e 0,30% [0,10-0,49%] para animais. A prevalência global no Estado de Goiás foi de 3,43% [2,20-4,67%] para propriedades e de 0,30% [0,10-0,49%] para animais. Os fatores de risco associados à condição de foco, na regressão logística múltipla foram: localização da propriedade no estrato 2 (OR = 12,05 [3,28]), realização de duas ou três ordenhas diárias (OR = 6,27 [2,44]). A assistência veterinár...

RESUMORealizou-se um estudo para caracterizar a situação epidemiológica da brucelose no Estado de Goiás. O Estado foi estratificado em três circuitos produtores. Em cada circuito foram amostradas aleatoriamente 300 propriedades e, dentro dessas, foi escolhido de forma aleatória um número pré-estabelecido de animais, dos quais foi obtida uma amostra de sangue. No total, foram amostrados 10.744 animais, provenientes de 900 propriedades. Em cada propriedade visitada aplicou-se um questionário epidemiológico para verificar o tipo de exploração e as práticas de criação e sanitárias que poderiam estar associadas ao risco de infecção pela doença. O protocolo de testes utilizado foi o da triagem com o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado e a confirmação dos positivos com o teste do 2-mercaptoetanol. O rebanho foi considerado positivo quando pelo menos um animal foi reagente às duas provas sorológicas. No estrato 1, a prevalência foi de 7,7% [4,7-10,7%] para propriedades, e de 1,4% [0,99-1,7%] para animais. No estrato 2, foi de 19,5% [15,0-24,0%] para propriedades e de 2,6% [2,0-3,1%] para animais. No estrato 3, foi de 21,4% [16,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26],1] para propriedades e 4,3% [3,7-5,0%] para animais. A prevalência obtida para o Estado foi de 17,5% [14,9-20,2%] para propriedades e de 3,0% [2,7-3,3%] para animais. Os fatores de risco (odds ratio, OR) associados à condição de foco, segundo a análise multivariada, foram: compra de reprodutores a comerciantes de gado (OR = 2,06 [1,12-3,52]), ocorrência de abortos nos últimos 12 meses (OR = 5,83 [3,8]) e prática de vacinação contra brucelose (OR = 2,07 [1,09]). Tanto a ocorrência de aborto quanto a vacinação são, neste caso, consequência da presença de brucelose no rebanho.

Key words: rotavirus -gastroenteritis -epidemiology -seasonality - Goiás -Brazil Diarrhoea is an important cause of morbidity in humans throughout the world, affecting mainly infants and children . Group A rotavirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children, causing a large number of hospitalizations (Pérez-Schael et al. 1999). Rotavirus is also associated with child mortality in several countries (Bern et al. 1992, Argüelles et al. 2000, Kapikian et al. 2001. This virus was detected for the first time in Brazil in 1976 (Linhares et al. 1977). After that description, several investigations were made and results demonstrated the relevance of rotavirus in the etiology of diarrhoea throughout the country (Rácz et al. 1988, Pereira et al. 1993, Leite et al. 1996.This study presents results from a rotavirus surveillance in Goiânia, Goiás. Our analysis was focused on the role of the virus in the diarrhoeal illness, as well as on ageprevalence and seasonality of rotavirus infection in the region. out diarrhoea from three different settings: children admitted to three hospitals (Hospital Materno Infantil, Hospital das Clínicas, and Hospital Lúcio Rebelo); children seen in outpatient clinics of Hospital Lúcio Rebelo, and children attending several day-care centers. Three or more liquid or semi-liquid daily evacuations were considered as diarrhoea, along with available medical information. Associated symptoms included vomit, fever and abdominal pain. The children enrolled in the study belonged to low socio-economic strata, according to the information provided by their parents/legal guardians. The faecal specimens were collected from the children only after a written consent was provided by parents/legal guardians. Also, ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee on Research of the Federal University of Goiás. MATERIALS AND METHODS SubjectCharacteristics of the samples and of the childrenFrom 2,605 faecal specimens, 1,494 (57.4%) were collected from hospitalized patients. Of the remainder faecal specimens, 528 (20.3%) were obtained from children seen in outpatient clinics, and 583 (22.4%) in day-care centers. The investigation in hospitals began in 1986 and continued until 2000, except for the 1995-1997 period, when no samples were collected. In outpatient clinics the collection of the faecal specimens took place from 1986 to 1995, while in day-care centers samples were collected from 1989 to 1994. From the total number of fecal samples, 1,324 (50.8%) samples were collected from children with diarrhoea, and 1,246 (94.1%) of these children were hospitalized. From the remaining samples, 1,281 (49.2%) came from children who presented either with other symptoms than diarrhoea or with no symptoms. From those 480 (37.5%) were from outpatient clinics. All children with no symptoms were from day-care centers. Regarding the gender

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Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and 5 (BoHV-5) are important pathogens of the respiratory and genital tract of cattle and may also affect the central nervous system and cause meningoencephalitis. Both virus types are estimated to be widely distributed in Southern Brazil. In the present study, BoHV-1 and/or BoHV-5 DNA were detected in bovine semen samples from two states of Brazil by two species-specific nested polymerase chain reactions (nPCRs). These nPCRs were used to assay 53 samples of fresh semen and 23 samples of frozen semen from breeding bulls. Viral DNA was detected in all 76 semen samples: all were positive for BoHV-5, whereas 34 of these were positive for BoHV-1 as well. Moreover, in five fresh and in 13 frozen semen samples-of a total number of 40 samples suitable for virus isolation-infectious BoHV-1 and/or BoHV-5 virus were detected. In conclusion, that both BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 were detected in bovine semen in Brazil highlighted the importance of examining bull semen in search for both agents to reduce the risk of transmitting these viruses.

Nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4), encoded by group A rotavirus genome segment 10, is a multifunctional protein and the first recognized virus-encoded enterotoxin. The NSP4 gene has been sequenced, and five distinct genetic groups have been described: genotypes A-E. NSP4 genotypes A, B, and C have been detected in humans. In this study, the NSP4-encoding gene of human rotavirus strains of different G and P genotypes collected from children between 1987 and 2003 in three cities of West Central region of Brazil was characterized. NSP4 gene of 153 rotavirus-positive fecal samples was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced. For phylogenetic analysis, NSP4 nucleotide sequences of these samples were compared to nucleotide sequences of reference strains available in GenBank. Two distinct NSP4 genotypes could be identified: 141 (92.2%) sequences clustered with NSP4 genotype B, and 12 sequences (7.8%) clustered with NSP4 genotype A. These results reinforce that further investigations are needed to assess the validity of NSP4 as a suitable target for epidemiologic surveillance of rotavirus infections and vaccine development.

Ten faecal samples of bovine rotavirus from calves less than 30 days old from an outbreak of diarrhea in Hidrolândia, Goiás, Brazil were submitted to serological and molecular characterization, using enzyme immunoassay for subgrouping and serotyping, PAGE for determination of electropherotypes and PCR for genome typing. Nine samples belonged to group A/subgroup I rotavirus and one sample was group A / subgroup non-I/non-II. Four samples were characterized as G10P[11] (B223-like), four samples showed a mixture of two rotavirus strains (G6G10 and P[5]P[11]), one sample was characterized as G6P [11] and one sample was characterized only by G serotyping/genotyping, and did not react with any P primer used. Two electropherotypes were detected and both were present in the same animal. This study demonstrates that two different electropherotypes and/or serotypes of bovine rotavirus can circulate in the same outbreak.