Antibodies against vesicular stomatitis virus in horses from southern, midwestern and northeastern Brazilian States

Abstract

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is the agent of a vesicular disease that affects many animal species and may be clinically confounded with foot-and-mouth disease in ruminant and swine. Horses are especially susceptible to VSV and may serve as sentinels for virus circulation. The present study investigated the presence of neutralizing antibodies against VSV Indiana III (VSIV-3) in serum samples of 3,626horses from six states in three Brazilian regions: Southern (RS, n = 1,011), Midwest (GO/DF, n = 1,767) and Northeast (PB, PE, RN and CE, n = 848) RESUMO O vírus da estomatite vesicular (vesicular stomatitis virus, VSV) é o agente de doença vesicular que afeta várias espécies e que, em suínos e ruminantes, é clinicamente confundível com a febre aftosa. Os equinos são particularmente susceptíveis ao VSV, servindo de sentinelas para a circulação viral. O presente trabalho investigou a presença de anticorpos neutralizantes contra o VSV Indiana III (VSIV-3) em amostras de soro de 3626 equinos de seis estados das regiões Sul (RS, n=1011), Centro-oeste (GO e DF, n=1767) e Nordeste (PE, PB, RN e CE, n=848), coletadas entre 2013 e 2014. Anticorpos neutralizantes contra o VSIV-3 em títulos iguais ou superiores a 40 foram detectados em

Detection of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) seroreactive for vesicular stomatitis virus in the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil

“…Of the 119 animals tested, three were seroreactive for VSIV-3, with titers ranging from 160 to 1280, resulting in an apparent prevalence of 2.5%. Real prevalence was 2.6%, which is similar to the value (2.6%; 20/758) observed by Lunkes et al (2016) for VSIV-3, with titers varying from 40 to 1280 in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, and Rondônia, Brazil. According to Lunkes et al (2016), moderate titers (160-1280) do not verify the occurrence of a recent exposure to VSIV-3; however, the presence of seroreactive animals is due to natural exposure to the virus, since there is no commercial vaccine against VSIV-3 available in Brazil.…”

“…Sertão is a border area of the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and Pernambuco, where there is an intense trade of animals without the knowledge of sanitary conditions. It is worth mentioning that serological surveys for VS in horses were conducted in these states, demonstrating the presence of seropositive animals (LUNKES et al, 2016).…”

“…In Northeastern Brazil, VSIV-3 infection is considered endemic (PANAFTOSA, 2010). Lunkes et al (2016) investigated the presence of VSIV-3 antibodies in horses from the South, Central West, and Northeast regions, with higher seropositivity in the Northeast region (87.3% in Ceará, 65.7% in Rio Grande do Norte, and 45.4% in Paraíba, respectively). In a study carried out in the state of Paraíba, using a planned sampling of animals and properties in the bovine population, 38.5% of the herds were seropositive for VSIV-3, and of these 80.6% belonged to the Sertão mesoregion, in which two spatial agglomerates of positive properties were identified (BEZERRA et al, 2018).…”

“…To date there are no reports of VSIV-3 circulation in the buffalo population in Northeastern Brazil. Lunkes et al (2016) investigated the presence of neutralizing antibodies against VSIV-3 in 758 buffaloes in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, and Minas Gerais, and of these, 2.6% were seroreactive, with titers varying from 40 to 1280.…”

Vesicular stomatitis due to Indiana III (Alagoas/VSIV-3) is endemic in Brazilian state of Ceará

“…The VSV infection is endemic to the northeast and north regions of Brazil (MAPA 2012) as shown by experimental protocols in the field or scientific/research protocols; however, reports of officially diagnosed cases or outbreaks of VSV infection are scarce. LUNKES et al (2016) investigated VSIV-3 viral circulation in three Brazilian regions and observed that the northeastern region had a broader viral activity than the centerwest and south regions. According to the official data, several suspected cases are attributed to other infectious or noninfectious causes; on the contrary, the underreporting of VSV probably also occurs, contributing to an incomplete knowledge of the actual epidemiological situation (CARGNELUTTI et al, 2014).…”