ANIMAL INFECTIONS BY VACCINIA-LIKE VIRUSES IN THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO: 2 - PARAIBA RIVER VALLEY

Abstract

Animal infections caused by vaccinia-like viruses strains in the Paraiba river valley, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, municipalities of Valenca, Barra do Pirai, Rio das Flores, Pirai, Rio Claro e Resende, have been studied by our group. Human infections associated with the infected animals have been also observed in the area. Specimens of 102 animals were collected in 34 farms in the period May 2006 to October 2007, mainly serum samples and also crusts and vesicular fluids. The clinical specimens were submitted to a plaque reduction neutralization test, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, electron microscopy examination and virus isolation in a Vero cell line. Orthopoxvirus infection could be demonstrated by at least one of the laboratory methods in 92 animals, and lesions were observed on the udder of dairy cattle and around mouth and nose of calves in contact with infected adults. The orthopoxvirus infections are spreading in the area and may be already considered a important zoonosis, with substantial economic losses in the dairy cattle due to reduction of milk production and permanent lesions in the udder, like losses of teats. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17525/vrrjournal.v12i1-2.11