Ivanete Kotait

Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Montevideo, Departamento de Montevideo, Uruguay

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Publications (26)47.01 Total impact

  • Article: Antigenic and genetic characterization of rabies virus isolates from uruguay.
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    ABSTRACT: After 25 years without any reported cases of rabies in Uruguay, the northern region of the country experienced an epizootic of bovine paralytic rabies in October 2007. The outbreak affected bovines and equines, and the main source of infection was the bat Desmodus rotundus, the only hematophagous species in the country. From October 2007 to July 2008, 42 bovine, 3 equine and 120 chiropteran samples were submitted to the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for rabies testing. A total of 12 samples (7 bovine, 2 equine and 3 from D. rotundus) were positive by the fluorescent antibody test, and viruses were isolated by the mouse inoculation test. The objective of this study was to compare the antigenic and genetic characteristics of these isolates and three isolates from insectivorous bats from other regions. Antigenic typing using a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies identified all 12 viruses as variant 3 (AgV3), a variant associated with D. rotundus. Two isolates from insectivorous bats (Tadarida brasiliensis and Molossus sp) were characterized as antigenic variant 4 (AgV4) while the third, from Myotis sp., could not be characterized using this panel as its reactivity pattern did not match that of any of the known antigenic variants. Partial N-gene sequences (nt 149-1420) of these isolates were aligned with homologous sequences derived from GenBank by the CLUSTAL/W method and used to build a neighbor-joining distance tree with the Kimura 2-parameter model. All 12 isolates were genetically grouped into the D. rotundus cluster as they shared 100% identity. In the phylogenetic analysis, the three isolates from insectivorous bats segregated into three clusters: one related to Tadarida brasiliensis, one to Myotis sp. and the other to Lasiurus sp., although the isolate associated with the latter came from a Molossus sp specimen. These results indicate that AgV3 was associated with the outbreak of bovine paralytic rabies in Uruguay. This is the first report of rabies virus having been detected in non-hematophagous bats in this country.
    Virus Research 01/2013; · 2.94 Impact Factor
  • Article: Phylogeography of rabies virus isolated from herbivores and bats in the Espírito Santo State, Brazil.
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    ABSTRACT: Rabies is enzootic in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Every year, cattle and horses die from rabies that is transmitted by the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. This paper describes the spread of the rabies virus by the continuous diffusion model using relaxed random walks with BEAST software. Forty-one (41) sequences of gene G from the rabies virus that was isolated from bats and domestic herbivores from several areas of the state between 2006 and 2010 were analyzed. The phylogenetic tree showed three main clusters as well as two sub-clusters under cluster 2. A spatial analysis showed that three strains of the rabies virus spread independently. In general, central Espírito Santo, which is mountainous, was the area where separation of the virus strains occurred. This physical barrier, however, was overcome at some point in time, as samples from different lineages were found in the same microarea.
    Virus Genes 12/2012; · 1.85 Impact Factor
  • Article: Desmodus rotundus and Artibeus spp. bats might present distinct rabies virus lineages.
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    ABSTRACT: In Brazil, bats have been assigned an increasing importance in public health as they are important rabies reservoirs. Phylogenetic studies have shown that rabies virus (RABV) strains from frugivorous bats Artibeus spp. are closely associated to those from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus, but little is known about the molecular diversity of RABV in Artibeus spp. The N and G genes of RABV isolated from Artibeus spp. and cattle infected by D. rotundus were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The N gene nucleotides tree showed three clusters: one for D. rotundus and two for Artibeus spp. Regarding putative N amino acid-trees, two clusters were formed, one for D. rotundus and another for Artibeus spp. RABV G gene phylogeny supported the distinction between D. rotundus and Artibeus spp. strains. These results show the intricate host relationship of RABV's evolutionary history, and are invaluable for the determination of RABV infection sources.
    The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases: an official publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 11/2012; · 0.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: Antemortem diagnosis of human rabies in a veterinarian infected when handling a herbivore in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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    ABSTRACT: The Ministry of Health's National Human Rabies Control Program advocates pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for professionals involved with animals that are at risk of contracting rabies. We report an antemortem and postmortem diagnosis of rabies in a veterinarian who became infected when handling herbivores with rabies. The antemortem diagnosis was carried out with a saliva sample and a biopsy of hair follicles using molecular biology techniques, while the postmortem diagnosis used a brain sample and conventional techniques. The veterinarian had collected samples to diagnose rabies in suspect herbivores (bovines and caprines) that were subsequently confirmed to be positive in laboratory tests. After onset of classic rabies symptoms, saliva and hair follicles were collected and used for antemortem diagnostic tests and found to be positive by RT-PCR. Genetic sequencing showed that the infection was caused by variant 3 (Desmodus rotundus), a finding confirmed by tests on the brain sample. It is essential that professionals who are at risk of infection by the rabies virus undergo pre-exposure prophylaxis. This study also confirms that molecular biology techniques were used successfully for antemortem diagnosis and therefore not only allow therapeutic methods to be developed, but also enable the source of infection in human rabies cases to be identified accurately and quickly.
    Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 02/2011; 53(1):39-44. · 1.00 Impact Factor
  • Article: A comparative study of rabies virus isolates from hematophagous bats in Brazil.
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    ABSTRACT: The Brazilian chiropteran fauna consists of 167 species; of which, three are hematophagous: the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi), and the hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata). The aim of this study was to describe the isolation of Rabies virus from common and hairy-legged vampire bats and to report the first comparative antigenic and genetic studies of isolates from these bats. Antigenic and genetic typing of both isolates identified them as antigenic variant 3 (AgV3), the variant frequently isolated from common vampire bats. Phylogenetic analysis showed 99.3% identity between the isolates. This is the first time since 1934 that Rabies virus has been isolated from hairy-legged vampire bats in Brazil. Our analysis provides evidence that the existence of rabies-positive isolates from hairy-legged vampire bats may be the result of an interspecific rabies transmission event from common vampire bats and suggests that roost cohabitation may occur.
    Journal of wildlife diseases 10/2010; 46(4):1335-9. · 1.08 Impact Factor
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    Article: Human rabies transmitted by vampire bats: antigenic and genetic characterization of rabies virus isolates from the Amazon region (Brazil and Ecuador).
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    ABSTRACT: Since 2004, the main transmitter of human rabies in Latin America has been the vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). Based on the nucleoprotein of the rabies virus (RV), we analyzed antigenic and genetic profiles of isolates from 29 samples taken from humans living in different areas of the Amazon region. Two isolates were from Ecuador and 27 from the Northern and Northeastern regions of Brazil, which were obtained during outbreaks in various municipalities in the states of Pará and Maranhão in the years 2004 and 2005. The partial N gene (nt 104-1477) of the 29 isolates was sequenced, and the sequences were used to build a neighbor-joining tree with the Kimura-2 parameter model. All 29 human RV isolates were identified as belonging to antigenic variant 3 (AgV3) and were genetically grouped into the D. rotundus cluster, which was divided into two subclusters (A and B), subcluster A in turn being divided into four genetic groups (A1, A2, A3 and A4). Genetic and molecular markers characterizing these genetic lineages were also identified. The results of this study show that the isolates belong to the same rabies cycle as that of the vampire bat D. rotundus. However, the division of clusters within the lineage associated with D. rotundus shows that different genetic sublineages of the virus were circulating in the Amazon region during the study period. Our findings suggest that there are phylogeographic differences between isolates obtained over a short period.
    Virus Research 10/2010; 153(1):100-5. · 2.94 Impact Factor
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    Article: Rabies virus in insectivorous bats: implications of the diversity of the nucleoprotein and glycoprotein genes for molecular epidemiology.
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    ABSTRACT: Insectivorous bats are the main reservoirs of rabies virus (RABV) in various regions of the world. The aims of this study were to (a) establish genealogies for RABV strains from different species of Brazilian insectivorous bats based on the nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes, (b) investigate specific RABV lineages associated with certain genera of bats and (c) identify molecular markers that can distinguish between these lineages. The genealogic analysis of N and G from 57 RABV strains revealed seven genus-specific clusters related to the insectivorous bats Myotis, Eptesicus, Nyctinomops, Molossus, Tadarida, Histiotus and Lasiurus. Molecular markers in the amino acid sequences were identified which were specific to the seven clusters. These results, which constitute a novel finding for this pathogen, show that there are at least seven independent epidemiological rabies cycles maintained by seven genera of insectivorous bats in Brazil.
    Virology 09/2010; 405(2):352-60. · 3.35 Impact Factor
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    Article: Genetic characterization of rabies virus isolated from bovines and equines between 2007 and 2008, in the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
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    ABSTRACT: Rabies is an acute disease of the central nervous system and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of humans, wild animals and livestock, particularly cattle, as well as causing major economic losses. This study describes the genetic characterization of rabies virus variants that circulate in Desmodus rotundus populations and are transmitted to herbivores. Fifty rabies virus isolates from bovines and equines in the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil, were genetically characterized and compared with sequences retrieved from GenBank. Two clusters (I and II) with mean nucleotide identities of 99.1 and 97.6% were found. The first of these contained nearly all the samples analyzed. Lineages from other Brazilian states grouped in cluster II. Analysis of the amino acid sequences of the N proteins revealed the existence of genetic markers that may indicate possible variations between geographic regions, although the biologically active regions are conserved within the species over space and time.
    Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 04/2010; 43(2):116-20. · 0.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Molecular characterization of Rabies Virus isolates from dogs and crab-eating foxes in Northeastern Brazil.
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    ABSTRACT: Thirty-eight samples of Rabies Virus isolated from dogs and crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) in Northeastern Brazil were characterized genetically by analyzing the G gene and the psi region. The results show that there are two groups of Rabies Virus lineages circulating among domestic and wild animals in the region. The topologies of the phylogenetic trees of the G gene and psi region are similar and reveal the existence of geographic groups. The genetic diversity of the lineages isolated from wild animals (wild group) was approximately twice that of the lineages isolated from domestic animals (domestic group), and the genetic distance between the two groups was 9.93%. Polymorphism analysis revealed specific intra- and inter-group molecular signatures for both the G gene and psi region. Together with the analysis of the N gene undertaken previously, the results of this study confirm the existence of a Rabies Virus phylogroup in Northeastern Brazil (NB) circulating in the C. thous population, making this species a rabies biotype in the region.
    Virus Research 02/2009; 141(1):81-9. · 2.94 Impact Factor
  • Article: Species determination of Brazilian mammals implicated in the epidemiology of rabies based on the control region of mitochondrial DNA.
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    ABSTRACT: Identification of animals that are decomposing or have been run over or burnt and cannot be visually identified is a problem in the surveillance and control of infectious diseases. Many of these animals are wild and represent a valuable source of information for epidemiologic research as they may be carriers of an infectious agent. This article discusses the results obtained using a method for identifying mammals genetically by sequencing their mitochondrial DNA control region. Fourteen species were analyzed and identified. These included the main reservoirs and transmitters of rabies virus, namely, canids, chiroptera and primates. The results prove that this method of genetic identification is both efficient and simple and that it can be used in the surveillance of infectious diseases which includes mammals in their epidemiologic cycle, such as rabies.
    The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases: an official publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 01/2009; 12(6):462-5. · 0.55 Impact Factor
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    Article: A coronavirus detected in the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus.
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    ABSTRACT: This article reports on the identification of a group 2 coronavirus (BatCoV DR/2007) in a Desmodus rotundus vampire bat in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF1b revealed that BatCoV DR/2007 originates from a unique lineage in the archetypical group 2 coronaviruses, as described for bat species elsewhere with putative importance in Public Health.
    The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases: an official publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 01/2009; 12(6):466-8. · 0.55 Impact Factor
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    Article: Characterization of Rabies virus isolated from canids and identification of the main wild canid host in Northeastern Brazil.
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    ABSTRACT: The rabies cases in dogs and wild canids in Northeastern Brazil are a public and animal health problem. This paper describes the identities of the coding region of the N-gene of Rabies virus (RABV) isolated in canids from Northeastern Brazil. The genetic tree generated using the sequence data described here divided the cluster BRAZILAN CANIDS into two subclusters (DOG-RELATED STRAINS and WILD CANID-RELATED STRAINS) with identities greater than those already described. The two subclusters are sub-divided into geographic groups related to the origin of the isolates, suggesting a long-standing ecological coexistence of the sequence types characteristic of the groups. This article also analyzes the 513-nucleotide stretch of the mitochondrial DNA control region of rabies-positive canids from Northeastern Brazil with a view to identifying the main RABV host among them. Among the four species of wild canids found in the region, two (Cerdocyon thous and Pseudalopex vetulus) are frequently associated with rabies. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data generated from mtDNA suggests that C. thous is the main wild canid host in the region. The results obtained in this study are in concordance with the zoology and ecology of wild canids, and thus, help improve epidemiologic vigilance of rabies and allow a more targeted control of the disease.
    Virus Research 02/2008; 131(1):33-46. · 2.94 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Rabies virus in naturally infected bats in the State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil].
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    ABSTRACT: To identify the species of bats involved in maintaining the rabies cycle; to investigate the distribution of the rabies virus in the tissues and organs of bats and the time taken for mortality among inoculated mice. From April 2002 to November 2003, bats from municipalities in the State of São Paulo were screened for the presence of the rabies virus, by means of direct immunofluorescence. The virus distribution in the bats was evaluated by inoculating mice and N2A cells with 20% suspensions prepared from fragments of different organs and tissues, plus the brain and salivary glands. The time taken for mortality among the mice was monitored daily, following intracerebral inoculation. Out of the 4,395 bats received, 1.9% were found positive for the rabies virus. They belonged to ten genera, with predominance of insectivores. The maximum mean times taken for mortality among the mice following inoculation with brain and salivary gland material were 15.33+/-2.08 days and 11.33+/-2.30 days for vampire bats, 16.45+/-4.48 days and 18.91+/-6.12 days for insectivorous bats, and 12.60+/-2.13 days and 15.67+/-4.82 days for frugivorous bats, respectively. The species infected with the rabies virus were: Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus sp., Myotis nigricans, Myotis sp., Eptesicus sp., Lasiurus ega, Lasiurus cinereus, Nyctinomops laticaudatus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Histiotus velatus, Molossus rufus, Eumops sp. and Desmodus rotundus. Virus investigation in the different tissues and organs showed that the brain and salivary glands were the most suitable sites for virus isolation.
    Revista de Saúde Pública 07/2007; 41(3):389-95. · 1.33 Impact Factor
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    Article: Short-interfering RNAs as antivirals against rabies.
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    ABSTRACT: This study aimed to test in vitro a RNA-interference based antiviral approach for rabies with short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against rabies virus nucleoprotein mRNA. BHK-21 cells were infected with serial dilutions of PV rabies virus strain and transfected with a pool of three siRNAs. Direct immunofluorescence staining showed a 5-time decrease in virus titer when compared to a non-treated plate, showing a promising new approach to the development of antivirals for rabies treatment.
    Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 05/2007; 11(2):224-5. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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    Article: Padronização e aplicação da técnica de isolamento do vírus da raiva em células de neuroblastoma de camundongos (N2A)
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    ABSTRACT: Rabies laboratorial diagnosis is very important since clinical diagnosis is not precise. Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT) is the most used test and even though it is highly sensible, accurate and fast, false negatives results may occur. Thus, the isolation of rabies virus in mice (VIM) of Central Nervous System (CNS) samples of suspected animals to be infected is also recommended and, nowadays, this test has been substituted in many laboratories by viral isolation in cell culture (VICC). The aim of the present study was to compare the sensibility of virus isolation in murine neuroblastoma (N2A) cell culture with VIM test and with FAT, as well as evaluate obtained results in the diagnostic routine from Pasteur Institute, regarding reduction of costs, time and work. A total of 105 CNS samples of different animal species were analyzed by FAT, VIM and VICC: 50 bats, 32 dogs, 13 foxes and 10 bovines. All bats and bovines samples presented concordant results for the three tests, while dogs and foxes samples presented concordance only in 24 samples (69%). Based on these results, since 2004 it has been instituted that all bat samples sent to Pasteur Institute Laboratory, after diagnosed by FAT, should be submitted to viral isolation in cell culture, replacing the use of mice. In the period of January 2004 to September 2007, 11.298 bat samples were analyzed. A total of 67 positive samples for IFD and/or VICC were also submitted to VIM, and 61 samples presented concordant results for the three tests, and showed that the use of N2A cells is more sensible to “street virus” isolation of bat samples in laboratorial routine, being faster and lower in costs than VIM
    Boletim Epidemiológico Paulista. 01/2007; 4(47):12-18.
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    Article: Reservatórios silvestres do vírus da raiva: um desafio para a saúde pública
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    ABSTRACT: Human mortality from endemic canine rabies is estimated to be 55.000 deaths per year, especially in Asia and Africa. In Latin America the canine rabies was endemic until 1980, but recently had a frequency reduction of canine rabies virus and consequently in human. With the development of “Plan of Action for the Elimination of Urban Rabies” the wildlife animals has become epidemiologically important and can be a new challenge. The most common transmitters of rabies to humans were a vampire-bat Desmodus rotundus in the period 2004-2005 (68%). Besides of the three species of vampire-bats, whose the rabies virus were isolated, there are 33 other species of non-hematophagous-bat that were related infected with the same virus. Bats (order Chiroptera) and canids (order Carnivora) are recognized as wildlife reservoirs. In Northeastern Brazil, the disease have had high fre- quency in Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) in parallel with another epidemiological cycle rabies virus in Callithrix jacchus (marmoset) which the disease distribution is unknown. The authors describe the disease's characteristics in bats and canids, the control strategies and emphasize the importance of antigenic and genetics studies as tool of epidemiological surveillance
    Boletim Epidemiológico Paulista. 01/2007; 4(40):2-8.
  • Article: Laboratory diagnosis of equine rabies and its implications for human postexposure prophylaxis.
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    ABSTRACT: Laboratory diagnosis is essential to confirm suspected cases of equine rabies and to determine the medical care needed for human postexposure antirabies prophylaxis. Equine rabies transmitted by the vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, has increased gradually in the State of São Paulo. The present study has several objectives, the most important being the evaluation of fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and virus-isolation laboratory tests performed with different equine nervous system tissues (cortical, hippocampus, cerebellar, brainstem and cervical medullar) to determine the tissue for which the two techniques have the highest sensitivity. Analysis by FAT of these five regions of the central nervous system (CNS) from 35 animals showed that there was a greater amount of viral antigen in the brainstem and cervical medullar tissues than in the hippocampus, cortical and cerebellar tissues. While there were no significant differences in the mortality rate of mice inoculated with suspension prepared from the different tissues, a trend towards higher mortality rate was detected with brainstem and cervical medullar tissues. Laboratory diagnosis was not affected by whether the animal had been vaccinated or not, or whether it had died following the natural course of the disease or as a result of euthanasia. Isolation of the rabies virus in equine salivary glands demonstrated the potential risk for humans exposed to infected animals.
    Journal of Virological Methods 01/2007; 138(1-2):1-9. · 2.01 Impact Factor
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    Article: Diagnosis of human rabies cases by polymerase chain reaction of neck-skin samples.
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    ABSTRACT: Rapid diagnosis of rabies in suspected human cases influences post-exposure prophylaxis for potential contacts of the patient and ensures appropriate patient management. Apart from the central nervous system (CNS), rabies virus (RABV) is usually present in small sensory nerves adjacent to hair follicles of infected humans. We used an RT-PCR, with primers targeted to the 3' terminal portion of the nucleoprotein gene (N), to test neck-skin samples of nine patients who had rabies in order to validate a diagnostic method that could serve as an additional tool for rabies diagnosis, particularly in antemortem samples. Six of eight postmortem samples were found to be positive for rabies by RT-PCR, and one of two samples collected antemortem was positive with this same technique. Results were confirmed by DNA sequencing; this validates RT-PCR and neck-skin as a suitable technique and type of sample, respectively, for use in the diagnosis of human rabies. RT-PCR applied to neck-skin biopsies could allow early diagnosis and lead to more effective rabies treatment.
    Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 11/2006; 10(5):341-5. · 1.00 Impact Factor
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    Article: Molecular epidemiology of rabies virus strains isolated from wild canids in Northeastern Brazil.
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    ABSTRACT: Rabies in wild canids in Northeastern Brazil is frequent and has been reported for some time, with episodes of rabies transmission from these animals to humans also reported. In this study, we analyzed the antigenic and genetic profiles of the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene, isolated from 20 samples taken from domestic animals and wild canids located in the Northeastern region of Brazil. All viruses isolated from domestic animals (dogs and cats) belonged to the antigenic variant 2 (AgV2). Among the wild animal samples, only four were AgV2, and nine showed a divergent antigenic profile. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two Brazilian clusters. Cluster 1 (Brazilian domestic carnivore-related strains) showed two subclusters, called 1A and 1B, and cluster 2 (Brazilian wild canid-related strains) also showed two subclusters, called 2A and 2B. The majority of the samples with divergent antigenic strains segregated into subcluster 2A. The intracluster identity of cluster 1 was 95.6% and that of cluster 2, 92.4%. When clusters 1 and 2 were compared, an identity of 88.6% was found. The genetic analysis of wild canid samples performed in this study indicates that there are two distinct rabies cycles among canids in Brazil, one represented by domestic canids and the other by wild canids. This study shows that the virus samples isolated in Northeastern Brazil are region and species-specific.
    Virus Research 10/2006; 120(1-2):113-20. · 2.94 Impact Factor
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    Article: Bat-transmitted human rabies outbreaks, Brazilian Amazon.
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    ABSTRACT: We describe 2 bat-transmitted outbreaks in remote, rural areas of Portel and Viseu Municipalities, Pará State, northern Brazil. Central nervous system specimens were taken after patients' deaths and underwent immunofluorescent assay and histopathologic examination for rabies antigens; also, specimens were injected intracerebrally into suckling mice in an attempt to isolate the virus. Strains obtained were antigenically and genetically characterized. Twenty-one persons died due to paralytic rabies in the 2 municipalities. Ten rabies virus strains were isolated from human specimens; 2 other cases were diagnosed by histopathologic examination. Isolates were antigenically characterized as Desmodus rotundus variant 3 (AgV3). DNA sequencing of 6 strains showed that they were genetically close to D. rotundus-related strains isolated in Brazil. The genetic results were similar to those obtained by using monoclonal antibodies and support the conclusion that the isolates studied belong to the same rabies cycle, the virus variants found in the vampire bat D. rotundus.
    Emerging infectious diseases 09/2006; 12(8):1197-202. · 6.17 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2013
    • Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries
      Montevideo, Departamento de Montevideo, Uruguay
  • 2012
    • Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense
      Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 2006–2008
    • Ministério da Saúde do Brasil
      São Paulo, Estado de Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • 2007
    • Universidade de São Paulo
      • Departamento de Medicina Veterinária (ZMV) (Pirassununga)
      Ribeirão Preto, Estado de Sao Paulo, Brazil