Transmissibility study of the Caprine Arthrits Encephalitis virus through the placenta

• Grant number: 11/23698-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Lilian Gregory
• Grantee: Rodolfo Santos Rossi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is an exotic illness, inserted in Brazil with importation of animals to reproduction from countries where CAE is frequent. The dissemination in our country occurred mainly by the indiscriminate distribution of great genetic standard matrix specialized in dairy production, however infected females specially from France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, England, Canada, USA. The first relate of a serum-positive animal and CAE isolation virus occurred in Rio Grande do Sul (MOOJEN et. Al., 1986). In the regions of dairy caprine breeding have been related isolated clinic cases involving animals infected by CAE, this cases became more frequent with the increase of the animal number diagnosed with arthritis, mastitis and pneumonia (BIRGUEL, 2000). The etiologic agent for caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is classified as belonging to the family Retroviridae, genus Lentivirus, promoting the onset of incubation and slow evolution in several species of animals with degenerative and / or inflammatory diseases of various tissues (CRAWFORD et al., 1980; FRANCKI et al., 1991; CASTRO, 1998). In goats, the transmission occur normally for digestive way, with the ingestion of infected milk or colostrums. In spite of the horizontal transmission, by faeces, saliva, respiratory and urogenytal secretions and contaminated milk from cup of the mechanical milking, be less important, it varies with each particular breeding situation. Vertical transmission can occur, it has been observed seroconversion of the goats that were separated immediately after birth and received colostrum and pasteurized cow milk. The collective breast-feeding, adopted in intensive breeding, was related as a management that favor the infection viral dissemination. The transmission via the placenta or by natural mating in goats has not been proven indisputably. The aim of this study is to evaluate the transmissibility of the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus through the placenta (vertical transmission). Through the use of the molecular biology techniques, this study will achieve more accurate and reliable data for the transmissibility of the virus and help to determine actions necessary to control the disease recommended in the National Health Goats and Sheep (PNSCO) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.