Study and characterization of selected emerging viral agents and potentially associated with hepatopathies in coastal, pelagic and mixed habitat cetaceans in Brazil

• Grant number: 18/25069-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Jose Luiz Catao Dias
• Grantee: Carlos Sacristan Yague
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cetaceans are considered "sentinel organisms" of the marine environment, as well as species of special interest on public health for sharing the coastal ecosystems with humans and feeding on similar species. Among the diseases that affect cetaceans, hepatic diseases are considered relevant and relatively common, and have also been reported in cetaceans of Brazil. In spite of that, the etiology of the majority of the hepatic lesions published to date has not been established. Different viruses have been described as etiological agents of hepatic lesions in mammals, such as herpesvirus, adenovirus and hepatitis E virus (HEV) - the latter containing certain genotypes considered zoonotic. These three agents have been previously detected in cetaceans, and hepatic damage associated with HEV infection was recently described in dolphins. Deleterious anthropogenic impacts have been described as one of the main causes of diversity loss and disease emergence. Due to exposure and susceptibility variations (animals living in more severely anthropogenically-impacted habitats could be more prone to immunosuppression), the occurrence and viral load of these infectious agents could differ among populations of coastal (<200 meters of depth), pelagic (>200 meters), and mixed habitat (coastal/pelagic), and are possibly higher in cetaceans inhabiting coastal areas. In addition, these agents could be associated with hepatic damage in cetacean species of Brazil. The present project aims on: (1) using molecular assays to compare the occurrence and the viral load of selected infectious agents (herpesvirus, adenovirus, and hepatitis E virus) in coastal, mixed and pelagic cetacean species of Brazil to indirectly evaluate the impact of human activity over their health status; (2) performing the molecular characterization of these agents using different molecular techniques, including complete sequencing, in order to establish their degree of similarity among different coastal, mixed and pelagic populations; and (3) using histopathologic, immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques to establish if the selected agents are associated with hepatic lesions in cetaceans. Herein we propose a study based on conservation medicine and One Health concepts to ensure the conservation of these species and the preservation of human, animal and environmental health.

Scientific publications

(21)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; KLUYBER, DANILO; YOGUI, DEBORA REGINA; ALVES, AMANDA CAROLINA; DALAZEN, GISLAINE TAIMARA; DIAZ-DELGADO, JOSUE; GUERRA, JULIANA MARIOTTI; DE AZEVEDO FERNANDES, NATALIA COELHO COUTO; RESSIO, RODRIGO ALBERGARIA; et al. Novel gammaherpesvirus associated with primary gastric T-cell lymphoma in a free-ranging giant armadillo in Brazil. TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES, JUN 2021. (18/25069-7, 17/02223-8)

NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; KLUYBER, DANILO; YOGUI, DEBORA REGINA; ALVES, AMANDA CAROLINA; DALAZEN, GISLAINE TAIMARA; DIAZ-DELGADO, JOSUE; GUERRA, JULIANA MARIOTTI; DE AZEVEDO FERNANDES, NATALIA COELHO COUTO; RESSIO, RODRIGO ALBERGARIA; et al. Novel gammaherpesvirus associated with primary gastric T-cell lymphoma in a free-ranging giant armadillo in Brazil. TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES, v. 69, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2021-06-24. (18/25069-7, 17/02223-8)

EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; FUENTES-CASTILLO, DANNY; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; CARDOSO, BRENDA; ESPOSITO, FERNANDA; FUGA, BRUNA; DE MACEDO, EDUARDO CAVALCANTE; LINCOPAN, NILTON; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli survey in wild seabirds at a pristine atoll in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Brazil: First report of the O25b-ST131 clone harboring bla(CTX-M-8). Science of The Total Environment, v. 806, n. 2, FEB 1 2022. (19/15578-4, 18/25069-7)

EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; ESPERON, FERNANDO; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; SACRISTAN, IRENE; NEVES, ELENA; COSTA-SILVA, SAMIRA; ANTONELLI, MARZIA; LORENCO, JANAINA ROCHA; KOLESNIKOVAS, CRISTIANE K. M.; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ. Occurrence and Quantification of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the Gastrointestinal Microbiome of Two Wild Seabird Species With Contrasting Behaviors. FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE, v. 8, MAR 22 2021. (16/20956-0, 18/25069-7)

EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; ZAMANA-RAMBLAS, ROBERTA; NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; GATTAMORTA, MARCO AURELIO; DOS SANTOS-COSTA, PRISCILLA CARLA; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ; SACRISTAN, CARLOS. Case report of respiratory aspergillosis and candidiasis in wild Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 52, n. 2, p. 967-975, JUN 2021. (18/25069-7)

FUENTES-CASTILLO, DANNY; NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; GONDIM, MARIA FERNANDA; ESPOSITO, FERNANDA; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; FONTANA, HERRISON; FUGA, BRUNA; PIOVANI, CAMILA; KOOIJ, ROBERT; LINCOPAN, NILTON; et al. Genomic characterization of multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing Escherichia coli ST58 causing fatal colibacillosis in critically endangered Brazilian merganser (Mergus octosetaceus). TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES, v. 68, n. 2, JUL 2020. (18/25069-7)

DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; REISFELD, LAURA; SANTOS-COSTA, PRISCILLA C.; DA FERNANDES, NATALIA C. C.; RESSIO, RODRIGO A.; MELLO, DANIELA M. D.; FAVERO, CINTIA; GROCH, KATIA R.; DIAZ-DELGADO, JOSUE; et al. LINICO-PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS AND PATHOGEN SCREENING IN FUR SEALS (ARCTOCEPHALUS AUSTRALIS AND ARCTOCEPHALUS TROPICALIS) STRANDED IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL, 201. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES, v. 58, n. 1, p. 86-99, JAN 2022. (18/25069-7)

DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; SACRISTAN, IRENE; ZAMANA-RAMBLAS, ROBERTA; GRAVENA, WALESKA; MELLO, DANIELA M. D.; FERREIRA DA SILVA, VERA M.; MARMONTEL, MIRIAM; CARVALHO, VITOR L.; et al. Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in Aquatic Mammals, Amazon Basin, Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases, v. 28, n. 12, p. 4-pg., 2022-12-01. (18/25069-7, 16/20956-0)

ALVES-MOTTA, M. R.; LUZ-CARVALHO, V; NUNES-PINHEIRO, D. C. S.; GROCH, K. R.; GONCALVES-PEREIRA, L.; SANCHEZ-SARMIENTO, A. M.; SACRISTAN, C.; CATAO-DIAS, J. L.; DIAZ-DELGADO, J.. Facial Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Abdominal Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour with Rhabdomyoblastic Differentiation in a Rough-toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis). Journal of Comparative Pathology, v. 176, p. 122-127, APR 2020. (18/25069-7, 17/02223-8)

EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; ESPERON, FERNANDO; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; SACRISTAN, IRENE; KRUL, RICARDO; DE MACEDO, EDUARDO CAVALCANTE; CALATAYUD, OLGA; BUENO, IRENE; STREFEZZI, RICARDO DE FRANCISCO; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ. Seabirds as anthropization indicators in two different tropical biotopes: A One Health approach to the issue of antimicrobial resistance genes pollution in oceanic islands. Science of The Total Environment, v. 754, FEB 1 2021. (18/25885-9, 18/25069-7, 16/20956-0)

COSTA-SILVA, SAMIRA; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; SOARES, RODRIGO M.; CARVALHO, VITOR L.; V. CASTILHO, PEDRO; CREMER, MARTA J.; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; FAITA, THALITA; NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO E.; et al. Short-Finned Pilot Whale Strandings Associated with Pilot Whale Morbillivirus, Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases, v. 29, n. 1, p. 4-pg., 2023-01-01. (18/25069-7, 16/20956-0, 20/12434-9)

NICOLAS DE FRANCISCO, OLGA; ESPERON, FERNANDO; JUAN-SALLES, CARLES; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; DAS NEVES, CARLOS G.; MARCO, ALBERTO; NEVES, ELENA; ANDERSON, NEIL; SACRISTAN, CARLOS. Neoplasms and novel gammaherpesviruses in critically endangered captive European minks (Mustela lutreola). TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES, v. 68, n. 2, p. 552-564, MAR 2021. (18/25069-7)

EWBANK, ANA C.; DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; RAMBLAS, ROBERTA ZAMANA; GATTAMORTA, MARCO A.; GODOY, SILVIA NERI; GRAVINATTI, MARA L.; BRANDAO, PAULO E.; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE PRIME L.; SACRISTAN, CARLOS. Herpesvirus, Flavivirus, and Coronavirus Surveillance in Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens), Alcatrazes Archipelago, Southeastern Brazil. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES, v. 59, n. 2, p. 6-pg., 2023-04-01. (18/25069-7)

NOVOSELECKI, HELENA EXPOSTO; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; LIAL, HENRIQUE CHRISTINO; SILVA, SAMIRA COSTA; SANCHEZ-SARMIENTO, ANGELICA MARIA; GRAVENA, WALESKA; FERREIRA DA SILVA, VERA MARIA; et al. ighly divergent herpesviruses in threatened river dolphins from Brazi. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 11, n. 1, DEC 31 2021. (16/20956-0, 18/25069-7)

SACRISTAN, CARLOS; COSTA-SILVA, SAMIRA; REISFELD, LAURA; NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; COELHO COUTO DE AZEVEDO FERNANDES, NATALIA; ALBERGARIA RESSIO, RODRIGO; ANTONELLI, MARZIA; ROCHA LORENCO, JANAINA; et al. Novel alphaherpesvirus in a wild South American sea lion (Otaria byronia) with pulmonary tuberculosis. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 52, n. 4, SEP 2021. (18/25069-7, 16/20956-0)

EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; COSTA-SILVA, SAMIRA; ANTONELLI, MARZIA; LORENCO, JANAINA R.; NOGUEIRA, GUILHERME A.; EBERT, MARIANA B.; KOLESNIKOVAS, CRISTIANE K. M.; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ. Postmortem findings in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) caught in a drift gillnet. BMC Veterinary Research, v. 16, n. 1, MAY 24 2020. (18/25069-7, 16/20956-0)

ZAMANA, ROBERTA RAMBLAS; GATTAMORTA, MARCO AURELIO; CRUZ OCHOA, PABLO FELIPE; NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; ROSSI, SILMARA; HILDEBRAND GRISI-FILHO, JOSE HENRIQUE; SILVA, ISABELA SANTOS; MATUSHIMA, ELIANA REIKO. igh Occurrence of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in Green Sea Turtles Chelonia mydas with and without Fibropapillomatosis in Feeding Areas of the Sao Paulo Coast, Brazi. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH, v. 33, n. 4, OCT 2021. (18/25069-7, 12/14319-6)

REISFELD, LAURA; FERNANDES, NATALIA C. C. A.; SARMIENTO, ANGELICA; CANEDO, PALOMA; SALVAGNI, FERNANDA; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; BARRESE, TOMAS ZECCHINI; PONCE, CESAR CILENTO; RESSIO, RODRIGO ALBERGARIA; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ; et al. Myeloid and histiocytic sarcomas in subantarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis, Brazil. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS, v. 148, p. 6-pg., 2022-01-01. (18/25069-7, 16/20956-0)

SACRISTAN, CARLOS; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; MARIA SANCHEZ-SARMIENTO, ANGELICA; DUARTE-BENVENUTO, ARICIA; GOMES BORGES, JOAO CARLOS; REBELO, VANESSA ARAUJO; DIAZ-DELGADO, JOSUE; KEID, LARA BORGES; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ. Erysipelas in a stranded common bottlenose dolphin: first report in a South American odontocete. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 53, n. 4, p. 5-pg., 2022-08-12. (18/25069-7, 16/20956-0)

LIAL, HENRIQUE CHRISTINO; NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; EWBANK, ANA CAROLINA; NOVOSELECKI, HELENA EXPOSTO; FERREIRA-MACHADO, EDUARDO; DOS SANTOS CIRQUEIRA, CINTHYA; COUTO DE AZEVEDO FERNANDES, NATALIA COELHO; ESPERON, FERNANDO; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ; SACRISTAN, CARLOS. Adenovirus surveillance in wild carnivores from Brazil. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION, v. 99, p. 7-pg., 2022-04-01. (16/20956-0, 18/25069-7)

NAVAS-SUAREZ, PEDRO ENRIQUE; SACRISTAN, CARLOS; DIAZ-DELGADO, JOSUE; YOGUI, DEBORA R.; ALVES, MARIO HENRIQUE; FUENTES-CASTILLO, DANNY; OSPINA-PINTO, CATALINA; ZAMANA, ROBERTA RAMBLAS; JEAN DESBIEZ, ARNAUD LEONARD; CATAO-DIAS, JOSE LUIZ. Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis in armadillos killed by motor vehicle collisions in Brazil. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 11, n. 1, JAN 11 2021. (18/25069-7, 17/02223-8)