Herpesviruses in migrating procellariforms, northeastern Brazil

Autor(es)

Sacristan, Carlos ; Duarte-Benvenuto, Aricia ; Navas-Suarez, Pedro Enrique ; Zamana-Ramblas, Roberta ; Baes, Laura ; Codeas, Barbara Sophia ; Pavanelli, Larissa ; Ikeda, Joana ; Catao-Dias, Jose Luiz ; Ewbank, Ana Carolina

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS; v. 48, n. 4, p. 6-pg., 2024-06-18.

Resumo

Seabirds are one of the most threatened avian groups. Viruses, including herpesvirus, represent considerable threats to marine avifauna. Herein, our goal was to survey herpesvirus in Procellariiformes that stranded in Brazil between June and July 2021. We analyzed 12 Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis), two Great Shearwaters (Ardenna gravis, syn. Puffinus gravis) and one Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororynchos) found in an unusual mortality event in Bah & iacute;a state, northeastern Brazil. After necropsy, selected tissue samples were tested for herpesvirus using a broad-range nested PCR. Overall, 20% (3/15) of the birds were herpesvirus-positive, i.e., two Cory's Shearwaters and one Great Shearwater. One alphaherpesvirus sequence type was identified in each shearwater species, classified into the genus Mardivirus. This study describes two likely novel herpesviruses in shearwaters, contributing to the currently very scarce data regarding infectious agents in Procellariiformes. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the presence and characteristics of herpesvirus in Procellariiformes, and the presence (or not) of related disease in order to understand the epidemiology of this infectious agent and eventually contribute to the conservation of this endangered seabird group. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 19/26794-0 - Estudo e caracterização de agentes virais emergentes selecionados e potencialmente associados a hepatopatias em cetáceos costeiros, pelágicos e de habitat misto no Brasil
• Beneficiário: Jose Luiz Catao Dias
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular