Infecção experimental por Paramyxovirus em serpentes Boa constrictor (LINNAEUS, 1758). Estudo anátomo-patológico, imunoistoquímico, microbiológico, hematológico e sorológico / Experimental infection with Paramyxovirus in Boa constrictor (LINNAEUS, 1758) snakes . A pathological, imunohistochemical, microbiological, hematological and serological study

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2003

RESUMO

Despite multiple advances in the genetic and taxonomic understanding of ophidian paramyxovirus (OPMV), only pulmonary pathogenesis is reasonably known in viperids. The objective of the present study was to investigate the pathogenesis of paramyxovirus infection in Boidae by pathological, imunohistochemical, microbiological, hematological and serological studies. Ten Boa constrictor snakes were infected by endotracheal inoculation with a viral solution. The animals were euthanatized in pairs at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days and at 2 months after infection. Two uninfected boas were sacrificed before and after the experimental study and were used as negative controls. Tracheal washes and blood were collected from all snakes. Seroconversion was detected at 2 mPI by hemagglutination inhibition assays. Estatistical analysis of the hematological data by Friedman Test revealed no diferences between them. At necropsy, samples of all major organs were obtained for histopathological, immunohistochemical, bacteriological and virological (viral isolation and RT-PCR). At necropsy, only one snake (7 days PI) had gross changes in the lung. The most consistent microscopic findings in the lungs were granulocyte infiltration, associated with the formation of mononuclear cell nests, formation of syncytia, and presence of epithelial hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Formation of syncytia was observed in pancreas, a mononuclear infiltrate was also observed; splenic histiocytosis with perifollicular granulocyte infiltration; diffuse and focal pattern of gliosis was detected in the CNS of most of the animals. Immunohistochemical examination and viral isolation, with confirmation of the viruspresence by RT-PCR, were positive for lung, liver, spleen and pancreas from 3 to 21 dPI and negative at 2 m PI. Virus isolation from tracheal washes, with confirmation by molecular diagnosis were positive at times 3, 7, 14 and 21 dPI. At 2 mPI all results were negative. The immunohistochemical results associated with virus isolation and RT-PCR suggest that the virus was probably eliminated from the organism at 2 mPI. The absence of clinical symptoms associated with the detection of lesions and with isolation and a positive diagnosis by PCR in the present study suggest that Boa constrictors may represent an important source of infection for other reptiles.

ASSUNTO(S)

pathogeny boa constrictor patogenia animal infecção experimental animal experimental infection paramyxovirus paramyxovirus boa constrictor

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