Abstract:
In August 2021, two juvenile male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) stranded in the southeastern Brazilian coast and were referred to rehabilitation centers. The animals presented increased body temperature, prostration, respiratory distress and despite treatment died. A necropsy following a standardized protocol was performed, and formalin-fixed tissues were processed for microscopic examination. Samples were screened for morbillivirus, herpesvirus, and Brucella spp. by molecular analyses (PCR, RT-PCR). Bacteriological culture was performed in samples collected from the lungs, trachea, and lymph nodes of both cases. The main histopathologic findings were of infectious nature, including multifocal necrotizing and fibrinous mixed interstitial pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and bronchitis, with intralesional myriad bacteria associated with vascular fibrinoid necrosis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from tracheal and lung swabs of Case 1, and Klebsiella oxytoca was found in nostril swabs, tracheobronchial lymph nodes, and lung of Case 2. Gammaherpesvirus infection was detected in both cases, and the sequences retrieved were classified into the genus Percavirus. All tested samples were PCR-negative for Brucella spp. and morbillivirus. We hypothesize that the deficient immunological status in association with starvation predisposed the reactivation of herpesvirus and secondary bacterial co-infections. To the authors\' knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of herpesvirus in an Antarctic pinniped. These findings reinforce that Otariid gammaherpesvirus circulating in the Southern Hemisphere are likely endemic in the Arctocephalus genus. This report contributes to the current knowledge of health aspects affecting wild pinnipeds, especially in the poorly studied Antarctic species.
摘要:
2021年8月,两只幼年雄性南极海狗(Arctocalusgazella)滞留在巴西东南部海岸,并被送往康复中心。这些动物的体温升高,虚脱,呼吸窘迫和尽管治疗死亡。按照标准化方案进行尸检,和福尔马林固定的组织进行显微镜检查。对样本进行了麻疹病毒筛查,疱疹病毒,和布鲁氏菌属。通过分子分析(PCR,RT-PCR)。在从肺部收集的样本中进行细菌培养,气管,和淋巴结两种情况。主要的组织病理学发现是感染性的,包括多灶性坏死性和纤维蛋白混合间质性肺炎,细支气管炎,和支气管炎,与血管纤维蛋白样坏死相关的病灶内无数细菌。从病例1的气管和肺拭子中分离出铜绿假单胞菌,在鼻孔拭子中发现了氧化克雷伯菌,气管支气管淋巴结,病例2的肺。在两种情况下都检测到γ疱疹病毒感染,检索到的序列被归类为Percavirus属。所有测试样品均为布鲁氏菌属的PCR阴性。和疟疾病毒。我们假设与饥饿相关的免疫状态缺陷会导致疱疹病毒和继发性细菌共感染的重新激活。就作者所知,这是在南极动物中首次对疱疹病毒进行分子检测。这些发现加强了在南半球传播的Otariidγ疱疹病毒可能在Arctocephalus属中流行。本报告有助于目前对影响野生in足类的健康方面的知识,特别是在研究不足的南极物种中。