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Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are re-emerging zoonosis caused by infection with pathogenic spirochaetes of Leptospira and the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii, respectively. Wild boars (Sus scrofa), an exotic invasive species in Brazil, could play a role in the diseases' epidemiological cycles, but this issue is still unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the Leptospira spp. and T. gondii seropositivity in wild boars in Rio Grande do Sul state, south Brazil. Of evaluated animals, 16% (13/80) and 85% (52/61) had antibodies to T. gondii and Leptospira spp., respectively. Sex, weight, age, hunt location and season of hunt were evaluated by their association with seropositivity for both pathogens, but none of them had statistical significance. This study revealed that wild boars should be considered as a potential source of Leptospira spp. and T. gondii dissemination for humans and animal species in shared environments in Rio Grande do Sul state., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The bacterial composition of and the circulation of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in waste from Brazilian swine farms are still poorly understood. Considering that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the main threats to human, animal, and environmental health, the need to accurately assess the load of ARGs released into the environment is urgent. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the microbiota in a swine farm in southern Brazil and the resistome in swine farm wastewater treated in a series of waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). Samples were collected from farm facilities and the surrounding environment, representing all levels of swine manure within the treatment system. Total metagenomic sequencing was performed on samples from WSPs, and 16S-rDNA sequencing was performed on all the collected samples. The results showed increased bacterial diversity in WSPs, characterized by the presence of Caldatribacteriota, Cloacimonadota, Desulfobacterota, Spirochaetota, Synergistota, and Verrucomicrobiota. Furthermore, resistance genes to tetracyclines, lincosamides, macrolides, rifamycin, phenicol, and genes conferring multidrug resistance were detected in WSPs samples. Interestingly, the most abundant ARG was linG, which confers resistance to the lincosamides. Notably, genes conferring macrolide (mphG and mefC) and rifamycin (rpoB_RIF) resistance appeared in greater numbers in the late WSPs. These drugs are among the high-priority antibiotic classes for human health. Moreover, certain mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were identified in the samples, notably tnpA, which was found in high abundance. These elements are of particular concern due to their potential to facilitate the dissemination of ARGs among bacteria. In summary, the results indicate that, in the studied farm, the swine manure treatment system could not eliminate ARGs and MGEs. Our results validate concerns about Brazil's swine production system. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials during animal production must be avoided to mitigate AMR., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite efforts to elucidate Zika virus (ZIKV) teratogenesis, still several issues remain unresolved, particularly on the molecular mechanisms behind the pathogenesis of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). To answer this question, we used bioinformatics tools, animal experiments and human gene expression analysis to investigate genes related to brain development potentially involved in CZS. Searches in databases for genes related to brain development and CZS were performed, and a protein interaction network was created. The expression of these genes was analyzed in a CZS animal model and secondary gene expression analysis (DGE) was performed in human cells exposed to ZIKV. A total of 2610 genes were identified in the databases, of which 1013 were connected. By applying centrality statistics of the global network, 36 candidate genes were identified, which, after selection resulted in nine genes. Gene expression analysis revealed distinctive expression patterns for PRKDC, PCNA, ATM, SMC3 as well as for FGF8 and SHH in the CZS model. Furthermore, DGE analysis altered expression of ATM, PRKDC, PCNA. In conclusion, systems biology are helpful tools to identify candidate genes to be validated in vitro and in vivo. PRKDC, PCNA, ATM, SMC3, FGF8 and SHH have altered expression in ZIKV-induced brain malformations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis that affects both humans and animals worldwide. Currently, it is known that cats may be susceptible to infection. This study aims to investigate the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies and leptospiruria in cats, using Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) and Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques, respectively. A total of 76 cats, undergoing comprehensive anamnesis, general physical examination, and complementary exams were included in the investigation. Among the 76 cats tested, 9.2% (7/76) exhibited the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies, while Leptospira spp. DNA was detected in at 1.3% (1/76) of the evaluated urine samples. No significant associations were observed between the serological and molecular diagnostic results and the assessed variables, including clinical data and laboratory results of cats testing positive. This study provides insight into the occurrence of Leptospira spp. infection and leptospiruria in cats treated at a veterinary teaching hospital in southern Brazil., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The microbiota's alteration is an adaptive mechanism observed in wild animals facing high selection pressure, especially in captive environments. The objective of this study is to compare and predict the potential impact of habitat on the fecal bacterial community of Saltator similis , a songbird species that is a victim of illegal trafficking, living in two distinct habitats: wild and captivity. Nine wild and nine captive S. similis were sampled, and total bacterial DNA was obtained from the feces. Each DNA sample was employed to the amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rDNA following high -throughput sequencing. The most predominant phyla in all songbirds, irrespective of habitat, were Firmicutes , Bacteroidota , Proteobacteria , and Actinobacteriota. Interestingly, a microbiota profile (phylogenetic and abundance relationship) related to habitat was identified. The genera "Candidatus Arthromitus ", Acinetobacter , Kocuria , and Paracoccus were exclusively identified in animals living in captivity, which can be a potential biomarker associated with birds in captive environments. This study presents the first description of the fecal bacterial community composition of S. similis living two different lifestyles. Finally, our results suggest that the lifestyle of S. similis birds significantly impacts the composition of the fecal microbiota. The animals living in captivity showed dysbiosis in the microbiota, with some bacteria genera being indicated as biological markers of environmental behavior. Thus, the present research provides a new concept of life quality measure for songbirds.

Pseudomonas sp. 4B isolated from the effluent pond of a bovine abattoir was investigated as antifungal against toxigenic fungi. The complete genome of Pseudomonas 4B was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Phylogenetic analysis and genome comparisons indicated that the strain belongs to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa group. In silico investigation revealed gene clusters associated with the biosynthesis of several antifungals, including pyocyanin, rhizomide, thanamycin, and pyochelin. This bacterium was investigated through antifungal assays, showing an inhibitory effect against all toxigenic fungi tested. Bacterial cells reduced the diameter of fungal colonies, colony growth rate, and sporulation of each indicator fungi in 10-day simultaneous growing tests. The co-incubation of bacterial suspension and fungal spores in yeast extract-sucrose broth for 48 h resulted in reduced spore germination. During simultaneous growth, decreased production of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus carbonarius, respectively, was observed. Genome analysis and in vitro studies showed the ability of P. aeruginosa 4B to reduce fungal growth parameters and mycotoxin levels, indicating the potential of this bacterium to control toxigenic fungi. The broad antifungal activity of this strain may represent a sustainable alternative for the exploration and subsequent use of its possible metabolites in order to control mycotoxin-producing fungi., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Surveillance of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) lesions in animals at slaughterhouses is useful for controlling and eradicating the disease, besides providing epidemiological information. This study aimed to identify risk factors for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) condemnation in cattle at slaughterhouses in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A logistic regression analysis was conducted using data on bTB-related condemnations. Variables examined included animal origin, number of slaughtered animals, season, inspection level (state or municipality), animal sex, and slaughterhouse location. A total of 297,817 Animal Transport Guides were evaluated, representing the transportation of 3497,521 animals. Among these, 6097 (2.05%) had at least one animal condemned due to bTB lesions. Risk factors for condemnation included larger batch sizes, female animals, slaughterhouses, and animal origin. The higher condemnation frequency in females and regions with dairy farms suggests links to milk production. Variation in condemnation rates by inspection level and slaughterhouse highlights the need for standardized procedures in identifying bTB lesions. Identifying these risk factors enables targeted interventions to enhance disease control and eradication efforts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pseudomonas fluorescens is known to have the ability to adhere and produce biofilm. The formation of biofilms is enhanced by cellular motility, particularly when mediated by flagella. Biofilm formed on surfaces such as those used for food production act as points of contamination, releasing pathogenic or deteriorating microorganisms and compromising the quality of products. We assessed two strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens PL5.4 and PL7.1, sampled from raw, chilled, buffalo milk, which was obtained from a dairy farm. Twitching and swarming motility assays were performed, in addition to the biofilm production evaluations at a temperature of 7 °C. Regarding the motility assays, only the PL5.4 strain scored positive for the swarming assay. On microplates, both strains presented themselves as strong biofilm producers at 7 °C. The PL5.4 strain was also able to form biofilm on a stainless steel structure and maintain this structure for up to 72 hours at refrigeration. The Pseudomonas fluorescens PL5.4 isolate was identified on the basis of a 99% sequence identity with Pseudomonas fluorescens A506, a strain used as a biocontrol in agriculture. Biofilm-forming bacteria, when adapted to low temperatures, become a constant source of contamination, damaging the production, quality, safety and shelf-life of products.

This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring the microbiological quality of animal products, such as raw sheep's milk and cheese, to ensure food safety. In Brazil, there is currently no legislation governing the quality of sheep's milk and its derivatives. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate: (i) the hygienic-sanitary quality of raw sheep's milk and cheese produced in southern Brazil; (ii) the presence of enterotoxins and Staphylococcus spp. in these products; and (iii) the susceptibility of the isolated Staphylococcus spp. to antimicrobial drugs and the presence of resistance genes. A total of 35 samples of sheep's milk and cheese were examined. The microbiological quality and presence of enterotoxins were accessed using Petrifilm and VIDAS SET2 methods, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted using VITEK 2 equipment and the disc diffusion method. The presence of resistance genes tet (L), sul 1, sul 2, erm B, tet M, AAC(6)', tet W, and str A were evaluated through PCR. In total, 39 Staphylococcus spp. were obtained. The resistance genes tet M, erm B, str A, tet L, sul 1, AAC(6)', and sul 2 were detected in 82%, 59%, 36%, 28%, 23%, 3%, and 3% of isolates, respectively. The findings revealed that both raw sheep's milk and cheese contained Staphylococcus spp. that exhibited resistance to antimicrobial drugs and harbored resistance genes. These results underscore the immediate need for specific legislation in Brazil to regulate the production and sale of these products.

Bovines are carriers of Salmonella spp., a relevant foodborne pathogen, acting as contamination sources in slaughterhouses. Calves are prone to infection, and antimicrobial resistance may occur in such bacteria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and virulence determinants of Salmonella spp. recovered from calves in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Eighty-five calves' carcasses were evaluated (leather and veal meat). Thirteen Salmonella spp. isolates (8%) from 11 animals (13%) were obtained only from leather, indicating that contamination occurred before slaughter and that the meat was safe regarding this aspect. The serotypes S. Minnesota, S. Abony, S. Cerro, and S. Gafsa were identified, and all isolates were multidrug-resistant. The isolates had at least 19 virulence-related genes, and the bla OXA-48 resistance gene was detected in three (23%). The data suggest that treating infections caused by these bacteria may be difficult in animals from these farms and can also be an extended human health problem., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Rabies is an encephalitis caused by rabies virus, whose transmission occurs upon contact with infected animals' saliva. The diagnosis is usually performed post-mortem through a direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT). If the DFAT results are negative, they must be confirmed with an isolation test, usually the mouse inoculation test (MIT), which implies the suffering and death of the animals, high costs and most importantly, up to 28 days to confirm a negative result. Another issue related to rabies diagnosis is the sample collection and storage, which is critical for the rabies virus' RNA genome. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate (i) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Rabies Tissue Culture Infection Tests (RTCIT) in comparison to DFAT and MIT and (ii) FTA ® cards as an alternative sample collection and preservation method. Eighty animal samples were evaluated through DFAT, RTCIT and RT-PCR; MIT was performed only in DFAT-negative samples. FTA ® cards were evaluated with a subset of 64 samples, with sufficient material for imprinting. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), agreement and Cohen's kappa were calculated for each test combination. RTCIT had higher sensitivity (92.5%) and RT-PCR had higher specificity (92.3%) compared to DFAT. The combination of tests enhanced sensitivity, NPV and Cohen's kappa (considering positive results by RTCIT or RT-PCR), and specificity and PPV (when both tests were concordant). The PCR based on FTA ® cards as sample source was specific (84.6%-96.2%) but presented lower sensitivity (29.7%-73.0%), although it could detect as positive four DFAT-negative samples. RTCIT and RT-PCR may be used as confirmatory tests in DFAT-negative samples. Moreover, FTA ® cards may be helpful for sample collection in field situations where a long time is needed until the sample undergoes laboratory testing., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Bovine mastitis is an important disease in dairy cows, and Staphylococcus aureus is the most prevalent microorganism. Bacteriophages are considered an alternative to treat bacterial infections due to antimicrobial resistance crisis. In this study, we isolated and characterized novel S. aureus temperate phages, namely B_UFSM4 and B_UFSM5, from bovine milk. The complete genomes of B_UFSM4 and B_UFSM5 have 41.396 bp and 41.829 bp, respectively. The viruses have double-stranded DNA and linear architecture. Phylogenic similarity was observed by proteome with Staphylococcus phage phiPV83, CN125 and JS01. Therefore, the phages were classified into the family Siphoviridae, genus Biseptimavirus and order Caudovirales. In the host range, the B_UFSM4 and B_UFSM5 had lytic activity of 45.8% and 54.16%, respectively, inclusive on isolates from Staphylococcus sciuri and Rothia terrae. Thus, in this study, species novel of S. aureus temperate phages was isolated and characterized, these phages reveal similarities to each other; however, they are distinct from other species of S. aureus phages of the family Siphoviridae., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Bacterial resistance is a public and one health problem. Free-living birds can be reservoirs of multidrug-resistant bacteria and resistance genes. This study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from free-living urban pigeons (Columba livia) in South Brazil. Ninety-two animals were sampled, and one isolate was obtained from each one. The isolates were characterized, and the antimicrobial resistance profile and beta-lactam and colistin resistance genes were investigated. The isolates were classified as phylogroups B1 (35%), B2 (33%), A (16%) and D (16%), and 14% of the strains had the eae virulence gene. All isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and 63% of them were multidrug-resistant. Geographical location where the pigeons were captured and presence of the eae gene were associated with multidrug resistance. bla VIM and mcr-1 genes were detected in one and two isolates, respectively. This is the first report of these genes in E. coli of pigeons. The bla VIM -positive isolate was classified as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, and the isolates with mcr-1 were classified as Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and Enteropathogenic E. coli, which raise additional concerns related to public health since these are zoonotic pathotypes. The results reveal that pigeons carry multidrug-resistant pathogenic E. coli, which may interest public health. Nonetheless, further studies on whether these animals are sources of contamination for humans must be performed to understand their role in spreading antimicrobial resistance., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an exotic invasive species in Brazil and may be a reservoir for several pathogens, including those related to the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), a critical infectious disease in pig production. The objective of this study was to investigate viral and bacterial pathogens related to PRDC in free-living wild boars from Brazil. Eighty animals were examined in search of genomes of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), Torque teno Sus virus 1a (TTSuV1a) and 1b (TTSuV1b), Influenza A virus (IAV), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Glaesserella parasuis, Pasteurella multocida, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The results demonstrated that 57.5% (46/80) of the animals had at least one detected pathogen, and 11.3% of them (9/80) were co-infected. TTSuV1a was the most prevalent genome, for which risk factors were associated with increased contact between wild boars and other animals. The other pathogens were detected at much lower frequencies or not detected (M. hyopneumoniae and IAV). An additional IAV serology search identified H1N1pdm09 antibodies in 35.5% (16/45) of the wild boars, bringing concern related to public health. In conclusion, wild boars are infected with pathogens that cause swine diseases, so their eventual contact with domestic pigs might risk animal production in Brazil., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A prospective study was conducted to identify bacterial communities in the nasal and laryngeal cavities of pigs with or without clinical signs of respiratory disease in a longitudinal fashion, from weaning to the finishing phase. Nasal and laryngeal swabs were collected from asymptomatic pigs (n = 30), as well as from pigs with clinical signs of respiratory disease (n = 30) at the end of the weaning (T1-33 days) phase, end of the nursery phase (T2-71 days), and finishing (T3-173 days). Total DNA was extracted from each sample, and the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced with the Illumina MiSeq platform. Principal coordinates analysis indicated no significant differences between the nasal and laryngeal bacterial communities. Nevertheless, the microbiota composition in the upper respiratory tract (URT) was clearly distinct between animals, with or without signs of respiratory disease, particularly at post-weaning and the end of nursery. In pigs with clinical signs of respiratory disease, Actinobacillus , Streptococcus Porphyromonas , Veillonella , and an unclassified genus of Pasteurellaceae were more abundant than in pigs with no signs. Metabolic prediction identified 28 differentially abundant pathways, mainly related to carbohydrate, energy, amino acid, anaerobic, and nucleotide metabolism in symptomatic pigs (especially in T2). These findings provide evidence that the composition of the URT bacterial microbiota differs significantly when comparing pigs with or without respiratory clinical signs after weaning, and this difference is maintained in the nursery phase; such differences, however, were not evident at the finishing phase.

The vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is a haematophagous animal that feeds exclusively on the blood of domestic mammals. Vampire bat feeding habits enable their contact with mammalian hosts and may enhance zoonotic spillover. Moreover, they may carry several pathogenic organisms, including coronaviruses (CoVs), for which they are important hosts. The human pathogens that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and possibly coronavirus disease 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) all originated in bats but required bridge hosts to spread into human populations. To monitor the presence of potential zoonotic viruses in bats, the present work evaluated the presence of CoVs in vampire bats from southern Brazil. A total of 101 vampire bats were captured and euthanized between 2017 and 2019 in Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. The brain, heart, liver, lungs, kidneys and intestines were collected and macerated individually. The samples were pooled and submitted to high-throughput sequencing (HTS) using the Illumina MiSeq platform and subsequently individually screened using a pancoronavirus RT-PCR protocol. We detected CoV-related sequences in HTS, but only two (2/101; 1.98%) animals had CoV detected in the intestines by RT-PCR. Partial sequences of RdRp and spike genes were obtained in the same sample and the RdRp region in the other sample. The sequences were classified as belonging to Alphacoronavirus. The sequences were closely related to alphacoronaviruses detected in vampire bats from Peru. The continuous monitoring of bat CoVs may help to map and predict putative future zoonotic agents with great impacts on human health., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In the Neotropical region, the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi) is the rarest of the three species of vampire bats. This bat species feeds preferentially on bird blood, and there is limited information on the viruses infecting D. youngi. Hence, this study aimed to expand the knowledge about the viral diversity associated with D. youngi by sampling and pooling the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and intestines of all animals using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) on the Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of three complete and 10 nearly complete circular virus genomes were closely related to gemykrogvirus (Genomoviridae family), smacovirus (Smacoviridae family), and torque teno viruses (TTVs) (Anelloviridae family). In addition, three sequences of bat paramyxovirus were detected and found to be closely related to viruses reported in Pomona roundleaf bats and rodents. The present study provides a snapshot of the viral diversity associated with white-winged vampire bats and provides a baseline for comparison to viruses detected in future outbreaks., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Aims: To investigate the potential of novel Bacillus velezensis P45 as an eco-friendly alternative for bioprocessing poultry by-products into valuable antimicrobial products., Methods and Results: The complete genome of B. velezensis P45 was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform, showing 4455 protein and 98 RNA coding sequences according to the annotation on the RAST server. Moreover, the genome contains eight gene clusters for the production of antimicrobial secondary metabolites and 25 putative protease-related genes, which can be related to feather-degrading activity. Then, in vitro tests were performed to determine the production of antimicrobial compounds using feather, feather meal and brain-heart infusion (BHI) cultures. Antimicrobial activity was observed in feather meal and BHI media, reaching 800 and 3200 AU ml -1 against Listeria monocytogenes respectively. Mass spectrometry analysis indicates the production of antimicrobial lipopeptides surfactin, fengycin and iturin., Conclusions: The biotechnological potential of B. velezensis P45 was deciphered through genome analysis and in vitro studies. This strain produced antimicrobial lipopeptides growing on feather meal, a low-cost substrate., Significance and Impact of Study: The production of antimicrobial peptides by this keratinolytic strain may represent a sustainable alternative for recycling by-products from poultry industry. Furthermore, whole B. velezensis P45 genome sequence was obtained and deposited., (© 2021 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Background: Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty-acid (SFCA) acetate protects mice against RSV A2 strain infection by increasing interferon-β production and expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). However, the role of SFCA in RSV infection using strains isolated from patients is unknown., Methods: We first used RSV clinical strains isolated from infants hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis to investigate the effects of in vitro SCFA-acetate treatment of human pulmonary epithelial cells. We next examined whether SCFA-acetate treatment is beneficial in a mouse model of RSV infection using clinical isolates. We sought to investigate the relationship of gut microbiota and fecal acetate with disease severity among infants hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis, and whether treating their respiratory epithelial cells with SCFA-acetate ex-vivo impacts viral load and ISG expression. We further treated epithelial cells from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with SCFA-acetate., Findings: In vitro pre-treatment of A549 cells with SCFA-acetate reduced RSV infection with clinical isolates and increased the expression of RIG-I and ISG15. Animals treated with SCFA-acetate intranasally recovered significantly faster, with reduction in the RSV clinical isolates viral load, and increased lung expression of IFNB1 and the RIG-I. Experiments in RIG-I knockout A549 cells demonstrated that the protection relies on RIG-I presence. Gut microbial profile was associated with bronchiolitis severity and with acetate in stool. Increased SCFA-acetate levels were associated with increasing oxygen saturation at admission, and shorter duration of fever. Ex-vivo treatment of patients' respiratory cells with SCFA-acetate reduced RSV load and increased expression of ISGs OAS1 and ISG15, and virus recognition receptors MAVS and RIG-I, but not IFNB1. These SCFA-acetate effects were not found on cells from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients., Interpretation: SCFA-acetate reduces the severity of RSV infection and RSV viral load through modulation of RIG-I expression., Funding: FAPERGS (FAPERGS/MS/CNPq/SESRS no. 03/2017 - PPSUS 17/2551-0001380-8 and COVID-19 20/2551-0000258-6); CNPq 312504/2017-9; CAPES) - Finance Code 001., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gut microbiota exerts a fundamental role in human health and increased evidence supports the beneficial role of probiotic microorganisms in the maintenance of intestinal health. Enterococcus durans LAB18S was previously isolated from soft cheese and showed some desirable in vitro probiotic properties, for that reason its genome was sequenced and evaluated for genes that can be relevant for probiotic activity and are involved in selenium metabolism. Genome sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq System. A variety of genes potentially associated with probiotic properties, including adhesion capability, viability at low pH, bile salt resistance, antimicrobial activity, and utilization of prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were identified. The strain showed tolerance to acid pH and bile salts, exhibited antimicrobial activity and thrived on prebiotic oligosaccharides. Six genes involved in selenium metabolism were predicted. Analysis of the SECIS element showed twelve known selenoprotein candidates. E. durans LAB18S was the only food isolate showing absence of plasmids, virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, when compared with other 30 E. durans genomes. The results of this study provide evidence supporting the potential of E. durans LAB18S as alternative for probiotic formulations.

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 5 causes meningoencephalitis in cattle, belongs to the Herpesviridae family, and can be divided into subtypes a, b, and c. Limited information is available about subtype c. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of two strains, P160/96, and ISO97/45, isolated from cattle in southeast Brazil.

Fungi have already been described as etiological agents of reproductive diseases such as endometritis and infertility in cows. However, few studies have been developed to elucidate the entire cervicovaginal fungal communities in cows. Therefore, our study aimed to characterize the fungal community present in the cervix of cows with different reproductive performances. Cervicovaginal mucus was collected from 36 Angus breed cows (1.5-12 years old) on a commercial beef cattle ranch. Twenty-one cows had a history of infertility in the year prior to the collection, showing early return to estrus. Ten cows were sampled at 60-70 days postpartum being considered fertile cows. Additionally, five non-sexually active heifers were employed as control group. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the predominant fungal phyla in the analyzed animals. Diversity metrics of the cervicovaginal fungal community revealed statistical differences in the composition of the fungal community among infertile cows, fertile cows and non-sexually active heifers. In addition, the cervicovaginal fungal microbiota had significative increased richness and evenness in nulliparous cows and non-sexually active heifers, while in multiparous cows a decreased richness and evenness of the fungal microbiota were identified. These results provide an unprecedented understanding of the cervicovaginal fungal structure associated with infertility and parity order., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is paramount for understanding viral dynamics, contributing to disease control. This study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, including the first reported case in each Regional Health Coordination and cases from three epidemic peaks. Ninety SARS-CoV-2 genomes from RS were sequenced and analyzed through comparison with SARS-CoV-2 datasets available in GISAID for phylogenetic inference and mutation analysis. Among the first reported cases, we found the following lineages: B.1 (33.3%), B.1.1.28 (26.7%), B.1.1 (13.3%), B.1.1.33 (10.0%), and A (6.7%), evidencing SARS-CoV-2 introduction by both international origin and community-driven transmission. We found predominance of B.1.1.33 (50.0%) and B.1.1.28 (35.0%) during the first epidemic peak (July-August 2020), emergence of P.2 (55.6%) in the second peak (November-December 2020), and massive spread of P.1 and related sequences (78.4%), such as P.1-like-II, P.1.1 and P.1.2 in the third peak (February-April, 2021). Eighteen novel mutation combinations were found among P.1 genomes, and 22 different spike mutations and/or deletions among P.1 and related sequences. This study shows the dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Southern Brazil and describes SARS-CoV-2 diversity during three epidemic peaks, highlighting the spread of P.1 and the high genetic diversity of currently circulating lineages. Genomic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 is essential to guide health authorities' decisions to control COVID-19 in Brazil., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern that must be addressed from a one health perspective. Horses are companion animals and their contact with humans facilitates exchange of resistant bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate AMR of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS), including Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from healthy Crioulo horses. Swab samples from nostrils (n = 214) and skin (n = 107) of 107 horses from Porto Alegre, South Brazil, were used for CoPS isolation. The isolates were evaluated for AMR and a multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify the risk factors associated to this outcome, using information on horses' management and installations where they were maintained. A total of 143 CoPS were isolated from 79 horses (73.8%), of which 8 (5.6%) were S. aureus. The isolates showed resistance to seven of 10 tested antimicrobials and 38.5% (55/143) of them were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. One isolate (0.7%; 1/143) was classified as multidrug-resistant. Regarding S. aureus, 62.5 % (5/8) showed AMR, but none were methicillin-resistant. The risk factors associated with CoPS' antimicrobial resistance were lower frequency of bed changing (OR = 6.40; P = .001) and nonaccumulation of bed materials (OR = 3.47; P = .002). The results point that healthy horses have antimicrobial-resistant CoPS and S. aureus in their microbiota, which may be of concern for animal and human health. Moreover, bed management was associated with AMR, which can serve as a guide for best practices to be adopted to avoid the occurrence of resistant bacteria in these animals., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ticks are one of the main vectors of pathogens for humans and animals worldwide. However, they harbor non-pathogenic microorganisms that are important for their survival, facilitating both their nutrition and immunity. We investigated the bacterial communities associated with two neotropical tick species of human and veterinary potential health importance from Brazil: Amblyomma aureolatum and Ornithodoros brasiliensis. In A. aureolatum (adult ticks collected from wild canids from Southern Brazil), the predominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (98.68%), Tenericutes (0.70%), Bacteroidetes (0.14%), Actinobacteria (0.13%), and Acidobacteria (0.05%). The predominant genera were Francisella (97.01%), Spiroplasma (0.70%), Wolbachia (0.51%), Candidatus Midichloria (0.25%), and Alkanindiges (0.13%). The predominant phyla in O. brasiliensis (adults, fed and unfed nymphs collected at the environment from Southern Brazil) were Proteobacteria (90.27%), Actinobacteria (7.38%), Firmicutes (0.77%), Bacteroidetes (0.44%), and Planctomycetes (0.22%). The predominant bacterial genera were Coxiella (87.71%), Nocardioides (1.73%), Saccharopolyspora (0.54%), Marmoricola (0.42%), and Staphylococcus (0.40%). Considering the genera with potential importance for human and animal health which can be transmitted by ticks, Coxiella sp. was found in all stages of O. brasiliensis, Francisella sp. in all stages of A. aureolatum and in unfed nymphs of O. brasiliensis, and Rickettsia sp. in females of A. aureolatum from Banhado dos Pachecos (BP) in Viamão municipality, Brazil, and in females and unfed nymphs of O. brasiliensis. These results deepen our understanding of the tick-microbiota relationship in Ixodidae and Argasidae, driving new studies with the focus on the manipulation of tick microbiota to prevent outbreaks of tick-borne diseases in South America., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) are believed to reach the coast of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) through sea currents. They live in colonies and are frequently found resting on the beach. However, it is also common to find dead pinnipeds on beaches, sharing the environment with humans, domestic animals and other wild species on the coast and facilitating the transmission of pathogens. In the present study, a metagenomic approach was applied to evaluate the viral diversity in organs of fur seals found deceased along the coast of the state of RS, southern Brazil. The lungs and spleens of 29 animals were collected, macerated individually, pooled separately (one pool for lungs and another for spleens) and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Sequences more closely related to members of the Anelloviridae and Circoviridae families were detected. Nine putative new species of anellovirus and one putative new genus, named Nitorquevirus, were described. Additionally, the circovirus sequences found in the lungs of A. australis have a common ancestor with PCV3, a proposed swine pathogen. Our study expanded the knowledge about viral communities in pinnipeds and could be useful for monitoring new viruses and potential viral sharing among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Animal tuberculosis (aTB) is a zoonotic disease characterized by granulomatous lesions on affected tissues, occurring as a consequence of immunological response to infection. Mycobacterium bovis, the main causative agent of aTB, was investigated in Brazilian wild boars with 37.7 % (29/77) positivity. Among these animals, most had no macroscopic tuberculosis-like lesions (89.6 %; 26/29). The existence of co-infections, which may alter an individual's immune response to an immunological challenge, could influence the formation of tuberculosis lesions. Therefore, we investigated Metastrongylus sp. and aTB co-infection to seek an explanation for the absence of macroscopic lesions in aTB. Of the tested animals, 77.9 % (60/77) had Metastrongylus sp., however, there was no association between its occurrence and the pattern of aTB lesions. The absence of tuberculous lesions in infected animals is worrisome, especially to hunters who handle their carcasses, potentially assuming that the animal is healthy. Studies evaluating other possibilities that can explain the absence of lesions in infected animals should be carried out to better understand these findings., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Papillomaviruses are small nonenveloped, circular double-stranded DNA viruses that belong to the Papillomaviridae family. To date, 29 Bos taurus papillomavirus (BPV) types have been described. Studies involving mixed BPV infections have rarely been reported in contrast to human papillomavirus (HPV), which is commonly described in numerous studies showing coinfections. Moreover, previous studies had shown that HPV coinfections increase the risk of carcinogenesis. In the present study, we used rolling-circle amplification followed by a high-throughput sequencing (RCA-HTS) approach in 23 teat papillomas from southern Brazil., Results: Eleven well-characterized BPV types and 14 putative new BPV types were genetically characterized into the Xi, Epsilon and Dyoxipapillomavirus genera according to phylogenetic analysis of the L1 gene, which expands the previous 29 BPV types to 43. Moreover, BPV coinfections were detected in the majority (56.3%) of the papilloma lesions analyzed, suggesting a genetic diverse "papillomavirome" in bovine teat warts., Conclusions: The data generated in this study support the possibility that a wide range of BPV is probably underdetected by conventional molecular detection tools, and that BPV coinfections are underestimated and probably genetic diverse. Additionally, 14 new BPV types were characterized, increasing the knowledge regarding BPV genetic diversity., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Anaplasma marginale is a vector-borne pathogen that causes a disease known as anaplasmosis. No sequenced genomes of Brazilian strains are yet available. The aim of this work was to compare whole genomes of Brazilian strains of A. marginale (Palmeira and Jaboticabal) with genomes of strains from other regions (USA and Australia strains). Genome sequencing of Brazilian strains was performed by means of next-generation sequencing. Reads were mapped using the genome of the Florida strain of A. marginale as a reference sequence. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (INDELs) were identified. The data showed that two Brazilian strains grouped together in one particular clade, which grouped in a larger American group together with North American strains. Moreover, some important differences in surface proteins between the two Brazilian isolates can be discerned. These results shed light on the evolutionary history of A. marginale and provide the first genome information on South American isolates. Assessing the genome sequences of strains from different regions is essential for increasing knowledge of the pan-genome of this bacteria.

The subfamily Parvovirinae within the family Parvoviridae consists of viruses that can infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts and cause effects ranging from severe disease to asymptomatic infection. In the present study, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) was utilized to analyze samples obtained from an abortion outbreak in a sheep flock to identify a putative viral etiology. A highly divergent nearly complete parvovirid genome sequence, approximately 4.9 kb in length, was determined. The nonstructural protein (NS1) amino acid (aa) sequence of this virus shared less than 30% identity with those of other copiparvoviruses and less than 22% identity with those of members of other genera in the subfamily Parvovirinae. Phylogenetically, this virus, which we have provisionally named "sheep copiparvovirus 1", formed a cluster with copiparvovirus sequences and should be classified as a member of a new species in the genus Copiparvovirus.

In the present study, the complete nucleotide sequence of porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) recovered from wild boars lymph nodes is described. The full genome was named PCV3-wb/Br/RS and comprises 2,000 nucleotides with two open reading frames (ORFs) with a stem-loop motif in intergenic region. The ORFs are oriented in opposite directions and encode the putative capsid (Cap) and replicase (Rep) proteins. Based on amino acid motif analysis, PCV3-wb/Br/RS as well as most of the sequences from wild boars are classified as PCV3b. Phylogenetic analysis including 97 PCV3 sequences available in databases showed that the PCV3-wb/Br/RS genome is more closely related to genomes recovered in Spain, China, Germany and Denmark. Phylogenetic inferences among PCV3-wb/Br/RS and other circoviruses confirmed that these seem to have a most recent common ancestor with bat-associated circoviruses. In addition, PCV3 infection was investigated by real-time PCR in a cohort of 80 wild boars in Southern Brazil. A total of 29 animals (36.3%) were PCV3-positive leading the conclusion that PCV3 is circulating in the wild boar population in Southern Brazil. The role played by PCV3-like infections in wild boars and the risk these could pose to commercial swine production within that region remains to be further investigated., (© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

A viral metagenomics study was conducted in beef, pork, and chicken sold in supermarkets from Southern Brazil. From chicken, six distinct gyroviruses (GyV) were detected, including GyV3 and GyV6, which for the first time were detected in samples from avian species, plus a novel smacovirus species and two highly divergent circular Rep-encoding ssDNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses. From pork, genomes of numerous anelloviruses, porcine parvovirus 5 (PPV5) and 6 (PPV6), two new genomoviruses and two new CRESS-DNA viruses were found. Finally, two new CRESS-DNA genomes were recovered from beef. Although none of these viruses have history of transmission to humans, the findings reported here reveal that such agents are inevitably consumed in diets that include these types of meat., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we analyzed the viral population in oropharyngeal samples from T. brasiliensis using a viral metagenomic approach. Genomes corresponding to members of the families Circoviridae, Genomoviridae, Herpesviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Coronaviridae, and Astroviridae were detected. This study provides the first preliminary understanding of the oropharyngeal virome of T. brasiliensis, which may guide the discovery and isolation of novel viruses in the future and highlights the need for continuing investigations in this regard.

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are susceptible to mycobacterial infections, including tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Recently, Mycobacterium spp. infections were described in Brazilian wild boars, which can act as bacterial reservoirs. Here, we aim to characterize 15 Mycobacterium spp. isolates from Brazilian wild boars' tissues through partial sequencing of the heat shock protein 65 (hsp65) gene and phylogenetic analysis. The isolates were classified as M. tuberculosis (33.3%), M. colombiense (33.3%), M. avium subsp. hominissuis (13.3%), M. parmense (13.3%) and M. mantenii (6.66%). The isolates classified as M. tuberculosis were confirmed as variant bovis by PCR. At phylogenetic analysis some isolates formed separated clades, indicating genetic variability. Different Mycobacterium species were recovered from wild boars circulating in Brazil, including mycobacteria associated to zoonotic infections, such as M. tuberculosis. In addition, this is the first report in Brazilian wild boars on M. mantenii and M. parmense detection, two recently described pathogenic mycobacteria. However, the isolates' genetic diversity-i.e. identities lower than 100% when compared to reference sequences-suggests that other genotyping tools would allow a deeper characterization. Nonetheless, the reported data contributes to the knowledge on mycobacterial infections in wild boars from Brazil.

Tuberculosis is a common zooanthroponosis in humans with a high incidence in Brazil, but it may also affect non-human primates (NHPs), of which Old World primates are most commonly involved. Nonetheless, its occurrence in New World primates is unknown, and therefore, this study aimed to describe the infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis variant tuberculosis in two captive black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) in Southern Brazil. The primates were housed in the same enclosure, wherein close contact with humans frequently occurred, and presented apathy, anorexia, and death in a clinical course of 15 days to 2 months. At the necropsy, the tracheobronchial lymph nodes were markedly enlarged and firm to hard and on the cut surface had a caseous aspect. The lungs exhibited two injury patterns: multifocal and disseminated. Microscopically, the lungs exhibited multifocal to coalescing necrotic granulomas and non-necrotic granulomas, with multiple acid-fast bacilli within the cytoplasm of epithelioid macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. Bacilli were also labeled upon immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microbiological culture of lung samples from both cases yielded colonies compatible with M. tuberculosis. The isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis var. tuberculosis through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although tuberculosis is poorly described in New World primates, M. tuberculosis var. tuberculosis may cause a highly contagious and progressive disease with high mortality in black capuchin monkeys (S. nigritus).

Since its first identification in 2016, porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) has been detected in healthy and/or diseased swine in many countries worldwide. In a previous study by our group, PCV3 was detected in sera of sows which had at least one stillborn piglet in the last parturition. As such, it became important to investigate if the presence of PCV3 in sows' sera could be associated to the occurrence of stillbirths. With that aim, the frequency of PCV3 infections and viral DNA loads in sows' sera was investigated through a real-time quantitative PCR in 89 serum samples of just farrowed sows with or without stillbirths. PCV3 genomes were identified in most samples, with genome loads ranging between less than 10 to 200,000 copies per mL of serum. No significant differences were observed either in the frequency of infection or PCV3 viral loads in sows with or without stillbirths. Thus, no association could be established between PCV3 infection of sows at farrowing and stillbirths' occurrence., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are circular double-stranded DNA virus belonging to Papillomaviridae family. During the infection cycle, PVs translate proteins that can influence cell growth and differentiation, leading to epidermal hyperplasia and papillomas (warts) or malignant neoplasms. Canis familiaris papillomaviruses (CPVs) have been associated with different lesions, such as oral and cutaneous papillomatosis, pigmented plaques, and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Here, we report a clinical case of a mixed bred female dog with pigmented plaques induced by CPV16 (Chipapillomavirus 2) that progressed to in situ and invasive SCCs. Gross and histological findings were characterized, and the lesions were mainly observed in ventral abdominal region and medial face of the limbs. In situ hybridization (ISH) revealed strong nuclear hybridization signals in the neoplastic epithelial cells, as well as in the keratinocytes and koilocytes of the pigmented viral plaques. The full genome of the CPV16 recovered directly from the lesions was characterized, and the phylogenetic relationships were determined. The identification of oncoprotein genes (E5, E6, and E7) by high throughput sequencing (HTS) and their expected domains are suggestive of the malignant transformation by CPV16.

Endometrial pathogenic E. coli (EnPEC) isolates are involved in endometrial infections in animals and humans. Besides the high aggressiveness of the endometrial infections, the EnPEC virulence profile and pathogenesis are still little known. In this study, we have sequenced and analyzed an EnPEC strain from canine pyometra (E. coli_LBV005/17), following a molecular characterization of the virulence profile and phylogenetic evolution of an EnPEC collection from canines and felines (45 strains). Most of the strains belonged to phylo-group B2, and display a high virulence profile. In particular we highlight the classification of the E. coli_LBV005/17 as sequence type 131 (ST131), in addition to other five strains, as observed by gyrB phylogenetic analysis. Also, the phylogenetic position of EnPEC strains from pyometra in companion animals suggests that their origins are from both extraintestinal and commensal E. coli strains. Accordingly to Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and phylogenetic analysis we can propose that EnPEC strains have neither the same genetic profile, nor a unique common ancestral. In summary, the present work characterize an EnPEC genome from bitch pyometra and the genetic profile of 45 EnPEC strains from companion animals pyometra, being the commonest virulence pattern: fimA, papC, hlyA, hlyE, cnf1, entB, iroN, irp1, bssS, bssR, and hmsP. These data improving the background knowledge of this E. coli pathotype related to pyometra in companion animals and may support new methods to prevent the disease evolution., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Crab-eating (Cerdocyon thous) and Pampas foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus) are wild canids distributed in South America. Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and wild canids may share viral pathogens, including rabies virus (RABV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2). To characterize the virome of these wild canid species, the present work evaluated the spleen and mesenteric lymph node virome of 17 crab-eating and five Pampas foxes using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Organ samples were pooled and sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. Additional PCR analyses were performed to identify the frequencies and host origin for each virus detected by HTS. Sequences more closely related to the Paramyxoviridae, Parvoviridae and Anelloviridae families were detected, as well as circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses. CDV was found only in crab-eating foxes, whereas CPV-2 was found in both canid species; both viruses were closely related to sequences reported in domestic dogs from southern Brazil. Moreover, the present work reported the detection of canine bocavirus (CBoV) strains that were genetically divergent from CBoV-1 and 2 lineages. Finally, we also characterized CRESS DNA viruses and anelloviruses with marked diversity. The results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge regarding wild canid viruses that can potentially be shared with domestic canids or other species., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We describe a case of penile tuberculosis in a bull. The prepuce was thickened, firm and pale with multifocal to coalescent caseous nodules, and the inguinal and mesenteric lymph nodes were moderately enlarged. Lesions in the prepuce, penis and lymph nodes were characterized by multifocal to coalescent areas of caseous necrosis and marked granulomatous inflammation. Acid-fast bacilli were seen within necrotic foci and Langhans giant cells. Mycobacteriumtuberculosis var. bovis was identified in inguinal lymph nodes by the polymerase chain reaction technique and by bacterial isolation. Although rare, tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous lesions in the genital tract of bulls., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis, for which the definitive diagnosis is accomplished by bacterial isolation, which has biosafety issues and requires long time. Thus, diagnostic methods with potential to be faster and more efficient can represent an advance in bTB epidemiological knowledge and decrease exposure to M. tuberculosis var. bovis. This study aimed to validate a molecular test for bTB post-mortem diagnosis, as a strategy to reduce waste in bovine production. A total of 185 tissues from animals of infected herds or with suspected lesions at abattoir were evaluated through bacterial isolation, PCR and histopathology. PCR and histopathology showed sensitivities of 45.1% and 71.2%, respectively, and specificities of 83.3% and 83.0%, respectively, when compared to bacterial isolation. The combination of both tests resulted in enhanced specificity and positive predictive values.Therefore, PCR in conjunction with histopathology may be used as screening, in which concordant results can be considered conclusive, and discordant results may be submitted to bacterial isolation.

Wild birds carry a number of infectious agents, some of which may have pathogenic potential for the host and others species, including humans. Domestic pigeons (Columba livia) are important targets of study since these increasingly cohabit urban spaces, being possible spillover sources of pathogens to humans. In the present study, two genomes (PiGyV_Tq/RS/Br and PiGyV_RG/RS/Br), representative of Gyrovirus genus, family Anelloviridae, were detected in sera of free-living pigeons collected in Southern Brazil. The genomes exhibit less than 50% identity to previously described members of Gyrovirus genus, suggesting that they constitute a new viral species circulating in pigeons, to which the name "pigeon gyrovirus (PiGyV)" is proposed. The current study characterizes these two PiGyV genomes which, to date, are the first gyrovirus species identified in domestic pigeons., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The HoBi-like pestivirus (HoBiPeV), currently classified as Pestivirus H species, is a pathogen associated with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations in ruminants, particularly in cattle. Since HoBiPeV complete genome sequencing data is scarce, in the present study we described five nearly complete new Brazilian HoBiPeV genomes and further perform a more complete genetic and evolutionary characterization with all additional genome sequences available in the GenBank database. Entropy and selection pressure analysis showed the E2 gene, a surface glycoprotein, is the most variable gene, which also displays the greatest number of sites under positive selection. Phylogenetic and Bayesian inference based on complete genome and N pro gene, respectively, from all HoBiPeV sequences available so far, confirms the existence of three main clades (a, b, and c). The abovementioned analysis suggests that this pestivirus species probably emerged in Asia and spread to different regions including Brazil, where only strains belonging to specific genetic group 'a' have been found. The hypothesis of the HoBiPeV introduction in Brazil (between 1,890 and 1,962), formulated based on Bayesian inference, coincides with a period of intensive importation of water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) and indicine cattle (Bos taurus indicus) from Asia to Brazil, suggesting that this could be the origin of the current Brazilian HoBiPeV genetic group 'a'., (© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) from Bacillus strains have demonstrated a wide range of bioactivities making them interesting candidates for different applications in the pharmaceutical, food and biotechnological industries. Genome sequencing, together with phylogenetic analysis of the Bacillus sp. P34, isolated from a freshwater fish gut, showed that the bacterial strain belongs to the Bacillus velezensis group. In silico investigation of metabolic gene clusters of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) revealed the genetic elements associated with the synthesis of surfactin, fengycin and iturin family component bacillomycin. Further, an assay was conducted to investigate the production of CLPs in the presence of heat inactivated bacterial cultures or fungal spores. Maximum fengycin concentration was observed at 24 h (2300-2700 mg/mL), while maximum iturin amounts were detected at 48 h (250 mg/mL) in the presence of heat-inactivated spores of Aspergillus niger. Heat-inactivated cells of Listeria monocytogenes caused a reduction of both fengycin and iturin amounts. The production of fengycins A and B and the iturin family component bacillomycin L was confirmed by mass spectrometry analyses. This study reinforces the potential of B. velezensis P34 as a valuable strain for biotechnological production of CLPs recognized as important antimicrobial substances., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this manuscript., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Viral metagenomics coupled to high-throughput sequencing has provided a powerful tool for large-scale detection of known and unknown viruses associated to distinct hosts and environments. Using this approach, known and novel viruses have been characterized from sylvatic and commercial avian hosts, increasing our understanding of the viral diversity in these species. In the present work we applied an exploratory viral metagenomics on organs (spleen, liver and bursa of Fabricious) of Pekin ducks from Southern Brazil. The virome contained sequences related to a known duck pathogen (duck circovirus) and a number of other circular ssDNA viruses. Additionally, we detected avian gyrovirus 9 (to date detected only in human feces) and one new avian gyrovirus species, to which is proposed the name avian gyrovirus 13 (GyV13). This study is expected to contribute to the knowledge of the viral diversity in Pekin ducks., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Brazil is a major exporter of pork meat worldwide. Swine liver is a common ingredient in food consumed by humans, thus emphasizing the importance of evaluating the presence of associated pathogens in swine liver. To obtain knowledge, this study aimed to provide insights into the viral communities of livers collected from slaughtered pigs from southern Brazil. The 46 livers were processed and submitted for high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The sequences were most closely related to Anelloviridae, Circoviridae and Parvoviridae families. The present work also describes the first Brazilian PCV1 and the first PPV6 and PPV7 from South America. Virus frequencies revelead 63% of samples positive for TTSuV1, 71% for TTSuVk2, 10.8% for PCV, 13% for PPV and 6% for PBov. This report addresses the diversity of the liver virome of healthy pigs and expands the number of viruses detected, further characterizing their genomes to assist future studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Thirty-one bovine cutaneous warts were submitted to macroscopic and histological analyses and to molecular analyses to partial amplification and sequencing of the L1 gene of bovine papillomavirus (BPV). Viral types detected were BPV1 (52%), BPV2 (29%), BPV6 (16%) and BPV10 (3%). BPV2 had lower frequency in papilloma in comparison to that in fibropapilloma (p = 0.002).

The genus Hepacivirus includes 14 species (Hepacivirus A-N). In this study, we determined a partial genome sequence of a highly divergent bovine hepacivirus (hepacivirus N, HNV) isolate from cattle in Southern Brazil. Previously described HNV isolates have shared 80-99.7% nucleotide sequence identity in the NS3 coding region. However, the sequence determined in this study had 72.6% to 73.8% nucleotide sequence identity to known HNV NS3 sequences. This high divergence could be seen in a phylogenetic tree, suggesting that it represents a new genotype of HNV. These data expand our knowledge concerning the genetic variability and evolution of hepaciviruses.