Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is an important respiratory pathogens among children between zero-five years old. Host immunity and viral genetic variability are important factors that can make vaccine production difficult. In this work, differences between biological clones of HRSV were detected in clinical samples in the absence and presence of serum collected from children in the convalescent phase of the illness and from their biological mothers. Viral clones were selected by plaque assay in the absence and presence of serum and nucleotide sequences of the G2 and F2 genes of HRSV biological clones were compared. One non-synonymous mutation was found in the F gene (Ile5Asn) in one clone of an HRSV-B sample and one non-synonymous mutation was found in the G gene (Ser291Pro) in four clones of the same HRSV-B sample. Only one of these clones was obtained after treatment with the child's serum. In addition, some synonymous mutations were determined in two clones of the HRSV-A samples. In conclusion, it is possible that minor sequences could be selected by host antibodies contributing to the HRSV evolutionary process, hampering the development of an effective vaccine, since we verify the same codon alteration in absence and presence of human sera in individual clones of BR-85 sample.

Introduction This study assessed the viability of the rabies virus in the argasid tick Carios fonsecai following experimental infection. Methods The mouse inoculation test (MIT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used. The rabies virus was administered to ticks via the intra-coelomic route, and the ticks were sacrificed at different time points. Results The inoculated ticks were negative for rabies according to the MIT. Ticks macerated with rabies virus were positive according to the MIT and FAT. All of the tick lots tested by PCR were positive. Conclusions The rabies virus became unviable shortly after its inoculation into tick bodies. Ticks are not likely to play an important role in the epidemiology of rabies.

INTRODUÇÃO: A raiva é uma importante zoonose responsável por milhares de mortes anualmente em todo o mundo. Embora o ciclo silvestre, onde os cães são os principais transmissores esteja controlado no Brasil, o ciclo aéreo, onde o morcego hematófago Desmodus rotundus é o principal transmissor e diversas espécies de morcegos não hematófagos podem se infectar e transmitir o vírus, permanence como um importante problema econômico e de saúde pública. MÉTODOS: O objetivo deste trabalho foi a caracterização antigênica por meio da utilização de anticorpos monoclonais e a caracterização genética por meio da reação em cadeia pela polimerase pela transcriptase reversa seguida de análise filogenética em morcegos não hematófagos e animais domésticos herbívoros provenientes da região oeste do Estado de São Paulo. RESULTADOS: A análise antigênica de 27 amostras determinou três variantes distintas: Agv-3, AgV-4 e AgV-6; a análise genética de 29 amostras identificou 5 diferentes grupos, todos pertencentes a espécie Rabies virus. CONCLUSÕES: Ainda que apenas amostras de morcegos não hematófagos tenham sido analisadas, a maioria das variantes antigênicas e genéticas identificadas na região estava relacionada com a variante mantida pelos morcegos hematófagos Desmodus rotundus. Amostras de uma mesma variante antigênica segregaram em mais de um clado genético. Este estudo demonstrou a diversidade de linhagens genéticas do vírus da raiva presentes e circulantes em morcegos não hematófagos na região estudada.

INTRODUCTION: Rabies is an important zoonosis that causes thousands of deaths worldwide each year. Although the terrestrial cycle, mainly transmitted by dogs, is controlled in Brazil, the aerial cycle remains a serious public health issue, besides the economic problem. In the aerial cycle, the haematophagous bat Desmodus rotundus is the main source of infection, where several different species of non-haematophagous bats can be infected and can transmit the virus. METHODS: The aim of this work was to study the epidemiological pattern of rabies using antigenic characterization with monoclonal antibodies and genetic characterization by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of non-haematophagous bats' and herbivorous animals' central nervous system samples from the western region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: From 27 samples, 3 antigenic variants were identified: AgV-3, AgV-4, and AgV-6; and from 29 samples, 5 different clusters were identified, all belonging to the rabies virus species. CONCLUSIONS: Although only non-haematophagous bats were evaluated in the studied region, the majority of samples were from antigenic and genetic variants related to haematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus. Samples from the same antigenic variant were segregated in more than one genetic cluster. This study demonstrated the diversity of rabies virus genetic lineages presented and circulating in non-haematophagous bats in the studied region.

INTRODUÇÃO: Esse trabalho apresenta o primeiro registro de raiva em três espécies de morcegos: Molossus molossus, Molossops neglectus e Myotis riparius na Cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Os morcegos foram diagnosticados como positivos para raiva usando as técnicas padrão de imunofluorescência direta e o teste de inoculação em camundongo. Os isolados foram caracterizados antigenicamente usando um painel de oito anticorpos monoclonais (CDC/Atlanta/USA). As amostras também foram analisadas geneticamente por sequenciamento parcial do gene da nucleoproteína entre as posições 1157 e 1445nt. RESULTADOS: O resultado das análises mostrou que as amostras isoladas da espécie M. molossus apresentou variante antigênica 6, enquanto as outras duas amostras mostraram um perfil diferente daquele estabelecido no painel e ainda não registrado em literatura. Os resultados da analise genética revelaram que a amostra de M. molossus segrega com isolados de Lasiurus sp., M. neglectus segrega com o isolado do subgrupo de Eptesicus furinalis e uma amostra de M. riparius segrega com isolados de Myotis sp. CONCLUSÕES: Os casos relatados neste estudo enfatizam a necessidade do esclarecimento da ocorrência de casos de raiva em morcegos, principalmente em áreas urbanas.

INTRODUCTION: This paper presents the first report of rabies in three bat species, Molossus molossus, Molossops neglectus and Myotis riparius in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Bats were diagnosed as positive for rabies using the fluorescent antibody test and mouse inoculation test. The isolates were characterized antigenically using a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies. The samples were also genetically analyzed by partial sequencing of the portion of nucleoprotein gene between positions 1157 and 1445nt. RESULTS: Analysis of the results verified that the sample isolated from the species M. molossus presented antigenic variant 6, while the other two samples showed a different profile from that established in the panel, one not previously reported in the literature. The results of genetic analysis revealed that the M. molossus sample segregated with Lasiurus sp. isolates, M. neglectus segregated with a subgroup of Eptesicus furinalis isolates and the Myotis riparius sample segregated with Myotis sp. isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The cases reported in this paper emphasize the need for clarification of the circumstances in which cases of rabies in wildlife occur, principally in urban areas.

Algumas espécies de morcegos têm se adaptado ao uso de abrigos em construções urbanas, aumentando a possibilidade de contato desses morcegos com pessoas e animais domésticos e conseqüentemente, o potencial risco de transmissão de raiva. Três morcegos foram encontrados no jardim de uma casa na área urbana da cidade de Jundiaí, Estado de São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil, dois deles foram positivos para raiva pelas técnicas de imunofluorescência e inoculação em camundongos. Uma grande colônia de E. furinalis foi identificada, vivendo no sótão da casa e 119 morcegos foram encaminhados para diagnóstico de raiva, com mais quatro morcegos positivos. O objetivo desse estudo é apresentar a caracterização genética e antigênica do vírus da raiva isolado desses morcegos e o estudo epidemiológico da colônia.

Some bat species have adapted to the expanding human population by acquiring the ability to roost in urban buildings, increasing the exposure risk for people and domestic animals, and consequently, the likelihood of transmitting rabies. Three dead bats were found in the yard of a house in an urban area of Jundiaí city in the state of São Paulo in southeast Brazil. Two of the three bats tested positive for rabies, using Fluorescent Antibody and Mouse Inoculation techniques. A large colony of Eptesicus furinalis was found in the house's attic, and of the 119 bats captured, four more tested positive for rabies. The objectives of this study were to report the rabies diagnosis, characterize the isolated virus antigenically and genetically, and study the epidemiology of the colony.

O vírus respiratório sincicial humano (HRSV), isolado em 1955, é a principal causa da hospitalização de bebês e crianças pequenas com sintomas de doença respiratória. No mundo inteiro, vários estudos para o desenvolvimento de uma vacina segura e eficiente contra o HRSV têm tido alta prioridade. A região G2 da glicoproteína G é usada como padrão para genotipagem do HRSV. Neste estudo, foi realizada a análise filogenética da glicoproteína G e o estudo comparativo entre a região G2 e o ectodomínio dessa glicoproteína. Cinquenta e três amostras de swab nasal de crianças com menos de cinco anos de idade, apresentando doença respiratória aguda, atendidas no Hospital Universitário (HU) da Universidade de São Paulo durante o ano de 2004, foram submetidas a sequenciamento por PCR e comparadas com seqüências do GenBank. A região G2 mostrou ser adequada para a genotipagem do HRSV.

The Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV), isolated in 1955, is the main cause of hospitalization of babies and infants with respiratory illness. Several studies have been conducted worldwide aiming the development of a safe and effective vaccine against HRSV. The G2 region of glycoprotein G is used as genotyping default. In the present study, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of G protein and a comparative study between G2 region and ectodomain of attachment glycoprotein. Fifty-three nasal swab samples from children less than 5 years old and presenting symptoms of acute respiratory illness, assisted at the University Hospital (UH) of University of Sao Paulo (USP) in 2004, were submitted to sequencing by PCR and compared with GenBank sequences. We concluded that the G2 region is adequate for HRSV genotyping.