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Year 2000 - Volume 20, Number 4
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Spontaneous BRSV infection in cattle of the state of Alagoas, Brazil, 20(4):171-175
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ABSTRACT.- Peixoto P.V., Mota R.A., Brito M.F., Corbellini L.G., Driemeier D. & Souza M.I. 2000. [Spontaneous BRSV infection in cattle of the state of Alagoas, Brazil.] Infecção natural pelo Vírus Sincicial Respiratório Bovino (BRSV) em bovinos no Estado de Alagoas. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 20(4):171-175. Projeto Sanidade Animal Embrapa/UFRRJ, Km 47,
Seropédica, RJ 23851-970, Brazil.
Cases of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection affecting calves in the State of Alagoas, Brazil, are described. At least 220 calves, which were the progeny of Brown Swiss and Holstein Friesian cattle imported from Germany, Austria, and Uruguay, have died from the disease since 1995. Clinical signs included fever, dry cough, serous ocular discharge and, towards the final stages, marked dyspnea. On auscultation therewere loud and harsh breathing sounds, and a strong wheezing could be heard from a distance. Histopathology of the lung revealed interstitial pneumonia associated with syncytial cells and infiltration by lymphocytes and eosinophils. A few plasma cells containing Russel bodies in their cytoplasm were also observed. There was hyperplasia of type li pneumocytes and mild squamous metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium. Bronchiolar epithelial cells and syncytial cells were positively stained with anti-BRSV antibody. The finding of BRSV infection in calves in Northeast Brazil plus identical findings already reported from South Brazil, strongly indicate the need for a wide epidemiologic survey in arder to evaluate the lasses due to BRSV infection and the incidence of infected cattle. There is evidence that at least part of the imported animals involved in this outbreak was already infected on arrival at the port of Belém, in the State of Pará, Brazil. |
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