Infection of wild birds from Cordoba city (Argentina) by Cache Valley virus (Bunyaviridae).

LB TAURO; LA DIAZ; MC FRUTOS; WR ALMIRÓN; MS CONTIGIANI

Buzios, Brazil

Congreso; XVIII National Meeting of Virology.; 2007

Sociedad Brazilera de Virología

Infection of wild birds from Cordoba city (Argentina) by Cache Valley virus (Bunyaviridae). Tauro LB, Diaz LA, Frutos MC, Almirón WR, Contigiani MS. Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", Fac. Cs. Médicas, UNC. Córdoba, ARgentina. contigia@cmefcm.uncor.edu; Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. Antibodies against Cache Valley virus (CVV), Bunyamwera complex, Bunyamwera serogroup, Orthobunyavirus genus, Bunyaviridae family, have been detected in sheep, goats, cows, horses and humans from Alaska to Argentina. In the USA, an association between CVV infections and congenital malformations (various musculoskeletal and central nervous system defects) was described in sheep, and later experimentally reproduced in sheep and cattle. Recent serologic studies suggest the viruses of the Bunyamwera serogroup may also be the etiologic agents of congenital defects of the central nervous sytem in humans. There was no a previously record of infections in birds by these viruses in Argentina as in the rest of America. A serological survey was carried out to detect infection against CVV in birds from Córdoba city, central Argentina. 170 sera obtained from birds, captured between January and May 2004, were analyzed for neutralizing antibodies (NT) by plaque reduction test in Vero Cell. The viral strain used was CbaAr.426. Since cross reaction with Kairi virus (KRIV), Kairi complex, (strains BeAr-8226) was previously observed, positive sera for CVV were also tested against KRIV. The prevalence of NT antibodies against CVV in birds was 6.47% (11/170). The infected birds were: Zenaida auriculata (Eared dove), Columbina picui (Picui ground-dove), Machetornis rixosus (Cattle tyrant), Tyrannus savana (Fork-tailed flycatcher), Passer domesticus (House sparrows), Carduelis magellanica (Hooded siskin), Molothrus bonariensis (Shiny cowbird), Turdus amaurochalinus (Creamy-bellied thrush), Pseudoseisura lophotes (Brown cachalote). All sera were negative for KRIV. According to these results, birds are also susceptible to CVV infections. Furthermore, the prevalence of antibodies found was similar to that detected in inhabitants of Córdoba city. This is the first report of infection by CVV in birds for Argentina, as well as for the rest of America.