CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS INFECTION IN A FREE-LIVING SOUTHERN TAMANDUA (TAMANDUA TETRADACTYLA): HEMATOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR FINDINGS

Gerlaine Barbosa Vianna; FABIOLA APARECIDA DE OLIVEIRA NOGUEIRA; Elian de Almeida Cardoso; Taynara Mendonça Gueivara Lima; JULIA CECILIA MEDEIROS BARROS; Marcos Roberto Barros Freitas; Igor Roland Mathias Netto da Silva; Alexandre Carvalho Costa; Juliana Macedo Raimundo; Cristiane Divan Baldani

Título do Trabalho

Autores

Gerlaine Barbosa Vianna
FABIOLA APARECIDA DE OLIVEIRA NOGUEIRA
Elian de Almeida Cardoso
Taynara Mendonça Gueivara Lima
JULIA CECILIA MEDEIROS BARROS
Marcos Roberto Barros Freitas
Igor Roland Mathias Netto da Silva
Alexandre Carvalho Costa
Juliana Macedo Raimundo
Cristiane Divan Baldani

Modalidade

Resumo Simples

Área temática

Outras áreas temáticas

Data de Publicação

22/05/2026

País da Publicação

Brasil

Idioma da Publicação

pt-BR

Página do Trabalho

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/x-simposio-internacional-ciencias-veterinarias/1430542-canine-distemper-virus-infection-in-a-free-living-southern-tamandua-(tamandua-tetradactyla)--hematological-and-m

ISBN

978-65-272-2456-3

Palavras-Chave

Distemper, Southern tamandua, Morbillivirus, Lentz corpuscles, Wildlife

Resumo

Anteaters are placental mammals belonging to the Order Pilosa and the Family Myrmecophagidae. In Brazil, there are three species that can be found in all Brazilian biomes: the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla), and the silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus). The destruction of natural environments, fires, hunting, roadkill, attacks by other animals, and diseases threaten these animals. Distemper is an infectious disease caused by an enveloped, single-stranded paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus, which is transmitted through direct contact with body fluids from infected animals. In dogs, it can progress from an acute form that causes apathy, eye and/or nasal secretions, diarrhea, and skin lesions to challenging neurological conditions and death. A southern tamandua presenting apathy, bloody diarrhea, and bilateral eye discharge arrived for treatment at the wildlife department of a university veterinary hospital. A blood sample was collected for diagnostic screening, processed in a Sysmex® PocH–100iV Dif veterinary hematology analyzer for total red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts and hemoglobin measurement. The hematocrit was determined using the microhematocrit technique; the differential count and evaluation of leukocyte morphology and the search for hemoparasites and intracellular inclusions were performed based on the evaluation of blood smears after instant staining (Panótico Rápido) and viewed under an optical microscope (Nikon E200). The animal presented anemia, leukocytosis, and hypoproteinemia. Structures compatible with Lentz corpuscles were visualized inside the red blood cells. RNA was extracted from whole blood using the trizol method up to the alcohol addition step, followed by purification steps using the Purelink Viral RNA Extraction Kit (Invitrogen®). The extracted total RNA samples were subjected to a reverse transcription reaction using the High Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription® Kit (Applied Biosystems). The RT-qPCR assay amplified a 289 bp fragment of the conserved region of the nucleoprotein (NP) of the canine distemper virus. A vaccine sample was used as a positive control, ultrapure water as a negative control, and the β-actin gene as an endogenous control. Although nonspecific, the clinical signs were similar to those described in the literature for distemper in dogs. The presence of Lentz corpuscles is a pathognomonic finding for the disease. Molecular diagnosis herein confirmed infection with the virus. The animal's clinical condition worsened, resulting in its death. This case expands knowledge about the circulation of the distemper virus in wildlife and is consistent with other reports, reinforcing that the southern tamandua may act as a species susceptible to infection. Ecological studies recognize infectious diseases as factors that can negatively influence wild populations and, therefore, studies on the occurrence and prevalence of diseases are an important strategy for the conservation of anteaters.

Título do Evento: X Simpósio Internacional em Ciências Veterinárias | X International Symposium in Veterinary Sciences
Cidade do Evento: Seropédica
Título dos Anais do Evento: Anais do X Simpósio Internacional em Ciências Veterinárias (X SINCVET)
Nome da Editora: Even3
Meio de Divulgação: Meio Digital

Como citar

VIANNA, Gerlaine Barbosa et al.. CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS INFECTION IN A FREE-LIVING SOUTHERN TAMANDUA (TAMANDUA TETRADACTYLA): HEMATOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR FINDINGS.. In: Anais do X Simpósio Internacional em Ciências Veterinárias (X SINCVET). Anais...Seropédica(RJ) UFRRJ, 2025. Disponível em: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/x-simposio-internacional-ciencias-veterinarias/1430542-CANINE-DISTEMPER-VIRUS-INFECTION-IN-A-FREE-LIVING-SOUTHERN-TAMANDUA-(TAMANDUA-TETRADACTYLA)--HEMATOLOGICAL-AND-M. Acesso em: 06/11/2026