Seroprevalence of flaviviruses antibodies in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)in Brazilian Amazon

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Alexandre R Casseb, Andrea V Cruz, Iroleide S Jesus, Jannifer O Chiang, Lívia C Martins, Sandro P Silva, Daniele F Henriques, Livia MN Casseb, Pedro Fernando C Vasconcelos
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2014
• Subjects: Flavivirus; Water buffaloes; Hemagglutination inhibition test; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1678-9199-20-9; https://doaj.org/article/959ac875a5024997b9663ab87462eff4

BackgroundThe state of Pará encompasses 26% of Brazilian Amazon where an enormous diversity of arboviruses has been found. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and distribution of hemagglutination-inhibition antibodies against antigens of six Flavivirus(yellow fever virus, Ilheus virus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus, Cacipacore virus, Bussuquara virus and Rocio virus) in water buffaloes in Pará state, Brazil. The prevalence of antibodies in these farm animals is important to determine the circulating arboviruses.FindingsAll investigated arboviruses were detected in the species studied and our results indicate that water buffaloes are susceptible to Flavivirusinfection. Furthermore, there is solid evidence of active circulation of these viruses in the Brazilian Amazon.ConclusionsWater buffaloes showed higher prevalence of heterotypic antibody reactions and we hypothesized that they can serve as sentinels to detect the movement of such arboviruses in the Brazilian Amazon.