Establishment and maintenance of persistent infection by picobirnavirus in greater rhea (Rhea Americana).

MASACHESSI G; MARTINEZ LC; GANESH B; GIORDANO MO; BARRIL PA; ISA MB; IBARS A; PAVAN JV; NATES SV

SPRINGER WIEN

Lugar: Viena; Año: 2012 vol. 157 p. 2075 - 2075

UMMARY A study aimed to further understand the biology of picobirnaviruses (PBV) was conducted in a Rhea americana farm located in the outskirts of Córdoba City, Argentina. PBV prevalence was examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining (PAGE S/S) on a total of 86 samples from juvenile and adults rheas. The prevalence of virus excretion in both groups was high and similar (juvenile rheas 39%; adult population 48%, p>0.05) In addition, 218 samples collected in 7 follow-up studies were analyzed by PAGE/SS and/or reverse transcription followed by PCR (RT-PCR). Six of these studies analyzed PBV excretion from new born rheas during a period of 1 month and the seventh study was carried out during a period of 6 months. The results offer evidence that PBV is acquired very early in life and establishes a persistent infection in the host, which could involve more than one virus strains. The persistent infection is characterized by intermingled periods of high, low and sil