Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0983
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0983
+44 1478 350008
Lopes SF, Farias IP, Figueiredo LTM, Figueiredo RP, Morais FA, Nunes MRT and Figueiredo MLG
The Amazon region has the greatest biodiversity on earth, including birds and hematophagous arthropods. Birds are hosts and amplifiers of at least 80 species of arthropod-borne viruses (arbovirus) including those belonging to the Flavivirus genus (Flaviviridae family). In Brazil, occur many Flavivirus of the Japanese encephalitis group, including Ilheus virus (ILHV). These Flaviviruses are linked to birds and transmitted by Culex mosquitoes. We show here a study aimed to detect infected birds by Flavivirus in the Amazon region. The birds captures were performed in Alter do Chão, Pará State, Northern Brazil, and birds were also obtained in the Wildlife Refuge Sauim-Chestnut, in Amazonas State, North of Brazil. A total of 189 birds, distributed into 11 orders (Passeriformes, Galbuliformes, Coraciiformes, Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, Psittaciformes, Falconiformes, Anseriformes, Pelicaniformes, Columbiformes and Cathartiformes) were bled and liberated. It was possible to detect Flavivirus genome in 7 sera (3.7% positivity) from Nystalus maculatus (n=3), Tolmomyias flaviventris (n=1), Dendroplex picus (n=1), Amazona festiva (n=1) and Elaenia flavogaster (n=1), using a RT-PCR specific for Flavivirus genus followed by a species-specific nested-PCR. Based on the size of the amplicons (all having ~ 470 bp) it is suggested that birds were likely infected by Ilheus virus (ILHV), a pathogenic Flavivirus to humans. The importance of infected bird species involved in the natural cycle of ILHV or another related Flavivirus is unknown.