Rotavirus A in wild and domestic animals from areas with environmental degradation in the Brazilian Amazon.
Authors: de Barros Bruno de Cássio Veloso, Chagas Elaine Nunes, Bezerra Luna Wanessa, Ribeiro Laila Graziela, Duarte Júnior Jose Wandilson Barboza, Pereira Diego, da Penha Junior Edvaldo Tavares, Silva Julia Rezende, Bezerra Delana Andreza Melo, Bandeira Renato Silva, Pinheiro Helder Henrique Costa, Guerra Sylvia de Fátima Dos Santos, Guimarães Ricardo José de Paula Souza E, Mascarenhas Joana D'Arc Pereira
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Rotavirus A Circulation in Mixed Animal Populations in Degraded Amazonian Environments Rotavirus A (RVA) represents a significant cause of acute gastroenteritis across both human and animal populations, yet its prevalence and distribution amongst wild and domestic species in fragmented ecosystems remains poorly characterised. Researchers screened 648 faecal samples collected between October 2014 and April 2016 from eight animal species across a degraded, semi-urbanised region of Pará state in the Brazilian Amazon, using reverse-transcription quantitative PCR targeting the NSP3 gene to detect RVA. Overall RVA prevalence was notably high at 27.5%, with detection rates varying substantially by species: birds showed the highest prevalence (23.6%), followed by canines (21.35%), chiropterans (17.98%), bovines (14.6%), equines (8.43%), rodents (6.74%), pigs (3.93%) and felines (3.37%). The broad cross-species detection suggests active viral circulation between domestic animals, wild reservoir hosts and anthropogenic environments, creating conditions for inter-species transmission and potential viral recombination events—a concern reinforced by the study's documentation of environmental degradation across sampling sites. For equine professionals, these findings highlight rotavirus as a potential disease threat in multi-species facilities and highlight the importance of rigorous biosecurity measures, particularly in regions characterised by habitat fragmentation and wildlife-domestic animal interface zones where viral exchange may be facilitated.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Rotavirus A circulates widely across domestic and wild animal populations in degraded environments; consider infection risk when managing horses, cattle, and other species in affected Brazilian regions
- •Close proximity between different animal species (domestic, wild, and livestock) in fragmented habitats increases cross-species transmission risk and potential for viral reassortment
- •Biosecurity and separate management of different species groups may be prudent in areas with known environmental degradation and high rotavirus prevalence
Key Findings
- •27.5% (178/648) of fecal samples tested positive for Rotavirus A across multiple animal species
- •Rotavirus A detected in 8 different species including birds (23.6%), canines (21.35%), chiropterans (17.98%), bovines (14.6%), horses (8.43%), small rodents (6.74%), pigs (3.93%), and felines (3.37%)
- •Environmental degradation and habitat fragmentation in urbanized Amazon areas associated with increased interspecies viral circulation and potential genome rearrangements