Detection of Maedi visna virus, by Nested-PCR, in bronchoalveolar lavage of sheep lungs from slaughterhouse in the Metropolitan region of Fortaleza

ABSTRACT. Martins G.R., Teixeira M.F.S., Barroso I.C. Souza K.C., Marinho R.C. & Bezerra Junior R.Q. [Detection of Maedi visna virus, by Nested-PCR, in bronchoalveolar lavage of sheep lungs from slaughterhouse in the Metropolitan region of Fortaleza.] Detecção do vírus Maedi-visna, por Nested-PCR, no lavado bronco-alveolar de pulmões ovinos provenientes de abatedouro da região metropolitana de Fortaleza. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veteriná- ria, 36(3):312-316, 2014. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700, Fortaleza, CE 60714-502, Brasil. E-mail: mfteixeira@hotmail.com Maedi-Visna is a disease multisystemic character caused by Maedi Visna Virus, a lentivirus belonging to the Retroviridae family, that preferentially infects cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. The infected animal may show lesions in the lungs, joints, brain and mammary glands, singly or not, but usually the animal doesn’t shows symptoms, and should be resorted to laboratory tests for diagnosis. Seeking to demonstrate the presence of this virus in herds in this region, the aim of this study was to detect the presence of the Maedi-Visna Virus in bronchoalveolar lavage of sheep lungs from slaughterhouse in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza. For this purpose, samples of sheep lungs were collected from slaughterhouse in the region, did bronchoalveolar lavage and cultivation of the cells obtained. These samples were subjected to DNA extraction and amplification by Nested-PCR. The presence of proviral DNA was confirmed in six of the 58 samples analyzed, demonstrating the presence of this infection in properties in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza