First isolation of West Nile virus in Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Serological evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection has been reported in different regions of Brazil from equine and human hosts but the virus had never been isolated in the country.

Objectives

We sought to identify the viral etiology of equine encephalitis in Espírito Santo state.

Methods

We performed viral culture in C6/36 cells, molecular detection of WNV genome, histopathology and immunohistochemistry from horse cerebral tissue. We also carried out sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and molecular clock.

Findings

Histopathologic analysis from horse cerebral tissue showed injury related to encephalitis and WNV infection was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The virus was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (

SUBMITTER: Martins LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6343470 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature