Pesquisa de rotavírus em aves silvestres da região amazônica mantidas em cativeiro no estado do Pará, Brasil

ABSTRACT. Luz M.A., Bezerra D.A., Silva R.R., Guerreiro A.N., Seixas L.S., Bastos R.K.G., Mascarenhas J. D’Arc P., Moraes C.C.G., Souza N.F. & Meneses A.M.C. [Rotavirus research in Amazon wild birds kept in captivity in the state of Para, Brazil.] Pesquisa de rotavirus em aves silvestres da regiao amazonica mantidas em cativeiro no estado do Para, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinaria, 36(2):167-173, 2014. Instituto da Saude e Producao animal na Amazonia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazonia, Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, 2501, Montese, Belem, PA 66077-901, Brasil. E-mail: monique.luz@ufra.edu.br This study aimed to investigate rotavirus in wild birds kept in captivity at Para State, to detect and characterize the electropherotypes groups of circulating rotaviruses and investigate A and D rotavirus groups presence in fecal specimens of these birds. Fecal samples were collected at Fazenda Paricuia (Terra Alta / PA, Brazil), in Jardim Zoobotânico da Amazonia Bosque Rodrigues Alves, Parque Ecologico Mangal das Garcas, Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG) and Bioparque Amazonia Crocodilo Safari in Belem/Para/Brazil, between March 2011 and February 2012. Were collected fecal samples from 83 birds belonging to the orders: Psittaciformes (Family Psittacidae), Ciconiformes (Ardeidae and Threskiornithidae families) and Falconiformes (Family Accipitridae). Fecal suspensions were prepared from samples collected, with subsequent extraction of viral dsRNA, which was subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed with specific primers for amplification of NSP4 gene of A rotavirus and VP6 gene of D rotavirus. All samples were negative by both EGPA and by RT-PCR, requiring, however, further studies aimed in wild birds kept in captivity to determine the role of these species in the rotavirus epidemiology.