The first report of Canine Morbillivirus infection in giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) described in Brazil

Abstract

Canine distemper (CD) is a multisystemic and contagious disease caused by Canine Morbillivirus (CM), an enveloped RNA virus that belongs from family Paramyxoviridae, subfamily Paramyxovirinae, genus Morbillivirus. Canine Morbillivirus easily replicates in epithelial, nervous and lymphoid tissues; it is released in urine, feces, saliva, oral and nasal secretions and its major infection route is from respiratory system. Although in the past the virus was described infecting domestic dogs, new studies have shown that the virus can natural or experimentally infect nondomestic and wild hosts. A recent finding during a hematological exam, that showed Lentz corpuscles inside leukocytes of a Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), combined with CM rapid test, RT-PCR and pathological findings confirmed the first report of Canine Morbillivirus in the species and the second report in family Myrmecophagidae, order Pilosa, in the Midwestern region of Brazil.