First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in Argentina
As a significant zoonotic disease, rabies poses substantial economic challenges for the livestock sector, highlighting the need for effective wildlife monitoring as part of a One Health approach. This study documents the first case of paralytic rabies in a lowland tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris&...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/570 |
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| author | Matías Castillo Giraudo María Marcela Orozco Marcelo Juan Zabalza Leonardo Minatel Laura Patricia Novaro Gabriela Alejandra Centurión Marcos Adolfo Fabeiro Luciano Coppola Vanina Daniela Marchione María Carolina Artuso Pablo Daniel Aon Susana Elida Russo |
| author_facet | Matías Castillo Giraudo María Marcela Orozco Marcelo Juan Zabalza Leonardo Minatel Laura Patricia Novaro Gabriela Alejandra Centurión Marcos Adolfo Fabeiro Luciano Coppola Vanina Daniela Marchione María Carolina Artuso Pablo Daniel Aon Susana Elida Russo |
| author_sort | Matías Castillo Giraudo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As a significant zoonotic disease, rabies poses substantial economic challenges for the livestock sector, highlighting the need for effective wildlife monitoring as part of a One Health approach. This study documents the first case of paralytic rabies in a lowland tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) at the Guaycolec Wildlife Station in Formosa, Argentina. The 12-year-old male tapir exhibited neurological symptoms, including limb paralysis and dysphagia, leading to its death. The rabies virus was confirmed through direct immunofluorescence, virus isolation in BHK-21 cells, and molecular diagnostics via real-time RT-PCR and conventional PCR. Antigenic variant 3, associated with <i>Desmodus rotundus</i>, was identified. Histopathological examination revealed non-suppurative encephalitis with lymphocytic perivascular cuffs, neuronal vacuolization, and acidophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the grey matter. This case underscores the importance of expanded surveillance for non-traditional hosts, as it demonstrates the potential for rabies transmission in changing environments. The findings highlight the need to maintain epidemiological surveillance systems at the wildlife–livestock–human interface and to develop targeted control strategies to mitigate the spread of rabies, particularly in areas where vampire bat populations are subject to anthropogenic pressures. Comprehensive monitoring and early detection are essential for effective rabies management in both wildlife and urban contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-331c22c76baf457eabe43cfb552e9a71 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-331c22c76baf457eabe43cfb552e9a712025-08-20T03:13:48ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-04-0117457010.3390/v17040570First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in ArgentinaMatías Castillo Giraudo0María Marcela Orozco1Marcelo Juan Zabalza2Leonardo Minatel3Laura Patricia Novaro4Gabriela Alejandra Centurión5Marcos Adolfo Fabeiro6Luciano Coppola7Vanina Daniela Marchione8María Carolina Artuso9Pablo Daniel Aon10Susana Elida Russo11Estación de Animales Silvestres Guaycolec, J.M. Uriburu 1513, Formosa 3600, ArgentinaFacultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IEGEBA-CONICET), Av. Intendente Güiraldes 2160 Guiraldes, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1428EGA, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaFacultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Chorroarín 280, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1427CWO, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaAsociación Civil Grupo Silvestre, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1217ABK, ArgentinaDirección de Laboratorio Animal (DLA), DGLyCT, SENASA, Talcahuano 1660, Martínez B1640CZT, ArgentinaAs a significant zoonotic disease, rabies poses substantial economic challenges for the livestock sector, highlighting the need for effective wildlife monitoring as part of a One Health approach. This study documents the first case of paralytic rabies in a lowland tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) at the Guaycolec Wildlife Station in Formosa, Argentina. The 12-year-old male tapir exhibited neurological symptoms, including limb paralysis and dysphagia, leading to its death. The rabies virus was confirmed through direct immunofluorescence, virus isolation in BHK-21 cells, and molecular diagnostics via real-time RT-PCR and conventional PCR. Antigenic variant 3, associated with <i>Desmodus rotundus</i>, was identified. Histopathological examination revealed non-suppurative encephalitis with lymphocytic perivascular cuffs, neuronal vacuolization, and acidophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the grey matter. This case underscores the importance of expanded surveillance for non-traditional hosts, as it demonstrates the potential for rabies transmission in changing environments. The findings highlight the need to maintain epidemiological surveillance systems at the wildlife–livestock–human interface and to develop targeted control strategies to mitigate the spread of rabies, particularly in areas where vampire bat populations are subject to anthropogenic pressures. Comprehensive monitoring and early detection are essential for effective rabies management in both wildlife and urban contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/570rabies<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>paralytic rabieswildlife surveillancezoonosisantigenic variant 3 |
| spellingShingle | Matías Castillo Giraudo María Marcela Orozco Marcelo Juan Zabalza Leonardo Minatel Laura Patricia Novaro Gabriela Alejandra Centurión Marcos Adolfo Fabeiro Luciano Coppola Vanina Daniela Marchione María Carolina Artuso Pablo Daniel Aon Susana Elida Russo First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in Argentina Viruses rabies <i>Tapirus terrestris</i> paralytic rabies wildlife surveillance zoonosis antigenic variant 3 |
| title | First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in Argentina |
| title_full | First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in Argentina |
| title_fullStr | First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in Argentina |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in Argentina |
| title_short | First Report of Paralytic Rabies in a Lowland Tapir (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) in Argentina |
| title_sort | first report of paralytic rabies in a lowland tapir i tapirus terrestris i in argentina |
| topic | rabies <i>Tapirus terrestris</i> paralytic rabies wildlife surveillance zoonosis antigenic variant 3 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/570 |
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