Detection of Reticuloendotheliosis Virus in Brazil

Reticuloendotheliosis retroviruses (REV) are known to cause immunosuppressive and oncogenic disease that affects numerous avian species. REV is present worldwide and recently has been reported in South America with cases of infected commercial flocks in Argentina. We surveyed for the presence of REV in birds from a state in the northern region of Brazil using real-time PCR. We report the first cases of REV in Brazil, detected in Muscovy ducks ( Cairina moschata ), wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ), and chickens ( Gallus gallus ) at a relatively high prevalence rate (16,8%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close relationship of this strain to variants in the United States. This study provides evidence of REV in the Amazon biome and provides a baseline for future surveillance of the virus in the region and throughout Brazil.