A survey of flaviviruses in birds in green areas of São Paulo, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate Flavivirus infection in birds captured in green areas of São Paulo.


METHODS
Oropharyngeal swabs, cloacal swabs, and blood samples from 170 birds captured in two green areas in São Paulo, Brazil were subjected to real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis of Flavivirus specific NS5 gene fragment.


RESULTS
All samples were negative for the presence of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the negative results, Flavivirus surveillance must be performed regularly due to favorable ecological conditions for virus circulation and transmission among birds in these areas and their close proximity to humans.
Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Lilian Dias
LD
Orico
Laboratório de Protozoologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Licia Natal
LN
Fernandes
Divisão Técnica de Medicina Veterinária e Manejo da Fauna Silvestre, Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcos Antônio
MA
Melo
Divisão Técnica de Medicina Veterinária e Manejo da Fauna Silvestre, Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ticiana
T
Zwarg
Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
José Eduardo
JE
Levi
Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Mauro Toledo
MT
Marrelli
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012367:RNA, Viral