Maria Leal da Costa

Ms. Maria Leal da Costa


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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24 January 2025 in Viruses
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SBSílvia C. Barros
Sílvia C. Barros
DMDiogo Maroco
Diogo Maroco
Ana Margarida HenriquesAna Margarida Henriques
Ana Margarida Henriques
MCMaria Leal da Costa
Maria Leal da Costa
AAAlexandra Alves
Alexandra Alves
MDMargarida Dias Duarte
Margarida Dias Duarte
The first official case of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) in Portugal was confirmed in sheep from the district of Évora in September 2024. Notably, mortality was observed in pregnant sheepdogs within the affected sheep flocks. This study presents four cases of pregnant dogs infected with BTV-3 in mid-September 2024, all of which aborted prior to death. BTV-3 was identified by RT-qPCR following initial positive results from pan-BTV RT-qPCR. The virus was subsequently isolated from the blood of one of the dogs in BHK-21 cells, and a partial sequence of the vp2 gene was obtained. This sequence showed 100% similarity to sheep BTV3/3234/PT2024, identified in Portugal in September 2024, as well as to BTV-3/NET2023, first reported in the Netherlands in 2023. These findings suggest that the viruses may be related or share a common origin. Co-infection with common canine viruses and pathogenic bacteria was ruled out, confirming that the fatalities were due to BTV-3 infection, probably by ingestion of sheep placenta after lambing. Our results confirm the potential for the transmission of BTV-3 to non-ruminant species, particularly carnivores, and, therefore, the wider ecological implications of this virus. In addition, the identification of transplacental transmission of BTV-3 in one of the dogs provides new evidence highlighting the complexity of the virus’ transmission mechanisms.