Suchergebnisse

The aim of the present study was to detect Eimeria spp. in eared doves (Zenaida auriculata) from Brazil. Two hundred and fourteen birds were trap-capture in different regions of Londrina city, Paraná state, Southern Brazil. Fecal samples were collected, and DNA extraction was performed. A nested PCR based on the subunit I of the cytochrome c oxidase gene of the Eimeria mitochondrial genome was used to detect the DNA presence of this coccidian in eared dove feces. From 214 birds, 171 (79.9%) were positive for Eimeria spp. There was significantly difference of positivity between the site of capture. When analyzing the genders, the numbers of positive males were 84/103 (81.5%) and females 87/111 (78.4%). To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study with molecular prevalence of Eimeria sp. in Z. auriculata. Further studies should be done to identify the species of Eimeria that infect eared doves Z. auriculata.

Protozoans are widely distributed, and several species may parasitize the digestive tracts of cats (Felis catus), and can be transmitted to humans. The present study aimed to evaluate the species and occurrence of gastrointestinal protozoans in cats in the city of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. A total of 206 cat fecal samples were tested, of which 141 were from shelter animals, and 65 were from pets owned by local people. Samples were processed by parasitological techniques. Coproparasitological techniques (Willis, Faust and Ziehl-Neelsen) were performed for detection of protozoan parasites. Subsequently, all samples were processed by PCR protocols specific to Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. PCR products from positive samples were selected for sequencing. No samples were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium spp. using the Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Using specific PCR protocols, 1/206 (0.48%) samples tested positive for Cryptosporidium spp. After purification, this one positive sample was sequenced, and it demonstrated a 100% identity match to Cryptosporidium muris. Using specific PCR protocols, 13/206 (9.22%) cat fecal samples tested, including 2/65 (3.08%) pet cat fecal samples, were positive for T. gondii. PCR analysis revealed that 37/206 (17.96%) of cat fecal samples were positive for Giardia spp., including 27/141 (19.15%) of shelter cat fecal samples, and 10/65 (15.38%) pet cat fecal samples (p = 0.5124). When sequenced, these positive samples showed a 100% identity match with Giardia duodenalis. This study demonstrated that infections with Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Giardia duodenalis are present in the population of both pet cats and shelter cats in the city of Londrina. This poses a risk to public health, because these parasites have a high zoonotic potential.

Neosporosis, a parasitic disease prevalent worldwide, is caused by the protozoan Neospora caninum, an obligatory intracellular parasite that can cause abortions and infertility in females, resulting in high economic losses. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against N. caninum in dairy cattle, and the occurrence of antibodies in dogs from farms in the municipality of Cunha, São Paulo, Brazil. Additionally, eighteen months after the primary study, an analysis to determine the incidence, seroconversion, and occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was conducted in cows. Sampling was carried out in two phases: during the first one, 400 dairy cattle and 50 dog blood samples from 40 farms were collected. During the second phase, blood samples were collected from 119 cows belonging to 16 farms visited 18 months before. Serum samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) with titers ? 100 for cattle and ? 50 for dogs considered as positives. The occurrence of antibodies against N. caninum was 15.0% (60/400) and 14.0% (7/50) for cattle and dogs, respectively. After 18 months, the observed incidence of antibodies was 7.4% (4/54), the conversion detected was 71.4% (seropositive to seronegative) and 7.4% (seronegative to seropositive animals), and the observed occurrence was 7.56% (9/119). The calculated odds ratio (OR) was significant (p < 0.05) for abortions, presence of dogs, and parturition stalls. However, protection factors were identified in 2- to 4-year-old dairy cattle and in the number of lactating cows ? 10 animals. Thus, the presence of antibodies against N. caninum in the studied suggested both vertical and horizontal transmission are occurring in cattle.

Complete blood count (CBC) is the evaluation of blood cells, which provides resourceful information. Considering that inadequate fasting time is the most common pre-analytical error in laboratory diagnosis and is associated with lipemia in blood samples, which has not yet been adequately investigated in dogs, this study aimed to assess diurnal postprandial changes in the CBC of healthy dogs fed with industrialized feed. Eighteen clinically healthy dogs aged 2-6 years and weighing over 6 kg were enrolled in the study. All dogs received "Premium" industrialized feed every 12 hours. Blood was collected after a 12-hour fasting period at 6:00 am (baseline), followed by feeding and new blood samples collected hourly for the next 11 consecutive hours. Red blood cell (RBC) counts, red cell distribution width (RDW), white blood cell (WBC) counts, platelets, mean platelet volume (MPV) and hemoglobin were obtained using an automated veterinary cell counter. Hematocrit (HTC) was determined by Strumia's microcapillary method, differential leukocyte count was performed on hematological dye-stained blood smears and total plasma protein (TPP) was determined using refractometry. Variables were tested for normality and differences were considered significant when p < 0.05. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the erythrogram from 2 h for RBC and hemoglobin, from 3 h for HTC and from 4 h for MCV, persisting until the end of 11 hours. There was no change in MCHC and RDW. Regarding the leukogram, a significant increase in WBC was observed from 2 to 7 h, due to the increase in segmented neutrophils 2 to 8 h following feeding. Lymphocyte counts decreased significantly at 2 and 6 h following feeding. No alteration was observed in eosinophil, basophil, monocyte and platelet counts, as well as in MPV. From 5 h to 11 h after feeding, a significant decrease was seen on TPP. However, changes in hematological parameters did not exceed reference ranges for the canine species. Feeding dogs with industrialized feed caused statistically significant changes in erythrogram, leukogram and plasma protein content. While these changes do not seem to exceed reference values for the species in healthy animals, caution is warranted for sick animals with borderline values, in which these changes might be clinically important depending on the pathologic process.

Neosporosis is one of the principal causes of reproductive problems in cattle worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle and dogs from dairy farms from the central northern region of Paraná state. Blood samples with and without EDTA were collected from 400 cattle and 46 dogs from 20 properties. Nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) was performed on whole blood samples and indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFR) on the serum samples (after clot retraction). Cattle and dogs with titers ? 100 and ? 50, respectively, were considered positive. Anti-N. caninum was detected in 20,1% (80/400) of cattle, with titers ranging from 100 to 1600. The n-PCR presented only two cattle positives (0.5%). Anti-N. caninum was detected in 19,6% (9/46) of the dogs, with titers ranging from 50 to 6400. The occurrence of antibodies against N. caninum obtained in the present study was similar to those in studies performed in other regions of Paraná and Brazil. The probability of detecting parasitemia in epidemiological studies is a rare event.

Bovine coccidiosis is caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria. These protozoa mainly affect young animals, causing a decrease in production and consequent economic losses. The routine diagnosis is made through morphological observation of the oocysts, which has several limitations. The objective of the present study was to develop a qPCR technique for the diagnose of Eimeria spp. in cattle. For this purpose, the 18S rRNA region of the DNA of these parasites was selected, since it is a region with low variability among the species. The qPCR was developed using the SYBR Green, resulting in a PCR with a high sensitivity, able to amplify samples containing only one oocyst of Eimeria spp. of bovines. The feasibility of using qPCR in the diagnosis of the Eimeria Genus is demonstrated in this study, once this technique shows to be less laborious and needs less skills for diagnostic training when compared to the technique conventionally used in theroutine (micromorphometry).

In this study, we aimed to investigate an outbreak of abortion in a herd of beef sheep on a property in Ivaiporã, north central Paraná, Brazil. A total of 64 blood samples were collected from the sheep, 33 of which were mothers with reports of abortion or stillbirth, and 7 with weak lamb birth. For epidemiological investigation of the parasite, fourteen samples were collected from different sources on the property, six from water, three from soil, one from trough, and four from feed. Indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) analysis and polymerase chain reaction were performed for detecting anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in the sheep and molecular identification of the protozoan in the environment, respectively. The IFI results showed that 95.3% of the sheep were seropositive for anti-T. gondii antibodies; however, the environmental samples tested negative. During the visit to the property and interview with the owner, free-roaming cats were observed on the property for biological control of rodents that had access to the food deposits. This type of management may have triggered the outbreak, which reinforces the importance of preventive management and veterinary medical monitoring on sheep farms.