LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN DOGS EXAMINED AT THE CENTER FOR ZOONOSIS CONTROL IN CAMPO GRANDE – MS, BRAZIL

Visceral leishmaniasis is a type of zoonosis caused by several Leishmania species endemic to tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean climate regions. Dogs are the primary source of infection in urban areas and can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. This study focused on the observation of clinical signs of leishmaniasis in dogs in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Samples from affected animals were analyzed using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to determine the optimal diagnostic tool for use on animals that present clinical symptoms. A predominance of clinical symptoms affecting the integumentary system was observed, and splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were the most important pathological signs. Among the diagnostic tests, the greatest agreement was seen between ELISA and IFA, followed by ELISA and PCR, and finally IFA and PCR. PCR diagnostic results showed the greatest extent of correlation with clinical signs, followed by ELISA and then IFA. When choosing a diagnostic method, veterinarians should consider the clinical signs and health status of the patient

Assessment of bacterial diversity in the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus through tag-encoded pyrosequencing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ticks are regarded as the most relevant vectors of disease-causing pathogens in domestic and wild animals. The cattle tick, <it>Rhipicephalus </it>(<it>Boophilus</it>) <it>microplus</it>, hinders livestock production in tropical and subtropical parts of the world where it is endemic. Tick microbiomes remain largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to explore the <it>R. microplus </it>microbiome by applying the bacterial 16S tag-encoded FLX-titanium amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) technique to characterize its bacterial diversity. Pyrosequencing was performed on adult males and females, eggs, and gut and ovary tissues from adult females derived from samples of <it>R. microplus </it>collected during outbreaks in southern Texas.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Raw data from bTEFAP were screened and trimmed based upon quality scores and binned into individual sample collections. Bacteria identified to the species level include <it>Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus sciuri, Serratia marcescens, Corynebacterium glutamicum</it>, and <it>Finegoldia magna</it>. One hundred twenty-one bacterial genera were detected in all the life stages and tissues sampled. The total number of genera identified by tick sample comprised: 53 in adult males, 61 in adult females, 11 in gut tissue, 7 in ovarian tissue, and 54 in the eggs. Notable genera detected in the cattle tick include <it>Wolbachia</it>, <it>Coxiella</it>, and <it>Borrelia</it>. The molecular approach applied in this study allowed us to assess the relative abundance of the microbiota associated with <it>R. microplus</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This report represents the first survey of the bacteriome in the cattle tick using non-culture based molecular approaches. Comparisons of our results with previous bacterial surveys provide an indication of geographic variation in the assemblages of bacteria associated with <it>R. microplus</it>. Additional reports on the identification of new bacterial species maintained in nature by <it>R. microplus </it>that may be pathogenic to its vertebrate hosts are expected as our understanding of its microbiota expands. Increased awareness of the role <it>R. microplus </it>can play in the transmission of pathogenic bacteria will enhance our ability to mitigate its economic impact on animal agriculture globally. This recognition should be included as part of analyses to assess the risk for re-invasion of areas like the United States of America where <it>R. microplus </it>was eradicated.</p

Formula to evaluate efficacy of vaccines and systemic substances against three-host ticks

AbstractThe control of ticks with vaccines is of global interest. Experimental vaccines incorporate new technologies as soon as they are available. Historically, the main vaccine studies have focused on the one-host cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, and efficacy evaluations have been standardised for this tick species. On the other hand, evaluations of vaccine candidates for three-host ticks are being done somewhat arbitrarily and thus comparisons within the current literature on the efficacy of vaccines, as well as other methods of control, are difficult. We herein provide a formula for the evaluation of efficacy of a vaccine designed against three-host ticks that incorporates the whole life cycle of the tick

Efeitos da atividade física sobre a concentração de histamina em átrios e ventrículos de ratos.

este estudo investigou-se o efeito da atividade física crônica e aguda sobre o padrão de distribuição da histamina cardíaca atrial e ventricular, em ratos machos Wistar, com 90 dias de idade. O treinamento físico consistiu de 60 min diários de exercício agudo de natação individual, com sobrecarga realizado num recipiente a 31± 1°C. Após 45 dias de natação, foi administrada à metade dos animais, uma última etapa de exercício agudo e a seguir foram sacrificados a fim de proceder à coleta de amostras de sangue e de tecido cardíaco para efetuar as análises bioquímicas. Foram obtidos os seguintes resultados significativos (P< 0,05): I- menor concentração de lactato sangüíneo do grupo treinado exercitado agudamente; II- menor concentração de histamina ventricular no grupo treinado em repouso em relação ao sedentário em repouso; III- maior concentração histamínica atrial que a ventricular em todos os grupos. Concluiu-se que a diminuição do lactato indicou a eficácia do treinamento em produzir melhora na performance dos animais; que a redução histamínica ventricular nos animais treinados parece proteger o coração de seus possíveis efeitos arritmogênicos e que a sua maior concentração atrial em relação a ventricular demonstrou que o exercício físico não alterou o padrão de distribuição da histamina cardíaca

Antibodies against thermolabile (LT) enterotoxin of Escherichia coli in serum samples from beef cattte

Visando detectar anticorpos contra enterotoxina termolábil (LT) de Escherichia coli, foram examinados 221 soros de bovinos de corte abatidos em matadouros provenientes de diferentes microrregiões do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. O teste utilizado na pesquisa de anticorpos anti-LT foi o de imuno-hemólise passiva (IHP). Os resultados foram todos negativos.In order to detect antibodies against thermolabile enterotoxin (LT) of Escherichia coli in beef cattle, 221 serum samples obtained from slaughter cattle in different micro-regions of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), were examined. The techniques used for that purpose was the passive immunohaemolysis test. All results were negative

Cloning and expression of a chimera containing ROP2 of Neospora caninum fused with OprI lipoprotein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Clonagem e expressão de quimera contendo a proteína ROP2 de Neospora caninum fusionada a lipoproteína OprI de Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Neospora caninum is the etiologic agent of neosporosis, is one of the main responsible for abortion in cattle herds, causing economic losses to Cattle-raising. Vaccination of cattle would be an important alternative; however, the lack of effective vaccines prevents the application of this control method. The proteins present in rhoptries (ROPs), due to their importance in cell infection and their antigenic and immunogenic characteristics, became excellent candidates for vaccine antigens. The bacterial lipoproteins as an Oprl from Pseudomonas aeruginosa have received particular attention as an adjuvant carrier molecule. The aims of this study were to clone and expressing a chimera containing NcROP2 fused with OprI lipoprotein from P. aeruginosa for the future development of a recombinant vaccine against N. caninum. We cloned and expressed, in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) pLysS, the region of NcROP2 described between amino acids 191 and 359, fused OprI producing the chimera rROP2/OprI, showed an expected size of ~50 kDa. and characterized its antigenicity. The protein was purified and characterized by Western blot with anti-histidine monoclonal antibodies and their antigenicity recognized by sera from animals naturally infected by N. caninum. The chimera rROP2/OprI was recognized by antibodies anti-N. caninum reviling common antigenic determinants of the recombinant protein and its native form, suggesting its use for developing a recombinant vaccine