Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs of riverside communities of Mato Grosso Pantanal, Brazil

<div><p>Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan with worldwide distribution and dogs act as sentinels of human infection. This search aimed to determine the occurrence of antibodies against T. gondii in dogs of the communities on the Cuiabá River, Mato Grosso and variables associated with infection. The dogs of the riverside communities in Cuiabá River, which includes Barranco Alto, Praia do Poço, Engenho Velho, Varginha, Bom Sucesso, Passagem da Conceição and São Gonçalo Beira Rio, were evaluated for the presence of T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The prevalence and factors associated with infection were calculated by chi-squared test (χ2) or Fisher’s exact test, and univariate and multiple analysis. Of the 248 dogs surveyed, 107 (43.1%) were seropositive for T. gondii. The seroprevalence ranged from 25.6% to 64.3%. There was no statistically significant difference between the communities studied (p > 0.05). As for the associated factors, the only statistically significant factor was that of dogs living with cats (p = 0.02), with approximately twice the risk of acquiring infection. In conclusion, the seroprevalence in dogs of riverside communities in the Baixada Cuiabana demonstrated that high rates of infection, being the factor associated with infection, contact with domestic cats.</p></div

Metabolic evaluation in overweight and obese cats and association with blood pressure

<div><p>ABSTRACT: Obesity has been increasing in cats andis associated with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The association of these alterations can trigger the onset of metabolic syndrome (MS). Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the serum levels of glucose, fructosamine, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), andalanine aminotransferase of cats and to identify the possibility of MS,as well as to evaluate changes in arterial pressure. Thirty-seven cats were classified by ECC and morphometric measurements, namely, 15 obese, 12 overweight, and 10 controls. Nocat manifested MS. Only VLDL had a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between groups. Therefore, obesity may not be associated with arterial hypertension, and more studies are needed to evaluate the metabolic alterations in overweight and obese cats.</p></div

Polymerase Chain Reaction and blood culture for diagnosis of canine sepsis

<div><p>ABSTRACT: Sepsis is characterized by the presence of organ dysfunction secondary to the dysregulated systemic inflammatory response associated with an infection, and has high mortality rates. Traditional diagnostic techniques based on non-microbiological isolation are time-consuming and may delay treatment. Thus, this study aimed to compare bacterial and fungal broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and blood culture for diagnosis of sepsis in dogs. Blood samples from 88 dogs with suspected sepsis were analyzed by blood culture, and PCR to detect bacterial and fungal DNA. On blood culture, 20 (22.7%) samples tested positive for bacterial isolates; however, none tested positive for fungi. Through PCR analysis, bacterial DNA was detected in 46 (52.3%) animals, whereas fungal DNA was present in one (1.1%) sample. Our results showed that PCR-based testing has important diagnostic value for canine blood infections because it has a shorter turnaround time and higher sensitivity than traditional blood culture.</p></div