Anti-tick monoclonal antibody applied by artificial capillary feeding in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus females

AbstractThe tick Rhipicephalus microplus is an ectoparasite harmful to livestock, a vector of disease agents that affects meat and milk production. However, resistance to acaricides reflects the need for alternative tick control methods, among which vaccines have gained increasing relevance. In this scenario, monoclonal antibodies can be used to identify and characterize antigens that can be used as vaccine immunogens. Capillary tube artificial feeding of partially engorged R. microplus females with monoclonal antibodies against proteins from the gut of tick were used to test the effects of immunoglobulins in the physiology of the parasite. The results of artificial feeding showed that female ticks over 25mg and under 60mg in weight performed better in the artificial feeding process, with a 94–168% weight increase after 24h of feeding. Results showed that artificial feeding of ticks proved to be a viable technique to study the effects of antibodies or drugs in the physiology of the parasite. One monoclonal antibody (BrBm2) induced decreased oviposition. Moreover, the antigen recognized by BrBm2 was identified as a 27-kDa protein and immunolabeled on digestive vesicles membranes of digestive cells of partially and fully engorged females

SUPLEMENTAÇÃO COM Bacillus toyonensis MODULA A PRODUÇÃO DE ANTICORPOS EM CAMUNDONGOS SENSIBILIZADOS COM ANTÍGENOS DE Leishmania (Leishmania) infatum chagasi

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with the probiotic Bacillus toyonensis on the production of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies against Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi antigens. Twenty-four female albino BALB/c mice, 21 days old, were immunized experimentally against L. (L.) infantum chagasi, divided into three experimental groups. Group A received no supplementation, group B was continuously supplemented until day 56 and in group C the probiotic was administered seven days before and seven days after each immunization for the same period. The experiment was conducted until day 84. Seroconversion was used to evaluate the humoral immune response. During the supplementation, all the animals presented total IgG seroconversion against the antigen used, without statistical difference (p>0.05) between the groups. In the isotype analysis, the group supplemented with probiotic in the continuous period presented seroconversion results of the upper IgG2a / IgG1 ray when compared to the control group (1.8 times) and to that supplemented seven days before and seven days after supplementation (1.2 times) on day 70, keeping their titre superior to the groups in question until the end of the experiment (1.2 times on day 84). Based on these results, it can observed a greater ability of the supplemented group to continuously modulate favorably the humoral immune response and to maintain the production of IgG2a isotype antibodies against the antigen in question.Keywords: Canine leishmaniasis; probiotic; immune response.O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da suplementação com o probiótico Bacillus toyonensis na cinética da produção de anticorpos IgG, IgG1 e IgG2a contra antígenos de Leishmania (Leishmania) infatum chagasi. Foram utilizados 24 camundongos BALB/c, fêmeas, tendo em média 21 dias de idade, sensibilizados experimentalmente contra L. (L.) infantum chagasi, divididos em três grupos experimentais. O grupo A não recebeu suplementação, o grupo B foi suplementado de forma contínua até o dia 56 e no grupo C o probiótico foi administrado sete dias antes e sete dias após cada sensibilização, pelo mesmo período. O experimento foi conduzido até o dia 84. Foi utilizada a soroconversão para avaliação da resposta imune humoral. Durante a suplementação todos os animais apresentaram soroconversão de IgG total contra o antígeno utilizado, sem ser identificada diferença estatística (p<0,05) entre os grupos. Na análise de isotipagem, o grupo suplementado com probiótico no período contínuo apresentou resultados de soroconversão da razão IgG2a/IgG1 superior quando comparado ao grupo controle (1,8 vezes) e ao suplementado sete dias antes e sete dias após a suplementação (1,2 vezes) no dia 70, mantendo o seu título superior aos grupos em questão até o final do experimento (1,2 vezes no dia 84). Com base nesses resultados, pode-se observar maior habilidade do grupo suplementado continuamente modular favoravelmente a resposta imune humoral e manter a produção de anticorpos do isotipo IgG2a contra o antígeno em questão.Palavras-chave: Leishmaniose canina, probiótico, resposta imunológica

Hiperplasia epitelial nodular no cólon de felinos associada à estrongiloidíase na região Amazônica, Pará, Brasil

Strongyloides spp. are intestinal parasites that affect several animal species. Four species of the genus have been reported in domestic cats: S. felis, S. planiceps, S.stercoralis and S. tumefaciens . Reports describing infection by these nematodes in domestic cats in Brazil are scarce. This study aimed to describe the pathological features of Strongyloides spp. parasitism in two cats in the Amazon region, state of Pará, Brazil. During the necropsy of the two cats, numerous whitish nodules approximately 0.2cm in diameter were observed in the wall of the large intestine. The nodules were conspicuous in the colonic mucosa and exhibited a punctate aperture facing the center of the lumen. Microscopically, these nodules were formed by projections of the mucosal epithelium into the submucosa, which formed tubules lined with a single layer of columnar epithelium, with high cellularity and rare goblet cells, characterizing epithelial hyperplasia of the crypts. Adult nematodes and eggs observed in the lumen of the tubules were morphologically compatible with Strongyloides spp. Numerous larvae were also observed in the interstitium adjacent to the nodule. A mild lymphocytic infiltrate was observed neighboring the hyperplastic nodules. The histological changes are consistent with those described for S. tumefaciens infection.Strongyloides spp. são helmintos que podem parasitar o intestino de diversas espécies animais. Quatro espécies desse gênero têm sido descritas em felinos domésticos: S. felis, S. planiceps, S. stercoralis e S. tumefaciens. Trabalhos sobre o parasitismo por estrongiloides em gatos domésticos no Brasil são escassos. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever os aspectos patológicos do parasitismo por Strongyloides spp. em dois gatos da região amazônica, no estado do Pará. Estes apresentavam numerosos nódulos esbranquiçados no intestino grosso, medindo cerca de 0,2 centímetros de diâmetro, que na microscopia eram constituídos por projeções do epitélio hiperplásico da mucosa para submucosa, formando túbulos contendo várias fêmeas adultas, ovos e larvas com morfologia compatível com a de Strongyloides spp. e margeados por larvas e remanescentes do aglomerado linfoide. As alterações histológicas foram compatíveis com as descritas no parasitismo por S. tumefaciens

Reemergência da infecção natural por Trypanosoma evansi em cavalos, na região do Arari, Ilha do Marajó, Brazil

Two outbreaks of trypanosomiasis by Trypanosoma evansi in horses in the municipality of Chaves, Marajó Island, Pará State, Brazil are reported. The first outbreak occurred in April 2011 in a farm with 147 horses; of these, 47 (31.97%) got sick, and 40 (27.21%) died. The second outbreak occurred in May 2012 and involved nine properties. Of a total of 679 horses, 209 (30.07%) got sick, and 183 (26.97%) died. The main clinical signs observed in these horses were weight loss, abdominal edema, toe dragging, and pelvic muscle atrophy. Necropsy was performed in two horses, one from each outbreak. Macroscopic alterations were not seen in the horse from the first outbreak; however, the horse from the second outbreak exhibited emaciation, pallor and icterus, as well as enlarged spleen with prominent white pulp at cut surface. Histopathology of the central nervous system of both animals revealed mild to severe, diffuse lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis, with presence of Mott cells. Immunohistochemistry for T. evansi revealed structures similar to intralesional trypomastigote forms. Between November and December of 2013, an epidemiological survey was carried out in the municipalities of Cachoeira do Arari, Santa Cruz do Arari, Salvaterra, Soure, and Chaves. Only Santa Cruz do Arari and Chaves had reported cases of the disease. Blood samples were collected from 243 horses for detection of T. evansi DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 20 were positive.São relatados dois surtos de tripanossomíase por Trypanosoma evansi , em cavalos no município de Chaves, Ilha do Marajó, Pará, Brasil. O primeiro surto ocorreu em abril de 2011 em uma fazenda com 147 cavalos, em que 47 (31,97%) adoeceram e 40 (27,21%) morreram. O segundo ocorreu em maio de 2012 e envolveu nove propriedades. De um total de 679 cavalos, 209 (30,07%) adoeceram e 183 (26,97%) morreram. Os principais sinais clínicos observados foram perda de peso, edema abdominal, emboletamento dos membros e atrofia da musculatura da região pélvica e membros posteriores. A necropsia foi realizada em dois cavalos, um de cada surto. O equino do primeiro surto não apresentou lesões macroscópicas, enquanto o segundo, do segundo surto, apresentava emagrecimento, palidez e icterícia, aumento do baço com protrusão da polpa branca ao corte. O sistema nervoso central de ambos os animais revelou uma leve à severa encefalite linfoplasmocitária, difusa, com presença de células de Mott. A imunohistoquímica para T. evansi revelou estruturas similares a formas tripomastigotas nas lesões. Entre novembro e dezembro de 2013, um levantamento epidemiológico foi realizado nos municípios de Cachoeira do Arari, Santa Cruz do Arari, Salvaterra, Soure e Chaves. Somente Santa Cruz do Arari e Chaves relataram casos da doença. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 243 equinos e realizada a reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) para a detecção do DNA de T. evansi das quais 20 foram positivas

Colonic epithelial nodular hyperplasia associated with strongyloidiasis in cats in the Amazon region, Pará State, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Strongyloides spp. are intestinal parasites that affect several animal species. Four species of the genus have been reported in domestic cats: S. felis, S. planiceps, S.stercoralis and S. tumefaciens . Reports describing infection by these nematodes in domestic cats in Brazil are scarce. This study aimed to describe the pathological features of Strongyloides spp. parasitism in two cats in the Amazon region, state of Pará, Brazil. During the necropsy of the two cats, numerous whitish nodules approximately 0.2cm in diameter were observed in the wall of the large intestine. The nodules were conspicuous in the colonic mucosa and exhibited a punctate aperture facing the center of the lumen. Microscopically, these nodules were formed by projections of the mucosal epithelium into the submucosa, which formed tubules lined with a single layer of columnar epithelium, with high cellularity and rare goblet cells, characterizing epithelial hyperplasia of the crypts. Adult nematodes and eggs observed in the lumen of the tubules were morphologically compatible with Strongyloides spp. Numerous larvae were also observed in the interstitium adjacent to the nodule. A mild lymphocytic infiltrate was observed neighboring the hyperplastic nodules. The histological changes are consistent with those described for S. tumefaciens infection

Reemerging of natural infection by Trypanosoma evansi in horses in Arari, Marajó Island, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Two outbreaks of trypanosomiasis by Trypanosoma evansi in horses in the municipality of Chaves, Marajó Island, Pará State, Brazil are reported. The first outbreak occurred in April 2011 in a farm with 147 horses; of these, 47 (31.97%) got sick, and 40 (27.21%) died. The second outbreak occurred in May 2012 and involved nine properties. Of a total of 679 horses, 209 (30.07%) got sick, and 183 (26.97%) died. The main clinical signs observed in these horses were weight loss, abdominal edema, toe dragging, and pelvic muscle atrophy. Necropsy was performed in two horses, one from each outbreak. Macroscopic alterations were not seen in the horse from the first outbreak; however, the horse from the second outbreak exhibited emaciation, pallor and icterus, as well as enlarged spleen with prominent white pulp at cut surface. Histopathology of the central nervous system of both animals revealed mild to severe, diffuse lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis, with presence of Mott cells. Immunohistochemistry for T. evansi revealed structures similar to intralesional trypomastigote forms. Between November and December of 2013, an epidemiological survey was carried out in the municipalities of Cachoeira do Arari, Santa Cruz do Arari, Salvaterra, Soure, and Chaves. Only Santa Cruz do Arari and Chaves had reported cases of the disease. Blood samples were collected from 243 horses for detection of T. evansi DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 20 were positive

Tick fauna of wild animals received and attended at the Santarém Zoological Park, western Pará State, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Ticks are known worldwide for parasitizing a number of wild hosts. However, few studies have been conducted on ticks in zoos in Brazil. The objective of the present study was to collect, identify, and report the parasitic tick fauna found on wild Amazon animals received and attended at the Santarém Zoological Park from September 2004 to September 2013. In all, 56 animals, including 26 mammals and 30 reptiles, were sampled, from which 1172 ticks were collected and identified, comprising 862 adults, 284 nymphs, and 26 larvae. Nymphs of Amblyomma geayi on three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), adults of Amblyomma longirostre on black dwarf porcupine (Coendou nycthemera), and nymphs of Amblyomma naponense on southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) were identified for the first time in the country in the present study. Although, the North region is the largest among the five Brazilian regions, this is the first study conducted with ticks and animals attended in a zoo in the Brazilian Amazon