Detection of anti Brucella abortus, anti Brucella canis and anti Leptospira spp. Antibodies in hoary foxes (Pseudalopex vetulus) from semi-arid of Paraiba state, Northeastern region of Brazil

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti Brucella abortus, anti Brucella canis e anti Leptospira spp. em raposas (Pseudalopex vetulus). Para tanto, foram utilizadas 60 raposas atropeladas em rodovias no semiárido da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Para a detecção de anticorpos anti Brucella abortus, o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT) foi empregado como teste de triagem, e a prova do 2-mercaptoetanol foi empregada como método confirmatório. Para o diagnóstico sorológico das infecções por Brucella canis e Leptospira spp., foram utilizados os testes de imunodifusão em gel de agar (IDGA) e soroaglutinação microscópica, respectivamente. Todas as amostras foram negativas na pesquisa de anticorpos anti Brucella canis e anti Leptospira spp. Das 60 raposas testadas, 16 (26,6%) foram positivas para anticorpos anti Brucella abortus no teste de AAT, e quatro (6,7%) amostras foram confirmadas no teste de 2-mercaptoetanol, sendo duas amostras com título 100 e duas com título 50.The aim of this research was to determine the occurrence of anti Brucella abortus, anti B. canis and anti Leptospira spp. antibodies in foxes (Pseudalopex vetulus). Sixty road-killed wild foxes from semi-arid of Paraiba state, Northeastern region of Brazil, were used. For the detection of anti B. abortus antibodies, the buffered plate agglutination test (BPAT) was applied as a screening method and the 2-mercaptoethanol test as a confirmatory method. For serological diagnosis of infections by B. canis and Leptospira spp., the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were used, respectively. All samples were negative for anti B. canis and anti Leptospira spp. antibodies. Of the 60 foxes tested, 16 (26.6 %) were positive for anti B. abortus antibodies at BPAT, four (6.7%) samples were confirmed in the 2-mercaptoethanol test, and two samples presented titer 100 and two titer 50

Detection of Brucella ovis in ovine from Paraíba State, in the Northeast region of Brazil

To determine the presence of Brucella ovis in ovine from Paraíba State, in the Northeast region of Brazil, 80 animals slaughtered in the public slaughterhouse of Patos city were used. Before slaughter, blood samples were collected by jugular venopuncture from each animal, and after slaughter, testicles, epidydimus and uterus were aseptically collected. For the serological diagnosis of B. ovis and B. abortus infections, the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and Rose Bengal (RBT) tests were carried out, respectively. In addition, microbiological culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed on testicle, epidydimus and uterus samples. Six animals (7.5%) tested positive for the presence of B. ovis antibodies and all animals tested negative for the presence of B. abortus antibodies. One AGID-positive animal tested positive at uterine swab culture. PCR was able to amplify DNA of Brucella spp. from the pool of testicle, epidydimus and uterus samples from AGID-positive animals. This is the first report of isolation and detection of B. ovis DNA by PCR in ovine from the Northeast region of Brazil

Soroprevalência da leptospirose em caprinos da microrregião do Seridó Oriental, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, e pesquisa de fatores de risco

A sero-epidemiological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies as well as to identify risk factors associated with infection in goats of the Seridó Oriental microregion, Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from 366 adult goats from 12 herds were collected. For serological diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infection, the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out using 24 live Leptospira spp. serovars as antigens. Out of the 366 investigated goats, 53 were seropositive for at least one Leptospira spp. serovar, resulting in a seroprevalence of 14.5% (95% CI = 11.0% - 18.5%). The most prevalent serovar was the Autumnalis (73.6% of the positive reactions). There were no variables associated with leptospirosis occurrence (p >; 0.05).Foi realizado um levantamento soroepidemiológico da leptospirose em caprinos da microrregião do Seridó Oriental, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, com o objetivo de determinar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. e identificar fatores de risco associados à infecção. Foram colhidas amostras de soro sanguíneo de 366 cabras em idade reprodutiva de 12 rebanhos. Para o diagnóstico sorológico da infecção por Leptospira spp., foi utilizada a Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM) com uma coleção de 24 sorovares de leptospiras vivas como antígenos. Dos 366 caprinos investigados, 53 foram soropositivos para pelo menos um sorovar de Leptospira spp., resultando em uma soroprevalência 14,5% (IC 95% = 11,0 - 18,5). O sorovar mais frequente foi o Autumnalis (73,6% das reações positivas). Não foram encontradas variáveis associadas à ocorrência de leptospirose (p >; 0,05)

Prevalência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii e anti-Neospora caninum em suínos do Nordeste do Brasil

A serologic survey was conducted among 130 swine slaughtered in the public slaughterhouse of the city of Patos, Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil, to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies, and to verify possible associations between sex of the animals and antibody prevalence. The sera were analyzed by indirect antibody tests, considering 1:64 (T. gondii) and 1:50 (N. caninum) dilutions as cut-off points. The prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was 36.2% (47/130) (95% CI = 27.9 - 45.0%) with reciprocal titers ranging from 64 to 2,048, and of anti-N. caninum antibodies was 3.1% (4/130) (95% CI = 0.8 - 7.7%) with reciprocal titers ranging from 50 to 6,400. Three of the four N. caninum-positive samples were also positive for T. gondii antibodies. All Neospora and Toxoplasma IFAT-positive animals were also positive for confirmatory immunoblotting techniques using total and purified N. caninum and T. gondii tachyzoite antigens, i.e., p38 (NcSRS2) and p30 (TgSAG1). There was no association between sex of animals and prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies. This is the first indication of N. caninum natural infection in pigs from Brazil.Foi conduzido um estudo sorológico em 130 suínos abatidos no matadouro público do município de Patos, Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil, com o objetivo de determinar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii e anti-Neospora caninum, e verificar possíveis associações entre o sexo dos animais e a prevalência de anticorpos. Os soros foram analisados pelo testes de imunofluorescência indireta, considerando as diluições 1:64 (T. gondii) e 1:50 (N. caninum) como pontos de corte. A prevalência de anticorpos anti-T. gondii foi de 36,2% (47/130) (IC 95% = 27,9 - 45,0%) com títulos variando de 64 a 2.048, e anti-N. caninum de 3,1% (4/130) (IC 95% = 0,8 - 7,7%) com títulos variando de 50 a 6.400. Três das quatro amostras positivas para anticorpos anti-N. caninum também foram positivas para anticorpos anti-T. gondii. Todos os animais positivos na RIFI para Neospora e Toxoplasma também foram positivos nas técnicas confirmatórias de immunoblotting usando antígenos totais e purificados de taquizoítos de N. caninum e T. gondii, ou seja, p38 (NcSRS2) e p30 (TgSAG1). Não houve associação entre o sexo dos animais e a prevalência de anticorpos anti-T. gondii e anti-N. caninum. Essa é a primeira indicação de infecção natural por N. caninum em suínos do Brasil.Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq

Mycobacterium bovis infection in goats from the Northeast Region of Brazil

A total of 8,058 male and female mixed-breed goats and 1-4 years of age were slaughtered over a period of 7 months at the public slaughterhouse of Patos city, Paraíba state, in the Northeast region of Brazil; 822 animals were inspected for gross lesions of tuberculosis, and 12 (1.46%) had lesions suggestive of tuberculosis in the mammary gland, lungs, liver and mediastinal, mesenteric, submandibular, parotid and prescapular lymph nodes. Presence of granulomatous lesions was confirmed in the submandibular lymph node of one (8.3%) goat at the histopathological examination and at the mycobacterium culture the same sample was confirmed positive. Isolate was confirmed as belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex by PCR restriction enzyme analysis (PRA). Spoligotyping identified the isolate into spoligotype SB0295 on the M. bovis Spoligotype Database website (www.mbovis.org), and it was classified as M. bovis. The occurrence of M. bovis in goats in this study suggests that this species may be a potential source of infection for humans and should be regarded as a possible problem in the advancement of control and eradication program for bovine tuberculosis in Brazil

Prevalência e fatores de risco da infecção por Leptospira sp. em cães atendidos em clínicas veterinárias em João Pessoa, Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira sp. in dogs attended at veterinary clinics in the city of João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil.  A total of 384 blood samples from dogs from 34 veterinary clinics were used from April 2015 to May 2016. The diagnosis of Leptospira sp. was carried out through Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), using a collection of 20 pathogenic antigens and adopting a 1: 100 dilution as cutoff point. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the owners of the animals to obtain data to be used in the analysis of risk factors. The prevalence of seropositive animals was 11.7% (45/384), with reactions for serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae (62.3%), Grippotyphosa (22.2%), Canicola (13.3%), Djasiman 2%) and Pomona (2.2%). The following risk factors were identified: age from 49 to 72 months (odds ratio = 2.74), Age > 72 months (odds ratio = 3.22), and monthly cleaning of the environment where the animals are kept (odds ratio = 10,70). It is concluded that dogs attended at veterinary clinics in João Pessoa are exposed to infection by Leptospira sp., with predominance of serogroups kept by wild animals, and it is suggested that the periodic cleaning of the environment where the animals are kept.  O presente trabalho investigou a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados à infecção por Leptospira sp. em cães atendidos em clínicas veterinárias da cidade de João Pessoa, Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Foram utilizadas 384 amostras sanguíneas de cães provenientes de 34 clínicas veterinárias no período de abril de 2015 a maio de 2016. O diagnóstico da infecção por Leptospira sp. foi realizado com o emprego reação de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM), utilizando uma coleção com 20 antígenos patogênicos e adotando como ponto de corte a diluição 1:100. Foi aplicado um questionário epidemiológico aos proprietários dos animais para obtenção de dados a serem utilizados na análise de fatores de risco. A prevalência de animais soropositivos foi de 11,7% (45/384), com reações para os sorogrupos Icterohaemorrhagiae (62,3%), Grippotyphosa (22,2%), Canicola (13,3%), Djasiman (2,2%) e Pomona (2,2%). Foram identificados os seguintes fatores de risco: idade entre 49 e 72 meses (odds ratio = 2,74), idade maior que 72 meses (odds ratio = 3,22), e limpeza mensal do ambiente onde os animais permanecem (odds ratio = 10,70). Conclui-se que cães atendidos em clínicas veterinárias de João Pessoa estão expostos à infecção por Leptospira sp., com predominância de sorogrupos mantidos por animais selvagens, e foi sugerida a realização da limpeza periódica do ambiente ocupado pelos animais

Influência da via de inoculação sobre o estabelecimento e a evolução da leptospirose em hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentalmente infectados com Leptospira interrogans sorovar pomona

The influence of the route of inoculation on the development of the leptospiral infection was investigated in 60 hamsters (Mesocricetus auratos) experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona. The routes of inoculation were intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, oral, conjuntival and scrapped skin. All animals received the leptospiral inoculum cultivated in Fletcher's medium, with 20 to 30 leptospires per field under 200x magnification. The controls were inoculated only with Fletcher's medium. Samples of blood sera and the kidney fragments were collected in the agonic stage of the disease or at 21st experimental day, when all survivors were killed. The antibodies detection was done by the microscopic agglutination test and the bacteria detection by the dark field microscopic examination and culture in Fletcher's medium, by the tenfold dilutions technique. The presence and development of disease was affected by the route of infection. The oral route was the less effective for promoting the disease. There was no association between the frequency of carrier state and the route of infection.Foi investigada a influência da via de inoculação sobre o estabelecimento e a evolução da leptospirose em hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentalmente infectados com Leptospira interrogans sorovar pomona. As vias de inoculação ensaiadas foram: intraperitoneal, subcutânea, oral, conjuntival e escarificação cutânea. O inóculo infeccioso foi constituído por uma cultura em meio de Fletcher, com 20 a 30 leptospiras por campo microscópio no aumento de 200 vezes. Os animais controle foram inoculados apenas com meio de Fletcher. Foram colhidas amostras de soro sanguíneo e fragmentos de rins na fase agônica da doença ou no 21º dia pós-infecção, quando todos os animais foram sacrificados. Para a pesquisa de leptospiras, foi feito o exame direto com microscopia óptica em campo escuro e cultivo em meio de Fletcher, pela técnica das diluições seriadas. A detecção de aglutininas anti-leptospiras foi realizada pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica. A instalação e evolução da leptospirose foram afetadas pela via de inoculação. A via oral foi a menos efetiva em estabelecer a infecção. Não foi observada associação estatística entre a freqüência de portadores e a via de inoculação

Bacteria Isolated from Free-range Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) Eggs Sold in Semiarid Conditions and its One Health Impact

Background: Food contamination is an important and growing public health concern due to the risk of foodborne illnesses. In this context, the egg, consumed all over the world, stands out. This food has been pointed out as a carrier of several bacteria, causing outbreaks of food toxinfection. The production of free-range chicken eggs (Gallus gallusdomesticus) has been an alternative for generating income for producers in Brazil; however, there is no monitoring of the sanitary quality of this product. The objective of this study was to identify microorganisms in 128 free-range chicken eggs sold in open markets in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil.Discussion: The frequency of bacterial isolation obtained in this study was high and reflects contamination of the eggs, which can occur through the shell, and factors such as air humidity, time and temperature favor the migration of bacteria from the shell to the internal content of egg. Food toxinfection occurs due to improper conditions in food processing, and it is essential to guarantee correct handling, promoting health quality. Therefore, some care related to egg management is necessary, from primary production to commercialization, ensuring food safety for consumers. Another point to be highlighted concerns the way of marketing this product. Eggs from free-range chickens are usually sold in open markets, kept at room temperature from production to final distribution, mainly in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. Temperature, storage time and chicken’s characteristics (lineage, age, nutritional management and health status) are factors that have a direct influence on the quality of the food offered to the consumer. The high frequency of isolated bacteria warns of the implementation of control measures to avoid contamination of this product and the importance of the correct use of antimicrobials in poultry, in order to avoid the spread of resistance-carrying pathogens, minimizing economic, health and environmental impacts

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil - Spatial analysis

Background: Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) is a potentially fatal disease with a worldwide distribution, being endemic in 12 countries in the Americas. The main reservoir in the urban environment is the dog, whose cases precede the disease in humans. For the control of HVL, the Ministry of Health of Brazil recommends efficiency in the notification of human cases, control of sandflies, elimination of reservoirs and health education, in addition to the interruption in the transmission of the disease by the intensification of surveillance and control of priority areas based on identification by spatial analysis. The objective of the study was to investigate the spatial distribution of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, determining areas of risk by identifying spatial clusters, with a view to monitoring and implementing preventive actions.Materials, Methods & Results: Secondary data from sample and/or routine serological surveys for serological diagnosis of LVC in the period from 2011 to 2018 were used. The inclusion of animals in the routine diagnosis per municipality resulted from demands of veterinarians, veterinary clinics, dog tutors, zoonoses control centers and environmental surveillance. The spatial statistical analysis was performed with SatScan software version 9.6 for the detection of spatial clusters, based on using the statistical scan method. Of the total of 231,123 dogs tested in the period, 24,642 (10.6%) were seroreactive for CVL. During the study, the municipalities with the highest number of cases were Natal and Mossoró, with 9,671 and 4,514 cases, respectively. During the years 2011 to 2018, 38 significant clusters (P < 0.05) were identified that included one or more municipalities.Discussion: The state of Rio Grande do Norte has an urban environment susceptible to the occurrence of CVL, with climate and topography that favor the proliferation of the vector and housing in precarious socio-sanitary conditions. The high number of CVL cases in Natal can be explained by the fact that the city is considered endemic for CVL, characterized as an area of intense transmission of the disease, according to the Ministry of Health. In addition, public infrastructure insome locations is deficient and living conditions are unfavorable, so that there is a need to invest in effective protection measures for vector control, as well as a focus on health education, whose HVL control measures in the municipality need to be readjusted. The high rate of cases and the constant presence of clusters in the municipality of Açu can be explained by the increasing degradation of the Caatinga biome, evidenced by the removal of firewood for use in the ceramist pole, whose activity is concentrated on a large scale in the use of raw material and energy, through the production of charcoal, for agricultural and livestock fronts, putting species of fauna and flora at risk. It is also noteworthy that this fact contributes to the destruction of wild ecotopes, resulting in the search for the vector for other sources of human and animal food, allowing an increase in the number of cases of the disease. It’s concluded that canine visceral leishmaniasis is distributed in a large part of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The underreporting and/or deficiency in the disclosure of data by some municipalities represents a challenge in complying with the actions of the Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program, and attention should be paid to the monitoring and inspection of the execution actions of municipal managers, as well as how to train professionals who are part of the service. Keywords: georeferencing, public health, zoonoses, leishmaniasis, epidemiology.