Infection by caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus in Rio Grande do Norte State Infecção pelo vírus da artrite encefalite caprina no Rio Grande do Norte

The prevalence of caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) infection in dairy goat herds from Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, was estimated, and the predisposing factors to the infection were identified. An epidemiologic survey was held to collect information on educational level of the owner and origin of the animals, and on sanitation and vaccination practices, diseases, morbidity and mortality rates in the herds. The prevalence of CAE virus infection was 11%, and CAE was always observed in some goats in all studied municipalities.Estudaram-se a ocorrência e os fatores predisponentes à artrite encefalite caprina (CAEV) no Rio Grande do Norte. O questionário epidemiológico aplicado a 42 proprietários de 11 municípios produtores de leite avaliou o grau de instrução escolar do proprietário, a origem dos animais, o tipo de criação, as enfermidades mais freqüentes e o manejo sanitário, em geral, bem como as taxas de morbidade e mortalidade. Prevalência de 11% de infecção pelo CAEV foi observada nos rebanhos, com animais soropositivos em todos os municípios pesquisados. As condições de criação mostraram que há fatores que predispõem à introdução ou disseminação da doença na região estudada

Diagnosis of Proteus spp. in wild birds raised under captivity in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

The aim of this work was to relate the occurrence of bacterial illnesses in two wild birds raised under captive conditions in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, focusing on their clinical and microbiological findings. Clinical exams were performed in both birds in order to collect data and to determine the clinical and pathological outcome. In bird [A1] was diagnosed an infection in the respiratory system, and in bird [A2] the diagnosis was pododermatitis. Samples of shedding were collected using a sterile swab to perform a bacterial culture in blood agar and McConkey agar. An antibiogram was performed as well. The bacterial culture revealed the growing of Proteus sp. and Proteus vulgares, respectively. The antibiogram performed with the samples of bird [A1] showed the resistance to the follow antibiotics: ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and gentamicin. In bird [A2], strain was resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, cefotoxin, chloramphenicol, tetraciclin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and gentamicina. Proteus spp. appears to be a potencial multiresistant pathogen and causes severe lesions and diseases for wild birds in captivity

Occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in greater rhea (Rhea americana) at the Reproduction Center for Wild Animals in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were evaluated in greater rheas (Rhea americana) from the\ud Reproduction Centre for Wild Animals located at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido in the\ud city of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, by the modified agglutination test (MAT ≥25). It was verified that,\ud from the 69 examined birds, 4.3% (three rheas) tested positive. The research about ratites toxoplasmoses\ud are scarce, this way, the results showed the importance of the T. gondii diagnosis in wild birds