Risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in dairy cattle, State of Rio de Janeiro.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic zoonoses throughout the world. Infection in man and animals varies in different geographical areas influenced by many environmental conditions. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cattle in Brazil ranges from 1.03 to 71%. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 58 out of 453 farms in the South Fluminense Paraiba Valley, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 3-year-old cattle (n=589) from dairy herds were selected for blood collection and detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFA) with initial titration of 1:16; titers ? 64 were considered positive. Univariate analysis of risk factors showed that cats in contact with cattle, cats in contact with drinking water, and number of cats were associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Logistic regression revealed a two-fold increased risk for infection of cattle (p=0.0138) through larger number of cats (>3) compared with low numbers of cats (1-2) on the farm. In contrast, the presence of chickens was considered a protective factor (p=0.025). Toxoplasmose é uma das mais comuns zoonoses parasitárias do mundo. Infecções em seres humanos e em animais variam nas diferentes áreas geográficas influenciadas pelas condições ambientais. A soroprevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em bovinos no Brasil varia de 1,03 a 71,0%. O estudo transversal foi realizado em 58 de um total de 453 propriedades na região Sul Fluminense do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Vacas leiteiras acima de 3 anos de idade (n=589) foram selecionadas para coleta de sangue e a detecção de anticorpos anti-T. gondii foi feita pelo teste de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) com titulação inicial de 1:16 e títulos ? 64 foram considerados positivos. Após análise univariada dos fatores de risco, gatos em contato com bovinos, em contato com a água de beber dos animais e o número de gatos foram associados com a soroprevalência de T. gondii. A regressão logística demonstrou que o número maior de gatos (>3) teve um risco duas vezes maior (p=0,0138) que propriedades que tinham um número menor de gatos (1-2). Em contraste, a presença de galinhas foi considerada um fator de proteção (p=0,025)

Isospora mimusi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus in South America

This current study reports a new isosporoid (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species parasitizing tropical mockingbirds Mimus gilvus recovered from illegal trade in Brazil. Isospora mimusi n. sp. oocysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 20.6 × 19.6 μm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~1.2 μm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 13.4 × 9.8 μm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocyst residuum composed of diffuse granules of various sizes, sporozoites have one refractile body

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Eimeria caviae from Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Coccidiosis in Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) has been frequently associated with the presence of Eimeria caviae; however, this coccidium has never been characterized in detail. This study aimed to present the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of E. caviae from guinea pigs reared under rustic breeding conditions in Brazil. Eimeria caviae oocysts are polymorphic, being sub-spherical, ovoidal or ellipsoidal, 20.9 × 17.7 µm, with a smooth or slightly rough and bi-layered wall, ~ 1.0 µm. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but one polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 10.8 × 6.4 µm. Stieda and parastieda bodies are present, sporocyst residuum is present and sporozoites posses a refractile body and a nucleus. Linear regressions and histograms were performed and confirmed the polymorphism of the oocysts. The internal transcribed spacer 1 of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS-1 rRNA) of the isolates was sequenced and showed no significant similarity to the orthologous region of other Eimeria species

Isospora mimusi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus in South America

This current study reports a new isosporoid (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species parasitizing tropical mockingbirds Mimus gilvus recovered from illegal trade in Brazil. Isospora mimusi n. sp. oocysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 20.6 × 19.6 μm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~1.2 μm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 13.4 × 9.8 μm. Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocyst residuum composed of diffuse granules of various sizes, sporozoites have one refractile body