The free-living phase and seasonal variation of Boophilus microplus in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

Em um intervalo de três anos, estudou-se as fases de vida livre e parasitária do Boophilus microplus, no município de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. Mensalmente, fêmeas ingurgitadas foram distribuídas em pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens e mantidas no meio ambiente. Determinou-se correlação negativa dos períodos de pré-postura e postura com a temperatura do ar, umidade relativa e precipitação pluviométrica. A postura foi registrada durante todo o estudo, existindo, porém, alta redução na eclosão de ovos nos meses de maio a agosto. Os períodos mínimos e máximos médios de sobrevivência larval foram observados, respectivamente, nas progênies de teleóginas expostas em agosto e março. A dinâmica populacional do B. microplus foi estudada pela contagem, em intervalos de 14 dias, de fêmeas ingurgitadas maiores que 4,5 mm sobre o lado esquerdo de um grupo de nove bovinos mestiços de raças de origem européia e indiana, de ambos os sexos e com aproximadamente dois anos de idade. Os piques de cargas parasitárias ocorreram no inverno, ao passo que os menores índices foram verificados em setembro e outubro. Com base na análise de regressão linear simples, ocorreu uma forte semelhança entre o primeiro e o terceiro anos, havendo uma tendência de influência da temperatura e da precipitação pluviomátrica sobre a carga parasitária nos animais.A 3-year study of the non-parasitic and parasitic phases of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus was carried out in Botucatu, São Paulo state, Brazil. Engorged females were exposed in pastures of Brachiaria decumbens at intervals of 30 days, and left in the environment protected from sun radiation and rainfall. The preoviposition and oviposition periods were influenced by climatic changes, and there was a negative correlation with the air temperature, humidity, and rainfall. Oviposition was observed throughout the year, however between the period of May to August the eggs did not hatch. The longest and shortest larval survival periods were recorded on the progeny of ticks exposed, respectively, in August and March. The seasonal variation of B. microplus was studied by the counts, at intervals of 2 weeks, of engorged females on the left side of a group of nine cross-bred cattle of both sexes and approximately two years old. Peak in tick burdens were observed in winter, while the lower levels were recorded in September and October, although this variation showed, by simple linear regressive analysis, a strong similirarity just between the first and the third cycles. There was a tendency of influence of the temperature and rainfall on the burdens on the animals

Contaminação, por ovos de Toxocara spp, de parques e praças públicas de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil

A freqüência de contaminação de parques e praças públicas de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil, por ovos de Toxocara spp foi estudada durante 12 meses, com colheitas mensais de amostras de solo de dez praças, que foram processadas pela técnica de concentração em solução decinormal de hidróxido de sódio. Das 120 amostras analisadas, 21 estavam contaminadas, correspondendo a 17,5%, em um total de seis praças. A maioria desses ovos porém apresentaram características de inviabilidade infectiva. Embora a chance de aquisição dessa zoonose nas praças estudadas seja pequena, existe o risco de infecção da população.The frequency of Toxocara spp eggs in public parks was determined from March 1995 to February 1996. One hundred and twelve samples were collected from 10 public parks in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Samples were processed by the decinormal sodium hydroxide concentration method. Out of the 120 soil samples analyzed, 21 were contaminated with Toxocara spp eggs, corresponding to a 17.5% rate of infestation. of the ten squares submitted to analysis during the year, six presented contamination. Most of the ova found presented characteristics of inviability, with a consequent low chance of human infection, although the population is not free from the risk of contracting this zoonosis

Neospora caninum infection dynamics in dairy cattle

Neospora caninum is considered in many countries as one of the key abortion agents in cattle. This study aims to investigate the parasite behavior in dairy cattle in the municipality of Avar,, SP, Brazil, where abortions frequently occur. An ELISA was performed to compare two samplings on a total of 615 animals; tests were performed in the same herds with a gap of 3 years. An increase in the percentage of reactive animals was observed, ranging from 21.6% at the first sampling to 38.9% at the second sampling. of the 176 animals tested at both samplings, 61.93% retained a non-reactive status, 15.9% retained a reactive status, 19.88% switched from non-reactive to reactive and 2.27% switched from reactive to non-reactive. of the 100 animals with reproductive disturbances, 50% presented anti-Neospora antibodies, thereby indicating the presence of the protozoa. When comparing cows and their respective female offspring, a predominance of horizontal infection was observed. Moreover, considering the significant percentage of animals that switched from non-reactive to reactive and the abundant presence of dogs among the herds, the N. caninum transmission may be attributed to presence of carnivores

Occurrence of Neospora caninum antibodies in beef cattle and in farm dogs from Avaré Region of São Paulo, Brazil / <br>Ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em bovinos de corte e em cães rurais da região de Avaré, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The economic impact caused by Neospora caninum in beef cattle is not clear, the most relevant disturbance is the abortion, which is provoked by this parasite, therefore the identification of the disease etiology is important in order to determine measure of prevention and control. The objective of this study was to find out the occurrence of N. caninum in beef cattle and in farm dogs from Avaré region, the importance of the presence of dogs in farms and its relation to the number of cattle and winter food supplementation. It was collected 777 samples of beef cattle sera and 39 samples of dog sera, which lived with this cows in eight farms, and these sera were submitted to indirect fluorescent antibody test. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 15.57% (121/777) of the beef cattle, at dilutions from 1:200 to 1:3200, and 58.97% (23/39) of the dogs at dilutions from 1:50 to 1:400. The occurrence of antibodies have no relation to absence of dogs in two farm, however, the rate of the infected beef cattle were lower in farm with lower number of cattle per hectare. The winter food supplement have no influence in the presence of antibodies anti-N. caninum in the herd.<p><p>O impacto econômico causado pelo Neospora caninum em bovinos de corte ainda não está bem definido, sendo que o distúrbio mais evidente provocado por este parasita, é o abortamento. Assim, a identificação do agente é fundamental para se determinar medidas de prevenção e controle. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-N. caninum em bovinos de corte e em cães rurais e a importância da presença de cães nessas propriedades, bem como a influência da lotação e da suplementação de inverno na ocorrência do agente. Foram colhidas 777 amostras de soros de vacas de corte e, 39 soros de cães que conviviam com esses animais pertencentes a oito propriedades, e submetidas à reação de imunofluorescência indireta. Anticorpos anti-N. caninum foram detectados em 15,57% (121/777) dos bovinos, cujas diluições variaram entre 1:200 e 1:3200, e em 58,97% (23/39) dos cães com diluições variando entre 1:50 e 1:400. A ausência de cães em duas propriedades não foi um fator determinante para a não ocorrência da doença, entretanto, o menor número de bovinos por hectare foi um fator que contribuiu para que houvesse uma menor taxa de animais infectados. A existência de suplementação de inverno também não influenciou no índice de infecção do rebanho pelo N. caninum.</span></p

Incidence and transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum in primiparous females from Bos indicus slaughtered in Presidente Pradente, São Paulo, Brazil

To produce an epidemiological map of neosporosis in Brazil and identify the types of transmission of this disease, the present study evaluated the occurrence of Neospora caninum in Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) in Presidente Prudent, west region of São Paulo state; its vertical transmission; and the early stage in which fetuses are infected. To achieve this, serum samples from 518 slaughtered pregnant heifers and their fetuses were tested by ELISA technique and fetal brain tissues subjected to PCR. One hundred and three heifers (19.88%) had antibodies to N. caninum, as well as 38 (36.8%) of fetuses from 4 months of gestation. The conventional PCR failed to detect N. caninum DNA. These findings show that neosporosis occurs in the area studied and that it may be transmitted the transplacental route, althought N. caninum had not detected in brain tissue from non-aborted fetuses. The use of nested PCR it would be applied to increase the sensitivy of test

Incidence and transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum in primiparous females from Bos indicus slaughtered in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil / <br> Incidência e transmissão transplacentária de Neospora caninum em fêmeas primíparas da raça Bos indicus abatidos em Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brasil

To produce an epidemiological map of neosporosis in Brazil and identify the types of transmission of this disease, the present study evaluated the occurrence of Neospora caninum in Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) in Presidente Prudent, west region of Sao Paulo state; its vertical transmission; and the early stage in which fetuses are infected. To achieve this, serum samples from 518 slaughtered pregnant heifers and their fetuses were tested by ELISA technique and fetal brain tissues subjected to PCR. One hundred and three heifers (19.88%) had antibodies to N. caninum, as well as 38 (36.8%) of fetuses from 4 months of gestation. The conventional PCR failed to detect N. caninum DNA. These findings show that neosporosis occurs in the area studied and that it may be transmitted the transplacental route, althought N. caninum had not detected in brain tissue from non-aborted fetuses. The use of nested PCR it would be applied to increase the sensitivy of test.<p><p>Para produzir um mapa epidemiológico da neosporose no Brasil e identificar os tipos de transmissão dessa doença, o presente estudo avaliou a ocorrência de Neospora caninum em fêmea Nelore (Bos Indicus) em Presidente Prudente, região oeste do Estado de São Paulo e o risco de infecção fetal nos estágios iniciais da gestação. Para a realização deste estudo, amostras de soro de 518 novilhas prenhas abatidas e seus fetos foram testadas pela técnica de ELISA e para avaliação de transmissão vertical, tecido cerebral fetal foi submetido à reação da polimerase em cadeia (PCR). Dessas novilhas, 103 (19,88%) tinham anticorpos para N. caninum dos quais 38 (36,8%) estavam no 4 mês de gestação. Esses achados mostram que a Neosporose ocorre na área estudada e que pode ser transmitido pela via placentária, embora o N. caninum não tenha sido detectado em tecido cerebral de fetos não abortado. O uso de nested PCR poderia ser aplicado como forma de aumentar a sensibilidade do teste

Incidence and transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum in primiparous females from Bos indicus slaughtered in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil

To produce an epidemiological map of neosporosis in Brazil and identify the types of transmission of this disease, the present study evaluated the occurrence of Neospora caninum in Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) in Presidente Prudent, west region of Sao Paulo state; its vertical transmission; and the early stage in which fetuses are infected. To achieve this, serum samples from 518 slaughtered pregnant heifers and their fetuses were tested by ELISA technique and fetal brain tissues subjected to PCR. One hundred and three heifers (19.88%) had antibodies to N. caninum, as well as 38 (36.8%) of fetuses from 4 months of gestation. The conventional PCR failed to detect N. caninum DNA. These findings show that neosporosis occurs in the area studied and that it may be transmitted the transplacental route, althought N. caninum had not detected in brain tissue from non-aborted fetuses. The use of nested PCR it would be applied to increase the sensitivy of test