Detecção de infecção pelo Mycobacterium leprae em tatus selvagens da espécie Dasypus novemcinctus utilizando o teste rápido ML Flow

Mycobaterium leprae infection was investigated in armadillos from the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The ML Flow test was performed on 37 nine-banded armadillos and positive results were found in 11 (29.7%). The ML Flow test may be used to identify possible sources of Mycobaterium leprae among wild armadillos.Tem sido pesquisado infecção pelo Mycobaterium leprae em tatus provenientes do estado do Espírito Santo-Brasil. O teste rápido ML Flow, foi realizado em 37 tatus selvagens, tendo sido positivo em 11 (29,7%). O teste de ML Flow pode ser utilizado para identificar possíveis fontes de Mycobaterium leprae em tatus selvagens.Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Centro de Ciências da Saúde Departamento de Medicina SocialUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de DermatologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de DermatologiaSciEL

Armadillos and leprosy: from infection to biological model

Mycobacterium leprae is the primary causative agent of Hansen’s disease or leprosy. Besides human beings, natural infection has been described in animals such as mangabey monkeys and armadillos. Leprosy is considered a global health problem and its complete pathogenesis is still unknown. As M. leprae does not grow in artificial media, armadillos have become the primary experimental model for leprosy, mimicking human disease including involvement of the peripheral nervous system. Leprosy transmission occurs through continuous and close contact of susceptible people with untreated infected people. However, unknown leprosy contact has been reported in leprosy-affected people, and contact with armadillos is a risk factor for leprosy. In the USA, leprosy is considered a zoonosis and this classification has recently been accepted in Brazil. This review presents information regarding the role of wild armadillos as a source of M. leprae for human infections, as well as the pathogenesis of leprosy

Research regarding anti-PGL-I antibodies by ELISA in wild armadillos from Brazil

Armadillos have been involved in leprosy transmission and are considered a source of Mycobacterium leprae in numerous reports. Clinicians from certain areas of the USA consider contact with armadillos a risk factor for leprosy. However, there is a challenge associated with the role of wild armadillos perpetuating human leprosy in the American Continent. The presence of anti-PGL-I antibodies was investigated in wild nine-banded armadillos from leprosy-endemic areas in State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, by ELISA performed on serum samples from 47 armadillos. Positive ELISA was obtained from 5 (10.6%) armadillos. Infected armadillos may play some role in leprosy transmission, disseminating bacilli in the environment, perhaps making it more difficult to interrupt transmission and reduce the number of new leprosy cases. ELISA is an efficient tool for seroepidemiological investigations of Mycobacterium leprae in armadillos.Tatus têm sido envolvidos na transmissão da hanseníase e considerados como fonte de Mycobacterium leprae em muitas publicações. Médicos de partes dos EUA consideram o contato com tatus um fator de risco para hanseníase. Entretanto, há um desafio associado ao papel do tatu na perpetuação da hanseníase no Continente Americano. Foi pesquisada a presença de anticorpos anti-PGL-I em tatus selvagens de áreas endêmicas em hanseníase do Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil, através de ELISA realizado em amostras de soro de 47 animais. Elisa positivo foi encontrado em 5 (10.6%) tatus. Tatus infectados podem ter algum papel na transmissão da hanseníase disseminando bacilos no meio ambiente, talvez tornando mais difícil a interrupção da cadeia de transmissão e redução do número de casos novos de hanseníase. A técnica de ELISA é um eficiente método para investigação soroepidemiológica da presença do Mycobacterium leprae em tatus.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Departmento de Medicina SocialLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Departmento de Infectologia e Doenças TropicaisEscola de Medicina da Santa Casa de Misericórdia Departmento de PatologiaRoyal Tropical InstituteUniversidade Federal de Goiás Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde PúblicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departmento de Biologia CelularInstituto Lauro de Souza LimaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departmento de DermatologiaUNIFESP, Departmento de Biologia CelularUNIFESP, Departmento de DermatologiaSciEL

Infectious Causes of Abortion, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death in Bitches

Problems in gestational development in dogs can be determined by infectious and non‐infectious causes. Among the non‐infectious causes, trauma during pregnancy, genetic characteristics of the animal, deficit nutrition, thyroid dysfunction, maternal problems and hormonal disorders are found. The majority of the cases are in relation to infectious diseases, one should consider viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoal, which can interfere directly or indirectly in the foetal development. The progression of foetal development may be affected by the direct action of the microorganisms to overcome the placenta, but they are also able to affect pregnancy and release placental toxins by inflammatory processes and, may still cause maternal pathologies, which entail problems such as hyperthermia, hypoxia and endotoxemia, which can result in abortion. Several diseases can trigger pregnancy loss in dogs. This action can be direct by microorganisms, as well as indirectly triggering other problems that lead to abortion. This chapter discusses the infectious aetiologies of reproductive failures (abortion, stillbirth and neonatal death) in bitches

Partial Gastric Obstruction Caused by Cajarana (Spondias cytherea Sonn) in Puppies - Imaging Techniques for Diagnosis

Background: Ingestion of foreign bodies is one of the most common cases seen among puppies of dogs in the medical clinics of small animals which may be related to their curious behavior. The diagnosis is based on the patient’s history, clinical signs, and complementary diagnostic imaging tests. The present case report describes the use of complementary imaging tests, showing a partial gastric obstruction caused by cajarana (Spondias cytherea Sonn) in a puppy.Case: At the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region, a 4-month-old male Yorkshire dog was treated. The guardian reported having witnessed the ingestion of a cajarana stone by the animal. During the physical examination, the animal was active, with good nutritional status, normocorated mucosae, and a moderate degree of dehydration, besides a slight pain on palpation in the epigastric region. Hematological examinations included blood counts, blood urea, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase. A moderate degree of polycythemia was observed, which may be explained by the dehydration caused by the episodes of vomiting. The patient had frequent episodes of vomiting after the reported event and was then referred to the diagnostic imaging sector. During the sonographic examination, a concave echogenic interface associated with a posterior acoustic shadowing was observed in the region of the stomach. The animal was sent for simple radiographs and positive contrast based on barium sulfate due to the suspicion of the presence of a foreign body. On simple radiography, in the left laterolateral view, a little radiopaque structure of circular format with poor definition was observed in the pyloric region. After the simple radiography, approximately 10 mL of barium sulfate contrast was administered orally followed by a new left lateral radiographic imaging. On performing sequenced radiographs, a discrete barium contrast contour, oval in structure, located in the pyloric region was observed, even after gastric emptying for about 1 h, reinforcing the clinical suspicion of cajarana stone ingestion. In view of these results, the animal underwent a gastrostomy for the removal of cajarana, which measured about 2.5 cm in diameter. After the surgical procedure, the animal had a good clinical recovery.Discussion: The history of the animal along with clinical signs and imaging tests are of great assistance in the investigation of gastric foreign bodies. The most common type of foreign bodies found in the gastrointestinal tract of small animals are bones, but other atypical structures may also be found, as shown in this report. Radiography (simple and with contrast) is an imaging method widely used in veterinary medicine because of its low cost and clinical accessibility. It is important for the investigation of gastrointestinal obstructions, being of fundamental importance in the management of this case. Ultrasound examination also provides crucial information when foreign bodies are suspected since the formation of intense posterior acoustic shadow (described in this case) is one of the characteristic findings of this condition. Finally, the associated radiography and ultrasonography as diagnostic imaging for the investigation of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract complement each other. Depending on the nature of the foreign body, a single imaging examination may not be satisfactory to suggest the presence of a foreign body with certainty

Atypical Mannheimiosis in captive rheas (Rhea americana)

Mannheimia haemolytica (MH) is a major cause of respiratory disease in bovine complex (BRDC) that causes great economic losses. To this day, there are no reports of birds affected by this bacterium. The present report describes an atypical outbreak of mannheimiosis in captive rheas (Rhea americana). Mannheimia haemolytica (MH) é uma das principais causas da doença do complexo respiratório dos bovinos (DCRB) que causa grandes perdas econômicas. Até os dias atuais, não há relato de aves acometidas por tal bactéria. Relata-se um surto atípico de mannheimiose em emas em cativeiro (Rhea americana)

Natural Poisoning by Tephrosia cinerea in Sheep from Western Region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil

Background: Tephrosia cinerea is a toxic plant responsible for liver fibrosis, which results in ascites and weight loss in sheep and probably goats. Although T. cinerea is widespread in Brazil, reports of poisoning are described in a few regions, named Eastern “Seridó” region of Rio Grande do Norte state, Central “Sertão” region of Ceará state, and “Sertão” of Paraíba state. Thus, this paper aimed to report the clinical-epidemiological, laboratorial, pathological and ultrasonographic findings of sheep spontaneously poisoned by T. cinerea in the Western region of Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeastern Brazil.Cases: The evaluated cases occurred in sheep raised on properties located in the municipalities of Areia Branca and Tibau, Western region of Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeastern Brazil. In all visited farms, the pasture had a marked predominance of the T. cinerea. Clinical signs included progressive weight loss, dehydration, bilateral abdominal distension, and respiratory dyspnea probably due to diaphragmatic compression. Other less frequent clinical signs were hyporexia, pale mucosae, rough hair coat and polyuria. Hematology revealed leukocytosis by neutrophilia, while serum biochemical analysis revealed increased activities of GGT (mean 96.3 U/L, reference: 20-52 U/L) and ALT (mean 55.0 U/L, reference: 22-38 U/L) and reduced levels of total proteins (mean 5.3 g/dL, reference 6.0-7.9 g/dL), albumin (mean 2.0 g/dL, reference 2.4-3.0 g/dL), and globulins (mean 3.2 g/dL, reference 3.5-7.0 g/dL). Abdominal ultrasonography was performed in one sheep, revealing a large amount of anechoic peritoneal effusion without floating echogenic debris or spots, and distention of hepatic vessels and portal veins. On the other hand, the ultrasonographic examination did not reveal changes in gallbladder, in right kidney and in the size of the liver. Gross pathological findings included severe ascites, moderate hydrothorax and hydropericardium, and liver showing irregular nodular surface, whitish areas and hardened consistency. The ascetic fluid was clear and is volume ranged from 8 to 13.5 liters. Microscopic evaluation of liver revealed hepatocyte necrosis, diffuse deposition of collagen fibers, and ductular proliferation.Discussion: Definitive diagnosis of poisoning by T. cinerea was made by the association of epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and pathological findings. It is known that the plant is part of the botanical composition of the diet of sheep all year long, but the poisoning becomes important mainly during the dry season. Affected sheep showed a typical ascitic condition due to diffuse liver fibrosis. Main ultrasonographic findings corresponded to hyperechoic diffuse diseases patterns, such as lipidoses and toxic liver diseases. The alterations observed in the biochemical panel are consistent with hepatic damage caused by the plant. The hematological findings are suggestive of immune system interference of poisoned sheep, but it is not possible to infer if it were the direct action of some component(s) of the plant or if it would be secondary to the severe nutritional deficiency induced by the poisoning. The toxic principle of T. cinerea remains undetermined, but it is already known that it is not pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The probable pathophysiological mechanism of ascites is the increased blood pressure on the portal vein walls due to the greater resistance of the liver parenchyma, but there should also be some contribution of hypoalbuminemia, which reduces plasmatic colloid osmotic pressure

Serological study of vaccinia virus reservoirs in areas with and without official reports of outbreaks in cattle and humans in São Paulo, Brazil

Vaccinia virus (VACV), the etiological agent of an exanthematic disease, has been associated with several bovine outbreaks in Brazil since the end of the global vaccination campaign against smallpox. It was previously believed that the vaccine virus used for the WHO global campaign had adapted to an unknown wild reservoir and was sporadically re-emerging in outbreaks in cattle and milkers. At present, it is known that Brazilian VACV is phylogenetically different from the vaccinia virus vaccinal strain, but its origin remains unknown. This study assessed the seroprevalence of orthopoxviruses in domestic and wild animals and farmers from 47 farms in three cities in the southwest region of the state of São Paulo with or without official reports of outbreaks in cattle or humans. Our data indicate a low seroprevalence of antibodies in wild animals and raise interesting questions about the real potential of wild rodents and marsupials as VACV reservoirs, suggesting other routes through which VACV can be spread