Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. infection in cats from Brazil

A total of 386 feline blood samples from Brazil were collected and analyzed by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. antibodies. Specific antitoxoplasma IgG were found in 63 of 386 (16.3%) cats and immunoglobulin G against Leishmania spp. was detected in two serum samples. The overall prevalence was significantly higher in adult cats than in juvenile cats for T. gondii infection. There were no significant differences between positivity and gender or breed. The frequency of T. gondii antibodies found in domestic cats of Brazil suggests active transmission within an urban environment. This study proved the occurrence of two important protozoan zoonosis in felines from Brazilian endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis. © 2013

Contagem de células somáticas e de micro-organismos mesófilos aeróbios em leite cru orgânico produzido em Botucatu (SP)

Milk production in the organic system, minimizes the use of chemical products and respects the social and environmental aspects, the appropriate hygienic and sanitary practices, and the good handling of the livestock. It is also important to obtain milk of quality, because a high bacterial count in milk may reduce the shelf-life and it may cause public health problems. Milk samples were collected weekly for three months from five farms certificated for organic milk production in Botucatu region, SP, to evaluate their quality. Somatic cells count (CCS/mL) and mesophile microorganism count (CFU/mL) were performed. SCC/mL maintained normal, with significative difference in two farms. There was no correlation between SCC/mL and CFU/mL. Considering that the CFU/mL count was higher than the limit established by the current legislation in three farms, and it did not correspond to SCC/mL, which was within the normal range, it may indicate contamination during the milking process or after that, due to the isolation of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, environmental pathogens. It suggests the introduction of a sanitary educational program for the obtention of hygienic milk, involving a participative process with the milkers, respecting the principles of the organic agriculture.La producción lechera en el sistema orgánico minimiza el uso de productos químicos, respecta el medio ambiente y los aspectos sociales, las prácticas higiénico sanitarias, y manejo zoosanitario. Es fundamental la obtención de la leche de calidad, pues la alta cuenta de bacterias, además de los problemas de salud pública, reduce la vida útil de los productos lácteos. Las muestras de la leche bovina fueron tomadas semanalmente, a lo largo de tres meses, de cinco granjas certificadas para la producción de la leche orgánica en Botucatu, para evaluar la calidad. Las células somáticas (CCS/mL) y unidades formadoras de colonias de microorganismos mesófilos por mL de leche (UFC/mL). Los resultados de la CCS/mL se mantuvieron normales, con diferencias significativas en dos granjas. No hubo correlación entre la CCS/ mL y UFC/mL de leche. Considerando que la cuenta de UFC/mL fue superior que el límite establecido por las leyes vigentes en tres granjas y no corresponde a CCS/mL que se mantuvo dentro de la normalidad. Eso puede ser indicativo de la contaminación de la leche durante o después de la ordeña, pues se han aislado Escherichia coli y Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Se sugiere la introducción de un programa de educación sanitaria para la obtención de la leche higiénica, de manera participativa de los ordeñadores, respectando los principios de la agricultura orgánica.A produção leiteira no sistema orgânico minimiza a utilização de produtos químicos, respeita os aspectos ambientais e sociais, as práticas higiênico-sanitárias, e o manejo zoosanitário. É fundamental a obtenção de leite de qualidade, pois a alta contagem bacteriana, além dos problemas à saúde pública, diminui o tempo de prateleira dos produtos lácteos. Foram coletadas amostras de leite bovino de conjunto, semanalmente, durante três meses, de cinco propriedades certificadas para a produção de leite orgânico em Botucatu/SP, para avaliar a qualidade. Foram realizadas a contagem de células somáticas (CCS/mL) e de unidades formadoras de colônias de micro-organismos mesófilos por mL de leite (UFC/mL). Os resultados de CCS/mL se mantiveram normais, com diferença significativa em duas propriedades. Não houve correlação entre CCS/mL e UFC/mL de leite. Considerando-se que a contagem de UFC/mL foi superior ao limite estabelecido pela legislação vigente em três propriedades e não correspondente a CCS/mL, que manteve-se dentro da normalidade, pode ser indicativo de contaminação do leite durante ou posterior a ordenha, pelo fato de ter isolado Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sugere-se a introdução de um programa de educação sanitária para a obtenção higiênica do leite, envolvendo de forma participativa os ordenhadores, respeitando-se os princípios da agricultura orgânica

ANTICORPOS CONTRA Toxoplasma gondii (APICOMPLEXA: TOXOPLASMATINAE) EM EQUINOS DA MICRORREGIÃO SERRANA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL

O presente estudo foi realizado para determinar a soroprevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em cavalos. Um total de 375 amostras de sangue de 23 estabelecimentos agrícolas pertencentes à microrregião Serrana, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, que compreende os municípios de Petrópolis, São José do Vale do Rio Preto e Teresópolis. Imunofluorescência Indireta Test (IFAT), como título de corte de 1:16 foi utilizada para determinar cavalos positivos. Um questionário também foi aplicado nesses estabelecimentos para avaliar os fatores de risco inerentes às propriedades e os animais que participaram deste estudo. Como resultado, os anticorpos contra T. gondii foram observadas em 2,13% (8/375) dos cavalos. Não houve diferenças significativas (p> 0,05) na associação entre cavalos soropositivos e todas as variáveis avaliadas neste experimento

Immunization of Wistar female rats with 255-Gy-irradiated Toxoplasma gondii: Tissue parasitic load and lactogenic quantification

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most significant parasite, due its importance in veterinary medicine and in public health, considered a food-borne pathogens, there is no available drug treatments to eliminate it from animal tissue, this reinforce the search for a vaccine against this parasite. This study was aimed to evaluate the dynamic of the distribution of T gondii in tissues of female Wistar rats and their milk, after the immunization by oral rote with irradiated tachyzoites. One week after pregnancy confirmation, rats was challenged by gavage with T. gondii bradyzoites, oocysts or tachyzoites of T. gondii. Forty-eight pregnant rats were grouped as follows: immunized and challenged with bradyzoites (BZ*); non-immunized and challenged with bradyzoites (BZ); immunized and challenged with oocysts (OC*); non-immunized and challenged with oocysts (OC); immunized and challenged with tachyzoites (TZ*); non-immunized and challenged with tachyzoites (17); only immunized (I); control group (C). After parturition, milk samples were collected for 3 weeks and then rats were sacrificed and the tissues and milk samples were researched for T gondii parasite load determined by the quantitative PCR (qPCR). It was verified that the immunization with irradiated tachyzoites of T. gondii induced the reduction of parasitic load in muscle samples in rats challenged by bradyzoites and oocysts, although not enabled the development of sterile immunity. The detection of parasite DNA in milk was found throughout the lactation period, from immunized and non-immunized rats, however no differences were found in the parasite load caused by immunization. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Anticorpos contra Toxoplasma gondii (Apicomplexa: Toxoplasmatinae) em equinos da microrregião serrana do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

The present study was done to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in horses. A total of 375 blood samples from 23 agricultural establishments belonging to Serrana microregion, State of Rio de Janeiro, which comprises the municipalities of Petropolis, São José do Vale do Rio Preto and, Teresopolis. Indirect Immunofluorescence Test (IFAT) as cutoff title of 1:16 was used to determine positive horses. A questionnaire was also applied in these establishments to evaluate the risk factors inherent to properties and the animals that participated in this study. As result, antibodies against T. gondii were observed in 2.13% (8/375) of horses. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the association between seropositive horses and all variables evaluated in this experiment.O presente estudo foi realizado para determinar a soroprevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em cavalos. Um total de 375 amostras de sangue de 23 estabelecimentos agrícolas pertencentes à microrregião Serrana, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, que compreende os municípios de Petrópolis, São José do Vale do Rio Preto e Teresópolis. Imunofluorescência Indireta Test (IFAT), como título de corte de 1:16 foi utilizada para determinar cavalos positivos. Um questionário também foi aplicado nesses estabelecimentos para avaliar os fatores de risco inerentes às propriedades e os animais que participaram deste estudo. Como resultado, os anticorpos contra T. gondii foram observadas em 2,13% (8/375) dos cavalos. Não houve diferenças significativas (p> 0,05) na associação entre cavalos soropositivos e todas as variáveis avaliadas neste experimento

Immunization of Wistar female rats with 255-Gy-irradiated Toxoplasma gondii: Preventing parasite load and maternofoetal transmission

Toxoplasmosis, caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is an worldwide parasitic disease, with significant importance for animal production and considerable impact to the public health. This study was aimed to evaluate the dynamic of the distribution of T. gondii in tissues of female Wistar rats and their puppies tissues, after the immunization by oral rote with irradiated tachyzoites. One week after pregnancy confirmation, rats was challenged by gavage with T. gondii bradyzoites, oocysts or tachyzoites of T. gondii. Forty-eight pregnant rats were grouped as follow: immunized and challenged with bradyzoites (BZ*); non-immunized and challenged with bradyzoites (BZ); immunized and challenged with oocysts (OC*); non-immunized and challenged with oocysts (OC); immunized and challenged with tachyzoites (TZ*); non-immunized and challenged with tachyzoites (TZ); only immunized (I); control group (C). After parturition the rats were sacrificed and the tissues were researched for the DNA of T. gondii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the parasite load determined by the quantitative PCR (qPCR). It was verified that the immunization with irradiated tachyzoites of T. gondii induced the reduction of parasitic load in most organs analyzed, although not prevent the establishment of infection with the parasite. And also, the immunization showed a favorable effect on the birth rate and litter size. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Coinfection by toxoplasma gondii and leishmania spp. in domestic cats (Felis catus) in State of Mato Grosso do Sul

Introduction: Leishmaniasis and toxoplasmosis are important to public health. Methods: Antibodies for Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. were evaluated in cats from Campo Grande, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, a region endemic for canine visceral leishmaniasis. Serum samples from 50 asymptomatic cats were titrated for T. gondii by the immunofluorescence antibody test and modified agglutination test and for Leishmania spp. by the immunofluorescence antibody test. Results: These two agents coinfected two (4%) of the 50 tested animals. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the concomitant presence of two important zoonoses in cats from Brazilian endemic regions for canine visceral leishmaniasis.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP