Prevalência e fatores de risco da infecção por Leptospira sp. em cães atendidos em clínicas veterinárias em João Pessoa, Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira sp. in dogs attended at veterinary clinics in the city of João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil.  A total of 384 blood samples from dogs from 34 veterinary clinics were used from April 2015 to May 2016. The diagnosis of Leptospira sp. was carried out through Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), using a collection of 20 pathogenic antigens and adopting a 1: 100 dilution as cutoff point. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the owners of the animals to obtain data to be used in the analysis of risk factors. The prevalence of seropositive animals was 11.7% (45/384), with reactions for serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae (62.3%), Grippotyphosa (22.2%), Canicola (13.3%), Djasiman 2%) and Pomona (2.2%). The following risk factors were identified: age from 49 to 72 months (odds ratio = 2.74), Age > 72 months (odds ratio = 3.22), and monthly cleaning of the environment where the animals are kept (odds ratio = 10,70). It is concluded that dogs attended at veterinary clinics in João Pessoa are exposed to infection by Leptospira sp., with predominance of serogroups kept by wild animals, and it is suggested that the periodic cleaning of the environment where the animals are kept.  O presente trabalho investigou a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados à infecção por Leptospira sp. em cães atendidos em clínicas veterinárias da cidade de João Pessoa, Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Foram utilizadas 384 amostras sanguíneas de cães provenientes de 34 clínicas veterinárias no período de abril de 2015 a maio de 2016. O diagnóstico da infecção por Leptospira sp. foi realizado com o emprego reação de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM), utilizando uma coleção com 20 antígenos patogênicos e adotando como ponto de corte a diluição 1:100. Foi aplicado um questionário epidemiológico aos proprietários dos animais para obtenção de dados a serem utilizados na análise de fatores de risco. A prevalência de animais soropositivos foi de 11,7% (45/384), com reações para os sorogrupos Icterohaemorrhagiae (62,3%), Grippotyphosa (22,2%), Canicola (13,3%), Djasiman (2,2%) e Pomona (2,2%). Foram identificados os seguintes fatores de risco: idade entre 49 e 72 meses (odds ratio = 2,74), idade maior que 72 meses (odds ratio = 3,22), e limpeza mensal do ambiente onde os animais permanecem (odds ratio = 10,70). Conclui-se que cães atendidos em clínicas veterinárias de João Pessoa estão expostos à infecção por Leptospira sp., com predominância de sorogrupos mantidos por animais selvagens, e foi sugerida a realização da limpeza periódica do ambiente ocupado pelos animais

Avaliação do nível de estresse em cadelas de abrigo submetidas a um período de adaptação de sete dias em canis experimentais

Objetivou-se avaliar o nível de estresse em cadelas em canis experimentais durante sete dias. Foram utilizadas dez cadelas, pesando 12,96±3,19 kg com idade de 3,4±2,6 anos, provenientes da Associação Patoense de Proteção aos Animais. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas para determinação do cortisol e da glicemia. Foram mensuradas, frequências cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura retal e pressões arteriais sistólica, média e diastólica. Para avaliar clinicamente o estresse foi utilizado um Escore Composto de Estresse. O estresse obtido foi classificado em discreto (escores de 0 a 6), moderado (escores de 7 a 14) e intenso (escores >14).  Na análise estatística utilizou-se o programa computacional Bioestat 5.0 ao nível de 5% de significância. Observou-se um decréscimo do cortisol, porém, estatisticamente, apenas 144 (0,60±0,67 µg/dL) e 168 horas (0,55±0,55 µg/dL) após a chegada dos animais ao canil o cortisol diferiu do momento basal (2,78±2,7 µg/dL). O estresse foi classificado em discreto em todos os momentos (escores <6). As cadelas deste experimento não perceberam a admissão ao canil como um potencial estressor. Sugere-se que seis dias são suficientes para cadelas se adaptarem a um novo ambiente

Geoepidemiology, seroprevalence and factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in domicilied cats from Paraíba (Brazil)

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, an emerging and often neglected zoonosis in South America, particularly Brazil. Felines, the only definitive hosts, excrete oocysts in their feces, potentially infecting all homeotherms. Domestic cats are primarily responsible for contaminating human environments with these oocysts. Monitoring their populations is therefore essential to ensure proper toxoplasmosis prophylaxis. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii and exposure factors in a population of owner cats in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. A total of 267 blood samples were collected from domestic cats aged between 1 and 15 years and tested with an immunofluorescence antibody test. The seroprevalence of antibodies against T. gondii was only 17.22% (46/267 individuals). This result therefore suggests a low contribution of domestic cats to T. gondii contamination of the urban environment. The cats’ age and living environment were identified as risk factors for cat exposure to T. gondii

Risk factors and anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibody occurrence in dogs in João Pessoa, Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of infections due to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum and corresponding risk factors among dogs attended at veterinary clinics in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 384 dogs that were attended at 34 veterinary clinics between April 2015 and May 2016. These two agents were diagnosed through the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IFAT). Among the 384 animals evaluated, 37 (9.6%) were positive for T. gondii, with titers ranging from 16 to 512. Six dogs (1.6%) were positive for N. caninum, with titers of 50 to 200. Access to the streets (OR = 4.60; 95% CI = 1.74-12.20) and environments close to forested areas (OR = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.32-5.93) were found to be risk factors for T. gondii infection. The dogs attended at veterinary clinics in João Pessoa are exposed to infections caused by T. gondii and N. caninum. Dog owners should avoid having access to the street or contact with forest environments

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in mammals, birds and reptiles at the zoological-botanical park in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

<div><p>ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to verify the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 51 wild animals at the Arruda Câmara Zoological-Botanical Park in João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. Blood samples from different bird, mammal and reptile species were analyzed using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) with a cut-off point of 1:25. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 62.4% of the 51 tested animals. The following frequencies were found: 68.9% (20/29) in mammals, 80% (8/10) in birds, and 33.3% (4/12) in reptiles. This paper reports for the first time the occurrence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in birds of the species Pionites leucogaster (caíque), Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (hyacinth macaw), Pavo cristatus (Indian peafowl), Urubitinga urubitinga (Brazilian eagle), and Buteo melanoleucus (black-and-white hawk-eagle). Reptiles of the species Caiman crocodilus (spectacled caiman), Chelonoidis carbonaria (red-footed tortoise) and Paleosuchus palpebrosus (Cuvier’s dwarf caiman) were seropositive for T. gondii, although the significance of the presence of these anti-T. gondii antibodies in this group of animals requires a more in-depth study. We conclude that the frequency of antibodies found in the animals of this zoo is high and that the prophylactic measures that aim to diminish the environmental contamination by oocysts are necessary.</p></div

Occurrence of anti-Brucella abortus and anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in buffaloes from Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil

 O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a frequência de animais reagentes e os fatores de risco para brucelose e leptospirose em búfalos do Estado da Paraíba. Foram utilizados 136 búfalos oriundos de 14 propriedades. Para o diagnóstico da brucelose empregou-se como teste de triagem o antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT) e o teste do 2-mercaptoetanol (2-ME) como prova confirmatória. Para leptospirose foi realizado o teste de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), com ponto de corte 1:100. Dos 136 animais examinados dois (1,5%; IC 95% = 0,4% - 5,2%) foram positivos para brucelose e 38 (27,9%; IC 95% = 21,1% - 36,0%) para leptospirose. Os animais positivos para brucelose foram procedentes de duas (14,3%) propriedades, enquanto para leptospirose nove (64,3%) propriedades apresentaram animais soropositivos. Os sorovares de Leptospira spp. mais frequentes foram Bratislava, Pomona e Canicola. Conclui-se que a leptospirose encontra-se disseminada em búfalos do Estado da Paraíba, e sugere-se que a criação consorciada com equinos e suínos pode ser um fator importante na ocorrência de animais positivos. A presença de animais positivos para brucelose indica a possibilidade de impacto negativo nas ações de controle da doença em bovinos, e dessa forma recomenda-se que maior atenção seja dada a esses animais do ponto de vista do controle da brucelose.The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of animals that tested positive for brucellosis and leptospirosis and the risk factors for these diseases in the State of Paraíba. A total of 136 buffaloes from 14 herds were examined. For brucellosis, we used the buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPA) test as screening method and 2-mercaptoethanol as confirmatory test. For leptospirosis, we conducted a microscopic agglutination test (MAT), with a cut-off point of 1:100. Of the animals examined, two [1.5%; 95% CI = 0.4%–5.2%] were positive for brucellosis, and 38 (27.9%; 95% CI = 21.1%–36.0%) were positive for leptospirosis. The brucellosis-positive animals were from two (14.3%) herds, while nine (64.3%) herds had leptospirosis-seropositive animals. The more frequent Leptospira spp. serotypes were Bratislava, Pomona, and Canicola. We concluded that leptospirosis was widespread in buffaloes in the state of Paraíba and suggested that breeding alongside horses and pigs might be na important factor in the spread of leptospirosis-positive animals. The presence of brucellosispositive animals indicated the possibility of negative-impacting measures on disease control in bovines, and it is therefore recommended that greater attention be given to these animals for brucellosis control

Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum seropositivity in buffaloes in Paraiba State, Brazil

Abstract The aims of this survey were to determine the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies and to identify the risk factors associated with seropositivity among buffaloes in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. This survey included 136 buffaloes belonging to 14 herds. To detect anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used. Among the 136 samples analyzed, 17 (12.5%) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies with titers ranging from 64 to 1,024, and 26 (19.1%) for anti-N. caninum with titers from 200 to 1,600. Animals seropositive for both T. gondii and N. caninum were found in 10 of the 14 herds (71.4%). Semi-intensive management systems (odds ratio = 2.99) and presence of pigs (odds ratio = 4.33) were identified as risk factors for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. It can be suggested that T. gondii and N. caninum are widespread in buffaloes in Paraíba, and that additional surveys are needed in order to ascertain the importance of these agents for this species and for pigs, and the influence of the farming type on occurrences of seropositive animals

Administração epidural pré-operatória de metadona ou morfina para analgesia em cadelas submetidas a ovário-histerectomia

Foram comparadas a analgesia e as alterações cardiopulmonares promovidas pela metadona ou morfina, por via epidural, em cadelas submetidas à ovário-histerectomia. Dezesseis cadelas foram distribuídas dentro de dois grupos os quais receberam 0,3 mg/kg de metadona (grupo MET) ou 0,1 mg/kg de morfina (grupo MORF), ambas por via epidural lombossacra. A anestesia foi mantida com isoflurano. Foram avaliados: frequências cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura corporal, pressão arterial sistólica, média e diastólica, cortisol e analgesia. A analgesia foi mensurada por escala descritiva numérica a qual possui um escore máximo de 25 pontos. Se um escore superior a 16 fosse detectado, seria administrada morfina (0,5 mg/kg, via IM). Os seguintes momentos foram considerados: antes e 15 minutos após a medicação pré-anestésica (M0 e M1); 15, 50, 55, 65 e 95 minutos após a punção epidural (M2, M3, M4, M5 e M6, respectivamente); 2, 4, 7, 13, 19 e 25 horas (M7, M8, M9, M10, M11 e M12, respectivamente) após a punção epidural. O cortisol foi mensurado antes da mensuração dos parâmetros fisiológicos, nos momentos M0, M3, M4, M8, M10 e M12. Ocorreu redução da frequência respiratória e da temperatura corporal em ambos os grupos. Cortisol aumentou no grupo MORF no pinçamento dos pedículos ovarianos (6,10 ± 1,85 μg/dL) e no grupo MET, quarto horas após a punção epidural (9,05 ± 7,77 mg/dL), porém nenhum dos animais necessitou de analgesia de resgate, sendo a analgesia classificada como intensa em ambos os grupos. Morfina e metadona têm eficácia analgésica similar e não causam alterações cardiopulmonares significativas

Administração epidural pré-operatória de lidocaína-metadona ou lidocaína-fentanil em cadelas submetidas à ovário-histerectomia eletiva

We compared the analgesia and cardiopulmonary changes induced by epidural methadone or fentanyl in combination with lidocaine in female dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy and anesthetized with propofol. Eighteen female dogs were randomly assigned to two groups and given either methadone (0.3 mg kg?¹) + 2% lidocaine without vasoconstrictor (LM) or fentanyl (5 µg kg?¹) + 2% lidocaine without vasoconstrictor (LF). The drugs were administered epidurally in a volume of 0.25 ml kg?¹. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and blood glucose levels were recorded before and 15 minutes after premedication (T0 and T1); 15 minutes after epidural administration (T2); five minutes after dermotomy (T3); five minutes after clamping of the ovarian pedicle (T4); five minutes and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours (T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, and T11, respectively) after surgery. The number of additional propofol injections and total propofol dose (mg kg?¹) were recorded. Analgesia was assessed using a numerical descriptive scale. SBP and HR were similar in both groups, but hypotension was detected in animals from both groups at different times. Respiratory rate decreased significantly at T6 in the LF group and was lower than in the LM group. Hypothermia was observed in animals from both groups, but RT was significantly lower than baseline values only at T4 in the LM group. Blood glucose levels increased significantly only in the LF group at T4, T7, and T8. All animals in the LF group and eight animals in the LM group required additional propofol injections at T4, but no significant differences were detected in the number of propofol injections and total propofol dose between the LF (3 ± 1 injections, 7.5 ± 4.5 mg kg?¹) and LM (2 ± 2 injections, 4.5 ± 3.4 mg kg?¹) groups. The latency period, anesthetic period, and the duration of surgery were similar in both groups. No animals required rescue analgesia. The lidocaine-methadone and lidocaine-fentanyl combinations caused minimal cardiorespiratory changes, but did not abolish pain at the time of handling of the ovarian pedicle.Comparou-se a analgesia e alterações cardiopulmonares promovidas pela metadona ou fentanil, associados à lidocaína, por via epidural, em cadelas submetidas à ovário-histerectomia eletiva e mantidas anestesiadas pelo propofol. Foram utilizadas 18 cadelas, distribuídas em dois grupos: LM - metadona (0,3 mg kg-1) + lidocaína 2% sem vasoconstrictor; e LF - fentanil 5 ?g kg-1 + lidocaína 2% sem vasoconstrictor. Os fármacos foram administrados por via epidural, num volume de 0,25 mL kg-1. Registraram-se: frequências cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (f), temperatura retal (TR), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e glicemia, antes e 15 minutos após a medicação pré-anestésica (T0 e T1); 15 minutos após a epidural (T2); cinco minutos após a dermotomia (T3); cinco minutos após o pinçamento dos pedículos ovarianos (T4); cinco minutos, uma, 3, 6, 12, 18 e 24 horas (T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10 e T11, respectivamente) após o término da cirurgia. Mensuraram-se ainda o número de repiques de propofol e o consumo total, em mg kg-1. Avaliou-se a analgesia através de escala descritiva numérica. Não houve diferença significativa na PAS e na FC entre os grupos, porém ocorreu hipotensão em alguns momentos em ambos os grupos. Ocorreu redução significativa na frequência respiratória no momento T6 no grupo LF, sendo esta menor que no grupo LM. Ocorreu hipotermia em ambos os grupos, porém houve diferença estatística, em relação ao valor basal, apenas no momento T4 no grupo LF. A glicemia aumentou significativamente apenas no grupo LF, nos momentos T4, T7 e T8. Todos os animais do grupo LF e oito animais do grupo LM necessitaram de repique de propofol no T4, porém não houve diferença significativa quanto ao número de repiques e ao consumo total de propofol entre os grupos LF (3 ± 1 repiques; 7,5 ± 4,5 mg kg-1) e LM (2 ± 2 repiques; 4,5 ± 3,4 mg kg-1). Os períodos de latência e hábil anestésico e de duração do procedimento cirúrgico foram semelhantes em ambos os grupos. Nenhum animal necessitou de analgesia de resgate. As associações lidocaína-metadona ou lidocaína-fentanil promovem mínimas alterações cardiorrespiratórias, porém não são suficientes para abolir a dor no momento da manipulação do pedículo ovariano

Detomidine and xylazine, at different doses, in donkeys (Equus asinus)

The effects of detomidine and xylazine in northeasters donkeys were compared. Six animals participated, randomly, of all experimental groups: xylazine 10%, 0.8 mg/kg (xylazine group 0.8 - GX0.8), 1.0 mg/kg (GX1.0) and 1, 2 mg/kg (GX1.2); and detomidine 1%, 0.02 mg/kg (Detomidine group 0.02 - GD0.02), 0.04 mg/kg (GD0.04) and 0.06 mg/kg (GD0.06) intravenous. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood glucose, sedation, analgesia, ataxia, arrhythmias and urination were monitored. Duration of sedation was greater in the groups in which detomidine was administered. The muzzle-soil distance significantly reduced in all groups five minutes after the sedative administration, remaining smaller for a longer time in the GD0.06. Ataxia in GX1.0 was greater than in GX0.08 and GX1,2, being equivalent to GD0,04 and GD0,06. Analgesia lasted 30 minutes in GD0.06 and 10 minutes in the others. There was reduction of HR in GD0.02 and GD0.04 and atrioventricular block. There was a reduction in TR in GX1,2, GD0.02, GD0,04 and GD0,06. RR decreased in all groups. MAP increased in GD0.02, GD0.04 and GD0.06 five, 20, 30 and 10 minutes after administration of detomidine, respectively. Hyperglycaemia occurred for 120 minutes in all animals receiving detomidine. The frequency of micturition was higher in GD0.06 (2.2 ± 0.8) than in GX0.8 (0.8 ± 0.4). In northern Brazil, detomidine and xylazine promote short duration analgesia and cardiorespiratory alterations, but detomidine causes a greater sedative, hypertensive and hypothermic effect