APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS VULNERABILITY AND THE IMPACT AS ONE HEALTH INITIATIVE

Homeless has been considered a worldwide public policy problem and may demand a multi-professional intervention with social assistance and health care approaches. Some of these homeless may have close and companion interactions with domestic animals in their environment.  Although pets may provide emotional stability, may also contribute to human sheltering refusal and homeless persistence, as pets may not be allowed on most human shelters. Pet presence and environmental exposure may aggravate co-infections in such vulnerable population. Therefore, veterinarian inclusion in such network care frame has been crucial to insure animal health and reduce zoonosis and related risk factor.

SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF LEPTOSPIRA SPP. IN THE LAMI TUCO-TUCO RODENTS (CTENOMYS LAMI)

Although rodents are reportedly the major reservoirs of Leptospira spp. in the wildlife of Brazil, the role of the widely distributed native tuco-tuco rodent (Ctenomys lami) has yet to be determined. Accordingly, a total of 40 serum and eight urine samples from wild C. lami were collected from June to September 2008 in the city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. The serum samples were screened using the Microscopic Agglutination Test against 13 Leptospira spp. pathogenic serovars. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the presence of leptospiral DNA in the urine samples. Five (12.5%) of the serum samples had >100 antibody titer levels against one or more of the serovars. None of the urine samples yielded a positive PCR amplification; however, all of the source animals were also negative. In conclusion, although C. lami may be exposed to Leptospira spp., infection may be occasional because no detectable leptospiruria was found

PERCEPÇÃO DE USUÁRIOS DE ESPAÇOS PÚBLICOS DE CURITIBA, PARANÁ, SOBRE A PRESENÇA DE POMBOS (Columba livia)

Os pombos (Columba livia) no ambiente urbano são um problema de saúde pública devido aos agravos causados por eles. Este estudo avaliou a percepção das pessoas nas praças do centro de Curitiba, Paraná, em relação à presença de pombos. Foram entrevistados estudantes e servidores universitários, moradores, comerciantes e transeuntes com um questionário semi-estruturado em 2012. Os entrevistados foram contra a presença dos pombos (533/887, 60,1%, p<0,01) e a proporção de mulheres contra foi maior do que a proporção de homens (p=0,04). A maioria dos entrevistados considerou a quantidade de pombos exagerada (617/887, 69,6%, p=0,04) e 272/617 (44,1%) atribuíram como causa a disponibilidade de alimento. 825/887 (93%) afirmaram que pombos podem transmitir doenças. As principais afecções citadas foram doenças respiratórias (127/360, 35,3%) e doenças causadas por piolhos ou pulgas (82/360, 22,8%), o principal problema relatado foi a sujeira (116/202, 57,4%) e a ação mais aprovada para controle populacional foi a educação da população (617/887, 69,6%) por meio da televisão (273/887, 30,8%). O estudo mostrou que pessoas que convivem com pombos nos centros urbanos não concordam com a presença dos mesmos e que as medidas para controlá-los são com as pessoas e não diretamente nos animais

Soroprevalência de Rickettsia bellii e Rickettsia felis em cães, São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brasil

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is a vector-borne zoonosis caused by Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria. Dogs can be host sentinels for this bacterium. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of antibodies against Rickettsia spp. in dogs from the city of São José dos Pinhais, State of Paraná, Southern Brazil, where a human case of BSF was first reported in the state. Between February 2006 and July 2007, serum samples from 364 dogs were collected and tested at 1:64 dilutions by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) against R. rickettsii and R. parkeri. All sera that reacted at least to one of Rickettsia species were tested against the six main Rickettsia species identified in Brazil: R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. bellii, R. rhipicephali, R. amblyommii and R. felis. Sixteen samples (4.4%) reacted to at least one Rickettsia species. Among positive animals, two dogs (15.5%) showed suggestive titers for R. bellii exposure. One sample had a homologous reaction to R. felis, a confirmed human pathogen. Although Rickettsia spp. circulation in dogs in the area studied may be considered at low prevalence, suggesting low risk of human infection, the present data demonstrate for the first time the exposure of dogs to R. bellii and R. felis in Southern Brazil.A febre maculosa brasileira (FMB) é uma zoonose veiculada por carrapatos e causada pela bactéria Rickettsia rickettsii, podendo os cães ser hospedeiros sentinelas para essa bactéria. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a presença de anticorpos contra Rickettsia spp. em cães de São José dos Pinhais, estado do Paraná, Sul do Brasil. Entre fevereiro de 2006 e julho de 2007, amostras séricas de 364 cães foram coletadas e testadas na diluição de 1:64 por Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI) contra R. rickettsii e R. parkeri. Todos os soros reagentes para pelo menos uma espécie de Rickettsia foram testados contra as seis principais espécies de Rickettsia identificadas no Brasil: R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. bellii, R. rhipicephali, R. amblyommii e R. felis. Dezesseis amostras (4,4%) reagiram para pelo menos uma espécie de Rickettsia. Dos animais positivos, dois cães (15,5%) apresentaram títulos sugestivos de exposição a R. bellii. Uma amostra apresentou reação homóloga frente à R. felis, um agente patogênico confirmado para seres humanos. Muito embora os resultados demonstrem uma baixa prevalência de Rickettsia spp. em cães, sugerindo um baixo risco de infecção humana, este estudo relatou pela primeira vez a evidência de exposição a R. bellii e R. felis em cães no Sul do Brasil.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

One health approach to toxocariasis in Brazilian indigenous populations, their dogs, and soil contamination

IntroductionAlthough socioeconomic vulnerability and lifestyle factors may contribute to the transmission of Toxocara spp., no study has investigated indigenous populations in Brazil using the One Health approach.MethodsAccordingly, this study assessed anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in Brazilian indigenous people and healthcare professionals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Presence of Toxocara spp. eggs (feces and hair) in dogs as definitive hosts and in soil samples of the indigenous communities were also recovered and molecularly investigated.ResultsOverall, 342/463 (73.9%) indigenous individuals and 46/147 (31.3%) non-indigenous healthcare professionals were seropositive for Toxocara spp. In addition, T. canis eggs were retrieved from 9/194 (4.6%) dog fecal samples and 4/204 (2.0%) dog hair samples, mainly from the Paraná State communities (3/42; 7.1%). Soil contamination was observed only in the Paraná State communities (36/90; 40.0%), with the molecular detection of T. canis. River water consumption was also associated with indigenous seropositivity (Odds ratio, 11.4).DiscussionIndigenous individuals in Paraná State communities were 2.72-fold more likely to be seropositive than those in São Paulo State, likely due to a lack of sanitary infrastructure. In this scenario, a primarily soil-transmitted disease may also have become waterborne, with embryonated eggs probably spread to water supplies by rain. Full-time healthcare professionals in daily contact with indigenous communities were 9.2-fold more likely to be seropositive than professionals who visited sporadically, suggesting exposure to Toxocara spp. during their work and raising health concerns. In addition, the findings herein showed a significantly higher seroprevalence in indigenous people than in healthcare workers (χ2 = 85.5; p &lt; 0.0001), likely due to overtime exposure to Toxocara spp. In conclusion, Brazilian indigenous communities are highly exposed to toxocariasis, with poor infrastructure and contact with contaminated river water as associated risk factors and a higher risk of infection in healthcare professionals working full-time in these communities

Animal welfare assessment in nine dog shelters of southern Brazil

The present study has tested the Shelter-Quality Protocol (SQ) and its&nbsp;applicability in nine long-term dog shelters in the Curitiba metropolitan&nbsp;area, State of Paran , southern Brazil. Welfare indicators were scored&nbsp;on three different levels including shelter, pen and dogs. Data were&nbsp;qualitatively analyzed, presenting an average of 66.67 ( 27.63) allocated&nbsp;dogs per shelter, receiving only dry food, with meal frequencies varying&nbsp;from once (44.4%), twice a day (33.3%), and ad libitum (22.2%).&nbsp;Water was available ad libitum in 98.5% of pens and was clean in&nbsp;(89.5%) of shelters. Most of the shelters grouped the dogs by size.&nbsp;Animals were kept indoors (41.0%) or entirely outdoors with only close&nbsp;movable shelters (41.3%), from which 78.5% had materials that could&nbsp;hurt the animals. None of the dogs were panting, crowding, or had&nbsp;any stereotypy behavior. No cough, swelling, and ectoparasites were&nbsp;observed. Animals were in satisfactory body-score condition and clean;&nbsp;no lameness was observed. In the human-animal relationship test,&nbsp;15.3% of animals showed fearful and aggressive reactions. Hence, the&nbsp;level of shelter-quality was feasible and provided relevant information&nbsp;about the Brazilian dog shelter welfare. However, it is important in&nbsp;future studies to include and adopt additional indicators to gather&nbsp;other relevant aspects of dogs’ welfare, such as health management,&nbsp;environmental enrichment, dogs’ socialization, people involved in the&nbsp;chain, rate of adoption, and turnover of dogs.O presente estudo testou o Protocolo Shelter-Quality (SQ) e sua&nbsp;aplicabilidade em nove abrigos de c es de longa permanência na&nbsp;região metropolitana de Curitiba, estado do Paraná, Sul do Brasil.&nbsp;Os indicadores de bem-estar foram pontuados em três níveis&nbsp;diferentes, incluindo abrigo, recinto e cães. Os dados foram analisados&nbsp;qualitativamente, apresentando média de 66,67 ( 27,63) cães&nbsp;alocados por abrigo, que recebem apenas raç˜ão seca, com frequência&nbsp;de alimentação variando entre uma (44,4%), duas vezes ao dia (33,3%)&nbsp;e ad libitum (22,2%). A água estava disponível ad libitum em 98,5% dos&nbsp;currais e era limpa em 89,5% dos abrigos. A maioria destes agrupou os&nbsp;cães por tamanho. Os animais eram mantidos em ambientes fechados&nbsp;(41,0%) ou inteiramente ao ar livre, apenas com abrigos móveis&nbsp;próximos (41,3%), dos quais 78,5% possu am materiais que pudessem&nbsp;machucar os animais. Nenhum dos cães estava ofegante, aglomerado&nbsp;ou com comportamento estereotipado. Não foram observados tosse,&nbsp;inchaço e ectoparasitas. Os animais estavam em condição corporal&nbsp;satisfatória e limpos; nenhuma claudicação foi observada. No teste&nbsp;de relação humano-animal, 15,3% dos animais apresentaram reações&nbsp;de medo e agressão. Assim, o nível de qualidade do abrigo foi viável&nbsp;e forneceu informações relevantes sobre o bem-estar do abrigo de&nbsp;cães brasileiros. No entanto, é importante em estudos futuros incluir e&nbsp;adotar indicadores adicionais para reunir outros aspectos relevantes do&nbsp;bem-estar dos cães, como gestão da saúde, enriquecimento ambiental,&nbsp;socialização dos animais, pessoas envolvidas na cadeia, taxa de adoção&nbsp;e rotatividade de cães

Inquérito sorológico e molecular de Leptospira spp. em cavalos carroceiros de área endêmica para leptospirose humana em Curitiba, Sul do Brasil

Introdução: Cavalos carroceiros são uma população reemergente empregada para transportar materiais recicláveis em cidades. Métodos: Em área endêmica para leptospirose humana foram amostrados 62 cavalos. Soroaglutinação microscópica e reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real foram empregadas. Resultados: Observou-se soropositividade em 75,8% com sorovar Icterohaemorrhagiae em 80,8% cavalos. Amostras de sangue e urina foram negativas no qPCR. Observou-se correlação positiva entre SAM e pluviosidade (p = 0,02) e alagamentos (p = 0,03). Conclusão: Embora cavalos possam estar constantemente expostos a Leptospira spp. no ambiente, principalmente por chuvas e inundações, leptospiremia e leptospiruria não foram encontradas neste estudo.Introduction: Cart horses are a re-emerging population employed to carry recyclable material in cities. Methods: Sixty-two horses were sampled in an endemic area of human leptospirosis. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed. Results: A seropositivity of 75.8% with serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae in 80.8% of the horses was observed. Blood and urine were qPCR negative. MAT showed positive correlations with rainfall (p = 0.02) and flooding (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Although horses may be constantly exposed to Leptospira spp. in the environment mostly because of rainfall and flooding, no leptospiremia or leptospiruria were observed in this study

Detection of Plasmodium sp. in capybara

In the present study, we have microscopically and molecularly surveyed blood samples from 11 captive capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) from the Sanctuary Zoo for Plasmodium sp. infection. One animal presented positive on blood smear by light microscopy. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out accordingly using a nested genus specific protocol, which uses oligonucleotides from conserved sequences flanking a variable sequence region in the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssrRNA) of all Plasmodium organisms. This revealed three positive animals. Products from two samples were purified and sequenced. The results showed less than 1% divergence between the two capybara sequences. When compared with GenBank sequences, a 55% similarity was obtained to Toxoplasma gondii and a higher similarity (73– 77.2%) was found to ssrRNAs from Plasmodium species that infect reptile, avian, rodents, and human beings. The most similar Plasmodium sequence was from Plasmodium mexicanum that infects lizards of North America, where around 78% identity was found. This work is the first report of Plasmodium in capybaras, and due to the low similarity with other Plasmodium species, we suggest it is a new species, which, in the future could be denominated ''Plasmodium hydrochaeri''