Entomopathogenic fungal activity against pupae and adult Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Susceptibility of adult and larval stages of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans, to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae under field conditions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of Metarhizium anisopliae fungus on off-host Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus from tick-infested pasture under cattle grazing in Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in Brazilian cervids kept in captivity

Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite that causes disease in captive and domesticated animals and has been found in wild animals such as cervids. Sera from 150 cervids of the genus Mazama, were collected from 31 captive herds and 16 zoos from different Brazilian regions and analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody test for anti-N. caninum antibodies. Positive reactions were found in 42% (63) of the samples and the titers varied from 50 to 51,200. of the 86 cervids from the captive herds, 38 (44.2%) had anti N. caninum antibodies and of the 64 samples from the zoo, 25 (39.1%) were positive. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found for the occurrence values observed between the animals from captive herds and zoos as well as within the values documented for each one of the species analyzed. Therefore, the results indicate that the agent is prevalent from cervids in captivity in Brazil. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Environmental effect on the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in pampas-deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)

Sera obtained from pampas-deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) captured in two different Brazilian environments were analyzed for the presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Samples were collected from 23 animals from a savanna area in the National Park of Emas, in the state of Goias, Brazil. This area is surrounded by cultivated lands and allows very little contact between wild and domestic animals. Another batch of samples was collected from 16 animals from the Pantanal region, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. This area is a flood plain where domestic animals have intensive contact with cervids. The 39 samples were analyzed (IFAT >= 1:50), and the values for the occurrences found in the animals from each region were compared by the test for comparison of two proportions. of the 39 cervids examined, 38.46% (15) had anti-N. caninum antibodies. Three (13%) of the 23 samples from the National Park of Emas. and 12 (75%) of the 16 samples from the Pantanal were positive, with significant differences between regions (p < 0.001). These results suggested that the presence of domestic animals, mainly dogs and cattle, may be responsible for the greater occurrence of N. caninum in the Pantanal cervids.Thus, as a recommendation of the Conservation Units that care for the pampas-deer, attention should be taken to carefully monitor the flow of diseases between the domestic animals and this species. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gastrointestinal nematode infection in beef cattle of different genetic groups in Brazil

Resistance to natural infection by gastrointestinal nematodes was compared in 67 female calves of the following genetic groups: Nelore (NX); 1/2 Senepol + 1/2 Nelore (SN); and 1/2 Aberdeen Angus + 1/2 Nelore (AN). The NX (n = 26), SN (n = 23) and AN (n = 18) animals were monitored for 14 months, during which they remained without treatment, allowed to graze in a tropical environment. Eggs per gram of feces (EPG), coprocultures and packed cell volume (PCV) were carried out monthly. No significant effects of the interaction between the genetic groups and month/year of collection and the genetic group on the EPG were found, but there was a significant influence of the month of collection (P < 0.01). The monthly PCV measurements did not differ for the animals of the three genetic groups and there was no association found between the EPG and PCV. The animals of the SN and NX groups showed similar numbers of EPG with results zero, while for the AN group these numbers were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Although the NX group had a large number of EPG with results zero, it also contained many animals with high counts, meaning this group had higher averages during the entire study period. The following nematode genera were found in the coprocultures: Haemonchus, Cooperia, Oesophagostomum and Trichostrongylus, the latter in smallest proportion. There was no significant difference between the genetic groups for averages of all parasites identified, except Cooperia, which were present in higher numbers in the animals of the NX group (P < 0.05). The results obtained in this experiment suggest that the use of Bos taurus x Bos indicus crossbreeds can be a good strategy to reduce the use of chemical control in Brazil. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In vitro acaricidal activity of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extracts with known azadirachtin concentrations against Rhipicephalus microplus

The effect of four extracts from neem seeds (Azadirachta indica) containing 2000, 5000, 9000 and 10,000 ppm of azadirachtin A (AZA), quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and diluted to 1.25%; 2.5%; 5.0%; 10.0% and 12.8% was verified by in vitro tests with engorged females and larvae of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus micro plus. The results from the bioassays with the engorged females showed that the main toxic effect of the extracts was reduction of the reproductive parameters, with a sharp drop in the number of eggs laid and the hatching rate, mainly when the extracts were diluted to 10.0% and 12.8%. The product effectiveness (PE) calculations for all the solutions tested showed that the AZA solution at 10,000 ppm (N10) was the most effective. However, statistical analysis of the PE data obtained for the proportional AZA concentrations in the different diluted extracts showed significance (P<0.05) of the effects included in the model (extract dilution, principle effect (classificatory) of the assay (extract) and the interaction between the two), indicating significant variations due to the dilution, the test and the interaction between the two factors in the tests with engorged females. For solutions N2, N5, and N9, it was not possible to estimate LC(90) values in the dilution range tested. The lowest LC(50) was observed for extract N5, and although extract N10 was the only extract for which the LC(90) could be estimated within the range tested, the LC(50) was higher than for N5 and N9. These results suggest that substances other than AZA present in the extracts influenced the efficacy, especially up to a certain LC range. In the tests with larvae, no mortality was observed, indicating zero effectiveness of all the extracts tested. The results of the tests with engorged females showed that the neem extracts had acaricide activity, inhibiting egg laying and the larval hatching rate. Complementary studies are necessary to develop new methods to isolate and/or identify other substances besides AZA contained in this plant, to enable using products made from it as acaricides. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Resistance of cattle of various genetic groups to the tick Rhipicephalus microplus and the relationship with coat traits

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Photodynamic therapy for American cutaneous leishmaniasis: The efficacy of methylene blue in hamsters experimentally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The influence of natural rubber/Au nanoparticle membranes on the physiology of Leishmania brasiliensis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The Distribuition of Strongyloides stercoralis Frequency in Araraquara, São Paulo State - Brazil

Strongyloidiasis is a disease of emerging public health importance. A survey was conducted in Araraquara city, São Paulo state, Brazil, in order to evaluate the frequency distribution of Strongyloides stercoralis in the area. A total of 9582 single stool samples were examined by direct examination, and by the Coprotest and Rugai's methods from January 2005 to January 2007. Out of the total samples examined, 408 (4,3%) were found to be infected by S. stercoralis (143 men and 265 women). The months with the highest frequency (5,0 - 8,2%) of positive patients were February, September and December (2005); April and November (2006) and January (2007). The frequencies from the other months varied around 2,5 to 4,9%. It was concluded that strongyloidiasis is endemic in Araraquara, but in some months, which presented the highest temperatures followed by rainy periods, the frequencies are typical from hyperendemic areas.

Morphological, biological and molecular characterization of three strains of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909 (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) isolated from Triatoma sordida (Stal) 1859 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) and a domestic cat

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Presence of autoantibodies against small nuclear ribonucleoprotein epitopes in Chagas' patients' sera

We investigated the possibility that Chagas' patients develop an autoimmune response to human UsnRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein) or Sm epitopes. Using purified human UsnRNPs, we detected anti-human UsnRNPs antibodies in sera from patients suffering from Chagas' disease. The antibodies it-ere also detected using peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays containing the Sm-motif 1 domain. The latter technique showed that 61% (31/51) of the Chagas' patients' sera contained antibodies against Sm-motif I. The detection of anti-UsnRNPs autoantibodies in Chagas patients' sera strongly encourages further studies using animal models to determine how these autoantibodies appear.

Taenia saginata: Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Taenia saginata metacestode antigens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Detection of antibody to Toxocara vitulorum perieneteric fluid antigens (Pe) in the colostrum and serum of buffalo calves and cows by Western blotting

Toxocara vitulorum, a nematode parasite in the small intestine of cattle and water buffaloes, causes high morbidity and mortality of 1-3 months old buffalo calves. This research evaluated the specific perieneteric antigens (Pe) reactivity of anti-T. vitulorum-Pe antibody (Tv-Pe-Ab) in both immune sera and colostrum from buffalo cows immediately post-partum from buffalo cows. The presence of Tv-Pe-Ab in sera of buffalo newborn calves was also examined at 1 day before and after suckling the colostrum as well as in sera from naturally infected calves at the beginning and peak of the maximum infection and then again during the period of rejection and post-rejection of the parasite. Pe antigens were characterized for Tv-Pe-Ab by SDS-PAGE and Western blot (WB). The SDS-PAGE showed that Pe contained nine protein bands (11, 14, 31, 38, 58, 76, 88,112 and 165 kDa). All Pe bands were recognized by Tv-Pe-Ab in sera and colostrum of buffalo cows. Only the serum antibodies of buffalo calves at 1 day of age after suckling the colostrum and during the beginning of T. vitulorum infection recognized Pe antigen's nine bands. In contrast, serum antibodies from 1-day-old buffalo calves, taken before suckling colostrum, did not react with any protein band. In suckling calves, which reached peak egg output, rejection and post-rejection stages of the infection, serum Tv-Pe-Ab reactivity with lower molecular weight protein bands (11-76 kDa) was lost and only reactivity with the Pe protein bands of higher molecular weight (88, 112 and 165 kDa) remained. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.