Surto de leishmaniose tegumentar americana em Itaporanga, São Paulo (Brasil)

O presente trabalho relata os aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos de surto de leishmaniose tegumentar americana na região Sudoeste do estado de São Paulo, área de colonização antiga, não associada a derrubadas de matas. Foram examinados 231 indivíduos, observando-se: a) Sessenta e sete indivíduos (29%) apresentavam leishmaniose confirmada pela histopatologia das lesões cutâneas e intradermorreação de Montenegro. Destes casos, 40 (59,7%) eram homens; b) a idade variou entre 2 (5 casos) e 86 anos (1 caso); c) de acordo com o tipo de lesão, observou-se: 54 (80, 6%) pacientes apresentavam úlceras, 13 (19,4%) nódulos, 4 (5,9%) lesões úlcero-vegetantes e 3 (4,4%) cicatrizes típicas; d) a intradermorreção de Montenegro apresentou 94,7% de positividade nos casos de leishmaniose-doença. Este estudo reforça observações prévias de que, além da forma clássica de transmissão, a leishmaniose pode ser transmitida no intra e peri-domicílio.

Surto de abscesso mandibular por Pseudomonas aeruginosa em ovinos

Descreve-se um surto de abscesso mandibular em ovelhas da raça Bergamácia no município de Botucatu, estado de São Paulo. do rebanho de 120 animais, 35 apresentaram aumento de volume mandibular com a presença de nódulos únicos, de consistência pétrea, de diferentes tamanhos, fistulados ou não e sem indicativos de inflamação dos tecidos moles adjacentes. Os animais eram criados em pasto de Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia com água e sal mineral ad libitum e everminados, via oral, com pistolas dosificadoras. O material para diagnóstico microbiológico e antibiograma foi coletado de cinco animais acometidos, por punção e aspiração dos nódulos. Dos 35 animais acometidos, 19 foram submetidos ao exame radiográfico, um ao exame tomográfico e outro à biópsia óssea da região submandibular. O único ovino que morreu, encontrava-se em estado de caquexia provavelmente devido à localização do aumento de volume que afetou a implantação dos dentes molares daquela região impedindo a apreensão e mastigação adequadas levando a perda da condição corporal e morte. Ao exame necroscópico, observaram-se áreas de necrose caseosa na mandíbula direita de onde isolou-se Pseudomonas aeruginosa. O tratamento utilizado foi baseado na aplicação de iodeto de sódio a 10% por via intramuscular e antibioticoterapia segundo antibiograma com enrofloxacina por via intramuscular, porém com pouca eficácia. Diante do quadro clínico, dos dados de anamnese, da localização das lesões no tecido ósseo mandibular, do resultado do cultivo microbiológico, das alterações radiográficas e tomográficas foi feito o diagnóstico de abscesso mandibular causado por Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Surto de mastite bovina causada por Arcanobacterium pyogenes

An uncommon outbreak of mastitis caused by Arcanobacterium pyogenes in 26 cows is reported. The epidemiological findings, clinical signs, microbiological exams, somatic cell count, in vitro susceptibility profile of strains, efficacy of intramammary treatment and control measures were discussed. Florfenicol (96.2%), cefoperazona (92.3%), cefaloxin (84.6%) and ceftiofur (84.6%) were the most effective antimicrobials, and neomicin (27.0%) and enrofloxacin (17.4%) the least effective antimicrobials.

First Autochthonous Case of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Center of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Background: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-borne diseases of humans. This parasitic disease can be caused by many species of Leishmania. In humans, different species of the parasite are associated with different forms of the disease, cutaneous and visceral. Among domesticated animals, dogs are the most important species in the epidemiology of this disease. Leishmania chagasi, an important zoonosis, is well established as the agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. The disease is endemic in north, northeast, midwest and southeast, and is transmitted to mammals by hematophagous insects such as the Lutzomyia longipalpis. In 2008, our research group has diagnosed a case of canine leishmaniasis in the municipality of Uruguaiana and subsequently there were several cases in the city and the neighbor municipality of Sao Borja. Most Brazilian states are endemic for leishmaniasis, with the exception of Rio Grande do Sul. In southern Brazil, the reports of humans and dogs infected by Leishmania spp. are the source of endemic area in the country. Therefore, the aim of this study is register the first clinical case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in the municipality of Santa Maria, RS.Case: In october 2010, a veterinary clinic of Santa Maria received a canine, female, Doberman, with two years of age. The animal had severe skin lesions on the head and limbs, pale mucous membranes, and enlarged lymph nodes. According to the owner, the animal showed progressive weight loss and anorexia for more than five days. During the clinical examination the blood was collected for hemogram and cytology of lymph nodes was performed by puncture aspiration with a fine needle. In the erythrogram, it was observed a decrease in the total number of erythrocytes (2.8 x 10(6)/mu L), hematocrit (21%), hemoglobin (6.8 g/dL) and platelets (98 x 10(3)/mu L). In the leucogram, any alteration was observed. The cytology of lymph nodes showed amastigotes forms, suggestive of the Leishmania spp. Based on this finding; we performed the blood collection for PCR, to confirm parasitism and to determine the species of Leishmania. At the molecular test was used PCR-specific for L. chagasi, and the result was positive.Discussion: This is the first autochthonous clinical case in the central region of the RS, non-endemic area for leishmaniasis. In serological studies of visceral leishmaniasis it was diagnosed in five asymptomatic dogs in the municipalities of Santa Maria, Julio de Castilhos and Itaara, however not confirmed by molecular analysis. In the municipalities of Cruz Alta and Uruguaiana cases of L. chagasi have been reported in dogs which previously resided in Leishmania sp. endemic areas. The municipality of Sao Borja had the first record of L. longipalpis in the RS during the leishmaniasis outbreak in 2008-2009. In the central region of the RS vector has not been found, but because in this first autochthonous case dog in Santa Maria believe that the parasite is present and/or doing other insect transmission of leishmaniasis. Clinical signs associated with hematologic and coagulation disorders observed in the canine are commonly described in symptomatic dogs in endemic regions. This case of autochthonous leishmaniasis reinforces the idea of the vector presence in Santa Maria, center of the RS. We believe that canine leishmaniasis is an emerging disease in the southern region of Brazil.

Naturally acquired antibodies against Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin in goats

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

Errância e delírio em andarilhos de estrada

Os andarilhos freqüentemente caminham pelas estradas sem destino como nômades que renunciam a fixações geográficas, psicológicas e sociais. Não é raro encontrar andarilhos de estrada com manifestações de visões e pensamentos delirantes. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi investigar possíveis conexões entre a movimentação constante dos andarilhos e a eclosão de delírios. Coletamos e analisamos narrativas de andarilhos, explorando especificamente os conteúdos alusivos à representação de si, de seu mundo e de sua caminhada pelas estradas. Idéias persecutórias, megalomaníacas e depressivas, superinvestidas afetivamente, aparecem com freqüencia nos pensamentos sobre o presente, o passado e nas reflexões sobre os motivos do deslocamento constante. Os resultados sugerem que há uma forte relação entre a movimentação constante e sem destino e as idéias e visões delirantes que os acometem.

Especulação sobre a taxa de infecção da difteria no Modelo Estocástico Simples de Epidemia

Com base em um programa em linguagem Fortran, utilizando a técnica de simulação em computador e através das pressuposições do Modelo Estocástico Simples de Epidemia, é estabelecida uma conjectura a respeito de valores para a taxa de infecção para a difteria, a partir de ocorrência de casos em um domicílio de cinco pessoas.

DETECTION OF SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM IN A BROILER CHICKEN FLOCK

An outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium in a commercial broiler chicken flock is reported. The signs of the disease started on the 5th day-old. The symptoms, the gross alterations and the damage to the birds and to the farm are discussed.

Aracatuba virus: A vaccinialike m virus associated with infection in humans and cattle

We describe a vaccinialike virus, Aragatuba virus, associated with a cowpoxlike outbreak in a dairy herd and a related case of human infection. Diagnosis was based on virus growth characteristics, electron microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Molecular characterization of the virus was done by using polymerase chain reaction amplification, cloning, an DNA sequencing of conserved orthopoxvirus genes such as the vaccinia growth factor (VGF), thymidine kinase (TK), and hemagglutinin. We used VGF-homologous and TK gene nucleoticle sequences to construct a phylogenetic tree for comparison with other poxviruses. Gene sequences showed 99% homology with vaccinia virus genes and were clustered together with the isolated virus in the phylogenetic tree. Aragatuba virus is very similar to Cantagalo virus, showing the same signature deletion in the gene. Aragatuba virus could be a novel vaccinialike virus or could represent the spread of Cantagalo virus.

Potential force of infection of human rabies transmitted by vampire bats in the Amazonian region of Brazil

Human rabies tansmitted by bats has acquired greater epidemiologic relevance in various Latin American countries, just when cases transmitted by dogs have decreased. Concern has been heightened by reports of increased rates of bats biting humans in villlages in the Amazonian region of Brazil. The aim of the present work was to estimate the potential force of infection (per capita rate at which susceptible individuals acquire infection) of human rabies transmitted by the common vampire bat if the rabies virus were to be introduced to a colony of bats close to a village with a high rate of human bites. The potential force of infection could be then used to anticipate the size of a rabies outbreak in control programs. We present an estimator of potential incidence, adapted from models for malaria. To obtain some of the parameters for the equation, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Mina Nova, a village of gold prospectors in the Amazonian region of Brazil with high rates of bates biting humans. Bats were captured near dwellings and sent to the Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory at the Center for Control of Zoonoses (São Paulo, Brazil) to be examined. To estimate the force of infection, a hypothetical rabies outbreak among bats was simulated using the actual data obtained in the study area. of 129 people interviewed, 23.33% had been attacked by a vampire bat during the year prior to the study, with an average of 2.8 bites per attacked person. Males (29.41%) were attacked more often than females (11.36%); also, adults (29.35%) were attacked more often than children (8.33%). None of the 12 bats captured in Mina Nova tested positive for rabies, but the force of infection for a hypothetical outbreak was estimated to be 0.0096 per person per year. This risk represents 0.96 cases per 100 area residents, giving an incidence of 1.54 cases of bat-transimtted buman rabies per year in the village of Mina Nova (160 inhabitants). The estimated risk is comparable with what has been observed in similar Brazilian villages.

Validation of an immunohistochemistry assay to detect turkey coronavirus: A rapid and simple screening tool for limited resource settings

The objective of the present study was to develop and apply the direct immunohistochemistry (D-IHC) assay to search for turkey coronavirus (TCoV) antigens in formalin-fixed embedded-paraffin tissues by the use of biotin-labeled polyclonal antibody. Twenty-eight-day-old embryonated turkey eggs (n = 50) were inoculated with TCoV-purified virus, and 3 d after inoculation, sections from ileum, ileum-cecal junction, and ceca were harvested, fixed in neutral formalin, and embedded in paraffin blocks and used as positive control. In addition, a total of 100 field samples from ileum, ileum-cecal junction, and ceca, collected from 30 to 45-d-old turkeys poults experiencing an outbreak of acute enteritis, were used to search for TCoV by the same D-IHC. All results were compared with those obtained by conventional RT-PCR and indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA) for all tested samples. Turkey coronavirus was detected in experimentally infected embryo tissues and also in field samples in 100% of ileum-cecal junction and ceca by the 3 detection procedures. With IFA as a reference assay, sensitivity and specificity of D-IHC were 98 and 58%, whereas sensitivity and specificity of reverse transcription-PCR were 96 and 66%, calculated from the total of tested samples from experimental infection. Each of the examined procedures was highly specific (D-IHC, 93%; RT-PCR, 90%), sensitive (D-IHC, 85%; RT-PCR, 86%), and agreement of both D-IHC and RT-PCR was 99 and 100%, respectively, compared with IFA results obtained from all the field samples. These findings demonstrated the utility of D-IHC for direct detection of TCoV from field samples and considering the sensitivity and specificity found here, can be used as an alternative technique.

Trypanosoma vivax infection dynamics in a cattle herd maintained in a transition area between Pantanal lowlands and highlands of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Trypanosoma vivax outbreaks in beef cattle in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, causes relevant economical impact due to weight loss, abortion and mortality. Cattle moved from the Pantanal to adjacent areas of this ecosystem for breeding and fattening is a common feature. Therefore an epidemiological study on breeding cows in the transition area between Pantanal lowland and adjacent highlands of Mato Grosso do Sul was performed to determine the T. vivax infection dynamics and outbreak risk. Three experimental groups were formed: Group 1 consisted of cows parasitologically negative by the Woo test and in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for T. vivax antibody detection (Tv-ELISA-Ab); Group 2 parasitologically negative and positive in the Tv-ELISA-Ab; and in Group 3 cows were parasitologically positive and with positive reactions in the Tv-ELISA-Ab. During 24 months, the cows' dislodgment between the above established groups was monitored by Woo test and Tv-ELISA-Ab exams. The tabanid population was also monitored and the highest number occurred during the rainy season. Although parasitemias were detected only in the first four samplings of the experimental period, the cows could be considered as trypanotolerant, because no clinical signs were observed. Despite the higher T. vivax incidence during the dry season, no disease symptoms were seen. Even though T. vivax epidemiological situation in the herd was characterized as endemic with seasonal variation, the probability of outbreaks was null within the conditions of the study.

Botulism by Clostridium botulinum type C in goats associated with osteophagia

An outbreak of botulism was detected in goats in the semiarid region of Brazil. In a flock of 460 goats, 38 does were affected and 37 died. Kids and younger goats were not affected. The main clinical signs were flaccid tetraparesis leading to tetraplegia that was often accompanied by twisted neck, tongue paralysis, and muscle tremors. At the time of the visit, 4 out of 11 affected goats were recumbent. Ambulatory goats had uncoordinated and swaying gaits with hypometria and weakness, mainly of the hind limbs. Two recumbent and four ambulatory goats showed twisted neck. Two recumbent goats were euthanized and necropsied. Non-significant gross and histologic lesions were observed. Samples of the liver, gut and rumen content were collected from the two goats and examined for botulinum toxins using the mouse serum neutralization test. The three samples from one goat were positive for type C toxin. Marked osteophagia was observed when the goats had access to bones in the pasture, and the farmer mentioned that osteophagia was common among goats of the flock. A sample of the plant Hybantus ipecaconha, the most abundant forage available for the goats, contained 2800 mg/kg of Ca and 450 mg/kg of P. One soil sample contained 58.12 mg/kg of Ca and 2.02 mg/kg of P. It was concluded that in this outbreak, botulism was associated with osteophagia probably due to phosphorus deficiency. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Short Report: Vaccinia Virus in Humans and Cattle in Southwest Region of São Paulo State, Brazil

A new outbreak of Vaccinia virus was observed in Southwest region of São Paulo State. Brazil. The disease was observed in four small dairy farms with manual milking. Lesions were detected in cattle and in humans previously vaccinated and not vaccinated against smallpox. Although several reports of Vaccinia virus outbreaks have been occuring in Brazil, it was not yet reported in this region. This Outbreak reinforces the Viral circulation in Our country. The disease in persons previously vaccinated and not vaccinated against smallpox reinforces the absence of immunity, the risk to the human health, and the need for more epidemiologic and immunologic studies.

Evaluation of developmental changes in bovine in vitro produced embryos following exposure to bovine Herpesvirus type 5

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