Leishmania spp. in Didelphis albiventris and Micoureus paraguayanus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) of Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efficacy of the Bm86 antigen against immature instars and adults of the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anticoccidial effects of coumestans from Eclipta alba for sustainable control of Eimeria tenella parasitosis in poultry production

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of a product containing coumestans from Eclipta alba. Experimental conditions were set up as to reproduce the environment conditions for husbandry adopted in commercial broiler farms. Broilers were raised in broiler chicken shed provided with feeders, drinkers, illumination and temperature control systems and floor covering to afford an adequate nourishing environment. Male Cobb broilers (240) were assigned to four experimental groups being each experimental group set apart in rice straw-covered shed isolated with wire mesh. One-day-old broilers were reared in a coccidian-free environment with ad libitum supply of filtered water and freely available standard feed, from the 1st to the 35th day of life. The T1 group received standard feed (negative control); T2 was treated with standard feed supplemented with 66 ppm of salinomycin (positive control); groups T3 and T4 had standard feed supplemented with the ethyl acetate fraction from methanolic extract of E. alba aerial parts, which contains the coumestans WL and DWL (120 and 180 ppm, respectively). The chicken broilers were individually infected with 2 x 104 oocysts of Eimeria tenella when they were 14 days old and were monitored weekly to evaluate zootechnical parameters such as weight gain and food conversion ratio. Counting of coccidial oocyst in chiken feces was assessed from random samples, from the 21st to 28th days of life, which corresponded to 7-14 days after the infection. Five chickens selected at random from each experimental group were subsequently euthanized at 21, 28 or 35 days of life to determine the lesion score in the cecal region and to excise a cecum portion for histopathological evaluation. The group treated with coumestans from E. alba presented an average weight gain and food conversion ratio higher than the negative control group and similar to the mean value of the positive control group. Coumestan-treated groups showed a significant decrease in the oocyst counting since the 21th day of life and displayed a reduced number of macroscopic lesions. Histopathological evaluations of cecum fragments showed that both treatments induced the migration of defense cells at the site of infection. A severe destruction of the cecal lining was found in the intestinal tract of broilers fed with a coumestans dose of 180 ppm. Overall, our results validate the use of a phytotherapy containing E. alba coumestans at a dose of 120 ppm as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent against avian coccidiosis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relationship between dog culling and incidence of human visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area

Domestic dogs are the main reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in urban areas; one of the control measures adopted in Brazil is the elimination of this reservoir. In order to test the relationship between the euthanasia rate of the canine reservoir and the incidence of the disease in humans, data on dog culling from the Centre for Zoonosis Control of Aracatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, during the period from 1999 to 2008 and visceral leishmaniasis human cases registered in the same period were analyzed. Reduction of human VL incidence was statistically correlated to dog euthanasia rate (P=0.0211; r(2)=0.616) when it was analyzed for the period of two years after application of this measure. Other factors that may influence this relationship are considered. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The first report of Hepatozoon sp (Apicomplexa : Hepatozoidae) in neotropical felids from Brazil

In order to investigate the occurrence of Hepatozoon infection in Neotropical felids from Brazil, blood from the jugular or cephalic vein was taken from 29 non-domestic felids including ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), little spotted cat (Leopardus tigrinus), margay (Leopardus wiedii), and jaguarondi (Puma yagouaroundi) from the Northeast region of Brazil. Hepatozoon infection was confirmed by light microscopy and molecular techniques. The results showed five naturally infected felids. Partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene of the Hepatozoon sp. from these felids were further analyzed. Sequences revealed that the isolates found are closely related to Hepatozoon sp. from domestic cats in Spain. Hepatozoon species from Neotropical felids were identified molecularly and characterized for the first time. This is also the first report of Hepatozoon infection in a little spotted cat. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Endectocide activity of a new long-action formulation containing 2.25% ivermectin+1.25% abamectin in cattle

The present work aimed to evaluate the endectocide activity of a new injectable long-action formulation, containing ivermectin (IVM) and abamectin (ABA). In each one of the four experiments performed, the following groups were formed: group I: 2.25% IVM (450 mu g/kg) + 1.25% ABA (250 mu g/kg), group II: 3.15% IVM (630 mu g/kg) and group III: control. Eighteen bovine naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematoda were selected for anthelmintic evaluation and necropsied on posttreatment day (PTD) 14 to estimate the total parasitic burden. For the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus field trial, 30 bovine were selected by means of counts of semi-engorged R. (B.) microplus and the therapeutic and residual efficacy evaluated by tick counts on PTDs 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84 and 91. In the stall test, 15 calves were artificially infested with 5000 R. (B.) microplus (Mozzo strain) larvae three times a week and daily collections of all the engorged female ticks detached from each calf were performed until the PTD 80. Forty bovine naturally infected with Dermatobia hominis larvae were selected and the number of larvae was counted by visual and tactile inspection on PTDs 3, 7, 14, 28, 35, 49, 63, 77, 91 and 105. In this trial, a formulation containing 1% doramectin (200 mu g/kg) was also used. IVM + ABA formulation and 3.15% IVM eliminated four of the eight species of nematode identified. The anthelmintic efficacy of the avermectins association against Haemonchus placei, Cooperia spatulata and C. punctata was 89.64%, 98.84% and 97.69%, while 3.15% IVM achieved 30.98%, 84.79% and 75.56%, respectively. The two formulations evaluated showed reduced acaricide action on the PTD I and 3, reaching high efficacy percentages from PTD 14 onward. The IVM + ABA showed efficacy above 95% in the period between PTDs 21 and 49. In the stall test, it observed no difference (P > 0.05) between the two formulations regarding the R. (B.) microplus counts during the entire evaluation period. IVM + ABA reduced the number of ticks from the PTD 1 to 77 (P < 0.05) and 3.15% IVM reduced (P < 0.05) the tick number from PTD 4 up to PTD 80. The three endectocides showed no difference (P > 0.05) regarding the number of D. hominis larvae and prevented this parasite reestablishment until PTD 105. These results indicate that the IVM + ABA association showed higher anthelmintic activity and similar efficacy against arthropods to the formulation containing 3.15% IVM. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dog culling and replacement in an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

Measures employed to control visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil have focused on vector control by residual insecticide spraying and diagnosis of infection with elimination of positive dogs. We describe dog culling and replacement in a Brazilian endemic area (the Alvorada District, Aracatuba, SP) in order to better understand dog population dynamics when elimination of the dog reservoir is adopted as the main control measure. From August 2002 to July 2004, 60.9% of the estimated dog population for the area was culled with a mean age of 34 months old. The presence of anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies was recorded for only 26.7% of the euthanized canines. Replacement was observed in 38.8% of the cases, some of them by 2 or more dogs and in a mean time of 4 months. Dogs were replaced mostly by puppies of both sexes with a mean age of 6.8 months. From August 2002 to April 2005 we were able to follow-up 116 of these dogs, during a mean time of 8.7 months. Canine visceral leishmaniasis seropositivity by ELISA was observed in 42.2% of the followed dogs, 30.6% of which were already positive at the first evaluation. By the end of the follow-up period 37% of the dogs were submitted to euthanasia, with a mean age of 18.3 months. In the studied CVL endemic area of Brazil, euthanasia and the subsequent replacement ratio were high, increasing the dog population turnover and leading to a younger population that might be more susceptible to a variety of other infectious diseases in addition to CVL. Dog culling as a control strategy for VL should be reassessed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potential role for dog fleas in the cycle of Leishmania spp.

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

Temporal IgG subclasses response in dogs following vaccination against Leishmania with Leishmune (R)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Leishmania chagasi infection in cats with dermatologic lesions from an endemic area of visceral leishmaniosis in Brazil

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

IgG subclass profile of serum antibodies to Leishmania chagasi in naturally infected and vaccinated dogs

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

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the milk of naturally infected ewes

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

Molecular and serological detection of Ehrlichia canis and Babesia vogeli in dogs in Colombia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Acquisition and transmission of Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) by the tick Amblyomma ovale (Acari: Ixodidae)

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

Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. in Brazilian and exotic wild carnivores

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