Action of ethanolic extract from aerial parts of Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae) on hatchability and embryogenesis of Rhipicephalus sanguineus eggs (Acari: Ixodidae)

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

Pathology of dogs in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil naturally co-infected with Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis

Different parasites that commonly occur concomitantly can influence one another, sometimes with unpredictable effects. We evaluated pathological aspects of dogs naturally co-infected with Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis. The health status of the dogs was investigated based on histopathological, hematological and biochemical analyses of 21 animals infected solely with L. infantum and 22 dogs co-infected with L. infantum and E. canis. The skin of both groups showed chronic, predominantly lymphohistioplasmacytic inflammatory reaction. The plasmacytosis in the lymphoid tissues was likely related with the hypergammaglobulinemia detected in all the dogs. The disorganization of extracellular matrix found in the reticular dermis of the inguinal region and ear, characterized by the substitution of thick collagen fibers for thin fibers, was attributed to the degree of inflammatory reaction, irrespective of the presence of parasites. In addition, the histopathological analysis revealed that twice as many dogs in the co-infected group presented Leishmania amastigotes in the ear skin than those infected solely with Leishmania, increasing the possibility of becoming infected through sand fly vectors. Our findings highlight the fact that the health of dogs infected concomitantly with L. infantum and E. canis is severely compromised due to their high levels of total plasma protein, globulins, alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase, and severe anemia.

Ehrlichia canis (Jaboticabal strain) induces the expression of TNF-alpha in leukocytes and splenocytes of experimentally infected dogs

Canine ehrlichiosis is caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia canis and is characterized by a systemic febrile disease of unknown pathogenesis. This study evaluated the expression of cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-10, IFN-gamma, in splenic cells and blood leukocytes during the acute phase of ehrlichiosis and after treatment with doxycycline hyclate in dogs experimentally infected with the E. canis Jaboticabal strain. The study results showed a significant expression of TNF-alpha 18 days post-inoculation, reducing by approximately 70% after treatment. There was a unique peak of expression of IL-10 and IFN-gamma 18 and 30 days post-inoculation, respectively. This study suggests that TNF-alpha plays a role in the pathogenesis of the acute phase of canine ehrlichiosis and that treatment with doxycycline hyclate reduces the systemic effects of this cytokine, possibly by reducing or eliminating parasitemia.

The shadows of a ghost: a survey of canine leishmaniasis in Presidente Prudente and its spatial dispersion in the western region of São Paulo state, an emerging focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

Visceral leishmaniasis is an emerging zoonosis and its geographic distribution is restricted to tropical and temperate regions. Most of the individuals infected in Latin America are in Brazil. Despite the control measures that have been adopted, the disease is spreading throughout new regions of the country. Domestic dogs are involved in the transmission cycle and are considered to be the main epidemiologic reservoir of Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi). Our aim was to determine the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis (CL) and Ehrlichiosis infection in Presidente Prudente as well as the spatial dispersion of the disease in the western region of São Paulo state. Dogs underwent clinical examination and symptoms related to CL were recorded. Anti- Leishmania antibodies were detected using ELISA, rK39-immunocromatographic tests (DPP), and an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Anti-E. canis antibodies were detected by IFAT. A follow-up was conducted in dogs that were positive in the ELISA at the baseline study. Data on the spatial distribution of L. longipalpis and CL in São Paulo state were obtained from Brazilian public health agencies. Serum samples from 4547 dogs were analyzed. The seroprevalence of CL was 11.2 % by ELISA and 4.5 % by IFAT. In the follow-up, seroprevalence was 32.9 % by ELISA, 15.3 % by IFAT, 11.8 % by DPP test, and 66.5 % for E. canis. There was a significant positive association between Leishmania and E. canis infection (P < 0.0001). In the follow-up, clinical examinations revealed symptoms compatible with CL in 33.5 % of the dogs. L. longipalpis was found in 24 and CL in 15 counties of the Presidente Prudente mesoregion. The dispersion route followed the west frontier of São Paulo state toward Paraná state. Low CL and high ehrlichiosis prevalence rates were found in Presidente Prudente city. This emerging focus of CL is moving through the western region of São Paulo state toward the border of Paraná state. Integrated actions to fight the vector, parasites, infected dogs, and humans are needed to monitor the disease and implement strategies for epidemiologic control.

Importância da avaliação hematológica e sorológica (dot-blot ELISA) no diagnóstico de erliquiose em cães

This study compared the hematological and serological analysis of diagnosis of canine ehrlichiosis. The survey of Ehrlichia canis was performed through the evaluation of blood smears from 150 dogs. The serological test was performed on 12 samples selected by the platelet count (less than 170,000 platelets / uL). Serologic testing was performed with the Imunocomb kit - Dot-blot-ELISA. No cytoplasmatic inclusion characteristic of morula of E. canis was found in blood smears. In serologic testing, eight samples were positive for Ehrlichia canis, concluding that thrombocytopenia is an important hematological finding of ehrlichiosis diagnosis and the detection of Ehrlichia canis morulae is uncommon. The serological evaluation Dot-blot ELISA is an accurate and brief diagnosis method of canine ehrlichiosis, been the most appropriate to be used in veterinary practice routine.

Erliquiose canina: revisão de literatura

The hemoparasitosis ehrlichiosis is a disease with high incidence in veterinary clinic routine, which causes damage to animal and human health, thus requiring the rapid and accurate diagnosis for treatment witch consists of specific drugs in particular doxycycline. It is necessary to make a good prevention, to prevent the disease, especially with regard to the control of ticks, since this is the vector of the agent. This review aims to elucidate the details for the canine ehrlichiosis, as a tool to help veterinarians to better understanding of this disease.

Elastografia acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI), doppler e ultrassonografia contrastada do baço canino

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

Avaliação adrenocortical, tireoideana e do estresse oxidativo de cães naturalmente infectados por Ehrlichia canis

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Detecção molecular de Ehrlichia canis em cães e em órgãos de seus respectivos carrapatos

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

Detecção molecular de Ehrlichia canis em cães e em órgãos de seus respectivos carrapatos

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

Thrombocytopenia and platelet activity in dogs experimentally infected with Rangelia vitalii

The aim of this study was to evaluate the platelet count, coagulation time and platelet activity in dogs experimentally infected with Rangelia vitalii during the acute phase of the disease. For this study, 12 young dogs (females) were used, separated in two groups. Group A (uninfected control) was composed by healthy dogs (n=5), and group B consisted of R. vitalii-infected animals (n=7). After being inoculated with R. vitalii-infected blood, animals were monitored by blood smear examinations, which showed intra-erythrocytic forms of the parasite five days post-inoculation (PI). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 10, 20 and 30 PI. The material collected was placed in tubes containing EDTA for quantification of platelets, citrate anticoagulant platelet aggregation, and measuring the clotting time. Right after blood collection on days 10 and 20 PI, dogs were anesthetized for collecting bone marrow samples. A significant reduction (P<0.01) of the number of platelets was observed in R. vitalii-infected blood, when compared with uninfected dogs on days 10 and 20 PI. Additionally, macro-platelets were observed only in infected dogs. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time did not differ between infected and uninfected dogs. The megakaryocyte count increased (P<0.01) significantly in infected dogs when compared with uninfected ones on days 10 and 20 PI. Platelet aggregation decreased (P<0.01) significantly in infected dogs in comparison to the control on days 10 and 20 PI. Therefore, rangeliosis in dogs causes a severe thrombocytopenia during the acute phase of infection. This platelets reduction probably occurred due to splenic sequestration and/or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The role of cytoskeleton, components of inositol phospholipid signaling pathway and iron in Ehrlichia canis in vitro proliferation

Ehrlichia canis, etiologic agent of Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis, is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that parasitizes monocytes and macrophages. In this study we analyzed the role of the cytoskeleton specifically actin microfilaments and microtubules, components of inositol phospholipid signaling pathway such as phospholipase C (PLC), protein kinase (PTK) and calcium channels as well as the role of iron in the E. canis proliferation in DH82 cells. Different inhibitory compounds were used for each component: Cytochalasin D (inhibits actin polymerization), Nocodazole (inhibits microtubule polymerization), Neomycin (PLC inhibitor), Genistein (PTK inhibitor), Verapamil (calcium channel blocker) and Deferoxamine (iron chelator). We observed a significant decrease in the total number of bacteria in infected cells treated suggesting that these cellular components analized are essentials to E. canis proliferation.

Efficient use of a small genome to generate antigenic diversity in tick-borne ehrlichial pathogens

Ehrlichiae are responsible for important tick-transmitted diseases, including anaplasmosis, the most prevalent tick-borne infection of livestock worldwide, and the emerging human diseases monocytic and granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Antigenic variation of major surface proteins is a key feature of these pathogens that allows persistence in the mammalian host, a requisite for subsequent tick transmission. In Anaplasma marginale pseudogenes for two antigenically variable gene families, msp2 and msp3, appear in concert. These pseudogenes can be recombined into the functional expression site to generate new antigenic variants. Coordinated control of the recombination of these genes would allow these two gene families to act synergistically to evade the host immune response.

Clínica e cirurgia de animais de companhia

Este relatório foi realizado no âmbito da conclusão do mestrado integrado em medicina veterinária da Universidade de Évora, encontrando-se dividido em duas partes. A primeira é referente à casuística acompanhada ao longo do estágio curricular, decorrido no Hospital Veterinário do Restelo (HVR), com a duração de quatro meses, desde 03 de Agosto de 2015 a 06 de Dezembro de 2016, sob orientação da Doutora Sandra Branco e coorientação do Dr. Diogo Magno, subdiretor clínico do HVR. A segunda parte é constituída por uma monografia subordinada ao tema “Erliquiose Monocítica Canina”, seguida de um caso clínico acompanhado pelo autor no âmbito do referido tema. A erliquiose monocítica canina (EMC) é uma doença infeciosa transmitida por um vetor, o ixodídeo Riphicephalus sanguineus, cujos controlos químicos e ambientais são essenciais para reduzir a prevalência da doença. É causada por uma bactéria intracelular, Ehrlichia canis, que afeta o sistema imunitário dos cães, manifestando diferentes fases de evolução e podendo apresentar formas aguda e crónica da doença. O tratamento de primeira escolha é o uso da antibioterapia com tetraciclinas, dentre as quais a doxiciclina, para além do tratamento de suporte, como a fluidoterapia. O prognóstico é variável, dependendo da precocidade e eficiência da terapêutica instituída; ABSTRACT: The present report, wrote to get the master degree in veterinary medicine area, on Universidade de Évora, is divided up into two distinct parts. On one hand it describes the clinical situations’ roll, assisted through the experimental trainee, that took place on Hospital Veterinário do Restelo (HVR), for a period of four months, specifically since 3 august 2015 until 6 december 2015, and this trainee was led by Doctor Sandra Branco, and also the HVR’s clinical subdirector Dr. Diogo Magno. On other hand the second parts reveals a monograph titled “ehrlichiosis monocytic canine” (EMC), specifying a particular clinical case followed by the author. The EMC an infectious disease transmitted by a tick - Riphicephalus sanguineus – whose chemical controls and even the environmental ones are crucial to reduce the disease’s prevalence. The disease has an intracellular bacteria origin - Ehrlichia canis – responsability for the dog’s immune system infection, and it reveals different evolution phases and present acute or in some cases chronic forms. The treatment’s first step is to use an antibiotic with tetracycline that include doxycycline, and as a fluid’s therapy addition is use to do the supportive treatment. The diagnosis is variable so it depends on precocity evaluation and even on the therapeutics efficiencies.

Ocorrência da infecção por Ehrlichia spp e Anaplasma platys em canídeos e felídeos selvagens mantidos em cativeiro no Distrito Federal e Goiás

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Animal, 2015.