Occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in donkeys of São Paulo state / Ocorrência de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. em asininos no estado de São Paulo

Among the diseases that affect equines, bacterial diseases play an important role from a health and economic point of view, especially leptospirosis and brucellosis. The study aimed to provide information on the occurrence of anti-Leptospira spp. and anti-Brucella abortus antibodies in donkeys of São Paulo state. We found a frequency of 62.4% (53/85) antibodies against Leptospira spp. The donkeys were not seropositive for Brucella spp.(AU)

Entre as doenças que acometem os equídeos, as enfermidades bacterianas assumem um papel importante do ponto de vista sanitário e econômico, destacando-se a leptospirose e a brucelose. O estudo teve como objetivo fornecer informações sobre a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. e anti-Brucella abortus em jumentos no estado de São Paulo. Estimou-se que 62,4% (53/85) dos animais apresentavam anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. Os jumentos estudados não foram sororreagentes contra a Brucella spp.(AU)

ANTHELMINTIC EFFECTS OF DRIED GROUND BANANA PLANT LEAVES (MUSA SPP.) FED TO SHEEP ARTIFICIALLY INFECTED WITH HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS AND TRICHOSTRONGYLUS COLUBRIFORMIS.

BACKGROUND: Helminths is a endoparasites that cause the major losses for profitable sheep production in Brazil. The increased development of resistant strains of endoparasites have enforced the search for sustainable alternatives. The aim of this paper was to provide information about endoparasites control with banana leaves in infected sheep as alternative control strategies and see its viability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we performed two trials to investigate the anthelmintic properties of banana leaves on endoparasites in sheep. In Trial 1, twelve sheep were artificially infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis; in Trial 2, eleven sheep were artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus. Clinical examinations, packed cell volume, total protein, faecal egg counts (FECs) and egg hatchability tests (EHTs) were performed. At the end of the trials, the sheep were humanely slaughtered, and total worm counts were performed. RESULTS: In Trial 1 and 2, no significant FEC decreases were note but significant diference in EHTs were observed. Total worm counts, clinical and haematological parameters did not reveal significant changes between the treatment and control groups. These results suggest that feeding dried ground banana plant leaves to sheep may reduce the viability of Trichostrongylus colubriformis eggs, and this anthelmintic activity is potentially exploitable as part of an integrated parasite management programme. CONCLUSION: However, further investigation is needed to establish the optimal dosage, develop a convenient delivery form and confirm the economic feasibility of using banana plantation byproducts as feed for ruminant species. Abbreviations: Coproculture test (CT)., Faecal egg count (FEC)., Egg hatchability test (EHT).

Occurrence of viral diseases in donkeys (Equus asinus) in São Paulo State, Brazil / Ocorrência de enfermidades virais em asininos (Equus asinus) no estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Among the diseases that affect equines, viral diseases play an important role from a health and economic point of view, especially influenza, viral arteritis, herpes infections and vesicular stomatitis. In the Brazilian literature, there is little or no account of the occurrence of infectious diseases in donkeys. Given the importance of donkeys in different activities and the lack of information on infections that may occur in these animals, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-equine herpesvirus (EHV), anti-equine arteritis virus (EAV), anti-vesicular stomatitis, and anti-equine influenza (H3N8) antibodies in the serum of 85 donkeys bred in some regions of the state of São Paulo. We found the following antibody frequencies: 50.6% (43/85) antibodies against influenza virus subtype H3N8, 47% (40/85) anti-EHV, and 20% (17/85) anti-EAV. The donkeys were not seropositive for vesicular stomatitis. The results suggested that the agents EHV, EAV, and equine influenza subtype H3N8 circulate among donkeys in some regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, reinforcing the importance of establishing a routine diagnosis and epidemiological study of this species.(AU)

Dentre as doenças que acometem os equídeos, as enfermidades virais assumem um papel importante do ponto de vista sanitário e econômico, especialmente a influenza, arterite viral, as infecções herpéticas e a estomatite vesicular. Na literatura nacional, existe pouco ou nenhum relato sobre a ocorrência de enfermidades infecciosas nos asininos. Tendo em vista a importância dos asininos para diferentes atividades e a falta de informações sobre as doenças que acometem esses animais, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a frequência de anticorpos anti-EHV, antivírus da arterite equina, anti-estomatite vesicular e anti-influenza equina (H3N8) em 85 soros de jumentos criados no estado de São Paulo. Estimou-se que 50,6% apresentavam anticorpos contra o subtipo H3N8 do vírus da influenza; 47% (40/85) apresentavam anticorpos contra o EHV e 20% apresentavam anticorpos contra o vírus da arterite. Os jumentos não foram soro reagentes contra a estomatite vesicular. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os agentes EHV, vírus da arterite equina e influenza equina subtipo H3N8, circulam entre os jumentos do estado de São Paulo, caracterizando a importância do estabelecimento de uma rotina diagnóstica e estudos epidemiológicos na espécie.(AU)

Oral Administration of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Decreased the Incidence of Severe Diarrhea and Related Mortality Rate and Increased Weight Gain in Preweaned Dairy Heifers.

Probiotics are a promising alternative to improve food animal productivity and health. However, scientific evidence that specific microbes can be used to benefit animal health and performance is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of administering a live culture of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii to newborn dairy calves on subsequent growth, health, and fecal microbiome. Initially, a safety trial was conducted using 30 newborn bull calves to assess potential adverse effects of the oral and rectal administration of F. prausnitzii to neonatal calves. No adverse reactions, such as increased body temperature or heart and respiratory rates, were observed after the administration of the treatments. All calves survived the experimental period, and there was no difference in fecal consistency score, attitude, appetite or dehydration between the treatment groups. The rectal route was not an efficient practice while the oral route ensures that the full dose is administered to the treated calves. Subsequently, a randomized field trial was completed in a commercial farm with preweaned calves. A total of 554 Holstein heifers were assigned to one of two treatment groups: treated calves (FPTRT) and non-treated calves (control). Treated calves received two oral doses of F. prausnitzii, one at treatment assignment (1st week) and another one week later. The FPTRT group presented significantly lower incidence of severe diarrhea (3.1%) compared with the control group (6.8%). Treated calves also had lower mortality rate associated with severe diarrhea (1.5%) compared to control calves (4.4%). Furthermore, FPTRT calves gained significantly more weight, 4.4 kg over the preweaning period, than controls calves. The relative abundance of F. prausnitzii in the fecal microbiota was significantly higher in the 3rd and 5th weeks of life of FPTRT calves than of the control calves, as revealed by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Our findings showed that oral administration of F. prausnitzii improves gastrointestinal health and growth of preweaned calves, supporting its use as a potential probiotic.

Ocorrência dos principais agentes bacterianos e parasitários em fezes diarreicas de bezerros búfalos nos estados de São Paulo e Paraná / Occurrence of the main bacterial and parasite agents on diarrhetic feces of buffalo calves in the states of São Paulo and Paraná

A população de bubalinos estimada no Brasil é de aproximadamente 3 milhões de animais, encontrando-se distribuídos em todos os Estados brasileiros, com crescimento médio anual de 12%. Apesar disso, os trabalhos realizados buscando os avanços na bubalinocultura são escassos. Em função da complexidade etiológica da diarreia em bubalinos e da falta de informações recentes nesta área, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência dos principais agentes bacterianos e parasitários envolvidos na diarreia de bezerros búfalos lactentes, de explorações leiteiras semi-intensivas e intensivas em regiões dos estados de São Paulo e Paraná. De março de 2010 a junho de 2011, foram colhidas 53 amostras para exame coproparasitológico e 46 amostras para o exame bacteriológico de animais com quadro de diarreia nos municípios paulistas de São João da Boa Vista, Dourado, Pirassununga, Registro, Pariquera Açu, Pilar do Sul e uma propriedade no estado do Paraná, município de Santana do Itararé. No exame parasitológico, 45,28% (24) foram positivos para Eimeria spp., 26,42% (14) para Strongyloidea e 1,88 (1) para Toxocara vitulorum. No exame bacteriológico, 97,83%, (45) das amostras foram positivas para E. coli, contudo, somente duas foram consideradas patogênicas (E. coli STEC). Em uma amostra (2,17%) isolou-se Klebsiella pneumoniae; já a presença de Salmonella spp. não foi constatada. Para o presente estudo, a presença de endoparasitas foi bastante relevante, principalmente os casos Eimeria spp., sendo a higiene das instalações e falhas de manejo fatores importantes na ocorrência de diarreia em bezerros búfalos no estado de São Paulo.(AU)

There are about 3 million buffalos in Brazil, spread through all of the Brazilian states; with mean annual growth of 12%. In spite of that, to the best of our knowledge few studies looking for advances in the industry have been done. Due to the etiological complexity of buffalo diarrhea and the lack of information in this area, this aimed at developing a clinical evaluation on the causes of buffalo calves bacterial and parasitical diarrhea in dairy farms of the states of São Paulo and Paraná. The survey was done in farms located in the cities of São João da Boa Vista, Dourado, Pirassununga, Registro, Pariquera Açu, Pilar do Sul (SP), and Santana do Itararé (PR). From March, 2010, to June, 2011, 53 diarrhea samples were collected and screened for endoparasite and bacteria; 45.28% (24) were positive for Eimeria spp.; 26.42% (14) had Strongyloidea; and 1.88% (1) had Toxocara vitulorum. In the bacteriological test, 97.83% (45) had E. coli, but only two were considered pathogenic (E. coli STEC); 2.17% had Klebsiella pneumonia and none presented Salmonella spp. In this study, the mainly causative agent of buffalo diarrhea was Eimeria spp., and the poor hygiene in installations and breeding failure are important factors on this diarrhea occurrence.(AU)