Relations Between Guardians and Domestic Animals During the Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate how relationships between guardians and domestic animals were established and their possible effects during the COVID-19 pandemic period in Brazil. METHODS: Data were collected by completing an online questionnaire. Throughout the national territory, 2002 people completed the questionnaire, while respecting social distancing from January 20, 2021, to March 20, 2021. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were 'to own pets' or 'those who had them during the period of quarantine' in Brazil. The data obtained were treated qualitatively through discourse analysis and content analysis, while the quantitative data were tabulated by the questionnaire application platform itself. RESULTS: The results showed that 97% of the participants were affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil and that of these, 95.5% stated that their pet was important to overcome and bear bad feelings during the period of social isolation. It was possible to observe through the participants' reports through the online questionnaire that the relationships with their pets were deepened during the pandemic period, and that these had an important role in overcoming bad emotions caused by social distancing. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that due to these relationships, behaviors such as anxiety and sadness were reduced and the pets themselves also showed an increase in affective behaviors in relation to their guardians.

Resistance Profile of Bovine Mastitis Isolates, Presence of the mecA Gene and Identification of ESBL Producing Strains from Small Rural Dairy Properties.

Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland in response to invasion by opportunistic agents. Due to the high economic importance of dairy production and the complexity related to animal health, the objective of this work was to identify and evaluate the antibacterial resistance profile of samples of mastitis milk, milking hand and milking equipment from small rural dairy farms belonging to the northwest region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Five small, non-technical dairy farms in the municipalities of Boa Esperança, Juranda and Tapejara, all belonging to the northwest region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, were selected. The properties had Holstein and/or crossbred herds, carried out a bucket-by-foot milking system and all had the presence of animals with subclinical mastitis confirmed by the California Mastitis Test. Samples of sterile swabs from the milking insufflators, the milking hand and milk samples were collected-and later, isolation tests and phenotypic characterization of the samples, sensitivity tests to antimicrobials and phenotypic tests for the detection of beta-producing strains were performed with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), molecular identification of Staphylococcus aureus isolates and mecA gene research. Of the 199 samples collected from the 15 selected properties in the municipalities of Boa Esperança, Tapejara and Juranda, 72 (36.20%) were classified as multiresistant. Isolated from milkers' hands and milking machines, which phenotypically produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), the presence of the mecA gene was also observed in 11 isolates of Staphylococcus spp. of milk samples, machines and milking hands. Mastitis can be spread to the herd through the milking process by the milkers' instruments and hands, and adequate management measures can prevent its transmission and the conscious use of antibiotics decreases the prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. In this work, different pathogenic bacteria were detected in mastitic milk, milking equipment and milking hand with a high percentage (36.20%) of isolates classified as multidrug resistant. In addition, the presence phenotypically (ESBL) and molecularly (mecA gene) of isolates carrying resistance genes was also verified. These results directly reflect on the health of the animals, the health of the workers and the health of the respective environment, which can enable the continuity of the propagation of the etiological agents involved in the mastitis infection. The awareness of producers and workers on these properties about the disease, transmission, sanitary aspects and adequate management and treatment are essential for improving milk production and production efficiency.