Chemical composition and effect of essential oils of Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare on adults and ovigerous masses of Pseudosuccinea columella.

Fasciolosis is a worldwide distribution zoonosis that causes great damage in ruminant breeding and has the aquatic mollusc Pseudosuccinea columella as an intermediate host. Synthetic molluscicides are the most used for control; however, they are harmful to fauna and flora. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of essential oils from Thymus vulgaris, Origanum vulgare, and terpene carvacrol, on adult molluscs and eggs of P. columella. Analysis of EO volatile components was carried out on a gas chromatograph equipment coupled with mass spectrometry selective detector. The studied components were diluted in concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm, and it was observed that O. vulgare at concentrations of 60, 80 and 100 ppm, carvacrol at the concentrations of 80 and 100 ppm, and T. vulgaris at a concentration of 80 ppm led to 100% mortality of molluscs. All concentrations the substances tested showed 100% ovicidal activity.

Ovicidal potential of Pochonia chlamydosporia isolate Pc-10 (Ascomycota: Sordariomycetes) on egg masses of the snail Pseudosuccinea columella (Mollusca: Gastropoda).

Snails of the species Pseudosuccinea columella are considered intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica, a digenetic trematode that infects bile ducts of ruminants and humans, causing economic damage and serious problems for public health. These gastropods inhabit ponds, have high reproductive capacity, and lay their egg masses in submerged substrates on pond edges where they are exposed to desiccation and microbes, including fungi, that may exert pathogenic effects on the snail and its embryos. This information is relevant for control of the intermediate host and therefore of fasciolosis. With the objective of evaluating ovicidal potential of Pochonia chlamydosporia (Pc-10 isolate), a nematophagous fungus used as antagonistic agent for a wide variety of helminths of medical and veterinary importance, on egg masses of P. columella, we compared a treated group, where the egg masses were exposed to Pc-10 for a period of 25 days, and a control group, in which there was no exposure to the fungus. The results indicated that the embryogenesis process was significantly inhibited (93.15%) by Pc-10, suggesting its applicability in biological control programs of lymnaeid snails. In addition, ultrastructure showed the occurrence of different types of interactions between the egg masses with the mycelia of Pc-10: type 1, biochemical effects by the adherence of hyphae; type 2, morphological alterations, but without hyphal penetration; and type 3, lytic effect, morphological damage caused by penetration of hyphae by the fungus, resulting in some important structural modifications, thus compromising the viability of the eggs. The results demonstrate the susceptibility of P. columella egg masses to an isolate of P. chlamydosporia under laboratory conditions, providing valuable information for the biological control of this intermediate host.

Bioclimatic distribution and prevalence maps for Fasciola hepatica in Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Fasciolosis affects different ruminant species and leads to great economic losses for cattle farmers worldwide. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate bovine fasciolosis prevalence in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, using slaughter maps provided by slaughterhouses and verifying the origin of cattle. : A map was created based on analysis of epidemiological data. The ArcGIS/ArcINFO 10.1 software was employed in order to elaborate updated bioclimatic maps that displayed the fasciolosis prevalence within the state – per city– between 2009 and 2011.

Bioclimatic distribution and prevalence maps for Fasciola hepatica in Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Fasciolosis affects different ruminant species and leads to great economic losses for cattle farmers worldwide. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate bovine fasciolosis prevalence in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, using slaughter maps provided by slaughterhouses and verifying the origin of cattle. : A map was created based on analysis of epidemiological data. The ArcGIS/ArcINFO 10.1 software was employed in order to elaborate updated bioclimatic maps that displayed the fasciolosis prevalence within the state – per city– between 2009 and 2011.

Comparação de kits ELISA® comerciais para anticorpos no soro e leite com um teste coproparasitológico em bovinos naturalmente infectados por Fasciola hepatica / Comparison of comercial® ELISA kits for antibodies in serum and milk with a fecal test in cattle naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica

A fasciolose é uma enfermidade causada por um trematoda que acomete o fígado principalmente de ruminantes domésticos, podendo parasitar o homem e seu diagnóstico é realizado rotineiramente por exames coproparasitológicos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar kits comerciais de ELISA para anticorpos no soro e leite com um teste coproprarasitológico em bovinos naturalmente infectados por Fasciola hepatica. Foram coletadas amostras de fezes (92) sangue (92) e leite (43) de bovinos provenientes de propriedades de gado leiteiro do município de Jerônimo Monteiro, sul do Estado do Espírito Santo. As amostras de fezes coletadas foram processadas pela técnica de sedimentação fecal para ovos de F. hepatica, utilizada como padrão ouro para as análises. Amostras de sangue e de leite foram processadas segundo a orientação do fabricante dos respectivos Kits ELISA comerciais testados. Utilizou-se o c² de McNemar para comparação estatística e calcularam-se a sensibilidade e especificidade, valores preditivos e kappa. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as frequências de positividade pelo uso dos kits ELISA comerciais de soro e de leite diferiram significativamente (p<0,0001) em relação ao exame coproparasitológico. A sensibilidade dos Kits foi de 100%, porém possuíram baixa especificidade, 42,85 e 30% para o soro e leite respectivamente. O coeficiente de kappa mostrou concordância sofrível para os testes de soro (0,33) e de leite (0,21). Os valores preditivos positivos dos kits para soro e leite foram, respectivamente, 44,61 e 38,23% e, os valores preditivos negativos de 100% para ambos os testes. Apesar da maior sensibilidade dos kits ELISA comerciais e, destes apresentarem diferença em relação ao exame coproparasitológico na detecção dos animais positivos para F. hepatica, a escolha de um teste diagnóstico deve considerar o custo benefício. Quando se trata da presença de parasitismo em rebanhos, o tratamento é aplicado em todos os animais e, assim, o exame coproparasitológico para o diagnóstico da doença tem maior eficiência, já que é menos oneroso e de fácil execução.

The fascioliasis is a disease caused by a trematode that affects the liver mainly of domestic ruminants and can also parasite man; its diagnosis is routinely done by coprological methods. The aim of this study was to compare commercial ELISA kits for antibodies in serum and milk with a coprological test in cattle naturally infected by Fasciola hepatica. We collected fecal, blood and milk samples from cattle in the municipality of Jerônimo Monteiro, southern Espírito Santo state. The fecal samples were processed by the fecal egg sedimentation for F. hepatica, which is used as a gold standard for analyzis. Blood (92) and milk (43) samples were processed according to the manufacturer instructions of the respective commercial ELISA kits tested. We used the McNemar chi-square for statistical comparison and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and kappa. The results showed that the frequency of positivity for the commercial serum ELISA kits (χ2=34.02) and milk (χ2=19.04) differed significantly (p<0.0001) compared with fecal egg sedimentation. The sensitivity of the kits was 100%, but possessed low specificity, 42.85 and 30% for serum and milk respectively. The coefficient kappa showed agreement for testing serum (0.33) and milk (0.21). The positive predictive value of the kits for serum and milk were respectively 44.61% and 38.23%, and negative predictive values were 100% for both tests. Despite the increased sensitivity of commercial ELISA kits and the difference in relation to the fecal egg sedimentation test for detection of F. hepatica positive animals, the choice of a diagnostic test should consider the effectiveness. When a herd is affected by parasitism, treatment is applied to all animals; so, the fecal egg sedimentation test for the diagnosis of disease in the field is most efficient, as the test is cheap and easy to perform.

Survey on control and management practices of equine helminthes infection / Inquérito sobre práticas de manejo e controle das helmintoses em éguas no Brasil

Twenty-nine stud farms were selected in the Medium Paraíba region of the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. After an interview with the person responsible for the animals, faecal samples were collected from mares and analyzed via the EPG technique, faecal cultures, Sedimentation-centrifugo-flotation, and modified Ueno and Baermann techniques. The prevalence of helminths in the mares and in the stud farms was calculated. The stocking rates of pasture, change of horse bedding, absence of pasture rotation, absence of technology in the property, and less frequent treatment of the animals were associated with a greater prevalence of helminths, showing that these variables must be considered in equine control programs. The intensity of the parasitism was also associated with the stocking rate of pasture, absence of dunghill, presence of the animals only in paddocks, lack of technology in the property, less frequent treatment of the animals, and absence of the use of rotation regarding the anthelmintic class.

Vinte nove haras foram selecionados na região do Médio Paraíba, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, os responsáveis pelos animais entrevistados e amostras fecais de éguas foram coletadas e submetidas às técnicas de OPG, Coprocultura, Sedimento-centrifugo-flutuação, Ueno e Baermann modificadas. A prevalência dos helmintos para as éguas e haras foi calculada. A capacidade de suporte, a troca de cama nas baias, a ausência da rotação do pasto, a ausência do tecnificação na propriedade e menor freqüência do tratamento dos animais foram associadas à prevalência maior dos helmintos, indicando que estas variáveis devem ser consideradas em programas de controle dos helmintos de eqüinos. A intensidade do parasitismo foi também associado à capacidade de suporte do pasto, à ausência de esterqueira, à presença dos animais somente nos pastos, à ausência do tecnificação na propriedade, à menos freqüência do tratamento e à ausência de uso da rotação da classe anti-helmintica.

[Sensibility and reproducibility of a sedimental technique (Foreyt, 2005) for Fasciola hepatica diagnosis]. / Sensibilidade e reprodutibilidade da técnica de sedimentação (Foreyt, 2005) para o diagnóstico de Fasciola hepatica.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the sensibility and reproducibility of Foreyt (2005) technique in the diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica. A total of 686 bovines were examined at a slaughtered house and 97 were positive for Fasciola hepatica. Feces samples were collected and 58 were positive for the Foreyt technique. The validity was tested by the sensibility (59.8%) and specificity (100%). The reproductability, calculated by the Kappa agreement was 0.70 and the Chi-square showed differences between the tests (p < 0.001).

[The occurrence of dioctophymosis in dogs from Municipality of Cachoeiro do Itapemirim in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from May to December of 2004]. / Ocorrência de Dioctofimose em cães necropsiados do município de Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, Brasil, no período de maio a setembro de 2004.

Dioctophyma renale is frequently observed in dogs from rural areas. From a total of 67 necropsies carried out from May to December of 2004, 56 were dogs, which came from the minicipality of Cachoeiro do Itapemirim, two animals parasited for D. renale. In one of these animals in a mass of epiplon a nematode female of 15 cm of length was found in ectopic position. The right kidney was atrophic and with the presence of 2 females (58 and 50 cm) and 2 males (21 cm each). In the second animal, the kidneys were morphologically different. The left kidney was presented hypertrophic, while right kidney was observed a female with 45 cm. The recovered helminths were identified and fixed in AFA. During the ovariectomy of a dog of the same region a male nematode of approximately 20 cm was found in site the abdominal cavity. All of them were identified as D. renale.

[Prevalence and control of gastrintestinal parasitosis in calves from dairy farms in the municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo]. / Prevalência e controle das parasitoses gastrintestinais em bezerros de propriedades leiteiras no município de Alegre, Espírito Santo.

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of gastrintestinal helminthosis of calves and to identify control aspects related to these infections in dairy farms of the municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo. A total of 222 calves varying of one to 18 months of age were examined and proportionally divided between 12 dairy farms. After techniques in the laboratory of parasitic diseases of the veterinary hospital of Centro de Ciências Agrárias of the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, the prevalence of eggs of Strongyloidea, Trichuris sp., Moniezia sp, Strongyloides papillosus and coccidial oocysts were, in properties and calves: 100 and 66; 100 and 57.8; 50 and 8.2; 25 and 1.8, and 33.3 and 7.8%, respectivelly. Of the 66 for eggs of the Strongyloidea, 64 were attributed to Haemonchus spp. and 53.75% to Cooperia spp. Despite the existence of parasite control programs in the farms, were identify some wrong practices, as lack of weighting animals for the calculation of the dose rate of the drugs and lack of use of the compost of excrements. Thus, the drugs uses of incorrect form may be able to cause future damages with development of parasites resistance to these products.

[Record of Dasypus novemcinctus (Mammalia: Xenarthra) parasited by Tunga terasma (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) in Alegre, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil]. / Registro de Dasypus novemcinctus (Mammalia: Xenarthra) parasitado por Tunga terasma (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) em Alegre, Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil.

During a survey of Mycobacterium leprae in wild armadillos in the State of Espírito Santo, thirty-four armadillos were captured in the municipality of Alegre (20 degrees 45'S, 41 degrees 29'W, 150m). The armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus were examined by clinical and macroscopic examination. In four armadillos (11.7%), were found nodes in the abdomen. The nodules were identified as Tunga terasma. This is the first report of T. terasma in D. novemcinctus armadillos in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Relação parasito-hospedeiro entre Psoroptes equi e eqüinos / The host-relationship between Psoroptes equi and horses

Eqüinos abandonados pelos seus proprietários nas margens das principais rodovias federais que cruzam o Estado do Rio de Janeiro foram incluídos neste estudo. Um total de 1.121 eqüinos apreendidos pela Polícia Rodoviária Federal foi examinado de novembro de 1998 a novembro de 2000. Os 107 (9,5 por cento) animais com suspeita clínica de sarna psoróptica foram submetidos a raspados cutâneos superficiais e nestes a espécie Psoroptes equi foi diagnosticada em 37 (34,6 por cento). Não houve associação entre a prevalência da infestação e a idade ou sexo do hospedeiro (chi2, p>0,05). Em relação ao tipo de pelagem, P. equi foi diagnosticada em animais com diferentes cores. A região dorsal (cernelha até a anca) foi a mais afetada.

Eficácia do piretróide sintético alfametrina no controle de rhipicephalus sanguineus em caes / Efficacy of the synthetic pyrethroid alphamethrin in the control of rhipicephalus sanguineus in dogs

O objetivo deste estudo foi o de avaliar a eficácia do piretróide sintético alfametrina no controle de Rhipicephalus sanguineus em caes. Testes in vitro, utilizando papéis de filtro, foram efetuados para larvas nao alimentadas, larvas alimentadas, ninfas nao alimentadas, ninfas alimentadas e adultos nao alimentaos de R. sanguineus, obtendo-se respectivamente uma DL50 de 3,63; 4,79; 5,87; 10,01 e 11,19 ppm e uma DL90 de 13,17; 17,65; 29,37; 37,32 e 42,99 ppm. Diferentes concentracoes de alfametrina foram utilizadas para femeas alimentadas de R. sanguineus, sendo a concentracao de 300 ppm. Diferentes concentracoes de alfametrina foram utilizadas para femeas alimentadas de R. sanguineus, sendo a concentracao de 300 ppm que apresentou um maior percentual de eficencia reproductiva (ER) (100 por cento). Para o teste in vivo com R. sanguineus, seis caes foram artificialmente infestados com 500 larvas, 100 ninfas e 30 adultos nao alimentados cada animal, apresentando respectivamente para larvas, ninfas e femeas alimentadas de R. sanguineus uma eficácia média de 86,2; 100 e 100 por cento