Retrospective study of triatomines in an endemic region for Chagas disease in the state of Bahia, Brazil / Estudo retrospectivo de triatomíneos em região endêmica para a doença de Chagas no estado da Bahia, Brasil

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which has several forms of transmission. Among them, the vector route requires the constant action of the Health Surveillance in the control of triatomines. Our objective is to describe the diversity of triatomines and the rate of natural infection by T. cruzi in these insects, as well as to analyse entomological indicators, through secondary data generated by the Health Surveillance of the municipality of Barra, in the period from 2009 to 2019. The secondary data were subjected to descriptive analysis and the entomological indicators calculated. Williams' G test and Fisher's exact test were used to analyse the categorical data. A total of 10,913 triatomines of the genera Rhodnius sp., Panstrongylus sp., Eratyrus sp. and Triatoma sp. were captured, represented by 12 species. Triatoma sordida was the most prevalent 98.66% (10,767/10,913), reflected in the overall infestation index 7.61% (2,555/33,544) and triatomine density 0.24 (8,247/33,544). While the overall infection rate was 0.81% (41/5,048) and remained low during all years. There was significant association for T. sordida in relation to "T. cruzi infection index" and "Developmental stage" and "Capture site". It is concluded that the municipality of Barra has a high occurrence of triatomines of various species, with T. sordida being the most prevalent species and responsible for the rates of infestation and infection by T. cruzi. The presence of these insects in households is a risk for the domestic cycle of the parasite, and thus can transmit T. cruzi to various domestic animals, including humans.(AU)

doença de Chagas é causada pelo Trypanosoma cruzi, que possui diversas formas de transmissão. Dentre elas, a via vetorial, requer a atuação constante da Vigilância em Saúde no controle dos triatomíneos. Nosso objetivo é descrever a diversidade de triatomíneos e o índice de infecção natural por T. cruzi nestes insetos, bem como analisar os indicadores ento-mológicos, por meio de dados secundários gerados pela Vigilância em Saúde do município de Barra, no período de 2009 a 2019. Os dados secundários foram submetidos a análise descritiva e os indicadores entomológicos calculados. Os testes G de Williams e exato de Fisher foram utilizados para a análise dos dados categóricos. Foram capturados 10.913 triatomíneos, dos gêneros Rhodnius sp., Panstrongylus sp., Eratyrus sp. e Triatoma sp., representados por 12 espécies. Triatoma sordida foi a mais prevalente 98,66% (10.767/10.913), refletindo no índice de infestação geral 7,61% (2.555/33.544) e densidade triatomínea 0,24 (8.247/33.544). Enquanto que o índice de infecção geral foi de 0,81% (41/5.048) e manteve-se baixo durante todos os anos. Houve associação significativa para T. sordida em relação ao "Índice de infecção por T. cruzi" e "Estágio de desenvolvi-mento" e "Local de captura". Conclui-se que o município de Barra apresenta uma alta ocorrência de triatomíneos de diversas espécies, sendo T. sordida a espécie mais prevalente e responsável pelos índices de infestação e infecção por T. cruzi. A presença desses insetos nos domicílios é um risco para o ciclo doméstico do parasito, podendo assim transmitir o T. cruzi para diversos animais domésticos, inclusive humanos.(AU)

Salmonella Pullorum em criação de galinhas caipiras no Oeste da Bahia, Brasil / Salmonella Pullorum in a free-range chicken farm in Western Bahia, Brazil

Background: Industrial poultry farming has developed progressively in Brazil, conferring the country a prominent position on the national and international scene. Likewise, alternative poultry farming is an important economic activity for small-scale family farmers. However, shortcomings related to sanitary management lead to increased occurrence of avian diseases, such as those caused by Salmonella spp. Despite salmonellosis has been described in industrial establishments, reports in alternative farms are less common, therefore the objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of salmonellosis in free-range chickens in the municipality of Barra, Western Bahia, Brazil. Cases: The poultry farmer reported the occurrence of diarrhoea in his chicken flock since the acquisition of the batch of chicks. Initially, carrying out the medicinal treatment of the birds, there was clinical improvement, however, successive recurrences of clinical signs occurred, such as diarrhoea, apathy, anorexia, and death of some birds. Upon learning about the case, an epidemiological investigation of the flock was carried out, and it was noted that some of the birds were retracted, apathetic, anorexic, and a lot of diarrheic faeces of a yellowish-white appearance were also observed. The entire flock had a history of vaccination against diseases: newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, gumboro disease, and fowlpox. For better evaluation, five birds were necropsied, enabling the observation that the animals had a good body score. However, the necropsy revealed lesions such as splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and enteritis in the three birds initially analysed (Animals 1, 2, and 3). The other birds (Animals 4 and 5) were submitted to evaluation for Eimeria sp. oocysts by means of scrapings from the intestinal mucosa, and there were no structures compatible with oocysts. Faecal samples were collected from another six birds in the flock for coproparasitological examination, and the presence of oocysts was not detected. Finally, sera from 20 birds in the flock were collected for the Rapid Serum Agglutination Test (SAR) for the detection anti-Salmonella Pullorum antibodies. Discussion: The diagnosis was based on clinical evaluation, post mortem pathological findings of the necropsied birds, epidemiological data and confirmed with SAR testing, whereby 11 birds were seropositive for Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Pullorum. The prevalence of S. Pullorum is poorly described in alternative farming. Based on the farmer's report, it is believed that the chicks were purchased already infected, because birds from the same batch, also purchased by neighbouring producers, showed the same clinical signs. The unsatisfactory sanitation in the flock was another factor that may have favoured the persistence of the bacteria, since, the lack of removal of organic matter is a source of nutrients for microorganisms, and this may have favoured the multiplication and maintenance of the bacteria in the down feathers, feed, and water. The elimination of S. Pullorum through the faeces, in addition to the density of the birds, may have led to transmission to the other healthy birds. However, the knowledge and adoption of prophylactic measures in free-range chicken farms is a crucial factor in minimizing the occurrence of outbreaks and thus avoiding a future public Health Problem.

Surto de endoparasitose em galinhas caipiras (Gallus gallus domesticus) na Bahia, Brasil / Outbreak of endoparasitosis in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Bahia, Brazil

Background: Free-range chickens are quite common in Brazil. In this alternative rearing system, the animals are rustic and raised in an extensive system. Free access to "bare soil" results in the increased occurrence of intestinal parasites since larvae and / or eggs of helminths and protozoa oocysts find favorable conditions for their survival and dissemination in the soil. Although the occurrence and importance of parasitic infections in free-range chickens is well known, the objective of this study is to report an outbreak of endoparasites in free-range chickens in the municipality of Barra - BA, in view of bird susceptibility associated with scarcity of studies in western Bahia. Cases: The chickens were kept free, in a bare soil yard in a household at the urban perimeter of the municipality of Barra - BA. Feeding consisted of whole corn grains, thrown directly in the soil. The drinking fountains were dirty and the animals had no history of vaccination or deworming. Symptoms Anorexia, difficulty in eating and in locomotion, presence of seromucous secretion in the oral cavity, emaciation and diarrhea were all observed symptoms. One of the birds presented excessive vocalization, drowsiness and flaccid paralysis of the neck. Necropsy was performed on 3 chickens: 2 females (cases 1 and 2) and 1 male (case 3). Macroscopic analysis revealed the presence of seromucous secretion in the upper respiratory tract of all animals. Specimens of Ascaridia galli were observed in cases 1 and 2, Heterakis gallinarum in cases 2 and 3, Raillietina sp. in cases 2 and 3 and Davainea proglottina in case 1. Microscopically, the animals had an inflammatory infiltrate in the liver and intestines. Some animals presented necrosis of the tracheal epithelial cells, as well as of the epithelial cells present at the apex of the villi. No significant results were found in the coproparasitological exam. Discussion: The diagnosis of endoparasitosis in this outbreak was based on epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings. The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in free-range chickens is linked to factors such as age, high animal density, absence of sanitary hygienic measures, as well as environmental temperature and humidity. The appearance of injuries in the intestinal mucosa is influenced by characteristics such as parasitic load, concomitant infections, age and the host's immune status. During necropsy of the birds were found 2 helminths of the Nematoda class (Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum) and 2 of the Cestoda class (Davainea proglottina and Raillietina sp.). A. galli, seen in 2 cases, is considered low pathogenicity for adult chickens, however young birds are susceptible and can die due to intestinal obstruction and hemorrhages. H. gallinarum is responsible for causing typhlitis, with diarrhea and weight loss, this helminth was found in 2 animals in the present study, however only 1 had changes in the digestive tract. Davainea proglotina and Raillietina spp. might cause, respectively, severe hemorrhagic enteritis and nodule formation in the small intestine mucosa. In Brazil, even though it is notable that intestinal parasitism is one of the key problems in alternative poultry farming, there are few studies that evaluate the presence of endoparasites in chickens raised in alternative production systems, with animals being more frequently exposed to nematodes and cestodes. The multiparasitism observed in this study probably stems from flaws in the rearing system, mainly related to sanitary hygiene management. Therefore, the reduction in the occurrence of these helminths is closely related to the performance of basic prophylactic measures, such as offering good quality food and water in clean containers, separating lots by age, performing sanitary emptiness and deworming.(AU)

Chlamydophila psittaci EM PSITTACIFORMES DE ESTIMAÇÃO EM SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRASIL

A Chlamydophila psittaci é uma bactéria intracelular obrigatória, Gram-negativa que causa a clamidiose aviária e a psitacose no homem. As aves infectadas por C. psittaci permanecem geralmente assintomáticas e eliminam a bactéria de forma intermitente. Atualmente são reconhecidas seis variedades de C. psittaci (A, B, C, D, E, F) classificadas como sorotipos e/ou genótipos, além da variedade denominada genótipo E/B identificada por técnica molecular. Cada variedade é associada a um grupo de aves, apesar de não ser espécie-específicas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi detectar C. psittaci, por meio da técnica da seminested PCR (snPCR), em Psittaciformes vendidos em estabelecimentos comerciais e naqueles criados como animais de estimação, além de analisar fatores que possam estar envolvidos na epidemiologia da psitacose/clamidiose, por meio de questionários e observação in loco. Neste estudo a freqüência de infecção por C. psittaci em Psittaciformes foi de 10,6% (33/311), sendo que as aves domiciliadas apresentaram menor positividade, 3,4% (5/148), quando comparadas às aves de estabelecimentos comerciais, 17,2 % (28/163). Dentre as variáveis analisadas, apresentaram diferença significativa: “Gaiolas superlotadas” (p=0,001) e “Higiene das gaiolas” (p=0,041). Dados sobre o tipo de amostra analisada, contato com aves sinantrópicas e utilização de equipamentos de proteção individual, também, foram analisados. Apesar da importância da psitacose/clamidiose na saúde humana e animal, ainda é insuficiente o conhecimento da sociedade sobre essa zoonose, tornando necessária a formulação de campanhas de educação em saúde para proprietários de aves de estimação e para funcionários de estabelecimentos que comercializam animais, bem como a adoção de medidas de prevenção e controle dessa zoonose