Isospora massardi sp. nov. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the white-necked thrush Turdus albicollis (Passeriformes: Turdidae) from Brazil.

A new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are reported from the white-necked thrush Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1818, a very common species in South America. Isospora massardi sp. nov. oocysts are subspherical, 18.6 × 17.7 µm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~0.9 µm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum are absent, but two polar granules are frequently present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 14.8 × 9.3 µm. Stieda body is knob-like to rounded and substieda body is rounded. Sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered spherules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with posterior and anterior refractile bodies and a nucleus. This is the sixth description of an isosporoid coccidium infecting a New World turdid bird.

Isospora pitiguari n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the rufous-browed peppershrike (Aves: Passeriformes: Vireonidae) Cyclarhis gujanensis Gmelin, 1789.

In the current study, a new coccidian species (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), collected from the rufous-browed peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis Gmelin, 1789, is reported from Brazil. Isospora pitiguari n. sp. has oocysts, which are spherical to sub-spherical, 26.8 × 25.7 µm, with smooth, bilayered wall ~1.5 µm thick. Micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are rounded to slightly ovoidal, 14.4 × 11.6 µm. Stieda body flattened and substieda body prominent and rounded. Sporocyst residuum is composed of granules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with one refractile body and a nucleus. This is the first description of an isosporoid coccidium infecting a New World vireo.

Factors associated with infection by Neospora caninum in dogs in Brazil.

From August 2006 to 2008, 411 dogs in northeastern Brazil were evaluated for seropositivity to Neospora caninum. The dogs were clinically examined, and their owners were interviewed about the conditions in which the animals were maintained in order to assess the factors associated with infection by this parasite. A serum sample was taken from each dog for serological examination in an indirect fluorescent antibody test for N. caninum. The Yates' Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to select the variables for the multivariate logistic regression model. Seropositivity was detected in 9.26% of dogs. The seropositivity rates of dogs from different environments were 2.6% (4/156) in urban areas, 13.1% (28/214) in peri-urban areas, and 14.6% (6/41) in rural areas. Factors associated with seropositivity for N. caninum were the following: contact with other dogs, access to food outside the home and residing in the peri-urban or rural environments (p<0.05). Results of this study confirm that dogs in urban, rural and peri-urban areas of northeastern Brazil are exposed to N. caninum. Control measures to prevent infection of dogs in the studied region should be focused primarily on preventing access to potential sources of infection, which include environments with other dogs, bovines, and other small intermediate hosts, such as birds and rodents.