Successful treatment with streptomycin of genital leptospirosis in naturally infected cows under field conditions.

The single-dose protocol of streptomycin treatment has been recommended to treat renal leptospirosis in bovines. However, treating genital infection remains a challenge. Recently, a protocol using three doses of streptomycin demonstrated effectiveness in the genital clearance of experimentally infected ewes. Therefore, the present study aimed to apply this three-dose protocol for genital infection treatment in naturally infected cows under field conditions. Thirty beef cows were diagnosed as positive by lipL32-PCR in their genital samples. Nucleotide sequences (n = 10) characterized them as Leptospira interrogans sg Sejroe, genetically related to Hardjoprajitno strains. After molecular diagnosis, 13 cows received a single dose of 25 mg/kg streptomycin. The other 17 cows were submitted to the three-dose protocol. The successful treatment rate of genital infection on the single streptomycin dose was 7/13 (53.8%), while the cows that received the three doses 16/17 were negative (94.1% of efficacy). Based on those results, we conclude that the standard treatment preconized for renal infection is not adequate for genital infection, and the three-dose protocol was successful in eliminating the carrier status of genital leptospirosis.

Streptomycin treatment of genital carriers of Leptospira in experimentally infected sheep on different estrous phases.

Leptospirosis in ruminants presents as a chronic disease that causes several reproductive disorders leading to severe economic losses. The current recommended treatment can be efficient to eliminate the renal carrier state, however little is known about the effect of this drug in removing the genital carrier state and the hormonal influence on it. A total of 12 primiparous sheep experimentally infected with a strain of Leptospira santarosai serogroup Sejroe, FV52 strain, were used and distributed as group A (estrus; n = 5), group B (metaestrus; n = 4) and group C (control; n = 3). At D0, groups A and B were treated with streptomycin (25 mg/kg) single dose. Samples of cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) were collected on days 0, 3, and 35 post-treatment, while uterine fragment (UF) samples were collected on days 3 and 35, for PCR. Even after antibiotic treatment, all groups presented infected animals, at D3 and D35, with no significant difference between the treated and control groups. Based on these results, it was conducted a second protocol of treatment with streptomycin, IM (25 mg/kg) for three consecutive days, which was 100% effective to eliminate the genital carrier state; therefore, that protocol should be recommended.

Ação do extrato do resíduo de Caryocar brasiliense frente a formação de biofilme dos principais microrganismos veiculados por produtos de origem animal / Action of the Caryocar brasiliense waste extract against the biofilm formation of the main microorganisms carried by products of animal origin

Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar a inibição da formação de biofilme pelo extrato do resíduo do pequi frente a microrganismos patogênicos e deteriorantes de alimentos. A casca do pequi foi obtida de frutas coletadas na cidade de Montes Claros/MG, foi seca em estufa de ventilação forçada, moída e peneirada em 250 Mesh. Seu extrato foi obtido em micro-ondas analítico. Foram utilizadas cinco cepas padrão e cinco isolados de produtos de origem animal, que foram reativadas e confirmado a sua pureza em ágar específico. Para avaliar a formação do biofilme foram utilizadas microplacas esterilizadas, sendo adicionados 90µL de BHI com 1% de glicose, 10µL da suspensão de cada bactéria e o extrato em diferentes concentrações. Concluiu-se que o extrato da casca do pequi inibe a formação de biofilme por bactérias patogênicas e deteriorantes.

Species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococci isolated from canine otitis externa.

The diversity of species of the genus Staphylococcus sp. and the antimicrobial resistance of isolates from 151 unmedicated dogs of both sexes with a clinical diagnosis of otitis were recorded. Ninety-one isolates of Staphylococcus spp. were identified by biochemical reactions and tested for susceptibility to 15 antimicrobials. Coagulase-positive species were most common; S. pseudintermedius (38.4%), S. schleiferi schleiferi (15.4%), S. aureus (14.3%), S. epidermidis (11%), S. simulans (11%), S. schleiferi coagulans (8.8%) and S. saprophyticus (1.1%). All the isolates showed resistance to at least one drug and 89% were multiresistant. Amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid and oxacillin were the most effective, while resistance was widely observed for neomycin and erythromycin. The results highlight the recognition and the potential need for bacterial culture with species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests for appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Aplicação de um programa integrado de controle da leptospiroseem eqüinos no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Application of an integrated program of leptospirosis control in horsesfrom Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Um plantel localizado na região serrana do Rio de Janeiro com 140 éguas e oito garanhões foi estudado em março de 2006.Realizou-se sorodiagnóstico para leptospirose de todos os animais do plantel e 82 (55,4%) foram soropositivos.O serovar.Bratislava foi o mais freqüente e identificado em 72 (87,8%) amostras reativas. Diante dos achados, um amplo programa decontrole da infecção foi elaborado, incluindo abordagens vacinais, medicamentosas e epidemiológicas. Doze meses após aimplementação do programa de controle (maio de 2007) constatou-se redução no índice de abortamento de 12% para 4%,morte embrionária de 10% para 2% e morte neonatal de 8% para 1%, totalizando 7% de prejuízos reprodutivos, perante 30%observados antes da implementação do programa de controle. Nesta ocasião, selecionaram-se randomicamente 31 fêmeaspara testagem sorológica. Onze animais (35,48%) apresentaram sororreatividade, a maioria com baixos títulos. Em relação àdistribuição do serovar infectante, sv. Bratislava foi ainda o mais freqüente. Desta forma, conclui-se que a ampla abordagem,incluindo simultaneamente a vacinação, antibioticoterapia e a administração de alguns aspectos ambientais foi imprescindívelpara o sucesso no controle da enfermidade neste rebanho.

A flock from Rio de Janeiro with 140 mares and eight stallions was studied in March, 2006. Serodiagnosis for leptospirosis wasperformed in all the animals and 82 (55.4%) were seroreactive. The serovar Bratislava was the most frequent, in 72 (87.8%) ofthe reactive samples. Considering those findings a broad control program of the disease was applied, including vaccines,antibiotics and epidemiological measures. Twelve months after the beginning of the program (May, 2007) abortion reduced from12% to 4%, embryonic death from 10% to 2% and neonatal death from 8% to 1%, with total reproductive losses decreasing from30% to 7%. In this moment, 31 mares were randomly tested and eleven (35.48%) were seroreactive, most of them with low titres.Bratislava was still the most frequent serovar. Therefore, we conclude that the broad approach of the control program, whichincluded vaccines, antibiotics and correction of some environmental aspects was mandatory for the efficacy of the diseasecontrol.