Retrospective serological survey for influenza in horses from Brazil.

Equine influenza (EI) virus is one of the most economically important pathogens of respiratory diseases of horses worldwide. Despite availability of vaccines for control of EI, the highly contagious nature and variability properties of the virus mean global outbreaks occur. Thus, continuous surveillance programs, including seroprevalence studies of disease in different countries, may contribute to better control of the disease. In this study, the seroprevalence of equine influenza in 850 horses from Brazil was investigated. The serodiagnosis was based on the single radial hemolysis (SRH) assay using influenza A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) antigen. Antibodies against A/equine/Richmond/1/07 (H3N8) were detected in 44.7% (380/850, 95% CI: 41.4-48.1%) of horses. Seroprevalence was significantly lower (p = 0.001) in younger animals (< 5 years, 38.6%) than in "adult" animals (5-14 years, 52.1%). There was also a significant relationship between the year of sampling and seroprevalence (p < 0.0005). The mean SRH antibody value was 42.0 mm2 (range 4-238.9 mm2), with the majority of horses (95.3%) having an SRH value ≤ 150 mm2, which is considered an insufficient level for protection of equine hosts against influenza infections and potential virus shedding. These findings indicate the need to reinforce preventive/control measures against equine influenza in Brazil.

Performance of microbiological, serological, molecular, and modified seminal plasma methods in the diagnosis of Brucella abortus in semen and serum of bovine bulls.

Brucellosis remains as a major infectious disease of domestic animals and is considered a re-emerging zoonosis in several countries. B. abortus infections in bulls are related to reproductive tract infections, although infected animals show transient serological titers or nonreactor status. Thus, diagnosis of bovine brucellosis based exclusively on serological tests probably underestimates B. abortus infections in bulls. In this scenario, three hundred thirty-five serum samples from reproductively mature bovine bulls were subjected simultaneously to standard serodiagnosis using the rose Bengal test (RBT), 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), complement fixation (CFT), and fluorescence polarization assay (FPA). Furthermore, conventional semen plasma agglutination (SPA) and modified 2-ME, FC and, FPA were carried out in all bulls replaing serum by seminal plasma. Semen from all bulls was also analyzed for sperm viability, microbiological culture in Farrell media, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Only eight (2.38%) semen samples were considered improper for reproduction services (necrospermia and azoospermia), although none of these animals was positive in any of the diagnosis methods used. Five bulls (1.49%) were simultaneously positive in conventional RBT, 2-ME, SPA, modified 2-ME, microbiological culture in Farrell media, and in PCR for B. abortus strain 19. Two (1.67%) bulls were positive in PCR for B. abortus field strains and negative in all other tests, although semen was considered viable to reproduction service. The identification of B. abortus B19 strain in serum and semen of bulls occurred probably due to improper vaccination of males or infection by B19 strain shedding by vaccinated females that could to contaminated environment of farms. In addition, detection of B. abortus field strains only using PCR in bulls without sperm viability abnormalities indicate the need for including molecular methods to improve diagnosis of the disease in bovine bulls.

Perfil de aglutininas anti-Leptospira em bezerras búfalas vacinadas com bacterina pentavalente comercial contra leptospirose / Serological response anti-Leptospira in female buffalo calves vaccinated with commercial pentavalent bacterin against leptospirosis

Avaliou-se o perfil sorológico de 17 bezerras búfalas vacinadas nos dias zero, 30 e 210 com bacterina pentavalente comercial contra leptospirose, empregando-se a prova de soroaglutinação microscópica com antígenos vivos, durante o período de 360 dias. Utilizaram-se quatro bezerras-controle, e todos os animais foram negativos no dia zero. Nos animais vacinados, foram observadas reações aos 60 dias para todos os sorovares, associadas a títulos máximos para Canicola, Grippothyphosa e Pomona. No 90° dia, houve declínio acentuado dos títulos para todos os sorovares e ausência de títulos para Hardjo. Nos dias 120°, 150°, 180° e 210°, ocorreram oscilações de títulos para todos os sorovares. No 240° dia, foram encontrados títulos máximos para Hardjo, elevação para os outros sorovares e ausência de título para Canicola. Nos dias 270°, 300° e 330°, foi observado declínio gradativo dos títulos. No 360° dia, foram encontrados títulos residuais para Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippothyphosa e Pomona e ausência de reação para os outros sorovares. Inferiram-se a reduzida persistência dos títulos vacinais mesmo após o reforço e revacinação e a baixa interferência da vacinação no diagnóstico sorológico.

The serological profile of 17 buffalo calves vaccinated at zero, 30 and 210 days of age using a commercial pentavalent bacterin against leptospirosis was evaluated using microscopic seroagglutination, during 360 days post-vaccination (PV). Four non-vaccinated buffalo calves were used as control. All animals studied showed a negative reaction at day zero. In the vaccinated animals, the serological responses for all serovars were detected at the 60th day PV, with maximum agglutinin levels for Canicola, Grippothyphosa and Pomona. The antibody levels decreased for all serovars at day 90 with zero titters for Hardjo serovar. At days 120, 150, 180 and 210 PV were observed oscillations of titters for all serovars. At day 240, maximum antibody levels for Hardjo, an increase of titters for others serovars and no reaction for Canicola were found. At days 270, 300 and 330 a gradual decrease of antibody levels were observed. At day 360 residual titters for Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippothyphosa and Pomona, and no reaction for the other serovars were observed. The results indicate a short persistency of seric agglutinin levels induced by vaccination, even after improvement and preparation of the vaccine reinforcement, and low interference of vaccination with serodiagnosis.

Aglutininas anti-Brucella abortus no soro e em secreçäo de bursite cervical em eqüinos / Anti-Brucella abortus agglutinins in serum and secretion of fistulous withers in horses

Fistulous wither secretions from three horses were tested by the plate agglutination (PAT), tube agglutination (SAT), buffered plate-Rose Bengal (RBPT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) tests, comparatively with standard agglutination tests. In the modified tests, titers were increased in the PAT, SAT and 2-ME tests and positive reaction was observed in RBPT. Brucella abortus was isolated from the secretion of fistulous withers collected from one animal. These results suggest that the modified tests may be used as alternative tests to diagnose brucellosis in horses with fistulous withers

Tratamento da papilomatose canina com Propionibacterium acnes / Treatment of canine papillomatosis using Propionibacterium acnes

Propionibacterium acnes as immunostimulant in oral canine papillomatosis treatment in 16 animals was studied. Regression of the pappiloma started being observed after the second aplication, with complete resolution in all dogs after the sixth aplication. These results suggest the use of P. acnes as an alternative in oral canine papillomatosis therapy