Visceral mycobacteriosis in amphibians from the Brazilian Caatinga region.

Emerging infectious diseases in wild animals related to humans have received greater attention in recent years. Mycobacteriosis is a bacterial disease of animal and human importance. Mycobacterium gordonae infects the skin and internal organs of free-ranging amphibians and is considered the least pathogenic member of the Mycobacteriaceae to humans. However, information about its infection and pathogenesis in wild amphibians is still lacking. A total of 1306 amphibian specimens belonging to 6 families, 12 genera, and 21 species were collected and dissected during a helminthological survey of 7 municipalities in southern Ceará state, Caatinga (eco)region, northeast Brazil. Of these, 17 specimens (0.76%), belonging to 2 families and 4 species (Leptodactylus macrosternum, n = 2; L. vastus, n = 10; Pseudopaludicola pocoto, n = 2; Rhinella jimi, n = 3), presented infections that consisted of calcification nodules in the coelomic cavity, kidney, liver, lung, gut, and pancreas. The nodules were examined by histopathology and PCR. The bacteria were identified as M. gordonae by molecular analyses. Infected animals presented with hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis, hepatic portal congestion, hemorrhage, mononuclear cellular infiltration, melanomacrophage center hyperplasia, and granulomas in varying stages of development with intralesional acid-fast bacilli. This study is the first report of M. gordonae in these amphibian species, in which results of molecular analyses confirmed the presence of M. gordonae in natural environments and histopathology confirmed the typical lesion of mycobacteriosis in amphibians from northeastern Brazil.

Occurrence of Cyanobacteria and microcystins in hydroelectric reservoirs used for fish farming.

Fish farming can have a negative impact on water quality and aquatic organisms due to emerging blooms of Cyanobacteria and the production of cyanotoxins. In this study, the effect of aquaculture in hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil was evaluated in six fish farms and in upstream and downstream water through analysis of the microbiome, Cyanobacteria and microcystin concentrations. Synechococcus and Microcystis were observed at all six locations, while Limnothrix was also observed abundantly at two locations. An increase in the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria inside the fish farms was observed at two locations, while an increase of Cyanobacteria was observed in downstream at five of the six locations. Microcystins were detected in significant and high values in all locations, with concentrations up to 1.59 µg/L. The trend in microcystin concentrations was mirrored in copy numbers of the mcyE gene (encodes microcystin synthetase) and presence of Microcystis, but not in any of the other observed cyanobacterial groups. In summary, the study shows that aquaculture production influenced the water microbiome inside and downstream the fish farms, and a direct correlation was found between mcyE gene copies, microcystin production and abundance of Microcystis, but not for the total abundance of Cyanobacteria.

Taenia crassiceps injection into the subarachnoid space of rats simulates radiological and morphological features of racemose neurocysticercosis.

PURPOSE: Neurocysticercosis is a major public health concern. Although its eradication appears feasible, the disease remains endemic in developing countries and has emerged again in Europe and in the USA. Basic studies on neurocysticercosis are needed to better understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms and, consequently, to improve treatment perspectives. Much has been published on experimental parenchymal neurocysticercosis, but there are no experimental models of racemose neurocysticercosis. METHODS: Cysts of Taenia crassiceps were injected into the subarachnoid space of 11 rats. After 4 months, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to verify the occurrence of ventricular dilatation and the distribution of cysts in the cerebrospinal fluid compartments. The histologic assessment was done focusing on changes in the ependyma, choroid plexus, and brain parenchyma. RESULTS: MRI and histologic assessment confirmed the findings similar to those seen in human racemose neurocysticercosis including enlargement of the basal cisterns, hydrocephalus, and inflammatory infiltration through the ependyma and choroid plexus into cerebrospinal fluid spaces. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a simple model of racemose neurocysticercosis by injecting cysts of T. crassiceps into the subarachnoid space of rats. This model can help understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the disease.

Pathogenesis of Experimental Infection of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with Nucleospora Braziliensis Pathology and Proteomic of Microsporidia.

The recent discovery of disease caused by Nucleospora braziliensis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is important as it has highlighted the high prevalence of infection and associated mortality in cultured fish. Thus, this study conducted an experimental infection of this microsporidium to evaluate pathological alterations and conduct proteomic analysis. For pathological observation, samples of brain, eyes, gall bladder, gut, heart, kidney, liver, muscle, skin, spleen, and stomach tissue, were collected, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed for proteomic analysis. The most prevalent lesions were brownish color of the liver, gill filament fusion, gut ischemia, hemorrhage of the lips and fins, hepatomegaly, spleen atrophy, splenomegaly, and stomach congestion. The most common microscopic lesions were degeneration, hemorrhage, and inflammation in the brain, gills, gut, kidney, liver, muscle, spleen, and stomach. The digested peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS and the intersection of each group showed that in the spleen there were 121 exclusive proteins in the infected sample and 252 in the control, while in the kidney, 129 proteins were identified in the infected specimen compared to 83 in the control. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the proteome profile of O. niloticus kidney and spleen tissue in response to infection with N. braziliensis.

Mercury concentrations in South Atlantic swordfish, Xiphias gladius, caught off the coast of Brazil.

This study evaluated the concentrations of mercury in fillets (anterior, middle, and end regions) from the swordfish, Xiphias gladius, and the relationships between mercury concentration and fish weight, as well as the region of collection. Of a total of 697 swordfish analyzed, 11 had mercury concentrations above 1 mg/kg, 421 were between 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, and 265 were below 0.5 mg/kg. The anterior and posterior regions had greater concentrations of mercury than the middle region, and fish caught off the northern coast of Brazil had a higher concentration than those caught off the southern coast.

Scuticociliatosis caused by Uronema sp. in ten different ornamental aquarium reef fish in Brazil.

Scuticociliatosis, caused by an opportunistic ciliate protozoan, is responsible for significant economic losses in marine ornamental fish. This study reports the occurrence of Uronema spp., parasitizing ten species of marine reef fish at an ornamental fish wholesaler: Blue green damselfish (Chromis viridis), Vanderbilt's Chromis (Chromis vanderbilti), Pennant coralfish (Heniochus acuminatus), Threespot angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus), Goldspotted angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus), Sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), Orchid dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani), Threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga), Vagabond butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus), and Bluecheek butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus). Diseased fish showed disorders such as hemorrhages and ulcerative lesions on the body surface. Histopathological analysis of the muscle, liver, gut, kidney, spleen, gills, and stomach revealed hemorrhages and degeneration of muscle fiber, vacuolar degeneration of hepatocyte, inflammatory process and granuloma in the liver, atrophy of intestinal villi, inflammatory process and granuloma in the kidney, melanomacrophage centers, as well as inflammatory process in the spleen, epithelial cells hyperplasia and granuloma formation in the gills, and vacuolar degeneration and eosinophils in the stomach. Due to the severity of the disease, it is necessary to implement biosecurity measures with rapid and accurate diagnosis to minimize the risk of economic losses caused by Uronema spp.

Insuficiência cardíaca em cão / Congestive heart failure in a dog / Insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva en un perro

A insuficiência cardíaca congestiva é considerada, atualmente, a principal causa de óbitos em cães, sendo resultante da degeneração mixomatosa da válvula mitral, processo que inviabiliza o fechamento total da mesma durante a sístole. Apesar de se tratar de uma doença progressiva, os efeitos patológicos podem ser reduzidos significativamente e concomitantemente prolongar a vida do animal, desde que haja protocolos de tratamentos específicos e descritos por profissionais capacitados na área médica animal. Esse estudo teve como objetivo relatar um caso de insuficiência congestiva em um animal da espécie canina, sem raça definida, sexo masculino resgatado pela prefeitura do município de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. Durante a necropsia foi observado os seguintes achados macroscópicos: neoplasias cutâneas aderidas ao tecido, tártaro dentário, pneumonia intersticial hemorrágica, companhias de fibrose e enfisema pulmonar hemorrágico, metástase calcificada circular em lobo pulmonar direito, necrose pulmonar, cardiomiopatia hipertrófica concêntrica, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, aderência de pericárdio na cavidade torácica, fígado em aspecto de noz moscada, metástase hepática, hepatite, esplenomegalia, dilatação entérica multifocal, intussuscepção, necrose intestinal, hipertrofia de pelve renal e aderência de cápsula renal. Esses achados demonstram o comprometimento de todos os órgãos do animal, demonstrando que a causa mortis foi em decorrência de uma insuficiência respiratória de origem infecciosa que ocasionou a insuficiência cardíaca congestiva.(AU)

Congestive heart failure is currently considered the main cause of death in dogs, resulting from myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve, a process that prevents its total closure during systole. Despite being a progressive disease, the pathological effects can be significantly reduced and, at the same time, prolong the animal's life, as long as there are specific treatment protocols described by trained professionals in the field of animal medicine. This study aimed to report a case of congestive insufficiency in an animal of the canine species, mixed breed, male, rescued by the municipality of Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. During the necropsy, the following macroscopic findings were observed: skin neoplasms adhered to the tissue, dental tartar, hemorrhagic interstitial pneumonia, fibrosis and hemorrhagic pulmonary emphysema, circular calcified metastasis in the right pulmonary lobe, pulmonary necrosis, concentric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, adherence of pericardium in the thoracic cavity, nutmeg liver, liver metastasis, hepatitis, splenomegaly, multifocal enteric dilation, intussusception, intestinal necrosis, renal pelvis hypertrophy and renal capsule adherence. These findings showed the involvement of all tissues, demonstrating that the cause of death was due to respiratory failure of infectious origin that caused congestive heart failure.(AU)

Actualmente se considera la insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva como la principal causa de muerte en perros, resultante de la degeneración mixomatosa de la válvula mitral, proceso que impide su cierre total durante la sístole. A pesar de ser una enfermedad progresiva, los efectos patológicos pueden reducirse significativamente y, al mismo tiempo, prolongar la vida del animal, siempre y cuando existan protocolos de tratamiento específicos descritos por profesionales capacitados en el campo de la medicina animal. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo reportar un caso de insuficiencia congestiva en un animal canino, mestizo, macho, rescatado por el municipio de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. Durante la necropsia se observaron los siguientes hallazgos macroscópicos: neoplasias cutáneas adheridas al tejido, sarro dental, neumonía intersticial hemorrágica, compañías de fibrosis y enfisema pulmonar hemorrágico, metástasis circular calcificada en lóbulo pulmonar derecho, necrosis pulmonar, miocardiopatía hipertrófica concéntrica, insuficiencia cardíaca, adherencia del pericardio en la cavidad torácica, hígado de nuez moscada, metástasis hepática, hepatitis, esplenomegalia, dilatación entérica multifocal, intususcepción, necrosis intestinal, hipertrofia de la pelvis renal y adherencia de la cápsula renal. Estos hallazgos demuestran la afectación de todos los órganos del animal, demostrando que la causa de la muerte se debió a una insuficiencia respiratoria de origen infeccioso que provocó una insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva.(AU)

Development of an experimental model of neurocysticercosis-induced hydrocephalus. Pilot study.

PURPOSE: To develop an experimental model of neurocysticercosis-induced hydrocephalus METHODS: There were used 17 rats. Ten animals were inoculated with Taenia crassiceps cysts into the subarachnoid. Five animals were injected with 0. ml of 25% kaolin (a standard solution for the development of experimental hydrocephalus) and two animals were injected with saline. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate enlargement of the ventricles after one or three months of inoculation. Volumetric study was used to quantify the ventricle enlargement. RESULTS: Seven of the 10 animals in the cyst group developed hydrocephalus, two of them within one month and five within three months after inoculation. Three of the five animals in the kaolin group had hydrocephalus and none in the saline group. Ventricle volumes were significantly higher in the 3-months MRI cyst subgroup than in the 1-month cyst subgroup. Differences between cyst subgroups and kaolin group did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The developed model may reproduce the human condition of neurocysticercosis-related hydrocephalus, which exhibits a slowly progressive chronic course.

Comparative clinical sample preparation of DNA and RNA viral nucleic acids for a commercial deep sequencing system (Illumina MiSeq(®)).

Sequence-independent methods for viral discovery have been widely used for whole genome sequencing of viruses. Different protocols for viral enrichment, library preparation and sequencing have increasingly been more available and at lower costs. However, no study to date has focused on optimization of viral sample preparation for commercial deep sequencing. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate an In-House enzymatic protocol for double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) synthesis and also compare the use of a commercially available kit protocol (Nextera XT, Illumina Inc, San Diego, CA, USA) and its combination with a library quantitation kit (Kapa, Kapa Biosystems, Wilmington, MA, USA) for deep sequencing (Illumina Miseq). Two RNA viruses (canine distemper virus and dengue virus) and one ssDNA virus (porcine circovirus type 2) were tested with the optimized protocols. The tested method for dsDNA synthesis has shown satisfactory results and may be used in laboratory setting, particularly when enzymes are already available. Library preparation combining commercial kits (Nextera XT and Kapa) has yielded more reads and genome coverage, probably due to a lack of small fragment recovering at the normalization step of Nextera XT. In addition, libraries may be diluted or concentrated to provide increase on genome coverage with Kapa quantitation.

Scuticociliatosis caused by Uronema sp. in ten different ornamental aquarium reef fish in Brazil / Scuticociliatose causado por Uronema sp. em dez diferentes peixes ornamentais de recife no Brasil

Abstract Scuticociliatosis, caused by an opportunistic ciliate protozoan, is responsible for significant economic losses in marine ornamental fish. This study reports the occurrence of Uronema spp., parasitizing ten species of marine reef fish at an ornamental fish wholesaler: Blue green damselfish (Chromis viridis), Vanderbilt's Chromis (Chromis vanderbilti), Pennant coralfish (Heniochus acuminatus), Threespot angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus), Goldspotted angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus), Sea goldie (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), Orchid dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani), Threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga), Vagabond butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus), and Bluecheek butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus). Diseased fish showed disorders such as hemorrhages and ulcerative lesions on the body surface. Histopathological analysis of the muscle, liver, gut, kidney, spleen, gills, and stomach revealed hemorrhages and degeneration of muscle fiber, vacuolar degeneration of hepatocyte, inflammatory process and granuloma in the liver, atrophy of intestinal villi, inflammatory process and granuloma in the kidney, melanomacrophage centers, as well as inflammatory process in the spleen, epithelial cells hyperplasia and granuloma formation in the gills, and vacuolar degeneration and eosinophils in the stomach. Due to the severity of the disease, it is necessary to implement biosecurity measures with rapid and accurate diagnosis to minimize the risk of economic losses caused by Uronema spp.

Resumo Scuticociliatose, causada pelo protozoário ciliado oportunista, é responsável por significativas perdas econômicas em peixes marinhos ornamentais. O estudo relata a ocorrência de Uronema spp., parasitando dez espécies de peixes de recife em um distribuidor de peixes ornamentais: "Blue green damselfish" (Chromis viridis), "Vanderbilt's Chromis" (Chromis vanderbilti), "Pennant coralfish" (Heniochus acuminatus), "Threespot angelfish" (Apolemichthys trimaculatus), "Goldspotted angelfish" (Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus), "Sea goldie" (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), "Orchid dottyback" (Pseudochromis fridmani), "Threadfin butterflyfish" (Chaetodon auriga), "Vagabond butterflyfish" (Chaetodon vagabundus), e "Bluecheek butterflyfish" (Chaetodon semilarvatus). Peixes doentes apresentaram distúrbios como hemorragias e lesões ulcerativas na superfície do corpo. A análise histopatológica do músculo, fígado, intestino, rim, baço, brânquias e estômago revelou hemorragias e degeneração das fibras musculares, degeneração vacuolar de hepatócitos, processo inflamatório e granuloma no fígado, atrofia das vilosidades intestinais, processo inflamatório e granuloma no rim, centros de melanomacrófagos e processo inflamatório no baço, hiperplasia das células epiteliais, bem como formação de granuloma nas brânquias e degeneração vacuolar e eosinófilos no estômago. Devido à gravidade da doença, é necessário implementar medidas de biossegurança com diagnóstico rápido e preciso para minimizar o risco de perdas econômicas causadas por Uronema spp.

Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) and coinfections with feline viral pathogens in domestic cats in Brazil / Ocorrência de Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) e coinfecções com patógenos virais felinos em gatos domésticos no Brasil

ABSTRACT: Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) may causes an asymptomatic infection that result in an efficient transmission and subsequently dissemination of the virus in feline population. This study used molecular detection by qPCR (quantitative PCR) based on DNA polymerase gene fragment amplification to evaluate the occurrence of FcaGHV1 and its correlation with other feline viral pathogens, such as Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1), Felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1), and feline retroviruses such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Of the 182 blood samples evaluated 23.6% (43/182) were positives for FcaGHV1. Approximately 37.9% (33/87) of the samples that tested positive for retrovirus were also were positive for FcaGHV1 infection (P<0.0001). Among FIV-infected samples, 49% (24/49) were positive for FcaGHV1 (P<0.0001). FcaGHV1 infection was not associated with FeLV (P>0.66) or CPPV-1 (P>0.46) coinfection. All samples were negative for FeHV-1. Male felines were significantly associated to FcaGHV1 (P<0.0001) and their risk of infection with FcaGHV1 was about of 7.74 times greater compared to females. Kittens (≤ 1year) were the least affected by FcaGHV1 infection, being verified a rate of 7.7% (4/52). Therefore, male cats over one year old and infected with FIV were considerably more likely to be infected with FcaGHV1. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the occurrence and molecular detection of FcaGHV1 infection in domestic cats in Brazil and in South America.

RESUMO: Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) pode causar uma infecção assintomática, que resulta em uma transmissão eficiente e consequente disseminação do virus na população felina. Este estudo utilizou a detecção molecular por qPCR (PCR quantitativa) baseado na amplificação de um fragmento do gene da DNA polimerase para avaliar a ocorrência de FcaGHV1, sendo correlacionado a outros patógenos virais felinos como Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1), Felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1) e aos retrovírus felinos como vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) e vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV). Das 182 amostras de sangue avaliadas, 23,6% (43/182) foram positivas para FcaGHV1. Aproximadamente 37,9% (33/87) das amostras positivas para retrovirus também foram positivas para FcaGHV1 (P<0,0001). Entre as amostras FIV-infectadas, 49% (24/49) foram positivas para FcaGHV1 (P<0,0001). A infecção por FcaGHV1 não foi associada à coinfecção por FeLV (P>0,66) e CPPV-1 (P>0,46). Todas as amostras foram negativas para FeHV-1. Felinos machos foram significativativamente associados à infecção por FcaHV1 (P <0,0001) e o risco de infecção com FcaGHV1 foi aproximadamente 7,74 vezes maior comparados às femeas. Os filhotes (≤1 ano) foram os menos acometidos pela infecção por FcaGHV1 sendo verificado uma proporção de 7.7% (4/52). Assim, gatos machos com mais de um ano de idade e infectados por FIV foram, consideravelmente, mais susceptíveis a serem infectados com FcaGHV1. Para nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro estudo que relata a ocorrência de infecção e detecção molecular de FcaGHV1 em gatos domésticos no Brasil e na América do Sul.

Development of an experimental model of neurocysticercosis-induced hydrocephalus. Pilot study

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To develop an experimental model of neurocysticercosis-induced hydrocephalus METHODS: There were used 17 rats. Ten animals were inoculated with Taenia crassiceps cysts into the subarachnoid. Five animals were injected with 0.1ml of 25% kaolin (a standard solution for the development of experimental hydrocephalus) and two animals were injected with saline. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate enlargement of the ventricles after one or three months of inoculation. Volumetric study was used to quantify the ventricle enlargement. RESULTS: Seven of the 10 animals in the cyst group developed hydrocephalus, two of them within one month and five within three months after inoculation. Three of the five animals in the kaolin group had hydrocephalus and none in the saline group. Ventricle volumes were significantly higher in the 3-months MRI cyst subgroup than in the 1-month cyst subgroup. Differences between cyst subgroups and kaolin group did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The developed model may reproduce the human condition of neurocysticercosis-related hydrocephalus, which exhibits a slowly progressive chronic course.

Prevalence for nematodes of hygiene-sanitary importance in fish from Colares Island and Vigia, Pará, Brasil / Prevalência de nematoides de importância higiênico-sanitária em peixes da ilha de Colares e Vigia, Pará, Brasil

Zoonotic parasites can infect fish and be a serious threat to human health. The objective of this research was to estimate the prevalence for the main fish-borne zoonotic parasitic diseases of freshwater fish marketed in Colares Island and Vigia, Pará, Brazil. In February, 2012, 85 (40 of Colares and 45 of Vigia) fish were randomly sampled by means of net fishing. Eighty and 76% of fish sampled were parasitized, being silver croacker (Plagioscion squamosissimus), kumakuma (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum), and gilded catfish (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) the species most parasitized. The most prevalent parasites were Anisakis (50% in Colares and 49% in Vigia) and Contracaecum (60% in Colares and 40% in Vigia), followed by Pseudoterranova (2% in Colares and 11% in Vigia), Eustrongylides (10% in Colares and 0% in Vigia) and Hysterothylacium (2% in Colares and 7% in Vigia) in the species: silver croacker, kumakuma and gilded catfish, in both cities. Mesentery (55%) was the organ with highest level of intense infestation. A greater proportion of massive infestation was observed in females (57%) than in males (12%). Results of this study indicate that fish caught in Colares and Vigia could be of high risk for consumer.

Parasitos zoonóticos podem infectar peixes e causar sérios agravos à saúde humana. O objetivo do presente estudo foi estimar a prevalência e identificar os fatores de risco para doenças parasitárias veiculadas por peixes de água doce comercializados na ilha de Colares e Vigia, Pará, Brazil. Em fevereiro de 2012, 85 peixes (40 de Colares e 45 de Vigia) foram coletados de forma aleatória com redes de pesca. Oitenta por cento e 76% dos peixes amostrados estavam parasitados, sendo a corvina (Plagioscion squamosissimus), piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) e dourada (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), as espécies mais parasitadas. Os parasitos mais prevalentes foram: Anisakis (50% em Colares e 49% em Vigia) e Contracaecum (60% em Colares e 40% em Vigia), seguido pelo Pseudoterranova (2% em Colares e 11% em Vigia), Eustrongylides (10% em Colares e 0% em Vigia) e Hysterothylacium (2% em Colares e 7% em Vigia) nas espécies: corvina, piramutaba e dourada, em ambos os municípios. O mesentério (55%) foi o órgão que apresentou infestação maciça em maior quantidade. A infestação maciça também foi observada com maior proporção em fêmeas (57%) do que em machos (12%). Os resultados deste estudo indicam que o peixe capturado em Colares e Vigia pode ser de alto risco para a o consumidor.

A refrigeração no diagnóstico de Salmonella spp. utilizando o método microbiológico tradicional e reação em cadeia da polimerase em carcaças de frango / The cooling on the diagnostic of Salmonella spp. using traditional microbiologic method and the polymerase chain reaction in poultry carcasses

A pesquisa de Salmonella em carcaças de aves tem mostrado resultados discrepantes, dependendo se as amostras foram colhidas ainda na indústria, imediatamente após o chiller ou no comércio varejista, quando se encontram submetidas à refrigeração por vários dias. Técnicas mais sensíveis, tais como a Reação em Cadeia pela Polimerase (PCR), podem fornecer dados importantes sobre o efeito do resfriamento sobre as células do patógeno, comparando seus resultados com os da metodologia microbiológica convencional (MC). Foram colhidas 130 carcaças de frango, sendo que 65 foram obtidas ainda na indústria (pós-chiller) e imediatamente analisadas e 65 carcaças embaladas e estocadas a 5°C por 72 horas (simulando o varejo), sendo então realizada a pesquisa do patógeno por ambas as técnicas. Do total analisado (130 amostras), a PCR foi capaz de detectar 58 positivas (44,6 por cento) e a MC 50 (38,5 por cento). Ambas as técnicas detectaram um número superior de amostras positivas para Salmonella em carcaças colhidas ainda na indústria, quando comparadas às do varejo. A PCR detectou 50,77 por cento de positividade em amostras da indústria e 38,46 por cento em amostras do varejo. Para a MC, esses valores foram de 46,15 por cento (indústria) e 30,77 por cento (varejo). Concluímos que o resfriamento das carcaças a 5°C por 72 horas pode ser um fator limitante na detecção de Salmonella quando a pesquisa do patógeno se faz pela metodologia microbiológica convencional.

The survey of Salmonella in poultry carcasses has shown conflicting results, depending on whether the samples were taken yet in the factory, immediately after the chiller or retail market, when they are subjected to refrigeration for several days. More sensitive techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) can provide important data on the effect of cooling on the cells of the pathogen by comparing their results with those of conventional microbiological methods (CM). It was collected 130 chicken carcasses, wich 65 were obtained yet in the industry (post-chiller) and immediately analyzed and 65 carcasses packaged and stored at 5°C for 72 hours (simulating retail), and then research of the pathogen was performed by both techniques. Of the analyzed total (130 samples), PCR was able to detect 58 positive (44.6 percent) and CM, 50 (38.5 percent). Both techniques detected a higher number of samples positive for Salmonella on carcasses collected yet in the factory when compared to those of retail. The PCR detected 50.77 percent of positive industry samples and 38.46 percent of retail samples. CM for these values was 46.15 percent (factory) and 30.77 percent (retail). We conclude that the cooling of the carcasses for at 5°C for 72 hours can be a limiting factor in the detection of Salmonella when the pathogen research is done by conventional microbiological methods.

Avaliação da unidade analítica na detecção de Salmonella spp em frangos a varejo / Evaluation of the analytical unit for detecting Salmonella spp. in poultry at retail

Mais de 95 por cento das salmoneloses humanas são de origem alimentar e, entre os alimentos envolvidos na transmissão estão os produtos de origem animal, especialmente os de maior relevância, os produtos avícolas. Diante desta questão, o Ministério de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA) estabeleceu um programa com a finalidade de reduzir e monitorar a contaminação por Salmonella spp. nas carcaças de aves. Neste estudo, foi comparada a eficiência de duas metodologias de análises (o enxágue da carcaça e a excisão da pele) para recuperação de células da bactéria, bem como para a verificação da ocorrência do agente patogênico em amostras coletadas na região de Botucatu, SP. Em 100 carcaças analisadas, computando-se os resultados de ambas as metodologias, 43 por cento (43/100) estavam contaminadas por Salmonella spp. Por meio de metodologia de enxágue foram detectadas 81,40 por cento (35/43) amostras com resultados positivos e 51,16 por cento (22/43) pela técnica de excisão. Embora a técnica de enxague tenha detectado número superior de amostras positivas, não houve diferença estatística (p > 0,05) entre os resultados obtidos pelas duas metodologias. Estudos adicionais devem ser realizados, dada à importância das carcaças de frango na veiculação de Salmonella spp. e sua consequente introdução no ambiente de preparação de alimentos.

Aspectos parasitológicos do pescado comercializado na costa da Mata Atlântica / Parasitological aspects of the fish commercialized on Costa da Mata Atlantica

O objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar a ocorrência de nematóides da família Anisakidae e trematódeos da espécie Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa em pescado marinho comercializado na costa da Mata Atlântica. Foram examinadas 257 amostras de peixes colhidas pelos Serviços de Inspeção Federal, Estadual e Municipal em oito municípios, oriundas de toda cadeia produtiva, desde as unidades de captura até os pontos de comercialização. As análises parasitológicas foram conduzidas no Instituto de Pesca de Santos (URLTP), constituídas de peixes refrigerados inteiros, eviscerados, em postas ou filés. O pescado foi considerado infectado quando apresentava ao menos a presença de uma larva na cavidade abdominal e/ou no tecido muscular, após análise macroscópica e em mesa de inspeção (candling-table). Do total de 257 amostras de peixes, 63 estavam parasitadas por nematóides anisaquídeos e trematódeos digenéticos, representando 25,29% da amostragem. Este trabalho permitiu concluir que o consumidor pode infectar-se por esses parasitos ao se alimentar de produtos elaborados com carne de pescado crua, insuficientemente cozida ou defumada a frio.