Geoepidemiology, seroprevalence and factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in domicilied cats from Paraíba (Brazil).

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, an emerging and often neglected zoonosis in South America, particularly Brazil. Felines, the only definitive hosts, excrete oocysts in their feces, potentially infecting all homeotherms. Domestic cats are primarily responsible for contaminating human environments with these oocysts. Monitoring their populations is therefore essential to ensure proper toxoplasmosis prophylaxis. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii and exposure factors in a population of owner cats in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. A total of 267 blood samples were collected from domestic cats aged between 1 and 15 years and tested with an immunofluorescence antibody test. The seroprevalence of antibodies against T. gondii was only 17.22% (46/267 individuals). This result therefore suggests a low contribution of domestic cats to T. gondii contamination of the urban environment. The cats' age and living environment were identified as risk factors for cat exposure to T. gondii.

Title: Géoépidémiologie, séroprévalence et facteurs associés à l'infection à Toxoplasma gondii chez les chats domiciliés à Paraíba (Brésil). Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii est le parasite responsable de la toxoplasmose, une zoonose émergente et souvent négligée en Amérique du Sud, notamment au Brésil. Les félins, seuls hôtes définitifs, excrètent des oocystes dans leurs selles, infectant potentiellement tous les homéothermes. Les chats domestiques sont les premiers responsables de la contamination des environnements humains avec ces oocystes. La surveillance de leurs populations est donc essentielle pour garantir une prophylaxie adéquate contre la toxoplasmose. Le but de cette étude était d'estimer la prévalence de T. gondii et les facteurs d'exposition dans une population de chats domestiques de la ville de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brésil. Au total, 267 échantillons de sang ont été prélevés sur des chats domestiques âgés de 1 à 15 ans et testés avec un test d'immunofluorescence des anticorps. La séroprévalence des anticorps contre T. gondii n'était que de 17,22 % (46/267 individus). Ce résultat suggère donc une faible contribution des chats domestiques à la contamination du milieu urbain par T. gondii. L'âge et le milieu de vie des chats ont été identifiés comme facteurs de risque d'exposition du chat à T. gondii.

Heart anatomy and topography of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus Linnaeus, 1758).

INTRODUCTION: The morphological study of wild animals serves as a base for more advanced studies in clinical medicine, surgery, and pathology. Due to an urgent need and demand for professionals specialized in this area, studies of this nature have become indispensable and so the objective of the present study was to describe the heart morphology of Callithrix jacchus. METHODS: Ten anatomic pieces of common marmoset were used. The hearts were removed and dissected for better visualization and thus to makes a detailed description of the structures of the organ of the C jacchus species. RESULTS: The C jacchus heart is similar to that of other mammals, with small anatomical modifications such as division of the apex by the interventricular grooves, shallow fossa ovalis, and less salient intervenous tubercle. CONCLUSIONS: This study may serve as taxonomic base for research and also as a basis for clinical and surgical procedures with the C jacchus.

Trachea and lung anatomy applied to clinical and surgical procedures in Sapajus libidinosus (Spix, 1823).

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to study the anatomy of the respiratory system of Sapajus libidinosus. METHODS: Ten corpses of adult animals were used. To analyze the bronchial tree, transparent acetic silicone was injected and then dissected. RESULTS: The trachea presented a mean of 32 rings. These spaces were delimited for tracheostomy and tracheotomy between the 1st and 3rd ring or between the 9th and 11th ring, and for thoracocentesis at the 7th or 8th intercostal space. For tracheostomy and tracheotomy, the best access point was in the ventral region of the neck and transverse incision of the rings. For thoracocentesis, cranioventral insertion of the catheter is recommended in the 8th intercostal space. CONCLUSIONS: The trachea and lung anatomy applied to clinical and surgical procedures the robust capuchin monkey is similar to both wild and domestic carnivores.

Prevalence of scrotum bipartition in sheep in the Paraiba backwoods, Brazil.

Goats and sheep have morphological characteristics for adaptation to desert and semiarid regions. The appearance of scrotum division known as scrotum bipartition has already been reported in goats. This anatomy increases the surface of each testicle exposed to environmental temperature, favoring heat dissipation and improving reproductive efficiency. Considering that there are already studies on the goat species demonstrating the presence of this characteristic as an influence on reproductive parameters, the prevalence of scrotum bipartition was estimated in the sheep herds reared in the municipality of Patos, Paraiba backwoods, Brazil. A total of 331 rams were examined from farms in four municipalities in the micro-region of Patos, Paraiba, Brazil, and the same study was also carried out at the municipal slaughterhouse in this city, where 456 animals were examined. According to the analysis, 66.67% of the farms visited presented one or more sheep with scrotum bipartition, with a prevalence of 11.48% on the farms and 14.47% at the slaughterhouse. The degree of bipartition was 9.59 ± 1.035% of the total scrotum length for the animals in the field and 12.89 ± 0.749% for those from the slaughterhouse, characterizing bipartition of less than 50% of the scrotum length. The variables intensive rearing (OR = 16.6) and the Dorper breed (OR = 6.91) were identified as factors associated to the presence of scrotum bipartition. It was concluded that scrotum bipartition is a characteristic present in sheep reared in the municipality of Patos in the semiarid region of Paraiba state, northeastern Brazil, and high prevalence was observed of farms with bipartition sheep, but a low number of animals with scrotum bipartition was identified.