Automated detection and quantification of Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae) in tropical artificial soil using image analysis.

The effects of toxic substance in soil matrices are evaluated by assessing adult worm survival and reproduction. Throughout the test, hundreds of juvenile potworms can be found. The current method for Enchytraeus crypticus quantification in soil samples is a laborious and time-consuming procedure that involves manual counting. The present work proposes a method for quick and reliable counting of E. crypticus by using an automated image analysis algorithm applied to soil images. Comparisons between automated and manual methods conducted in double-blind trials involving a large, routine batch of tropical artificial soil samples revealed no statistically significant differences for a wide range of worm densities. The proposed method overcomes time-consuming counts in manual methods and is suited to be deployed routinely for soil toxicity studies involving large batches of samples.

Seropositividad de Brucella abortus en ganado bovino de Aguazul- Casanare / Seropositivity of Brucella abortus in cattle from Aguazul- Casanare

Resumen Introducción. La Brucelosis bovina, es una enfermedad bacteriana e infecto contagiosa, causada por Brucella abortus. Se transmite a través de la ingestión de forrajes y aguas contaminadas con descargas vaginales infectadas, que conlleva a una patología del sistema reproductor en bovinos, que impactan la sanidad pecuaria y la economía de la agroindustria. Objetivo. Evaluar el comportamiento de la brucelosis bovina en el municipio de Aguazul, Casanare (Colombia) y los factores asociados al desarrollo de esta enfermedad. Metodología. Estudio descritptivo de 26.187 muestras de suero sanguíneo de ganado bovino evaluadas, que corresponden a 260 predios del municipio de Aguazul. Se empleó técnicas serológicascomo rosa de bengala, fluorescencia polarizada y ELISA competitiva para la evaluación de positividad a Brucella abortus y se evaluaron las pérdidas económicas asociadas a positividad en los ensayos de laboratorio. Resultados y conclusiones. La positividad a brucelosis bovina correspondió al 1%, que corresponde a hembras menores de 24 meses de edad y entre 37 a 48 meses y, machos entre los 57 a 68 meses de edad. Se sugiere consolidar esfuerzos en investigación para evaluar los factores que contribuyen a la seropositividad en el ganado y el riesgo para la propagación y mantenimiento de la enfermedad.

Abstract Introduction. Bovine brucellosis is a contagious bacterial and infectious disease caused by Brucella abortus. It is transmitted through the ingestion of forage and water contaminatedwith infected vaginal discharges, which leads to a pathology of the reproductive system inbovines, which impacts livestock health and the economy of agribusiness. Aim. To evaluatethe behavior of bovine brucellosis in the municipality of Aguazul, Casanare (Colombia) and the factors associated with the development of this disease. Methodology. Descriptive study of 26,187 bovine blood serum samples evaluated, corresponding to 260 farms in the municipality of Aguazul. Serological techniques such as rose bengal, polarized fluorescence, and competitive ELISA were used to evaluate positivity to Brucella abortus and the economic losses associated with positivity in laboratory tests were evaluated. Results and conclusions. The positivity to bovine brucellosis corresponded to 1%, which corresponds to females under 24 months of age and between 37 to 48 months and males between 57 to 68 months of age. It is suggested to consolidate research efforts to evaluate the factors that contribute to seropositivity in cattle and the risk for the spread and maintenance of the disease

Prevalencia de brucelosis bovina, equina y humana en Caldas-Colombia-Sur America / Prevalence of bovine, equine and human brucellosis in Caldas-Colombia- South America

La brucelosis es considerada como una de las enfermedades infecciosas más importantes enColombia y el mundo por sus implicaciones en la salud pública, y sus repercusiones productivas en el ámbito pecuario, dejando grandes pérdidas a la economía nacional. Considerando que existe poca información sobre su prevalencia en el ámbito regional, en el transcurso de los años 2001-2002 se realizó un estudio sobre la prevalencia de la brucelosis bovina, equina y humana (personal con alto riesgo de infección) en el departamento de Caldas. Para el desarrollo del trabajo se utilizaron como pruebas diagnósticas, las técnicas rosa de Bengala y ELISA Indirecta; además se realizaron pruebas confirmatorias como ELISA competitiva y fijación de complemento para los equinos. Los resultados obtenidos en 2.434 muestras de bovinos mostraron una baja incidencia para brucelosis (0,6%), que correspondió a 15 animales hembras, distribuida en las cuatro zonas del departamento de la siguiente manera: oriente 0,24% (6 bovinos: 3 de La Dorada y 3 de la Victoria); centro-sur 0,16% (4 bovinos: 2 de Manizales, 1 de Belacázar y 1 de Villamaría); norte 0,12% (3 bovinos: 1 de Neira, 1 de Aranzazu y 1 de Salamina) y occidente 0,08% (2 bovinos, ambos en Risaralda), encontrándose animales positivos en rangos de edad de 18 a 90 meses. No se hallaron equinos reactores positivos utilizando las pruebas confirmatorias. Los resultados obtenidos en 676 muestras de humanos, arrojaron una baja prevalencia (0,14%), correspondiente a un matarife, con síntomas compatibles para brucelosis. La técnica rosa de Bengala aumentó la sensibilidad al agregar el doble de la cantidad de suero con respecto al antígeno Rosa de Bengala.

Brucellosis is considered one of the most important infectious diseases in Colombia and the world due to its implications in public health, and its productive consequences in the livestock field that is producing big losses in the economy of the country. Since there is limited information on Brucellosis in Caldas, in 2001-2002 a prevalence study on bovine, equine and human (high risk personnel) Brucellosis was carried out in the department of Caldas. For the development of the research the following diagnostic tests were used: Bengal Rose Test, indirect ELISA, as well as confirmatory tests, such as competitive ELISA and Complement Fixation, for the horses. The results obtained in 2,434 bovine samples shown a low incidence of Brucellosis (0.6%), corresponding to 15 females, distributed in the four zones of the department as follows: east zone with 0.24% (3 in La Dorada and 3 in La Victoria); central-south zone with 0.16% (2 in Manizales, 1 in Belalcazar and 1 in Villamaría); north zone with 0.12% (1 in Neira, 1 in Aranzazu and 1 in Salamina); and west zone with 0.08% (2 in Risaralda). The animals that tested positive were between 18 to 90 months of age. No equine reactors tested positive with the confirmatory test. The results obtained in 676 human samples showed a low prevalence (0.14%), corresponding to a slaugtherman with symptoms associated with Brucellosis. The Bengal Rose Test increased the sensibility when adding twice as much serum, regarding the Bengal Rose antigen.

Avaliação de diferentes técnicas para coloração de sêmen de peixes / Different techniques to evaluate to stain fish semen / Evaluación de técnicas para colorear sémen de peces

A análise da morfologia dos espermatozóides do sêmen colhido de 30 pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus) consistiu de três soluções fixadoras: formol salina tamponada (FS), citrato sódio diidratado a 3% (CS) e água destilado (Ag) e para corar as células espermáticas três corantes: Vermelho Congo (VC), Rosa Bengala (RB) e Williams-modificado (WM). As combinações de corantes e soluções fixadoras utilizadas foram: RB X FS, WM X FS, VC X FS, VC X Ag, WM X Ag, WM X CS e VC X CS. Na avaliação dos esfregaços levaram-se em consideração as alterações anatômicas, a eficiência do corante, a aglutinação e a sujidade. Quando o sêmen foi diluído em CS e Ag, os espermatozóides sofreram alterações anatômicas e aglutinação, inviabilizando a análise. O FS não gerou alteração anatômica e nem aglutinação dos espermatozóides, sendo possível avaliar a eficiência do corante. Ao analisar a combinação RB X FS verificou-se a melhor média estimada de 9,97 pontos (P<0,05), com baixa sujidade e boa eficiência do corante. A combinação WM X FS resultou na média estimada de 7,35 pontos e a do VC X FS de 6,83 pontos que foram valores menores (P<0,05) em comparação aos esfregaços da combinação RB X FS. De acordo com os resultados obtidos neste estudo, a combinação do RB X FS apresentou os melhores resultados, sendo recomendado preparar esfregaços para analisar a morfologia dos espermatozóides de pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus).

The analyses of spermatozoa morphology from semen obtained from pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus) consisted of three fi xers solution: formal-saline buffered (FB), 3 % sodium citrate diihydrated (SC) and distilled water (DW) and to stain the spermatic cells were used three dyeing: Congo red (CR), Bengal rose (BR) and Williams modifi ed (WM). Combinations of dyeing and fi xers solution were: BR x BF, WM x FB, CR x FB, CR x DW, WM x DW, WM x SC and CR x SC. In the rubbing brush stained evaluation was considered spermatozoa anatomic alterations, dyeing effi ciency, agglutination and dirtiness. For semen diluted in SC and DW was observed spermatozoa anatomic alterations and agglutination on the rubbing brush, becoming impossible any analyses. When semen was diluted in FB to prepare rubbing brush was not observed spermatozoa anatomic alterations and agglutination, becoming possible to evaluate dyeing effi ciency. In analyze of BR x FB combination was verifi ed the best estimate average of 9.97 points (P<0.05), showing reduced dirtiness and good effi ciency of dyeing. When combination was WM x FB the estimate average was 7.35 points and CR x FB was 6.83 points which were lower (P<0.05) than the average verifi ed in the rubbing brush stained with BR x FB. According to the results observed in this study, the best combination to evaluate spermatozoa morphology from pacus semen was rubbing brush stained with BR x FB combination.

El análisis de la morfologia de los espermatozoides del semen colectado de 30 pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus) consistio en tres soluciones fi jadoras: Formol salina tamponada (FS), citrato sodio bihidratado al 3% (CS) y agua destilada (Ag) y para colorear las células espermáticas tres colorantes: Rojo Congo (VC), Rosa Bengala (RB) y Williams ­ modifi cado (WM). Las combinaciones de colorantes y soluciones fi jadoras utilizadas fueron: RB x FS, WB x FS, VC x FS, VC x Ag, WM x Ag, WM x CS y VC x CS. En la evaluación de los frotis se tuvo en cuenta las alteraciones anatómicas, la efi ciencia del colorante, la aglutinacion y la suciedad. Cuando el semen fue diluído en CS y Ag, los espermatozoides sufrieron alteraciones anatómicas y aglutinación, inviabilizando el análisis. El FS no generó alteracion anatómica ni aglutinación de losespermatozoides, siendo posible evaluar la efi ciencia del colorante. Al analizar la combinación RB x FS se verifi có la mejor média estimada de 9,97 puntos (P〈0,05) con baja suciedad y buena efi ciencia del colorante. La combinación WM x FS resultó en el promedio estimado de 7,35 puntos y la de VC x FS de 6,83 puntos que fueron valores menores (P〈0,05) en comparación a los frotis de la combinación RB x FS. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, la combinación de RB x FS presentó los mejores resultados, siendo recomendado para preparar frotis para analizar la morfologia de los espermatozoides de pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus).