Seroprevalence and associated factors with Neospora caninum infection in sheep and goats slaughtered in the state of Paraíba, Brazil.

The objective was to describe the seroprevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in goats and sheep slaughtered in the state of Paraíba and to identify possible associated factors with the infections. Two hundred twenty-nine samples from goats and two hundred five from sheep were analyzed by Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFAT) using a cutoff point of 1:50. The presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was identified in 28.4% (65/ 229; 95% Confidence Interval: 22.6-34.2) of the goat samples and in 12.7% (26/ 205; 95% CI: 8.2 - 17.2) of the sheep samples. Contact between goats and dogs (Odds ratio 4.81; CI 1.13 - 2.67; p = 0.041) and cattle (OR. 1.87; CI 1.13 - 2.67; p = 0.002) was identified as a risk factor for goats and contact between sheep and dogs (OR 2.32; CI 1.58 - 3.14; p = 0.026) and history of abortion (OR 1.94; CI 1.28 - 2.90; p = 0.001) was considered a risk factor for sheep. The study revealed a high seroprevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in slaughtered goats and sheep in Paraíba. Risk factors such as contact with dogs/cattle and abortion history underscore the need for preventive measures to control infection and enhance animal health management.

Prevalence and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii in goats slaughtered for human consumption in the semi-arid of northeastern Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and factors associated with infection in goats, and to isolate protozoan strains in tissue samples from seropositive goats that were destined for human consumption in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from 229 slaughtered goats were tested using the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), with a cutoff point of 1:64. Epidemiological questionnaires were applied to the producers, to acquire information about the sanitary management used in their herds. Tissue samples from the animals were collected during slaughter, in order to perform bioassays in mice. The seroprevalence found was 21.39% (49/229), with antibody titers ranging from 1:64 to 1:32,768. The municipalities of origin, Patos (OR: 3.047; CI: 1.384-6.706) and Sousa (OR: 3.355; CI: 1.536-7.327), were considered to be factors associated with infection by T. gondii. Thirty-eight bioassays were performed in mice, using tissues from seropositive goats, with an isolation rate of 50% (19/38). There was no correlation between isolation rate and antibody titers. Only one mouse died, at 30 days post-infection, which demonstrated that the strains isolated had low virulence towards mice. It was concluded that there is high seroprevalence in goats in northeastern Brazil, as well as a high percentage of viable tissue cysts in slaughtered animals destined for human consumption. These results demonstrate that there is an imminent one health problem relating to toxoplasmosis, especially in the most populous municipalities in the study (Patos and Sousa), which were identified as factors associated with T. gondii infection in goats.

Diversity of enteric coccidia in pigs from the Paraíba Semiarid Region of Northeastern Brazil.

There is great diversity in swine coccidia, which are responsible for causing intestinal disorders ranging from sporadic diarrhea to severe cases of hemorrhagic enteritis. Thus, determining the species of coccidia that affect the animals of a region and associating them with the characteristics of the farms become extremely important. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of coccidia parasites in pigs reared in a family farming production system in the Semiarid Region of the State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. Fecal samples for analysis were collected from 187 pigs on 51 farms. For morphological analysis, 1,590 sporulated oocysts were used. The prevalence of oocysts in fecal samples was 56.6% (106/187). The most prevalent species were Eimeria suis (21.9%), followed by Eimeria neodebliecki (16.6%), Eimeria perminuta (14.9%), Eimeria polita (12.8%), Eimeria debliecki (10.6%), Eimeria porci (10.1%), Cystoisospora suis (3.7%), Eimeria scabra (1.6%) and Eimeria cerdonis (0.5%). It can be concluded that pigs from the Semiarid Region of the State of Paraíba were parasitized by a diversity of coccidia species, mainly of the genus Eimeria, and predominantly presented with mixed infections occurring in the subclinical form.

Diversity of enteric coccidia in pigs from the Paraíba Semiarid Region of Northeastern Brazil / Diversidade de coccídios entéricos em suínos no Semiárido Paraibano, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract There is great diversity in swine coccidia, which are responsible for causing intestinal disorders ranging from sporadic diarrhea to severe cases of hemorrhagic enteritis. Thus, determining the species of coccidia that affect the animals of a region and associating them with the characteristics of the farms become extremely important. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of coccidia parasites in pigs reared in a family farming production system in the Semiarid Region of the State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. Fecal samples for analysis were collected from 187 pigs on 51 farms. For morphological analysis, 1,590 sporulated oocysts were used. The prevalence of oocysts in fecal samples was 56.6% (106/187). The most prevalent species were Eimeria suis (21.9%), followed by Eimeria neodebliecki (16.6%), Eimeria perminuta (14.9%), Eimeria polita (12.8%), Eimeria debliecki (10.6%), Eimeria porci (10.1%), Cystoisospora suis (3.7%), Eimeria scabra (1.6%) and Eimeria cerdonis (0.5%). It can be concluded that pigs from the Semiarid Region of the State of Paraíba were parasitized by a diversity of coccidia species, mainly of the genus Eimeria, and predominantly presented with mixed infections occurring in the subclinical form.

Resumo Há uma grande diversidade de coccídios que parasitam os suínos, sendo responsáveis por causarem desordens intestinais que variam de diarreias esporádicas a casos severos de enterites hemorrágicas. Assim, determinar as espécies de coccídios que afetam os animais de uma região e associá-los com as características das fazendas torna-se extremamente importante. Objetivou-se determinar a prevalência de coccídios em suínos criados em sistema de produção de agricultura familiar no Semiárido da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Foram analisados oocistos íntegros e esporulados no período de março a setembro de 2018, oriundos de 187 suínos, em 51 propriedades. Para a análise morfológica foram utilizados 1.590 oocistos esporulados. A prevalência de oocistos de coccídios foi detectada em 56,6% (106/187) das amostras analisadas. A espécie mais prevalente foi Eimeria suis (21,9%), seguida por Eimeria neodebliecki (16,6%), Eimeria perminuta (14,9%), Eimeria polita (12,8%), Eimeria debliecki (10,6%), Eimeria porci (10,1%), Cystoisospora suis (3,7%), Eimeria scabra (1,6%) e Eimeria cerdonis (0,5%). Concluiu-se que os suínos do Semiárido da Paraíba estavam parasitados por uma alta diversidade de espécies de coccídios, principalmente do gênero Eimeria, apresentando predominantemente infeções mistas, que ocorrem sob a forma subclínica.

Control measures recommended for goat gastrointestinal nematode infections after analysis of infection dynamics in the semiarid region of Brazil / Medidas de controle recomendadas para as infecções por nematódeos gastrintestinais de caprinos após análise da dinâmica das infecções no semiárido do Brasil

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine control measures for gastrointestinal nematodes in goats in the northeastern semiarid after analyzing the dynamics of gastrointestinal helminths during the drought, the evolution of the parasitic load after the first rains and the differences in susceptibility between goats of different categories and ages. Five farms were studied from March 2013 to January 2015. Feces were collected from all goats every month, for fecal egg counts (FECs). No treatment was required on any farm during the dry period. In 2013, with annual rainfall of 265-533 mm, treatments were not necessary during the rainy season. However, in 2014, with rainfall of 604-778 mm, treatments were necessary 60-90 days, after the first rains. On three farms, gastrointestinal nematodes showed multiple anthelmintic resistance. The FECs from lactating goats were significantly higher than from dry and young goats. In conclusion, in the Brazilian semi-arid region (Caatinga biome), it is generally unnecessary to treat grazing goats during the dry season. In the rainy season, the parasite load increases 2-3 months after the first rains. In both, the dry and the rainy season, farmers should monitor their herds by means of FEC or another criterion (anemia or submandibular edema), to determine the need to treat.

RESUMO: Este trabalho objetivou determinar medidas de controle de nematódeos gastrintestinais de caprinos no semiárido nordestino após análise da dinâmica das infecções helmínticas durante a seca, a evolução da carga parasitária após as primeiras chuvas e as diferenças de susceptibilidade entre caprinos de distintas categorias e idades. Em cinco propriedades, de março de 2013 a janeiro de 2015, foram coletadas, mensalmente, fezes de todos os caprinos para contagem de ovos. Em nenhuma propriedade foi necessário vermifugar durante os períodos de seca. Em 2013, com precipitações de 265-533 mm anuais, não foi necessário vermifugar durante o período de chuva. No entanto, em 2014, com precipitações de 604-778 mm, foi necessário vermifugar 60-90 dias após as primeiras chuvas em três propriedades. Nessas três propriedades foi encontrada multirresistência aos anti-helmínticos. Foi constatado que o OPG das cabras lactantes foi significativamente maior do que o OPG das cabras secas e dos cabritos. Em conclusão, na região semiárida, geralmente, não é necessário o tratamento das cabras pastejando na caatinga durante a estação seca. Na estação chuvosa, a carga parasitária aumenta 2-3 meses após as primeiras chuvas. Tanto na seca quanto nas chuvas, o produtor deve monitorar o rebanho mediante OPG ou por outros critérios (anemia, edema submandibular) para determinar a necessidade de vermifugação.