Zoonoses in humans from small rural properties in Jataizinho, Parana, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to conduct a serological survey for Lyme diseases, brucellosis, leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis and identify the risk variables related to these zoonoses in humans living in the rural area of Jataizinho, state of Parana, Brazil. A total of 63 rural properties were surveyed. Additionally, 207 serum samples collected from these rural area inhabitants were tested for indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) and western blots (WB) were performed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato); a tamponated acidified antigen test (AAT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) were used to detect antibodies of Brucella abortus; the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out to detect antibodies anti-Leptospira spp. and IFI was used to find antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii. Two of the samples (0.96%) were reactive for Lyme borreliosis, three (1.4%) for brucellosis, 25 (12.1%) for leptospirosis and 143 (69.1%) for toxoplasmosis. Although the town of Jataizinho has a human development index (IDH) that was considered to be average (0.733) in the state of Parana, the low social, economic and cultural conditions of the population from small rural properties have resulted in lack of basic information on animal health and direct or indirect contact with the various species of domestic animals, wildlife and ticks have probably contributed to the prevalence levels found. These results show the need for additional regional studies in order to determine the epidemiological characteristics of these diseases as well as their respective vectors and reservoirs so that effective prophylaxis can be administered in the human population.

Zoonoses in humans from small rural properties in Jataizinho, Parana, Brazil

The aim of this study was to conduct a serological survey for Lyme diseases, brucellosis, leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis and identify the risk variables related to these zoonoses in humans living in the rural area of Jataizinho, state of Parana, Brazil. A total of 63 rural properties were surveyed. Additionally, 207 serum samples collected from these rural area inhabitants were tested for indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) and western blots (WB) were performed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato); a tamponated acidified antigen test (AAT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) were used to detect antibodies of Brucella abortus; the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out to detect antibodies anti-Leptospira spp. and IFI was used to find antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii. Two of the samples (0.96%) were reactive for Lyme borreliosis, three (1.4%) for brucellosis, 25 (12.1%) for leptospirosis and 143 (69.1%) for toxoplasmosis. Although the town of Jataizinho has a human development index (IDH) that was considered to be average (0.733) in the state of Parana, the low social, economic and cultural conditions of the population from small rural properties have resulted in lack of basic information on animal health and direct or indirect contact with the various species of domestic animals, wildlife and ticks have probably contributed to the prevalence levels found. These results show the need for additional regional studies in order to determine the epidemiological characteristics of these diseases as well as their respective vectors and reservoirs so that effective prophylaxis can be administered in the human population.

Occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in horses of the urban area of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.

A total of 320 horses were studied in this paper, both male and female, between two and 17 years of age, which were used for traction of wagons in the urban area of the municipality of Londrina (PR). These animals were kept, after their daily work, in abandoned areas or plots, in the outskirts of the urban area of the city. When these animals were attended by the veterinarians, between 1996 and 2005, none of them presented symptoms suggesting leptospirosis. The most frequent reasons for the visit were loss of weight, unwillingness for work, parasitism, laminess, and wounds. Microscopic Seroagglutination Test (SAM), with 22 Leptospira serovars, was performed in sera sample from all these animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in horses from the urban area of Londrina (PR). From the samples tested, 214 (66.88%) were considered positive, with titers between 100 and 3200, being that 49 (22.90%) presented antibodies against a single serovar of Leptospira, and 165 (77.10%) samples presented antibodies against two or more serovars simultaneously, where in 88 (53.33%) it was possible to characterize the most likely probable serovar. Antibodies against the serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae were detected in 32 (23.36%) animals.

Occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in horses of the urban area of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

A total of 320 horses were studied in this paper, both male and female, between two and 17 years of age, which were used for traction of wagons in the urban area of the municipality of Londrina (PR). These animals were kept, after their daily work, in abandoned areas or plots, in the outskirts of the urban area of the city. When these animals were attended by the veterinarians, between 1996 and 2005, none of them presented symptoms suggesting leptospirosis. The most frequent reasons for the visit were loss of weight, unwillingness for work, parasitism, laminess, and wounds. Microscopic Seroagglutination Test (SAM), with 22 Leptospira serovars, was performed in sera sample from all these animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in horses from the urban area of Londrina (PR). From the samples tested, 214 (66.88 percent) were considered positive, with titers between 100 and 3200, being that 49 (22.90 percent) presented antibodies against a single serovar of Leptospira, and 165 (77.10 percent) samples presented antibodies against two or more serovars simultaneously, where in 88 (53.33 percent) it was possible to characterize the most likely probable serovar. Antibodies against the serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae were detected in 32 (23.36 percent) animals.

Foram estudados 320 eqüinos, machos e fêmeas com idade entre dois a 17 anos, utilizados para tração de carroças na área urbana do município de Londrina (PR). Estes animais eram mantidos, após a jornada diária de serviço, em áreas ou terrenos baldios, localizados na periferia da área urbana do município. Por ocasião do atendimento, realizado entre 1996 e 2005, no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, nenhum dos animais apresentou sintomas sugestivos de leptospirose, sendo os motivos mais freqüentes, o emagrecimento, a indisposição para o trabalho, a verminose, problemas no sistema locomotor e feridas. A prova de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), com 22 sorovares de Leptospira, foi realizada em amostra de soro de todos os animais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a ocorrência de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. em eqüinos da área urbana do município de Londrina. Foram consideradas positivas 214 (66,88 por cento) amostras de soros com títulos entre 100 e 3200, sendo em 49 (22,90 por cento) detectadas anticorpos contra um único sorovar de Leptospira e em 165 (77,10 por cento) amostras com anticorpos contra dois ou mais sorovares simultâneamente, sendo em 88 (53,33 por cento) destes caracterizado o sorovar mais provável. Anticorpos contra o sorovar Icterohaemorrhagiae foram detectados em 32 (23,36 por cento) animais.

Seroepidemiology and occupational and environmental variables for leptospirosis, brucellosis and toxoplasmosis in slaughterhouse workers in the Paraná State, Brazil.

Leptospirosis, brucellosis and toxoplasmosis are widely-distributed zoonosis, being the man an accidental participant of their epidemiological chains. The aim of this paper was to make a seroepidemiological report and identify occupational and environmental variables related to these illnesses in 150 workers in a slaughterhouse in the Northern region of Paraná. For the diagnosis of leptospirosis a microscopical seroagglutination test was applied; for brucellosis, the tamponated acidified antigen test and the 2-mercaptoetanol tests were used, and for toxoplasmosis the indirect immunofluorescence reaction test. For each employee an epidemiological survey was filled, which investigated occupational and environmental variables which could be associated with these infections. Positive results for leptospirosis were found in 4.00% of the samples, for brucellosis in 0.66% of samples and toxoplasmosis in 70.00%. From the three diseases researched, only the results for leptospirosis suggest occupational infection.

Seroepidemiology and occupational and environmental variables for leptospirosis, brucellosis and toxoplasmosis in slaughterhouse workers in the Paraná State, Brazil

A leptospirose, brucelose e a toxoplasmose são zoonoses de ampla distribuição, sendo o homem participante acidental das suas cadeias epidemiológicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar levantamento soroepidemiológico e identificar variáveis ocupacionais e ambientais relacionadas a estas enfermidades em 150 trabalhadores de um frigorífico da região Norte do Paraná. Para o diagnóstico de leptospirose foi realizada a prova de soroaglutinação microscópica; para a brucelose, a prova do antígeno acidificado tamponado e do 2-mercaptoetanol e para toxoplasmose, a reação de imunofluorescência indireta. Para cada funcionário foi preenchido um questionário epidemiológico que investigou variáveis ocupacionais e ambientais que poderiam estar associadas a estas infecções. Resultados positivos para leptospirose foram encontrados em 4,00% das amostras, para brucelose em 0,66% das amostras e para toxoplasmose 70,00%. Das três enfermidades pesquisadas, somente os resultados obtidos para leptospirose sugerem infecção de modo ocupacional.

Isolation of Leptospira spp from dogs, bovine and swine naturally infected

O isolamento da Leptospira permite o diagnóstico definitivo da infecção. Um dos inconvenientes do cultivo é a contaminação por microrganismos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever o isolamento de Leptospiras de cães, bovinos e suínos naturalmente infectados. Foram utilizadas amostras de urina de 14 cães, três bovinos, e amostras de rim, fígado, ovário e corpo de útero de 36 matrizes suínas de descarte sem histórico sanitário. As amostras de urina e tecidos foram semeadas em meio de cultura. Foi utilizado o meio de cultura Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) modificado acrescido de 5-fluorouracil, cloranfenicol, vancomicina, ácido nalidíxico e neomicina. A incubação foi realizada a 28°C por 24 horas, seguida de subcultura em EMJH modificado sem antibiótico. Com esta metodologia, foi possível o isolamento de Leptospira spp da urina de 11 cães e dois bovinos e de fragmentos de fígado de dois suínos.