Epidemiological and clinicopathological findings of feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus infections in domestic cats from the Brazilian semiarid region.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are retroviruses of great importance for domestic cats with a worldwide distribution. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the epidemiological and clinicopathological aspects of the infection by FIV and FeLV in cats from the Brazilian semiarid region. Cats treated between 2011 and 2021 at the teaching veterinary hospital of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region that were submitted to a point-of-care (POC) test to detect anti-FIV IgG antibodies and FeLV antigen were enrolled in the study. Overall, 454 cats were selected, of which 30.2% [95% CI = 26.0% - 34.3%] were FIV-positive, 1.1% [95% CI = 0.9% - 1.2%] were FeLV-positive, and 0.7% [95% CI = 0.1% - 1.3%] were coinfected by both retroviruses. No statistical association was found between the studied retroviruses (P = 0.144). Multivariable analysis detected significant associations between FIV infection and male sex [OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 3.0-10.7, P < 0.0001), age between 19 and 78 months [OR = 5.2, 95% CI = 2.2-12.1, P < 0.0001], age greater than 78 months [OR = 12.8, 95% CI = 5.1-31.9, P < 0.0001], crossbreed [OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.2-13.4, P = 0.021], the presence of oral disease [OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3-3.4, P = 0.004], reduced red blood cell (RBC) count [OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.9-7.2, P < 0.0001], and an albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio lower than 0.6 [OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.6-7.1, P = 0.001]. No statistical analyses were performed for FeLV infection due to the low number of positive animals. In the quantitative analyses of hematological parameters, FIV-positive cats presented lower values for RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes, and platelets compared to the negative animals. In the biochemical profile, cats infected with FIV showed higher creatinine, urea, total protein, and globulin values, while lower values for albumin and A:G ratio were observed (P < 0.05). The findings of this study characterized the prevalence, clinicopathological findings, and risk factors associated with FIV and FeLV in cats from the Brazilian semiarid region. They may help support veterinary practitioners in diagnosing feline retroviruses. The FIV prevalence observed is among the highest reported in Brazil, demonstrating the need for prevention and control strategies for this retrovirus.

Distribution, seroprevalence and risk factors for bovine brucellosis in Brazil: Official data, systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bovine brucellosis is an endemic disease in Brazil, and evidence-based assessments of the available literature on its seroprevalence and risk factors are limited. The aim of this study was to systematically review and summarize studies related to seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine brucellosis in the entire Brazil, in addition to comparing published data with the most recent official reports. Articles available in scientific databases and published between October 2006 and October 2021 were evaluated. Forty-five publications were included in the meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of brucellosis and 29 publications in the review on risk factors. The largest number of publications was found for the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (n=4), and the highest and lowest seroprevalences were observed in Acre (11%; 95% CI: 8.0-14.0%) and in the Federal District (0.4%; 95% CI: 0.2-0.7%). The main risk factors were the purchase of animals for breeding, vaccination, the number of heifers (female ≥2 years), the presence of calving paddocks and the occurrence of abortions. The need for new official studies has been suggested to determine the true prevalence of bovine brucellosis in Brazil, supported by the National Program for the Control and Eradication of Animal Brucellosis and Tuberculosis.

Strong Evidence of the Role of Donkeys in the Epidemiology of Leptospira spp. in Semiarid Conditions.

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are historically known for their close relationship to humanity, which raises the need to study zoonotic diseases that affect them. In this perspective, leptospirosis stands out as a disease with an economic and public health impact, and its occurrence is facilitated in times of higher rainfall indexes, especially in large urban centers. In view of the scarcity of information about leptospirosis in donkeys, the objective of this study was to detect the presence of Leptospira spp. and anti-leptospiral antibodies in donkeys rescued by a zoonosis center located in the Caatiga biome, Brazilian semiarid region. Overall, 30 donkeys of both sexes, aged between 4 months and 15 years, were used, from which 64 serum samples were collected and submitted to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In addition, 64 samples of urine, vaginal and preputial fluid, in duplicates, were subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microbiological. Sixteen (53.3%) animals tested positive in at least one diagnostic test, 12 (40%) of which were positive at MAT and seven (23.3%) in the molecular and bacteriological detection (urine, vaginal, and preputial fluid samples). This is the first report identifying donkeys infected with Leptospira spp. by molecular and bacteriological diagnosis in Brazil, and the first in the world to detect this agent in their genital fluids. The study also shows that donkeys are commonly exposed to leptospires in the Caatinga biome, and this constitutes a One Health-based concern, demonstrating the importance of broad studies where large numbers of humans and animals coexist when investigating zoonotic infections and when planning and implementing control measures for donkeys-associated leptospirosis.

Determination of pathogens and contamination indicatorsin fresh pork sausages in the state of São Paulo / Determinação de patógenos e indicadores de contaminação em linguiças frescais de origem suína no estado de São Paulo

The highest cost of beef and chicken meat justifies higher consumption of fresh sausage products, especially linguiça, due to their easy preparation and affordability for consumers, making necessary an evaluation of sanitary hygienic conditions of these products. The objective was to investigate the presence of pathogens such as Salmonella spp., coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter spp. in artisanal and inspected fresh pork sausages. It was found that 12% (6/50) of the artisanal sausage samples were contaminated with Salmonellaspp., 58% (29/50) presented coagulase-positive Staphylococcus levels above the acceptable limits for consumption and 76% (38/50) presented thermotolerant coliform levels above the acceptable limits. In sausage samples produced under inspected conditions, 6% (3/50) were contaminated with Salmonella spp., 24% (12/50) presented thermotolerant coliform levels above the acceptable limits, 2% (1/50) presented enteropathogenic E. coli. None samples showed coagulase-positive Staphylococcus counts above the limits, or presence of Campylobacter spp. Sensitizing traders and consumers about the importance of inspection service in food of animal origin is urgent for a sanitary acceptable production, since foodborne diseases continue to be a public health problem.

O alto custo das carnes de frango e bovina justifica maior consumo de produtos embutidos frescais, especialmente a linguiça, devido ao preço acessível ao consumidor e fácil preparo, tornando necessário estudos para avaliar as condições higiênico-sanitárias. Os objetivos foram verificar a presença de Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus coagulase positiva, coliformes termotolerantes, Escherichia colipatogênicas e Campylobacter spp. em linguiças suínas tipo frescal artesanais e fiscalizadas. Os resultados obtidos em linguiças artesanais foram de 12% (6/50) contaminadas com Salmonella spp., 58% (29/50) de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva e 76% (38/50) nas quantificações de coliformes termotolerantes, dados que apresentam níveis de contaminação superiores aos da legislação vigente. Nas linguiças produzidas sob fiscalização detectou-se 6% (3/50) de contaminação por Salmonella spp.; 24% (12/50) de quantificação de coliformes termotolerantes acima dos limites aceitáveis, e 2% (1/50) de E. coli enteropatogênica. Nenhuma amostra apresentou contagens de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva fora dos padrões, ou contaminação por Campylobacter spp. Sensibilizar comerciantes e consumidores sobre a importância do serviço de inspeção em alimentos de origem animal é premente para que haja uma produção sanitária aceitável, pois doenças transmitidas por alimentos continuam sendo um problema à saúde pública.

Occurrence of IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leptospira spp. in goats and sheep from an indigenous village in Pernambuco, Brazil.

This study aimed to determine the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Leptospira spp. antibodies in sheep and goats raised in villages of the Xukuru do Ororubá indigenous community, Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 180 serum samples from sheep and 108 serum samples from goats of both sexes and different ages were analyzed. For antibody research, indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) were used for the protozoa T. gondii and N. caninum, and microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for Leptospira spp., with a cutoff titer of 1:64, 1:50 and 1:100, respectively. The frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies was 16.6% (30/180) for sheep and 11.1% (12/108) for goats. The frequency of anti-N. caninum antibodies was 10.55% (19/180) for sheep, and 20.37% (22/108) for goats, while for Leptospira spp., 2.2% (4/180) of sheep and 1.85% (2/108) of goats reacted positively. The results obtained in this study are unprecedented in indigenous communities in the country and serve as an alert for monitoring goats and sheep from the Xukuru do Ororubá indigenous village regarding the occurrence and productive impact of infections by T. gondii, N. caninum, and Leptospira spp., in addition to the occurrence of the zoonosis toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis in the indigenous community.

Herd-level based seroprevalence and associated factors for Toxoplasma gondii in cows in the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil.

We aimed to determine the herd and animal levels seroprevalence and associated factors for Toxoplasma gondii infections in cattle from the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. Herds (n = 434) and cows aged ≥ 24 months (n = 1,895) were randomly selected, and serum samples were tested with the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) using as cutoff of 64. Of the 434 farms investigated, 197 had at least one seropositive cow (prevalence of 49.0%; 95% CI = 44.3%-53.8%), and the prevalence at animal level was 18.0% (95% CI = 5.3%-21.1%). The antibody titers ranged from 64 to 1024, with the most frequent titers being 64 (10.8%) and 128 (3.7%). The risk factors identified were property located in Sertão region (odds ratio [OR] = 3.07), property located in Agreste/Zona da Mata regions (OR = 2.00), animal purchasing (OR = 2.68), herd size of 34-111 animals (OR = 2.91) and herd size > 111 animals (OR = 6.97). The results suggest the wide distribution of T. gondii infections in cattle throughout the state of Paraíba, and the risk factors identified are not possible to correct.

Herd and animal level prevalences and risk factors for Neospora caninum infection in cattle in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil.

Bovine neosporosis is a globally important disease, causing abortions and significant economic losses. In Brazil, studies on neosporosis in cattle are few and based on limited samples and/or from limited areas. We aimed to determine the herd and animal levels seroprevalence and associated factors for Neospora caninum infections in cattle from the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil, using a planned sampling. Herds (n = 434) and cows aged ≥24 months (n = 1891) were randomly selected, and serum samples were tested with the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) using as cut-off point the antibody titer 200. Herd-level and animal-level seroprevalences were 17.8% (95% CI = 14.3%-21.8%) and 18.1% (95% CI = 14.7%-22.1%), respectively. The factors associated with N. caninum infection were farm located in the Sertão mesoregion (Prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.37), mixed production (PR = 1.64), herd size of 34-111 animals (PR = 3.50) and herd size >111 animals (PR = 6.14). The results indicate high N. caninum circulation in the bovine population of the state of Paraíba, semiarid of Brazil, mainly in the Sertão mesoregion, where the highest apparent herd and animal-level prevalences of positive herds were identified. Control strategies should be adopted to mitigate the impact of disease on cattle production, as well as it's suggested the encouragement of conducting surveys in wildlife from Caatinga biome, mainly canids, to provide information on the importance of these animals on the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis.

Global Seropositivity of Swine Leptospirosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Leptospirosis is a major threat to public health worldwide; however, there is no study focused on global seropositivity in pigs. In this study, we grouped publications and performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to gather data related to swine leptospirosis seropositivity published globally. The search method initially used returned a total of 1183 results, of which 20 met all predefined criteria and were therefore included in this review. Meta-analysis with general data was performed and a combined seropositivity of 21.95% was found. Seropositivity was 36.40% in South America, 34.05% in North America, 22.18% in Africa, 17.40% in Oceania, 13.30% in Europe and 13.36% in Asia. The results suggest that there is high seropositivity for leptospirosis in pigs worldwide. Information compiled from this research is relevant to understanding the spread of leptospirosis globally. It is expected that these indicators will contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease with a focus on its control and, consequently, on the reduction of cases in the human and animal population.

Bovine Leptospirosis in Caatinga Biome, Brazil: New Insights into Diagnosis and Epidemiology.

Bovine leptospirosis causes economic losses and raises public health concerns. It is possible that there are peculiarities in the epidemiology of leptospirosis in regions with a semiarid climate, such as the Caatinga biome in Brazil, where the climate is hot and dry, and the etiological agent require alternative routes of transmission. This study aimed to close knowledge gaps to the diagnosis and epidemiology of Leptospira spp. infection in cows from the Caatinga biome, Brazil. Samples of the blood, urinary tract (urine, bladder and kidney) and reproductive tract (vaginal fluid, uterus, uterine tube, ovary and placenta) were collected from 42 slaughtered cows. Diagnostic tests included were the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial isolation. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were found in 27 (64.3%) of the animals analyzed using MAT at a 1:50 dilution (cut-off 50), while 31 (73.8%) animals had at least one organ/fluid where the presence of Leptospira spp. DNA was identified, and 29 animals (69%) were positive at bacteriological culture. The highest sensitivity values for MAT were obtained at the cut-off point of 50. In conclusion, even under hot and dry climate conditions, it is possible that Leptospira spp. can spread through alternative routes such as venereal transmission; moreover, a cut-off of 50 is recommended for the serological diagnosis of cattle from the Caatinga biome.

Clinical, histopathological, and molecular findings for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in dairy goats under semiarid conditions.

The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in dairy goats, via description of their clinical presentation, histopathological findings, and molecular identification of the infectious agent. Screening was performed using IS900 real-time PCR (qPCR) in milk samples from 179 properties in the semiarid of Northeast region of Brazil. Pooled milk samples from all lactating goats from processing plants were submitted to molecular diagnosis. One property had a positive result at qPCR. The production unit which had the positive sample for MAP was located, and an on-site visit to this property was performed to collect individual milk samples, seven of which tested MAP positive by IS900 qPCR. With permission from the owner, two goats (Animal 1 was positive and Animal 2 was negative on first qPCR for MAP) were acquired and euthanized. Animals 1 and 2 had milk and portions of the duodenum, ileum, colon, and mesenteric lymph nodes positive at qPCR for MAP. Animal 1 also had MAP DNA detected in part of the jejunum and cecum. In animal 2, the ileocecal valve tested positive. MAP was not detected in the blood or feces of either animal; however; it was confirmed for the association of clinical findings, histopathology, and qPCR. The gene IS900 from the positive samples were sequenced and showed a 99% similarity with MAP. The MAP was identified for the first time in the goat milk and tissues in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil.

Molecular detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in equids in a semiarid zone of Pernambuco - Brazil.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a neglected and frequently occurring zoonosis in Central and South American countries. Wild mammals and domestic dogs are the main reservoirs of the parasite in the wild and domestic cycles, respectively. The vectors have a wide variety of food sources that can influence transmission cycles. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in donkeys (Equus asininos) and mules (Equus mulus) living in rural areas of the Brazilian semi-arid region. Whole-blood samples from 72 equids (65 donkeys and 7 mules) were analyzed by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR). A total of 51.39% of the samples (37/72) were positive. Phylogenetic analysis identified discrete typing units TcI and TcII, which suggested the possibility that donkeys and mules might be participating in domestic/peridomestic and wild transmission cycles. This was the first report of T. cruzi infection in donkeys and mules in Brazil, with high prevalence of positive animals. This places these animals as potential reservoirs for the parasite and the particular features of these hosts, the presence of vectors and the socioeconomic characteristics of the population under semiarid conditions create interactions that may favor transmission and overlapping T. cruzi infection cycles.

Factors associated with small ruminant lentivirus infection in goat herds from Pernambuco state, Northeast region of Brazil.

Serum samples (n = 1532) were collected between May 2011 to April 2012 from goats from 76 herds (49 from dairy farms and 27 herds for genetic improvement) from three geographical regions from the state of Pernambuco, Brazil: Zona da Mata, Agreste, and Sertão. Samples were processed using agar gel immunodiffusion test, with p28 CAEV antigen. The objective was to determine the risk factors for small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) in dairy goats and goats with high genetic value. Overall, seroprevalence was 13.7% (210/1532) [95% CI: 12-15.4%] in animals and 67.1% (51/76) [95% CI: 56.5%- 77.7%] in herds. In dairy farms the seroprevalence was 73.5% (36/49) [95% CI: 61.1%- 85.8%], and in properties with animals of high genetic value it was 55.6% (15/27) [95% CI: 36.8%- 74.3%]. Robust Poisson regression analysis adjusted by the random effect of the herd showed that risk factors were: importing bucks from another Brazilian state (prevalence ratio [PR] = 4.73 [95% CI: 2.05; 10.88]), not isolating sick animals (PR = 3.27 [95% CI: 2.24; 4.76]), and participating in fairs/animal crowding (PR = 1.52 [95% CI: 1.09; 2.11]). Prevalence results show that SRLV is present in caprine herds in the state of Pernambuco and identified risk factors are strongly related to animal transit. Considering the epidemiological situation, the first step for mitigating the consequences of this disease would be controlling animal transit.

Epidemiology of Leptospira sp. Infection: Current Status, Insights and Future Prospects.

In recent decades, the scientific community has been faced with an increased risk of emerging or re-emerging zoonotic diseases, such as leptospirosis, mainly originating from anthropic actions [...].

Coinfection with Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii in Domestic Cats from a Region with a High Prevalence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

The aim of this study was to investigate the coinfection of feline retroviruses (feline immunodeficiency virus-FIV, and the feline leukemia virus-FeLV) with Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii and the factors associated with these pathogens in domestic cats from Mossoró, a city endemic for canine and human leishmaniasis situated in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil. Blood samples from 120 cats were collected, and an epidemiological questionnaire was applied to investigate the risk factors associated with the infections. Retroviruses, L. infantum, and T. gondii infections were assessed using a point-of-care ELISA and quantitative PCR (qPCR), indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and qPCR, and IFAT, respectively. The overall seroprevalences observed were 35% (95% CI = 27.0-43.8%) for FIV, 0.8% (95% CI = 0.1-4.5%) for FeLV, 25.8% (95% CI = 18.8-34.3%) for T. gondii, and 4.2% (95% CI = 1.7-9.3%) for L. infantum. Coinfection with FIV and L. infantum was observed in 2.5% (3/120) of the assessed cats, while 12.5% (15/120) were coinfected with FIV and T. gondii. No significant association was found among the investigated agents (p > 0.05). The factors associated with FIV infection in the multivariable analysis were male sex and age above 78 months. The findings of this study demonstrated a high rate of FIV infection in cats from the Brazilian semiarid region and the exposure of these animals to zoonotic and opportunistic agents. Due to the immunosuppressive potential of FIV, cats infected with this retrovirus should be screened for coinfections with L. infantum and T. gondii, and preventative measures should be adopted.

Risk factors associated with Leptospira sp. seroprevalence in goats in Northeast of Brazil.

Goat farming is of great importance for agriculture in Northeast of Brazil, which owns more than 90 % of the national herd, however, most studies on leptospirosis in goats in this region are local surveys with unplanned sampling. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in goats in Northeast region of Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 4121 goats from 222 herds, belonging to the states of Ceará, Paraíba, Piauí , Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe. Serological diagnosis was carried out using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In 82.9 % (95 % CI = 77.3-87.2 %) of the herds there was at least one animal seropositive for at least one of the serogroups of Leptospira sp., and 18.73 % (95 % CI = 17.5-19.9 %) of the animals were seropositive. Antibody titers ranged from 100 to 800 and the most frequent serogroups were Autumnalis (23.06 %) and Australis (20.98 %). According to the robust Poisson regression analysis, four factors were associated with seroprevalence: animal sex (female) (P = 0.040), educational level of the farmer (elementary school) (P < 0.001), contacting institution for technical support (P = 0.040) and presence of irrigation area (P = 0.002). There was a high frequency of Leptospira sp. in goats in the states of Northeast region of Brazil, and it's suggested the need for better technological and preventive assistance of herds.

New insights on Leptospira sp. infection in ewes maintained in field semiarid conditions.

Leptospirosis is poorly studied in small ruminants raised in field semiarid conditions. In this study we compared serological, bacteriological and molecular diagnostic methods in ewes maintained in field Brazilian semiarid conditions. Blood, vaginal fluid and urine samples were collected from 60 Morada Nova ewes raised in a semi-intensive system in the Brazilian semiarid. Diagnostic tests performed were microscopic agglutination test (MAT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial isolation. Anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies were found in eight (13.33%) animals analyzed by MAT at reciprocal titer 25 (cut-off 25), while Leptospira sp. DNA was detected in urine or vaginal fluid of 56 animals (93.33%). There was growth of leptospires in 10 urine cultures and in 11 vaginal fluid cultures, however, two of urine (2/60-3.33%) and eight cultures of vaginal fluid (8/60-13.33%) were confirmed by PCR. Two samples of vaginal fluid (one of each animal) were submitted to sequencing demonstrating 99% similarity with L. santarosai and L. interrogans. The highest MAT sensitivities were obtained with reciprocal titer 25 (cut-off 25) compared to 50 and 100. The performance of different diagnostic techniques for leptospirosis in ewes raised in field semiarid conditions allowed a better evaluation of the herd, as well as made it possible to identify carrier animals. Genital route may be important for efficient transmission and without dependence on environmental factors in ewes from semiarid, as well as it's highlighted that titer 1:25 in serology was more efficient, indicating its use in ewes in field semiarid conditions.

Global Prevalence of RNA-Positive Horses for Hepacivirus (EqHV): Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) belongs to the Flaviviridae family, genus Hepacivirus and has the greatest genomic identity with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), one of the main causes of chronic liver disease in humans. Due to the limited applicability of studies of HCV in animal hosts, the interest in studies of characterization of viral homologues has been growing. For this reason, we performed a systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis of the prevalence of EqHV and genetic sequencing studies. Twenty-three studies from four different continents were analyzed. The OR meta-analysis (0.98; 95% CI = 0.69-1.39) showed no influence of sex (female or male) on the risk of infection. Variables associated with EqHV infection were indirectly related to animal management such as transport, reproductive practices, among others. The combined prevalence of positive animals was 7.88% (95% CI = 5.23-11.69%), with the highest proportions in Asia (16.13%; 95% CI = 7.79-30.43%), followed by South America (12.03%; 95% CI = 9.58-15.01%), Africa (8.69%; 95% CI = 6.71-11.20%), and Europe (3.63%; 95% CI = 2.10-6.22%). However, these results represent the regional stratification of the epidemiological studies for EqHV published to date and, therefore, cannot extrapolate to determine the continental prevalence of EqHV. It is therefore important to update the systematic review as further research becomes available.

Occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibodies and risk factors in domiciliated dogs of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

The presence of antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum have been described in dogs from virtually all Brazilian states, however in the state of Amazonas, there are few studies on these coccidia. In this study the occurrence of antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum and risk factors were determined in domiciliated dogs of Manaus, AM. Blood samples were collected from 154 dogs and, during the harvest, a questionnaire was applied with questions related to the animals. The samples were analyzed, for the presence of anti-T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies, by indirect fluorescence antibody test, with cutoff of 16 and 50, respectively. Associations between the variables studied and the presence of antibodies were made by chi-square test, fisher's exact test or G test (p<0.05). Of the 154 samples, 19 (12.3% 95% CI = 7.1% - 17.5%) were reagents to T. gondii, and association (p <0.05) was observed between the presence of antibodies and contact with other dogs. The occurrence of dogs reactive to N. caninum was 1.9% (95% CI = 0.4% - 5.6%) with 3 of the 154 dogs positives, and no association (p>0.05) was observed between the presence of N. caninum antibodies, and the variables studied.

Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in donkeys and mules under semiarid conditions in Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic zoonosis that mainly affects poorest and most vulnerable populations, and domestic dogs are considered to be the main source of infection to the vector and therefore humans. However, several studies have investigated the role of other vertebrate hosts in the disease cycle. In this context, the aim of the present study was to conduct a survey of Leishmania infantum infection in donkeys and mules living in a semiarid region of Brazil. Whole blood sampled from 72 equids (65 donkeys and 7 mules) was used to perform molecular diagnosis using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. A total of 25% of the samples (18/72) were positive through qPCR, but there were no significant differences between the species (donkeys or mules), sex (male or female) and abandonment situation of the animals (yes or no). Donkeys and mules living under semiarid conditions have high frequency of L. infantum infection. It is therefore worth assigning importance to these species in the epidemiological cycle of visceral leishmaniasis, either as potential reservoirs or just as an abundant food source for vectors.

Cross-sectional survey for sheep leptospirosis in the northeast region of Brazil.

Sheep farming has shown expressive growth, even in the Northeast region of Brazil, with rainfall below expectations in the last decade. This growth has been observed not only in the number of herds, but also in the number of properties involved in sheep farming. Although expressive, the production of small ruminants still presents low levels of performance, mainly due to the occurrence of diseases, which constitute an obstacle to this activity. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in sheep in Northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 3438 sheep in 190 herds from 48 municipalities, belonging to the states of Ceará, Paraíba, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe. Serological diagnosis was performed using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In 76.3 % (95 % CI = 69.79-81.81) of the herds there was at least one animal seropositive for at least one of the Leptospira spp. serogroups and 14.94 % (95 %CI = 13.8-16.18) of the animals were seropositive. The state of Paraíba had the highest herd (95.7 %) and animal (26.6 %) prevalences, followed by Ceará (93.9 % and 23.7 %, respectively). The most frequent serogroups were Autumnalis (18.68 %), Australis (17.9 %) and Pyrogenes (15.18 %). There was no association between the studied variables and the herd-level prevalence of leptospirosis. High herd and animal-level seroprevalences was found for sheep leptospirosis in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil, and there is a need to implement control and prevention measures, such as quarantine, serology, vaccination and adequate treatment, in addition to the introduction of proven healthy animals, mainly in the states of Paraíba and Ceará, aiming to reduce the prevalence of disease.