Serological evidence of Toxoplasma gondii occurrence in naturally infected sheep in the Teresina microregion, Piauí, Brazil

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of reproductive nature that is transmitted to humans mainly by ingestion of undercooked meat or drinking oocyte-contaminated water. The slaughter of small ruminants in clandestine slaughterhouses and the presence of companion animals in these locations may be epidemiologically important for the dissemination of the disease. The objective of the present study was to determine toxoplasmosis prevalence by researching anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in meat sheep herds from farms in Teresina microregion, Piauí, Brazil. A total of 450 blood samples were collected from sheep of both sexes, belonging to 28 herds from the 14 municipalities that comprise the microregion. The samples were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was observed in 62% (279/450) of the animals in all the municipalities and on at least one farm in each municipality. The high occurrence of positive animals is an indication of reproductive problems in these herds, characterizing a problem for both sheep rearing and public health.

Antibacterial Activity and Time-kill Kinetics of Positive Enantiomer of α-pinene Against Strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Research on new antimicrobial agents is needed, as more and more microorganisms that cause antibiotic-resistant diseases are emerging commercially. In this group, we can find strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which are highly opportunistic species. Faced with this perspective, research using essential oils present in plants is emerging as a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of antimicrobial infections. Many of these oils have, in their composition, monoterpene α-pinene, that shows to have antibacterial activity. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the positive enantiomer of α-pinene against strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The methodologies used were: Disc-diffusion test, broth microdilution and bacterial death kinetics, all of which were standardized by CLSI. As a result, inhibition halos of 11 mm was obtained for the gram-positive strain and 12 mm for the gram-negative strain, both at the same concentration, 160 µl / ml. In addition, it was possible to observe with the death curve that the concentrations (1.25 µl/mL and 2.5 µl/mL of the (+)-α-pinene were able to eliminate the formation of bacterial colonies at one time of exposure of 2 hours for the E. coli strain. However, the death curve of the S. aureus strain was characterized by non-elimination of bacterial colonies at a 24 hours exposure time used for the experiment. Only amikacin evidenced its bacterial killing rate of all colonies within two hours of exposure. At the end, it was possible to verify the activity of the phytoconstituent against Escherichia coli strains ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, recommending the continuity of the studies with the use of different methodologies so that (+) - α-pinene in the future can be a compound used in antimicrobial therapy.

A retirada dos urólitos de oxalato de cálcio e desobstrução da uretra através da realização da técnica cirúrgica uretrostomia em cães: relato de caso / Removal of calcium oxalate uroliths and urethral clearing through urethrostomy in dogs: case report / La retirada de urólitos de oxalato de calcio y desobstrucción de la uretra a través de realización de la técnica quirúrgica urestrostomía en perros: relato de caso

A uretra do macho é uma continuação do sistema de ductos, originada de um óstio interno no colo da bexiga urinária e estendida até o orifício peniano uretral externo na extremidade livre do pênis. Relata-se um caso de um canino, macho, SRD, de três anos, pesando 12 kg. Foi atendido no Hospital Veterinário Universitário "Jeremias Pereira da Silva" - HVU/UFPI, na área de Clínica Médica e Cirúrgica de cães e gatos. O mesmo apresentava manifestações clínicas como: dificuldade de locomoção, disúria, inapetência, hematúria, anúria, agressividade, dor abdominal, apatia e emagrecimento progressivo. A conduta clínica adotada diante do caso, após o resultado dos exames complementares que confirmaram o diagnostico inicial, indicativo de obstrução uretral total por urólitos de oxalato de cálcio, devido ao insucesso das tentativas clínicas de desobstrução foi optar pela técnica cirúrgica uretrostomia. Decorrido dez dias da cirurgia, o animal retornou para retirada dos pontos, apresentando-se em bom estado, alimentando-se bem, fluxo urinário constante (sem sangue), e andando normalmente. A urolitíase deve ser diagnosticada e tratada o mais previamente possível, uma vez que a doença se complica no avançar dos sinais clínicos, podendo ocasionar casos mais complexos, como obstruções urinárias severas e até morte do animal.(AU)

The male urethra is a continuation of the duct system originated from an internal ostium inside the bladder and extends to the external urethral penile hole at the free end of the penis. This is a case study of a 3-year old male mongrel dog weighing 12 kg. The dog was attended at the University Veterinary Hospital "Jeremias Pereira da Silva" ­ HVU/UFPI in the Clinical and Surgical Practice of dogs and cats. It presented clinical manifestations such as difficulty in walking, dysuria, loss of appetite, hematuria, anuria, aggressiveness, abdominal pain, lethargy and progressive weight loss. An urethrostomy was the clinical approach adopted for the case, after the laboratory tests confirmed the initial diagnosis of total urethral obstruction by calcium oxalate uroliths due to the failure of clinical unblocking attempts. Ten days after the surgery, the animal returned to the clinic to remove the stitches, and presented a good condition, feeding well, with a constant urine flow (no blood), and walking normally. Urolithiasis must be diagnosed and treated as early as possible, since the disease complicates itself with the worsening of the clinical signs, which may result in more complex cases, such as severe urinary obstruction and even the death of the animal.(AU)

La uretra del macho es una continuación del sistema de ductos, originada de un ostium interno en el cuello de la vejiga urinaria y se extiende hasta el orificio uretral externo en la extremidad libre del pene. Presentamos un caso de un canino, macho, SRD, de tres años, con un peso de 12 kg. Fue atendido en el Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad "Jeremías Pereira da Silva" - HVU/UFPI, en el campo de Clínica Médica y Quirúrgica de perros y gatos. Lo mismo presentaba manifestaciones clínicas como: dificultad para caminar, disuria, pérdida de apetito, hematuria, anuria, agresividad, dolor abdominal, letargo y pérdida progresiva de peso. La conducta clínica adoptada delante el caso, tras el resultado de los exámenes complementarios que confirmaron el diagnóstico inicial, indicativo de obstrucción uretral total de cálculos de oxalato de calcio, debido al fracaso de las tentativas clínicas de desbloqueo cupo optar por uretrostomía, técnica quirúrgica. Después de diez días de la cirugía el animal volvió para retirada de los puntos de sutura, presentándose en buen estado, alimentándose bien, flujo de orina constante (sin sangre), y caminando normalmente. La urolitiasis debe ser diagnosticada y tratada cuanto antes posible, ya que la enfermedad se complica con el avance de los signos clínicos, pudiendo causar casos más complejos, como obstrucciones urinarias severas e incluso la muerte del animal.(AU)