Hybanthus calceolaria poisoning in cattle.

Hybanthus calceolaria, also known as "papaconha" or "ipepacuanha," is a herbaceous plant found in northeastern Brazil, which is often implicated by farmers as the cause of neurological signs in livestock grazing. Several poisoning outbreaks associated with the ingestion of this plant were observed in cattle in the municipalities of Colônia de Gurguéia in the state of Piauí and Sirinhaém in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The main clinical signs were ataxia, recumbency, and myokymia. No significant lesions were observed during necropsy or on histological examination. The disease was experimentally reproduced by the administration of 2 daily doses of 40 g/kg/body weight of the fresh green plant containing fruits. The plants without fruits were nontoxic, which is in accordance with the farmers' information, as it was stated that the poisoning only occurs when the plant is fruiting.

Babesiosis and anaplasmosis in dairy cattle in Northeastern Brazil / Babesiose e anaplasmose em bovinos leiteiros no Nordeste do Brasil

The goal of this study was to characterize the epidemiological situation and the factors involved in the prevalence of babesiosis and anaplasmosis in cattle in the dairy basin of Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil. The study was conducted in 22 farms, and collected blood samples from 202 cattle to study serological, molecular and determination of the packed cell volume (PCV). On the farms were applied surveys involving epidemiological aspects. Seroprevalence rates were: Babesia bigemina 52.5%, B. bovis 68.8%, and Anaplasma marginale 89.1%. Of the samples analyzed, 73.3% were reactive for Babesia spp. and A. marginale, showing co-infection. In PCR, B. bigemina and B. bovis were positive in 52.0% and 33.2% respectively, and A. marginale in 76.2%. Of these, 51.5% amplified DNA of Babesia spp. and A. marginale. The semi-intensive management predominated in 68.0% of the farms studied. The clinical history of babesiosis and anaplasmosis, was reported from 73% of the farms. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between age groups and for the PCV of positive compared with negative animals. The study indicates that in this region is enzootic instability for babesiosis and enzootic stability for anaplasmosis, reinforcing the fact that in Brazil there are areas of enzootic instability, even in tropical regions of the country. The PCR technique was a valuable tool for the diagnosis of these diseases and may be used to characterize a geographic region.

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a situação epidemiológica e os fatores envolvidos na prevalência da babesiose e anaplasmose em bovinos da bacia leiteira de Parnaíba, Piauí, Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em 22 propriedades, sendo coletadas amostras de sangue de 202 bovinos para estudos sorológicos, moleculares e determinação do volume globular (VG). Nas propriedades foram aplicadas inquéritos envolvendo aspectos epidemiológicos. As taxas de soroprevalência foram: 52,5% para Babesia bigemina, 68,8% B. bovis, e 89,1% para Anaplasma marginale. Das amostras analisadas, 73,3% foram reagentes para Babesia spp. e A. marginale, demostrando co-infecção. Na PCR, B. bigemina e B. bovis foram positivas em 52,0% e 33,2% respectivamente, e A. marginale em 76,2%. Destes, 51,5% amplificaram DNA de Babesia spp. e A. marginale. O manejo semi-intensivo predominou em 68,0% das propriedades estudadas. O histórico clínico de babesiose e anaplasmose foi relatado em 73% das propriedades. Não houve diferença significativa (p>0,05) entre as faixas etárias e para o VG de animais positivos comparados com os negativos. O estudo indica que nesta região há instabilidade enzoótica para babesiose e estabilidade enzoótica para anaplasmose, reforçando o fato de que, no Brasil, existem áreas de instabilidade enzoótica, mesmo em regiões tropicais do país. A técnica de PCR demonstrou ser uma ferramenta valiosa para o diagnóstico destas doenças e pode ser utilizada para caracterizar uma região geográfica.

T cells, adhesion molecules and modulation of apoptosis in visceral leishmaniasis glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND: Immune complex deposition is the accepted mechanism of pathogenesis of VL glomerulopathy however other immune elements may participate. Further in the present study, no difference was seen between immunoglobulin and C3b deposit intensity in glomeruli between infected and non-infected dogs thus T cells, adhesion molecules and parameters of proliferation and apoptosis were analysed in dogs with naturally acquired VL from an endemic area. The dog is the most important domestic reservoir of the protozoa Leishmania (L.) chagasi that causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The similarity of VL manifestation in humans and dogs renders the study of canine VL nephropathy of interest with regard to human pathology. METHODS: From 55 dogs with VL and 8 control non-infected dogs from an endemic area, kidney samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for immunoglobulin and C3b deposits, staining for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, ICAM-1, P-selectin and quantified using morphometry. Besides proliferation marker Ki-67, apoptosis markers M30 and TUNEL staining, and related cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha were searched and quantified. RESULTS: We observed similar IgG, IgM and IgA and C3b deposit intensity in dogs with VL and non-infected control dogs. However we detected the Leishmania antigen in cells in glomeruli in 54, CD4+ T cells in the glomeruli of 44, and CD8+ T cells in 17 of a total of 55 dogs with VL. Leishmania antigen was absent and T cells were absent/scarse in eight non-infected control dogs. CD 4+ T cells predominate in proliferative patterns of glomerulonephritis, however the presence of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were not different in intensity in different patterns of glomerulonephritis. The expression of ICAM-1 and P-selectin was significantly greater in the glomeruli of infected dogs than in control dogs. In all patterns of glomerulonephritis the expression of ICAM-1 ranged from minimum to moderately severe and P-selectin from absent to severe. In the control animals the expression of these molecules ranged from absent to medium intensity. It was not observed any correlation between severity of the disease and these markers. There was a correlation between the number of Leishmania antigen positive cells and CD4+ T cells, and between the number of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. In dogs presenting different histopathological patterns of glomerulonephritis, parameters of proliferation and apoptosis were studied. Ki-67, a proliferative marker, was not detected locally, but fewer apoptotic cells and lower TNF-alpha expression were seen in infected animals than in non-infected controls. CONCLUSION: Immunopathogenic mechanisms of VL glomerulonephritis are complex and data in the present study suggest no clear participation of immunoglobulin and C3b deposits in these dogs but the possible migration of CD4+ T cells into the glomeruli, participation of adhesion molecules, and diminished apoptosis of cells contributing to determine the proliferative pattern of glomerulonephritis in VL.

Poisoning of goats by the pods of Luetzelburgia auriculata.

Farmers report that the pods of Luetzelburgia auriculata cause digestive signs and death when ingested by goats. To demonstrate the toxicity of the pods of this plant 12 goats were divided into 4 groups of 3 goats each. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were administered 2.5, 1, 0.5 and nil g of pods per kg body weight, respectively. Goats in Groups 1 and 2 developed decreased ruminal movements followed by anorexia, depression and soft feces or diarrhea. Goats in Group 1 died 59-106 h after first showing clinical signs. Goats in Group 2 also regurgitated rumen content, but all recovered 65-90 h after first showing clinical signs. The only clinical sign shown by goats in Group 3 was regurgitation of rumen content, and all goats recovered 5.5-24 h after first regurgitating. All goats in Group 4 remained normal. The goats that died were necropsied and found to have a reddish mucosa of the forestomachs that detached easily from the underlying tissues. Other lesions included diffuse reddening of the mucosa of the abomasum and intestine. Histological examination of the mucosa of the forestomachs showed diffuse ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes, with necrosis and vesicle and pustule formation in the epithelium. In some areas there was sloughing of the ruminal epithelium. These results demonstrate that the pods of L. auriculata are toxic and responsible for field outbreaks of poisoning in goats in the state of Piaui.

Epidemiologia e sinais clínicos da conidiobolomicose em ovinos no Estado do Piauí / Epidemiology and symptoms of conidiobolomycosis in sheep in the State of Piauí, Brazil

Foi realizado um estudo de ocorrência da conidiobolomicose ovina em 25 rebanhos no Estado do Piauí, de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2004. A enfermidade acometeu apenas ovinos e ocorreu principalmente em abril-julho. A incidência média anual foi de 2,80 por cento e a incidência semestral foi significativamente mais alta (P <0,05) no primeiro semestre (2,10 por cento), durante a época chuvosa, do que no segundo semestre (0,69 por cento), durante a seca. A incidência entre rebanhos variou de 0,1-14,3 por cento e a letalidade foi de 100 por cento. Ao exame clínico, os animais apresentavam apatia, emagrecimento progressivo, secreção nasal serosa, mucosa e/ou hemorrágica, dificuldade respiratória, respiração ruidosa, febre e na maioria dos casos assimetria crânio-facial e exoftalmia. Alguns ovinos permaneciam com a cabeça baixa ou a pressionavam contra objetos. O curso clínico foi de 1-5 semanas. As lesões macroscópicas, microscópicas e ultrastructurais e a identificação do agente são descritas separadamente. Este é o primeiro registro de conidiobolomicose em ovinos no Brasil, enfermidade endêmica no Estado do Piauí, associada à alta pluviosidade (1000-1600mm anuais) e alta temperatura (19-36ºC).

Conidiobolomycosis is reported in 25 farms, from January 2002 to December 2004, in the state of Piauí. The disease affects only sheep, mainly in April-June. The mean morbidity rate was 2.80 percent, but was higher in the first semester (2.1 percent), during the raining period, than in the second one (0.69 percent), during the dry period. Morbidity rate among flocks varied from 0.1-14.3 percent. Case fatality rate was 100 percent, and the clinical manifestation period varied from 1-5 weeks. Clinical signs were serous, mucous and/or bloody nasal secretion, respiratory distress, snoring respiration, cranium-facial asymmetry, exophthalmia, fever and progressive emaciation. Marked depression, sometimes with the head down or head pressing was observed in some cases. Gross, microscopic and ultrastructural lesions and identification of the agent are reported elsewhere. This is the first report of conidiobolomycosis in Brazil, which is endemic and has a high frequency in sheep in the State of Piauí, associated with high rainfalls (1000-1600mm annually) and high temperature (19-36ºC).