Perfil Epidemiológico de Gatos com Esporotricose no Município de São Paulo (SP), 2011 a 2022 / Epidemiological Profile of Cats with Sporotrichosis in the City of São Paulo (SP), 2011 to 2022

Objetivo: este estudo se propôs a caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico da esporotricose felina no município de São Paulo (SP) no período de 2011 a 2022. Métodos: estudo descritivo dos casos de esporotricose felina registrados entre 2011 e 2022. Foram utilizados dados secundários, provenientes dos bancos de dados da vigilância do município. Resultados: o perfil predominante dos animais é composto por machos, 71,4% (n=2.644), com idade inferior a 4 anos 70,1% (n=1.137) e com livre acesso à rua 51,0% (n=1.348). Foram registrados 811 óbitos, entre os quais foi informado o sexo para 381, sendo estes 77,4% (n=295) machos e 22,6% (n=86) fêmeas. Conclusão: diante dos achados deste estudo, compreende-se que a situação epidemiológica da doença requer ações conjuntas das vigilâncias epidemiológica e ambiental para serem desenvolvidas medidas de prevenção e controle embasadas em uma perspectiva de saúde única.

Objective: this study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of feline sporotrichosis in the city of São Paulo (SP) from 2011 to 2022. Methods: this is a descriptive study of feline sporotrichosis cases reported between 2011 and 2022. The data were obtained from a secondary database of the São Paulo Health Surveillance System. Results: the predominant profile of the animals is composed of males 71.4% (n=2,644), under the age of four years old 70.1% (n=1,137), and with free access to streets 51.0% (n=1,348). Furthermore, of the 811 deaths registered, 381 had the gender identified, 77.4% (n=295) were males, and 22.6% (n=86) were females. Conclusion: given the findings of this study, it is understood that the epidemiological situation of the disease requires joint actions by epidemiological and environmental surveillance in order to develop prevention and control measures based on one health perspective.

Perfil clínico-epidemiológico de felinos domésticos notificados com esporotricose no município de São Paulo no ano de 2020 / Clinical-epidemiological profile of domestic felines notified with sporotrichosis in the city of São Paulo in the year 2020

A esporotricose é uma dermatozoonose causada por fungos do gênero Sporothrix, que costumam estar presentes no meio ambiente, tanto no solo quanto na vegetação em decomposição. A infecção não zoonótica ocorre por meio da inoculação traumática do agente etiológico durante o manuseio de solo contaminado, plantas ou matéria orgânica. Atualmente, essa ainda é uma via de transmissão possível, porém a transmissão zoonótica vem se destacando crescentemente, e a esporotricose humana frequentemente está relacionada à arranhadura ou à mordedura de animais, em especial o gato doméstico (Felis catus). Em São Paulo, a Divisão de Vigilância em Zoonoses (DVZ) e as Unidades de Vigilância em Saúde (UVIS) são os órgãos da Prefeitura responsáveis pela vigilância, prevenção e controle dessa zoonose. O objetivo do presente trabalho é traçar o perfil epidemiológico de felinos domésticos com esporotricose no município de São Paulo entre os casos atendidos e/ou notificados no ano de 2020. Ao todo, foram avaliadas 1.050 fichas de felinos, dos quais 653 tinham diagnósticos confirmados; destes, 76% possuem livre acesso à rua. Felinos adultos, machos e não castrados, devido aos seus hábitos comportamentais e exploratórios, mostram-se mais expostos à infecção. Quanto à localização anatômica das lesões fúngicas, as regiões de maior ocorrência foram: cabeça (58,35%), membro torácico (34,76%), corpo (28,33%) e focinho (27,72%). Sendo assim, a domiciliação dos felinos domésticos é importante ponto na prevenção de novos casos. Sugerimos que futuras análises sejam realizadas, no mínimo, um ano após notificação/início do tratamento para melhor acompanhamento da coorte.

ACTH Stimulation Induced Self-Mutilation Behavior in the Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba).

Psittacidae are very susceptible to chronic stress and behavioral disorders. Information regarding the endocrinology of the golden conure is scarce, especially about adrenocortical activity. Endocrine studies using non-invasive methods are useful, because they allow longitudinal analysis with high numbers of samples without causing additional stress and are viable in the psittacidae management. The objective was to physiologically validate an enzyme immunoassay for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in this species. Serial droppings were collected from 16 animals. First, one subgroup received adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; Synacthen Depót®) and the other group served as controls. This procedure was reversed afterwards. All birds presented self-mutilation approximately 6 hours after the ACTH injection. This behavior disappeared after two days. Peak concentrations (on average nine times higher than baseline values) of GCMs were found 6 (4-8) hours after ACTH administration; in all (but one) animals also a second peak was found 14 (10-20) hours post injection. GCM levels returned to the baseline after 24 h. We physiologically validated a cortisone enzyme immunoassays to measure adrenocortical activity in the golden conure. Such non-invasive methods are important for studies, which are related to welfare, reproductive, and conservation programs. In addition, we could demonstrate a link between increased glucocorticoid levels and behavioral disorders.

Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. from free-living wild birds from Brazil.

In wild and domestic birds, cryptosporidiosis is often associated with infections by Cryptosporidium galli, Cryptosporidium baileyi and Cryptosporidium meleagridis. In addition to these species, a number of avian Cryptosporidium species yet to be fully characterized are commonly found among exotic and wild avian isolates. The present study aimed to detect and identify samples of Cryptosporidium spp. from free-living wild birds, in order to contribute to the knowledge of the variability of this parasite in the free-living population of Brazil. Stool samples were collected from 242 birds, with the following proportions of individuals: 50 Emberizidae (20.7%), 112 Psittacidae (46.3%), 44 Cardinalidae (18.2%), 12 Turdidae (5.0%), eight Ramphastidae (3.3%), seven Icteridae (2.9%), three Estrilididae (1.2%), two Contigidae (0.8%), two Thraupidae (0.8%) and two Fringilidae (0.8%). Among the 242 fecal samples from wild birds, 16 (6.6%) were positive for the presence of oocysts of Cryptosporidium. Molecular characterization of the 16 samples of Cryptosporidium, were performed with phylogenetic reconstructions employing 292 positions of 18S rDNA. None of the samples of birds was characterized as C. meleagridis. C. galli was identified in one rufous-bellied thrush (Turdus rufiventris), five green-winged saltators (Saltator similis), one slate-coloured seedeater (Sporophila schistacea), one goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) and three saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola). One goldfinch isolate, one buffy-fronted seedeater (Sporophila frontalis), one red-cowled cardinal (Paroaria dominicana) and one other saffron finch (S. flaveola) were identified as C. baileyi. Avian genotype II was found in an isolate from a white-eyed parakeet (Aratinga leucophthalma). Clinical symptoms of cryptosporidiosis in birds have already been described and the number of wild birds which were shedding parasites was high. Therefore, further epidemiological research and disease surveillance of birds in the wild is warranted.