Redescription of Procyrnea uncinipenis (Molin, 1860) (Nematoda: Habronematidae) based on material from Rhea americana (L.) (Aves: Rheidae).

A detailed description of Procyrnea uncinipenis (Molin, 1860) (Habronematidae) is provided based on light- and scanning electron microscopy of newly collected material ex Rhea americana (L.) from a private conservation breeding park located in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (State of Espírito Santo, Brazil). Of the four host specimens analysed, two were infected with P. uncinipenis; a total of 441 nematodes were collected in the proventriculus and gizzard. The specimens represented large nematodes, sexually dimorphic, with females larger than males, reddish in vivo, with two well developed lateral pseudolabia and two interlabia, one dorsal and one ventral, long oesophagus, divided into a muscular and glandular portion, didelphic ovaries, opisthodelphic uteri, two phasmids and a rounded chitinous structure near the caudal end. Males possess posterior extremity curved in spiral ventrally, with bilateral caudal alae and unequal in size and shape spicules. This study adds new morphological data, thus contributing to the knowledge on P. uncinipenis, a common parasite of R. americana.

[Importance of the handling in criptosporidiosis in sheep rearing]. / Importância do manejo na criptosporidiose em criações de ovinos.

With the objective to verify which are the risk factors in ovine cryptosporidiosis, 130 ovine fecal samples were collected in ten farms in Campos dos Goytacazes and Macaé and analyzed using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Hygiene, breeding system, clinic alteration, veterinary assistance and source of water which were furnished to the animals were analyzed by χ2 Test and Fisher Exact Test, with Yates correction (when it was necessary) and 95% of confidence interval. Oocysts were observed in 47% of the farms. Clinic alteration as anorexia, apathy and diarrhea were not associated with cryptosporidiosis, however, due to a significative risk factors connected with animals breeding explained that the ovine handling is determinant in the presence of oocysts in ovine feces.

[Oocysts from Cryptosporidium spp. isolated from cattle: pleomorfism in relationship to diagnosis methodology]. / Oocistos de Cryptosporidium spp. isolados de bezerros bovinos: pleomorfismo em relação à metodologia de diagnóstico.

The aim of this study was to analyze the pleomorfism of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts isolated from calves feces throughout the comparison of two diagnostic techniques. One hundred of cattle feces were collected and the samples were submitted to both flotation sucrose centrifugation and to Ziehl-Neelsen modified tests. The results obtained showed a statistically significant reduction on the size of the Cryptosporidium oocysts observed through Ziehl-Neelsen technique when compared to the flotation sucrose centrifugation technique, and that the difference on the diameter of the oocysts suggests the there were different species of Cryptosporidium circulating in the animals analyzed.

[Relative risk of infection of parasites from genus Cryptosporidium in cattle in North of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil]. / Risco relativo da infecção por parasitos do gênero Cryptosporidium em bezerros bovinos no Norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

The aim of the study was to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts in calves feces throughout North of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, as well as to examine the risk factors involved in the animals infection. One hundred young calves on 13 dairy farms were analyzed for oocyst excretion. The samples were submitted to Ritchie and Ziehl-Neelsen modified tests, and the observation of the oocysts was made by using the optical microscope. The results obtained showed that Cryptosporidium was detected in 61% of the animals. Statistical analysis of the risk factors revealed that only three of them demonstrated a significant influence for infection: Animals bred under technical systems such as the use of milking equipment, milking cooler and farms that have water trough were more likely to be infected with the protozoan.

[Risk factors of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in household dogs of Campos dos Goytacazes City on Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil]. / Fatores de risco associados à infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. em cães domiciliados na cidade de campos dos goytacazes, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Cryptosporidium sp. is an opportunistic protozoan parasite that may infect animals and humans, causing asymptomatic to severe intestinal infections, according to the immunological response of the hosts. The present work had the objective to determine the risk factors involved on Cryptosporidium sp. infection in dogs from Campos dos Goytacazes City on Rio de Janeiro State; and the frequency of this protozoan. Independent of sex, age, consistency and health of dogs, 200 feces samples were analyzed. Data were obtained using a questionnaire with the dogs owners. Feces were analyzed with an optical microscope after the concentration by modified Ritchie technique and coloring with the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Association tests through c2 and multiple logistic regression analysis were made. Among the 200 dogs analyzed, 90 (45%) showed oocysts of Cryptosporidium genus in the feces. The conclusion was that the occurrence of asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis in dogs from the City of Campos dos Goytacazes is high. The risk factors involved are the social level of the owner, presence of cats and sporadic stage of vomiting and diarrhea. The final model detected the risk factors by social level, other animals, regions of the city, kind of residence, sporadic stage of vomiting and diarrhea.

[Achatina fulica Bowdich (1822) a new host of Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa, Cryptosporidiidae) species]. / Achatina fulica Bowdich (1822) um novo hospedeiro de espécies de Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa, Cryptosporidiidae).

With the objective of isolate Cryptosporidium spp. in Achatina fulica s feces, 50 mollusks were collected in nine neighborhoods of the municipal of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ to the observation of oocysts in feces. The snails were put in individuals containers and fed with water and green vegetables ad libitum until be collected a gram of feces per animal. The samples were conditioned in tubes with formalin 10% and later smear of feces were made and dyed by Ziechl-Neelsen modified technique. Of the 50 samples examined, 26 (52%) were positive for the presence of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. The morphology and morphometry of the oocysts showed that are a great morphologic variability. Considering the obtained results, the mollusk Achatina fulica is a host of Cryptosporidium species and can participate in the epidemic chain of the cryptosporidiosis.

Hypnozoites of Cystoisospora Frankel, 1977 (Apicomplexa: Cystoisosporinae) in Mongolian gerbil lymph nodes and their transmission to cats free of coccidia.

Nine Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were fed with 5.6 x 10(5) Cystoisospora sporulated oocysts orally. After 28 days post inoculation (DPI) four animals were euthanized, and their mesenteric lymph nodes were removed and they were submitted to peptic digestion technique and samples of them were submitted to transmission electron microscopy for hypnozoites identification. From lymph nodes digestion 4 x 10(2) hypnozoites/mL were obtained. Morphologically they were banana or stick form in shape, and measured 18.17 (15.09-20.02) in length by 6.21 (5.48-7.06) microm in width. In the same experiment, at 6 DAI, five gerbils were posted and liver, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were removed from each animal and were homogenized before given to three cats free of coccidia. All visceras used individually in each cat were capable to induce infection of species, C. felis and C. rivolta.