Prevalence and risk factors for hemoplasmas in domestic cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus and/or feline leukemia virus in Rio de Janeiro--Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (Mhm) infections in domestic cats tested for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Based on serological testing, cats were grouped as i) FIV-positive (n=25); ii) FeLV-positive (n=39); iii) FIV/FeLV-positive (n=8); and iv) FIV/FeLV-negative (n=77). Complete blood counts were followed by DNA extraction, species-specific polymerase chain reaction (16S rRNA gene) for Mhf and Mhm and Southern blotting for all animals. Mhf DNA was found in 4.0, 2.6, 12.5 and 7.8% of the cats from groups i, ii, iii and iv, respectively, while 32, 5.1, 50 and 5.2% of these animals had an Mhm infection. Cats with FIV (OR=4.25, P=0.009) and both FIV and FeLV (OR=7.56, P=0.014) were at greater risk of being hemoplasma infected than retroviral-negative cats, mainly due to Mhm infection (OR=8.59, P=0.001 and OR=18.25, P=0.001, respectively). Among pure-breed cats, FIV-positive status was associated with hemoplasma infection (OR 45.0, P=0.001).

[Differentiation of the species of Eimeria parasite of sheep by the use of linear regression and morphologic algorithms]. / Diferenciação das espécies de Eimeria parasitas de ovinos pelo uso da regressão linear e algoritmos morfológicos.

With the aims to evaluate the use of the linear regression analysis as a technique to detect interespecifc morphometric differences and to develop algorithms for differentiating oocysts from the Eimeria species, fecal samples of Santa Inês sheep, has been used. Empiric algorithms have been developed based on quantitative and qualitative data from the oocysts morphology. The linear regression of the length and width of the oocysts has been tested. There was no significant difference among the measures from the oocysts of the species E. bakuensis, E. faurei and E. ovinoidalis in lambs and in adults. From the five polar cap provided species, E. ahsata was differentiated from E. intricata and from E. bakuensis based on the straight lines angular coefficient. Concerning the species that do not present polar cap, E. parva and E. pallida were more subject to confusion. Even so, with the application of the algorithm, it was possible to cluster them into different strips. The efficiency presented by the algorithm for gathering these species was 77% and 64%, respectively. Regarding to the species with polar cap, the lowest efficiency presented by the algorithm was to cluster E. bakuensis, though it was above 50%.