Guidance provided by pharmacists to customers regarding to destination of unused household medications: disposal of household medications.

BACKGROUND: Discarding pharmaceuticals in the garbage or into the sewage system are still the most common methods in many countries. This study aims to investigate the guidance provided by pharmacists to customers on the disposal of unused and expired household medications in São Paulo State, Brazil. METHOD: The study population consisted of 630 pharmacists from the State of São Paulo, who work in community pharmacies. They answered an online questionnaire with questions composed in three blocks: demographic, work, and academic information on the pharmacist; guidance about the disposal of household medications; and knowledge regarding the reverse logistics of these medications. An invitation to participate in the questionnaire was made via WhatsApp, individually and collectively. Inferential statistics were performed using the chi-square test and were considered significant when p < 0.05%. RESULTS: Among the participating pharmacists, the majority were women under 60 years old,56 (8.89%) stated that they never orient the customer regarding the disposal of unused and expired household medications, while 574 (91,12%) indicated that they almost provide guidance. The frequency with which they provided guidance was influenced by the number of years since graduation (p = 0.0047), the time they had worked in pharmacies and drugstores (p = 0.0007), and whether or not they had a graduate degree (p = 0.0181). Regarding the disposal of medications, among the 643 responses provided by the pharmacists,516 (80.25%) indicated that they oriented customers to return them to a pharmacy. CONCLUSION: A small number of pharmacists always orient customers on the proper disposal that should be followed for unused and expired household medications, prioritizing their return to a pharmacy. In general, these pharmacists have longer periods of work experience and higher academic qualifications. Thus, it is important to increase knowledge through professional training and further education programs.

Detection of intestinal parasites in human faecal samples using dissolved air flotation.

OBJECTIVE: Ova and parasite (O&P) examination is recommended for the laboratory diagnosis of agents causing parasitic infections; however, this exam requires scientific and technological improvements to enhance its diagnostic validity. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is an efficient technical principle separating suspended solids in a liquid medium. We aimed to develop and validate a new procedure for intestinal parasite detection with DAF. METHODS: In this study, we collected samples from 500 volunteers, screened them by direct examination, and transferred the material to tubes using the Three Faecal Test (TF-Test) for triplicate DAF tests. We evaluated physical-chemical parameters and DAF prototype components through quantifying parasites recovered from floated and non-floated regions of the flotation column. The DAF operation protocol was validated with the gold standard results. RESULTS: The 10% saturated volume proportion and cationic surfactant showed regularity and high parasite recovery (80%). Modifications of the needle device did not influence parasite recovery (p > 0.05). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and kappa agreement obtained with the DAF protocol were 91%, 100%, 93% and substantial (k = 0.64), respectively. CONCLUSION: The DAF principle could be used to process faecal samples in routine laboratory exams, enabling intestinal parasite detection.

Optimizing the quality of research in Veterinary Parasitology.

Countless research is carried out until new discoveries are transformed into products or services available to the population. This trajectory can be slower and more costly or even impossible when irreproducible data are obtained in the most diverse fields of science. Thus, quality management appears as an essential tool to guarantee the reliability of academic research results. In this work, we demonstrate the applied strategy to implement a Quality Management System (QMS) in a research laboratory in Veterinary Parasitology and we highlight the adaptable quality requirements in this scientific research environment. For this, the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) quality tool was used, and two internal audits were performed, one before and one after implementation. The audits reached 67 (41.36%) and 157 (96.91%) points before and after implementation, respectively, with a significant difference between the moments studied. Thus, we demonstrate that the adoption of QMS principles in research is feasible. The methodology applied in this work can be adopted by managers from other laboratories interested in the implementation of quality standards as a support in the reproducibility of research.

Plasmonic rK28 ELISA improves the diagnosis of canine Leishmania infection.

In this study, we evaluated the performance of a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) variant known as indirect "plasmonic ELISA" (pELISA) for the detection of Leishmania spp. infection. Serum samples from 170 dogs from an area where canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is endemic and from 26 healthy dogs from a nonendemic area were tested by indirect pELISA, and the results were compared to those of an indirect ELISA (both with recombinant antigen rK28) and those of an immunochromatographic test (dual-path platform, TR-DPP®) using real-time PCR on blood samples or conjunctival swabs as the gold standard. The pELISA, indirect rK28 ELISA and the TR-DPP® immunochromatographic test presented sensitivities of 94.7%, 89.5% and 79.0% and specificities of 100%, 92.7% and 91.5%, respectively. The analysis of the results revealed that the specificity of the indirect pELISA was greater than that of the method recommended by the Ministry of Health in Brazil and may increase the feasibility of diagnosis in resource-constrained countries because it does not require sophisticated instruments to read. Thus, this method can be used as an additional tool for the detection of Leishmania spp. infection in these areas.

TF-Test Quantified: a new technique for diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni eggs.

OBJECTIVES: Laboratory diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni eggs is routinely performed by conventional quantitative techniques through the parasitological examination of human faeces. However, the diagnostic sensitivity of this type of exam varies from low to moderate. We aimed to develop a new parasitological technique called TF-Test Quantified (TFT-Quant), for the quantitative detection of S. mansoni eggs in human faeces. METHODS: Four study stages were performed using 43 mice infected by S. mansoni cercariae. These experiments allowed the definition of an operational protocol for TFT-Quant and a comparison of this new technique to the conventional Helm-Teste technique. RESULTS: The results show a good diagnostic efficacy of TFT-Quant, which reached 100% in sensitivity and specificity, indicating an 'Almost Perfect' Kappa (k) agreement. CONCLUSIONS: This new technique provided a quantitative gain in the detection of S. mansoni eggs, largely free of faecal debris. The next stage of this study is the field validation of the TFT-Quant technique with the use of human faecal samples from an endemic region for mansonic schistosomiasis in Brazil (Microregion Jequitinhonha, State of Minas Gerais). In parallel to this validation, computational algorithms will be developed to allow the automated quantitative diagnosis of S. mansoni eggs.

OBJECTIFS: Le diagnostic en laboratoire des œufs de Schistosoma mansoni est systématiquement effectué à l'aide de techniques quantitatives conventionnelles faisant appel à l'examen parasitologique de selles humaines. Cependant, la sensibilité diagnostique de ce type d'examen varie de faible à modérée. Nous avons voulu développer une nouvelle technique parasitologique appelée TF-Test Quantified (TFT-Quant), pour la détection quantitative des œufs de S. mansoni dans les selles humaines. MÉTHODES: Quatre étapes de l'étude ont été réalisées sur 43 souris infectées par des cercaires de S. mansoni. Ces expériences ont permis de définir un protocole opérationnel pour TFT-Quant et de comparer cette nouvelle technique à la technique classique Helm-Teste. RÉSULTATS: Les résultats montrent une bonne efficacité diagnostique de TFT-Quant, dont la sensibilité et la spécificité ont atteint 100%, ce qui indique une concordance kappa (k) «presque parfaite¼. CONCLUSIONS: Cette nouvelle technique a permis un gain quantitatif dans la détection des œufs de S. mansoni, largement exempts de débris fécaux. La prochaine étape de cette étude est la validation sur le terrain de la technique TFT-Quant avec l'utilisation d'échantillons de selles humaines provenant d'une région endémique pour la schistosomiase mansonique au Brésil (Microregion Jequitinhonha, dans l'Etat de Minas Gerais). Parallèlement à cette validation, des algorithmes informatiques de calcul seront développés pour permettre le diagnostic quantitatif automatisé des œufs de S. mansoni.

Use of the aqueous biphasic system as an alternative for concentration of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, with non-toxic separation of faecal residues and fats.

OBJECTIVES: Human enteroparasites are considered a serious public health problem in underdeveloped countries located in world regions with tropical, subtropical and equatorial climates. These parasites are commonly diagnosed by the Parasitological Examination of Faeces (PEF), performed by conventional techniques and/or commercial kits that result in tests with low-to-moderate sensitivity, due to the use of destructive chemical solvents to parasite structures, and to present excess adipose substance and digestive residues in their microscopic slides. In order to improve the efficacy of these tests/examinations, this study aimed to investigate a new alternative for the PEF, with the use of Aqueous Biphasic System (ABS). METHODS: For this, four ABSs containing poly (ethylene glycol), PEG (PEG-4000 and PEG-6000), dipotassium phosphate and sodium citrate at different concentrations in the biphasic systems were evaluated with faecal samples containing eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides. RESULTS: The ABS consisting of PEG-4000 and dipotassium phosphate, at concentrations of 55% w/w and 20% w/w, respectively, achieved 100% satisfactory results compared to the conventional TF-Test technique in terms of preservation and concentration of A. lumbricoides eggs, with adequate separation of digestive residues, without using a centrifuge or chemical solvents that may cause harm to the parasites. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents ABS as a new low-cost technical principle for the detection of parasite eggs in PEF. The new technique is simple, fast, non-toxic, not harmful to the parasite and does not require a centrifuge.

UTILISATION DU SYSTÈME BIPHASIQUE AQUEUX COMME ALTERNATIVE À LA CONCENTRATION DES ŒUFS D'ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES, AVEC SÉPARATION NON TOXIQUE DES RÉSIDUS FÉCAUX ET DES GRAISSES: OBJECTIFS: Les entéroparasites humains sont considérés comme un sérieux problème de santé publique dans les pays sous-développés situés dans des régions du monde aux climats tropicaux, subtropicaux et équatoriaux. L'examen parasitologique des matières fécales (EPMF) permet généralement de diagnostiquer ces parasites, à l'aide de techniques classiques et/ou de kits commerciaux, conduisant à des tests de sensibilité faible à modérée, dus à l'utilisation de solvants chimiques destructeurs pour les structures du parasite et résultant en excès de substances adipeuses et de résidus digestifs dans leurs lames microscopiques. Afin d'améliorer l'efficacité de ces tests/examens, cette étude visait à étudier une nouvelle alternative à l'EPMF, avec l'utilisation du Système Biphasique Aqueux (SBA). MÉTHODES: Pour cela, quatre SBA contenant du poly (éthylène glycol), du PEG (PEG-4000 et PEG-6000), du phosphate dipotassique et du citrate de sodium à différentes concentrations ont été évalués avec des échantillons de matières fécales contenant des œufs d'Ascaris lumbricoides. RÉSULTATS: Le SBA constitué de PEG-4000 et de phosphate dipotassique, à des concentrations respectives de 55% poids/poids et 20% poids/poids, a obtenu des résultats satisfaisants à 100% par rapport à la technique conventionnelle du TF-Test, en termes de préservation et de concentration des œufs de A. lumbricoides, avec une séparation adéquate des résidus digestifs, sans utiliser de centrifugeuse ni de solvants chimiques pouvant détruire les parasites. CONCLUSIONS: Cette étude présente le SBA comme un nouveau principe technique peu coûteux pour la détection des œufs de parasites dans l'EPMF. La nouvelle technique est simple, rapide, non toxique, n'endommage pas le parasite et ne nécessite pas de centrifugeuse.

Cryptosporidium spp. in caged exotic psittacines from Brazil: Evaluation of diagnostic methods and molecular characterization.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of and diagnostic methods for Cryptosporidium spp. in caged adult exotic parrots from Southern and Southeastern Brazil. Oocysts were purified from fecal samples from 463 psittacines by centrifugal-flotation in Sheather's sugar solution. Cryptosporidium spp. were detected by malachite green negative staining and nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Cryptosporidium species were identified by sequencing nested PCR amplicons. Samples were also tested by duplex real-time PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium galli and Cryptosporidium avian genotype III. The prevalence rates of Cryptosporidium spp. determined by microscopy and nested PCR were 3.0% (14/463) and 5.0% (23/463), respectively. The nested PCR/sequencing identified avian genotype III (1.7%; 8/463), Cryptosporidium parvum (0.9%; 4/463) and Cryptosporidium canis (0.2%; 1/463). Duplex real-time PCR was positive for gastric Cryptosporidium in 9.5% (44/463) of the samples. Among them, 1.9% (9/463) were positive for C. galli, 5.8% (27/463) were positive for avian genotype III and 1.7% (8/463) showed mixed infections with C. galli and avian genotype III. With regards to the positive detection of Cryptosporidium spp., there was no statistically significant difference between nested PCR and microscopic analysis (p = .1237), and a fair agreement existed between them (Kappa = 0.242). A statistically significant difference (p < .0001) and fair agreement (Kappa = 0.317) were obtained between nested PCR/sequencing and duplex real-time PCR for the detection of gastric Cryptosporidium. We determined that nested PCR and duplex real-time PCR are the best options for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and gastric Cryptosporidium, respectively, and that avian genotype III is the most common Cryptosporidium genotype/species in psittacines.

TF-Test Modified: New Diagnostic Tool for Human Enteroparasitosis.

Intestinal parasitosis is highly prevalent worldwide, being among the main causes of illness and death in humans. Currently, laboratory diagnosis of the intestinal parasites is accomplished through manual technical procedures, mostly developed decades ago, which justifies the development of more sensitive and practical techniques. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop, evaluate, and validate a new parasitological technique referred to as TF-Test Modified, in comparison to three conventional parasitological techniques: TF-Test Conventional; Rugai, Mattos & Brisola; and Helm Test/Kato-Katz. For this realization, we collected stool samples from 457 volunteers located in endemic areas of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, and statistically compared the techniques. Intestinal protozoa and helminths were detected qualitatively in 42.23% (193/457) of the volunteers by TF-Test Modified technique, against 36.76% (168/457) by TF-Test Conventional, 5.03% (23/457) by Helm Test/Kato-Katz, and 4.16% (19/457) by Rugai, Mattos & Brisola. Furthermore, the new technique presented "almost perfect kappa" agreement in all evaluated parameters with 95% (P < 0.05) of estimation. The current study showed that the TF-Test Modified technique can be comprehensively used in the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa and helminths, and its greater diagnostic sensitivity should help improving the quality of laboratory diagnosis, population surveys, and control of intestinal parasites.

Identification of Leishmania spp. promastigotes in the intestines, ovaries, and salivary glands of Rhipicephalus sanguineus actively infesting dogs.

Sand flies are recognized as the major vector of canine visceral leishmaniasis. However, in some areas of Brazil where sand flies do not occur, this disease is found in humans and dogs. There has been speculation that ticks might play a role in transmission of canine visceral leishmaniasis and the DNA of Leishmania spp. has been reported in whole ticks. We investigated the presence of Leishmania spp. promastigotes in the intestines, ovaries, and salivary glands of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected from tick-infested dogs in two cities of Brazil. We used 66 dogs that tested positive and 33 that tested negative for Leishmania spp. according to direct cytological examination assays. Ten ticks were collected from each dog and dissected to collect the intestines, ovaries, and salivary glands for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and diagnostic real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). IHC results showed Leishmania spp. in 98, 14, and 8 % of the intestines, ovaries, and salivary glands, respectively. Real-time PCR showed that 89, 41, and 33 % of the tick intestine, ovary, and salivary glands, respectively, were positive for Leishmania spp. The verification of promastigotes of Leishmania spp. by two independent techniques in ticks collected from these urban region dogs showed that there is need for clarification of the role of ticks in the transmission of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Finding Priority Areas in the Evaluation of Strategies for the Prevention of Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Municipality of Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease that affects humans and dogs. The infection is endemic in the municipality of Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Given the role of dogs in the epidemiology of leishmaniasis, strategies to enhance surveillance and reduce transmission are focused on dogs. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed records of canine visceral leishmaniasis from 2013 to 2022. According to this database, the prevalence of dogs testing positive for leishmaniasis fluctuated, with an average of 65.04% (6590/10,133). Cases were clustered in 10 statistically significant areas. Environmental analyses identified a significant geographical association between animals testing positive and higher vegetation density rates compared with animals testing negative. The period from sample collection to diagnosis and euthanasia, as recommended by the Brazilian Ministry, correlated with disease prevalence and decreased over time. These findings serve to implement different action plans against leishmaniasis for each geographic region and to understand the impact and efforts of strategies in an endemic area.

Survey the Occurrence of Globocephalus urosubulatus (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Although previous studies have characterized the helminth fauna of wild boars kept in captivity in Brazil, records on these helminths in free-ranging animals are still scarce. In view of this, we aimed in our work to investigate the occurrence and morphological and morphometric characteristics of gastrointestinal helminths in wild Sus scrofa from the northwest region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The digestive systems of 10 animals (5 males and 5 females of different ages) were used in this study. Each anatomical segment was washed and sieved under running water, and the helminths were separated and identified using light and scanning electron microscopy, according to their morphological characteristics. A total of 2750 (1152 males and 1598 females) nematode specimens were collected from the small intestine of these wild boars, and all of them presented the morphological characteristics of Globocephalus urosubulatus. However, one characteristic is of particular interest because it has not yet been reported in the literature: a marked asymmetry between the lobes and their respective rays of the copulatory bursa, with the left one being larger than the right one. In this research, we identified the presence of G. urosubulatus in all the examined free-ranging wild boars and reported for the first time in the literature the asymmetry in the copulatory bursa.

Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity and Co-Infection with TORCH Complex Pathogens in Pregnant Women from Araçatuba, Brazil.

This study examined the seropositivity of T. gondii and coinfections with other TORCH pathogens among pregnant women attending 17 Basic Health Units (UBS) in Araçatuba, SP, Brazil. Of the 711 pregnant women seen at these UBS, only 297 were tested for T. gondii. Of the women tested for T. gondii (n = 297), 26.9% had IgG antibodies, 6.7% had IgM, and 32.0% tested positive for either or both. Only 1.4% showed both IgG and IgM antibodies, while 67.7% were non-reactive. The seropositivity was 17.1% for syphilis, 63.2% for rubella, 0.9% for hepatitis C, 0.9% for dengue, 17.9% for COVID-19, and 0.9% for herpes simplex (types 1/2). Coinfections with syphilis, rubella, and herpes simplex were also noted. Higher education levels appeared to protect against T. gondii seropositivity. The findings highlight a significant prevalence of T. gondii among pregnant women, with variation across UBSs, pointing to socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental factors as influential. We also observed co-occurrence with other infections, such as syphilis, rubella, and herpes simplex. The study underscores the need for targeted public health interventions to reduce the risks of congenital infections.

Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs in a rural area of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

We investigated the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in dogs in rural areas of the municipality of Painel, Santa Catarina, Brazil. For this, 91 canine feces samples were collected from 82 farms between August, 2017 and January, 2018. These fecal materials were processed using the techniques of spontaneous sedimentation, centrifugation-floatation in zinc sulfate and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. A questionnaire in the form of an interview was administered to the dogs' owner and information about the farm and the main care provided for the dogs was obtained. Among 91 sampled dogs, 27 (29.7%) were positive for at least one parasite species. Ancylostoma was the most prevalent genus (16.5%), followed by Giardia duodenalis (14.3%), Trichuris vulpis (6.6%), Toxocara canis (5.5%), Entamoeba spp. (4.8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3.3%) and Taeniidae (1.1%). Most dogs do not receive veterinarian care and rarely received antiparasitic treatment. They were free to roam and had free access to animal remains and garbage, which was reflected in the significant associations with the occurrence of parasites that were found. We conclude that rural dogs harbor gastrointestinal parasites, but that their owners are unaware of the risks that these parasites can bring to human health.

Absence of Giardia spp. in fecal samples from capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) inhabiting urban areas in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Giardiasis is a major cause of diarrhea in humans and animals worldwide. Currently, there are nine species of Giardia, including Giardia duodenalis, which infects most vertebrates. The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest herbivorous rodent in the world. Although capybaras are hosts of several parasites of public health importance, including helminths and protozoa, there is a paucity of research on their zoonotic potential. We investigated the prevalence of Giardia spp. in populations of capybaras living in urban areas. Fecal samples from 247 capybaras were collected in Lagoa Maior, located in the municipality of Três Lagoas, and in Lago do Amor and Parque das Nações Indígenas, both located in the municipality of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Fecal samples from capybaras originated from 133 adults (54%), 61 cubs (25%), and 53 juveniles (21%); 183 samples were collected in the rainy season and 64 in the dry season. Giardia spp. DNA was screened by the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) targeted PCR. Samples with DNA band sizes suggestive of Giardia spp. amplicons were examined by PCR targeting the glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) genes. PCR amplicons were subjected to genetic sequencing. Nested PCR screening of the SSU rRNA gene revealed 16 samples showing faint DNA bands in gel electrophoresis with sizes similar to Giardia spp. amplicons. PCR amplicons of the SSU rRNA gene were analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Most of the sequencing reactions failed, and the chromatogram reads of some samples were ambiguous, suggesting nonspecific amplification. Therefore, all the capybara fecal samples were considered negative for Giardia spp. Two published studies on Giardia spp. in capybaras reported findings similar to ours, i.e., the absence or a low positivity rate for Giardia spp. However, further studies are needed to determine the possible role of capybaras in the epidemiology of giardiasis.

First report of Giardia duodenalis in pet rabbits in Brazil.

Giardia duodenalis is a flagellate protozoan that multiplies in the small intestine of a wide variety of hosts, animals and humans. It has a worldwide distribution, however it is considered a neglected disease by the World Health Organization (WHO). Nowadays, rabbits are being chosen as pets, especially by children. There are already reports of the occurrence of G. duodenalis in rabbits from other countries, but research has not been carried out in Brazil yet. Thus, the objective of our work was to verify the occurrence and molecularly characterize G. duodenalis that affect pet rabbits, through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the northwest region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Fecal samples from 100 rabbits were collected, which later underwent a process of DNA extraction and amplification by nested-PCR (nPCR), using the SSU rRNA gene, and ß-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) to determine the assemblage. A questionnaire was answered by the owners with information about gender, age, deworming, diarrhea, water source, food, place of residence and contact with other animals. From those samples, 40 were positive for G. duodenalis. Good quality of the SSU rRNA gene by nPCR were obtained from two samples. For the first time, we report the occurrence of G. duodenalis assemblage A on pet rabbits in Brazil.

Toward automating the diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites in cats and dogs.

Diagnosing gastrointestinal parasites by microscopy slide examination often leads to human interpretation errors, which may occur due to fatigue, lack of training and infrastructure, presence of artifacts (e.g., various types of cells, algae, yeasts), and other reasons. We have investigated the stages in automating the process to cope with the interpretation errors. This work presents advances in two stages focused on gastrointestinal parasites of cats and dogs: a new parasitological processing technique, named TF-Test VetPet, and a microscopy image analysis pipeline based on deep learning methods. TF-Test VetPet improves image quality by reducing cluttering (i.e., eliminating artifacts), which favors automated image analysis. The proposed pipeline can identify three species of parasites in cats and five in dogs, distinguishing them from fecal impurities with an average accuracy of 98,6%. We also make available the two datasets with images of parasites of dogs and cats, which were obtained by processing fecal smears with temporary staining using TF-Test VetPet.

Cryptosporidium proventriculi in Captive Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus).

Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) are among the most commonly sold psittacines pets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in domestic N. hollandicus and identify risk factors for this infection. We collected fecal samples from 100 domestic cockatiels in the city of Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Feces from birds of both genders and older than two months were collected. Owners were asked to complete a questionnaire to identify how they handle and care for their birds. Based on nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in the cockatiels sampled was 9.00%, 6.00% based on Malachite green staining, 5.00% based on modified Kinyoun straining, and 7.00% when the Malachite green was combined with Kinyoun. Applying multivariate logistic regression to test the association between Cryptosporidium proventriculi positivity and potential predictors showed that gastrointestinal alterations was a significant predictor (p < 0.01). Amplicons from five samples were sequenced successfully and showed 100% similarity with C. proventriculi. In summary, this study demonstrates the occurrence of C. proventriculi in captive cockatiels.

Evidence of the Zoonotic Transmission of Cryptosporidium among Children and Pets.

We investigated the zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium among the children (n = 188), dogs (n = 133), and cats (n = 55) living in 188 households. Fecal samples were examined using ELISA and confirmed via nested PCR. Coproantigens oocysts were detected in 3.7% of children, 8.3% of dogs, and 5.5% of cats. We found strong evidence of two cases of the zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium canis between children and dogs. Furthermore, four children and their respective pets (one dog and three cats) were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum, but we cannot exclude the hypotheses that the oocysts were transmitted from children to animals or that both hosts were infected by a shared source, such as contaminated water or food. The presence of an infected animal elevated the risk of zoonotic transmission by 129.7-fold (95% CI: 13.92-1209.68). Furthermore, sharing a bed with pets was identified as a risk factor for infection in children (OR: 9.9, 95% CI: 1.37-71.2). In conclusion, the zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium among children and pets cohabiting in the same household may be quite common, especially when infected animals lie or sleep on children's beds. These findings unequivocally highlight the public health concern surrounding C. canis.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus: evaluation and comparison of classical techniques.

The aim of this study was evaluating the association and correlation between the diagnostics tests used for Leishmania spp. detection in dogs and ticks. We evaluated 99 dogs and 990 Rhipicephalus sanguineus. In dogs, we used bone marrow aspirates and lymph node fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for direct parasitological examinations and real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and collected blood samples for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In ticks, two laboratory techniques [immunohistochemistry to lipophosphoglycan (IHC) and RT-PCR] were performed in the intestine, ovaries and salivary glands. With respect to the measurement of diagnostic performance in dogs, lymph node RT-PCR proved to be the best test followed by ELISA and bone marrow RT-PCR. In ticks, intestine IHC were considered as a gold standard for diagnosis of leishmaniasis with intestinal RT-PCR being the best diagnostic test. To arrive at the correlation between laboratory techniques for dogs and their ticks, we evaluated the diagnostic test used for dogs with tests performed in R. sanguineus, which used lymph node FNAB as the gold standard. The intestine IHC technique showed strongest association. We demonstrated that the best tissue for Leishmania spp. detection in dogs was the lymph node and the intestine in case of ticks. As for laboratory techniques, the isolated analysis of each species presented a strong agreement between immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR when compared to its gold standard. In addition, we concluded that the immunohistochemistry of ticks' intestines was a better technique for diagnosing Leishmania spp. in R. sanguineus, thereby showing almost perfect correlation with the lymph node FNAB.

TF-Test techniques for the laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites of humans and animals

Intestinal parasites inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, causing damages whose severity depends on several factors related to the parasite and the host. Immunocompromised individuals are more likely to develop severe forms of parasitic infestation. The diagnosis of the gastrointestinal parasitosis is mainly performed by the examination of the feces, which consists of the direct visualization and identification of the parasites eliminated through the feces. These tests are generally low sensitive and the microscope slides contain a large number of impurities, which can impair the result of the diagnosis. In order to improve the diagnostic accuracy, a new parasitological technique called Three Fecal Test (TF­Test) was developed. To further improve its diagnostic accuracy, few modifications of the original protocols have been made with the years. In this study the performance of these new techniques to detect gastrointestinal parasites in human and animal fecal samples was described and discussed in relation to the performance of other conventional coprological tests. It could be concluded that the TF­Test conventional and modified can be used for the diagnosis of several human and animal parasites, with satisfactory results.