This study investigated the occurrence of rickettsial infection in ticks collected from wild animals in two areas of Brazil. Amblyomma dubitatum ticks were collected from a capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in Guarda-Mor municipality, state of Minas Gerais, and Amblyomma pseudoconcolor ticks were collected from a six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) in Corumbá municipality, state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Attempts to isolate rickettsia in Vero cell culture were performed with one A. dubitatum tick and one A. pseudoconcolor tick, which were previously shown by the hemolymph test to contain Rickettsia-like structures within their hemocytes. Rickettsiae were successfully isolated in Vero cell culture from the two tick species. The two isolates were identified as Rickettsia bellii, since gltA partial sequences were 99.9%-100% identical to corresponding sequences of R. bellii in GenBank. While there have been several previous reports of R. bellii infecting A. dubitatum ticks, we provide the first report for A. pseudoconcolor, which increases to 25 the number of R. bellii-infected tick species in the American continent.

Leptospirosis is a systemic disease caused by the species of bacteria Leptospira spp., which affects human beings, domestic and wild animals. The present study searched the presence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. in the canine population of the city Teresina, Piauí, and the most common serovars. Blood samples from 425 stray dogs were collected in the local zoonosis center in Teresina from July 2010 to January 2012 and submitted to the Microscopic Seroagglutination Test (MAT). This study found an average infection rate of 17.41% (IC 95%; 13,8 – 21,0) by 11 different serovars; the four most frequent were Canicola (18.9%), Autumnalis (16.2%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (12.1%), and Butembo (12.1%). The questions raised in this study indicated the occurrence of Leptospira spp infection in dogs of Terezina- Piaui, Brazil.

The animal trade is an important risk factor that affects the spread of diseases among animals and herds. The goal of the present study was to characterize the cattle movement network in Pernambuco, Brazil, based on the animal movement permits (Guias de Trânsito Animal; GTAs) from 2012 to 2013, and identify the intensity of the commercial relationship between farm premises. A total of 737,950 GTAs were issued, and the movement of 3,481,185 cattle (1,688,585 in 2012 and 1,792,600 in 2013) was analyzed. Of the moved animals analyzed, 52.57% (1,829,907/3,481,185) were involved in the movement of cattle in or out of livestock markets, indicating that livestock markets played a major role in the network. Approximately 20% of the more-connected premises were responsible for approximately 87% of the movement related to sales and 95% of the movement related to purchases. Considering the important role of livestock markets and the intense cattle trade between farm premises, surveillance, and control measures could be more efficient if targeted to livestock markets and highly connected premises to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Lymphocytes and macrophages are the main white cells involved in fetal-maternal tolerance. Little is known about these leukocytes in bovine placenta, such as the quantity and location of these cells. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify lymphocyte and macrophage populations in bovine placenta using specific markers and flow cytometry. This study analyzed samples of placentomes and intercaruncular regions of cows in the three quarters of pregnancy. In the placentomes, during the first quarter of pregnancy, mean percentage of labeled CD3+ cells was 2.34%; CD8+, 1.28%; CD14+, 1.66%; and CD335+, 0.96%. For the intercaruncular region, percentage of CD3+ cells was 0.71%; CD8+, 1.63%; CD14+, 2.81%; and CD335+, 2.81%. In the second quarter, placentomes showed 0.94% CD3+ cells; 0.77% CD8+; 0.72% CD14+; and 0.51% CD335+. In the intercaruncular region, percentage of labeled CD3+ cells was 0.50%; CD8+, 1.81%; CD14+, 2.64%; and CD335+, 0.51%. In the third quarter, placentomes showed labeling of 0.88% CD3+; 0.66% CD8+; 1.06% CD14+; and 0.74% CD335+ cells. In the intercaruncular region, percentage of labeled CD3+ cells was 0.19%; CD8+, 2.23%; CD14+, 2.43%; and CD335+, 0.16%. The results showed that there was a greater immunomarking of leukocytes CD3+ and CD335+ in the placentome when compared to the intercaruncular region during the third trimester. It can be concluded that leukocytes populations in bovine placenta is reduced, probably because of the syndesmochorial characteristic of bovine placenta. This represents a significant barrier for the immunological system of the mother, sharply decreasing the exposure of the conceptus to the mother’s immune system.

O potencial zoonótico de bactérias multirresistentes é uma preocupação global e os animais de companhia têm sido implicados na disseminação de bactérias resistentes; assim, é importante a vigilância, pois já existem relatos de transmissão destas bactérias do cão para o homem e vice-versa. Um cão, sem raça definida e de cinco anos de idade, foi atendido na cidade de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil, apresentando urolitíase obstrutiva de estruvita recorrente há um ano e meio. Na urocultura do animal foi isolada uma estirpe de Staphylococcus spp. multirresistente; o tratamento com vancomicina possibilitou acura clínica. A estirpe de Staphylococcus spp. isolada foi identificada molecularmente como S. pseudintermedius e nela foi identificada a presença do gene mecA, o principal responsável por S. pseuidintermedius resistente à meticilina (MRSP), e que é frequentemente resistente à múltiplos antimicrobianos. As hipóteses para este caso clínico são a transmissão do homem para o animal, pois o tutor era um médico intensivista, ou que a própria bactéria fazia parte da microbiota do animal e, devido a outros fatores como estresse e doença urinária obstrutiva, abriu-se uma porta de entrada para a infecção pelo S. pseudintermedius. Mais estudos são necessários para a elucidação da transmissão de bactérias multirresistentes entre animais de companhia e o ser humano.

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and histopathological aspects of topical application of pure and ozonized andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis Aublet.) on the healing process of wounds of healthy horses. Eight 6.25-cm2 wounds were surgically produced on each horse, cranial to the sacrum, being four wounds on each side of the lumbar region. In three animals, left side was used for macroscopic observations and area measurement and right side was used for histopathological analysis. For the other two animals, evaluations were inverted. Beginning of the topical treatment occurred 12 hours after surgical induction of the injuries and was maintained daily until complete healing of the wounds, using sequentially and bilaterally in the craniocaudal direction saline solution (GC), ozonized saline solution (GO), pure andiroba oil (GAP) and ozonized andiroba oil (GAO). Randomly, sequence of the treatments was modified. Macroscopic and histopathological analyses were performed at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. Completed healing time for all wounds were recorded. A wound contraction of 67.75% for GC, 65.26% for GO, 67.91% for GAP, and 69.84% for GAO were recorded. Histopathologic evaluation revealed that wounds from the GAO and GAP had an advanced epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, moderate vascular proliferation, and presence of PMN infiltrate and discrete viewing of MN. It was possible to conclude that all treatments had benefits when comparing to control group and both pure and ozonized andiroba oil can be good options for wound treatment in horses.

Little research has examined the views of Latin Americans on the use of animals in research. This study examined the degree to which Brazilians support the use of animals in research and the reasons they put forth to explain their position. Participants were randomly assigned to research scenarios describing the use of animals for biomedical or environmental benefits, and varying in the number of pigs required. Each scenario began by proposing the use of conventional pigs and then advanced to the development and use of genetically modified animals (GMA). A total of 151 quantitative and 307 qualitative answers were analysed. Scenario and number of animals had little effect on support, but opposition increased from 25% to 58% when pigs were used to develop a GM strain for the environmental scenario. Support to use of animals was often conditional upon adequate protection of the animals’ welfare. Participants were less willing to support research on environmental scenario when this involved the creation of GMA, in part because they feared the risk associated with this technology.

Feeding dogs raw meat diets is an increasingly popular trend, and when contaminated with Salmonella they may present a risk to the health of both animals and humans. The present investigation is a systematic review of literature to assess the frequency of raw meat diets for dogs contaminated with Salmonella and whether dogs consuming these diets can eliminate it in their faeces. A search was made using two databases: “Web of Knowledge” and “PubMed” in January 2015. Only studies related to raw food diets and consumption by dogs were included. Thirteen articles were selected after refining the search. In 11 studies microbiological analysis was conducted for Salmonella in diets containing raw meat, so that in four of these studies Salmonella in the faeces was also analysed. In the analysis of 679 raw meat diets 141 diets (20.76%) were contaminated with Salmonella, in which the serotype most commonly found was S. Typhimurium (24.60%). Of the studies that reported the number of dogs that eliminated Salmonella in faeces after consumption of diets containing raw meat, 141 faecal samples were analysed, of which 73 (51.77%) were contaminated with Salmonella and the serotype most commonly found was S. Newport (72.60%). The available data suggest that the owners who feed their animals with diets containing contaminated raw meat, either commercial or homemade, are exposed to risk of Salmonella contamination, either by the manipulation of food or by handling the dog’s stool.

Objectives: To perform molecular diagnosis of microbial agents (FHV-1, FCV, Mycoplasma felis, and Chlamydophila felis) in kittens with conjunctivitis and correlate the clinical signs with clinical severity. Material and Methods: A total of 108 conjunctival swab were collected from kittens without (G1; n = 40) and with (G2; n = 68) clinical signs of conjunctivitis. Animals from G2 group were scored from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe) according to the severity of conjunctivitis. All samples were submitted to PCR and RT-PCR. Results: FHV-1 was detected in 62/108 (57.4%) of samples, FCV in 40/108 (37.0%), M. felis in 11/108 (10.2%) and C. felis in 26/108 (24.1%). Mixed infections were detected in 39/108 (36.1%). In G1, 28/40 (70.0%) were positive for one or more agents, in G2, 58/68 (85.3%) were positive (P = 0.03). In 1, single infections by FHV-1were found in 21/40 (52.5%) samples, FCV in 2/40 (5.0%), C. felis in 1/40 (2.5%), and no pathogens were detected in 12/40 (30%) of samples, while mixed infections accounted for 29/40 (72.5%) of the cases. In G2, single FHV-1 infections were found in 31/68 (45.6%) samples, FCV in 10/68 (14.7 %), M. felis in 2/68 (3.0%) and C. felis also in 2/68 (3.0%), and no pathogens were detected in 10/68 (14.7%) samples, while mixed infections accounted for 36/68 (52.0%) of the cases. They were categorized as grade 1, 20/68 (29.4%), grade 2, 14/68 (20.6%), grade 3, 21/68 (30.9%) and grade 4, 13/68 (19.1%). The presence of FHV-1 and FCV is equally distributed among the four categories. More severe clinical signs, scores 3 and 4, are related to coinfections by C. felis and M. felis. Conclusions: FHV-1, FCV, C. felis and M. felis were identified in feline conjunctivitis. Co-infections are related to more severe cases of conjunctivitis. Molecular diagnosis is helpful to detect asymptomatic carriers and is a rapid and accurate method to determine the pathogen of feline conjunctivitis.

The sound producing apparatus of the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) presents a complex anatomic structure composed of melon, spermaceti, phonic lips, vocal cap, case, papillae, spermaceti chamber and other airspaces, as well as facial muscles involved in sound production. The spermaceti chamber rests on the caudal portion of the premaxilla, with part of its mucosa covered with spherical/oval-shaped structures (approximately 1 to 2 mm in diameter), compatible with vesicles (previously referred to as “papillae”). Macroscopical examination revealed whitish, firm, widely and irregularly distributed vesicular mucosa on the premaxillary portion of the spermaceti chamber of a K. sima specimen stranded on the coast of Santos (southeastern Brazilian coast). Upon microscopic examination, walls of connective tissue with abundant type I collagen forming vesicles with an internal space or cavity filled with a small amount of eosinophilic substance compatible with mucoproteic fluid were observed. The base of such vesicles presented glands within the connective tissue, probably responsible for fluid production. This study describes the histology of the mucosa of the spermaceti chamber of a K. sima specimen and characterizes the glands associated with fluid production.