Ana Clara Gomes dos Santos

Biometry of Trypanosoma vivax found in a calf in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Blood samples from cattle presenting signs of anemia, lethargy, weakness and general weight loss were collected. Trypanosoma vivax was detected in the blood smears of a calf. This paper reports the first recorded occurrence of T. vivax in the state of Maranhao, northeastern region of Brazil, and provides the biometrical data of the parasite.

Uso de extrato de nim no controle de acaríase por Myobia musculi Schranck (Acari: Miobidae) e Myocoptes musculinus Koch (Acari: Listrophoridae) em camundongos (Mus musculus var. albina L.)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acaricide action of neem extract formulated as a pomatum in the treatment of acariasis in mice (Mus musculus var. albina L.) naturally infected by Myobia musculi Schranck and Myocoptes musculinus Koch. Twenty parasitized animals were chosen and distributed in four groups: control (vaseline), 5%, 10% and 20% of neem. The animals were treated at 48h intervals and maintained in cages with food and water ad libitum and accompanied daily for 24 days. There was a decrease in the mean number of mites recovered after 96h with 5% of neem when compared to de others concentrations (P < 0.05). From 120h on, the concentrations of 10% and 20% were also efficient and differed statistically from the control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01; respectively). From 168h on, the animals treated with neem concentrations of 10% and 20% showed significant results (P < 0.01). The animals exhibit signs of hair recuperation and the mites were not observed anymore. After 216h, the hair was completely recovered and the animals remained free of the infestation in the concentrations of 10% and 20%. The neem pomatum showed acaricide action in the concentrations of 10% and 20% for mice and when used as a topical remedy, had good phlogistic and cicatrizing activity and showed no side effects.

Espécies, sítios de localização, dinâmica e estrutura de populações de malófagos em galinhas caipiras (Gallus gallus L.) criadas na Ilha de São Luis, MA

The objective of this work was to identify the phthirapteran species, to determine the prevalence according to the anatomical region of the body and to know the dynamics and composition of the population of these ectoparasites in free-range chicken in São Luis Island, state of Maranhão. Inspection was performed in 40 chickens and feathers were collected from the head, neck, wing, thigh, dorsal and ventral regions and cloacae. The phthirapteran species identified were: Menopon gallinae L., Menacanthus stramineus Nitzsch, Menacanthus pallidulus Neumann, Menacanthus cornutus Schommer (Menoponidae), and Lipeurus caponis L., Goniodes dissimilis Denny and Goniocotes gallinae De Geer (Philopteridae). L. caponis was collected from all regions sampled, including the head, which was the least infested region. The dorsum was the most infested, especially in the dry period of the year and where the greater parasitic diversity was observed, the wing and the head were the least infested regions. Considering the dynamics and the composition of the population the phthirapteran presented a prevalence of 85% of the sampled chickens, the mean intensity of infestation was 45.3 varying from <1 to 453. The egg stage was superior to the others life stages followed by nymphs and female adults, independent of the phthirapteran species.