Annielle Regina da Fonseca Fernandes

Ocorrência e fatores de risco associados às infecções por Toxoplasma gondii e Neospora caninum em cães no município de Natal, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Nordeste do Brasil

The aim of this survey was to determine the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neosporacaninum antibodies, as well as to identify risk factors in dogs from the county of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 476 dogs attended at veterinary clinics from March 2011 to May 2012. For the serological diagnosis of the infections the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) adopting the dilutions 1:64 (T. gondii) and 1:50 (N. caninum) as cut-off points, was used. Of the 476 samples 55 (11.5%, 95% CI=8.8%-14.8%) were seropositive to T. gondii, and 31 (6.5%, 95% CI=4.5%-9.1%) to N. caninum. The variables age >48 months (OR=4.68) and access to street (OR=4.91) were identified as risk factors for T. gondii, while for N. caninum, risk factors were weekly/fortnightly/monthly cleaning of the environment where the animal stay (OR=2.77) and presence of rodents (OR=2.34). It is concluded that infectionsdue to T. gondii and N. caninum detected by serology are present in dogs attended at veterinary clinics in the county of Natal, as well as it is recommended the correction of the risk factors identified.

Soroprevalência e fatores de risco associados à soropositividade para Ehrlichia canis em cães do semiárido da Paraíba

Aiming to determine the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis infection, as well as to identify risk factors associated to the seropositivity, a serological survey was conducted in 109 dogs assisted at the Hospital Veterinario/Centro de Saude e Tecnologia Rural (CSTR)/Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Campus de Patos, Paraiba State, Northeastern Brazil. Serological diagnosis of ehrlichiosis was performed by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and sera presenting antibody titers >; 40 were considered positive. Of the 109 samples, 72.5% were positive (95% CI = 63.1% - 80.6%). Animals that had contact with other dogs (odds ratio = 3.59; 95% CI = 1.41 - 9.12), contact with ponds (odds ratio = 8.39; 95% CI = 1.01 - 69.87) or with free access to the street (odds ratio = 6.24; 95% CI = 1.28 - 30.39) were more exposed to the risk of infection.

Risk factors associated with seropositivity for Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs in the state of Paraiba, Brazil

The aim of this survey was to determine the seropositivity and risk factors for Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 1,043 dogs were tested, and the serological diagnoses of Chagas disease (CD) and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) was performed by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Animals that tested seropositive for both diseases (by IFAT) were further subjected to ELISA. Of the 1,043 dogs 81 (7.8%; 95% CI = 6.1-9.4%) tested seropositive for Leishmania spp., while 83 were seropositive for T. cruzi (7.9%; 95% CI = 6.3-9.6%). Simultaneous serological reactions were detected in 49 animals (4.6%; 95% CI= 3.6-6.2%). Semi-domiciled housing (OR = 2.044), free housing (OR = 4.151), and soil (OR = 3.425) and soil/cement (OR = 3.065) environmental conditions were identified as risk factors for CVL seropositivity. The risk factors identified for CD seropositivity were semi-domiciled (OR = 2.353) or free housing (OR = 3.454), and contact with bovine (OR = 2.015). This study revealed the presence of dogs in the Paraíba State seropositive for CVL and CD, suggesting the need for revisiting and intensification of disease control measures through constant monitoring of the canine population.

Inquérito sorológico e molecular da brucelose canina no município de Natal, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte

T he aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of anti-rough Brucella and anti-smooth Brucella antibodies in dogs from the county of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil, as well as to identify risk factors associated with positivity and to perform molecular detection of the agent in seropositive animals. Sera from 416 dogs attended in veterinary clinics during the period from March to November 2011 were used. For the serological diagnosis of rough Brucella the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test, using antigen of lipopolysaccharides and proteins from Brucella ovis, strain Reo 198, was carried, and for smooth Brucella the buffered plate agglutination test (BPAT) was used. From seropositive animals, blood samples with sodium citrate were collected for the diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Frequency of anti-rough Brucella antibodies was 28.9% (120/416). All animals were negative for anti-smooth Brucella antibodies. Of the 80 seropositive animals Brucella spp. DNA was amplifi ed in three (3.8%). Risk factors associated with the seropositivity were not identifi ed. It was concluded that rough Brucella infection is present in the county of Natal, as well as it is suggested the serological monitoring of animals attended at clinics aiming the identifi cation of sources of infection.

Prevalência e fatores de risco para a leptospirose e brucelose na população canina da Estância Turística de Ibiúna, São Paulo, Brasil

The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis and brucellosis due to Brucella canis and to determine the risk factors associated with positivity in dogs of the Tourist Resort of Ibiuna, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A total of 570 blood samples were collected from dogs from 4 regions of 48 districts of the county of Ibiuna during the period of September 2007 to March 2008. Serological diagnosis of leptospirosis was performed with the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), and blood culture was used for the diagnosis of brucellosis. Of the 570 dogs used 187 (32.8%; 95%CI 28.9 - 36.8) were seropositive to leptospirosis, with predominance of reactions to serovars Pyrogenes, Autumnalis and Canicola, and 6 (1.05%; 95%CI 0.4 - 2.2) were positive to brucellosis. Variable sexual activity (OR = 1.73) was identified as risk factor associated with the positivity to leptospirosis, and free access to street was considered risk factor for both leptospirosis (OR = 1.96) and brucellosis (OR = 10.85). It is concluded that leptospirosis and brucellosis are present in dogs of the Tourist Resort of Ibiuna, State of Sao Paulo, and sexual activity and free access to street are conditions associated with the prevalence of infections.