J. M. P. Barçante

Lavado broncoalveolar como ferramenta para avaliação de alterações celulares durante a infecção por Aelurostrongylus abstrusus em gatos

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a procedure that retrieves cells and other elements from the lungs for evaluation, which helps in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to perform this procedure for cellular analysis of BAL fluid alterations during experimental infection with Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in cats. Fourteen cats were individually inoculated with 800 third stage larvae of A. abstrusus and five non-infected cats lined as a control group. The BAL procedure was performed through the use of an endotracheal tube on the nineteen cats with a mean age of 18 months, on 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 270 days after infection. Absolute cell counts in the infected cats revealed that alveolar macrophages and eosinophils were the predominant cells following infection. This study shows that the technique allows us to retrieve cells and first stage larvae what provides information about the inflammatory process caused by aelurostrongylosis.

Captura de Desmodus rotundus em regiões de mata e manguezais do Estado do Maranhão: um estudo longitudinal

The aim of the study was to investigate the number of captures and the control of the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus on small farms in the municipality of Cedral, State of Maranhao, Brazil. The area was chosen because the highest number of captures in Maranhao was made there around corrals. Official control is accomplished by applying warfarin 2%, a vampiricid gel, on captured bats. In this study, control records of captured hematophagous bats were analyzed, and a questionnaire was applied in the field to identify areas with the highest number of captures. From 2005 to 2010, 223 captures in 101 farms were studied; in 190 of them existed control with application of warfarin 2% gel on the bats.. There was a total of 344 attacked livestock out of 754 exposed animals, mostly cattle (49%), followed by horses (18%), poultry (15%), pigs (9%) and goats (8%). After 6 years, the proportion of captured male and female bats was 1.08 to 1.00, compared to 1.00 to 1.21 in the first year, what demonstrates that the treatment was more effective in females. Within three years, there was control in the number of bats in 95% of the farms, after 1 to 6 captures. The main attacked area of the animal bodies was the neck. Only 57% of the owners vaccinated their livestock. The present study concluded that (1) the control with capture of bats in corrals was effective, (2) but it is prudent to monitor the area during the first 3 months after the end of control, (3) the number of captured bats was similar to the number of recent bites, and (4) D. rotundus could attack any domestic animal, with little predilection for poultry.

Aspectos patológicos e parasitológicos da infecção por Tanaisia (Paratanaisia) bragai em pavões (Pavo cristatus)

Trematodes belonging to the family Eucotylidae, including Tanaisia(Paratanaisia)bragaiSantos, 1934are parasites of the kidney and ureter that affect several species of domestic and wild birds. Tanaisia bragaiis considered a low pathogenic parasite, but high worm burdens may determine clinical complications, including signs of apathy, weight loss, diarrhea and death. This paper describes the first report of infection by T. bragai in peacocks (Pavo cristatus), which constitutes a new host record and offers data on the lesions associated to this parasitism, although the degree of pathogenicity and parasite load may be considered mild. These birds did not exhibit clinical signs of parasitism. The macroscopic exam revealed discreet yellow spots on the liver. In the histological sections of the kidney, specimens of T. bragai were found in the collecting ducts, which were markedly dilated, with a thickened wall. Other findings included a mild inflammatory reaction in the wall of the ducts (but sometimes absent), flattening of lining epithelial cells and small, multifocal points of calcification around the collecting ducts. The microscopic examination of the parasites revealed trematodes with an elongated body, well-developed sub terminal oral sucker, pharynx present, short esophagus, cecum somewhat undulating or not, with blind end, testes symmetrical, equatorial, irregular in shape or slightly lobed, vitelline fields extending in both pre-ovarian and post ovarian fields, uterus very long, intercecal or sometimes overlapping the cecum and containing large quantities of eggs. The present findings suggest the need for further diagnostic studies on the prevalence of this trematode in peacocks as well as pathologic studies for the determination of the potential pathogenicity of this parasite in this species of bird. Moreover, infected peacocks could serve as carriers of T. bragai to be transferred to other bird species, thereby contributing to the dispersion of the parasite.

First Report of the Main Vector of Visceral Leishmaniasis in America, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz, Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), in Southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil

1Laboratorio de Biologia Parasitaria (Biopar), Departamento de Ciencias da Saude, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brasil, joziana@dsa.ufla.br 2Vigilância Ambiental, Prefeitura Municipal de Lavras, MG, Brasil 3Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, MG, Brasil 4Coordenadoria de Prevencao de Endemias, Diretoria de Meio Ambiente, Pro-Reitoria de Planejamento e Gestao, Universidade Federal de Lavras, MG, Brasil

Fiscalização das ações de médicos veterinários habilitados para atuar no Programa Nacional de Controle e Erradicação da Brucelose e Tuberculose Animal

The inspection of qualified professionals is an important action of the National Programme for Control and Eradication of Animal Brucellosis and Tuberculosis (PNCEBT). The data for this study were obtained by compiling reports of 63 inspections in loco of qualified private veterinarians between 2008 and 2011 in the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Through the findings of this study, it was observed that all inspected professionals are regularly registered in the CRMV-ES, nevertheless it was found pending issues regarding the registration to conduct vaccinations against brucellosis. It was observed that most professionals keep the infrastructure and equipment for conducting tuberculosis and brucellosis tests. The majority adopts the official models of certification, however there is a significant delay in sending reports of actions, and many professionals reported a lack of demand for certification of properties.

Investigação epidemiológica de Estomatite vesicular por achados clínicos em bovinos e equinos no Estado do Maranhão

ABSTRACT.- Arruda R.C.N., Segundo J.M.F., Soares B.A., Martins N.R.S., Barcante T.A. & Bar-cante J.M.P. 2015. [ Stomatitis vesicular in cattle and horse in the Maranhao state. ] In-vestigacao epidemiologica de Estomatite vesicular por achados clinicos em bovinos e equi -nos no Estado do Maranhao. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 35(5):391-395. Laboratorio de Biologia Parasitaria, Setor de Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva, Departamento de Medici-na Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Universitario, Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil. E-mail: tbarcante@gmail.comVesicular stomatitis (VS) is an infectious viral disease that affects bovines, equines, swine, wild animals and humans. As it is indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases, mainly Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), it causes restrictions in commercial livestock tra-de at national and international levels and also significant economic losses. As the epide-miology and maintenance of VS virus in nature are not clearly understood it is difficult to take effective control measures. VS was diagnosed in some regions of Brazil, such as Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo and Alagoas. Cattle and horses with clinical symptoms of drooling, shedding of the lingual epithelium, presence of vesicles on the oral mucosa were observed and reported to the National Animal Health Office health of Maranhao State, Brazil. Samples of serum of these animals were collected and sent to Laboratorio Nacional de Agropecuaria for ELISA and virus neutralization and differential diagnosis for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). The results of ELISA confirmed the VS. In the differential diagnosis, the results were negative for FMD. Samples of bovine epithelial tissue for VS by PCR confir-mation of diagnosis were collected and sent to Biological Institute of Sao Paulo. Molecular results confirmed the

Seleção, caracterização e clonagem dos genes fljB e groEL agonistas dos receptores de reconhecimento de padrão do sistema imune inato das aves

A producao recombinante de agonistas dos receptores do reconhecimento de padrao do sistema imune inato tem fornecido uma nova ferramenta para a producao de imunoestimulantes para animais. O padrao molecular associado ao patogeno (PAMP), flagelina, codificado pelo gene fljB de Salmonella Typhimurium e o padrao molecular associado ao dano (DAMP) HSP60, codificado pelo gene groEL da S. Typhimurium e S. Enteritidis, sao reconhecidos por receptores de reconhecimento de padroes (RRPs) do sistema imune inato das aves. No presente estudo, foi feita a clonagem de fragmentos geneticos dos genes fljB de S. Typhimurium e groEL de S. Typhimurium e S. Enteritidis inseridos no vetor de expressao pET100/D-TOPO e transformados em celulas de E. coli TOP10. Os clones foram avaliados pela PCR de colonia, PCR de DNA plasmidial e sequenciamento genomico para a confirmacao da presenca desses genes. Na PCR de colonia, foram identificadas em 80%, 60% e 80% das colonias transformadas, a presenca dos genes groEL (S. Enteritidis), groEL (S. Typhimurium) e fljB (S. Typhimurium) respectivamente. O sistema de clonagem adotado possibilitou a producao de clones dos fragmentos geneticos da HSP60 e flagelina das cepas de Salmonella, permitindo a utilizacao posterior desses clones em ensaios de expressao genica, com potencial futuro de serem utilizados como imunoestimulante inespecifico das aves.