José Eugênio Guimarães

Effect of homeopathic medicines on helminth parasitism and resistance of Haemonchus contortus infected sheep.

This study evaluated the effects of homeopathic treatment on control of Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep. Twenty lambs were randomized to three treatments: treated with the homeopathic medicines, Ferrum phosphoricum, Arsenicum album and Calcarea carbonica; treated with a conventional antihelminthic, doramectin, and an untreated control group. Fecal and blood samples were taken from each animal on days 18, 38 and 68 after start of treatment. A significant reduction in number of H. contortus larvae (p<0.01) was observed for animals in the homeopathic treatment group compared to the control group. Fecal egg counts showed negative correlation between haematocrit and haemoglobin concentrations in the homeopathic treatment group (p<0.01); however, the biochemical and immunological parameters showed better correlation, indicating that the homeopathic medicine improved vital functions. Daily weight gain in the homeopathic treatment group was superior to the control and to the antihelminthic groups, 31 and 6.5%, respectively. The cost benefit analysis confirmed that homeopathy group increases economic trend when compared with the other groups.

Freqüência de anticorpos IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii em soros de cães errantes da cidade de Salvador-Bahia, Brasil

The Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intestinal intracelular coccidian protozoan of felidae, being considered cosmopolitan, discovered in 1908 by Nicolle & Manceaux. The first report in the canine species happened in 1910, in Italy and, in Brazil in 1911. With the objective of evaluating the frequency of this parasite in the population of dogs of the city of Salvador-Ba, 225 samples of blood from animals of 10 sanitary districts were collected for the accomplishment of the reaction of indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) for detection of IgG antibodies against-Toxoplasma gondii, using the strain AS28. 143 positive samples were detected, representing a frequency of 63.55.00%. The frequencies for sanitary districts were distributed as follow: Itapagipe 33.33%; Sao Caetano/Valeria 46.15.00%; Brotas 42.11%; Barra/Rio Vermelho 64.28%; Boca do Rio 80.00%; Itapua 65.38%; Cabula/Beiru 80.64%; Pau da Lima 73.91%; Cajazeiras 64.70.00% e Suburbio Ferroviario 73.33%. The serum titers found ranged from 1:16 to 1:16384, being 1:16 (28.67%), 1:64 (44.76%), 1:256 (21.68%), 1:1024 (4.20%) and 1:16384 (0.70.00%). Of the 123 males and 102 females, 67.48% and 58.82% were positive, respectively. Concerned to the age, of the 198 adults and 27 youngs, 70,20% and 14,80% were positive, respectively. The age and sanitary districts presented significant statistical result (p<0,05).

Haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations and leukocyte counts in the clinical investigation of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep

BACKGROUND Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiologic agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a disease that affects small ruminants and is responsible for economic losses, including condemnation of carcasses and damaged hides. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine if serum haptoglobin and plasma fibrinogen concentrations and peripheral blood leukocyte counts are biologic markers of CLA in sheep. METHODS Blood from 38 clinically healthy Santa-Inês ewes selected and segregated from a commercial flock of 2500 sheep in an area endemic for C. pseudotuberculosis was collected every 30 days for 6 months. An indirect ELISA was used to detect IgM and IgG antibodies against C. pseudotuberculosis. Serum haptoglobin concentration was measured using a hemoglobin-binding assay and plasma fibrinogen concentration by refractometry following heat precipitation. Total leukocyte counts were determined using a hemocytometer, and differential leukocyte counts were performed on smears of peripheral blood. RESULTS Twenty-one sheep were seropositive at the start of the study; 15 became seropositive during the study. Only 2 sheep were seronegative at the conclusion of the study. Haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations and WBC counts were not significantly different for seropositive and seronegative animals. Nine sheep, 5 that were seropositive positive at the start and 4 that became seropositive during the study period, developed abscesses in peripheral lymph nodes. There were 15 animals that became seropositive during the study, and their values did not differ significantly among the 3 phases--seronegative, acute (IgM+/IgG±), and chronic (IgM-/IgG+)--of infection. However, 11 of these sheep did not develop peripheral abscesses and had significantly higher haptoglobin concentrations and lower monocyte counts during the acute phase of the disease than did the 4 sheep that later developed abscesses. CONCLUSION Serum haptoglobin concentration and monocyte counts may be potential markers for progression of CLA in sheep.

Organochlorine concentrations (PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, HCB and MIREX) in delphinids stranded at the northeastern Brazil.

Organochlorine compounds are highly persistent in the environment, causing bioaccumulation and biomagnification through the marine food chain. To verify the bioaccumulation pattern of DDT and its metabolites, as well as PCBs, Mirex, HCHs and HCB, samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue from 25 Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis), two Frasers dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei), two spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), one spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis), and one striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) were analyzed. The collected specimens were found stranded in northeastern Brazil between 2005 and 2011. The concentrations were reported in μg·g(-1) lip, varying from 0.02 to 17.3 for ΣPCB, from 0.003 to 5.19 for ΣDDT, from 0.005 to 0.16 for ΣHCH, from 0.002 to 0.16 for HCB, and from 0.02 to 2.38 for Mirex. The PCBs dominated the bioaccumulation pattern for both the Guiana and spinner dolphins; for the other species, DDT was the major compound. A discriminant function analysis revealed the differences in the organochlorine accumulation patterns between the Guiana dolphin (S. guianensis) and the continental shelf/oceanic dolphins (S. frontalis and S. longirostris). The results also show that the concentrations of organochlorine compounds found in the delphinids in northeastern Brazil were lower than the delphinids found in other regions of Brazil, as well as other locations worldwide with intense agroindustrial development and/or a larger population.

Proteinograma de caprinos da raça Pardo-Alpina infectados naturalmente por parasitos gastrintestinais

The proteinogram of six 12 month-old Alpine goats, intensively raised and naturally infected by gastrointestinal parasites, was evaluated. Blood and feces samples of each animal were monthly collected. Total serum protein and their fractions were determined by agarose gel eletrophoresis, using Tris buffer, pH 9.2. The identified protein fractions were albumin, alfa-globulin, beta1-globulin, beta2-globulin and gama-globulin, whose average and standard deviation (g/dl) were, respectively: 2.35±0.39, 0.69±0.36, 0.70±0.08, 0.48±0.08 and 1.52±0.41. It was not observed significative correlation (P>0.05), according to the Spearman non-parametric test, either between the Strongyloides eggs count per gram of feces or the Haemonchus spp. larval count per gram of feces and the fraction electrophorectly variable.

Evolução clínica e avaliação de parâmetros leucocitários e de proteínas de fase aguda na pododermatite infecciosa ovina

In this paper, Santa Ines crossbred sheep with footrot were evaluated, checking the changes on leukogram and the acute phase proteins. In the first experiment, 70 females were divided into three groups according to their podal scores: a control group (G1) with score 0, scald group (G2) with score 1 or 2 and a footrot group (G3) with score 3, 4 or 5. During two months, the clinical course and its effect on leukogram were observed at five moments: M1 (day 0), M2 (day 15), M3 (day 30), M4 (day 45) and M5 (day 60). The intensity of the white blood cell count was low magnitude, observing significant changes (p <0.05) as a mild leukocytosis (G3, M4), attributed to neutrophilia and a slight increase in the total number of monocytes (G3, M2 and M3) despite the extensive damage and tissue necrosis existed during the final stage of the disease. In the second experiment, 105 animals from seven farms were used with the objective of isolating the causative agent and to evaluate the effect of disease on total plasma protein and acute phase proteins. The animals were also divided into three groups: control, scald and footrot. In all farms, the isolation of Dichelobacter nodosus was regarded. For the different stages of the disease on the proteins studied there was no significant correlation (p<0.05) but the haptoglobin in scald and footrot groups showed higher average than the control group. Based on these results, we conclude that the acute phase proteins studied were not efficient in the characterization of the phases of the disease and the leukocyte response was mild, making it difficult to use for this purpose.

Ocorrência de ectoparasitos em avestruzes (Struthio camelus) criadas no semi-árido baiano

In the period of May to August of 2005, 19 ostrichs farms were visited in the semi-arid area of the Irece, Bahia, in order to describe the ectoparasites. The African Black ostriches were reared in intensive system, and distributed for age group, in colonies, trio, couple or creche. In each farm, after visually inspection of the ostrich, the feathers were taken in several areas of the body and were kept in plastic bags. The screwworms found were collected and stored in 70% ethanol. In 74% (14/19) and 47% (04/19) of the flocks were found ostriches infested, respectively, for the Struthiopterolichus bicaudatus (acari) and Struthiolipeurus rheae (mallophaga). In only one flock (5.3%) it was found an animal with Cochliomyia hominivorax larvae.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Dichelobacter nodosus isolated from sheep in Brazil

Background: Pododermatitis or footrot is an infectious disease that affects the hoof and interdigital tissue of sheep causing lameness. The disease is caused by the interaction of the agent Dichelobacter nodosus and symbiotic bacteria in the complex environment of the epidermal tissues of the hoof and host immune system. D. nodosus is not able to invade healthy hooves, so the infection is preceded by colonization of the interdigital skin by Fuso bacterium necrophorum. The aim of this research was to perform the isolation andcharacterization of D. nodosus in sheep farms of different municipalities of Bahia, obtaining the serogroups present in each herd. Materials, Methods & Results: The study was carried out in nine sheep farms from eight municipalities in the state of Bahia. All farms presented history of foot diseases. A total of 620 animals were observed, 140 of which were examined for lameness. To collect the contents of the lesions, sterile swabs were introduced into tubes containing sterile Thorley transport medium under refrigeration at 8°C and sent for laboratory analysis. Subsequently, each swab collected was seeded in two Petri dishes containing 4% hoof agar medium and incubated in anaerobic at 37°C for 96 hours. The purified samples were seeded on 2% hoof agar and incubated under the same conditions as above. The colonies were identified by the morphological characteristic and Gram staining. The DNA was extracted and stored at -20°C until its use in PCR, for identification and classification of D. nodosus in serogroups (A-I). In the nine farms visited were found animals with clinical signs of infectious pododermatitis. After processing, there was success of isolation in 39 samples (41%), confirming the presence of D. nodosus in all municipalities evaluated. Seven serogroups (A, B, D, E, F, H, I) were identified, totalizing 52 positive cases involving these serogroups, being the most prevalent the serogroups D, with 59% of the cases (31/52) and H with 17% (7/52). Of the total samples, 11.5% had mixed infections with more than one serogroup per animal. Infection by up to two serogroups was found in 9.5% of the samples. Infection by more than two serogroups was found in only 2.1% of the samples of the present study. Discussion: The variations found in the number of affected animals and evolution of the lesions can be explained by the nature of the strains present in each farm and by epidemiological factors. According to the literature, it is possible to observe percentage variations of success in culturing D. nodosus either in different countries or in different regions within the same country, finding larger, smaller and similar values to this work (41%). These variations usually occur for reasons related to the quantity and viability of the bacteria in the samples. Thus, the number of bacteria in the lesion, degree of contamination with other bacteria, type and use of means of transport, besides the time elapsed among the collection, packaging and shipment are primordial elements to reach good isolation rates. Among all the serogroups found in this experiment, D and H were the predominant ones. The present work is the first in Brazil to characterize isolates of D. nodosus by PCR, a more accurate molecular technique than the previously used technique, based on microagglutination, and the first report in the country involving serogroup I, including mixed infections of this species (D + H + I) and other serogroups (E + F, D + H). Thus, the knowledge of the serogroups prevalent in a given state or country is directly related to both prevention and eradication of the disease.

Comparação entre as abordagens lateral direita e mediana ventral em cadelas submetidas à ovariossalpingo-histerectomia

A fim de comparar as abordagens abdominais, pela linha mediana ventral e lateral direita em cadelas pre-puberes e adultas submetidas a ovariossalpingo-histerectomia, utilizaram-se 28 cadelas higidas, distribuidas em dois grupos experimentais de igual numero: grupo abordagem mediana ventral (AMV) e grupo abordagem lateral direita (ALD), com sete animais adultos e sete animais pre-puberes em cada grupo. O procedimento cirurgico foi dividido em nove manobras cirurgicas distintas, e o tempo para conclusao de cada uma delas, suas facilidades e dificuldades, assim como o tempo cirurgico total, foram determinados. O tempo medio desde o inicio da incisao da pele ate a entrada na cavidade peritoneal foi menor nas cadelas adultas (P≤0,001) e pre-puberes (P≤0,001) do grupo AMV, mas o tempo medio para identificacao uterina foi menor nas cadelas pre-puberes (P≤0,001) do grupo ALD. O tempo cirurgico total foi menor utilizando-se a abordagem lateral direita (grupo ALD) nas cadelas adultas (P≤0,001) e pre-puberes (P≤0,001). Seu uso nao se relacionou com complicacoes cirurgicas e facilitou a identificacao uterina, possibilitando reducao no tempo cirurgico total. Assim, a abordagem lateral direita demonstrou ser uma alternativa segura em cadelas adultas e pre-puberes submetidas a OSH eletiva.

Eletroforese de proteínas séricas de tartarugas cabeçudas (Caretta caretta) de vida livre e mantidas em cativeiro no litoral norte da Bahia

Este trabalho objetivou a determinacao e comparacao do perfil eletroforetico das proteinas sericas de tartarugas cabecudas (Caretta caretta), femeas, de vida livre (n=20) que desovam no Litoral Norte da Bahia e daquelas mantidas em cativeiro (n=5) no Centro de Visitantes do Projeto Tamar-Ibama da Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brasil. Os valores obtidos para os animais de vida livre para as variaveis foram: proteina total de 3,84±0,56g/dL, albumina 1,39±0,30g/dL, alfa-1 e alfa-2 globulina 0,34±0,09g/dL e 0,42±0,22g/dL, beta globulina 0,57±0,26g/dL e gama globulina 1,16±0,30g/dL, e relacao A:G de 0,58±0,16. Para os animais cativos estes valores foram de: proteina total 4,98±1,31g/dL, albumina 1,64±0,55g/dL, enquanto que para as fracoes alfa-1, alfa-2, beta e gama globulinas de 0,39±0,24g/dL, 0,68±0,44g/dL, 0,68±0,13g/dL e 1,59±0,31g/dL, respectivamente; e para a relacao A:G de 0,49±0,08. Avaliando os resultados observaram-se diferencas estatisticas significativas (p<0,05) para os valores de proteina total onde os animais de cativeiro apresentaram niveis mais elevados, o que pode ser atribuido a alimentacao rica em proteina oferecida, e para a gama globulina onde o grupo de vida livre obteve valores inferiores, possivelmente devido a uma imunodepressao relacionada ao estresse reprodutivo. Apesar destas diferencas o padrao eletroforetico foi semelhante entre os grupos estudados.