Letícia Ferreira da Silva

Epidemiological survey of the taeniasis/cysticercosis complex in cattle farms in Viçosa County, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Despite the importance of human taeniasis/bovine cysticercosis for public and animal health and the economy, its actual epidemiological status in Brazil is not well-studied. We sought to assess the epidemiological profile of this zoonosis in the rural area of Vicosa County, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The prevalence of bovine cysticercosis was 0.42%, whereas no case of human taeniasis was diagnosed. Factors favoring the persistence of zoonosis were identified. These included the supply of untreated water to animals, animals raised for slaughter without sanitary supervision, poor mechanization of raising techniques, and the use of untreated water for human consumption. Bovine meat for human consumption acquired in the city or from the farm itself was characterized as a risk factor for bovine cysticercosis (Odds Ratio (OR) =16.77; p<0.05). Nevertheless, the families on the investigated farms did apply several appropriate measures to control this disease, such as the virtual lack of open sewers and the consumption of well-cooked meat. The presence of bovine cysticercosis cases, and the factors favoring its persistence, point to the need for constant epidemiological and sanitary surveillance in this county.

Relevant peptides of Taenia crassiceps for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis by immunoblot

Given the limited knowledge about the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis by immunoblot, the aim of this study was to assess the applicability of this test, identifying key peptides with diagnostic value. Immunoblot assays were performed using total larval antigen of Taenia crassiceps and 60 sera of positive bovines for cysticercosis (30 naturally and 30 experimentally infected with T. saginata eggs), 30 sera of negative bovines for cysticercosis and 30 sera of bovines with other diseases (fascioliasis, hydatidosis and tuberculosis). The peptides of greater diagnostic importance, in descending order of accuracy (%), were as follows: 6-8kDa (90.8%), 129-143kDa (74.2%), 99-105kDa (71.7%) and 14-19kDa (71.1%). Cross-reactions, due to fascioliasis and hydatidosis, were observed in the four intervals of peptides highlighted. The results demonstrate that the total antigen of T. crassiceps has peptides with a high diagnostic potential; therefore, the immunoblot is useful in the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis.

Prevalence of teniasis-cysticercosis complex in a rural area of Matias Barbosa-MG

The taeniosis-cysticercosis complex is an important disease to the public and animal health. The man plays an important role in the life cycle, because he is the unique definitive host. The adult forms of the Taenia solium or Taenia saginata holds in gut, and the larvae forms develops in the muscle of bovine and swine, respectively. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of the taeniosis-cysticercosis complex transmission in rural area of Matias Barbosa – MG, Brazil. Catla and swine lood and human stool samples were collected from 74 farms. Cysticercosis were eniasis were diagnosis serological methods and the teniasis by direct microscopy. Moreover, a questionnaire was 1

Evaluation of a synthetic peptide from the Taenia saginata 18 kDa surface/secreted oncospheral adhesion protein for serological diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis

Bovine cysticercosis is a zoonotic infection widely spread throughout Brazil, creating a burden on hygiene maintenance and the economy. Diagnosis of cysticercosis usually relies on post mortem inspection of carcasses in slaughterhouses. This detection method provides only low sensitivity. Recent advancements have improved the performance of serologic tests, such as ELISA, providing greater sensitivity and specificity. The objective of the current study was to identify and evaluate a synthetic peptide derived from the Taenia saginata 18kDa oncospheric surface protein for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis in ELISA. Test performance of the identified peptide was compared to an ELISA based on a heterologous crude Taenia crassiceps antigen (Tcra), widely used for the sero-diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis. Based on the primary sequence of an in silico structural model of the 18kDa protein, an epitope region designated EP1 was selected (46-WDTKDMAGYGVKKIEV-61). The peptide derived from this region yielded 91.6% (CI=80-96%) sensitivity and 90% (CI=82-95%) specificity when used in an ELISA, whereas the crude antigen yielded 70% (CI=56-8%) sensitivity and 82% (CI=73-89%) specificity. Thus, we conclude that EP1 has higher diagnostic potential for detecting bovine cysticercosis than the crude antigen Tcra.

Herd-level seroprevalence and associated risk factors for bovine cysticercosis in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil

This study focused on estimating the herd-level and animal-level prevalences, and identifying risk factors associated with bovine cysticercosis in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. The state was divided into three sampling strata: Sertao, Borborema and Zona da Mata/Agreste. For each sampling stratum, herd-level and animal-level prevalences were estimated by a two-stage sampling survey. First, a pre-established number of herds (primary sampling units) were randomly selected; second, within each herd a pre-established number of cows aged ≥24months were systematically selected (secondary sampling units). Ten animals were sampled in herds with up to 99 cows aged over 24 months; 15 animals were sampled in herds with 100 or more cows aged over 24 months; and all animals were sampled in those with up to 10 cows aged over 24 months. In total, 2382 animals were sampled from 474 herds. Serological diagnosis was initially performed by the indirect ELISA, and positive sera were confirmed by immunoblot. A herd was deemed positive if it included at least one positive animal in herds of up to 29 females, and two positive animals in herds with more than 29 females. The herd-level prevalence in the State of Paraíba was 10.8% (95% CI=8.1%-14.1%), 10.3% (95% CI=6.4%-16.1%) in the region of Sertão, 6.9% (95% CI=3.9%-12.1%) in Borborema, and 13.8% (95% CI=9.3%-20.2%) in Agreste/Zona da Mata. The animal-level prevalence was 2.3% (95% CI=1.6%-3.3%) in the State of Paraíba, 1.4% (95% CI=0.8%-2.5%) in Sertão, 3.6% (95% CI=1.7%-7.4%) in Borborema, and 3.2% (95% CI=1.9%-5.4%) in Agreste/Zona da Mata. The risk factors identified were as follows: animal purchasing (OR=2.19) and presence of flooded pastures (OR=1.99). Our findings suggest that bovine cysticercosis herd-level seroprevalence in the State of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil, is high, and support the idea that prevention measures should be applied at herd level and farmers should restrict the access of their cattle to flooded pastures.

Prevalence and transmission of intestinal parasitosis in human beings from Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Intestinal parasites are closely related to basic sanitary conditions, socioeconomic status, level of education, age and hygiene habits of the population; it is a serious Brazilian public health problem. This study aims to identify the prevalence of intestinal parasites in two municipalities of Zona da Mata, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We analyzed the samples using spontaneous sedimentation technique. In Viçosa, collecting data from hygienic and sanitary characteristics was possible by applying a structured questionnaire. The diagnosis revealed 11.2 % intestinal parasites in urban areas and 27.7% in rural areas. In Muriaé, the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 13.85% in urban areas. The majority of parasites found in Viçosa were Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba coli and E. histolytica. Furthermore, in Muriaé we found Strongyloides stercoralis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma sp, Taenia sp, Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli and E. histolytica. These parasites may indicate principally instability in the socio-economic conditions, serving as an important warning for local public health. In both areas, enteroparasitosis is high and it is of great importance to initiate sanitary measures to reduce them.

Main causes of bovine liver condemnation in an abattoir under the Federal Inspection Services in the Zona da Mata of the state of Minas Gerais

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of the main causes for condemnation of bovine liver in an abattoir/cold store under the Federal Inspection Services, located in the Zona da Mata of the state of Minas Gerais, between 2007 and 2013. Study data was collated from forms containing information about the number of cattle slaughtered per month and the causes for liver condemnation at the studied abattoir. During the period under study, 150,752 cattle were slaughtered, and the frequency of liver condemnation varied between 9.38% and 14.09% from year to year. The main pathologies that led to liver condemnation were abscesses, telangiectasis, and fasciolosis, which were responsible for 32.03%, 29.20%, and 21.95% of the condemnations, respectively. The frequency of condemnation because of abscesses and telangiectasis showed a trend of decline, 3.26% and 0.68% per year, respectively. The frequency of condemnation because of fasciolosis, however, showed a trend of increase by 3.40% per year. This study shows the usefulness of post mortem inspection of animal health and production monitoring. Key-words: economic impact; offal; meat inspection, public health