Lúcia H. N. Weiss

Aeromonas Hydrophila Isolated from Cases of Bovine Seminal Vesiculitis in South Brazil

Preliminary studies on pathologic conditions in the testis, epididymis, and the accessory sex glands of cattle have demonstrated that vesiculitis is the most common inflammatory condition in the genitals of Danish bulls.5 Occasionally, this condition has an acute onset that produces clinical signs and then becomes a chronic disease.18 Four-polled Hereford bulls approximatedly 1 year of age (1–2 years old) from a farm in southern Brazil were examined by rectal palpation. During this procedure, enlargement of the seminal vesicles was detected. The animals were slaughtered, and samples were collected for bacteriologic and histopathologic examination. Macroscopically, the seminal vesicles were enlarged and firm and contained foci of yellow exudate. The histopathologic examination revealed interstitial seminal vesiculitis with areas of lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration surrounding alveoli containing suppurative exudate. Varying degrees of fibrosis were found in the glands. Samples of a selected group of organs were available for sectioning. For bacteriologic examination, fragments of seminal vesicles were inoculated asseptically onto 5% (w/v) sheep blood agar and incubated aerobically at 37 C for 24–48 hours. Microorganisms from all seminal vesicles were isolated in pure culture. The colonies were beta-hemolytic, smooth, small, and white and had characteristics of the genus Aeromonas (gram-negative rods, oxidase positive, fermentative metabolism, and resistant to vibriostatic agent 2,4,diamino6,7-diisopropylpteridine, O/129, 150 mg). According to the biochemical profile the Aeromonas isolates were classified as Aeromonas hydrophila (Table 1).14 There have been no previous reports of seminal vesiculitis in bulls associated with Aeromonas spp. However, in a previous report of the isolation of A. hydrophila from feces of healthy cattle, this species was suggested as an occasional host to Aeromonas.1 Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from the genital tract of cows was associated with abortion.28 Nonetheless, bovine seminal vesiculitis associated with other microrganisms such as Actinomyces pyogenes,4,5,8 Escherichia coli,3 Brucella abortus,24 Mycoplasma bovigenitalium,2,13 Haemophilus somnus,12 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa4 have also been described. Although, some authors consider it unlikely that any bac-

Rhodococcus equi: sorologia e avaliação da transferência passiva de anticorpos para potros

Two equine populations were evaluated in relation to serology and passive antibodies against Rhodococcus equi. The first population had 59 foals with no history of mare vaccination against Rhodococcus equi. The foals sera samples and the mare colostrum were examined with the agar gel immunodiffusion test. Antibodies were detected in 32.2% of the foals and also 30.5% (18/59) of colostrum samples examined. However, no passive antibody transfer was observed. The second population, 12 pregnant mares were vaccinated against Rhodococcus equi. Before the vaccination, all mares were seronegative. After vaccination, 91.6% (11/12) of the vaccinated mares were positive on the serologic test. In mare colostrum and foals sera, positive results were 75% (9/12) and 66.7% (8/12) respectively. Passive antibody transmission was observed in the foals and there was a relationship with ingestion of positive colostrum.

Qualidade Microbiológica de areias recreacionais de creches e praças públicas de Santa Maria - RS

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo investigar a qualidade microbiologica de areias recreacionais na cidade de Santa Maria - RS e verificar o perfil de sensibilidade de Escherichia coli isoladas dessas areias. Foram analisadas amostras da areia de 14 creches e 13 pracas publicas da cidade de Santa Maria. A quantificacao dos microorganismos mesofilos aerobios (bacterias heterotroficas) foi feita atraves da contagem do numero de unidades formadoras de colonias por grama de areia (UFC/g). A contagem de coliformes totais e fecais foi feita pelo metodo do Numero Mais Provavel (NMP). A confirmacao da presenca de Escherichia coli foi realizada a partir do crescimento de coliformes fecais no caldo EC e confirmada pelo teste IMViC. Para realizacao do teste de sensibilidade a antimicrobianos foi utilizado o metodo de difusao em agar Muller-Hinton, de acordo com Kirby-Bauer. Os resultados mostraram elevada contagem de bacterias heterotroficas, associada a presenca de coliformes totais e fecais em todas as amostras. Em apenas uma amostra nao foi confirmada a presenca de E. coli . As amostras de E. coli foram sensiveis a maioria dos antimicrobianos. Pelos resultados obtidos demonstrou-se a contaminacao das areias com bacterias patogenicas e seu consequente risco a saude da populacao que, direta ou indiretamente, entrar em contato com esta areia. Nao foi encontrada nenhuma amostra de E. coli multirresistente aos antimicrobianos avaliados.