Luiza da Gama Osório

Aspergillosis: a limiting factor during recovery of captive magellanic penguins

The article describes the epidemiology, macroscopic and histological lesions as well as the isolation of Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus from Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) during recovery in the Center for Recovery of Marine Animals (CRAM - 32oS/52oW), over a period of two years. From January 2004 to December 2005 the Center received 52 Magellanic penguins, and 23% (12/52) died. Necropsies were performed and tissue samples were collected for histological and microbiological examination. From 12 dead animals, aspergillosis was confirmed in five animals, corresponding to 42% of the mortality. Granulomatous nodules were observed mainly on air sacs and lungs. Histologically, septate and branching hyphae, measuring 3-5 µm and PAS positive were found. Two of these cases were caused by A. fumigatus, two other by A. flavus, and in one the diagnostic was established by macroscopic lesions observed in the necropsy without sample collection for fungal isolation and identification. The five aspergillosis cases occurred in the first year of the study, when a disinfection program was not yet established in the CRAM. This paper points out the importance of aspergillosis in the rehabilitation process of captive penguins, and emphasize the necessity of an environmental disinfection on the aspergillosis prevention, mycosis that caused a high rate of mortality of the seabirds found on the Brazilian coast and admitted in the CRAM.

Eficácia da clorexidina-cetrimida na desinfecção ambiental contra Aspergillus spp.

The study evaluated the in loco activity of chlorexidine-cetrimide for environmental control of Aspergillus spp. considering the climatic influence and population variations, in a recuperation center of marine animals. Samples of air were collected throughout two years by the sediment method, and the disinfection program was established in the second year. Data collected during the two years were statistically compared by Epinfo 8.0. program. It was demonstrated that both population and climate had no influence on the fungal isolation, and the disinfection program with chlorexidine-cetrimide was considered effective in the reduction of conidia Aspergillus concentration indoor.

PROPOLIS: A NATURAL PRODUCT AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR DISINFECTION OF EMBRYONATED EGGS FOR INCUBATION

During the cooling process of embryonated eggs, there is a natural air flux from the surface to the inner part of the eggs, carrying contaminants such as bacteria and fungi through the shells pores, infecting embryos and resulting in the inability to hatch or poor chick quality. Formaldehyde, a toxic product, is still the most used disinfectant for embryonated eggs in the aviculture industry. In order to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the green propolis ethanolic extract as an alternative to formaldehyde, 140 hatching eggs from laying hens were collected and submitted to disinfection with five different treatments: T1 - without disinfection; T2 - formaldehyde fumigated eggs; T3, T4 and T5 disinfection by immersion in propolis solution in the concentrations of 2,400 µg, 240 µg and 24 µg, respectively. The contamination levels by total mesophiles and fungi of the egg shells (Aspergillus sp. and other moulds) after disinfection with propolis were lower than when compared to the control without disinfection. In comparison with formaldehyde, the 240 µg and 24 µg propolis concentrations did not differ regarding antibacterial activity, but for antifungal activity the 2,400 µg and 240 µg concentrations were more efficient. The 2,400 µg and 240 µg propolis treatments presented a hatching rate of 94.1%, compared to only 84.6% for the formaldehyde treatment. The green propolis ethanolic extract presented antibacterial and antifungal activities in embryonated eggs showing that it can be a new natural disinfectant product substituting formaldehyde.

TERAPÊUTICA DA ESPOROTRICOSE: REVISÃO

porotrichosis is considered an emerging mycosis with public health importance, especially due to frequent zoonotic reports involving domestic cats. Animal and human cases of this mycosis are increasing, as well as refractory case reports with resistance to the usual therapy, especially in feline sporotrichosis. This paper describes and discusses the most used therapeutic options, besides mentioning available alternatives for the treatment of this mycosis. The results showed that itraconazole is the first choice drug, especially in domestic cats, with potassium iodide, terbinafine and ketoconazole as alternative treatments. The study highlights the use of amphotericin B in resistant cases, as well as describes surgical interventions and thermotherapy in cases of therapeutic failure and when lesions were localized. Therapeutic alternatives were also discussed. With these results the study concludes that among the therapies used for sporotrichosis in animals, itraconazole, even with the increasing reports of therapeutic failures, remains the drug of first choice, especially in cases of mycosis in felines. The other options are used in most severe cases of mycosis or in situations where itraconazole is not effective against the agent.

Colisepticemia em Pinguim-de-Magalhães (Spheniscus Magellanicus) com bumblefoot: Relato de caso

Pododrematite, or bumblefoot, is a limb condition limiting the rehabilitation of penguins. The study reports a case of sepsis by Escherichia coli in a Magellanic penguin with grade III pododermatitis, developed during a period of captivity for rehabilitation. The animal died due to sudden death, with necroscopic examination being extensive lesions on foot pad, as well as tissue changes in lungs, air sacs and liver, from which there was isolation of E. coli. Histopathological examination shows the presence of bacteria in these tissues, as well as intravascular bacterial colonies in the epidermis of one of the foot pad. Keyword: Colibacilosis, pododermatitis, penguin Sepsis por Escherichia coli en pinguino (Spheniscus Magellanicus) con bumblefoot: Reporte de un caso RESUMEN. Pododermatitis, o bumblefoot, es una afección podal limitante a la rehabilitación de los pingüinos. El estudio relata un caso de sepsis por Escherichia coli en un pingüino de Magallanes con pododermatitis grado III, desarrollada durante período de cautiverio para rehabilitación. Se produjo una muerte súbita, observándose al examen necroscópico extensas lesiones en las almohadillas de la pata, además de alteraciones en los pulmones, bolsas aéreas e hígado, de donde hubo aislamiento de E. coli. El examen histopatológico mostró la presencia de bacterias en estos tejidos, así como colonias bacterianas intravasculares en la epidermis de una de las almohadillas Palabras clave: Colibacilosis, pododermatitis, pinguino