Maria A. M. Schenk

Avaliação clínico-laboratorial de bovinos Nelore infectados experimentalmente com Trypanosoma vivax

In order to evaluate the clinical-laboratorial alterations, six Nellore calves were inoculated with 107 Trypanosoma vivax isolated from Pocone region, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The animals were evaluated daily for rectal temperature, packed cell volume (PCV), parasitemia, antibody production, color of mucous membranes, behavior and appetite. Blood and serum samples for biochemical evaluation for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AF), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), cholesterol, urea, creatinine, creatine kinase (CK), calcium, phosphorus and proteinogram were collected on days 4, 8, 12, 16, 23 and 30 post inoculation (DPI). During the following 6 months rectal temperature, PCV and parasitemia were evaluated weekly. T. vivax was evidenced from 1 DPI in all calves and persisted until day 30 in five of six animals. A remarkable decrease (p<0.05) of PCV mean value (25%) was observed on 10 DPI. The animals presented no alterations in their clinical or serum biochemical state during the trial. Seroconversion took place 6 and 8 DPI, and all the animals remained seropositive during the 30 days of experiment. In all the experimental animals the occurrence of T. vivax infection was verified, characterized by the increase of corporal temperature, presence of the blood protozoa and reduction of the globular volume, without alterations in the other variables analyzed. Nellore calves, when experimentally inoculated with T. vivax, are able to establish a balance between host-parasite relationship.

Antigenic characterization of Brazilian isolates of Anaplasma marginale

Antigenic characterization of Anaplasma marginale isolates, by identifying conserved and variable epitopes of major surface proteins (MSP), is an important tool for vaccine development against this rickettsia. The B cell epitopes of A. marginale isolates from three microregions of the State of Pernambuco and one from the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were characterized by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) and Western blot (WB) with 15 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The epitope recognized by MAb ANA22B1 (MSP-1a) was conserved by IFAT and WB (73-81 kDa). MSP-2 epitopes recognized by MAbs ANAO58A2 and ANAO70A2 were conserved by IFAT, while ANAO50A2 and ANA66A2 epitopes were polymorphic; in the WB, the MAbs ANAO50A2 and ANAO70A2 identified bands of 45 kDa only in the Pernambuco-Mata isolate. None of the isolates reacted with MAb ANAR75C2 (MSP-3). The MSP-4 epitope recognized by MAb ANAR76A1 was conserved by IFAT, as well as the MSP-5 epitope recognized by MAb ANAF16C1 by IFAT and WB (16 kDa). The MAbs ANAR17A6, ANAR83B3, ANAR94C1, ANAO24D5 and ANAR19A6 identified conserved epitopes by IFAT. MSP-1, MSP-2 and MSP-4, which previously showed partial protection in experimental trials, are also potential immunogens to be employed in Brazil, due to the B cell epitope conservation.

Genetic and antigenic analysis of Babesia bigemina isolates from five geographical regions of Brazil

A molecular epidemiological study was performed with Babesia bigemina isolates from five geographical regions of Brazil. The genetic analysis was done with random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), repetitive extragenic palindromic elements-polymerase chain reaction (REP-PCR) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) that showed genetic polymorphism between these isolates and generated fingerprinting. In RAPD, ILO872 and ILO876 primers were able to detect at least one fingerprinting for each B. bigemina isolate. The amplification of B. bigemina DNA fragments by REP-PCR and ERIC-PCR gave evidence for the presence in this haemoprotozoan of the sequences described previously in microorganisms of the bacterial kingdom. For the first time it was demonstrated that both techniques can be used for genetic analysis of a protozoan parasite, although the ERIC-PCR was more discriminatory than REP-PCR. The dendogram with similarity coefficient among isolates showed two clusters and one subcluster. The Northeastern and Mid-Western isolates showed the greatest genetic diversity, while the Southeastern and Southern isolates were the closest. The antigenic analysis was done through indirect fluorescent antibody technique and Western blotting using a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes on the merozoite membrane surface, rhoptries and membrane of infected erythrocytes. As expected, the merozoite variable surface antigens, major surface antigen (MSA)-1 and MSA-2 showed antigenic diversity. However, B cell epitopes on rhoptries and infected erythrocytes were conserved among all isolates studied. In this study it was possible to identify variable and conserved antigens, which had already been described as potential immunogens. Considering that an attenuated Babesia clone used as immunogen selected populations capable of evading the immunity induced by this vaccine, it is necessary to evaluate more deeply the cross-protection conferred by genetically more distant Brazilian B. bigemina isolates and make an evaluation of the polymorphism degree of variable antigens such as MSA-1 and MSA-2.

Avaliação clínica e hematológica em bezerros Nelore infectados experimentalmente com isolados de Babesia bigemina das regiões Sudeste, Nordeste e Norte do Brasil

ABSTRACT..- Mendonca C.L., Vieira D., Kohayagawa A., Schenk M.A.M., Madruga C.R. & AfonsoJ.A.B. 2003. [Clinical and hematological evaluation of Nelore calves experimentally infectedwith isolates of Babesia bigemina from the Southeastern, Northeastern and Northernregions of Brazil.regions of Brazil.] Avaliacao clinica e hematologica em bezerros Nelore infectadosexperimentalmente com isolados de Babesia bigemina das regioes Sudeste, Nordeste e Nortedo Brasil. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 23(1):00-00. Clinica de Bovinos, Campus Garanhuns,Univ. Fed. Rural de Pernambuco, Cx. Postal 152, Garanhuns, PE 55292-901, Brazil.A comparative study was made regarding the clinical and hematological alterations causedby isolates of Babesia bigemina from southeastern, northeastern and northern Brazil inexperimentally infected Nelore calves. Eighteen calves between 7 and 9 months of age, withoutantibodies against Babesia sp and raised free from ticks, were used. Three animals werepreviously inoculated with 2.0x10

A conglutination test for rapid detection of antibodies against Babesia bigemina

A rapid conglutination test (RCT) with performance comparable to the indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) was developed to detect antibodies against Babesia bigemina (B. bigemina-RCT). The B. bigemina-RCT is a sensitive, specific, economical, and rapidly performed serological test suitable for field application or minimally equipped laboratories. This test had a sensitivity of 90.9%, and specificity of 97.6%, compared to IFAT, which showed for the same parameters respectively, 98.3% and 99.7%. The early detection of anti- B. bigemina immunoglobulins by RCT in experimental infections was nearly parallel to that of IFAT. Cross reactions were observed with sera from calves experimentally infected with Babesia bovis (1.8%) and with Anaplasma marginale (1.2%). RCT antigen prepared with non parasitized erythrocytes (negative antigen) showed 1.5%, 3.5% and 2.2% of positive reactions with sera from animals experimentally infected with B. bigemina, B. bovis and A. marginale. However, none of the sera from animals of endemic areas for babesia infection resulted in positive reactions with the negative antigen. Considering these results and shelf life over six months, the B. bigemina-RCT could be used for epidemiological surveys and evaluation of control measures against this species of Babesia.