Tiago Marques dos Santos

Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Brazilian dogs by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in dogs from Brazil in the municipalities of Seropédica and Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro state, by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using SYBR Green to detect the amplification. Of 253 samples, 18 (7.11%) were positive, with a threshold cycle (Ct) ranging from 31 to 35 cycles. The PCR product from a positive sample was cloned and sequenced. The sequence obtained demonstrated 100% identity with other A. phagocytophilum sequences published in the GenBank database. The analytical sensitivity of RT-PCR using SYBR Green system was able to detect 3 plasmid copies when defined numbers of plasmid copies containing 122 base pairs from the msp2 gene were used. The assay was considered specific when DNA from bacteria (Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia canis, Neorickettsia risticii, Rickettsia rickettsii) closely related to A. phagocytophilum was placed in the reaction. These results demonstrate that the canine granulocytic anaplasmosis agent is present in regions in which dogs could be a source of infection for tick vectors. The current study reports the detection of A. phagocytophilum, a zoonotic agent responsible for Human granulocytic anaplasmosis, in Brazilian dogs.

Factors associated to Theileria equi in equids of two microregions from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Serum samples from 714 equids of Itaguaí and Serrana microregions, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test (titer 1:80) for Theileria equi. The prevalence in the microregions and factors associated with seropositivity were evaluated and the prevalence ratio (PR) calculated. The overall prevalence of T. equi infection was 81.09% (n = 579), with higher prevalence (p < 0.05) in the Itaguaí (85.43%) when compared to Serrana microregion (76.92%). The geographic area, altitude, farming condition and area of origin of equids were associated (p < 0.05) with seropositivity for T. equi. Equids reared in the Itaguaí microregion (PR = 1.11, p = 0.003) and at altitudes below 500 m (PR = 1.10; p = 0,014) were more likely to be seropositive for T. equi. Furthermore, when equids were born in the farm (PR = 1.10, p = 0.008) and reared with poor farming conditions (PR = 1.13, p = 0.018) they were more likely to be exposed to T. equi. The main ticks found on equids were Amblyomma cajennense and Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens. The microregions studied are endemic areas for equine theileriosis and there exists enzootic stability for T. equi. Only factors related to the collection area of serum samples influenced the seropositivity of equids for T. equi in that region.

Capacidade tamponante, pH e consistência das fezes em equinos submetidos à sobrecarga dietética com amido

This study aimed to evaluate buffer capacity (BC), pH and faeces consistency of horses submitted to dietetic starch overload. Six crossbreed mature horses were submitted to starch overload with gastric infusion of 17.6g starch kg-1 body weight through nasogastric tube. Faecal samples were collected, before and at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 and 36 hours post-overload, and immediately submitted to evaluation of pH, BC and consistency. The pH data were compared by t student test (P 0.05), with means values varying from 6.09 to 4.46. Based on the model pH = 6.083 - 0.003t - 0.001t2 (R2 = 0.634), faecal pH decreased 0.004 per hour, 0.028 to each four hours and 1.404 at 36 hours after overload, respectively. As pH, faeces BC decreased (P<0.05) in function of the time after overload. Positive relationship was observed (r = 0.65; P<0.0001) between pH and BC of faeces. All horses presented normal consistency faeces (score 3) until eight hours after overload, following by reduction (P<0.05) up to 36 hours. Results demonstrated that starch overload reduce faecal consistency, buffer capacity and pH in horses faeces.

Fatores de risco associados à frequência de anticorpos contra Babesia bovis e B. bigemina em bovinos da região sul de Moçambique

The study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with the frequency of IgG antibodies against Babesia bovis and B. bigemina in cattle in southern Mozambique. Eight hundred and nine serum samples were collected from cattle in three provinces namely Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane, and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) to assess the humoral immune response towards B. bovis and B. bigemina. The chi-square test at 5% significance was used to determine whether there was an association between gender, age and geographic origin of seropositive animals. The overall prevalence was 78.8% (548/695) for B. bovis and 76.0% (528/695) for B. bigemina. The origin of the animals showed a significant association (p 0.05). Maputo province had the highest rate of positive animals, with 93.7% (118/126) for B. bovis and 97.6% (123/126) for B. bigemina. In Gaza province 77.3% (321/415) of the animals were positive for B. bovis and 67.5% (280/415) for B. bigemina, while in the province of Inhambane the levels of seropositivity were 70.8% (109/154) and 81.2% (125/154) for B. bovis and B. bigemina respectively. In the present study, the frequency of cattle positive for B. bovis and B. bigemina was shown to increase among older age groups, suggesting that infection and re-infection persisted even after the primary infection. Thus, this region is considered to be in a state of enzootic stability with regards to B. bovis and B. bigemina.

Performance of eventing horses fed high fat diet

Objetivou-se avaliar os parâmetros fisiologicos, hematologicos e bioquimicos de equinos de concurso completo de equitacao consumindo dieta contendo oleo de soja e submetidos a testes de esforco fisico. Foram utilizados 12 equinos em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com duas dietas e seis repeticoes. As dietas utilizadas foram: dieta sem inclusao de oleo de soja (controle); dieta com inclusao de 10% de oleo de soja. O ensaio teve duracao de 82 dias e incluiu tres testes de esforco fisico: ao inicio, no 60o e no 82o dia. Em cada teste, foram realizadas cinco coletas de dados: antes do teste com os animais em repouso; imediatamente apos o teste; e 10, 20 e 120 minutos apos os testes. Foram avaliadas a temperatura corporal e a frequencia cardiaca e realizadas coletas de amostras de sangue para analises hematologicas e bioquimicas. Os valores medios dos parâmetros fisiologicos, hematologicos e bioquimicos foram submetidos a analise nao-parametrica. Somente ao longo do tempo de consumo das dietas, a inclusao do oleo de soja somente alterou a concentracao de γ-glutamil transferase (GGT) e creatinina. O tempo de treinamento fisico tem efeito no condicionamento dos equinos, que melhora com a reducao da concentracao de lactato, e na concentracao de glicose, que aumentou no teste de esforco fisico.

Passage kinetics of digesta in horses fed with coastcross hay ground to different degrees

This study was conducted to evaluate the kinetics, physicochemical characteristics and particle size of digesta in the right ventral colon (RVC) of horses fed coastcross hay ground to different degrees. Four horses fitted with cannulae in the RVC were used and were fed the following forms of hay: long, chopped, ground to 5 mm and ground to 3 mm. A Latin Square 4x4 study design was used. Each experimental period included 10 days for diet adaptation, four days for feces collection and one day for digesta collection. The kinetics of the particulate and solute phases of digesta were evaluated based on the mean retention time (MRT), passage rate (k) and transit time (TT) using two external markers: Cr-NDF and Co-EDTA. The TT of solid phase digesta was 3 hours longer (P 0.05) in k or MRT in either the liquid or solid phase of digesta as a function of the different degrees of hay grinding. However, the liquid phase of digesta presented a higher k than the solid phase, with values of 3.28 and 2.73 h-1 being obtained, respectively. The smallest particle size and the lowest neutral detergent fiber contents in colon digesta were observed when hay ground to 3 mm was offered, leading to values of 0.51 mm and 53.46%, respectively. Grinding the hay increased the transit time of the liquid phase in the digestive tract of the horses, whereas no change in the kinetics of the solid phase digesta was observed. The grinding of hay reduced the NDF and the average particle size in the right ventral colon.

In situ caecal degradation of roughages in horses

Objetivou-se avaliar a degradacao da materia seca (MS), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e proteina bruta de alimentos volumosos pela tecnica da digestao cecal in situ em equinos. Avaliaram-se as forrageiras: feno de alfafa (Medicago sativa), amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo), desmodio (Desmodium ovalifolium), estilosantes (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirao), guandu (Cajanus cajan), macrotiloma (Macrotyloma axillare) e feno de coastcross (Cynodon dactylon cv. coastcross). O ensaio teve duracao de 35 dias e foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com sete alimentos e tres repeticoes. Utilizou-se uma egua fistulada no ceco, alimentada com dieta composta por feno de coastcross (80%) e concentrado (20%), fornecida quatro vezes ao dia em quantidade equivalente a 2% do peso vivo. No ceco, foram inseridos 3 a 4 sacos de nailon de porosidade 45 μ de 6,5 × 20 cm, contendo 5,2 g de MS/saco, nos tempos de 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 e 48 horas de incubacao. Os parâmetros de degradacao da MS de todos os volumosos foram significativos. Nao houve ajuste no modelo de degradacao da PB e FDN do guandu. O amendoim, estilosantes e macrotiloma apresentaram maior fracao potencialmente degradavel da MS, com valores de 53, 46,5 e 40%, respectivamente, e os maiores valores da fracao soluvel de 20, 21, 28,6%, alem de elevadas taxas de degradacao (10,36, 20,26 e 14,8%h-1). Nestes alimentos, tambem foram observadas as maiores taxas de degradacao da FDN (9,1 e 11,3, 11,2%h-1), das fracoes potencialmente degradaveis (55, 51,8 e 47,2%) e as mais altas taxas de degradacao da PB em 48 horas de incubacao (87, 95, 94,8%, respectivamente). O amendoim forrageiro, o estilosantes e o macrotiloma apresentam potencial de uso nas dietas para equinos.

Estudo comparativo de três métodos de diagnóstico para detecção de anticorpos anti-Theileria equi em eqüinos de áreas endêmicas do estado do Rio de Janeiro

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a reacao de imunofluorescencia indireta (RIFI), ensaio imunoenzimatico (ELISA) e a reacao de fixacao do complemento (RFC) no diagnostico de Theileria equi em amostras de soro de 79 equinos na Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropedica, RJ, Brasil. Houve reacao positiva para Theileria equi em 74,7, 75,9 e 60,8% das amostras testadas pela RIFI, ELISA e RFC, respectivamente. Observou-se discrepância em 16,45% (n=13) das amostras de soro testadas pelo ELISA indireto e RIFI. Quando comparado a RIFI e a RFC, a discrepância observada entre os soros testados foi de 36,70% (n=29). O teste ELISA indireto e a RFC apresentaram discordância em 37,97% (n=30) das amostras de soros. Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que a melhor alternativa para o diagnostico sorologico de T. equi em equinos portadores e a associacao dos testes de RIFI e ELISA indireto, especialmente para a realizacao de estudos soroepidemiologicos.

Avaliação de dietas para eqüinos de uso militar em atividade física moderada

This study aims to evaluate diets for military horses in moderate activity. This experiment was conducted at Cavalry School of Brazilian Army where diets for horses of Ceremonial Squadron was evaluated. Diets were composed by commercial concentrate, Coast-cross grass hay and hydroponic oat. An performance trial in an randomized block design with three blocks (age of animals) and three treatments (experimental diets) were used. Diet I, fifteen horses fed diets composed by commercial concentrate with alfalfa hay into the pellets; Diet II, fifteen animals fed diets composed by commercial concentrate pellets; Diet III, fourteen animals fed diets composed by commercial concentrate pellets plus 3.0 kg hydroponic oat. Three kilograms of Coast-cross grass hay were added in all diets. At the end of this trial, a digestion trial was carried, in a complete randomized design, with three treatments (diets) and four replications (animals) to evaluate digestibility nutrients of diets, according total feces collection method. Values were submitted by variance analysis and means compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Animals fed experimental diets maintained body weight and corporal score without any change according to nutrients contents in the diets. The coefficients digestibility of nutrients were changed in function of the diets and experimental diet composed by commercial concentrate with alfalfa hay into the pellets were more digestible. Intake of digestible energy and protein were adequate to military horses in moderate activity. Intake of dietetic fiber as NDF and ADF were adequate to minimum recommendations for horses.

Levantamento epidemiológico de Neorickettsia risticii em equídeos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Roier E.C.R., Costa R.L., Pires M.S., Vilela J.A.R., Santos T.M., Santos H.A., Baldani C.D. & Massard C.L. 2016. Epidemiological survey of Neorickettsia risticii in equids from the State of Rio de Janeiro. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36(10):939-946. Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR-465 Km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil. E-mail: carlosmassard@ufrrj.br Equine neorickettsiosis (EN), also known as Potomac Horse Fever, is a non-contagious disease caused by the bacterium Neorickettsia risticii of the Anaplasmataceae family. The objectives of this study were to detect the presence of anti-N. risticii antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and of its DNA by qPCR in equids at high and low altitude regions in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to identify factors associated with seropositive equids by multiple logistic regression analysis. The frequency of anti-N. risticii antibodies was 16.05% (n=113/704). The animal age and breeding region were the factors that influenced the seropositivity rate for N. risticii in the equids (p<0.05). Equids from the lowland region had higher seropositivity (p<0.05; OR=5.87) compared to those of the mountain region. The presence of snails on the farm was a factor associated with this result (p<0.05; OR=2.88). In the lowland region, age of the animal and site of breeding were protective factors for the detection of antibodies anti-N. risticii in equids, with lower frequency of seropositivity in younger animals (p<0.05; OR=0.06) and in animals raised in dry areas (p<0.05; OR=0.22). The presence of the target DNA of N. risticii by qPCR was not observed in any of the samples tested. The existence of seropositive equids for N. risticii demonstrates a possible circulation of this agent in the studied area, and that the age related characteristics and equids breeding region are important factors regarding seropositivity in the State of Rio de Janeiro.