Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes

Prevalence and geospatial distribution of bovine cysticercosis in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

This study focused on estimating the prevalence and evaluating the geospatial distribution of bovine cysticercosis in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. To this, we used data of 6,200,497 animals slaughtered during the years of 2013 and 2014, and from 141 municipalities of the state. The prevalence observed for this period was 0.0873% (95% CI 0.0851-0.0897). Regarding the cysticerci detected, the calcified ones were the most frequent (74.43%). The high odds ratios were observed in animals reared in the Administrative Regions of Sinop, Barra do Garças, Água Boa, Cáceres, Barra do Bugres, Cuiabá, Pontes Lacerda, Rondonópolis, Matupa, São Félix do Araguaia and Lucas do Rio Verde, respectively. Furthermore, the results indicate the existence of a relation between the areas with high cysticercosis prevalence and human population density. We highlight the need of the development of a risk model based on the origin to improve cysticercosis detection in endemic areas.

Prevalência, distribuição espacial e fatores de risco para cisticercose bovina no estado de São Paulo

Ferreira M.M., Revoredo T.B., Ragazzi J.P., Soares V.E., Ferraldo A.S., Lopes W.D.Z. & Mendonca R.P. 2014. (Prevalence, spatial distribution and risk factors for cattle cysticercosis in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.) Prevalencia, distribuicao espacial e fatores de risco para cisticercose bovina no estado de Sao Paulo. Pesquisa Veterina- ria Brasileira 34(12):1181-1185. Curso de Medicina Veterinaria, Faculdade Dr. Francisco Maeda, Rodovia Jeronimo Nunes Macedo Km 1, Ituverava, SP 14500-000, Brazil. E-mail: wdzlopes@hotmail.com This study aimed to determine the prevalence and geographical distribution as well as the factors and areas of risk associated with bovine cysticercosis in the State of Sao Pau- lo. 34.443 cattle, males and females with ages from 18 to 60 months were inspected. The animals were from 97 cities in the state of Sao Paulo and identified and slaughtered in the period October 2010 to August 2011, in a refrigerator located in Ipua - SP, under the super- vision of SIF 1387. The state of Sao Paulo was divided into regional centers, and the data of the municipalities belonging to its core, were grouped according to the Department of Agriculture and Food Supply of Sao Paulo, totaling 13 cores studied. Based on these results, we can conclude that of the 97 cities analyzed, cattle were found positive for the disease in 86. The average prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in the state of Sao Paulo was 4.80 %, while the core inflation Franca and Barretos were the ones with the highest number of ca- ses illness during the analysis period. Moreover, the largest number of cases in these core coincided with the lowest human development index covering education, with the largest acreage of coffee (core Franca) and also as the largest area of cane sugar grown (core Bar- retos) in these locations, which in turn may indicate that the presence of labor, temporary labor in rural areas , combined with socioeconomic/cultural factors might contribute to the spread and establishment of bovine cysticercosis in these areas.

Spatial distribution and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in cattle slaughtered for human consumption in Rondônia, North region, Brazil.

The present study aimed to evaluate Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in cattle slaughtered for human consumption from rural properties in the state of Rondônia, North region, Brazil; the seroprevalence was determined using indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFATs). Additionally, spatial distribution and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis were also analyzed. Of the 1000 cattle serum samples examined, 53 (5.3%) were determined to be seropositive for T. gondii with antibody titers (IgG) ≥64. In regard to results of the studied risk factors (presence of cats, cats with free access to cattle, breeding system, animals gender, consumption of raw milk by humans on the property and cattle abortion in the last 12 months) and the odds ratio (OR) of each of these factors influencing cattle to acquire toxoplasmosis, only animals raised on a feeder/stocker/backgrounder system presented a higher probability of being seropositive for T. gondii (OR≥1, P=0.04) than cattle raised only in a feeder/stocker system. There was no association between the occurrence of reproductive problems and T. gondii seropositivity. Based on results obtained in the Brazilian state of Rondônia, it could be concluded that the presence of cats and their contact with cattle on each property, cattle breeding purpose and cattle abortion in the last 12 months were not considered risk factors for T. gondii infection in cattle. Considering that the presence of T. gondii was detected in animals slaughtered in the state of Rondônia, consuming raw or undercooked meat from seropositive cattle should be considered a route of transmission of T. gondii to humans. However, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis diagnosed in cattle from this state (5.30%) is lower than the prevalence of toxoplasmosis observed in South, Southeast and Center-West regions of Brazil, which may vary between 48.5% and 71.0%. The low prevalence of toxoplasmosis in cattle is highlighted in Rondônia, which is the sixth largest state for cattle slaughtering in Brazil and is responsible for producing 20% of all cattle meat exported by Brazil.

Spatial distribution, prevalence and epidemiological risk factors of cysticercosis in cattle from state of São Paulo, Brazil, slaughtered for human consumption

This present research focused on establishing the prevalence, geospatial distribution and epidemiological risk factors for bovine cysticercosis in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in cattle slaughtered for human comsumption. Data about the inspection of 104,180 bovine carcasses from 215 farms and from 70 municipalities were gathered between January and December of 2012. A cluster analysis was performed in order to correlate some variables: prevalence of bovine cysticercosis, total coffee harvesting area (hectares), orange producing areas (hectares) and Human Development Index. Afterwards, distribution maps were created in order to help the results interpretation. An average prevalence of 2.9% was established in the state of São Paulo during the studied period. The Administrative regions of São José do Rio Preto and Campinas had higher risk for cysticercosis (OR >1 and 95% CI >1). The cluster analysis showed a grouping (G1 cluster) of the variables: prevalence of bovine cysticercosis, total area of sugar cane harvested, total area of orange harvested and total area of coffee harvested. This agrroupment allows us to infer that cyticercosis cases in this region are correlated with those variables distribution. Such aspects indicate that the presence of temporary rural workers and other socioeconomic and cultural features in each region can contribute to bovine cysticercosis dissemination in some areas.

Spatial analysis of bovine cysticercosis in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil — The needs of interventions in animal and human populations

The Taenia saginata-cysticercosis complex is an important zoonosis for public health and an important cause of economical losses for beef supply chain in developing and industrialized countries. Despite some risk factors for high-occurrence areas have already been described, further studies are required to better understand its global epidemiology. So, this study focused on establishing the prevalence, spatial distribution and environmental and human population aspects correlated with bovine cysticercosis prevalence in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. To this, we used data of 7,415,998 animals slaughtered from all 79 municipalities located in this state. Cysticercosis prevalence showed spatial distribution dependence (Moran Index=0.375, p=0.01) and some areas presented higher risk. Positive correlations of bovine cysticercosis prevalence with human population density (R=0.5712, p=3.85 e-08) and rainfall index (R=0.631, p=0.03) were observed. A negative correlation (R=-0.4637, p=2.096 e-05) with cattle population size was also established. These results highlight the importance of adopting sanitary measures to prevent environment contamination, besides other prophylactic measures like the treatment of human patients in order to reduce the Taenia saginata-cysticercosis complex occurrence.

The effectiveness of a fixed-dose combination pour-on formulation of 1.25% fipronil and 2.5% fluazuron against economically important ectoparasites and associated pharmacokinetics in cattle

The present work consisted of eight studies to evaluate the ectoparasiticidal spectrum and determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of a pour-on combination of fipronil 1.25mg/kg+fluazuron 2.5mg/kg for cattle against Rhipicephalus microplus, Haematobia irritans and the larvae of Dermatobia hominis and Cochliomyia hominivorax. The analysis fipronil and fluazuron were performed by liquid chromatography using a mass detector for the detection and quantification of analytes (LC-MS/MS). Additionally, in two of these studies, the animals were artificially infested with R. microplus ticks (stall tests), and the efficacy of this formulation was compared with that of two other standalone pour-on formulations of fipronil 1.0mg/kg and fluazuron 2.5mg/kg. In the two stall studies, 28 calves were artificially infested with 5000 R. microplus (different strains), and daily collections of all of the engorged female ticks that detached from each calf were performed until 60 and 100days post-treatment (dpt). For the R. microplus field trials, 20 bovines were selected by counting the semi-engorged females, and the therapeutic and residual efficacy was evaluated by taking tick counts at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56dpt. Forty bovines that were naturally infested with Dermatobia hominis larvae were selected, and the numbers of larvae were counted by visual and tactile inspection on 3, 7, 14, 28, 35, 42 and 49dpt. To address the efficacy on C. hominivorax larvae, two circular skin incisions (one on each side of the body) measuring approximately 4cm in diameter each were made in 12 crossbred calves, and the natural exposure of the lesions to C. hominivorax infestations was then allowed. The incisions from the 12 animals were carefully examined daily from 1 to 10dpt. Based on the PK results obtained for this pour-on combination containing fipronil 1.25mg/kg+fluazuron 2.5mg/kg, the maximum concentrations (Cmax) and the half-lives (T1/2) of these two active ingredients were detected on days 2, 5/6 and 19 (±2)/24, 4 (±3.5) days for fipronil and fluazuron, respectively. Furthermore, the combination showed higher therapeutic and residual efficacy against R. microplus (P≤0.05) when compared with commercial standalone formulations that were administered separately. A high efficacy for this new combination was also found against C. hominivorax and D. hominis larvae (efficacy≥99%). This studys results show that the combination of these two active ingredients, as opposed to their separate use, could represent a tool for extending the life cycle of these two molecules against cattle ectoparasites, especially R. microplus. Further studies would be desirable to further confirm this.