Evidence of leptospiral exposure in neotropical primates rescued from illegal trade and a Zoo in Bahia, Brazil / Indícios de exposição a leptospiras em primatas neotropicais resgatados do comércio ilegal e de um Zoológico da Bahia

Few studies have compared the seroprevalence of antileptospiral agglutinins with the demonstration of urinary shedding of leptospires or evidence of active infection in the bloodstreams of non-human primates. The study population consists of 58 animals, including d 42 monkeys from the Zoological Park of Salvador (Parque Zoobotânico Getúlio Vargas), Bahia, Brazil. The study also evaluated 16 primates (Cebus sp.) rescued from illegal trade that were housed in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Salvador (CETAS), Bahia, Brazil. The seroprevalence of antileptospiral antibodies was low (2%) in the animals from the Zoo. A higher rate (31%) was observed among the animals that were rescued from illegal trade in the state of Bahia. Even if all the blood and urine samples were negative for leptospiral DNA fragments, the high frequency of serological evidence of exposure suggests a potential risk of leptospirosis transmission when keeping these animals as pets.(AU)

Poucos estudos compararam a soroprevalência de aglutininas antileptospira com a demonstração de excreção urinária de leptospiras ou evidência de infecção ativa em primatas não humanos. A população estudada consistiu em 58 animais, sendo 42 primatas do Parque Zoobotânico Getúlio Vargas, Bahia, Brasil. O estudo avaliou ainda 16 primatas (Cebus sp.) resgatados do tráfico ilegal e abrigados no Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres Chico Mendes, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. A soroprevalência de anticorpos antileptospira foi baixa (2%) nos animais do Zoológico. Uma taxa mais elevada (31%) foi observada nos animais resgatados do tráfico ilegal. Mesmo que todas as amostras de sangue e urina tenham sido negativas para DNA de leptospiras, a alta frequência de evidência de exposição nos animais de origem selvagem indicam o risco potencial da adoção de primatas como animais de estimação.(AU)

Tear production, intraocular pressure and conjunctival microbiota, cytology and histology of New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) / Produção lacrimal, pressão intraocular, microbiota, citologia e histologia conjuntival de coelhos Nova Zelândia

The purpose of this study was to establish reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). A total of 22 adult male rabbits were used. The ophthalmic tests included evaluation of tear production with Schirmer tear test 1(STT1) and Endodontic absorbent paper point tear test (EAPPTT) using two different commercial brand materials. Applanation tonometry, Culture of the conjunctival bacterial flora, , conjunctival cytology and conjunctival histology were also performed. Mean (±SD) for STT1, EAPPTTa, EAPPTTb and IOP was 7.27±2.51mm/min, 12.43±1.69mm/min, 15.24±2.07mm/min, 12.89±2.80mm Hg, respectively. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. were predominant. The cytological evaluation revealed the presence columnar epithelial cells, superficial squamous keratinized cells, lymphocytes, heterophils, red blood cells, mucus and bacteria. The histological analysis revealed a stratified epithelium, characterized by the presence of columnar epithelial cells with a large number of goblet cells. The reported data can be used for therapeutic or experimental purposes.

O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer valores de referência para testes diagnósticos oftálmicos em coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia (Oryctolagus cuniculus). 22 coelhos, machos, adultos foram utilizados. Foi mensurada a produção lacrimal através do teste lacrimal de Shirmer 1 (TLS1) e da Tira endodôntica de papel absorvente (EAPPTT) de duas marcas comerciais distintas. Tonometria de aplanação, identificação da microbiota conjuntival, , citologia e histologia conjuntival também foram realizadas. A média e desvio padrão do TLS1, EAPPTT1, EAPPTT2 e pressão intraocular foi 7,27±2,51 mm/min, 12,43±1,69 mm/min, 15,24±2,07 mm/min e 12,89±2,80 mmHg, respectivamente. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus sp. e Bacillus sp. mostraram-se predominantes. A citologia conjuntival evidenciou a presença de células epiteliais colunares, células escamosas superficiais queratinizadas, linfócitos, heterofilos, células sanguíneas, muco e bactérias. A histologia revelou epitélio estratificado caracterizado pela presença de células epiteliais colunares com grande número de células caliciformes. Os achados deste estudo poderão ser utilizados com fins terapêuticos ou experimentais.

Incidência e distribuição de amblyomma cajennense em regiões corporais de eqüinos das raças mangalarga marchador e bretão postier, naturalmente infestados / Amblyomma cajennense: adults distribution and incidence on the body of naturally infested mangalarga marchador and bretao postier horses

The objective of this study is to verify the incidence and the distribution of the tick Amblyomma cajennense tick in some infected regions of equines'body. Fifteen animals, 8 mares and 7 colts from Mangalarga Marchador and Bretão Postier races, raised in the Zootechny Institute Farm, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, were selected. From July, 1996 to May, 1997 (every 21 days) the animals were submitted to examination, mapping and ingurgitated females countig in 14 previously determined regions: face, lower jaw, neck, breast, shoulder-blade, armpits, former limbs, womb, back, flank, hip, udder, posterior limbs and perianal. The observed regions were classified in: anterior, posterior, median, right side and left side. The deviation analysis was made taking into account a random blocks delineation, whose scores were previously transformed on square root in order to decrease their dispersion, and subsequently analyzed by deviation analysis. During the observation time, the total of ticks was 1.434: 55.2 per cent corresponding to the anterior region and 44 per cent to the posterior region. It was also noticed a significant difference - 5 per cent - in June and April, occuring the higher parasitic incidence, regarding to September, with a lower incidence. On the right and left sides and median region of the animals body, the variation was: 27.7 por ciento, 30.1per cent and 42.2 per cent, respectively. The counting was higher in June; however, from August to September have showed lower incidences. On mares the distribution was: 59.5 per cent on the anterior region and 40.5 per cent on the posterior region: 32.9 per cent on the right side, 28.1 per cent on the left side and 39 per cent on the median region. It was noticed significative difference among the countings averages on the three last regions in June (with higher incidence) and averages December, May, September, January and February averages (with lower incidences, respectively).