Molecular detection and phylogenetic relationship of wild-type strains of canine distemper virus in symptomatic dogs from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais / Detecção molecular e relação filogenética de cepas selvagens do vírus da cinomose canina em cães sintomáticos oriundos de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais

This study investigated the occurrence of canine distemper virus (CDV) by evaluating the presence of viral RNA within urine samples of dogs from Uberlândia, MG, with clinical manifestations suggestive of infection by CDV by targeting the CDV N gene. Of the clinical samples collected ( n =33), CDV viruria was detected in 45.5%. Five dogs died spontaneously; all had characteristic CDV-associated histopathological alterations and demonstrated CDV viruria. Statistical analyses revealed that the age, gender, breed, or the organ system of the dog affected had no influence on the occurrence of canine distemper. Myoclonus and motor incoordination were the most significant neurological manifestations observed. A direct association was observed between keratoconjunctivitis and dogs with CDV viruria. These findings suggest that CDV viruria in symptomatic dogs might not be age related, and that symptomatic dogs can demonstrate clinical manifestations attributed to CDV without viruria identified by RT-PCR. Additionally, the results of the sequence identities analysed have suggested that all Brazilian wild-type strains of CDV currently identified are closely related and probably originated from the same lineage of CDV. Nevertheless, phylogenetic analyses suggest that there are different clusters of wild-type strains of CDV circulating within urban canine populations in Brazil.

A presença do ácido nucleico (RNA) do vírus da cinomose canina (CDV) foi avaliada por meio da amplificação parcial do gene N pela técnica RT-PCR realizada em urina de cães provenientes de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, que apresentavam sinais clínicos sugestivos de cinomose. Das 33 amostras de urina avaliadas, o CDV foi identificado em 45,5%. Em cinco cães que morreram espontaneamente, além da excreção do CDV na urina, foram observadas alterações histopatológicas associadas à infecção por esse vírus. Análises estatísticas demonstraram que a idade, gênero, raça e o sistema orgânico comprometido dos cães avaliados não exerceram influência no diagnóstico da cinomose canina. Mioclonia e incoordenação motora foram as manifestações neurológicas que apresentaram frequência de ocorrência significativa (P<0,05). Uma associação direta foi observada entre a presença de ceratoconjuntivite e a identificação de virúria pelo CDV. Esses achados sugerem que a excreção do CDV pela urina em cães com sinais clínicos compatíveis com cinomose pode não ser relacionada com a idade do animal, e que animais sintomáticos podem apresentar manifestações clínicas atribuídas ao CDV, porém sem a caracterização de virúria por RT-PCR. Adicionalmente, análises filogenéticas sugerem que várias cepas de CDV podem estar circulando em populações caninas de áreas urbanas no Brasil.

Developmental norms for eight instruments used in the neuropsychological assessment of children: studies in Brazil

Norms for a battery of instruments, including Denckla's and Garfield's tests of Motor Persistence, Benton's Right-Left Discrimination, two recall modalities (Immediate and Delayed) of the Bender Test, Wechsler's Digit Span, the Color Span Test and the Human Figure Drawing Test, were developed for the neuropsychological assessment of children in the greater Rio de Janeiro area. Additionally, the behavior of each child was assessed with the Composite Teacher Rating Scale (Brito GNO and Pinto RCA (1991) Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 13:417-418). A total of 398 children (199 boys and 199 girls balanced for age) with a mean age of 9.3 years (SD=2.8), who were attending a public school in Niterói, were the subjects of this study. Gender and age had significant effects on performance which depended on the instrument. Nonachievers performed worse than achievers in most neuropsychological tests. Comparison of our data to the available counterparts in the United States revealed that American children outperformed Brazilian children on the Right-Left Discrimination, Forward Digit Span, Color Span and Human Figure Drawing Tests. Further analysis showed that the neurobehavioral data consist of different factorial dimensions, including Human Body Representation, Motor Persistence of the Legs, Orbito-Orobuccal Motor Persistence, Attention-Memory, Visuospatial Memory, Neuropsychomotor Speed, Hyperactivity-Inattention, and Anxiety-Negative Socialization. We conclude that gender and age should be taken into account when using the normative data for most of the instruments studied in the present report. Furthermore, we stress the need for major changes in the Brazilian public school system in order to foster the development of secondary cognitive abilities in our children.

The Bender Gestalt test for 5-to 15-year old Brazilian children: norms and validity

Norms for two modalities (normal and stress) of the Bender Gestalt test were developed for the neuropsychological assessment of children in the greater Rio de Janeiro area. For each modality, a measure of performance, a measure of speed and a measure of emotional disturbance were obtained. A total of 398 children (l99 males and 199 females), 5 to 15 years old, who were attending a public school in Niterói were the subjects of this study. Analysis of the data revealed that age, but not sex, had a significant effect on performance, but not on speed, in both modalities such that older children made fewer errors than younger children. Also, the number of emotional indicators significantly decreased with age. Additionally, boys needed more time to complete the normal modality than girls, and showed a higher number of emotional indicators in both modalities. The Bender test was found to be valid in the sense that children who had failed at least one grade in school performed worse than those who had not. The number of emotional indicators was shown to be valid since it was significantly correlated with factors such as hyperactivity-conduct problem, and independent functioning, and inattention of the Composite Teacher Rating Scale (Brito GNO and Pinto RCA (l991). Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 13: 417418). We conclude that the Bender test is valid for use in schoolchildren, and the number of emotional indicators is valid as an index of psychopathology, but sex and age should be considered when using the norms in Brazil.

Utilizaçäo da forrageira Melinis minutiflora (capim-gordura) no controle alternativo do carrapato Boophilus microplus / Utilization of fodder Melinis minutiflora (molasses grass) in the alternative control of tick Boophilus microplus

O parasitismo de bovinos pelo carrapato Boophilus microplus torna-se cada vez maior, pela crescente necessidade de produçäo em áreas menores, o que favorece as reinfestaçöes. Como a pastagem exerce papel importante na fase de vida livre das larvas e ovos, os autores realizaram o presente trabalho para verificar a capacidade do capim-gordura (Melinis minutiflora) como fator limitante da populaçäo de carrapatos. O estudo demonstrou a viabilidade do uso desse capim no controle alternativo do carrapato, os autores recomendando novos estudos complementares.