Antifungal sensitivity and species of yeasts in oral mucosa of street mixed-breed dogs.

The aim of this research is to verify the yeast species isolated from oral mucosa in street mixed-breed dogs and to determine the antifungal profiles. After capturing and sedating the animals, oral mucosa samples were collected from fifty dogs and the materials were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol. Forty-three yeast strains were isolated and identified trough the API-20C AUX method. Thirty-seven (86.1%) of the yeasts belonged to genus Candida, five (11.6%) to genus Trichosporon and only one strain (2.3%) to genus Malassezia. The sensitivity profiles to anifungals (amphotericin B, itraconanole, ketoconazole, fluconazole and variconazole) were determined through Etest® method. This study found resistance of some yeasts to amphotericin B and a good susceptibility to voriconazole and ketoconazole. Some of these antifungals are used in veterinary medical practice. This research is the first investigation on street mixed-breed dogs regarding yeast identifications and antifungals profiles.

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in captive neotropical and exotic wild canids and felids.

This study was designed to detect antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in wild captive carnivores maintained in Brazilian zoos. Blood samples were collected from 142 Brazilian wild felids and 19 exotic felids in zoos, and 3 European wolves (Canis lupus) and 94 Brazilian wild canids maintained in captivity in Brazilian zoos of São Paulo, Mato Grosso states and Federal District. One hundred and two (63.4%) and 70 (50.3%) of the 161 wild felids tested were seropositive for T. gondii and N. caninum by indirect immunofluorescent assay test (IFAT), respectively. Among sampled wild canids, 49 (50.5%) and 40 (41.2%) animals were seropositive for T. gondii and N. caninum antigens by IFAT, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first serological detection of antibodies to N. caninum in Brazilian wild captive felids and bush dogs (Speothos venaticus (Lund)).

Molecular and serologic detection of Ehrlichia spp. in endangered Brazilian wild captive felids.

Ehrlichiosis, an emergent tick-borne disease that affects both humans and animals, may represent a threat to the survival and preservation of wild felids in Brazil. There are few studies of ehrlichiosis in wild felids in Brazil, but Ehrlichia spp. are present in domestic cats. Antibodies to Ehrlichia canis have been reported in a puma (Puma concolor). In this study we assessed the presence of these hemoparasites in the blood of Brazilian wild captive felids. Of the 72 animals tested, 5 (7%) were seropositive for the E. canis antigen, and 11 (15%) were positive for E. canis DNA sequences. We also performed sequence alignment to establish the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals using 16S rRNA and omp-1 genes. Sequences based on 16S rRNA were similar to those found in dogs and cats from Thailand, Brazil, China, and Taiwan and with E. canis obtained from a single individual (human) in Venezuela. Ehrlichia sp. sequence from sampled felines based on omp-1 gene was similar to the p28 and p30 multigene family of E. canis. To our knowledge, this is the first study of molecular detection of Ehrlichia sp. in Brazilian wild feline species.

Molecular detection of Hepatozoon spp. in Brazilian and exotic wild carnivores.

Hepatozoon spp. are apicomplexan parasites that infect a wide variety of animals. The infection occurs through the ingestion of a hematophagous arthropod definitive host. Herein, we assessed the presence of Hepatozoon spp. in 165 captive wild felids and 100 captive wild canids using molecular techniques. We found that 6 felids (4 little spotted cats, 1 jaguarondi, and 1 puma) and 5 canids (2 bush dogs, 1 fox, 1 crab-eating fox, and 1 maned wolf) were positive for Hepatozoon spp. Hepatozoon spp. may be a potential pathogen and an opportunistic parasite in immunocompromised animals or if occurring in concomitant infections. Because most Brazilian wild felids and canids are endangered, knowing whether Hepatozoon infection represents a threat for these animals is crucial.

Genetic diversity of avian infectious bronchitis virus isolated from domestic chicken flocks and coronaviruses from feral pigeons in Brazil between 2003 and 2009.

To detect the presence of infectious bronchitis virus or avian coronavirus, a nested reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) method was developed with the aim of amplifying a fragment of 530 bases, comprising the gene coding S1 protein. In the first step, all samples were submitted to RNA extraction, RT-PCR, and nested PCR. Next, only the positive nested-PCR samples were propagated in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs for virus isolation. Positive samples were then sequenced and analyzed using a molecular phylogeny approach. Tracheal swab samples were collected from 23 different domestic chickens distributed in three regions of Brazil, in the period between 2003 and 2009. Also analyzed were six swab samples (tracheal and cloacal) from asymptomatic pigeons (Columba livia), caught in an urbanized region in southeastern Brazil. The study revealed two major phylogenetic groups: one clustered with the Massachusetts vaccine serotype and another joined with the D207 strain. Interestingly, samples grouped with the Connecticut and Arkansas serotypes were also found. Pigeon isolates clustered with the Massachusetts serotype showed significant similarity (close to 100%) to those obtained from chickens. Only one pigeon isolate was seen to be grouped with the Connecticut serotype, and no correlation was observed between sample grouping and region origin. Understanding the diversity of genotypes and eco-epizootiology of the disease in different environments is expected to be helpful for vaccine production aimed at the main circulating variants. In this respect, one could also expect benefits in the management of other bird species that may act as avian coronavirus reservoirs.