Geoepidemiology, seroprevalence and factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in domicilied cats from Paraíba (Brazil).

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, an emerging and often neglected zoonosis in South America, particularly Brazil. Felines, the only definitive hosts, excrete oocysts in their feces, potentially infecting all homeotherms. Domestic cats are primarily responsible for contaminating human environments with these oocysts. Monitoring their populations is therefore essential to ensure proper toxoplasmosis prophylaxis. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii and exposure factors in a population of owner cats in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. A total of 267 blood samples were collected from domestic cats aged between 1 and 15 years and tested with an immunofluorescence antibody test. The seroprevalence of antibodies against T. gondii was only 17.22% (46/267 individuals). This result therefore suggests a low contribution of domestic cats to T. gondii contamination of the urban environment. The cats' age and living environment were identified as risk factors for cat exposure to T. gondii.

Title: Géoépidémiologie, séroprévalence et facteurs associés à l'infection à Toxoplasma gondii chez les chats domiciliés à Paraíba (Brésil). Abstract: Toxoplasma gondii est le parasite responsable de la toxoplasmose, une zoonose émergente et souvent négligée en Amérique du Sud, notamment au Brésil. Les félins, seuls hôtes définitifs, excrètent des oocystes dans leurs selles, infectant potentiellement tous les homéothermes. Les chats domestiques sont les premiers responsables de la contamination des environnements humains avec ces oocystes. La surveillance de leurs populations est donc essentielle pour garantir une prophylaxie adéquate contre la toxoplasmose. Le but de cette étude était d'estimer la prévalence de T. gondii et les facteurs d'exposition dans une population de chats domestiques de la ville de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brésil. Au total, 267 échantillons de sang ont été prélevés sur des chats domestiques âgés de 1 à 15 ans et testés avec un test d'immunofluorescence des anticorps. La séroprévalence des anticorps contre T. gondii n'était que de 17,22 % (46/267 individus). Ce résultat suggère donc une faible contribution des chats domestiques à la contamination du milieu urbain par T. gondii. L'âge et le milieu de vie des chats ont été identifiés comme facteurs de risque d'exposition du chat à T. gondii.

Seropositivity of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Anti-Neospora caninum Antibodies in Cattle Intended for Human Consumption in an Amazonian Area of North Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular intestinal coccidia distributed worldwide, and are causative agents of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies and the factors associated with infections in beef cattle intended for human consumption in an Amazonian area of North Brazil. We collected blood samples of 387 cattle from 50 herds located in different municipalities of the State of Rondônia. An epidemiological questionnaire was distributed to farmers, with regard to nutritional, sanitary and reproductive herd management. The samples were identified, refrigerated and sent for serological analyses via IFAT (Immunofluorescent Antibody Test). Among the 387 analyzed animals, 91 (23.5%; CI 95%: 18.8-27.2) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies, with titers varying from 1:64 (75.8%) to 1:512 (2.2%). For anti-N. caninum antibodies, only four animals (1%; CI 95%: 0-2.7) were positive, with titers ranging from 1:400 (50%) to 1:1600 (25%). We observed a significant rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies in the variables "pure breed" and "contact with free-range chickens" (p < 0.2). There were no risk factors associated with the presence of anti-T. gondii or anti-N. caninum antibodies. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in beef cattle intended for human consumption in the State of Rondônia, Brazil, and a low prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies. Longitudinal studies can better elucidate the cause of these prevalence levels and how they could be better prevented and controlled.

Anti-Sporothrix Antibody Detection in Domestic Cats as an Indicator of a Possible New Occurrence Area for Sporotrichosis in North Brazil.

Feline sporotrichosis has emerged as an important public health issue in some countries, especially Brazil. Currently, zoonotic transmission of Sporothrix brasiliensis by domestic cats is the major sporotrichosis spread form throughout this country. Sporotrichosis in Brazil is a good model for the One Health concept application, which connects the environment, human and animal health. Under this thinking, the aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of sporotrichosis in cats from Rolim de Moura, Rondônia, Brazil, using antibody detection by an ELISA test previously validated for human diagnosis. For the standardization of this test, 30 serum samples from cats with proven sporotrichosis and 11 sera from healthy cats were used. The assay showed 87% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis. After the standardization, 202 serum samples from distinct cats from Rolim de Moura were evaluated. The test was positive in 63 (31.19%) cats from the studied area. A multivariate analysis revealed that living far from forest or agricultural areas as well as pure breed animals had higher odds ratios (3.157 and 2.281, respectively) for the presence of detectable levels of anti-Sporothrix antibodies. These results show the applicability of this assay in the detection of anti-Sporothrix antibodies in feline serum samples and point to a putative new occurrence area of urban sporotrichosis dispersing to the North region of Brazil.

Avaliação da percepção dos estudantes de odontologia sobre emergências médicas / Evaluación de la percepción de los estudiantes de odontología sobre emergencias médicas / Evaluation of Dental Students' Perception about Medical Emergencies

RESUMO Introdução: Diversas situações no consultório odontológico podem gerar quadros de emergência. A administração de anestésicos locais, o atendimento odontológico aos pacientes com comprometimento sistêmico, ansiedade e medo são muitas vezes as causas mais comuns. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o nível de percepção dos alunos de Odontologia frente às principais emergências odontológicas. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo transversal e descritivo com abordagem quantitativa dos dados por meio dos questionários. Foram entrevistados 138 alunos cursando do 5º ao 10º período de odontologia da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, na cidade de Patos, Paraíba. Resultados: Foi observado que 86,2 porcento do total de entrevistados responderam saber a diferença entre urgência e emergência; 52,2 porcento dos alunos confirmaram receber ou terem recebido instruções extracurriculares sobre o assunto; 59,4 porcento responderam que o aprendizado fornecido na graduação sobre este tema não está sendo suficiente. Cerca de 17,4 porcento destes alunos responderam saber realizar as manobras de Reanimação Cardiopulmonar, 11,6 porcento dos entrevistados relataram que se sentiam preparados para lidar com uma situação de emergência e 81,9 porcento dos alunos pretendem buscar uma formação complementar durante ou após a graduação. Conclusão: Verificou-se que os alunos de graduação em odontologia apresentaram um baixo nível de percepção sobre as emergências médicas no consultório odontológico(AU)

RESUMEN Introducción: Varias situaciones en el consultorio dental pueden generar casos de emergencia. La administración de anestésicos locales, el cuidado dental a pacientes con deterioro sistémico, ansiedad y miedo, son a menudo las causas más comunes. Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de percepción de los alumnos de odontología frente a las principales emergencias odontológicas. Métodos: Se trató de un estudio transversal y descriptivo de los datos por medio de los cuestionarios. Se entrevistaron 138 alumnos del 5.º al 10.º periodo de odontología de la Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, en la ciudad de Patos, Paraíba. Resultados: Se observó que el 86,2 por ciento del total de alumnos entrevistados sabían la diferencia entre urgencia y emergencia; 52,2 por ciento de los alumnos confirmaron recibir o haber recibido instrucciones extracurriculares sobre el asunto. El 59,4 por ciento respondió que el aprendizaje proporcionado en la graduación sobre este tema no está siendo suficiente. Alrededor del 17,4 por ciento de estos alumnos respondieron a saber realizar las maniobras de resucitación cardiopulmonar, 11,6 por ciento de los entrevistados se sentían preparados para lidiar con una situación de emergencia y el 81,9 por ciento de los alumnos entrevistados pretenden buscar una formación complementaria durante o después de la graduación. Conclusión: Se descubrió que los estudiantes de odontología tenían un bajo nivel de percepción sobre emergencias médicas en el consultorio odontológico(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several situations in the dental office may cause emergency cases. Administration of local anesthetics, dental care to patients with systemic deterioration, anxiety and fear are often the most common causes. Objective: To evaluate the dental level of perception of dental students facing the main dental emergencies. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study of the data through questionnaires. We interviewed 138 students from the 5th to the 10th period of Dental Medicine at the Federal University of Campina Grande, in the city of Patos, Paraíba. Results: We observed that 86.2 percent of the interviewed students knew the difference between urgency and emergency; 52.2 percent of the students confirmed receiving or having received extracurricular instructions about the topic; 59.4 percent answered that the learning provided about this topic after graduation is not being sufficient. About 17.4 percent of these students responded positively to knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers; 11.6 percent of those interviewed felt themselves prepared to deal with an emergency situation, while 81.9 percent of the students interviewed intended to seek complementary training during or after graduation. Conclusion: Dental students were found to have a low level of perception about medical emergencies in the dental office(AU)