Semperula wallacei (Mollusca, Veronicellidae) um hospedeiro natural recém-descoberto de Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda, Angiostrongylidae) na Bacia do Pacífico.

Semperula wallacei (Issel, 1874) is a species of terrestrial slug that occurs in southeast China and the Pacific Basin and is the only species of its genus that occurs beyond the Oriental region and to the east of Wallace's line in the Australian region, where it has probably been introduced. In this study, we report for the first time S. wallacei as an intermediate host for Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) based on histological and molecular analyses of slugs from Tuamasaga, Samoa, deposited at the Medical Malacological Collection (Fiocruz-CMM). DNA was obtained from the deparafinized tissues scraped from specimen slides. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeted to the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region were carried out using the restriction enzyme Cla I. The RFLP profile observed for our larval specimen of S. wallacei was identical to the profile previously established for A. cantonensis, demonstrating that S. wallacei can be naturally infected with A. cantonensis and is likely to be an intermediate host for this parasitic nematode species in the field. The potential for geographical range expansion of S. wallacei in the Pacific Basin, its small size, and the general role of veronicellids as crop pests and hosts of nematodes, indicate the significance of S. wallacei as an invasive species in the Pacific Basin. Our work also highlights the importance of biological collections for investigating the environmental impact of invasive species on agriculture, public health, and biodiversity conservation.

Metastatic melanoma in a Saanen goat: clinical, ultrasonographic and anatomopathological aspects - case report / [Melanoma metastático em cabra Saanen: aspectos clínicos, ultrassonográficos e Anatomopatológicos - relato de caso]

This report describes clinical, ultrasonographic and anatomopathological findings in a case of metastatic melanoma in an adult Saanen goat. Clinically, the goat had apathy, an intra-abdominal palpable firm structure, and exophytic keratinized areas on the skin of the udder. Ultrasound revealed non-encapsulated oval structures, with heterogeneous echogenicity and marked central and peripheral vascularization, and hypoechoic hepatic multifocal to coalescent areas. In the udder, there were non-encapsulated oval structures with heterogeneous echogenicity and hyperechoic center surrounded by hypoechogenic tissue. Grossly, there were black multifocal to coalescent areas in the liver, as well as black nodules in mammary and mesenteric lymph nodes, uterus, spleen, and myocardium. Microscopically, multifocal melanocytic neoplastic proliferation was observed in the dermis and junction of the udder epidermis. Most of the neoplastic cells had cytoplasmic granules of melanin. In the liver there were areas of neoplastic tissue compressing the adjacent parenchyma, with central foci of necrosis, mild desmoplasia, and multifocal infiltration of malignant cells into the adjacent tissues. Similar findings were observed in the mammary and mesenteric lymph nodes, uterus, spleen, and myocardium, which characterized metastatic melanoma. Ultrasonography played a key role for establishing the diagnosis of a metastatic melanoma and helped establish a proper clinical management protocol.(AU)

Este relato descreve os achados clínicos, ultrassonográficos e anatomopatológicos em um caso de melanoma metastático em uma cabra Saanen adulta. Clinicamente, a cabra apresentava apatia, estrutura firme palpável intra-abdominal e áreas exofíticas queratinizadas na pele do úbere. A ultrassonografia revelou estruturas ovais não encapsuladas, com ecogenicidade heterogênea e marcada vascularização central e periférica, além de áreas hepáticas multifocais a coalescentes hipoecoicas. No úbere, havia estruturas ovais não encapsuladas, com ecogenicidade heterogênea e centro hiperecogênico circundado por tecido hipoecogênico. Macroscopicamente, havia áreas pretas multifocais a coalescentes no fígado, bem como nódulos pretos nos linfonodos mamários e mesentéricos, no útero, no baço e no miocárdio; microscopicamente, proliferação neoplásica melanocítica multifocal foi observada na derme e na junção da epiderme do úbere. A maioria das células neoplásicas apresentava grânulos citoplasmáticos de melanina. No fígado, havia áreas de tecido neoplásico comprimindo o parênquima adjacente, com focos centrais de necrose, desmoplasia leve e infiltração multifocal de células malignas nos tecidos adjacentes. Achados semelhantes foram observados nos nódulos linfáticos mamários e mesentéricos, no útero, no baço e no miocárdio, que caracterizaram o melanoma metastático. A ultrassonografia desempenhou um papel fundamental para estipular o diagnóstico de um melanoma metastático e ajudou a estabelecer um protocolo de manejo clínico adequado.(AU)

Prevalence of infection by Cryptosporidium spp. in calves and associated risk factors in Northeastern Brazil / [Prevalência da infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. e fatores de risco associados em bezerros do Nordeste do Brasil]

Cryptosporidium spp. are zoonotic protozoa, frequently associated with diarrhea in calves, which are responsible for important economic losses. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of infection by Cryptosporidium spp. and its associated risk factors among calves raised in a milk production region of Northeastern Brazil. Fecal samples (n = 385) were obtained from young animals (up to ten months old) and evaluated by means of centrifugal fecal sedimentation in formalin-ether followed by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. In addition, Odds Ratio (OR) was calculated to evaluate associations between variables and infection by these protozoa. Out of all samples analyzed, 25.7% (99/385) scored positive for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. Contact with other species (goat and sheep) (OR = 3.33; p = 0.000), use of a semi-intensive rearing system (OR = 1.70; p = 0.024) and absence of hygienic conditions (fecal contamination of food and water) (OR = 1.64; p = 0.029) were considered to be risk factors. Data herein reported shows that the implementation of hygienic-sanitary measures on the farms studied, it is imperative to reduce Cryptosporidium spp. infection and consequently the economic impact caused by this pathogen.(AU)

Cryptosporidium spp. são protozoários zoonóticos frequentemente associados à diarreia em bezerros e responsáveis por importantes perdas econômicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados à infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. em bezerros de propriedades leiteiras no Nordeste do Brasil. Amostras fecais (n = 385) foram obtidas de animais jovens (até 10 meses de idade) e avaliadas por centrífugo-sedimentação em formol éter, seguida da técnica de coloração de Ziehl-Neelsen modificada. A Odds Ratio (OR) foi calculada para avaliar a associação entre variáveis e infecção pelos protozoários. De todas as amostras analisadas, 25,7% (99/385) apresentaram oocistos de Cryptosporidium spp. Contato com outras espécies (caprino e ovino) (OR = 3,33; p = 0,000), sistema semi-intensivo de criação (OR = 1,70; p = 0,024) e ausência de condições higiênicas (contaminação fecal do alimento e da água) (OR = 1,64; p = 0,029) foram considerados fatores de risco. Com base nos resultados, é imprescindível a adoção de medidas higiênico-sanitárias nas fazendas estudadas, a fim de reduzir infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. e o impacto econômico causado por esse patógeno.(AU)

Changes in cardiac biomarkers in goats naturally affected by pregnancy toxemia.

Pregnancy toxemia (PT) is considered one of the most common metabolic diseases with high impact on the production of small ruminants. The objective of this study was investigate possible myocardial damage in goats affected with PT by the determination of serum myocardial biomarkers CK-MB and cTnI. A total of 44 goats affected with PT, and 10 apparently healthy goats (control group or CG) were used in the study. In goats with PT, the serum concentrations of cTnI (0.43 ng/mL) were significantly higher than that in CG goats (0.06 ng/mL). Although CK-MB showed no significant difference, it was approximately three times higher in animals with PT. The serum concentrations of insulin were significantly lower in PT goats (5.03 ppmol/L) compared to CG goats (10.66 pmol/L). The serum concentrations of cortisol in PT goats (155.41 nmol/L) were significantly higher than that in CG goats (36.58 nmol/L). Results of this study indicate that a clinically significant myocardial damage might occur in goats affected with PT leading to significant elevations in values of cTnI and CK-MB. Therefore, these parameters could be used as a potential prognostic indicator in goats affected with this important disease.

Penetration sites and migratory routes of Angiostrongylus costaricensis in the experimental intermediate host (Sarasinula marginata).

The intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus costaricensis are terrestrian molluscs, mostly of the family Veronicellidae. The present work aimed at clarifying more accurately the sites of penetration and the migratory routes of A. costaricensis in the tissue slugs and at verifying the pattern of the perilarval reaction at different times of infection. Slugs were individually infected with 5,000 L1, and killed from 30 min to 30 days after infection. From 30 min up to 2 hr after infection, L1 were found within the lumen of different segments of the digestive tube having their number diminished in more advanced times after exposition until complete disappearance. After 30 min of exposition, percutaneous infection occurred, simultaneously to oral infection. Perilarval reaction was observed from 2 hr of infection around larvae in fibromuscular layer, appearing later (after 6 hr) around larvae located in the viscera. A pre-granulomatous reaction was characterized by gradative concentration of amebocytes around larvae, evolving two well-organized granulomas. In this work we confirmed the simultaneous occurrence of oral and percutaneous infections. Perilarval reaction, when very well developed, defined typical granulomatous structure, including epithelioid cell transformation. The infection also caused a systemic mobilization of amebocytes and provoked amebocyte-endothelium interactions.