ABSTRACT
Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan that can infect domestic and wild canids, as well as ruminants and equines, and is described as causing neuromuscular alteration and death in dogs. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an infectious disease that affects both humans and animals, being caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, of which Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi is found in Brazil -- transmitted by sand flies, such as Lutzomyia longipalpis, in most of the American continent. The immunosuppression caused by VL can promote the occurrence of co-infections with other agents. In order to determine the frequency of N. caninum and its relationship to VL in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, 345 blood sera were collected from dogs. The sera were submitted to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for detection of anti-N. caninum antibodies and VL antibodies. N. caninum was found in 26.5% of VL-negative dogs and in 29% of VL-positive ones. Among males, it was found in 30.7% of VL-negative animals and in 30.4% of VL-positive ones; among females, in 21% of VL-negative animals and in 27.7% of VL-positive ones. Among juvenile dogs (under 1 year), N. caninum was detected in 10.5% of VL-negative animals and in 11.2% of VL-positive ones. For adult dogs (1 year and older) the results were 31.4% for VL-negative animals and 28.8% of VL-positive ones. The study revealed a statistically significant association with age (chi(2)=9.76, P<0.05) in the N. caninum results for VL-negative animals. No significant correlation in N. caninum seroprevalence was found when VL-positive or VL-negative dogs were compared (chi(2)=0.21, P=0.64). The findings suggest that in Campo Grande N. caninum and VL co-infection is common in dogs, though VL does not appear to enhance susceptibility to N. caninum.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Coccidiosis/veterinary , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/veterinary , Neospora/immunology , Age Factors , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Coccidiosis/epidemiology , Coccidiosis/etiology , Coccidiosis/parasitology , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Dogs , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect/methods , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect/veterinary , Immunocompromised Host , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/complications , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/parasitology , Male , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Teve como objetivo determinar as características físico-químicas do leite de cabra pasteurizado e congelado, produzido e comercializado em Campo Grande - Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), verificando-se as alterações ocorridas durante armazenamento por período de 90 dias. A composição físico-química média do leite de cabra estudado foi a seguinte: acidez 17,51ºD, proteína 3,65g/100g, gordura 3,80g/100mL, extrato seco total 12,2g/100g, extrato seco desengordurado 8,79/100mL, densidade 1.032g/L, crioscopia -0,560ºC, lactose 4,37g/100mL, cinzas 0,92g/100g e pH6,51. Estas características encontram-se dentro dos valores estabelecidos pela legislação estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, exceto o teor de gordura que apresentou valores abaixo do exigido. Ao longo do período de estocagem sob congelamento, os valores obtidos na avaliação das características físico-químicas do leite de cabra sem congelar, relativamente aos do congelado no tempo de 30, 60 e 90 dias, não apresentaram diferenças significativas ao nível de 5 por cento. Quanto ao conteúdo em minerais, foram encontrados valores médios mais altos para o cálcio (112mg/100mL), potássio (210mg/100mL), fósforo (98mg/100mL) e sódio (55mg/100mL), relativamente aos demais minerais estudados no leite de cabra pasteurizado. As amostras de leite analisadas revelaram ser potencialmente boas fontes de potássio, em comparação ao leite de vaca integral pasteurizado.
