Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in seabirds collected along the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are two closely related protozoans that infect a wide range of animals, including birds. However, the occurrence of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of T. gondii and N. caninum DNA in tissue samples of seabirds. Tissue samples of the pectoral muscles, heart, and brain were collected from 47 birds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State, SC, Brazil. The DNA was extracted from the tissues and screened using nested-PCR (nPCR) targeting internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). T. gondii DNA was detected in tissues from seven seabirds (7/47, 14.8%), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) (5/21), and Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) (2/8). N. caninum DNA was detected in tissues of nine seabirds (9/47, 19.1%), the kelp gull (L. dominicanus) (4/21), Manx shearwater (P. puffinus) (2/8), neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) (1/4), brown booby (Sula leucogaster) (1/5), and white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) (1/1); however, no co-infection was observed. In conclusion, this study showed the circulation of N. caninum and T. gondii in seabirds along the coastline of Santa Catarina State. Further studies are required to clarify the role of these birds in the epidemiology of neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.

Placas aurais em equinos mestiços de tração / Aural plaques in crossbred working horses

Background: The aural plaque is a papillomatosis variant that occurs in the inner surface of the auricular pavilion of equine. The disease is associated with economic losses in the equine sector, since it reduces the commercial value of the severely affected animals. However, there are few studies evaluating the occurrence of aural plaques in different breeds and equine populations in Brazil and in other countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency, clinical and histological characteristics of the aural plaques in working horses from Lages, SC, Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: Seventy-three crossbreed equines were used, including 48 males and 25 females between 1 and 25 years old, and that were used as working horses (traction) in the urban perimeter in the city of Lages, SC. The findings related to breed, age, sex, presence or absence of compatible lesions with aural plaques, anatomical location and lesion characteristics were evaluated and annotated. The lesions were photographed and drawn on paper to determine the size and distribution in the ear and were reevaluated for a period of two months with an interval of 30 days between each evaluation. The number of aural plaques was determined by manual counting in each auricular pavilion, which were divided into four quadrants (left and right upper, right and left lower). When the plaque was located in the median region of the quadrants, it was described in the region of the greatest location. To evaluate the histopathologic features, three equines that bearer typical lesions of aural plate were submitted to a biopsy.[...](AU)

Identificação de Helicobacter spp. em mucosas gástrica e duodenal de cães (Canis familiaris) utilizando a técnica de Warthin-Starry / Identification of Helicobacterspp. on gastric and duodenal mucosa of dogs (Canis familiaris) by Warthin-Starry technique

Bactérias do gênero Helicobacter spp. têm sido identificadas na mucosa gástrica de diferentes espécies de mamíferos, inclusive em caninos. Pacientes infectados têm gastrite histológica; no entanto, não são todos os portadores que apresentam sinais clínicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as bactérias sugestivas de Helicobacter spp. pela impregnação pela prata e caracterizar as lesões histopatológicas observadas. Foram analisadas amostras de mucosas gástrica e entérica de 26 caninos. Para avaliação histopatológica, foi realizada avaliação qualitativa, na qual foram atribuídos escores de ausente (-) a acentuada (+++), considerando a densidade de bactérias espiraladas por campo (400x), presença de células inflamatórias e aglomerados linfoides. Dos 26 animais avaliados, 34,6% apresentaram positividade para helicobacteriose. A gastrite foi observada em 15,38% dos animais e a maior ocorrência de bactérias do gênero Helicobacter spp. foi observada em região de corpo/fundo gástrico (23%). Em nove amostras, seis de corpo/fundo gástrico e três de antro pilórico, foram observados aglomerados linfóides associados a Helicobacter spp. Por meio de Teste de Fisher, verificou-se associação positiva entre a presença de Helicobacter spp. e agregados linfoides (p<0,001). A infecção por Helicobacter spp. está associada com a presença de aglomerados linfóides em caninos.(AU)

Bacteria of the genus Helicobacterspp. have been identified on the gastric mucosa of different species of mammals, including canines. Infected patients have histological gastritis; however, not all the animals that carry the bacteria show clinical signs. The objective of this work was to identify the bacteria suggestive of Helicobacterspp. by impregnation by silver and to characterize the histopathological lesions observed. Qualitative evaluation was performed for histological analysis, in which scores from absent (-) to severe (+++) were attributed, considering the density of spiral bacteria per field (400x), presence of inflammatory cells, and number of lymphoid aggregates. Of the 26 animals evaluated, 34.6% presented positivity for helicobacteriosis. Gastritis was observed in 15.38% of the animals and a higher occurrence of bacteria of the genus Helicobacterspp. was observed in the gastric body/fundus region (23%). In nine samples, six from gastric body/fundus and three from antrum pylorus, lymphoid clusters associated with Helicobacterspp. were observed. Fisher's Test revealed a positive association between the presence of Helicobacterspp. and lymphoid aggregates (p<0.001). Infection by Helicobacterspp. is associated with the presence of lymphoid aggregates in canines.(AU)

Placas aurais em equinos mestiços de tração / Aural plaques in crossbred working horses

Background: The aural plaque is a papillomatosis variant that occurs in the inner surface of the auricular pavilion of equine. The disease is associated with economic losses in the equine sector, since it reduces the commercial value of the severely affected animals. However, there are few studies evaluating the occurrence of aural plaques in different breeds and equine populations in Brazil and in other countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency, clinical and histological characteristics of the aural plaques in working horses from Lages, SC, Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: Seventy-three crossbreed equines were used, including 48 males and 25 females between 1 and 25 years old, and that were used as working horses (traction) in the urban perimeter in the city of Lages, SC. The findings related to breed, age, sex, presence or absence of compatible lesions with aural plaques, anatomical location and lesion characteristics were evaluated and annotated. The lesions were photographed and drawn on paper to determine the size and distribution in the ear and were reevaluated for a period of two months with an interval of 30 days between each evaluation. The number of aural plaques was determined by manual counting in each auricular pavilion, which were divided into four quadrants (left and right upper, right and left lower). When the plaque was located in the median region of the quadrants, it was described in the region of the greatest location. To evaluate the histopathologic features, three equines that bearer typical lesions of aural plate were submitted to a biopsy.[...]

IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE Helicobacter spp. EM MUCOSAS GÁSTRICA E DUODENAL DE CÃES (Canis familiaris) UTILIZANDO A TÉCNICA DE WARTHIN-STARRY

Abstract Bacteria of the genus Helicobacter spp. have been identified on the gastric mucosa of different species of mammals, including canines. Infected patients have histological gastritis; however, not all the animals that carry the bacteria show clinical signs. The objective of this work was to identify the bacteria suggestive of Helicobacter spp. by impregnation by silver and to characterize the histopathological lesions observed. Qualitative evaluation was performed for histological analysis, in which scores from absent (-) to severe (+++) were attributed, considering the density of spiral bacteria per field (400x), presence of inflammatory cells, and number of lymphoid aggregates. Of the 26 animals evaluated, 34.6% presented positivity for helicobacteriosis. Gastritis was observed in 15.38% of the animals and a higher occurrence of bacteria of the genus Helicobacter spp. was observed in the gastric body/fundus region (23%). In nine samples, six from gastric body/fundus and three from antrum pylorus, lymphoid clusters associated with Helicobacter spp. were observed. Fisher's Test revealed a positive association between the presence of Helicobacter spp. and lymphoid aggregates (p 0.001). Infection by Helicobacter spp. is associated with the presence of lymphoid aggregates in canines.

Resumo Bactérias do gênero Helicobacter spp. têm sido identificadas na mucosa gástrica de diferentes espécies de mamíferos, inclusive em caninos. Pacientes infectados têm gastrite histológica; no entanto, não são todos os portadores que apresentam sinais clínicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as bactérias sugestivas de Helicobacter spp. pela impregnação pela prata e caracterizar as lesões histopatológicas observadas. Foram analisadas amostras de mucosas gástrica e entérica de 26 caninos. Para avaliação histopatológica, foi realizada avaliação qualitativa, na qual foram atribuídos escores de ausente (-) a acentuada (+++), considerando a densidade de bactérias espiraladas por campo (400x), presença de células inflamatórias e aglomerados linfoides. Dos 26 animais avaliados, 34,6% apresentaram positividade para helicobacteriose. A gastrite foi observada em 15,38% dos animais e a maior ocorrência de bactérias do gênero Helicobacter spp. foi observada em região de corpo/fundo gástrico (23%). Em nove amostras, seis de corpo/fundo gástrico e três de antro pilórico, foram observados aglomerados linfóides associados a Helicobacter spp. Por meio de Teste de Fisher, verificou-se associação positiva entre a presença de Helicobacter spp. e agregados linfoides (p 0,001). A infecção por Helicobacter spp. está associada com a presença de aglomerados linfóides em caninos.

Identificação de Helicobacter spp. em mucosas gástrica e duodenal de cães (Canis familiaris) utilizando a técnica de Warthin-Starry / Identification of Helicobacterspp. on gastric and duodenal mucosa of dogs (Canis familiaris) by Warthin-Starry technique

Bactérias do gênero Helicobacter spp. têm sido identificadas na mucosa gástrica de diferentes espécies de mamíferos, inclusive em caninos. Pacientes infectados têm gastrite histológica; no entanto, não são todos os portadores que apresentam sinais clínicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as bactérias sugestivas de Helicobacter spp. pela impregnação pela prata e caracterizar as lesões histopatológicas observadas. Foram analisadas amostras de mucosas gástrica e entérica de 26 caninos. Para avaliação histopatológica, foi realizada avaliação qualitativa, na qual foram atribuídos escores de ausente (-) a acentuada (+++), considerando a densidade de bactérias espiraladas por campo (400x), presença de células inflamatórias e aglomerados linfoides. Dos 26 animais avaliados, 34,6% apresentaram positividade para helicobacteriose. A gastrite foi observada em 15,38% dos animais e a maior ocorrência de bactérias do gênero Helicobacter spp. foi observada em região de corpo/fundo gástrico (23%). Em nove amostras, seis de corpo/fundo gástrico e três de antro pilórico, foram observados aglomerados linfóides associados a Helicobacter spp. Por meio de Teste de Fisher, verificou-se associação positiva entre a presença de Helicobacter spp. e agregados linfoides (p<0,001). A infecção por Helicobacter spp. está associada com a presença de aglomerados linfóides em caninos.

Bacteria of the genus Helicobacterspp. have been identified on the gastric mucosa of different species of mammals, including canines. Infected patients have histological gastritis; however, not all the animals that carry the bacteria show clinical signs. The objective of this work was to identify the bacteria suggestive of Helicobacterspp. by impregnation by silver and to characterize the histopathological lesions observed. Qualitative evaluation was performed for histological analysis, in which scores from absent (-) to severe (+++) were attributed, considering the density of spiral bacteria per field (400x), presence of inflammatory cells, and number of lymphoid aggregates. Of the 26 animals evaluated, 34.6% presented positivity for helicobacteriosis. Gastritis was observed in 15.38% of the animals and a higher occurrence of bacteria of the genus Helicobacterspp. was observed in the gastric body/fundus region (23%). In nine samples, six from gastric body/fundus and three from antrum pylorus, lymphoid clusters associated with Helicobacterspp. were observed. Fisher's Test revealed a positive association between the presence of Helicobacterspp. and lymphoid aggregates (p<0.001). Infection by Helicobacterspp. is associated with the presence of lymphoid aggregates in canines.