Comparison of three doses of estradiol benzoate for synchronization of follicular wave emergence in suckled Bos indicus beef cows

We aimed to compare the effect of three estradiol benzoate (EB) doses on follicular wave emergence (FWE) and dominant follicle growth of suckled Nelore cows submitted to TAI (D0). On a random day of estrous cycle (D−10), multiparous (MULT; n=36) and primiparous (PRIM; n=20) suckled Nelore cows received an intravaginal progesterone (P4) device and were assigned in three groups. Cows in the EB-1 (n=20), EB-1.5 (n=15) or EB-2 (n=21) groups received, respectively, an im treatment with 1, 1.5 or 2 mg EB. A subgroup (n=10-13 cows/group) were subject to daily ovarian evaluations from D−10 to D0. On D−2, P4 devices were removed, and all cows received the same treatment: 1 mg estradiol cypionate, 0.53 mg sodium cloprostenol, and 300 IU eCG. Statistical analyses were performed considering only the main effects of treatment group and parity order. The proportion of cows with a synchronized FWE and the moment of the FWE did not differ (p>0.05) among the treatment groups (overall: 80% [28/35] and 4.1 ± 0.4 days); however, the FWE occurred earlier (p=0.007) in MULT (3.8 ± 0.2 days) than PRIM (5.1 ± 0.4) cows. The proportion of animals detected in estrus was greater (86% [31/36] vs. 70% [14/20]; p=0.02) and the dominant follicle was larger on D−2 (9.7 ± 0.3 mm vs. 7.8 ± 0.7 mm; p=0.006) and D0 (11.9 ± 0.4 mm vs. 10 ± 0.5 mm; p=0.008) in MULT than PRIM cows. In conclusion, the three EB doses presented similar efficiency to synchronize the FWE in suckled Nelore cows. Moreover, a delayed FWE and smaller dominant follicle is observed in PRIM cows, contributing to the reduced reproductive performance in this parity category when using similar TAI protocols of MULT cows.

Evaluation of a cattle rapid test for early pregnancy diagnosis in sheep

The early pregnancy diagnosis allows optimizing production and timely management correction, with a greater reproductive output of livestock. The Idexx Rapid Visual Pregnancy Test® consists of an ELISA for visual reading which does not require the use of readers in the laboratory, with satisfactory pregnancy diagnoses at 28 days of pregnancy in cattle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate this rapid test and to verify the most appropriate day for the diagnosis of pregnancy in the ovine species. For this purpose, 98 serum samples from pregnant sheep and 36 from non-pregnant were used, with duplicate samples, and diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound examination, used as the gold standard. The numbers of positive samples obtained at 26, 28, and 30 days of pregnancy were 26, 27, and 45, respectively. The Rapid Visual Pregnancy Test correctly identified 100% of the samples as positive at pregnancy of days 26, 28, and 30. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were also 100%. The Idexx Rapid Visual Pregnancy Test, initially indicated for cattle, is effective for the detection of pregnancy in the ovine species, enabling diagnosis of pregnant sheep from the 26th day of pregnancy.

Cattle herd shearing can help to control Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

Given the difficulties of controlling the tick Rhipicephalus microplus due to acaricide resistance, this study aimed to ascertain whether shearing could reduce infestation in cattle. 17 taurine cattle were sheared on the anterior third of one randomly selected side. Shearing was undertaken using a machine with a blade, leaving coats with a thickness of 1 mm. Subsequently, eight evaluations were performed once a week, counting adult females of R. microplus with a diameter > 4.5 mm on the anterior third of both sides (shorn and unshorn). The coat length was also monitored by taking five hair samples from each animal fortnightly (1, 15, 29, 43 and 57 days post shorn) from a central area of both shoulders (shorn and unshorn). The tick counts and hair length data were transformed for normalisation and were analysed using mixed models. The tick and hair length means were significantly higher for the unshorn side. Tick counts were significantly lower on the sheared side until the fifth evaluation, with the final three presenting no differences between the sides. The hair length was significantly lower for the sheared side during the five evaluations. We conclude that as the hair length increased, there was also an increase in the number of ticks on the sheared side. Although this method is not practical for large herds, it can be deemed an option in extreme conditions of tick infestation. In addition, the study reinforces the suggestion that the selection and/or use of cattle with shorter hairs may contribute to reduced tick infestation.

Visual ELISA for detection of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) in ewe serum

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of visual ELISA-PAG for early pregnancy diagnosis based on the presence of PAG (pregnancy-associated glycoprotein) using sheep blood serum. Experiment 1: 140 ewes were divided into three groups with different stages of pregnancy. In the first group, 41 pregnant ewes were sampled at 26, 28, 30, and 32 days of pregnancy; in the second group, 65 ewes (49 pregnant with 30 days and 16 non-pregnant) were sampled; in the third group, 34 non-pregnant ewes were sampled. Experiment 2: 10 pregnant ewes were sampled weekly from day 35 of gestation until day 70 post-partum to verify the total period in which PAG can be detected in the blood serum by the test. Transrectal ultrasound was used as a gold standard. The detection or non-detection of PAG was analyzed by the logistic model PROC GENMOD of SAS; differences were detected by the chi-squared test. In group 1, there were no differences between the results from 28, 30, and 32 days of gestation, but samples from 30 days were easier to interpret in comparison to 28 days, with a sensitivity of 97.56%. In the second group, using 65 sheep, visual ELISA-PAG showed 100% sensitivity and 93.75% specificity, which indicates the diagnosis of an animal as a false positive. In the third group, 97.06% of the sheep were confirmed as negative and 2.94% as positive, again indicating the presence of a false positive. In 100% of the sheep, the PAG remained in the blood circulation throughout the antepartum period until birth and seven days post-partum, declining thereafter. Based on our results, the visual ELISA-PAG is an effective method for the early diagnosis of pregnancy in sheep and can be performed from day 30 of gestation.

Management and control of parasites on dairy farms in northwestern region of São Paulo state

Dairy cattle farming is of great economic and social importance in all Brazilian's regions. Parasites can reduce milk productivity, especially the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. This study consisted of a questionnaire answered by 40 milk producers in the northwestern region of the State of São Paulo. The aim was to ascertain how these producers controlled ticks and other parasites. Very many of them knew nothing about the biological cycle of the cattle tick or about strategic control or acaricide efficacy tests. The majority (87.5%) controlled ticks at a high frequency, without technical criteria and care to apply the acaricide. Spraying was the most used mode of acaricide application (95%) and endectocides were used by 45%. Cattle tick fever was the harm most associated with ticks (87.5%) followed closely by screwworm (77.5%). However, 65% were satisfied with their tick control. About the control of others parasites, all dewormed at least twice a year their animals; 65% were controlling horn fly; 40% had problems with screwworm. The interviewers had in general good level of education and the farms generally exhibited a high degree of technology for milk production on pasture because half of them received technical assistance frequently.

Epidemiological surveillance of capybaras and ticks on warning area for Brazilian spotted fever

Aim:

The vulnerability of tropical developing countries to the emerging disease constitutes a critical phenomenon in which the invasion of wild niches by human hosts, contributes to expansion of zoonotic diseases, such as the Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). This study performed a diagnosis of species occurrence of their hosts (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and vectors (Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum) on the warning area for this reemerging disease in Brazil.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted in a warning area for BSF in the city of Americana, São Paulo state. The occurrence of capybaras was registered by use of binoculars and GPS equipment and 24 acarological researches were performed through 180 CO2 traps. Samples of adult ticks were dissected for salivary glands removal, DNA extraction, and evaluation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) being tested by initial gltA-PCR, ompA-PCR, and Rickettsia bellii-specific PCR, with the positive samples subjected to sequencing.

Results:

Eleven clusters of capybaras (total of 71 individuals), were observed along the riparian of Ribeirão Quilombo and 7,114 specimens of A. sculptum and 7,198 specimens of A. dubitatum were collected in this same area. About 568 samples of adult ticks were dissected for salivary glands removal, DNA extraction and evaluation by gltA-PCR, with results of 1.94% (11/568) of positive samples. Results for the initial gltA-PCR indicated none positive sample to Rickettsia species into A. sculptum and 11 positive samples to A. dubitatum. These samples were negative to the ompA-PCR and positive to the Rickettsia bellii-specific PCR protocol and subjected to DNA sequencing, whose result indicated 100% similarity to Rickettsia bellii. The distribution of tick species A. sculptum and A. dubitatum was configured regarding to the biotic potential of the riparian areas, measuring the risks for BSF in peri-urban areas of Americana.

Conclusion:

These results confirmed a status of epidemiological warning with a strong association of the amplifiers hosts of Rickettsia and tick vectors for the transmission of BSF to humans in this region.

Modeling of spatial distribution for scorpions of medical importance in the São Paulo State, Brazil

Aim:

In this work, we aimed to develop maps of modeling geographic distribution correlating to environmental suitability for the two species of scorpions of medical importance at São Paulo State and to develop spatial configuration parameters for epidemiological surveillance of these species of venomous animals.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, 54 georeferenced points for Tityus serrulatus and 86 points for Tityus bahiensis and eight environmental indicators, were used to generate species distribution models in Maxent (maximum entropy modeling of species geographic distributions) version 3.3.3k using 70% of data for training (n=38 to T. serrulatus and n=60 to T. bahiensis) and 30% to test the models (n=16 for T. serrulatus and n=26 for T. bahiensis). The logistic threshold used to cut models in converting the continuous probability model into a binary model was the “maximum test sensitivity plus specificity,” provided by Maxent, with results of 0.4143 to T. serrulatus and of 0.3401 to T. bahiensis. The models were evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC), using the omission error and the binomial probability. With the data generated by Maxent, distribution maps were produced using the “ESRI^® ArcGIS 10.2.2 for Desktop” software.

Results:

The models had high predictive success (AUC=0.7698±0.0533, omission error=0.2467 and p<0.001 for T. serrulatus and AUC=0.8205±0.0390, omission error=0.1917 and p<0.001 for T. bahiensis) and the resultant maps showed a high environmental suitability in the north, central, and southeast of the state, confirming the increasing spread of these species. The environmental variables that mostly contributed to the scorpions species distribution model were rain precipitation (28.9%) and tree cover (28.2%) for the T. serrulatus and temperature (45.8%) and thermal amplitude (12.6%) for the T. bahiensis.

Conclusion:

The distribution model of these species of medical importance scorpions in São Paulo State revealed a higher environmental suitability of these species in the regions north, central, and southeast of the state, warning to emergencies actions for prevention and surveillance from scorpion stings in several counties. There is also a need to best conservation strategies related to neighboring territories, with the implementation of new environmental protected areas and measures of spread control of these species in urban areas of several counties.

Tick-borne infections in human and animal population worldwide

The abundance and activity of ectoparasites and its hosts are affected by various abiotic factors, such as climate and other organisms (predators, pathogens and competitors) presenting thus multiples forms of association (obligate to facultative, permanent to intermittent and superficial to subcutaneous) developed during long co-evolving processes. Ticks are ectoparasites widespread globally and its eco epidemiology are closely related to the environmental conditions. They are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites and responsible as vectors or reservoirs at the transmission of pathogenic fungi, protozoa, viruses, rickettsia and others bacteria during their feeding process on the hosts. Ticks constitute the second vector group that transmit the major number of pathogens to humans and play a role primary for animals in the process of diseases transmission. Many studies on bioecology of ticks, considering the information related to their population dynamics, to the host and the environment, comes possible the application and efficiency of tick control measures in the prevention programs of vector-borne diseases. In this review were considered some taxonomic, morphological, epidemiological and clinical fundamental aspects related to the tick-borne infections that affect human and animal populations.

Environmental infestation and rickettsial infection in ticks in an area endemic for Brazilian spotted fever

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, is endemic in the municipality of Americana, southeastern Brazil, where the disease is transmitted by the tick Amblyomma cajennense. This study evaluated the tick fauna and rickettsial infection in free-living ticks that were captured monthly using dry ice traps in areas endemic for BSF in Americana, from July 2009 to June 2010. Two tick species were captured: A. cajennense (6,122 larvae; 4,265 nymphs; 2,355 adults) and Amblyomma dubitatum (7,814 larvae; 3,364 nymphs; 1,193 adults). The immature stages of A. cajennense and A. dubitatum had similar distribution through the 12-month period, with larvae of both species collected in highest numbers between April and July, and nymphs between June and October. The highest numbers of A. cajennense adults were collected between October and December, whereas A. dubitatum adults were collected in relatively similar numbers throughout the 12-month period. Rickettsial infection was evaluated by means of PCR in 1,157 A. cajennense and 1,040 A. dubitatum ticks; only 41 (3.9%) A. dubitatum were found to be infected by Rickettsia bellii. The present study showed that the areas of Americana that are endemic for BSF are characterized by high environmental burdens of A. cajennense and A. dubitatum.

Evaluation of gelatinases, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2, and myeloperoxidase protein in healthy and inflamed human dental pulp tissue

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare the gelatinolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and the expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 and myeloperoxidase protein (MPO) in clinically healthy human pulp and inflamed pulp tissue specimens.

METHODS

Twenty dental pulps clinically diagnosed as inflammatory tissues and 20 healthy pulp tissues from enclosed third molars were harvested and evaluated. The gelatinolytic activity for MMP-2 and MMP-9 was assessed by using the zymography technique, TIMP-2 gene expression was evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and MPO was determined using the MPO assay.

RESULTS

Data showed increased levels of MMP-9, active MMP-2, TIMP-2, and MPO in inflammatory pulp tissues compared with healthy tissues (P < .05). No statistical difference could be observed for pro-MMP-2 (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although all samples were associated with MMP-2 expression, the active form of this MMP was observed only in inflamed pulps. Inflamed pulps showed an up-regulation of MMP-9, TIMP-2, and MPO.

Genetic diversity of polysporic isolates of Moniliophthora perniciosa (Tricholomataceae)

The causal agent of witches' broom disease, Moniliophthora perniciosa is a hemibiotrophic and endemic fungus of the Amazon basin and the most important cocoa disease in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity of polysporic isolates of M. perniciosa to evaluate the adaptation of the pathogen from different Brazilian regions and its association with different hosts. Polysporic isolates obtained previously in potato dextrose agar cultures of M. perniciosa from different Brazilian states and different hosts (Theobroma cacao, Solanum cernuum, S. paniculatum, S. lycocarpum, Solanum sp, and others) were analyzed by somatic compatibility grouping where the mycelium interactions were distinguished after 4-8 weeks of confrontation between the different isolates of M. perniciosa based on the precipitation line in the transition zone and by protein electrophoresis through SDS-PAGE. The diversity of polysporic isolates of M. perniciosa was grouped according to geographic proximity and respective hosts. The great genetic diversity of M. perniciosa strains from different Brazilian states and hosts favored adaptation in unusual environments and dissemination at long distances generating new biotypes.

Resposta imunológica de vacas Nelore e Caracu superovuladas com FSHp injetado por via subcutânea

O uso de biotécnicas para aprimoramento da reprodução em bovinos pode afetar o desempenho da técnica em si quando utiliza hormônios de origem diferente do animal em questão. No caso da superovulação, o uso de FSP de origem porcina pode levar a resposta imunológica dos animais superovulados. Neste trabalho, anticorpos policlonais contra FSHp foram produzidos em coelhas e testados em fêmeas bovinas para quantificação de anticorpos produzidos após esquemas de superovulação. Embora as vacas apresentassem anticorpos contra FSHp, esta resposta imunológica não interferiu na produção de corpos lúteos e produção de embriões viáveis.

Um imunoensaio rápido para a detecção de alfa-trembolona em urina bovina

O Brasil está entre os países que mantêm o uso de anabolizantes proibido, o que gera dificuldades muito grandes no monitoramento destas substâncias, uma vez que possui o maior rebanho bovino. Contudo, diversas substâncias são largamente utilizadas, entre as quais o acetato de trembolona. Com o consentimento do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, foram produzidos anticorpos policlonais para um teste baseado em ELISA ("enzyme linked immunosorbent assay") capazes de detectar acetato de trembolona na urina de bovinos tratados com trembolona. O teste apresentou baixo custo e de fácil execução para a detecção de alfa-trembolone, o principal metabólito na absorção do acetato de trembolona, liberado na urina dos animais. Os resultados foram similares aos obtidos com o "kit" comercial usado pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento do Brasil.

Evaluation of biochemical and serological methods to identify and clustering yeast cells of oral Candida species by CHROMagar test, SDS-PAGE and ELISA

The purpose of this work was to evaluate biochemical and serological methods to characterize and identify Candida species from the oral cavity. The strains used were five Candida species previously identified: C. albicans, C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, and Kluyveromyces marxianus, as a negative control. The analyses were conducted through the SDS-PAGE associated with statistical analysis using software, chromogenic medium, and CHROMagar Candida (CA), as a differential medium for the isolation and presumptive identification of clinically important yeasts and an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), using antisera produced against antigens from two C. albicans strains. This method enabled the screening of the three Candida species: C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei, with 100% of specificity. The ELISA using purified immunoglobulin G showed a high level of cross-reaction against protein extracts of Candida species. The SDS-PAGE method allowed the clustering of species-specific isolates using the Simple Matching coefficient, S(SM) = 1.0. The protein profile analysis by SDS-PAGE increases what is known about the taxonomic relationships among oral yeasts. This methodology showed good reproducibility and allows collection of useful information for numerical analysis on information relevant to clinical application, and epidemiological and systematical studies.