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Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a frequência de cães soropositivos para Neospora caninum, no município de Ilhéus, BA, e a influência da procedência dos cães com soropositividade. Coletaram-se 161 amostras de sangue dos animais, as quais foram testadas por meio da reação de imunofluorescência indireta, empregando-se um ponto de corte de 1:50. Na análise estatística foi utilizado o teste do qui-quadrado com correção de Yates. Detectaram-se dezenove (11,8%) cães soropositivos para o parasito, sendo que, entre os positivos, 21,9% eram errantes e 9,3% domiciliados (p = 0,1). Os animais residentes em áreas urbanas apresentaram uma maior soropositividade para o parasito quando comparados com os animais da área periurbana (p=0,03). Os resultados são indicativos da presença de N. caninum na região estudada. PALAVRAS-CHAVES: Caninos, fatores de risco, neosporose, prevalência. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs at Ilheus Municipality, in the State of Bahia, as well as the influence of the dogs’ habitat on their seropositivity. A total of 161 blood samples were collected and the indirect immunofluorescence reaction was conducted, with a cut-off of 1:50. The statistical analysis was conducted based on the chi-square test as corrected by Yates. A seropositivity of 19 (11.8%) samples was determined, whereas 21.9% were stray animals and 9.3% house pets (p=0.1). The dogs in urban areas had a higher seropositivity than those periurban areas (p=0.03). Such results indicate the presence of N. caninum in the region.KEY WORDS: Canine, neosporosis, prevalence, risk factors.

Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a frequência de cães soropositivos para Neospora caninum, no município de Ilhéus, BA, e a influência da procedência dos cães com soropositividade. Coletaram-se 161 amostras de sangue dos animais, as quais foram testadas por meio da reação de imunofluorescência indireta, empregando-se um ponto de corte de 1:50. Na análise estatística foi utilizado o teste do qui-quadrado com correção de Yates. Detectaram-se dezenove (11,8%) cães soropositivos para o parasito, sendo que, entre os positivos, 21,9% eram errantes e 9,3% domiciliados (p = 0,1). Os animais residentes em áreas urbanas apresentaram uma maior soropositividade para o parasito quando comparados com os animais da área periurbana (p=0,03). Os resultados são indicativos da presença de N. caninum na região estudada. PALAVRAS-CHAVES: Caninos, fatores de risco, neosporose, prevalência.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite that causes disease in domestic and wild animals. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the frequency of antibodies anti-N. caninum in water buffaloes in Bahia state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 117 animals distributed in four farms. The sera were tested using an immunofluorescent antibody technique. Antibodies were detected in 35.9% of the animals using a serum dilution of 1:200 as a cutoff. The titers ranged from 1:200 to 1:800. The high frequency of antibodies anti-N. caninum detected in water buffaloes is suggestive that this animal species is highly exposed to the parasite in Bahia. Further studies are necessary to investigate the role of N. caninum as an abortive agent in buffaloes.Neospora caninum é um parasita protozoário que causa doença em animais domésticos e silvestres. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar a frequência de anticorpos anti-N. caninum em fazendas de criação de búfalos na Bahia, Brasil. Amostras de sangue foram colhidas de 117 animais distribuídos em quatro fazendas. Os soros foram testados utilizando-se a técnica de imunofluorescência indireta. Anticorpos foram detectados em 35,9% dos animais, empregando-se a diluição de 1:200 como ponto de corte. Os títulos variaram de 1:200 à 1:800. A elevada frequência de anticorpos anti-N. caninum detectada em búfalos é sugestivo de que essa espécie animal é altamente exposta ao parasita na Bahia. Outros estudos são necessários para investigar o papel de N. caninum como agente abortivo em búfalos.

A freqüência de anticorpos IgG anti-Neospora caninum foi estudada em 415 amostras séricas de cães domiciliados e errantes, procedentes dos municípios baianos de Salvador e Lauro de Freitas, utilizando-se a técnica de imunofluorescência indireta, com ponto de corte igual a 1:50. Anticorpos da classe IgG anti-N. caninum foram detectados em 13,3% (22/165) dos cães domiciliados e em 11,2% (28/250) dos errantes. As freqüências de soropositivos machos e fêmeas foram 8,0% (6/75) e 18,4% (14/76) nos cães domiciliados e 12,6% (17/135) e 9,6% (11/115) nos errantes, respectivamente. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre sexo, idade, raça e a freqüência de soropositividade ao N. caninum dos cães domiciliados e errantes.

The genus Sarcocystis contains around 200 species and 25 of these infect snakes. Two Sarcocystis spp. shed by snakes have called special attention of the scientific community. S. nesbitti, which is shed by scrub pythons (Simalia amethistina), causes myopathy in humans that consume water or food contaminated with the parasite. Sporocysts of S. singaporensis, excreted by reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus), is letal for rats and was successfully tested in the biological control of these rodents. A high biodiversity of snakes is found in Brazil, however, scarce information is available about Sarcocystis spp. in Brazilian snakes. Herein, we investigated Sarcocystis sp. in feces of the common boa (Boa constrictor) from Salvador, as it is widely distributed in Brazil and it is also bred in other countries. Feces of 65 boas were examined, and Sarcocystis sp. was found in 1/65 (1.53%) snakes. All snakes were alive, and for this reason, intestinal scrapping, which is the most sensitive method to detect the parasite, was not performed. Morphometric evaluation of sporocysts showed significant differences in their sizes. PCR and multilocus sequencing of four genetic markers (cox1, 18S, ITS1, and 28S) revealed that sporocysts corresponded to a new Sarcocystis species. Sequences of cox1 and 18S had identities of 100% and higher than 98%, respectively, with sequences obtained from the rodent Lagostomus maximus in Argentina. ITS1 and 28S sequences did not match with any known Sarcocystis sp. No ITS1 and 28S sequences were available for the Sarcocystis sp. found in the Argentinian L. maximus. Bioassay using the boa sporocysts was conducted in three mouse lineages and in Rattus norvegicus, but no parasitic stages were detected in these rodents. We concluded that the common boa is probably the definitive host of a new species of Sarcocystis sp. that has L. maximus or related rodents as intermediate hosts.

The genus Sarcocystis has approximately 200 species that are able to infect homeothermic and poikilothermic animals. So far, 23 Sarcocystis spp. have snakes as definitive hosts (DHs) and mammals and/or reptiles as intermediate hosts (IHs). Some of these species cause disease or even death in their IH. At least two Sarcocystis spp. from snakes have relevance in public health. Sarcocystis nesbitti causes serious myopathy in humans, and S. singaporensis is lethal for rats and was successfully tested in the biological control of these rodents. Molecular identification was not reported for half of Sarcocystis spp. shed by snakes. For some snake species, their role as DHs for Sarcocystis spp. is totally unknown, including certain snakes which are bred as companion animals. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of snakes as DHs or IHs of Sarcocystis spp. and the future directions for the identification of the parasites and the elucidation of their life cycles.

Abstract Protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis are obligatory heteroxenous cyst-forming coccidia that infect a wide variety of animals and encompass approximately 200 described species. At least four Sarcocystis spp. (S. falcatula, S. neurona, S. lindsayi and S. speeri) use opossums (Didelphis spp.) as definitive hosts, and two of them, S. neurona and S. falcatula, are known to cause disease in horses and birds, respectively. Opossums are restricted to the Americas, but their distribution in the Americas is heterogeneous. Five Didelphis spp. are distributed in South America (D. aurita, D. albiventris, D. marsupialis, D. imperfecta and D. pernigra) whereas just one opossum species (D. virginiana) is found in North America. Studies conducted in the last decades show that Sarcocystis spp., derived from South American Didelphis spp., have biological and genetic differences in relation to Sarcocystis spp. shed by the North American opossum D. virginiana. The aim of this review was to address the peculiar scenario of Sarcocystis species shed by South American opossums, with a special focus on diagnosis, epidemiology, and animal infections, as well as the genetic characteristics of these parasites.

Sarcocystis neurona is the major agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. It infects several mammalian species in the Americas, where the definitive hosts, marsupials of the genus Didelphis (D. virginiana and D. albiventris) are found. Domestic cats are one of the confirmed intermediate hosts of the parasite; however, antibodies against S. neurona had never before been demonstrated in Brazilian cats. The aim of this study was to determine whether cats in Bahia, Brazil, are exposed to the parasite. A total of 272 feline serum samples (134 from feral and 138 from house cats) were subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test using cultured merozoites of S. neurona as antigen. Positivity was detected in 4.0% (11/272) of the tested samples, with titers ranging from 25 to 800. The feline sera were also tested for antibodies against the protozoan Neospora caninum, with an observed antibody frequency of 2.9%. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study to report antibodies against S. neurona in Brazilian cats. We conclude that cats are exposed to the parasite in the region of this study. Further investigations are needed to confirm the role of cats in the transmission cycle of S. neurona in Brazil.

Sarcocystis neurona is the major agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. It infects several mammalian species in the Americas, where the definitive hosts, marsupials of the genus Didelphis (D. virginiana and D. albiventris) are found. Domestic cats are one of the confirmed intermediate hosts of the parasite; however, antibodies against S. neurona had never before been demonstrated in Brazilian cats. The aim of this study was to determine whether cats in Bahia, Brazil, are exposed to the parasite. A total of 272 feline serum samples (134 from feral and 138 from house cats) were subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test using cultured merozoites of S. neurona as antigen. Positivity was detected in 4.0% (11/272) of the tested samples, with titers ranging from 25 to 800. The feline sera were also tested for antibodies against the protozoan Neospora caninum, with an observed antibody frequency of 2.9%. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study to report antibodies against S. neurona in Brazilian cats. We conclude that cats are exposed to the parasite in the region of this study. Further investigations are needed to confirm the role of cats in the transmission cycle of S. neurona in Brazil.

This study investigated the epidemiology of canine ehrlichiosis in Northeastern Brazil, focusing the identification of the Ehrlichia species and vectors involved. Samples were collected from 472 domestic dogs residing in the health districts of Cajazeiras and Itapuã of Salvador city. The average prevalence of antibodies reactive to E. canis by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (titer > 1:80) was 35.6% (168/472). Blood samples from the E. canis-seropositive animals were tested by nested PCR in order to identify the Ehrlichia species responsible for the infection. Among the seropositives, 58 (34.5%) were found to be PCR-positive for E. canis. Ticks were found in 32 dogs. Nested-PCR analysis showed that 21.9% (7/32) of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus were infected by E. canis. In both dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, nested-PCR for E. ewingii and E. chaffeensis was negative, with no amplification of DNA fragment.Este estudo objetivou pesquisar a epidemiologia da erliquiose canina no Nordeste do Brasil, com especial atenção na identificação da espécie de Ehrlichia envolvida nas infecções caninas e vetoriais detectadas. Para isso foram coletadas amostras de 472 cães domiciliados nos distritos sanitários de Cajazeiras e Itapuã. A prevalência de anticorpos anti-E. canis, pela imunofluorescência indireta (título > 1:80), em cães foi de 35,6% (168/472). Os animais soropositivos foram analisados por uma nested-PCR para identificação da espécie de Ehrlichia responsável pela infecção. Dentre os positivos, 58 (34,5%) cães foram PCR-positivos para E. canis. Foram coletados e classificados os carrapatos em 32 cães. A nested-PCR de Rhipicephalus sanguineus resultou em 21,9% (7/32) de infecção por E. canis. A nested-PCR de amostras de sangue de cães e Rhipicephalus sanguineus para E. chaffeensis e E. ewingii foi negativa, não havendo amplificação de fragmento de DNA.

O Toxoplasma gondii é um coccídio intestinal intracelular obrigatório dos felídeos, de distribuição cosmopolita, descoberto em 1908 por Nicolle & Manceaux. O primeiro relato na espécie canina ocorreu em 1910, na Itália e, no Brasil em 1911. Objetivando-se avaliar a freqüência deste parasito, na população de cães errantes da cidade de Salvador-Ba, foram coletadas 225 amostras de sangue, de animais provenientes de 10 distritos sanitários. Os soros foram submetidos a reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) para detecção de anticorpos IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii, utilizando-se a cepa AS28. Foram detectados 143 amostras positivas, representando uma freqüência de 63,55.00%. As freqüências nos distritos sanitários foram as seguintes: Itapagipe 33,33%; São Caetano/Valéria 46,15.00%; Brotas 42,11%; Barra/Rio Vermelho 64,28%; Boca do Rio 80,00%; Itapuã 65,38%; Cabula/Beiru 80,64%; Pau da Lima 73,91%; Cajazeiras 64,70% e Subúrbio Ferroviário 73,33%. Os títulos encontrados variaram de 1:16 à 1:16384, sendo 1:16 (28,67%), 1:64 (44,76%), 1:256 (21,68%), 1:1024 (4,20%) e 1:16384 (0,70%). Dos 123 machos e 102 fêmeas, 67,48% e 58,82% foram sororeagentes, respectivamente. Com relação à idade, dos 198 adultos e 27 jovens, 70,20% e 14,80% apresentaram-se soropositivos, respectivamente. As variáveis idade e distrito sanitário apresentaram associação estatisticamente significativa (p

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are closely related to horses and are known to be infected by several equine pathogens. Neospora caninum and Neospora hughesi are protozoan parasites that infect horses, but they were not confirmed in donkeys up to this date. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure of donkeys (Equus asinus) to Neospora spp. using tachyzoites of N. caninum as antigen and employing two common serologic methods, IFAT and immunoblot. Sera from 500 donkeys were obtained from 30 municipalities in Bahia state and tested by IFAT. Two of 500 sera were positive for Neospora spp. by IFAT with antibody titers of 100, and recognized a 37kDa antigen in immunoblot. Approximately 22% of the samples showed strong apical reactions and/or incomplete fluorescence, what may cause confusion in the interpretation of IFAT. We concluded that Neospora spp. are possibly of minor importance for Brazilian donkeys. Future studies are necessary to prove that Neospora spp. can naturally infect donkeys.