Search

Espinilho savanna ("seasonal steppe savanna") is a unique vegetation formation of the Pampas biome that is found near the tri-border of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata) is a flagship species of this ecosystem, but it is classified as "critically endangered" in Brazil due to habitat loss and poaching for the illegal trade. Population supplementation through the release of individuals that were captive-bred or apprehended by authorities from the illegal trade has been considered as a conservation strategy for this species; however, the risk of pathogen introduction is a critical concern. We used microscopy and molecular methods to investigate the occurrence of blood parasites in wild passerines (n = 64, including three Yellow Cardinals) at Espinilho State Park, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and in captive Yellow Cardinals (n = 30) at three facilities in Brazil. Haemosporidian parasites were detected in the blood smears of 10.9% of the wild passerines, comprising the morphospecies Haemoproteus erythrogravidus in Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), H. quiscalus in Grayish Baywing (Agelaioides badius), and H. tyranni in Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus); these are the southernmost records for these morphospecies and their first record for the Pampas biome. No haemosporidian parasites were detected in the blood smears of the Yellow Cardinals, wild or captive. Microfilariae were detected in the blood smears of 14.1% of the wild passerines, including all wild Yellow Cardinals, and in 43.3% of captive Yellow Cardinals. Trypanosoma sp. was detected in the blood smear of one captive Yellow Cardinal. Nested PCR and gene sequencing of the cyt-b gene of Haemoproteus/Plasmodium was used to test a subset of wild passerines and captive Yellow Cardinals, allowing for the molecular barcoding of H. quiscalus lineage AGEBAD04 and H. tyranni lineage PITSUL01; additionally, DNA identical to that of lineage PITSUL01 was detected in the blood of one captive Yellow Cardinal. This study provides valuable data to support the conservation management of the Yellow Cardinal and other threatened passerines from the Pampas and highlights the need for further studies on the epidemiology and pathology of filarioid worms and trypanosomes in passerines from this biome.

O presente trabalho investigou a ocorrência e distribuição de anticorpos contra Sarcocystis neurona, Neospora caninume Toxoplasma gondii em cavalos, cães e gatos de Curitiba, estado do Paraná, Brasil. Amostras de soro de 100 cavalos,100 cães e 100 gatos da rotina do Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária do Hospital Veterinário da UniversidadeFederal do Paraná (UFPR) foram selecionadas. As 100 amostras de cães foram divididas em dois grupos: 35 amostrasde animais com sinal neurológico (convulsão) e 65 sem sinais neurológicos. Os animais eram adultos de diferentesraças, machos e fêmeas. As amostras foram analisadas pelo teste de reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) paraos protozoários S. neurona, N. caninum e T. gondii nas seguintes diluições de corte: cavalos: 1:50, 1:50 e 1:16; cães: 1:50,1:50 e 1:16; gatos: 1:50, 1:50 e 1:50, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos foram 42% dos cavalos, 7% dos cães e 5% dosgatos soropositivos para S. neurona; 58% dos cavalos, 68% dos cães e 42% dos gatos soropositivos para N. caninum; e 36%dos cavalos, 20% dos cães e 21% dos gatos soropositivos para T. gondii. Entre os cães com sinal neurológico, 8.6%, 68.6%e 25.7% deles foram soropositivos para S. neurona, N. caninum e T. gondii, respectivamente. Entre os cães sem sinaisneurológicos, 6.2% 67.7% e 16.9% foram soropositivos para S. neurona, N. caninum e T. gondii, respectivamente. Não foiencontrada diferença estatística entre os grupos de cães soropositivos para os três protozoários com sinal neurológicoe sem sinais neurológicos. Coinfecção e altos títulos de anticorpos foram detectados. Os anticorpos contra Sarcocystisneurona, Neospora caninum e Toxoplasma gondii foram encontrados amplamente distribuídos entre cavalos, cães e gatosna região de Curitiba, estado do Paraná, Brasil. The occurrence and distribution of antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii wasinvestigated in horses, dogs and cats from Curitiba, Paraná state, Brazil. Serum samples were selected from 100 horses,100 dogs and 100 cats from the routine of the Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory in the Veterinary Hospital of theUniversity of Paraná (UFPR). The 100 dog samples were divided into two groups: 35 samples from dogs with neurologicalsign (convulsion) and 65 samples from dogs without neurological signs. The animals were adults of different breeds, malesand females. Samples were analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for protozoa S. neurona, N. caninum andT. gondii at the following cut-off dilutions: horses: 1:50, 1:50 and 1:16; dogs: 1:50, 1:50 and 1:16; cats: 1:50, 1:50 and 1:50,respectively. The obtained results were 42% of horses, 7% of dogs and 5% of cats seropositive for S. neurona; 58% of horses,68% of dogs and 42% of cats seropositive to N. caninum, and 36% of horses, 20% of dogs and 21% of cats seropositive forT. gondii. Among the dogs with neurological signs, 8.6%, 68.6% and 25.7% were seropositive for S. neurona, N. caninumand T. gondii, respectively. Among the dogs without neurological signs, 6.2% 67.7% and 16.9% were seropositive forS. neurona, N. caninum and T. gondii, respectively. No statistical difference was found between groups of seropositivedogs for the three protozoa with neurological signs and without neurological signs. Co-infection and high antibodytiters were detected. The antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii were foundwidely distributed among horses, dogs and cats in the region of Curitiba, state of Paraná, Brazil. &nbsp

Rangelia vitalii infects erythrocytes, leukocytes and endothelial cells of dogs. The present study aimed to report the molecular detection confirmed by sequencing of R. vitalii in the state of Paraná, as well as describe the clinical, hematological and biochemical alterations of the infected dogs. Three sick dogs from the metropolitan area of Curitiba, PR, Brazil, underwent a physical exam, and laboratory tests included hematology, biochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gene sequencing. Clinical signs included apathy, anorexia, and hemorrhage. Intra-erythrocytic and extracellular piroplasms were found on peripheral blood smears from all three dogs. Blood samples from these animals were positive for Babesia sp. by PCR targeting 18S rRNA. PCR products from all three dogs were sequenced, and BLAST analysis showed that the PCR-generated sequences were highly homologous with those of R. vitalii previously reported. Hematologic findings included severe anemia, shift of neutrophils to the regenerative left, and thrombocytopenia. Serum urea levels were increased in all three dogs, and direct bilirubin levels were elevated in one dog.

The present study aimed to contribute towards identification and registration of tick species that parasitize dogs in rural and urban areas of three mesoregions of Paraná, southern Brazil, and to estimate the rate of occurrence of each species. Fifty-six dogs with ticks living in three mesoregions: Metropolitana de Curitiba (MC), Centro Oriental (COP) and Centro Sul Paranaense (CSP), were used in the study. From these 56 dogs, 253 ticks were collected and were identified and morphologically characterized according to the species. Among all the ticks, 69.6% were identified as belonging to the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s. l.); 28.1% as Amblyomma aureolatum and 2.4% as Amblyomma ovale. Among the dogs in MC that were evaluated, 57.7% were parasitized by R. sanguineus s. l., 38.5% by A. aureolatum and 3.8% by A. ovale; while in COP, 72.4% of the dogs were parasitized by A. aureolatum and 27.6% by R. sanguineus s. l.. In CSP, one tick was obtained, which was identified as A. aureolatum. Resumo O presente estudo objetivou contribuir com a identificação e o registro das espécies de carrapatos que parasitam cães de áreas rurais e urbanas de três mesorregiões do Paraná, Sul do Brasil, e estimar a taxa de ocorrência de cada espécie. Cinquenta e seis cães com carrapatos, provenientes das mesorregiões: Metropolitana de Curitiba (MC), Centro Oriental (COP) e Centro Sul Paranaense (CSP) foram utilizados no estudo. Dos 56 cães, foram coletados 253 carrapatos que foram identificados e caracterizados morfologicamente de acordo com a espécie. Do total de carrapatos, 69,6% foram identificadas como pertencentes à espécie Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l.; 28,1% como Amblyomma aureolatum e 2,4% como Amblyomma ovale. Dentre os animais avaliados, provenientes da MC, 57,7% estavam parasitados por R. sanguineus s. l., 38,5% por A. aureolatum e 3,8% por A. ovale; enquanto na COP 72,4% dos cães foram parasitados por A. aureolatum e 27,6% por R. sanguineus s. l.. Na CSP foi obtido um carrapato, identificado como A. aureolatum.

Different types of anticoagulants are used in the routine of a veterinary clinic, which are chosen based on the exam to be performed. Agitated, aggressive, of hard contention and small size animals can be a limiting factor when it is wished to separate samples into tubes with different anticoagulants. Therefore, this study had as the objective evaluate the effects of anticoagulants: EDTA, sodium citrate and sodium fluorite associated with EDTA, in the results of routine plasma biochemistry performed in dogs and compare it with serum. Blood samples of 10 clinically healthy dogs were collected and placed in different tubes with each anticoagulant and one without to obtain serum. Albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), calcium, total cholesterol, creatine, phosphorus, glucose, total protein (PT) and urea concentrations were measured by spectophotometric. It was found that plasma obtained with EDTA anticoagulant resulted in dosage alterations for glucose, cholesterol and calcium. Samples obtained with sodium citrate presented results lower than serum in all analyzed parameters, except for ALT. The anticoagulant sodium 34 Colloquium Agrariae, v. 11, n.1, Jan-Jun. 2015, p.33-41. DOI: 10.5747/ca.2015.v11.n1.a116 fluorite with EDTA only didn’t result in statistical differences when compared to serum in the parameters of urea and glucose. Thus, serum is the most trustworthy sample to determine the biochemical profile of dogs, however some biochemical’s can be performed with plasma with EDTA such as creatine, ALT, urea, albumin, PT and phosphorus.