Cassiano Victoria

This study evaluated whether there were differences in vaccination coverage rates between municipalities with different vaccination strategies regarding the species and the coverage rates during different day periods. The vaccination period was categorized as M1 (morning; 09h00 am - 11h00 am), M2 (morning/afternoon; 11h00 am - 01h00 pm), M3 (afternoon; 01h00 pm - 03h00 pm), and M4 (afternoon; 03h00 pm - 05h00 pm). A repeated measures model compared the vaccination rate between periods and municipalities. The interaction between time and municipality was statistically significant (P < 0.01), indicating that the vaccination rate difference between periods depended on the municipality analyzed. Results of the difference between proportions analysis revealed that municipality B vaccinated 3.3% (2.2%-4.4%, 95% confidence limits) less dogs and 20.1% (17.9%-22.4%, 95% confidence limits) less cats than the municipality A. In municipality A, the vaccination rate in period M1 was higher than in periods M3 (P = 0.07) and M4 (P < 0.01). The vaccination rate was higher in M2 than in M4 (P < 0.01). In municipality B, the vaccination rate in period M1 was higher than in M2 (P = 0.01). The vaccination rate in M2 was lower than that observed in M3 (P = 0.01) and M4 (P = 0.01). Based on these results, mass vaccination campaigns have better results during the week, with the highest vaccination rate at lunchtime.

Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are zoonoses of occupational character that are spread worldwide, mainly in tropical and socioeconomically vulnerable areas. Both diseases have vertebrate hosts, which spread the infectious agent to the environment and are potentially infectious to humans and can progress to fatal cases. The present study reinforces the importance of One Health for the control and prophylaxis of leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis using sentinel animals in areas of socioeconomic vulnerability based on a serological study. A total of 336 blood samples were obtained from the canine population of the urban district, which has high rates of poverty and sanitation. The results were analyzed based on seroreactivity animals and georeferencing by kernel spatial mapping. A total of 43.3% (52/120) of the animals were seroreagents for anti-Leptospira spp., with a predominance of Canicola (35/52 = 67.3%) and Pyrogenes (5/52 = 9.6%), while 52.97% (178/336) of the dogs were seroreactive for anti-Toxoplasma gondii. The presence of seroreagent dogs for both zoonosis alert to the inadequate hygienic-sanitary conditions of the studied region, and highlight the importance of a survey of the social, economic and environmental structure to identify factors related to the links in the epidemiological chain of pathogen transmission and necessary corrective actions.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. It has a worldwide distribution with greater occurrence in tropical and subtropical countries. It is endemic in Brazil. It affects domestic, wild and production animals. The goal of this study was to assess dairy herd productive and reproductive indexes on a monthly basis by serologically monitoring the infection dynamics on two experimental groups: one with animals with negative results at study onset (G-1) and another with animals tested positive for at least one leptospira serovar (G-2). The serum microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was employed. Animals with titer equal to or greater than 100 IU were considered reactive. Animals were evaluated for productive and reproductive indexes based on data provided by the dairy’s IT system. Blood was collected from all animals in both groups once a month for nine months. Analysis showed interference between animals seroreactive to leptospirosis and both milk production and number of pregnancies for G-2 at collection moments 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 whereas for G-1 the same indexes showed decrease only in the 5th and 9th study months. The most prevalent serovars were Hardjoprajitino 59.5%, Pyrogenes 21.04%, Pomona 11.07%, Wollfi 11.07%, Hardjo 8.78%, Guaricura 6.55%, Copenhageni 5.09%, Icterohaemorrhagiae 1.11%, and Ctg 0.83%. Serovar Hardjoprajitino showed a relationship with herd milk production decrease.

American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease, CD) affects circa 7 million persons worldwide. While of those persons present the asymptomatic, indeterminate chronic form (ICF), many will eventually progress to cardiac or digestive disorders. We studied a nonconcurrent (retrospective) cohort of patients attending an outpatient CD clinic in Southeastern Brazil, who were admitted while presenting the ICF in the period from 1998 through 2018 and followed until 2019. The outcomes of interest were the progression to cardiac or digestive CD forms. We were also interested in analyzing the impact of Benznidazole therapy on the progression of the disease. Extensive review of medical charts and laboratory files was conducted, collecting data up to year 2019. Demographics (upon inclusion), body mass index, comorbidities (including the Charlson index) and use of Benznidazole were recorded. The outcomes were defined by abnormalities in those test that could not be attributed to other causes. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariable Cox regression models. Among 379 subjects included in the study, 87 (22.9%) and 100 (26.4%) progressed to cardiac and digestive forms, respectively. In the final multivariable model, cardiac disorders were positively associated with previous coronary syndrome (Hazzard Ratio [HR], 2.42; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.53–3.81) and negatively associated with Benznidazole therapy (HR, 0.26; 95%CI, 0.11–0.60). On the other hand, female gender was the only independent predictor of progression to digestive forms (HR, 1.56; 95%CI, 1.03–2.38). Our results point to the impact of comorbidities on progression do cardiac CD, with possible benefit of the use of Benznidazole. Chagas Disease (CD) is a chronic, neglected infectious disease that affects several low-to-middle income countries. Besides its usual vector transmission, the etiological agent (Trypanosoma cruzi) can be transmitted through blood transfusion, so that migration from individuals with CD to Europe and North America. The scarcity and lack of evidence for therapeutic options is a major challenge for clinical approach of CD patients. Most of those patients are diagnosed while in asymptomatic, indeterminate chronic form (ICF). Our study aimed at identifying factors associated with progression from ICF to cardiac or digestive disorders. We studied a cohort of 379 IFC patients in inner Brazil, of which 87 and 100 developed cardiac and digestive disorders. In univariate and multivariable analyses, the use of Benznidazole (one of the few drugs used for CD therapy) was statistically protective for progression to cardiac, but not to digestive CD forms. These findings emphasize the importance of novel research aimed at developing more effective therapeutic options.

Leptospirosis and brucellosis cause immunosuppression that worsens the clinical condition of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). We investigated the serological profile and risk factors of PLWHA. Serum samples (n=238) were researched for Brucella spp. antibodies using Rose Bengal and tube agglutination tests and Leptospira spp. antibodies using the microscopic agglutination test. All samples were negative for Brucella spp. For leptospirosis, four samples (1.69%) were positive, and Andamana was the prevalent serovar. Low or no detection of these zoonoses does not reduce their importance in PLWHA. Vigilant, educational, and preventive measures should be adopted.

Conhecer as características das adoções de animais de canis municipais pode contribuir para que ações educativas de guarda responsável sejam mais precisas e direcionadas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever as adoções de cães e gatos do canil municipal de Botucatu/SP, a fim de investigar a possível associação entre adoção e renda, além do sexo dos adotantes, para direcionar de uma melhor maneira ações educativas de guarda responsável. As informações foram coletadas de 998 termos de adoção. A partir dos endereços das adoções, identificaram-se os bairros que mais adotaram e suas rendas médias. As informações foram armazenadas em banco de dados criado na planilha eletrônica do Excel. As distribuições frequenciais foram processadas por meio do software SPSS. Observou-se que não foi estabelecida associação entre o número de adoções e a renda. Em relação ao gênero dos adotantes, houve predominância do sexo feminino. O conhecimento destas características auxiliará na elaboração de ações educativas de guarda responsável, contribuindo para minimizar o número de animais que oferecem risco para a saúde pública e que precisam ser acolhidos pelos canis.

Bovine mastitis is mainly caused by bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus spp., which possess different virulence factors, including the capacity for biofilm formation that provides enhanced protection against the action of immune system components and serves as a barrier against the penetration of antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to characterize 181 Staphylococcus spp. Strains—including Staphylococcusaureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis in six Brazilian states—by molecular methods. RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression of genes of the ica operon—mainly responsible for biofilm formation—as well as bap and bhp. Chromosome similarity among the isolates was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The icaA gene was detected in 79 (43.6%) isolates, icaB in 24 (13.2%), icaC in 57 (31.4%), and icaD in 127 (70.1%). The bap gene was identified in 66 (36.4%) isolates, while the bhp gene was found in nine (4.9%). RT-qPCR confirmed the expression of the icaA gene in 60 (75.9%) isolates, of icaB in six (25%), of icaC in 26 (45.6%), and of icaD in 80 (63%). Clonal typing of the isolates by PFGE permitted the identification of eight Staphylococcusaureus clusters that simultaneously included ≥3 strains, with a similarity of ≥80%. Regarding the other species studied, three clusters were observed for Staphylococcuschromogenes and four clusters for Staphylococcusepidermidis. Only one cluster each was identified for Staphylococcussaprophyticus and Staphylococcussimulans, while the other species did not form any cluster. With respect to MLST, ST126 and ST1 were the prevalent sequence types in S. aureus, while in S.epidermidis all sequence types were different. These results reveal strains with the same evolutionary origin as other isolates, which might cause infections in humans and animals, suggesting their ability to spread between these species.