PESQUISA VETERINÁRIA BRASILEIRA

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Bernardo C.C., Avelar B.R., Ignacchiti M.D.C., Martins I.V.F. & Pereira M.J.S. 2013. [Comparison of comercial® ELISA kits for antibodies in serum and milk with a fecal test in cattle naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica.] Comparação de kits ELISA® comerciais para anticorpos no soro e leite com um teste coproparasitológico em bovinos naturalmente infectados por Fasciola hepatica. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 33(1):37-40. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário s/n, Cx. Postal 16, Alegre, ES 29500-000, Brazil. E-mail: ivfmartins@gmail.com The fascioliasis is a disease caused by a trematode that affects the liver mainly of domestic ruminants and can also parasite man; its diagnosis is routinely done by coprological methods. The aim of this study was to compare commercial ELISA kits for antibodies in serum and milk with a coprological test in cattle naturally infected by Fasciola hepatica. We collected fecal, blood and milk samples from cattle in the municipality of Jerônimo Monteiro, southern Espírito Santo state. The fecal samples were processed by the fecal egg sedimentation for F. hepatica, which is used as a gold standard for analyzis. Blood (92) and milk (43) samples were processed according to the manufacturer instructions of the respective commercial ELISA kits tested. We used the McNemar chi-square for statistical comparison and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and kappa. The results showed that the frequency of positivity for the commercial serum ELISA kits (c2=34.02) and milk (c2=19.04) differed significantly (p<0.0001) compared with fecal egg sedimentation. The sensitivity of the kits was 100%, but possessed low specificity, 42.85 and 30% for serum and milk respectively. The coefficient kappa showed agreement for testing serum (0.33) and milk (0.21). The positive predictive value of the kits for serum and milk were respectively 44.61% and 38.23%, and negative predictive values were 100% for both tests. Despite the increased sensitivity of commercial ELISA kits and the difference in relation to the fecal egg sedimentation test for detection of F. hepatica positive animals, the choice of a diagnostic test should consider the effectiveness. When a herd is affected by parasitism, treatment is applied to all animals; so, the fecal egg sedimentation test for the diagnosis of disease in the field is most efficient, as the test is cheap and easy to perform.

• Fascioliasis Fasciola hepatica fasciolose

Abstract in Portuguese:

RESUMO.- Bernardo C.C., Avelar B.R., Ignacchiti M.D.C., Martins I.V.F. & Pereira M.J.S. 2013. [Comparison of comercial® ELISA kits for antibodies in serum and milk with a fecal test in cattle naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica.] Comparação de kits ELISA® comerciais para anticorpos no soro e leite com um teste coproparasitológico em bovinos naturalmente infectados por Fasciola hepatica. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 33(1):37-40. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário s/n, Cx. Postal 16, Alegre, ES 29500-000, Brazil. E-mail: ivfmartins@gmail.com A fasciolose é uma enfermidade causada por um trematoda que acomete o fígado principalmente de ruminantes domésticos, podendo parasitar o homem e seu diagnóstico é realizado rotineiramente por exames coproparasitológicos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar kits comerciais de ELISA para anticorpos no soro e leite com um teste coproprarasitológico em bovinos naturalmente infectados por Fasciola hepatica. Foram coletadas amostras de fezes (92) sangue (92) e leite (43) de bovinos provenientes de propriedades de gado leiteiro do município de Jerônimo Monteiro, sul do Estado do Espírito Santo. As amostras de fezes coletadas foram processadas pela técnica de sedimentação fecal para ovos de F. hepatica, utilizada como padrão ouro para as análises. Amostras de sangue e de leite foram processadas segundo a orientação do fabricante dos respectivos Kits ELISA comerciais testados. Utilizou-se o c2 de McNemar para comparação estatística e calcularam-se a sensibilidade e especificidade, valores preditivos e kappa. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as frequências de positividade pelo uso dos kits ELISA comerciais de soro e de leite diferiram significativamente (p<0,0001) em relação ao exame coproparasitológico. A sensibilidade dos Kits foi de 100%, porém possuíram baixa especificidade, 42,85 e 30% para o soro e leite respectivamente. O coeficiente de kappa mostrou concordância sofrível para os testes de soro (0,33) e de leite (0,21). Os valores preditivos positivos dos kits para soro e leite foram, respectivamente, 44,61 e 38,23% e, os valores preditivos negativos de 100% para ambos os testes. Apesar da maior sensibilidade dos kits ELISA comerciais e, destes apresentarem diferença em relação ao exame coproparasitológico na detecção dos animais positivos para F. hepatica, a escolha de um teste diagnóstico deve considerar o custo benefício. Quando se trata da presença de parasitismo em rebanhos, o tratamento é aplicado em todos os animais e, assim, o exame coproparasitológico para o diagnóstico da doença tem maior eficiência, já que é menos oneroso e de fácil execução.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Martins I.V.F., Verocai G.G., Correia T.R., Melo R.M.P.S., Pereira M.J.S., Scott F.B. & Grisi L. 2009. Survey on control and management practices of equine helminths infection. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 29(3):253-257. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Cx. Postal 16, Alegre, ES 29500-000, Brazil. E-mail: isabella@cca.ufes.br Twenty-nine stud farms were selected in the Medium Paraíba region of the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. After an interview with the person responsible for the animals, faecal samples were collected from mares and analyzed via the EPG technique, faecal cultures, Sedimentation-centrifugo-flotation, and modified Ueno and Baermann techniques. The prevalence of helminths in the mares and in the stud farms was calculated. The stocking rates of pasture, change of horse bedding, absence of pasture rotation, absence of technology in the property, and less frequent treatment of the animals were associated with a greater prevalence of helminths, showing that these variables must be considered in equine control programs. The intensity of the parasitism was also associated with the stocking rate of pasture, absence of dunghill, presence of the animals only in paddocks, lack of technology in the property, less frequent treatment of the animals, and absence of the use of rotation regarding the anthelmintic class.

• Control practices management helminths treatment horses

Abstract in Portuguese:

ABSTRACT.- Martins I.V.F., Verocai G.G., Correia T.R., Melo R.M.P.S., Pereira M.J.S., Scott F.B. & Grisi L. 2009. Survey on control and management practices of equine helminths infection. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 29(3):253-257. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Cx. Postal 16, Alegre, ES 29500-000, Brazil. E-mail: isabella@cca.ufes.br Twenty-nine stud farms were selected in the Medium Paraíba region of the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. After an interview with the person responsible for the animals, faecal samples were collected from mares and analyzed via the EPG technique, faecal cultures, Sedimentation-centrifugo-flotation, and modified Ueno and Baermann techniques. The prevalence of helminths in the mares and in the stud farms was calculated. The stocking rates of pasture, change of horse bedding, absence of pasture rotation, absence of technology in the property, and less frequent treatment of the animals were associated with a greater prevalence of helminths, showing that these variables must be considered in equine control programs. The intensity of the parasitism was also associated with the stocking rate of pasture, absence of dunghill, presence of the animals only in paddocks, lack of technology in the property, less frequent treatment of the animals, and absence of the use of rotation regarding the anthelmintic class.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Munhoz A.D., Pereira M.J.S., Flausino W. & Lopes C.W.G. 2009. Neospora caninum seropositivity in cattle breeds in the South Fluminense Paraíba Valley, state of Rio de Janeiro. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 29(1):29-32. Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil. E-mail: lopescwg@ufrrj.br The infection by Neospora caninum of different cattle breeds in dairy properties in two municipalities of the South Fluminense Paraíba Valley, state of Rio de Janeiro, was evaluated. Considering a sampling universe of 2,491 cows, blood samples were collected from 563 dairy cows in 57 farms, which were randomically selected in proportion to the number of animals, using a random stratified sampling system. For each property the number of selected cows was proportional to the herd size. Abortion or other reproductive disorders were not considered as criteria for selecting the animals, and seropositivity was determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A high association (p=0.006) between seropositivity and racial patterns was found. The analysis revealed that in comparison of pure black-and-white Holstein cows versus Zebu (p=0.0028), Holstein cows showed 2.65 times greater odds for seropositivity. In the same way, by comparing black-and-white Holstein versus Zebu + crossbreed Zebu/Holstein (p=0.01), it was noted that there is 2.23 times more chance for seropositivity in Holstein cattle. There were no significant differences concerning the comparison of Holstein cattle versus crossbreed Zebu/Holstein (p=0.08) or Zebu versus crossbreed Zebu/Holstein (p=0.11). This study supports the hypothesis that there is a close association between cattle breeds and the frequency of infection by N. caninum.

• Neospora caninum association cattle breed

Abstract in Portuguese:

ABSTRACT.- Munhoz A.D., Pereira M.J.S., Flausino W. & Lopes C.W.G. 2009. Neospora caninum seropositivity in cattle breeds in the South Fluminense Paraíba Valley, state of Rio de Janeiro. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 29(1):29-32. Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil. E-mail: lopescwg@ufrrj.br The infection by Neospora caninum of different cattle breeds in dairy properties in two municipalities of the South Fluminense Paraíba Valley, state of Rio de Janeiro, was evaluated. Considering a sampling universe of 2,491 cows, blood samples were collected from 563 dairy cows in 57 farms, which were randomically selected in proportion to the number of animals, using a random stratified sampling system. For each property the number of selected cows was proportional to the herd size. Abortion or other reproductive disorders were not considered as criteria for selecting the animals, and seropositivity was determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A high association (p=0.006) between seropositivity and racial patterns was found. The analysis revealed that in comparison of pure black-and-white Holstein cows versus Zebu (p=0.0028), Holstein cows showed 2.65 times greater odds for seropositivity. In the same way, by comparing black-and-white Holstein versus Zebu + crossbreed Zebu/Holstein (p=0.01), it was noted that there is 2.23 times more chance for seropositivity in Holstein cattle. There were no significant differences concerning the comparison of Holstein cattle versus crossbreed Zebu/Holstein (p=0.08) or Zebu versus crossbreed Zebu/Holstein (p=0.11). This study supports the hypothesis that there is a close association between cattle breeds and the frequency of infection by N. caninum.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Souza C.P., Ramadinha R.R., Scott F.B. & Pereira M.J.S. 2007. Factors associated with the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis in an ambulatory population of dogs. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 28(8):375-378. Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil. E-mail: clarissa@ufrrj.br The objective was to evaluate the factors associated with the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis infestations in dogs assisted at the Dermatology Service of the Veterinary Hospital, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. A total of 250 dogs were examined through direct smear of ear samples using a stereoscopic microscope, for the parasitological diagnostic. All dog owners were interviewed and data regarding the animals and their environments were individually recorded. Mite infestation was observed in 15 animals, with a prevalence of 6%. The variables were tested regarding their association with the mites, using the c2 test and, when appropriate, the Fisher exact test. There were no evidences that age (p = 0,20), sex (p = 0,31), breed (p = 0,50), shape of ear (p = 0,66), type (p = 0,19) and length of hair (p = 0,14) and contact with other animals (p = 0,06) could act as potential risk factors for O. cynotis infestation. However, living environment (p = 0,03) and frequency of environmental cleaning (p = 0,005) may facilitate the infestation. The occurrence of pruritus was associated to the presence of mites (p<0,001), suggesting to be an effect of the parasitism.

• Ear mange risk factors dogs

Abstract in Portuguese:

ABSTRACT.- Souza C.P., Ramadinha R.R., Scott F.B. & Pereira M.J.S. 2007. Factors associated with the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis in an ambulatory population of dogs. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 28(8):375-378. Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil. E-mail: clarissa@ufrrj.br The objective was to evaluate the factors associated with the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis infestations in dogs assisted at the Dermatology Service of the Veterinary Hospital, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. A total of 250 dogs were examined through direct smear of ear samples using a stereoscopic microscope, for the parasitological diagnostic. All dog owners were interviewed and data regarding the animals and their environments were individually recorded. Mite infestation was observed in 15 animals, with a prevalence of 6%. The variables were tested regarding their association with the mites, using the c2 test and, when appropriate, the Fisher exact test. There were no evidences that age (p = 0,20), sex (p = 0,31), breed (p = 0,50), shape of ear (p = 0,66), type (p = 0,19) and length of hair (p = 0,14) and contact with other animals (p = 0,06) could act as potential risk factors for O. cynotis infestation. However, living environment (p = 0,03) and frequency of environmental cleaning (p = 0,005) may facilitate the infestation. The occurrence of pruritus was associated to the presence of mites (p<0,001), suggesting to be an effect of the parasitism.