PESQUISA VETERINÁRIA BRASILEIRA

Abstract in English:

This study evaluated the incidence of natural infection by agents of cattle tick fever (CTF), Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in calves born in five farms within the semiarid region of Paraíba state, Brazil. In each farm, blood samples were collected from 6 to 14 calves every 14 days during the first 12 months of life of each animal. Blood samples were processed by microhematocrit and tested by PCR for detection of DNA of A. marginale, B. bovis and B. bigemina. In parallel, the tick infestations on animals were quantified in the five farms, as well as populations in horseflies in three farms. From a total of 41 calves monitored during the first year of life, 25 (61.0%) had positive PCR for A. marginale, 7 (17.1%) for B. bigemina and 3 (7.3%) to B. bovis. Incidence values for A. marginale infection ranged from 83.3% to 100% in four farms. Infection with B. bigemina in calves was detected at only two farms (incidence of 12.5% and 85.7%) and by B. bovis in just one (42.8% incidence). On one farm 14 calves remained negative for A. marginale, B. bigemina and B. bovis during the 12 month follow-up. PCR results were confirmed by DNA sequencing of amplified products. The presence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was found only in two farms in which there was infection by A. marginale, B. bigemina and B. bovis (the latter agent in only one of them). A total of 930 horseflies were captured in the study, most during periods of rain in the region; 70.7% of horseflies corresponded to Tabanus claripennis. There was significant association between a positive PCR for A. marginale and B. bigemina and lower hematocrit values. This study demonstrates that even evaluating only five rural properties, the incidence of CTF occurred heterogeneously in the region, confirming the status of enzootic instability area for CTF, previously reported for the semiarid region of Paraiba.

• Anaplasma marginale Babesia bigemina Babesia bovis calves cattle cattle tick fever ticks hematophagous Diptera Brazil parasitoses

Abstract in Portuguese:

Este estudo avaliou a incidência de infecções naturais pelos agentes da tristeza parasitária bovina (TPB), Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis e Babesia bigemina, em bezerros nascidos em cinco fazendas do semiárido paraibano. Em cada fazenda, foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 6 a 14 bezerros a cada 14 dias durante os primeiros 12 meses de vida de cada animal. As amostras de sangue foram processadas por microhematócrito e testadas por PCR para detecção de DNA de A. marginale, B. bovis e B. bigemina. Em paralelo, foram quantificadas as infestações por carrapatos nos bovinos nas cinco fazendas, assim como as populações de tabanídeos em três fazendas. De 41 bezerros monitorados durante o primeiro ano de vida, 25 (61,0%) apresentaram PCR positivo para A. marginale, 7 (17,1%) para B. bigemina e 3 (7,3%) para B. bovis. Os valores de incidência da infecção por A. marginale variaram de 83,3% a 100% em quatro fazendas. A infecção por B. bigemina ocorreu em bezerros de apenas duas fazendas (incidências de 12,5% e 85,7%) e a por B. bovis em apenas uma (incidência de 42,8%). Em uma fazenda os 14 bezerros permaneceram negativos para A. marginale, B. bigemina e B. bovis durante os 12 meses de acompanhamento. Os resultados de PCR foram confirmados por sequenciamento de DNA de produtos amplificados. A presença de carrapatos Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus foi verificada somente em duas propriedades, nas quais houve infecção por A. marginale, B. bigemina e B. bovis (este último agente em apenas uma delas). Foram capturados 930 tabanídeos no estudo, a maioria durante os períodos de chuvas na região; 70,7% dos tabanídeos corresponderam a Tabanus claripennis. Houve associação significativa entre PCR positivo para A. marginale ou B. bigemina e menores valores de hematócrito. Este estudo demonstra que, mesmo avaliando apenas cinco propriedades rurais, a incidência dos agentes da TPB ocorreu de forma heterogênea na região, corroborando o status de área de instabilidade enzoótica para TPB previamente relatado para o semiárido paraibano.

• Anaplasma marginale Babesia bigemina Babesia bovis bezerro bovinos Paraíba tristeza parasitária bovina carrapatos dípteros hematófagos parasitoses

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Medeiros J.M.A., Garino Jr F., Matos R.A.T., Costa V.M.M. & Riet-Correa F. 2012. [Frequency of antibodies against paratuberculosis in cattle in the state of Paraiba.] Frequência de anticorpos para paratuberculose em bovinos no semiárido paraibano. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 32(8):697-700. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Campus de Patos, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, PB 58700-000, Brasil. E-mail: franklin.riet@pq.cnpq.br Paratuberculosis is an important disease of cattle in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. In the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Campina Grande, five outbreaks of paratuberculosis were diagnosed in the last four years. The objective of this paper is to report the frequency of antibodies against paratuberculosis in different regions of the state of Paraíba, in farms with previous diagnosis of the disease and in farms without diagnosis. The prevalence of antibodies against paratuberculosis, examined by ELISA, in two farms with cases of the disease, was of 72.22% (13/18) and 68.75% (11/16), respectively. Serum samples from 486 healthy cattle from 36 farms without paratuberculosis diagnosis, from three different regions of Paraíba (sertão, cariri, and agreste), were also examined by ELISA. The frequency of antibodies was 10.08±1,07% (49/486). Antibodies against paratuberculosis were found in 21 (58.33%) out of 36 farms examined. These results suggest that paratuberculosis is an important disease of cattle in the state of Paraíba and that control measures to decrease the prevalence of the disease are necessary.

• Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis paratuberculosis paratuberculose

Abstract in Portuguese:

RESUME.- Medeiros J.M.A., Garino Jr F., Matos R.A.T., Costa V.M.M. & Riet-Correa F. 2012. [Frequency of antibodies against paratuberculosis in cattle in the state of Paraiba.] Frequência de anticorpos para paratuberculose em bovinos no semiárido paraibano. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 32(8):697-700. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Campus de Patos, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, PB 58700-000, Brasil. E-mail: franklin.riet@pq.cnpq.br A paratuberculose é uma doença importante em bovinos na Paraíba, tendo sido diagnosticados, pelo Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, cinco focos da doença nos últimos quatro anos. Neste trabalho objetivou-se realizar um estudo sorológico em rebanhos com e sem histórico da doença para estimar a frequência da infecção por Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) em diferentes regiões do semiárido Paraibano. Utilizando o teste de ELISA pesquisou-se a frequência de animais soropositivos contra Map em duas fazendas onde tinha sido diagnosticada a doença, encontrando-se 72,22% (13/18) e 68,75% (11/16), respectivamente de bovinos sorologicamente positivos. Amostras de soro de 486 bovinos de 36 fazendas sem histórico da doença de diferentes regiões da Paraíba (sertão, cariri e agreste), também foram examinados por ELISA. A frequência de animais soropositivos foi de 10,08±1,07% (49/486). Foram encontrados animais positivos em 21 (58.33%) das 36 fazendas estudadas. Os resultados sugerem que o agente da paratuberculose está disseminado em bovinos na Paraíba e que são necessárias medidas de controle para diminuir a frequência de casos clínicos e subclínicos da doença.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Costa V.M.M., Rodrigues A.L., Medeiros J.M.A., Labruna M.B., Simões S.V.D. & Riet-Correa F. 2011. [Cattle tick fever in the semiarid region of the Brazilian state of Paraiba.] Tristeza parasitária bovina no Sertão da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 31(3):239-243. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: valery.medeiros@hotmail.com Twenty four outbreaks of cattle tick fever are reported in the semiarid region of Paraiba known as Sertão. Eighteen outbreaks were caused by Anaplasma. marginale, two by Babesia bigemina, and two by mixed infection of A. marginale and Babesia sp. In other two outbreaks of babesiosis the species of Babesia was not identified. Outbreaks occurred from August 2007 to October 2009, however with a concentration of the outbreaks at the end of the rainy period and beginning of the dry period in each year. Twenty two outbreaks affected adult cattle and two affected calves approximately 11 months-old. Three outbreaks affected Bos taurus indicus cattle, of the Nelore and Gir breeds. In 21 outbreaks Holstein, Brown Swiss and crossbred of these breeds with Bos taurus indicus cattle were affected. It is concluded that in the sertão of Paraíba there are areas of enzootic instability for cattle tick fever occurring outbreaks at the end of the rainy season, mainly in hilly areas of the Borborema region, and in wet areas of some river basins, including Rio do Peixe, Rio Piranhas and Rio Espinharas.

• Anaplasmosis babesiosis tick fever Anaplasmose babesiose tristeza parasitária

Abstract in Portuguese:

RESUMO.- Costa V.M.M., Rodrigues A.L., Medeiros J.M.A., Labruna M.B., Simões S.V.D. & Riet-Correa F. 2011. [Cattle tick fever in the semiarid region of the Brazilian state of Paraiba.] Tristeza parasitária bovina no Sertão da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 31(3):239-243. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: valery.medeiros@hotmail.com Descrevem-se 24 surtos de tristeza parasitária bovina no sertão paraibano, sendo 18 de anaplasmose por Anaplasma margimale, dois de babesiose por Babesia bigemina, dois por Babesia não identificada e dois por infecção mista de A. marginale e Babesia sp. Os surtos ocorreram entre agosto de 2007 a outubro de 2009, porém, com uma concentração dos surtos no final do período chuvoso e início do período seco de cada ano, sendo 22 em animais adultos e dois em bezerros de aproximadamente 11 meses. Dois surtos ocorreram em bovinos da raça Nelore, um em animais da raça Gir e os 21 restantes ocorreram em animais das raças Holandês, Pardo Suiço e mestiços das mesmas com zebuínos. Conclui-se que no sertão da Paraíba há áreas de instabilidade enzoótica, ocorrendo surtos de tristeza no final da época de chuvas, principalmente nas áreas de planaltos e serras da região da Borborema e em áreas úmidas como a Bacia do Rio do Peixe, Rio Piranhas e Rio Espinharas em que há a formação de microclimas favoráveis à sobrevivência do carrapato.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Costa V.M.M., Simões S.V.D & Riet-Correa F. 2011. [Gastro-intestinal nematodes control in goats and sheep in the semiarid region northeastern Brazil.] Controle das parasitoses gastrintestinais em ovinos e caprinos na região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 31(1):65-71. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, PB 58700-970, Brazil. E-mail: valery.medeiros@hotmail.com This paper reviews some important concepts to be considered for the control of gastro-intestinal nematode parasites of sheep and goats, including the epidemiology of this parasitic disease in the Brazilian semiarid, and the occurrence of anti-helminthic resistance in the region. Considering the widespread use of preventive treatments during the dry season, new alternatives for the control of gastrointestinal parasites are recommended, taking into account the parasite integrated control system and the use of methods to allow the presence of susceptible parasites in the refugia. Differences between sheep and goats are discussed, taking into account the higher susceptibility of goats and the necessity to use larger doses in goats than in sheep for most anti-helminthics.

• Anti-helminthics gastrointestinal nematodes anti-helminthic resistance anti-helmínticos nematódeos gastrintestinais resistência anti-helmíntica

Abstract in Portuguese:

RESUMO.- Costa V.M.M., Simões S.V.D & Riet-Correa F. 2011. [Gastro-intestinal nematodes control in goats and sheep in the semiarid region northeastern Brazil.] Controle das parasitoses gastrintestinais em ovinos e caprinos na região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 31(1):65-71. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, PB 58700-970, Brazil. E-mail: valery.medeiros@hotmail.com Neste artigo são revisados alguns conceitos importantes a serem considerados para o controle de parasitas gastrintestinais em caprinos e ovinos. Descrevem-se as características epidemiológicas desta parasitose no semiárido e o aparecimento de resistência aos anti-helmínticos na região. São propostas alternativas para o controle da doença levando em consideração, principalmente, a adoção de técnicas de controle integrado de parasitas com uma mudança nos sistemas de tratamento preventivo para sistemas que permitam a sobrevivência de parasitas susceptíveis na refugia. São discutidas as diferenças entre caprinos e ovinos, considerando que os caprinos são mais susceptíveis e que para maioria das drogas devem ser tratados com doses maiores.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Costa V.M.M., Simões S.V.D. & Riet-Correa F. 2009. [Parasitic diseases in ruminants in the Brazilian semiarid.] Doenças parasitárias em ruminantes no semi-árido brasileiro. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 29(7):563-568. Hospital Veterinário, CSTR, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. Email: franklin.riet@pq.cnpq.br Clinical cases and diagnostic specimens from ruminants received by the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Campina Grande in Patos, Paraíba, Brazil, from January 2000 to August 2007, were reviewed to evaluate some epidemiological aspects of parasitic diseases of ruminants in the semiarid region of Paraíba and neighboring states. The region has an annual rainfall of about 800mm, with irregular rains concentrated in a 3 to 4-month-period, and an average annual temperature of 26°C. During those years, 163 (5.31%) out of 3,064 ruminants were affected by some parasitic disease. The most important parasitosis in goats and sheep was gastrointestinal helminthiasis, mainly hemonchosis; goats were more affected (6.24% of cases in this species) than sheep (4.7% of cases). The higher frequency of the disease in goats may be associated with higher susceptibility or due to treatment mistakes, i.e. use of the same dose for both species, which for most anti-antihelmintics is insufficient for goats. Cattle have a low rate of gastrointestinal helminthiasis (1 out of 1,113 cases). This low frequency is probably due to the farming system in the semiarid, with low stocking rate, up to one adult bovine for every 13-16 ha, and permanence of calves (susceptible) with their mothers (resistant) for nearly one year before weaning. The occurrence of eimeriosis in goats and sheep was observed in 0.76% of the cases, involving only young animals. The main cattle disease was tick fever with 14 outbreaks. Outbreaks of tick fever occur, mainly at the end of the raining season in areas of the semiarid which are marginal for tick, like plateaus and mountains of the Borborema region, irrigated areas, and areas of the basins of two rivers of the region. In the drier areas of the semiarid Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus do not survive during the dry period, but tick fever can occur when cattle with ticks are introduced at the onset of the raining season.

• Ruminant; parasitic diseases helminthiasis parasitosis tick fever

Abstract in Portuguese:

ABSTRACT.- Costa V.M.M., Simões S.V.D. & Riet-Correa F. 2009. [Parasitic diseases in ruminants in the Brazilian semiarid.] Doenças parasitárias em ruminantes no semi-árido brasileiro. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 29(7):563-568. Hospital Veterinário, CSTR, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. Email: franklin.riet@pq.cnpq.br Clinical cases and diagnostic specimens from ruminants received by the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Campina Grande in Patos, Paraíba, Brazil, from January 2000 to August 2007, were reviewed to evaluate some epidemiological aspects of parasitic diseases of ruminants in the semiarid region of Paraíba and neighboring states. The region has an annual rainfall of about 800mm, with irregular rains concentrated in a 3 to 4-month-period, and an average annual temperature of 26°C. During those years, 163 (5.31%) out of 3,064 ruminants were affected by some parasitic disease. The most important parasitosis in goats and sheep was gastrointestinal helminthiasis, mainly hemonchosis; goats were more affected (6.24% of cases in this species) than sheep (4.7% of cases). The higher frequency of the disease in goats may be associated with higher susceptibility or due to treatment mistakes, i.e. use of the same dose for both species, which for most anti-antihelmintics is insufficient for goats. Cattle have a low rate of gastrointestinal helminthiasis (1 out of 1,113 cases). This low frequency is probably due to the farming system in the semiarid, with low stocking rate, up to one adult bovine for every 13-16 ha, and permanence of calves (susceptible) with their mothers (resistant) for nearly one year before weaning. The occurrence of eimeriosis in goats and sheep was observed in 0.76% of the cases, involving only young animals. The main cattle disease was tick fever with 14 outbreaks. Outbreaks of tick fever occur, mainly at the end of the raining season in areas of the semiarid which are marginal for tick, like plateaus and mountains of the Borborema region, irrigated areas, and areas of the basins of two rivers of the region. In the drier areas of the semiarid Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus do not survive during the dry period, but tick fever can occur when cattle with ticks are introduced at the onset of the raining season.