ABSTRACT Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of reproductive nature that is transmitted to humans mainly by ingestion of undercooked meat or drinking oocyte-contaminated water. The slaughter of small ruminants in clandestine slaughterhouses and the presence of companion animals in these locations may be epidemiologically important for the dissemination of the disease. The objective of the present study was to determine toxoplasmosis prevalence by researching anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in meat sheep herds from farms in Teresina microregion, Piauí, Brazil. A total of 450 blood samples were collected from sheep of both sexes, belonging to 28 herds from the 14 municipalities that comprise the microregion. The samples were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was observed in 62% (279/450) of the animals in all the municipalities and on at least one farm in each municipality. The high occurrence of positive animals is an indication of reproductive problems in these herds, characterizing a problem for both sheep rearing and public health.

O principal fator a limitar o processo de criopreservação de sêmen equino está relacionado à própria espécie, por apresentar uma grande variabilidade nas características dos ejaculados pós-descongelação. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a viabilidade espermática pós-descongelação, do sêmen de garanhões das raças Quarto de Milha e Mangalarga Marchador utilizando-se dois diluentes (Tris e Botu-crio®) na criopreservação. Para tanto, foram analisadas as características físicas do sêmen fresco, funcionalidade da membrana espermática pelo Teste Hiposmótico (HOST), motilidade total e vigor pelo Teste de Termoresistência (TTR), motilidade progressiva pelo sistema computadorizado CASA (Computer Assisted Sêmen Anlyses) e integridade da membrana espermática, do acrossoma e funcionalidade de mitocôndria por microscopia de epifluorescência. O diluente Botu-crio® preservou melhor os valores de motilidade e vigor e a integridade de membrana plasmática, pós-descongelamento. Não houve diferença significativa entre as raças quanto à motilidade total e vigor no sêmen fresco, bem como para a análise desses parâmetros no Teste de Termoresistência pós-descongelamento. Garanhões da raça Quarto de Milha apresentaram percentual maior de defeitos maiores na análise de patologia espermática.

The limiting factor in the cryopreservation process of equine semen is related to the species, as they present a great variability in the ejaculate's characteristics after thawing. The aim of this study was to evaluate sperm viability after thawing, from Quarter Horse and Mangalarga Marchador stallions using two extenders (Botu-crio and Tris) in cryopreservation. To this end, we analyzed the physical characteristics of fresh semen, the sperm membrane functionality by the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), total motility and vigor by the Thermoresistance Test (TRT), progressive motility by a computerized system CASA (Computer-Assisted Semen Anlyses) and acrosomal membrane integrity and functionality of the mitochondria by epifluorescence microscopy. After thawing, the extender Botu-crio® better preserved motility, vigor and integrity of the plasma membrane. There was no significant difference between breeds for the thermoresistance test after twaing. Quarter Horse showed higher percentage of bigger defects in the sperm pathology analysis.