ABSTRACT This study verified the occurrence of Bartonella spp. in dogs, cats, wild mammals and their ectoparasites in Petrolina and Lagoa Grande Counties, Pernambuco, located in a semi-arid region in Northeastern Brazil. Anti-Bartonella spp. antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in 24.8% of dogs (27/109) and in 15% of cats (6/40). Bartonella sp. DNA was identified by PCR performed on DNA extracted from blood and ectoparasites using primers targeting Bartonella sp. gltA and ribC genes in 100% (9/9) of Pulex irritans from Cerdocyon thous, 57.4% (35/61) of P. irritans from dogs, 2.3% (1/43) of Ctenocephalides felis felis from dogs, 53.3% (24/45) of C. felis felis from cats, and 10% (1/10) of Polyplax spp. from Thrichomys apereoides. DNA sequencing identified Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella henselae in C. felis felis from cats, Bartonella rochalimae in P. irritans from dog and C. thous, and Bartonella vinsoni berkhofii in P. irritans from dog.

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi estimar a ocorrência de Ehrlichia canis em gatos na região semiárida do Nordeste. Soros de 101 gatos saudáveis foram submetidos à Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI), sendo considerados positivos títulos ≥ 40. Soroprevalência de 35,6% (36/101) foi encontrada, com os seguintes títulos: 40 (15 animais); 160 (6); 320 (1); 640 (3) e 2560 (11). Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas quanto ao município de origem, gênero, faixa etária, raça e modus vivendi (gatos domiciliados e errantes) e não foram observados carrapatos em qualquer um dos animais testados. Este estudo revelou exposição de gatos a E. canis na região semiárida do nordeste brasileiro.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to estimate the occurrence of Ehrlichia canis in cats from the semiarid region of Northeast of Brazil. Sera of 101 healthy cats were submitted by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA), and considered positive when antibody titers ≥ 40 were obtained. Seroprevalence of 35.6% (36/101) was found, with the following titers: 40 (15 animals); 160 (6); 320 (1); 640 (3), and 2,560 (11). No statistical differences were observed when comparing county of origin, gender, age, breed, and modus vivendi (pet and stray cats), and no ticks were observed in any of the cats. This study revealed exposure to E. canis in cats of the Semiarid Northeast of Brazil.

Determinou-se o perfil epidemiológico da neurocisticercose (NCC) em pacientes diagnosticados por tomografia computadorizada (TC) no maior centro privado de diagnósticos de Curitiba, Brasil. Foram analisados 1009 registros médicos de pacientes consecutivos com indicações neurológicas submetidos a TC entre julho de 2007 a abril de 2008. Os dados dos pacientes que incluíram sexo, idade, município de residência e achados tomográficos foram analisados pelo software Epi-info versão 6.01. A maioria dos pacientes (80,10%) era procedente de Curitiba; 91/1.009 casos (9,02%) foram positivos para NCC; 88 (96,7%) apresentaram a forma inativa e apenas em 3 (3,2%) cistos em processo granulomatoso; não houve formas mistas. A prevalência de casos de NCC foi maior entre 51 e 60 anos. Não houve diferença significativa para o sexo entre os casos. O perfil dos pacientes diagnosticados para NCC por TC neste estudo é semelhante ao estudo anterior realizado em Curitiba entre 1995-1996, com 9,24% de casos de NCC.

The aim of this study was to drawn an epidemiological pattern of neurocystisticercosis (NCC) patients diagnosed by computed tomography at the major private diagnostic center in Curitiba, Brazil. A total of 1,009 medical files of consecutive patients presenting neurological indications were diagnosed by computed tomography from July 2007 to April 2008. Patient data included sex, age, municipality and tomography findings were analysed by Epi-info version 6.0.1. software. Most patients (81.10%) were living in Curitiba. A total of 91/1,009 cases (9.02%) were considered positive to NCC; 88 (96.7%) patients had inactive form of NCC and only 3 (3.2%) patients had cysts in granulomatous process. No patients had both forms. The prevalence of NCC cases in studied group was greater in patients between 51 to 60 years old, however, difference between sex was not significant. This epidemiological pattern of NCC was similar to the first NCC study in Curitiba, performed in 1995-1996 with 9.24% of positive cases.