RESUMO A fitoterapia, abrangendo o uso popular e empírico de plantas medicinais no combate e prevenção de doenças, deve ser aliada a estudos científicos que comprovem a eficácia e segurança desses compostos. No Brasil, a ampla biodiversidade vegetal da região nordeste favorece o uso e estudo de plantas com potenciais terapêuticos. A Aroeira do Sertão (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.) é uma espécie pertencente à família Anacardiaceae, comum no semiárido, desde o Piauí até Minas Gerais. Seu uso é diverso e disseminado por todo o País, sendo indispensáveis estudos de suas potencialidades e riscos. Devido à ampla utilização da Myracrodruon Urundeuva de forma empírica, este trabalho tem por objetivo a pesquisa de efeitos tóxicos com doses repetidas do extrato etanólico de Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem. (EEMU) e sua influência no ciclo estral de ratas Wistar. No protocolo de toxicidade subaguda foram utilizadas 25 ratas Wistar, divididas em 5 grupos (n=5), tratadas com diferentes doses do EEMU (125, 250, 500 e 1000 mg/kg) e água destilada (controle) por um período de 28 dias. Nesse período foram realizadas mensurações do consumo de água e ração e avaliação comportamental. Esses animais foram avaliados diariamente quanto a fase do ciclo estral, por meio de esfregaço vaginal a fresco, sendo observada a frequência de cada fase bem como o intervalo interestro. As ratas foram anestesiadas e o sangue foi coletado para a realização dos ensaios bioquímicos. Em seguida, foram eutanasiadas para coleta e avaliação dos órgãos internos. Durante o período de avaliação, não foram observadas alterações de comportamento, nem de consumo de água ou ração. A evolução ponderal dos animais não diferiu entre os grupos tratados. A concentração sérica de ALT foi maior nos animais tratados com EEMU 1000 mg/kg. As ratas tratadas com o extrato não apresentaram alterações significativas na frequência das fases do ciclo estral bem como duração do estro e intervalo entre estros, quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo não apontam alterações tóxicas significativas, sistêmicas ou sobre o ciclo estral, de ratas Wistar tratadas com o extrato, nas doses avaliadas, por um período de 28 dias.

ABSTRACT The herbal medicine, comprising the popular and empirical use of medicinal plants in combating and preventing diseases, should be combined with scientific studies that prove the effectiveness and safety of these compounds. In Brazil, the vast plant biodiversity of the Northeast favors the use and study of plants with therapeutic potential. Aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.) is a species of the Anacardiaceae family, common in the semiarid region, from Piauí to Minas Gerais. Its use is diverse and widespread throughout the country, making studies of its potential and risks necessary. Due to the wide use of Myracrodruon urundeuva in an empirical form, this paper aims to research toxic effects with repeated doses of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem.ethanol extract (EEMU) and its influence on the estrous cycle of female Wistar rats. In a subacute toxicity protocol 35 female Wistar rats were used, divided into 5 groups (n=5) treated with different doses of EEMU (125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) and distilled water (control) for 28 days. In this period measurements of water intake, feed consumption were carried out and a behavioral assessment was performed. The estrous cycles of these animals were evaluated daily by fresh vaginal smear, it the frequency of each phase as well as the inter-estrus intervals were observed. The rats were anesthetized and blood was collected for the biochemical assays. Then they were euthanized for the collection and evaluation of internal organs. During the evaluation period, there were no observed behavioral changes nor were the water or food consumption variations. The weight gain of the animals did not differ between treatment groups. The serum ALT was higher in animals treated with EEMU 1000 mg/kg. The rats treated with the extract showed no significant changes in the frequency of the phases of the estrous cycle, estrus duration and estrus interval when compared to the control group. The results of this study do not indicate significant toxic alterations, neither systemic nor on the estrous cycle in female rats treated with the extract, at the evaluated doses, over a period of 28 days.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a soroprevalência de pseudorraiva, peste suína clássica (PSC) e brucelose suína em suínos do estado do Piauí, Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras sanguíneas de 384 suínos de criações intensivas e extensivas do estado. Anticorpos anti-Brucella spp. foram detectados pelo teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado e confirmados pelo teste 2-mercaptoetanol, enquanto a detecção de anticorpos contra os vírus da PSC e pseudorraiva foi realizada por ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA), utilizando-se kits comerciais específicos. Anticorpos anti-Brucella spp. foram detectados em 1,04% (2/192) dos suínos de criações intensivas. Dos rebanhos avaliados, 0,78% (3/384) dos animais exibiram anticorpos contra o vírus da PSC, sendo 1,04% (2/192) de criações intensivas e 0,52% (1/192) de criações extensivas. Anticorpos contra o vírus da pseudorraiva foram detectados apenas em suínos de criação extensiva, com prevalência de 5,2% (10/192). Esses são os primeiros dados sobre a soroprevalência da brucelose suína, pseudorraiva e PSC em rebanhos do Piauí. A detecção de 10 amostras positivas para pseudorraiva causa preocupação sobre a possibilidade da circulação viral na população suídea desse estado e revela uma necessidade premente de realização de estudos mais extensos para melhor compreender a importância dessas enfermidades de notificação obrigatória em estados da região Nordeste brasileira.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Pseudorabies, Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and Swine Brucellosis in swine in the state of Piauí, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 384 pigs from intensive and small outdoor systems in the state. Anti-Brucella spp. antibodies were detected by Buffered Acidified Antigen Test and positive results confirmed by 2-Mercaptoethanol Test. Detection of antibodies against CSF and Pseudorabies virus were performed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) using specific commercial kits. Only two samples (1.04% - 2/192) from the intensive system were seropositive to Brucella spp. In the evaluated herds, 0.78% (3/384) of animals had antibodies against CSF virus, two from outdoor pigs (1.04% - 2/192) and one from intensive systems (0.52% - 1/192). Antibodies against the Pseudorabies virus were detected only in outdoor pigs, with seroprevalence of 5.2% (10/192). This is the first report on seroprevalence of Pseudorabies, CSF and Brucellosis in hog farms in Piauí, Brazil. The detection of 10 positive cases raises a concern regarding Pseudorabies virus circulation in the swine population in the state and reveals a need for further studies to better understand the real situation and status of obligatory notified diseases in the swine herds in the Northestern states of Brazil.

A brucelose ovina causada pela Brucella ovis é uma doença reprodutiva de carneiros caracterizada por epididimite, orquite, com consequente diminuição da fertilidade e prejuízos econômicos significativos. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a aplicabilidade da técnica de PCR como um método de diagnóstico em campo, comparado-a com a técnica de IDGA. Foram coletadas amostras de urina e soro de 90 carneiros oriundos de 31 rebanhos localizados no Estado do Piauí. Quatro das 31 (12,9%) propriedades avaliadas apresentaram animais positivos. Dezoito (20%) amostras de urina foram positivas pela PCR, enquanto o método de IDGA identificou 16 (17,8%) carneiros soropositivos. Embora os métodos tenham apresentado concordância baixa na estatística Kappa (k=0,04), não foi observada diferença estatística entre as técnicas (P>0,05) pelo teste exato de Fisher. A combinação dos dois testes aumentou significativamente a detecção de animais positivos para 34,4% (P <0,05), sugerindo que a associação de métodos de diagnóstico como a técnica de PCR em amostras de urina e sorologia por IDGA e a avaliação clínica dos animais é necessária para um diagnóstico eficiente na infecção por B. ovis.

Conidiobolomycosis is an infection caused by fungi of the genus Conidiobolus spp. that is associated with a granulomatous rhinitis in humans and animals. In sheep, the disease is clinically characterized by respiratory changes, exophthalmia, craniofacial asymmetry, and fever. Microscopically, there are multifocal granulomas containing intralesional hyphae. For a long time, this disease was diagnosed as Enzootic Ethmoid Tumor. This report described three cases of conidiobolomycosis that had been previously diagnosed as Enzootic Ethmoid Tumor. Samples of nasal cavity, lung, parotid gland, and lymph node from three sheep submitted to histopathological examination in 1979 were retrieved in 2010 for a new histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical evaluations. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin, Grocott's Metanamine Silver, and Periodic Acid Schiff. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin embedded tissues using anti-cytokeratin primary antibody. Based on histopathology, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry, the diagnosis of conidiobolomycosis was confirmed in three sheep, which had been previously diagnosed as Enzootic Ethmoid Tumor in 1979.

Fifteen symptomatic and seven asymptomatic dogs infected naturally with Leishmania chagasi were examined in order to identify the presence of parasites and changes in heart and lung. Histopathological, cytological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on samples of heart and lung tissues. An inflammatory reaction characterized by inflammatory mononuclear, perivascular and intermuscular infiltrates was observed in both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals on histopathological analysis of the heart. In the lung, there was thickening of the alveolar septa due to congestion, edema, inflammatory infiltrate, and fibroblast proliferation. A focal reaction was observed although a diffuse reaction was present in both groups. On cytological examination, heart and lung imprints revealed amastigotes in two symptomatic animals and heart imprints were found in 1 asymptomatic dog. Immunoperoxidase staining showed amastigotes in the lung and heart of only 1 of 6 symptomatic animals examined. Within the ethical principles and limits of this research, it can be inferred that the study of heart and lung alterations in canine visceral leishmaniasis is increasingly important for understanding the problem related to humans. Dogs with visceral leishmaniasis were a good experimental model, since infection was caused by the same agent and the animals developed clinical, pathological and immunological alterations similar to those observed in humans.

Os exames macroscópico e microscópico de testículos e epidídimos de 53 ovinos deslanados da região semi-árida do estado do Piauí revelaram34 (64,1%) animais acometidos por processos patológicos, assim distribuídos: um animal (1,9%) apresentou hipoplasia testicular, 35 (66,0%) mostraram alterações degenerativas, sendo 13 (24,5%) casos de degeneração testicular, três (5,7%) de cisto intraepitelial no epidídimo e 19 (35,8%) de cisto de retenção congênita no epidídimo; 11 (20,7%) de alterações inflamatórias, sendo cinco (9,4%) de epididimite, quatro (7,5%) de orquite e dois (3,8%) de granuloma espermático. Os animais com hipoplasia testicular, degeneração testicular e alterações inflamatórias foram classificados como subférteis.

The gross and histological examinations of testis and epididymis of 53 crossbred hairy rams in the semi-arid region of Piaui State showed 34 (64.1%) animals with pathologic changes: one animal presented (1.9%) testicle hipoplasia; 35 (66%) degenerative changes, being 13 (24.5%) related to testicular degeneration, three (5.7%) to intraepithelial cysts in the epididymal epithelia and 19 (35.8%) to retention cysts in the epididymis; 11 (20.7%) inflammatory alterations, being five (9.4%) related to epididymitis, four (7.5%) to orchitis and two (3.8%) to spermatic granulomas. The animals with hypoplasic testicle, testicular degeneration and inflammatory alterations were classified as sub-fertile.

Renal involvement in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is very frequent. The renal lesions of humans and dogs are similar but their pathogenesis has not been clearly elucidated. There is growing evidence that the cellular immune response is involved in the pathogenesis of immunologically mediated glomerulonephritis. Since T cells could participate in the pathogenesis of nephropathy, in the present study we investigated the possible involvement of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the nephropathy of canine VL. Six dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi from the endemic area in the Northeast of Brazil, the town of Teresina in the State of Piauí, were studied. An expressive inflammatory infiltrate of CD4+ T cells both in glomeruli and in interstitium was present in 4 animals and absent in 2. CD8+ T cells were detected only in one animal. CD4+ T cells alone were observed in 3 animals; when CD8+ T cells were present CD4+ T cells were also present. CD4+ T cells were observed in cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, diffuse membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and crescentic glomerulonephritis. CD8+ T cells were present only in a case of crescentic glomerulonephritis. Leishmania antigen was detected in glomeruli and in interstitial inflammatory infiltrate in 4 animals and immunoglobulins were observed in 4 dogs. In this study we observed that T cells, in addition to immunoglobulins, are present in the renal lesion of canine VL. Further studies are in progress addressing the immunopathogenic mechanisms involving the participation of immunoglobulins and T cells in canine VL nephropathy.