Colectinas e galectinas são proteínas da família das lectinas que possuem a capacidade de reconhecer padrões moleculares associados aos patógenos. Estudos em bovinos têm demonstrado a alta expressão dessas proteínas durante a infecção por nematoides gastrintestinais. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar se o nível de infecção de Haemonchus contortus altera a expressão de colectinas (SPA e CGN) e galectinas (Gal11 e Gal14) de ovinos. Doze ovinos da raça Corriedale expostos a infecção natural com nematoides foram separados em dois grupos: grupo 1 (G1, n=7) com menor grau de parasitismo; e grupo 2 (G2, n=5) com maior grau, a partir da contagem do número de parasitos recuperados do abomaso e OPG. A contagem de OPG e de parasitos recuperados do abomaso dos grupos G1 e G2 apresentaram diferença estatística (p<0,05). A expressão dos genes de colectinas e galectina foi observada em todas as amostras de abomaso dos ovinos, porém animais com menor grau de infecção apresentaram menor expressão dos genes de Gal14, SPA e CGN (p<0,05). A expressão de lectinas foi associada ao número de H. contortus encontrados no abomaso de ovinos, indicando um possível papel dessas proteínas no controle da infecção.

Galectins and collectins are proteins classified in the lectin family that have the ability to recognize molecular patterns associated with pathogens. Studies on cattle have demonstrated high expression of these proteins during infection with gastrointestinal nematodes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the level of Haemonchus contortus infection would alter the expression of galectins (Gal11 and Gal14) and collectins (SPA and CGN) in sheep. Twelve Corriedale sheep exposed to natural infection with nematodes were divided into two groups: group 1 (G1, n = 7) and group 2 (G2, n = 5), with low and high parasite burdens, respectively, based on fecal egg counts and abomasal parasite counts. The fecal egg counts and abomasal parasite counts were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the groups. Galectin and collectin gene expression was observed in all sheep abomasal samples. However, animals with lower infection levels showed lower expression of the genes Gal14, SPA and CGN (p < 0.05). Expression of lectins was associated with the abomasal H. contortus burden, thus suggesting that these proteins may have a role in controlling of this infection.

The biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic techniques, and history of the introduction of Trypanosoma (Duttonella) vivax in the New World are reviewed. The two main immunological responses of trypanosome-infected animals - antibody production and immunodepression - are discussed in the context of how these responses play a role in disease tolerance or susceptibility. Isolation and purification of T. vivax are briefly discussed. The recent reports of bovine trypanosomiasis diagnosed in cattle on farms located in the Pantanal region of the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso, Brazil, are also discussed.

This paper reports a case of coinfection caused by pathogens of Lyme disease and babesiosis in brothers. This was the first case of borreliosis in Brazil, acquired in Cotia County, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Both children had tick bite history, presented erythema migrans, fever, arthralgia, mialgia, and developed positive serology (ELISA and Western-blotting) directed to Borrelia burgdorferi G 39/40 and Babesia bovis antigens, mainly of IgM class antibodies, suggestive of acute disease. Also, high frequencies of antibodies to B. bovis was observed in a group of 59 Brazilian patients with Lyme borreliosis (25.4%), when compared with that obtained in a normal control group (10.2%) (chi-square = 5.6; p < 0.05). Interestingly, both children presented the highest titers for IgM antibodies directed to both infective diseases, among all patients with Lyme borreliosis.

Realizou-se a pesquisa de anticorpos da classe IgG anti Anaplasma marginale através do ensaio de imunoadsorção enzimática (ELISA) indireto em 223 amostras de soros de bovinos provenientes de oito municípios da mesorregião do Médio Paraíba, estado do Rio de Janeiro. A prevalência observada foi de 98,21%. Das amostras positivas, 36,32% possuíam o título de 1:500, 43,50% com título de 1:1000, 12,56% com título de 1:2000, 3,59% com título de 1:4000, 1,79% com título de 1:8000, 0,45% com título de 1:16000 e 1,79% foram soronegativos. Procedeu-se a avaliação da prevalência por grupos etários de 1 a 3 anos (n = 53), 3 a 6 anos (n = 71) e > 6 anos (n = 99), na qual 96,23%, 100% e 97,98% dos animais foram soropositivos, respectivamente. A análise em relação à aptidão zootécnica revelou que 100% dos animais com aptidão para corte (n = 38) e 97,84% com aptidão para leite (n = 185) reagiram ao ensaio. Dos animais estudados, 183 eram fêmeas e 40 machos e, destes, 98,91% e 95,00% foram positivos, respectivamente. A análise estatística demonstrou não haver diferença significativa (P > 0,05), de prevalência, entre idades, aptidões zootécnicas e entre sexos. Houve diferença significativa (P < 0,0001) de soropositivos entre os municípios. A região foi caracterizada como uma área de estabilidade enzoótica para A. marginale.

Serumprevalence of antibodies against Anaplasma marginale were studied by the indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Sera samples from 223 bovines of eight municipalities in the "Médio Paraíba" mesorregion, in the state of Rio de Janeiro state, were analysed. The prevalence showed 98.21% of positives, of which were: 36.32% with a titre of 1:500, 43.50% of 1:1000, 12.56% of 1:2000, 3.59% of 1:4000, 1.79% of 1:8000, 0.45% of 1:16000, and 1.79% were negative. The evaluation was done within three age groups: 1 to 3 years (n = 53), 3 to 6 years (n = 71) and > 6 years (n = 99), of which 96.23%, 100% and 97.98% were positive, respectively. Regarding to the breed, 100% of beef cattle (n = 38) and 97.84% of dairy cattle (n = 185), were positive. According to the sex, 98.91% of the females (n = 183) and 95.00% of the males (n = 40), were positive. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the prevalence of age groups, breeding types and sexes. There were significant differences (P < 0.0001) among the serumprevalence in the municipalities. The region was characterized as an enzootically stable area to A. marginale.