Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818) or bristle-spined porcupine is a species of rodent restricted to the Atlantic Forest of the Eastern Coast of Brazil, vulnerable to extinction. Four specimens captured in the State of Espírito Santo, at the Biological Station of Santa Lúcia (EBSL) and at the State Park Paulo César Vinha (PEPCV), were examined for the presence of ectoparasites. One female and three males of Amblyomma longirostre were collected from a single C. subspinosus female in three independent captures carried out in 2004 at the EBSL. No ticks were found on bristle-spined specimens from the PEPCV. This constitutes the first report of A. longirostre infesting this rodent species in the State of Espírito Santo and reinforces that these mammals from the family Erethizontidae act as hosts for adults stages of this ixodic tick species.

A cow from Igarapé city, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, showing vision damage was referred at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Clinical examination revealed anemia and a flagellated protozoan was observed in the blood smears obtained from the animal. The morphometric analysis demonstrated that the protozoan was Trypanosoma vivax. This is the first report of T. vivax occurrence in Minas Gerais state. An epidemiological investigation is currently being conducted on the farm and neighbor areas in order to estimate the parasite prevalence and the distribution of this trypanosomiasis in the region.

The present study had the objective of defining the culture conditions, optimizing the maintenance and expansion of an IDE-8 cell line in Brazil, with the aim to propose its use as a model for in vitro infection and multiplication of Brazilian strains of rickettsia and other hemoparasites. The supplementation of IDE-8 cells with two distinct fetal bovine sera (a Brazilian and an imported) was evaluated. Culture media were changed weekly and subcultures were carried out every 15 days. The development of cultures and subcultures was evaluated by the percentage of viability and cellular morphology. The results indicate that the imported SFB can be replaced by the Brazilian SFB one, as no significant differences (P<0.05) were seen among culture viabilities.

The phenotypic profile of bovine lymphocytes was evaluated in 18 bovines (Bos taurus) from three different breeds, being nine Holstein, six Hereford, and three Brown Swiss. All animals were free from ticks and hemoparasites, as determined after jugular vein blood sampling. The immunophenotypes of peripheral lymphocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry. Peripheral lymphocytes were exposed to bovine fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies including anti-CD4, anti-CD8, and anti-purified bovine CD21 specificities. After lysing the erythrocytes with a commercial lysing solution (FACS TM ), the lymphocytes were washed, fixed, and evaluated by flow cytometry. Significant differences in the phenotypic profiles of peripheral lymphocytes among all breeds were found. Holstein animals showed a lower percentage of total T lymphocytes (CD4 and CD8) and higher percentage of B lymphocytes (CD21). In addition, the lymphocytes from Holstein animals showed a lower T/B ratio than the lymphocytes from Hereford animals. These results suggest the existence of different phenotypic profiles of peripheral lymphocytes from European breeds of cattle. Such differences may be related to the different pattern of immune response described for these breeds in the literature and may account to varying disease resistance among breeds.

O uso de inóculo homólogo padronizado de Anaplasma marginale foi comparado à prática de quimioprofilaxia com diidrato de oxitetraciclina na redução da riquetsemia e do volume globular (VG) causada pela anaplasmose bovina. Os animais que receberam o inóculo (10(7) hemácias com Anaplasma marginale)apresentaram, ao serem desafiados em campo, riquetsemia média de 1,2% e redução média de VG de 23,0%, significativamente inferiores às do grupo-controle (P<0,05). No experimento de quimioprofilaxia os animais que receberam três doses de diidrato de oxitetraciclina (20mg/kg), com intervalos de 25 dias, apresentaram riquetsemia de 2,7% e redução de 36,3% no VG, significativamente inferiores às do grupo-controle (P<0,05). Ambas as medidas preventivas testadas foram eficientes na redução da intensidade da riquetsemia e na queda do VG.

The use of a homologous standardized inoculum of Anaplasma marginale was compared to a chemoprophylatic method, using dihydrate oxytetracycline, considering reduction of rickttsemia and packed cell volume (PCV), during A. marginale infections in calves. The animals that had received the inoculum (10(7) A. marginale infected erythrocytes) showed a 1.2% reduction of rickettsemia and the PCV decreased 23.0%, when challenged in the field. These values were statistically lower than those obtained from animals in the control group. As far as chemoprophylaxis is concerned, the animals that had been treated three times with dihydrate oxytetracycline (20 mg/kg) showed a 2.7% reduction of rickettsemia and the PCV decreased 36.3%. These values were also statistically lower than those obtained from animals in the control group. Both preventive measures proved to be efficient in reducing rickettsemia and decrease of PCV.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate parasitemia and packed cell volume patterns of dogs experimentally inoculated with two isolates of Babesia canis: one from Belo Horizonte (BH) and the other from Lavras (Lv), Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Both isolates showed similar patterns, with the peak of parasitemia occurring three days post-infection. From the fourth day, parasitemia was detected in low levels (0.01%) with small periodical increases. The packed cell volume decreased after the parasitemia beginning, with oscillations during the experimental period. All dogs remained apparently normal, except one, which had been inoculated with the BH isolate and presented classical clinical signs of babesiosis (weakness, anemia, hemoglobinuria and depression). The results suggest that the studied isolates have low pathogenicity, and point to the need for further studies aiming to characterize the subspecies of Brazilian isolates.

Avaliou-se a ação de cinco acaricidas em ovos, larvas, ninfas e adultos do carrapato Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Os produtos testados foram: cipermetrina high cis (0.01%) + DDVP (0.11%), coumaphos (0.05%), deltametrina (0.0025%), amitraz (0.025%) e cipermetrina (0.015%). Os ovos tratados com cipermetrina high cis e cipermetrina mostraram inibição de eclosão de 72,1% e 67,3%, respectivamente, enquanto coumaphos resultou em baixa eficiência (11,7%). Exceto para ninfas (63,3%) e para fêmeas não alimentadas (80,0%) expostas ao coumaphos, todos os outros estádios de carrapato e fêmeas não alimentadas foram sensíveis a todos os produtos químicos testados.

The action of five acaricides was evaluated on eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults of the ixodid tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The acaricides tested were: high cis-cypermethrin (0.01%) + DDVP (0.11%), coumaphos (0.05%), deltamethrin (0.0025%), amitraz (0.025%) and cypermethrin (0.015%). Eggs treated with high cis-cypermethrin and cypermethrin showed eclosion inhibitions of 72.1% and 67.3%, respectively, whereas coumaphos was much less effective (only 11.7%). Except for coumaphos, which resulted in 63.3% and 80.0% mortality of nymphs and unfed females, respectively, all compounds tested killed 100% of all tick stages to which they were exposed.

A ação da diidroxitetraciclina de longa duração foi testada em bezerros experimentalmente inoculados com Babesia bigemina e em desafio natural em área endêmica. Em uma propriedade de gado de leite, 18 bezerros foram inoculados com 10(8) hemácias parasitadas por B. bigemina. Dez animais foram tratados com 20 mg/kg de diidroxitetraciclina de longa ação, sete dias após o inóculo, e oito foram deixados como controle. Todos os animais do grupo controle e apenas três dos tratados apresentaram parasitemia, sendo que dois já estavam infestados no dia do tratamento. Em um segundo experimento, dez bezerros receberam dois tratamentos de 20 mg/kg de diidroxitetraciclina de longa ação aos 15 e 36 dias após serem liberados em piquetes e oito bezerros foram deixados como testemunhas. Os animais do grupo tratado apresentaram aumento significativo do período pré-patente e menor redução do volume globular, em relação aos do grupo controle.

The action of the long-acting diidroxytetracycline was tested in calves experimentally inoculated with Babesia bigemina and naturally challenged in an endemic area. In a dairy herd, 18 calves were inoculated with a dose of 10(8) infected erythrocytes. Ten animals were treated with long-acting diidroxytetracycline (20 mg/kg), seven days after the inoculum, and eight animals were kept as control. All control and only three treated animals presented parasitemia, from which two animals were already positive when the treatment started. In a second experiment, ten calves received two treatments of diidroxytetracycline (20mg/kg) on days 15 and 36 after being transferred to a small paddock, and eight calves were kept as control. The animals from the treated group presented a significant increase of the pre-patent period and a smaller reduction on packed cell volume in relation to those of the control group.

Com o objetivo de estudar a hidroxiapatita sintética (HAP-91) como substituto ósseo, foram utilizados oito cães adultos, sem raça definida, clinicamente sadios. Após protocolo anestésico e cirúrgico habituais, foi provocado um defeito ósseo na diáfise proximal das tíbias esquerda e direita, sendo implantada a HAP-91 apenas na tíbia direita. Os animais, dois de cada vez, foram sacrificados aos 8, 30, 60 e 120 dias após a cirurgia, quando foram obtidas amostras do local da lesão, que foram fixadas, lavadas, polimerizadas, cortadas e submetidas a dupla coloração em solução aquosa de acetato de uranila a 1% e em solução de citrato de chumbo. Essas secções foram avaliadas e fotografadas ao microscópio eletrônico de transmissão. Os componentes tissulares na tíbia tratada e na controle foram similares. A absorção da HAP-91 caracterizou-se pela presença de células multinucleadas na interface entre HAP-91 e osso, morfologicamente consideradas como osteoclastos. Ainda, encontraram-se grânulos de HAP-91 no interior de células morfologicamente caracterizadas como macrófagos. A absorção celular de grânulos de HAP-91, concomitante com a formação adjacente de osso novo, sugere que a osteointegração da HAP-91 seja análoga ao processo normal de reabsorção-aposição óssea.

With the objective of studying the synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP-91) as a bone substitute, eight healthy mongrel adult dogs were used. Following the habitual anesthetic and surgical protocol, a bone defect was provoked in the proximal diafisis of the left and right tibias, being implanted the graft of HAP-91 just in the right tibia. The animals, two at each time, were sacrificed at the 8th, 30th, 60th and 120th days after the surgery, when lesion samples were obtained for histopathology, submitted to the double coloration in 1% uranil acetate solution and in lead citrate solution. These sections were examined and photographed in an electronic transmission microscope. The bone tissue components were identified both in the control and treated tibia. The absorption of HAP-91 was characterized by the presence of multinuclear cells in the interface between the hydroxyapatite and the bone, morphologically considered as osteoclasts. In addition, the concomitant presence of HAP-91, with the adjacent formation of new bone was found, which suggests that the osteointegration of HAP-91 is similar to the bone reabsorption apposition normal process.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar a dinâmica da produção de anticorpos anti-Babesia equi e B. caballi em éguas gestantes em condições naturais de campo em Minas Gerais e avaliar a eficiência da transferência passiva de anticorpos via colostro. Foram analisadas, pela imunofluorescência indireta, amostras de soros colhidas de 34 fêmeas aos 290, 305 e 320 dias de gestação, e no momento do parto, e de seus respectivos potros até 36 horas após o nascimento. Aos 290 dias de gestação, todas as fêmeas estavam positivas para B. equi e apenas duas estavam negativas para B. caballi. Todos os potros tornaram-se positivos para B. equi após ingestão de colostro, entretanto 42% permaneceram negativos para B. caballi 36 horas após o nascimento. Não se observou influência dos níveis de anticorpos durante a gestação na transferência passiva de anticorpos aos potros. A transferência passiva foi menos eficiente para B. caballi, sugerindo que os potros estão mais sujeitos a adquirirem infecção por esse agente.