Abstract The coproparasitological examination of dogs (n=278) from two Brazilian biomes (Amazon [AZ] and Atlantic Forest [AF]) by centrifugal flotation demonstrated positivity values of 54.2% (AF) and 48.5% (AZ). The most prevalent parasites in AF were hookworms (81.0% - 47/58), Toxocara sp. (17.3% - 10/58) and Trichuris vulpis (12.1% - 7/58); while in AZ they were hookworms (86.7% - 72/83), Toxocara sp. (18.1% - 15/83), Dipylidium caninum (13.3% - 11/83) and T. vulpis (10.8% - 9/83). PCR was performed using the partial mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (pcox1) and NADH dehydrogenase 1 (pnad1) in 25 fecal samples positive for Toxocara sp. eggs and found one sample positive for pcox1 and six positives for pnad1. The sequencing of these samples was unsuccessful due to the difficulties inherent in copro-PCR+sequencing. The sequencing of 14 samples of T. canis adult helminths retrieved 11 sequences of 414 bp for pcox1 and nine sequences of 358 bp for pnad1. The phylogenetic trees of these sequences confirmed the species T. canis. Intraspecific genetic variation was only observed for pnad1. This is the second study involving molecular analysis of T. canis in dogs from Brazil and adds new information through the use of pnad1. n=278 n278 n 278 (n=278 Amazon [AZ [AF] 542 54 2 54.2 (AF 485 48 5 48.5 AZ. . (AZ) 81.0% 810 81 0 (81.0 47/58, 4758 47/58 , 47 58 47/58) sp 17.3% 173 17 3 (17.3 10/58 1058 10 12.1% 121 12 (12.1 7/58 758 7 7/58) 86.7% 867 86 (86.7 72/83, 7283 72/83 72 83 72/83) 18.1% 181 18 (18.1 15/83, 1583 15/83 15 15/83) 13.3% 133 13 (13.3 11/83 1183 T 10.8% 108 8 (10.8 9/83. 983 9/83 9 9/83) pcox (pcox1 pnad1 pnad (pnad1 coproPCR+sequencing. coproPCRsequencing copro PCR+sequencing. copro-PCR+sequencing 41 35 n=27 n27 27 (n=27 [AF 54. 4 48. (AZ 81.0 (81. 475 47/5 17.3 (17. 10/5 105 12.1 (12. 7/5 75 86.7 (86. 728 72/8 18.1 (18. 158 15/8 13.3 (13. 11/8 118 10.8 (10. 98 9/8 (pcox (pnad coproPCR coproPCR+sequencing PCRsequencing PCR+sequencing n=2 n2 (n=2 81. (81 47/ 17. (17 10/ 12. (12 7/ 86. (86 72/ 18. (18 15/ 13. (13 11/ 10. (10 9/ n= (n= (8 (1 (n (

Resumo O exame coproparasitológico de cães (n=278) de dois biomas brasileiros (Amazônia [AZ] e Mata Atlântica [MA]) por centrífugo-flutuação demonstrou valores de positividade de 54,2% (MA) e 48,5% (AZ). Os parasitos mais prevalentes na MA foram ancilostomídeos (81,0% - 47/58), Toxocara sp. (17,3% - 10/58) e Trichuris vulpis (12,1% - 7/58); enquanto na AZ foram ancilostomídeos (86,7% - 72/83), Toxocara sp. (18,1% - 15/83), Dipylidium caninum (13,3% - 11/83) e T. vulpis (10,8% - 9/83). A PCR foi realizada, utilizando-se os genes mitocondriais parciais da subunidade 1 do citocromo c oxidase (pcox1); e NADH desidrogenase 1 (pnad1) em 25 amostras fecais positivas para ovos de Toxocara sp. com uma amostra positiva para pcox1 e seis positivas para pnad1. O sequenciamento dessas amostras não teve sucesso, devido às dificuldades inerentes ao copro-PCR+sequenciamento. O sequenciamento de 14 amostras de helmintos adultos T. canis recuperou 11 sequências de 414 pb para pcox1 e nove sequências de 358 pb para pnad1. As árvores filogenéticas dessas sequências confirmaram a espécie T. canis. A variação genética intraespecífica foi observada apenas para pnad1. Este é o segundo estudo envolvendo análise molecular de T. canis, em cães do Brasil, e agrega novas informações com o uso do pnad1. n=278 n278 n 278 (n=278 Amazônia [AZ [MA] centrífugoflutuação centrífugo flutuação 542 54 2 54,2 (MA 485 48 5 48,5 AZ. . (AZ) 81,0% 810 81 0 (81,0 47/58, 4758 47/58 , 47 58 47/58) sp 17,3% 173 17 3 (17,3 10/58 1058 10 12,1% 121 12 (12,1 7/58 758 7 7/58) 86,7% 867 86 (86,7 72/83, 7283 72/83 72 83 72/83) 18,1% 181 18 (18,1 15/83, 1583 15/83 15 15/83) 13,3% 133 13 (13,3 11/83 1183 T 10,8% 108 8 (10,8 9/83. 983 9/83 9 9/83) realizada utilizandose utilizando se pcox (pcox1) pnad1 pnad (pnad1 sucesso coproPCR+sequenciamento. coproPCRsequenciamento copro PCR+sequenciamento. copro-PCR+sequenciamento 41 35 Brasil n=27 n27 27 (n=27 [MA 54, 4 48, (AZ 81,0 (81, 475 47/5 17,3 (17, 10/5 105 12,1 (12, 7/5 75 86,7 (86, 728 72/8 18,1 (18, 158 15/8 13,3 (13, 11/8 118 10,8 (10, 98 9/8 (pcox1 (pnad coproPCR coproPCR+sequenciamento PCRsequenciamento PCR+sequenciamento n=2 n2 (n=2 81, (81 47/ 17, (17 10/ 12, (12 7/ 86, (86 72/ 18, (18 15/ 13, (13 11/ 10, (10 9/ (pcox n= (n= (8 (1 (n (

ABSTRACT Subsistence hunting is the main source of protein for forest reserve dwellers, contributing to the development of spurious infections by Calodium hepaticum, frequently associated with the consumption of the liver from wild mammals. The prevalence of infections by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and intestinal protozoa is considered an indicator of the social vulnerability of a country, besides providing information on habits, customs and quality of life of a given population. Intestinal parasites mostly affect poor rural communities with limited access to clean water and adequate sanitation. This study reports the results of a parasitological survey carried out in 2017 and 2019, in two municipalities (Xapuri and Sena Madureira) in Acre State. Stool samples were collected from 276 inhabitants. Upon receipt, each sample was divided into two aliquots. Fresh samples without preservative were processed and examined by the Kato-Katz technique. Samples fixed in 10% formalin were processed by the spontaneous sedimentation and the centrifugal sedimentation techniques. Calodium hepaticum eggs were found in three stool samples. The overall STH prevalence was 44.9%. The hookworm prevalence (19.2%) was higher than that of Ascaris lumbricoides (2.5%) and Trichuris trichiura (0.7%), an unexpected finding for municipalities belonging to the Western Brazilian Amazon. When considering parasites transmitted via the fecal-oral route, Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli showed the highest positivity rates, of 13% and 10.9%, respectively. This study is the first report of spurious infection by C. hepaticum among forest reserve dwellers that consume undercooked liver of lowland pacas. Additionally, this is the first report of Blastocystis sp. in Acre State.

Human polycystic echinococcosis is a parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus vogeli, which occurs in rural areas of Central and South America. Until now, little information on the genetic variability of E. vogeli is available. Here, 32 samples from human-excised E. vogeli cysts had a 396-bp sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequenced and compared to another 17 COI sequences representing nine Echinococcus species. A Bayesian COI tree revealed that all E. vogeli sequences formed a monophyletic and well-supported clade with an E. vogeli reference sequence. The occurrence of geographically restricted E. vogeli COI haplotypes suggests retention of ancestral polymorphisms with little migration in Acre, Brazil.

Resumo Embora a ovinocultura tenha despertado o interesse de criadouros no estado do Acre nas últimas quatro décadas, pouco se conhece sobre a ocorrência de helmintoses no plantel de ovinos dessa região. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a possibilidade de ocorrência de helmintíases não intestinais entre ovinos abatidos no município de Rio Branco. Foram inspecionados 110 fígados de ovinos em dois abates (julho de 2014 e março de 2015) em um abatedouro no município de Rio Branco. Fígados com lesões macroscópicas foram fotografados com posterior análise histopatológica por microscopia de luz. Nas lesões macroscópicas foram encontrados pequenos nódulos apresentando características inflamatórias com áreas de fibrose, aparentemente calcificadas, sugerindo uma reação granulomatosa. Dos 110 fígados avaliados, observou-se 110 nódulos no total; estes nódulos têm um tamanho médio de 0,5 cm. A análise histopatológica mostrou alterações na arquitetura do lóbulo hepático, com múltiplos focos de necrose, além da formação de abscessos hepáticos constituídos por polimorfonucleares. Duas amostras revelaram a presença de helmintos da Classe Nematoda e ovos de Capillaria sp. identificados pela morfologia típica e morfometria. Esse resultado parece ser o primeiro registro de Capillaria sp. em fígado de ovino no Brasil, o que é um importante alerta para a vigilância no controle sanitário animal e o seu papel zoonótico para humanos.

Abstract Although sheep farming has grown in the state of Acre over the past four decades, little is known about occurrences of helminthiases in the herds of this region. The objective of the study was to assess the occurrences of non-intestinal helminthiasis among sheep slaughtered in Rio Branco. A total of 110 sheep livers were inspected from two slaughter batches (july 2014 and march 2015) in a slaughterhouse in Rio Branco. Livers with macroscopic lesions were photographed and were then subjected to histopathological analysis under an optical microscope. The macroscopic lesions showed small nodes with inflammatory characteristics and areas of fibrosis, which appeared to be calcified, thus suggesting a granulomatous reaction. Of the 110 evaluated livers, we noticed 110 nodules in total; these nodules have an average size of 0.5 cm. The histopathological analysis showed alterations to the architecture of the hepatic lobe, with multiple foci of necrosis and polymorphonuclear cells. Two samples revealed the presence of helminths from Nematode class and Capillaria sp. eggs identified by the typical morphology and morphometry. This seems to be the first report of Capillaria sp. in sheep livers in Brazil, and it serves as an important alert regarding animal health surveillance and control and regarding the Capillaria sp. zoonotic role in humans.

Este trabalho objetivou estimar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii por meio da Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI) em bovinos e suínos de abatedouros de dois municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii foram encontrados em 1,96% (9/459) dos bovinos e em 7,64% (31/406) dos suínos, sem associação positiva (p > 0,05) em relação aos fatores de risco de transmissão e a soropositividade. Considerando-se o ponto de corte (RIFI ³ 1:64), foram detectados os títulos de 64 e 256, sugestivos de infecção crônica. Apesar de baixas, as prevalências encontradas para bovinos e suínos indicaram contaminação ambiental nos municípios avaliados, falhas na biossegurança da granja tecnificada de suínos e a possibilidade de infecção humana e animal pela ingestão da carne crua ou mal passada desses animais.

This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies by means of the Indirect Immunufluorescent Antibody Assay (IFAT) in cattle and pigs from slaughterhouses in two municipalities in the State of Rio de Janeiro. IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies was found in 1.96% (9/459) of the cattle and 7.64% (31/406) of the pigs, without any positive association (p > 0.05) with risk factors for transmission and seropositivity. Taking the cutoff point of IFAT ³ 1:64, titers of 64 and 256 were detected, suggesting chronic infection. Despite the low prevalence rates found for cattle and pigs, these indicated environmental contamination in the municipalities investigated, biosafety failures at the technified pig farm evaluated and the possibility of human and animal infection through eating raw or undercooked meat from these animals.

No presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a soroprevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii, em 708 matrizes suínas dos municípios de Nova Mutum e Diamantino do Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. As amostras de soro foram examinadas por meio da reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI). Foi encontrada a frequência de 12,8% de soros positivos, com diluições iguais ou superiores a 64. Portanto, os dados obtidos reforçam a necessidade de um manejo de criação adequado, visando à minimização do risco de infecção de suínos por T. gondii.

This report aimed to assess the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in 708 swine matrices in Nova Mutum and Diamantino in the state of Mato Grosso, Central-West Brazil. Serum samples were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). It was found a seroprevalence of 12.8%, considering titers >64. Therefore, the data reinforce the need for appropriate management of swine raising to minimize the risk of infection of pigs with T. gondii.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis that generally produces an asymptomatic infection. In some cases, however, toxoplasmosis infection can lead to ocular damage. The immune system has a crucial role in both the course of the infection and in the evolution of toxoplasmosis disease. In particular, IFN-³ plays an important role in resistance to toxoplasmosis. Polymorphisms in genes encoding cytokines have been shown to have an association with susceptibility to parasitic diseases. The aim of this work was to analyse the occurrence of polymorphisms in the gene encoding IFN-³ (+874T/A) among Toxoplasma gondii seropositive individuals, including those with ocular lesions caused by the parasite, from a rural population of Santa Rita de Cássia, Barra Mansa, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Further, we verified which of these polymorphisms could be related to susceptibility to the development of ocular toxoplasmosis. This study included 34 individuals with ocular toxoplasmosis (ocular group) and 134 without ocular lesions (control group). The differences between A and T allele distributions were not statistically significant between the two groups. However, we observed that a higher frequency of individuals from the ocular group possessed the A/A genotype, when compared with the control group, suggesting that homozygocity for the A allele could enhance susceptibility to ocular toxoplasmosis in T. gondii infection.