RESUMO O objetivo do trabalho foi pesquisar Mycobacterium bovis em lesões sugestivas de tuberculose nas carcaças de bovinos no estado do Ceará, por meio dos testes de diagnóstico bacteriológico e molecular. Entre agosto de 2017 e janeiro de 2019, o Serviço de Inspeção Estadual (SIE) inspecionou 59.512 bovinos; destes, 7,4% (44/59.512) apesentaram lesões sugestivas. Desses animais foram enviadas 68 amostras, das quais 4,5% (31/68) estavam localizadas no pulmão, 2,9% (20/68) nos linfonodos, 2,0% (14/68) no fígado e 0,4% (3/68) na carcaça. Ao realizar o isolamento bacteriológico, 15,9% (7/44) dos bovinos evidenciaram crescimento de colônias nas amostras. Os esfregaços dos isolados foram submetidos à coloração de Zielh-Neelsen e todos eles confirmaram bacilo álcool-ácido resistente. A reação em cadeia da polimerase identificou todos os isolados, 100% (7/7), como M. bovis. A associação das técnicas de diagnóstico permitiu identificar a presença do agente no estado, e a análise molecular demonstrou ser uma técnica benéfica no monitoramento da tuberculose bovina, podendo ser utilizada como um método auxiliar no programa de controle e erradicação da tuberculose bovina no estado do Ceará.

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to identify Mycobacterium bovis in lesions suggestive of tuberculosis in bovine carcasses in the State of Ceará, by means of bacteriological and molecular diagnostic tests. Between August 2017 and January 2019, the State inspection service (SIE) inspected 59,512 cattle, of which 7.4% (44 / 59,512) presented suggestive lesions. Of these animals, 68 samples were sent, of which 4.5% (31/68) located in the lung, 2.9% (20/68) in lymph nodes, 2.0% (14/68) in the liver, and 0.4% in the carcass (3/68). When performing bacteriological isolation, 15.9% (7/44) of bovines showed colony growth in the samples. The smears of the isolates were submitted to Zielh-Neelsen staining and all confirmed acid-fast bacilli. The polymerase chain reaction identified all isolates 100% (7/7) as M. bovis. The association of diagnostic techniques allowed to identify the presence of the agent in the State and the molecular analysis proved to be a beneficial technique in the monitoring of bovine tuberculosis and can be used as an auxiliary method in the bovine tuberculosis control and eradication program in the State of Ceará.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi isolar e selecionar in vitro bactérias com potencial probiótico do peixe ornamental Amazônico Nannostomus beckfordi. Para o isolamento, retirou-se o intestino de 12 espécimes, que foram macerados, homogeneizados e semeados em placa de petri contento Ágar Man Rogosa e Sharpe (MRS). Posteriormente ao crescimento bacteriano (48 horas a 35ºC), as cepas selecionadas foram mantidas em caldo MRS e submetidas a testes de resistência a NaCl (0,5, 1,0, 1,5, 2,0 e 2,5 e 3,0%), pH (4, 5, 6, 8 e 9) e sais biliares (5% p/v). O antagonismo foi realizado frente as bactérias patogênicas Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Streptococcus agalactiae e Aeromonas jandaei. Das cepas isoladas (23 cepas), apenas seis (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 e C6) apresentaram potencial probiótico. As cepas C1 e C6 tiveram maior resistência (p<0,05) para o NaCl (0,5 e 1%) e pH (5 a 6), na presença de sais biliares somente a C1 teve a melhor resistência de crescimento. Para o antagonismo frente as bactérias patogênicas, a C1 apresentou halo de inibição maior que 9 mm. Sendo esta cepa bactéria (C1) identificada como Enterococcus faecium 11037 CHB. Portanto, este é o primeiro relato do isolamento da bactéria autóctone E. faecium em N. beckfordi com potencial probiótico.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to isolate and select in vitro bacteria with probiotic potential for the Amazon ornamental fish Nannostomus beckfordi. For isolate, twelve fish underwent surgery procedure to remove their intestinal tract, macerate and then inoculate in the plate petri containing de Man Rugosa Sharped Agar (MRS). After bacterial growth (48 hours at 35ºC), selected strains were inoculated in MRS broth and submitted to resistance test with NaCl (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0%), pH (4, 5, 6, 8 and 9) and bile salts (5% w/v). Inhibition test against pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas Jandaei was also performed. Within the isolated strains group (23 strains), only six (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6) showed probiotic potential. Strains S1 and S6 showed the greater resistance for NaCl (0.5% and 1%) and pH (5 and 6), but only S1 obtained better results to resist the bile salts. Even against pathogenic bacteria, the S1 showed the best results with inhibition halos greater than 9 mm. In the end, this bacterial strain (S1) was identified as Enterococcus faecium 11037CHB. Thus, this is the first report regarding isolated autochthonous bacterium E. faecium with probiotic potential of N. beckfordi.

PTEN is the most commonly inactivated tumor suppressor gene in primary prostate cancer (PCa) and its loss is associated with poor clinical outcomes. ERG rearrangement is a genomic alteration frequently found in PCa and its prognostic significance has yielded mixed results. Although the association of PTEN and ERG biomarkers has potential impact on clinical outcomes, studies examining the two genes simultaneously are scarce in Brazilian populations. In this study, we retrospectively examined the relationship between ERG expression and PTEN loss in 119 surgically treated prostate cancer patients from Northeastern Brazil through immunohistochemical analysis. ERG expression was found in 41.0% (48/117) of cases and the loss of PTEN detected in 38.1% (40/105) of samples. ERG-positive cases were significantly associated with lower prostate weight; ERG negatively correlated with Gleason score above 6. The lack of associations for PTEN loss alone in this cohort is counter to the literature, which shows that PTEN loss is usually associated with more aggressive disease. The overlapping of the two biomarkers revealed that samples with positive ERG expression without PTEN loss were associated with lower Gleason and lower Grade group. This study contributes with the discussion about the development of the molecular profiling of prostate cancer. The further development of similar studies could help in stratifying specific risk groups, leading to a more personalized therapeutic decision for prostate cancer treatment.

Epithelial cell migration is an essential response to enteric pathogens such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). This study aimed to investigate the effects of EPEC infection on intestinal epithelial cell migration in vitro, as well as the involvement of type III secretion system (T3SS) and Rho GTPases. Crypt intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) were infected with EPEC strains (E2348/69, ΔescF, and the LDI001 strain isolated from a malnourished Brazilian child) and commensal E. coli HS. Wound migration and cell death assays were performed at different time-points. Transcription and expression of Rho GTPases were evaluated using real-time PCR and western blotting. Overall, EPEC E2348/69 reduced migration and increased apoptosis and necrosis levels compared to EPEC LDI001 and E. coli HS strains. Moreover, EPEC LDI001 impaired cell migration at a higher level than E. coli HS and increased necrosis after 24 hours compared to the control group. The different profiles of virulence genes between the two wild-type EPEC strains, characterized by the absence of espL and nleE genes in the LDI001, might explain the phenotypic results, playing significant roles on cell migration impairment and cell death-related events. Moreover, the type III secretion system is determinant for the inhibition of intestinal epithelial cell migration by EPEC 2348/69, as its deletion prevented the effect. Active Rac1 concentrations were increased in E2348/69 and LDI001-infected cells, while the T3SS-deficient strain did not demonstrate this activation. This study contributes with valuable insight to characterize the mechanisms involved in the impairment of intestinal cell migration induced by EPEC.

The identification of pathogens of viral (Rotavirus, Coronavirus), parasitic (Toxocara spp.) and bacterial (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Rhodococcus equi) origin shed in feces, and the virulence profile of R. equi and E. coli isolates were investigated in 200 samples of sand obtained from 40 parks, located in central region of state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, using different diagnostic methods. From 200 samples analyzed, 23 (11.5%) strains of R. equi were isolated. None of the R. equi isolates showed a virulent (vapA gene) or intermediately virulent (vapB gene) profiles. Sixty-three (31.5%) strains of E. coli were identified. The following genes encoding virulence factors were identified in E. coli: eae, bfp, saa, iucD, papGI, sfa and hly. Phylogenetic classification showed that 63 E. coli isolates belonged to groups B1 (52.4%), A (25.4%) and B2 (22.2%). No E. coli serotype O157:H7 was identified. Eggs of Toxocara sp. were found in three parks and genetic material of bovine Coronavirus was identified in one sample of one park. No Salmonella spp. and Rotavirus isolates were identified in the samples of sand. The presence of R. equi, Toxocara sp, bovine Coronavirus and virulent E. coli isolates in the environment of parks indicates that the sanitary conditions of the sand should be improved in order to reduce the risks of fecal transmission of pathogens of zoonotic potential to humans in these places.

O presente estudo avaliou a composição química, a contagem bacteriana total, o nível de celularidade e presença de resíduos de antimicrobianos no leite de duas propriedades em sistema orgânico de produção do interior do Estado São Paulo com base na IN 062-MAPA. O leite da Propriedade I apresentou média de CCS de 7,13 x 10(5) céls/mL e o da Propriedade II 3,27 x 10(5) céls/mL. As médias das CBTs foram de 7,80 x 10(5) céls/mL na Propriedade I e de 6,15 x 10(5) céls/mL na Propriedade II. A propriedade I apresentou como média de gordura de 3,10%, de proteína 3,26% e 4,54% de lactose, enquanto a Propriedade II apresentou 3,44% de gordura, 3,39% de proteína e 4,50% de lactose, nos 12 meses avaliados. A presença de resíduos de antimicrobianos foi detectada em seis amostras (6,97%) da Propriedade I e em 16 (9,24%) da Propriedade II. Os resultados obtidos revelam falha nos preceitos da produção orgânica.

This study evaluated the chemical composition, total bacterial count, the level of cellularity and presence of antimicrobial residues in milk from two small farms in organic production system in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, based in NI 062-MAPA. The milk of the Property I had the mean of CCS 7.13 x 10(5) cells/mL and the Property II had 3.27 x 10(5) cells/mL. The averages of CBT were, respectively, 7.80 x 10(5) cells/mL in the Property I and 6.15 x 10(5) cells/mL in Property II. The Property I presented as an average of 3.10% of fat, 3.26% of protein and 4.54% of lactose, while the Property II presented 3.44% of fat, 3.39% of protein and 4.50% of lactose in 12 months assessed. The presence of residues of antimicrobial drugs was detected in six samples (6.97%) of the Property I and 16 (9.24%) of Property II. The results obtained reveal failure in the percepts of organic production.

Estudaram-se os efeitos da infecção toxoplásmica sobre a morfometria da parede intestinal, a distribuição de fibras colágenas e a dinâmica de mucinas secretadas no cólon de frangos. Foram utilizados 16 frangos machos de linhagem comercial, com 26 dias de idade. As aves foram distribuídas, aleatoriamente, em três grupos (G). As do G1 não receberam inóculo e se caracterizaram como grupo-controle; nas do G2, foram inoculados cistos teciduais da cepa ME49 de Toxoplasma gondii; e nos G3, oocistos da cepa M7741 de T. gondii. Após 60 dias da inoculação, os animais foram sacrificados para coleta do cólon, o qual foi submetido à rotina de processamento histológico. Em G2 e G3, observou-se hipertrofia da parede do cólon, contudo não houve alteração na proporção do número de células caliciformes e de enterócitos presentes no epitélio intestinal.

The effects of toxoplasmosis on the intestinal wall morphometry, the distribution of collagen fibers, and the dynamic of mucins secreted in the chicken colon were analyzed. Sixteen 26-day-old male Cobb chicks (Gallus gallus) were randomly distributed into three groups (G1, G2, and G3). G1 received no inoculums and characterized the control group, G2 was inoculated with tissue cysts of ME49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii, and G3 was inoculated with oocytes of M7741 strain of T. gondii. After 60 days of inoculation, the animals were slaughtered and had their colon collected and submitted to histological processing. Transversal cuts (4μm) were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS), Alcian Blue pH 2.5, Alcian Blue (AB) pH 1.0, and Azan. G2 and G3 animals showed hypertrophy of the colon wall, but the proportion between the number of goblet cells and enterocytes present in the intestinal epithelium was not altered.

RESUMO A mastite é uma resposta inflamatória da glândula mamária, sendo a infecção mais frequente do gado destinado a produção leiteira. A utilização de antimicrobianos é prática rotineira para o tratamento desta afecção. O alto custo dos medicamentos e a presença destes como resíduos no leite são fatores que devem ser considerados na terapia convencional. A homeopatia é uma possibilidade de tratamento, que se adequa às mastites, e praticamente a única opção para a obtenção de produtos orgânicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência do tratamento homeopático, pela realização da prova do Tamis diariamente, e pela contagem de células somáticas, California Mastitis Test – CMT, contagem de unidades formadoras de colônias – UFC, e pela análise da produção diária de leite. Foram selecionados 2 lotes de 50 animais em fase de lactação, estabelecidos previamente pelo proprietário, categorizados como grupo controle e experimental. Foram realizadas quatro coletas de leite, antes da utilização do tratamento, quatro coletas durante o período de tratamento, e uma coleta duas semanas após o seu término. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas quanto a UFC e CCS. Quanto ao CMT, observou-se redução nos casos de mastite subclinica no grupo experimental. O agente mais comumente isolado foi Corynebacterium bovis em ambos os grupos durante todo o experimento. Quanto à produção de leite, não houve diferença significante estatisticamente entre os dois grupos. Os resultados obtidos no presente trabalho sugerem a utilização de métodos alternativos de tratamento das mastites, e por outro lado mostram a necessidade de novos estudos para se avaliar a eficácia da homeopatia.

ABSTRACT Mastitis is an inflammatory response of the mammary gland being the most common dairy cattle infection. The antibiotical therapy it’s the most common treatment for this disease. However the high cost and the presence of residues in the milk must be considered when choosing the conventional therapy. Homeopathy is a treatment that must be considered in mastitis cases, and it’s practically the only option for organic producers. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment, through the Tamis test accomplished daily, the Somatic Cell Count SCC, the California Mastitis Test – CMT, the Colony Forming Units CFU, and milk production. 100 animals which were part of two lots of 50 animals previously existing in the farm, were chosen by the owner. The lots were classified as control group and experimental group. Four milk collects were realized before the beginning of the study, four during the homeopathic treatment and one at the end of the research. There were no significant differences in CFU and CCS. In the CMT analysis, was verified a decline in the subclinical cases of the experimental group. The most commonly isolated agent was Corynebacterium bovis in both groups throughout the experiment. As for milk production, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The results suggests the use of alternative methods for mastitis control, and showed the need for further studies to evaluate the real effectiveness of the homeopathic treatment.

RESUMO Com o objetivo de estudar a biodiversidade de califorídeos no lixão de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brasil, foram alocadas seis armadilhas confeccionadas com garrafas tipo "pet", no período de março de 2006 a março de 2007, ao redor do lixão. Utilizou-se como atrativo, aproximadamente, 250 g de fígado bovino, com a troca semanal das armadilhas. Foram capturadas 44.688 califorídeos, com maior frequência das espécies Chrysomya megacephala (93,61%; n = 41833), seguindo-se de C. albiceps (1,5%; n = 672) e C. putoria (0,79%; n = 352), com diferença significativa entre a primeira e as demais espécies (p < 0,05). Houve influência da temperatura e da precipitação pluviométrica na sazonalidade de C. megacephala, com maiores capturas nos meses quentes e chuvosos (p < 0,05). Nos meses frios, a captura das moscas, especialmente de C. albiceps e de C. putoria, foi praticamente ausente. Dessa forma, conclui-se que o depósito de lixo urbano de Presidente Prudente oferece condições para a manutenção de moscas varejeiras, especialmente C. megacephala.

ABSTRACT In order to study the biodiversity of Calliphoridae in the of garbage site of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, six traps made apart plastic pet bottles, were disposed surrounding the garbage. The study was carried out between March, 2006 and March, 2007. Bovine liver was used as bait, and the bottle were changed weekly. The total of Calliphoridae captured was 44,688. Chrysomya megacephala was the most frequent species (93.61%; n = 41,833) of fly, with significant differences (p < 0.05) between C. megacephala and C. albiceps (1.50%; n = 672) and C. putoria (0.79%; n = 352). There was influence of temperature and of rainfall on the C. megacephala population. In the coldest months, the capture of flies, especially C. albiceps e de C. putoria was extremely low. Regarding the Muscidae family, 1307 individuals were captured. Thus, it is concluded that the garbage site of Presidente Prudente is an environment that gives conditions to maintenance of Calliphoridae, especially C. megacephala.

Susceptibility profile and multiple drug resistance in 158 E. coli strains isolated from urinary tract infection (UTI), pyometra, and feces of dogs were studied. Norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin were the most-effective drugs (>60%) for E. coli strains. High rates of resistance to antimicrobials were observed in 60% or more of the isolated strains using sulfametoxazole/trimetoprim. Multiple drug resistance for three or more antimicrobials was observed in two (47.1%) strains isolated from UTI, seven (13.5%) from pyometra, and four (7.3%) from feces. From these, 17 (33.3%), one (1.9%), and three (5.5%), respectively, showed multiple resistance to five or more drugs.

A concentração inibitória mínima-MIC em 30 estirpes de Pseudomonas aeruginosa isoladas de mastite bovina foi avaliada utilizando o E-test padrão e o método modificado, pela adição de Tris-EDTA e DMSO. Os métodos modificados apresentaram redução significativa da MIC das estirpes utilizando a gentamicina, a ciprofloxacina e a norfloxacina.

Equine leptospirosis can present a non-symptomatic form, an acute clinical form, or even develop chronically, causing reproductive alterations, such as abortion and recurrent uveitis. Since the prevalence of leptospirosis in several countries and regions is widely reported, the objective of this study was to verify the prevailing equine leptospirosis in different regions of Brazil. Sera from 1402 blood samples from horses of different age, sex, breed, and purpose were examined. These samples came from southeastern and central west states of Brazil. The method utilized was the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), with 12 different Leptospira serovars. From the sera tested, 754 (54%) were positive for one (385) or more (372) serovars. These results were higher when compared to national and international levels. The most commonly found serovars were icterohaemorrhagiae (37.01%), suggesting exposure to rodents, castellonis (16.97%), and djasiman (15.19%). There were significant differences of reagents between sexes, and a tendency toward higher positivity with age. Distribution of sera-reagents related to aptitude showed a markedly higher value for work animals than for sporting ones. Higher rates were found for animals with undefined breed. There were no significant differences related to regional origin. As an indication of multiple exposure, significant associations were observed between the following serovars: castellonis and djasiman; castellonis and grippotyphosa; castellonis and copenhageni; castellonis and icterohaemorrhagiae; castellonis and pomona; canicola and pomona; canicola and djasiman; djasiman and copenhageni; icterohaemorrhagiae and djasiman; icterohaemorrhagiae and pyrogenes; copenhageni and pomona. These results showed the necessity of further studies on the epidemiology of this disease in equines and its relationship to human illness.