BACKGROUND Zika virus (ZIKV) was discovered in 1947 with the virus isolation from Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) in Uganda forest, Africa. Old World Primates are involved in a sylvatic cycle of maintenance of this arbovirus, however a limited knowledge about the role of New World primates in ZIKV transmission cycles has been established. OBJECTIVE This work aimed to investigate the presence of enzootic circulation of ZIKV in New World Primates from three Brazilian states: São Paulo, Paraíba, and Paraná. METHODS We analyzed 100 non-human primate samples collected in 2018 and 2020 from free-ranging and captive environments from São Paulo (six municipalities belonging to Sorocaba region), Paraíba (João Pessoa municipality), and Paraná (Foz do Iguaçu municipality) using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase reaction (RT-qPCR) assays, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). FINDINGS All samples (n = 141) tested negative for the presence of ZIKV genome from tissue and blood samples. In addition, all sera (n = 58) from Foz do Iguaçu’ non-human primates (NHPs) were negative in serological assays. MAIN CONCLUSION No evidence of ZIKV circulation (molecular and serological) was found in neotropical primates. In addition, the absence of antibodies against ZIKV suggests the absence of previous viral exposure of NHPs from Foz do Iguaçu-PR.

Resumo A leishmaniose visceral é uma zoonose parasitária que afeta principalmente populações mais pobres e vulneráveis, e os cães domésticos são considerados as principais fontes de infecção para o vetor e, portanto, para os humanos. Porém diversos estudos têm pesquisado o papel de outros hospedeiros vertebrados no ciclo da doença. Neste contexto, objetivou-se realizar um levantamento da infecção por Leishmania infantum em asininos e muares, vivendo em região semiárida do Brasil. Foi utilizado sangue total de 72 equídeos (65 asininos e 7 muares) para a realização de diagnóstico molecular por meio da técnica de Reação em Cadeia de Polimerase em Tempo Real (qPCR). Um total de 25% das amostras (18/72) resultaram positivas na qPCR, porém não houve diferença significativa entre as espécies (asininos e muares), sexo (macho e fêmea) e situação de abandono dos animais (sim ou não). Asininos e muares, vivendo em condições semiáridas, apresentam alta frequência de infecção por L. infantum, sendo válido atribuir importância a essas espécies no ciclo epidemiológico da leishmaniose visceral, seja como um reservatório em potencial, seja apenas como uma fonte alimentar abundante para os vetores.

Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic zoonosis that mainly affects poorest and most vulnerable populations, and domestic dogs are considered to be the main source of infection to the vector and therefore humans. However, several studies have investigated the role of other vertebrate hosts in the disease cycle. In this context, the aim of the present study was to conduct a survey of Leishmania infantum infection in donkeys and mules living in a semiarid region of Brazil. Whole blood sampled from 72 equids (65 donkeys and 7 mules) was used to perform molecular diagnosis using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. A total of 25% of the samples (18/72) were positive through qPCR, but there were no significant differences between the species (donkeys or mules), sex (male or female) and abandonment situation of the animals (yes or no). Donkeys and mules living under semiarid conditions have high frequency of L. infantum infection. It is therefore worth assigning importance to these species in the epidemiological cycle of visceral leishmaniasis, either as potential reservoirs or just as an abundant food source for vectors.

Resumo A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma zoonose com distribuição mundial de grande impacto na saúde pública. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a prevalência da infecção canina por Leishmania infantum, os fatores associados à infecção e sua distribuição espacial no município de Mãe D’Água, na região do Sertão da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 150 cães para diagnóstico pelos ensaios DPP®, ELISA-S7®, ELISA-EIE® e qPCR. A prevalência foi calculada considerando-se a positividade em pelo menos dois testes. O SaTScan® foi utilizado para a análise espacial. A prevalência da infecção canina com Leishmania foi de 18,6% (28/150), sendo a zona rural identificada como fator de risco (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2,93). A permanência do cão solto durante a noite (OR = 0,33) e a vermifugação (OR = 0,30) foram classificadas como fatores de proteção. Um cluster de risco foi formado na região Norte da área urbana. Mãe D’Água apresentou um padrão de transmissão ativa na área rural, porém medidas de controle da LVC também precisam ser realizadas na área urbana para evitar casos humanos e a dispersão da doença na zona de risco.

Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution that has a major impact on public health. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of canine infection by Leishmania infantum, the factors associated with the infection and its spatial distribution in the municipality of Mãe D’Água, in the Sertão region of Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 150 dogs for diagnosis by the DPP®, ELISA-S7®, ELISA-EIE® and qPCR assays. The prevalence was calculated considering the positivity in at least two tests. SaTScan® was used for spatial analysis. The prevalence of canine infection with Leishmania was 18.6% (28/150), with the rural area being identified as a risk factor (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.93). The permanence of the dog loose during the night (OR = 0.33) and deworming (OR = 0.30) were identified as protective factors. A risk cluster was formed in the northern region of the urban area. Mãe D’Água showed a pattern of active transmission in the rural area, but VL control measures also need to be carried out in the urban area to prevent human cases and the spread of the disease in the risk zone.

RESUMO: Foram utilizados 12 lagartos Teiús (Tupinambis merianae) do Nordeste do Brasil. Encontramos nove animais positivos (75%) para Leptospira sp. na PCR e seis (50%) soropositivos. O sequenciamento de DNA de Leptospira sp. revelou 99% de semelhança com L. interrogans. Os resultados indicam que esta espécie pode desempenhar um papel importante na transmissão da leptospirose humana.

ABSTRACT: We used 12 tegu lizards (Tupinambis merianae) from northeastern Brazil, and we reported nine (75%) Leptospira sp. PCR-positive animals and six (50%) seropositive. Leptospira sp. DNA sequencing revealed 99% similarity with L. interrogans. Our findings indicated that this species may play a role in the transmission of human leptospirosis.

ABSTRACT Arboviruses pose a serious threat to public health worldwide, overloading the healthcare system and causing economic losses. These viruses form a very diverse group, and in Brazil, arboviruses belonging to the families Flaviviridae and Togaviridae are predominant. Unfortunately, the number of arboviruses increases in proportion with factors such as deforestation, poor sanitation, climate changes, and introduction of new viruses like Chikungunya virus and Zika virus. In Brazil, dengue is endemic, along with the presence of other arboviruses. The situation is complicated by the scarcity of diagnostic infrastructure and the absence of approved vaccines for these diseases. Disease control, thus, relies solely on vector control. Therefore, enhanced clinical knowledge and improved general awareness about these arboviruses are indispensable to tackle diagnostic inadequacies.

Introduction Arboviruses are an important public health problem in Brazil, in especially flaviviruses, including the Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and the Rocio virus (ROCV), are especially problematic. These viruses are transmitted to humans or other vertebrates through arthropod bites and may cause diseases with clinical manifestations that range from asymptomatic infection, viral hemorrhagic fever to encephalitis. Methods A serological survey of horses from various regions of Brazil using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with recombinant SLEV domain III peptides and ROCV E protein as antigens. Results Overall, 415 (55.1%) of the 753 horses that were screened were seropositive for flavivirus and, among them, monotypic reactions were observed to SLEV in 93 (12.3%) and to ROCV in 46 (6.1%). These results suggested that these viruses, or other closely related viruses, are infecting horses in Brazil. However, none of the studied horses presented central nervous system infection symptoms. Conclusions Our results suggest that SLEV and ROCV previously circulated among horses in northeast, west-central and southeast Brazil.

Since the emergence of West Nile virus (WNV) in North America in 1999, there have been several reports of WNV activity in Central and South American countries. To detect WNV in Brazil, we performed a serological survey of horses from different regions of Brazil using recombinant peptides from domain III of WNV. Positive samples were validated with the neutralisation test. Our results showed that of 79 ELISA-positive horses, nine expressed WNV-specific neutralising antibodies. Eight of the infected horses were from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and one was from the state of Paraíba. Our results provide additional evidence for the emergence of WNV in Brazil and for its circulation in multiple regions of the country.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a frequência de rebanhos positivos e de animais soropositivos para leptospirose e brucelose bovina em propriedades rurais de agricultura familiar da mesorregião do Agreste, estado da Paraíba, bem como identificar fatores de risco. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 771 animais procedentes de 130 rebanhos em cinco municípios. Para o diagnóstico sorológico da leptospirose, utilizou-se o teste de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), com 24 sorovares de Leptospira spp. como antígenos, e para brucelose, o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT) como prova de triagem e o teste do 2-mercaptoetanol (2-ME) como prova confirmatória. Para leptospirose, a frequência de propriedades positivas e animais soropositivos foi de 18,4 e 3,6%, respectivamente; para brucelose, 7,7% das propriedades e 1,9% dos animais foram positivos. O sorovar de Leptospira spp. mais frequente foi o Hardjo. A compra de bovinos foi identificada como fator de risco para brucelose bovina (odds ratio = 5,25; p = 0,044). Sugere-se a necessidade de adoção e/ou intensificação de medicas de prevenção e controle com o objetivo de evitar perdas econômicas e transmissão dos agentes aos seres humanos, bem como a compra de animais precedida do conhecimento da sua condição sanitária.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the frequency of positive herds and seropositive animals to bovine leptospirosis and brucellosis in family farm rural properties from the mesoregion of the State of Paraíba, as well as to identify risk factors. Blood samples were collected from 771 animals from 130 herds in five municipalities. For the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis, the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using 24 Leptospira spp. serovars as antigens was carried out, and for brucellosis the Rose-Bengal Test (RBT) was used as screening test and the 2-mercaptoethanol test (2-ME) to confirm. For leptospirosis, the frequency of positive herds and seropositive animals was 18.4 and 3.6%, respectively; for brucellosis, 7.7% of the herds and 1.9% of the animals were positive. The most frequent Leptospira spp. serovar was Hardjo. Bovine purchase was identified as a risk factor to bovine brucellosis (odds ratio = 5.25; p = 0.044). The need for adoption and/or intensification of control and prevention measures was suggested in order to avoid economic losses and the transmission of the agents to humans, as well as the purchase of animals with known sanitary conditions.

As helmintoses gastrintestinais ocupam lugar de destaque na produção de pequenos ruminantes como um fator limitante e o seu controle vem sendo realizado por meio do uso indiscriminado de anti-helmínticos favorecendo o surgimento da resistência a medicamentos. Com o objetivo de comparar a ação anti-helmíntica das plantas Operculina hamiltonii (batata de purga), Marmodica charantia (Melão de São Caetano) e do moxedctin a 0,2% sobre as infecções helminticas naturais de caprinos, foram utilizados 40 caprinos, sem raça definida, fêmeas, com idade entre seis e 12 meses, naturalmente infectados, separados em quatro grupos: o GRUPO 1 (G1) - animais controle negativo tratados com água destilada; o GRUPO 2 (G2) - animais tratados com o extrato alcoólico da O. hamiltonii; o GRUPO 3 (G3) - animais tratados com o extrato alcoólico da M. charantia e no GRUPO 4 (G4) - animais controle positivo tratados com moxidectina 0,2%. Todos os grupos receberam os tratamentos por três dias consecutivos. As amostras fecais foram coletadas nos dias 0, 30 e 60 após tratamento, para a realização da contagem de ovos por grama de fezes (OPG) e larvacultura. Para avaliar o efeito dos tratamentos, aplicou-se o teste de redução na contagem de ovos por grama de fezes (RCOF). A RCOF do G2, G3 e G4 foram de 63 e 90; 40 e 40; 100 e 100%, respectivamente para 30 e 60 dias pós-tratamento respectivamente. Durante o período de estudo, observou-se que todas as amostras coletadas estavam positivas para larvas de helmintos da superfamília Trichostrongyloidea, com exceção para o G4, nos dias 30 e 60 pós-tratamento. O Haemonchus foi o parasita mais prevalente nas coproculturas.

Gastrintestinal helminthosis occupy a place of prominence in the production of small ruminants as an edge factor. Its control has been carried through the indiscriminate use of anti-helminthic products in favor of the appearing resistance to the medicines. With the objective to compare the anti-helminthic action of the Operculina hamiltonii plants (potato of purges), Marmodica charantia (Cantaloups of Sao Caetano) and of moxedctin at 0.2% about the natural helminthic infections of goats, there had been used 40 goats, without defined race, females, with age between six and 12 months, naturally infected, separated in four groups: GROUP 1 (G1) negative control animals treated with distilled water; GROUP 2 (G2) -animal treated with the alcoholic extract of O. hamiltonii; GROUP 3 (G3) - animal treated with the alcoholic extract of M. charantia and GROUP 4 (G4) - positive control animals treated with moxidectina at 0.2%. All of them had received the treatments for three days in a row. The feces samples were collected at: 0, 30 and 60 days after treatment, for the accomplishment of the egg counting per gram of excrements (EPG) and larvae culture. To evaluate the effect of the treatments, a reduction on the egg counting per gram of excrements (RECE) was applied. The RECE of the G2, G3 and G4 were: 63 and 90; 40 and 40; 100 and 100%, respectively for 30 and 60 days post-treatment, respectively. During the period of study it was observed that all collected samples were positive for larvae of helminths of the superfamily Trichostrongyloidea, except for the G4, throughout 30-60 days and post-treatment. The Haemonchus was the most prevalent parasite in the culture of feces.

Rabies transmitted by vampire bats was diagnosed in pigs with paralysis of the pelvic limbs. Diffuse nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis, affecting mainly the spinal cord, was observed histologically. Despite the various diagnosis of rabies in pigs this is the first report of clinical signs and pathology of rabies transmitted by vampire bats.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti Brucella abortus, anti Brucella canis e anti Leptospira spp. em raposas (Pseudalopex vetulus). Para tanto, foram utilizadas 60 raposas atropeladas em rodovias no semiárido da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Para a detecção de anticorpos anti Brucella abortus, o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT) foi empregado como teste de triagem, e a prova do 2-mercaptoetanol foi empregada como método confirmatório. Para o diagnóstico sorológico das infecções por Brucella canis e Leptospira spp., foram utilizados os testes de imunodifusão em gel de agar (IDGA) e soroaglutinação microscópica, respectivamente. Todas as amostras foram negativas na pesquisa de anticorpos anti Brucella canis e anti Leptospira spp. Das 60 raposas testadas, 16 (26,6%) foram positivas para anticorpos anti Brucella abortus no teste de AAT, e quatro (6,7%) amostras foram confirmadas no teste de 2-mercaptoetanol, sendo duas amostras com título 100 e duas com título 50.

The aim of this research was to determine the occurrence of anti Brucella abortus, anti B. canis and anti Leptospira spp. antibodies in foxes (Pseudalopex vetulus). Sixty road-killed wild foxes from semi-arid of Paraiba state, Northeastern region of Brazil, were used. For the detection of anti B. abortus antibodies, the buffered plate agglutination test (BPAT) was applied as a screening method and the 2-mercaptoethanol test as a confirmatory method. For serological diagnosis of infections by B. canis and Leptospira spp., the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were used, respectively. All samples were negative for anti B. canis and anti Leptospira spp. antibodies. Of the 60 foxes tested, 16 (26.6 %) were positive for anti B. abortus antibodies at BPAT, four (6.7%) samples were confirmed in the 2-mercaptoethanol test, and two samples presented titer 100 and two titer 50.

Para determinar a presença de vírus rábico em glândulas salivares parótidas, 12 raposas (Pseudalopex vetulus) atropeladas em rodovias e positivas para raiva foram testadas pelo teste de imunofluorescência direta (IFD) e teste de inoculação em camundongos (IC). Todas as 12 glândulas salivares parótidas foram positivas em ambos os testes, embora, em alguns casos, várias passagens terem sido necessárias. Os achados do presente trabalho reforçam a importância das raposas como reservatórios de raiva no semi-árido do Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil.

To determine the presence of rabies virus in the parotid salivary glands, 12 road-killed rabies-positive hoary foxes (Pseudoalopex vetulus) were tested by using the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT). All 12 parotid salivary glands were positive for both tests, although in some cases several passages were required. The findings of this study support the importance of the hoary fox as rabies reservoir in the semi-arid region of Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil.