The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of antibodies against the ApxIV toxin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, causal agent of porcine pleuropneumonia in 10 commercial pig farms of Arequipa, Lima, Ica and La Libertad departments. Blood samples were collected from animals in the growing and finishing stages (30 per farm) and analyzed by the indirect ELISA test using a commercial kit. The results showed that 23.7% (71/300) of the animals presented antibodies against the ApxIV toxin, and the highest frequency was found in the farm located in Ica (60%). The presence of antibodies against the ApxIV toxin indicated the presence of A. pleuropneumoniae infection in pig commercial farms in Peru.

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la frecuencia de anticuerpos contra la toxina ApxIV de Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, causante de pleuroneumonía porcina en 10 granjas porcinas tecnificadas de los departamentos de Arequipa, Lima, Ica y La Libertad. Se colectaron muestras de sangre de porcinos de las etapas de crecimiento y acabado (30 por granja) y se analizaron mediante la prueba de ELISA indirecta con un kit comercial. El 23.7% (71/300) de los animales presentaron anticuerpos contra la toxina ApxIV, correspondiendo la mayor frecuencia a la granja del departamento de Ica (60.0%). La presencia de anticuerpos contra la toxina ApxIV evidencia la presencia de la infección con A. pleuropneumoniae en la industria porcina del Perú.

Relata-se a disseminação da infeção pelo vírus da doença de Aujeszky (VDA) a partir da comercialização de reprodutores suínos oriundos de duas granjas de reprodutores suídeos certificada (GRSC) que tiveram surto da DA. Após a confirmação do diagnóstico de DA, os suínos comercializados 37 a 45 dias anteriores aos surtos foram recolhidos, submetidos ao exame sorológico para o VDA e enviados ao abate. Nos rebanhos-destino foram realizados exames sorológicos para o VDA 17 a 37 dias após o recolhimento, naqueles que estavam lojados nas baias vizinhas àquelas onde haviam sido alojados os suínos comprados; seis meses mais tarde, foi realizada outra sorologia por amostragem dos reprodutores. No total, 52 rebanhos compraram suínos das duas granjas, e, destes, 37 (69,8%) receberam, pelo menos, um animal com sorologia positiva para o VDA. Somente sete (18,9%) deles apresentaram sorologia positiva para o VDA, e em 30 (81,1%), não houve indícios de disseminação da infecção. A contaminação pelo VDA de granjas GRSC representa enorme potencial para a disseminação da infecção, por meio do comércio de suínos de reposição. A rastreabilidade dos animais comercializados em um período anterior ao diagnóstico, com imediata remoção dos lotes de suínos dos rebanhos-destino, evitou a disseminação da infecção.

It was reported the spreading of the infection caused by the virus of Aujesky's disease (VAD) by the commercialization of breeders originated from two pigs farms GRSC (Farms of Certified Swine Breeders - FCSB) which had an outbreak of Aujeszky's disease. After the positive diagnosis of Aujesky's disease, the pigs traded from 37 to 45 day before the outbreaks were removed from the herd, bled for serological exams for the VAD and sent to slaughterhouses. The herds which received these pigs were serologically tested for the VAD, 17 to 37 days after the removal of the animals. Serological tests were also performed in pigs lodged at neighboring cages to those which had been lodged with the pigs bought and a sampling test was done six months later. Thus, 52 flocks bought pigs from the farms 1 and 2. From those, 37 (69.8%) received at least one serum-positive pig for the VAD. Only seven (18.9%) of them were infected and 30 (81.1%) pigs showed no indications of infection by the VAD. The occurrence of VAD in FCSB farms represents huge potential for spreading of the VAD, by the trade of replacement pigs. The traceability investigation and removal of the animals traded before the diagnosis, with immediate removal of the positive lots of pigs at the destiny herd, avoided the spread of the infection.

We report two cases of envenomation by a Madagascan opisthoglyphous snake, Ithycyphus miniatus. In both cases, the snake bit the finger of a human who was preparing an experiment by tying a string around the snake body. Symptoms of the first case included temporal severe local pain and extensive bleeding. In the second case, severe pain accompanying obvious local swelling was caused and lasted for several hours. The present observations indicate that bite by I. miniatus potentially causes serious physiological effects in humans although the snake is basically calm and reluctant to bite.