Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo confirmar a presença de anticorpos IgG contra Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l) em cães na região oeste de Cuba. As amostras de soro foram analisadas por ensaio de imunoabsorção enzimática (ELISA) indireto, usando-se antígenos brutos de uma cepa de B. burgdorferi de origem norte-americana. Para confirmar a presença de Borrelia spp., o ácido desoxirribonucleico (DNA), extraído de amostras individuais de sangue, foi analisado por PCR, utilizando-se marcadores direcionados para a amplificação de porções do gene da flagelina B (flaB) presente nas espiroquetas de Borrelia. Os carrapatos também foram coletados através da inspeção dos animais. Os soros de 93 de 176 (52,84%) cães foram reativos ao ELISA indireto. A prevalência geográfica variou de 54,35% (25/46) em Boyeros, 44,44% (20/45) em Cotorro, 66,67% (22/33) em Habana del Este e 50% (26/52) em San José de las Lajas. Não houve diferença estatística entre essas variáveis testadas. Nenhuma amostra de sangue analisada foi positiva para o gene Borrelia flaB.

Abstract This study aimed to verify the presence of IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l) in domestic dogs in western Cuba. Serum samples were analyzed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using crude antigens of a B. burgdorferi strain of North American origin. To verify the presence of Borrelia spp., deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from individual blood samples was analyzed by nested-PCR, with markers targeted for amplification of portions of the flagellin B gene (flaB) present in Borrelia spirochetes. Ticks were also collected through inspection of the animals. Sera from 93 of 176 (52.84%) dogs were reactive to the indirect ELISA. Geographic prevalence varied from 54.35% (25/46) in Boyeros, 44.44% (20/45) in Cotorro, 66.67% (22/33) in Habana del Este, and 50% (26/52) in San José de las Lajas. There was no statistical difference between these tested variables. No blood samples analyzed were positive for the Borrelia flaB gene.

Resumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a importância de Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina e Babesia bovis na gênese da tristeza parasitária bovina em bezerros leiteiros do noroeste de Minas Gerais. Foram coletadas 300 amostras sanguíneas de bezerros, seguidas por extração de DNA e Nested- PCR utilizando oligonucleotídeos iniciadores que amplificam fragmentos dos genes sbp-4 (B. bovis) e rap-1a (B. bigemina) e a Semi-Nested para o gene msp5 (A. marginale). A prevalência de A. marginale foi 55,66% (167/300), B. bigemina, 15,33% (46/300) e B. bovis 4,0% (12/300) dos bezerros examinados. Formas parasitárias de A. marginale and B. bigemina foram encontradas em 36,33% e 2,66% dos esfregaços sanguíneos, enquanto B. bovis não foi detectado. Houve diferença estatística entre as prevalências de animais infectados nas faixas etárias 1 (10-70 dias) e 2 (>70-300 dias). Um total de 15 animais com sintomas clássicos da doença foram examinados, e as amostras foram confirmadas como uma infecção simples por A. marginale através da Nested-PCR. Esses resultados confirmam a anaplasmose bovina como a principal agente da tristeza parasitária bovina nos bezerros do rebanho estudado.

Abstract The present study aimed to characterize the importance of the Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in the genesis of cattle tick fever (CTF) among dairy calves in the northwest of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Blood samples from 300 calves were collected, followed by DNA extraction and nested PCR using oligonucleotide primers to amplify fragments of the semi-nested for the msp5 gene (A. marginale), sbp-4 (B. bovis) and rap-1a (B. bigemina) Among the examined calves, the prevalence of A. marginale was 55.6% (n=167/300), B. bovis was 4.0% (n=12/300) and B. bigemina was 15.3% (n=46/300), by PCR techniques. Parasitic forms of A. marginale and B. bigemina were found in 36,3% and 2,6% of the blood smears while B. bovis was not detected. There was a statistical difference between the positivity of infected animals in the age groups 1 (10-70 days) and (>70-300 days) for A. marginale and B. bigemina. A total of 15 calves with the classic symptoms of disease were examined, and the samples obtained were confirmed as a simple infection by A. marginale through semi-nested PCR. These results confirm bovine anaplasmosis as the primary cause of CTF among the calves of dairy cattle within the studied area.

Resumo Ornithocoris toledoi é um inseto hematófago que parasita aves, particularmente os galiformes. Embora a ocorrência deste artrópode seja relativamente baixa no país, este é um ectoparasito importante relacionado à criação rústica de galinhas. O objetivo estudo foi relatar a ocorrência de O. toledoi em uma criação rústica de galinhas no estado do Rio de Janeiro, incluindo aspectos sobre a sua identificação taxonômica, biologia e epidemiologia.

Abstract Ornithocoris toledoi is a hematophagous insect that parasites birds, particularly, galliformes. Although the occurrence of this arthropod is relatively low in Brazil, this is an important ectoparasite associated with backyarding poultry. The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of O. toledoi in a free-range chicken farm in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including aspects of its taxonomic identification, biology and epidemiology.

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to monitor the presence of females of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) on the Seropédica municipality, Rio de Janeiro State, from 2010 to 2013. For this purpose, the Intelligent Dengue Monitoring (IM-Dengue) and Intelligent Virus Monitoring (IM-Virus) developed by Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Ecovec – Minas Gerais, Brazil), were used. IM-Dengue is a tool that allows achieving a weekly overview of A. aegypti infestation, while IM-Virus is another tool that allows detecting dengue virus directly from the mosquito, by Real Time-PCR. Both tools were developed for diagnosis in a prepathogenesis period of the disease, before infection occurrence. Traps were distributed in 19 locations inside the municipality and the bugs were collected weekly during the years of the research. As a result, the presence of 163 females of A. aegypti was recorded over the period; there was no circulation of the virus in the municipality. In one of the 19 study sites, a high degree of disease transmission risk was verified. The study concluded that the municipality, as a whole, showed no risk of disease transmission throughout the field research period.

SUMMARY The aim of the present study was to analyze the status of the American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) in the state of Rio de Janeiro, from 2004 to 2013, through its spatiotemporal distribution. We also described variables considered relevant to the epidemiology of the disease, such as the clinical form, gender, ethnic group, age group, and progression of disease. This is a descriptive study, which used notified secondary data from the Brazilian Information System of Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), Ministry of Health, Brazil, regarding confirmed diagnoses. To help the calculation of coefficients of detection and mortality, we used population data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). We analyzed 1,470 cases of ATL with the predominance of the cutaneous clinical form (1,292/87.89%). The data has also revealed seven deaths, a predominance of males (922/62.72%), and a higher incidence of ATL in the white ethnic group (731/49.72%). We observed a high incidence of ATL in the group of 20 - 39 years old (477/32.44%). We concluded that there was a decrease in the number of ATL cases in the state of Rio de Janeiro, based on a coefficient of detection of 1.44/100.000 inhabitants in 2004 decreasing to 0.20/100.000 inhabitants in 2013. The localities with the highest occurrences of ATL were the metropolitan region (843 cases) and the municipality of Rio de Janeiro (740 cases). In 2005, the highest incidence of the disease was observed (351 cases) in the study. Among the variables selected to describe the epidemiology of the disease, the following categories: cutaneous clinical form, male patients, white ethnic group, and the age group of 20 - 39 years old were more affected than the others.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os fatores associados á infestação por Amblyomma cajennense em equinos em duas microrregiões do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Equinos de 62 fazendas nos municípios das microrregiões de Itaguaí e Serrana foram avaliados entre janeiro e maio de 2009. Os animais foram inspecionados quanto á presença e ao nível de infestação destes carrapatos. As condições de criação e o manejo foram avaliados em cada propriedade, por um questionário epidemiológico. Dos 635 equinos avaliados, 41,6% apresentavam-se infestados por A. cajennense. Observou-se que as criações dos animais em regiões de baixas altitudes (OR=3,69, IC: 2,3-5,8), em propriedades com manejo zootécnico e sanitário insatisfatório (OR=5,92, IC: 3,8-9,2) e em sistema de criação extensivo (OR=4,25, IC: 2,1-8,5) foram fatores associados (p < 0,05) á infestação, sendo também relacionados á intensa infestação nos equinos. O uso de carrapaticida nos equinos também apresentou associação (p < 0,05) á infestação, sendo descritas pelos proprietários, diferentes condutas terapêuticas, em intervalos alternados de tratamento. Baixas altitudes, condição de manejo insatisfatória, criação extensiva e o uso inadequado dos produtos carrapaticidas são fatores associados á ocorrência de A. cajennense em diferentes níveis de infestação nos equinos dos municípios estudados.

The objective of this study was to evaluate factors associated with infestation by Amblyomma cajennense on horses in two microregions of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Horses on 62 farms in the municipalities of the Itaguaí and Serrana microregions were evaluated between January and May 2009. The animals were examined to determine the presence of ticks and infestation level. The animals' rearing and management were assessed on each farm property using an epidemiological questionnaire. Out of the 635 horses evaluated, 41.6% were infested with A. cajennense. It was observed that farms in low-altitude regions (OR=3.69; CI: 2.3-5.8), with unsatisfactory zootechnical and sanitary management (OR=5.92; CI: 3.8-9.2) and an extensive rearing system (OR=4.25; CI: 2.1-8.5) were factors associated with tick infestation (p < 0.05) and also with cases of high infestation on horses. Use of chemical acaricides on horses was also associated with infestation (p < 0.05); the owners described different therapeutic approaches with different treatment intervals. From the present study, low altitudes, unsatisfactory management, extensive rearing and inappropriate use of acaricide products were factors associated with occurrences of A. cajennense at different infestation levels on horses in these municipalities.

Este estudo avaliou os fatores associados à frequência de anticorpos específicos para Leishmania spp. em cães domiciliados na microrregião de Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 524 cães. As amostras de soro foram submetidas a reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e ensaio imunoenzimático indireto (ELISA-teste) para Leishmania spp. A frequência de cães soropositivos foi de 28,24% (n = 148) na microrregião e, entre os três municípios avaliados, a maior frequência (p < 0,05) foi observada em Seropédica (59,46%), seguida de Itaguaí (29,05%) e Mangaratiba (11,49%). Em relação aos fatores associados ao hospedeiro, observou-se que cães sem raça definida e aqueles com idade acima de dois anos apresentaram maior frequência de anticorpos para Leishmania spp. (p < 0,05). Em relação aos fatores relacionados ao ambiente e ao hábito do animal, os cães residentes em áreas rurais (RF = 1,67, p = 0,0002), animais que vivem fora da residência (RF = 1,42, p = 0,0197), com acesso à mata, córregos e pastagens (FR = 2,81, p = 0,0007), que permanecem soltos (RF = 1,66, p = 0,0073), e aqueles que não possuem abrigo (RF = 2,16, p < 0,0001) apresentaram maior chance de serem soropositivos. A leishmaniose canina é uma enfermidade com elevada ocorrência na microrregião de Itaguai, e aspectos como definição racial, idade, hábitos e cuidados estabelecidos pelo proprietário mostraram associação significativa nessa microrregião.

This study evaluated factors associated with the frequency ofLeishmania spp. antibodies in dogs residing in the Itaguai micro-region, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 524 dogs. The serum samples were submitted to indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) forLeishmania spp. The frequency of seropositive dogs was 28.24% (n = 148) in the micro-region, and among the three municipalities within that region, the highest frequency (p < 0.05) was observed in Seropedica (59.46%), followed by Itaguai (29.05%) and Mangaratiba (11.49%). Regarding factors associated with the host, mongrel dogs and those over the age of two presented higher frequency of antibodies to Leishmaniaspp. (p < 0.05). Concerning factors related to the environment and habits of the animal, dogs residing in rural areas (FR = 1.67, p = 0.0002), living outside the residence (FR = 1.42, p = 0.0197), with access to forest, streams and pastures (FR = 2.81, p = 0.0007), remaining loose (FR = 1.66, p = 0.0073), and those that had no shelter (FR = 2.16, p < 0.0001) were more likely to be seropositive. Canine leishmaniasis is a disease with high occurrence in the Itaguai micro-region, and aspects such as the definition of breed, age, habits and care by owners showed significant association in this micro-region.