Serologic survey for Leptospira spp. in captive neotropical felids in Foz do Igua?u, Paraná, Brazil

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis of worldwide distribution and is endemic in tropical countries, where rodents and other wild mammals are abundant and may act as reservoirs. Leptospirosis has become a concern in captive wild animals, due mostly to their exposure to contaminated urine or environment. Although domestic cats (Felis catus) have been reported refractory to leptospirosis, serology and disease in captive wild felids is still unclear. In this study 57 adult, clinically healthy felids, including 1 Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), 3 jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi), 17 margays (Leopardus wiedii), 22 little spotted cats (Leopardus tigrinus), and 14 ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) kept in captivity at the Sanctuary at the Itaipu Binacional hydroelectric power plant (Bela Vista Biological Sanctuary), Foz do Iguacu City, Paraná State, Brazil, were serologically surveyed for the presence of antibodies against 28 serovars of Leptospira spp. by microagglutination test (MAT). Two animals (3.5%) were seropositive: one male ocelot to the serovar Cynopteri (titer 100) and one female margay to Autumnalis (100) and Butembo (200). The captive-born, 5-yr-old ocelot had been solitary housed in an individual cage. The approximately 21-yr-old wild-caught margay was also kept individually. None of the tested animals showed signs ofleptospirosis. During a study conducted 4 yr previously in the same facility, this particular margay also tested positive for the same two serovars, among others. The present study indicates that the felids tested for Leptospira spp. by MAT were exposed to serovars, but did not demonstrate clinical signs of disease. Comparison with a previous study suggests that serovar titers may vary over time and that leptospirosis dynamics remains unclear in wild felids.     

Composting Wastes Contaminated with Naphthalene

Recent data show composting as an alternative for treatment of PAHs contaminated wastes. Nevertheless, the presence of highly volatile compounds like naphthalene might compromise the interest of this treatment and thus its careful evaluation is justified. A bench scale composting system was built to evaluate the importance of volatilization in the transformation of naphthalene by composting. Naphthalene concentration was measured in solid, aqueous and gas phases by HPLC and GC. Preliminary results have shown that the presence of microorganisms able to degrade naphthalene reduces naphthalene loss by volatilization.     

Cone beam computed tomography and intraoral radiography for diagnosis of dental abnormalities in dogs and cats

The development of veterinary dentistry has substantially improved the ability to diagnose canine and feline dental abnormalities. Consequently, examinations previously performed only on humans are now available for small animals, thus improving the diagnostic quality. This has increased the need for technical qualification of veterinary professionals and increased technological investments. This study evaluated the use of cone beam computed tomography and intraoral radiography as complementary exams for diagnosing dental abnormalities in dogs and cats. Cone beam computed tomography was provided faster image acquisition with high image quality, was associated with low ionizing radiation levels, enabled image editing, and reduced the exam duration. Our results showed that radiography was an effective method for dental radiographic examination with low cost and fast execution times, and can be performed during surgical procedures.     

First description of a natural infection with spleen and kidney necrosis virus in zebrafish

Zebrafish has become a popular research model in the last years, and several diseases affecting zebrafish research facilities have been reported. However, only one case of naturally occurring viral infections was described for this species. In 2015, infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) was detected in zebrafish from a research facility in Spain. Affected fish showed lethargy, loss of appetite, abnormal swimming, distention of the coelomic cavity and, in the most severe cases, respiratory distress, pale gills and petechial haemorrhages at the base of fins. Cytomegaly was the most relevant histopathological finding in organs and tissues, sometimes associated to degenerative and necrotic changes. ISKNV belongs to the relatively newly defined genus Megalocytivirus, family Iridoviridae, comprising large, icosahedral cytoplasmic DNA viruses. This is the first case of naturally occurring Megalocytivirus infection in zebrafish research facilities, associated with morbidity. The virus has been identified based on both pathologic and genetic evidence, to better understand the pathogenesis of the infection in zebrafish and the phylogenetic relationship with other iridoviruses. Given the ability of megalocytiviruses to cross‐species boundaries, it seems necessary to implement stringent biosecurity practices as these infections may invalidate experimental data and have major impact on laboratory and cultured fish.     

Physicochemical and Enzyme Characterization of Small and Large Starch Granules Isolated from Two Maize Cultivars

In this study, some morphological, physicochemical, and the initial characterization of the starch granule enzymes of blue and white maizes of small and large granules are described. Starch was isolated from blue and white maizes, and the small and large granules were separated. The efficiency of separation was higher in large granules than small of the blue maize starch. The amylose content was slightly greater (1.3%) in large granules than smaller in both starches studied. No differences in the average gelatinization temperature were found between large and small granules, but the enthalpy of gelatinization value was higher in the small granules. The electrophoretic pattern showed that the granule‐bound starch synthase (GBSSI) had higher expression in large than small granules and that explain the higher amylose content in the former granules. The differences showed in the starch biosynthesis enzymes in small and large granules might explain partially the physicochemical and functional properties of maize.     

Prevalence and risk factors associated with goat gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the Sertão region of Paraíba State,Brazil

Gastrointestinal helminthiasis represents an obstacle to goat raising, causing severe damage to herds such as growth retardation, weight loss, and even death. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated to goat gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the Sertão region of Paraíba State, Brazil. A total of 256 goats from 54 farms were systematically sampled. Blood and fecal samples were collected from each animal for egg per gram (EPG), larval culture, and packed cell volume (PCV) analyses. We found that 79.3 % of the goats investigated were parasitized with gastrointestinal helminths. Significant correlation (p?=?0.004) was observed between the EPG and PCV of the animals studied, and it was observed that the EPG increases as the PCV decreases. In the larval culture, the most prevalent helminth was Haemonchus sp. (83.2 %). Age and sex were significant variables (p?≤?0.20) for the development of gastrointestinal helminths: 86.8 % of animals over 36 months of age and 81.7 % of females were infected. The variable type of animal exploitation was also significant, with 90.3 % (p?≤?0.20) of the animals presenting double suitability (milk and meat). The Sertão region of Paraíba State presents high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in goats, and age and type of animal exploitation are the most relevant risk factors to the development of these parasites.     

The Caldenal ecosystem: Effects of a prescribed burning on soil chemical properties

Before and after a prescribed burning, the upper 2.5 cm of soil in patches of forage, nonforage, and shrub vegetation were sampled. Then, bulk density, gravimetric moisture, pH in water, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations, cationic exchange capacity, total nitrogen, total, particulate, and mineral organic carbon contents were determined. Maximum temperature ranges reached over the ground during burning were measured and the highest values were registered in shrubs. Results showed that total, particulate, and mineral organic carbon and total nitrogen contents and percent base saturation increased in all soils after burning, without detecting differential effects between vegetation patches. After burning, available phosphorus content increased both for forage and shrub patches. A Na⁺ content decrease was observed for all soils in the different patches while Mg²⁺ content increased. No changes in the other analyzed variables were observed. Prescribed burning, as studied in the present work, might improve the Caldenal soils’ chemical fertility, mainly due to an increase in labile organic matter and some nutrients essential for plant growth.