Foram examinados 176 eqüídeos (15 muares e 161 eqüinos) do município de Monte Negro, Rondônia, Amazônia Ocidental Brasileira, frente a agentes virais e bacterianos. A amostra correspondeu ao total de eqüídeos no município, considerando um nível de confiança de 99%, prevalência esperada de 50% e erro padrão de 10%. As infecções virais foram investigadas pelas provas de Imunodifusão em gel de Agar (Anemia Infecciosa Eqüina - AIE), Inibição da hemaglutinação (Influenza eqüina tipos 1 e 2 IE-1 e 2) e Soroneutralização em cultura celular (Arterite Viral Eqüina - AVE, Herpesvírus Eqüino tipo 1 HVE1, Estomatite Vesicular - EV e Encefalomielite Eqüina do Leste - EEE, do Oeste - WEE e Venezuela - VEE). Para o diagnóstico da leptospirose, foi utilizada a prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM); para o diagnóstico da brucelose, o teste do Antígeno Acidificado Tamponado (AAT) foi utilizado como teste de triagem e as provas de Soroaglutinação Lenta em Tubos (SLT) e 2-mercaptoetanol como testes diagnósticos. Foram constatados 9,6% dos eqüídeos reativos para AIE, 22,7% para HVE1, 19,9% para IE-1, 42,0% para IE-2, 21,0% para EEE, 11,3% para VEE, 3,4% para Brucella spp. e 91,4% para Leptospira spp. Os sorovares de leptospira mais freqüentes foram Bratislava (10,5%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (8,7%) e Autumnalis (8,7%) nos eqüinos e Patoc (26,6%) nos muares. Não foram encontrados animais com anticorpos contra AVE, EV e WEE.

BackgroundDiarrhea in piglets directly affects commercial swine production. The disease results from the interaction of pathogens with the host immune system and is also affected by management procedures. Several pathogenic agents such as Campylobacter spp., Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., group A rotavirus (RV-A), coronaviruses (transmissible gastroenteritis virus; porcine epidemic diarrhea virus), as well as nematode and protozoan parasites, can be associated with disease cases.ResultsAll bacterial, viral, protozoan, and parasitic agents here investigated, with the exception of Salmonella spp. as well as both coronaviruses, were detected in varying proportions in piglet fecal samples, and positive animals were equally distributed between case and control groups. A statistically significant difference between case and control groups was found only for Cystoisospora suis (p = 0.034) and Eimeria spp. (p = 0.047). When co-infections were evaluated, a statistically significant difference was found only for C. perfringens β2 and C. suis (p = 0.014).ConclusionsThe presence of pathogens in piglets alone does not determine the occurrence of diarrhea episodes. Thus, the indiscriminate use of antibiotic and anthelminthic medication should be re-evaluated. This study also reinforces the importance of laboratory diagnosis and correct interpretation of results as well as the relevance of control and prophylactic measures.

OBJECTIVE:Reports on bat rabies in Brazil are sporadic and isolated. This study aimed at describing the detection of rabies virus in bats in the state of São Paulo. METHODS:A total of 7,393 bats from 235 municipalities of the north and northwestern areas of the state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, were assessed according to their morphological and morphometric characteristics from 1997 to 2002. Fluorescent antibody test and mice inoculation were used for viral identification. RESULTS:Of all samples examined, 1.3% was rabies virus positive, ranging from 0.2% in 1997 to 1.6% in 2001. There were found 98 bats infected, 87 in the urban area. Fluorescent antibody test was detected in 77 positive samples, whereas 92 produced rabies signs in mice; incubation period ranging from 4 to 23 days. In 43 cities at least one rabid bat was observed. The highest proportion (33.7%) of rabies virus was found in Artibeus lituratus. Eptesicus and Myotis were the most frequent positive species (24.5%) of the Vespertilionidae family. The species Molossus molossus and Molossus rufus showed 14.3% positive bats. There were no differences in the distribution of positive rabies between females (33; 48.5%) and males (35; 51.5%). CONCLUSIONS:Rabies-infected bats were found in environments that pose a risk to both human and domestic animal population and there is a need for actions aiming at the control of these species and public education. KEYWORDS

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is considered the major cause of economic losses in dairy and beef cattle production. The study aimed to detect the most important bacteria related to respiratory disease in tracheobronchial fluid samples of healthy and dairy calves with clinical signs of BRD in Brazilian rural settlements. Hundred and forty-one mongrel dairy calves were randomly selected from 42 family farm dairy herds from Brazilian settlements. Physical examination was performed and calves were classified as healthy (n=100) and BRD (n=41). Tracheobronchial fluid samples were collected. Isolation and molecular detection of Mycoplasma dispar, M. bovis and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC besides isolation of other aerobic bacteria were performed. Abnormal lung sounds (crackle/snoring/whistle), mucopurulent/purulent nasal discharge, body temperature >39.5°C and respiratory rate >40 breaths/min were higher in BRD calves compared to healthy calves (P<0.05). Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus intermedius and non-fermentative Gram-negative were the most prevalent bacteria isolated. Non-identified species from Enterobacteriaceae family was higher in BRD calves compared to healthy calves (P<0.05). Mollicutes were isolated in 7.4% of samples and only M. dispar was detected. Mollicutes was associated with purulent/mucopurulent nasal discharge (P=0.017). Pantoea agglomerans was associated to tachypnea (P=0.020), and Streptococcus spp. was associated with hyperthermia. Statistical tendencies were observed to M. dispar and tachypnea (P=0.066), and P. agglomerans and tachycardia (P=0.066). The obtained results describe the microorganisms found in tracheobronchial fluid of calves with BRD in some herds of Brazilian family farming and their relation to clinical signs of BRD.