A hepatozoonose canina é uma doença parasitária de caráter debilitante, imunossupressora e de difícil diagnóstico clínico. A prevalência da doença em cães já foi descrita em vários estados brasileiros, todavia na região Nordeste os estudos ainda são escassos. Em virtude disso, o trabalho objetivou determinar a prevalência da hepatozoonose canina no município de Areia, Paraíba, Brasil. Os cães foram examinados clinicamente e foram colhidas amostras de sangue circulante e periférico (ponta de orelha). Das 151 amostras analisadas, 9,3% dos cães foram positivos para Hepatozoon canis, a partir da visualização de gamontes parasitando neutróilos. O grau de parasitemia variou de leve a intenso. As alterações hematológicas observadas foram diferentes entre os animais, não apresentando padrão de resposta à infecção. A forma subclínica foi observada em 50% dos cães e os demais apresentaram sinais clínicos inespecíicos. Conclui-se que há a ocorrência da hepatozoonose em cães da área urbana do município. Além disso, os cães infectados com H. canis apresentaram alterações hematológicas e sinais clínicos inespecíicos. Palavras-chave: Epidemiologia; Hematologia; Hemoparasita; Hepatozoon canis AbstractPrevalence of canine hepatozoonosis in Areia, Paraíba, Brazil. Canine hepatozoonosis is a parasitic disease of debilitating nature. Also, it is immunosuppressive and dificult to diagnose clinically. The prevalence of the disease in dogs has been described in several Brazilian states, but studies are still scarce in the Northeast region. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of canine hepatozoonosis in Areia, Paraíba, Brazil. The dogs were clinically examined, and peripheral blood samples were obtained from the tip of the ear. Of the 151 dogs analyzed, 9.3% were positive for Hepatozoon canis by the demonstration of gamonts parasitizing neutrophils. The degree of parasitemia ranged from mild to intense. The observed hematological changes were different between animals and showed no pattern of response to infection. The subclinical form Biotemas, 29 (1): 175-179, março de 2016 ISSNe 2175

Dogs have been implicated as main reservoirs for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in urban areas. Therefore, studies on this species provide important data for public health. Thus, the objective of the present study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of canine VL (CVL) and the associated factors in the Brejo Paraibano microregion, northeastern Brazil. A total of 409 dogs were sampled from the eight municipalities of the microregion: Alagoa Grande, Alagoa Nova, Areia, Bananeiras, Borborema, Matinhas, Pilões and Serraria. The diagnosis of CVL was made using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA S7®), through which the prevalence observed was 29.3%. By robust Poisson regression analysis two factors were associated with seroprevalence: illiterate/incomplete elementary owner’s education level (prevalence ratio = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.05–2.34; p-value = 0.027) and tick infestation (prevalence ratio = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.27–2.61; p-value = 0.001). It is concluded that the seroprevalence of CVL in the Brejo Paraibano microregion is high. The factors associated with seroprevalence indicated the importance to develop socioeducational actions on the population, and the finding that tick infestation was associated with seroprevalence shows that there is a need for investigation regarding the role of ticks in the epidemiology of CVL.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing levels of red propolis extract (RPE) in the diet of confined sheep on performance and histomorphometric parameters of rumen and intestine and histopathological parameters of liver and kidney. Thirty-five male sheep (17.08 ± 2.36 kg) were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 mL day− 1 RPE) and seven replications, submitted to one 68-day trial period. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were slaughtered, and, rumen, intestine, liver, and kidney samples were collected (histomorphometry and histopathology). The dry matter intake (DMI), total weight gain (TWG), epithelial thickness ruminal (ETR), a keratinized portion of the epithelium ruminal (KER), a non-keratinized portion of the epithelium ruminal (NKP), papilla height (PH), papilla width (PW), mucosal thickness (MT) and submucosal thickness (ST) exhibited quadratic curve behavior (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of RPE. In addition, the highest level of 28 mL day− 1 RPE resulted in a 20.24% increase in TWG compared to the control group. Therefore, the 28 mL day-1 RPE level is indicated as a natural additive more significant to provide greater absorptive areas of the rumen and intestine, and an increase in total weight gain.

Canine brucellosisis an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, with world wide distribution and zoonotic impact, and in humans and animals is a neglected disease. In the present study, the sero prevalence of B. canis and B. abortus were determined in a probabilistic sample of housed dogs from the Atlantic Rainforest area of the state of Paraíba, Brazil, and the factors associated with sero positivity. A total of 386 dogs over three months of age were used. For the search for anti-B.canis antibodies the agar gel immune diffusion test (IDGA) was used as a screening and IDGA+2ME as confirmatory test, and to search for anti-B. abortus antibodies the Rose Bengal test (RBT) test was used. Apparent and real prevalences were calculated, and robust Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with prevalence. The real prevalence fB. Canis was 12.6% and of B. abortus was 22.8%. The factors associated with sero positivity for B. canis were age greater than 10 years (prevalence ratio; PR = 6.38; P = 0.024) and dogs reared in they ard (PR = 5.20; P = 0.035) and for B. abortus was no treplacement of water of animals everyday (PR = 1.48; P = 0.033). It can be concluded that the prevalence of B. canis and B. Abortus in the region is high, which warns to the adopting of control and prevention measures, as well as greater care in the management of animals, especially for elderly dogs.