BackgroundCanine heartworm infections were frequently diagnosed in Brazil before the new millennium. After the year 2000, the frequency of diagnosis showed a sharp decline; however, a few years later, new evidence indicated that the parasite was still present and that canine infection rates seemed to be increasing. Therefore, an updated survey of canine heartworm prevalence was conducted in several locations in south, southeast, and northeast Brazil.MethodsDogs from 15 locations having previously reported a high prevalence of heartworm infection were included in the survey according to defined criteria, including the absence of treatment with a macrocyclic lactone for at least 1 year. Blood samples from 1531 dogs were evaluated by an in-clinic immunochromatography test kit (Witness® Heartworm, Zoetis, USA) for detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen. At each location, epidemiologic data, including physical characteristics and clinical signs reported by owners or observed by veterinarians, were recorded on prepared forms for tabulation of results by location, clinical signs, and physical characteristics.ResultsThe overall prevalence of canine heartworm infection was 23.1%, with evidence of heartworm-infected dogs detected in all 15 locations studied. There was a tendency for higher prevalence rates in environmentally protected areas, despite some locations having less-than-ideal environmental temperatures for survival of vector mosquitoes. Among physical characteristics, it was noted that dogs with predominantly white hair coats and residing in areas with a high (≥20%) prevalence of heartworm were less likely to have heartworm infection detected by a commercial heartworm antigen test kit than were dogs with other coat colors. In general, dogs older than 2 years were more frequently positive for D. immitis antigen than were younger dogs. Clinical signs of heartworm infections were rare or owners were unable to detect them, and could not be used for reliable prediction of the presence of heartworm.ConclusionsThese results indicate that the prevalence of D. immitis has increased in these areas of Brazil over the past few years. Small animal practitioners in these areas should include routine screening tests for heartworm infections in every dog’s annual evaluation protocol and make sure to have uninfected dogs on prevention.

Ectoparasites are capable of transmitting infectious diseases and, therefore, are of zoonotic concern. Cats submitted to a spay/neuter program in the city of Rio de Janeiro were examined to determine the distribution of ectoparasites in cats from a city with a tropical climate. Independent of gender, breed, or age, 292 cats were combed and subjected to otoscopic examination. Ectoparasites were collected, and blood samples were taken to determine packed cell volume. The majority of the 292 cats were female (71%), and most of them were categorized as domestic short hair cats (92%). Different species of ectoparasites that produced both single agent and multi-agent infestations were detected in these cats. Most cats were infested by Ctenocephalides felis (60%); however, other ectoparasites were found to a lesser degree in the sampled population (Felicola subrostratus (5.4%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1.4%), Lynxacarus radovskyi (1%), and Otodectes cynotis (6.2%)). Within the infested cats, 16.3% were also anemic, and there was a significant association between the occurrence of anemia and flea infestation. Of all sampled cats, 65% were infested by at least one species of ectoparasites, which suggests both a heavy infestation of the environment and owner negligence. Ectoparasites are not only nuisances to both cats and owners, but they are also significant carriers of disease. Therefore, the implementation of rigorous, safe preventive measures is of great importance.

Family history of hypertension is an important predictive factor for hypertension and is associated with hemodynamic and autonomic abnormalities. Previous studies reported that strength training might reduce arterial blood pressure (AP), as well as improve heart rate variability (HRV). However, the benefits of strength training in the offspring of hypertensive parents have not been fully evaluated. Here, we analyzed the impact of strength training on hemodynamics and autonomic parameters in offspring of hypertensive subjects. We performed a cross-sectional study with sedentary or physically active offspring of normotensives (S-ON and A-ON) or hypertensives (S-OH and A-OH). We recorded RR interval for analysis of HRV. AP was similar between groups. Sedentary offspring of hypertensives presented impairment of total variance of RR interval, as well as an increase in cardiac sympathovagal balance (S-OH: 4.2±0.7 vs S-ON: 2.8±0.4 and A-ON: 2.4±0.1). In contrast, the strength-trained group with a family history of hypertension did not show such dysfunctions. In conclusion, sedentary offspring of hypertensives, despite displaying no changes in AP, showed reduced HRV, reinforcing the hypothesis that autonomic dysfunctions have been associated with higher risk of hypertension onset. Our findings demonstrated that strength-trained offspring of hypertensives did not present impaired HRV, thus reinforcing the benefits of an active lifestyle in the prevention of early dysfunctions associated with the onset of hypertension in predisposed populations.

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