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In this study, we aimed to establish the prevalence and risk factors relating to gastrointestinal helminthiasis, and to characterize the sanitary management practiced among sheep herds in the Sertão region of the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, based on factors that condition the ways of controlling these parasites in these herds. The research was carried out between April and July 2012. We visited 54 farms, where fecal and blood samples were individually collected from 465 animals. On each farm, a questionnaire was applied to gather information on variables relating to potential risk factors. The prevalence of sheep gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the region was 75.9%. At least one animal tested positive for this helminthiasis on 53 (98.1%) of the 54 farms evaluated. The eggs per gram of feces (EPG) analysis showed the following infection burdens: 51.8% with mild infection, 27.1% moderate infection, 9.9% heavy infection and 11.2% fatal infection. Among the sheep farms visited, anthelmintics were used on 81.5% (p <0.05). The most relevant risk factor in this study was the farm area, because it defines the area available for grazing animals. Properties with many animals and little pasture area, which are the most abundant type in the Sertão region of Paraíba, tend to have high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis, because the animals are more prone to reinfection. The Sertão region of Paraíba presents high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis among sheep, and the farm area is the most relevant risk factor for the development of these parasites.

This review aimed to detail the main information pertinent to the physiological and behavioral mechanisms evidenced in cattle under heat stress conditions. Brazilian cattle-breeding represents the second largest herd in the world, promoting great impact on the country's exports. Throughout their adaptability, these animals were submitted to different environments, which directly influence productive and reproductive performance, seeking compensatory mechanisms to maintain body homeostasis. Therefore, we can consider that heat stress directly affects the physiological and behavioral responses of cattle subjected to high temperatures. Adaptability of breeds to tropics should be considered of extreme importance in the choice of a productive activity for cattle-breeding and, particularly, in hot environments.

RESUMO: O sistema de pastejo rotacionado irrigado é uma alternativa para a ovinocultura do semiárido. No entanto, a maior limitante para sua implementação são as dificuldades para controlar as parasitoses gastrintestinais. Neste trabalho objetivou-se determinar medidas de manejo para o controle das helmintoses gastrintestinais de ovinos em pastejo rotacionado irrigado e fazer a análise econômica do sistema. O experimento foi realizado em uma fazenda no Munícipio de Belém do São Francisco, Pernambuco, no período de abril de 2013 a setembro de 2014, em um rebanho de 646 a 859 ovinos mestiços da raça Dopper com Santa Inês, criados em uma área de 12 ha de pastagem de capim coast cross (Cynodon dactylon) dividida em 24 piquetes. Para o pastejo os ovinos foram divididos em dois grupos, um de ovelhas paridas e outro de ovelhas secas e borregas de mais de dois meses, que pastejavam três dias em cada piquete. Os piquetes tinham 36 dias de descanso. Foi feito teste de resistência aos anti-helmínticos no início de experimento e anualmente, que resultou na mudança anual do produto utilizado. No segundo ano, para as coletas de fezes e para o tratamento anti-helmíntico seletivo, as ovelhas paridas e as ovelhas secas foram divididas em dois subgrupos cada: paridas gordas, paridas magras, secas magras e secas gordas. Todos os meses coletavam-se fezes de 10% dos ovinos de cada subgrupo para fazer OPG e coprocultura. Cada grupo era tratado quando apresentavam média de mais de que 1000 OPG. Coletaram-se amostras de capim a cada dois meses para fazer a contagem e identificação de larvas do pasto. Durante os 18 meses de estudo foram tratados individualmente aproximadamente 3797 ovinos, equivalente a 6,49 tratamentos por ovino (3,97 em 2013 e 2,52 em 2014). O helminto mais prevalente nas coproculturas (50-85%) e no pasto (83,2%) foi Haemonchus contortus. Os menores números de larvas infectantes no pasto (94 a 111 larvas L3/ kg MS) ocorreram nos dias 35 e 2 a 8 de pastejo e os maiores números entre os dias 17 a 20 (374 a 761 L3/kg MS). A produção de carne da fazenda foi 1023 kg por hectare e a rentabilidade de 3,31%. Conclui-se que o pastoreio dos potreiros por três dias, com um descanso de 36 dias, com a utilização de tratamento seletivo, permite controlar as helmintoses gastrintestinais em sistemas de pastoreio rotacional irrigado. No entanto, é necessário realizar testes de resistência dos parasitas aos anti-helmínticos anualmente para contornar esse problema.

The aim of the present study was to find out the diversity of Eimeria species in cattle herds in the semiarid region of Brazil. Forty cattle fecal samples were collected from 20 farms in the Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil, and examined by centrifugation-floatation technique in sucrose solution. From each positive animal, 20 oocysts were photographed and measured. Infection by Eimeria spp. was detected in 17.12% (137/800) of the samples analyzed. All the farms had at least one animal that was positive for Eimeria spp. (100%; 20/20). In total, 2740 coccidia were photographed and measured. The species detected were: Eimeria bovis (35.1%); Eimeria canadensis (17.48%); Eimeria auburnensis (14.7%); Eimeria ellipsoidalis (9.7%); Eimeria zuernii (7.22%); Eimeria brasiliensis (4.56%); Eimeria bukidnonensis (3.97%); Eimeria illinoisensis (2.91%); Eimeria wyomingensis (1.42%); Eimeria alabamensis (1.27%); Eimeria cylindrica (0.76%); Eimeria pellita (0.54%); Eimeria ildefonsoi (0.21%); and Eimeria subspherica (0.07%). It was concluded that cattle in the semiarid region of Brazil were parasitized by 14 species of Eimeria. It is thinked that the sanitary management employed, as well as the system used for raising these animals, is the crucial point that leads to high rates of infection in this region.

The aim of this study was to verify the in vivo effectiveness of pumpkin seed (Curcubita pepo Linnaeus, 1753) in naturally infected ostriches in the Cariri zone, semiarid region of Paraíba State, Brazil. Forty-eight ostriches were used, African Black breed, of 14 to 36 months old, naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes. These animals were divided into four groups of 12 ostriches. Group 1 consists of animals treated with 0.5 g/kg live weight (l. w.) of pumpkin seed meal; group 2 received 1 g/kg l. w. of pumpkin seed meal; group 3 was treated with Albendazole 5 %, at the dosage of 1 mL/10 kg l. w.; and Group 4 was the control group and do not received treatment. Groups 1 and 2 received the treatment for three consecutive days, orally, at intervals of 7 days, totaling nine administrations. The Albendazole 5 % was administered one time, at the beginning of the experiment, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The groups treated with pumpkin seed showed a significant decrease in egg counts per gram of feces (EPG), wherein group 2 (1 g/kg l. w.) was the most effective. The control and drug groups showed no reduction in EPG. The results of the present study demonstrate that the administration of pumpkin seed was effective in controlling gastrointestinal helminths in naturally infected ostriches.

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