Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is an emerging disease most likely caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. The objective of the present study was to estimate the seroprevalence of BSF rickettsia infections in equines from six horse farms located in Londrina County, Paraná, Southern Brazil. Six owners of horse farms situated in Cambé, Santa Fé, Guaraci and Londrina municipalities participated in the study. All farms were located in areas where BSF has not been reported. A total of 273 horses were sampled and their sera were tested by indirect Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using R. rickettsii and R. parkeri antigens. Titers equal to and greater than 64 were considered positive. Of 273 sera tested, 15 (5.5%) reacted to R. rickettsii and 5 (1.8%) to R. parkeri. Five out of the six farms studied revealed seropositive animals and seropositivity rate ranged from 0 to 13%. The titers ranged from 64 to 512, and four samples had a titer of 512. Nine animals reacted to R. rickettsii with titers four-fold higher than those for R. parkeri. These results suggest that horses in Northern Paraná may have been exposed to rickettsiae identical or closely related to R. rickettsii.

Brazilian Spotted Fever is a disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, and is transmitted to humans and animals by Amblyomma spp. The objective of this work was to study the epidemiology of spotted fever group rickettsiae in rural areas of Northern Parana. In Alvorada do Sul municipality, 88 humans, 83 dogs, and 18 horses were sampled, and in Arapongas municipality, 138 humans, 90 dogs and 18 horses were studied. All the sera were tested by IFA in which R. rickettsii and R. parkeri were used as antigens, considering titers ≥ 64 positive. Ticks collected from dogs and horses were tested by PCR. In Alvorada do Sul, 24% and 16.1% of humans, 55.6% and 22.2% of horses and, 22.9% and 18.1% of dogs were seropositive for R rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. In Arapongas, 9.4% and 4.3% of the humans, 5.6% and 5.6% of horses and, 13.3% and 12.2% of the dogs were seropositive for R. rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. PCR detected seven ticks with gltA sequences that showed similarity with R. bellii. The presence of antibodies to R. parkeri and R. rickettsii in dogs, horses and humans demonstrates a potential risk for spotted fever group rickettsiae in these areas. Key words: Rickettsia spp., brazilian spotted fever, Amblyomma spp., epidemiology AbstractFebre Maculosa Brasileira é uma doença causada por Rickettsia rickettsii, e é transmitida para humanos e animais por Amblyomma spp. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a epidemiologia de riquétsias do grupo da febre em áreas rurais do Norte do Paraná. No município de Alvorada do Sul, 88 pessoas, 83 cães e 18 cavalos foram amostrados, e no município de Arapongas, 138 seres humanos, 90 cães e 18 cavalos foram estudados. Todos os soros foram testados por IFI com R. rickettsii e R. parkeri como antígenos, considerando-se os títulos ≥ 64 positivos. Carrapatos coletados de cães e cavalos foram testados por PCR. Em Alvorada do Sul, 24% e 16,1% dos seres humanos, 55,6% e 22,2% de cavalos e, 22,9% e 18,1% de cães foram soropositivos para R. rickettsii e R. parkeri, respectivamente. Em Arapongas, 9,4% e 4,3% dos seres humanos, 5,6% e 5,6% de cavalos e, 13,3% e 12,2% dos cães foram soropositivos para R. rickettsii

The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. in humans and dogs living in two rural settlements in northern Paraná State. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to obtain socio-demographic information and possible associations with the infections, and the data were analyzed using EpiInfo®. Blood samples were collected from 216 humans and 169 dogs, and tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in humans was 79.1% (171/216) and in dogs was 82.2% (139/169). Among the variables analyzed for toxoplasmosis in humans the presence of young cats in the household (p = 0.031) and higher frequency with individuals > 18 years showed a significant association. A higher frequency of seropositive was observed in dogs aged > 1 year. The prevalence of leishmaniasis in humans was 7.4% (16/216) and in dogs was 8.2% (14/169). The variable presence of forest less than 200 meters from the residence had a significant association among both humans and dogs. Also for dogs, there was association with the presence of organic matter (leaves) around the household. In conclusion, it can be stated that there is a high spread of T. gondii in both species and the occurrence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies in humans and dogs indicates that there is transmission of Leishmania spp. in these localities. Key words: Toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, epidemiology, serology ResumoO objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência de anticorpos contra Toxoplasma gondii e Leishmania spp. em humanos e cães que vivem em dois assentamentos rurais no norte do Paraná. Um questionário epidemiológico foi aplicado para obter informações sociodemográficas e possíveis associações com as infecções, e os dados foram analisados pelo EpiInfo®. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 216 pessoas e 169 cães, e testados por imunofluorescência indireta. A prevalência de toxoplasmose em humanos foi de 79,1% (171/216) e em cães foi de 82,2% (139/169). Entre as variáveis analisadas para toxoplasmose em humanos a presença de gatos jovens no domicílio (p = 0,031) e maior freqüência de indivíduos >18 anos mostraram uma associação significativa. Uma maior frequência de soropositivos foi observada em cães com idade >1 ano. A prevalência de leishmaniose em seres humanos foi de 7,4% (16/216) e em cães foi de 8,2% (14/169). A variável presença de floresta a menos de 200 metros da residência apresentou uma associação significativa entre os seres humanos e cães. Também para os cães, houve associação com a presença de matéria orgânica (folhas) em torno da casa. Em conclusão, pode afirmar-se que existe uma grande propagação de T. gondii em ambas as espécies e a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Leishmania spp. em humanos e cães, indica que há transmissão de Leishmania spp. nessas localidades.

RESUMO. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca (MS) e da proteína bruta (PB) do milho em grão (MG), aveia em grão (AG), farelo de trigo (FT) e farelo de arroz (FA). Foi utilizada a técnica in situ, com sacos de náilon, sendo avaliados os tempos 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48 e 72 horas de permanência no rúmen, utilizandose quatro bovinos adultos, em um delineamento em quadrado latino 4 x 4. A matéria seca da AG apresentou maior fração solúvel (36,58%), maior taxa de degradação (12,95% h-1) e maior degradabilidade efetiva (DE) (79,28%). O FA apresentou menor fração potencialmente degradável (b) (29,24%) e menor DE da MS (49,16%). O MG apresentou maior fração solúvel da PB (56,88%). A AG apresentou maior taxa de degradação da fração b da PB (11,05%). O FT apresentou maior DE da PB (77,38%) e o FA apresentou menor DE da PB (66,65%). Palavras-chave: bovinos, concentrado, desaparecimento ruminal, rúmen, taxa de degradação. ABSTRACT. Dry matter and crude protein in situ degradability of rice meal, wheat meal, corn and oat seed. The objective of this work was to determine the ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) of maize grain (MG), oat grain (OG), wheat meal (WM) and rice meal (RM). The in situ technique was used with nylon bag, and the 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48 and 72 hours intervals of ruminal incubation were evaluated. Four steers were used in a 4 x 4 latin square. The dry matter of the OG presented the highest soluble fraction (36.58%), the highest rate of degradation (12.95% h-1) and the highest effective degradation (ED) (79.28%). The RM presented the lowest potential degradable fraction (29.24%) and the lowest ED of DM (49.16%). The MG presented the highest soluble fraction of CP (56.88%). The OG presented the highest degradation rate of CP (11.05%). The WM presented the highest ED of CP (77.38%) and the RM presented the lowest ED of CP (66.65%).

The present study aimed to investigate an abortion outbreak in a goatherd from Southern Brazil. The herd had 304 goats, being 227 females and 77 males. Sixty-one animals (44.8%) out of 136 dams aborted. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was performed for anti-T.gondii antibody detection and showed 59/61 (96.7%) positive females (titers ≥64). Fifty-five (93.2%) out of 59 positive dams showed titers ≥ 1024. Tissue samples from eight aborted fetuses and raw milk from their dams were collected for mouse bioassay and PCR. Two fetuses were positive for T. gondii infection in both bioassay and PCR. The animals were treated for five days with sulfadiazine plus trimetoprim what was enough to stop the abortion cases. Considering the results from this work the abortion outbreak was caused by T. gondii infection. Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, abortion, goat ResumoO objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar um surto de aborto em um rebanho caprino ocorrido na região sul do Paraná, Brasil. O rebanho continha 304 caprinos, composto de 227 fêmeas e 77 machos. Sessenta e uma (44.8%) cabras prenhas, de um total de 136, abortaram. Para detecção de anticorpos contra Toxoplasma gondii foi utilizada a técnica de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) e a positividade considerada para aqueles animais com títulos maiores que 64. Das fêmeas que abortaram 59/61 (96,7%) revelaram soropositividade na IFI, 55 (93,2%) daquelas com títulos ≥ 1024. Amostras de oito fetos e leite cru de suas mães foram avaliadas por bioensaio em camundongos e PCR. Amostras de tecido de dois fetos abortados foram positivos no bioensaio e PCR. Após um período de tratamento com sulfadiazine e trimetoprim por cinco dias os abortos cessaram no rebanho. Considerando os resultados do trabalho o agente causador do surto foi o T. gondii.

Introduction: Spotted fevers are emerging zoonoses caused by Rickettsia species in the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsia rickettsii is the main etiologic agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) and it is transmitted by Amblyomma spp. ticks. Methods: The study aimed to investigate SFG rickettsiae in the Arthur Thomas Municipal Park in Londrina, PR, by collecting free-living ticks and ticks from capybaras and blood samples from personnel working in these areas. Samples from A. dubitatum and A. cajennense were submitted for PCR in pools to analyze the Rickettsia spp. gltA (citrate synthase gene). Results: All the pools analyzed were negative. Human sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay with R. rickettsii and R. parkeri as antigens. Among the 34 sera analyzed, seven (20.6%) were reactive for R. rickettsii: four of these had endpoint titers equal to 64, 2 titers were 128 and 1 titer was 256. None of the samples were reactive for R. parkeri. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the park staff, but no statistically significant associations were identified. Conclusions: The serological studies suggest the presence of Rickettsiae related to SFG that could be infecting the human population studied; however, analysis of the ticks collected was unable to determine which species may be involved in transmission to humans.