Dogs can act as intermediary hosts, reservoirs, and sentinel animals for zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis, toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis, and human contact with domestic animals can spread these infections. These diseases are globally distributed, and are a uniquely severe health issue, since they can infect a great range of animals, including humans. The purpose of this work was to determine the prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp., anti-Brucella spp., and anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in stray dogs. Blood samples were collected from 181 stray dogs and used for serological diagnosis. Of the analyzed samples, 36.46%, 16.57%, and 9.39% were positive for T. gondii, Leptospira spp., and B. canis. The results indicate that these zoonotic diseases are highly prevalent in stray dogs in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná. The high infection rates for these zoonotics in the canine population is an indication that the environment is contaminated with a variety of different microorganisms, exposing both humans and dogs to different sources of infection. Key words: Brucella canis. Dogs. Leptospira spp. Toxoplasma gondii. Public health. ResumoO contato do homem com alguns animais domésticos faz com que algumas zoonoses como brucelose, toxoplasmose e leptospirose, tornem-se infecções importantes e, com isso os cães atuam como hospedeiros intermediários, reservatórios e animais sentinelas para estas infecções. Essas enfermidades tem distribuição mundial, e é um grave problema de saúde pública, podendo infectar uma grande variedade de animais, entres os quais, se destacam o cão e o homem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi detectar a ocorrência de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp., Brucella spp. eToxoplasma gondii em cães

Leptospirosis is an important socioeconomic disease in humans, as well as in domestic and wild animals, being caused by Leptospira spp. Bovine animals are considered reservoirs of this disease, because they intermittently disseminate the bacteria into the environment through their urine. In this way, the cattle an important source of Leptospira infection. The objective of this study was to detect Leptospira spp. antibodies and DNA in bovine females from two refrigerated slaughterhouses in the microregion of Umuarama, Paraná, Brazil. In particular, blood and urine samples from 52 crossbred bovine females older than 36 months from the two slaughterhouses were used. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used to detect leptospiral antibodies, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent sequencing were used to detect Leptospira DNA. The MAT yielded 22 (42.3%) serum samples considered reagent, while the nested PCR test resulted in one amplified sample (1.9%) of 289 bp. This single sample was then amplified again using primers for the SecY gene (549 bp). Sequencing of this gene characterized the bacteria as L. borgpetersenii that were similar to the serovar Hardjo of the genotype Hardjobovis. This is the first molecular confirmation of Hardjobovis-like L. borgpetersenii in the urine of crossbred bovine females older than 36 months from slaughterhouses in the microregion of Umuarama. This study's results show that it is important to combine serological and molecular diagnosis in the detection of Leptospira spp. Therefore, both methods were used to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of this disease in bovine animals from the microregion of Umuarama. In addition, the analysis informed the subsequent adoption of preventive measures and educational One Health actions to prevent economic losses related to the herd, as well as social losses related to workers and the environment. ResumoA leptospirose é uma importante doença sócio-econômica acarretada pela Leptospira spp. que afeta homens e animais domésticos ou selvagens. Os bovinos são considerados reservatórios desta enfermidade, sendo importante fonte de infecção por eliminar a bactéria pela urina de forma intermitente no meio ambiente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi detectar anticorpos e DNA de Leptospira spp. em fêmeas bovinas provenientes de dois matadouro-frigoríficos da microrregião de Umuarama, Paraná, Brasil. Neste trabalho foram utilizadas amostras de sangue e urina de 52 fêmeas bovinas mestiças com idade superior a 36 meses provenientes de dois matadouros-frigoríficos. Para detecção de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. foi realizada a prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM), e para a detecção de DNA foi realizada a reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR) e posterior sequenciamento. Na SAM, 22 (42,30%) amostras de soro foram consideradas reagentes e na nested PCR uma (1,92%) amostra amplificou 289 pb, e posteriormente, a mesma amostra amplificada novamente para o gene sec Y com 549 pb. O sequenciamento do gene Sec Y caracterizo...

Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are diseases that may affect man and domestic and wild animals. They also have wide geographical distributions and thus cause large public health issues. The objective of the current study was to conduct leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis seroepidemiology in horses used for animal traction in small rural propertiesof the municipality of Umuarama, in northwest region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 312 horses from 87 small farms. Microscopic agglutination tests (MAT) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) analysis were performed on sera to detect leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis, respectively. These were performed in conjunction with an epidemiological questionnaire. The MAT results included 180 (57.69%) samples that were considered reactive with titers between 100 and 12800 for one or more serovars. Thirty-three (10.57%) samples subjected to IIF were considered reactive, with titers ranging between 64 and 1024. From the analyzed variables, contact with wild animals (p= 0.012) and animal exchange between properties (p = 0.004) were associated with toxoplasma infection. The study revealed that horses in the northwestern region of Paraná were exposed to Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, with an insignificant implication of the animals' clinical condition; however, since it is possible for animals to transmit infection to other animals as well as humans via the intermittent shedding of leptospires through urine into the environment, it may be considered a problem of one health. As for the presence of T. gondii antibodies, these horses played the role of sentinel of the infection. Environmental sanitation measures, serological studies of herds, control of rodents and felids on properties, and the dissemination of information about these diseases are relevant for disease control at the study site.A leptospirose e a toxoplasmose são enfermidades de ampla distribuição geográfica e podem acometer o homem, animais domésticos e selvagens que causam elevados problemas para a saúde pública. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a soroepidemiologia da leptospirose e toxoplasmose em equinos utilizados como tração animal de pequenas propriedades rurais do município de Umuarama, região noroeste do estado do Paraná, Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 312 equinos de 87 pequenas propriedades rurais. Para detectar a leptospirose e toxoplasmose os soros foram submetidos às técnicas de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM) e imunofluorescencia indireta (IFI) respectivamente associada ao preenchimento de um questionário epidemiológico. Na SAM, 180 (57,69%) amostras foram consideradas reagentes apresentando títulos entre 100 e 12800, para um ou mais sorovares. Na IFI, 33 (10,57%) amostras foram consideradas reagentes com títulos de 64 a 1024. Em relação às variáveis analisadas, o contato com animais selvagens (p= 0,012) e troca de animais entre propriedades (p= 0,004) foram associados à infecção toxoplásmica. O estudo revela que os equinos da região noroeste do Pa...

The capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris L. 1766) is the largest existing rodent in the world. This animal species, being synanthropic, may serve as a transmitter of different diseases and parasitic infections in animals and humans as well. Leptospirosis is a cosmopolitan infectious disease with a high prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions that can affect humans and other domestic and wild animals. Due to the absence of regional data and the importance of this animal species in transmitting diseases to animals and humans, the aim of this study was to analyze DNA and anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in free-living capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) from a university campus in the city of Araras in São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 31 capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) were captured for collecting their blood samples. The collected sera were analyzed using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). For the detection of Leptospira spp. DNA, the serum samples were used to extract genomic DNA for the nested-PCR analysis. Out of the 31 serum samples, 29 (93.55%) were reactive for MAT, with titers ranging from 25 to 400. The antibody could be identified against the most probable serovar in 26 (89.65%) samples, namely: Grippotyphosa (69.23%), Autumnalis (26.92%), and Bratislava (3.85%). Presence of Leptospira via nested-PCR was found only in 3.22% of serum samples. This study revealed the presence of DNA and anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in free-living capybara. Characterization of these animals as possible carriers and disseminators of the etiological agent in the environment is necessary for identification of infection in other animals and campus visitors.

Losses due to low reproductive efficiency can economically affect production in a small dairy farm. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of anti-Leptospira, anti-Toxoplasma gondii, and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy cows with history of reproductive problems at a small dairy farm in Umuarama, Paraná, Brazil. The evaluated herd presented with history of abortion and return to estrus. Of the 37 samples analyzed, 10 (27%) were positive in microscopic serum agglutination, with titers ranging from 100 to 400, 21 (56.75%) were positive for Toxoplasma gondii in the indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT), with titers ranging from 16 to 256, and four (10.8%) were positive for Neospora caninum in IIFT, with titers ranging from 25 to 50. No variables were associated with any infection. Leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and neosporosis are widespread in herds and may have a negative impact on reproductive parameters of dairy cattle. Periodic serological evaluations are important, as they may guide the choice of preventive disease control measures in the herd and also alert and educate small producers and the local population on the possible presence of zoonoses spread by these infectious agents, in addition, it can be concluded that infectious diseases can have negative implications on the reproductive parameters of dairy cattle causing return to heat and abortion.