Brazil has a wide diversity of exotic birds that were brought to this country during the European colonization. These animals are kept in captivity and, in some cases, in inadequate facilities, which may facilitate the introduction of pathogens, including gastrointestinal parasites. The purpose of this study was to identify the main gastrointestinal parasites that affect exotic birds living in captivity in the state of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil. Fecal samples (n = 362) from exotic birds were analyzed by direct examination and by the Willis-Mollay technique. Eggs of Amidostomum sp., Ascaridia sp., Capillarinae, Heterakis sp., Trichostrongylidae, and oocysts of coccidians were identified in nine different bird species. This is the first report in Brazil of infection by Ascaridia sp. and Heterakis sp. in Nymphicus hollandicus; by Trichostrongylidae in Serinus canaria and Streptopelia risoria.Keywords: Columbiformes birds, Amidostomum, Ascaridia, Heterakis, Trichostrongylidae. ResumoO Brasil possui uma grande diversidade de aves exóticas que foram trazidas para o país durante a colonização europeia. Estes animais são mantidos em cativeiros, os quais muitas vezes são inadequados, proporcionando o surgimento de doenças provocadas por parasitas gastrointestinais. Objetivou-se neste estudo, realizar avaliação coproparasitológica de fezes de aves ornamentais mantidas em cativeiros no estado de Sergipe, região Nordeste do Brasil. Amostras fecais (n= 362) de aves exóticas foram analisadas através do exame direto a fresco e técnica de Willis-Mollay. Ovos de Amidostomum sp., Ascaridia sp., Capillarinae, Heterakis sp., Trichostrongylidae, e oocistos de coccídeos foram encontrados em nove diferentes espécies de aves. Aqui, destacamos, os primeiros registros no Brasil de Ascaridia sp. e Heterakis sp., parasitando Nymphicus hollandicus; Trichostrongilidae em Serinus canaria e Streptopelia risoria.

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Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonosis caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and remains an important public health concern in tropical areas. In Brazil, domestic dogs are considered the most relevant reservoir of the parasite and one of the main targets of the disease control actions. Considering this, we aimed herein to evaluate the CanL infection in different canine groups and distribution of cases in the state of Sergipe, an endemic region in Northeastern Brazil. The evaluated 467 animals were classified into four groups: hunting ( n = 50), company ( n = 64), guard ( n = 140), and wandering ( n = 213). Samples (blood, bone marrow, conjunctival swab, and lymph node aspirate) were collected from animals in nine municipalities of Sergipe. First, all animals were submitted to general and ophthalmic clinical examination. Next, they were tested serologically by TR-DPP®, and for the presence of Leishmania , amastigotes in samples of bone marrow, conjunctival swab, and lymph node aspirate were diagnosed by PCR and parasitological techniques. It was observed that 34.69% (162) of the evaluated dogs were seropositive. The highest rates of positivity were found in hunting 54% (27/50; OR = 3.52; p -value = 0.001) and guard dogs 42.14% (59/140; OR = 2.18; p -value = 0.01). Otherwise, the highest percentage of symptomatic dogs was observed in wandering animals (85%; OR = 9.63; p -value < 0.0001). The distribution of case analysis showed that the highest positivity rates occurred in inland municipalities situated in arid regions. Taken together, our data demonstrate that hunting and guard dogs are among the animals most exposed and affected by clinical manifestations of CanL, mainly in the inland municipalities of Sergipe State. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00436-021-07319-0.

A presença do SARS-CoV-2 e os anticorpos produzidos pela resposta imune contra este vírus em animais tem sido alvo de diversos estudos recentes. Estes achados são de suma importância para a melhor compreensão da cadeia de transmissão da COVID-19 e da participação dos animais de estimação neste processo. Neste estudo, animais domésticos com sintomas gripais e atendidos em uma clínica veterinária particular do Estado de Sergipe foram avaliados quanto à presença do SARS-CoV-2 e dos anticorpos IgM e IgG produzidos contra este vírus. Além disso, investigou-se a presença de antígenos fecais (parvovírus e coronavírus animal). A maioria dos animais avaliados (93,5%) apresentaram antígenos detectáveis para o SARS-CoV-2 e reagentes para o anticorpo IgM, havendo associação significativa entre estes dois parâmetros (****< 0,0001; com razão de chance de 1573, IC 95% = 28,36 a 87243). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os níveis de IgM entre cães e gatos. Além disso, não detectamos a presença de IgG contra o SARS-CoV-2 e coinfecções por coronavírus animal ou parvovírus. Este estudo reforça a hipótese de que os animais domésticos são susceptíveis a infeção pelo novo coronavírus, ressaltando a importância do cuidado em relação a convivência entre Pets e humanos e a possível cadeia de contato entre pets e humanos, ainda não evidenciada.

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The protozoan Sarcocystis bertrami (syn. Sarcocystis fayeri) infects horses and has dogs as definitive hosts. Herein we aimed to detect S. bertrami in Brazilian horses destined for human consumption and to determine the frequency of infection in the examined animals. Muscle fragments from 51 horses were collected in a slaughterhouse in Bahia State during three different seasons of the year. Samples from six tissues from each animal were prepared for macroscopic and microscopic evaluation, using tissue grinding, squash and histology. Sarcocystis sp. was observed in 100% of the examined horses. Selected samples were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Species identification was confirmed using a PCR targeted to the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1). Histological examination revealed sarcocysts with variable sizes and shapes, and dispersed within the muscle fibers. When observed by TEM, the sarcocyst wall was wavy and covered by an electrodense layer. The villar protrusions were digitiform and bent. To our knowledge, this study is the first morphological and molecular confirmation of S. bertrami in horses in Brazil and South America.

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