Snakebites are a serious public health problem due their high morbi-mortality. The main available specific treatment is the antivenom serum therapy, which has some disadvantages, such as poor neutralization of local effects, risk of immunological reactions, high cost and difficult access in some regions. In this context, the search for alternative therapies is relevant. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antiophidic properties of Jatropha gossypiifolia, a medicinal plant used in folk medicine to treat snakebites. The aqueous leaf extract of the plant was prepared by decoction and phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of sugars, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes and/or steroids and proteins. The extract was able to inhibit enzymatic and biologic activities induced by Bothrops jararaca snake venom in vitro and in vivo. The blood incoagulability was efficiently inhibited by the extract by oral route. The hemorrhagic and edematogenic local effects were also inhibited, the former by up to 56% and the latter by 100%, in animals treated with extract by oral and intraperitoneal routes, respectively. The inhibition of myotoxic action of B. jararaca reached almost 100%. According to enzymatic tests performed, it is possible to suggest that the antiophidic activity may be due an inhibitory action upon snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) and/or serine proteinases (SVSPs), including fibrinogenolytic enzymes, clotting factors activators and thrombin like enzymes (SVTLEs), as well upon catalytically inactive phospholipases A2 (Lys49 PLA2). Anti-inflammatory activity, at least partially, could also be related to the inhibition of local effects. Additionally, protein precipitating and antioxidant activities may also be important features contributing to the activity presented. In conclusion, the results demonstrate the potential antiophidic activity of J. gossypiifolia extract, including its significant action upon local effects, suggesting that it may be used as a new source of bioactive molecules against bothropic venom.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the transmission of caprine lentivirus to sheep using different experimental groups. The first one (colostrum group) was formed by nine lambs receiving colostrum from goats positive for small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). The second group (milk group) was established by nine lambs that received milk of these goats. Third was a control group, consisting of lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of negative mothers. Another experimental group (contact group) was formed by eight adult sheep, confined with two naturally infected goats. The groups were monitored by immunoblotting (IB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). All lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of infected goats and six sheep of the contact group had positive results in the nPCR, although seroconversion was detected only in three of the exposed animals, with no clinical lentiviruses manifestation, in 720 days of observation. There was a close relationship between viral sequences obtained from infected animals and the prototype CAEV-Cork. Thus, it was concluded that SRLV can be transmitted from goats to sheep, however, the degree of adaptation of the virus strain to the host species probably interferes with the infection persistence and seroconversion rate.

 RESUMOA artrite-encefalite caprina (CAE) é diagnosticada rotineiramente pela técnica de imunodifusão em gel de agarose (IDGA), que é considerada pouco sensível. Objetivou-se com este estudo padronizar testes de Elisa-i e Western Blot (WB) para diagnóstico precoce de anticorpos em caprinos contra CAEV e comparar os resultados obtidos nesses testes com a prova de IDGA. Para a padronização dos testes Elisa-i e WB, utilizaram-se diferentes concentrações e diluições de antígeno, soros e conjugado. No Elisa-i, adotaram-se microplacas rígidas com 96 poços, sendo a combinação de concentração de 0,5µg/poço de antígeno e diluições de 1:100 de soro e 1:1500 de conjugado a que apresentou melhor resultado. No WB foram utilizadas membranas de nitrocelulose, definindo-se as diluições de 1:50 de soro e 1:15000 de conjugado. Para avaliar o desempenho das técnicas, 222 amostras de soro caprino foram testadas e os dados obtidos foram comparados com o IDGA. A sensibilidade e a especificidade do Elisa-i/IDGA, WB/IDGA e WB/Elisa-i foram de 70% e 91%, 100% e 72,6%, 84,6% e 76,5%, concomitantemente. O índice Kappa desses testes foi de 0,35, 0,2 e 0,36, respectivamente. As técnicas de Elisa-i e WB apresentaram-se mais sensíveis que a IDGA, podendo ser utilizadas como ferramentas para o diagnóstico precoce da CAE.Palavras-chave: especificidade, infecção, LVPR, sensibilidade, sorologia ABSTRACT Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) is routinely diagnosed with the Agarose Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) technique, which is considered to have low sensitivity. The objective of this study was to standardize testing i-Elisa and Western Blot for early detection of antibodies against CAEV in goats and

RESUMOCom o objetivo de analisar a ocorrência de anticorpos contra Brucella ovis em ovinos no semiárido baiano, este inquérito foi conduzido em rebanhos da microrregião de Juazeiro, Bahia. O teste de imunodifusão em gel de ágar (IDGA) foi utilizado para examinar 694 amostras de soro de 58 rebanhos. Anticorpos para B. ovis foram observados em cinco (0,72%) dos animais investigados. Acredita-se que o baixo número de soropositivos deva-se às características dos sistemas de produção, com predominância do tipo de exploração extensiva de animais localmente adaptados, mestiços e sem raça definida para a produção de carne e pele, com baixa produtividade e tecnificação.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Brucelose ovina, epidemiologia, IDGA, ocorrência. ABSTRACT SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR BRUCELLA OVIS INFECTION IN SHEEP FLOCKS OF BAHIA STATE, BRAZIL. In order to analyze the occurrence of antibodies toBrucella ovis in sheep in a semi-arid region, this survey was conducted in the micro-region of Juazeiro, Bahia State, Brazil. The agar gel immunodifusion test (AGID) was used to examine 694 serum samples of 58 flocks. Antibodies to B. ovis were found in 5 (0.72%) of the investigated animals. It is believed that this low number of positive cases is related to the characteristics of the production. The predominant system is the extensive one, with presence of locally adapted breeds and crossbred animals, aiming at the production of meat and skin, with low productivity rates and technical development.

The resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) of small ruminants to anthelmintics has required the investigation of new alternatives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo anthelmintic activity of an aqueous extract from sisal waste (Agave sisalana) (AESW) against GINs in goats and to observe the animals for toxic effects. Thirty animals that were naturally infected with GINs were distributed into three groups: group I, was treated with daily doses of AESW (1.7 g/kg) for eight days; Group II, the positive control, was treated with a single dose of levamisole phosphate (6.3mg/kg); and group III, the negative control, was left untreated. Faecal eggs counts (FECs), coprocultures and post-mortem worm counts were performed to assess the efficacy of the treatments. Clinical and laboratory analyses were performed to evaluate any toxic effects associated with the treatment. In the goats in groups I and II, a significant reduction (p<0.05) of the number of eggs and infective larvae (L(3)) was observed. The maximum reductions of the FECs were 50.3% and 93.6% for groups I and II, respectively, whereas the percent reductions of the total number of L(3) larvae were 80% (group I) and 85.6% (group II). There was no difference between groups I and III with respect to worm burden, and the percent reductions were 28.8% and 63.4% for Oesophagostomum columbianum and Trichostrongylus colubriformis, respectively. No reduction was detected for the Haemonchus contortus. The positive control group demonstrated a 74% reduction of the parasites that were recovered from the digestive tract. There were no changes in clinical and haematological parameters. The levels of serum urea and creatinine were higher in group I, but remained within the normal range. At necropsy, pale mucous membranes, abomasitis and enteritis were associated with parasitism. In addition, a histological analysis of the liver and kidney did not reveal any changes suggestive of toxicity. A chemical analysis of the AESW demonstrated the presence of saponins, which after acid-hydrolyses reaction, gave the sapogenins hecogenin and tigogenin. The AESW had a low efficacy for the parasitic stages and was moderately effective against eggs and free-living stages. Furthermore, the treatment was not toxic to the goats.

A introdução de novas raças, com o objetivo de aumentar a produtividade, levou à alteração do perfil sanitário dos rebanhos. Dentre as enfermidades introduzidas no Brasil, destacam-se as lentiviroses de pequenos ruminantes (LVPR), representadas pela artrite-encefalite caprina (CAE) e pela maedi-visna (MV). Devido à importância econômica da ovinocultura para a microrregião de Juazeiro-Bahia e à escassez de dados sobre a lentivirose em ovinos, buscou-se obter a prevalência da MV. Foram avaliados 919 soros por imunodifusão em gel de ágar (IDGA). As amostras foram colhidas nos oito municípios que compõem essa microrregião (Juazeiro,

Este trabalho teve como finalidade verificar a prevalência sorológica da lentivirose caprina (LVC) na microrregião de Juazeiro, na Bahia, por meio da técnica de imunodifusão em gel de agar (IDGA), bem como caracterizar os sistemas de criação da região. Para tal, foram avaliadas 693 amostras de soros sanguíneos de caprinos de 46 propriedades rurais em diferentes localidades, pertencentes aos 8 municípios formadores da microrregião (Campo Alegre de Lourdes, Casa Nova, Curaçá, Juazeiro, Pilão Arcado, Remanso, Sento Sé e Sobradinho). Na realização das visitas, aplicou-se um questionário com ênfase nas informações referentes ao manejo sanitário. Das propriedades visitadas, todas apresentavam sistema de criação extensivo, com predomínio de animais sem raça definida, baixa produtividade e baixo índice de tecnificação, visando principalmente à obtenção de carne. As principais enfermidades relatadas foram linfadenite caseosa, diarreias, ectoparasitoses e ceratoconjuntivite. Quanto à soroprevalência, 0,29% (2/693) das amostras apresentaram sorologia positiva para a LVC. Os animais positivos pertenciam à mesma propriedade, no município de Curaçá, que apresentou 12,5% (1/8) de propriedades positivas, contrastando com 2,17% (1/46) de soroprevalência total dos rebanhos visitados. Estes resultados sugerem, portanto, a necessidade da efetivação de medidas preventivas na região, principalmente no momento em que se verifica a importação de animais para melhoramento genético.

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