Introduction:Conjunctival swab PCR was evaluated as a tool to diagnose visceral leishmaniasis in dogs. Methods: Conjunctival swab PCR was compared to indirect immunofl uorescence antibody test and blood PCR. Results: Indirect immunofl uorescence was signifi cantly correlated with conjunctival swab PCR (p < 0.05), but not with blood PCR (p > 0.05). In addition, conjunctival swab PCR was signifi cantly associated with presence of clinical symptoms (p < 0.05), whereas blood PCR was associated with absence of clinical symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Results indicate that conjunctival swab PCR is useful in epidemiological surveys of canine visceral leishmaniasis.

High levels of phosphorus and pathogens in runoff are 2 major concerns following manure applications to fields. Phosphorus losses from fields following manure applications have been linked to the solubility of phosphorus in manure; therefore, by decreasing manure phosphorus solubility, a decrease in phosphorus loss in runoff should be apparent. The objective of this research was to develop a process using quicklime that would result in reduced phosphorus solubility and bacteria counts in broiler litter. The 4 litter treatments evaluated were T1, new wood shavings without the addition of quicklime; T2, used, untreated broiler litter; T3, used litter with 10% quicklime (based on the weight of the litter); and T4, used litter with 15% quicklime (based on the weight of the litter). Body weight, cumulative feed consumption, and feed conversion (feed:BW) were determined on a weekly basis through 42 d of age. Mortality was recorded daily. Carcass weights and percentages of carcass yield without giblets were determined prechill. Litter pH, total phosphorus, nitrogen, soluble phosphorus, litter moisture (%), and total plate counts were measured for each litter treatment on d 7 and 42 after bird placement. No significant differences were found for BW, feed consumption, feed conversion, mortality, carcass weight, or carcass yield. No breast or footpad blisters were observed. On d 7, 15% quicklime had higher (P < 0.001) pH (11.2) when compared with the other treatments. Percentages of phosphorus and nitrogen were lower (P < 0.001) for new wood shavings in comparison with the used litter treatments. Soluble phosphorus (ppm) was lower (P < 0.001) for 15% quicklime (2.75) when compared with new wood shavings (42.2), untreated broiler litter (439.2), and 10% quicklime (35.0). Although not significant, 15% quicklime had lower total plate counts (cfu/g) in comparison with the other treatments on d 1 and 10 postmixing and at 7 d after bird placement. Litter conditions on d 42 after bird placement were similar. We concluded that the use of quicklime as a treatment for broiler litter would initially reduce nitrogen and soluble phosphorus and bacteria counts without negatively affecting bird productivity.

An epidemiological Leishmania spp. and entomological Phlebotomine sandflies survey was performed in cat shelters at leishmaniasis endemic area of Brazil. Blood and conjunctival swab (CS) samples were collected from 94 cats in two animal protection shelters. These samples were subjected to serological tests using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to molecular test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, a Phlebotomine sandflies survey was performed in the same shelters. The analyses revealed a positivity of 31.91% (30/94) through ELISA and 29.79% (28/94) through IFAT. The two serological tests showed a positive association with perfect agreement (k = 0.925). None of the cats were positive by Leishmania spp. DNA. One Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis male was found in one of the cat shelters. The results and the implications of our findings are discussed below.

The genomes of 262 Bacillus cereus isolates were analyzed including 69 isolates sampled from equipment, raw milk and dairy products from Brazil. The population structure of isolates showed strains belonging to known phylogenetic groups II, III, IV, V and VI. Almost all the isolates obtained from dairy products belonged to group III. Investigation of specific alleles revealed high numbers of isolates carrying toxin-associated genes including cytK (53.62%), hblA (59.42%), hblC (44.93%), hblD (53.62%), nheA (84.06%), nheB (89.86%) and nheC (84.06%) with isolates belonging to groups IV and V having significant higher prevalence of hblACD and group IV of CytK genes. Strains from dairy products had significantly lower prevalence of CytK and hblACD genes compared to isolates from equipment and raw milk/bulk tanks. Genes related to sucrose metabolism were detected at higher frequency in isolates obtained from raw milk compared to strains from equipment and utensils. The population genomic analysis demonstrated the diversity of strains and variability of putative function among B. cereus group isolates in Brazilian dairy production, with large numbers of strains potentially able to cause foodborne illness. This detailed information will contribute to targeted interventions to reduce milk contamination and spoilage associated with B. cereus in Brazil.

RESUMO.-[Pseudomonas spp.: fontes de contaminação em tanques de expansão em fazendas leiteiras.] Este estudo se propôs a isolar Pseudomonas spp. durante o processo de ordenha em dez fazendas com sistemas manuais e mecanizados, durante as estações seca e chuvosa, além de avaliar a homologia do DNA e seus padrões de distribuição entre os isolados, a fim de se determinar as principais fontes de contaminação do leite. Cento e sessenta e sete isolados de Pseudomonas spp. foram obtidos a partir de amostras de água, mãos de ordenhadores, tetos, teteiras, tanques de resfriamento e leite cru armazenado, sendo 85 e 82 pontos de amostragem em fazendas com sistemas de ordenha manual e mecânico, respectivamente. Diferença estatisticamente significativa foi encontrada entre os isolados observados entre a superfície dos tetos antes e após o pré-dipping (p=0,02), mas nenhuma diferença foi encontrada entre sistemas de ordenha ou estações (p>0,05 This study focused on isolating Pseudomonas spp. during milking process in ten dairy farms with manual and mechanical milking systems during dry and rainy seasons, and evaluating DNA homology and patterns of distribution between isolates, in order to identify main sources of milk contamination by Pseudomonas spp. A total of 167 isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were obtained from water, milkers' hands, cows' teats, teat cups, cooling tanks and raw milk. Bacteria of Pseudomonas spp. genus were isolated from 85 and 82 sampling points in dairy farms with manual and mechanical milking system, respectively. A significant difference (p=0.02) on Pseudomonas spp. isolation was observed among samples of surface of cows' teats before and after pre-dipping, but no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed among milking systems or seasons. The possibility of the same Pseudomonas spp. patterns are distributed in different farms and seasons using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique was demonstrated. Milkers' hands, surface of cows' teats, teat cups and cooling tanks were associated with raw milk contamination with Pseudomonas spp. on farms with manual and mechanical milking system, showing that regardless of the type of milking system and season, proper hygiene procedures of equipment, utensils and workers' hands are essential to avoid contamination of the milk and, therefore, improve milk quality.

The United Kingdom and European Union have banned crates for pregnant sows. However, animals are kept in a restrictive environment for up to four weeks after mating, leading to stress and different responses of the animals’ immune system. Here, we used vaginal flushing of gilts to investigate whether housing systems or an experimental inflammatory challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can modify the gilt vaginal microbiome. Alpha-diversity indices showed differences in the microbiota of gilts housed under different systems (q = 0.04). Shannon alpha-diversity richness was higher in gilts group-housed in pens than in gilts housed in crates (q = 0.035), but not higher than in other groups. The relative abundance of the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) (q &lt; 0.05) revealed specific differences in housing systems before a LPS or saline (SAL control) challenge. We found different abundances in taxa of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria in gilts housed in the different systems before challenge. After the LPS challenge, significant differences were detected in the relative abundance of OTUs (q &lt; 0.05) for the LPS-challenged group compared with SAL animals for each housing system. The phylum Staphylococcus showed higher abundance among the LPS-challenged gilts than in SAL-challenged animals. Furthermore, Enterobacter was more abundant in the LPS-challenged gilts housed in crates than in SAL-challenged gilts housed in crates. Streptococcus suis, Conchiformibius, Globicatella and Actinobacillus were more abundant in LPS-challenged gilts in indoor group housing than in SAL gilts in the same housing system. Gilts kept outdoors did not show changes in vaginal microbiota after an LPS challenge. Gilts housed in crates showed clinical signs of urogenital infection, whereas gilts housed outdoors and in indoor group housing did not. The relationship between environment, immune response, and microbiota suggested that animals in a poor environments experience difficulties responding to a challenge and their vaginal microbiota is altered as a consequence, with decreased richness of normal vaginal microbiota, and increased opportunistic bacteria. Welfare indicators measured by gilts’ responses to housing systems however, do not fully explain mechanisms associated with the unique signature in vaginal microbiota encountered in the different housing systems.

RESUMO: A síndrome circovirose suína e doenças associadas (PCVAD) tem sido descrita em diversas regiões do mundo. Seu agente primário, o circovírus suíno tipo 2 (PCV2), está associado a elevados índices de refugagem nas granjas e a vultuosos prejuízos econômicos. Diversos fatores de risco estão relacionados à manifestação dos quadros clínicos da síndrome, nomeadamente deficiências de manejo, presença de coinfecções e imunização diante do agente. Entre os agentes frequentemente relatados associados ao PCV2 está o Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Este estudo objetivou verificar a ocorrência de M. hyopneumoniae em animais diagnosticados estarem acometidos pela PCVAD, em sistemas intensivos de produção de suínos do estado de Goiás. Amostras de secreção nasal de 40 animais foram analisadas para a pesquisa do DNA de M. hyopneumoniae. Do total das amostras de secreção nasal, 6 (15%) foram positivas na reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para o M. hyopneumoniae, apenas em granjas que não praticavam a vacinação contra esse agente. Os resultados relacionados à presença de micoplasma estão de acordo com os achados clínicos dos animais analisados que apresentavam sintomatologia de doenças respiratórias e lesões relacionadas ao trato respiratório. Este é o primeiro relato da associação de PCV2 com M. hyopneumoniae em suínos identificados com PCVAD no estado de Goiás.

Meat product inspection is one of the procedures adopted more than a century ago to guarantee food quality and safety for consumption. Due to technology and regulation advancement for farming and slaughtering pigs, a change in zoonotic profile attributed to pork has been identified. Thus, a global movement began to establish inspection parameters based on epidemiological risk profiles, culminating in the publication of a new regulation in Brazil in 2018. This normative instruction establishes that slaughterhouses under federal inspection must implement risk-based inspection until 2028. Changes in the inspection system can generate questions and objections on the part of customers and consumer markets. In order to assess microbiological contamination when adopting a risk-based inspection system, the occurrence of Salmonella spp. and the quantification of Enterobacteriaceae and mesophilic aerobic counts were compared in pig carcasses slaughtered under traditional and risk-based inspection systems. A statistical significance reduction was identified regarding the quantification of Enterobacteriaceae (log −0.18 to −1.61 CFU/cm2) and mesophilic aerobic counts (log 4.60 to 3.49 CFU/cm2). The occurrence of Salmonella spp. did not show a significant difference (4% to 5.3%). The results allowed us to conclude that adopting risk-based inspection systems improves food safety through Enterobacteriaceae and mesophilic aerobic counts reduction.