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Cryptosporidium protozoa genus are parasites that cause acute enteric disease in young and immunocompromised animals, resulting in anorexia, loss and decrease in weight gain, and, in severe cases, death. Therefore, this study aimed: i) to determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in calves with clinical diarrhea in different regions of Santa Catarina, Brazil; ii) to evaluate the risk factors involved with the frequency of infection. iii) to determine the species most involved with the disease in the region. For this, 425 samples were collected in 141 dairy farms, from animals with ages ranging from 0 to 150 days. For this purpose, the samples were submitted to the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique, with molecular analysis of the positive samples being performed. It was observed 62.1% occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in this sampling, especially between 8 to 15 days. Regarding the risk factors evaluated, such as age, management, facilities, water source and Koppen climate (CFA and CFB), none showed statistical significance. Samples positive by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique (32 samples) were randomly selected for molecular diagnosis. Of these, 10 were sequenced, allowing the identification of Crypstosporidium parvum in 6 samples. However, this study proves the existence and high occurrence of the protozoan in different regions of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to analyze the effect of phytogenic additives based on cardol, cardanol, and ricinoleic acid on the physico-chemical qualities and biochemical parameters of Holstein cow milk. Nineteen animals were divided into the control (GI) and treatment (GII) groups. Prior to the beginning of the experiment, sodium monensin was removed from the feed provided to the animals. This study consisted of two phases. In the first, animals from GI received the standard diet, without additives, while animals from GII received the standard diet supplemented with 10 g of phytogenic additives for 60 days. At the end of the first stage, the animals remained 30 days without receiving additives and in the second phase the groups were inverted, and the GII again received the phytogenic additive during the subsequent 60 days. Physical-chemical analyzes of milk were performed at moments 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of the experiment and the blood parameters at times 0 and 60 days of the experiment were evaluated. There was no significant difference for the treatment x time interaction in any of the variables, but there was a trend between groups for the CCS parameter and there was a statistical difference for the protein, as well as for the AST. In this study it is observed that the addition of phytogenic additive modulating rumen fermentation based on cardol, cardanol and ricinoleic acid does not compromise, in general, the quality of milk, with positive results for some specific parameters such as protein content and aminotransferase.

ABSTRACT: Modern swine production employs a high degree of technology and is organized in various production stages, in which reproduction is one of the most significant. However, reproductive losses associated to fetal death are still high. Fetal losses, including fetal mummification, may occur at a rate below 1.5% in a sound herd. The causes of fetal death can be very diverse, and include various infectious agents. Therefore, investigating the causes of fetal losses is important in the decision-making process related to the control and prophylaxis of the herd. The goal of this study was to carry out a molecular survey, analyzing porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV), and pathogenic Leptospira as potential agents related to fetal death in swine farms in Southern Brazil. We collected samples from three farms with a mummified index ≥ 2.5%. Fragments of brain, lung, kidney, liver, and heart were sampled for PCR analysis. Out of 100 samples examined, 87, 68, and 22 were positive for PCV2, PPV, and Leptospira spp., respectively. Moreover, we also identified coinfections with two and three pathogens in the same sample. Our findings contribute to the spreading of scientific knowledge related to infectious causes (PPV, PCV2, and pathogenic leptospires) of fetal losses in swine, as evidenced by the high frequencies of the investigated agents.

Brazil currently ranks as one of the world leaders in food production and exportation. This scenario encourages the development of animal and plant health programs to ensure the production of safe food, helping the country to become an international provider of food for excellence. However, some health problems in dairy production, such as mastitis, have garnered increasing concern. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bovine mastitis in select properties located in the western Santa Catarina region, to assess the susceptibility profile to antimicrobial agents used for treatment and to check for the presence of genes (icaA and icaD) associated with biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus. In 148 milk samples collected, 72.97% had bacterial growth (n = 108). Among the isolated microorganisms, 21.62% (n = 32) were classified as Staphylococcus aureus, 18.91% (n = 28) as Staphylococcus sp. coagulase negative, 7.43% (n = 11) as Corynebacterium sp., 6.76% (n = 10) as Staphylococcus sp. coagulase positive, 5.41% (n = 8) as Nocardia sp. and 12.83% (n = 19) classified in different bacterial genera. Among the isolates submitted for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, it was observed that 8.95% (n = 6/67) had resistance to amoxicillin, 8.04% (n = 7/87) to ampicillin, 5.88% (n = 5/85) to cephalothin, 3.40% (n = 3/88) to ceftiofur and enrofloxacin, 20.45% (n = 18/88) to streptomycin, 17.04% (n = 15/88) to gentamicin and lincomycin, 31.81% (n = 28/88) to neomycin, 14.94% (n = 13/87) to penicillin and 25% (n = 22/88) to tetracycline. Staphylococcus sp. coagulase negative isolates showed higher multidrug resistance when compared to those of S. aureus and Staphylococcus sp. coagulase positive. Thirty-one strains of S. aureus isolates were genotypically tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), yielding a positive result for the icaA gene in 83.87% of the samples, 80.64% positive for icaD and 74.19% of these showed both genes. The results reinforce the importance of controlling this disease by adopting strict hygiene protocols and disinfection of equipment used for milking and the prescription of appropriate therapies to clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis, as well as evaluating not only the susceptibility profile of isolates but also the biofilm formation capacity.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso de minerais traços (cobre, zinco, selênio e manganês) e vitaminas A e E, na forma injetável, sobre a produção e composição do leite de vacas holandesas no final do período de transição até os 60 dias de lactação. Foram utilizadas 31 fêmeas holandesas divididas em dois grupos experimentais: grupo tratado (n=15) que recebeu suplementação de minerais (10 mg de cobre, 40 mg de zinco, 5 mg de selênio e 10 mg de manganês) e de vitaminas (175 mg de vitamina A e 250 mg de vitamina E) injetável (5 mL da solução dos microminerais e 5 mL das vitaminas pela via subcutânea) aos 225 dias de gestação, aos 255 dias de gestação e no dia do parto; e o grupo controle (n=16), que recebeu injeções de solução fisiológica (na dose de 5 mL pela via subcutânea) nos mesmos dias do grupo tratado. Amostras de leite foram coletadas nos dias sete, 14 e 21 após o parto, onde avaliou-se a produção, a qualidade (colostro), e a composição (gordura, lactose, proteína, extrato seco desengordurado, sólidos totais, ureia e contagem de células somáticas (CCS)) do leite. Os valores iniciais e valores mínimos estimados pelo modelo não indicaram diferença na produção de leite e na CCS entre os grupos. Para o restante dos componentes do leite, somente a ureia apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos tratados e não tratados (p= 0,002). Também não foi verificada diferença significativa para qualidade de colostro. Portanto, conclui-se que o uso de solução injetável contendo Cu, Zn, Se, Mn e vitaminas A e E tem efeito sobre a composição da ureia do leite, porém não se observou efeito sobre CCS e os demais componentes do leite e na sua produção, porém mais estudos devem ser realizados.

This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and to assess the presence of mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus spp. (n=36) isolated from mastitis in sheep’s Chapecó-SC. The potential for biofilm production was determined by phenotypic tests of Congo Red Agar, DAPI and Gentian Violet and by PCR for the detection of icaD gene. To evaluate the antimicrobial resistance testing was performed disk diffusion and detection of resistance genes blaZ, mecA, ermA, ermB and ermC and msrA also performed by PCR.The pump test was conducted by efuxo crop growth Muller Hinton agar containing ethidium bromide. The results showed that 1 (2,78%), 36 (100%) and 10 (27,78%) isolates were considered to produce a biofilm on Congo Red Agar test, Gentian Violet and DAPI, respectively, while the gene icaD was observed in only 2 (5.55%) isolates. The lowest percentage of sensitivity was observed for ampicillin (58.33%) and penicillin (58.33%). All strains tested were negative for the mecA, ermA, ermB and ermC genes. However, the isolates were positive for other resistance genes, being the blaZ and the msrA, with percentages of positivity of 58.33% and 11.11% respectively. Only one sample was positive for efflux pump test.O presente trabalho teve como objetivos determinar o perfil de sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos e avaliar a presença de mecanismos de resistência antimicrobiana em Staphylococcus spp. (n=36) isolados de mastite em ovelhas do município de Chapecó-SC. O potencial para produção de biofilme foi determinado pelos testes fenotípicos de Agar Vermelho Congo, DAPI e Violeta de Genciana e por teste molecular pela técnica de PCR para a detecção do gene icaD. Para determinar o perfil de resistência aos antimicrobianos, foi realizado o teste de difusão em disco e detecção dos genes de resistência blaZ, mecA, erm (A, B e C) e msrA. O teste da bomba de efuxo foi realizado através do crescimento das culturas em Agar Muller Hinton contendo brometo de etídio. Os resultados mostraram que 1 (2,78%), 36 (100%) e 10 (27,78%) isolados foram considerados produtores de biofilme pelos testes de Agar Vermelho Congo, DAPI e Violeta de Genciana, respectivamente, enquanto que o gene icaD foi observado em apenas 2 (5,55%) isolados. O menor percentual de sensibilidade foi observado para ampicilina (58,33%) e penicilina (58,33%). Os isolados avaliados foram positivos para os genes de resistência blaZ (58,33%) e msrA (11,11%). Nenhum isolado apresentou os genes de resistência erm (A, B, C) e apenas uma amostra foi positiva para o teste da bomba de efluxo.