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ABSTRACT: Acute abdomen cases are among the most prevalent and challenging illnesses in equine medicine. The diagnosis includes anamnesis and detailed clinical evaluation of the patient, allowing the gathering of several important information and, additionally, the use of complementary exams helps to define the diagnosis and prognosis of each case. This research applied the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) in data referring to clinical examination information and outcome of horses with colic referred to a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Fifty eight horses were included in the analysis and, it was possible to identify significant differences between the groups, survivors and non-survivors. Related to clinical signs, non-survivor cases are distinguished by severe pain, lack of motility, mucosal alteration, capillary refill time greater than 2sec, heart rate more than 48bpm and presence of nasogastric reflux. As complementary exams, hematocrits and blood lactate demonstrate significative difference among the groups. The cardiovascular parameters, including heart rate, mucosal color and capillary refill time, were the variables with the greatest contribution to discriminate animals that non-survive from those that were discharged. Thus, clinical evaluation should not be underestimated and complementary exams should be used in conjunction to seek a better prognosis. The MCA allowed to visualize the data and predict the outcome of the patients.

Enterólitos são concreções mineralizadas encontradas no intestino grosso dos equinos, que podem causar cólicas obstrutivas ao impedir o fluxo entérico normal, geralmente em pontos de redução do diâmetro intestinal. Apresenta alta incidência e causa grandes prejuízos no meio equestre. O diagnóstico presuntivo é realizado com base no histórico e sinais clínicos enquanto o diagnóstico definitivo só é possível na celiotomia exploratória ou radiografia abdominal. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a aplicabilidade clínica de parâmetros já estabelecidos para realização de diagnóstico radiográfico em casos de enterolitíase equina, e comparar esses achados entre um grupo com enterolitíase e um grupo controle. A partir dos prontuários de 92 equinos atendidos com síndrome cólica em um período que compreendeu junho de 2022 a outubro de 2023, os registros foram avaliados de maneira retrospectiva e incluíram 32 animais, que foram atendidos com sinais clínicos de cólica obstrutiva advinda do intestino grosso ou com histórico de dor abdominal recorrente, que realizaram exame de radiografia abdominal e que foi possível obter o diagnóstico definitivo por meio de celiotomia. Doze animais compuseram o grupo controle e vinte o grupo enterolitíase. Foi verificada a influência do tamanho, número e localização do enterólito na detecção radiográfica, além de identificação de fatores que dificultaram a realização da técnica diagnóstica e (correlacionados aos achados cirúrgicos. Durante o estudo, 85,5% dos animais do grupo enterolitíase (17/20) obtiveram o diagnóstico pré-cirurgico de enterólito por meio da radiografia abdominal enquanto três animais apresentaram falso-negativo e obtiveram o diagnóstico na celiotomia exploratória. O número de concreções apresentou relevância estatística significativa. Os principais fatores que interferiram no diagnóstico radiográfico foram a distensão abdominal, peso e o escore de condição corporal, indicando essa forma diagnóstica, independente do segmento obstruído e do número de enterólitos, sendo mais fácil a identificação quando existir mais de uma concreção. O presente estudo evidenciou que a radiografia digital abdominal é um importante método auxiliar de diagnóstico pré-cirúrgico nos casos de enterolitíase equina, sendo verificado a possibilidade dessa forma diagnóstica independente do segmento obstruído e do número de enterólitos, apresentando mais facilidade de observação nos animais com mais de uma concreção. No entanto, ressalta-se a necessidade de cautela na interpretação de imagens de equinos obesos e com presença de distensão abdominal por gás, situações em que ocorreram diagnósticos falso negativos. O presente estudo elucidou a importância da radiografia abdominal no atendimento de casos de enterólito para uma intervenção terapêutica precoce e um melhor prognóstico.

ABSTRACT: Feline leishmaniosis is infrequent worldwide, and cats have been suggested as secondary reservoirs for the parasite. However, specific diagnostic techniques for feline samples are scarce. In this study, we standardized an in-house indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using crude Leishmaniainfantum antigen to detect antibodies in feline samples from an endemic canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL) area in the western border of Brazil. The results were compared with those of an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). We tested semi-domiciled felines residing in Uruguaiana and Barra do Quaraí, Rio Grande do Sul. Among the 41 samples, 25 (61%) were positive using ELISA and 24 (58%) were positive using IFA (1:40). Our findings demonstrated a high seropositivity of feline samples from the endemic CVL area in the western border of Brazil, and we proposed the use of an in-house ELISA with crude antigen for population screening. This is the first serological survey on felines in a region where CVL is well established.

Os cavalos da raça Crioula eram utilizados apenas para serviços de campo, especialmente no trabalho com o gado. No entanto, atualmente, são utilizados também como animais de esporte em diversas modalidades que envolvem paleteadas, movimentos de giros apoiados sobre os membros pélvicos e exercícios em terrenos irregulares, predispondo-os às lesões na região distal dos dígitos. Dentre as alterações reconhecidas como causa de claudicação nesta região, encontram-se as afecções vinculadas aos ligamentos colaterais da articulação interfalangeana distal (LC-AID), que são estruturas que auxiliam a manter a estabilidade articular e sofrem alta tensão, devido ao elevado peso corporal, especialmente quando não estão igualmente distribuídos no momento de apoio do casco no solo. Tendo em vista a importância do conhecimento anatômico ultrassonográfico dessa estrutura para o diagnóstico precoce de afecções locomotoras no dígito de cavalos Crioulos, o objetivo deste trabalho foi padronizar as medidas dos LC-AID em equinos hígidos desta raça. Foram utilizados 25 equinos Crioulos adultos não submetidos à prática esportiva. Para a avaliação ultrassonográfica, após tricotomia da região, foi utilizado o aparelho Chison 8300VET e probe linear de 6,0MHz com auxílio de standoff pad e, a técnica empregada utilizou um corte transversal, no qual o LC-AID é visualizado na concavidade da porção distal da falange média, como padrão para a obtenção das medidas. Para mensuração dos ligamentos, utilizaram-se três variáveis denominadas diâmetro dorso palmar (DDP), diâmetro latero medial (DLM) e área transversal do ligamento (ATL). Realizaram-se três medições para cada uma das variáveis e, a partir destas medidas, obtiveram-se os valores de média, os quais foram comparados entre si e não apresentaram diferenças significativas (p > 0,05). Concluiu-se que as médias das medidas de diâmetro e área dos ligamentos colaterais da articulação interfalangeana distal em equinos da raça Crioula foram de 9,04mm para o DDP, 7,55mm para o DLM e 0,52mm² para a ATL, sendo o primeiro trabalho que padronizou o tamanho desta estrutura na raça.

Abstract Background Leishmaniosis, zoonosis that produces significant public health impacts, is caused by Leishmania infantum. Canines are the main domestic reservoir and, besides humans, other species of mammals could be infected when living in endemic areas. In this study, we detected equine Leishmania infantum infections in a canine visceral leishmaniosis transmission area and evaluated the clinical, haematological, biochemical and oxidative stress disorders. This study was conducted in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, south of Brazil. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 124 animals (98 horses and 26 dogs) of both genders and several breeds after they underwent general and dermatologic examinations. Results Twenty five Leishmania infantum infected animals (20.16%), 14 horses and 11 dogs were detected by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) amplification of kinetoplast DNA regions with 96% homology to Leishmania infantum (GenBank Accession No. L 19877.1). The clinical and haematological alterations of infected equines were skin lesions, nodules, lymphadenopathy, decreased levels in red blood cells and haematocrit (p 0.05) in both species. Conclusions To our knowledge, this has been the first leishmaniosis equine survey performed in south of Brazil, caused by Leishmania infantum that were able to initially identify haematological and biochemical changes in the species, even in asymptomatic animals. We present evidence supporting those findings of haematological and biochemical changes could be related to infection. Surprisingly, the clinical manifestations of equine infection were similar to those found in canine visceral leishmaniosis. The equine population could be play an important role in the cycle of leishmaniosis in south Brazil and consequently indicates a great risk of public health. This evaluation of infected animals is important to establish the clinical and laboratory parameters involved in the disease progression.

Abstract Background The Leishmaniases are on the top of the global list of tropical neglected diseases. The number of infected dogs in South America is estimated in millions and correlated to disease cases in humans, especially in Brazil. Equines may get infected too and can play a role in the epidemiological chain. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate risk and protective factors of leishmaniasis in rural areas of the western border region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil by Leishmania spp. protozoa molecular detection and serological evaluation (ELISA) in equine and canine blood samples. This work included nine farms around the city of Uruguaiana. Epidemiologic information regarding farm characteristics and biologic material collection of canine (22) and equine (91), totalizing 113 samples was collected. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to detect Leishmania spp. in biological samples. Variables related to the farm were collected and evaluated through descriptive analysis followed by chi-square test and a logistic regression analysis. Results Nineteen positive samples (19/113 – 16,81%) were detected, being 18 equines and 1 canine, in six of the nine farms included in the study. No animal showed clinical signs of the disease. According to the variables analyzed, when compared each characteristic separately, the presence of abundant vegetation and poor hygiene demonstrated to be risk factors to Leishmania infection in rural areas. The logistic regression showed that excellent general hygiene, proximity to the weir and trimmed grass were protective factors (p=0.038, p=0.001 and p=0.014, respectively). Having excellent hygiene represents a 70% lower chance of getting infected, keeping the grass cut protects the animal by more than 90% and the proximity of the weir represents a protective factor of 96%. Conclusions The presence of Leishmania infection in the western border region of Rio Grande do Sul was 16,81% and it was influenced by farm characteristics. The role of the excellent general hygiene as a protective factor is extremely relevant in the leishmaniases prevention.

ABSTRACT: Leishmaniosis is a great public health problem affecting both humans and animals. The disease is caused by the protozoan Leishmania spp., which has a complex cycle involving a phlebotomine vector. The ELISA test (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) along with a chromatographic immunoassay was defined by the Brazil Health Ministry as the confirmatory screening protocol in 2011. Uruguaiana city is 630 km away from Porto Alegre, which makes it difficult to send samples and diagnose leishmaniasis, as well as receive quick results. In view of this, the present study evaluated an in-house indirect ELISA method compared to indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and dual-path platform chromatographic immunoassay (DPP-BioManguinhos®) for the detection of an immune response to Leishmania spp. in canine species. The serological evaluation included 48 canines from the western border of Brazil (Uruguaiana and Barra do Quaraí city). Among the 48 canine samples tested, 18 were positive when using the ELISA technique, 19 were positive with IFA, and 17 were positive with rapid test DPP®. The ELISA technique showed a sensitivity/specificity of 83.3%/86.7% when compared to IFA and 100%/96.8% compared to DPP®. The present study showed a prevalence of 37.5%, demonstrating that the infection circulates in the studied population. It can be concluded that the ELISA technique was valuable for use in field conditions when performing screening tests in endemic areas.

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize Leishmania spp. from canine and feline samples using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). It was conducted in the southern region of Brazil, located at border crossings to Argentina and Uruguay. Samples were collected from 116 dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and 89 cats (Felis catus). The PCR was performed to screen for an LT1 fragment from kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) target gene, and positive samples were subjected to a second PCR for an internal transcribed spacers (ITS1) region from ribosomal DNA (rDNA) target. RFLP was performed using the Haemophilus aegyptius (HAE III) restriction endonuclease (Fermentas ®). Positive samples by PCR ITS1 were sequenced and deposited in NCBI GenBank, and a phylogenetic analysis was developed. We found that 12.9% (15/116) of the samples from dogs were positive. All the 89 cat samples were negative. Positive samples were tested against Leishmania reference strains presenting different patterns in PCR-RFLP, and these samples showed bands denoting similarity to the standard species of Leishmania infantum, proven through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The RFLP technique, alone, was shown to be feasible for practical application and confirmation of the involved Leishmania spp.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan of the genus Leishmania. The disease is transmitted by the bite of a sand fly vector. Although the main reservoirs are dogs, other hosts can be infected and may play this role. Rio Grande do Sul western region, located on the triple border of Brazil-Uruguay-Argentina, represents a VL transmission area. The goal of the present study was to identify Leishmania spp. infection in animals from rural areas of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul. Nine farms in the Uruguaiana municipality, Rio Grande do Sul state, were included. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 113 animals (canine [n=22], equine [n=91]) for detection of Leishmania spp. DNA was isolated and polymerase chain reaction was performed. Eight (7%) animals with Leishmania spp. infection were detected on two farms in the same geographical area, seven of which were horses and one was canine, all of which were asymptomatic. To investigate the species of Leishmania, one of the positive equine samples was subjected to direct sequencing, which confirmed the presence of L. infantum genetic material. Results of this study confirm the presence of L. infantum-infected animals in rural areas of Uruguaiana, and provide evidence supporting further investigation of risk factors for dissemination in such areas.

Criollo horses were used in the past only for field services, especially countryside work. However, currently, they have been used as sports animals in several modalities involving turns in legs and exercises on irregular terrain, predisposing them to injuries in the distal extremity. Among the alterations recognized as cause of lameness in this region are the conditions related to collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint (CL-DIPJ), which in horses are structures that help to maintain joint stability and suffer a high pressure due to the high body weight, especially when it is not equally distributed at the stance phase. Considering the importance of the ultrasound anatomical knowledge of this structure for the early diagnosis of locomotive affections in the digit of Criollo horses, this study aimed to standardize CL-DIPJ measurements in healthy horses of this breed. We used 25 adult Criollo horses not submitted to sports practice. For ultrasonographic evaluation, after a trichotomy of the region, an ultrasound Chison 8300VET and a 6.0 MHz linear probe were used with a standoff pad. This technique uses a cross-sectional view, in which CL-DIPJ is visualized in the distal concavity portion of the middle phalanx, being a standard for the measurements. For ligament measurements, the variables dorsopalmar diameter (DPD), latero-medial diameter (LMD), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of ligaments were used. Three measurements were performed for each variable and average values were obtained, which were compared to each other and did not present significant differences (p > 0.05). The average measurements of diameter and area of collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint in Criollo horses were 9.04 mm for DPD, 7.55 mm for LMD, and 0.52 mm2 for CSA. This was the first study that standardized the size of this structure in this breed.

The present study aimed to evaluate factors associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in areas with higher seroprevalence of it in Uruguaiana city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, during the year of 2012. A semi-structured questionnaire with socioeconomic and environmental questions was applied in Leishmania endemic regions of the city. The survey data were analyzed by multivariate statistics and the associations between them were presented as odds ratio within a 95% confidence limit. The relationships between the studied variables showed no statistically significant difference between the dwellings with positive and negative dogs. However, when analyzing the odds ratio, the presence of green areas larger than 10m² turned the house into an area of potential risk for CVL (OR= 2.53). There was no difference among the socioeconomic variables education and income, though the groups with lower education and income showed a higher seroprevalence of CVL. The city of Uruguaiana is already located within the CVL broadcasting area and is taken as an endemic region of the disease, with seropositive dogs in all neighborhoods. Thus, the determinants for an increased Leishmania sp. infection could not be indicated, even so, the maintenance of green areas around the households represented a risk factor for being a potential vector shelter.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by a variety of pathogenic Leishmania species. In the New World, especially in Brazil, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by Leishmania infantum. The pathogen can infect several animal species including dogs, foxes, rodents, primates, felines, equines and humans. Dogs act as the primary domestic reservoirs. This study aimed to use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting Leishmania infection in horses living in a canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) endemic region. DNA samples from horse peripheral blood were used to perform PCR. Templates were amplified using primers for the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) minicircles, which were able to detect different species of Leishmania. In addition, primers for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA were used for detection of Trypanosomatidae sp. Amongst the 75 (39%) positive PCR samples from total 192 samples, 21 samples were positive for kDNA and 63 samples were positive for either ITS, ITS1, or ITS2 gene markers. The kDNA PCR and sequencing allowed the detection of L. infantum in horse blood samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report of equine infection with L. infantum in Southern Brazil. These results proved that L. infantum could also infect horses in addition to humans and dogs, as well as in European countries. This conclusion emphasizes the urgent need to follow up investigation of the infection in these animals.