Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection was discovered over 50 years ago; however, the serious clinical changes associated with FeLV infection still have great importance in the diagnosis, prevention, and clinical management of symptomatic patients. Progressive infection with FeLV leads to a reduction in the patient’s life expectancy and quality of life. This report describes the use of an antiretroviral integrase inhibitor, raltegravir, in two cats with natural FeLV infection. Raltegravir was administered orally at a dose of 40 mg/ cat every 12 h in both cases. In case one, 13 weeks after starting raltegravir, RNA loads were undetectable, while proviral DNA loads were still detectable. In case two, proviral DNA loads were undetectable after 32 weeks of medication, while RNA loads were undetectable throughout the treatment. No adverse effects or laboratory test abnormalities were detected with the use of raltegravir in either patient. The patients are currently clinically healthy, still receiving the drug, and are under close observation. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the use of raltegravir in naturally infected FeLV-positive cats and its effects on circulating viral load. Moreover, the patients described here were followed-up for a longer period than those in previously reported cases.

Culicoides have medical and veterinary importance, as they play a role as vectors of viruses, protozoa, and nematodes that cause diseases. Despite the relevance to public health, greater attention has been given to other insect vectors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Captor® light trap in capturing Culicoides that could be examined for the presence of Leishmania DNA. The insects were captured in a rural area of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where canine and human visceral leishmaniasis have been diagnosed. Adult insects were collected weekly, from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, for a 12 month period using a Captor® brand suction light trap. All Culicoides were identified at species level. Pools of Culicoides were tested using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique for the detection of Leishmania DNA. A total of 16,016 specimens were collected (71.54% females and 28.39% males), divided among seven species. In the DNA analysis, none of the pools showed a positive result for Leishmania. The data presented demonstrate that the trap is efficient and can be an alternative for use in entomological research. They also demonstrate that, despite the females having hematophagous habits, similar to other vector insects, they did not have contact with Leishmania in the studied locality.

Dermatobiosis is defined as a parasitosis caused by the larval stage of the human botfly Dermatobia hominis, often observed in large animals but considered unusual in pet animals. The aim of the report is to describe a naturally infested cat treated in a reference dermatology service with clinical presentation similar to neoplasia or abscess. A six-year-old spayed male Brazilian Shorthair cat with outdoor access, from the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state, was treated for two nodules, one located in the sacral region and one in the tail. The patient was restrained, and digital compression of the lesions resulted in expulsion of D. hominis larvae, accompanied by a purulent secretion. The removal of larvae and use of antiseptic at the site resolved the furuncular myiasis. It is possible to assume that the parasitism reported here resulted from the animal’s living arrangement, in a rural area with cattle parasitized by D. hominis. We conclude that parasitism by D. hominis should be present on the list of differential diagnoses of cats with nodules and that mechanical removal associated with the use of antiseptics is resolutive.

This study sought to make a literature review of the medicinal plants Origanum majorana, Origanum vulgare L., Thymus vulgaris L., Cuminum cynimum L., and Rosmarinus officinalis L. with antiparasitic potential. Articles and theses were selected from the LILACS, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, which comprised the period from 2000 to 2021 (22 years). In all, 49 studies were selected, and the majority were with the plant Origanum vulgare L. (oregano), followed by Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme). Twenty-five genera of parasites were detected, which were described being tested with phytotherapic. The nematode Haemonchus spp. was the most evaluated in these studies, followed by the parasite genera Leishmania, Trichostrongylus, and Toxocara. All plants showed antiparasitic effects, with more or less action, therefore with the potential to continue research in the search for biomolecules to control these parasites

Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a contagious polyposis ulcerative inflammation of the endocardium, accompanied by lesions of the heart valve apparatus and endothelium by various pathogenic and opportunistic pathogens. Mainly mitral and aortic valves are affected, less often - tricuspid valve. The purpose of this study was to report two cases of IE in cats. Due to the low prevalence of the disease in cats, there is no clear diagnostic algorithm, so the diagnostic search is complicated. In both cases, autonomic lesions of the heart valve apparatus were observed. In the first clinical case, we could hardly diagnose the disease because of its rapid progression: initial echocardiogram result was normal, but after 48 hours, the cat’s condition became much worse, and 18 hours later, it died. In the second case, histopathological examination confirmed an infectious inflammatory process of the endocardium and myocardium of unclear genesis. However, the presence of lower respiratory tract infection and the absence of additional laboratory tests, such as bacterial blood culture and PCR diagnosis, limited us in proposing a hypothesis about the origin and etiology of IE.

Animals display numerous physiological and behavioral responses that reduce the effects of heat stress. Moreover, genetic variance is strongly associated with responses to heat stress, including variants of heat shock proteins (HSPs) that are necessary for thermoregulation and stress resistance. Herein, we performed the molecular profiling of the HSP 70 gene, and its polymorphism was demonstrated as a possible factor in the stress tolerance of local Iraqi goats. A number of different mutations were found owing to seven main polymorphisms. Results indicated the occurrence of silent and missense mutations in sequences obtained for Iraqi local goats. Genetic diversity was observed in the HSP70 gene of Iraqi local goats on the basis of phylogenetic-tree analysis as some mutations occurred once whereas others occurred multiple times. The polymorphisms LC616787, LC616788, and LC616791 were combined with the reference gene in the same branch, whereas polymorphisms (LC616785 and LC616786) and (LC616789 and LC616790) met in different branches, respectively. Moreover, all studied proteins had mismatches in their three-dimensional structures. Therefore, the presence of specific genetic differences within the HSP70 gene in Iraqi goats can increase the possibility of selecting animals more suitable to various levels of stress.

Over the past several years significant progress on achieving better antibiotic stewardship in the veterinary sector has been achieved through regulatory legislations both in the USA and the European Union, including the implementation of US FDA GL 209 and 213. The EU is now taking measures to phase out the routine use of antibiotics for disease prevention, reserving prophylactic use for exceptional circumstances. This article intends to add some clarifications regarding antibiotics for disease prevention that are embedded in two EU regulations which came into force on 28th January 2022, Regulation (EU) 2019/4 on Medicated Feed and Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on Veterinary Medicinal Products.

The overuse of antimicrobials in poultry has led to the development and dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the poultry industry. One of the most effective mechanisms of resistance found in Escherichia coli is the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL); there are several ESBLs, including the TEM, SHV, and CTX-M families. This resistance mechanism and the risks associated with transmitting these resistant microorganisms between animals, the environment, and humans can occur through direct contact and consumption of infected animals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of E. coli in samples isolated from three broiler farms in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and screen the isolates for ESBL genes. The findings of this study demonstrated the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli in all farms studied. The findings of this study highlight the urgency for a program to monitor the poultry industry value chains at the regional level to control the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, we recommend that the enzyme subtypes produced by bacterial isolates should be determined to effectively characterize the distribution of genes related to antimicrobial resistance.

Fish farms are one of the principal food industries located in peri-urban and rural communities that use available resources to ensure the quality of their products. However, trout can suffer from bacterial infections affecting the sector and being a key component of human health risk. We aimed to identify and characterize Enterobacteriaceae in 46 trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in two fish farms in Lima, Peru. Adult trouts older than seven weeks (> 200 grams weight) were included. Cultures were performed in duplicate (n=192 trials) with swabs from the squamous surface and visceral cavity. The isolates were identified with the Vitek® 2 Compact system, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were interpreted with the CLSI VET 03-A guide. At El Molino and El Angelito fish farms, 66 (68.8%) and 57 (59.4%) isolates were obtained. The most frequently isolated species were Escherichia coli (56.8%), Proteus sp. (4.2%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.6%). E. coli was present in all sampling areas, and Aeromonas hydrophila was only present in one open viscera sample at El Angelito fish farm. A. hydrophila showed antibiotic resistance to Ampicillin/Sulbactam (≥32 MIC), Oxytetracycline (>8 MIC), Imipenem (8 MIC), Levofloxacin (>8 MIC), and Ceftazidime (≥64 MIC). Our results suggest the presence of multi-resistant A. hydrophila in O. mykiss. Further studies are needed to understand the developmental context of A. hydrophila, which is crucial to the food industry, aquaculture and public health

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pre-anesthetic use of clonidine on time-domain heart rate variability (HRV) and arterial blood pressure in healthy anesthetized dogs. Six healthy adult mixed-breed dogs were administered a clonidine (clonidine group, CLG) and 30 days later, a placebo (control group, CG) preanesthetic protocol, in addition to propofol, isoflurane, and an bolus of tramadol and the continuous infusion thereafter. The total time mean values of HRV meanNN, SDNN, SDANN, SDNNI, and rMSSD were higher in the CL group, as observed in some HRV variables on tramadol bolus time (T4), tramadol continuous infusion (T8), and tracheal extubation time (T10). No significant differences in arterial blood pressure were observed, however, two dogs had a second-degree atrioventricular block (Mobitz II) at the tramadol bolus time (T4). These results led us to conclude that the clonidine anesthetic protocol resulted in sympathetic outflow block and an increase in parasympathetic tone, without significant effects on blood pressure. Notably, cardiac electrical disturbance in two dogs in the CL group. Although the pre-anesthetic use of clonidine in dogs with fear-based behavioral problems should be considered, its association with tramadol should be avoided or carried out with caution owing to the existing cardiovascular risk.