The aims of this study were to verify the presence of Toxoplasma gondii cysts in fresh pork sausage and the presence of antibodies against T. gondii in serum of workers from factories with Municipal Inspection Service, in Londrina, PR, Brazil. 149 samples of sausage were collected from eight factories and blood samples from 47 workers. We also took information about the practices that were adopted in the factories and the workers' habits that could influence the prevalence of toxoplasmosis. After bioassay in mice, 13 (8.7%) sausage samples were positive, in one of them T. gondii was isolated and in the other 12 the mice seroconverted. Of 47 workers, 36 (76.6%) worked in sausage production and 11 (23.4%) were involved in other functions; 59.5% (28/47), 55.5% (20/36) and 72.7% (8/11), respectively, had T. gondii antibodies. There were no significant differences in the variables of industries' practices and workers' habits related to T. gondii infection. We concluded that fresh pork sausage could be important in the transmission of toxoplasmosis.

Leishmania in synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus):new evidence for the urbanization of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis AbstractThis study aimed to detect parasites from Leishmania genus, to determine the prevalence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies, to identify circulating species of the parasite, and to determine epidemiological variables associated with infection in rats caught in urban area of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. Animal capture was carried out from May to December 2006, serological and molecular methods were performed. DNA was extracted from total blood, and nested-PCR, targeting SSu rRNA from Leishmania genus, was performed in triplicate. The positive samples were sequenced twice by Sanger method to species determination. In total, 181 rodents were captured, all were identified as Rattus rattus and none showed clinical alterations. Forty-one of the 176 (23.3%) animals were positive for Leishmania by ELISA and 6/181 (3.3%) were positive by IFAT. Nine of 127 tested animals (7.1%) were positive by PCR; seven were identified as L.

ResumoObjetivou-se determinar a prevalência da toxoplasmose em suínos abatidos em frigoríficos com inspeção sanitária do Estado do Paraná. Do total de 114 abatedouros foram selecionados aleatoriamente 13 com média diária de abate de 30 ou mais animais, de acordo com cada mesorregião paranaense. Coletou-se 424 amostras de sangue no período de outubro de 2002 a janeiro de 2003. Os soros foram submetidos à pesquisa de anticorpos anti-T. gondii (IgG) pela imunofluorescência indireta e 17 (4,00%) foram positivos, considerando títulos ≥ 64. De acordo com as categorias zootécnicas, seis das 29 matrizes avaliadas (20,69%) e 11 dos 395 animais de terminação (2,60%) foram positivos.Tal diferença foi estatisticamente significativa (p=0,0004) e pode estar relacionada ao maior tempo de exposição das matrizes aos fatores de risco associados à toxoplasmose. Comparando-se este estudo a outros previamente realizados no Estado do Paraná, observou-se uma tendência de decréscimo da prevalência da toxoplasmose no rebanho suíno, provavelmente devido às melhorias sanitárias adotadas nos últimos 15 anos. Palavras-chave: Toxoplasma gondii, suíno, prevalência, imunofluorescência AbstractThe aim of this study was to verify toxoplasmosis's prevalence in swine from slaughterhouses with inspection service in Paraná State. 13 of the 114 abattoirs were randomized in accordance with each State region and with the minimum daily abate of 30 animals. 424 swine blood samples were collected from October 2002 to January 2003. The Indirect Immunofluorescence Test (IFAT) was realized to detect Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG) and 17 (4,00%) were positive, considering titers ≥ 64. According to the animals categories, six from 29 sows (20,69%) and 11 from 395 finisher pigs (2,60%) were positives. This difference was significant (p=0,0004) and could be related with the sow's period of exposition to toxoplasmosis risk factors. Comparing this research to previous ones in Paraná State, we could see a tendency of decrease in the toxoplasmosis prevalence in pig farms, maybe related to the swine industry improvements in the last 15 years.

SUMMARYThe role of rodents in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. One hundred and eighty-one Rattus rattus and one Mus musculus were caught in 37 places. Blood and tissues were collected and submitted to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the bioassay. Serum samples from 61 contacting dogs were also collected. Sixteen rats (8.8%) were positive for Toxoplasma gondii, but just two of them were positive by serology and bioassay test. Antibodies were found in nine (4.9%) rats. Tissues of nine rats bioassayed were positive and four isolates were obtained. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was performed using 12 markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG2-alt, C22-8, C29-2, L358, PK1, BTUB, GRA6, SAG3, Apico, CS3). Genotyping revealed that the four strains isolated from this study have been isolated before in cats and chickens from Brazil. None of the isolates was identified like clonal archetypal T-types I, II, and III. The rats presented lower serologic Toxoplasma gondii prevalence (8.8%) compared to contacting dogs (70.5%).

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in dogs of Bela Vista do Paraiso, Parana state, compare the IFA and ELISA techniques and identify the vectors possibly involved in the cycle of the parasite. Were collected blood samples from 489 dogs that were subjected to detection of anti-Leishmania sp. by IFA and by ELISA. Were considered positive samples ≥40 titers in IFA and for ELISA ≥ 0.174 optical density. Among the samples analyzed, 222 (45.4%) were positive by IFA and 189 (38.7%) by ELISA. Comparing the tests were found 176 positive samples (36.0%) and 254 negative (51.9%) for both techniques. The sensitivity of ELISA was 79.3% and specificity was 95.1%. The global coefficient of the test was 87.0% with kappa coefficient of 0.75. Analysis of variables for dogs with positive serology by IFA showed significant differences regarding the absence of forests and lack of contact with other animal species. Positive sera by ELISA in dogs variables that showed significant differences were the type of riparian vegetation existing in the environment, the lack of garbage, open sewers and released directly into rivers or streams and garbage thrown on wasteland, burned or buried. The result obtained with the capture of sandflies was the predominance of Lutzomyia whitmani with 79.9% of the species collected. The result obtained with the capture of sandflies was the predominance of Lutzomyia whitmani with 79.9% of the species collected. The results showed that the LTA is widespread in the canine population of Bela Vista do Paraiso, and both the IFI and ELISA can be used for diagnosis. So the dog appears as a link between wild and peridomestic cycle of CL may become an amplifier of disease in this ecosystem.