A morphologic study of the lungs was carried out in Swiss mice infected with yeast isolated from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18). The lung was processed 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after inoculation for histologic staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), methenamine silver nitrate (Gomori-Grocott), and picrosirius to qualitative and quantitative analyses of the granulomas and the presence of fungal lesions. The numbers of CFUs/g counted in the lungs were 189.8 +/- 20.64, 353.6 +/- 46.21, 547.2 +/- 108.1, and 295.2 +/- 89.17 in the first, second, fourth, and eighth weeks, respectively. One week after infection, inflammatory cells and reticular and collagens fibers, the latest typical of fibrosis, were detected. After 2 and 4 weeks, a progressive intensification of the infection and fibrosis was observed, but in week 8 a more organized granuloma was evident, with macrophages, epithelioid cells, and yeasts in the central portion, and intense peripheral basophilia. Pycnotic structures typical of apoptotic bodies were observed in weeks 1 and 8. The different histologic staining used acted as a fundamental tool for the study of the morphologic organization of granuloma formation.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of three common hemoparasites (Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina) in cattle from 16 counties in the Campos de Lages region, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, and the factors affecting disease occurrence. The study population consisted of 257 clinically healthy animals from 21 rural farms. Bovine blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture. DNA was extracted from whole blood by the phenol/ chloroform method. Genomic DNA extracted from blood samples was subjected to Multiplex PCR for screening of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and A. marginale using specific primers. Prevalences of A. marginale, B. bigemina, and B. bovis were 27%, 16%, and 29%, respectively. Mixed infection was observed in 17.5% of samples. The most frequent was Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in 6.62% of samples. A. marginale infection rates were statistically correlated with age groups of cattle. The infections detected in the study population were considered to be subclinical, based on the presence pathogen DNA and absence of clinical symptoms. Seasonality of the pathogens resulted in various degrees of infection, related to the age of the animals and the season. The Campos de Lages region is characterized by enzootic instability for these pathogens because of its climatic and geographic features.

RESUMOObjetivou-se desenvolver uma técnica de avaliação de carrapaticidas por imersão de larvas de Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. As larvas foram obtidas a partir de ovos de 30 teleóginas coletadas em bovinos de uma propriedade rural do município de Lages, SC, Brasil, os quais foram acondicionados em alíquotas de 10mg por seringa descartável de 5ml, previamente preparadas e mantidas em câmara climatizada até a eclosão. Larvas com sete a dez dias de idade foram submetidas à imersão por 30 segundos em oito diluições de produtos carrapaticidas comerciais à base de amitraz e de cipermetrina, cada uma com dez repetições, sendo mantido um grupo controle para cada repetição e produto, o qual foi imerso em água destilada. A leitura foi realizada 24 horas após o tratamento com a contagem de larvas vivas e mortas. A média de DL 50 para cipermetrina foi de 2,99ppm e o erro padrão de 0,36 e para o amitraz foi de 17,22ppm e o erro padrão de 4,20, com intervalo de confiança (IC) 95%. Veterinaria, v. 17, n. 4, p. 242-245, 2008. Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Avenida Luis de Camões, 2090, Bairro Conta Dinheiro, Lages, SC 88520-000, Brazil. E-mail: a2aps@cav.udesc.br PALAVRAS-CHAVEThe aim of this work was to develop a technique of acaricides evaluation by immersion of larvae. Larvae were obtained from 30 engorged females of Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus were collected in a ranch in Lages, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Larvae were obtained from 10mg of eggs placed into 5ml disposable syringes, previously prepared and kept under controlled conditions of laboratory, and collected between the third and the twelfth day of oviposition. Seven to ten days old larvae were submitted to the acaricide laboratory test, in ten replications, by their immersion in eight dilutions of commercial acaricides (amitraz or cypermethrin), for 30 seconds; for each replication and commercial product, a control group was immersed in distilled water. Results were evaluated 24 hours after each treatment by counting the number of live and dead larvae. The mean LD 50 values and standard error of the mean for cypermethrin and amitraz were 2.99 ± 0.36 and 17.22 ± 4.20 ppm, respectively, for a confidence interval of 95%. The proposed acaricide laboratory test procedures by larvae immersion offered promising results for the evaluation of acaricides.KEY WORDS: Ticks, in vitro test, acaricide.

The seasonality and behaviour of tabanids were studied in the Planalto Serrano of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. From March 2007 to February 2009, a total of 915 tabanid flies from 15 species and six genera were collected on an individual horse. The number of tabanid species varied from zero during autumn/winter to ten in summer (December -February). Dichelacera alcicornis Wied. (62.1%) was the most abundant species followed by Chrysops fusciapex Lutz (6.7%) and C. patricia Pechuman (5.9%). Peak catches occurred during the summer (December-March). The landing behaviour varied by genera: Chrysops (100%) preferred the head, Dichelacera (56.3%) the flanks, and Poecilodera (100%), Acanthocera (100%), Tabanus (58.8%) and Fidena (48.7%) the limbs region. This is the first work on tabanids in the Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 34(2):141-146, fevereiro 2014 141 RESUMO.-Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a resistência aos ectoparasitas em bovinos jovens da raça Crioula Lageana e meio-sangue Angus em condições naturais. Foram utilizados 10 machos castrados em cada grupo, recém desmamados (6-8 meses) e mantidos sob as mesmas condições de manejo, em pastagens cultivadas de inverno e verão, no município de Monte Castelo -SC, sofrendo infestação natural por ectoparasitas. A cada 28 dias, fêmeas de carrapatos (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) com tamanho acima de 4 mm foram quantificadas nos dois lados do corpo de cada animal, bem como os nódulos com larvas de Dermatobia hominis. A espessura da capa do pelame foi também avaliada a cada coleta e os animais foram classificados quanto à coloração do pelame. Os animais da raça Crioula Lageana foram mais resistentes às infestações por D. hominis e R. microplus. Não houve diferença entre a disposição de carrapatos e bernes conforme os lados direito e esquerdo dos animais. Os animais de pelagem escura albergaram a maior porcentagem de ectoparasitas nos grupos avaliados. This study was carried out to evaluate the breed resistance against ectoparasites infestations in Crioula Lageana and crossbred Angus male calves under natural condition. Ten weaned and neutered male calves (6-8 months) of each group were kept together in winter and summer pastures in Monte Castelo, Santa Catarina State. Every 28 days, female ticks (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) more than 4 mm long were counted on the right and left side of the body of each animal, as well as the D. hominis nodules. Coat thickness also was measured at each sampling and all animals were classified according coat color. Crioula Lageana group was less infested by D. hominis than crossbred Angus in five times and by ticks in the infestation peak (P<0.05). There were no differences in the distribution of the ticks and grubs between animal body sides. Dark-haired animal in both groups were the most susceptible.