No abstract

Semen samples from 88 reproductively mature bulls were screened to detect the presence of Brucella spp. by polymerase chain reaction. Twenty-seven samples were found to be positive, underscoring the importance of researching brucellosis in males and the need for greater care in the selection of sperm-donating bulls for semen centres.

A total of 27 seminal plasma samples from cattle-breeding farms or semen centres located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, previously negative by serological and tested positive for Brucella spp. with primer specific for the amplification of the gene virb5 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were analysed for the detection of Brucella abortus DNA by PCR. It was found that nine samples (33.33%) contained B. abortus B19 strain DNA, two (7.40%) contained B. abortus DNA and five (18.51%) contained both DNA. The larger number of samples with B. abortus B19 strain DNA would explained by the environmental contamination by vaccinated females with persistent excretion or some illegal vaccination process. It is first reported of male bovines detected with both DNA.

The aims at identifying and describing the occurrence ofanatomopathological  and  histopathological  changes  in  Nile  tilapia  juveniles, naturally infected with Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno). The Nile tilapias of this study were cultivated in net cages in the region of the Araguari River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and due to a mortality rate ranging from 40 to 60%, 64 fish samples were collected and sent for examination in the laboratory. At  necropsy, granuloma-like  nodules  were  observed  in  the  spleen  59/64(92.2%), kidney 24/64 (37.5%), and liver 09/64 (14.1%). Fno was detected in 98% (49/50) of the samples by PCR. Upon analysis, astrong correlation was observed between external and internal lesions, since granulomatous lesions present in the spleen and kidney of the same animal simultaneously  were  also  accompanied  by skin  ulcers, suggesting  that  the cutaneous lesion is related to the presence of Fno in tilapia and can be used as an indication for early diagnosis. Thus, the high prevalence of Fno observed in this  research  study allows characterizing  an  outbreak  in  the  region.  It  is noteworthy that especially regarding the consumption of tilapia meat, although there are zoonotic species in the Francisella group, the zoonotic potential of Fno is not yet known and should be further studied.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease with common agent is Brucella abortus in bovine specie. The disease in bulls is usually asymptomatic and could have absence of anti-B. abortus antibody in serum. It was investigated of the occurrence of bovine brucellosis in bulls, which involved testing blood serum and seminal plasma from 177 bulls used for natural mating or as semen donors. Blood was collected from all the animals by venipuncture of the jugular vein to obtain the serum samples, while seminal plasma was obtained from the animals by electroejaculation. Samples were tested in a screening test (rose bengal test). In the second stage, the samples testing positive in the RBT were subjected to the confirmatory test (2-mercaptoethanol). None of the animals tested positive when blood serum was used. However, 5.06% of the bulls were considered reagent positive when seminal plasma was tested. It also sought to determine whether there was an association between the kind of production and the destination of animals with positive results. The calculated odds ratio indicated that bulls of the kind of production dairy/both (beef and dairy) had a higher risk of brucellosis infection. It is recommended that seminal plasma agglutination and seroagglutination techniques are applied concomitantly. Key words: Blood serum, males, natural mating, semen donor ResumoBrucelose é uma zoonose que nos bovinos tem como principal agente a bactéria Brucella abortus. A doença nos touros é geralmente assintomática e pode haver ausência de anticorpos anti-B. abortus no soro sanguíneo. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar a ocorrência da brucelose bovina em reprodutores para isso foram empregados testes oficiais tendo como material o soro sanguíneo e o plasma seminal. Foram utilizados 177 machos bovinos destinados à monta natural ou doação de sêmen. O soro sanguíneo foi obtido através de venopunção da jugular e o plasma seminal através da eletroejaculação. As amostras foram submetidas ao teste de triagem (Antígeno acidificado tamponado) e na segunda etapa, apenas as amostras positivas na triagem foram submetidas ao exame confirmatório (2-mercaptoetanol). Não houveram animais positivos quando utilizado o soro sanguíneo. Para plasma seminal houve 5,06% de touros reagentes. Avaliou-se também se sistema produtivo ou a destinação do animal possuíam associação com resultados positivos. O cálculo de odds ratio demonstrou que os reprodutores bovinos do sistema produtivo misto/leite tem maior risco de infecção para brucelose. Recomenda-se que a técnica de sêmen plasma aglutinação seja feita em conjunto com a soroaglutinação. Palavras-chave: Soro sanguíneo, machos, monta natural, doador de sêmen