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Coccidiosis is a disease of great importance in industrial poultry. The correct diagnosis directs the poultry industry to its best treatment and control. Thus, a survey of Eimeria spp. was carried out in intestines of 64 broiler flocks, with an average age of 29 days. Eight broilers from each flock were randomly removed from the slaughter line, in a total of 512 samples. Macroscopic and histopathological lesions in the intestine were classified into Scores 0 to 4. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to research the oocysts from the seven species of Eimeria spp. in the intestinal content. The macroscopic evaluations showed that 59.4% (38/64) of the flocks were positive for E. acervulina, 32.8% (21/64) for E. maxima, 29.7% (19/64) for E. tenella, and 34.4% (22/64) for E. brunetti. The histopathological evaluation showed that 87.5% (56/64) of the flocks had at least one broiler with parasitic structures compatible with Eimeria spp. in the duodenum, 70.3% (45/64) in the jejunum, 18.8% (12/64) in the ileum, 46.9% (30/64) in the cecum, and 4.7% (3/64) in the colon. In PCR, 21.9% (14/64) of the flocks were positive for E. acervulina, 12.5% (8/64) for E. maxima, 3.1% (2/64) for E. mitis, and 32.8% (21/64) for E. tenella. The Kappa Cohen test between macroscopy, histopathology, and PCR demonstrated concordance ranging from weak to moderate with the exception of histopathology and PCR of the cecum, which was strong. In the comparison between macroscopy and histopathology, there were significative differences between Scores 0 and 1 (apart from the cecum). For Score 3, there were significative differences in duodenum, jejunum and cecum (p<0.05). In conclusion, the macroscopic diagnosis and PCR can generate false-negative results, and the histopathological exam proved to be effective, making it essential to associate different techniques for the correct diagnosis of Eimeria spp. in broiler chickens.

Background: Endocarditis is one of the most important heart diseases in cattle and a rare disease in sheep. This illness could be caused by any bacteria when related to bacteremia, being Staphylococcus aureus one uncommon cause for this disorder in ruminants. The clinical sings at the early stages are unspecific and many cases are only diagnosed just at thefinal stages of the disease, resulting in heart insufficiency with bad prognosis. The aim of this study is to report two cases of endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus spp. leading to sepsis in a sheep and osteoarthritis in a cow, showing the importance of this bacteria in the pathogenesis of this disease.Cases: Case 1. A 8-month-old sheep, female, Texel showed lameness in the left thoracic limb, and even treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug had anorexia, locomotion difficulty and on the day before of death showed neurological sings, with less than one week of total clinical course. At necropsy, in the heart was observed thrombus in the tricuspid,mitral and aortic valves and pale areas in the myocardium. Multiples abscesses were observed in the lungs, liver and kidneys and infarcts in kidneys, spleen and brain. At the histopathology exam was observed in the tricuspid, mitral and aortic valves subacute endocarditis with intralesional coccoids bacteria Gram positives. There were multifocal fibrinonecrotic myocarditis, abscess in lung, liver and kidney with intralesional bacterial myriads. In kidneys, spleen and brain was observedthrombosis associated to multiple infarct areas. Samples of cardiac thrombus, heart, spleen, kidney and meningeal swabs were submitted for bacterial cultivation and was isolated Staphylococcus aureus in all samples, in pure culture.Case 2. A 2-year-old cow, female, mixed breed Angus and Charolais showed a wound in the distal part of the thoracic limb that was done topical treatment. After a month, was noted submandibular and dewlap edema, prostration, lethargy and fever. Antibiotic treatment was performed having remission of edema and fever, however being lethargic yet. Aftera month post antibiotic treatment, the animal showed bilateral increased of joint volume and a new antibiotic treatment was performed. The X-ray and cytology of the synovial fluid presented septic osteoarthritis in both radiocarpal joint. At necropsy was observed a thrombus in the tricuspid valve of approximately 20x4cm ascending to caudal and cranial cavaveins and a pulmonary abscess. In the left carpometacarpal joint, right antebrachiocarpal joint and stifle joint were observed severe purulent exudation and erosions. At histopathology evaluation of the heart was noted subacute septic endocarditis in tricuspid valve and in the joints was observed subacute fibrinopurulent osteoarthritis. In the swabs of joints and thrombus was identified Staphylococcus coagulase positive.Discussion: Despite the fact of to be skin commensal, S. aureus can enter in the bloodstream and to cause endocarditis, sepsis, abscesses and arthritis. Regard to possible entryways, interdigital pododermatitis and skin superficial lesions can be the entrance of the agent. In both cases the animals showed lesions on the limbs, as possible cause. The relationshipbetween endocarditis and osteoarticular infections is not fully known. In cattle with heart disease was noted that lameness is an important clinical sign and osteoarthritis could be related with endocarditis. Staphylococcus aureus rarely is reported in endocarditis cases in ruminants and the outcomes showed here are uncommon and poorly studied.Descritores: estafilococose, doença cardíaca, poliartrite, bacteremia, ruminantes.