The adaptation of the animals, either temperate or tropical climate, is mainly related to physiology and its adaptation to the environment. When subjected to different air temperature and air humidity from the usual, these animals found in heat stress difficulty reproduction and production. The endocrine system is one of those responsible for controlling the stress response, and rapid and appropriate growth is one of the elements of greatest economic importance toward meat production, and more producers want to improve, to accelerate the production rate and decreasing production costs. Thus, the aim of this review was to evaluate, through research papers found in the literature, the influence of heat stress on the hormones of growth and reproduction in ruminants. It was observed that even in studies that do not consider the productive performance of the animals, the influence of these parameters is significant in the ambience and the degree of adaptation of the same. However, more research should be conducted in order to evaluate the production of animals of different species under the conditions of different regions, as well as search for alternatives to achieve the best animal production levels, either by finding the best way of introducing exotic breeds, or the possibility of bringing more comfort to the animals in their various productive and reproductive stages.

Rural settlements are defined as family-run agrarian spaces. Their purpose, based on public policies, is to strengthen family agriculture. They are peculiar environments that can predispose to the risk of diseases, especially zoonotic diseases, due to close natural contact with animals that can be sources of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-Leptospira antibodies in dogs from rural settlements in the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil, and to identify the risk factors associated with infection. A total of 306 dogs were sampled and Leptospira screening was performed using the microscopic agglutination test. In all, 27 of 306 (8.82%; 95% CI = 6.13-12.5%) dogs were seropositive for Leptospira spp. The most frequent serotype was Pomona. Street access (odds ratio = 3.53, p = 0.012) was indicated as a risk factor for infection. The results indicate that leptospirosis is present in dogs from rural settlements in the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. This reinforces the need to limit contact between dogs and wild reservoirs and perform serological monitoring of swine. It also reinforces the need for implementation of control measures such as improvements in hygienic-sanitary conditions in the settlements, including the construction of pigsties away from homes, and the introduction of vaccination to reduce the occurrence of this disease, which will prevent transmission to humans and animals. Key words: Zoonoses. Rural área. Risk factors. Serology. ResumoOs assentamentos rurais são definidos como espaços agrários de organização familiar, cuja finalidade é o fortalecimento da agricultura familiar a partir de políticas públicas. São ambientes peculiares que podem predispor ao risco de doenças, especialmente de caráter zoonótico, considerando naturalmente o convívio estreito com os animais, que de certo modo, podem atuar como fontes de infecção. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a frequência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em cães de assentamentos rurais do Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil, bem como identificar os fatores de risco associados com a infecção. Foram utilizados 306 cães e o diagnóstico de Leptospira spp. realizados pela técnica de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (MAT). Foram identificados 27/306 (8,82%; IC 95% = 6,13 -12,5%) cães soropositivos para Leptospira spp. O sorotipo mais frequente foi o Pomona. A criação do tipo solto (Odds ratio = 3,53; p = 0,012) foi apontada como fator de risco para a infecção. Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que a leptospirose está presente em cães de áreas de assentamentos rurais do estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Isso reforça a necessidade de limitar o contato de cães com reservatórios silvestres, bem como fazer o monitoramento sorológico dos suínos e implantação de medidas de controle como melhorias nas condições higiênico-sanitárias nos assentamentos, destacandose a construção de pocilgas afastadas das residências e a introdução de vacinação com o intuito de reduzir a ocorrência dessa doença e, consequent...

Rural settlements are defined as family-run agrarian spaces. Their purpose, based on public policies, is to strengthen family agriculture. They are peculiar environments that can predispose to the risk of diseases, especially zoonotic diseases, due to close natural contact with animals that can be sources of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-Leptospira antibodies in dogs from rural settlements in the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil, and to identify the risk factors associated with infection. A total of 306 dogs were sampled and Leptospira screening was performed using the microscopic agglutination test. In all, 27 of 306 (8.82%; 95% CI = 6.13-12.5%) dogs were seropositive for Leptospira spp. The most frequent serotype was Pomona. Street access (odds ratio = 3.53, p = 0.012) was indicated as a risk factor for infection. The results indicate that leptospirosis is present in dogs from rural settlements in the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. This reinforces the need to limit contact between dogs and wild reservoirs and perform serological monitoring of swine. It also reinforces the need for implementation of control measures such as improvements in hygienic-sanitary conditions in the settlements, including the construction of pigsties away from homes, and the introduction of vaccination to reduce the occurrence of this disease, which will prevent transmission to humans and animals. Key words: Zoonoses. Rural área. Risk factors. Serology. ResumoOs assentamentos rurais são definidos como espaços agrários de organização familiar, cuja finalidade é o fortalecimento da agricultura familiar a partir de políticas públicas. São ambientes peculiares que podem predispor ao risco de doenças, especialmente de caráter zoonótico, considerando naturalmente o convívio estreito com os animais, que de certo modo, podem atuar como fontes de infecção. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a frequência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em cães de assentamentos rurais do Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil, bem como identificar os fatores de risco associados com a infecção. Foram utilizados 306 cães e o diagnóstico de Leptospira spp. realizados pela técnica de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (MAT). Foram identificados 27/306 (8,82%; IC 95% = 6,13 -12,5%) cães soropositivos para Leptospira spp. O sorotipo mais frequente foi o Pomona. A criação do tipo solto (Odds ratio = 3,53; p = 0,012) foi apontada como fator de risco para a infecção. Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que a leptospirose está presente em cães de áreas de assentamentos rurais do estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Isso reforça a necessidade de limitar o contato de cães com reservatórios silvestres, bem como fazer o monitoramento sorológico dos suínos e implantação de medidas de controle como melhorias nas condições higiênico-sanitárias nos assentamentos, destacandose a construção de pocilgas afastadas das residências e a introdução de vacinação com o intuito de reduzir a ocorrência dessa doença e, consequent...