Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by protozoa in the genus Leishmania, typical of rural and peri-urban environments. The causative agent of American visceral leishmaniasis is Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi and the main insect vector in Brazil is Lutzomyia longipalpis. Dogs (Canis familiaris) are important in the transmission of the disease, as a reservoir closely related to humans and an infection source for phlebotomine vectors. Since 1990, an increasing number of feline leishmaniasis cases have been reported, suggesting that domestic cats (Felis catus) might be involved in the epidemiology of the disease. The present study analyzed the prevalence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies in naturally infected domestic cats from various neighborhoods in the municipality of Belém, Pará, Brazil, using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and the direct agglutination test (DAT). Among the 443 samples tested, 18 (4.06%) presented positive reactions in the IFA. The observed titers were 40 IU in 4.97% of the samples and 80 IU in 0.90%. In the DAT test, positive results were found in 25 (5.64%) of the samples. The observed titers were also 40 IU (4.97%) and 80 IU (0.68%). The agreement rate between the two tests was considered low (Kappa coefficient = 0.10).Keywords: Indirect immunofluorescence assay, direct agglutination test, leishmaniasis, cats. ResumoAs leishmanioses são zoonoses vetoriais causadas por protozoários do gênero Leishmania, características de ambientes rurais e periurbanos. A leishmaniose visceral americana (LVA) é causada pela Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi, cujo principal vetor no Brasil é Lutzomyia longipalpis. O cão (Canis familiaris) possui papel ativo na transmissão da doença, pois é um reservatório muito próximo do humano e uma fonte de infecção para o flebotomíneo. O aumento do número de casos de leishmaniose felina, descritos na literatura a partir de 1990, sugere Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, Kinetoplastida order, Trypanosomatidae family, and transmitted by phlebotomine species, causing tegumental and visceral injuries (ROSA, 2009). In the parasitic life cycle, promastigotes are found in the vector and amastigotes are found in the infected host tissues (BANETH, 2006). Leishmaniasis is typical of rural and peri-urban environments. Domestic and wild mammals can be infected; humans are considered accidental hosts of the protozoa (CURI et al., 2006).The dog (Canis familiaris) has an active role in the transmission of the disease as an asymptomatic reservoir that is closely related to humans and an infection source to phlebotomine vectors (COURTENAY et al., 2002).American visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi, and is a serious public health problem in Brazil owing to the wide geographical distribution v. 24, n. 4, out.-dez. 2015 465 Leishmania spp. in cats of the disease, high incidence, and the ability to lead to a severe clinical form that ...

Brucellosis and leptospirosis are widely spread bacterial infections and dogs are the most important source of infection and reservoir for diseases. Dogs can disseminate the agents in the environment and transmit them to humans and/or other animals. The objective of this study was assess the occurrence of reactive to antibodies anti-Leptospira spp., Brucella canis and B. abortus in Belém and Castanhal, State of Pará, Amazon, Brazil. A total of 156 samples were randomly collected in the city of Belém and 158 samples in Castanhal. The anti-B. canis antibodies research was performed by Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) with and without 2-mercaptoethanol serum treatment (AGID-2ME). To assess the anti-B. abortus antibodies, the technique of Fast Seroagglutination with buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPAT) was used. For anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies research, the Microscopic Agglutination Technique (MAT) was used. No animal reacted to Brucella abortus and one animal was reactive to B. canis at the AGID, but it was negative to the AGID-2ME test. Seventeen percent of dogs (47/274) presented anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies, with prevalence of serovar Canicola. The dogs from Belém and Castanhal are not source of infection for B. abortus and B. canis, however, they are reservoirs for different serovars of Leptospira spp. KEYWORDS: Leptospira spp., Brucella spp., domestic canids, Serology Soroprevalência para brucelose e leptospirose em cães de Belém e Castanhal, Pará, Brasil RESUMO Brucelose e leptospirose são enfermidades bacterianas amplamente disseminadas e o cão é importante fonte de infecção e reservatório para ambas, podendo eliminar o agente no meio ambiente, e transmiti-lo para humanos e/ou outros animais. O presente estudo teve como objetivo pesquisar a ocorrência de cães reagentes para anticorpos contra Leptospira spp., Brucella canis e B. abortus em Belém e Castanhal, Pará, Amazônia, Brasil. Foram colhidas de forma aleatória 156 amostras no município de Belém e 158 amostras em Castanhal. A pesquisa de anticorpos anti-

The relevance of consuming raw or undercooked beef in the transmission of toxoplasmosis is unclear due to the high resistance of cattle to infection. However, this possibility needs to be considered in endemic areas, such as the Amazon, where the consumption of beef is frequent. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in beef cattle slaughtered in the metropolitan region of Belem, Pará state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 500 animals of both genders in a licensed slaughterhouse in Belém. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected by an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with a cut-off titer of 1:64. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 203 animals (40.6%), with a titer of 64 in 112 animals (55.2%), 128 in 68 animals (33.5%), 256 in 15 animals (7.4%), 512 in 5 animals (2.5%), and 1,024 in 3 animals (1.4%). No significant difference was observed between males and females (p > 0.05). The high frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies observed in beef cattle slaughtered in Belém indicates that the meat of these animals may be an important source of infection for humans and carnivorous domestic animals when inadequately cooked beef is consumed.

Abstract We evaluated the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in the serum samples collected from domestic cats in Belém, Pará, Brazil. We also correlated the presence of T. gondii antibodies with environmental variables and cat-owner habits. Four-hundred and forty-seven serum samples from domestic cats were analyzed. The sera were tested using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Among the animals analyzed, 21.92% (98/447) were seropositive. A statistically significant association was found in relation to age and serology among the animals over 1 year old (p<0.01): in the group up to 1 year old, 12.82% (20/156) of the animals were positive, and in the group over 1 year old, 26.80% (78/291) were positive. Our results show that the cats in Belém, Pará region have anti-T. gondii antibodies, and their owners are not aware of toxoplasmosis or how to prevent its transmission.

Detecção de anticorpo anti-Brucella sp. e anti-Leptospira spp. em búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) abatidos em matadouro na cidade de Belém, Pará Detection of antibody anti-Brucella sp. and anti-Leptospira spp. in buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) slaughtered in a slaughterhouse in the city of Belém, Pará RESUMO: Este estudo teve como objetivo detectar a presença de búfalos soro reagentes para Brucella sp. e Leptospira spp. Foram utilizadas amostras de soro de 113 animais provenientes da Ilha do Marajó, abatidos em matadouro frigorífico na cidade de Belém-PA, as quais foram submetidas ao teste de soroaglutinação rápida em placa com Antígeno Acidificado Tamponado (AAT) e a prova 2-Mercaptoetanol (2-ME) para a pesquisa de anticorpos contra Brucella sp. e ao Teste de Aglutinação Microscópica (MAT) para pesquisa de aglutininas contra Leptospira spp. Das 113 amostras analisadas, 13,3% (15/113) foram reagentes para anticorpos de Brucella sp. no AAT e 6,1% (7/113) foram confirmada na prova de 2-ME. Para Leptospira spp., 35,4% (40/113) dos bubalinos foram reagentes com o sorovar Hardjo C.T.G., presente em 75% (30/40) das reações. Foram detectados anticorpos contra os agentes pesquisados, demostrando a necessidade de se fazer um controle sanitário mais eficiente no rebanho.