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Background: Histomonas, also known as blackhead, is a protozoan disease caused by Histomonas meleagridis (phylum Parabasalia, class Tritrichomonadea, order Tritrichomonadida, family Dientamoebidae/Protrichomonadinae) and, characterized by enteric and hepatic lesions in several species of domestic and wild gallinaceous. Among the most affected species, turkeys are those with greater morbidity and mortality. Blackhead is the second most important disease caused by protozoa in domestic poultry, affecting especially young birds and causing severe economic losses, with decrease in production, lack of uniformity of lots and costs with treatment and control. Its occurrence must be monitored, especially in large poultry exporting countries, such as Brazil. The aim of this study is to report an outbreak of histomoniasis in Indian peacocksCase: A peacocks group created together with chickens showed clinical signs characterized by apathy, head down and bruised head, eyes closed, anorexia, yellow or pale stools and death. At necropsy, the cecum showed intense thickening of the wall with irregularity in the serous layer and abundant deposit of friable material, amorphous, yellowish color with areas reddish in the lumen with large number of filiform white parasites from 1 to 1.5 cm in length, morphologically compatible with Heterakis gallinarum. The liver showed large and circular, multifocal, whitish areas that extended towards the parenchyma. Histologically, was observed marked transmural typhlitis, severe proliferation of fibroblasts with multifocal neovascularization, histiocytic infiltrate, giant cell enlargement, bacterial myriads, presence of eosinophilic circulars trophozoites, with 6-20 μm in diameter, morphologically compatible with Histomonas meleagridis. These structures were positive in PAS staining. In the liver, a lesion was characterized by aleatory necrotizing hepatitis with abundant macrophagic and heterophilic infiltrate and some lymphocytes, as well as several foci of necrosis associated with numerous parasitis, intralesional, weakly eosinophilic, PAS-positive structures similar to those observed cecum.Discussion: All aspects observed in this outbreak were characteristic of Histomonas meleagridis infection. This protozoal infection occurs predominantly in turkeys, with high rates of morbidity and mortality, however, can affect chickens, chukar partridges, pheasants and peacocks. Histomoniasis occurs after ingestion of nematode eggs present in the feces of birds and earthworms. In addition, to the intestine and liver, there may be systemic parasitism with lesions in other organs such as kidneys, lungs, spleen and cloacal sac. Overcrowding of animals, the creation and use of chickens to hatch peacocks eggs, as well as the poor hygiene conditions were the main risk factors for the development of the disease. Due to the absence of specific clinical signs, the disease can be easily confused with other disorders. macroscopic and microscopic examinations are recommended to assist in confirming the definitive diagnosis of histomoniasis. Thus, it can be said that H. meleagridis may be cause of mortality in peacocks (Pavo cristatus) created in free system in Rio Grande do Sul, State. The diagnosis of this condition should be considered in cases of mortality in exotic bird breeding, especially when created together with most resistant species such as chickens and other poultry.

Summary Acute leptospirosis is an infrequent disease in sheep that can cause jaundice, haemolysis, haemoglobinuria, hepatitis and nephritis. In most reports the diagnoses have been made by clinical, pathological or serological evidence without isolation or direct identification of the agent. Here, we report one confirmed and one presumptive outbreak of acute leptospirosis in suckling lambs from two unrelated sheep farms in Uruguay with mortalities of 9/60 (15%) and 9/163 (5.5%) lambs. Both outbreaks occurred in Sep–Oct 2017 after heavy rainfall and flooding events. The main gross and histologic pathological findings in two autopsied lambs, one from each farm, included severe diffuse jaundice, haemoglobinuria, acute necrotizing hepatitis with cholestasis and interstitial nephritis. Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona serovar Kennewicki was isolated from sheep in both flocks and the same genotype was identified directly in clinical samples from infected animals, including one of the deceased lambs subjected to autopsy, by amplification and partial sequencing of rrs and secY genes. This serovar has recently been identified in infected cattle and humans in Uruguay. The impact of Leptospira spp. infection in ovine health, and the epidemiologic role of sheep as reservoirs of leptospirosis for humans and animals need further investigation.

Filmes finos de PMMA foram preparados a partir de solução e expostos ao plasma de CF4+H2, visando mudar o Índice de Refração (I.R.) da superficie do PMMA através da fluoração. Os filmes de PMMA expostos ao plasma, denominados de filmes ópticos, foram caracterizados usando as técnicas: ESCA, RBS, FTIR, gravimetria, ângulo de contato, refratometria e elipsometria. Os resultados revelaram que as superfícies de PMMA foram revestidas com uma fina camada de hidrofluorcarbono polimérico, com espessuras variando entre 0,43 e 0,49mim. A camada de hidrofluorcarbono polimérico na superfície do PMMA foi responsável pela significante redução do seu I.R. de 1,49 para 1,43. A concentração de flúor nessa camada aumentou gradualmente em função da profundidade, sendo menor na sua superficie. Como o átomo de flúor é responsável pela redução do I.R., concluiu-se que o I.R. no revestimento fluorado do filme óptico variou também de forma gradual. A técnica de polimerização por plasma de CF4+H2 mostrou-se útil para modificar in situ os I.R. da superfíces de guias de ondas e fibras ópticas poliméricas, visando reduzir as perdas e aumentar a velocidade de transmissão de dados.

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