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Artificial feeding of hematophagous arthropods was documented by Rodhaim et al. (1912), using defibrinated ovine blood and rat skin membrane to feed Glossina palpalis. Galun (1967) cited the existence of stimulants that regulate the feeding behavior of hematophagous arthropods, such as vision, temperature, relative humidity and chemical factors, that can act in combination or in isolation. Davis et al. (1983) described the preparation and use of a reinforced silicone membrane for the artificial feeding of Culicoides mississippensis. Stone et al. (1983) artifically fed Ixodes holocyclus using a silicone membrane. Butler et al. (1984) found five tick species of the Ornithodoros genus capable of being infected with the African Swine Fever using an artificial feeding system with silicone membrane.The different feeding strategies employed by the hematophagous arthropods have determined various degrees of difficulty in the search for the establishment of efficient technologies for their laboratory feeding. The hard ticks stand out as the arthropods that present the greatest difficulties in the development of an artificial feeding system capable of attending their needs. According to Brown (1989), the feeding strategy of ticks involves the mechanical reaction of their buccal appendages, effective in secreting substances like the prostaglandin E2 and anti-histamines, in the formation of a dermal pool where they feed. The same author showed that the argasid ticks differed from the ixodid ticks by the way they nourish themselves on the hosts and determined reactions which differed between these two tick Families. Because of this, the artificial feeding of the ixodids is more difficult, due to the necessities of greater attachment time and the necessary combination of host reactions required to meet their feeding needs.The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of different phago-stimulants collected from the hosts in initiating the attachment and feeding of A. cajennense in the laboratory utilizing silicone membrane and citrated bovine blood. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe specimens of A. cajennense used were collected from equines belonging to the Farm of the Instituto de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, municipality of Seropédica, State of Rio de Janeiro. The ixodids ticks were obtained, as engorged nymphs, from the animals and maintained in a bioclimatized chamber at 28±1 o C and 75% relative humidity (RH) until adulthood.For the contention of the ticks, cages of 120 cc disposable plastic containers were constructed. For better air circulation, each cage contained three rectangular openings protected by tulle and covered with metal mesh. The bottom was substituted by silicone membrane, with a mean tickness of 0.056 mm.

This report aimed to assess the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in 708 swine matrices in Nova Mutum and Diamantino in the state of Mato Grosso, Central-West Brazil. Serum samples were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). It was found a seroprevalence of 12.8%, considering titers ≥64. Therefore, the data reinforce the need for appropriate management of swine raising to minimize the risk of infection of pigs with T. gondii.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, swine, serology. ResumoNo presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a soroprevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii, em 708 matrizes suínas dos municípios de Nova Mutum e Diamantino do Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. As amostras de soro foram examinadas por meio da reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI). Foi encontrada a frequência de 12,8% de soros positivos, com diluições iguais ou superiores a 64. Portanto, os dados obtidos reforçam a necessidade de um manejo de criação adequado, visando à minimização do risco de infecção de suínos por T. gondii.