ABSTRACT The psittacine Pyrrhura griseipectus is a threatened species currently only found in Ceará State, Brazil. A microbiological survey was conducted to determine the composition of the enteric microbiota of this species, as well as the phenotypic profiles of antimicrobial susceptibility presented by the isolates. Cloacal swabs were collected from individual birds and submitted to microbiological processing. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Bacteria of the genus Escherichia, Proteus, Citrobacter, Pantoea, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Morganella, Hafnia, Enterobacter, and Serratia were isolated. The most frequently isolated species were Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris, corresponding to 36.1%, 26.4%, and 8.3%, respectively. Isolates were more frequently resistant to azithromycin and tetracycline, while Escherichia coli was the main species presenting multidrug resistance. In conclusion, free-living grey-breasted parakeets may harbor enterobacteria with high antimicrobial resistance rates.

ABSTRACTSalmonellosis is an infection caused by specific or non specific serotypes of theSalmonella genus, responsible for losses in the poultry industry. Fowl typhoid, caused by S. Gallinarum (SG) is important because it causes elevated mortality in adult birds, leading to economic losses in the poultry industry. This study aimed at quantifying the number of viable SG cells in the liver, spleen, lung, cecum, and reproductive tract (ovary and testicles) of experimentally inoculated Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix), as well as SG shedding in their feces. One hundred and two Japanese quails, with four months of age at the beginning of the experiment, were used. The birds were inoculated with three bacterial cultures containing different concentrations (6x104CFU/0.1mL, 2x105 CFU/0.4mL, or 5x106CFU/0.2mL) of SG resistant to nalidixic acid. On days 1, 4, 7, and 14 after the inoculation (dpi) individual cloacal swabs were collected from six birds per group, which were subsequently sacrificed for organ sampling. The swab samples were streaked directly on plates containing brilliant green agar and nalidixic acid (VBNal). Samples that were negative after 24h, were streaked again. The collected organs were individually macerated and transferred to buffered peptone water at 0.1%. The solutions were immediately diluted serially for CFU counting in VBNal. SG was successfully recovered from one quail, which was inoculated with 2x105 CFU/0.4mL, and from five quails of the group inoculated with 5x106CFU/0.2mL inoculum. All of the analyzed cloacal swab samples were negative. Therefore, this study demonstrated it was difficult to isolate SG from the analyzed organs and that it was not possible to recover thepathogen in the cloacal swabs collected from inoculated quails. These results may be explained by the absence of flagella in SG, inducing weak intestinal immune response in the beginning of the infection and preventing its isolation in cloacal swab samples. The low positivity rate of the analyzed organs may be due to the immune status of the euthanized birds, since the SG dissemination in the animal organism occurs mostly close to death, which was observed in the birds found dead during the experiment.

This study aimed at evaluating bacterial shedding, as detected in swabs, feces, and eggs of quails submitted to forced molting by feed fasting and experimentally infected with a Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) strain. In the experiment, 84 40-week-old Italian female quails were distributed in the following groups: FI (quails induced to molt by fasting and inoculated with Salmonella Enteritidis - SE); CI (quails fed with a laying diet and inoculated with SE); FNI (quails induced to molt by fasting and not inoculated with SE); and CNI (quails fed with a laying feed and not inoculated with SE). Feces, cloacal swabs, and eggs were collected on day 1, 3, 7 and 14 post-inoculation (dpi) and submitted to bacteriological analyses. All samples obtained from cloacal swabs were negative for SE. None of the quails of the non-inoculated groups (FNI and CNI) were positive for SE in the fecal samples. Among the inoculated quails, the FI group presented significantly higher (p< 0.05) SE shedding in the feces on 1 dpi than the CI group. On 4 dpi, no significant difference was observed (p< 0.05) in SE shedding between the inoculated quail groups. On 7 dpi, only the FI group shed SE in the feces, whereas on 14 dpi, none of the groups shed SE. According to the results, we concluded that quails submitted to molting by fasting have higher possibility of shedding SE in the feces.

Two groups of domestic pigeons (Columba livia) were experimentally infected orally with doses of 9.5 x10(7) and 9.5 x10(9) CFU/mL (group A and B, respectively) of a Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) strain isolated from chickens. None of the used doses caused mortality of the inoculated birds; however, the pathogen was successfully recovered from the liver and spleen of group B birds on day 7 post-inoculation (dpi). Pathogen shedding, as evaluated through cloacal swabs, occurred in both groups until the 14th day of observation (p <0.05). Among all fecal samples collected from group B (n=4), three different birds shed the pathogen in their feces, out of which two were positive on 3 dpi and one on 7 dpi. The same number of fecal samples was evaluated in group A and only one bird shed the pathogen, on 7 and 14 dpi. The concentration of the microorganism in the feces was lower in group A than any sample from Group B. Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from chickens, when inoculated in pigeons, may be recovered from feces, cloacal swabs and organs, and these birds may contaminate poultry causing economic losses as well as posing a risk to the public health.

Embora sejam as forrageiras mais importantes para a pecuária de corte (bovinocultura de corte) no Brasil, em certas épocas ou condições, Brachiaria spp. podem ser tóxicas e causar surtos de fotossensibilização hepatógena que determinam significativas perdas econômicas. Animais que se alimentam em pastos de Brachiaria spp. comumente apresentam macrófagos espumosos isolados ou agrupados, além de cristais no interior de ductos biliares. Saponinas esteroidais têm sido identificadas nestes cristais e são responsabilizadas por lesar o fígado levando ao acúmulo de filoeritrina. Por vezes, imagens negativas desses cristais podem estar presentes no citoplasma de macrófagos espumosos. A patogênese de formação e o tipo de material armazenado nas células espumosas ainda são desconhecidos. A técnica de lectino-histoquímica visa auxiliar na detecção desses macrófagos e, consequentemente, no diagnóstico, além de identificar quais os resíduos de açúcares específicos que estão presentes no citoplasma das células espumosas. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar quais lectinas são mais indicadas na detecção de saponinas esteroidais no fígado e rim de ovinos com fotossensibilização causada por Brachiaria decumbens. Fragmentos de fígado e rim de quinze ovinos, de ambos os sexos e idade variável, oriundos de Conceição do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais, e um ovino mantido em pastagem livre de Brachiaria spp. foram avaliados pela técnica de lectino-histoquímica. Quatorze lectinas foram utilizadas (Con-A, DBA, SBA, PNA, SJA, RCA-I, UEA-I, WGA, SWGA, GSL, PSA, PHA-L, PHA-E e LCA). Verificou-se que, no fígado de ovinos com fotossensibilização provocada pela ingestão de Brachiaria decumbens, a lectina PNA apresentou especificidade e acentuada reatividade aos macrófagos espumosos, bem como especificidade e leve reatividade aos hepatócitos; a lectina WGA teve especificidade e moderada reatividade aos macrófagos espumosos do fígado e especificidade e leve reatividade aos hepatócitos; e as lectinas SBA, GSL e LCA apresentaram especificidade e moderada reatividade aos macrófagos espumosos, entretanto, não foram específicas para hepatócitos. No rim dos ovinos, a lectina PNA foi a que apresentou maior reatividade. Avaliações lectino-histoquímicas ainda não haviam sido realizadas em fígado e rim de ovinos com fotossensibilização provocada por Brachiaria spp.

Inspite that Brachiaria spp. are most important forage grasses for beef cattle raising in Brazil, they can under certain conditions be toxic, cause outbreaks of hepatogenic photosensibilization and determine severe economic losses. Animals grazing toxic Brachiaria spp. commonly show in their liver foamy macrophages, isolated or grouped together, and crystals inside the biliary ducts. Steroidal saponins have been identified in these crystals and are liable for damage the liverleading to accumulation of phylloerytrin. Occasionally negative images of the crystals may be seen in the cytoplasm of foamy macrophages. The pathogenesis of formation and the type of material stored in the foamy cells is still unknown. The lectin histochemistry aims to assist in the detection of foamy macrophages and consequently in the diagnosis of the poisoning. Lectin histochemistry detects what kind of specific sugar residues exists in the cytoplasm of the foamy cells. The purpose of the present study was to identify the most suitable lectins the detection of steroidal saponins in the liver and kidney of sheep with photosensitization caused by Brachiara decumbens. Fragments of liver and kidney of fifteen sheep of both sexes and variable age, from Conceição do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, and one sheep kept free grazing Brachiaria spp. were evaluated by lectin histochemistry. Fourteen lectins were used (Con-A, DBA, SBA, PNA, SJA, RCA-I, UEA-I, WGA, SWGA, GSL, PSA, PHA-L, PHA-E and LCA). It was found that the PNA lectin detected in the liver of sheep with photosensitization, caused by ingestion of Brachiaria decumbens, showed specificity and great binding reactivity for foamy macrophages, and also specificity and slight binding reactivity for hepatocytes. The WGA lectin showed specificity and moderate binding reactivity for foamy macrophages of the liver, and also specificity and slight binding reactivity for hepatocytes. The SBA, GSL and LCA lectins showed specificity and moderate binding reactivity for foamy macrophages, but were not specific for hepatocytes. The PNA lectin showed greater binding reactivity in the kidney of the sheep. Lectin histochemistry evaluation had not yet been performed in liver and kidney of sheep with photosensitization caused by Brachiaria spp.

This study aims to evalúate the egg-granuloma system in hepatic tissues using lectin histochemistry in experimental Schistosomiasis. Eight Swiss mice were infected with a local strain of Schistosoma mansoni, being submitted forty days later to a perfusión after which slices of liver (4|J.m) were prepared. The tissue samples were incubated with the following peroxidase conjugated lectins: Peanut agglutinin (PNA), Wheat Germ agglutinin (WGA), and Concanavalin A (Con A). All lectins recognized the glycoconjugates in the adult worm tegument. In the hepatic tissue, WGA presented the highest staining followed by PNA and Con A. The PNA presented the most intense staining of the egg-granuloma system while WGA stained the hepatic sinusoid cells and Con A bound preferentially the fibrosis rings of granuloma and the surrounding hepatic parenquima. WGA and PNA indicated the presence of residues of N-acetyl-glucosamine and galactose in the surface of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in the hepatic granulomas. In conclusión, using PNA, Con A and WGA our study presented different aspects of the egg-granuloma and Tegument of Schistosoma mansoni as well as indicated differences in the peri-ovular granulomas indicating alterations in the cellular mechanism of expression of surface carbohydrates during progression of the Schistosomiasis.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el sistema de los huevos de los granulomas en los tejidos hepáticos, utilizando histoquímica de lectinas esquistosomiasis. Ocho ratones suizos experimentales fueron infectados con una cepa local de Schistosoma mansoni y luego a los cuarenta días fueron sometidos a la perfusión y se prepararon cortes de hígado (4 |J,m). Las muestras de los tejidos fueron incubadas con las siguientes peroxidasas lectinas conjugadas: aglutinina de maní (PNA), aglutinina de germenn de trigo (WGA), Concanavalin A (Con A). Todas las lectinas reconocieron las glicoconjugadas en el tegumento del gusano adulto. El tejido hepático con WGA presentó mayor coloración seguido de PNA y Con A. El PNA presentó la más intensa tinción de los huevos mientras el granuloma del sistema WGA tiñó las células hepáticas sinusoides y las Con A estuvieron siempre presentes en los anillos de la fibrosis y alrededor de los granulomas hepáticos del parénquima. WGA y PNA indicaron la presencia de residuos de N - acetil - glucosamina y galactosa en la superficie de los huevos de Schistosoma mansoni en los granulomas hepáticos de esquistosomiasis.