ABSTRACT Avian cellulitis causes significant losses to the poultry industry. Avian-pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the etiological agent of that disease. This microorganism has zoonotic potential and may act as reservoir of antimicrobial-resistance genes. In this context, the production of extended-spectrum B-lactamase (ESBL) is one of the main antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine the production of ESBL in an Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain isolated from avian cellulitis lesions. Twenty-two E. Coli isolates were harvested from cellulitis lesions in chicken carcasses in a commercial processing plant. Isolates were then submitted to virulence genotypic profile (iutA, hlyF, iss, ironN, ompT) analysis, antimicrobial susceptibility test, and detection of ESBL production. The results showed that 22.7% of the isolates presented five virulence genes, 9.1% four genes, 36.4% three genes, 13.6% two genes, and 18.2% one gene. The tested isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (90.9%), ceftiofur (54.5%), gentamicin (45.5%), tetracycline (72.1%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (54.5%), and enrofloxacin (54.5%). Furthermore, 77.3% of the isolates presented multidrug resistance (MDR) profile and 72.7% were positive for ESBL production. This study is the first description of ESBL-producing APEC isolated from avian cellulitis lesions, which suggests the need to establish efficient APEC control measures and programs to prevent flock productivity losses due to colibacillosis and public health risks.

Resumo Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri é um protozoário flagelado que infecta ruminantes e apresenta alta diversidade genética. Neste estudo, investigamos as taxas de prevalência deste protozoário com base na hemocultura e no diagnóstico molecular. Os isolados de T . theileri obtidos foram caracterizados pelos marcadores moleculares SSU rDNA e gGAPDH e o diagnóstico molecular foi baseado no gene do tipo Catepsina L (PCR-TthCATL). O PCR-TthCATL e a hemocultura indicaram uma taxa de prevalência total de 8,13% e a sequência derivada do gene Catepsina L denominada IB de T. theileri foi identificada pela primeira vez em bovinos da Amazônia Ocidental, bem como a IF no Brasil. Também descrevemos uma possível nova sequência derivada da PCR-TthCATL em bovinos, designada IL.

Abstract Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri is a flagellated protozoan that infects ruminants and it displays high genetic diversity. In this study, we investigated the prevalence rates of this protozoan based on hemoculture and molecular diagnosis. The isolates of T. theileri thus obtained were characterized by molecular markers SSU rDNA and gGAPDH and molecular diagnosis based on Cathepsin L-like gene (PCR-TthCATL). The PCR-TthCATL and hemoculture indicated an overall prevalence rate of 8.13%, and the CATL derived sequence named IB was identified for the first time in cattle in the western Amazon region, as well as IF in Brazil. We also describe a possible new PCR-TthCATL derived sequence in cattle, designated IL.

Brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus infection is a contagious zoonotic disease that causes abortions in cows, as well as joint and reproductive alterations in bulls. This study reports that eight (1.92%) out of a total of 469 aborted bovine fetuses analysed in a time frame of nine years were caused by B. abortus infection. The diagnosis was based on macroscopic, histological, microbiological, serological, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings. The gestational age of the fetuses studied ranged from 6 to 9 months. The main gross findings were purulent discharge from the nasal cavity, trachea and bronchi; pleural and pericardial fibrin deposits; and non-collapsed lungs with white spots in the parenchyma, and red areas in the apical lobes. Intercotyledonary areas of three placentas examined exhibited reddened areas, and the cotyledons exhibited well-defined, yellowish-white round areas with thickened walls on their surface. Microscopically, the most frequently observed lesions were necrosuppurative bronchopneumonia, interstitial pneumonia, and necrosuppurative placentitis with areas of vasculitis, mineralization, and thrombosis. Brucella abortus was isolated from fetal tissues of seven of the nine cases investigated. Immunohistochemical tests were positive in four cases, and PCR detected B. abortus genetic material in three cases. Infection by B. abortus should be considered a possible cause of abortion in cattle in southern Brazil.

La brucelosis causada por Brucella abortus es una enfermedad zoonótica contagiosa que causa abortos en las vacas, así como alteraciones articulares y reproductivos en los toros. En 469 fetos bovinos abortados analizados en un período de nueve años, nueve (1,92%) se debieron a B. abortus infección. El diagnóstico se basó en los estudios de lesiones macroscópicas, histológicas, microbiológicas, serológicas, inmunohistoquímicas y hallazgos moleculares. La edad gestacional de los fetos osciló de 6 a 9 meses. Los principales hallazgos macroscópicos se caracterizaron por una descarga de pus en la cavidad nasal, tráquea y bronquios, y depósitos de fibrina pleural y pericárdico, además de los pulmones se han observado manchas blancas en el parénquima y las zonas rojas en los lóbulos apicales. En la región intercotiledonaria de tres placentas examinadas, hubo áreas enrojecidas intercaladas con zonas redondas de color amarillo-blanco bien definidos, con paredes engrosadas en la superficie de los cotiledones. Microscópicamente se observó bronconeumonía necrosupurativa, neumonía intersticial y placentitis necrosupurativa con áreas de vasculitis, la mineralización, y la trombosis. Brucella abortus fue aislado de los tejidos fetales de siete de los nueve casos investigados. La prueba de inmunohistoquímica fue positiva en cuatro casos, y la PCR amplifica el material genético de las bacterias en tres. La infección con B. abortus tiene que ser considerado como una posible causa de aborto en el ganado en el sur de Brasil.

Relata-se uma enfermidade hereditária em bovinos caracterizada por acúmulo lisossomal de glicogênio em diversos órgãos. A doença foi diagnosticada em um rebanho da raça Brahman, no município de Porto Lucena, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os animais afetados, a partir de 1 mês de idade, apresentavam dificuldade em acompanhar a mãe e crescimento retardado, desenvolviam fraqueza e tremores musculares, letargia e perda de condição corporal progressivos. Todos os bezerros eram descendentes do mesmo touro. Foi realizada necropsia em três bezerros doentes; palidez muscular do tronco e membros foi a única alteração macroscópica encontrada. Vacuolização citoplasmática de diversos órgãos foi a principal alteração histológica observada. Os vacúolos citoplasmáticos eram mais evidentes na musculatura esquelética, miocárdio, especialmente nas fibras de Purkinje e em neurônios do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC). Nos tecidos mais afetados foi observada grande quantidade de grânulos ácido periódico de Schiff (PAS), positivos e negativos quando o tecido era tratado previamente com diastase. Uma mutação no gene da glicosidase alfa ácida, causadora da glicogenose generalizada em bovinos Brahman, a 1057?TA, foi detectada pela técnica de reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) em tecidos dos animais necropsiados. Também foi detectada a presença dessa mutação em amostras de sangue de animais parentes dos bezerros doentes. Os achados clínicos, patológicos e moleculares são semelhante ás descrições de glicogenose tipo II em bovinos da raça Brahman descritos na Austrália. Não foram encontrados relatos anteriores em revistas indexadas sobre glicogenose hereditária em bovinos Brahman no Brasil.

An inherited disease of cattle, characterized by lysosomal storage of glycogen in several tissues, is reported. The disease was diagnosed in a Brahman herd in the municipality of Porto Lucena, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Affected calves, after one month of age, showed progressive difficulty to follow their mother, retarded growth, muscular weakness and tremors, lethargy and poor body condition. All affected calves were sired by the same bull. Necropsy was performed on three affected calves. The only gross lesion detected was paleness of the skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs. Cytoplasmic vacuoles, the main histological lesion, were particularly evident in skeletal muscles, myocardium and Purkinje fibers, in neurons of the brain and spinal cord. Large amounts of periodic acid Schiff (PAS) positive granules were also observed in these most severely affected tissues. Pretreatment with diastase completely abolished the PAS reactivity. The 1057?TA, a lethal mutation in the gene of the acid alpha-glucosidase, which causes generalized glycogenosis in Brahman cattle, was detected by PCR in paraffin embedded tissues of affected animals on which post-mortem examination was performed. Clinical, histological and molecular findings were similar to previous descriptions of generalized glycogenosis in Brahman cattle in Australia. No previous indexed reports about generalized glycogenosis of Brahman cattle in Brazil could be found.