The fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was used in a survey for anthelmintic resistance in 42 sheep farms, in five different regions in Paraná State, Brazil between July 1996 - July 2000. Animals with natural infection were tested. Five drugs were used individually or in combination - benzimidazole, imidazothiazole, ivermectin, milbemicina and closantel. Results showed that the prevalence of resistance to all anthelmintic was as high as 88.1% for benzimidazoles (oxfendazole), 78.6% for ivermectin, 56.4% for closantel, 38.7% for closantel + oxfendazole, 38% for levamisole, and 23.6% for moxidectin. There was multiple resistance in all tested farms. The most important infective larvae recovered from culture were Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The failure of the existing drugs in the State of Paraná is considered an important issue. Some proposals to improve the situation are suggested which include a change of attitude on anthelmintic use by sheepherders, veterinarians and sanitary authorities.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan with wide geographical distribution and minimal parasitic specificity that affects many species of wild and domestic animals. In livestock, especially in small ruminants like goats, toxoplasmosis can cause abortion and the birth of weak animals, leading to economic losses to farmers, and is a major source of human infection. This is a seroepidemiological study of toxoplasmosis in goats in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Sera from 405 goats from the metropolitan mesoregion of Curitiba, eastern state, were tested by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Information on properties and goat characteristics was also collected using questionnaires. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis was 39.41 and 35.96% by ELISA and IFAT, respectively. T. gondii antibody prevalence increased with age. The risk factors for T. gondii infection in goats were: age over one year; exposure to cats, type of management and purpose of breeding. Other epidemiological factors and relevant control measures are discussed in the current study.

The main pathogenic treponemes causing bovine digital dermatitis were identified from 17 infected herds in southern Brazil for the first time in this study using PCR. We did not find a relationship between treponeme phylogroup composition and clinical classification. Treponema phagedenis was present in all lesions. Rumen fluid was implicated as a reservoir location for these pathogens.