The participation of wild animals as reservoirs or carriers of zoonoses in the wild and captivity is an emerging concern due to the potential for transmission of zoonoses such as toxoplasmosis. This study examined risk factors associated with the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in the infection of zoo primates. Serum samples from 43 primates were tested for T. gondii antibodies using three serological techniques: the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT), Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT); and molecular Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Antibodies were found in 37.2% (16/43) of the animals. Among the species, 8/43 were seroreagents according to all three techniques and 8/43 only by the IFAT. No sample was positive according to PCR. The risk factors studied, namely sex, age and category (Old World or Neotropical), were not significant in the statistical analysis (p<0.01). However, other risk factors, such as the food and water supplied and the sand present in the animals’ enclosures, were not analyzed, but have been shown in other studies to be potential causes of high prevalence of antibodies of animals surveyed in zoos. Hence, there is a need for regular monitoring of infection through periodic serological tests, to prevent infection of zoo workers and the visiting public.

Leptospirosis has been described as a disease neglected worldwide. Affecting humans and animals, the disease is often related to poor environmental conditions such as lack of sanitation and presence of synanthropic rodents. Despite being considered as a One Health issue, no study has focused on comparing owner–dog seroprevalence between islands and seashore mainland. Accordingly, the present study assessed anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies by applying microscopic agglutination test (MAT) methods to Leptospira and assessing associated risk factors via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of owners and their dogs in islands and seashore mainland of southern Brazil. No anti-Leptospira spp. Seropositivity was found in 330 owner serum samples, while dogs presented an overall seroprevalence of 5.9%. All seropositive dogs reacted to serogroups of Leptospira interrogans, including 66.7% of Pyrogenes, 44.4% Canicola, 22.2% Icterohaemorrhagiae, 16.7% Australis; six reacted to more than one serogroup. No association was found among seropositivity and epidemiological variables, except that neighborhood dogs were less likely to be seropositive. Although no seropositivity was observed in owners, seropositivity in dogs had the potential to indicate such species as being sentinels for environmental exposure and potential human risk of infection.

Breastfeeding is fundamental for the development and protection of the newborn, and microorganisms present in breast milk are associated with the development of the infant’s intestinal microbiota. However, there are factors that interfere with breastfeeding, resulting in the need to supply donated milk to milk banks for these children. Even though there is a restriction on medications prescribed for pregnant and breastfeeding women, some antimicrobials are accepted, as long as they are used correctly and as they can increase the selection pressure for resistant bacteria. The microorganisms present in breast milk from a human milk bank were evaluated and the resistance of the isolates to antimicrobials was phenotypically characterized. In total, 184 microbial isolates were identified by mass spectrometry, of 12 bacterial genera and 1 yeast genus. There was a high prevalence of bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus, mainly S. epidermidis (33%). Resistance to antimicrobials varied among species, with a higher percentage of isolates resistant to penicillins and macrolides. Multidrug resistance was identified in 12.6% of 143 isolates. Breast milk contains a wide variety of microorganisms, mainly those of the Staphylococcus and Enterobacter genera. There was a high percentage of resistant isolates, and multidrug resistance in Klebsiella oxytoca (66.7%; 4/6) and S. epidermidis (15.0%; 9/60) isolates, which increases the public health concern.

As leishmanioses são um conjunto de doenças infecto-parasitárias causadas pelos protozoários do gênero Leishmania. A leishmaniose visceral (LV), ou calazar, é causada pela espécie Leishmania chagasi e é transmitida por flebotomíneos hematófagos, sendo os mosquitos da espécie Lutzomyia longipalpis os principais vetores no Brasil. A LV é uma zoonose que ocorre em mamíferos, principalmente caninos e humanos. A apresentação clínica varia de acordo com a cepa do agente e da relação hospedeiro-parasita. Os sinais clínicos observados nos cães acometidos são principalmente lesões e descamações na pele, linfadenomegalia, onicogrifose e emagrecimento progressivo, podendo progredir ao óbito. O objetivo do projeto foi realizar um estudo transversal na população canina dos municípios da Região da Grande Vitória, Espírito Santo - Brasil. Avaliou-se a soroprevalência da leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC) nessa região, por meio de testes sorológicos (RIFI), além de caracterizar os fatores de risco associados à infecção canina em amostras de um banco de soros do Laboratório de Patologia Clínica da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Vila Velha, Espírito Santo. Foram analisadas 154 amostras, selecionadas pela amostragem por conveniência. Destas, 61,8% dos animais eram oriundos do município de Vila Velha, 27,9% do município de Vitória, 5,8% do município de Serra e 4,5% do município de Cariacica. Os cães possuíam idades variando de um mês a 17 anos, com idade média de 6,5 anos. Não foi evidenciada a presença de anticorpos anti-Leishmania na população de estudo. Confirmou-se que, até o momento, a região de pesquisa é não endêmica para a LVC.