Detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in Mirounga leonina Linnaeus,1758(Pinnipedia,Phocidae)from Elephant Island

Objective:To investigate the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)in Mirounga leonina(M.leonina)Linnaeus from Elephant Island,Antarctica.Methods:The animals were anesthetized,restrained,measured,weighed and had their blood collected by venipuncture of intervertebral lumbar epidural vein.Blood samples were collected from 102 individuals.Indirect hemagglutination and serum dilution at a proportion of 1:25 was used for specific immunoglobulin G anti-T.gondii detection.Results:Only one(0.98%)specimen,a newly weaned calf,was seropositive.Conclusions:This study is the highest serological survey for antibody detection against T.gondii in M.leonina.The results suggest a low level of exposure to T.gondii,probably due to the absence of felids in the study area.The seropositivity presented by the elephant seal may be related to the presence of oocysts in water or cysts in their preys.Despite being reported the presence of the parasite in fish and molluscs,there are no records of tissue cysts or oocysts in squid or fish of the diet of M.leonina.Thus,further parasitological studies focused on preys of elephant seals are needed for a better understanding of infection of M.leonina by T.gondii.

Evaluation of cats(Felis catus)as possible asymptomatic carriers of dermatophytes in extreme south of Brazil

Objective:To investigate the presence of Microsporum canis in pelage of asymptomatic cats for dermatophytosis,in south region of Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil,and evaluate its importance in epidemiology of dermatophytosis in the study area.Methods:A total of 60 domestic cats were evaluated for the presence of Microsporum canis.The animals were divided into three groups of 20 felines.Each group consisted of exclusively domiciled,semi-domiciled and rural animals.Samples were collected following the carpet-square technique.The microorganisms were cultivated under laminar flow in mycosel agar and grown in a greenhouse.Results:All the cats of the three groups analysed had negative cultures for dermatophytes.In 85%of the dishes,there was a growth of environmental saprophytic fungi such as Aspergillus sp.,Fusarium sp.and Penicillium sp.Conclusions:Thus,asymptomatic cats for dermatophytes did not show importance in the transmission and maintenance of the disease in southern of Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil.