Coccídios Sarcocystidae são importantes agentes transmissíveis na interface homem-animais. Seu diagnóstico é dificultado pela disponibilidade de amostras, sem agredir a população natural de animais. Avaliou-se pela amplificação do ITS-1 a frequência destes coccídios, em amostras teciduais dos roedores Cavia spp., Ctenomys spp. e Myocastor coypus, depositados em museus do Rio Grande do Sul. Dos 75 roedores amostrados, DNA da subfamília Toxoplasmatinae foi obtido na musculatura esquelética (3/69) de M. coypus e Cavia spp. e cérebro de Cavia spp. (1/30) sendo identificado como Toxoplasma gondii; adicionalmente, Hammondia triffittae foi detectado no diafragma de M. coypus. A subfamília Sarcocystidae foi confirmada no músculo esquelético de Ctenomys spp. (Sarcocystis felis-like) e no M. coypus (Sarcocystis spp.). A detecção molecular de T. gondii, H. triffittae, Sarcocystis spp. e S. felis-like nas três espécies de roedores silvestres brasileiros de vida livre estudados, demonstram sua participação no ciclo silvestre e potencial transmissão ao homem e outros animais. / Coccidia Sarcocystidae are important transmissible agents in human-animal interface. Its diagnosis is difficult due to the availability of samples, without harming the wildlife animals populations. We evaluated, by amplification of ITS-1 the frequency of those coccidia in tissue samples of rodents Cavia spp., Ctenomys spp. Myocastor coypus deposited in museums in Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 75 sampled rodents, DNA of Toxoplasmatinae subfamily was obtained in skeletal muscle (3/69) of M. coypus and Cavia spp. and brain of Cavia spp. (1/30) identified as Toxoplasma gondii. Additionally, Hammondia triffittae was detected in the diaphragm of a M. coypus. The subfamily Sarcocystidae was confirmed in skeletal muscle of Ctenomys spp. (Sarcocystis felis-like) and M. coypus (Sarcocystis spp.). Molecular detection of T. gondii, H. triffittae, Sarcocystis spp. and S. felis-like in three species of Brazilian wild rodents free-living demonstrate their participation in the sylvatic cycle, and potential transmission to humans and other animals.

Coccídios Sarcocystidae são importantes agentes transmissíveis na interface homem-animais. Seu diagnóstico é dificultado pela disponibilidade de amostras, sem agredir a população natural de animais. Avaliou-se pela amplificação do ITS-1 a frequência destes coccídios, em amostras teciduais dos roedores Cavia spp., Ctenomys spp. e Myocastor coypus, depositados em museus do Rio Grande do Sul. Dos 75 roedores amostrados, DNA da subfamília Toxoplasmatinae foi obtido na musculatura esquelética (3/69) de M. coypus e Cavia spp. e cérebro de Cavia spp. (1/30) sendo identificado como Toxoplasma gondii; adicionalmente, Hammondia triffittae foi detectado no diafragma de M. coypus. A subfamília Sarcocystidae foi confirmada no músculo esquelético de Ctenomys spp. (Sarcocystis felis-like) e no M. coypus (Sarcocystis spp.). A detecção molecular de T. gondii, H. triffittae, Sarcocystis spp. e S. felis-like nas três espécies de roedores silvestres brasileiros de vida livre estudados, demonstram sua participação no ciclo silvestre e potencial transmissão ao homem e outros animais. / Coccidia Sarcocystidae are important transmissible agents in human-animal interface. Its diagnosis is difficult due to the availability of samples, without harming the wildlife animals populations. We evaluated, by amplification of ITS-1 the frequency of those coccidia in tissue samples of rodents Cavia spp., Ctenomys spp. Myocastor coypus deposited in museums in Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 75 sampled rodents, DNA of Toxoplasmatinae subfamily was obtained in skeletal muscle (3/69) of M. coypus and Cavia spp. and brain of Cavia spp. (1/30) identified as Toxoplasma gondii. Additionally, Hammondia triffittae was detected in the diaphragm of a M. coypus. The subfamily Sarcocystidae was confirmed in skeletal muscle of Ctenomys spp. (Sarcocystis felis-like) and M. coypus (Sarcocystis spp.). Molecular detection of T. gondii, H. triffittae, Sarcocystis spp. and S. felis-like in three species of Brazilian wild rodents free-living demonstrate their participation in the sylvatic cycle, and potential transmission to humans and other animals.

Content removed due to copyright restrictions: Okeoma, C. M., Stowell, K. M., Williamson, N. B., & Pomroy, W. E. (2005). Neospora caninum: Quantification of DNA in the blood of naturally infected aborted and pregnant cows using real-time PCR. Experimental Parasitology, 110(1), 48-55. Okeoma, C. M., Williamson, N. B., Pomroy, W. E., Stowell, K. M., & Gillespie, L. M. (2004). Isolation and molecular characterisation of neospora caninum in cattle in new zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 52(6), 364-370. Okeoma, C. M., Williamson, N. B., Pomroy, W. E., Stowell, K. M., & Gillespie, L. (2004). The use of PCR to detect neospora caninum DNA in the blood of naturally infected cows. Veterinary Parasitology, 122(4), 307-315. Okeoma, C. M., Williamson, N. B., Pomroy, W. E., & Stowell, K. M. (2004). Recognition patterns of neospora caninum tachyzoite antigens by bovine IgG at different IFAT titres. Parasite Immunology, 26(4), 177-185. / The objective of this research was to investigate neosporosis in New Zealand cattle using experimental and molecular tools. The research also aimed to isolate and characterise an indigenous New Zealand isolate of Neospora caninum. A series of discrete projects were conducted to achieve the set objectives. A pilot study was first conducted and a wild-type strain of non-cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) type 1 virus was isolated in vitro from a persistently infected heifer. The isolate was used to challenge heifers and the effect of experimental BVDV infection on heifers naturally infected with N. caninum was investigated. Results showed that heifers that were both BVDV and N. caninum seropositive produced 44.4% (8/ 18) damcalf pairs that were both BVDV and N caninum seropositive. Serologically, 66.7% (12/18) dam-calf pairs were seropositive to N. caninum antibodies, while 80% (8/10) dam-calf pairs were BVDV seropositive. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) study was also conducted and N. caninum DNA was detected in the blood of naturally infected aborting and pregnant heifers. Real-time quantification of N. caninum DNA in the blood of infected heifers showed a decrease of N. caninum DNA after abortion in the aborting group and an increase through gestation in the pregnant group. A study of antigenicity recognised 7 immunodominant (~18, ~25, ~33, ~35~36, ~45~46, ~47 and 60-62 kDa) and 5 minor antigens of N. caninum by cow sera. Three isolates of N. caninum (NcNZ 1 ,NcNZ 2 and NcNZ 3) were isolated from the brains of an infected cow, her calf and a stillborn calf. These isolates were confirmed as N. caninum by PCR, immunofluorescence antibody test and immunohistochemistry and were pathogenic to BALB/c mice.