Escola Superior Agrária
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Browsing Escola Superior Agrária by Author "Afonso, Paulo"
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- Leishmania seroprevalence in dogs: comparing shelter and domestic communitiesPublication . Afonso, Paulo; Coelho, Ana Cláudia; Quintas, Helder; Cardoso, Luís MiguelCanine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a chronic, systemic, and often severe disease. The main causative agent of CanL is a protozoan parasite, Leishmania infantum, with phlebotomine sand flies acting as vectors. In Europe and other continents, L. infantum is also responsible for leishmaniosis in other animals, such as cats, horses, and humans. In Portugal, animal and human leishmaniosis is endemic, and high prevalence levels of infections and disease have been reported in dogs. There is a prejudice against stray animals and also those housed in shelters, assuming they have higher levels of infection with vector-borne pathogens, including L. infantum, when compared to domestic animals. In northeastern Portugal, serum samples were obtained from March to May 2022 in three shelters (n = 179) and thirteen veterinary clinics (n = 164), resulting in 343 dogs being analyzed for antibodies to Leishmania spp. by the direct agglutination test (DAT). The overall seroprevalence was 9.9%, with 15.2% seroprevalence in domestic dogs and 5.0% in the shelter ones (p = 0.003). The fact that shelter dogs had a lower seroprevalence could be explained by more regular veterinary care provided in shelters regarding preventive measures, including insecticides with an antifeeding effect, in comparison with domestic dogs.
- Occurence of canine parvovirus and canine coronavírus in dogs from a portuguese intermunicipal shelterPublication . Afonso, Paulo; Coelho, Ana Cláudia; Cardoso, Luís Miguel; Quintas, HelderTo better understand the occurrence of canine parvovirus and canine coronavirus in dog shelters, an epidemiological study was conducted in an intermunicipal official shelter in Northeast Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples were collected as part of routine plan for control and monitoring of infectious diseases in dogs at the lntermunicipal Official Shelter of Terra Quente Transmontana. This shelter house stray dogs from the five municipalities of Terra Quente Transmontana (Aifandega da Fe, Carrazeda de Ansiaes, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela and Vila Flor), which has permanent veterinary medical and nursing assistance with daily exams, identification, registration, vaccination, deworming and neutering procedures. Feces were sampled during periodic checks carried out by the veterinarian in charge of the shelter, from October 2018 to May 2021 . A total of 1 09 samples were collected from stray dogs housed at the shelter. A fecal sample was collected individually from each dog during medical routine check-ups. Blood was collected from the cephalic vein. To detect of Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Canine Coronavirus (CCoV) antigens in feces, a kit based on the immunochromatographic technique (Uranotest® Parvo-Corona, Urano®vet, S.L, Barcelona, Spain) was used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. This test allows simultaneously qualitative detection of qualitative detection of CPV and CCoV in feces. The Uranotest® Parvo-Corona reported a sensitivity of 1 00% versus hemagglutination and specificity of 99% versus hemagglutination, for CPV, and a sensitivity of 94% versus RT-PCR and a specificity of 97% versus RTPCR, for CCoV RESULTS: A total of 1 09 stray dogs from lntermunicipal Official Shelter were tested during the study period. The sample consisted of 60 females (55.0%) and 49 males (45.0%). The mean age was 2 months (ranging from 25 to 99 days). The overall occurrence of canine parvovirus and canine coronavirus was 17.4% (19/1 09, 95% Cl: 11.5-25.6%) of the dogs tested. The proportion of dogs only positive to CPV was 3.7% (411 09, 95% Cl: 1.4-9.1 %), the proportion of dogs only positive to CCoV was 6.4% (711 09, 95% Cl: 3.2-12. 7%), and to both CPV and CCoV was 7.3% (8/1 09, 95% Cl: 3.7-13.8%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the overall occurrence of CPV and CCoV in stray dogs entering the lntermunicipal Official Shelter was very high and risk factors associated to occurrence need to be analyzed in further studies.
- Seroprevalence of feline immunodeficiency vírus and feline leucemia vírus in a portuguese intermunicipal shelterPublication . Afonso, Paulo; Quintas, Helder; Cardoso, Luís Miguel; Coelho, Ana CláudiaTo better understand the prevalence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus in cat shelters, an epidemiological study was conducted in an intermunicipal shelter in the Northeast Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples were collected as part of routine plan for control and monitoring of infectious diseases in cats at lntermunicipal Official Shelter. This shelter houses stray cats from the five municipalities of Terra Quente Transmontana, which has permanent veterinary medical and nursing assistance with daily exams, identification, registration, vaccination, deworming and neutering procedures. Blood samples were collected during periodic checks carried out by the veterinarian in charge of the shelter, from May 2017 to January 2021. A total of 1 71 samples were collected from stray cats housed at this shelter, that serves: Alf§.ndega da Fe, Carrazeda de Ansiaes, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela and Vila Flor. A blood sample was collected individually from each cat during medical routine check-ups. Blood was collected from the cephalic vein. To diagnose FIV and FeLV, a kit based on immunochromatographic technique (Uranotest® FeLVFIV, Urano®vet, S.L, Barcelona, Spain) was used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. This test allows simultaneously qualitative detection of FIV antibody (gp40) and FeLV antigen (p27) in feline whole blood, serum, and plasma. The Uranotest® FeLV-FIV reported a sensitivity of 94% versus viral isolation and specificity of 99% versus viral isolation, for Fe LV, and a sensitivity of 96% versus Western Blot and a specificity of 98% versus Western Blot, for FIV. RESULTS: A total of 171 stray cats in the lntermunicipal Official Shelter were tested during the study period. The sample consisted of 102 females (60%) and 69 males (40%). The overall prevalence of FIV and FeLV was 13.45% (23/171, 95% Cl: 9.13-19.37%) of the cats tested. The proportion of cats positive to FIV, FeLV and to both FIV and FeLV was 9.36% (16/171, 95% Cl: 5.84-14.66%), 1.75% (3/171, 95% Cl: 0.60-5.03%) and 2.34% (41171, 95% Cl: 0.91-5.86%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicated the overall seroprevalence of FIV and FeLV in stray cats entering the lntermunicipal Official Shelter was very high and risk factors associated to seroprevalence need to be study in further studies.
- Timed artificial insemination in Serrana nanny-goats: the effects of vaginal specula and artificial insemination techniciansPublication . Quintas, Helder; Silva, Daiane; Afonso, Paulo; Álvaro, Armindo; Mateus, Óscar; Valentim, RamiroThe success of artificial insemination (AI) depends on the equipment used, especially regarding the facilitation of artificial insemination technicians’ work and the positioning of insemination guns in the genital tract of animals. This study aimed to evaluate how vaginal specula and artificial insemination technicians affected the fertility rates of timed artificially inseminated Serrana Transmontano goats (which are indigenous to Portugal). For this, 58 adult nanny-goats aged between three and nine years were used. They were reproductively controlled by a short progestogen treatment (FGA) (seven days) with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). Timed cervical AI (43 hours after the end of the hormonal treatment) was performed with chilled semen. Nanny-goats were inseminated by two artificial insemination technicians (A vs. B) alternating two vaginal specula (Minitub vs. “Reyes”). Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasound 41 days later. About 98% of nanny-goats responded to our treatment with FGA and eCG. In total, 82.8% of nanny-goats were pregnant 41 days after AI. Neither vaginal specula (Minitub: 81.2% vs. “Reyes”: 84.6%) nor artificial insemination technicians (A: 82.8% vs. B: 82.8%) affected fertility rates. Thus, we conclude that neither the vaginal specula used in this research nor the artificial insemination technicians affected Serrana goat pregnancy rates.