Training, development, and evaluation of on-farm culturing as a technical resource to reduce the use of antimicrobials in dairy herds in the Midwest Region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil

ABSTRACT: On-farm culturing is a technology booming in Brazil. It is based on the microbiological diagnosis of milk samples collected from clinical cases of bovine mastitis, on the farm where the animals are handled, quickly, simply, and at an affordable cost. With this resource, after 24 h of incubation, the isolated microorganisms are classified as gram positive or gram negative, helping to make decisions regarding the therapy of the animals. Considering the relevance of the Midwestern region of Santa Catarina State in the national dairy production scenario, the objectives of the study were: 1) to promote the technical training of the farmers in three dairy farms located in Treze Tílias-SC, 2) to assist in the implementation and evaluation of on-farm culturing as technological resource viewing the reduced use of antimicrobials in herds. In addition to the rapid acceptance by the farmers and their efficient training, with the use of the technology, there was a 45-50% reduction in the use of antimicrobials in dairy herds. This result demonstrated a significant effect on animal health, and determines an important cost reduction for farmers, as presented in detail in this manuscript.

First case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in the midwestern of Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies and a major zoonotic disease in Brazil. Due to the southward expansion of the disease within the country and the central role of dogs as urban reservoirs of the parasite, we have investigated the occurrence of CVL in two municipalities Erval Velho and Herval d’Oeste in the Midwest region of Santa Catarina state. Peripheral blood samples from 126 dogs were collected in both cities and tested for anti-L. infantum antibodies by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IIF) and for the presence of parasite DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in peripheral blood. From examined dogs, 35.71% (45/126) were positive for at least one of the three tests and two (1.6%) were positive in all performed tests. Twelve dogs (9.5%) were positive for both ELISA and IIF, while 21 dogs were exclusively positive for ELISA (16.7%), and 15 (11.9%) for IIF. L. infantum k-DNA was detected by PCR in 9 out of 126 dogs (7.1%) and clinical symptoms compatible with CVL were observed for 6 dogs. Taken together, these results indicate the transmission of CVL in this region, highlighting the needs for epidemiological surveillance and implementation of control measures for CVL transmission in this region.

Mortality of Eucalyptus pilularis progenies and provenances after frost

We aimed to quantify frost tolerance and damage on Eucalyptus pilularis provenances and progenies in Curitibanos, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Mortality and severity of damage were assessed before frost at 7 months old and at 14 and 19 months old after frost events. Frost resulted in plant mortalityof 55.7%, with no difference among progenies and provenances. The tolerance of 5.3% may have occurred due to specific local conditions (escape). We concluded that the species does not have tolerance to frost in subtropical environment, with daily thermal range from - 5 °C to 28 °C.

Prevalence of dermatopathies in dogs and cats in the highland of Santa Catarina State, Brazil

This was the first study of the prevalence of skin diseases in dogs and cats in Santa Catarina. Medical records of all canine and feline patients referred to the Veterinary Clinic of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Curitibanos campus, were evaluated. From 2015 to 2019, 322 dogs and cats presented dermatological lesions, corresponding to 25.3% of dermatological cases. Among them, 276 (85.7%) were dogs, and 46 (14.3%) were cats. Definitive diagnose were obtained in 72.5% and 71.3% of canine and feline patients, respectively. Mixed breed adults were most likely to develop skin diseases. Among the primary conditions, parasitic, fungal, and bacterial diseases were the most prevalent for both species. In dogs, pulicosis, followed by pyoderma and dermatophytosis, were the major diseases encountered. Nevertheless, cats presented higher prevalence of fungal diseases, followed by parasitic and bacterial disorders. Malassezia otitis was the most prevalent, followed by pulicosis and dermatophytosis.

MAMÍFEROS DE MÉDIO E GRANDE PORTE NA ÁREA DE PROTEÇÃO AMBIENTAL MUNICIPAL DO RIO VERMELHO EM SANTA CATARINA, SUL DO BRASIL

MEDIUM AND LARGE MAMMALS IN RIO VERMELHO MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREA, SANTA CATARINA, SOUTHERN BRAZIL: Most studies on medium and large mammals in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest are carried out in areas under full protection (as parks and biological reserves). Considering the continuing threats that the forest remnants are suffering, it is essential to carry out mammal surveys in protected areas for sustainable use. In order to evaluate the species richness and the relative frequency of medium and large mammals in the área de proteção ambiental municipal do Rio Vermelho – APARV (northern Santa Catarina state), methodologies of direct visualization and camera traps were used. The study was conducted from the beginning of 2015 to the end of 2019. In Santa Catarina state, there is only one study which sampling effort is comparable to the present one (7300 night-trap). Thirty-three native mammal species and two alien species (Canis familiaris and Lepus europaeus) were found. The species accumulation curve tended to stabilize at the beginning of the third year. Three species were responsible for more than half of the photographic records (Cerdocyon thous, Eira barbara and Procyon cancrivorus). In total, 33.3% of the species are classified in some category of threat, and three of these species are among the less recorded in Santa Catarina state (Tayassu pecari, Tapirus terrestris and Mazama nana). Our survey added 18 new occurrences to the APARV management plan. Only two of the 18 mammal surveys carried out previously in the Santa Catarina state recorded more species than our study. This is the second survey which was carried out in protected areas for sustainable use in Santa Catarina state. Our study contributes to the important knowledge that can be used in conservation measures. In this way, the APARV plays a fundamental role for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest mammals, constituting an important area favoring the population movements of mammals.

Southernmost records of Pachyramphus marginatus (Passeriformes: Tityridae) and first observation for Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil

The Black-capped Becard (Pachyramphus marginatus) has two geographically isolated subspecies, including the Atlantic Forest subspecies that is distributed from Pernambuco State to Paraná State. Here we report the first observation of the species in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. On 12 November 2019 an adult male of P. marginatus was observed in the municipality of São Francisco do Sul, on the northeastern coast of Santa Catarina, during an inventory for the creation of a protected area. The species was also observed on three other occasions in the same locality. These are the first known records for Santa Catarina and extend the known distribution range of this species 40 km southward. We also discuss some explanations for the records.

Historical record on the Brazilian hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Museu de História Natural da Bahia (MHNBA) in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

In this article we present the historical records of the Brazilian hawkmoths deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Museu de História Natural da Bahia (MHNBA-UFBA), including the historical Lepidoptera collection donated by Dr. Pedro de Araújo to the MHNBA-UFBA. The Sphingidae collection is composed of 243 specimens and represents 24 genera and 66 species. The historical collection consists of specimens captured between the years 1924 and 1934, and we also included to the collection specimens that were captured more recently, between 1982 and 2014. The subfamily Macroglossinae presented the greatest species richness and Smerinthinae the presented the least species richness. Of all of specimens in the collection, 151 came from São Paulo State (Brazil), 41 from Santa Catarina State, 50 from Bahia State and only one from Pernambuco State. Three topotypes were identified in the collection, namely: Eumorpha translineatus (Rothschild, 1895), Xylophanes crenulata Vaglia & Haxaire, 2009 and Xylophanes alineae Haxaire & Mielke, 2018.