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Detecção de parasitas do gênero Trypanosoma em pequenos ruminantes no norte maranhense, Brasil

2026-07-08T15:19:46Z

Título: Detecção de parasitas do gênero Trypanosoma em pequenos ruminantes no norte maranhense, Brasil Abstact: Animal trypanosomiasis represents a significant sanitary and economic challenge for tropical livestock production, causing severe anemia and systemic inflammation in ruminants. In Brazil, Trypanosoma vivax is the most clinically relevant species in goats and sheep, associated with high morbidity, mortality, and production losses, though infections may also occur asymptomatically. While T. evansi and T. theileri can infect small ruminants, their pathogenicity in these hosts is considered low. In Maranhão state, the complete absence of studies on trypanosomiasis in small ruminants represents a critical epidemiological gap, leaving herds vulnerable to undiagnosed outbreaks. This study aimed to detect Trypanosoma spp. in small ruminants across Maranhão using direct and indirect diagnostic methods. Blood samples were collected from 84 goats and 210 sheep across 14 farms in São Bento, Pinheiro, and Itapecuru-Mirim municipalities during both dry and rainy seasons. A structured questionnaire documented risk factors, and individual animal records included demographic and health data. Diagnostic approaches included direct microscopy of blood smears, indirect ELISA for anti-T. vivax antibodies, species-specific PCR targeting T. vivax, T. evansi, and T. theileri genomic fragments, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of PCR-positive samples (BLAST against GenBank), and statistical analysis using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests for risk factors. No trypanosomes were detected by microscopy. Seroprevalence reached 14.28% (42/294), with 30 (10.20%) goats and 12 (4.08%) sheep testing positive. Two samples (0.68%) were PCR-positive for T. vivax, showing 100% identity with Brazilian isolates from buffaloes, cattle, small ruminants, and donkeys in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed homology with these T. vivax strains. All samples tested negative for T. evansi and T. theileri. Significant risk factors (p<0.05) included host species (higher in goats), recent animal acquisitions, veterinary care availability, farm infrastructure quality, and housing type. This study provides the first molecular evidence of T. vivax infection in Maranhão's small ruminants, highlighting the need for control measures. The findings expand understanding of animal trypanosomiasis in Brazil and underscore the vulnerability of small ruminant production systems to this neglected disease.

Ensino médico veterinário: percepção sobre o ensino de diagnóstico por imagem entre discentes e egressos de São Luís do Maranhão

2026-07-08T14:02:40Z

Título: Ensino médico veterinário: percepção sobre o ensino de diagnóstico por imagem entre discentes e egressos de São Luís do Maranhão Abstact: Veterinary medical education takes place in colleges, university centers and universities, in Brazil the mandatory registration of this diploma came in 1940, since then courses have been emerging, taking shape from the needs of the regions of implementation and thus many changes occur throughout the history of each veterinary medicine course. In Maranhão, changes occur in relation to the general workload, mandatory, elective, common and professional subjects, but they always occur with the intention of complying with the National Curricular Guidelines. After decades of its creation, the veterinary medicine course at the state university of Maranhão underwent an update of the course's pedagogical project, in 1995 the subjects of Methods and Techniques to Support Diagnosis I and II were created, with I being for the teaching clinical pathology and II for teaching imaging techniques that would assist the veterinarian's clinical routine, respectively with 90 and 60 hours, techniques to support diagnosis II became image diagnosis with 60 hours which remains with this load hourly to the present day after four updates to the course's pedagogical project, but with considerable changes in the wording of the syllabus and the direction of basic and complementary references. The effects of this form of teaching are observed in the questionnaires answered by students and graduates of the Veterinary Medicine course at the State University of Maranhão

Diagnóstico bioclimático para criação de ovinos no município de Amarante do Maranhão-MA

2026-07-08T13:31:39Z

Título: Diagnóstico bioclimático para criação de ovinos no município de Amarante do Maranhão-MA Abstact: Sheep farming in the Brazilian Northeast, especially with adapted breeds such as the Morada Nova, is of great socioeconomic relevance; however, it faces limitations related to the hot and humid climate characteristic of the region. This study aimed to create a bioclimatic diagnosis of the municipality of Amarante do Maranhão (MA) for raising Morada Nova sheep by analyzing annual meteorological data, including air temperature (TA), relative humidity (RH), and thermal comfort indices such as the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) and the Black Globe Humidity Index (BGHI) to identify periods of thermal comfort and discomfort for the animals. The results demonstrated that the first half of the year presents lower average TA and high RH, while the second half concentrates the most critical conditions. This period shows a gradual increase in TA, a sharp drop in RH, and a higher radiation load, especially between September and November, when the THI and BGHI exceed comfort limits, indicating a significant risk of thermal stress. These conditions directly affect feed intake, respiratory rate, weight gain, reproductive efficiency, and animal welfare. It is concluded that the climate of Amarante do Maranhão imposes relevant challenges on the production of Morada Nova sheep, reinforcing the need for thermal management strategies, such as natural or artificial shading, continuous water availability, adjustments to grazing schedules, and interventions that promote a microclimate more suitable for the performance and sustainability of the activity

Fundamentos técnico-científicos para elaboração de regulamento estadual de certificação do mel de abelhas sem ferrão do Maranhão

2026-07-08T17:25:42Z

Título: Fundamentos técnico-científicos para elaboração de regulamento estadual de certificação do mel de abelhas sem ferrão do Maranhão Abstact: Stingless bee honey has increasing socioeconomic and commercial relevance, especially in regions where meliponiculture is traditional, such as Maranhão. However, the lack of specific regulations for processing this product in the state compromises sanitary certification, quality standardization, and market competitiveness. With the aim of contributing to a draft state technical regulation on identity and quality for stingless bee honey, this study characterized the physicochemical, microbiological, and melissopalynological parameters of 15 samples from the five mesoregions of Maranhão and conducted a systematic review on the subject. The analyses included indicators of maturity, purity, deterioration, and microbiological quality, compared to limits established in regulatory standards of other Brazilian states. The results revealed conformity in the parameters of maturity and purity, with adequate levels of moisture, water activity, reducing sugars, diastase, ash, and insoluble solids, in addition to the consistent presence of pollen grains associated with regional flowerings. On the other hand, non- conformities were observed in the deterioration indicators, especially in the hydroxymethylfurfural values, in addition to punctual deviations in pH, free acidity, and mold and yeast counts, suggesting the influence of environmental conditions and processing practices. The findings provide a technical basis for establishing physicochemical and microbiological limits compatible with the productive reality of Maranhão. The proposed draft contributes to the standardization