Reduction in incidence of experimental fowl typhoid by incorporation of a commercial formic acid preparation (Bio-Add™) into poultry feed

The experiment described evaluated the effect of a commercial in-feed preparation (Bio-Add™) involving a mixture of formic acid and propionic acid on the incidence of experimental fowl typhoid in groups of 41 and 42 1-wk-old Rhode Island Red chickens. The chickens were infected through contact with 12 identical chickens that had been inoculated orally with 10 8 cfu of Salmonella gallinarum strain 9. The incidence of mortality and morbidity due to fowl typhoid was 31/41 (76%) in birds given untreated feed and 14/42 (33%) in birds given feed treated with Bio-Add™.

Efeito do período de fornecimento de ração semi-complexa na fase inicial, sobre o ganho de peso compensatório nas fases de crescimento e terminação

One hundred and twenty crossbred pigs (Large White x Landrace) weaned at an average age of 28 days, were used. Pigs were alloted to five dietary treatments according to weight, sex and litter as follows: T1- Simple diet (SD) during whole Starter phase (SP) (28-63 days); T2- Semi-complex diet (SCD) for the first seven days followed by a SD during 28 days of SP; T3- SCD for the first 14 days followed by SD during 21 days of SP; T4- SCD for the first 21 days followed by SD during 14 days of SP; T5- SCD during the entire SP. A completely randomized block design was used with six replications. At the end of the SP one castrated male and one female, weighing closest to the average live weight of the group, were transferred to growing-finishing pens and fed growing-finishing diets ad libitum until they reached approximately 90kg live weight. Increasing the period of feeding the semi-complex diet resulted in a linear increase in average daily feed intake and average daily gain during the first 28 days of the initial phase. However, when the entire initial phase was considered there was a linear increase only in daily feed intake. There were no differences in incidence and severity of diarrhea in SP or in the performance of pigs during the growing-finishing phases. There were was no differences in average daily gain among diets from weaning to 90 kg body weight. It was concluded that the advantage of the semi-complex starter diet tended to disappear as age increased.

Fungus incidence on peanut grains as affected by drying method and Ca nutrition

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of liming and drying method on Ca nutrition, fungus infection and aflatoxin production potential on peanut (Arachis hypogea) grains. Peanut cv. Botutatu was grown in the absence or presence of liming to raise the base saturation of the soil from 20 to 56%. Calcium contents of the soil were increased from 5.5 to 14.6 mmol((c))kg-1 and pH from 4.2 to 4.9. After harvest, plants and pods were dried in (1) shade, (2) field down to 100 g water kg-1 (3) field down to 250 g water kg-1 and transferred to a forced-air oven at 30°C, (4) field down to 360 g water kg-1 and transferred to a forced-air oven at 30°C. Calcium contents were analyzed in the grains, pericarps and seed coats. The incidence of Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp. and potential aflatoxin production in vitro were evaluated, as well as the seed coat thickness. The seed coat was thicker when peanut was grown in the presence of lime, leading to a decrease in seed infection by Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. When plants were dried in shade, the growth of aflatoxinogenic fungi was independent of liming. However, in plants dried in the field or field + oven, the development of these fungi was decreased and even suppressed when the Ca content of the seed coat was increased from 2.2 to 5.5 g kg-1.

Incidence of patulin in fruits and fruit juices marketed in Campinas, Brazil

One hundred and eleven samples of processed fruit juices (apple, grape, pineapple, papaya, guava, banana and mango) and 38 samples of sound fruits (apple, papaya, mango, pear and peach) produced and marketed in Brazil, were analysed for patulin by HPLC. Only one out of 30 samples of apple juice was found positive at 17 μg/l. Patulin was not detected in the other foodstuffs. It was found in 14 samples of spoiled fruit samples of apple (150-267 μg/kg), pear (134-245 μg/kg) and peach (92-174 μg/kg). Confirmation of the identity of patulin was based on the UV spectrum obtained by the HPLC diode array detector, compared with that of standard patulin, TLC developed by several solvent systems and sprayed with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone, and by acetylation with acetic anhydride.

Occurrence, distribution, and relative incidence of five viruses infecting cucurbits in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Cucurbits species grown in 38 of 40 agricultural regions in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were surveyed for the relative incidence of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Papaya ringspot virus-type W (PRSV-W), Watermelon mosaic virus-2 (WMV-2), Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus (ZLCV), and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) during May 1997 and June 1999. Samples from 621 plants, representing eight cultivated species, six wild species, and one commercial hybrid (Cucurbita moschata x C. maxima), were analyzed by plate trapped antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PTA-ELISA). PRSV-W and ZYMV were the most frequently found viruses, accounting for 49.1 and 24.8%, respectively, of 605 samples tested. ZLCV, CMV, and WMV-2 were detected in 7.8, 6.0, and 4.5% of 612, 497, and 423 samples tested, respectively. Double infection was found in 97 samples, and triple infection was found in 10 samples. Quadruple infection was detected in one C. pepo sample. Plants that were symptomatic but negative by PTA-ELISA might be due to abiotic agents, infection by virus for which antiserum was not available, such as Squash mosaic virus, or infection with an as yet uncharacterized virus.

Incidence and transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum in primiparous females from Bos indicus slaughtered in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil

To produce an epidemiological map of neosporosis in Brazil and identify the types of transmission of this disease, the present study evaluated the occurrence of Neospora caninum in Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) in Presidente Prudent, west region of Sao Paulo state; its vertical transmission; and the early stage in which fetuses are infected. To achieve this, serum samples from 518 slaughtered pregnant heifers and their fetuses were tested by ELISA technique and fetal brain tissues subjected to PCR. One hundred and three heifers (19.88%) had antibodies to N. caninum, as well as 38 (36.8%) of fetuses from 4 months of gestation. The conventional PCR failed to detect N. caninum DNA. These findings show that neosporosis occurs in the area studied and that it may be transmitted the transplacental route, althought N. caninum had not detected in brain tissue from non-aborted fetuses. The use of nested PCR it would be applied to increase the sensitivy of test.

Recurrent urinary tract infections: Evaluation of the prophylactic efficacy of urinary antiseptics methenamine and methylthioninium chloride

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common condition in clinical practice, affecting an estimated 50% of all adult women during a lifetime. The most common causative agent is E. coli; UTI may also be caused by S. saprophyticus, Enterobacteria (Klebsiella sp and Serratia sp.), Enterococcus sp., and P aeruginosa. Recurrent UTIs occur at least twice per semester or three times a year. Prophylactic measures to prevent recurrent UTIs include changes in contraception methods, cranberry products, increased fluid intake, urination after intercourse, vaginal estrogen therapy for post-menopausal women, antibiotics, and urinary tract antiseptic agents. Objectives: To evaluate the use of a combination of methenamine and methyl-thioninium chloride in the prophylaxis of recurrent uncomplicated lower UTIs, with respect to: • Signs and symptoms of UTI • Etiologic agent(s) • Recurrence rates • Need for antibiotic therapy in case of recurrence • Incidence of adverse events associated with the treatment, including any reported alterations of laboratory tests Materials & methods: A descriptive, analytic, restrospective study was performed at Hospital Universitário Constantino Otaviano - UNIFESO. Medical charts from patients presenting recurrent uncomplicated lower UTI attended from 2001-present were analyzed, including the following information: Demographic data (age, gender, weight, ethnicity, living conditions): medical history/signs and symptoms of UTI; identification of treatment and dosing regimens; treatment duration; recurrence rates and need for antibiotic therapy in case of recurrence; other medications prescribed; and records of adverse events. Results: E. coli was identified as etiologic agent in 80% of the patients. Following antibiotic therapy, all patients received prophylactic treatment with the combination of methenamine and methylthioninium chloride. Treatment duration ranged from three to six months. Adverse events were observed in 13/60 patients (21.7%). At the end of the respective treatment periods, a statistically significant (p<0.0001) number of patients showed no UTI recurrence. Conclusion: Based on the results from the collected data, we conclude that an orally administered combination of methenamine and methylthioninium chloride is safe and effective in the prophylactic treatment of recurrent uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection. © Copyright Morelra Jr. Editora.

Effect of periodontal treatment on the incidence of preterm delivery: a systematic review.

Preterm birth is a major problem in public health in developed and developing countries and the search for risk factors of this event is important. The aim of this study was to review the effect of periodontal treatment on the incidence of preterm delivery. A wide research was executed considering an evaluation period between November of 1998 and October of 2009 at MEDLINE/PUBMED databases. The selection strategy consisted of the search for the following key-words: periodontal therapy or periodontal disease and pregnancy outcome or preterm birth. The search was limited for articles written in English. The randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effect of the non-surgical periodontal treatment on the incidence of Preterm Low Birth Weight (PLBW) were selected. In a total of 7 papers selected, the incidence of PLBW was lower in groups of women who were submitted to periodontal treatment. Reductions of Preterm Birth (PTB) ranged from 0.8% to 28.01%, while reduction of Low Birth Weight (LBW) ranged from 0.44% to 33%. In studies that analyzed these two variables together, there was variation between 4.57% to 71.5% in rates reduction. Due to heterogeneity of the data, the meta-analysis was not applied. The majority of the studies concluded that non-surgical periodontal treatment in pregnant women reduces incidence of preterm babies with low weight.

Incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament in Brazilian human skulls and its clinical implications

The ossified pterygoalar ligament is formed between the lateral lamina of the pterygoid process and the infratemporal surface of the sphenoid bone or its greater wing and was not connected to the sphenoid spine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament in Brazilian human skulls and analyzing its clinical importance. 183 Brazilian adult (between 30 to 60 years old) dry human skulls were evaluated. Was evaluated the incidence of skulls with complete or partial ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, bilaterally and unilaterally and in the presence on the right and left sides. Were found 5 skulls had the ossified pterygoalar ligament, resulting in an overall incidence of 2.73%. There was 1 skull in the presence of the incomplete ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, unilaterally and on the left side resulting in incidence of 0.54%. There were 4 skulls in the presence of the complete ossification of the pterygoalar ligament, unilaterally and on the right side resulting in incidence of 2.18%. The ossified pterygoalar ligament is a major cause of the entrapment of the lingual nerve or a branch of the mandibular nerve and may cause mandibular neuralgia. The incidence of the ossified pterygoalar ligament and the pterygoalar foramen is low in the Brazilian population. However, these structures have clinical significance as this ligament establish relationships with the ovale foramen and difficulty in accessing in this foramen in a therapeutic approach.

Incidence of the mandibular accessory foramina in Brazilian population

In adults, the mandibular accessory foramina are variables and are located on the medial surface of the mandible in positions above or below of the mandibular foramen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of the mandibular accessory foramina in Brazilians human mandibles and discuss the clinical aspects related to the presence of these foramina. Were evaluated 222 mandibles, adults, irrespective of gender. Was observed that 27.93% and 43.24% of the mandibles presented at least one mandibular accessory foramina located on the medial surface in position below and above, respectively, of the mandibular foramen. Unilaterally, the mandibular accessory foramina were observed below and above of the mandibular foramen in 22.07% and 25.22%, of the mandibles, respectively, and 5.85% and 18.02% bilaterally, respectively. This study demonstrated that the incidence of mandibular accessory foramen in the Brazilian population is significant and should be considered in the planning and execution of procedures in several areas of dental clinical practice in order to avoid complications.

Treatments for invasive carcinoma of the cervix: What are their impacts on the pelvic floor functions?

Aims: Describe the impact of surgery, radiotherapy and chemoradiation in the pelvic floor functions in cervical cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective study with women submitted to radical hysterectomy (RH) (n = 20),exclusive radiotherapy (RT) (n= 20)or chemoradiation (CT/RT)(n = 20)for invasive cervical cancer. Urinary, intestinal and sexual function, as well as vaginal length and pelvic floor musclecontraction were evaluated. Comparisons between groups were performed by Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests (p < 0.05). Results: The groups were similar in stress urinary incontinence incidence (p = 0.56), urinary urgency (p = 0.44),urge incontinence (p = 0.54),nocturia(p = 0.53), incomplete bowel emptying (p = 0.76),bowel urgency(p = 0.12)and soilage(p = 0.43). The CT/ RT group presented a higher urinary frequency(p < 0.001)and diarrhea(p = 0.025). Patients in the RH group were more sexually active(p = 0.01) and experienced less dyspareunia (p = 0.021). Vaginal length was shorter in RT group (5.5 ± 1.9 cm) and CT/ RT(.3 ± 1.5 cm) than in the RH group (7.4 ± 1.1 cm) (p < 0.001). Pelvic floor muscle contraction was similar (p = 0.302). Conclusions: RT and CT/RT treatment for cervical carcinoma are more associated to sexual and intestinal dysfunctions.

Effects of vaccination against reproductive diseases on reproductive performance of beef cows submitted to fixed-timed AI in Brazilian cow-calf operations

The objectives were to assess incidence of pregnancy losses, associate this outcome with immunization programs against reproductive diseases, and evaluate the effects of vaccination against bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), and Leptospira spp., on reproductive efficiency of Brazilian cow-calf operations. In experiment 1, 7614 lactating Nelore cows from 18 ranches were assigned to the same estrus synchronization and fixed-time AI protocol (ESFTAI; Days -11 to 0). Pregnancy status was determined with transrectal ultrasonography on Days 30 and 120 after AI. Pregnancy loss was deemed to have occurred when cows were pregnant on Day 30 but nonpregnant on Day 120. Incidence of pregnancy loss across all ranches was 4.1%; pregnancy losses were detected (P < 0.10) in 14 ranches but not detected (P > 0.11) in four ranches. Pregnancy loss was lower (P ≤ 0.02) in ranches that vaccinated against BoHV-1, BVDV, and Leptospira spp. compared with ranches that did not vaccinate, or only vaccinated against Leptospira spp. In experiments 2 and 3, lactating Nelore cows (N = 1950 and 2793, respectively) from ranches that did not have a history of vaccinating against reproductive diseases (experiment 2), or only vaccinated against Leptospira spp. (experiment 3), were assigned to the same ESFTAI used in experiment 1. Within each ranch, cows received (VAC) or not (CON) vaccination against BoHV-1, BVDV, and Leptospira spp. at the beginning of the ESFTAI (Day -11) and 30 days after (Day 41) AI. In experiment 2, VAC cows had greater (P ≤ 0.05) pregnancy rates compared with CON on Days 30 and 120. In experiments 2 and 3, pregnancy loss was reduced (P ≤ 0.03) in primiparous VAC cows compared with CON cohorts. In experiment 4, 367 primiparous, lactating Nelore cows previously vaccinated against Leptospira spp. were assigned to the same ESFTAI used in experiment 1. Cows received VAC, or the same vaccine 30 days before (Day -41) and at the beginning (Day -11) of the ESFTAI (PREVAC). Pregnancy rates on Days 30 and 120 were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in PREVAC cows compared with VAC cows. In conclusion, pregnancy losses affected reproductive and overall efficiency of Brazilian cow-calf operations, and might be directly associated with BoHV-1, BVDV, and Leptospira spp. infections. Hence, vaccinating cows against these pathogens, particularly when both doses are administered before fixed-time AI, improved reproductive performance in Brazilian cow-calf systems. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

High incidence of 'Dag-like' sperm defect in the domestic cat

The occurrence of a high incidence of sperm tail defects in a male domestic cat resembling the known 'Dag-like' defect is reported. Sperm analyses were performed in ejaculated samples collected by an artificial vagina and in testicular and epididymal sperm cells after castration. The following alterations were observed using transmission electron microscope: heavily coiled sperm tails containing several axonemal units enclosed in the same common cell membrane; aberrations in the axonemal main structure; and swollen and unevenly distributed mitochondria in the midpiece. Abnormal modifications in the mitochondrial sheath were also found in sperm cells retrieved from testes and epididymides. Considering these findings, we can conclude that this is the Dag-like defect, described previously in other domestic species and a testicular origin may be involved. © ISFM and AAFP 2012.