Application of response surface methodology to study the biological removal of nitrogen from effluent of cattle slaughterhouse in a sequencing batch reactor

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) on biological removal of nitrogen from cattle slaughterhouse wastewater by nitrification/denitrification processes. The effects of initial concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen were investigated at 100; 150 and 200 mg L-1 and air flow rate at 0.125; 0.375 and 0.625 L min¹ Lreactor-1 on the nitrogen compounds removal, by a Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD) configuration. There were variations from 9.2 to 94.9%, 4.0 to 19.6% and 20.8 to 92.0% in the conversion of ammoniacal nitrogen to nitrate and nitrite concentration and removal of total nitrogen, respectively. The increase of air flow rate and decrease of the initial concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen resulted in higher efficiencies of total nitrogen removal, as well as the conversion of ammoniacal nitrogen to nitrate. During the pre-established intervals of this study, the removal and conversion efficiencies of nitrogen compounds above 85% were achieved in air flow rate variations from 0.375 to 0.725 L min-1 Lreactor-1 and initial concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen from 80 to 200 mg L-1. On denitrification process, we obtained efficiencies from 91.5 to 96.9% on the removal of nitrite/nitrate and from 78.3 to 87.9% on the removal of organic matter.

Financial losses in pork supply chain: a study of the pre-slaughter handling impacts

Brazil is amongst the world’s largest swine producers. However, its competitiveness has been vulnerable due to a lack of cooperation between the supply chain players. This condition makes the financial losses to be evaluated taking into account only an individual node, and most of the time, these damages are imputed by swine breeders. Living weight losses occur between the farm to slaughterhouses, and the main cause of these losses is the pre-slaughter handling, especially during animal transportation. In this research, we analyzed the pre-slaughter handling in a swine farm in Brasilândia, MS, Brazil. Analyzed data were provided by five slaughterhouses (farm clients) from the studied region, in which it was considered living weight losses, carcass bruising, animal injury, and death rate. The results indicated that total financial losses represent 160 thousand dollars per year, when taking into account the supply chain management.

Study of carotid disease in patients with peripheral artery disease

Objective: To study the stenosis of the carotid arteries in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.Methods: we assessed 100 consecutive patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease in stages of intermittent claudication, rest pain or ulceration. Carotid stenosis was studied by echo-color-doppler, and considered significant when greater than or equal to 50%. We used univariate analysis to select potential predictors of carotid stenosis, later taken to multivariate analysis.Results: The prevalence of carotid stenosis was 84%, being significant in 40% and severe in 17%. The age range was 43-89 years (mean 69.78). Regarding gender, 61% were male and 39% female. Half of the patients had claudication and half had critical ischemia. Regarding risk factors, 86% of patients had hypertension, 66% exposure to smoke, 47% diabetes, 65% dyslipidemia, 24% coronary artery disease, 16% renal failure and 60% had family history of cardiovascular disease. In seven patients, there was a history of ischemic cerebrovascular symptoms in the carotid territory. The presence of cerebrovascular symptoms was statistically significant in influencing the degree of stenosis in the carotid arteries (p = 0.02 at overall assessment and p = 0.05 in the subgroups of significant and non-significant stenoses).Conclusion: the study of the carotid arteries by duplex scan examination is of paramount importance in the evaluation of patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, and should be systematically conducted in the study of such patients.

Scintigraphic study of the splenic circulation in rats

Objective: To evaluate the splenic parenchymal blood distribution through scintigraphic study.Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 5). Group 1 (spleen - 30 minutes) and Group 2 (spleen - 90 minutes) underwent laparotomy with direction of blood flow to the spleen by ligature of the aorta near the iliac bifurcation and splanchnic vessels, keeping blood flow only in the splenic artery; Group 3 (spleen and stomach - 30 minutes) and Group 4 (spleen and stomach - 90 minutes) underwent laparotomy with direction of blood flow to the spleen and stomach by ligature of the aorta near the iliac bifurcation and splanchnic vessels, maintaining the flow through the splenic, gastric and splenogastric vessels; Group 5 (control - 30 minutes) and Group 6 (control - 90 minutes) underwent laparotomy and ligation of the aorta near the iliac bifurcation, keeping the flow to the abdominal organs. After arterial ligation, the animals received an injection of 0.2 ml of sodium pertechnetate in the aorta. Scintigraphic images were taken and the animals had their spleens removed for radioactivity counting with an automatic counter device.Results: There was no difference in the amounts of radiation from the spleen between groups, indicating retention of the radioisotope by the spleen, even after the period of 90 minutes.Conclusion: The blood flow through the spleen is not continuous. The blood diffuses through the splenic parenchyma and its venous drainage is slow, not following a predictable sequence.

Topographic anatomical study of the sciatic nerve relationship to the posterior portal in hip arthroscopy

Objective: To evaluate the anatomic topographic relation between the sciatic nerve in relation to the piriform muscle and the posterior portal for the establishment of hip arthroscopy.Methods: We dissected 40 hips of 20 corpses of adult Brazilians, 17 male and three female, six black, six brown and eight white. We studied the anatomical relationship between the sciatic nerve and the piriform muscle with their variations and the distance between the lateral edge of the sciatic nerve and the posterior portal used in hip arthroscopy. We then classified the anatomical alterations found in the path of the sciatic nerve on the piriform muscle.Results: Seventeen corpses had bilateral relationship between the sciatic nerve and the piriform muscle, i.e., type A. We found the following anatomical variations: 12.5% of variant type B; and an average distance between the sciatic nerve and the portal for arthroscopy of 2.98cm. One body had type B anatomical variation on the left hip and type A on the right.Conclusion: the making of the posterior arthroscopic portal to the hip joint must be done with careful marking of the trochanter massive; should there be difficult to find it, a small surgical access is recommended. The access point to the portal should not exceed two centimeters towards the posterior superior aspect of the greater trochanter, and must be made with the limb in internal rotation of 15 degrees.

Preliminary study of coconut water for graft tissues preservation in transplantation

OBJECTIVE: to verify the effectiveness of coconut water in preserving tissues for transplant. METHODS: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly distributed in five groups, according to the following preservation solutions for tissue grafts: Group 1: Lactated Ringer; Group 2: Belzer solution; Group 3: mature coconut water; Group 4: green coconut water; Group 5: modified coconut water. In Group 5, the green coconut water has been modified like the Belzer solution. From each animal we harvasted the spleen, ovaries and skin of the back segment. These tissues were preserved for six hours in one of the solutions. Then, the grafts were reimplanted. The recovery of the function of the implanted tissues was assessed 90 days after surgery, by splenic scintigraphy and blood exame. The implanted tissues were collected for histopathological examination. RESULTS: The serum levels did not differ among groups, except for the animals in Group 5, which showed higher levels of IgG than Group 1, and differences in relation to FSH between groups 1 and 2 (p <0.001), 4 and 2 (p = 0.03) and 5 and 2 (p = 0.01). The splenic scintigraphy was not different between groups. The ovarian tissue was better preserved in mature coconut water (p <0.007). CONCLUSION: the coconut water-based solutions preserves spleen, ovary, and rat skin for six hours, maintaining their normal function.

Clinical and pathological study of an outbreak of obstructive urolithiasis in feedlot cattle in southern Brazil

The epidemiology, clinical picture and pathology of an outbreak of urolithiasis in cattle in southern Brazil are described. The disease occurred in August 1999 in a feedlot beef cattle herd. Five out of 1,100 castrated steers were affected. Clinical signs included colic and ventral abdominal distension. White, sand-grain-like mineral deposits precipitated on the preputial hairs. Affected cattle died spontaneously 24-48 hrs after the onset of the clinical signs. Only one animal recovered after perineal urethrostomy. Necropsy findings included calculi blocking the urethral lumen of the distal portion of the penile sigmoid flexure, urinary bladder rupture with leakage of urine into the abdominal cavity and secondary fibrinous peritonitis. Daily water intake was low since water sources were scarce and not readily available. The animals were fed rations high in grains and received limited amounts of roughage. Biochemical analysis revealed that the calculi were composed of ammonium phosphate. A calcium-phosphorus imbalance (0.4:0.6) was detected in the feedlot ration. For the outbreak, it is suggested that contributing factors to urolith formation include insufficient fiber ingestion, low water intake and high dietary levels of phosphorus. No additional cases were observed in that feedlot after preventive measures were established. Similar dietary mismanagement in fattening steers has been associated with obstructive urolithiasis in feedlot beef cattle in other countries.

Histopathological and histomicrobiological study of root canal therapy medication, comparison of calcium hydroxide versus gutta-percha with zinc oxide/eugenol in the teeth of dogs

The presence of microorganisms in dental structures with experimentally induced necrosis was evaluated. The materials were tested to evaluate their antimicrobial activity and tissue repair efficacy. Four dogs were used in this experiment, with a total of 64 roots of premolar teeth, divided into three groups. The root canals of Group I were filled with gutta-percha and zinc oxide/eugenol cement; Group II were filled with calcium hydroxide, and Group III were not filled. All animals were clinically and radiographically examined 15 days after surgery andthen again every subsequent 15 days until 120 days, when the teeth were extracted en bloc.Histopathological analysis showed inflammatory infiltration, cement and bone resorption andnecrotic tissue in the apical delta in different proportions. Histomicrobiological analysis showedthe presence of microorganisms inside the teeth structures, with different concentrationsaccording to the treatment used. There was statistical significance between the groups(p>0.05). Gutta-percha with zinc oxide/eugenol demonstrated good antimicrobial activity;calcium hydroxide was not efficient. The conclusion of this study is that gutta-percha withzinc oxide/eugenol is the better protocol for filling root canals in dogs.

Fibrinonecrotic enteritis of piglets in a commercial farm: a postmortem study of the prevalence and the role of lesion associated agents Isospora suis and Clostridium perfringens

The objectives were to determine the prevalence of fibrinonecrotic enteritis (FNE) on a farrow-to-finish farm of 1,000 sows, to categorize the pathological changes, and to to investigate the lesion associated agents Isospora suis and Clostridium perfringens. Causes of preweaning mortality (PWM) were classified into 8 categories including FNE. Obtained data were evaluated for statistical significance by adjusted Chi-square analysis. Samples of FNE were taken for complementary studies including a PCR technique for genotyping toxin genes of Clostridium perfringens from gut samples fixed in 10% neutral formalin. From 3,153 piglets examined, less than 1% was classified as FNE. FNE prevalence increased progressively from the first to the third week, the last differing statistically from the others. Eighty percent of gut samples with FNE lesions were positive to Isospora suis, when examined by PCR from 9 severe FNE lesions detected 7 positive samples only for a toxin gene, characteristic of C. perfringens type-A.

Celiac artery in New Zealand rabbit: anatomical study of its origin and arrangement for experimental research and surgical practice

Rabbits have been used as an experimental model in many diseases and for the study of toxicology, pharmacology and surgery in many universities. However, some aspects of their macro anatomy need a more detailed description, especially the abdominal and pelvic arterial vascular system, which has a huge variability in distribution and trajectory. Thirty cadaveric adult New Zealand rabbits, 13 male and 17 female, with an average weight and rostrum-sacral length of 2.5 kg and 40cm, respectively, were used. The thoracic aorta was cannulated and the vascular system was filled with stained latex S-65. The celiac artery and its proximal branches were dissected and lengthened in order to evidence origin and proximal ramifications. The celiac artery emerged between the 12th and 13th thoracic vertebra in 11 (36.7%) rabbits; at the level of the 13th thoracic vertebra in 6 (20%) rabbits; between the 13th thoracic vertebra and the 1st lumbar vertebra in 12 (40%) rabbits; and at the level of the 1st lumbar vertebra in only one (3.3%) rabbit. The mean length of the celiac artery was 0.5cm. The celiac artery first branch was the lienal artery, the second branch was the left gastric artery and the hepatic artery arose from the left gastric artery in all the dissected rabbits. No relation was observed between the celiac artery length and the rostrum-sacral length in rabbits. The number of left gastric and lienal artery branches and the distribution of celiac artery origin are not gender dependent.

Study of the cardiac left atrioventricular valvar complex in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) of the Jafarabadi breed

Atrioventricular valve complex of 30 Jafarabadi water buffaloes, adult males were studied in this research with no heart diseases. The animals were obtained from a slaughterhouse in Brazilian State of Parana. The hearts were opened at the third portion affording access to the valve complex. The complexes had its area, number and type of tendinous cords submitted to analysis. The results showed that the complex is composed by two cusps and four accessory cusps, two or three papillary muscles in which 10-25 tendinous cords fix on the cusps that face the ventricle wall. The total area of the complex was on average 38.56cm², with a minimum of 24.96cm² and a maximum of 55.54cm². Statistically, no relation between the number of cords and the cusps' area where they are inserted or with the number of papillary muscle where they originated from was observed.

Retrospective study of ocular disorders in Amazon parrots

A retrospective study was conducted to identify the occurrence and types of ocular disorders in 57 Amazon parrots admitted to the Ophthalmology Service, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil from 1997 to 2006. The most frequent observed disorder was cataracts, present in 24 of the 114 examined eyes (57 parrots). Uveitis, ulcerative keratitis and keratoconjunctivitis were frequently diagnosed as well. The cornea was the most affected ocular structure, with 28 reported disorders. Uveal disorders also were commonly observed. Conjunctiva and eyelid disorders were diagnosed in lower frequency. Results suggest that cataracts are common and that cornea, lens and uvea are the most affected ocular structures in Amazon parrots.

A systematic study of the brain base arteries in the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Thirty heads with neck segments of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were dissected for a systematic study of the arteries. The frequency of the arteries found was: Cerebral carotid artery, intercarotid anastomosis and internal ophthalmic artery (100%). Caudal branch of the cerebral carotid artery to the right (R) vestigial artery (70%) and developed (30%) and to the left (L) developed (70%) and vestigial artery (30%). Ventral tectal mesencephalic artery in (70%) to R and (30%) to L was the direct branch of the cerebral carotid artery to L (70%) and to R (30%) collateral branch of the developed caudal branch. Basilar artery to L in (70%) and to R (30%) formed from the developed caudal branch; rostral ventral cerebellar artery present (86.7%) and absent (13.3%) to R and L. Caudal ventral cerebellar artery to R single (73.3%), double (23.3%) and triple (3.3%); caudal ventral cerebellar artery to L single (73.3%) and double (26.7%). Dorsal spinal artery branch of caudal ventral cerebellar artery to R (80%) and to L (73.3%). The rostral branch of cerebral carotid artery showed as collateral branches the single caudal cerebral artery to R (100%) and to L (96.7%) while in (3.3%) it was double. The middle cerebral artery was single to R and L (100%). Cerebroethmoidal artery to R and L (100%) with its collateral branch to single rostral cerebral artery (90%) to R and (86.7%) to L and double (10%) to R and (13.3%) to L. Ethmoidal artery to R and to L (100%) single. The cerebral arterial circle was rostrally and caudally opened, so that the cerebral blood supply was exclusively made by the carotid system.

A phylogenetic study of canine parvovirus type 2c in midwestern Brazil

Since the late 1970s, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) has emerged as a causative agent of fatal severe acute hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs. To date, three antigenic types of CPV-2 were described worldwide (CPV-2a/b/c). This study was conducted to determine the variants of CPV-2 circulating in dogs from the Cuiabá Municipality in Midwestern Brazil. Out of 50 fecal samples, collected between 2009 and 2011, 27 tested positive for CPV-2. A 583 bp fragment of the VP2 gene was amplified by PCR, 13 representative samples were analyzed further by DNA sequencing. All strains were characterized as CPV-2c, displayed a low genetic variability although observed several amino acid substitution. These findings indicated that CPV-2c has been circulating in dogs from the Cuiabá Municipality in Midwestern Brazil.

A systematic study of the brain base arteries in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The brains of 30 New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were injected with red stained latex. The arteries of the ventral surface of the brain were systematized on the right (R) and on the left (L) side with the respective percentage of appearance: the aortic arch emitted the braquicephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery (83.3%); or the braquicephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery (16.7%). The braquicephalic trunk emitted the right and the left common carotid arteries and the right subclavian artery (83.3%); or the right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery (16.7%). The common carotid arteries were divided into external and internal carotid arteries (96.7% on the R, 100% on the L.). The internal carotid artery to the R was present (96.7%) and absent (3.3%), and to the L, was present (100%). The rostral choroidal artery to the R was collateral branch of the rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (83.3%), collateral branch of caudal branch of the internal carotid artery (16.7%), and to the L was collateral branch of the rostral branch of the internal carotid artery (93.3%), collateral branch of the caudal branch of the internal carotid artery (6.7%). The middle cerebral artery to the R and to the L was single (80%) and double (20%). The rostral cerebral artery to the R had middle caliber (90%), thin caliber (6.7%) and too thin caliber (3.3%), and to the L had middle caliber (76.7%), thin caliber (16.7%) and too thin caliber (6.7%). The internal ethmoidal artery was absent (73.3%), present and single (26.7%). The caudal cerebral artery to the R was single (66.7%), double (26.7%) and triple (6.7%), and to the L was single (63.3%) and double (36.7%). The terminal branches of the right and left vertebral arteries were present (100%, and formed the basilar artery (100%). The ventral spinal artery was present (100%). The caudal cerebellar artery, to the R was single (43.3%), single with labyrinthic artery isolated (26.7%) and double (30%), and to the L was single (50%), single with labyrinthic artery isolated (6.7%), double (40%) and triple (3.3%). The trigeminal artery to the R and to the L was present (100%). The rostral cerebellar artery to the R was single (53.3%) and double (46,7%), and to the L was single (63.3%) and double (36.7%). The rabbit's cerebral arterial circle was caudally closed (100%) and rostrally closed (93.3%) or opened (6.7%). The brain was supplied by the vertebral-basilar and carotid systems.