Produção, caracterização nutricional e utilização de farinhas e óleos de resíduos de peixes neotropicais em dietas para Tilápia do Nilo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Variações diurnas da temperatura corporal, proteínas plasmáticas e eritrograma de cabras não prenhes

Hemogram values may have variations caused by intrinsic or extrinsic factors, which can take healthy animals to present values outside of the normal reference ranges and it is important to the veterinarian to know these variation factors for a correct results interpretation. The influence of the period of the day is among them. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that there are hematological parameters variations, such as erythrogram and plasmatic proteins during the day. The study was carried out with 10 non-pregnant adult goats in Araçatuba/SP/Brazil. The blood sampling and physical exam occurred at three moments between 07:00 and 08:00 a.m. (M1), 12:30 and 01:30 p.m. (M2), 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. (M3). We noted differences in the values of packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin, and rectal temperature through the moments, with reduction of PCV and hemoglobin were related to increase in rectal and air temperature, leading to water intake increase and, consequently, decreasing blood concentration. These variations could lead to an error of interpretation of the results due to values below the reference ranges.

Avaliação clínico-laboratorial e da expressão de metaloproteinases 2 e 9 de equinos com obstrução experimental do cólon menor

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influência de carboidratos na homeostase fisiológica e imunológica de juvenis de surubins (Pseudoplatystoma sp.)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Acidose láctica ruminal aguda induzida experimentalmente em ovinos: estudo clínico e laboratorial

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Parâmetros hemetológicos da tilápia-do-Nilo: efeito da dieta suplementada com levedura e zinco e do estímulo pelo frio

Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito do benzoato de estradiol na recuperação de oócitos, embriões e nos parâmetros hematológicos de cadelas recém acasaladas

We investigated estradiol benzoate effects on oocytes/embryos recovery rate and the influence of this drug on the hematopoietic system. Twenty four bitches were divided in two groups, Group I, 12 females that received a single shot of estradiol benzoate, 0.2 mg/kg intramuscularly, between 2 and 7 days after the date of the last mismating or insemination and, Group II (control), 12 bitches that received 0.2 ml/kg of oily diluent, in corresponding dates. The bitches were ovary-hysterectomized and the uterus/oviduct were isolated and flushed with a PBS, heparin and polyvinyl alcohol solution. Oocytes and embryos were quantified and classified according to their stage of development. Blood counts were performed on M1 (before drug administration), M2 (15 days after drug administration) and M3 (40 days after drug administration). Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the variable retrieval structures, while Fisher exact test was used for the analysis of embryonic viability. ANOVA was used to analyze repeated measurements and Tukey test for hematological parameters. All tests were performed at 5% significance level. The recovery rate of total structures in group I was lower (22.88%) than group II (65.85%). A lower embryo recovery (ratio 3: 52) rate and a greater number of degenerated structures (ratio 11: 1) were observed in group I. Hematological parameters showed significant difference in erythrocytes, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations 15 days after drug administration and difference in leukocytes concentration 40 days after using the medication in bitches of group I, however, at the end of the experiment all bitches had blood counts considered normal.

Subacute toxicity assessment of diflubenzuron, an insect growth regulator, in adult male rats

Difubenzuron (DFB), an insecticide and acaricide insect growth regulator, can be used in agriculture against insect predators and in public health programs, to control insects and vectors, mainly Aedes aegypti larvae. Due to the lack of toxicological assessments of this compound, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of subacute exposure to the DFB insecticide in adult male rats. Adult male rats were exposed (gavage) to 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg of DFB for 28 days. No clinical signs of toxicity were observed in the DFB-treated animals of the experimental groups. However, there was an increase in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase in the group that received 8 mg/Kg/DFB/day and urea at doses of 4 and 8 mg/Kg/DFB/day, without altering other biochemical or hematological parameters. The subacute exposure to the lowest dose of DFB caused significant decrease in testis weight, daily sperm production, and in number of sperm in the epididymis in relation to the control group. However, no alterations were observed in the sperm morphology, testicular, epididymis, liver and kindney histology, or testosterone levels. These findings unveiled the hazardous effects of DFB on male reproduction after the subacute exposure and special attention should be addressed to the effects of low doses of this pesticide.

Protective immunity to DENV2 after immunization with a recombinant NS1 protein using a genetically detoxified heat-labile toxin as an adjuvant

The dengue virus non-structural 1 (NS1) protein contributes to evasion of host immune defenses and represents a target for immune responses. Evidences generated in experimental models, as well as the immune responses elicited by infected individuals, showed that induction of anti-NS1 immunity correlates with protective immunity but may also result in the generation of cross-reactive antibodies that recognize platelets and proteins involved in the coagulation cascade. In the present work, we evaluated the immune responses, protection to type 2 dengue virus (DENV2) challenges and safety parameters in BALB/c mice vaccinated with a recombinant NS1 protein in combination with three different adjuvants: aluminum hydroxide (alum), Freund's adjuvant (FA) or a genetically detoxified derivative of the heat-labile toxin (LTG33D), originally produced by some enterotoxigenic Escherichia coil (ETEC) strains. Mice were subcutaneously (s.c.) immunized with different vaccine formulations and the induced NS1-specific responses, including serum antibodies and T cell responses, were measured. Mice were also subjected to lethal challenges with the DENV2 NGC strain. The results showed that maximal protective immunity (50%) was achieved in mice vaccinated with NS1 in combination with LIG33D. Analyses of the NS1-specific immune responses showed that the anti-virus protection correlated mainly with the serum anti-NS1 antibody responses including higher avidity to the target antigen. Mice immunized with LTG33D elicited a prevailing IgG2a subclass response and generated antibodies with stronger affinity to the antigen than those generated in mice immunized with the other vaccine formulations. The vaccine formulations were also evaluated regarding induction of deleterious side effects and, in contrast to mice immunized with the FA-adjuvanted vaccine, no significant hepatic damage or enhanced C-reactive protein levels were detected in mice immunized with NS1 and LTG33D. Similarly, no detectable alterations in bleeding time and hematological parameters were detected in mice vaccinated with NS1 and LTG33D. Altogether, these results indicate that the combination of a purified recombinant NS1 and a nontoxic LT derivative is a promising alternative for the generation of safe and effective protein-based anti-dengue vaccine. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Growth, body composition and hematology of juvenile pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) fed increasing levels of ractopamine

The effects of four levels of dietary ractopamine (RAC) on growth, body composition and hematology of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus juveniles (103.6+/-3.3g) were studied. Fish were housed into 12 circular tanks of 1 m(3) - 15 fish per tank - and fed for 60 days with practical diets supplemented with 0; 10; 20 or 40mg RAC per kg of diet, in a totally randomized design trial (n=3). Fish fed diets containing up to 40mg RAC/kg diet for 60 days did not have improved growth or body composition parameters. There were no significant differences in hematocrit, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Plasma glucose and triglycerides were significantly smaller in fish fed with RAC; however no significant differences between RAC levels were detected. The inclusion of up to 40mg RAC/kg of diet did not improve growth and body composition, but influenced some hematological and biochemical parameters of juvenile pacu.

Sources of organic trace minerals in diets for weaned piglets

One hundred and twenty six piglets from a commercial genetic strain weaned at 21 days of age (6.11 +/- 0.42 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of supplementation levels of organic sources of trace minerals in the diets of weaned piglets on performance, occurrence of diarrhea, excretion of copper and zinc in the feces, and hematological parameters. A completely randomized block design was adopted, composed of six treatments (diets containing 100% of inorganic trace minerals premix at 3.00 kg/T; diets containing 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% of organic trace minerals premix, equivalent to 0; 0.75; 1.50; 2.25 or 3.00 kg/T, respectively), seven replicates and three animals per plot. During the experimental period (from 21 to 63 days of age), the increasing levels of organic trace minerals premix in the diets determined a quadratic effect on daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion (FC), percentage of hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), platelets (Pt), and a linear increase of Cu and Zn concentrations in feces. The comparison of means between the treatment with inorganic trace minerals premix and the other treatments showed that piglets fed diets without trace minerals premix had lower values of DWG, Ht, Hb, MCH, MCV, Pt and the worst FC value of piglets fed diets containing 25% of organic trace minerals premix presented lower values of Ht and Hb, in comparison with those fed diets with 100% of inorganic trace minerals premix. Inorganic trace minerals premix can be substituted by organic trace minerals premix at a lower level of inclusion in diets for weaned piglets.

Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive Protein (CRP) as severe systemic infection markers in febrile neutropenic adults

Abstract Background Procalcitonin (PCT) is an inflammatory marker that has been used as indicator of severe bacterial infection. We evaluated the concentrations of PCT as a marker for systemic infection compared to C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients neutropenic febrile. Methods 52 adult patients were enrolled in the study. Blood sample was collected in order to determine the serum concentrations of PCT, CRP and other hematological parameters at the onset of fever. The patients were divided into 2 groups, one with severe infection (n = 26) and the other in which the patients did not present such an infection (n = 26). Then PCT and CRP concentrations at the fever onset were compared between groups using non parametric statistical tests, ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results The mean of PCT was significantly higher in the group with severe infection (6.7 ng/mL versus 0.6 ng/mL – p = 0.0075) comparing with CRP. Serum concentrations of 0.245 ng/mL of PCT displayed 100% de sensitivity and 69.2% specificity. PCT concentrations of 2,145 ng/mL presented a likelihood ratio of 13, which was not observed for any concentration of CRP. Conclusion PCT seems to be an useful marker for the diagnosis of systemic infection in febrile neutropenic patients, probably better than CRP.

Dietary restriction abrogates antibody production induced by a DNA vaccine encoding the mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein

Abstract Background Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) is the most common type of malnutrition. PCM leads to immunodeficiency and consequent increased susceptibility to infectious agents. In addition, responses to prophylactic vaccines depend on nutritional status. This study aims to evaluate the ability of undernourished mice to mount an immune response to a genetic vaccine (pVAXhsp65) against tuberculosis, containing the gene coding for the heat shock protein 65 from mycobacteria. Methods Young adult female BALB/c mice were fed ad libitum or with 80% of the amount of food consumed by a normal diet group. We initially characterized a mice model of dietary restriction by determining body and spleen weights, hematological parameters and histopathological changes in lymphoid organs. The ability of splenic cells to produce IFN-gamma and IL-4 upon in vitro stimulation with LPS or S. aureus and the serum titer of specific IgG1 and IgG2a anti-hsp65 antibodies after intramuscular immunization with pVAXhsp65 was then tested. Results Dietary restriction significantly decreased body and spleen weights and also the total lymphocyte count in blood. This restriction also determined a striking atrophy in lymphoid organs as spleen, thymus and lymphoid tissue associated with the small intestine. Specific antibodies were not detected in mice submitted to dietary restriction whereas the well nourished animals produced significant levels of both, IgG1 and IgG2a anti-hsp65. Conclusion 20% restriction in food intake deeply compromised humoral immunity induced by a genetic vaccine, alerting, therefore, for the relevance of the nutritional condition in vaccination programs based on these kinds of constructs.

M-ficolin in children with cancer

M-ficolin (ficolin-1) is a complement-activating pattern-recognition molecule structurally related to mannan-binding lectin. It is produced by monocytes and neutrophils, and is found in serum. Its biological role is largely unknown. We assessed M-ficolin concentration in serum from pediatric cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore association of M-ficolin with clinical and hematological parameters, and to investigate whether the risk of chemotherapy-related infections was related to M-ficolin concentrations in serum.

Effect of oral D-tagatose on liver volume and hepatic glycogen accumulation in healthy male volunteers

Standard toxicity tests with high levels of D-tagatose showed a reversible enlargement of the liver in Sprague-Dawley rats without increase of liver enzymes. The present study tests the hypotheses that partial substitution of dietary sucrose by D-tagatose for 28 days increases the volume of human liver and the concentration of liver glycogen. Twelve healthy, male volunteers were studied in a double-blind crossover study with ingestion of D-tagatose (3x15 g daily) and placebo (sucrose, 3x15 g daily) for periods of 28 days each. Liver volume and glycogen concentration have been determined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy, which were accompanied by routine medical examinations. MR examinations before and after the treatments revealed no effects (P>0.05) of treatment, period, or subject for changes in liver volume or glycogen concentration. A steady increase of liver volumes, independent of the D-tagatose or placebo intake, has been observed over the study in parallel with a slight increase in body weight. The treatment with D-tagatose was not associated with clinically relevant changes of the examined clinico-chemical and hematological parameters, including liver enzymes and uric acid.