Spittlebug impacts on sugarcane quality and ethanol production

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

Fermentative and microbiological profile of marandu-grass ensiled with citrus pulp pellets

Forragens com alta umidade e baixa concentração de carboidratos solúveis, como é o caso dos capins tropicais, podem conduzir a condições desfavoráveis para a produção de silagens de qualidade satisfatória. Esse estudo objetivou conhecer o perfil fermentativo e microbiológico de silagens de capim-Marandu [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst ex. A. Rich) Stapf cv. Marandu], colhido com 58 dias de crescimento, aditivadas com polpa cítrica peletizada (PCP),. Foram utilizados silos experimentais de PVC adaptados com válvula do tipo Bunsen, tendo a silagem atingindo densidade de 900 kg m-3. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por três proporções de PCP (0, 50 e 100 g kg-1 em relação a matéria natural) e sete tempos de abertura após a ensilagem (1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 e 56 dias). A presença de PCP aumentou os teores de CHOs em 15 a 20%, reduziu o pH (5,3 para 4,2) e diminuiu as concentrações de N-NH3. Houve crescimento da população de enterobactérias somente durante o primeiro dia de fermentação (média 3 UFC g-1), pequeno desenvolvimento de clostrideos (média 0,5 UFC g-1) e dominância de bactérias homo em relação às heterofermentativas, para os três tratamentos estudados. A adição de polpa cítrica durante a ensilagem do capim-Marandu foi benéfica, podendo ser recomendada desde que haja benefício econômico na sua adoção.

MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION of A HEMODIALYSIS CENTER WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The microbiological monitoring of the water used for hemodialysis is extremely important, especially because of the debilitated immune system of patients suffering from chronic renal insufficiency. To investigate the occurrence and species diversity of bacteria in waters, water samples were collected monthly from a hemodialysis center in upstate São Paulo and tap water samples at the terminal sites of the distribution system was sampled repeatedly (22 times) at each of five points in the distribution system; a further 36 samples were taken from cannulae in 19 hemodialysis machines that were ready for the next patient, four samples from the reuse system and 13 from the water storage system. To identify bacteria, samples were filtered through 0.22 mu m-pore membranes; for mycobacteria, 0.45 mu m pores were used. Conventional microbiological and molecular methods were used in the analysis. Bacteria were isolated from the distribution system (128 isolates), kidney machine water (43) and reuse system (3). Among these isolates, 32 were Gram-positive rods, 120 Gram-negative rods, 20 Gram-positive cocci and 11 mycobacteria. We propose the continual monitoring of the water supplies in hemodialysis centers and the adoption of effective prophylactic measures that minimize the exposure of these immunodeficient patients to contaminated sources of water.

Microbiological assay for gatifloxacin in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple, sensitive and specific agar diffusion bioassay for the antibacterial gatifloxacin was developed using a strain of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372 as the test organism. Gatifloxacin could be measured in tablets and raw material at concentration ranging 4-16 mu g ml(-1). The calibration graph for gatifloxacin was linear from 4.0 to 16.0 mu g ml(-1). A prospective validation of the method demonstrated that the method was linear (r(2) = 0.9993), precise (R.S.D. = 1.14%) and accurate. The results confirmed its precision and did not differ significantly from others methods described in the literature. The validated method yielded good results in terms of the range, linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and recovery. We concluded that the microbiological assay is satisfactory for in vitro quantification of the antibacterial activity of gatifloxacin. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Breed and season influence on milk quality parameters and in mastitis occurrence

Os objetivos do presente estudo foram avaliar a performance das raças Jersey e Holandesa em diferentes condições de pluviosidade (estações seca e chuvosa) através do monitoramento de aspectos relacionados com a mastite subclínica (contagem de células somáticas, isolamento microbiológico, tipo de patógeno isolado), qualidade do leite (lactose, proteína, gordura e sólidos totais) e produção (media da produção de leite) de ambas as raças. O estudo foi conduzido em propriedade leiteira localizada no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Oito visitas foram realizadas a propriedade, quatro em período de alta pluviosidade e outro em período de baixa pluviosidade. Amostras de leite foram colhidas de todos os animais para contagem eletrônica de células somáticas e determinação dos principais componentes do leite (proteína, gordura, sólidos totais, lactose). Gordura, proteína, sólidos totais e produção leiteira foram influenciadas tanto pela raça como pela estação, apresentando tendências similares para ambas raças em ambas estações. A contagem de células somáticas (CCS) apresentou resultados similares para ambas as raças. Vacas holandesas com infecção intramamária (IIM) apresentaram um maior aumento na CCS quando comparadas as vacas Jersey (P<0.001). Na estação seca, 53 animais tiveram IIM em pelo menos um mês do estudo. Destes, 32 eram da raça Holandesa e 21 da raça Jersey. Na estação chuvosa, 65 animais possuíram infecção intramamária, dos quais 43 eram da raça Holandesa e 22 da raça Jersey. A frequência de casos de IIM foi maior na estação chuvosa em comparação à estação seca. Vacas Jersey apresentaram uma menor chance de desenvolver sinais e sintomas de IIM em relação às vacas holandesas na estação chuvosa (razão de chances=0.52). O maior numero de casos de IIM na estação chuvosa pode ter contribuído para uma menor taxa de lactose no leite para ambas as raças, sendo que esta pode ser considerada como um indicador do status de IIM. Existiu uma prevalência de patógenos contagiosos durante todo o experimento. O modelo estatístico aplicado mostrou que patógenos ambientais foram mais frequentemente isolados da raça Jersey, independentemente do período do estudo. Aparentemente existem diferenças na resposta imune das raças Jersey e Holandesa.

Effect of the litter material on drinking water quality in broiler production

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A combination of clinical and microbiological management of generalized aggressive periodontitis in primary teeth. A case report

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 310316 Background. Generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP) in primary teeth is a rare periodontal disease that occurs during or soon after eruption of the primary teeth. An association with systemic diseases is a possibility. Case Report. A 4-year-old Brazilian girl presented with GAP involving the entire primary dentition. The patient and her parents and sister were subjected to microbiological testing to identify the microorganisms involved in the disease. The patient underwent tooth extraction to eradicate the disease and received a prosthesis for the restoration of masticatory function. After the permanent teeth erupted, fixed orthodontic appliances were place to restore dental arch form and occlusion. Conclusions. The results show the importance of an early diagnosis of GAP and of a multidisciplinary approach involving laboratory and clinical management to treat the disease and to restore masticatory function, providing a better quality of life for patients.

Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of the intertidal sediments of Pereque Beach, Guaruja (SP), Brazil

Physical and chemical characteristics of intertidal sediments and their relationships with bacteria and cyanobacteria, were analyzed at four stations at Pereque Beach. Granulometric analysis showed that Pereque beach has sediment that is classified as sand. The lowest value of the sediment C/N rates (6.08), mainly due to a higher concentration of organic nitrogen, was found at the northern part of Pereque Beach, where organic matter of marine source was more prominent. In this area, density (9.6 x 106 cells cm(-3)), biomass (1992.04 ngC cm(-3)) and activity of bacteria were higher than at the southern end. In contrast, cyanobacteria density varied from 2.0 to 4.0 x 10(5) cells cm(-3), with biomass and total chlorophyll a of the sediment being higher at the southern part, where there are water input from Pereque River and higher organic matter of continental origin. The variability in the microbial population is discussed in the light of the sediment granulometry, organic matter quality, fresh water inflow and pollution. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microbiological assay for the determination of azithromycin in ophthalmic solutions

The validation of a simple, sensitive and specific agar diffusion bioassay, applying cylinder-plate method, for the determination of the antibiotic azithromycin in ophthalmic solutions is described. Using a strain of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372 as the test organism, azithromycin at concentrations ranging from 50.0 to 200.0 μg·mL-1 could be measured in 1.666 7 mg·mL-1 ophthalmic solutions. A prospective validation of the method showed that the method was linear (r = 0.999 9) and precise (RSD = 0.70) and accurate (it measured the added quantities). The results obtained by bioassay method could be statistically calculated by linear parallel model and by means of regression analysis and verified using analysis of variance (ANOVA). We conclude that the microbiological assay is satisfactory for quantification of azithromycin in ophthalmic solutions.

Development and validation of a microbiological agar assay for determination of orbifloxacin in pharmaceutical preparations

Orbifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and belongs to the third generation of quinolones. Regarding the quality control of medicines, a validated microbiological assay for determination of orbifloxacin in pharmaceutical formulations has not as yet been reported. For this purpose, this paper reports the development and validation of a simple, sensitive, accurate and reproducible agar diffusion method to quantify orbifloxacin in tablet formulations. The assay is based on the inhibitory effect of orbifloxacin upon the strain of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 used as test microorganism. The results were treated statistically by analysis of variance and were found to be linear (r = 0.9992) in the selected range of 16.0-64.0 μg/mL, precise with relative standard deviation (RSD) of repeatability intraday = 2.88%, intermediate precision RSD = 3.33%, and accurate (100.31%). The results demonstrated the validity of the proposed bioassay, which allows reliable orbifloxacin quantitation in pharmaceutical samples and therefore can be used as a useful alternative methodology for the routine quality control of this medicine. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Validation of microbiological assay for determination of cefuroxime in injectable preparations

The validation of a microbiological assay, applying agar diffusion method for determination of the active of cefuroxime in power for injection, is described. Using a strain of Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 as the test organism, cefuroxime was measured in concentrations ranging from 30.0 to 120.0 μg/mL. The method validation showed that it is linear (r = 0.9999), precise (relative standard deviation = 0.37%) and accurate (it measured the added quantities). Microbiological assay is satisfactory for quantitation of cefuroxime in powder for injection and the validity of the proposed bioassay, which is a simple and a useful alternative methodology for cefuroxime determination in routine quality control.

Development and validation of a successful microbiological agar assay for determination of ceftriaxone sodium in powder for injectable solution

Ceftriaxone sodium is a cephalosporin with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and belongs to the third generation of cephalosporins. Regarding the quality control of medicines, a validated microbiological assay for the determination of ceftriaxone sodium in powder for injectable solution has not been reported yet. This paper reports the development and validation of a simple, accurate and reproducible agar diffusion method to quantify ceftriaxone sodium in powder for injectable solution. The assay is based on the inhibitory effect of ceftriaxone sodium on the strain of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9371 IAL 1027 used as test microorganism. The results were treated statistically by analysis of variance and were found to be linear (r = 0.999) in the selected range of 15.0-60.0 μg/mL, precise with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of repeatability intraday = 1.40%, accurate (100.46%) and robust with a RSD lower than 1.28%. The results demonstrated the validity of the proposed bioassay, which allows reliable ceftriaxone sodium quantitation in pharmaceutical samples and therefore can be used as a useful alternative methodology for the routine quality control of this medicine. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Development and validation of a microbiological assay for determination of chlorhexidine digluconate in aqueous solution

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Seasonal effects of wastewater to the water quality of the Caeté river estuary, Brazilian Amazon

A situação socioeconômica de Bragança depende principalmente dos recursos biológicos estuarinos e marinhos, que são influenciados pelos ciclos de marés e climatologia. Coletas oceanográficas (com medidas de variáveis hidrológicas, hidro-dinâmicas e microbiológicas) foram realizadas na área mais urbanizada do estuário do Caeté, para caracterizar a qualidade das águas no setor estudado. Durante o período seco, o estuário foi mais eutrófico e apresentou os maiores valores de temperatura (30,5°C em Out./06), salinidade (17 psu em Fev./07), pH (8,24 em Fev./07) e coliformes fecais (>1000 MNP/ 100 ml em Dez./06 e Fev./07). As espécies fitoplanctô-nicas Cyclotella meneghiniana, Coscinodiscus centralis e outras espécies r-estrategistas também foram observadas. A falta de saneamento básico foi responsável pela contaminação local, especialmente durante o período seco, quando o esgoto foi lançado mais concentrado no estuário, mostrando a influência humana na redução da qualidade da água estuarina estudada. A pesca é considerada uma das principais atividades econômicas do município de Bragança e, portanto, esta contaminação poderá afetar negativamente a qualidade ambiental deste ecossistema amazônico.

Evaluation of seafood quality market in Baixada Santista/SP

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