Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with infection by Neospora caninum of dairy cattle in the state of Alagoas, Brazil

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle from milk producing farms of the microregion of Batalha, state of Alagoas, Brazil, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with the infection. Blood samples were collected from 1,004 cattle of 17 farms for the serological investigation regarding the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies by the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction Technique (IMRT). From the total amount of samples analyzed, 77/1,004 (7.67%) were positive and 927/1,004 (92.33%) were negative. The logistical regression identified that cattle from farms without consortium breeding have an infection risk 6.33 (p<0.001; C.I. 2.89-13.10) times higher than cattle from farms with that type of breeding. Cattle from farms where the aborted fetuses are not adequately buried have an infection risk 3.04 (p<0.001; C.I. 1.64-5.63) times higher than cattle from farms with adequate destination of these fetuses. Infection by N. caninum occurs in cattle of the investigated region. The factors identified in our study can be used as risk indicators, so that control measures could be implemented to avoid infection by N. caninum in the herds of this region.

Some virulence genes of Escherichia coli isolated from cloacal swabs of healthy Alagoas Curassows (Pauxi mitu) in Brazil

Birds of the Cracidae family (curassows, guans, and chachalacas) are endemic of the Neotropics and 50 species are currently classified. Brazil has 22 species, seven of which are considered threatened. The Alagoas Curassow (Pauxi mitu) species is considered extinct in the wild; but about 120 birds are alive in captivity. Conservation of this species depends entirely on correct management. Health reports of both wildlife and captive curassows are rare. In this study the presence of Escherichia coli was evaluated in 23 healthy Alagoas Curassows from two private breeding centres. E. coli was isolated from cloacal swabs, and the presence of genes encoding cytotoxic necrotising factor 1 (cnf1), alpha-haemolysin (hly), aerobactin (iuc), serum resistance (iss) and the following adhesions: S fimbriae (sfa), pili associated with pyelonephritis (pap) and temperature-sensitive haemagglutinin (tsh) were investigated. E. coli was isolated from 78.3% (18/23) of the birds, and the percentage of curassows colonized by E. coli was similar between the two facilities. From the 22 E. coli isolates, 15 (68.2%) were positive for at least one virulence factor by PCR, and the most frequently found gene was iss (50%). No curassows had clinical signs of disease. Nevertheless, the presence of some E. coli strains may be a concern to the wildlife in captivity. Additional health surveillance studies are essential to guarantee successful conservation programmes for threatened cracids in Brazil.

A survey of the generation of ocean waves in a test basin

At present stage the analytical design of wave tolerance for floating structures and vessels is still imperfect due to the mutually complex and nonlinear phenomena between structures and waves. Wave tolerance design is usually carried out through iterative evaluations of results from model tests in a wave basin, and this is done in order to reach a final structural design. The wave generation has then become an important technology in the field of the coastal and ocean engineering. This paper summarizes the facilities of a test basin and a wave maker in Japan and also surveys the methodology of the generation of ocean waves in a test basin.

Alismatales from the upper and middle Araguaia river basin (Brazil)

The present study deals with a survey of the order Alismatales (except Araceae) in the upper and middle Araguaia River region located between the states of Mato Grosso and Goiás, Brazil. Field expeditions were carried out during the rainy and dry seasons. The route covered approximately 2,000 km and 41 aquatic environments were visited. Thirteen taxa, representing the families Alismataceae (nine), Hydrocharitaceae (three) and Najadaceae (one) were identified. Keys for the identification of families and species in field, brief diagnoses, schematic illustrations and relevant comments were elaborated based on field observations as well as on the analysis of the specimens collected.

Planktic Cyanobacteria from upper Tietê basin reservoirs, SP, Brazil

Considering the great ecological and sanitary importance of the cyanobacteria and the need of detailed information about these organisms in Brazilian water bodies, the present study aims at contributing towards the knowledge of the cyanobacterial flora of five reservoirs belonging to the upper Tietê Basin, São Paulo: Billings, Guarapiranga, Jundiaí, Pirapora, Ponte Nova and Taiaçupeba. In the past several years, these reservoirs have been submitted to severe environmental deterioration and have repeatedly presented cyanobacterial blooms, including those of toxic species. The samples were collected between 1997 and 2003 either with plankton net (20 µm mesh) or van Dorn's bottle, and preserved with lugol solution or formaldehyde. Some species were isolated and maintained in culture. Forty-eight species of cyanobacteria were identified, with predominance of the order Chroococcales (58%), followed by the orders Oscillatoriales (21%) and Nostocales (21%). Among the 48 studied species, 17 (35%) were considered potentially toxic. The occurrence and biodiversity of the cyanobacteria in each reservoir depend on the environmental conditions. Among the five water bodies, Billings Reservoir presented the most adequate situation for the development of a greater number of species (34), probably due to its high pH values (around 8). Pirapora Reservoir on the other hand, with highest conductivity (445.0 µS cm-1) and lowest Secchi depth values (0.2 m), presented the lowest cyanobacterial biodiversity (14 species).

Florística e estrutura da vegetação arbustivo-arbórea das Areias Brancas do Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana/Sergipe, Brasil

O Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana destaca-se pela diversidade fitofisionômica, dentre estas, uma conhecida localmente por Areias Brancas, uma vegetação aberta que varia de arbustiva-herbácea a arbustiva-arbórea e classificada por alguns autores como restinga ou cerrado, a depender do porte. Com intuito caracterizar e classificar esta fitofisionomia foram selecionadas duas áreas amostrais de Areias Brancas no Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana e construída uma listagem de acordo com o material depositado no Herbário ASE e de coletas adicionais. Para o estudo fitossociológico foi utilizado o método dos quadrantes errantes, amostrando todos os indivíduos com circunferência do tronco (> 15 cm) a altura do peito (1,30 m). Foi verificada nas Areias Brancas do Parque, a ocorrência de 193 espécies, distribuídas em 143 gêneros e 60 famílias, sendo, em sua maioria, representadas por espécies herbáceas e arbustivas. Destaca-se o alto número de espécies encontradas nas Areias Brancas quando comparado com estudos realizados em todo Parque Nacional. Há similaridade florística significativa entre as áreas amostradas, porém estruturalmente as duas áreas devem ser consideradas como diferentes fisionomias sucessionais pelas variações de densidade, altura e dominância. Mesmo possuindo espécies vegetais em comum, as Areias Brancas do Parque Nacional não podem ser classificadas como restinga ou cerrado por não possuir características de origem comuns a estas formações. As Areias Brancas devem ser consideradas como um refúgio ecológico, uma vegetação azonal derivada de condições especiais da formação do substrato.

Map of the Lower Geyser Basin of the Upper Madison River

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

Map of the Upper Geyser Basin on the Upper Madison River, Montana Terr.

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

Community-based transconjunctival marginal rotation for cicatricial trachoma in Indians from the Upper Rio Negro basin

The objective of the present study was to describe, for the first time in Brazil, the use by a non-ophthalmologist of a community-based marginal rotation procedure by a posterior approach in the indigenous population from the Upper Rio Negro basin. Seventy-three upper eyelids of 46 Indians (11 males and 35 females) with cicatricial upper eyelid entropion and trichiasis were operated in the Indian communities using a marginal rotational procedure by a posterior approach by a non-ophthalmologist physician who had general surgery experience but only an extremely short period (one week) of ophthalmic training. Subjects were reevaluated 6 months after surgery. Results were classified according to the presence and location of residual trichiasis and symptoms were assessed according to a three-level subjective scale (better, worse or no change). Fifty-six eyelids (76.7%) were free from trichiasis, whereas residual trichiasis was observed in 17 eyelids (23.3%) of 10 subjects. In these cases, trichiasis was either lateral or medial to the central portion of the lid. Of these 10 patients, only 4 reported that the surgery did not improve the irritative symptoms. We conclude that marginal rotation by a posterior approach is an effective and simple procedure with few complications, even when performed by non-specialists. Due to its simplicity the posterior approach is an excellent option for community-based upper eyelid entropion surgery.

Caracterização microbiológica e físico-química de leite pasteurizado destinado ao programa do leite no Estado de Alagoas

Atualmente 17 mini usinas fazem parte do Programa do Leite no estado de Alagoas, e através de um convênio firmado entre o Laboratório de Microbiologia de Alimentos da Universidade Federal de Alagoas e a Cooperativa de Laticínio de Alagoas - CPLA para monitorar a qualidade microbiológica e físico-química de leite pasteurizado tipo C, foram analisadas 348 amostras deste produto e avaliadas quanto à contagem de coliformes a 35 e 45 °C, quanto a bactérias aeróbias mesófilas, bactérias psicrotróficas e pesquisa de Salmonella sp., segundo metodologia convencional proposta pela Instrução Normativa nº 62/2003 do MAPA. Os parâmetros físico-químicos (acidez titulável em graus Dornic, estabilidade ao álcool, densidade a 15 °C, índice crioscópico, teor de gordura, extrato seco desengordurado e teor de proteína) foram avaliados segundo metodologia convencional recomendada pelo Instituto Adolfo Lutz. As análises de gordura, proteína e extrato seco desengordurado foram realizadas utilizando o aparelho Ekomilk, conforme recomendação do fabricante. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, 134 (38,5%) e 159 (45,7%) amostras apresentaram-se dentro dos padrões microbiológicos e físico-químicos, respectivamente, segundo a legislação em vigor. Salmonella sp. não foi detectada nas amostras analisadas. Recomenda-se a implantação de programas de boas práticas de fabricação e análise de perigos e pontos críticos de controle para assegurar a inocuidade deste produto.

Chemical markers and antifungal activity of red propolis from Sergipe, Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze the physicochemical properties and antifungal activities of the red propolis samples from Sergipe, Brazil, and also evaluate their variability throughout the year. The characterization of the hydroalcoholic extract (HPE) of the red propolis samples was performed monthly from October 2009 to September 2010. The concentrations of the bioactive compounds varied during the year, but their chromatographic profiles were similar. Four compounds were identified by comparison with authentic standards. Formononetin was one of the predominant compounds in all propolis extracts. In our study, it was observed that all the propolis samples inhibited the growth of Candida species. Multivariate analysis confirmed the variations in chemical composition and color of the HPEs throughout the year. The biological activities of the HPEs were statistically significant (p<0.05), and all samples exhibited antifungal properties.

1.° Apologia Thomae Basin, Archiepiscopi Caesareensis, anteà Episcopi Lexoviensis, edita anno 1475. ibi multa reperias ad regnum Ludovici XI. Francorum Regis, pertinentia. — 2.° Breviloquium peregrinationis et mansionum XLII. quas in deserto hujus saeculi nequam, habuit Thomas Basin, ambulans per fidem ad speciem et veram terram promissionis : ab eodem editum anno 1488. — 3.° Ejusdem epistola ad Davidem, Episcopum Trajectensem, contra libellum cujusdam Cartusiensis de Remonda, scripta anno 1486. — 4.° Ejusdem libellus de optimo ordine forenses lites audiendi et diffiniendi, ad DD. Petrum de Brezé, magnum Senescallum Normanniae : editus anno 1455.

Colbertinus