Comparativo de indicadores econômicos da atividade leiteira de sistemas intensivos de produção de leite no Estado de Minas Gerais

A produção de leite do Brasil caminha para sistemas de produção com animais de maior produtividade. Entre esses sistemas, o de maior ocorrência é o confinamento total, seguido pelo semiconfinamento. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, estimar e comparar alguns indicadores econômicos de fazendas leiteiras com alto volume de produção diária, em regimes de semiconfinamento e de confinamento total, localizadas no Estado de Minas Gerais. Foram utilizados os dados coletados entre março de 2008 e fevereiro de 2009, em seis sistemas de produção de leite, sendo três em semiconfinamento e três em confinamento total. Utilizou-se a metodologia do custo total e custo operacional, na análise de rentabilidade. Na análise econômica, por apresentarem resultados positivos, os sistemas de produção em semiconfinamento tiveram viabilidade econômica e condições de produzir no curto, médio e longo prazos, com consequente capitalização dos pecuaristas; enquanto os sistemas de produção em confinamento total apresentaram margem bruta negativa, isso indica que os produtores estão se descapitalizando e se endividando, pois as receitas auferidas não foram suficientes para pagar sequer as despesas operacionais efetivas.

Impacto econômico da implantação das boas práticas agropecuárias relacionadas com a qualidade do leite

Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar o impacto econômico da implantação das boas práticas agropecuárias (BPA), relacionadas com a qualidade higiênica sanitária do leite. A pesquisa consistiu na simulação de nove cenários, compostos por três diferentes níveis de BPA para a melhoria da qualidade do leite (baixo, médio e alto), em três diferentes situações (somente aplicação das BPAs; aplicação das BPAs e construção da sala do leite; e aplicação das BPAs, construção da sala do leite e aquisição do tanque de expansão). O rebanho leiteiro hipotético constava de 30 vacas em lactação, com média de dez litros de leite/animal/dia, ordenhadas duas vezes ao dia, em ordenhadeira tipo "balde ao pé". A receita consistiu na média da bonificação/penalização, praticadas por dez laticínios da região sudeste, considerando-se diferentes intervalos de contagem de células somáticas (CCS) e contagem bacteriana total (CBT). A inclusão das BPAs para a melhoria da qualidade do leite, quando praticadas em seu nível máximo, mostrou-se com rápido retorno do capital investido (payback) e ótima taxa interna de retorno (TIR) apenas para aqueles pecuaristas que já possuíam a sala do leite e o tanque de expansão.

Influência da escala de produção no impacto econômico da mastite em rebanhos bovinos leiteiros

Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram analisar e quantificar a influência da escala de produção no impacto econômico da mastite em rebanhos bovinos leiteiros. A pesquisa foi realizada, por meio de simulação, no sistema computacional CU$TO MASTITE, com rebanhos leiteiros de 50, 100 e 150 vacas em lactação. Foram consideradas como de prevenção as despesas com monitoramento (cultura e antibiograma, CCST e CCSI), pré e pós dipping, vacinação, tratamento de vacas secas e manutenção de ordenhadeira. Como medidas curativas, consideraram-se os tratamentos com casos clínicos, cuja percentagem foi de 7% das vacas em lactação. O impacto da mastite foi estimado como sendo o total de perdas, acrescido das despesas com prevenção e tratamento de casos clínicos. O aumento da escala de produção resultou em menor impacto econômico da mastite por vaca em lactação. Quando se analisou o efeito da escala de produção, os maiores responsáveis pelo impacto econômico foram, em ordem decrescente, as perdas com descarte de leite, o tratamento curativo de animais acometidos clinicamente e a redução da produção de leite. As despesas com tratamento preventivo representaram, no máximo, 11,7% do impacto econômico, o que demonstra vantagens em investir nessa prática, que irá contribuir significativamente para diminuição do impacto econômico da mastite

Investigação da bracelose em bovinos e em consumidores humanos do leite

O uso do leite "in natura" por certos consumidores, tem se constituído num sério problema de Saúde Pública. Desta forma, foi efetuado um levantamento da situação dos rebanhos bovinos na região de Ribeirão Preto, SP (Brasil) para se verificar a prevalência de brucelose. A partir da detecção de um rebanho leiteiro brucélico foram investigados os consumidores humanos do leite suspeito, segundo algumas características, tais como: sexo, cor, idade, ocupação, estado civil, tempo de residência na área, tempo de uso do leite suspeito, tipo de leite ingerido, quantidade de ingestão diária do leite, condições de saúde, uso de medicamentos e morbidades referidas na época do estudo. Foram feitas provas sorológicas para diagnóstico de brucelose no rebanho leiteiro e na população humana consumidora do leite. Observou-se que cerca de 8% das vacas em lactação na época do levantamento foram consideradas brucélicas. Entre os consumidores não se observou casos de sorologia positiva para brucelose. Concluiu-se que: apesar da importância da brucelose como zoonose, ela continua endêmica no nosso meio criatório; a fervura do leite é uma medida eficaz e deve ser preconizada nas regiões onde o leite é consumido "in natura", como medida de escolha em saúde pública.

Occupational exposure to formaldehyde: effects of years of exposure in the frequency of micronucleus

Formaldehyde: an important industrial compound used in the manufacture of synthetic resins and chemical compounds such as lubricants and adhesives; also applied as a disinfectant, preservative and in cosmetics productions; relevant workplace exposure to FA also occurs in anatomy, pathology and in mortuaries; classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans and experimental animals; manifold in vitro studies indicated that FA can induce genotoxic effects in proliferating cultured mammalian cells. Aim of the study: to evaluate if years of exposure induced a genotoxic biomarkers increase, namely MN in lymphocytes and buccal cells, in workers occupationally exposed to FA (factory and pathology anatomy laboratory).

Micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes in formaldehyde occupationally exposed workers

Formaldehyde (CH2O) the most simple and reactive of all aldehydes, is a colorless, reactive and readily polymerizing gas at normal temperature. It has a pungent, suffocating odour that is recognized by most human subjects at concentrations below 1 ppm. According to the Report on Carcinogens, formaldehyde (FA) ranks 25th in the overall U.S. chemical production with more than 11 billion pounds (5 million tons) produced each year. Is an important industrial compound that is used in the manufacture of synthetic resins and chemical compounds such as lubricants and adhesives. It has also applications as a disinfectant, preservative and is used in cosmetics. Estimates of the number of persons who are occupationally exposed to FA indicate that, at least at low levels, may occur in a wide variety of industries. The occupational settings with most extensive use of formaldehyde is in the production of resins and in anatomy and pathology laboratories. Several studies reported a carcinogenic effect in humans after inhalation of FA, in particular an increased risk for nasopharyngeal cancer. Nowadays, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies FA as carcinogenic to humans (group 1), on the basis of sufficient evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in experimental animals. Manifold in vitro studies clearly indicated that FA is genotoxic. FA induced various genotoxic effects in proliferatin cultured mammalian cells. A variety of evidence suggests that the primary DNA alterations after FA exposure are DNA-protein crosslinks (DPX). Incomplete repair of DPX can lead to the formation of mutations.

Risk assessment in occupational exposure to formaldehyde: differences between anatomy and pathology laboratories and formaldehyde-resins production

Formaldehyde (CH2O), the most simple and reactive of all aldehydes, is colorless, and readily polymerizing gas at normal temperature. The most extensive use is in production of resins and has an important application as a disinfectant and preservative, reason why relevant workplace exposure may also occur in pathology and anatomy laboratories and in mortuaries. A study was carried out in Portugal, in a formaldehyde production resins factory and in 10 pathology and anatomy laboratories. It was applied a risk assessment methodology based on Queensland University proposal that permitted to perform risk assessment for each activity developed in a work station. This methodology was applied in 83 different activities developed in the laboratories and in 18 activities of the factory. Also, Micronucleus Test was performed in lymphocytes from 30 factory workers and 50 laboratories workers.

Occupational exposure to formaldehyde in anatomy and pathology laboratories: differences between exposure groups?

Formaldehyde, also known as formalin, formal and methyl aldehydes, is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling gas. It has an important application in embalming tissues and that result in exposures for workers in the pathology anatomy laboratories and mortuaries. To perform exposure assessment is necessary define exposure groups and in this occupational setting the technicians and pathologists are the most important groups. In the case of formaldehyde, it seems that health effects are more related with peak exposures than with exposure duration.

Occupational exposure to aflatoxin (AFB1) in poultry production

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been recognized to cause cancer in the humans liver. Epidemiological and laboratory evidence also point towards the respiratory system as target for carcinogenesis. Exposure occurs mainly through food chain but inhalation represent an additional route of exposure. Agricultural workers have the greatest risk of occupational exposure due to their exposition to airborne aflatoxin through inhalation of dust.

Fungal contamination of poultries litter: a public health problem

Exposure to certain fungi can cause human illness. Fungi cause adverse human health effects through three specific mechanisms: generation of a harmful immune response (e.g., allergy or hypersensitivity pneumonitis); direct infection by the fungal organism; by toxic-irritant effects from mold byproducts, such as mycotoxins. In Portugal there is an increasingly industry of large facilities that produce whole chickens for domestic consumption and only few investigations have reported on fungal contamination of the poultry litter. The material used for poultry litter is varied but normally can be constitute by: pine shavings; sawdust of eucalyptus; other types of wood; peanut; coffee; sugar cane; straw; hay; grass; paper processed. Litter is one of the most contributive factors to fungal contamination in poultries. Spreading litter is one of the tasks that normally involve higher exposure of the poultry workers to dust, fungi and their metabolites, such as VOC’s and mycotoxins. After being used and removed from poultries, litter is ploughed into agricultural soils, being this practice potentially dangerous for the soil environment, as well for both humans and animals. The goal of this study was to characterize litter’s fungal contamination and also to report the incidence of keratinophilic and toxigenic fungi.

Fungal and microbial volatile organic compounds exposure assessment in a waste sorting plant

In the management of solid waste, pollutants over a wide range are released with different routes of exposure for workers. The potential for synergism among the pollutants raises concerns about potential adverse health effects, and there are still many uncertainties involved in exposure assessment. In this study, conventional (culture-based) and molecular real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) methodologies were used to assess fungal air contamination in a waste-sorting plant which focused on the presence of three potential pathogenic/toxigenic fungal species: Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, and Stachybotrys chartarum. In addition, microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) were measured by photoionization detection. For all analysis, samplings were performed at five different workstations inside the facilities and also outdoors as a reference. Penicillium sp. were the most common species found at all plant locations. Pathogenic/toxigenic species (A. fumigatus and S. chartarum) were detected at two different workstations by RTPCR but not by culture-based techniques. MVOC concentration indoors ranged between 0 and 8.9 ppm (average 5.3 ± 3.16 ppm). Our results illustrated the advantage of combining both conventional and molecular methodologies in fungal exposure assessment. Together with MVOC analyses in indoor air, data obtained allow for a more precise evaluation of potential health risks associated with bioaerosol exposure. Consequently, with this knowledge, strategies may be developed for effective protection of the workers.

Fungal contamination of poultry litter: a public health problem

Although numerous studies have been conducted on microbial contaminants associated with various stages related to poultry and meat products processing, only a few reported on fungal contamination of poultry litter. The goals of this study were to (1) characterize litter fungal contamination and (2) report the incidence of keratinophilic and toxigenic fungi presence. Seven fresh and 14 aged litter samples were collected from 7 poultry farms. In addition, 27 air samples of 25 litters were also collected through impaction method, and after laboratory processing and incubation of collected samples, quantitative colony-forming units (CFU/m3) and qualitative results were obtained. Twelve different fungal species were detected in fresh litter and Penicillium was the most frequent genus found (59.9%), followed by Alternaria (17.8%), Cladosporium (7.1%), and Aspergillus (5.7%). With respect to aged litter, 19 different fungal species were detected, with Penicillium sp. the most frequently isolated (42.3%), followed by Scopulariopsis sp. (38.3%), Trichosporon sp. (8.8%), and Aspergillus sp. (5.5%). A significant positive correlation was found between litter fungal contamination (CFU/g) and air fungal contamination (CFU/m3). Litter fungal quantification and species identification have important implications in the evaluation of potential adverse health risks to exposed workers and animals. Spreading of poultry litter in agricultural fields is a potential public health concern, since keratinophilic (Scopulariopsis and Fusarium genus) as well as toxigenic fungi (Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium genus) were isolated.

Occupational exposure to aflatoxin (AFB1) in poultry production

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been recognized to produce cancer in human liver. In addition, epidemiological and laboratory studies demonstrated that the respiratory system was a target for AFB1. Exposure occurs predominantly through the food chain, but inhalation represents an additional route of exposure. The present study aimed to examine AFB1 exposure among poultry workers in Portugal. Blood samples were collected from a total of 31 poultry workers from six poultry farms. In addition, a control group (n = 30) was included comprised of workers who undertook administrative tasks. Measurement of AFB1 in serum was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For examining fungi contamination, air samples were collected through an impaction method. Air sampling was obtained in pavilion interior and outside the premises, since this was the place regarded as the reference location. Using molecular methods, toxicogenic strains (aflatoxin-producing) were investigated within the group of species belonging to Aspergillus flavus complex. Eighteen poultry workers (59%) had detectable levels of AFB1 with values ranging from <1 ng/ml to4.23 ng/ml and with a mean value of 2 ± 0.98ng/ml. AFB1 was not detected in the serum sampled from any of the controls. Aspergillus flavus was the fungal species third most frequently found in the indoor air samples analyzed (7.2%) and was the most frequently isolated species in air samples containing only Aspergillus genus (74.5%). The presence of aflatoxigenic strains was only confirmed in outdoor air samples from one of the units, indicating the presence of a source inside the building in at least one case. Data indicate that AFB1 inhalation represents an additional risk in this occupational setting that needs to be recognized, assessed, and prevented.

Exposure to microbial volatile organic compounds in a waste-handling unit

The production of MVOC by fungi has been taken into account especially from the viewpoint of indoor pollution with microorganisms but the relevance of fungal metabolites in working environments has not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of this study was to assess exposure to MVOCs in a waste-handling unit. It was used Multirae equipment (RAE Systems) to measured MVOCs concentration with a 10.6 eV lamps. The measurements were done near workers nose and during the normal activities. All measurements were done continuously and had the duration of 5 minutes at least. It was consider the higher value obtained in each measurement. In addition, for knowing fungi contamination, five air samples of 50 litres were collected through impaction method at 140 L/minute, at one meter tall, on to malt extract agar with the antibiotic chloramphenicol (MEA). MVOCs results range between 4.7 ppm and 8.9 ppm in the 6 locations consider. These results are eight times higher than normally obtained in indoor settings. Considering fungi results, two species were identified in air, being the genera Penicillium found in all the samples in uncountable colonies and Rhizopus only in one sample (40 UFC/m3). These fungi are known as MVOCs producers, namely terpenoids, ketones, alcohols and others. Until now, there has been no evidence that MVOCs are toxicologically relevant, but further epidemiological research is necessary to elucidate their role on human’s health, particularly in occupational settings where microbiological contamination is common. Additionally, further research should concentrate on quantitative analyses of specific MVOCs.

Números curiosos: o favorito 7 (parte I)

O número 7 é, sem dúvida, um dos números mais admirados de todos os tempos. Hipócrates, que viveu na Antiga Grécia e é considerado o “pai da medicina”, defendeu a grande influência deste número sobre todos os seres, por ser o promotor da vida e a fonte de todas as mudanças, referindo-se ao facto de a Lua mudar de fase, aproximadamente, de sete em sete dias. O curioso é que este fenómeno está na origem das nossas semanas de sete dias. (...) Há outros aspetos curiosos a ter em conta como, por exemplo, as sete vacas do sonho do faraó (Génesis 41:1-2), os sete anos para os escravos hebreus adquirirem a liberdade (Êxodo 21:2), o sétimo ano, após seis anos de cultivo, em que se concedia descanso à terra (Levítico 25:4), as sete tranças de Sansão (Juízes 16:13), os “outros sete espíritos” que se juntam ao espírito impuro (Mateus 12:45) e os sete espíritos malignos de que Maria Madalena foi curada (Lucas, 8:2). (...) Muitas pessoas consideram que o 7 é o seu número da sorte. Exemplo disso é o conhecido futebolista português Cristiano Ronaldo, que não abdica de jogar com a camisola 7. Curiosamente, a primeira vez que lhe atribuíram uma camisola com este número não foi por opção própria. (...)