Marcadores fenotípicos para caracterização de caprinos com diferentes níveis de resistência às endoparasitoses gastrintestinais

The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize phenotypically goats with different levels of resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes. For a period of 93 days, 60 F2 goats originated from ½ Saanen and ½ Anglo- nubian animals were kept in the same area of pasture. Every seven days, feces and blood were collected for eggs per gram counts of feces (EPG) and cultures of feces and to determinate the number of eosinophils, packed cell volume and total plasma protein, respectively. On the same day, the animals were weighed and submitted to body score condition and FAMACHA method to worm control. Based on the average of EPG, the twelve animals with the highest average (susceptible group) and the twelve animals with the lowest average of EPG (resistant group) were selected, slaughtered and necropsied to recovery, counting andparasites identification. The resistant animals present lower EPG mean (P <0.0001) and 4.7 folder less parasites than susceptible animals. The resistant group presented higher mean packed cell volume (26.48%) and total plasma protein (6.24 g / dl) than susceptible one (24,04% e 5,82g/dl, respectively). The average number of eosinophils was similar in both groups The Haemonchus sp. was the most prevalent in the culture of feces, followed by Trischostrongylus sp. and Oesophagostomum sp.. The counting of nematodes in the abomasum of susceptible group was higher than in resistant one. The species identified were H. contortus in abomasums and T. colubriformis in small intestine. It can be concluded that EPG, packed cell volume and total plasma protein were useful phenotypic markers to identify animals as resistant and susceptible to gastrointestinal nematodes infections

Parâmetros parasitológicos e desempenho produtivo de ovinos naturalmente infectados com nematoides gastrintestinais mantidos em diferentes pastagens tropicais

The control of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants is usually done with anthelmintics. However, due to the emergence of ever-increasing parasite resistance to these drugs, looking up an alternative control parasites. One of this is sought in pasture management, as these are the sources of animals` infection by L3 infective larvae of helminths. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of sheep to natural infections by gastrointestinal nematodes grazing Panicum maximum cv. Massai and cv. Aruana, and Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã and cv. Marandu. The work was conducted from May to August-2011 with 48 male sheeps SRD versus Santa Inês breed. The animals were naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, and maintained in four different cultivars of tropical forage grasses, naturally contaminated with eggs and larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes. Each week the animals were phenotypically characterized by parasitological examinations (eggs per gram of feces - EPG, and feces culture), hematological (packed cell volume PCV, and blood eosinophil count) method to evaluate the Famacha© colorof ocular mucosa, and the measures of body condition score and weight. In pastures was made the recovery of infective larvae in order to determine the quantity of L3 present in the pasture. The experimental design was a randomized completed block with two replications and before the entry of animals in the paddocks, they have been wormed. The experiment was ended when the animals reached 32.0 kg liveweight, and then were slaughtered and autopsies performed for the recovery and identify parasites of the abomasum, small intestine and large intestine. Results were subjected to analysis of variance, t test and Tukey`s test. The animals kept on pastures of Marandu grass had lower EPG counts, higher percentage of packed cell volume and higher average weight; those who remained in the Piatã pasture had lower eosinophil counts per microliter of blood. About the Famacha©, the highest prevalence was Famacha 2, and the body condition score ranged between 2 and 3. The results of feces cultures and recovery of larvae on pastures showed the presence of larvae of Trichostrongylus sp., and at the necropsy too. This way, it was concluded that the grass cultivars influences the sheep parasite load; the Famacha, together with EPG and packed cell volume are important indicators for use in controlling gastrointestinal nematode infections. The Trichostrongylus sp. was the most prevalent parasite in sheep during the rainy season

Caracterização comportamental endócrina das fases ontogenéticas de sagüi comum (Callithrix jacchus)

The use of animal models in biomedical research is ever increasing. Models that use primates might also have advantages in terms of low maintenance costs and availability of biological knowledge, thereby favoring their use in different experimental protocols. Many current stress studies use animal models at different developmental stages since biological response differs during ontogeny. The aims of this study were to perform a detailed characterization of the developmental stages of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a very important animal model used in biomedical research. Ten subjects, 6 females and 4 males, were followed from birth to initial adult age (16 months). Behavioral and fecal collection for measurement of adrenal (cortisol) and sex (progesterone, estradiol and androgens) hormones took place twice a week during the first month of life and once a week for the remainder of the study. Behavior was observed for 30 minutes in the morning (0700-09:00h) and afternoon (12:00-14:00h). Behavioral profile showed changes during ontogeny, characterizing the 4 developmental stages and the respective phases proposed by Leão et al (2009).. Differentiation of developmental stages was considered using the onset, end, change and stabilization of the behavioral profile parental care (weaning and carrying), ingestion (solid food), affiliation (social grooming) and autogrooming, agonism (scent marking and piloerection) and play behavior and endocrine profile. Infant weaning and carrying terminated within the infantile stage and the peak of solid food ingestion was recorded in the infantile III phase. Receiving grooming was recorded earlier than grooming performed by the infant and autogrooming. The first episode of scent marking was recorded in the 4th week and it was the least variable behavior, in terms of its onset, which, in almost all animals, was between the 5th and 7th week of life. Solitary play and play with the twin started around the 7th week and play with other members of the group started 8 weeks later. Sex hormone secretion started to differ from basal levels between the 21st and 23rd week of life, in males and females, suggesting that puberty occurs simultaneously in both sexes. Basal cortisol, even at an early age, was higher in females than in males. However, cortisol was not correlated with the juvenile stage, as expected, since this stage corresponds to the transition between infancy and adult age and most behaviors are intensified by this time. The behavioral and endocrine profile of subadult animals did not differ from that of the adults. These results provide more detailed parameters for the developmental process of C. jacchus and open new perspectives for the use of experimental approaches focused on the intermediate ontogenetic phases of this species

Estudo da preferência manual durante o desenvolvimento ontogenético em sagüi comum ( Callithix jacchus)

The study of manual preference is a widely used approach to investigate cerebral laterality in nonhuman primates. However, in New World primates, little is known about the ontogenesis of hand use asymmetry, in both forced and spontaneous activities, as well as how they correlate with sexual hormones. Accordingly, a longitudinal study was conducted on the manual preference of 6 female and 4 male common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). The study included the record of forced tests to reach for the food using only one hand (forced activity) and activities such as grooming (auto and social), scratching, grasping the food and hanging, in weekly sessions from the infantile (4 months) to the early adult phase (15 months). Feces samples were also collected, at least once a week, to evaluate the level of gonadal steroids and their influence on these behaviors. In the forced activity, the results confirm the influence of the development period on manual preference during feeding, shown by the increase in lateral stability when grasping the food between the juvenile and adult phases. During this period, a sexual hormone effect on development was also observed, mainly of progesterone in females and androgen in males, but no difference between sexes was found. In the females, progesterone also influenced the manual preference index, with a proportional increase in the degree of manual asymmetry during puberty. With respect to spontaneous activities, the animals showed proportional use of both hands when scratching, hanging, holding the food and grooming. A positive correlation was also found between the preference for holding the food in forced activities and in spontaneous activities

Papel de sinais cromáticos na identificação de parceiros sexuais em sagüi comum (callithrix jacchus)

The literature concerning color vision shows a trichromatic advantage in detecting ripe fruits and young leaves, but there are contradictory results. There is also the suggestion of this type of vision being adapted to perceive socio-sexual signals. Indeed, Old World primates utilize the skin color of conspecifics as a factor of attraction. But in New World primates there is no record of a coloration signal in the body that can be utilized by other group members. The present study aims to: 1- test whether there is a relation between coloration of body regions and ovulatory cycle in female Callithrix jacchus; 2- Determine if this species uses visual signals to choose mates that are sexually receptive. We collected feces from six females during one month to quantify progesterone concentration by EIA. Body region coloration was measured using a portable spectrometer and modeled to obtain the quantum catch of each photoreceptor, the opponency channels and chromatic distance between the points in units of JND. We recorded the behavior of six males exposed to three pairs of females with a cycling and a non-cycling female in each pair using a transparent plexiglass apparatus. The color of different body regions presented a correlation between progesterone concentration and the yellow-blue and red-green visual axes, with the genitalia as the region showing the highest correlation. The visual axis more apt to see the color variations was the yellow-blue in dichromats, and in trichromats were the red-green to face, yellow-blue to abdomen and both chromatic axes to genitalia. There was no difference in the signal detectability between trichromats and dichromats, but the perception pattern differed between the phenotypes, with a better signal detection by the dichromat phenotype 562 and the trichromat phenotype 543/562. During the behavioral experiments males presented longer gaze duration in periods of experimental manipulation and gaze duration was always longer towards cycling females compared to non-cycling females. Male locomotion during experimental manipulation was greater than in the control only during the periovulatory period of the female, indicating greater excitement. The behavior of cycling females was more active than the behavior of the non-cycling ones regarding locomotion and touching of the plexiglass division of the apparatus. Male gaze duration to cycling females increased with decreasing progesterone concentration, but none of the coloration parameters was correlated to the mate preference exhibited. This coloration signal can transmit information to animals of the group about fertility of female. Different from the intense red of the genitalia swellings of Old World primates, marmoset female genitalia became more bluish-green in the fertile period. Males chose fertile females and were able to visually identify the periovulatory period of females. Choice is related to progesterone concentration, but our results do not show relation between coloration and mate preference. Maybe some behavioral measure is associated with the choice

Correlato hormonal do comportamento reprodutivo de machos de sagüi comum (Callithrix jacchus) em ambiente natural

Contrary to what is recorded for Callithrix jacchus females, the social interactions and hormonal profiles of males are less studied, and mainly in wild groups. The goal of this study was to investigate the behavioral and endocrine profiles of reproductive (RMs) and non-reproductive (NRs) common marmoset adult free-ranging males living in two natural groups (GC1 and GR2). The groups inhabited the area of the Escola Agrícola de Jundiaí/UFRN, located in Macaíba, Brazil. Fecal collection for cortisol and androgen measurement and behavioral monitoring was carried out during the active phase from April to September, 2005. For behavioral data collection the focal instantaneous method was used every 5 min, for a total of 11.563 records. Statistical analysis was performed using non parametric tests and p < 0.05. Besides showing diurnal variation, the frequency of affiliative behaviors was significantly higher for RMs toward reproductive females than for NRs. Affiliative interactions of RMs with both reproductive females and NRs were similar, probably related to pair bond formation and helper recruitment, respectively. Parental care was also similar for both RMs and NRs. Both androgen and cortisol levels increased after the birth of the infants, mainly in RMs. The longitudinal profile of androgens fluctuates more in response to agonistic encounters and sexual behavior than that of cortisol. The mean basal excretion of both hormones was significantly higher in RMs and seems to reflect their higher participation in territorial vigilance and mate guarding behaviors. Significant positive correlations were found between agonism and cortisol and androgen hormones. These results describe, for the first time, the behavioral and hormonal profiles of common marmosets living in free-ranging groups and suggest that reproductive males are more responsive both behaviorally and hormonally to social group dynamics

Eosinófilos sanguíneos e fecais em crianças infectadas por helmintos e protozoários

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Hematological and cerebrospinal fluid changes in cattle naturally and experimentally infected with the bovine herpesvirus 5

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Recalled and recorded bowel habits confirm early onset and high frequency of constipation in day-care nursery children

CONTEXTO: Mães relatam início precoce de constipação em crianças atendidas em clínicas de gastroenterologia. OBJETIVOS: Estudar o hábito intestinal em crianças de baixa idade na comunidade, para avaliar se início precoce da constipação é confirmado neste contexto e se há concordância entre o hábito intestinal relatado e o registrado prospectivamente. MÉTODOS: Obtiveram-se dados sobre evacuações de 57 crianças com idade 6.0-40.7 meses, mediante relato materno (questionário sobre características fecais predominantes) e, a seguir, foram registradas 1.934 evacuações em casa e na creche. O hábito intestinal foi classificado como adequado, constipação, diarréia funcional, outro hábito intestinal, conforme frequência evacuatória e proporção das características fecais (macias, duras e/ou que escorrem). Usaram-se dois critérios para classificar o hábito intestinal registrado, devido indefinição no ponto de corte para fezes duras na identificação de constipação em crianças: critério predominante e critério adulto, respectivamente com >50% e >25% de evacuações com consistência alterada. Usou-se estatística não-paramétrica e, para concordância entre hábito intestinal relatado e registrado, o índice Kappa. RESULTADOS: Constipação ocorreu em 17.5%, 10.5%, 19.3% das crianças, respectivamente pelo relato e pelo registro segundo critérios predominante e adulto. Constipação foi o hábito intestinal mais frequentemente relatado, versus 12.3% outro hábito intestinal. Só uma criança se classificou como tendo diarréia funcional (pelo critério adulto). Concordância entre o hábito intestinal relatado e o registrado foi razoável (fair) para constipação, pelos critérios predominante e adulto (K=0.28 e 0.24, respectivamente), mas apenas leve (slight) para os demais hábito intestinal (K <0.16). Entretanto, dados individuais indicaram melhor relação entre relato de constipação com o critério adulto do que com o critério predominante. CONCLUSÕES: Confirmou-se que constipação é frequente e de início precoce. Concordância razoável entre o hábito intestinal relatado e o registrado segundo os dois critérios indica que o relato materno é razoavelmente confiável para detectar constipação.

Intoxicação aguda por metano arsonato ácido monossódico em bovinos

O presente trabalho estudou a intoxicação acidental por arsênico em um lote de 24 vacas Girolando, as quais tiveram acesso a pasto pulverizado com herbicida à base de metano arsonato ácido monossódico (MSMA). Os bovinos apresentaram apatia, anorexia e diarreia profusa. Foram necropsiados na fazenda dois animais de 14 que morreram. Os principais achados macroscópicos foram úlceras abomasais e congestão renal. No exame microscópico, as principais lesões observadas foram abomasite e omasite necro-hemorrágica multifocal acentuada e, nos rins, necrose tubular difusa. As concentrações médias de arsênico em vacas com sinais clínicos foram 1,19±0,40, 10,52±2,16 e 76,06±48,37ppm no sangue, leite e fezes, respectivamente. Os níveis de arsênico encontrados em dois animais necropsiados foram 25,58 e 23,85ppm em fígado, e 28,71 e 35,94ppm em rins, respectivamente. No feto de uma vaca necropsiada, os níveis de arsênico mensurados no fígado e rim foram 9,0 e 8,92ppm, respectivamente. A concentração de arsênico no capim do piquete pulverizado foi 111,58ppm. No Brasil, o uso MSMA na composição de pesticidas e herbicidas é permitido somente para uso agrícola, mas não pecuário. A utilização desse ou de outros produtos à base de arsênico na pecuária pode causar altos índices de mortalidade no rebanho, além de diminuição da produção e contaminação de produtos de origem animal.

Occurrence of enteroparasites in day care centers in Botucatu (São Paulo State, Brazil) with emphasis on Cryptosporidium sp., Giardia duodenalis and Enterobius vermicularis

Verificou-se a prevalência dos enteroparasitas em 279 crianças (0 a 6 anos) de quatro creches municipais de Botucatu/SP. Foram coletadas três amostras de fezes de cada criança e processadas pelos métodos Hoffman, Faust e Ritchie e posterior coloração do esfregaço fecal pelos métodos de Auramina-O e Ziehl-Neelsen modificado para diagnóstico de Cryptosporidium sp. e método da fita gomada para diagnóstico de Enterobius vermicularis. Das crianças analisadas apresentaram-se parasitadas 53.40%, sendo que o parasita mais freqüente foi Giardia duodenalis (26.88%). Verificou-se associação significativa entre enteroparasitose, renda familiar, escolaridade materna e idade; quanto maior a renda e o grau escolar, menor a freqüência de enteroparasitas. Observou-se que G. duodenalis é mais prevalente em crianças de 0 a 4 anos e E. vermicularis em crianças entre três e quatro anos de idade. A elevada prevalência de enteroparasitas em creches sugere estrutura complexa em sua epidemiologia, onde fatores além do saneamento devem ser considerados.

Efeito da vacina contra coccidiose sobre a colonização de Salmonella enteritidis em frangos de corte tratados com microbiota cecal anaeróbia

Avaliou-se o efeito da vacina contra coccidiose sobre a habilidade da microbiota cecal anaeróbia (MCA), administrada por diferentes vias (aves tratadas), em proteger pintos de corte da colonização por Salmonella enteritidis (Se). Utilizaram-se 120 aves assim divididas: grupo A, pulverização de MCA em aves vacinadas contra coccidiose e desafiadas com Se, grupo B, inoculação endoesofágica de MCA em aves vacinadas e desafiadas, grupo C, MCA na água de bebida de aves vacinadas e desafiadas, grupo D, aves não tratadas, vacinadas e desafiadas, grupo E, aves não tratadas, não vacinadas e desafiadas e, grupo F, aves não tratadas, não vacinadas e não desafiadas (controle negativo). Utilizaram-se como parâmetros a colonização do trato digestivo por Se e sua presença nas fezes, bem como o peso corporal das aves, avaliados aos dois, sete e 12 dias após o desafio. Nas aves tratadas com MCA, especialmente por meio de pulverização e inoculação endoesofágica, a colonização do ceco por Se e sua presença nas fezes foram menores, mostrando que a ação da MCA contra a colonização de ceco e excreção fecal não foi afetada pelo uso da vacina contra coccidiose em pintos de corte e que a associação MCA/vacina contra coccidiose pode ser utilizada sem que haja comprometimento na eficácia da MCA. Nos grupos que não receberam MCA, vacinados ou não contra coccidiose, houve aumento da colonização cecal, bem como excreção fecal da amostra desafio. O ceco foi o local de maior presença e persistência da Se. O resultado de administração de MCA pela água de bebida não foi tão eficiente, mas somente este tratamento resultou em peso corporal das aves significativamente superior ao das aves do grupo não tratado, não vacinado e desafiado, indicando que a presença de salmonelas paratifóides não interfere na produtividade de frangos de corte. Não se observou diferença no peso das aves dos grupos D (vacinados contra coccidiose) e E (não vacinadas) desafiadas com Se, demonstrando que a vacina não influenciou negativamente o ganho de peso das aves desafiadas com Salmonela enteriditis.

Use of anaerobic cecal microflora, lactose and acetic acid for the protection of broiler chicks against experimental infection with Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis

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

Efeitos da suplementação de fitase sobre a disponibilidade aparente de Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Mn e Fe em alimentos vegetais para a tilápia-do-nilo

Cem juvenis de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus; PV = 100.0 ± 5.0 g) foram distribuídos em 10 tanques-rede com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da suplementação da enzima fitase (0, 1.000 e 2.000 UFA/kg) sobre a disponibilidade de minerais em alguns alimentos energéticos (milho, milho extrusado, farelo de trigo, farelo de arroz e farelo de sorgo) e protéicos (farelo de soja extrusado, farelo de soja, farelo de girassol, farelo de algodão e glúten de milho) utilizados na alimentação de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). Para determinação dos coeficientes de disponibilidade aparente (CDA) do cálcio (Ca), magnésio (Mg), zinco (Zn), cobre (Cu), ferro (Fe) e manganês (Mn), foram confeccionadas 31 rações, marcadas com 0,10% de óxido de crômio III uma referência (ração purificada) e 30 contendo os dez alimentos e os diferentes níveis de suplementação da enzima fitase. O CDA dos nutrientes foi calculado com base no teor de crômio da ração e das fezes. A fitase aumenta, nos vegetais, a disponibilidade do Mg, Cu, Zn e Mn, os quais apresentam tendência diferenciada, em razão do seu valor biológico e do nível de suplementação de enzima.

Disponibilidade aparente do fósforo em alimentos vegetais e suplementação da enzima fitase para tilápia-do-nilo

Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da fitase (0, 1.000 e 2.000 uf/kg) na disponibilidade aparente de P de cinco alimentos energéticos (milho, milho extrusado, farelo de trigo, farelo de arroz e sorgo baixo tanino) e cinco alimentos protéicos (soja extrusada, farelo de soja, farelo de girassol, farelo de algodão e glúten de milho) utilizando-se uma ração purificada como controle. Foram utilizados 100 juvenis (100,00 ± 5,00 g) de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) alojados em dez gaiolas para manejo de alimentação e coleta de fezes. Para cada alimento e cada nível de fitase avaliado, foram coletadas amostras em cinco gaiolas, totalizando cinco repetições por tratamento. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a suplementação de até 2.000 uf/kg de fitase não aumentou a disponibilidade aparente de P do farelo de trigo e do farelo de algodão. Entretanto, o nível de 1.000 uf/kg aumentou a disponibilidade aparente de P da soja extrusada e do farelo de girassol, enquanto o nível de 2.000 uf/kg proporcionou essa resposta para o farelo de milho, o milho extrusado, o sorgo baixo tanino, o farelo de arroz, o farelo de soja e o glúten de milho.