Avaliação da carga parasitária de helmintos e protozoários em bezerros manejados em sistema orgânico

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of helminths eggs and protozoan oocysts elimination in calves' feces kept in organic system production. The study was conducted from January 2008 to December 2009. Coproparasitological examinations were carried biweekly of 18 calves in pastures rotating system on Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) Agrobiology. The egg counting average data had been submitted to the Kruskal Willis test and the larvae counting percentile values to the qui-square test. The average counting of eggs per gram of faces (EGF) varied of 250 the 800, characterizing low and moderate infection. Animals with inferior age the six months had presented superior results of EGF (P <.05) to the ones of between six and twelve months age. The biggest degrees of infection had been observed in the late spring and summer. In the fecal examinations was identified the following helminths: Haemonchus (73%), Trichostrongylus (24%) and Oesophagostomum (3%). The practical handling adopted in organic system production had been capable to keep the animals in moderate levels of infection, being indicated that it had helmintoses control in rotating system of pastures.

Parâmetros bioquímicos sanguíneos, balanço de nitrogênio e metabolizabilidade da energia bruta em suínos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes balanços eletrolíticos

The aim of this study was to evaluate different dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on the blood biochemical parameters, nitrogen balances and crude metabolizable energy of swine in the initial phase. Sixteen barrows were used, averaging 27.95 kg of initial weight, allotted individually in metabolic cages in a randomized blocks design with four treatments (DEB of 160, 208, 257 and 305 mEq/kg) and 4 replicates. The blood biochemical parameters analyzed were chloride, potassium, sodium and urea in blood. Urine pH was also evaluated, and the parameters evaluated in nitrogen (N) balance were N intake, fecal N, N excreted in urine, absorbed N, N retention, retained N/absorbed N and total excretion of N. The gross energy digestibility and metabolizibility coefficients were determined, and the respectives values of digestible and metabolizable energy. The values of urinary pH increased (P < 0.01) linearly with increasing levels of DEB, ranging from 6.90 to 8.03. The results for chloride, potassium and nitrogen balances of variables and gross energy were similar (P > 0.05) between the evaluated DEB. A linear increase (P < 0.01) was also observed for sodium concentrations in blood serum due to the increase of DEB, with values of 2.91, 3.03, 3.27 and 3.18 g/l, respectively for the different treatments. Urea levels in blood serum increased linearly (P < 0.01), with values of 26.21, 28.64, 34.32 and 32.89 mg/dl. It was concluded that increasing the dietary electrolyte balance, from 160 to 305 mEq/kg resulted in higher concentrations of urea and sodium in blood serum, and higher pH values in the urine of swine in the initial phase.

Prova de absorção de gordura em crianças.

To overcome the difficulties observed with fecal fat estimations, we studied fat absorption in 4 m to 12 years old children, assessing increments of serum triglycerides after administration of corn oil. Eighteen well-nourished children without gastrointestinal symptoms or parasites, 31 children with protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), with or without protracted diarrhea and/or intestinal parasites and nine children with specific malabsorptive entities were studied. Serum triglycerides (TG) were measured before, 2 and 4 hours after the administration of 2 g/kg of corn oil per os. For control infants below 2 years no significant differences between the fasting level and those after 2 and 4 hours were observed. For children above this age significant absorption occurred by 2 hours but more intensively after 4 hours, an increment of TG above 35 mg% being considered normal. A good discrimination between TG increments of controls and malabsorptive children over 2 years was observed. In conclusion, the oral fat loading test, is applicable for children over 2 year of age. For infants below this age other schedules should be tested.

Protótipos de filtros para água poluida usada para irrigação de hortaliças e frutiferas

Prototypes A (bidin + broken stones + gravel stones + gross sand + activated coal) and B (bidin + broken stones + gravel stones + gross sand) under hydraulic charge of 35 cm presented outlets that, when extrapolated for larger filters, are sufficient to supply small and medium irrigation projects for vegetables and fruits. (bidin = Rhodia polyester for drainage). Under a charge of 35 cm, filtrate of both prototypes presented a reduction of fecal coliforms, being this reduction higher for A prototypes, but, even in this case, the coliform quantities were superior to the legal limit. Under a decrease of the biochemical oxygen demand an increase of the available oxygen rate; pH and hardness did not present significant changes.

Implicações nutricionais no tratamento e recuperação de pacientes adultos com diarréia crônica.

The nutritional assessment by 24 hour-dietary recall, anthropometry and blood-components measurements was undertaken in 23 adult patients, 17 males and 6 females suffering of chronic diarrhea from pancreatitis (30%), inflammatory bowel disease (22%), short intestine syndrome (9%) and unknown diarrhea (35%). The nutritional assessment was done at the entry and repeated at the discharge of the hospitalization that averaged 35 days, during which the patients received specific medical treatment along with obstipating diets. The hospitalization resulted in overall improvement of the patients either clinically by reducing their defecation rate or nutritionally by increasing their protein-energy intake and the values of anthropometry and blood components (albumin, free-tryptophan and lymphocytes). When the patients where divided into two groups based on their fecal-fat output one could note the better nutritional response of the group showing steatorrhea than the non-steatorrhea group, with the serum albumin and the arm-muscle circumference being discriminatory between groups. However even in the better recovered patients the indicative values of a satisfactory nutritional status were not accomplished. Thus, these data suggest that besides the overall nutritional improvement seen in the studied chronic diarrhea patients the full-nutrition recovering would demand either or both a longer hospitalization and/or an early-aggressive nutritional support.

Salmonelas e coliformes fecais em águas de bebida para animais

Sixty small farms of Botucatu County, S. Paulo, Brazil, given over to cattle breeding were studied. These farms account for 15% of the total of 402 farms that exist in the county. The sample was drawn by simple probabilistic technique. There were found to be one hundred and thirteen drinking places located on the farms. Samples of water were taken from these drinking places and examined for bacteria of the genus Salmonella, for the determination of Most Probable Number (MNP) of fecal coliform bacteria as well as determination of the water's pH. Water temperature was measured before collection. Samples from 15 drinking places (13.3%) were positive for Salmonella. The drinking places belonged to 12 of the sixty farms studied (20%). The following serotypes were identified: S. dublin, S. newport, S. madelia, S. IV 43:g,z57:-, S. saphra, S. glostrup, S. IV ochsenzool; S. I9,12:i:- and two new serotypes S. IV 41:z52:- and S. IV 50:d:-. Of the 113 samples studied 14 (12.4%) presented MPN/100ml of fecal coliforms above 4,000. There was no relationship between MPN/100ml of fecal coliforms above 4,000 and positivity for Salmonella. Highest positivity both for Salmonella and MPN/100mL of fecal coliforms over 4,000 occurred at temperatures above 18 degrees C. As regards pH, in both situations the highest positivity occurred between 6.0 and 7.0.

Uso de macroalgas para avaliação da Poluição orgânica no Rio Preto, noroeste do estado de São Paulo.

The Preto River, located in the northwest of São Paulo State, receives a total wastewater load of 15.150 kg DBO day-1, from which 13.685 kg DBO day-1 (90.5%) corresponds to domestic sewage, and the city of São José do Rio Preto contributes with 12.400 kg DBO day-1 (90% of domestic sewage). During the period from August 1990 through January 1991, monthly sampling was carried out to evaluate the use of macroalgae as bioindicator of organic pollution. Five sampling sites were established along the main river and the following variables were analised: temperature, conductance, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, total and fecal coliforms, and composition and abundance of macroalgal communities. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, correlation coefficient, cluster analysis (four different approaches) and converted to biological indices (species deficit, relative pollution, saprobity, diversity and uniformity indices). A wide range in water quality was found (particularly for conductance, oxygen, BOD and COD) among the sampling sites, which were classified into three groups (polluted, moderately polluted and unpolluted/weakly polluted). As regards the occurrence and abundance of macroalgae the Rhodophyta were found only in unpolluted or weakly polluted sites, whereas Cyanophyta occurred mostly under high pollution load; the Chlorophyta species were observed under a wide range of conditions. Among the biological indices, saprobity was the most sensitive and correlated to all water variables and the other indices. Cluster analyses showed that the composition of macroalgal communities was consistent with the levels of organic pollution in the Preto River.

Ação do diclofenaco de sódio, após a interrupção da peritonite estercorácea, no cólon de ratos. Estudo da resistência mecânica e do colágeno tecidual.

The objective of the present study was to investigate changes in colon wall in rats with fecal peritonitis (Per) associated with sodium diclofenac (SD) by studying breaking strength and tissue collagen concentration. The rats were divided into the following experimental groups: GROUP 1-SD: 60 animals injected intramuscularly with sodium diclofenac at the dose of 2 mg/kg body weight; GROUP 2-Per: 60 animals injected intraperitoneally with a suspension of human feces. Peritonitis was interrupted after six hours of evolution; GROUP 3-Per+SD: 60 animals injected intraperitoneally with a suspension of human feces and receiving SD according to the schedule used for Groups 1 and 2; CONTROL GROUP: 12 animals injected intramuscularly with physiological saline. The animals of Group 1, 2 and 3 were successively sacrificed 2, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after interruption of peritonitis an/or the beginning of treatment. Under conditions of the experimental model and of the methods used, we conclude that sodium diclofenac, peritonitis and the peritonitis-sodium diclofenac association decrease the breaking strength and the concentration of tissue collagen in the colon segment.

Food and feeding habits of the neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

A study of the feeding habits of the neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis, based on focal analysis was carried out from July 1986 to July 1987. The study was conducted at a dam in the 'Duas Bocas' Biological Reserve near the town of Cariacica, Espirito Santo State, Brazil. This reserve spreads over an area of 2 910 ha, the surface being mainly covered by the Atlantic Rain Forest. In order to identify the fish and other animal remains found in otter fecal samples, these were compared to the homologous structures of identical species living in the dam. The results of 288 samples were expressed in numbers and frequency of occurrence. Fishes were the most important food item, being present in 281 samples (97.2 %). A species of the genus Geophagus was frequently found in spraints, eaten during all months studied and present in 88.9 % of the samples. Astyanax, Pimelodella, Hoplias, Leporinus, Rhamdia, Tilapia and two other unidentified genera were found less frequently. In decreasing order of occurrence, crustaceans, amphibia, mammals, insects and birds were also encountered. Seasonal variation was verified in the scats between the dry and rainy seasons, with a higher frequency of food items occurring in the latter. In agreement with other species of otters, fishes also are the most commonly ingested prey. Two characteristics of fishes, greater abundance and easier capture, make them the major prey of otters, implying that otters are opportunistic predators eating whatever is more available.

Survey of the Microbiological Quality of Nonalcoholic Carbonated Beverages

The number and the main groups of microorganisms present in samples of different nonalcoholic carbonated beverages (lemon, orange and guaraná soft drinks) obtained from a small factory were analyzed. The samples were obtained at the end of the processing line. They were then divided into two lots: one was sent to immediate analysis, the other was stored at environmental temperature for 90 d thereafter it was submitted to the same analysis. Aliquots of 1 mL were drawn from the various samples and the corresponding decimal dilutions were prepared. They were then grown in culture media and counts of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, molds and yeasts, acid-producing bacteria, total and fecal coliforms were taken. It was observed that, of all the analyzed samples, at time 0 or after storage sample C (orange) was the best, since it conformed to the microbiological standards established by legislation. The guaraná type could also be consumed on day zero; the lemon type was inadequate for consumption of all the analyzed samples, the orange type was the only one that could be consumed within 3 months of storage.

Aditivos na ensilagem do capim-elefante. III. Valor nutritivo e consumo voluntário e digestibilidade aparente em ovinos

The intake, the apparent digestibility and the nutritive value of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) silages prepared with the addition of 0, 8, 16 and 24% of ground ear corn with husks, wheat bran and saccharin, dry weight of additive/wet weight of green chop upon the silage were evaluated. A randomized block design with three replications, in a factorial arrangement (3 additives x 4 levels) was used. As experimental silos, 200-liter plastic vessels were used. Sheep weighing approximately 50 kg, kept in individual cages, receiving water and mineral mixture ad libitum, were used to measure the intake and apparent digestibility of silages. There was a ten-day period of adaptation to the experiment conditions. The voluntary intake of the silages was determined by the mean of the intake observed in the last three days of a ten-day period. The fecal collection period lasted for seven days. In this period the animals were fed 80% of the observed intake obtained in the previous phase. The dry matter intake increased as the levels of the additives in the silages were increased. The digestibility of the wall cell components decreased as the rates of the additives in the ensilage process increased. The silages prepared with wheat bran or ground ear corn with husks showed higher nutritive value than the ones with saccharin.

Intestinal colonization of a human subject by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

Objective: To study the ability of two strains of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium to colonize the human intestine. Methods: A single human subject ingested separately two strains of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolated from a pig and a chicken. The feces were cultured on selective medium. Prior to ingestion no vancomycin-resistant cocci were present in the feces. Ingestion of 10 4-10 5 CFU resulted in either no colonization or isolation only after enrichment. Ingestion of 10 7 CFU of one strain resulted in colonization for a period of nearly 3 weeks, with fecal counts at times in excess of 10 6 CFU/g. Ingestion of similar numbers of the other strain and reingestion of the first strain resulted in excretion in the feces for much shorter periods. When the fecal count of the ingested strains was greater than 10 4-10 5 CFU/g, the strains were isolated from swabs taken from perianal skin. Conclusions: Vancomycin-resistant E. faecium strains from pigs and poultry a re able to colonize the human gut and the perianal skin.

Determination of the geometrical diarylpropenamine isomers in feces by high-performance liquid chromatography

Diarylpropenamine derivatives are a class of compounds which have been evaluated as potential drug candidates. Here a specific and reproducible HPLC method for the determination of cis- and trans-isomers of the unsubstituted derivative, 3-(4'-bromo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-(4-X-phenyl-N,N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amine (I, where X=H) in feces is described. The analyte I and internal standard, nitro derivative (II, where X=NO2), were isolated from the basified biological matrix using a liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate followed by a solid-phase procedure performed on a silica cartridge. The organic phase was evaporated to dryness, the residue was reconstituted in mobile phase and injected into the HPLC system. The analytes were eluted with ethyl acetate-hexane-triethylamine (59:40:1) in HPLC column (silica) and detected by UV spectrophotometry at 272 nm. Linearity, precision and accuracy data for feces standards after extraction were acceptable. The method has been applied to analyses of feces samples from rats dosed with I, in which it could be anticipated that fecal excretion is quantitatively the major route for I elimination. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

A kinetic model of phosphorus metabolism in growing goats

The effect of increasing phosphorus (P) intake on P utilization was investigated in balance experiments using 12 Saanen goats, 4 to 5 mo of age and weighing 20 to 30 kg. The goats were given similar diets with various concentrations of P, and 32P was injected to trace the movement of P in the body. A P metabolism model with four pools was developed to compute P exchanges in the system. The results showed that P absorption, bone resorption, and excretion of urinary P and endogenous and fecal P all play a part in the homeostatic control of P. Endogenous fecal output was positively correlated to P intake (P < .01). Bone resorption of P was not influenced by intake of P, and P recycling from tissues to the blood pool was lesser for low P intake. Endogenous P loss occurred even in animals fed an inadequate P diet, resulting in a negative P balance. The extrapolated minimum endogenous loss in feces was .067 g of P/d. The minimum P intake for maintenance in Saanen goats was calculated to be .61 g of P/ d or .055 g of P/(kg.75·d) at 25 kg BW. Model outputs indicate greater P flow from the blood pool to the gut and vice versa as P intake increased. Intake of P did not significantly affect P flow from bone and soft tissue to blood. The kinetic model and regressions could be used to estimate P requirement and the fate of P in goats and could also be extrapolated to both sheep and cattle.

Performance of constructed wetland system for public water supply

The project is being conducted in the town of Analândia, São Paulo, Brazil. The constructed wetlands system for water supply consists of a channel with floating aquatic macrophytes, HDS system (Water Decontamination with Soil - Patent PI 850.3030), chlorinating system, filtering system and distribution. The project objectives include investigating the process variables to further optimize design and operation factors, evaluating the relation of nutrients and plants development, biomass production, shoot development, nutrient cycling and total and fecal coliforms removal, comparing the treatment efficiency among the seasons of the year; and moreover to compare the average values obtained between February and June 1998 (Salati et al., 1998) with the average obtained for the same parameters between March and June 2000. Studies have been developed in order to verify during one year the drinking quality of the water for the following parameters: turbidity, color, pH, dissolved oxygen, total of dissolved solids, COD, chloride, among others, according to the Ministry of Health's Regulation 36. This system of water supply projected to treat 15 L s-1 has been in continuous operation for 2 years, it was implemented with support of the National Environment Fund (FNMA), administered by the Center of Environmental Studies (CEA-UNESP), while the technical supervision and design were performed by the Institute of Applied Ecology. The actual research project is being supported by FAPESP.