O gato doméstico (Felis catus) responde à sinais gestuais? possíveis implicações do convívio social

The cats (Felis catus) were domesticated about 9,500 years ago due to the advent of agriculture, being used to control the pests that devastated the food harvested. These animals went through an artificial selection and over generations and millennia had their behavior and morphology changed by humans. This process of domestication by man gave rise to a special ability, the understanding of human pointing gestures, clearly noticed while we feed our pets. Our goal in this study was to assess the comprehension of pointing gestures by cats and also verify the influence that social interactions exerts on the development of this ability. We found that experimental subjects from both groups, solitary animals and social animals, were able to follow human indication in order to find hidden food. However, social interaction had no effect on cats performances. The ability tested here probably evolved during the process of domestication of this species, and social interaction seems to exert little or no influence upon its expression

First Autochthonous Case of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Center of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Background: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-borne diseases of humans. This parasitic disease can be caused by many species of Leishmania. In humans, different species of the parasite are associated with different forms of the disease, cutaneous and visceral. Among domesticated animals, dogs are the most important species in the epidemiology of this disease. Leishmania chagasi, an important zoonosis, is well established as the agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. The disease is endemic in north, northeast, midwest and southeast, and is transmitted to mammals by hematophagous insects such as the Lutzomyia longipalpis. In 2008, our research group has diagnosed a case of canine leishmaniasis in the municipality of Uruguaiana and subsequently there were several cases in the city and the neighbor municipality of Sao Borja. Most Brazilian states are endemic for leishmaniasis, with the exception of Rio Grande do Sul. In southern Brazil, the reports of humans and dogs infected by Leishmania spp. are the source of endemic area in the country. Therefore, the aim of this study is register the first clinical case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in the municipality of Santa Maria, RS.Case: In october 2010, a veterinary clinic of Santa Maria received a canine, female, Doberman, with two years of age. The animal had severe skin lesions on the head and limbs, pale mucous membranes, and enlarged lymph nodes. According to the owner, the animal showed progressive weight loss and anorexia for more than five days. During the clinical examination the blood was collected for hemogram and cytology of lymph nodes was performed by puncture aspiration with a fine needle. In the erythrogram, it was observed a decrease in the total number of erythrocytes (2.8 x 10(6)/mu L), hematocrit (21%), hemoglobin (6.8 g/dL) and platelets (98 x 10(3)/mu L). In the leucogram, any alteration was observed. The cytology of lymph nodes showed amastigotes forms, suggestive of the Leishmania spp. Based on this finding; we performed the blood collection for PCR, to confirm parasitism and to determine the species of Leishmania. At the molecular test was used PCR-specific for L. chagasi, and the result was positive.Discussion: This is the first autochthonous clinical case in the central region of the RS, non-endemic area for leishmaniasis. In serological studies of visceral leishmaniasis it was diagnosed in five asymptomatic dogs in the municipalities of Santa Maria, Julio de Castilhos and Itaara, however not confirmed by molecular analysis. In the municipalities of Cruz Alta and Uruguaiana cases of L. chagasi have been reported in dogs which previously resided in Leishmania sp. endemic areas. The municipality of Sao Borja had the first record of L. longipalpis in the RS during the leishmaniasis outbreak in 2008-2009. In the central region of the RS vector has not been found, but because in this first autochthonous case dog in Santa Maria believe that the parasite is present and/or doing other insect transmission of leishmaniasis. Clinical signs associated with hematologic and coagulation disorders observed in the canine are commonly described in symptomatic dogs in endemic regions. This case of autochthonous leishmaniasis reinforces the idea of the vector presence in Santa Maria, center of the RS. We believe that canine leishmaniasis is an emerging disease in the southern region of Brazil.

Chemical composition and fatty acid profile of rhea (Rhea americana) meat

The purpose of this work was to determine the proximate composition and fatty acid profiles of the Gastrocnemius pars interna intramuscular fat (IMF) of rhea (Rhea americana) thighs. The birds were bred in captivity, fed with balanced feed (Nutriavestruz Crescimento - Purina) and kept in a pen with grass ad lib. The birds of both sexes used in the research weighed 23 kg on average and were aged about twelve (12) months old. They were subjected to hydric diet (12 h) before slaughtering by electric shock. The rhea meat showed an average moisture, protein, ash and total lipid contents of 74.1%, 22.8%, 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively. It was noticed the predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in intramuscular fat (IMF), 42.3% and a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 29.7%.. The fatty acids found in higher proportion in rhea IMF were: 18:2n-6 (24.33%), 18: 1n-9 (19.25%),16:0 (13.70%),22: 1n9 (11.40%),18:0 (10.66%),15: 1n-10 (8.62%),24: 1n-9 (2.90%) and 20:4n-6 (1.72%). The PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 ratios were 1.06 and 31.30, respectively. The consumption of rhea meat is a healthy alternative to red meat as it points to a lower susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases caused by the high consumption of fat comparatively to the consumption of meat from most domesticated animals.

Genetic Diversity in the Modern Horse Illustrated from Genome-Wide SNP Data

Horses were domesticated from the Eurasian steppes 5,000-6,000 years ago. Since then, the use of horses for transportation, warfare, and agriculture, as well as selection for desired traits and fitness, has resulted in diverse populations distributed across the world, many of which have become or are in the process of becoming formally organized into closed, breeding populations (breeds). This report describes the use of a genome-wide set of autosomal SNPs and 814 horses from 36 breeds to provide the first detailed description of equine breed diversity. FST calculations, parsimony, and distance analysis demonstrated relationships among the breeds that largely reflect geographic origins and known breed histories. Low levels of population divergence were observed between breeds that are relatively early on in the process of breed development, and between those with high levels of within-breed diversity, whether due to large population size, ongoing outcrossing, or large within-breed phenotypic diversity. Populations with low within-breed diversity included those which have experienced population bottlenecks, have been under intense selective pressure, or are closed populations with long breed histories. These results provide new insights into the relationships among and the diversity within breeds of horses. In addition these results will facilitate future genome-wide association studies and investigations into genomic targets of selection. © 2013 Petersen et al.

Meat and carcass traits of the red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Educação matemática e educação ambiental: um estudo etnomatemático das infrações ambientais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos genéticos e ambientais sobre o tempo de permanência em imobilidade tônica de perdizes (Rhynchotus rufescens)

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

Infestação de Spodoptera frugiperda e Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) em híbridos comerciais de milho (Zea mays L.)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Freqüência de anticorpos anti-Borrelia burgdorferi em eqüinos na mesorregião metropolitana de Belém, Estado do Pará

A Borreliose de Lyme é uma doença multissistêmica causada pela espiroqueta Borrelia burgdorferi latu sensu e transmitida por carrapatos ixodideos, acometendo seres humanos e animais domésticos, tendo como reservatórios naturais os animais silvestres, sendo ainda considerada uma zoonose de ampla distribuição geográfica. Foram coletadas 300 amostras sanguíneas de eqüinos aparentemente sadios, procedentes dos municípios de Ananideua, Belém, Benevides, Castanhal, Marituba e Santa Izabel do Pará da mesorregião metropolitana de Belém – Pará. O sangue foi coletado pela veia jugular e os soros foram analisados através do ensaio de imunoadsorção enzimática (ELISA) indireto no Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias na Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a soroepidemiologia da Borrelia burgdorferi na mesorregião metropolitana de Belém. A freqüência de soropositividade foi de 26,67% (n=80), sendo 72 (24%) com título de 1:800, seis (2%) a 1:1600 e dois (0,6%) a 1:3200. A soropositividade entre os sexos foram valores aproximados sendo 13,67% nas fêmeas e 13% nos machos. A freqüência entre os animais de raças e mestiços foram 9% e 18%, respectivamente. Não houve diferença significativa de animais soropositivos quanto aos municípios, sexo, raça e faixa etária. A freqüência encontrada corrobora a hipótese da ocorrência de Borrelia sp. na região estudada.

Percepção visual da cidade: iconografias da natureza urbana de Belém (1808 – 1908)

Este estudo propõe uma análise das iconografias urbanas de Belém, produzidas no decorrer do século XIX e início do XX. A tese tem por objetivo, então, analisar a representação da natureza em Belém, especificamente nos anos de 1808 a 1908. O compromisso inicial desse estudo se concentrou em pesquisar os diversos tipos de iconografias sobre Belém no decorrer dos Oitocentos. As questões que se procurou evidenciar tratam sobre a forma como os viajantes apreenderam a cidade, em sua passagem por Belém, tanto sob o ponto de vista narrativo quanto o visual, até os anos de 1890. A partir de então, também identificar como os governantes promoveram a cidade para além da região Amazônica. Observa-se que a natureza brasileira passou a ser representada, a partir do século XIX, por meio de linguagem escrita e iconográfica, isto graças à influência do cientificismo e da sensibilidade artística romântica, que perpassaram pelo conhecimento do país. A sensibilidade romântica realizou a aproximação entre ciência e estética ao apreender e representar a natureza, numa visão totalizante, inaugurando uma nova concepção de paisagem e a tentativa de “inventar” e visualizar uma natureza urbana, a qual é tema principal desse estudo; representa o fenômeno da urbanização que foi registrado, especialmente, por meio da fotografia. Nesse tipo de fotografias, a natureza aparece domesticada, adaptada ao desenho urbano, sua forma artificiosa e geométrica é valorizada. A fotografia urbana do final do século XIX reintroduz o “belo ideal” nas imagens da natureza ordenada segundo o modelo dos jardins franceses, ingleses e italianos. Parto do pressuposto de que a contemplação da natureza é adaptada para a realidade da região Amazônica, embora estivessem presentes modelos provenientes da Europa, mas encontram as suas especificidades a partir de uma natureza exuberante da Amazônia A percepção de natureza na Amazônia da segunda metade do século XIX e a influência de novas formas de conceber a natureza foram projetadas para as cidades na reformulação dos espaços para constituir a área verde, especialmente de Belém. Pensar historicamente a representação da natureza é refletir sobre a sua apropriação pela ação humana ao mesmo tempo em que diferentes indivíduos e grupos sociais circularam e deixaram suas marcas específicas nos lugares construídos a partir de uma natureza domesticada na paisagem urbana.

Influência do fotoperíodo artificial na produção de oócitos e competência no desenvolvimento embrionário em cabras (Capra hircus-Linnaeus-1758) estimuladas com FSH-ov no anestro estacional

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

Reflexões sobre “pensamento tradicional” e “pensamento selvagem”

Este artigo encaminha a análise do pensamento tradicional, ressaltando a importância dos estudos das representações nas práticas tradicionais, particularmente no setor da medicina popular. Aponta as possibilidades que estes estudos oferecem, não só no sentido da recuperação de conhecimentos, como de uma retomada das discussões teóricas sobre “pensamento selvagem” e “pensamento domesticado”.

Revisiting AFLP fingerprinting for an unbiased assessment of genetic structure and differentiation of taurine and zebu cattle

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

The plant ionome revisited by the nutrient balance concept

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

An ethnobotanical study of anti-malarial plants among indigenous people on the upper Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon

In this article we present the plants used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon. The region has important biological and cultural diversities including more than twenty indigenous ethnic groups and a strong history in traditional medicine. The aims of this study are to survey information in the Baniwa, Baré, Desana, Piratapuia, Tariana, Tukano, Tuyuca, Yanomami ethnic communities and among caboclos (mixed-ethnicity) on: a) plant species used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms; b) dosage forms and c) distribution of these anti-malarial plants in the Amazon. Information was obtained through classical ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological methods from interviews with 146 informants in Santa Isabel municipality on the upper Negro River, Brazil. Fifty-five mainly native neotropical plant species from 34 families were in use. The detailed uses of these plants were documented. The result was 187 records (64.4%) of plants for the specific treatment of malaria, 51 records (17.5%) of plants used in the treatment of liver problems and 28 records (9.6%) of plants used in the control of fevers associated with malaria. Other uses described were blood fortification ('dar sangue'), headache and prophylaxis. Most of the therapeutic preparations were decoctions and infusions based on stem bark, root bark and leaves. These were administered by mouth. In some cases, remedies were prepared with up to three different plant species. Also, plants were used together with other ingredients such as insects, mammals, gunpowder and milk. This is the first study on the anti-malarial plants from this region of the Amazon. Aspidosperma spp. and Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke were the most cited species in the communities surveyed. These species have experimental proof supporting their anti-malarial efficacy. The dosage of the therapeutic preparations depends on the kind of plant, quantity of plant material available, the patient's age (children and adults) and the local expert. The treatment time varies from a single dose to up to several weeks. Most anti-malarial plants are domesticated or grow spontaneously. They are grown in home gardens, open areas near the communities, clearings and secondary forests, and wild species grow in areas of seasonally flooded wetlands and terra firme (solid ground) forest, in some cases in locations that are hard to access. Traditional knowledge of plants was found to be falling into disuse presumably as a consequence of the local official health services that treat malaria in the communities using commercial drugs. Despite this, some species are used in the prevention of this disease and also in the recovery after using conventional anti-malarial drugs.