RESUMO

Capsaicin is a recognized alkaloid that can be used as a flavoring and palatability agent. These effects can increase feed intake in lactating sows during farrowing, especially under thermal stress conditions, and provide antioxidant and immunostimulant activities. The objective of this work was to find out the effects of a capsaicin-based product on the feed intake of sows, immunomodulation, and repercussions on litter performance and the control of piglet diarrhea conditions. A total of 132 pregnant sows and lactating sows and their respective litters were divided into 66 sows each and submitted to one of two possible treatments: a capsaicin-free diet (control group) or capsaicin per meal/day. Capsaicin was mixed with gestation and lactation diets in the proportion of 98.6 g of feed and 1.4 g of capsaicin/kg feed, with the dose administered "on top" of 100 g per treatment day on the first feeding. The sows were treated between 90 days of gestation and 21 days of lactation. Backfat thickness, feed intake during farrowing, colostrum production, IgG colostrum concentration, sow reproductive performance, piglet performance, and diarrhea were evaluated. Compared to the sows in the control group, those that received capsaicin had higher feed intake (+ 0.69 kg/day during lactation, P = 0.008), higher levels of IgG in colostrum (185.75 versus 153.80 mg/mL, P = 0.04), an 11.2% higher litter weight gain, with individual piglet weight gains greater than 5.24% (P = 0.045), and an effective reduction in the frequency of piglet diarrhea on the 10th and 17th days of age (P = 0.013 and P = 0.001, respectively). Capsaicin is an additive with potential effects on the sow's performance, with positive influences on the health and growth of suckling piglets.

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RESUMO

The increasing demand for the elemental determination of petrochemical samples by inductively coupled plasma techniques requires the development of suitable sample preparation methods that permit high sample throughput and are in accordance with green chemistry recommendations. For this aim, the development of microwave-induced combustion (MIC) method has been attempted to completely digest petroleum coke samples and address quantitative determination of elements, such as Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn, by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). A sequential procedure to evaluate the sample mass and the solution to retain the analytes quantitatively was first conducted. Satisfactory results were obtained (residual carbon content in final solutions was lower than 0.5%) by digesting 400 mg of samples using 20 bar of oxygen and analytes were quantitatively retained in a dilute acid solution such as 4.2 mol L-1 HNO3. An agreement better than 87% was achieved using certified reference materials and the performance of the proposed method was also compared to that of the standard procedure recommended by the American Society of Testing and Materials ASTM D 5600. Despite both methods producing similar results, the proposed method by MIC was much simpler, offered a higher sample throughput and the digests were compatible with ICP OES measurements avoiding interferences in the determination step compared the ASTM D 5600 method. These results clearly demonstrated that the proposed MIC method in combination with ICP OES could be a promising alternative to obtain quantitative information about the elemental composition of petroleum coke.

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New therapeutic approaches are necessary to control strongyloidiasis due to the side effects of, and resistance to, currently available drugs thiabendazole, albendazole, and ivermectin. This study examined the anthelmintic properties of extracts and isolated compounds from Siparuna guianensis against Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs and larvae, using the egg hatching test (EHT) and larval motility test (LMT). Albendazole (0.025 mg/ml) and ivermectin (0.316 mg/ml) were used as the positive controls for the EHT and LMT assays, respectively. Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs or larvae (±50 specimens) were treated with ethanol extract (0.05-1.0 mg/ml), ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions (0.05-0.8 mg/ml), essential oil (0.2-1.0 mg/ml) and α-bisabolol (0.2-1.0 mg/ml) from S. guianensis, and analysed by optical microscopy after 48 h (EHT), or after 24, 48 and 72 h (LMT). All the tested compounds exhibited ovicidal activity equivalent to the positive control and changed the morphology of the eggs. The S. guianensis ethanol extract and aqueous fraction were as effective as the positive control. Phytochemical analysis of the ethanol extract and fractions revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids. Therefore, S. guianensis is effective against S. venezuelensis eggs and larvae in vitro, and can be considered as a potential alternative treatment for strongyloidiasis.

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Abstract Brazilian laws allow the catch of some species as ornamental fish; however, in the absence of biological information, such catch can threaten species conservation. Therefore, this study aimed to offer population and reproductive information about Farlowella hahni in streams of the Ivinhema River Basin, Upper Paraná Basin. To accomplish this, a total of 165 F. hahni individuals were analyzed, including 109 females and 48 males, resulting in an important sex ratio difference from 1:1 (χ 2=19.97; p<0.001), indicating a predominance of females throughout the year. Females reach higher standard length than males. Males presented isometric Length-Weight Relationships, while females have positive allometric growth. Gonadosomatic index presented higher values from October through December. The mean fecundity was 100.3±36.4 of vitellogenic oocytes and was positively correlated with standard length (r=0.51; p=0.01). The data presented herein are the first for this species and suggest a need to carefully manage the F. hahni population, considering its low abundance and fecundity.

Resumo As leis brasileiras permitem a captura de algumas espécies de peixes como ornamentais, no entanto, a ausência de informações biológicas pode tornar esta captura uma ameaça para a conservação destas espécies. Este estudo teve como objetivo oferecer informações populacionais e reprodutivas sobre Farlowella hahni em riachos da Bacia do rio Ivinhema, bacia do Alto Paraná. Um total de 165 indivíduos de F. hahni foi analisado, sendo 109 fêmeas e 48 machos. A proporção de sexo foi diferente de 1:1 (χ2=19,97; p<0,001), com predominância de fêmeas ao longo do ano. As fêmeas atingiram maior comprimento padrão do que os machos. Os machos apresentaram crescimento isométrico e as fêmeas crescimento alométrico positivo. O índice gonadossomático apresentou maiores valores de Outubro a Dezembro. A fecundidade média foi de 100,3±36,4 de ovócitos vitelogênicos e foi correlacionada positivamente com o comprimento padrão (r=0,51; p=0,01). Os dados apresentados são os primeiros para essa espécie e sugerem a necessidade de cuidados no manejo da população de F. hahni considerando baixa abundância e fecundidade.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Brazilian laws allow the catch of some species as ornamental fish; however, in the absence of biological information, such catch can threaten species conservation. Therefore, this study aimed to offer population and reproductive information about Farlowella hahni in streams of the Ivinhema River Basin, Upper Paraná Basin. To accomplish this, a total of 165 F. hahni individuals were analyzed, including 109 females and 48 males, resulting in an important sex ratio difference from 1:1 (χ 2=19.97; p<0.001), indicating a predominance of females throughout the year. Females reach higher standard length than males. Males presented isometric Length-Weight Relationships, while females have positive allometric growth. Gonadosomatic index presented higher values from October through December. The mean fecundity was 100.3±36.4 of vitellogenic oocytes and was positively correlated with standard length (r=0.51; p=0.01). The data presented herein are the first for this species and suggest a need to carefully manage the F. hahni population, considering its low abundance and fecundity.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Brazilian laws allow the catch of some species as ornamental fish; however, in the absence of biological information, such catch can threaten species conservation. Therefore, this study aimed to offer population and reproductive information about Farlowella hahni in streams of the Ivinhema River Basin, Upper Paraná Basin. To accomplish this, a total of 165 F. hahni individuals were analyzed, including 109 females and 48 males, resulting in an important sex ratio difference from 1:1 ( 2=19.97; p 0.001), indicating a predominance of females throughout the year. Females reach higher standard length than males. Males presented isometric Length-Weight Relationships, while females have positive allometric growth. Gonadosomatic index presented higher values from October through December. The mean fecundity was 100.3±36.4 of vitellogenic oocytes and was positively correlated with standard length (r=0.51; p=0.01). The data presented herein are the first for this species and suggest a need to carefully manage the F. hahni population, considering its low abundance and fecundity.(AU)

As leis brasileiras permitem a captura de algumas espécies de peixes como ornamentais, no entanto, a ausência de informações biológicas pode tornar esta captura uma ameaça para a conservação destas espécies. Este estudo teve como objetivo oferecer informações populacionais e reprodutivas sobre Farlowella hahni em riachos da Bacia do rio Ivinhema, bacia do Alto Paraná. Um total de 165 indivíduos de F. hahni foi analisado, sendo 109 fêmeas e 48 machos. A proporção de sexo foi diferente de 1:1 (2=19,97; p 0,001), com predominância de fêmeas ao longo do ano. As fêmeas atingiram maior comprimento padrão do que os machos. Os machos apresentaram crescimento isométrico e as fêmeas crescimento alométrico positivo. O índice gonadossomático apresentou maiores valores de Outubro a Dezembro. A fecundidade média foi de 100,3±36,4 de ovócitos vitelogênicos e foi correlacionada positivamente com o comprimento padrão (r=0,51; p=0,01). Os dados apresentados são os primeiros para essa espécie e sugerem a necessidade de cuidados no manejo da população de F. hahni considerando baixa abundância e fecundidade.(AU)

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RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Candidiasis is a major opportunistic fungal infection in humans. The low number of antifungal drugs available to treat Candida infections and the increasing incidence of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains point to an urgent need of identifying new therapeutic options. The role of salivary components can provide insights for the development of new methodologies of control. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of histatin-5, a constitutive immunological peptide present in saliva, in reversing fungal MDR phenotype, using a resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain as model of study. RESULTS: A total of 2.5µg and 5µg of histatin-5 revealed to be able to chemosensitize (to revert antifungal resistance) a MDR strain to fluconazole impairing its intrinsic resistance. The presence of histatin-5 decreased the strain growth when associated to fluconazole, and also assisted in the retention of rhodamine 6G within cell cytoplasm. The ATPase activity of Pdr5p, an ABC efflux transporter, was significantly reduced up to 65% within physiological concentration of the peptide. CONCLUSION: Results revealed that histatin-5 is able to revert MDR phenotype and may be considered a potential alternative MDR inhibitor. Since Pdr5p is homologous to Candida albicans CaCdr1p and CaCdr2p, data obtained might be extrapolated to these transporters, inferring that associating fluconazole and histatin-5 may be a useful tool to circumvent failure treatments of infections caused by Candida MDR strains.

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O fungo Rhodotorula sp. era considerado como não patogênico, mas, com o aumento de casos de humanos imunossuprimidos nas últimas duas décadas, as espécies R. mucilaginosa, R. glutinis e R. minuta se tornaram agentes potencialmente patogênicos. Poucos relatos clínicos veterinários associados à Rhodotorula spp. foram descritos, e o objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever um caso de dermatite fúngica causada por R. glutinis em cão imunossuprimido devido à leishmaniose visceral e osteossarcoma, na cidade de Cuiabá-Mato Grosso. Um cão, macho, 11 anos, sem raça definida, foi trazido ao Hospital Veterinário apresentando lesões de pele com diagnóstico de dermatofitose e foi prescrito tratamento tópico à base de óleo de melaleuca, sem melhora após um mês de tratamento. O animal retornou ao Hospital Veterinário com hemorragia na região lesionada da cauda, e foi realizada biópsia para exames microbiológico e histopatológico. Nas análises microbiológica e histopatológica, foi isolada uma levedura e detectada a presença de estrutura semelhante a leveduras na coloração de prata, respectivamente. A levedura isolada foi identificada como R. glutinis por meio do sequenciamento do DNA. Um novo tratamento foi instituído, sem melhora do quadro clínico. O animal foi diagnosticado também com leishmaniose e osteossarcoma, provavelmente ocasionando a immunossupressão, e seu quadro evoluiu a óbito.(AU)

The fungi Rhodotorula sp was considered nonpathogenic, but with the increase of immunosuppressed humans in the last two decades, the species R. mucilaginosa, R. glutinis and R. minuta became potentially pathogenic agents. There have been few veterinary clinical reports associated with Rhodotorula spp. and this work aims to describe the first case of fungal dermatitis caused by R. glutinis in immunosuppressed dog due to visceral leishmaniasis and osteosarcoma in the city of Cuiabá-Mato Grosso. An 11-year-old male mongrel dog was examined to the Veterinary Hospital with skin lesions and the diagnosis was dermatophytosis and the treatment was implemented with topical tea tree oil for one month, but the treatment failed. The animal returned to the Veterinary Hospital with bleeding in the injured area of the tail and biopsy was performed for microbiological and histopathology evaluation. In the microbiological and histopathological analysis, yeast was isolated and yeast-like structures in silver staining were observed, respectively. The isolated yeast was identified as R. glutinis by DNA sequencing. A new treatment was implemented without clinical improvement. The animal was diagnosed with leishmaniasis and osteosarcoma, which probably caused immunosuppression, and its clinical conditions evolved to death.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Abstract Brazilian laws allow the catch of some species as ornamental fish; however, in the absence of biological information, such catch can threaten species conservation. Therefore, this study aimed to offer population and reproductive information about Farlowella hahni in streams of the Ivinhema River Basin, Upper Paraná Basin. To accomplish this, a total of 165 F. hahni individuals were analyzed, including 109 females and 48 males, resulting in an important sex ratio difference from 1:1 ( 2=19.97; p 0.001), indicating a predominance of females throughout the year. Females reach higher standard length than males. Males presented isometric Length-Weight Relationships, while females have positive allometric growth. Gonadosomatic index presented higher values from October through December. The mean fecundity was 100.3±36.4 of vitellogenic oocytes and was positively correlated with standard length (r=0.51; p=0.01). The data presented herein are the first for this species and suggest a need to carefully manage the F. hahni population, considering its low abundance and fecundity.

Resumo As leis brasileiras permitem a captura de algumas espécies de peixes como ornamentais, no entanto, a ausência de informações biológicas pode tornar esta captura uma ameaça para a conservação destas espécies. Este estudo teve como objetivo oferecer informações populacionais e reprodutivas sobre Farlowella hahni em riachos da Bacia do rio Ivinhema, bacia do Alto Paraná. Um total de 165 indivíduos de F. hahni foi analisado, sendo 109 fêmeas e 48 machos. A proporção de sexo foi diferente de 1:1 (2=19,97; p 0,001), com predominância de fêmeas ao longo do ano. As fêmeas atingiram maior comprimento padrão do que os machos. Os machos apresentaram crescimento isométrico e as fêmeas crescimento alométrico positivo. O índice gonadossomático apresentou maiores valores de Outubro a Dezembro. A fecundidade média foi de 100,3±36,4 de ovócitos vitelogênicos e foi correlacionada positivamente com o comprimento padrão (r=0,51; p=0,01). Os dados apresentados são os primeiros para essa espécie e sugerem a necessidade de cuidados no manejo da população de F. hahni considerando baixa abundância e fecundidade.

RESUMO

O fungo Rhodotorula sp. era considerado como não patogênico, mas, com o aumento de casos de humanos imunossuprimidos nas últimas duas décadas, as espécies R. mucilaginosa, R. glutinis e R. minuta se tornaram agentes potencialmente patogênicos. Poucos relatos clínicos veterinários associados à Rhodotorula spp. foram descritos, e o objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever um caso de dermatite fúngica causada por R. glutinis em cão imunossuprimido devido à leishmaniose visceral e osteossarcoma, na cidade de Cuiabá-Mato Grosso. Um cão, macho, 11 anos, sem raça definida, foi trazido ao Hospital Veterinário apresentando lesões de pele com diagnóstico de dermatofitose e foi prescrito tratamento tópico à base de óleo de melaleuca, sem melhora após um mês de tratamento. O animal retornou ao Hospital Veterinário com hemorragia na região lesionada da cauda, e foi realizada biópsia para exames microbiológico e histopatológico. Nas análises microbiológica e histopatológica, foi isolada uma levedura e detectada a presença de estrutura semelhante a leveduras na coloração de prata, respectivamente. A levedura isolada foi identificada como R. glutinis por meio do sequenciamento do DNA. Um novo tratamento foi instituído, sem melhora do quadro clínico. O animal foi diagnosticado também com leishmaniose e osteossarcoma, provavelmente ocasionando a immunossupressão, e seu quadro evoluiu a óbito.(AU)

The fungi Rhodotorula sp was considered nonpathogenic, but with the increase of immunosuppressed humans in the last two decades, the species R. mucilaginosa, R. glutinis and R. minuta became potentially pathogenic agents. There have been few veterinary clinical reports associated with Rhodotorula spp. and this work aims to describe the first case of fungal dermatitis caused by R. glutinis in immunosuppressed dog due to visceral leishmaniasis and osteosarcoma in the city of Cuiabá-Mato Grosso. An 11-year-old male mongrel dog was examined to the Veterinary Hospital with skin lesions and the diagnosis was dermatophytosis and the treatment was implemented with topical tea tree oil for one month, but the treatment failed. The animal returned to the Veterinary Hospital with bleeding in the injured area of the tail and biopsy was performed for microbiological and histopathology evaluation. In the microbiological and histopathological analysis, yeast was isolated and yeast-like structures in silver staining were observed, respectively. The isolated yeast was identified as R. glutinis by DNA sequencing. A new treatment was implemented without clinical improvement. The animal was diagnosed with leishmaniasis and osteosarcoma, which probably caused immunosuppression, and its clinical conditions evolved to death.(AU)

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