RESUMO

The rise and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a global health problem. At the community level, bacterial resistance has been linked to antibiotic misuse practices. These practices are related to social factors such as education level, poverty, ethnicity, and use of traditional medicine. Through a survey, this study aims to analyse the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of antimicrobial use, in an indigenous community in the south of Oaxaca, Mexico. It was observed that the population had a low socioeconomic profile, poor access to healthcare services, low academic level, little knowledge of antibiotics, the use of traditional medicine, and proper attitudes and practices regarding antibiotics use. Therefore, social factors are related to bacterial resistance only if they make the population prone to the use of antimicrobials. Lack of medical access and cultural factors drives this population to use ancestral alternatives such traditional medicine to treat conditions that in other contexts could be treated with antibiotics. This is an example of how the population can reduce the consumption of antimicrobials in infections if they have a reliable alternative that improves their symptoms.

RESUMO

The number of elderly people is projected to double in the next 50 years worldwide, resulting in an increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. Aging causes changes in brain tissue homeostasis, thus contributing to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Current treatments are not entirely effective, so alternative treatments or adjuvant agents are being actively sought. Antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds are of particular interest for neurodegenerative diseases whose psychopathological mechanisms strongly rely on oxidative stress at the brain level. Moreover, phenolic compounds display other advantages such as the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the interesting molecular mechanisms that we reviewed in this work. We began by briefly outlining the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases to understand the mechanisms that result in irreversible brain damage, then we provided an overall classification of the phenolic compounds that would be addressed later. We reviewed in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as some clinical trials in which neuroprotective mechanisms were demonstrated in models of different neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), ischemia, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

RESUMO

Bovine mastitis is globally considered one of the most important diseases within dairy herds, mainly due to the associated economic losses. The most prevalent etiology are bacteria, classified into contagious and environmental, with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae being the most common pathogens associated with mastitis cases. To date these pathogens are resistant to the most common active ingredients used for mastitis treatment. According to recent studies resistance to new antimicrobials has increased, which is why developing of alternative treatments is imperative. Therefore the present review aims to summarize the reports about bovine mastitis along 10 years, emphasizing bacterial etiology, its epidemiology, and the current situation of antimicrobial resistance, as well as the development of alternative treatments for this pathology. Analyzed data showed that the prevalence of major pathogens associated with bovine mastitis varied according to geographical region. Moreover, these pathogens are classified as multidrug-resistant, since the effectiveness of antimicrobials on them has decreased. To date, several studies have focused on the research of alternative treatments, among them vegetal extracts, essential oils, or peptides. Some other works have reported the application of nanotechnology and polymers against bacteria associated with bovine mastitis. Results demonstrated that these alternatives may be effective on bacteria associated with bovine mastitis.

RESUMO

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease with only two drugs available for treatment and the plant Cecropia pachystachya has several compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to evaluate a supercritical extract from C. pachystachya leaves in vitro and in vivo against Trypanosoma cruzi. A supercritical CO2 extraction was used to obtain the extract (CPE). Cytotoxicity and immunostimulation ability were evaluated in macrophages, and the in vitro trypanocidal activity was evaluated against epimastigotes and trypomastigotes forms. In vivo tests were done by infecting BALB/c mice with blood trypomastigotes forms and treating animals orally with CPE for 10 days. The parasitemia, survival rate, weight, cytokines and nitric oxide dosage were evaluated. CPE demonstrated an effect on the epi and trypomastigotes forms of the parasite (IC50 17.90 ± 1.2 µg/mL; LC50 26.73 ± 1.2 µg/mL) and no changes in macrophages viability, resulting in a selectivity index similar to the reference drug. CPE-treated animals had a worsening compared to non-treated, demonstrated by higher parasitemia and lower survival rate. This result was attributed to the anti-inflammatory effect of CPE, demonstrated by the higher IL-10 and IL-4 values observed in the treated mice compared to the control ones. CPE demonstrated a trypanocidal effect in vitro and a worsening in the in vivo infection due to its anti-inflammatory activity.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus chromogenes are pathogens frequently detected in bovine mastitis. Treatment and prevention of this disease have been usually carried on with antimicrobials. However, the emergence of bacterial isolates with antimicrobial resistance has aroused interest in new therapeutic alternatives. Plant essential oils (EOs) have been largely studied as antibacterial treatments. In the present study, EOs from five plants were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against S. aureus and S. chromogenes. Bacterial isolates were obtained in a previous study of clinical cases of bovine mastitis. EOs from lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and thyme were obtained by hydrodistillation and their chemical compositions were evaluated by gas chromatography (GC). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated for all EOs. The results demonstrated that citral (40.9%), myrcene (24.7%), and geraniol (1.9%) were detected in lemongrass EO; 1,8-cineole (76.9%), α-pinene (8.2%), and ledene (5.1%) in eucalyptus EO; 1,8-cineole (45.2%), camphor (18.2%), and fenchone (14.6%) in lavender EO; L-menthol (38.5%), menthofuran (16.3%), and citronellal (10.6%) in peppermint EO; and thymol (44.2%), p-cymene (24.6%) and 1,8-cineole (9.9%) in thyme EO. More effective antibacterial activities were observed only with the use of lemongrass (MIC and MBC ranging from 0.39 to 3.12 mg/mL and 0.39 to 6.35 mg/mL, respectively) and thyme (MIC and MBC ranging from 0.39 to 1.56 mg/mL and 0.39 to 3.12 mg/mL, respectively). Peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus EOs did not show bactericidal activities. In conclusion, lemongrass and thyme EOs are promising antibacterial alternatives against Staphylococcus species associated with bovine mastitis.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar revisão bibliográfica de caráter exploratório sobre tratamento de efluentes na piscicultura com ênfase nos tratamentos sustentáveis e seu impacto ecológico. A importância deste tema envolve pesquisar métodos de tratamentos alternativos aos dejetos da piscicultura, visto sua importância referente à sustentabilidade. Além disso, há tendência mundial da população buscar hábitos alimentares saudáveis, que gerem menor impacto ao meio ambiente, influenciando diretamente no desenvolvimento agropecuário. A proposta de tratamento de efluentes na piscicultura por métodos alternativos visa a diminuição de poluentes na água, considerando técnicas já utilizadas em saneamento básico, aplicadas com os efluentes da aquicultura. No Brasil, utiliza-se o método de processos oxidativos avançados ­ POA por cloro, que ao reagir com outros compostos, libera substâncias contaminantes ao meio ambiente. De um modo geral, a piscicultura produz baixo impacto ambiental e à saúde humana, mas é importante enfatizar a relação única de saúde na produção de alimentos.(AU)

The objective of this work was to carry out an exploratory literature review on effluent treatment in fish farming with an emphasis on sustainable treatments and their ecological impact. The importance of this theme involves researching alternative treatment methods to fish farming waste, given its importance in terms of sustainability. In addition, there is a global tendency of the population to seek healthy eating habits, which generate less impact on the environment, directly influencing agricultural development. The proposed treatment of effluents in fish farming by alternative methods aims to reduce pollutants in the water, considering techniques already used in basic sanitation, applied with effluents from aquaculture. In Brazil, advanced oxidative processes are used ­ POA's by chlorine, which when reacting with other compounds, releases contaminant substances into the environment. In general, fish farming has a low impact on the environment and human health, but it is important to emphasize the unique relationship of health in food production.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

In the post-genomic era, molecular treatments and diagnostics have been envisioned as powerful techniques to tackle the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Among the molecular approaches, aptamers and CRISPR-Cas have gained support due to their practicality, sensibility, and flexibility to interact with a variety of extra- and intracellular targets. Those characteristics enabled the development of quick and onsite diagnostic tools as well as alternative treatments for pan-resistant bacterial infections. Even with such potential, more studies are necessary to pave the way for their successful use against AMR. In this review, we highlight those two robust techniques and encourage researchers to refine them toward AMR. Also, we describe how aptamers and CRISPR-Cas can work together with the current diagnostic and treatment toolbox.

RESUMO

The use of chemotherapeutic drugs is the main resource against clinical giardiasis due to the lack of approved vaccines. Resistance of G. duodenalis to the most used drugs to treat giardiasis, metronidazole and albendazole, is a clinical issue of growing concern and yet unknown impact, respectively. In the search of new drugs, the completion of the Giardia genome project and the use of biochemical, molecular and bioinformatics tools allowed the identification of ligands/inhibitors for about one tenth of ≈150 potential drug targets in this parasite. Further, the synthesis of second generation nitroimidazoles and benzimidazoles along with high-throughput technologies have allowed not only to define overall mechanisms of resistance to metronidazole but to screen libraries of repurposed drugs and new pharmacophores, thereby increasing the known arsenal of anti-giardial compounds to some hundreds, with most demonstrating activity against metronidazole or albendazole-resistant Giardia. In particular, cysteine-modifying agents which include omeprazole, disulfiram, allicin and auranofin outstand due to their pleiotropic activity based on the extensive repertoire of thiol-containing proteins and the microaerophilic metabolism of this parasite. Other promising agents derived from higher organisms including phytochemicals, lactoferrin and propolis as well as probiotic bacteria/fungi have also demonstrated significant potential for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in giardiasis. In this context the present chapter offers a comprehensive review of the current knowledge, including commonly prescribed drugs, causes of therapeutic failures, drug resistance mechanisms, strategies for the discovery of new agents and alternative drug therapies.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Os ectoparasitos são de grande importância na clínica de pequenos animais pela sua ação direta e por transmitir agentes patogênicos para seus hospedeiros e aos humanos, destacandose entre eles as moscas e os carrapatos. Este artigo de revisão objetiva apresentar um compêndio de informações científicas sobre moscas e carrapatos de cães, desde o seu desenvolvimento, profilaxia, métodos de controle convencionais e alternativos por meio de pesquisa utilizando bancos de dados de periódicos da área de veterinária. Os ectoparasitos de cães apresentam diversas particularidades nos seus ciclos de desenvolvimentos, os quais devem ser levados em conta para formulação de estratégias de profilaxia e controle, a fim de evitar resistência e intoxicações. O seu controle é realizado tradicionalmente com produtos de base química, porém, a inovação na pesquisa vem desenvolvendo e estimulando a produção de antiparasitários com base em extratos vegetais. Devido à alta casuística e ao número de relatos de resistência aos tratamentos, mostra-se necessário o entendimento do ciclo dos ectoparasitos e a continuidade da realização de estudos acerca de diferentes métodos de profilaxia e controle.

Ectoparasites are of great importance in small animal for their direct action and for transmitting pathogens to their hosts and humans, especially flies and ticks. This review article aims to present a compendium of scientific information on dog flies and ticks, from their development, prophylaxis, conventional and alternative control methods through research using veterinary journal databases. Dog ectoparasites have several particularities in their developmental cycles, which should be considered when formulating prophylaxis and control strategies to avoid resistance and intoxication. Its control is traditionally performed with chemical products, however, innovation in research has been developing and stimulating the production of antiparasitic agents based on plant. Due to the high number of cases and reports of resistance to treatments, it is necessary to understand the ectoparasite cycle and to continue studies on different prophylaxis and control methods.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Os ectoparasitos são de grande importância na clínica de pequenos animais pela sua ação direta e por transmitir agentes patogênicos para seus hospedeiros e aos humanos, destacandose entre eles as moscas e os carrapatos. Este artigo de revisão objetiva apresentar um compêndio de informações científicas sobre moscas e carrapatos de cães, desde o seu desenvolvimento, profilaxia, métodos de controle convencionais e alternativos por meio de pesquisa utilizando bancos de dados de periódicos da área de veterinária. Os ectoparasitos de cães apresentam diversas particularidades nos seus ciclos de desenvolvimentos, os quais devem ser levados em conta para formulação de estratégias de profilaxia e controle, a fim de evitar resistência e intoxicações. O seu controle é realizado tradicionalmente com produtos de base química, porém, a inovação na pesquisa vem desenvolvendo e estimulando a produção de antiparasitários com base em extratos vegetais. Devido à alta casuística e ao número de relatos de resistência aos tratamentos, mostra-se necessário o entendimento do ciclo dos ectoparasitos e a continuidade da realização de estudos acerca de diferentes métodos de profilaxia e controle.(AU)

Ectoparasites are of great importance in small animal for their direct action and for transmitting pathogens to their hosts and humans, especially flies and ticks. This review article aims to present a compendium of scientific information on dog flies and ticks, from their development, prophylaxis, conventional and alternative control methods through research using veterinary journal databases. Dog ectoparasites have several particularities in their developmental cycles, which should be considered when formulating prophylaxis and control strategies to avoid resistance and intoxication. Its control is traditionally performed with chemical products, however, innovation in research has been developing and stimulating the production of antiparasitic agents based on plant. Due to the high number of cases and reports of resistance to treatments, it is necessary to understand the ectoparasite cycle and to continue studies on different prophylaxis and control methods.(AU)

Assuntos