Repositório RCAAP

The snook Centropomus parallelus, an important fish of the Brazilian coast, was induced to spawn with the aid of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in November and December/1996 and January/1997, at the Laboratory of Mariculture of Cananéia - SP, Brazil (25º 01’ S; 47º 57’ W). The females (n = 26) received one dose of hormone containing 1, 2 or 5 IU of hCG per gram of body weight. These females were chosen observing initial mean oocyte diameter, the distribution of the different diameter values, and location of germinal vesicle. Four females were considered as control and received one unique injection of 1 ml of 0.9% saline solution. The initial mean oocyte diameter of the selected females was around 400 µm and the distribution of oocyte diameters was unimodal with the mode in 435.6 µm. Approximately 35 hours after the injection of the hormone, females initiated the release of eggs. Then, the eggs were extruded and dry fertilization performed with sperm. At this time, the mean egg diameter was above 600 µm, one oil droplet was present and the germinal vesicles were breakdown. Many larvae were obtained with either one of the above different hormonal doses, 18 hours after fertilization. The ratio of fertilization ranged between 70 and 90%. During the incubations, the sea water salinity was maintained between 29 and 35%, and the temperature was 25 ± 1ºC. Males did not receive hormone. They were selected taking into account the amount and viscosity of milt released and with spermatozoa motility around 90%. The body weight of the fishes varied from 210 g to 1,740 g and the length, from 25.7 to 56.0 centimeters.

The main objectives of this study were to verify the relationship among body condition at parturition, decrease of backfat thickness and weight during the lactation and the interval from weaning to oestrus of sows. It was performed with 10 gilts and 10 fifth, sixth and seventh parity Camborough sows. The average breeding age and weight of the gilts were respectively 231 days and 149.5 kg. During lactation all females were fed a wet diet (3.34 Mcal/kg, 17% CP), ad libitum. The average daily food consumption was 5.233 for gilts and 5.721 kg for multiparous sows. Ultrasonic measurements of backfat at the P2 site were recorded on day 6 before and days 2, 7, 14, 21 and 25 after parturition. Body weight was recorded on the same dates, except the day before parturition. Sows were divided into 2 groups according to their backfat thickness 6 days before parturition. Sows with a backfat thickness of 16 mm or less were assigned to the L-group, while those with a backfat thickness more than 16 mm were assigned to the H-group. After weaning, the interval from weaning to oestrus was recorded. The percentage of total weight loss during lactation was slightly higher (not significant) in the H-group (-4.26%) than in the L-group (-2.64%). The percentage of backfat thickness decreased in both groups from 6 days before parturition until day 25 of lactation, but the decrease was highest in the H-group (p < 0.03). The weaning-oestrus interval did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. In conclusion: there was no correlation between percentage of weight loss (total) and weaning to oestrus interval, or percentage of backfat thickness loss (total or by periods) and weaning-oestrus interval, or percentage of weight loss (total or by periods) and percentage of backfat thickness loss (total or by periods). On the other hand, there was a significant positive correlation between weaning-oestrus interval and percentage of weight loss during the third week of lactation.

Estudou-se experimentalmente a escama de sardinha (Sardinella brasiliensis) como substituto de córneas no reparo de ceratectomias superficiais em cães. Utilizaram-se 14 animais, machos e fêmeas, sem raça definida, com peso médio de 10 kg, considerados sadios. Analisaram-se, macro e microscopicamente, as córneas receptoras bem como o material implantado aos 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 e 60 dias de pós-operatório. As evidências clínicas para a enxertia lamelar mostraram fotofobia e blefarospasmo mais incidentes nos períodos iniciais e intermediários, com tendência à regressão nos tardios. Revelaram edema discreto e igualmente regressivo; neoformação vascular mais incidente nas fases intermediárias e pouco nas tardias. O estudo microscópico evidenciou quadro reacional compatível com "padrão benigno" a exemplo do que fora visto macroscopicamente. Ambos retrataram boa adesividade da "prótese", epitélio e estroma neoformados, sob e sobrepostos a ela. A transparência das córneas receptoras, junto às zonas de enxertia, manteve-se por 14 dias. Para a enxertia interlamelar, observou-se quadro reacional pouco significativo. Para ambas as enxertias, não foram observados sinais de extrusão do material implantado. A escama de sardinha pode ser empregada para fins tectônicos, com bons resultados em ceratoplastias lamelares em cães.

Leydig cell acute steroidogenic response, in seven young Mangalarga stallions (2.6 - 4.5 ys), was evaluated through human Corionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) stimulation. The animals were treated with 5,000 UI (hCG) Vetecor®, i.v., in bollus, at 8 a.m. Plasma samples were collected by venopuncture at 7 a.m. (basal), 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours after stimulation (from 28 to August 31). Testosterone (T) and estrone sulphate (E1SO4) was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), intra-assay variation <= 5%. Data were analysed by Friedman and Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs tests (p <= 0.05). The magnitude of hormonal production after stimulation was analysed by Percentual Variation (delta %). At 48 hours, 57.1% of the animals (n = 4) had maximal response (T) with values 5.7 greater than basal. And although 57.1% of them (n = 4) had maximal response (E1SO4) at 4 hours, the maximal value was 1.6 greater than basal at 24 hours. The hCG may be employed to stimulate the Leydig cell steroidogenic response and 5,000 UI is enough to stimulate testicular steroidogenesis. The estrogen basal concentrations are higher than testosterone basal concentrations. This protocol could be applied to identify fertility problems of endocrine origin in horses of this breed.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different suture knot placements on recover of function of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon of dogs (FDPT). Twenty adult mongrel dogs, male and female, were used for this study. The animals were separated in three groups of eight, seven and five animals. The second and fifth toes of the FDPT in the left front limb were sharply transected and repaired using the modified Kessler technique. The placement of the suture knot and the suture pattern at the epitendon were changing. In the first group, the suture knot was placed at the volar region of the tendon and in the second group the knot was situated on the dorsal surface. Both groups, one and two had their epitendons sutured using a simple interrupted pattern. In the third group the knot was set inside the endotendon and a simple continuous pattern was used to join the epitendon. The animals received controlled passive motion treatment for seven to 15 days when the suture condition was evaluated. The different groups were compared to evaluate the recovered function by the parameters tendon ruptures, gap formation of tendon ends and complete anatomical apposition. Group three presented the best results regarding the parameters evaluated, with no ruptures and with 2.5% of gap formation of tendon ends. The results indicated that the position of the suture knot in tenorrhaphy of flexor digitorum profundus tendon had influence in both healing and biomechanic response.

Adult cattle vaccinated once or twice with 2x10(9) viable B. abortus strain RB51 bacteria did not seroconvert in the rose bengal, serum agglutination and mercaptoethanol tests. Animals vaccinated while pregnant did not abort and no B. abortus was isolated from their vaginal mucus and milk.

No presente estudo foram avaliadas as alterações clínicas e anestesiológicas de macacos-prego (Cebus apella) submetidos a procedimento anestésico com isoflurano, nas concentrações de 1 a 1,5 CAM. Para tanto, 10 animais hígidos (7 machos e 3 fêmeas), pesando em média 3,1 ± 0,8 kg, foram pré-medicados com quetamina e atropina e induzidos com isoflurano. A manutenção anestésica foi feita com isoflurano a 1 CAM durante 30 minutos, seguindo-se 1,5 CAM por mais 30 minutos. Os parâmetros cardiovasculares e respiratórios foram mensurados a cada 5 minutos e os valores de pH e gases sangüíneos a cada 10 minutos, do tempo inicial (T0) ao final (T30), para cada concentração do anestésico. Os valores obtidos foram comparados e analisados pelo teste não-paramétrico de Wilcoxon (p < 0,05). Foi observada queda na temperatura corporal nas duas concentrações de anestésico. Não foram observadas arritmias cardíacas, nem alterações na pressão arterial em ambas as concentrações, no entanto, houve diminuição da freqüência cardíaca com 1,5 CAM. O isoflurano produziu depressão dose-dependente no volume corrente e volume minuto, porém não alterou significativamente a freqüência respiratória. Os valores de pH, pressão parcial de O2 (PaO2) e pressão parcial de CO2 (PaCO2) no sangue arterial e saturação de O2 na hemoglobina (SaO2) não sofreram modificação significativa em ambas as concentrações de isoflurano.

This work was designed to evaluate the efficacy of culture media for salmonella recovery in feedstuffs and feeds. All experimental samples were processed for recovery of stressed bacteria in buffered peptone water and selective media: Selenite Cystine (SC), Rappaport Vassiliadis (RV) and Tetrathionate Hajna (TH), and solid media: Brilliant Green Agar (BGA) and Xylose Lisine Desoxycholate (XLD). Higher number of positive samples was observed from TH and RV as compared to SC. The TH incubated at 42ºC produces the bigger number of positive results, whereas the solid media BGA and XLD were both effective.

O experimento foi realizado no Setor de Bovinocultura de Leite da Fazenda Experimental de Iguatemi, Maringá, Paraná, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do uso de probióticos sobre o índice de diarréia, mortalidade e desempenho (altura e peso) de bezerros. As medições de peso e altura foram feitas logo após o nascimento dos animais, aos 30 e aos 60 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 19 bezerros puros por cruza Holandês, do nascimento aos 60 dias de idade, machos e fêmeas. Os bezerros foram distribuídos em três tratamentos: (A) leite integral + probiótico em pó solúvel, (B) leite integral + probiótico em pó solúvel e pasta probiótica de administração oral e (C) leite integral. Foram fornecidos feno e concentrado à vontade após 20 dias de idade. Os índices de diarréia e mortalidade foram nulos para os três tratamentos. Não houve diferença significativa para o ganho médio diário e mudança nas alturas tomadas nas cernelhas do nascimento aos 60 dias de idade entre os tratamentos A (0,56 kg/dia e 0,055 cm/dia), B (0,41 kg/dia e 0,075 cm/dia) e C (0,51 kg/dia e 0,043 cm/dia).

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os efeitos do óleo de peixe sobre a qualidade do ovo, desempenho das aves, teores de lípides plasmáticos e de colesterol na gema do ovo de galinhas poedeiras. Aves com 89 semanas de idade receberam como alimentação ração acrescida de óleo de peixe bruto a 0,5%, 1%, 2%, 3% e 4% durante 5 semanas. A adição de 1% a 4% de óleo de peixe à dieta provocou redução no peso dos ovos, sem influenciar a conversão alimentar. A qualidade da casca e do albume não foi alterada pela suplementação de óleo de peixe à dieta. Não foram observadas alterações nas concentrações de triglicérides e de colesterol plasmáticos, e os teores de colesterol na gema do ovo não foram afetados pelo óleo de peixe.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cholestyramine and lovastatin, lipid-lowering agents, upon egg quality, reproductive performance, plasma lipids and egg yolk cholesterol levels of Shaver laying hens. Twenty-six-weeks-old hens were fed basal diet without animal products containing 0.2% cholestyramine (COL1), 0.3% cholestyramine (COL2) or 0.005% lovastatin (LOV) for 6 weeks. It was observed that the supplementation of the drugs did not impair albumen and shell quality. Hen performance was not adversely affected, with the exception of the significant reduction (p < 0.05) in egg weights. No significant changes were observed on plasma lipids, and egg yolk cholesterol remained unchanged with the addition of the drugs.

The decoct of Tagetes minuta L. - Compositae (Chinchilho) was submitted to serial dilutions in vitro for testing with the multiple tubes technique its antimicrobial activities - expressed by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericide Concentration (MBC)-, to different concentrations of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium) and Gram-negative (Salmonella Gallinarum, Escherichia coli) bacteria inocula. The statistical analysis showed, for part of decoct concentration / bacterial dilution combinations, that Staphylococcus, Enterococcus and Salmonella had major antimicrobial sensibility to decoct, demonstrating selective action. Escherichia revealed resistance to antimicrobial activities of the decoct, also under 10(4)cfu/ml inoculation levels. These data confirm the antiseptic qualities conferred to Tagetes minuta (Chinchilho) decoct by folks. It is possible its use either as antiseptic or disinfectant in animal health and production problematic-situations such as lack of resources or social economic exclusion.

Heterozygous and homozygous nude female mice with the genetic background BALB/c were housed in a clean conventional colony at the Laboratory Animal Facilities of Instituto Butantan. Nude animals are known to have severe deficiencies in reproductive function. Nude female is usually sterile where only 8.8% of them present spontaneous fertility. In order to study the involvement of the thymus for these reproductive defects, athymic nude female at different stages of development were treated with thymocytes suspensions and mated with heterozygous males. The results obtained for nude females at 10 and 30 days of age were respectively: a) number of pregnant = 48% and 12%; b) number offspring per female = 5.0 and 4.0; c) natality rates were 2.40 and 0.48; and d) under conditions used in this study the life span for nude animals was prolonged until 7 months. The use of this treatment would increase the animal numbers, which are important research models for biomedical investigations. Considering that nude mice are difficult to raise, an obtainment of these animals in higher number by this method appear to be an essential event, and might offer to grow better for the animals, which are used for breeding.

Aflatoxins production is affected by abiotic, biotic and genetic parameters. Eugenesic and dysgenetic condition for aflatoxinogenesis are relatively well studied, such as: the influence of temperature, pH, Aw, Oxigen tension, osmotic pression, organic and inorganic nutrients, substance with fungistatic effects: however there are relatively few knowledge about endogenous regulator mechanisms, the kinetic of the anabolism and the interaction between the productive moulds and remaining microflora holding in eutrophying substrates. The main objective of this study is to evaluate biotic interaction between five indigenous strains of A. flavus, confirmed non-toxigenic, and a productive strain (A. parasiticus ATCC 15 517), cultured simultaneously on two substrates: one natural (cracked corn) and a synthetic one, modified Czapeck-Dox broth. Aflatoxins quantifications were performed by HPLC at 8th and 12th days. Results of those interactive cultures showed that all strains were synergic, increasing aflatoxins production in a range between 5.6 and 106.5% over the control values, with an exception registered on one of the strains cultured in cracked corn at the 12th day, where the production decreased (-7.6%).

A brucelose é uma zoonose crônica de importância para a Saúde Pública. Considerando o pequeno número de dados brasileiros sobre a sua presença em leite cru e derivados não-pasteurizados, estudamos a presença de brucelas em leite de animais sorologicamente positivos. A soroaglutinação rápida (SAR), a soroaglutinação lenta (SAL) e a soroaglutinação lenta com tratamento do soro com 2-mercaptoetanol foram utilizados para identificar os animais positivos nas propriedades estudadas. Amostras diárias de 300 ml de leite foram colhidas por três dias de todos os quartos mamários produtivos (75 ml/teto). As amostras eram misturadas e centrifugadas. Parte do sedimento e do sobrenadante foi inoculada em meios de Farrel e Brodie-Sinton (BS) suplementados com agentes antimicrobianos. As placas e tubos foram cultivados por sete dias a 37ºC, em microaerofilia. As colônias suspeitas no meio BS foram imediatamente repicadas para ágar-Brucella, e cultivadas sob a mesma condição. Os microrganismos isolados foram submetidos a procedimentos de identificação, incluindo a coloração de Gram, requerimento de CO2, produção de H2S, atividade da urease e crescimento na presença de tionina e fucsina. Das 49 amostras examinadas, isolou-se Brucella abortus de 15 (30,61%). Os biótipos isolados foram: biótipo 1 em uma amostra (2,04%), biótipo 2 em oito (16,32%) e biótipo 3 em seis amostras (12,25%)

The experiment was planned to verify the effects of increasing blood urea levels resulting from increasing urea in the diet on cytogenetic parameters of Santa Ines Brazilian breed rams (Ovis aries), aged 13 to 18 months. Eighteen animals were divided into three experimental treatments consisted of: diet A ration with nitrogen levels, according to NRC (1985); diet B - ration with a 133% higher level of nitrogen than diet A; and C- ration with a 166% higher level of nitrogen than diet A. The increase in nitrogen level was obtained by adding 20, 40 g of feed grade urea in treatments B and C, respectively. Blood was collected on a weekly basis to determine urea concentration. Blood was also collected from each animal, 60 days after desired diet urea levels were reached, to obtain a lymphocyte culture in order to count chromosome number and determine mitotic index. Increases in plasma urea level were observed (p < 0.0001), but did not affect the observed traits.

Neste trabalho, a técnica de PCR ("polymerase chain reaction") foi utilizada para a sexagem de 92 embriões bovinos fertilizados in vitro. Os embriões originaram-se de fertilização in vitro de oócitos aspirados de ovários de fêmeas bovinas, provenientes de abatedouros comerciais. Os oócitos foram maturados, fertilizados e cultivados até o estádio de blastocisto. Os embriões foram lavados em solução de PBS, transferidos para tubos de polipropileno contendo água ultrapura, e imediatamente congelados a -196ºC. Os embriões foram descongelados sobre isopor contendo gelo picado e tratados com proteinase K. Para a reação de PCR, utilizaram-se alíquotas de 34 µl de cada tudo, onde foram acrescidos dois pares de primers, seqüência BC1.2 e seqüência satélite 1.715, desoxinucleotídeos, MgCl2, tampão PCR 10X, TaqDNA polimerase e água, em um volume final de 50 µl. As amostras foram amplificadas e a eletroforese realizada em gel de poliacrilamida a 8%. Os géis foram corados com solução de brometo de etídio e analisados em transiluminador de luz ultravioleta. Um índice de 93,47% de amplificação foi atingido, com 41 embriões (47,67%) machos e 45 (52,32%) embriões fêmeas. O uso de gel de poliacrilamida a 8% foi eficaz na separação de fragmentos de DNA muito próximos.

The effect of increased plasma urea levels on reproductive parameters of Santa Ines Brazilian breed rams (Ovis aries) was determined during two phases, 60 days in length each. During the first phase, 18 animals divided into three blocks according to scrotal circumference were submitted to the following treatments: diet A1- with nitrogen levels according to ARC (1980); diet B1 - nitrogen levels 133% higher than A1; and diet C1 - nitrogen levels 166% higher than A1. During the second phase, 12 animals divided into two groups received diet A2- with nitrogen levels according to ARC (1980), and diet B2 - nitrogen levels 200% higher than diet A2, respectively. The increase in protein equivalents was obtained by adding 20, 40 and 60 g of feed grade urea to treatments B1, C1 and B2, respectively. Semen was collected daily using an artificial vagina and analyzed twice a week for progressive motility; vigor, whirling, density, pH, concentration, sperm morphology, ejaculated volume and total sperm per ejaculate. Urea concentration was determined weekly in semen and plasma. Urea level increased in plasma and semen (p < 0.0001) during both phases but did not affect the parameters studied.

Assisted reproductive technologies can be viewed as one potential approach for safeguarding wild species. In this study were evaluated the fertility of captivity male jaguar (Panthera onca) and different capacitation media using the golden hamster zona free oocyte penetration assay. We used frozen/thawed semen from 3 animals housed at Bosque dos Jequitibás, Campinas/SP, to test the Percoll gradient, Swim-up and Swim-up + 1 h incubation (5% CO2 / 38°C), considering as penetration the spermatozoa head descondensation visualized within the oocyte. The results rate was greater for Percoll (26.5%) as compared to Swim-up (8.1%) (X2 = 19.93; p < 0.05). It was not observed penetration with Swim-up + 1 h incubation (5% CO2 / 38°C). It is concluded that Percoll and Swim-up are efficient methods to perform the golden hamster zona free oocyte penetration assay using frozen/thawed jaguar (Panthera onca) spermatozoa. The low rate of penetration could be related to the high rate of morphological abnormal spermatozoa observed in the samples examined.

O presente trabalho refere-se a pesquisa dos aspectos epidemiológicos da dirofilariose canina no perímetro urbano de Cuiabá, através de exame de sangue e sorologia. Examinou-se o sangue de 822 cães: em 11,81% das amostras, detectaram-se, por meio de "Immunoblot", anticorpos contra antígenos de Dirofilaria immitis adulto, enquanto em 0,41% foram encontradas, por meio do teste de Knott modificado, microfilárias de D. immitis. A prevalência da dirofilariose canina em Cuiabá, no período de junho a novembro de 1997, e com a metodologia aplicada, foi de 120,8 casos em cada 1.000 animais. O "Immunoblot" diagnosticou como positivas 11,27% das amostras que estavam consideradas negativas pelo teste de Knott modificado. Os autores analisaram estatisticamente informações sobre raça, sexo, idade e região administrativa de origem dos cães pesquisados. Foi questionada a possibilidade de que os animais pesquisados tivessem viajado a regiões endêmicas, usado microfilaricidas, ou apresentado sintomatologia compatível, bem como estudadas as características ecológicas do local de moradia. Cães com idade variando entre um e nove anos e residentes na região Centro-Oeste apresentaram maior índice de positividade. A maioria não apresentava sintomatologia compatível com a doença, não tinha história clínica do uso de microfilaricidas e/ou preventivos contra dirofilariose canina e nunca havia saído do perímetro urbano de Cuiabá, mas residiam em bairros próximos a rios ou córregos e/ou em casas contíguas a áreas de vegetação nativa. Pela primeira vez, o "Immunoblot" foi empregado no diagnóstico de dirofilariose canina no Brasil.