Morphometric analysis of bite mark patterns caused by domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) using dental wax registers / Análisis de patrones de huellas de mordedura producidos por perros domésticos ( Canis lupus familiaris ) utilizando registros en cera dental

Dog bites are a known public health problem involving physical, mental and emotional traumas. From a forensic point of view, it has been stated that their morphological characters, and the intercanine and interincisive measurements, could allow a taxonomic and specific identification of the implicated animal. The aim of this study was to differentiate and identify the biological profile of a potential aggressor dog by analysing eight morphometric bite patterns belonging to three different dog breeds. The data obtained were analyzed following three categories: a) breeds; b) sexes among breeds; and c) sex within breed. Significant differences were detected among the variables (p≤ 0.05), but only the maximum maxillary intercanines width (MaxCW) allowed a breed differentiation. The other variables allowed a differentiation between two breeds or one breed over the others. The principal components analysis (PCA) allowed visualizing the degree of dispersion and relationship among the scores. It showed three well-defined and separated breed groups, and different degrees of dispersion within and among breeds. The most important variable for such a differentiation was MaxCW. When considering sex among breeds for males, it showed a statistically significant difference, but only the diastema located between the third left mandibular, incisive and the left mandibular canine (C-I-ManL) allowed breed differentiation. For females, only MaxCW allowed a differentiation among breeds. The multivariate analysis permitted with a 95 % confidence interval, a breed and sex differentiation. Besides, the PCA models allowed classifying, identifying, separating and graphically showing the relationship among the variables. This made it possible to differentiate between breeds and sexes. Due to the large range of dog breeds around the world, this multivariate analysis could also help determining the dog's weight and size, narrowing down towards an approximate number of offending dogs, focussing on a certain kind of dog breed, and pinpointing any suspect dog.

Las mordeduras de perros son un conocido problema de salud pública que involucra traumas físicos, mentales y emocionales. En la faz forense, se ha establecido que características morfológicas, así como las medidas intercanina e interincisiva, permitirían una identificación taxonómica y especifica del animal involucrado. El objetivo fue diferenciar e identificar el perfil biológico de un potencial perro agresor analizando ocho patrones morfológicos de mordeduras pertenecientes a tres diferentes razas caninas. Los datos fueron analizados considerando tres categorías: a) razas; b) sexo entre razas; y c) sexo en cada raza. Se observaron diferencias entre las variables (p≤0,05), pero sólo la distancia máxima entre caninos maxilares (MaxCW), permitió una diferenciación entre razas. Las otras variables permitieron una diferenciación entre dos razas o de una raza sobre las otras. El análisis de componentes principales (PCA) permitió visualizar el grado de dispersión y la relación entre las puntuaciones (dentro y entre razas). Se observaron tres grupos (razas) bien definidos y separados con diferentes grados de dispersión dentro y entre razas. La variable más importante para tal diferenciación fue la MaxCW. Al considerar sexo (machos) entre razas, se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa, pero sólo la medida del diastema localizado entre el tercer incisivo y canino izquierdo mandibulares (C-I-ManL) permitió la diferenciación entre razas. Para hembras, sólo la MaxCW permitió una diferenciación entre razas. El análisis multivariante permitió, con un intervalo de confianza del 95 %, diferenciar raza y sexo. El modelo PCA permitió además clasificar, identificar, separar y mostrar gráficamente la relación entre las variables. Esto posibilitó diferenciar entre razas y sexos. Debido a la gran variedad de razas de perros en el mundo, este análisis multivariado permitiría estimar peso y tamaño del animal, indicando un número aproximado de perros atacantes, centrándose en ciertos tipos de raza, y localizar a cualquier cánido sospechoso.

Caracterização da equideocultura no estado de Minas Gerais / Characterization of equidae breeding in Minas Gerais state

Recently, horse breeding has achieved greater prominence in the Brazilian society and now it started to appear as a part of the Brazilian agribusiness. The state of Minas Gerais stands out as the main producer of equidae in Brazil. The aim of this work was to characterize the breeding of equidae in this State in order to support future researches in this sector. By the evaluation of records from 1990 to 2009 provided by the "Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics" (IBGE) and also 967 interviews with breeders of equidae, it was possible to characterize some important points. It was observed that equidae breeding in this State moves over R$1,500,000,000 per year and employs 86,000 people. The main investments of the properties are made in purchasing saddles, accessories and commercial feeds. The main goal of equidae breeders in Minas Gerais has been the work in rural properties (49.49%) complementing many farming activities, especially the work with cows. Although Minas Gerais holds the main herd of equidae in the country, the number of animals has decreased. On the one hand, the equidae breeding sector has demonstrated its social and economic importance in agribusiness; on the other, hand further researches are needed to develop public policies to improve the breeding of equidae in Minas Gerais.

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana do alho (Allium sativum Liliaceae) e de seu extrato aquoso / Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of garlic (Liliaceae Allium sativum) and its aqueous extract

Objetivou-se avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana do alho (Allium sativum Liliaceae), in natura, e do extrato aquoso, frente à Candida albicans (Ca) e a Estreptococos do grupo B (EGB). O alho in natura e os extratos aquosos 30% e 170%, foram submetidos à avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana usando os métodos de Difusão em Ágar pela técnica do disco e do poço. Os resultados mostraram que o alho, in natura, apresentou halo de inibição de 55,3 ± 2,6 milímetros (mm) frente a Ca e de 27,1 ± 2,6 mm frente à EGB, enquanto o halo de inibição do miconazol foi de 24 ± 0,5 mm e o da Penicilina G de 29,8 ± 0,3 mm. O extrato aquoso de alho a 30% não apresentou atividade antimicrobiana frente à Ca e à EGB Já o extrato aquoso de alho a 170% apresentou halo de inibição frente a Ca, de 11,3 ± 0,7 mm na técnica do disco e de 14,5 ± 0,9 mm na técnica do poço, porém não inibiu o crescimento da EGB Conclui-se que o alho in natura apresentou melhor efeito inibitório frente às cepas de Ca e de EGB.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of fresh garlic (Liliaceae Allium sativum) and its aqueous extracts against Candida albicans (Ca) and group B Streptococcus (GBS). Fresh garlic and its aqueous extract in concentrations of 30% and 170% were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity using the agar diffusion technique. The results showed that fresh garlic showed a halo of inhibition of 55.3 ± 2.6 millimeters (mm) towards Ca and 27.1 ± 2.6 mm towards GBS while the inhibition halo of miconazole was 24 ± 0.5 mm and the inhibition halo of Penicillin G was 29.8 ± 0.3 mm. The aqueous extract of garlic in the concentration of 30% showed no antimicrobial activity towards Ca and GBS The aqueous extract of garlic at 170%, showed a halo of inhibition towards Ca, of 11.3 ± 0.7 mm in the disk technique and 14.5 ± 0.9 mm in the well technique, but did not inhibit the growth OF GBS We conclude that the fresh garlic showed a better inhibitory effect against the strains of Ca and GBS.

Local edema and hemorrhage caused by Crotalus durissus terrificus envenoming evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of local edema and hemorrhage caused by Crotalus durissus terrificus envenoming using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six patients bitten by Crotalus durissus terrificus snakes were treated at the Emergency Unit and Tropical Diseases Unit of Botucatu School of Medicine, UNESP, Säo Paulo State, Brazil. After receiving specific serotherapy, the patients were submitted to MR of the bite site. Post contrast T1 and T2 spin-echo MRI were obtained revealing the following lesions: edema associated with hemorrhage in subcutaneous and muscular tissue (n=3), edema in subcutaneous tissue (n=2), and perimuscular hemorrhage (n=1). In this study, MR demonstrated a local effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus envenoming in inducing edema and hemorrhage, mainly in muscular tissues and perimuscular areas. These results indicate that Crotalus durissus terrificus venom cause a local muscular tissue damage in human envenoming represented by edema and hemorrhage.