Culture and molecular identification of microorganisms from Digital Dermatitis lesions in dairy cattle: Leptospira, an unexpected finding / Cultivo e identificação molecular de microrganismos isolados de lesões de dermatite digital em bovinos leiteiros: Leptospira, um achado inesperado

Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is an infectious and contagious disease characterized by ulcerative and proliferative lesions affecting the skin on the bulbs of the heel or the interdigital cleft in dairy cattle, often associated with lameness. Evidences on the etiology of BDD indicate that it is multifactorial, involving environmental factors and multiple bacterial colonization. We isolated and identified microorganisms from BDD biopsy samples obtained from five Holstein Friesian and two Jersey cows by cultivation and molecular identification of bacterial isolates using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. We identified six bacterial species: Spirochetes as Treponema pedis and Leptospira broomi/L. fainei, L. licerasiae/L. wolffii; Corynebacterium appendicis, Cupriavidus gilardii and Enterococcus casseliflavus/E. gallinarum. It was quite surprising to have isolated and identified Leptospira species in three out of seven cultures, from different individual cows and two different farms. The species identified belong to the intermediate pathogenic clade, which is a group found to cause human and animal disease. Our findings indicate the need to further investigate the association of Leptospira of intermediate pathogenicity with BDD lesions and whether its presence would have any veterinary and medical significance both in Leptospirosis and with the pathogenesis of BDD lesions, especially in tropical countries.(AU)

Dermatite digital bovina (DDB) é uma doença infecciosa, contagiosa, caracterizada por lesões ulcerativas e proliferativas da região dos talões e/ou do espaço interdigital, frequentemente associada com claudicação. Evidências indicam que a etiologia da DDB é multifatorial, envolvendo fatores ambientais e colonização polimicrobiana. Relata-se aqui o isolamento e a identificação bacteriana em amostras de biópsias em lesões de DDB, obtidas de cinco vacas da raça Holandesa e duas da raça Jersey, por meio de cultivo e identificação molecular de isolados, com base na análise de sequências de genes 16S rRNA. São identificadas seis espécies bacterianas: as espiroquetas Treponema pedis e Leptospira broomi/L. fainei, L. licerasiae/L. wolffii; Corynebacterium appendicis, Cupriavidus gilardii e Enterococcus casseliflavus/E. gallinarum. O isolamento e a identificação de espécies de Leptospira surpreenderam, destacando-se sua presença em três dos sete cultivos obtidos em diferentes vacas, de duas fazendas distintas. As espécies identificadas pertencem ao grupo tipificado como de patogenicidade intermediária, causador de doenças em animais e no homem. Os resultados apresentados indicam a necessidade de maiores investigações sobre a associação entre Leptospira de patogenicidade intermediária e a patogênese das lesões DDB, investigando-se sua presença e significado nas medicinas veterinária e humana, especialmente em países tropicais.(AU)

Control of fungal diseases and chilling injury in post-harvest tahiti lime / Controle de doenças fúngicas e de danos por frio em pós-colheita de lima ácida Tahiti

The Tahiti lime appears very susceptible to attack by post-harvest diseases, primarily by the fungi Penicillium and Phomopsis, and also because of its high sensitivity to storage at low temperatures. In order to reduce such damage, the present study aimed to verify the efficiency of heat treatment and disinfection of pathogens in the prevention of post-harvest chilling injury of this cultivar and to compare this treatment with other products using the conventional fungicides. The heat treatments were studied with hot-water temperatures ranging between 48 and 56° C. Water at room temperature was used as a control treatment. After treatment, the fruits were kept under cold temperature at 10° C and RH 90% for about 45 days. For comparison, three other treatments were carried out simultaneously, one using imazalil, one with baking soda, and a third with sodium carbonate, these three products being applied by baths in cold water. Two groups of fruit were evaluated, one treated by immersion considering pathogens coming from the field and another by inoculation with spores of the previously isolated pathogens. For the evaluation of physical and chemical parameters of fruits, determinations were made of the skin color, texture, weight loss, size, juice yield, soluble solids, total acidity and vitamin C content. The determination of the sensitivity of the fruit to cold was made by their exposure at temperatures inducing cold damage. The design was a randomized block design with nine treatments, analyzed by the Statgraphics statistical package. Heat treatments, especially at 52° C, were shown to be more promising in the control of pathogenic fungi and cold damage, surpassing the conventional fungicides. No changes were found in the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters in relation to the application of the different treatments.

A lima ácida Tahiti apresenta-se muito susceptível ao ataque de doenças pós-colheita e, também, por sua elevada sensibilidade, ao armazenamento em baixas temperaturas. Com a finalidade de reduzir estes danos, este trabalho objetivou verificar a eficiência do tratamento térmico na desinfestação de patógenos e na prevenção de danos por frio na pós-colheita deste cultivar e comparar este tratamento com outros utilizando os fungicidas convencionais. Os tratamentos térmicos estudados foram com água quente variando as temperaturas entre 48 a 56° C. A testemunha consistiu de tratamento com água em temperatura ambiente. Depois de tratados, os frutos foram divididos em dois lotes e mantidos em câmara fria com temperatura de 10° C e UR de 90%, por aproximadamente 45 dias. Para comparação foram feitos três outros tratamentos simultaneamente: um utilizando imazalil, outro com bicarbonato de sódio e o terceiro com carbonato de sódio, sendo as aplicações destes três produtos feitas em banhos com água em temperatura ambiente. Foram avaliados 2 grupos de frutos, um tratado por imersão considerando os patógenos oriundos do campo, e outro por inoculação com esporos dos fungos previamente isolados. Os parâmetros físico-químicos dos frutos avaliados foram a coloração da casca, a textura, a perda de massa, o tamanho, o rendimento de suco, de sólidos solúveis, o °brix, o ratio, a acidez total e a vitamina C. A determinação da sensibilidade dos frutos ao frio foi feita pela exposição deles a temperaturas indutoras de dano por frio. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi blocos ao acaso, com nove tratamentos, analisado pelo pacote estatístico Statgraphics. Verificram-se que os tratamentos térmicos, principalmente a 52° C, (...)

HFE gene mutations and iron status of Brazilian blood donors

Mutations of the HFE and TFR2 genes have been associated with iron overload. HFE and TFR2 mutations were assessed in blood donors, and the relationship with iron status was evaluated. Subjects (N = 542) were recruited at the Hemocentro da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Iron status was not influenced by HFE mutations in women and was independent of blood donation frequency. In contrast, men carrying the HFE 282CY genotype had lower total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) than HFE 282CC genotype carriers. Men who donated blood for the first time and were carriers of the HFE 282CY genotype had higher transferrin saturation values and lower TIBC concentrations than those with the homozygous wild genotype for the HFE C282Y mutation. Moreover, in this group of blood donors, carriers of HFE 63DD plus 63HD genotypes had higher serum ferritin values than those with the homozygous wild genotype for HFE H63D mutation. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that HFE 282CY leads to a 17.21 percent increase (P = 0.018) and a 83.65 percent decrease (P = 0.007) in transferrin saturation and TIBC, respectively. In addition, serum ferritin is influenced by age (3.91 percent, P = 0.001) and the HFE 63HD plus DD genotype (55.84 percent, P = 0.021). In conclusion, the HFE 282Y and 65C alleles were rare, while the HFE 63D allele was frequent in Brazilian blood donors. The HFE C282Y and H63D mutations were associated with alterations in iron status in blood donors in a gender-dependent manner.

Effects of tryptophan depletion on anxiety induced by simulated public speaking

Several lines of evidence point to the participation of serotonin (5HT) in anxiety. Its specific role, however, remains obscure. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of reducing 5HT-neurotransmission through an acute tryptophan depletion on anxiety induced by a simulated public speaking (SPS) test. Two groups of 14-15 subjects were submitted to a 24-h diet with a low or normal content of tryptophan and received an amino acid mixture without (TRY-) or with (TRY+) tryptophan under double-blind conditions. Five hours later they were submitted to the SPS test. The state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and the visual analogue mood scale (VAMS) were used to measure subjective anxiety. Both scales showed that SPS induced a significant increase in anxiety. Although no overall difference between groups was found, there was a trend (P = 0.078) to an interaction of group x gender x phases of the SPS, and a separate analysis of each gender showed an increase in anxiety measured by the STAI in females of the TRY- group. The results for the female TRY- group also suggested a greater arousing effect of the SPS test. In conclusion, the tryptophan depletion procedure employed in the present study did not induce a significant general change in subjective anxiety, but tended to induce anxiety in females. This suggests a greater sensitivity of the 5HT system to the effects of the procedure in this gender.