Transferência de imunidade passiva (TIP) e dinâmica de anticorpos específicos em bezerros naturalmente expostos para as viroses respiratórias / Passive immune transfer (PIT) and dynamics of specific antibodies in calves naturally exposed to the respiratory viruses

Esta pesquisa avaliou a TIP e a dinâmica de anticorpos (ACs) específicos em bezerros naturalmente expostos aos agentes causadores da doença respiratória bovina (DRB). Foram selecionados 19 bezerros Holandeses alimentados com colostro proveniente de doadoras vacinadas para DRB. Amostras de soro foram obtidas antes e após a ingestão do colostro (48h) para a soroneutralização (SN). Os valores médios (log2) detectados após colostragem foram de 11,5±1,6 (BVDV), 8,8±1,3 (BoHV-1), 5,5±1,6 (BRSV) e 8,4±1,5 (BPIV-3). Cinco bezerros foram criados do nascimento aos 240 dias de vida, observando-se decréscimo nos títulos de ACs para BVDV, BoHV-1 e BPIV-3 ao longo do tempo (P≤0,001). As taxas de infecções detectadas entre o D14 e o D240 foram de 40% (2/5), 20% (1/5), 80% (4/5), e 60% (3/5), respectivamente, para BVDV, BoHV-1, BRSV e BPIV-3. A maioria dos bezerros manifestou broncopneumonia após as infecções virais. Os bezerros apresentaram ACs para todas as viroses às 48 horas de vida, porém os títulos adquiridos para o BRSV foram baixos. A susceptibilidade para as infecções variou de acordo com os níveis e a duração dos títulos de ACs maternos.(AU)

This research evaluated the PIT and the dynamics of specific antibody (Ab) for calves naturally exposed to the viral agents involved in Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). Nineteen Holstein calves fed colostrum from vaccinated donors for DRB. Serum samples were obtained before and after colostrum intake (48h) for serum neutralization (SN). Mean values (log2) detected after colostrum feeding were 11.5±1.6 (BVDV), 8.8 ±1.3 (BoHV-1) 5.5±1.6 (BRSV) and 8.4±1.5 (BPIV-3). Five calves were raised from birth to 240 days of life and presented a decrease in Ab titers for BVDV, BoHV-1 and BPIV-3 over time (P≤ 0.001). Infection rates from D14 to D240 were of 40% (2/5), 20% (1/5), 80% (4/5) and 60% (3/5), respectively for BVDV, BoHV-1, BRSV and BPIV-3. Most of the calves presented bronchopneumonia after seroconversion to the virus. Calves presented Ab for all viruses at 48 hours of life, however BRSV Ab titer were low. Levels and persistence of maternal antibody titers determined the susceptibility to viral infections.(AU)

The Brazilian investment in science and technology

An analysis of Brazilian federal expenditures in science and technology is presented is this study. The 1990-1999 data were compiled from records provided by two federal agencies (MCT and CNPq) responsible for managing most of the national budget related to these activities. The results indicate that the federal investments in Brazilian science and technology stagnated during the last decade (US$ 2.32 billion in 1990, US$ 2.39 billion in 1996, and US$ 2.36 billion in 1999). In contrast, a great increase in private investments in research was acknowledged both by industry and by the government during the same period, from US$ 2.12 to US$ 4.64 billion. However, this investment did not result in an increase in invention patents granted to residents (492 in 1990 and only 232 in 1997) or in a reduction of patent costs. Despite this unfavorable scenario, the number of graduate programs in the country has increased two-fold in the last decade and the contribution of Brazilians to the database of the Institute for Scientific Information has increased 4.7-fold from 1990 (2,725 scientific publications) to 2000 (12,686 scientific publications). Unstable federal resources for science, together with the poor returns of private resources in terms of developing new technologies, may jeopardize the future of Brazilian technological development