Análise de custo-benefício da vacinação com Rev.1 da brucelose ovina e caprina no norte de Portugal entre 2000 e 2005 / Cost-benefit analysis of sheep and goat brucellosis vaccination with Rev.1 in the north of Portugal from 2000 to 2005

In the North of Portugal, a mass vaccination programme of small ruminants was conducted from 2001 to 2004. A study of cost-benefit was carried out for the 2000/2005 period to ascertain the economic benefits of this strategy. In order to estimate the cost of the zoonosis, the compensation costs paid to farmers for culled animals in the Brucellosis Eradication Campaign, data from vaccine Rev. 1 costs, and costs of people internment due to brucellosis were studied. An increase in the cost was observed from 2000 to 2001 (aproximately US$ 110,000), essentially due to compensation for culled animals, but also from vaccination and human internment costs. However, a progressive decrease was observed from 2001 to 2004 (from more than US$1,200,000 in 2001 to US$180,000 in 2004), roughly US$ 1,020,000 less. As the main conclusion, the annual cost of this zoonosis decreased by an average of almost US$600,000 per year, and a total of more than three million dollars were saved from 2000 to 2005. The results of this study suggest that mass vaccination with Rev. 1 reduced overall costs and was effective in reducing animal and human brucellosis costs.

No norte de Portugal, procedeu-se à vacinação massiva contra a brucelose em pequenos ruminantes entre 2001 e 2004. Neste estudo, efetuou-se uma análise de custo benefício entre 2000 e 2005 para apurar os benefícios econômicos dessa estratégia. Para estimar o custo da zoonose, estudaram-se três variáveis: a indenização paga aos proprietários dos animais eliminados durante a campanha de erradicação da brucelose, o custo da vacina Rev. 1 e os custos de internamento das pessoas infectadas por brucelose nas unidades de Serviços de Saúde. Durante os anos em estudo, observou-se um aumento de custo de aproximadamente US$110.000, entre 2000 e 2001, principalmente, devido à indenização dos animais eliminados e à aplicação da vacina e os custos por internamento de pessoas infectadas, seguindo-se uma redução acentuada entre 2001 e 2004 (de US$1.200.000 para US$180.000 em 2004), o que perfez US$1.020.000 poupados. O custo anual da zoonose, em relação às variáveis estudadas, diminuiu em média US$600.000 por ano, sendo poupados mais de US$ 3.000.000 entre 2000 e 2005. Estes resultados sugerem que a vacinação com Rev. 1 reduziu os custos totais da infecção humana e animal relativamente às variáveis estudadas.

Comparative evaluation of PCR in Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears and PCR in tissues for diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.

Thirty six tissues from sheep, previously diagnosed with paratuberculosis, were tested by PCR in positive Ziehl-Neelsen staining smears of tissues, and PCR in tissues targeting IS900 specific for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. DNA amplification was achieved in 33.3% Ziehl-Neelsen smears, and in 61.1% tissue samples. Combination of both techniques found 66.7% samples as positive. Combination of techniques would, therefore, increase the sensitivity of diagnosis.

Coloração de Ziehl-Neelsen como método rápido de diagnóstico de paratuberculose ovina / Ziehl-Neelsen staining as a fast method in the diagnosis of ovine paratuberculosis

Estudou-se a presença de bacilos álcool-ácido resistentes compatíveis com Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em esfregaços de fezes e tecidos de ovinos. Vinte e seis esfregaços de fezes e 104 de tecidos, pertencentes a 26 animais diagnosticados como paratuberculosos, foram analisados pelo método de Ziehl-Neelsen. Dezesseis (61,5 por cento) esfregaços fecais apresentaram bacilos álcool-ácido resistentes compatíveis no exame microscópico. Vinte animais (76,9 por cento) foram diagnosticados pelo método nos esfregaços de tecidos. Vinte e um animais apresentaram esfregaços positivos nas fezes e nos tecidos, simultaneamente. A sensibilidade de Ziehl-Neelsen para os esfregaços fecais, esfregaços de tecidos e para a combinação de ambos foi de 61,5 por cento, 76,9 por cento e 80,8 por cento, respectivamente.

The presence of acid-fast bacilli compatible with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in fecal and tissues smears was investigated using the Ziehl-Neelsen staining. A total of 26 fecal smears and 104 tissues smears collected from 26 sheep with confirmed paratuberculosis were analyzed. Sixteen (61.5 percent) fecal smears showed compatible with acid-fast bacilli on microscopic examination after staining. Twenty animals (76.9 percent) were diagnosed based on the positivity of tissues smears. The Ziehl-Neelsen sensitivities to faecal smears, tissues smears, and a combination of both were 61.5 percent, 76.9 percent, and 80.8 percent, respectively.

Exercise induced changes in the energy expenditure of female Wistar rats.

Changes in body weight and energy expenditure following exercise training was assessed in female Wistar rats. Rats were trained to swim in a tank filled with water for 2 hr everyday, 6 days a week. Changes in energy intake and body weight were recorded. The resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured by indirect calorimetry and the capacity for non shivering thermogenesis (NST) was determined by measuring the stimulated oxygen consumption following a sc injection of norepinephrine (250 micrograms/kgbw). The RMR of exercised rats was 14% higher and the capacity for NST was 22% higher than that of sedentary rats. Energy intake of the exercised rats increased significantly while the body weights were maintained at levels comparable to that of the sedentary rats. Results indicate that body weight regulation is achieved by increasing food intake in response to the increased energy expenditure due to forced exercise as well as the stimulatory effect of exercise on RMR and NST.