Sucção digital: observação em ultra-sonografia e em recém-nascidos / Evaluation of digital sucking by prenatal ultrasound and in newborns

OBJETIVO: Observar a sucção digital ou da mão em fetos, identificar os fatores relacionados à gravidez de importância para sua manifestação e identificar, após o nascimento do bebê, a permanência da sucção digital. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Dois exames de ultra-sonografias fetais foram realizados em 55 gestantes, nos períodos de 20-24 e 25-32 semanas. Para avaliar os fatores relacionados à gravidez, foram utilizados questionários. Para identificar a permanência da sucção digital, visitas foram realizadas uma semana após o nascimento. RESULTADOS: A sucção digital foi detectada na maioria dos fetos, exceto em 20. Estatisticamente não houve diferenças significativas entre estado de saúde da gestante e o grau de aceitação da gravidez com a manifestação da sucção digital em fetos. O teste Q de Cochran não evidenciou diferenças significativas entre os sinais de sucção digital em fetos e a instalação do hábito em recém-nascidos. CONCLUSÃO: A ultra-sonografia é um método importante para a observação de sinais de sucção digital em fetos. Esses sinais não implicam hábito bucal após o nascimento.

OBJECTIVE: To observe digital sucking or hand sucking habits in fetuses using ultrasound, to identify pregnancy related factors that influence its appearance and to evaluate the persistence of digital sucking after delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two ultrasound examinations were performed in 55 pregnant women with 20–24 and 25–32 weeks of pregnancy. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the factors related to pregnancy. In order to verify the persistence of digital sucking, visits to the newborns were performed one week after delivery. RESULTS: Digital sucking was detected in 35 of the 55 fetus studied. Digital sucking in fetuses was not associated with the health status of the pregnant women and the level of pregnancy acceptance. The Q Cochran test showed no relationship between the observation of digital sucking in the fetuses and the development of sucking habit in the newborns. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is an effective method to observe digital sucking in the fetus. There is no association between prenatal digital sucking and the development of sucking habits after delivery.

Genetic analysis of the infestation of females of the Caracu cattle breed by Horn Fly (Haematobia irritans irritans) L. (Diptera, Muscidae)

The objective of this study was to evaluate environmental factors that affect infestation of Caracu cattle breed by horn fly (Haematobia irritans) and to estimate genetic parameters for level of infestation. Infestation was evaluated on females from two herds in two consecutive years. Total number of flies on animals (FC) was counted, an infestation score (FS: 1 to 5) was recorded according to the estimated number of flies on animals, and number of parasites in photographs (FF) taken when the animals were evaluated was also counted. On each animal from one to eight observations were taken. A total of 3,836, 2,751 and 3,754 records from 718 animals were obtained for FC, FF and FS, respectively. The incidence of flies was lower during winter and higher during summer, and the thicker the hair coat of the animal the greater the infestation. Heritabilities and repeatabilities were equal to 0.10 and 0.10, 0.08 and 0.12, and 0.06 and 0.08, for FC, FF and FS, respectively. Findings indicate that selection for FC will result in low genetic progress and that animals should be evaluated more than once for selection purposes.