Prevalência de anticorpos anti-neospora caninum (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) em bovinos leiteiros de propriedades rurais em três microrregiões no estado do Maranhão / Prevalence of anti-neospora caninum (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) antibodies in dairy cattle in rural properties of three microrregions of Maranhão, Brazil

Objetivou-se, no presente estudo, pesquisar a prevalência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em 812 amostras de soros sangüíneos de bovinos leiteiros procedentes de propriedades rurais de sete municípios das microrregiões de Itapecuru-Mirim, Médio Mearim e Presidente Dutra, estado do Maranhão, Brasil. Para o cálculo do tamanho da amostra, considerou-se um soroprevalência de 34,7 por cento para N. caninum, com erro máximo de 9,5 por cento e intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento. Para a detecção da presença de anticorpos da classe IgG, utilizou-se a técnica de Imunofluorescência Indireta (IFI), com ponto de corte 1:200, usando como antígeno, taquizoítos da cepa NC-1, mantida em cultura celular no Laboratório de Diagnóstico das Parasitoses dos Animais da Escola de Medicina Veterinária da UFBA. Do total de amostras analisadas, encontrou-se uma prevalência de 50,74 por cento. Os títulos variaram de 1:200 a 1:6400, assim distribuídos: 108 (26,21 por cento) amostras de soro apresentaram título de 1:200; 132 (32,04 por cento) 1:400; 94 (22,81 por cento) 1:800; 46 (11,16 por cento) 1:1600; 23 (5,58 por cento) 1:3200 e nove (2,18 por cento) com títulos de 1:6400. Dentre as microrregiões, a Itapecuru-Mirim apresentou o menor percentual de animais soropositivos (20,69 por cento) e Presidente Dutra o maior (47,66 por cento). Com relação à variável sexo, observou-se maior prevalência de sororreagentes nas fêmeas (46,80 por cento) do que nos machos (52,46 por cento). Não se verificou diferença significativa (P>0,05) para as variáveis microrregiões, sexo e idade. Conclui-se que os bovinos leiteiros das regiões estudadas estão expostos à infecção por N. caninum.

The objective in the present study was to research the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum in 812 samples of blood serum of dairy cattle from farms of seven municipalities of microrregions of Itapecuru-Mirim, Middle Mearim and President Dutra, state of Maranhão, Brazil. For the calculation of sample size, it was considered a seroprevalence of 34.7 percent for N. caninum, with a maximum error of 9.5 percent and a confidence interval of 95 percent. To detect antibodies, it was used the technique of Indirect Immunofluorescence (IFI), with the cut-off of 1:200, using as antigen, tachyzoites strain NC-1, maintained in cell culture in the Laboratory of Diagnosis of Parasitism of the Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine of the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. Of the total samples, it was obtained a prevalence of 50.74 percent. The titles ranged from 1:200 to 1:6400, distributed as follows: 108 (26.21 percent) serum samples showed title of 1:200; 132 (32.04 percent) 1:400; 94 (22.81 percent) 1:800; 46 (11.16 percent) of 1:1600; 23 (5.58 percent) of 1:3200 and nine (2.18 percent) with titers of 1:6400. Among the microrregiões the Itapecuru-Mirim showed the lowest percentage of animals seropositive (20.69 percent) and President Dutra the largest (47.66 percent). It was observed higher prevalence of seropositives in females (46.80 percent) than in males (52.46 percent). There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) for the microrregions variables, sex and age. Concluded that the dairy cattle of the regions studied are exposed to infection by N. caninum.

Indices de falha de transferência de imunidade passiva (FTIP) em bezerros holandeses e nelores, às 24 e 48 horas de vida: valores de proteína total, de gamaglobulina, de imunoglobulina G e da atividade sérica de gamaglutamiltransferase, para o diagnóstico de FTIP (AU) / / Index of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in Holstein and Nelore calves at 24 and 48 hours of life: suggestion of total protein, gamma globulin, immunoglobulin G and gamma glutamyl transferase serum activity values for diagnosis of FPT (AU)

Com o objetivo de determinar os índices de falha de transferência de imunidade em bezerros holandeses e nelores foram selecionadas, aleatoriamente, 413 amostras sanguíneas de animais de ambas as raças. Os filhos de vacas pluríparas e os bezerros holandeses apresentaram maiores níveis séricos de proteína total, da fração gamaglobulina e de IgG, do que bezerros da raça Nelore. Contudo, os índices de falha de transferência de imunidade passiva foram mais elevados nos animais da raça Holandesa, às 24 e 48 horas de idade. Estabeleceram-se valores de alguns componentes séricos para o diagnóstico de falha de transferência de imunidade passiva, de acordo com o desafio antigênico ambiental.

In an attempt to determine the passive immunity failure in Holstein and Nelore calves, 413 blood samples were drawn from animals from both breeds. Calves born from pluriparous cows, from both breeds, and Holstein calves had greater serum concentrations of total protein, gamma globulin and IgG than Nelore newborns. However, the passive immune failure index was higher in Holstein calves than those found in Nelore calves at 24 and 48 hours. Some values of serum components were established to predict the passive immunity failure in dependency of environmental antigenic challenge.

Estudo da isoenzima creatina quinase CKMB sérica em equinos de enduro após exercício físico prolongado / Study of serum creatine kinase isoenzyme Ckmb in endurance horses after prolonged physical exercise

Com o objetivo de estudar a influência do exercício físico prolongado na indução de lesão miocárdica e na desqualificação de eqüinos em provas de enduro, colheram-se 87 amostras de sangue de eqüinos adultos Árabes e mestiços para determinação da concentração sérica da isoenzima MB (CKMB), da atividade sérica de creatina quinase (CK) e do índice CKMB/CK. Dividiram-se as amostras da seguinte forma: C (controle, n=34): eqüinos em repouso, no dia anterior à competição; G1 (n=24): eqüinos que finalizaram as competições; G2 (n=14): eqüinos desqualificados durante as competições por causa metabólica e G3 (n=15): eqüinos desqualificados durante as competições por claudicação. Os valores medianos obtidos de CKMB, para os grupos C, G1, G2 e G3, foram respectivamente 2,25; 2,95; 1,95 e 2,40 ng/mL; para a atividade de CK, os resultados foram 164,2; 1228,0; 840,0 e 581,0 U/L a 30oC; e para o índice CKMB/CK, os resultados foram 1,41; 0,21; 0,23 e 0,42%. Houve média correlação positiva entre distância percorrida e CKMB e CK, e negativa entre distância e índice CKMB/CK. O exercício físico de resistência não leva a aumento significante dos valores da isoenzima CKMB, mas sim da atividade sérica da enzima CK, indicando dano à musculatura esquelética. Animais desqualificados por causa metabólica parecem não apresentar envolvimento de lesão miocárdica na causa de desqualificação. Não foi possível verificar a presença de lesão cardíaca induzida pelo exercício em eqüinos de enduro e sua relação com causas metabólicas de desqualificação a partir da utilização de CKMB como único marcador cardíaco.

With the purpose of studying the influence of prolonged phyisical exercise causing myocardial lesion and disqualifying horses in endurance competitions, 87 blood samples were collected from adult Arabian and crossbred horses, to determine the serum concentration of the isoenzyme MB (CKMB), the serum activity of creatine kinase (CK), and the CKMB/CK index. Samples were divided as follows: C (control, n=34): horses at rest, one day before competition; G1 (n=24): horses which finished competitions; G2 (n=14): horses disqualified during competitions by metabolic causes, and G3 (n=15): horses disqualified during competitions after lameness was diagnosed. Median values obtained for CKMB, for groups C, G1, G2, and G3, were, respectively, 2.25; 2.95; 1.95, and 2.40 ng/mL; for CK activity, the results were 164.2; 1228.0; 840.0, and 581.0 in U/L at 30oC; and for CKMB/CK index, the results were 1.41; 0.21; 0.23, and 0.42%. There was mean positive correlation between distance and CKMB and CK, and negative correlation between distance and CKMB/CK index. It was concluded that endurance exercise does not cause significant increases in CKMB values, but in CK serum activity, indicating skeletal muscle injury. Horses disqualified by metabolic causes seem not to present myocardial injury involved in the cause of disqualification. It was not possible to verify the presence of exercise-induced cardiac injury in endurance horses and its relationship with metabolic causes of disqualification only by the utilization of CKMB as the only cardiac marker.

The translation inhibitor anisomycin induces Elk-1-mediated transcriptional activation of egr-1 through multiple mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

The early growth response-1 gene (egr-1) encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor Egr-1 and is rapidly inducible by a variety of extracellular stimuli. Anisomycin (ANX), a protein synthesis inhibitor, stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and thereby causes a rapid induction of immediate-early response genes. We found that anisomycin treatment of U87MG glioma cells resulted in a marked, time-dependent increase in levels of Egr-1 protein. The results of Northern blot analysis and reporter gene assay of egr-1 gene promoter (Pegr-1) activity indicate that the ANX- induced increase in Egr-1 occurs at the transcriptional level. Deletion of the serum response element (SRE) in the 5'-flanking region of egr-1 gene abolished ANX-induced Pegr-1 activity. ANX induced the phosphorylation of the ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPKs in a time-dependent manner and also induced transactivation of Gal4-Elk-1, suggesting that Elk-1 is involved in SRE-mediated egr-1 transcription. Transient transfection of dominant-negative constructs of MAPK pathways blocked ANX-induced Pegr-1 activity. Furthermore, pretreatment with specific MAPK pathway inhibitors, including the MEK inhibitor U0126, the JNK inhibitor SP600125, and the p38 kinase inhibitor SB202190, completely inhibited ANX-inducible expression of Egr-1. Taken together, these results suggest that all three MAPK pathways play a crucial role in ANX-induced transcriptional activation of Pegr-1 through SRE-mediated transactivation of Elk

The Signaling Pathway of G-protein Rac and Eicosanoid Synthesis by Titanium Particles / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: In order to understand the intracellular signaling pathway involving the c-fos gene expression that is caused by Titanium-particles, we analyzed the involvement of Rac, cytosolic phospholipase A2, and eicosanoids (e.g. leukotriene B4 and prostaglandin E2) as well as c-fos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We tested whether or not Titanium-particles activate a c-fos serum response element in Rat-2 fibroblasts. To measure the activity of the c-fos serum response element, we analyzed the serum response element using a luciferase reporter system. The luciferase activity was measured using a scintillation spectrophotometer. Next, we analyzed the involvement of Rac and the eicosanoid synthesis mechanisms which are downstream mediators of Rac in the c-fos serum response element activation cascade. RESULTS: Titanium-particles cause an activation of the c-fos serum response element and this activation was selectively repressed by RacN17 and by pretreatment of the inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase or 5-lipoxygenase. Eicosanoid synthesis was increased in a Rac-dependent manner in response to the presence of Titanium- particles. CONCLUSION: 'Rac, a member of G-protein, which is involved in the eicosanoid synthesis' may play a critical role in the Titanium-induced signaling cascade. Thus, we speculated that the 'Rac-cytosolic phospholipase A2-eicosanoids-c-fos cascade' may be a possible mechanism that produces eicosanoid synthesis caused by Titanium-particles in the periprosthetic osteolytic process.