Evaluation of growth performance and gastro-intestinal parameters on the response of weaned piglets to dietary organic acids

ABSTRACT Two experiments (E) were carried out to evaluate the effects of fumaric acid and an acidifier blend [composed by calcium formate, calcium lactate and medium-chain fatty acids (capric and caprylic)] in piglet diets containing colistin (40 ppm) or halquinol (120 ppm) on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), organs relative weight, pH values, intestinal morphometry and microbiota (E2). In E1, 192 and E2, 24 piglets weaned at 21-day-old were randomly assigned to blocks with 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments [absence or presence of fumaric acid x absence or presence of acidifier blend], six replicates of eight (E1) and one piglet per pen (E2). For E1, the treatments were control (CD): no acidifier product + 40 ppm of colistin, FA: fumaric acid in absence of acidifier blend, AB: acidifier blend in absence of fumaric acid and, AF+AB: presence of fumaric acid and acidifier blend. For E2, the pre-starter I diet were used and the same treatments as E1 evaluated. No treatment effects (P>0.05) were observed on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), gut pH values and duodenum morphometry of piglets (E2). However, the addition of AB increased (P<0.05) large intestine relative weight and, FA addition decreased (P<0.05) pancreas relative weight, jejunum villi height and, total coliform and E. coli counts in cecum. The inclusion of FA and AB in diets containing colistin or halquinol did not improve performance, although FA exerted an inhibitory effect on cecum microbiota.

Aerococcus viridans como agente etiológico de endocardite em valva nativa / Aerococcus viridans as etiological agent in native valve endocarditis

Aerococcus viridans é um patógeno humano incomum e endocardite por este agente na literatura é rara. Relata-se o caso de paciente feminina, 56 anos,hospitalizada devido a quadro de picos febris que, após investigação, foi diagnosticada através dos critérios clínicos de Duke, com endocardite em valva nativa. Foi evidenciado através das hemoculturas o crescimento de A. viridans, sendo o primeiro casoreportado no Brasil. Há relatos desse agente também em infecções urinárias, bacteremia, meningite e artrite séptica. No presente caso, a paciente teve melhorresposta clínica após o início da ampicilina, confirmando alguns artigos que orientam o tratamento com penicilinas.

Aerococcus viridans is an uncommon human pathogen and reports of endocarditis caused by this agent arerare in the literature. This clinical case study describes a 56 year-old female patient admitted to hospital forspiking fevers. After investigation, this was diagnosed as native valve endocarditis, based on the Duke clinicalcriteria and confirmed through the growth of A. viridans in blood cultures, making this the first reported case in Brazil. There are also reports of thisagent in urinary tract infections, bacteremia, meningitis and septic arthritis. In this case, the patient had a better clinical response after starting on ampicillin, confirmed by some articles that recommend treatment withpenicillins.