Frequência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em suínos abatidos sem inspeção em Belém / Serologic diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii in swines slaughtered without inspection in Northern Brazil

To survey the occurrence of IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in pigs slaughtered without inspection, 110 serum samples from different localities were submitted to indirect hemaglutination test. A frequency of 50.0% (confidence interval 40.7% -...- 59.3%, 95% significance) of positive sera was detected, with a distribution of frequency of 1.83% and 1.83%, 6.36% and 15.45%, 20.0% and 25.4%, 17.3% and 7.3%, and 4.5% and 0.0% for IgM and IgG antibodies, respectively in 1:16, 1:64, 1:256, 1:1024, and 1:2048 serum dilutions. The toxoplasmic infection was present among pigs in the city of Belém.

Frequência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em suínos abatidos sem inspeção em Belém / Serologic diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii in swines slaughtered without inspection in Northern Brazil

To survey the occurrence of IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in pigs slaughtered without inspection, 110 serum samples from different localities were submitted to indirect hemaglutination test. A frequency of 50.0% (confidence interval 40.7% /.../ 59.3%, 95% significance) of positive sera was detected, with a distribution of frequency of 1.83% and 1.83%, 6.36% and 15.45%, 20.0% and 25.4%, 17.3% and 7.3%, and 4.5% and 0.0% for IgM and IgG antibodies, respectively in 1:16, 1:64, 1:256, 1:1024, and 1:2048 serum dilutions. The toxoplasmic infection was present among pigs in the city of Belém.

Eficácia de vacina inativada contra a doença de Aujeszky: infecçäo experimental de suínos / Efficacy of an inactivated Aujeszky's disease virus vaccine: experimental infection of pigs

Um, vacina experimental contra a doença de Aujeszky (DA), inativada e adsorvida em adjuvante oleoso, foi testada em relaçäo á induçäo de imunidade, grau de proteçäo clínica e capacidade de reduzir a infecçäo, após desafio pela via intranasal. Grupos de 6 suínos, com 45 dias de idade, foram vacinados com uma ou duas doses de vacina, pelas vias intramuscular ou subcutânea, sendo mantido um grupo-testemunha, sem vacinaçäo. Todos os suínos vacinados apresentaram títulos de anticorpos neutralizantes, detectáveis através da prova de soroneutralizaçäo, sendo estatisticamente superiores nos animais que receberam duas doses de vacina. A vacinaçäo preveniu as manifestaçöes clínicas da doença após desafio, principalmente nos animais que receberam duas doses de vacina quando comparado com os que receberam 1 dose. Em todos os animais, vacinados e näo-vacinados, foi possível a detecçäo do vírus da doença de Aujeszky (VDA) nas amígdalas, através da técnica de imunofluorescência direta. A porcentagem de amígdalas positivas nos suínos vacinados com duas doses foi inferior quando comparada àquela de suínos näo-vacinados, no 2º e 7º dias pós-infecçäo. Em suínos vacinados com duas doses de vacina, pela via subcutânea, a taxa de infecçäo foi estatisticamente menor que naqueles vacinados com uma dose, pelas vias intramuscular ou subcutênea, e näo-vacinadas

Surgical treatment of breast asymmetry

Since the original description of the most severe from of breast asymmetry by Poland [1], this matter has been revised from time to time. Not all breast asymmetries can be classified as pathologic. Indeed, most women have slightly different breasts. The therapeutic arsenal of modern Plastic Surgery includes techniques of reduction mammaplasty, augmentation mammaplasty and mastopexy, that should be used in accordance with the specific need of each case [2]. In the present study four cases of breast asymmetry are reported, analyzing esthetic aspects and surgical procedures employed in each case.

Effect of nicotine in randomized skin flaps in rats

This study analyzed the perfusion of randomized skin flaps in rats after nicotine injections, in doses that could be compared with heavy and light smorkers. A skin flap was elevated after 12 weeks of nicotine adminsitration and the percentage of necrotic area was determined thereafter. There was a statistically significant difference between "heavy smokers" in the preoperative (G3) and preoperative and postoperative periods (G5), suggesting a deleterious effect of nicotine in the postoperative period

Simplification of immune adherence hemagglutination test for detection of rabies antibodies in human serum.

In the present work the immune adherence hemagglutination test (IAHA) was standardized in a simplified procedure. This test showed good reproducibility, better than the classical mice serum neutralization test (SN). The tests showed high correlation degree: high titers in one test corresponded to high titers in the other one, and the same occurred with low titers. The IAHA test is extremely simple, fast to perform, and of low cost when compared to tests such as SN or indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). It also proved to be useful in less sophisticated laboratories or even as a screening test for the titration of rabies antibodies.

[Biochemical characterization of calf sera used in the maintenance of cell cultures used in virology]. / Caracterização bioquímica de soros de bezerros utilizados na manutenção de culturas celulares usadas em virologia.

Eight lots of the calf sera employed to supplement culture media for the cultivation of animal cells, of widespread use in virology obtained from calves above and below six months of age were rated as good or as poor cell growth promoters according to their growth promoting capacity (GPC). Parameters related to macronutrients contained in these serum lots were then evaluated with the purpose of establishing their biochemical profiles. The results obtained can be considered as normal values for apparently healthy animal donors. Fluctuations found between the data of this investigation and those mentioned in the literature for certain biochemical parameters are probably due to the methodology employed, the breed and age of the animals, or even to regional diet. Student's "t" test was applied for the statistical analysis of the results and demonstrated that, as far as serum fractions were concerned, no significant differences occurred between sera rated as good and poor cell growth promoters, taking tc = 2.45. For calf sera from animals above and below six months of age, two tests relating to alfa and beta fractions were significant (t = 2.68 and 2.61 respectively). It was demonstrated that the evaluation of the biochemical parameters mentioned "per se" neither leads to the identification of calf sera presenting good or poor GPC, nor of sera harvested from calves younger or older than six months.