Effect of crude protein reduction in blood, performance, immunological, and intestinal histological parameters of broiler chickens.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of the reduction in dietary crude protein (CP) on blood urea, uric acid, performance, immunity, and intestinal histology of broilers. Four diets were formulated with 22.50%, 21.50%, 20.50%, and 19.50% of CP (1 to 21 days) and 19.20%, 18.20%, 17.20%, and 16.20% of CP (22 to 42 days), meeting the requirements of essential amino acids in all diets. A total of 800 male Ross chicks were randomly allocated to 32 pens, with 25 birds each (n = 8). Blood and intestines had been collected for analysis. Uric acid decreased and urea increased with the reduction of CP (p < 0.05). Reduction in performance and intestinal parameters (villus, crypt, and goblet cells) was observed with the reduction of CP (p < 0.05). Lower levels of CP resulted in alteration (p < 0.05) in CD4 and CD8 lineages (21 and 42 days). Broken-line models estimated (p < 0.05) the CP requirement for growth between 21% and 21.3% (1 to 21 days) and between 17.2% and 17.4% (22 to 42 days) and CP requirements between 17.2% and 18.2% for maximum response of immune cells (42 days). Reduction in dietary CP has a negative impact on performance, immune response, and intestinal histology of broilers, even with adequate levels of essential amino acids.

Probióticos na avicultura / Probiotics on poultry production

Com a proibição do uso de antibióticos como melhoradores de desempenho, aumentaram as pesquisas para desenvolver produtos alternativos que fossem eficientes para melhorar o desempenho zootécnico dos animais de produção e manter a saúde intestinal deles, por meio da redução de patógenos e da imuno modulação do trato gastrointestinal. O uso de probióticos já é conhecido há muito tempo, entretanto os mecanismos de ação destes produtos e a interação deles com o organismo animal hospedeiro estão sendo mais profundamente pesquisados agora. Sabe-se que os probióticos auxiliam no equilíbrio da microbiota intestinal, podendo, por meio deste efeito, melhorar o desempenho dos animais. Esta atividade se dá pela produção de diferentes metabólitos com ação antimicrobiana e também pela competição por sítios de ligação com bactérias patogênicas na mucosa do trato gastrointestinal ou através de imunomodulação no organismo animal. Devido a todas as ações dos probióticos, eles são utilizados como melhoradores de desempenho animal e também podem ser uma ferramenta para controle de enterobactérias de importância em saúde pública.

As antibiotics growth promoters have been banned from animal feed, probiotics have received special attention as alternative products to enhance performance from livestock and keep their gastrointestinal health. Probiotics benefits are known since long time ago, however, the mechanisms of action of these products are being better researched now. Is known that probiotics could balance intestinal microbiot and due to this, they can improve animal performance. This activity is due to the production of different metabolites with antimicrobial activity and competition by bind sites on gastrointestinal mucosal. Due to all this probiotic actions, they are recommended as animal growth promoters and also may be an important tool to control enterobacterias considered risky to public health.

Neighborhood and postal worker characteristics associated with dog bites in postal workers of the Brazilian National Postal Service in Curitiba.

Dog bites are the third most common cause of absenteeism among postal workers of the Brazilian National Postal Service in Southern Brazil, with an average off-work time of approximately two days for each biting episode. The objective of this study was to evaluate the neighborhood characteristics involving dog bites that occurred during work time in postal workers, its impact on work and consequent preventive alternatives. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was designed for all Curitiba postal workers. Data were descriptively analyzed and the hypothesis of correlation between median monthly income, population density and occurrence of dog bites was tested. A total of 34.9% of the postal workers answered the questionnaire and 64.6% of them had been bitten while working. The odds of bites occurring in a neighborhood increase by 1.035 times for every increase in one unit in the population density and decrease by 0.998 times for every increase of US$ 1.00 in the neighborhood median monthly income of the head of the family. The occurrence of dog bites among postal workers in Curitiba is related to income and population density and prevention strategies should address mailbox position and adequate fencing to provide protection for postal workers.

Neighborhood and postal worker characteristics associated with dog bites in postal workers of the Brazilian National Postal Service in Curitiba / Características do bairro e de carteiros associadas com mordidas de cães em trabalhadores postais dos Correios em Curitiba

Dog bites are the third most common cause of absenteeism among postal workers of the Brazilian National Postal Service in Southern Brazil, with an average off-work time of approximately two days for each biting episode. The objective of this study was to evaluate the neighborhood characteristics involving dog bites that occurred during work time in postal workers, its impact on work and consequent preventive alternatives. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was designed for all Curitiba postal workers. Data were descriptively analyzed and the hypothesis of correlation between median monthly income, population density and occurrence of dog bites was tested. A total of 34.9% of the postal workers answered the questionnaire and 64.6% of them had been bitten while working. The odds of bites occurring in a neighborhood increase by 1.035 times for every increase in one unit in the population density and decrease by 0.998 times for every increase of US$ 1.00 in the neighborhood median monthly income of the head of the family. The occurrence of dog bites among postal workers in Curitiba is related to income and population density and prevention strategies should address mailbox position and adequate fencing to provide protection for postal workers.

Mordidas de cães são a terceira causa mais frequente de absenteísmo ao trabalho em carteiros do Correio no sul do Brasil, com uma média de dois dias de ausência a cada episódio de mordida. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as características de bairros onde ocorreram mordidas de cães em carteiros durante o período de serviço, o impacto disto no trabalho e desenvolver alternativas preventivas. Um corte-transversal descritivo e analítico foi desenhado e aplicado a todos os carteiros de Curitiba. Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva e foi testada a hipótese de que renda mediana mensal, densidade populacional e ocorrência de mordidas em cada bairro estão correlacionadas. Um total de 34,9% dos carteiros de Curitiba respondeu ao questionário e 64,6% deles já haviam sido mordidos enquanto trabalhavam. A chance de ocorrerem mordidas em um bairro aumenta em 1,035 vezes a cada aumento em uma unidade na densidade populacional e diminui 0,998 vezes para cada aumento de US$ 1,00 na renda mediana mensal do chefe de família. A ocorrência de mordidas de cães em carteiros de Curitiba está correlacionada com renda e densidade populacional. Estratégias de prevenção devem visar um adequado posicionamento da caixa de correio e a instalação de cercas adequadas para proteger os carteiros.