Use of a natural herbal-based feed additive containing isoquinoline alkaloids in newborn calves with cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidium infections are one of the most prevalent causes of diarrhea in calves and considered to be one of the major sources of economic loss in livestock production. A global trend is currently underway, in identifying natural and sustainable alternatives to support animal husbandry and production. Isoquinoline alkaloids are known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties in the promotion of gut health. Thus, an experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of natural, herbal-based feed isoquinoline alkaloids to support calves experimentally inoculated with Cryptosporidium parvum. Twenty-six calves were randomly divided into control (CN) (n = 13) and treatment (SG) (n = 13) groups. The SG group received 5 g of feed additive in every milk feeding from 1 to 21 days of age. The CN group received milk without any additives. All calves were orally inoculated on the third day of life with 1 × 106Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. The animals were evaluated daily, from 3 to 30 days of age, for the occurrence, duration, and intensity of diarrhea. Calves with a base deficit of ≥ 9 mEq/L were hydrated to aid recovery. The SG calves showed a higher average weight gain between 14 and 21 days of age, without mortality and with reduced intensity and duration of diarrhea. In contrast, calves in the CN group showed more serious acid-base disorders, required more hydration support, and had a mortality rate of 15.4 %. These results showed that calves supplemented with isoquinoline alkaloids had decreased intensity and duration of symptoms, reduced requirement for supportive therapy, and prevented mortality among animals.

Indicadores bioquímico e hormonal de vacas leiteiras mestiças sadias e doentes durante o final da gestação e o início da lactação / Biochemical and hormonal indicators from healthy and sickly crossbred dairy cows during late pregnancy and early lactation

Objetivou-se identificar alguns indicadores bioquímicos e hormonais durante o final da gestação e início da lactação de vacas leiteiras sadias, quando comparadas com as que apresentaram algum tipo de transtorno clínico ao longo do experimento. Para tanto, utilizou-se 39 vacas mestiças (holandês x Gir), distribuídas em dois grupos, o primeiro (G1) com 22 animais hígidos e o segundo (G2) com 17 vacas que apresentaram algumas enfermidades (retenção de placenta, endometrite, mastite, pododermatite e distocia materna). O delineamento experimental ocorreu a partir das coletas realizadas nos períodos -60, -40, -20, -10 dias antes do parto, 0 (dia do parto), e +10, +20, +40, +60 dias pós-parto. Analisou-se os metabólitos energéticos (glicose, frutosamina, AGNEs e β-hidroxibutirato), hormonais (insulina e cortisol), proteicos (proteína total, albumina, globulina e ureia) e minerais (CaT, P, Mg, K, Na e Cl). As variáveis estudadas foram interpretadas por meio de análise de variância ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. Analisando o perfil energético, verificou-se uma maior mobilização no G2 durante o periparto, por meio dos menores valores de frutosamina e glicose, além das concentrações superiores de AGNEs e β-hidroxibutirato. O comportamento dos hormônios insulina e cortisol foi similar, observando apenas efeito de momento, cujos maiores concentrações ocorreram no dia do parto. O perfil proteico revelou, pela proteína total apenas efeito de momento, em que seus menores valores foram verificados no dia do parto, contudo, a albumina do G2 foi inferior ao G1 em todos os momentos, já as globulinas do G2 foram superiores ao grupo das vacas hígidas e a ureia apresentou concentrações maiores no G1. Com relação aos minerais o cálcio total, magnésio e cloro apontaram níveis inferiores desde o período inicial das coletas no grupo G2. Conclui-se, que esses metabólitos estudados sinalizaram precocemente a deficiência nutricional durante o final da gestação, repercutindo no período de transição, e comprometendo o mecanismo de adaptação das vacas, com isso aumentando os riscos para maior ocorrência de enfermidades.(AU)

This study aimed to identify some biochemical and hormonal indicators during late pregnancy and early lactation from healthy dairy cows crossbred compared with those who had some type of clinical disorder throughout the experiment. Therefore, we used 39 Crossbred dairy cows (Holstein x Gyr), divided into two groups, the first (G1) with 22 healthy animals and the second (G2) with 17 cows showed some disease (retained placenta, endometritis, mastitis, foot rot and maternal dystocia). The experiment took place from collections made in the period -60, -40, -20, -10 days before delivery, 0 (parturition day), and +10, +20, +40, +60 days postpartum. We analyzed energy metabolites (glucose, fructosamine, NEFA and β-hydroxybutyrate), hormone (insulin and cortisol), protein (total protein, albumin, globulin and urea) and minerals (CaT, P, Mg, K, Na and Cl). The variables studied were interpreted by analysis of variance at 5% probability. Analyzing the energetic profile, there was a greater mobilization in G2 during childbirth, through the lower fructosamine and glucose values, besides higher concentrations of Agnes and β-hydroxybutyrate. The behavior of the hormones insulin and cortisol was similar, noting only effect of time, whose higher levels occurred on the day of delivery. The protein profile revealed by total protein only time effect in their lowest values were recorded on the day of delivery, however, albumin G2 was lower than the G1 at all times, since the G2 globulin were higher than the group of otherwise healthy cows and urea showed higher concentrations in G1. With respect to the total mineral calcium, magnesium and chlorine showed lower levels from the initial period of the collections in G2. It follows that these metabolites studied early signal nutritional deficiency during late pregnancy, reflecting the transition period, and compromising the adjustment mechanism for cows, thereby increasing the risks to higher incidence of disease.(AU)

Cinema: uma ferramenta pedagógica e humanista para temas em saúde-educação: a experiênciado cine social / Cinema: an humanist and pedagogical tool for themes in health-education: the experience of cine social

Modelo do estudo: Abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa. Objetivo: foi utilizado recurso audiovisual (filmes) para propiciar reflexões, discussões e atualização de professores, alunos e profissionais da saúde em temas sociais pertinentes às áreas da saúde e educação. Metodologia: o projeto foi estruturado em formade curso de difusão com cinco encontros, entre agosto e dezembro de 2008. Foram abordados temas relevantes em Saúde e Educação (fome, violência escolar, gravidez na adolescência, processo saúde doençae drogas na adolescência) e foram convidados especialistas em cada temática para debate. O instrumento utilizado para captar as percepções dos participantes foi um questionário de 14 questões semi-estruturadas e ao final de cada encontro foi solicitada a entrega de relatório...

Study design: The approach to the research was qualitative. Objective: we used the audiovisual resources (movies) to make teachers, students and health professionals reflect, discuss and update social subjects relevant to health and education. Methodology: The Project was structured as a course with five meetings that took place between 2008 August and December. Subjects relevant to Public Health and Education were focused (hunger, school violence, teenage pregnancy, health-disease process and teenage drug abuse); for each theme, specialists were invited. The instrument used to acquire the participant perceptions was a questionnaire with 14 semi-structured questions and at the end of each meeting, a report was requested...