The effectiveness of low-dose of eCG in timed AI Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers.

This study evaluated the efficacy of the administration of different doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; 0 IU, 200 IU, or 300 IU) at the time of the progesterone device removal in 2-year-old Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers synchronized for fixed-timed artificial insemination (FTAI). On day 0 (D0), a total of 398 heifers received 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate i.m., 0.53 mg of cloprostenol i.m., and an eight-day previously used (second use) intravaginal device containing 1 g of progesterone (P4). Eight days later (D8), simultaneous with the P4 device removal, 0.5 mg of oestradiol cypionate i.m. and 0.53 mg of cloprostenol i.m. were administered. At the same time, heifers were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments: G-0 IU (n = 141; no eCG treatment), G-200 IU (n = 132; treated with 200 IU of eCG), and G-300 IU (n = 125; treated with 300 IU of eCG). FTAI was performed 48 h after the P4 device removal (D10). Ultrasonographic evaluations were performed at D0, D10, and D17. Heifers were scanned to measure the size of the largest follicle (LF), the presence, number, and size of the corpus luteum (CL), and the ovulation rate. Subsequently, at D40, the heifers underwent scanning to determine the pregnancy rate and identify any twin pregnancies. Additionally, at D70, scans were performed to assess pregnancy loss (PG). Data were analysed by orthogonal contrasts [C1 (eCG effect): control x (200 IU + 300 IU) and C2 (eCG dose effect): 200 IU × 300 IU]. On D0, CL presence was similar between the groups [G-0 IU = 65.2% (92/141), G-200 IU = 55.3% (73/132), and G-300 IU = 63.2% (79/125); p = .16]. No interactions between the presence of CL on D0 and eCG treatment were found for any of the variables (p > .05). The diameter of the LF at FTAI (D10) was not influenced by eCG treatment (p = .22) or eCG dose (p = .18). However, treatment with eCG increased the diameter of the CL at D17 (G-0 IU = 15.7 ± 0.3 mmb , G-200 IU = 16.6 ± 0.2 mma , and G-300 IU = 16.6 ± 0.3 mma ; p = .001), regardless of the dose used (p = .94). The ovulation rate was higher in heifers treated with eCG [G-0 IU = 79.4%b (112/141), G-200 IU = 90.2%a (119/132), and G-300 IU = 93.6%a (117/125); p = .002], but there was no effect of eCG dose (p = .36). Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) on D40 [G-0 IU = 32.6%b (46/141), G-200 IU = 42.4%a (56/132), and G-300 IU = 42.4%a (53/125); P = 0.05] and D70 [G-0 IU = 29.1%b (41/141), G-200 IU = 40.9%a (54/132), and G-300 IU = 40.8%a (51/125); p = .02] were higher on heifers that received eCG; however, no dose effect was observed for P/AI on D40 (p = .89) nor D70 (p = .98). Pregnancy loss between D40 and D70 tended to reduce (p = .07) in eCG-treated heifers without dose effect (p = .91). Heifers with CL at D0 presented a greater follicle diameter (LF) on D10 (With CL = 11.2 ± 0.2 mm and Without CL = 10.2 ± 0.2 mm; p = .05), CL diameter on D17 (With CL = 15.8 ± 0.03 mm and Without CL = 11.8 ± 0.6 mm; p = .01), and ovulation rate [With CL = 95.5% (233/244) and Without CL = 74.7% (115/154); p = .01]. However, no difference in pregnancy rate at D40 (p = .52) and D70 (p = .84) was found. In conclusion, eCG treatment increases ovulation and pregnancy rates of heifers submitted to a FTAI protocol. Furthermore, eCG treatment increases the diameter of the CL after FTAI and reduces pregnancy losses. No dose effect was observed, suggesting Nelore (Bos indicus) heifers respond to 200 IU of eCG treatment for FTAI.

Rainfall and sea level drove the expansion of seasonally flooded habitats and associated bird populations across Amazonia.

Spatial arrangement of distinct Amazonian environments through time and its effect on specialized biota remain poorly known, fueling long-lasting debates about drivers of biotic diversification. We address the late Quaternary sediment deposition that assembled the world's largest seasonally flooded ecosystems. Genome sequencing was used to reconstruct the demographic history of bird species specialized in either early successional vegetation or mature floodplain forests. Sediment deposition that built seasonally flooded habitats accelerated throughout the Holocene (last 11,700 years) under sea level highstand and intensification of the South American Monsoon, at the same time as global increases in atmospheric methane concentration. Bird populations adapted to seasonally flooded habitats expanded due to enlargement of Amazonian river floodplains and archipelagos. Our findings suggest that the diversification of the biota specialized in seasonally flooded habitats is coupled to sedimentary budget changes of large rivers, which rely on combined effects of sea level and rainfall variations.

Metástase de seminoma em região orbital em cão - relato de caso / Metastatic seminoma in the orbital region in a dog - case report

O seminoma é uma neoformação testicular originária de células germinativas de ocorrência comum em cães, com maior prevalência em animais senis. Em geral, o comportamento biológico do seminoma canino é benigno. Relata-se neste trabalho um caso de seminoma com metástase em região orbital em um cão com 14 anos de idade. O animal foi atendido com queixa de aumento de volume em órbita esquerda, com posterior detecção de nódulo testicular. A punção aspirativa por agulha fina da massa orbital sugeriu tratar-se de linfoma de alto grau, contudo o diagnóstico definitivo de seminoma difuso foi estabelecido pela avaliação histopatológica, a qual revelou tratar-se de neoplasia maligna pouco diferenciada, sendo o diagnóstico de seminoma difuso confirmado pelo exame imunoistoquímico. Relatos de seminomas metastáticos em cães são incomuns. Objetivou-se com este trabalho relatar um caso de seminoma anaplásico difuso em cão cujo foco principal de metástase ocorreu em região orbital, além de descrever e discutir as dificuldades diagnósticas encontradas.(AU)

Seminoma is a testicular neoformation originating from germ cells, commonly occurring in dogs. With higher prevalence in senile animals, the biological behavior of canine seminomas generally benign. This case reports seminoma with mestastasis in the orbital region in a 14-year-old dog. The animal was treated with a complaint of increased volume in the left orbit, and later a nodule in the testicle was discovered. Fine-needle aspiration of the orbit mass initially indicated a high-grade lymphoma. The definitive diagnosis of diffused seminoma was established by histopathological examination, resulting in poorly differentiated malignant neoplasia. Finally, the diagnosis was confirmed through immunohistochemistry, being the result compatible with diffused seminoma. Metastatic seminomas reported in dogs are quite uncommon. In this work we report a case of diffused anaplastic seminoma in dogs, where the main focus of metastasis was observed in the orbital region, and we also describe and discuss the difficulties encountered in the diagnostic.(AU)

Strategies of anaerobic sludge granulation in an EGSB reactor.

Anaerobic sludge granulation was evaluated in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor based on the increases in the specific organic loading rate (SOLR). The effect of precursor substances (calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and tannin) on the development of granular sludge was also investigated in batch reactors. The reactors were fed with synthetic sewage and operated in mesophilic conditions. The EGSB was operated with a variable hydraulic retention time (HRT) and the batch reactors, with cycles of 8 h and 16 h. The increase of SOLR from 17.4 ±â€¯7.4 to 104.6 ±â€¯66.7 mgCOD gVSS-1 d-1 in the EGSB resulted in an increase on the average granules diameter from 344.3 to 1583.3 µm. These conditions also favored the reduction rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration in the reactor. When the upflow velocity suffered an abrupt increase (from 0.06 L h-1 to 0.25 L h-1), the granules size began to decrease and lose their settleability characteristics. Considering this, it is proposed to start the biomass granulation process without effluent recirculation, and, after the granules reach the desired size and settleability capacity, the normal operation of EGSB reactor starts. The results showed that calcium chloride was more efficient for granulation. CaCl2 addition can be performed only during the reactor's start-up, improving granulation and reducing start-up time. Thus, these results have practical implications as granules maintenance is the key to the proper EGSB operation.

Brewer's yeast and sugarcane yeast as protein sources for dogs.

Brewer's yeast (BY), autolysed sugarcane yeast (ASCY) and integral sugar cane yeast (ISCY) were studied in two experiments as ingredients for dog diets. In the first experiment, 28 dogs were randomly assigned to four diets; one reference diet and three test diets containing 15% of BY, ASCY or ISCY and 85% of the reference diet (as-fed basis). The digestibilities of the yeasts were calculated by the substitution method. In the second experiment, 35 dogs were randomized to five diets with similar chemical composition but different levels of sugarcane yeast inclusion (0%, 7.5% ASCY, 15% ASCY, 7.5% ISCY and 15% ISCY). In both experiments, the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients was determined through total collection of faeces. During experiment, two additional analyses of food palatability, nitrogen balance and urea postprandial responses were performed. The data were submitted to analysis of variance, and the means were compared by orthogonal or polynomial contrasts or Tukey's test (p < 0.05). In experiment 1, CTTAD of protein was lower for both sugarcane yeasts than for BY (p = 0.012), as was metabolizable energy content (p = 0.025). In experiment 2, a linear reduction in energy digestibility with ASCY inclusion (p = 0.05) was verified. Furthermore, faecal score and DM content were reduced with ISCY inclusion (p < 0.003). No effect of yeast inclusion on nitrogen balance or postprandial urea response was found. Also, the inclusion of 7.5% of ASCY or ISCY increased diet palatability (p < 0.01). Yeasts present adequate digestibility by dogs, but its effect on faecal formation needs to be considered. No clear advantage for the use of ASCY over ISCY was found. In conclusion, we find that sugarcane yeast is suitable for inclusion in dog food and can enhance the overall palatability of the diet.

Consumo alimentar residual e sua relação com medidas de desempenho e eficiência e características in vivo da carcaça de cordeiros / The residual feed intake and its relationship with performance and efficiency measures and in vivo carcass characteristics of lambs

Avaliou-se o consumo alimentar residual (CAR) e a conversão alimentar (CA) de 20 cordeiros, com o objetivo de estimar as correlações entre essas variáveis com medidas de desempenho e com características in vivo da carcaça. Os animais tiveram o consumo de MS (CMS) mensurado por 65 dias e foram pesados a cada 13 dias para obtenção do ganho médio diário (GMD). Foram considerados o peso vivo inicial (PVI), o peso vivo final (PVF), o peso metabólico (PM), o GMD, a taxa de crescimento relativo (TCR), a taxa de Kleiber (TK), a CA, o CMS e o CMS em percentual do PV (CMSPV). As avaliações de carcaça foram realizadas por ultrassom. O CAR se mostrou correlacionado com o CMS (+0,81), o CMSPV (+0,90) e a CA (+0,63). Correlações significativas foram encontradas entre CA e GMD; CA e TCR; CA e TK; e CA e PVI (-0,63, -0,74, -0,75 e +0,51, respectivamente). O CAR e a CA não se mostraram correlacionados com características de carcaça, e, da mesma forma, não houve diferença entre as classes de CAR para essas variáveis. Confirmou-se o potencial do CAR como medida de eficiência alimentar para cordeiros em confinamento, sem existência de relações com o ganho de peso e o tamanho corporal e sem alterações na composição da carcaça.

The residual feed intake (RFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 20 lambs was evaluated in order to estimate the correlations between these traits and performance measures and with in vivo carcass characteristics. The animals had their dry matter intake (DMI) measured over 65 days and they were weighed every 13 days to determine the average daily weight gain (ADG). Initial body weight (IBW), final body weight (FBW), metabolic weight (MW), ADG, relative growth rate (RGR), Kleiber ratio (KR), FCR, DMI and DMI in BW percentual (BWDMI) were considered. The carcass evaluation was performed by ultrasound. The RFI was correlated with the DMI (+0.81), BWDMI (+0.90) and with FCR (+0.63). Significant correlations were found between FCR and ADG; FCR and RGR; and FCR and KR; and FCR and IBW (-0.63, -0.74, -0.75 and +0.51 respectively). The RFI and the FCR were not correlated with carcass traits and similarly there was no difference between the RFI-classes for these variables. It was proved the RFI has potential as a measure of feed efficiency for housed lambs, without the existence of relations with weight gain and body size of animals and without changes in carcass composition.

Reference range for T lymphocytes populations in blood donors from two different regions in Brazil

This study defined the normal variation range for different subsets of T-lymphocyte cells count in two different Brazilian regions. We analysed the T-lymphocytes subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in blood donors of two Brazilian cities, located in North (Belem, capital state of Para, indian background) and Northeast (Salvador, capital state od Bahia, African background) regions of Brazil. Results were compared according to gender, stress level (sleep time lower than 8 hours/day), smoking, and alcohol intake. Lymphocytes subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry. Five hundred twenty-six blood donors from two Brazilians cities participated in the study: 450 samples from Bahia and 76 samples from Pará. Most (60 percent) were men, 59 percent reported alcohol intake, 12 percent were smokers, and 80 percent slept at least 8 h/day. Donors from Bahia presented with significantly higher counts for all parameters, compared with Para. Women had higher lymphocytes levels, in both states, but only CD4+ cells count was significantly higher than men's values. Smokers had higher CD4+ counts, but sleep time had effect on lymphocytes levels only for Para's donors (higher CD3+ and CD4+ counts). That state had also, a higher proportion of donors reporting sleep time <8 h/day. The values for CD3, CD4 and CD8+ cells count were significantly higher in blood donors from Bahia than among those from Pará. Female gender, alcohol intake, stress level, and smoking were associated with higher lymphocyte counts. The use of a single reference range for normal lymphocytes count is not appropriate for a country with such diversity, like Brazil is.

Reference range for T lymphocytes populations in blood donors from two different regions in Brazil.

This study defined the normal variation range for different subsets of T-lymphocyte cells count in two different Brazilian regions. We analysed the T-lymphocytes subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in blood donors of two Brazilian cities, located in North (Belem, capital state of Para, indian background) and Northeast (Salvador, capital state od Bahia, African background) regions of Brazil. Results were compared according to gender, stress level (sleep time lower than 8 hours/day), smoking, and alcohol intake. Lymphocytes subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry. Five hundred twenty-six blood donors from two Brazilians cities participated in the study: 450 samples from Bahia and 76 samples from Pará. Most (60%) were men, 59% reported alcohol intake, 12% were smokers, and 80% slept at least 8 h/day. Donors from Bahia presented with significantly higher counts for all parameters, compared with Para. Women had higher lymphocytes levels, in both states, but only CD4+ cells count was significantly higher than men's values. Smokers had higher CD4+ counts, but sleep time had effect on lymphocytes levels only for Para's donors (higher CD3+ and CD4+ counts). That state had also, a higher proportion of donors reporting sleep time <8 h/day. The values for CD3, CD4 and CD8+ cells count were significantly higher in blood donors from Bahia than among those from Pará. Female gender, alcohol intake, stress level, and smoking were associated with higher lymphocyte counts. The use of a single reference range for normal lymphocytes count is not appropriate for a country with such diversity, like Brazil is.

Prevalence of varicose veins and venous anatomy in patients without truncal saphenous reflux.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and distribution of primary venous reflux in the lower limbs in patients without truncal saphenous reflux. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One thousand and seven hundred and twelve patients with suspected venous disease were examined by duplex ultrasonography. Seven hundred and thirty-five patients had primary varicose veins with competent saphenous trunks. Limbs with truncal saphenous reflux, deep vein reflux or obstruction, previous injection sclerotherapy or vein surgery, arterial disease and inflammation of non-venous origin were excluded from further consideration. The CEAP classification system was used for clinical staging. Systematic duplex ultrasound examination was undertaken to assess the distribution of incompetent saphenous tributaries. RESULTS: The prevalence of primary reflux with competent saphenous trunks was 43%. Reflux of GSV calf tributaries was the most common. The majority of the limbs (96%) belonged to chronic venous disease classes C1 and C2 of the CEAP classification. CONCLUSIONS: Superficial venous reflux causing varicose veins in the presence competent saphenous trunks is very prevalent in this series in contrast to other studies, presumably reflecting differing patient populations. Our data clearly show that varicose veins may occur in any vein and do not depend on truncal saphenous incompetence. Careful duplex ultrasound evaluation allows the pattern of venous reflux to be established in this group of patient ensuring appropriate management of varices.

[Coxsackie B2 virus fatal meningoencephalitis in a student] / Meningoencefalite fatal por vírus coxsackie B2 em escolar.

OBJECTIVE: To present the case of a girl who was previously healthy but had fatal evolution due to Coxsackie B2 viral meningoencephalitis.METHODS: The authors describe the case of a female child with fatal meningoencephalitis caused by Coxsackie B2 virus and present a review of the literature (Medline and Lilacs).RESULTS: The girl was eight years old when she presented meningoencephalitis with bad evolution, leading to death on the 32nd day of internation. The exams showed positive serologic reaction to Coxsackie B2. The virus taken from two stool samples was isolated. The CRF exam showed an increase four times higher on Coxsackie B2 titulation.CONCLUSION: The death of healthy patients with enteroviral encephalitis, as described here, is rarely dealt with in the medical literature, perhaps because of lack of clinic suspicion. This case tries to drive attention to the importance of an early etiologic diagnosis in the meningoencephalities and the search for specific etiological treatment.

An outbreak of group C rotavirus gastroenteritis among adults living in Valentim Gentil, São Paulo State, Brazil.

An outbreak of gastroenteritis affecting adults and children occurred in the small city of Valentim Gentil, São Paulo, Brazil, in 1993. Nineteen faecal samples (from 10 cases and 9 contracts) were examined by direct electron microscopy (DEM), immune electron microscopy (IEM), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for group A and C rotaviruses. DEM detected rotavirus in 6 of the 10 cases and in none of the contacts. All of the samples were negative for group A rotavirus by ELISA. Analysis by PAGE showed an electrophoretic profile suggestive of group C rotavirus in two cases. Group C rotavirus was identified by IEM in 4 of the cases and in 1 of the contacts. All of the samples were submitted to ELISA for group C rotavirus. This resulted in a total of 10 positives-7 for diarrhoeal cases and 3 for contacts. This outbreak was strongly associated with group C rotavirus. The importance of combining different diagnostic methods is emphasised.

Enterovirus 71 infection and acute neurological disease among children in Brazil (1988-1990).

Surveillance for Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) infection in children up to 15 years of age was carried out in Brazil, from 1988 to 1990. Patients with acute neurological diseases (AND) such as flaccid paralysis, Bell's palsy, acute cerebellar ataxia and Guillain-Barré syndrome were included in the study. EV-71 infection was detected in 24 of 426 children (5.6%) with AND. EV-71 infection was confirmed only by virus isolation in 13 children, by virus isolation and seroconversion in 4, and by seroconversion alone in 7. EV-71 was also isolated from 15 of the 427 household contacts (3.5%) of 165 AND patients. There was some evidence of high infectivity of EV-71: household clusters were detected in the case of 7 of 24 children (29.1%) infected with EV-71 and manifesting AND; EV-71 was isolated from 11/40 household contacts (27.5%) of the infected patients but from only 4/387 household contacts (1.0%) of children in whom it was not possible to demonstrate EV-71 infection. Seven of the 24 children infected with EV-71 exhibited residual motor deficiency when examined 6 months after the disease onset. The relevance of these results for the Plan for Global Eradication of Wild Poliovirus is discussed, as well as the need to increase knowledge about the behaviour of this virus and its possible association with AND.

Human enterovirus infection in stray dogs. Some aspects of interest to public health.

To investigate the possible role of domestic animals as reservoirs of human enteroviruses, we studied 212 stray dogs captured in different areas of the municipality of São Paulo. The captured animals were divided into 19 groups of 10 to 20 dogs each; faeces of 126 of the 212 dogs were processed for enterovirus isolation. The following viruses were isolated from 12 dogs; poliovirus type 1 (2 dogs), poliovirus type 3 (1 dog), echovirus type 7 (8 dogs) and echovirus type 15 (1 dog). Of the 12 infected animals, four had specific homotypic neutralizing antibody titres > or = 16. All 212 animals were tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies to human enteroviruses. The frequency of neutralizing antibodies present in titres of > or = 16 was 10.3%, 3.8% and 4.3% for vaccinal prototypes of polioviruses 1, 2 and 3 respectively; 1.9%, 1.4% and 1.5% for wild prototypes of the same viruses, 11.3% for echovirus 7, and 2.4% for echovirus 15. The proportion of dogs with neutralizing antibodies varied with the virus studied. Some indication of the susceptibility of dogs to infection with human enteroviruses was demonstrated, and the importance of this fact for the Plan for Global Eradication of the Wild Poliovirus is discussed.

An exanthematic disease epidemic associated with coxsackievirus B3 infection in a day care center.

An epidemic of exanthematic illness in a day care center is described. Ten children aged 7 to 13 months were affected by the illness. The exanthem was characterized by nonconfluent macular or maculopapular lesions that appeared on the face, body and limbs. Fifty percent of the infected children had fever of up to 39 degrees C at the beginning of the disease. Coxsackievirus B3 (CB3) was isolated from the stool of one ill child. Paired serum samples were obtained from eight ill children and six of them presented seroconversion to CB3. Antibodies to CB3 were detected at titers higher than 16 in a single serum sample collected from the other two patients. Neutralizing antibodies to CB3 were detected in 71.0% of the contact children.

[Evaluation of child care program in the COHAB Pestano primary health center]. / Avaliação do programa de puericultura no Posto de Saúde da COHAB Pestano.

This article describes an evaluation method that involves the health team. This method is fast and cheap. The major objective is the use of the health team to improve the health attention quality. This method gives information about children inscription, consults.