Seroepidemiology of Neospora caninum among goats (Capra hircus) in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil / Soroepidemiologia de Neospora caninum em caprinos (Capra hircus) do estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil

Although goat dairy farms in Brazil may have a higher risk of infection by Neospora caninum than beef farms, risk factor evaluation on a representative population remains to be fully established in Brazil. Accordingly, this study aimed to establish the occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies and factors associated with exposure in 406 blood samples from five dairy and three beef goat farms in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), with samples considered positive when reacting with dilution ≥ 1:50. A total of 106/406 goats (26.11%; 95% CI: 21.96-30.72%) were seroreactive comprising 2/61 (3.28%), 10/45 (22.22%), 13/50 (26.00%), 17/51 (33.33%) to 29/46 (63.04%) in dairy farms, and from 3/54 (5.56%), 12/50 (24.00%) to 20/49 (40.82%) on the beef farms. No significant associations were found in relation to age, gender, dairy versus beef farms, occurrence of abortions or mummified fetuses, and seroreactivity to N. caninum (P>0.05). In conclusion, goat farms in the state of Paraíba showed the highest occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies to date in Brazil.(AU)

Embora as criações caprinas de leite no Brasil possam ter maior probabilidade de risco de infecção por Neospora caninum do que as de carne, a avaliação dos fatores de risco em uma população representativa ainda não está totalmente estabelecida no Brasil. Dessa forma, este estudo teve por objetivo estabelecer a soroprevalência de N. caninum e seus fatores associados à exposição em 406 amostras de sangue de cinco fazendas de leite e três de corte provenientes do estado da Paraíba, região Nordeste do Brasil. A detecção de anticorpos anti-N. caninum foi realizada utilizando-se a reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), com as amostras consideradas positivas na diluição ≥ 1:50. No total, 106/406 (26,11%; IC 95%: 21,96-30,72%) caprinos foram sororreagentes, variando de 2/61 (3,28%), 10/45 (22,22%), 13/50 (26,00%), 17/51 (33,33%) a 29/46 (63,04%) em fazendas de leite, e de 3/54 (5,56%), 12/50 (24,00%) a 20/49 (40,82%) em fazendas de corte. Não foram observadas associações significativas entre idade, sexo, criação de leite e carne, ocorrência de abortamentos ou fetos mumificados e sororreatividade para N. caninum (P>0,05). Em conclusão, fazendas de caprinos da Paraíba mostraram as mais altas ocorrências de anticorpos anti-N. caninum até o momento no Brasil.(AU)

Seroepidemiology of Neospora caninum among goats (Capra hircus) in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil / Soroepidemiologia de Neospora caninum em caprinos (Capra hircus) do estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil

Although goat dairy farms in Brazil may have a higher risk of infection by Neospora caninum than beef farms, risk factor evaluation on a representative population remains to be fully established in Brazil. Accordingly, this study aimed to establish the occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies and factors associated with exposure in 406 blood samples from five dairy and three beef goat farms in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), with samples considered positive when reacting with dilution ≥ 1:50. A total of 106/406 goats (26.11%; 95% CI: 21.96-30.72%) were seroreactive comprising 2/61 (3.28%), 10/45 (22.22%), 13/50 (26.00%), 17/51 (33.33%) to 29/46 (63.04%) in dairy farms, and from 3/54 (5.56%), 12/50 (24.00%) to 20/49 (40.82%) on the beef farms. No significant associations were found in relation to age, gender, dairy versus beef farms, occurrence of abortions or mummified fetuses, and seroreactivity to N. caninum (P>0.05). In conclusion, goat farms in the state of Paraíba showed the highest occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies to date in Brazil.(AU)

Embora as criações caprinas de leite no Brasil possam ter maior probabilidade de risco de infecção por Neospora caninum do que as de carne, a avaliação dos fatores de risco em uma população representativa ainda não está totalmente estabelecida no Brasil. Dessa forma, este estudo teve por objetivo estabelecer a soroprevalência de N. caninum e seus fatores associados à exposição em 406 amostras de sangue de cinco fazendas de leite e três de corte provenientes do estado da Paraíba, região Nordeste do Brasil. A detecção de anticorpos anti-N. caninum foi realizada utilizando-se a reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), com as amostras consideradas positivas na diluição ≥ 1:50. No total, 106/406 (26,11%; IC 95%: 21,96-30,72%) caprinos foram sororreagentes, variando de 2/61 (3,28%), 10/45 (22,22%), 13/50 (26,00%), 17/51 (33,33%) a 29/46 (63,04%) em fazendas de leite, e de 3/54 (5,56%), 12/50 (24,00%) a 20/49 (40,82%) em fazendas de corte. Não foram observadas associações significativas entre idade, sexo, criação de leite e carne, ocorrência de abortamentos ou fetos mumificados e sororreatividade para N. caninum (P>0,05). Em conclusão, fazendas de caprinos da Paraíba mostraram as mais altas ocorrências de anticorpos anti-N. caninum até o momento no Brasil.(AU)

In vitro activity of antifungals in combination with essential oils against the oomycete Pythium insidiosum.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro susceptibility of Pythium insidiosum to combinations of the antifungal drugs terbinafine or itraconazole with Melaleuca alternifolia, Mentha piperita and Origanum vulgare essential oils (EOs). METHODS AND RESULTS: In vitro combinations of antifungal drugs with EOs were evaluated by checkerboard microdilution method against 20 Brazilian isolates of P. insidiosum. The tests were performed according to protocol M38-A2, and the interpretation of each combination result was based on the values of the fractional inhibitory concentration index. The combinations of itraconazole with EOs presented prominent synergistic effects against P. insidiosum isolates, and no antagonism was observed with these combinations. However, the combinations of terbinafine with EOs resulted in indifferent or antagonistic effects. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of plant-derived bioactive compounds with antifungal drugs may be an alternative therapy for the control of infections caused by P. insidiosum. Studies of new therapeutic protocols involving these proposed combinations are needed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The antimicrobial combinations using EOs with terbinafine or itraconazole can be an attractive therapeutic option for controlling P. insidiosum infections.

In vitro susceptibility of Brazilian Pythium insidiosum isolates to essential oils of some Lamiaceae family species.

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial action of Origanum vulgare, Origanum majorana, Mentha piperita and Rosmarinus officinalis on Pythium insidiosum oomycete zoospores. The antimicrobial activity evaluation was performed by the broth microdilution method according to CSLI M38-A2 documentation adapted to phytopharmaceuticals. Twenty-two P. insidiosum isolates were evaluated, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined at 100% growth inhibition. All P. insidiosum isolates evaluated showed a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 0.05 to 1.75 mg/mL when O. vulgare oil was used and from 0.11 to 3.5 mg/mL for O. majorana, M. piperita and R. officinalis oils. The results obtained indicate that the essential oils tested showed antimicrobial activity on P. insidiosum, with O. vulgare essential oil showing the best performance. These findings emphasize the potential use of plant essential oils as control agents in P. insidiosum infections; further research, however, is needed so as the in vivo activity of these oils can also be evaluated.

In vitro susceptibility of zoospores and hyphae of Pythium insidiosum to antifungals.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro susceptibilities of 22 Brazilian isolates of Pythium insidiosum to antifungals using a standardized inoculum of zoospores and a proposed novel inoculum prepared from cultured mycelia (hyphae) of P. insidiosum. METHODS: A zoospore suspension of P. insidiosum was obtained by the zoosporogenesis technique. The hyphal inoculum was prepared from a suspension of P. insidiosum mycelium. Susceptibility to each drug was evaluated using the CLSI M38-A2 method. RESULTS: Of the 88 MIC comparisons performed, 36 (41%) showed the same MIC value for the two inocula. The agreement (differences not greater than one dilution) between MICs obtained with both types of inocula was 39.8% (35/88). In other MIC comparisons analysed, 17 (19.3%) showed differences of two or three dilutions. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the use of hyphal inocula of P. insidiosum for in vitro susceptibility tests could be a suitable method for evaluating antimicrobial susceptibility, particularly when it is not possible to obtain a standardized zoospore inoculum.

Aspectos da mortalidade atribuível ao tabaco: revisão sistemática / Aspects of tobacco attributable mortality: systematic review

O artigo teve por objetivo analisar as metodologias publicadas e empregadas no cálculo da mortalidade atribuível ao fumo. Foram pesquisadas as bases de dados eletrônicas MEDLINE, LILACS entre 1990 e 2006. Foram encontrados 186 estudos que apresentaram a mensuração de mortalidade a partir do cálculo da fração atribuível ao fumo. Desses, foram selecionados 41 artigos. Os estudos realizados nos Estados Unidos e Canadá apresentaram metodologia uniformizada e taxas de mortalidade entre 18 por cento-23 por cento; 25 por cento-29 por cento no sexo masculino e 14 por cento-17 por cento no feminino. As variações metodológicas podem justificar as diferenças da mortalidade entre os estudos e nas estimativas para as principais doenças tabaco-relacionadas.

The objective of the article was to assess methodologies published and applied in calculating mortality attributable to smoking. A review of the literature was made for the period 1990 to 2006, in the electronic databases MEDLINE and LILACS. A total of 186 studies were found, which measured mortality based on calculating the smoking-attributable risk. Of these, a total of 41 were selected. The studies that were carried out in the United States and Canada presented a more standard methodology and reported smoking attributable mortality to be 18 percent-23 percent, with male mortality being 25 percent-29 percent and female mortality 14 percent-17 percent. The variations can be attributed to methodological differences and to different estimates of the main tobacco-related illnesses.

[Aspects of tobacco attributable mortality: systematic review]. / Aspectos da mortalidade atribuível ao tabaco: revisão sistemática.

The objective of the article was to assess methodologies published and applied in calculating mortality attributable to smoking. A review of the literature was made for the period 1990 to 2006, in the electronic databases MEDLINE and LILACS. A total of 186 studies were found, which measured mortality based on calculating the smoking-attributable risk. Of these, a total of 41 were selected. The studies that were carried out in the United States and Canada presented a more standard methodology and reported smoking attributable mortality to be 18%-23%, with male mortality being 25%-29% and female mortality 14%-17%. The variations can be attributed to methodological differences and to different estimates of the main tobacco-related illnesses.

Transmission of Hansen's disease and unscreened household contacts.

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy household contact investigation has been recommended as an epidemiological surveillance strategy for more than 50 years. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the yield that could be achieved in case detection if four contacts could be examined for every case found. METHODS: For the estimation of the number of cases not detected (lost) and yield per contact investigation in Mato Grosso, the incidence rates and yield calculations from a cohort study conducted in Rio de Janeiro by Matos et al (1999) were applied to data from the state of Mato Grosso. Also, to identify high-risk groups for leprosy, a cross-sectional study was conducted in which leprosy cases found as a result of a contact investigation were compared with index cases detected by other means. RESULTS: The lost cases among household contacts were at least 4 per every 10 new cases detected. This is the result of insufficient contact investigations--it being 0.8 instead of 4 contact investigations per each case as recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Up to 60% of the incidence of leprosy could be explained by the high number of lost cases among household contacts not examined. Women and children are more likely to be contacts. CONCLUSION: The lost cases due to insufficient contact investigation represent lost opportunities in early detection and treatment, thus losing the opportunity to reduce leprosy transmission.

Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio as predictors of serum concentration of lipids in Brazilian men.

OBJECTIVE: It is unknown whether waist circumference can predict a lipid profile beyond that predicted by body fatness alone, after adjustment for important confounding variables such as smoking, alcohol intake, and physical activity. The purpose of this non-clinical, healthy-subject study was to test this hypothesis. METHODS: Data refer to 416 men, ages 20 to 58 y with a body mass index between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m(2), who were blood donors living in a Brazilian city. Alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity were evaluated by interview; body fat was measured by electrical bioimpedance, and weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences were measured by trained anthropometrists. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between measurements of fat distribution (waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio) and the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triacylglycerols independently of measurements of fatness and potentially confounding factors. RESULTS: Waist circumference was strongly correlated with percentage of body fat (r = 0.90), whereas waist-to-hip ratio was less correlated (r = 0.55). After adjustment for age, percentage of body fat, smoking, alcohol intake, and physical activity, waist circumference was not significantly related to the ratio of total cholesterol high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas the waist-to-hip ratio was strongly associated among the youngest subjects (beta = 3.51, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Although several studies have analyzed the association between serum lipids with anthropometric markers, few, including the present one, support waist circumference as a good predictor of lipid profile.

Estimativas de herdabilidade e correlaçöes fenotípicas, genéticas e de ambiente entre algumas características reprodutivas e produçäo de leite na raça Gir / Estimates of heritability and genetic relationship between some reproductive traits and milk yield in Gyr cattle

Os objetivos deste estudo foram estimar herdabilidades e correlaçöes fenotípica, genética e de ambiente entre produçäo de leite (PL), idade ao primeiro parto (IPP) e intervalo de partos (IDP) na raça Gir, com emprego de análises uni e bicarácteres sob o método da máxima verossimilhança restrita, por meio de algorítmo livre de derivadas (MTDFREML), ajustando modelos-animal. O modelo matemático para estudar a PL incluiu os efeitos fixos de rebanho-ano de parto e época de parto e idade ao parto como covariável (linear e quadrática) e, além do resíduo, os efeitos aleatórios de animal e ambiente permanente. Para a IPP o modelo incluiu os efeitos fixos rebanho-ano de nascimento e época de nascimento, e efeito animal como aleatório. O modelo adotado para estudar IDP contemplou os efeitos fixos rebanho-ano de parto e época de parto e idade da vaca ao parto como covariável, e mais os efeitos aleatórios de animal, ambiente permanente e resíduo. Por meio de análises bicarácteres, as estimativas de herdabilidade foram, respectivamente: PL1 e IPP = 0,25 e 0,18; PL1 e IDP1 = 0,27 e 0,07; PL2 e IDP2 = 0,20 e 0,05; PL3 e IDP3 = 0,17 e 0,05. As estimativas de correlaçöes fenotípica, genética e de ambiente foram, respectivamente: PL1 e IPP = 0,02, -0,29 e 0,11; PL1 e IDP1= 0,23, 0,52 e 0,19; PL2 e IDP2 = 0,26, 0,54 e 0,23; PL3 e IDP3 = 0,25, 0,13 e 0,27

Estimativas de herdabilidade e correlações fenotípicas, genéticas e de ambiente entre algumas características reprodutivas e produção de leite na raça Gir / Estimates of heritability and genetic relationship between some reproductive traits and milk yield in Gyr cattle

Os objetivos deste estudo foram estimar herdabilidades e correlações fenotípica, genética e de ambiente entre produção de leite (PL), idade ao primeiro parto (IPP) e intervalo de partos (IDP) na raça Gir, com emprego de análises uni e bicarácteres sob o método da máxima verossimilhança restrita, por meio de algorítmo livre de derivadas (MTDFREML), ajustando modelos-animal. O modelo matemático para estudar a PL incluiu os efeitos fixos de rebanho-ano de parto e época de parto e idade ao parto como covariável (linear e quadrática) e, além do resíduo, os efeitos aleatórios de animal e ambiente permanente. Para a IPP o modelo incluiu os efeitos fixos rebanho-ano de nascimento e época de nascimento, e efeito animal como aleatório. O modelo adotado para estudar IDP contemplou os efeitos fixos rebanho-ano de parto e época de parto e idade da vaca ao parto como covariável, e mais os efeitos aleatórios de animal, ambiente permanente e resíduo. Por meio de análises bicarácteres, as estimativas de herdabilidade foram, respectivamente: PL1 e IPP = 0,25 e 0,18; PL1 e IDP1 = 0,27 e 0,07; PL2 e IDP2 = 0,20 e 0,05; PL3 e IDP3 = 0,17 e 0,05. As estimativas de correlações fenotípica, genética e de ambiente foram, respectivamente: PL1 e IPP = 0,02, -0,29 e 0,11; PL1 e IDP1= 0,23, 0,52 e 0,19; PL2 e IDP2 = 0,26, 0,54 e 0,23; PL3 e IDP3 = 0,25, 0,13 e 0,27.(AU)

The objectives of this study were to estimate heritabilities as well as phenotypic, genetic and environmental relationship between milk yield (MY), age at first calving (AFC) and calving intervals (CI) on Gyr dairy breed, using a multivariate derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (MTDFREML) with an animal model. The mathematic model included herd-year of calving, calving season, and age of cows (covariate) as fixed effects, and animal, permanent environmental and error as random effects for milk yield. The model for age at first calving included herd-year of birth and season of birth as fixed effects, animal and error as random effects. The mathematic model for calving interval included herd-year of calving, calving season, and the covariate age of cow as fixed effects, and animal, permanent environment and error as random effects. Through the bivariate analysis, estimates of heritability were, respectively: for MY1 and AFC = 0.25 and 0.18; MY1 and CI1 = 0.27 and 0.07; MY2 e CI2 = 0.20 and 0.05; MY3 and CI3 = 0.17 and 0.05. The phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations were, respectively: MY1 and AFC = 0.02, -0.29 and 0.11; MY1 and CI1 = 0.23, 0.52 and 0.19; MY2 and CI2 = 0.26, 0.54 and 0.23; MY3 and CI3 = 0.25, 0.13 and 0.27.(AU)

Diferenças entre produçöes de leite e de gordura de vacas PC e PO da raça Holandesa no Estado de Minas Gerais / Differences on milk and fat yield between purebred and grade Holstein cows in Minas Gerais, Brazil

As produçöes de leite e de gordura de vacas da raça Holandesa puras de origem (PO) e puras por cruzamento (PC), com geraçöes controladas, foram analisadas por meio da metodologia de modelos mistos, utilizando máxima verossimilhança restrita e modelo animal. Foram utilizados dados coletados de 1986 a 1996, num total de 49.666 lactaçöes de 26.822 vacas em 380 rebanhos, 9.468 PO e 17.354 PC. Os efeitos fixos foram rebanho/ano/estaçäo, considerando-se três classes de dois meses em cada estaçäo do ano, isto é, seca (abril-maio, junho-julho, agosto-setembro) e águas (outubro-novembro, dezembro-janeiro e fevereiro-março) e dois graus de sangue (PO e PC), além dos efeitos linear e quadrático de idade ao parto. O animal foi considerado como efeito aleatório. Para estimar o ganho genético das produçöes de leite e de gordura foram utilizadas 18.482 primeiras lactaçöes, 8.938 de vacas PO e 9.544 de vacas PC. Foram também formadas cinco classes de produçäo: até 4.000Kg, de 4.000 a 6.000Kg, de 6.000 a 8.000Kg, de 8.000 a 10.000Kg e acima de 10.000Kg. As médias gerais estimadas para produçäo de leite e de gordura até 305 dias, em duas ordenhas diárias, foram, respectivamente, 5.865,54 e 196,85Kg. As médias de produçäo de leite e de gordura para a mesma classe de idade ao parto foram consistentemente maiores para as vacas PO. As estimativas de ganho genético anual para leite e gordura nas classes de produçäo citadas foram, respectivamente: 10,52 e 0,33Kg; 8,31 e 0,25Kg; 8,90 e 0,29Kg; 11,00 e 0,36Kg; e 9,50 e 0,36Kg. As médias de produçäo de leite e de gordura para as vacas de primeira cria foram: 6.084,6 e 205,1Kg e 5.739,5 e 191,8Kg paras as vacas PO e PC, rspectivamente. As estimativas de tendências genéticas de 8,7 e 9,6Kg por ano para vacas PO e PC, embora pequenas, refletem aumento na capacidade de produçäo de leite no período

Fatores de ajustamento da produçäo de leite, de gordura e de proteína para idade em bovinos mestiços europeu-zebu / Age adjustment factors for milk, fat and protein yield of crossbred European-Zebu cattle

Estimaram-se os fatores de ajustamento das produçöes de leite, de gordura e de proteína para idade da vaca na época do parto e avaliaram-se geneticamente touros e vacas, em rebanhos de animais cruzados Europeu-Zebu, na Regiäo Sudeste do Brasil. As 3.327 lactaçöes foram analisadas por meio da metodologia de modelos mistos, em modelo animal, usando-se o aplicativo MTDFREML, com efeitos fixos de rebanho-ano, estaçäo do parto, composiçäo genética e classes de idade e efeitos aleatórios de animal e de meio permanente. Os fatores de ajustamento obtidos para produçäo de leite foram ligeiramente menores do que os de gordura, porém em idades mais avançadas os fatores foram semelhantes. Os fatores de ajustamento da produçäo de proteína tenderam a ser maiores do que os correspondentes para produçäo de leite e gordura. Vacas jovens tiveram fatores ligeiramente maiores do que vacas de idade mais avançadas, em todas as características estudadas. Os baixos valores das correlaçöes estimadas entre os dados ajustados e näo ajustados para idade ao parto indicaram que os fatores foram adequados

[AIDS mortality in the State of Rio de Janeiro, 1991-1995]. / Mortalidade por AIDS no Estado do Rio de Janeiro - 1991 a 1995.

This article focuses on the AIDS mortality profile as related to socioeconomic and geographic variables, as well as evaluating the impact of deaths from AIDS in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The analysis included all death certificates for residents of the State from 1991-1995, 10,024 of which had AIDS recorded as the primary cause of death. In the 20-49-year age bracket, among individuals who had died of AIDS, the proportion of those with university schooling (14%) and the proportion of single individuals (75%) were greater than the respective proportions for all other causes of death (5.4% and 56.3%). For the population as a whole, the AIDS mortality rate increased from 1991 to 1995, from 20.6/100,000 to 30.2/100,000 for males and from 3.7/100,000 to 7.9/100,000 for females. For the year 1995 in the 20-49-year bracket, considering the 17 groups of causes from the ICD-9, AIDS was the third most common cause of death among men and the fifth most common among women. The proportion of Potential Loss of Life Years up to 65 years as a function of AIDS increased from 1991 to 1995, from 3.4% to 4.7% for men and from 1.4% to 2.9% for women. During this same period there was also an increase in the number of counties in the State of Rio de Janeiro with reported deaths from AIDS.

[Death certificates as a marker for under-recording of AIDS cases]. / A declaração de óbito como indicador de sub-registro de casos de AIDS.

This study aimed to estimate and evaluate the under-recording of AIDS cases that evolved to death. From 1991 to 1995, the Mortality Information System recorded 9,213 adult deaths due to AIDS, related by name, date of birth, and date of death to 15,505 AIDS recorded by the Disease Data Registration System from 1982 to 1996. This procedure showed that 51.9% of AIDS deaths recorded in the period were not recorded as AIDS cases as they should have been. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that women had a greater chance of under-recording than men (OR = 1.27). A lower probability of proper recording was observed in individuals with less schooling, and illiterates had a two-fold chance of not being properly recorded, as compared to individuals with college degrees. Deaths that occurred in health facilities classified as private units had a greater probability of not being recorded than those occurring elsewhere (mainly those classified as public reference units) (OR = 2.58). Deaths occurring in the city of Rio de Janeiro had a greater probability of under-recording than those in other cities (OR = 2.20).

Validation and calibration of mercury intake through self-referred fish consumption in riverine populations in Pantanal Mato-grossense, Brazil.

The objective of most epidemiological studies is to classify/rank people according to their relative quantity of consumption. In the specific case of quantifying fish consumption, in order to assess mercury intake rate, the method used must estimate the individual quantity consumed accurately, or from the self-referred quantity it must be possible to estimate the real consumption-termed calibration. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate and calibrate the 24-h recall method for assessing the amount of fish consumed to estimate the mercury intake in riverine populations from Baixada Cuiabana, in Pantanal Mato-grossense, Brazil. The weighed dietary method was used as the reference standard, and the validity of the 24-h recall method was assessed using correlation coefficients (r), regression coefficients (beta), and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The results showed that the ICC, which assesses the agreement level between measures, was a more adequate measure than the correlation coefficient (r). Therefore, the calibration equation was calculated applying a multiple linear regression model using the consumption mean of the second and third days, which presented the highest ICC, stratified by sex and adjusted by age and season variables.

[Centipede stings notified by the "Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Belém", over a 2-year period]. / Acidentes por centopéia notificados pelo "Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Belém", num período de dois anos.

Centipedes are arthropods of the class Chilopoda. The objective of this work was to study the incidence of accidents involving centipedes at "Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Belém" (CIT-Belém) over a two-year period. Seventy-six patients were studied from March 30, 1998 until March 30, 2000. Centipede accidents occurred in 16.8% of all accidents by venomous animals at Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Belém; compared to snake accidents, 44.4 % and scorpion accidents, 20.5%. The majority of cases occurred in the residence (86.8%). The most important age group was 20-49 years old (64.4%). The part of human body mostly affected was the superior members (47.4 %). Local pain and edema were found in 95.8% and 52.1% of the patients, respectively. Treatment was symptomatic. Healing occurred in 94.7%, although the outcome of 5.3% of cases was unknown. Centipede accidents are a benign accident, occurring within the residence and treatment consists of measures to decrease the pain.

Fatores de ajustamento da produção de leite, de gordura e de proteína para idade em bovinos mestiços europeu-zebu

Age at calving adjustment factors for milk, fat and protein yield were obtained and the genetic values of sires and cows of crossbred European x Zebu animals in the Southeastern region of Brazil were predicted. Statistical analyses of 3,327 lactations were carried out with an animal model using the MTDFREML programs, which included the fixed effects of herd-year, calving season, genetic composition, age class and the random effects of the animal, and of the permanent environment. The adjustment factors for milk yield were slightly smaller than those for fat yield but for the older animals these factors were similar. The adjustment factors for protein production tended to be higher than the correspondent ones for milk and fat production. The adjustment factors for young cows were slightly higher than that for the older ones for all the studied traits. The estimated correlation between non adjusted and adjusted data for age at calving indicated that the adjustment factors were appropriate.

Estimaram-se os fatores de ajustamento das produções de leite, de gordura e de proteína para idade da vaca na época do parto e avaliaram-se geneticamente touros e vacas, em rebanhos de animais cruzados Europeu-Zebu, na Região Sudeste do Brasil. As 3.327 lactações foram analisadas por meio da metodologia de modelos mistos, em modelo animal, usando-se o aplicativo MTDFREML, com efeitos fixos de rebanho-ano, estação do parto, composição genética e classes de idade e efeitos aleatórios de animal e de meio permanente. Os fatores de ajustamento obtidos para produção de leite foram ligeiramente menores do que os de gordura, porém em idades mais avançadas os fatores foram semelhantes. Os fatores de ajustamento da produção de proteína tenderam a ser maiores do que os correspondentes para produção de leite e gordura. Vacas jovens tiveram fatores ligeiramente maiores do que vacas de idades mais avançadas, em todas as características estudadas. Os baixos valores das correlações estimadas entre os dados ajustados e não ajustados para idade ao parto indicaram que os fatores foram adequados.

Diferenças entre produções de leite e de gordura de vacas PC e PO da raçaHolandesa no Estado de Minas Gerais

Milk and fat production of purebred and grade Holstein dairy cows in Minas Gerais State, Brazil were analyzed by, mixed models methodology and restricted maximum likelihood in an animal model. The fixed effects were herd-year-season, genetic composition (purebred and grade) and the linear and quadratic effects of age at calving and the random effect was the animal. A total of 49,666 lactations of 26,822 cows from 380 herds, being 9,468 of purebred and 17,354 of grade were used. Two seasons, each with three classes of two months, dry season (April-May, June-July, August-September) and rainy season (October-November, December-January, February-March) were used. In order to estimate genetic gains, 18,482 records of cows in the first calving, being 8,938 of purebred and 9,544 of grade cows were used. The data were grouped in five classes: 4,000kg, from 4,000 to 6,000kg, from 6,000 to 8,000kg, from 8,000 to 10,000 and 10,000kg of milk production in 305 days. The overall milk and fat average were 5,865.54 and 196.85kg, respectively. The milk and fat averages for the same age classe were consistently larger for the purebred cows. The estimated genetic trend for milk and fat in each class of milk production were: 10.52 and 0.33kg, 8.31 and 0.25kg, 8.90 and 0.29kg, 11.00 and 0.36kg, 9.51 and 0.36kg by year, respectively. The average milk and fat production for cows of first calving were: 6,084.6 and 205.1kg, 5,739.5 and 191.8kg for purebred and grade cows. The estimated genetics trends of 8.7 and 9.6kg, for purebred and graded cows, although small, reflect an increasing in milk production potential from 1986 to 1996.

As produções de leite e de gordura de vacas da raça Holandesa puras de origem (PO) e puras por cruzamento (PC), com gerações controladas, foram analisadas por meio da metodologia de modelos mistos, utilizando máxima verossimilhança restrita e modelo animal. Foram utilizados dados coletados de 1986 a 1996, num total de 49.666 lactações de 26.822 vacas em 380 rebanhos, 9.468 PO e 17.354 PC. Os efeitos fixos foram rebanho/ano/estação, considerando-se três classes de dois meses em cada estação do ano, isto é, seca (abril - maio, junho - julho, agosto - setembro) e águas (outubro - novembro, dezembro - janeiro e fevereiro - março) e dois graus de sangue (PO e PC), além dos efeitos linear e quadrático de idade ao parto. O animal foi considerado como efeito aleatório. Para estimar o ganho genético das produções de leite e de gordura foram utilizadas 18.482 primeiras lactações, 8.938 de vacas PO e 9.544 de vacas PC. Foram também formadas cinco classes de produção: até 4.000kg, de 4.000 a 6.000kg, de 6.000 a 8.000kg, de 8.000 a 10.000kg e acima de 10.000kg. As médias gerais estimadas para produção de leite e de gordura até 305 dias, em duas ordenhas diárias, foram, respectivamente, 5.865,54 e 196,85kg. As médias de produção de leite e de gordura para a mesma classe de idade ao parto foram consistentemente maiores para as vacas PO. As estimativas de ganho genético anual para leite e gordura nas classes de produção citadas foram, respectivamente: 10,52 e 0,33kg; 8,31 e 0,25kg; 8,90 e 0,29kg; 11,00 e 0,36kg; e 9,50 e 0,36kg. As médias de produção de leite e de gordura para as vacas de primeira cria foram: 6.084,6 e 205,1kg e 5.739,5 e 191,8kg para vacas PO e PC, respectivamente. As estimativas de tendências genéticas de 8,7 e 9,6kg por ano para vacas PO e PC, embora pequenas, refletem aumento na capacidade de produção de leite no período.