In vitro antioxidant activity of species collected in Paraná

Hydroalcoholic extracts of 10 medicinally used species collected from the area covered by a reservoir due to a dam built for the Salto Caxias Hydro-electric power plant in the State of Paraná, Southern Brazil, and Casearia sylvestris, were investigated for their potential antioxidant activity against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals and by the phosphomolybdenum method. The extract of Bauhinia microstachya was found to be the most potent in both models.     

Land use capability classification adaptation in low and intermediate technology farming systems: A soil erosion indicator

Land classification assists in identifying optimal crop selection for a given field, and land use capability gives an indication of potential agronomic productivity. However, these approaches are most germane to farming systems managed with high technology. This study sought to adapt land use capability to farming systems managed with low and intermediate levels of technology. Assessment of the classification criteria was conducted using erosion data as a primary indicator. The adapted (and currently in effect) criteria were compared in three regions in Minas Gerais, Brazil, each one representing one of the management levels. Erosion often results from inappropriate practices in land use or management. Therefore, maps of adequacy of land use and management were used to measure how well each one corresponded to the erosion map. The adapted criteria changed the spatial distribution of the classes of land use capability in different ways. Correspondence between the land use/management map and the erosion map increased from 71% to 88.5% when the criteria adapted to an intermediate level of management were used. It also increased from 62.9% to 66.7% when the criteria adapted to a low level of management were considered, better reflecting current erosion. Therefore, adopting adapted classification criteria is recommended for planning land use in locations where farming systems with low and intermediate levels of management are common, requiring re‐adaptation and reassessment depending on socio‐environmental factors.     

Diagnosis of canine brucellosis by ELISA using an antigen obtained from wild Brucella canis

An indirect ELISA test was developed for the diagnosis of Brucella canis infection in dogs. A bacterial whole cell extract was used as a solid phase antigen, using B. canis isolated from an infected animal. Sera from culture-positive and healthy negative animals were used as internal reference controls. The cut-off point was determined by a mathematical formula for a statistically valid value, which defined the upper prediction limit, based on the upper tail of the t-distribution of 21 negative control sera readings, for the confidence level of 99.5%. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test were 95% and 91%, respectively. The ELISA test showed a significant concordance index (K=0.84) with the agar gel immunodiffusion test. The reliability of the ELISA for the detection of infected animals was established by a double blind study testing 280 sera provided by serum banks from different diagnostic and research institutions and analyzed by ROC Curve.     

Sensitivity of cytopathological examination in the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is caused by Sporothrix schenckii. The cat is the animal species most affected by this mycosis and plays an important role in the zoonotic transmission of this disease. The definitive diagnosis is made by isolation of the fungus in culture; however, cytopathological examination is frequently used in cats. Medical records from cats treated at Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2004 and 2006 were reviewed. Criteria for inclusion were a diagnosis by isolation of S schenckii in culture and cytopathological examination of the same lesion as that used for collection of the culture material. Eight hundred and six cats were included in the study. Yeast-like structures suggestive of S schenckii were observed in 636 cases. The sensitivity of the method was 78.9%. Its practicality, low cost and sensitivity validate cytopathology as a safe technique for the presumptive diagnosis of sporotrichosis in cats.     

Arterial supply of the penis in agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolpha, Wagler, 1831)

The arterial vascularization of agoutis’ penis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) were analysed using ten male adults from ‘Núcleo de Estudos e Preservação de Animais Silvestres da Universidade Federal do Piauí’ (FUFPI/IBAMA n° 02/99). Among the total number of specimens, six animals had natural death and were members of the research collection of the Laboratory of Anatomy, and four were killed after anaesthesia. Stained bi‐centrifugated‐Cis‐I‐4 latex was injected in arterial vessels responsible for penis vascularization throughout the abdominal portion of aorta. The samples were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution and arteries were dissected. The penile artery is originated as a branch of internal pudendal artery. At the level of ischiatic arch, the penile artery project two branches, the penile dorsal and the deep arteries; those arteries irrigates the penile dorsal surface and the corpus cavernosum penis. The penile dorsal arteries have an independent course up to the glans penis. Based on the conditions of this work a remarkable similarity regarding the distribution of vessels destined to the agouti penis when compared to other domestic, wild and lagomorph rodents as rabbits.     

Effect of the gain rate during growing phase on the performance and characteristics of carcass and meat of super precocious steers

The aim was to evaluate the effect of different rates of weight gain during the backgrounding on animal performance and carcass and meat characteristics of steers finished in feedlots. Thirty-six Angus steers, 12 ± 2 months of age, were backgrounded during 91 days on Aruana grass pasture (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) managed under different stocking rates to achieve three different weight gains: HIGH ADG (average daily gain)—no feed restriction (ADG = 0.846 kg); MEDIUM ADG—moderate feed restriction (ADG = 0.456 kg); and LOW ADG—high feed restriction (ADG = 0.154 kg). To ensure the difference in ADG, we offered 0.7% live weight of concentrate feed in the HIGH treatment and a better forage supply in the MEDIUM treatment. After the backgrounding, the animals were finished in feedlot. There was no effect of the previous performance on the animals' performance in the feedlot. The LOW presented higher weight (218.9 vs. 207.9 kg) and hot (54.0% vs. 51.3%) and cold (53.5% vs. 50.5%) carcass yield than the MEDIUM, besides presenting meat with less cooking losses (15.0% vs. 18.2%), marbling (7 vs. 4.0 points), palatability (7.1 vs. 6.3 points), juiciness (7.2 vs. 6.4 points), tenderness (7.1 vs. 6.3 points), and lower shear force (5.78 vs. 8.75 kg) than HIGH. LOW ADG steers stay longer in the finishing phase but presented in general better quality carcass and meat than those with MEDIUM or HIGH during the backgrounding.     

Influences of nitrogen fertilization and energy supplementation for growth perfomance of beef cattle on Alexander grass

This study evaluated the influences of nitrogen fertilizer and energy supplementation cattle on the growth performance of beef cattle. This study was conducted at the Federal University of Technology of Paraná, Dois Vizinhos through continuous grazing on 6.3 ha, divided into nine paddocks. The treatments were: Alexander grass +100 kg ha^?1 of N (N100); Alexander grass + 100 kg ha^?1 of N + 0.5 kg per 100 kg of weight live supplementation of wheat bran (N100S); and Alexander grass +200 kg ha^?1 of N (N200), with an average herbage allowance of 10% for all treatments. Crossbred and non-castrated steers with an average weight of 276 ± 41 kg were used for 107 days. The crude protein from entire plant differed (P < 0.05) between treatments, with the greater value (14.8%) occurring in the N200, and the lesser value (13.3%) occurring in the N100S. The herbage accumulation rate was greater (P < 0.05) in the N200 (55.7  DM ha^?1 d^?1) than that in the N100S and N100 (40.0 and 39.7 kg DM ha^?1 d^?1, respectively). The N100S produced greater (P < 0.05) average daily weight gains (0.815 kg animal day^?1) than did the N200 (0.685 kg animal day^?1) and N100 treatments (0.727 kg animal day^?1).

     

Exposure to different glyphosate formulations on the oxidative and histological status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhamdia quelen</Emphasis>

Due to the wide use of glyphosate (GLY) in soybean cultivation, their residues in the environment may affect non-target organisms such as fish, developing toxic effects. Despite GLY being widely used in Brazil, there are few studies comparing the effects of commercial formulations in native freshwater fish species. Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) were exposed to three different commercial formulations of GLY 48 % (Orium^®, Original^® and Biocarb^®) at 0.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/L for 96 h. The effects in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and histological alterations were analysed in the liver, whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were studied in the plasma. In the liver, TBARS levels increased and CAT decreased in all treatments and herbicides tested in comparison with the control group. The SOD increased at 2.5 mg/L of Orium^®, Original^® and 5.0 mg/L Orium^® and Biocarb^®, whereas GST increased at 2.5 mg/L Orium^® and decreased at 2.5 mg/L Biocarb^® when compared to the control group. The main histopathological alterations in hepatic tissue were vacuolisation, leucocyte infiltration, degeneration of cytoplasm and melanomacrophage in all GLY treatments. The ALT decreased after exposure to 2.5 mg/L of Biocarb^® and AST increased at 2.5 mg/L of Orium^®, Original^® and 5.0 mg/L of Biocarb^® in comparison with the control group. In summary, the oxidative damage generated by GLY may have caused the increased formation of free radicals that led to the histological alterations observed in hepatocytes.