Prova tuberculínica, BCG oral e infecção tuberculosa em crianças menores de 5 anos Tuberculin test, oral BCG vaccine, and tuberculosis infection among children under five years of age

São relatados os resultados das provas tuberculínicas com PPD Rt23, 2 UT, em crianças menores de um ano e de um a 4 anos, matriculadas na Clínica Pediátrica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, São Paulo, Brasil, no período de 1971 a 1975. Em 665 crianças menores de um ano encontrou-se 3,15% de reatores fracos e 6,62% de reatores fortes e em 1.298 crianças de um a 4 anos, 0,69% de reatores fracos e 5,5% de reatores fortes. Nas mesmas crianças, foram estudadas as relações entre vacinação BCG oral prévia e positividade à prova tuberculínica nos 2 grupos etários considerados e nos quais se obteve a informação de vacinação anterior com BCG oral. Em 575 crianças menores de um ano e 1.113 de um a 4 anos encontrou-se associação positiva entre vacinação BCG oral prévia e positividade à prova tuberculínica. Analisando a relação entre o número de doses de BCG oral prévio e o resultado das provas tuberculínicas pelo método de Goodman, verificou-se que a proporção de crianças que tinham tomado 3 doses e mais de BCG oral e que apresentaram reação forte à prova tuberculínica é significantemente maior que a observada para os não reatores, fato esse não verificado para o grupo de um a 4 anos. Nas crianças que tomaram uma ou duas doses não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes.<br>Results of tuberculin reaction from PPD Rt 23, 2UT are reported on children under one year of age and children from one to four years of age who were registered in the Pediatric Clinics of the Hospital das Clinicas of the College of Medicine of the State University of São Paulo. The study was carried out from 1971 through 1975. In a group of 665 children under one year of age, 3.15% were weak reactors while 6.62% were strong reactors, and, in a group of 1298 children between one to four years of age, 0.69% were weak reactors while 5.5% were strong reactors. The relationship between prior BCG oral vaccination and positivation to the tuberculin test in the two age groups was studied, thus obtaining information about the previous oral BCG vaccination. Likewise, in 575 children under one year of age and 1113 children one to four years of age, a positive relationship between the previous oral administration of BCG and the positivation to the tuberculin test was found. In analyzing the relationship between the number of doses of previous oral BCG administration and the results of the tuberculin test by the Goodman method, it was found that the proportion of children who had taken three or more doses of BCG by oral administration and showed strong reaction to the tuberculin test is significantly greater than that observed for the non-reactors, a fact which does not hold true for the one to four age group. For the children who had taken one or two doses there was no significant statistical difference

Efeitos genéticos e não-genéticos sobre o intervalo de parto em fêmeas suínas no Sudeste do Brasil Genetic and environmental effects on the farrowing interval in sows in the southeastern region of Brazil

<abstract language="eng">The effect of environmental and genetic effects on the farrowing interval in Dalland (C-40) sows in the Southeast of Brazil was studied. Data consisting of 1,013 farrowing intervals recorded in two herds were analyzed, using a model that included the sire and the dam as random effects and the year of farrowing, the herd and the farrowing season as fixed effects, plus the covariables sow's age at farrowing, litter size at birth, lactation length and weaning-estrus interval. For the farrowing interval first only, variance components were estimated by REML, with an animal model that included, as fixed effect, a contemporary group and, as random effects, the additive genetic variance and the error. The mean farrowing interval was 140.9+5.7 days, with a 4.0% coefficient of variation. Variance analysis showed no effect of either year, season of farrowing or herd on the farrowing interval. The sire effect was not important for the farrowing interval, but the dam represented an important source of variation. The total number of piglets born and the sow's age at farrowing had no influence on the farrowing interval. The length of lactation exerted an influence on the farrowing interval, accounting for 19.4% of the total variation of this trait. Likewise, the linear regression of the weaning-estrus interval in relation to the farrowing interval was highly significant, accounting for 51.7% of the total variation. The heritability estimate was 0.00, suggesting that no genetic gain can be obtained by selection for a shorter farrowing interval

Maintenance of filtering molluscs in aquaria for sub-chronic studies

This work determined the best survival conditions for the clam Mytella guyanensis and the mussel Perna perna in the estuary and sea aquaria respectively over at least 12 days, which could enable their use in the ecotoxicological studies. The aquaria were set up with the appropriate water and sedimen, and allowed to establish for a minimum of one month before adding the organisms. The best survival conditions for M. guyanensis required more time for the aquarium stabilization, addition of inocula and more frequent water changes than for P. perna. The organisms' lipid contents increased and their condition index was maintained indicating the good conditions of the aquaria, hence, their possible use in the sub-chronic studies.<br>Estudos sobre a dinâmica de contaminação de organismos marinhos devem ser feitos sob condições controladas pelo tempo necessário para que os organismos possam responder à presença do agente contaminante. No entanto, a manutenção de organismos em aquários por determinado período pode ser difícil porque todas as outras variáveis do ambiente precisam ser próximas às condições naturais. Este trabalho determinou as melhores condições de sobrevivência do marisco Mytella guyanensis e do mexilhão Perna perna, respectivamente em aquários de estuário e de mar, por período de até 12 dias. Os aquários foram montados com água e sedimento de estuário ou de mar e estabilizados por, no mínimo, um mês antes da colocação dos respectivos organismos. As melhores condições de sobrevivência de M. guyanensis requisitaram mais tempo de estabilização do aquário, adição de inóculos e trocas de água mais freqüentes do que para os P. perna. Os conteúdos de lipídios aumentaram com o tempo e o índice de condição dos organismos foi mantido, indicando as boas condições dos aquários e, conseqüentemente, a possibilidade de uso em pesquisas ecotoxicológicas