Formula to evaluate efficacy of vaccines and systemic substances against three-host ticks

AbstractThe control of ticks with vaccines is of global interest. Experimental vaccines incorporate new technologies as soon as they are available. Historically, the main vaccine studies have focused on the one-host cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, and efficacy evaluations have been standardised for this tick species. On the other hand, evaluations of vaccine candidates for three-host ticks are being done somewhat arbitrarily and thus comparisons within the current literature on the efficacy of vaccines, as well as other methods of control, are difficult. We herein provide a formula for the evaluation of efficacy of a vaccine designed against three-host ticks that incorporates the whole life cycle of the tick

TNF-alpha expression, evaluation of collagen, and TUNEL of Matricaria recutita L. extract and triamcinolone on oral ulcer in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease associated with delayed wound healing of oral ulcers by increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and cellular apoptosis. Objective to evaluate the influence of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) and apoptosis in rats with DM treated with chamomile extract or triamcinolone. Material and Methods Wistar male rats (210.0±4.2 g) were divided into five groups: negative control group (NCG) without diabetes; positive control group (PCG) with DM (alloxan, 45 mg/kg); and groups treated with chamomile extract (normoglycemic= NCG group and diabetic= DCG group) and with triamcinolone (TG). Traumatic ulcers were performed on all animals that received topical triamcinolone, chamomile extract or saline 12/12 hours for ten days. Results On days five and ten the animals were euthanized and the ulcers were analyzed by light microscopy, TUNEL assay, and immunohistochemically (TNF-α). The NCG (p=0.0062), PCG (p=0.0285), NCG (p=0.0041), and DCG (

Avaliação econômica da neosporose no desempenho de sistemas de produção de bovinos de corte com diferentes níveis tecnológicos

The objective of this study was to determine if there is economic losses caused by neoporosis by identifying the number of abortions occurred in beef cattle in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul, which are associated with the disease, and then estimate the economic loss to the productive system. 1098 heifers were evaluated from breeding season to the birth of calves in relation to reproductive performance, and the serological diagnosis of neosporosis was performed. To estimate the economic loss it was chosen the projection of exploratory scenarios through simulation using the software Gerenpec/Embrapa. The output rate for heifers seropositive and seronegative to neosporosis was 28.24% and 50.12% respectively, showing a 44% reduction in the output rate of heifers seropositive to Neospora caninum. The evolution of the herd for a period of 10 years showed higher production of animals in the herd free of disease in three technology levels, with values of 7.3%, 7.1% and 8.7% in stages I, II and III respectively when compared to systems with the disease. By comparing the rate of revenue in the 10 th year of a system free of the disease with an actual observed income over the three levels of technology: the technological level to 14% revenue I, Level II and 21% of revenues to the level technological III 34% higher. Therefore, the study highlights the importance of rural business management geared towards forward-looking vision  by identifying trends, behaviors and/or opportunities that will serve as sources for the development of strategic actions, and thus provide increased productivity of rural enterprises eg, methods of neosporosis control using strategies such as the disposal of positive animals.O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar os prejuízos econômicos associados a neosporose em novilhas de gado de corte, na região do Pantanal Sul-matogrossense. Foram avaliadas 1098 novilhas da estação de reprodução ao nascimento dos bezerros em relação à performance reprodutiva e realizado o diagnóstico sorológico de neosporose. Para estimar a perda econômica foi escolhida a projeção de cenários exploratórios por meio da simulação utilizando o software Gerenpec/Embrapa. A taxa de desfrute para as novilhas soropositivas e soronegativas para neosporose foi de 28,24% e 50,12%, respectivamente, mostrando uma redução de 44% na taxa de desfrute de novilhas soropositivas para Neospora caninum. A evolução do rebanho para um período de 10 anos apresentou maior produção de animais para o rebanho livre da doença nos três níveis tecnológicos, com valores de 7,3%, 7,1% e 8,7% nos níveis I, II e III respectivamente quando comparados aos sistemas com a doença. Ao comparar o índice da receita no 10° ano de um sistema livre da doença com um sistema real observaram-se receitas superiores nos três níveis tecnológicos: para o nível tecnológico I receita de 14%, nível II receita de 21% e para o nível tecnológico III 34% maior. Portanto, o estudo destaca a importância da gestão do negócio rural voltada para a visão prospectiva, identificando tendências, comportamentos e/ou oportunidades que servirão como fontes para o desenvolvimento de ações estratégicas e, assim, proporcionar aumento da produtividade das empresas rurais, como os métodos de controle da neosporose usando estratégias como o descarte de animais positivos

Association between seropositivity for Neospora caninum and reproductive performance of beef heifers in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect domestic and wild canids, ruminants, and horses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the presence of antibodies to N. caninum and reproductive loss in beef heifers in the South Pantanal region of Mato Grosso, Brazil. A total of 1098 heifers were evaluated from breeding to calving with regard to reproductive performance, and serology for neosporosis was assayed by indirect immunofluorescence reaction. The prevalence of N. caninum in cows that had failed to conceive was 22.13% higher than in those that had conceived (p < 0.0001), indicating a significant correlation between non-conception and presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies. The extraction rates for seropositive and seronegative heifers were 28.24 and 50.12%, respectively, with a statistically significant value (p < 0.0001) that showed a decrease of 44% in the extraction rate of seropositive animals. The results emphasize the importance of diagnosis for monitoring of neosporosis in primiparous cows, and indicators of seropositive females as a factor in strategies for culling the beef cattle herd

Chemical identification of Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) essential oil and its acaricidal effect on ticks Caracterização química e efeito acaricida do óleo essencial de Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) em carrapatos

The control of tick species that affect animal production is vital for the economic welfare of the cattle industry. This study focused on testing the acaricidal activity of the essential oil from the leaves and stems of Tagetes minuta against several Brazilian tick species, including Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma cajennense and Argas miniatus. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by chromatography and spectroscopy analyses, which revealed the presence of monoterpenes. The adult immersion test (AIT) and the larval packet test (LPT) were used to evaluate the efficacy of T. minuta essential oil in tick management at concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40%. The results demonstrated that the T. minuta essential oil had over 95% efficacy against four species of ticks at a concentration of 20%. These results suggest that the essential oil of T. minuta could be used as an environmentally friendly acaricide.<br>O controle de carrapatos que causa impacto na produção de bovinos possui importância econômica para a cadeia produtiva. Neste trabalho objetivou-se testar a atividade acaricida do óleo essencial das folhas e caules de Tagetes minuta contra várias espécies de carrapatos brasileiros, incluindo Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma cajennense e Argas miniatus. A composição química do óleo foi determinada por GC-MS e análises de espectroscopia de RMN, que revelaram a presença de monoterpenos. Na avaliação destas substâncias no controle do carrapato foram empregados os testes de imersão de adulto (TIA) e o de pacote de larvas (TPL) para o extrato de óleo de T. minuta nas concentrações de 2,5%; 5%; 10%; 20% e 40%. Os resultados do TPL e TIA demonstraram que o óleo essencial na concentração de 20% de T. minuta apresenta eficácia superior a 95% nas quatro espécies de carrapato. Estes resultados sugerem que o óleo essencial de T. minuta pode ser usado como um acaricida eficaz e com baixo impacto ambiental

Environmentally associated ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae) associados com o ambiente em Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Herein, we report tick species found on wild and domestic animals and in the environment during a one-year sampling period at the Brazilian Farming Research Company beef cattle unit (Embrapa Beef Cattle), which is located within the urban area of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. From 55 wild hosts including six different species (Nasua nasua, Cebus spp., Cerdocyon thous, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Tamandua tetradactyla and Dasyprocta aguti), 323 ticks were collected. Amblyomma ovale ticks were found solely on coatis, and Amblyomma nodosum was identified solely on anteaters. No ticks were found on capuchin monkeys. However, Amblyomma cajennense was found on all parasitized host species with the exception of capuchin monkeys. Giant anteaters displayed the highest infestation abundance, with a mean of 53 ticks&#8725;animal. Environmental sampling yielded 166 adult A. cajennense ticks. The tick species found on domestic animals (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, R. sanguineus, Dermacentor nitens and A. cajennense) were those typically found on these hosts in Brazil. The most prevalent tick species, A. cajennense, was found on both wild and domestic animals and was also prevalent in the environment. Thus, this tick species is the primary vector that allows pathogens to bridge wild and domestic animals in the Cerrado.Neste trabalho s&#227;o descritas as esp&#233;cies de carrapatos de animais selvagens e dom&#233;sticos e do ambiente coletados por um ano na EMBRAPA Gado de Corte localizado na &#225;rea urbana de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Dos 55 hospedeiros selvagens de seis esp&#233;cies diferentes (Nasua nasua, Cebus spp., Cerdocyon thous, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Tamandua tetradactyla e Dasyprocta aguti) foram coletados 323 carrapatos. Amblyomma ovale foi encontrado apenas em quatis e Amblyomma nodosum apenas sobre tamandu&#225;s. Nenhum carrapato foi encontrado sobre macacos-prego. Por outro lado, Amblyomma cajennense foi encontrado em todos os hospedeiros com exce&#231;&#227;o dos macacos-pregos. A maior abundancia de infesta&#231;&#227;o foi aquela em tamandu&#225;s-bandeira com m&#233;dia de 53 carrapatos&#8725;animal. No ambiente foram capturados 166 carrapatos, todos da esp&#233;cie A. cajennense. As esp&#233;cies de carrapatos em animais dom&#233;sticos (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor nitens e A. cajennense) foram aquelas caracter&#237;sticas nestes hospedeiros no Brasil. De forma geral a esp&#233;cie de carrapato A. cajennense foi a mais prevalente sendo encontrada em animais dom&#233;sticos e selvagens bem como no ambiente. Portanto, esta &#233; a principal esp&#233;cie de vetor a estabelecer uma ponte para bioagentes patog&#234;nicos entre animais dom&#233;sticos e selvagens

TNF-alpha expression, evaluation of collagen, and TUNEL of Matricaria recutita L. extract and triamcinolone on oral ulcer in diabetic rats

ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease associated with delayed wound healing of oral ulcers by increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and cellular apoptosis. Objective to evaluate the influence of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) and apoptosis in rats with DM treated with chamomile extract or triamcinolone. Material and Methods Wistar male rats (210.0±4.2 g) were divided into five groups: negative control group (NCG) without diabetes; positive control group (PCG) with DM (alloxan, 45 mg/kg); and groups treated with chamomile extract (normoglycemic= NCG group and diabetic= DCG group) and with triamcinolone (TG). Traumatic ulcers were performed on all animals that received topical triamcinolone, chamomile extract or saline 12/12 hours for ten days. Results On days five and ten the animals were euthanized and the ulcers were analyzed by light microscopy, TUNEL assay, and immunohistochemically (TNF-α). The NCG (p=0.0062), PCG (p=0.0285), NCG (p=0.0041), and DCG (p<0.0001) groups were completely healed on the 10th day, however, there was no healing on the TG (p=0.5127) group. The TNF-α expression showed a significant reduction from the 5th to the 10th day in NCG (p=0.0266) and DCG (p=0.0062). In connective tissue, the TUNEL assay showed a significant reduction in the number of positive cells in NCG (p=0.0273) and CNG (p=0.0469) and in the epithelium only in CDG (p=0.0320). Conclusions Chamomile extract can optimize the healing of traumatic oral ulcers in diabetic rats through the reduction of apoptosis in the epithelium and TNF-α expression

Biodigestão anaeróbia do bagaço da cana-de-açúcar pré-tratado e utilizando excretas de frango como inóculo

A agroindústria de cana-de-açúcar e de aves são geradoras de uma grande quantidade subprodutos que podem ter seu valor agregado potencializado quando utilizados como fonte energética. Deste modo, objetivou-se com esse estudo investigar o efeito sobre a biodigestão anaerobia do bagaço da cana-de-açúcar in natura e pré-tratado com hidróxido de sódio, utilizando-se de excretas de frango como inóculo. Para tal, utilizou-se de biodigestores experimentais de 600mL, com dois tratamentos: 1- o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar inoculado com excretas de aves e 2- o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar inoculado com excretas de aves e adicionado da solução de hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) a 4%. Foram analisadas a composição química do bagaço de cana e das excretas de aves, assim também como foram avaliados os lôdos reacionais (substrato), antes e após o período de 54 dias. Analisou-se as variáveis de: pH, DQO, sólidos totais, voláteis e fixos e também a produção de gás metano (CH4). Os resultados obtidos inferem que o tratamento em que houve pré-tratamento com hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) a 4%, apresentou melhores resultados na produção de gás metano e para os parâmetros de avaliação ambientais