Exposure of small mammals to ticks and rickettsiae in Atlantic Forest patches in the metropolitan area of Recife, North-eastern Brazil

Between December 2007 and March 2009, small mammals were captured in 6 Atlantic Forest patches in Brazil. We assessed tick-host associations and whether they differ among forest strata, sites, seasons, and host age classes or between sexes. Moreover, we assessed the exposure of animals to Rickettsia spp. In total, 432 animals were captured and 808 ticks were found on 32-9% of them. Significant differences were found among host species, collection sites, and forest strata; microhabitat preference was a strong risk factor for tick infestation. The highest tick density rates were recorded in forest fragments settled in rural areas; 91.3% of the ticks were collected from animals trapped in these forest fragments. A high prevalence (68.8%) of antibodies to Rickettsia spp. was detected among animals. This study suggests that disturbed Atlantic Forest fragments provide an environment for ticks and small mammals, which are highly exposed to rickettsiae. It also indicates that forest patches settled in rural areas are usually associated with higher small mammal diversity as well as with higher tick density rates.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tenologioco (CNPq) [487.229/2007-0]Laboratoire Population Environnement Developpement, Universite de Provence (IRD) [UMR-151

In Vitro Evaluation Of The Ability Of Beer Fermentation Residue Containing Saccharomyces Cerevisiae To Bind Mycotoxins

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)In vitro tests were performed to determine the ability of beer fermentation residue (BFR) containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae to bind aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)), zearalenone (ZEA), ochratoxin A (OTA) and deoxynivalenol (DON). BFR was obtained from a microbrewery, dried and ground, resulting in approximately 1.0 x 10(10) S. cerevisiae cells g(-1) BFR. Binding assays consisted of suspending BFR (100 mg) in 10 mL of buffer solution (pH 3.0 or 6.5) spiked with AFB(1), ZEA, OTA or DON (2.0 mu g ml(-1) of each mycotoxin), incubation (60 min, 25 degrees C) followed by centrifugation. The supernatants were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. BFR had higher binding capacity for ZEA (75.1% and 77.5% at pH 3.0 and 6.5, respectively), when compared with AFB(1), OTA and DON (less than 60% and 40% at pH 3.0 and 6.5, respectively). BFR also produced linear isotherms for ZEA at both pH values, hence indicating a potential application of industrial fermentation by-products containing yeast cells in reducing the bioavailability of ZEA in contaminated feedstuffs. However, in vivo studies are required to prove its efficacy in livestock and poultry. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.77643648Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)CNPq [481561/201 1-0]FAPESP [2011/03410-0

SURFACE ROUGHNESS AND CANDIDA ALBICANS BIOFILM FORMATION ON A RELINE RESIN AFTER LONG-TERM CHEMICAL DISINFECTION AND TOOTHBRUSHING

Statement of problem. Routine cleaning of a denture may increase the surface roughness of the material.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of denture cleansers and time on the roughness and Candida albicans biofilm formation on a reline resin.Material and methods. Specimens of Tokuyama Rebase Fast II (20x 10x2 mm) were prepared and divided into 9 groups (n=15): Test groups were toothbrushed (30 cycles per day) in 1 of the following solutions: water, soap, or toothpaste. After toothbrushing, the specimens were immersed in solutions of water, sodium perborate, or chlorhexidine. These treatments were done once a day for 365 days. The surface roughness was evaluated at 0, 7, 15, 30, 90, 180, 270, and 365 days, and the C albicans biofilm formation was measured after 365 days. The roughness data were analyzed by 3-way repeated measures ANOVA and the Tukey test (alpha=.05), and the C albicans biofilm formation was analyzed by 2-way ANOVA.Results. Significant differences were found in the toothbrush and time interaction and in the toothbrush, immersion, and time interaction (P<.001). No significant differences were found between the toothbrush agent and chemical disinfection (P=.085) or between chemical disinfection and time interaction (P=.604). Brushing with dentifrice (PPb and PCh) showed a gradual decrease in surface roughness. The comparison among groups showed that PCh produced the lowest values of roughness. For C albicans biofilm formation, no significant differences were found among the experimental groups.Conclusions. The roughness values ranged from 0.31 to 0.69 mu m for all evaluated groups. For all groups, no significant differences were found in the quantification of C albicans.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP