Induction of diabetes in Wistar rats: is the streptozotocin model feasible at any age? / Indução de diabetes em ratos Wistar: o modelo da estreptozotocina é válido em qualquer idade?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an epidemic that affects millions of people worldwide. Because of its high morbidity and mortality, animal models of diabetes are indispensable to achieve a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms and discover new treatments. The classic used model to induce type 1 DM involves streptozotocin (STZ) administration and it is well known that the association of streptozotocin with a high fat diet also induces type 2 DM. However, these studies are performed in rats between 60-90 days and should be performed in older animals because aging is a major risk factor for other diseases, that occur concomitantly with DM. Thus, this study evaluated diabetes in aged Wistar rats at 300 days. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg STZ. Three days after DM induction, the rats exhibited alterations in clinical signs and increases in the levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine. Microscopic changes were observed in the kidneys and liver. These findings indicate that this model is not feasible in rats at 300 days of age and should not be attempted by other research groups or should be performed by researchers who want to study the complications of diabetes. 

Intestinal Parasites in Free-Living Puma concolor

Background: Studies on intestinal parasites in cougars Puma concolor are scarce, and most of the available information on the species has been derived from individuals in captivity. One of the greatest threats to the survival of wild cats is habitat loss caused by urban sprawl, agricultural matrix, and linear developments such as highways and railways, which expose animals to direct contact with humans and to a high risk of death. Given the lack of scientific data the objective of this study was to report on the occurrence of intestinal parasites in a cougar (P. concolor) specimen from the northwestern region of Paraná State, Brazil.Case: The carcass of a free-living cougar (P. concolor) individual was sent to the Interdisciplinary Science Museum (Museu Interdisciplinar de Ciências – MIC) of Paranaense University (Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR); an individual was killed during a collision with an unidentified vehicle on highway PR-486, in the municipality of Mariluz (PR, Brazil). The geographical coordinates of the location where the animal was found are: 23°59′29″S, 53°8′47″W. This region is characterized by semi-deciduous seasonal forest remnants. After being identified on site and collected by the inspectors of the Paraná Environmental Institute (Instituto Ambiental do Paraná - IAP), the cadaver was donated to the MIC (by the IAP) for a necropsy to elucidate the cause of death. In this context, the cadaver was sent to the Animal Pathology section of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at UNIPAR. The animal was necropsied by performing the standard necropsy technique for carnivores: opening the intestine through the mesentery and exposing the mucosa from the duodenum to the colon. The necropsy showed that the cause of death was hypovolemic shock due to trauma. During necropsy, parasites in the intestinal lumen were visible to the naked eye. Parasites and feces were collected and stored in sterile flasks containing 10% formaldehyde and saline. The parasites were subjected to Faust and Hoffman techniques, micrometry, and morphological analysis, resulting in the identification of the roundworm Toxocara cati and the tapeworm Spirometra decipiens.Discussion: Identifying the roadkill species along highways is of paramount importance, since they are living very close to man and, consequently, reservoirs and disseminators of different infectious and parasitic zoonoses may be possible. Infection by protozoa and helminths in animals usually occurs by ingesting the infective form present in food or water. Toxocara cati and the tapeworm Spirometra decipiens were only reported in captivity before. Research on parasites in free-living wild animals is not common in the scientific literature and this is due to the difficulty of capturing this animal category as they live in difficult to access places such as forests and forests, therefore, research projects in partnership with museums are extremely important for the recognition of wild animal species that circulate in the region, in addition to the parasitic identification of these animals for future sanitary measures and for the preservation of the animal species in the environment. The Parasitological studies of wild animals are highly relevant for expanding this knowledge, especially considering the possible transfer risk of specific parasitic diseases to other animals, as well as to humans

EFEITO PROTETIVO DO EXTRATO DE ECHINODORUS GRANDIFLORUS SOBRE O UROTELIO VESICAL DE RATOS COM CISTITE INDUZIDA POR CICLOFOSFAMIDA

A cistite hemorrágica e a cistite intersticial expressam uma etiologia variável, desde idiopática à provocada por fármacos, dentre eles a ciclofosfamida. A cistite apresenta tratamento multifatorial, e o potencial efeito satisfatório do uso da medicina complementar, vem ganhando espaço na prática médica. Assim o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito protetivo do extrato bruto de Echinodorus grandiflorus sobre a bexiga de ratos induzidos a cistite por ciclofosfamida. Utilizou-se neste estudo, 35 ratos, machos, Wistar, com peso médio de 321g, que foram submetidos a indução de cistite com uso de ciclofosfamida por via intraperitoneal e tratados com diferentes doses de extrato de Echinodorus grandiflorus (30, 100, 300mg) e o grupo controle com o fármaco Mesna.Todos os animais foram mortos no décimo sétimo dia e suas bexigas urinarias foram ressecadas para avaliação macro e microscópica, além da análise de hemograma e leucograma. A análise do sangue mostrou leucopenia com diferença significativa em todos os animais que receberam a ciclofosfamida. Observou-se que a dose de 300mg/kg do extrato bruto da planta, apresentou efeito protetivo no urotélio vesical, porém, inferior ao uso de Mesna. Diante dos resultados apresentados neste estudo sugere-se que o extrato de Echinodorus grandiflorus apresenta efeito protetivo no urotélio vesical na dose de 300mg/kg, porém estudos futuros quanto a dose e também a uma possível associação terapêutica ao Mesna devam ser realizados. Por se tratar de uma patologia com prevalência importante e ser muitas vezes desagradável e limitante à vida, faz-se necessário o empenho em métodos terapêuticos alternativos aos atuais, afim de, diminuírem os custos e efeitos colaterais dos métodos já documentados

PERFORMANCE, CARCASS YIELD AND LITTER QUALITY OF BROILERS RAISED ON LITTERS TREATED WITH MICRO-ORGANISMS

The present paper aimed at evaluating the effect of adding beneficial micro-organisms to the litters on litter quality, performance and carcass yield for broilers. A total of 240 one-day chicks were used, and randomly distributed in blocks with four treatments and four replications. The following treatments were carried out in the housing: Treatment 1 – Control with weekly spraying of water on the litters; Treatment 2 – Litter treated with a mixture of inoculated and fermented meal by micro-organisms and weekly spraying of water; Treatment 3 – Litter treated by weekly spraying of micro-organisms; Treatment 4 – Litter treated with the same mixture of meals from treatment two and weekly spraying of micro-organisms. Performance was evaluated by the feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion, viability and carcass, breast and leg yield. From litter samples, pH, dry matter, ashes and nitrogen were evaluated. No differences were found among the treatments. In the conditions the animals were raised, it can be concluded that the treatment on the litter does not affect performance, carcass yield and quality of the litter for broilers

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteria isolated from broiler breeder chickens

Due to the use of antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections in intensive poultry production, it is important to study the prevalence and resistance profile of gram-negative extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. Among the several classes of antibiotics available, beta-lactam agents are the most widely used category in human and veterinary medicine. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the resistance profile and ESBL-producing capacity of strains isolated from broiler breeders. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated in selective media from a collection of 87 cloacal swabs, and they were identified by conventional biochemical methods and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and studied for antibiotic resistance, including ESBL production. Of the 87 samples, 52 gram-negative bacteria were isolated. There was high bacterial resistance to the main classes of antibiotics used in poultry: cephalosporins (74.2%), quinolones (73.8%) and penicillins (73.6%). A phenotype suggestive of ESBL production was also found in 42.31% of isolates, showing resistance to the beta-lactam antibiotics tested. The results demonstrate the need for the guidance of professionals working broiler breeders to reduce the presence of drug-resistant and ESBL-producing bacteria and to prevent their spread to the environment, fertile eggs and broilers, and consequently to chicken meat and humans.Devido ao uso de antibióticos para o tratamento e prevenção de infecções bacterianas durante a produção de matrizes pesadas, torna-se importante estudar o perfil de resistência e a prevalência de bactérias gram-negativas produtoras de ESBL. Dentre as várias classes de antimicrobianos disponíveis, destacam-se os agentes beta-lactâmicos, categoria antimicrobiana amplamente utilizada em clínica médica humana e veterinária. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil de resistência e caracterizar as cepas produtoras de beta-lactamases de espectro estendido (ESBL) isoladas de matrizes de corte por meio da coleta de 87 swabs cloacais. As bactérias Gram-negativas foram isoladas em meios seletivos, identificadas por métodos bioquímicos convencionais e MALDI-TOF® e estudadas quanto à resistência antimicrobiana, incluindo ESBL. Das 87 amostras, foram isoladas 52 bactérias gram-negativas. Houve alta resistência bacteriana às principais classes de antimicrobianos utilizados em aves: penicilinas, cefalosporinas e quinolonas. Também foi encontrado fenótipo sugestivo de produção de ESBL em 42,31% dos isolados, demonstrando resistência aos antimicrobianos beta-lactâmicos testados. Os resultados demonstram a necessidade de orientação dos profissionais que trabalham com matrizes de corte, a fim de se reduzir a presença de bactérias resistentes e produtoras de ESBL e evitar sua disseminação para o meio ambiente, ovos férteis e frangos de corte e, consequentemente, carne de frango e humanos

Continuous and pulse fertigation on dry matter production and nutrient accumulation in coriander

This study aimed to evaluate the dry matter production and nutrient accumulation of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) under pulse and continuous fertigation depths. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in 2 x 5 factorial arrangement, with three replicates. Treatments consisted of two types of fertigation application (pulse and continuous) and five fertigation depths (40, 60, 80, 100 and 120% of crop evapotranspiration – ETc). Highest accumulations of dry matter, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were obtained with pulse fertigation. Pulse fertigation combined with depths lower than 100% ETc led to highest accumulations of K, Mn, Cu and Zn. The accumulation of nutrients decreased in the following order: K > N > Ca > P > Mg > S > Fe > Mn > Zn > CuEl objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar la producción de masa seca y la acumulación de nutrientes del cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.) bajo láminas de fertirrigación pulsada y continua. El experimento fue conducido en bloques al azar en esquema factorial 2 x 5, con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron compuestos por dos tipos de aplicación de fertirrigación (pulsada y continua) y cinco láminas de reposición de la fertirrigación (40, 60, 80, 100 y 120% de la evapotranspiración del cultivo-ETc). Los mayores acumuladores de masa seca, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu y Zn, fueron obtenidos con la utilización de la fertirrigación pulsada. La aplicación de la fertirrigación pulsada combinada con láminas inferiores al 100% de la ETc proporcionaron las mayores acumulaciones de K, Mn, Cu y Zn. La acumulación de nutrientes disminuyó en el siguiente orden: K> N> Ca> P> Mg> S> Fe> Mn> Zn>

Fertirrigación continua y pulsada sobre la producción de masa seca y acumulación de nutrientes en cilantro

This study aimed to evaluate the dry matter production and nutrient accumulation of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) under pulse and continuous fertigation depths. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in 2 x 5 factorial arrangement, with three replicates. Treatments consisted of two types of fertigation application (pulse and continuous) and five fertigation depths (40, 60, 80, 100 and 120% of crop evapotranspiration – ETc). Highest accumulations of dry matter, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were obtained with pulse fertigation. Pulse fertigation combined with depths lower than 100% ETc led to highest accumulations of K, Mn, Cu and Zn. The accumulation of nutrients decreased in the following order: K > N > Ca > P > Mg > S > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu.El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar la producción de masa seca y la acumulación de nutrientes del cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.) bajo láminas de fertirrigación pulsada y continua. El experimento fue conducido en bloques al azar en esquema factorial 2 x 5, con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron compuestos por dos tipos de aplicación de fertirrigación (pulsada y continua) y cinco láminas de reposición de la fertirrigación (40, 60, 80, 100 y 120% de la evapotranspiración del cultivo-ETc). Los mayores acumuladores de masa seca, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu y Zn, fueron obtenidos con la utilización de la fertirrigación pulsada. La aplicación de la fertirrigación pulsada combinada con láminas inferiores al 100% de la ETc proporcionaron las mayores acumulaciones de K, Mn, Cu y Zn. La acumulación de nutrientes disminuyó en el siguiente orden: K> N> Ca> P> Mg> S> Fe> Mn> Zn> Cu