Freqüência de infecção por Toxocara em crianças atendidas em serviço público de Maringá, sul do Brasil

The lack of specific laboratorial diagnosis methods and precise symptoms makes the toxocariasis a neglected disease in Public Health Services. This study aims to determine the frequency of Toxocara spp. infection in children attended by the Health Public Service of Hospital Municipal de Maringá, South Brazil. To evaluate the association of epidemiological and clinical data, an observational and cross-section study was carried out. From 14,690 attended children/year aged from seven month to 12 years old, 450 serum samples were randomly collected from September/2004 to September/2005. A questionnaire was used to evaluate epidemiological, clinical and hematological data. An ELISA using Toxocara canis larval excretory-secretory products as antigen detected 130 (28.8%) positive sera, mainly between children from seven month to five years old (p = 0.0016). Significant correlation was observed between positive serology for Toxocara, and frequent playing in sandbox at school or daycare center (p = 0.011) and the presence of a cat at home (p = 0.056). From the families, 50% were dog owners which exposed soil backyards. Eosinophilia (p = 0.776), and signs and symptoms analyzed (fever p = 0.992, pneumonia p = 0.289, cold-like symptoms p = 0.277, cough p = 0.783, gastrointestinal problems p = 0.877, migraine p = 0.979, abdominal pain p = 0.965, joint pain p = 0.686 and skin rash p = 0.105) could not be related to the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies. Therefore, two asthmatics children showed titles of 1:10,240 and accentuated eosinophilia (p = 0.0001). The authors emphasize the needs of prevention activities.A falta de métodos de diagnóstico laboratorial específico e sintomas específicos fazem da toxocaríase uma doença negligenciada nos serviços públicos de saúde. Este estudo teve por objetivo determinar a freqüência de infecção por Toxocara spp. em crianças atendidas no serviço público do Hospital Municipal de Maringá, sul do Brasil, e avaliar a associação com dados epidemiológicos e clínicos, em estudo observacional e transversal. De 14.690 crianças/ano atendidas, com idade entre sete meses a 12 anos, foram coletados 450 soros de setembro/2004 a setembro/2005. Um questionário foi utilizado para avaliar dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e hematológicos. Pelo teste ELISA, com antígeno de excreção/secreção de larvas de Toxocara canis, detectou-se 130 (28,8%) soros positivos, principalmente em crianças entre sete meses e cinco anos (p = 0,0016). Houve significante correlação entre sorologia positiva para Toxocara e freqüente recreação das crianças em caixas de areia da escola ou pré escola (p = 0,011) e presença do gato no domicilio (p = 0,056). Das famílias dessas crianças, 50% possuíam cachorros e o quintal com solo exposto. Eosinofilia (p = 0,776), sinais e sintomas (febre p = 0,992, pneumonia p = 0,289, resfriado p = 0,277, tosse p = 0,783, problema gastrointestinal p = 0877, dor de cabeça p = 0,979, dor abdominal p = 0,965, dores articulares p = 0,686, urticária p = 0,105) não se correlacionaram com a soropositividade. Todavia, duas crianças asmáticas apresentaram títulos de 1:10.240 (>; 1:320) e acentuada eosinofilia (p = 0.0001). Os autores enfatizam a necessidade de atividades preventivas

Heat tolerance in naturalised cattle in Brazil: physical factors

The objective of this study was to evaluate the heat resistance in different breeds of naturalised cattle, at two different times of day with different temperatures and humidity. The experiment took place at Sucupira farm of Embrapa/Cenargen in Brasília-DF. A total of 52 animals were used, 11 Curraleiro, 11 Crioulo Lageano, eight Nelore, eight Pantaneiro, six Junqueira, four Holstein and four Mocho Nacional including both males and females. The measurements were taken at 08:00 and 14:00 after the animals had been exposed to the sun for 6 hours. The procedure was repeated 3 times. The data collected included heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR). Blood was also collected as well as sweating rate and the length and number of hairs per cm2. Breed influenced (p<0.001) the heat response. The Nelore breed had the best response (HR= 66.06, RR= 32.71, RT= 39.36 and sweating= 215.22), followed by the Junqueira (HR= 76.71 RR= 33.05 RT= 38.75 Sweating= 247.14), which although had high heart rate maintained the other parameters at a low level. The Pantaneira presented the lowest variation between morning and afternoon measurements (HR= -1.61, RR= -0.28, RT= +0.19, Sweating= +20.65). The Mocho Nacional and Holstein were the least adapted with high means (Mocho Nacional: HR= 71.44, RR= 42.38, RT= 39.25, Sweating= 323.22; Holstein: HR= 69.34, RR= 39.57, RT= 39.37, Sweating= 269.13). The Holstein had a greater number of hairs per cm2 although its sweating rate was not the highest. The results enable the differentiation between breeds with higher and lower heat resistance in the conditions of the experiment

Heat tolerance in naturalised cattle in Brazil: physical factors

The objective of this study was to evaluate the heat resistance in different breeds of naturalised cattle, at two different times of day with different temperatures and humidity. The experiment took place at Sucupira farm of Embrapa/Cenargen in Brasília-DF. A total of 52 animals were used, 11 Curraleiro, 11 Crioulo Lageano, eight Nelore, eight Pantaneiro, six Junqueira, four Holstein and four Mocho Nacional including both males and females. The measurements were taken at 08:00 and 14:00 after the animals had been exposed to the sun for 6 hours. The procedure was repeated 3 times. The data collected included heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR). Blood was also collected as well as sweating rate and the length and number of hairs per cm2. Breed influenced (p<0.001) the heat response. The Nelore breed had the best response (HR= 66.06, RR= 32.71, RT= 39.36 and sweating= 215.22), followed by the Junqueira (HR= 76.71 RR= 33.05 RT= 38.75 Sweating= 247.14), which although had high heart rate maintained the other parameters at a low level. The Pantaneira presented the lowest variation between morning and afternoon measurements (HR= -1.61, RR= -0.28, RT= +0.19, Sweating= +20.65). The Mocho Nacional and Holstein were the least adapted with high means (Mocho Nacional: HR= 71.44, RR= 42.38, RT= 39.25, Sweating= 323.22; Holstein: HR= 69.34, RR= 39.57, RT= 39.37, Sweating= 269.13). The Holstein had a greater number of hairs per cm2 although its sweating rate was not the highest. The results enable the differentiation between breeds with higher and lower heat resistance in the conditions of the experiment