ESTUDO DO TIPO DE HEMOGLOBINA COMO AUXILIAR NA SELEÇÃO DE OVINOS RESISTENTES E SUSCEPTÍVEIS AOS HELMINTOS GASTRINTESTINAIS

A criação de ovinos vem adquirindo, ao longo do tempo, importância econômica e social no Estado do Paraná. As parasitoses gastrintestinais tornam-se muitas vezes fatores limitantes desta cultura, principalmente quando associadas ao sistema intensivo de criação e à resistência dos parasitas aos diferentes princípios ativos. Com o objetivo de buscar alternativas ao controle da verminose ovina, estudou-se, em um rebanho do município de Curitiba-PR, a relação do tipo de hemoglobina (Hb) com a resistência dos animais aos helmintos gastrintestinais. A determinação do tipo de Hb foi feita por meio de eletroforese em gel espesso de amido. Dos 141 animais testados, 80,14% eram do tipo BB; 17,02% do tipo AB e apenas 2,84% dos ovinos eram do genótipo AA, resultando na freqüência alélica de 0,11 e 0,89 para os alelos A e B, respectivamente. Quando estes animais foram classificados em resistentes e susceptíveis aos helmintos gastrintestinais, através da contagem de ovos nas fezes, observou-se que esta classificação ocorreu independente do tipo de Hb. Abstract Sheep production has been showing, these days, a greater economical and social importance in the State of Paraná, Brazil. The gastrointestinal nematodes are the major problem causing widespread clinical disease and productivity losses, mainly when associated with the high intensive husbandry system and the critic situation of anthelminthic resistance. In order to find alternative or complementary control methods to combat parasitism, one sheep flock of 64 ewes and 77 lambs was monitored to study whether there is a relationship between haemoglobin type and genetic resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes. Haemoglobin typing was performed by starch gel electrophoresis. In 141 animals examined, it was found that 80,14% were haemoglobin BB type; 17,02% were AB type; and only 2,84% showed a genotype AA, resulting in an allelic frequency of 0,11 and 0,89 for the alleles A and B, respectively. When these animals were classified into resistant and susceptible to gastrointestinal nematodes, using faecal egg counts, it was observed that this classification was done independently of the haemoglobin type

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN DOGS EXAMINED AT THE CENTER FOR ZOONOSIS CONTROL IN CAMPO GRANDE – MS, BRAZIL

Visceral leishmaniasis is a type of zoonosis caused by several Leishmania species endemic to tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean climate regions. Dogs are the primary source of infection in urban areas and can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. This study focused on the observation of clinical signs of leishmaniasis in dogs in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Samples from affected animals were analyzed using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to determine the optimal diagnostic tool for use on animals that present clinical symptoms. A predominance of clinical symptoms affecting the integumentary system was observed, and splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were the most important pathological signs. Among the diagnostic tests, the greatest agreement was seen between ELISA and IFA, followed by ELISA and PCR, and finally IFA and PCR. PCR diagnostic results showed the greatest extent of correlation with clinical signs, followed by ELISA and then IFA. When choosing a diagnostic method, veterinarians should consider the clinical signs and health status of the patient

Synthetic Peptides as Potential Antigens for Cutaneous Leishmaniosis Diagnosis

This work's goal was to research new candidate antigens for cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL). In order to reach the goal, we used random peptide phage display libraries screened using antibodies from Leishmania braziliensis patients. After selection, three peptides (P1, P2, and P3) were synthesized using Fmoc chemistry. The peptides individually or a mixture of them (MIX) was subsequently emulsified in complete and incomplete Freund's adjuvant and injected subcutaneously in golden hamsters. Sera from the hamsters administered with P1 presented antibodies that recognized proteins between 76 and 150 kDa from L. braziliensis. Sera from hamsters which had peptides P2 and P3, as well as the MIX, administered presented antibodies that recognized proteins between 52 and 76 kDa of L. braziliensis. The research on the similarity of the peptides' sequences in protein databases showed that they match a 63 kDa glycoprotein. The three peptides and the MIX were recognized by the sera from CL patients by immunoassay approach (ELISA). The peptides' MIX showed the best performance (79% sensitivity) followed by the P1 (72% sensitivity), and the AS presented 91% sensitivity. These results show a new route for discovering molecules for diagnosis or for immunoprotection against leishmaniosis

Antitumorska aktivnost egzopolisaharida iz gljive Grifola frondosa, dobivenih submerznim uzgojem uz dodatak melase šećerne trske i soje kao izvora ugljika

Grifola frondosa is an edible Basidiomycete and produces exopolysaccharides (EPS) known for their antitumour activity. The objectives of this study are to produce exopolysaccharides in submerged fermentation using alternative carbon sources (sugar cane and soy molasses), and to evaluate their anti-proliferative activity against tumour cells. Exopolysaccharides were extracted by ethanol and tested against mice tumour cells, then characterized by gas chromatography. Carbon sources represent the major cost of the bioprocess, so a search for new alternatives such as agro-industrial residues is important to establish the viability on an industrial scale. Moreover, the data about the kinetics of the EPS production allow studying the optimization of the process.Grifola frondosa, jestiva gljiva iz razreda Basidiomycetes, izlučuje egzopolisaharide dokazane antitumorske aktivnosti. Svrha je ovoga rada bila submerznim uzgojem, uz dodatak alternativnih izvora ugljika (melase šećerne trske i soje), proizvesti egzopolisaharide i procijeniti njihov antiproliferativni učinak na stanice tumora. Egzopolisaharidi su izdvojeni pomoću etanola, zatim je ispitan njihov utjecaj na tumorske stanice miševa, te je plinskom kromatografijom određen njihov sastav. Budući da izvori ugljika čine glavninu troškova procesa, važno je istražiti nove, alternativne izvore, kao što su agroindustrijski otpaci, koji se mogu upotrijebiti i za industrijsku proizvodnju egzopolisaharida. Dobiveni kinetički podaci omogućuju daljnje ispitivanje optimalnih uvjeta proizvodnje egzopolisaharida

OCCURRENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SP. IN DOGS AND CATS FROM CURITIBA AND ITS METROPOLITAN AREA

The present study was carried out with the aim of assess the occurrence of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in dogs and cats in Curitiba and its metropolitan area, state of Paraná, Brazil. Techniques employed to detect the protozoan in fecal samples were: staining by Ziehl-Neelsen for oocysts search and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) targeting the 18SSU rDNA gene. To attempt the proposed aim, 91 feces samples of dogs and 25 of cats were collected and analyzed. Ziehl-Neelsen technique was unable to detect any oocyst in both groups analyzed, showing a very low sensitivity. Results of nPCR showed an infection rate of 13.2% (12/91) and 4% (1/25) in dogs and cats respectively.  The implications of these epidemiological data are discussed in this work

Distribuição espacial da dengue no estado do Paraná, Brasil, em 2009-2012.

Backgound and Objectives: Arbovirosis most important in the world, dengue has an increasing incidence in Brazil and especially in the state of Paraná, where outbreaks had registration only in the last decade. This work aims to analyze the occurrence and distribution of dengue in the state of Paraná in the period 2009-2012. Methods: The occurrence of dengue cases in Paraná State was analyzed from the Health Department records in the period 2009 to 2012. The data were grouped according to the local transmission, the Regional of Health and severe forms of the disease: dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue with complications (DWC). Results: The largest number of autochthonous cases was observed in 2009-2010, with 33,500 records concentrated in the western and northern regions of the state. In the period 2010-2011, there were 28,511 confirmed cases, mostly in the northwest. In 2011-2012 there was a marked decrease in the number of cases, totaling 2,400. The DHF and DWC were highest in 2010-2011, with 105 and 128, respectively. Three virus serotypes were isolated, mainly DEN-1. Conclusions: The distribution of dengue in Paraná was not homogeneous, suffering the influence of neighboring states beyond the particular characteristics of each region. KEYWORDS: Arbovirosis. Aedes aegypti. Culicidae. Endemic disease.Justificativa e Objetivo: Arbovirose mais importante no mundo, a dengue tem uma incidência crescente no Brasil e em especial no estado do Paraná, onde surtos da doença tiveram registro apenas na última década. Este trabalho visa analisar a ocorrência e distribuição da dengue no estado do Paraná no período de 2009 a 2012. Métodos: Os dados foram obtidos junto aos registros do SINAN na Secretaria de Saúde do estado e agrupados conforme o local de transmissão, a Regional de Saúde do município e formas graves da doença: febre hemorrágica da dengue (FHD) e dengue com complicações (DCC). Resultados: O maior número de casos autóctones foi observado no período 2009-2010, com 33.500 registros, concentrados nas regiões oeste e norte do Estado. No período 2010-2011, registraram-se 28.511 casos confirmados, principalmente no noroeste. No período epidêmico de 2011-2012 observou-se um decréscimo acentuado no número de casos, totalizando 2.400. A FHD e DCC tiveram pico em 2010-2011, com 105 e 128, respectivamente. Três sorotipos do vírus foram isolados, com predomínio do DEN-1. Conclusão: O número de casos de dengue apresentou oscilações no período estudado e a distribuição da doença no Paraná não foi homogênea, sofrendo a influência dos estados vizinhos além das características particulares de cada região

USO DE MARCADORES PARASITOLÓGICOS E IMUNOLÓGICOS NA SELEÇÃO DE OVELHAS RESISTENTES ÀS PARASITOSES GASTRINTESTINAIS

Este trabalho foi realizado com objetivo de avaliar a possibilidade de identificar ovelhas resistentes e susceptíveis às parasitoses por meio de um marcador parasitológico (direto), de marcadores imunológicos (indiretos) ou pela associação entre ambos. Vinte ovelhas foram acompanhadas por coletas mensais de sangue e fezes no período de novembro de 1998 a maio de 1999. O marcador parasitológico utilizado foi o número de ovos de helmintos por grama de fezes (OPG); os marcadores imunológicos foram o número de eosinófilos sanguíneos, imunoglobulinas G (IgG) e E (IgE) anti-Haemonchus contortus. As ovelhas puderam ser classificadas como resistentes ou susceptíveis pelo OPG. Pelo o número de eosinófilos ou pela IgE específica utilizados concomitantemente com o OPG foi possível identificar ovelhas resistentes e susceptíveis ao parasitismo gastrintestinal. O número de eosinófilos sanguíneos foi o único marcador imunológico que permite de classificar as ovelhas indiretamente nos mesmos grupos obtidos pelo o OPG

Proizvodnja fitaze fermentacijom pulpe citrusa i drugih ostataka agroindustrije s pomoću izolata gljiva

Phytases have important applications in human and animal nutrition because they hydrolyze the phytate present in legumes, cereal grains and oil seeds. This results in an increased availability of minerals, trace elements and amino acids as well as phosphate. Fifty potential phytase-producing fungal strains were isolated from a fertile soil obtained from the northern part of Paraná State in Brazil and other alternative sources using a selective media. Thereafter phytase production was evaluated in solid-state fermentation using different residues from the agroindustry supplemented with a nitrogen source at 60 % of moisture after 96 hours at 30 °C. The highest phytase activity (51.53 units per gram of dry substrate, U/g) was achieved with citric pulp and the soil isolate FS3 in solid-state fermentation. Furthermore, treatment of the substrates prior to fermentation in order to reduce microbial contamination was shown to affect phytase production during solid-state fermentation. Heat treatment resulted in an increase of the concentration of inorganic phosphate, a well known repressor of microbial phytase production, and therefore in a reduction of phytase production. UV exposure of the substrate was shown to reduce microbial contamination without affecting phytase production.Fitaze imaju važnu ulogu u prehrani ljudi i životinja jer hidroliziraju fitate leguminoza, zrnja žitarica i sjemenki uljarica, pa tako povećavaju pristupačnost minerala, elemenata u tragovima, aminokiselina i fosfata. Iz plodnog tla sjevernog dijela brazilske države Paraná, a i iz drugih izvora, na selektivnim podlogama izolirano je 50 sojeva gljiva koje mogu proizvesti fitaze. Nakon toga je proizvodnja fitaze ispitana uzgojem na čvrstoj podlozi od raznih ostataka agroindustrije, uz dodatak izvora dušika, pri 60 %-tnoj vlažnosti i 30 °C tijekom 96 sati. Najveća aktivnost fitaze (51,53 U/g suhe tvari) dobivena je uzgojem izolata FS3 iz tla na pulpi citrusa. Obrada supstrata prije procesa, radi smanjenja onečišćenja mikroorganizmima, utjecala je na proizvodnju fitaze. Toplinskom obradom povećala se koncentracija anorganskog fosfata, koji suzbija mikrobiološku proizvodnju fitaze. Izloženost supstrata UV-zrakama smanjuje onečišćenje mikroorganizmima, a pritom ne utječe na proizvodnju fitaze