Concomitant zearalenone ingestion and porcine circovirus-2 infection

Background: Researches have suggested that mycotoxins could corroborate the pathogenesis of porcine viral diseases. Zearalenone (ZEA), one of the most import mycotoxicosis in pigs result significant reproductive disorders. The circovirosis syndromes in pigs have been associated with multifactorial or predisposing conditions. No previous data have correlated ZEA with viral syndromes in Sus scrofa. In this report are described anamnesis, clinical and histological findings with zearalenone ingestion and PCV-2 infection in a Brazilian livestock. Case: Feeding ration was mixed and produced at the farm with low quality corn that was stored in barn with cement floor. During ten months, 28 farrowing occurred. Fifteen of them were normal and produced 145 animals, mean of 9.66 piglets per litter. Thirteen sows presented reproductive disorders, and one died. Eight of them had the delayed farrowing and three aborted. These animals produced 57 mummified fetuses (10-16cm crown-rump length), 23 aborted fetuses (60-72 days of gestation), four stillborn, two teratogenic fetuses and only 16 normal piglets. Skin pustules, hemorrhagic spots and petechiae, as well as coughing were observed in 88% of the animals and four piglets died. Diarrhea outbreaks frequently occurred in this period. Twenty five of 34 gilts (75%) showed longer estrous cycle, estrus returning, vulvae volume and mammary glands enlargement. Necropsies showed enlarged lymphatic nodes and kidneys. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis indicated the presence of Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) in analyzed tissues. Toxicological tests demonstrated the presence of zearalenone (ZEA) in stomach contents with average of 8.75 µg/g and pesticides and aflatoxins were not detected. Discussion: The history, the clinical signs, the necropsy and histological findings suggested a mix of zearalenone mycotoxicosis and PVC-2 syndrome that was confirmed by PVC-2 tissue detection in immunohistochemical assay, and by food toxicological analysis. The ZEA average founded in stomach contents (8.75 µg/g could produce the reproductive disorders and could has exacerbated the circovirosis. The most frequent reproductive alteration observed in the farrowing was mummified fetuses that corresponded 66.7% of its products. The several reproductive disorders as abortion, stillborn, mummified fetuses, estrus returning, vulvae volume and mammary glands enlargement in gilts are frequently related to zearalenone mycotoxicosis. Appetite loss, apathy, wasting, cough and diarrhea and increased mortality and withdrawal rate in growth and post-weaning phases observed in this study are liked as the several descriptions in the Post-Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome. The hemorrhagic skin spots and increased kidneys, with multifocal glomerulonephritis, lymphohistiocytic interstitial nephritis to remember the several alterations in Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome. Both syndromes by PCV-2 could be simultaneity occurring in this herd and could have a co-participation of the ZEA ingestion as aggravated factor. After contaminated corn to sorghum free of ZEA exchange at ration, the reproduction returned to normal level and no PCV-2 lesions were observed, suggesting the ZEA ingestion as one initial or aggravating factor for the PCV-2 syndromes. For the first time, this report describes historical, anamnesis, clinical and histological findings possibly associated with zearalenone contamination and PCV-2 infection in pigs.

Children of time: the extended synthesis and major metaphors of evolution

It is time for an expansion and enrichment of evolutionary theory. The "back to the future" proposal contained herein is based on three postulates: 1) Neo-Darwinism is too impoverished for this task; 2) its predecessor, Darwinism, contained the necessary breadth of vision and metaphor to be the basis for an inclusive and unifying theory of biology; and 3) the necessary framework for this new stage in the evolution of evolutionary theory is largely in place. We make our case through the use of a number of metaphorical dualisms designed to help focus discussions toward a more cooperative and productive approach to the study of living systems. Along the way, we suggest a number of self-induced paradoxes in neo-Darwinian accounts of evolution that are resolved by our perspective.

Children of time: the extended synthesis and major metaphors of evolution

It is time for an expansion and enrichment of evolutionary theory. The "back to the future" proposal contained herein is based on three postulates: 1) Neo-Darwinism is too impoverished for this task; 2) its predecessor, Darwinism, contained the necessary breadth of vision and metaphor to be the basis for an inclusive and unifying theory of biology; and 3) the necessary framework for this new stage in the evolution of evolutionary theory is largely in place. We make our case through the use of a number of metaphorical dualisms designed to help focus discussions toward a more cooperative and productive approach to the study of living systems. Along the way, we suggest a number of self-induced paradoxes in neo-Darwinian accounts of evolution that are resolved by our perspective.

Children of time: the extended synthesis and major metaphors of evolution

It is time for an expansion and enrichment of evolutionary theory. The "back to the future" proposal contained herein is based on three postulates: 1) Neo-Darwinism is too impoverished for this task; 2) its predecessor, Darwinism, contained the necessary breadth of vision and metaphor to be the basis for an inclusive and unifying theory of biology; and 3) the necessary framework for this new stage in the evolution of evolutionary theory is largely in place. We make our case through the use of a number of metaphorical dualisms designed to help focus discussions toward a more cooperative and productive approach to the study of living systems. Along the way, we suggest a number of self-induced paradoxes in neo-Darwinian accounts of evolution that are resolved by our perspective.

Emprego do Fre-Check na avaliação da qualidade de óleos e gorduras de fritura / Job of the Fre-Check in the evaluation of the quality of oils and frying oils

A medida de compostos polares totais (CPT) é um método padrão para o monitoramento de óleos e gorduras de fritura. As desvantagens são o longo tempo e o trabalho requerido. O Fri-Check é um sistema rápido de determinação de CPT, caracterizado pela simultaneidade de três medidas físicas: viscosidade, densidade e tensão superficial. Visando avaliar a eficácia do Fri-Check, determinou-se CPT, através do método oficial AOCS Cd 20-91 e pelo Fri-Check, ácidos graxos livres (AGL) e índice de peróxido (IP), empregando os kits DiaMed F.A.T.S. FaSafe STD e PeroxySafe STD, respectivamente, para 18 amostras, elaboradas de três alíquotas de óleos e gordura de fritura de dois estabelecimentos comerciais da cidade de Campinas/SP. As medidas de AGL e IP obtidas foram de 0,2 a 0,9 por cento ácido oléico e 2,1 a 11,4 meq/kg, respectivamente. CPT variou de 4,0 a 27,3 por cento (método oficial) e 0,0 a 29,6 por cento (Fri-Check) e a correlação entre os métodos pelos Mínimos Quadrados foi de y = 1,32 x -7,78 (r=0,97). Os resultados obtidos pelo Fri-Check não devem ultrapassar a 20 por cento para atender os limites de descarte da legislação e para se equipararem ao método oficial (ANOVA, α = 0,05), devem ser multiplicados por 1,25.(AU)

The measurement of total polar compounds (TPC) is a standard method for monitoring frying fats and oils.The drawbacks are the long time and work required. Fri-Check is a rapid TCP determination system, characterized by the simultaneity Of three physical measurements: viscosity, density and superficial tension. In order to evaluatethe efficacy of Fri-Check, it was determined TCP, by the AOCS official method Cd 20-91 and Fri-Check, freefatty acids (FFA) and peroxide value (PV), applying DiaMed F.A. T.S. FaSafe STD and peroxySafe STD kits,respectively, to 18 samples, elaborated from three frying fat and oils of two commercial establishments of the cityof Campinas/SP. The %FFA and PV values were 0.2 to 0.9% oleic acid and 2.1 to 11.4 meq/kg, respectively. PCvaried from 4.0 to 27.3 (official method) and 0.0 to 29.6% (Fri-Check) and the correlation between methods by the Minimum Squares Method was y = 1.32 x - 7.78 (r = 0.97). The results obtained with Fri-Check should notexceed 20% to satisfy discard regulation limits and for equaling to official method (ANOVA, a = 0,05), theyshould be multiplied by 1.25. (AU)