The pollination ecology of a rare case of bee-pollinated Psittacanthus mistletoe.

The genus Psittacanthus (Loranthaceae) is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, where it is known for its large, colourful, scentless flowers. Until very recently, all Psittacanthus species were regarded as exclusively hummingbird-pollinated and the large species radiation in the genus attributed to the interactions with bird dispersers and pollinators. P. eucalyptifolius (Kunth) G.Don. is the only species reported as bee-pollinated. Here we describe the floral biology, floral visitors, and the reproductive system of P. eucalyptifolius in an Amazonian savanna, Brazil. We also compare the pollination success (reproductive performance) among different Psittacanthus species reported in previous studies. Psittacanthus eucalyptifolius produces sweet-scented flowers, and a small quantity of concentrated nectar. At least five species of scopate bees were recorded visiting and carrying pollen of P. eucalyptifolius. Xylocopa frontalis carried most pollen, visited more flowers, remained longer, and touched reproductive parts of flowers in >95% of the observed visits. Experiments indicate that P. eucalyptifolius is partially autocompatible (39% autonomous pollination) but depends on pollinators to achieve higher performance (~78% in control), indicating that bees can be as effective as birds in pollinating this group of mistletoes.

Neuroimaging findings in paediatric patients with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive haemoglobinopathy, which manifests as multisystem ischaemia and infarction, as well as haemolytic anaemia. The morphological changes of red blood cells (RBCs) that promote ischaemia/infarction as the main multi-systemic manifestation, with associated vasculopathy, may also lead to haemorrhage and fat embolisation. Bone infarctions, whether of the skull or spine, are relatively common with subsequent increased infectious susceptibility. We present a broad spectrum of brain and spine imaging findings of SCD from a level III paediatric hospital in Lisbon, between 2010 and 2022. Our aim is to highlight brain and spine imaging findings from a serial review of multiple patients with SCD and respective neuroimaging characterisation.

Thalamic deep brain stimulation for post-traumatic neuropathic limb pain: Efficacy at five years' follow-up and effective volume of activated brain tissue.

Chronic neuropathic pain affects 7%-10% of the population. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown variable but promising results in its treatment. This study prospectively assessed the long-term effectiveness of DBS in a series of patients with chronic neuropathic pain, correlating clinical results with neuroimaging. Sixteen patients received 5 years' post-surgical follow-up in a single center. Six had phantom limb pain after amputation and 10 had deafferentation pain after traumatic brachial plexus injury. Patient-reported outcome measures were completed before and after surgery, using VAS, UWNPS, BPI and SF-36 scores. Neuroimaging evaluated electrode location and effective volumes of activated tissue (VAT). Two subgroups were created based on the percentage of VAT superimposed upon the ventroposterolateral thalamic nucleus (eVAT), and clinical outcomes were compared. Analgesic effect was assessed at 5 years and compared to preoperative pain, with an improvement on VAS of 76.4% (p=0.0001), on UW-NPS of 35.2% (p=0.3582), on BPI of 65.1% (p=0.0505) and on SF-36 of 5% (p=0.7406). Eight patients with higher eVAT showed improvement on VAS of 67.5% (p=0.0017) while the remaining patients, with lower eVAT, improved by 50.6% (p=0.03607). DBS remained effective in improving chronic neuropathic pain after 5 years. While VPL-targeting contributes to success, analgesia is also obtained by stimulating surrounding posterior ventrobasal thalamic structures and related spinothalamocortical tracts.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 716-784.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Chaetopsina eucalypti on Eucalyptus leaf litter, Colletotrichum cobbittiense from Cordyline stricta × C. australis hybrid, Cyanodermella banksiae on Banksia ericifolia subsp. macrantha, Discosia macrozamiae on Macrozamia miquelii, Elsinoë banksiigena on Banksia marginata, Elsinoë elaeocarpi on Elaeocarpus sp., Elsinoë leucopogonis on Leucopogon sp., Helminthosporium livistonae on Livistona australis, Idriellomyces eucalypti (incl. Idriellomyces gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus obliqua, Lareunionomyces eucalypti on Eucalyptus sp., Myrotheciomyces corymbiae (incl. Myrotheciomyces gen. nov., Myrotheciomycetaceae fam. nov.), Neolauriomyces eucalypti (incl. Neolauriomyces gen. nov., Neolauriomycetaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus sp., Nullicamyces eucalypti (incl. Nullicamyces gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus leaf litter, Oidiodendron eucalypti on Eucalyptus maidenii, Paracladophialophora cyperacearum (incl. Paracladophialophoraceae fam. nov.) and Periconia cyperacearum on leaves of Cyperaceae, Porodiplodia livistonae (incl. Porodiplodia gen. nov., Porodiplodiaceae fam. nov.) on Livistona australis, Sporidesmium melaleucae (incl. Sporidesmiales ord. nov.) on Melaleuca sp., Teratosphaeria sieberi on Eucalyptus sieberi, Thecaphora australiensis in capsules of a variant of Oxalis exilis. Brazil, Aspergillus serratalhadensis from soil, Diaporthe pseudoinconspicua from Poincianella pyramidalis, Fomitiporella pertenuis on dead wood, Geastrum magnosporum on soil, Marquesius aquaticus (incl. Marquesius gen. nov.) from submerged decaying twig and leaves of unidentified plant, Mastigosporella pigmentata from leaves of Qualea parviflorae, Mucor souzae from soil, Mycocalia aquaphila on decaying wood from tidal detritus, Preussia citrullina as endophyte from leaves of Citrullus lanatus, Queiroziella brasiliensis (incl. Queiroziella gen. nov.) as epiphytic yeast on leaves of Portea leptantha, Quixadomyces cearensis (incl. Quixadomyces gen. nov.) on decaying bark, Xylophallus clavatus on rotten wood. Canada, Didymella cari on Carum carvi and Coriandrum sativum. Chile, Araucasphaeria foliorum (incl. Araucasphaeria gen. nov.) on Araucaria araucana, Aspergillus tumidus from soil, Lomentospora valparaisensis from soil. Colombia, Corynespora pseudocassiicola on Byrsonima sp., Eucalyptostroma eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus pellita, Neometulocladosporiella eucalypti (incl. Neometulocladosporiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla, Tracylla eucalypti (incl. Tracyllaceae fam. nov., Tracyllalales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus urophylla. Cyprus, Gyromitra anthracobia (incl. Gyromitra subg. Pseudoverpa) on burned soil. Czech Republic, Lecanicillium restrictum from the surface of the wooden barrel, Lecanicillium testudineum from scales of Trachemys scripta elegans. Ecuador, Entoloma yanacolor and Saproamanita quitensis on soil. France, Lentithecium carbonneanum from submerged decorticated Populus branch. Hungary, Pleuromyces hungaricus (incl. Pleuromyces gen. nov.) from a large Fagus sylvatica log. Iran, Zymoseptoria crescenta on Aegilops triuncialis. Malaysia, Ochroconis musicola on Musa sp. Mexico, Cladosporium michoacanense from soil. New Zealand , Acrodontium metrosideri on Metrosideros excelsa, Polynema podocarpi on Podocarpus totara, Pseudoarthrographis phlogis (incl. Pseudoarthrographis gen. nov.) on Phlox subulata. Nigeria, Coprinopsis afrocinerea on soil. Pakistan, Russula mansehraensis on soil under Pinus roxburghii. Russia, Baorangia alexandri on soil in deciduous forests with Quercus mongolica. South Africa, Didymocyrtis brachylaenae on Brachylaena discolor. Spain, Alfaria dactylis from fruit of Phoenix dactylifera, Dothiora infuscans from a blackened wall, Exophiala nidicola from the nest of an unidentified bird, Matsushimaea monilioides from soil, Terfezia morenoi on soil. United Arab Emirates, Tirmania honrubiae on soil. USA, Arxotrichum wyomingense (incl. Arxotrichum gen. nov.) from soil, Hongkongmyces snookiorum from submerged detritus from a fresh water fen, Leratiomyces tesquorum from soil, Talaromyces tabacinus on leaves of Nicotiana tabacum. Vietnam, Afroboletus vietnamensis on soil in an evergreen tropical forest, Colletotrichum condaoense from Ipomoea pes-caprae. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 785-867.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Angola, Gnomoniopsis angolensis and Pseudopithomyces angolensis on unknown host plants. Australia, Dothiora corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora, Neoeucasphaeria eucalypti (incl. Neoeucasphaeria gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus sp., Fumagopsis stellae on Eucalyptus sp., Fusculina eucalyptorum (incl. Fusculinaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus socialis, Harknessia corymbiicola on Corymbia maculata, Neocelosporium eucalypti (incl. Neocelosporium gen. nov., Neocelosporiaceae fam. nov. and Neocelosporiales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus cyanophylla, Neophaeomoniella corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora, Neophaeomoniella eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus pilularis, Pseudoplagiostoma corymbiicola on Corymbia citriodora, Teratosphaeria gracilis on Eucalyptus gracilis, Zasmidium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Brazil, Calonectria hemileiae on pustules of Hemileia vastatrix formed on leaves of Coffea arabica, Calvatia caatinguensis on soil, Cercospora solani-betacei on Solanum betaceum, Clathrus natalensis on soil, Diaporthe poincianellae on Poincianella pyramidalis, Geastrum piquiriunense on soil, Geosmithia carolliae on wing of Carollia perspicillata, Henningsia resupinata on wood, Penicillium guaibinense from soil, Periconia caespitosa from leaf litter, Pseudocercospora styracina on Styrax sp., Simplicillium filiforme as endophyte from Citrullus lanatus, Thozetella pindobacuensis on leaf litter, Xenosonderhenia coussapoae on Coussapoa floccosa. Canary Islands (Spain), Orbilia amarilla on Euphorbia canariensis. Cape Verde Islands, Xylodon jacobaeus on Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Chile, Colletotrichum arboricola on Fuchsia magellanica. Costa Rica, Lasiosphaeria miniovina on tree branch. Ecuador, Ganoderma chocoense on tree trunk. France, Neofitzroyomyces nerii (incl. Neofitzroyomyces gen. nov.) on Nerium oleander. Ghana, Castanediella tereticornis on Eucalyptus tereticornis, Falcocladium africanum on Eucalyptus brassiana, Rachicladosporium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Hungary, Entoloma silvae-frondosae in Carpinus betulus-Pinus sylvestris mixed forest. Iran, Pseudopyricularia persiana on Cyperus sp. Italy, Inocybe roseascens on soil in mixed forest. Laos, Ophiocordyceps houaynhangensis on Coleoptera larva. Malaysia, Monilochaetes melastomae on Melastoma sp. Mexico, Absidia terrestris from soil. Netherlands, Acaulium pannemaniae, Conioscypha boutwelliae, Fusicolla septimanifiniscientiae, Gibellulopsis simonii, Lasionectria hilhorstii, Lectera nordwiniana, Leptodiscella rintelii, Parasarocladium debruynii and Sarocladium dejongiae (incl. Sarocladiaceae fam. nov.) from soil. New Zealand, Gnomoniopsis rosae on Rosa sp. and Neodevriesia metrosideri on Metrosideros sp. Puerto Rico, Neodevriesia coccolobae on Coccoloba uvifera, Neodevriesia tabebuiae and Alfaria tabebuiae on Tabebuia chrysantha. Russia, Amanita paludosa on bogged soil in mixed deciduous forest, Entoloma tiliae in forest of Tilia × europaea, Kwoniella endophytica on Pyrus communis. South Africa, Coniella diospyri on Diospyros mespiliformis, Neomelanconiella combreti (incl. Neomelanconiellaceae fam. nov. and Neomelanconiella gen. nov.) on Combretum sp., Polyphialoseptoria natalensis on unidentified plant host, Pseudorobillarda bolusanthi on Bolusanthus speciosus, Thelonectria pelargonii on Pelargonium sp. Spain, Vermiculariopsiella lauracearum and Anungitopsis lauri on Laurus novocanariensis, Geosmithia xerotolerans from a darkened wall of a house, Pseudopenidiella gallaica on leaf litter. Thailand, Corynespora thailandica on wood, Lareunionomyces loeiensis on leaf litter, Neocochlearomyces chromolaenae (incl. Neocochlearomyces gen. nov.) on Chromolaena odorata, Neomyrmecridium septatum (incl. Neomyrmecridium gen. nov.), Pararamichloridium caricicola on Carex sp., Xenodactylaria thailandica (incl. Xenodactylariaceae fam. nov. and Xenodactylaria gen. nov.), Neomyrmecridium asiaticum and Cymostachys thailandica from unidentified vine. USA, Carolinigaster bonitoi (incl. Carolinigaster gen. nov.) from soil, Penicillium fortuitum from house dust, Phaeotheca shathenatiana (incl. Phaeothecaceae fam. nov.) from twig and cone litter, Pythium wohlseniorum from stream water, Superstratomyces tardicrescens from human eye, Talaromyces iowaense from office air. Vietnam, Fistulinella olivaceoalba on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 625-715.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica: Cadophora antarctica from soil. Australia: Alfaria dandenongensis on Cyperaceae, Amphosoma persooniae on Persoonia sp., Anungitea nullicana on Eucalyptus sp., Bagadiella eucalypti on Eucalyptus globulus, Castanediella eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus sp., Cercospora dianellicola on Dianella sp., Cladoriella kinglakensis on Eucalyptus regnans, Cladoriella xanthorrhoeae (incl. Cladoriellaceae fam. nov. and Cladoriellales ord. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp., Cochlearomyces eucalypti (incl. Cochlearomyces gen. nov. and Cochlearomycetaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus obliqua, Codinaea lambertiae on Lambertia formosa, Diaporthe obtusifoliae on Acacia obtusifolia, Didymella acaciae on Acacia melanoxylon, Dothidea eucalypti on Eucalyptus dalrympleana, Fitzroyomyces cyperi (incl. Fitzroyomyces gen. nov.) on Cyperaceae, Murramarangomyces corymbiae (incl. Murramarangomyces gen. nov., Murramarangomycetaceae fam. nov. and Murramarangomycetales ord. nov.) on Corymbia maculata, Neoanungitea eucalypti (incl. Neoanungitea gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus obliqua, Neoconiothyrium persooniae (incl. Neoconiothyrium gen. nov.) on Persoonia laurina subsp. laurina, Neocrinula lambertiae (incl. Neocrinulaceae fam. nov.) on Lambertia sp., Ochroconis podocarpi on Podocarpus grayae, Paraphysalospora eucalypti (incl. Paraphysalospora gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus sieberi, Pararamichloridium livistonae (incl. Pararamichloridium gen. nov., Pararamichloridiaceae fam. nov. and Pararamichloridiales ord. nov.) on Livistona sp., Pestalotiopsis dianellae on Dianella sp., Phaeosphaeria gahniae on Gahnia aspera, Phlogicylindrium tereticornis on Eucalyptus tereticornis, Pleopassalora acaciae on Acacia obliquinervia, Pseudodactylaria xanthorrhoeae (incl. Pseudodactylaria gen. nov., Pseudodactylariaceae fam. nov. and Pseudodactylariales ord. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp., Pseudosporidesmium lambertiae (incl. Pseudosporidesmiaceae fam. nov.) on Lambertia formosa, Saccharata acaciae on Acacia sp., Saccharata epacridis on Epacris sp., Saccharata hakeigena on Hakea sericea, Seiridium persooniae on Persoonia sp., Semifissispora tooloomensis on Eucalyptus dunnii, Stagonospora lomandrae on Lomandra longifolia, Stagonospora victoriana on Poaceae, Subramaniomyces podocarpi on Podocarpus elatus, Sympoventuria melaleucae on Melaleuca sp., Sympoventuria regnans on Eucalyptus regnans, Trichomerium eucalypti on Eucalyptus tereticornis, Vermiculariopsiella eucalypticola on Eucalyptus dalrympleana, Verrucoconiothyrium acaciae on Acacia falciformis, Xenopassalora petrophiles (incl. Xenopassalora gen. nov.) on Petrophile sp., Zasmidium dasypogonis on Dasypogon sp., Zasmidium gahniicola on Gahnia sieberiana.Brazil: Achaetomium lippiae on Lippia gracilis, Cyathus isometricus on decaying wood, Geastrum caririense on soil, Lycoperdon demoulinii (incl. Lycoperdon subg. Arenicola) on soil, Megatomentella cristata (incl. Megatomentella gen. nov.) on unidentified plant, Mutinus verrucosus on soil, Paraopeba schefflerae (incl. Paraopeba gen. nov.) on Schefflera morototoni, Phyllosticta catimbauensis on Mandevilla catimbauensis, Pseudocercospora angularis on Prunus persica, Pseudophialophora sorghi on Sorghum bicolor, Spumula piptadeniae on Piptadenia paniculata.Bulgaria: Yarrowia parophonii from gut of Parophonus hirsutulus. Croatia: Pyrenopeziza velebitica on Lonicera borbasiana.Cyprus: Peziza halophila on coastal dunes. Czech Republic: Aspergillus contaminans from human fingernail. Ecuador: Cuphophyllus yacurensis on forest soil, Ganoderma podocarpense on fallen tree trunk. England: Pilidium anglicum (incl. Chaetomellales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus sp. France: Planamyces parisiensis (incl. Planamyces gen. nov.) on wood inside a house. French Guiana: Lactifluus ceraceus on soil. Germany: Talaromyces musae on Musa sp. India: Hyalocladosporiella cannae on Canna indica, Nothophoma raii from soil. Italy: Setophaeosphaeria citri on Citrus reticulata, Yuccamyces citri on Citrus limon.Japan: Glutinomyces brunneus (incl. Glutinomyces gen. nov.) from roots of Quercus sp. Netherlands (all from soil): Collariella hilkhuijsenii, Fusarium petersiae, Gamsia kooimaniorum, Paracremonium binnewijzendii, Phaeoisaria annesophieae, Plectosphaerella niemeijerarum, Striaticonidium deklijnearum, Talaromyces annesophieae, Umbelopsis wiegerinckiae, Vandijckella johannae (incl. Vandijckella gen. nov. and Vandijckellaceae fam. nov.), Verhulstia trisororum (incl. Verhulstia gen. nov.). New Zealand: Lasiosphaeria similisorbina on decorticated wood. Papua New Guinea: Pseudosubramaniomyces gen. nov. (based on Pseudosubramaniomyces fusisaprophyticus comb. nov.). Slovakia: Hemileucoglossum pusillum on soil. South Africa: Tygervalleyomyces podocarpi (incl. Tygervalleyomyces gen. nov.) on Podocarpus falcatus.Spain: Coniella heterospora from herbivorous dung, Hymenochaete macrochloae on Macrochloa tenacissima, Ramaria cistophila on shrubland of Cistus ladanifer.Thailand: Polycephalomyces phaothaiensis on Coleoptera larvae, buried in soil. Uruguay: Penicillium uruguayense from soil. Vietnam: Entoloma nigrovelutinum on forest soil, Volvariella morozovae on wood of unknown tree. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided.

Heat-resistant protein expression during germination of maize seeds under water stress.

Low water availability is one of the factors that limit agricultural crop development, and hence the development of genotypes with increased water stress tolerance is a challenge in plant breeding programs. Heat-resistant proteins have been widely studied, and are reported to participate in various developmental processes and to accumulate in response to stress. This study aimed to evaluate heat-resistant protein expression under water stress conditions during the germination of maize seed inbreed lines differing in their water stress tolerance. Maize seed lines 91 and 64 were soaked in 0, -0.3, -0.6, and -0.9 MPa water potential for 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h. Line 91 is considered more water stress-tolerant than line 64. The analysis of heat-resistant protein expression was made by gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometry. In general, higher expression of heat-resistant proteins was observed in seeds from line 64 subjected to shorter soaking periods and lower water potentials. However, in the water stress-tolerant line 91, a higher expression was observed in seeds that were subjected to -0.3 and -0.6 MPa water potentials. In the absence of water stress, heat-resistant protein expression was reduced with increasing soaking period. Thus, there was a difference in heat-resistant protein expression among the seed lines differing in water stress tolerance. Increased heat-resistant protein expression was observed in seeds from line 91 when subjected to water stress conditions for longer soaking periods.

Gene expression in the lignin biosynthesis pathway during soybean seed development.

The study of gene expression in plants is fundamental, and understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in important biological processes, such as biochemical pathways or signaling that are used or manipulated in improvement programs, are key for the production of high-quality soybean seeds. Reports related to gene expression of lignin in seeds are scarce in the literature. We studied the expression of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, 4-hydroxycinnamate 3-hydroxylase, and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase genes involved in lignin biosynthesis during the development of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) seeds. As the endogenous control, the eukaryotic elongation factor 1-beta gene was used in two biological replicates performed in triplicate. Relative quantitative expression of these genes during the R4, R5, R6, and R7 development stages was analyzed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for the gene expression study. The analyses were carried out in an ABI PRISM 7500 thermocycler using the comparative Ct method and SYBR Green to detect amplification. The seed samples at the R4 stage were chosen as calibrators. Increased expression of the cinnamate-4-hydroxylase and PAL genes occurred in soybean seeds at the R5 and R6 development stages. The cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene was expressed during the final development phases of soybean seeds. In low-lignin soybean cultivars, the higher expression of the PAL gene occurs at development stages R6 and R7. Activation of the genes involved in the lignin biosynthesis pathway occurs at the beginning of soybean seed development.

Condições térmicas ambientais e desempenho de aves criadas em aviários com e sem o uso de forro / Environmental thermal conditions and performance of broilers raised in aviaries with and without the use of polyethylene lining

O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2x2, para avaliar o efeito de época de ano, o tipo de forro de polietileno sobre as condições térmicas, de umidade e o desempenho de aves de corte. Foram utilizados quatro aviários, cada um dividido internamente em quatro boxes para alojar 200 aves cada. As variáveis de desempenho avaliadas foram peso vivo, ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e mortalidade das aves do nascimento ao 42º dia de idade. O desempenho das aves foi melhor com aviários com forro. As condições térmicas foram melhoradas cm a utilização de forro nos aviários

This experiment was carried out in a completely randomized experimental design, factorial arrangement 2x2, to evaluate the effect of period of year and type polyethylene liming on thermal and humidity of aviaries and performance of broiler. Four aviaries were divided in four boxes to house 200 chickens each. The recorded performance traits were body weight, weight gain feed intake, feed:weght gain ratio and mortality from hatch to 42 days of age. Better thermal conditions and higher chicken performance were observed in the polyethylene liming aviaries

Enterotoxemia em bovino / Bovine enterotoxaemia

This report describes a case of bovine enterotoxaemia in Morro da Garça, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Clostridium perfringens type D was isolated in pure culture and was characterized by biochemical reactions and PCR. By the mouse neutralization test, the presence of epsilon toxin from intestinal content was detected.

Selective imidazoline agonist moxonidine in obese hypertensive patients.

Obesity is the major risk factor for the development of hypertension. This association accentuates the risk of cardiovascular disease, as it is frequently accompanied by the components of the metabolic syndrome. This randomised open parallel study evaluated the chronic effects of moxonidine--a selective imidazoline receptor agonist--on blood pressure, plasma catecholamines, leptin, insulin and components of the metabolic syndrome in obese hypertensives. Amlodipine was used as the control drug. Our results showed that moxonidine and amlodipine significantly reduced blood pressure when measured using the oscillometric method and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring. Moxonidine therapy decreased systolic blood pressure from 160.4 +/- 2.4 to 142.1 +/- 3.3 mmHg (p < 0.005) and diastolic blood pressure from 102.4 +/- 1.3 to 89.7 +/- 1.6 mmHg (p < 0.005) after 24 weeks of treatment. Moxonidine administration reduced the supine arterial plasma levels of adrenaline from 63.2 +/- 6.6 to 49.0 +/- 6.7 pg/ml (p < 0.005), the supine arterial plasma levels of noradrenaline from 187.9 +/- 10.7 to 149.7 +/- 13.2 pg/ml (p < 0.01) and the orthostatic venous plasma levels of noradrenaline from 258.6 +/- 25.0 to 190.3 +/- 16.4 pg/ml (p = 0.03). Those variables were not changed by amlodipine. The plasma levels of leptin and insulin 120 min after a glucose load decreased after moxonidine administration from 27.2 +/- 3.5 to 22.6 +/- 2.9 pg/ml (p < 0.05) and from 139.7 +/- 31.2 to 76.0 +/- 15.2 U/ml (p < 0.05), respectively. Amlodipine, however, did not modify those variables. This study showed a comparable reduction in blood pressure with both antihypertensive drugs. Moxonidine decreased sympathetic nervous activity, improved insulin resistance and reduced the plasma levels of leptin.

Production and purification of beta-toxin from Clostridium perfringens type C

Empregaram-se os métodos cromatográficos de afinidade metálica e de imunoafinidade para purificação da toxina beta em sobrenadante de cultivo de Clostridium perfringens tipo C. Observaram-se, na eletroforese das primeiras frações eluidas nos dois métodos de purificação, uma banda de peso molecular aproximado de 38kDa, característica da forma monomérica de toxina beta de Clostridium perfringens tipo C, e bandas de peso moleculares superiores, referentes às suas formas oligoméricas. Maior rendimento foi obtido com a utilização do método de imunoafinidade.

Diarréia em leitões lactentes por Clostridium perfringens tipo A em granjas tecnificadas nos estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo / Clostridium perfringens type A diarrhea in suckling piglets in industrial swine farms in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo

Diarrhea in suckling piglets caused by Clostridium perfringens type A was diagnosed in industrial (technified) swine farms of the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo (Brazil), based on isolation and identification of bacterium by biochemical tests, detection of alpha toxin in animal bioassays, and PCR. This seems to be the first report of clostridial enterotoxaemia in piglets by C. perfringens type A in Brazil and allowed specific procedures to control the disease.

Avaliação de vacinas contra Clostridium novyi tipo B / Evaluation of vaccines against Clostridium novyi type B

Avaliou-se a eficiência de 13 vacinas comerciais contra clostridioses que continham em sua composição Clostridium novyi tipo B, pela titulação de antitoxina alfa em soro de coelhos e de bovinos vacinados e pelo teste de desafio direto em cobaias. As vacinas codificadas como T1 e T10 apresentaram, em coelhos, títulos de antitoxina alfa de 8 e 12UI/ml respectivamente, superiores ao nível mínimo de teste de 3,5UI/ml, recomendado para controle desse produto, e as vacinas T2 e T5, títulos de 2 e 3UI/ml, respectivamente. As vacinas T1, T2, T5 e T10 apresentaram níveis de antitoxina alfa detectáveis em bovinos, mas somente T1 e T10 induziram títulos compatíveis com o nível de teste. Pelo método de desafio direto em cobaias, as vacinas T1, T2, T5, T10 e T11 atenderam aos requisitos, protegendo todos os animais desafiados. Em sua maioria, as vacinas comercializadas no Brasil contra Clostridium novyi tipo B foram ineficientes em estimular títulos sorológicos compatíveis com os níveis de teste recomendado para controle desse produto.

Aspectos da bovinocultura leiteira no Município de Ilhéus-BA / Characterization of dairy cattle production in Ilhéus -BA

The results show that the milk production activity in the county of Ilhéus, Bahia state, Brazil, lacks of technologies that could improve milk productivity. General information about the farms were obtained through a survey. Thirty-seven (43.5 percent) farms were smaller or equal to 50ha and 65 (76.5 percent) farms produced 50l of milk per day, characterizing these farmers as small producers. In 46 (54.1 percent) farms no information concerning costs, level of production, reproduction efficiency or sanity of the herds were found. In 29 (34.2 percent) farms the information was registered in portable computer database, six (7.1 percent) farms used structured index cards and four (4.7 percent) farms had desktop computers. Forty-one (48.2 percent) farms had roofed and paved milk facilities, three (3.5 percent) farms had not roofed but paved, in 31 (36.5 percent) farms the corrals were not roofed and unpaved, and 10 (11.8 percent) farms had no constructions.

Freqüência de Malassezia pachydermatis em otite externa de cäes / Frequency of Malassezia pachydermatis in canine external otitis

The occurrence of Malassezia pachydermatis in the ears of dogs with otitis externa, comparing both direct exam and growth on culture method was evaluated. Auditory cerumen/exsudate specimens of 50 dogs with otitis externa were analized for M.pachydermatis. Stained by Giemsa, were prepared and microscopically analysed for budding yeasts. Each sample was cultured on modified Sabouraud glucose agar incubated at 28ºC (82.4 F) for detection of M. pachydermatis. The frequency of M. pachydermatis from auditory meatus of otitic dogs was 79 percent (direct microscopy) and 88 percent (growth on modified Sabouraud glucose agar), and no difference between the results provided by both methods used in the fungus detection was observed

Prevalência de tuberculose e brucelose bovina no município de Ilhéus / Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis in Ilhéus, Bahia - Brazil

Aiming to determining the prevalence of tuberculosis and brucellosis in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, 916 cows aged 24 months or above and allocated in 85 farms were tested. The compared cervical intradermic tuberculosis and serological buffered acidified antigen (BAA), slow tube serum agglutination (STSA) and 2-mercapto ethanol (2-ME) tests were used. The prevalence of tuberculosis and brucellosis was 2.8 and 1.9 percent, respectively. The distribution of positive farms (10.6 percent) is in agreement with the notion that these diseases are widespread in the country

Perfil sorológico das amostras de Clostridium botulinum tipos C e D utilizadas para produçäo de imunógenos no Brasil / Serological profile of C and D type Clostridium botulinum strains used for toxoid production in Brazil

Com o objetivo de avaliar o perfil sorológico de três amostras de Clostridium botulinum tipo C e três do tipo D utilizadas para produçäo de imunógenos no Brasil, determinou-se o índice de eficiência e o grau de homologia sorológica dentro de cada tipo. O índice de eficiência mostrou a mesma tendência para os dois tipos. Os consumos relativos de antitoxinas foram proporcionais nos níveis de 20, 200 e 1000 DL50, verificados através de curvas de neutralizaçäo que apresentaram inclinaçöes semelhantes. A quantificaçäo da variaçäo do consumo de antitoxinas expresso em grau de homologia sorológica reflete uma similaridade relativa entre as amostras, sendo neutralizados 80 a 91,5 por cento de determinantes antigênicos para o tipo C e 85 a 95 por cento para o tipo D. Pelos resultados apresentados, as amostras analisadas comportaram-se como variantes sorológicas nos níveis de testes de 20, 200 e 1000 DL50