Blood metabolites and fecal starch as indicators of feed efficiency of beef cattle in the feedlot / [Metabolitos sanguíneos e amido fecal como indicadores da eficiência alimentar do gado de corte em confinamento]

The use of blood metabolites (BM), fecal starch (FS), and apparent digestion of starch, (ATTSD) as indicators of feed efficiency (FE) in beef cattle in the feedlot was studied. Fourteen bulls were used, originating in an industrial cross, without a defined racial group, with mean body weight of 284.86kg, individually fed, being evaluated in a 42-day confinement system. After the evaluation, the animals were divided into two groups according to the individual FE: high feed efficiency (HE) and low feed efficiency (LE). There was a difference between the groups in the variables FE, feed conversion (FC), final weight (FW), and daily weight gain (DWG). The FE had a positive correlation with DWG, FC, and FW. There was no difference between the groups for the variables BM, FS, and ATTSD, nor was there any correlation between these variables and FE. Considering the feed cost, the HE animals proved more profitable. BM, FS, and ATTSD did not statistically show potential to be used as indicators of FE, despite the evidence of numerical differences of these variables between the different groups, tendency of correlations with FE, and discriminating function with potential assertiveness.(AU)

Foi estudada a utilização dos metabólitos sanguíneos (BM), do amido fecal (FS) e da digestão aparente do amido (ATTSD) como indicadores de eficiência alimentar (FE) em bovinos de corte em confinamento. Utilizaram-se 14 touros, originários de cruzamento industrial, sem grupo racial definido, peso corporal médio de 284,86kg, alimentados individualmente, sendo avaliados em sistema de confinamento por 42 dias. Após a avaliação, dividiram-se os animais em dois grupos, de acordo com a FE individual: alta eficiência alimentar (HE) e baixa eficiência alimentar (LE). Houve diferença entre os grupos nas variáveis FE, conversão alimentar (FC), peso final (FW) e ganho de peso diário (DWG). A FE teve correlação positiva com DWG, FC e FW. Não houve diferença entre os grupos para as variáveis BM, FS e ATTSD, tampouco houve correlação entre essas variáveis e a FE. Considerando-se o custo alimentar, os animais HE mostraram-se mais lucrativos. BM, FS e ATTSD não mostraram, estatisticamente, potencial para serem utilizados como indicadores de FE, apesar da evidência de diferenças numéricas dessas variáveis entre os diferentes grupos, tendência de correlações com a FE e de função discriminante com potencial assertividade.(AU)

A combined enrichment/polymerase chain reaction based method for the routine screening of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in neonates. Guidelines from CDC recommend universal screening of pregnant women for rectovaginal GBS colonization. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of a combined enrichment/PCR based method targeting the atr gene in relation to culture using enrichment with selective broth medium (standard method) to identify the presence of GBS in pregnant women. Rectovaginal GBS samples from women at 36 weeks of pregnancy were obtained with a swab and analyzed by the two methods. A total of 89 samples were evaluated. The prevalence of positive results for GBS detection was considerable higher when assessed by the combined enrichment/PCR method than with the standard method (35.9% versus 22.5%, respectively). The results demonstrated that the use of selective enrichment broth followed by PCR targeting the atr gene is a highly sensitive, specific and accurate test for GBS screening in pregnant women, allowing the detection of the bacteria even in lightly colonized patients. This PCR methodology may provide a useful diagnostic tool for GBS detection and contributes for a more accurate and effective intrapartum antibiotic and lower newborn mortality and morbidity.

Evaluation of biofilm production by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa isolates recovered from cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients typically suffer of persistent and recurrent lung infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that many times possess ability for the biofilm production. Here, biofilm production among P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from sputum of CF and non-CF patients was evaluated. Most isolates were biofilm-producing independently of the patient's condition.