Temperature measurements in cats using digital, mercury and tympanic infrared thermometers / Mensurações de temperatura em gatos utilizando os termômetros digital, de mercúrio e timpânico infravermelho

With a view to reducing stress and discomfort and improving the practicality of making temperature measurements on cats, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a tympanic infrared thermometer (TIT), which is an easy-to-use device for measuring temperatures quickly, comfortably and more hygienically. For this, were selected 120 domestic cats living in Sousa, Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Among them, 100 were normothermic, ten were hypothermic and ten were hyperthermic. None of them had any clinical signs of external or internal otitis. The measurements using the digital thermometer were higher than those using the TIT (P < 0.05), in the normothermic and hyperthermic cats. In the hypothermic cats, there was no difference (P ≥ 0.05) in mean values from the three types of thermometer. The values obtained using the mercury thermometer did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) from the values obtained using the other thermometers. There was a strong positive correlation in almost all the evaluations between the three thermometers, except for digital versus TIT for hyperthermic cats (r < 0.75). Because of the discrepancy between the values obtained by the TIT and the digital rectal thermometer, we suggest that further studies should be carried out in order to establish a temperature correction table for the TIT, so that it can be better used in veterinary medicine.

Com o objetivo de reduzir o estresse, desconforto e melhorar a praticidade da medição da temperatura em gatos, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso de um termômetro timpânico infravermelho (TTI), que é um dispositivo de fácil utilização para medição de temperatura de forma rápida, confortável e higiênica. Para isso, foram selecionados 120 gatos domésticos criados no município de Sousa, Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Dentre eles, 100 eram normotérmicos, dez hipotérmicos e dez hipertérmicos. Nenhum deles apresentava sinais clínicos de otite externa ou interna.

Temperature measurements in cats using digital, mercury and tympanic infrared thermometers / Mensurações de temperatura em gatos utilizando os termômetros digital, de mercúrio e timpânico infravermelho

With a view to reducing stress and discomfort and improving the practicality of making temperature measurements on cats, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a tympanic infrared thermometer (TIT), which is an easy-to-use device for measuring temperatures quickly, comfortably and more hygienically. For this, were selected 120 domestic cats living in Sousa, Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Among them, 100 were normothermic, ten were hypothermic and ten were hyperthermic. None of them had any clinical signs of external or internal otitis. The measurements using the digital thermometer were higher than those using the TIT (P < 0.05), in the normothermic and hyperthermic cats. In the hypothermic cats, there was no difference (P ≥ 0.05) in mean values from the three types of thermometer. The values obtained using the mercury thermometer did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) from the values obtained using the other thermometers. There was a strong positive correlation in almost all the evaluations between the three thermometers, except for digital versus TIT for hyperthermic cats (r < 0.75). Because of the discrepancy between the values obtained by the TIT and the digital rectal thermometer, we suggest that further studies should be carried out in order to establish a temperature correction table for the TIT, so that it can be better used in veterinary medicine.(AU)

Com o objetivo de reduzir o estresse, desconforto e melhorar a praticidade da medição da temperatura em gatos, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso de um termômetro timpânico infravermelho (TTI), que é um dispositivo de fácil utilização para medição de temperatura de forma rápida, confortável e higiênica. Para isso, foram selecionados 120 gatos domésticos criados no município de Sousa, Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Dentre eles, 100 eram normotérmicos, dez hipotérmicos e dez hipertérmicos. Nenhum deles apresentava sinais clínicos de otite externa ou interna.(AU)

Avaliação da confiabilidade entre dois observadores em exames citopatológico e imunocitoquímico de aspirado de medula óssea no diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina / Reliability evaluation between two evaluators in the cytopathologic and immunocytochemical exams from bone marrow aspirate in the canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis

Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis in which the dog appears as the main source of infection in urban areas. Its diagnosis is complex and the cytopathological exam is a fast and cheap alternative to parasite direct visualization and its sensitivity can be increased by immunocytochemistry, though with a higher cost. The accuracy of such methods is dependent on the microscopist's experience and therefore, this study evaluated the reliability of such techniques between two observers, from bone marrow aspirates of 50 dogs from an endemic area for the disease. The parasitological culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle medium was used as the reference standard. Among the main findings, the sensitivities obtained by observers I and II were respectively 62.5% and 37.5%, while specificities were 81.1% and 100%. On immunocytochemistry evaluation, the sensitivity was 0% for both evaluators and the specificity 97.3% and 100%. The agreement between evaluators was weak (κ = 0.167) for the cytopathological test and it could not be evaluated for immunocytochemistry, for which there was no detection by the evaluator II. The agreements among the diagnostic methods and the standard reference for the observer I were reasonable (κ = 0.364) for cytopathological examination and bad (κ = -0.041) for immunocytochemistry. For observer II, such agreement could be assessed only for the cytopathological test, being moderate (κ = 0.497). The results point to the possible expertise difference between evaluators, with the evaluator II demonstrating greater experience when interpreting the citopathological test. Although there was the expected sensitivity increase with immunocytochemistry, the technique used in this study was not effective for the diagnosis of infection, regardless of the evaluator.(AU)

Avaliação da confiabilidade entre dois observadores em exames citopatológico e imunocitoquímico de aspirado de medula óssea no diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina / Reliability evaluation between two evaluators in the cytopathologic and immunocytochemical exams from bone marrow aspirate in the canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis

Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis in which the dog appears as the main source of infection in urban areas. Its diagnosis is complex and the cytopathological exam is a fast and cheap alternative to parasite direct visualization and its sensitivity can be increased by immunocytochemistry, though with a higher cost. The accuracy of such methods is dependent on the microscopist's experience and therefore, this study evaluated the reliability of such techniques between two observers, from bone marrow aspirates of 50 dogs from an endemic area for the disease. The parasitological culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle medium was used as the reference standard. Among the main findings, the sensitivities obtained by observers I and II were respectively 62.5% and 37.5%, while specificities were 81.1% and 100%. On immunocytochemistry evaluation, the sensitivity was 0% for both evaluators and the specificity 97.3% and 100%. The agreement between evaluators was weak (κ = 0.167) for the cytopathological test and it could not be evaluated for immunocytochemistry, for which there was no detection by the evaluator II. The agreements among the diagnostic methods and the standard reference for the observer I were reasonable (κ = 0.364) for cytopathological examination and bad (κ = -0.041) for immunocytochemistry. For observer II, such agreement could be assessed only for the cytopathological test, being moderate (κ = 0.497). The results point to the possible expertise difference between evaluators, with the evaluator II demonstrating greater experience when interpreting the citopathological test. Although there was the expected sensitivity increase with immunocytochemistry, the technique used in this study was not effective for the diagnosis of infection, regardless of the evaluator.(AU)

Análise das doenças de notificação compulsória no município de cupira- pe, durante o período de 2007 a 2011 / analysis of compulsory notification diseases in the municipality of cupira-pe, from 2007 to 2011

Os indicadores e medidas de saúde demonstram o nível de saúde da população, medem a frequência ou a probabilidade da ocorrência de novos casos de doença na população. Assim, este trabalho buscou analisar medidas de saúde do município de Cupira, Pernambuco, visando elaborar um prévio diagnóstico da situação saúde da população referente às doenças de notificação compulsória. As informações foram obtidas no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) do município de Cupira, nos anos de 2007 a 2011, no período de janeiro a dezembro. As enfermidades registradas como confirmadas no período de estudo foram: esquistossomose (38,9/10.000 hab.), dengue (33,3 casos/10.000 hab.), hanseníase (12,3 casos/10.000 hab.), tuberculose (9,4 casos/10.000 hab.), doença de chagas guda (2,56/10.000 hab.), leishmaniose tegumentar americana (1,28 casos/10.000 hab.), malária (1,6/10.000 hab.), meningite (0,85/10.000 hab.) e leishmaniose visceral (0,5 casos/10.000 hab.). Em relação &a

Prevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em galinhas criadas extensivamente em Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro / Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free-range chickens reared in Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro

The prevalence of T. gondii infection was investigated in free-range chickens for human consumption in the county of Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thus, a search for antibodies to T. gondii by indirect fluorescent antibody test was done in the serum of 220 chickens from twenty two farms. Titres equal or greater than 16 were considered positive. The prevalence of toxoplasmic infection found in chickens was 27.6% (61/220). There were positive cases in eighteen (77.2%) farms. The more frequent titre was 16 (12.5%) and the highest was 4096 (0.4%). The high prevalence of T. gondii in chickens and the high percentage of farms with positive cases indicate environmental contamination in the studied area showing the possibility of human and animal infection.

Prevalência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em galinhas criadas extensivamente em Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro

The prevalence of T. gondii infection was investigated in free-range chickens for human consumption in the county of Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thus, a search for antibodies to T. gondii by indirect fluorescent antibody test was done in the serum of 220 chickens from twenty two farms. Titres equal or greater than 16 were considered positive. The prevalence of toxoplasmic infection found in chickens was 27.6% (61/220). There were positive cases in eighteen (77.2%) farms. The more frequent titre was 16 (12.5%) and the highest was 4096 (0.4%). The high prevalence of T. gondii in chickens and the high percentage of farms with positive cases indicate environmental contamination in the studied area showing the possibility of human and animal infection.

Uso de fluxofenim em trigo como protetor ao herbicida s-metolachlor / Fluxofenim applied on wheat as a safener for protection against smetolachlor herbicide

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência do protetor fluxofenim no tratamento de sementes de trigo, cultivar Ônix, para o aumento da seletividade do herbicida S-metolachlor aplicado em pré-emergência e determinar a atividade da enzima de detoxificação glutationa S-transferase (GST). O trabalho foi realizado em duas etapas: a primeira para a avaliação em campo da eficiência do protetor em reduzir sintomas visuais de fitointoxicação causados pelo herbicida, e a segunda para a determinação da atividade da GST, conduzida em laboratório. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: aplicação ou não do protetor na dose de 40 mL por 100 kg de sementes e a pulverização do herbicida S-metolachlor nas doses de 1.440 e 2.880 mL i.a.ha-1, além de uma testemunha sem aplicação, sendo que, na determinação da atividade da GST, se excluiu o tratamento com aplicação de 2.880 mL i.a.ha-1 de S-metolachlor. Foram comparadas a suscetibilidade ao herbicida por meio da avaliação visual de injúrias aos 3, 7, 15 e 30 dias após a emergência (DAE) e a massa seca de raiz e parte aérea aos 10 DAE. Para a determinação da atividade da GST foram coletadas amostras da parte aérea das plantas aos 15 dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos e aos 10 DAE. Apesar do fluxofenim utilizado no tratamento da cultivar de trigo conferir uma maior tolerância ao herbicida S-metolachlor, ocorreu fitointoxicação visual e redução do estande de plantas. A cultivar testada apresentou aumento na atividade da enzima GST quando da utilização do fluxofenim anteriormente à aplicação do herbicida S-metolachlor na dose de 1.440 mL i.a. ha-1.

This work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fluxofenim used for seed treatment as safener in wheat, Ônix cultivar, treated with the herbicide S-metolachlor applied in pre-emergence. The study was divided in two steps. The first step consisted of an evaluation of fluxofenim's safener potential for the reduction of visual symptoms of S-metolachlor injury in the field, and the treatments were S-metolachlor at 1,440 and 2,880 mL i.a. ha-1 and fluxofenim at 0, and 40 mL per 100 kg of seeds, and a control without herbicide. The second step was to evaluate glutathione S-transferase activity (GST). Herbicide phytotoxity was measured by way of visual symptoms at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days after emergence (DAE), dry matter from roots and leaves at 10 DAE. For the determination of GST activity, the canopy of plants was collected at 10 DAE and 15 days after treatment application. The wheat presented low tolerance to S-metolachlor at both rates, and fluxofenim increased S-metolachlor selectivity to wheat but not sufficiently, reducing plant population to a nonacceptable level. Gluthationa S-transferase activity for wheat increased when seeds treated with fluxofenim were submitted to S-metolachlor at 1,440 mL a.i. ha-1.

USO DE FLUXOFENIM EM TRIGO COMO PROTETOR AO HERBICIDA S-METOLACHLOR

ABSTRACT This work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fluxofenim used for seed treatment as safener in wheat, Ônix cultivar, treated with the herbicide S-metolachlor applied in pre-emergence. The study was divided in two steps. The first step consisted of an evaluation of fluxofenims safener potential for the reduction of visual symptoms of S-metolachlor injury in the field, and the treatments were S-metolachlor at 1,440 and 2,880 mL i.a. ha-1 and fluxofenim at 0, and 40 mL per 100 kg of seeds, and a control without herbicide. The second step was to evaluate glutathione S-transferase activity (GST). Herbicide phytotoxity was measured by way of visual symptoms at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days after emergence (DAE), dry matter from roots and leaves at 10 DAE. For the determination of GST activity, the canopy of plants was collected at 10 DAE and 15 days after treatment application. The wheat presented low tolerance to S-metolachlor at both rates, and fluxofenim increased S-metolachlor selectivity to wheat but not sufficiently, reducing plant population to a nonacceptable level. Gluthationa S-transferase activity for wheat increased when seeds treated with fluxofenim were submitted to S-metolachlor at 1,440 mL a.i. ha-1.

RESUMO Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência do protetor fluxofenim no tratamento de sementes de trigo, cultivar Ônix, para o aumento da seletividade do herbicida S-metolachlor aplicado em pré-emergência e determinar a atividade da enzima de detoxificação glutationa S-transferase (GST). O trabalho foi realizado em duas etapas: a primeira para a avaliação em campo da eficiência do protetor em reduzir sintomas visuais de fitointoxicação causados pelo herbicida, e a segunda para a determinação da atividade da GST, conduzida em laboratório. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: aplicação ou não do protetor na dose de 40 mL por 100 kg de sementes e a pulverização do herbicida S-metolachlor nas doses de 1.440 e 2.880 mL i.a.ha-1, além de uma testemunha sem aplicação, sendo que, na determinação da atividade da GST, se excluiu o tratamento com aplicação de 2.880 mL i.a.ha-1 de S-metolachlor. Foram comparadas a suscetibilidade ao herbicida por meio da avaliação visual de injúrias aos 3, 7, 15 e 30 dias após a emergência (DAE) e a massa seca de raiz e parte aérea aos 10 DAE. Para a determinação da atividade da GST foram coletadas amostras da parte aérea das plantas aos 15 dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos e aos 10 DAE. Apesar do fluxofenim utilizado no tratamento da cultivar de trigo conferir uma maior tolerância ao herbicida S-metolachlor, ocorreu fitointoxicação visual e redução do estande de plantas. A cultivar testada apresentou aumento na atividade da enzima GST quando da utilização do fluxofenim anteriormente à aplicação do herbicida S-metolachlor na dose de 1.440 mL i.a. ha-1.

Antibody responses elicited in mice immunized with Bacillus subtilis vaccine strains expressing Stx2B subunit of enterohaemorragic Escherichia coli O157:H7

No effective vaccine or immunotherapy is presently available for patients with the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) induced by Shiga-like toxin (Stx) producedbyenterohaemorragic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains, such as those belonging to the O157:H7 serotype. In this work we evaluated the performance of Bacillus subtilis strains, a harmless spore former gram-positive bacterium species, as a vaccine vehicle for the expression of Stx2B subunit (Stx2B). A recombinant B. subtilis vaccine strain expressing Stx2B under the control of a stress inducible promoter was delivered to BALB/c mice via oral, nasal or subcutaneous routes using both vegetative cells and spores. Mice immunized with vegetative cells by the oral route developed low but specific anti-Stx2B serum IgG and fecal IgA responses while mice immunized with recombinant spores developed anti-Stx2B responses only after administration via the parenteral route. Nonetheless, serum anti-Stx2B antibodies raised in mice immunized with the recombinant B. subtilis strain did not inhibit the toxic effects of the native toxin, both under in vitro and in vivo conditions, suggesting that either the quantity or the quality of the induced immune response did not support an effective neutralization of Stx2 produced by EHEC strains.

Até o presente o momento, não há vacina ou imunoterapia disponível para pacientes com Síndrome Hemolítica Urêmica (SHU) induzida pela toxina Shiga-like (Stx) produzida por linhagens de Escherichia coli entero-hemorragica (EHEC), tais como as pertencentes ao sorotipo O157:H7. Neste trabalho, avaliamos a performance de Bacillus subtilis, uma espécie bacteriana gram-positiva não-patogênica formadora de esporos, como veículo vacinal para a expressão da subunidade B da Stx2B (Stx2B). Uma linhagem vacinal recombinante de B. subtilis expressando Stx2B, sob o controle de um promoter induzível por estresse, foi administrada a camundongos BALB/c por via oral, nasal ou subcutânea usando células vegetativas e esporos. Camundongos imunizados com células vegetativas e esporos pela via oral desenvolveram títulos anti-Stx2B baixos, mas específicos, de IgG sérico e IgA fecal, enquanto camundongos imunizados com esporos recombinates desenvolveram resposta anti-Stx2B apenas após a administração pela via parenteral. No entanto, anticorpos produzidos em camundongos imunizados com a linhagem recombinante de B. subtilis não inibiram os efeitos tóxicos da toxina nativa em condições in vitro e in vivo, sugerindo que a quantidade e/ou a qualidade da resposta imune gerada não suportam uma neutralização efetiva da Stx2 produzidas por linhagens de EHEC.

ANÁLISE DAS DOENÇAS DE NOTIFICAÇÃO COMPULSÓRIA NO MUNICÍPIO DE CUPIRA- PE, DURANTE O PERÍODO DE 2007 A 2011 / ANALYSIS OF COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION DISEASES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CUPIRA-PE, FROM 2007 TO 2011

Os indicadores e medidas de saúde demonstram o nível de saúde da população, medem a frequência ou a probabilidade da ocorrência de novos casos de doença na população. Assim, este trabalho buscou analisar medidas de saúde do município de Cupira, Pernambuco, visando elaborar um prévio diagnóstico da situação saúde da população referente às doenças de notificação compulsória. As informações foram obtidas no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) do município de Cupira, nos anos de 2007 a 2011, no período de janeiro a dezembro. As enfermidades registradas como confirmadas no período de estudo foram: esquistossomose (38,9/10.000 hab.), dengue (33,3 casos/10.000 hab.), hanseníase (12,3 casos/10.000 hab.), tuberculose (9,4 casos/10.000 hab.), doença de chagas guda (2,56/10.000 hab.), leishmaniose tegumentar americana (1,28 casos/10.000 hab.), malária (1,6/10.000 hab.), meningite (0,85/10.000 hab.) e leishmaniose visceral (0,5 casos/10.000 hab.). Em relação &a