Quantidade de metionina+cistina digestível para poedeiras semipesadas de 75 a 91 semanas de idade / Nutritional requirement of digestible methionine + cystine for brown-egg laying hens from 75 to 91weeks of age

Determinaram-se as exigências nutricionais de metionina+cistina digestível para poedeiras de linhagem comercial no segundo ciclo de produção de 75 a 91 semanas de idade, utilizando-se 150 aves semipesadas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. Estas foram distribuídas em cinco tratamentos, seis repetições e cinco aves por unidade experimental, alimentadas com uma dieta basal contendo 2.859kcal/kg de energia metabolizável e 16,30% de proteína bruta, suplementada com 0,132; 0,173; 0,215; 0,256 e 0,298% de DL-metionina (98%), de forma a proporcionar 0,588; 0,628; 0,669; 0,709 e 0,750% de metionina+cistina digestível na dieta. A inclusão de metionina+cistina obedeceu, respectivamente, às proporções de 67, 72, 77, 81 e 86% com a lisina fixada em 0,872%. Avaliaram-se os consumos de ração e de metionina+cistina, a conversão alimentar por dúzia e por massa de ovos, a taxa de postura, o peso e a massa de ovos, a porcentagem dos componentes dos ovos e a qualidade interna dos ovos e o ganho de peso. A inclusão de metionina+cistina digestível nas quantidades indicadas não exerceu efeito (P>0,05) sobre as características de produção e qualidade interna e externa dos ovos. A exigência estimada foi de 0,588% de metionina+cistina digestível, correspondendo ao consumo de 654,73mg/ave/dia.

This work determined the nutritional requirements for methionine + cystine for commercial hens in the second production cycle from 75 to 91 weeks of age, using 150 brown-egg layer hens in a completely randomized design, distributed in five treatments, six replicates of five hens each and fed a basal diet containing 2859kcal/kg of metobolizable energy, 16.30% crude protein supplemented with 0.132, 0.173, 0.215, 0.256 and 0.298% DL-methionine (98%), in order to provide 0.588, 0.628, 0.669, 0.709 and 0.750% methionine + cystine in the diet. The inclusion of methionine + cystine followed, respectively, the proportions of 67, 72, 77, 81 and 86% with lysine fixed at 0.872%. The feed intake, methionine + cystine intake, feed conversion per dozen eggs and egg mass, percentage of the eggs, egg weight, egg mass, percentage of egg components and internal quality of eggs and weight gain were evaluated. The inclusion methionine + cystine in the amounts indicated had no effect (P> 0.05) on the production characteristics and internal and external quality of eggs. The requirement was estimated at 0.588% methionine + cystine intake corresponding to 654.73mg/hen/day.

First assessment of microbial diversity in faecal microflora of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758) in Portugal.

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758), a predator from the Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae, evolved the ability to swim and forage in water, being an important element of biodiversity. Otters are widely spread through Portugal, and scats have been extensively used in ecology studies; however, valid information on their microbiota is scarce. This work represents a first approach to characterise the otter faecal microflora in samples collected in river stretches of the Sado river basin (Portugal) during winter 2006. Eight sampling stretches of 8 km were selected, and from each, six to eight sampling sites were visited. A total of 31 scats were analysed. The microflora studied included aerobic bacteria, spore-forming anaerobic bacteria and viruses (coronavirus, parvovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus). Bacterial isolates were identified based on morphology and metabolic pathways, and virus detection was performed by polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed the high degree of bacterial diversity in the faecal microflora of L. lutra. A total of 88 Gram-negative (23 genera) and 44 Gram-positive isolates (ten genera) were identified. The identification of four isolates was inconclusive, and their identification was performed by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequencing, which confirms the need for biochemical testing optimisation regarding animal isolates. None of the scats was positive for virus detection. Identification of otter faecal microflora and of potential pathogens is an important first step towards understanding and monitoring their importance in otter population health.

Mutation profile of the MYO7A gene in Spanish patients with Usher syndrome type I.

Usher syndrome type I is the most severe form of Usher syndrome. It is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by profound congenital sensorineural deafness, retinitis pigmentosa, and vestibular abnormalities. Mutations in the myosin VIIA gene (MYO7A) are responsible for Usher syndrome type 1B (USH1B). This gene is thought to bear greatest responsibility for USH1 and, depending on the study, has been reported to account for between 24% and 59% of USH1 cases. In this report a mutation screening of the MYO7A gene was carried out in a series of 48 unrelated USH1 families using single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and direct sequencing of those fragments showed an abnormal electrophoretic pattern. Twenty-five mutations were identified in 23 out of the 48 families studied (47.9%). Twelve of these mutations were novel, including five missense mutations, three premature stop codons, three frameshift, and one putative splice-site mutation. Based on our results we can conclude there is an absence of hot spot mutations in the MYO7A gene and that this gene plays a major role in Usher syndrome.

Bacteriological study of the liver in dogs.

This study aimed to confirm the possible presence of bacteria in the liver of healthy dogs. Laparotomy was performed in 20 animals admitted for routine abdominal surgery. To be selected for the study, dogs had to be healthy adults without clinical liver disease, signs of infection or macroscopic liver abnormalities. Biopsy samples were histologically and bacteriologically examined. Bacteriological analysis was negative for the livers of eight of the dogs. The remaining animals harboured a diverse bacterial flora in their liver. Twelve bacterial species were identified. Histology showed that the livers of 19 dogs had minor or no abnormalities, and only one animal had interstitial fibrosis and trabecular disarrangement. Histological changes were not related to the presence of bacteria. Thus the results showed that the liver of healthy dogs may harbour different bacterial species. These microorganisms did not cause any detectable manifestation of disease, despite being potential pathogens.

Feline pansteatitis revisited: hazards of unbalanced home-made diets.

Pansteatitis is caused by the consumption of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and/or the insufficient intake of vitamin E, leading to inflammation of adipose tissue. This disease has been related to fish-based diets. However, non-conventional diets must also be considered. The authors present case records of two cats with pansteatitis, for which diet consisted mostly of pig's brain, comparing them with eight cases of disease in cats eating mainly oily fish. Cats fed pig's brain did not show clinical signs, while cats eating oily fish presented inappetence, depression, reluctance to move and subcutaneous nodules painful on palpation. Cats eating pig's brain did not show any change in blood parameters, while cats fed oily fish presented leukocytosis and anaemia. Histological examination confirmed pansteatitis in all cats, independently of the diet. All animals except one of the cats eating oily fish recovered after medical treatment and change of the feeding regime.

Atividades analgésica e/ou antiinflamatória da fração aquosa do extrato etanólico das folhas da Spiranthera odoratissima A. St. Hillaire (manacá)

Os testes de contorção abdominal induzida por acido acético, de edema de orelha induzido por óleo de Croton e de peritonite induzida por carragenina foram usados para o estudo de atividades analgésicas e/ou antiinflamatórias da fração aquosa do extrato etanólico das folhas de Spiranthera odoratissima. A fração aquosa inibe o número de contorções abdominais, reduz o edema de orelha e a migração de leucócitos. Os resultados sugerem que as folhas de Spiranthera odoratissima contêm compostos com atividade antiinflamatória.

Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, croton oilinduced mice ear oedema test and carrageenan-induced peritonitis were used to study the analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of the aqueous fraction of the ethanolic extract from Spiranthera odoratissima leaves. It caused a dose dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, reduction in ear oedema formation and leukocyte migration. The results suggest that Spiranthera odoratissima leaves contain compounds with antiinflammatory activity.

[Primary cancer of the gallbladder]. / Cáncer primario de la vesicula biliar.

The records of 60 patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) operatively treated between 1966 and 1993 at Belen Hospital, Trujillo, Perú, were retrospectively reviewed. The ratio of men to women was 1:7.5 and the average of age was 61 years. The accuracy of ultrasonography and oral cholecystograms for the specific diagnosis was 21% and 0% respectively. The surgical procedures employed were simple cholecystectomy (n = 56), right hepatectomy (n = 2). Whipple operation (n = 1) and extended cholecystectomy (n = 1), and our resectability rate for GBC is currently 50%. Simple cholecystectomy was a potentially curative surgical procedure in patients with in situ cancer (stage O) and early GBC (stage 1). In hospital mortality was 11.6% and 5-year survival rate for the total series was 15%. Gallstones were present in 95% of patients and most tumors (58%) had grown by diffuse infiltration or were associated with empyema (38%). Tumor stage, depth of invasion, tumor grade histologic type were all predictive of patient outcome. This report reinforces the difficulty in diagnosis and the poor prognosis for patients with GBC. We hold the view that more radical approaches for invasive cancers will enhance the operative results.

On a new cave-dwelling species of bat-guano-breeding Drosophila closely related to D. repleta wollaston (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Drosophila (Drosophila) eleonorae, uma nova espécie do grupo repleta habitante de cavernas, é descrita, ilustrada e comparada com a cosmopolita D. repleta Wollaston com a qual é relacionada. Apesar de morfologicamente distintas elas säo homosequenciais com relaçäo ao padräo de bandas dos cromossomos politênicos e têm idêntica distribuiçäo de heterocromatina nos cromossomos metafásicos. Adultos de D. elenorae sp. n. foram coletados em diversas cavernas localizadas em cinco estados do norte, centro e sudeste do Brasil (Pará, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais e Säo Paulo). Vinte e um imagos emergiram, em laboratórios, de guano de morcegos coletados em uma caverna do Brasil Central. Tentativas de produzir híbridos interespecíficos com D. repleta foram infrutíferas