Fungal Antagonism Assessment of Predatory Species and Producers Metabolites and Their Effectiveness on Haemonchus contortus Infective Larvae.

The objective of this study was to assess antagonism of nematophagous fungi and species producers metabolites and their effectiveness on Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L3). Assay A assesses the synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effect on the production of spores of fungal isolates of the species Duddingtonia flagrans, Clonostachys rosea, Trichoderma esau, and Arthrobotrys musiformis; Assay B evaluates in vitro the effect of intercropping of these isolates grown in 2% water-agar (2% WA) on L3 of H. contortus. D. flagrans (Assay A) produced 5.3 × 10(6) spores and associated with T. esau, A. musiformis, or C. rosea reduced its production by 60.37, 45.28, and 49.05%, respectively. T. esau produced 7.9 × 10(7) conidia and associated with D. flagrans, A. musiformis, or C. rosea reduced its production by 39.24, 82.27, and 96.96%, respectively. A. musiformis produced 7.3 × 10(9) spores and associated with D. flagrans, T. esau, or C. rosea reduced its production by 99.98, 99.99, and 99.98%, respectively. C. rosea produced 7.3 × 10(8) conidia and associated with D. flagrans, T. esau, or A. musiformis reduced its production by 95.20, 96.84, and 93.56%, respectively. These results show evidence of antagonism in the production of spores between predators fungi.

Nematocidal activity of extracellular enzymes produced by the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans on cyathostomin infective larvae.

Duddingtonia flagrans produces chitinases, however, optimization of the production of these enzymes still needs to be explored, and its nematocidal activity should still be the subject of studies. The objective of the present study was to optimize chitinase production, and evaluate the nematocidal activity of extracellular enzymes produced by the nematophagous fungus D. flagrans on cyathostomin infective larvae. An isolate from D. flagrans (AC001) was used in this study. For the production of enzymes (protease and chitinase), two different culture media were inoculated with AC001 conidia. Both enzymes were purified. The statistical Plackett-Burman factorial design was used to investigate some variables and their effect on the production of chitinases by D. flagrans. After that, the design central composite (CCD) was used in order to determine the optimum levels and investigate the interactions of these variables previously observed. Only two variables (moisture and incubation time), in the evaluated levels, had a significant effect (p<0.05) on chitinase production. The conditions of maximum chitinase activity were calculated, with the following values: incubation time 2 days, and moisture 511%. The protease and chitinase derived from D. flagrans, individually or together (after 24h), led to a significant reduction (p<0.01) in the number of intact cyathostomin L3, when compared to the control, with following reduction percentage values: 19.4% (protease), 15.5% (chitinase), and 20.5% (protease+chitinase). Significant differences were observed (p<0.05) between the group treated with proteases in relation to the group treated with proteases+chitinases. In this study, the assay with the cyathostomins showed that chitinase had a nematocidal effect, suggesting that this enzyme acts on the "fungus versus nematodes" infection process. It is known that nematode eggs are rich in chitin, and in this case, we could think of a greater employability for this chitinase.

Standardization of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and lactate levels in pigs submitted to laparotomy / Padronização dos níveis de procalcitonina, proteína C- reativa e lactato em suínos submetidos à laparotomia

This study was undertaken to determine the procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and lactate levels in pigs anesthetized and submitted to laparotomy during 5 hours. A total of 05 landrace pigs with 3 months of age and weighing 26 kg were used. After a midline xiphopubic laparotomy, the procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate levels were measured at intervals of 60 minutes for 5 hours with samples taken from the jugular vein. The procalcitonin value remained below 0.05 µg. The CRP values were between 6.7 and 8.3 and lactate levels remained between 2.9 and 3.7 for the confidence interval of 95%. We conclude thtat in pigs submitted to laparotomy for 5 hours, the procalcitonin levels did not exceed 0.05 ng / mL. The C-reactive protein and lactate levels were between 6.7 and 8.3 mg / L and 2.9 and 3.7 mg / d, respectively. These data allowed reducing the number of animals.

Este estudo objetivou definir os níveis de procalcitonina, proteína-c reativa (PCR) e lactato em porcos anestesiados e submetidos à laparotomia mediana por 5 horas fornecendo aos pesquisadores um modelo estabelecido para futuras pesquisas sobre estes mediadores em que se necessite realizar laparotomia em patologias experimentais da cavidade abdominal, reduzindo assim o número de animais utilizados. Após a indução anestésica com tiopental, os animais foram posicionados em decúbito dorsal e realizada a dissecção e canulação da veia jugular para as coletas das amostras. Os níveis de procalcitonina, proteína-c reativa e lactatemia foram mensurados em intervalos de 60 minutos por 5 horas com amostras colhidas da veia jugular. As avaliações da procalcitonina não revelaram aumento durante nenhum dos tempos. Todas se mantiveram com valor abaixo de 0,05 µg. Os valores do PCR ficaram entre 6,7085 e 8,2915 e os valores de lactato permaneceram entre 2,8594 e 3,7406 para o intervalo de confiança de 95%. Conclui-se que suínos submetidos à laparotomia mediana por 5 horas não apresentam alterações nos valores de procalcitonina, podendo então, futuras pesquisas que se utilizarem desta proteína de fase aguda adotar o valor acima de 0,05 ng/mL como referência. Em relação à proteína-c reativa, encontramos valores entre 6,7 e 8,3 mg/L e o lactato entre 2,9 e 3,7 mg/dL. Futuras pesquisas que utilizarem suínos, como modelo experimental de patologias adotando a laparotomia mediana, poderão considerar estes valores como referência. Desta forma, podemos diminuir o número de animais, reduzindo o impacto perante a sociedade e o valor financeiro destes estudos.