Effects of curcumin and yucca extract addition in feed of broilers on microorganism control (anticoccidial and antibacterial), health, performance and meat quality.

The aim of this study was to determine whether curcumin and yucca extract addition in broiler feed improves growth, health, and meat quality, and to measure coccidiostatic and antimicrobial activity so as to enable replacement of conventional performance enhancers. We used 240 birds in four treatments: CN, basal feed with antibiotics and coccidiostatic drugs; CU, feed with 100 mg/kg of curcumin; YE, feed with 250 mg/kg of yucca extract; and CU + YE, feed with the combination of 100 mg curcumin/kg and 250 mg yucca extract/kg. A significant reduction in oocysts was observed in birds supplemented with combined additives (CU + YE) at days 37 compared to other treatments and at 42 days in relation to the CU treatment. At 42 days, the total bacterial counts for the CN and CU treatments were lower than the others. Birds fed the additive had lower numbers of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and heterophils than did those in the CN treatment. The highest levels of antioxidants in meat were observed in the treatments with the additives, together with lower levels of lipid peroxidation compared to the CN. The lowest protein oxidation was observed in the CU + YE treatment in relation to the other treatments. Lower total levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) were observed in the CU treatment than in the CN. There were lower levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in the meat of birds in the YE treatment in relation to the others. Higher levels of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were observed in birds that consumed curcumin, individually and in combination with yucca extract. Taken together, the data suggest that curcumin and yucca extract are additives that can potentially replace conventional growth promoters; they improved bird health. Changes in the fatty acid profile of meat (increase in the percentage of omegas) are beneficial to the health of the consumer.

Trypanosoma evansi impacts on embryonic neural progenitor cell functions.

Trypanosoma evansi appears to have a significant tropism for brain tissue in its chronic and acute phases. The most common symptoms of this brain infection are motor incoordination, meningoencephalitis, demyelination, and anemia. There have only been few studies of the effects of T. evansi infection on neuronal differentiation and brain plasticity. Here, we investigated the impact of the congenital T. evansi infection on brain development in mice. We collected telencephalon-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from T. evansi uninfected and infected mice, and cultivated them into neurospheres. We found that T. evansi significantly decreased the number of cells during development of neurospheres. Analysis of neurosphere differentiation revealed that T. evansi infection significantly increased neural migration. We also observed that T. evansi promoted expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in infected cells. These data suggest that congenital T. evansi infection may affect embryonic brain development.

Effects of resveratrol on the differentiation fate of neural progenitor cells of mouse embryos infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chagas disease (CD) affecting about 7 million people is caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The central nervous system (CNS) is an important site for T. cruzi persistence in the host during the chronic phase of infection, because the protozoan may pass the blood-brain barrier and may cause motor and cognitive neuronal damage. Thinking about avoiding or minimizing these negative effects, it is hypothesized that resveratrol (RSV), a component with several medicinal properties has beneficial effects on the CNS. The objective of this study was to investigate, whether T. cruzi infection interferes with neurogenesis and gliogenesis of embryos of infected mice females, and whether RSV would be able to avoid or minimize these changes caused by CD. RSV is a polyphenol found in grapes and widely studied for its neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. In addition, we investigated the role caused by the parasite during congenital infection and CNS development. Embryos and their brains were PCR-positive for T. cruzi. For this study, NPCs obtained from telencephalon of infected and uninfected embryos and were cultured in presence of resveratrol for forming neurospheres. The results demonstrated that the congenital transmission of T. cruzi influences CNS formation and neural fate, decreasing the number of neuroespheres and causing an elongation in the phases of the cell cycle. In addition, the parasite promoted an increase in neugliogenesis. Resveratrol was neuroprotective and prevented negative effects of the infection. Thus, we suggest the use of resveratrol as a therapeutic target for the treatment of neuroinflammation or as neuroprotective agent during Chagas disease, as it improves gliogenesis and restores neural migration.

Imidocarb dipropionate in the treatment of Anaplasma marginale in cattle: Effects on enzymes of the antioxidant, cholinergic, and adenosinergic systems.

Anaplasmosis is a worldwide hemolytic disease in cattle caused by a gram-negative obligatory intracellular bacterium, characterized by anemia and jaundice. Among the treatments used for anaplasmosis is a drug called imidocarb dipropionate, also indicated as an immunomodulator agent. However, it causes side effects associated with increased levels of acetylcholine. In view of this, the effects of imidocarb dipropionate on the purinergic system, and antioxidant enzymes in animals naturally infected by Anaplasma marginale were evaluated. Young cattle (n = 22) infected by A. marginale were divided into two groups: the Group A consisted of 11 animals used as controls; and the Group B composed of 11 animals. Imidocarb dipropionate (5 mg/kg) was used subcutaneously to treat both groups (the Group A on day 6 and the Group B on day 0). The treatment reduced acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities, and increased the dismutase superoxide and catalase activities. No changes on lipid peroxidation (TBARS levels) and BChE activities were noticed. These results suggest that imidocarb dipropionate used to treat A. marginale infection in cattle has effect on antioxidant enzymes, and significantly inhibits the enzymatic activities of ADA and AChE.