Energy metabolism and respirometry of lambs fed sun or shade dried hays of banana crop residues.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of different drying methods for banana residues on the energy metabolism and respirometry of growing lambs. Twenty Santa Inês x Dorper lambs were fed five experimental diets: Tifton 85 grass hay (Control), shade-dried banana leaf hay (LH Shade), shade-dried pseudostem banana hay (PH Shade), sun-dried banana leaf hay (LH Sun), and sun-dried banana pseudostem hay (PH Sun). Nutrient intake and digestibility were assessed in metabolic cages, whereas O2 consumption and CO2, methane, and heat production were measured in a respirometry chamber with animals fed at maintenance and ad libitum levels. Nutrient and energy intake was not influenced by diet. Pseudostem hay had higher apparent digestibility of dry matter (71.5%), organic matter (72.4%), and neutral detergent fiber (58.0%). However, this led to greater energy loss in the form of methane (12.1%). The banana residue hays and drying methods did not alter oxygen consumption, CO2 production, or heat production of animals fed ad libitum or during maintenance. On the other hand, the use of leaf hay resulted in a reduction of 24.7% in enteric methane production of animals fed ad libitum. The inclusion of pseudostem hay is recommended in sheep feedlot diet. This residue provided greater use of DM, however promoted a greater loss of energy in the form of methane, resulting in similar energy consumption. The drying methods did not reduce the availability of nutrients and the sun drying method is recommended, since it is a faster drying method.

Does macauba cake alter nutrient digestibility and microorganism population in the rumen of sheep?

Twenty Santa Inês male sheep were used in a randomized block design to evaluate the effects of different levels of macauba cake (MC) on nutrient digestibility and the population of microorganism in the rumen. The animals were divided into four groups according to MC levels (0, 10, 20, and 30% of DM) and initial body weight ranging from 32.75 to 52.17 kg. Diets were isonitrogenous and formulated to attend metabolizable energy requirements, and feed intake was regulated with 10% allowance for leftovers. Each experimental period lasted 20 days, with the final 5 days reserved for sample collection. Macauba cake inclusion did not affect the dry matter, organic matter, or crude protein intake but increased the ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber intake, mainly because of changes in the concentrations of these components in diets with a higher level of MC. With MC inclusion, a linear decreasing effect was observed for the dry matter and organic matter digestibility, and a quadratic effect with a maximum point of 21.5% was observed for the acid detergent fiber digestibility. A relative reduction of 73% in anaerobic fungal populations was observed with the lowest level of MC inclusion, and a relative increase of 162% in methanogenic populations was observed with the highest level of MC inclusion. The increasing level of macauba cake up to 30% of the diet of lambs reduced the dry matter digestibility and reduced anaerobic fungi but increased methanogenic population.

Leishmania diversity in bats from an endemic area for visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in Southeastern Brazil.

This study aimed to determine the occurrence of Leishmania infection in bats in urban and wild areas in an endemic municipality for visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Between April 2014 to April 2015, 247 bats were captured and classified into 26 species belonging to Phyllostomidae (90.7%), Vespertilionidae (8.1%) and Molossidae (1.2%) families. Blood samples from 247 bats were collected and submitted to nested-PCR, targeting the variable V7-V8 region of the SSU rRNA gene, followed by sequencing of the PCR product. The overall infection rate of Leishmania spp. in bats was 4.4%. Of the eleven bats infected, ten were frugivorous bats: Artibeus planirostris (8/11), Artibeus lituratus (1/11) and Artibeus cinereus (1/11) and one a nectarivorous bat (Glossophaga soricina). None of the individuals exhibited macroscopic alterations in the skin, spleen or liver. Phylogenetic analysis separated Leishmania species in clades corresponding to the subgenera Viannia, Leishmania, and Mundinia, and supported that the isolates characterized in the present study clustered closely with Leishmania (Viannia) sp., Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Here we report for the first time the bat Artibeus cinereus as a host of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. In the study we found that the mean abundance of bats did not differ in wild habitats and urban areas and that bat-parasite interactions were similarly distributed in the two environments. On the other hand, further studies should be conducted in more recent times to verify whether there have been changes in these parameters.

Performance and microbiota of the digestive tract of Nellore calves supplemented with fungi isolated from bovine rumen.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In tropical semiarid regions, supplementation with fungi could contribute to rumen modulation, promoting greater production of fibrolytic enzymes and degradation of forage. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of supplementation with fungi, isolated from the bovine rumen, on the performance and microbiota of the digestive tract of Nellore calves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks evaluating eight Nellore calves that were daily supplemented with isolates of Aspergillus terreus and Trichoderma longibrachiatum, along with eight calves that were not supplemented. After 55 days, the animals were weighed, and samples of rumen fluid and feces were collected for analysis. The characteristics that showed normal distribution were subjected to analysis of variance and compared using Tukey's test. Whereas, the variables that did not show normal distribution were subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the frequencies of the bacterial and fungal genera were compared using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: Supplementation with fungi promoted the reduction in ruminal pH (p<0.05). However, the final live weight; average daily weight gain; total weight gain; rumen protozoa; and the count of Enterobacteriaceae, mycelial fungi, and yeasts of ruminal fluid and feces were not influenced by supplementation (p>0.05). Moreover, the protozoa Eodinium spp. was identified only in supplemented calves (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with the fungi presented the potential for use as possible additives because it did not alter the physiological parameters of the facultative anaerobic microbiota composition in the rumen and feces. In addition, it favored the presence of the ciliate genus Eodinium. However, further studies should be performed to better define suitable dosages for supplementation.

Aspectos epidemiológicos e distribuição da cisticercose bovina: uma revisão / Epidemiological aspects and distribution of bovine cysticercosis: a review

A cisticercose é uma parasitose cosmopolita relevante para a saúde pública, animal e economia. Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar dados epidemiológicos da ocorrência da cisticercose bovina em diferentes continentes. Promoveu-se revisão bibliográfica em artigos científicos, dissertações e teses sobre aspectos epidemiológicos e distribuição espacial da cisticercose bovina. Observa-se que a ocorrência dessa parasitose relaciona-se com diversos fatores de natureza socioeconômica, cultural e práticas de manejo empregues em distintos sistemas de produção animal. Baseada principalmente em dados de inspeção de carnes, a ocorrência dessa parasitose tende a ser subestimada, entretanto, muitos dos casos reportados da parasitose apontam ocorrência de forma endêmica em algumas regiões da África e América Latina. A heterogeneidade na distribuição espacial da parasitose, associada a variações de fontes de infecção dos animais, justifica a necessidade de implantação de práticas de vigilância sanitária e informações adicionais referentes às práticas de criação dos animais aos frigoríficos, possibilitando identificar riscos espidemiologicos e desenvolver medidas alternativas de controle do complexo teníase cisticercose.(AU)

Notable fibrolytic enzyme production by Aspergillus spp. isolates from the gastrointestinal tract of beef cattle fed in lignified pastures.

Fungi have the ability to degrade vegetal cell wall carbohydrates, and their presence in the digestive tract of ruminants can minimize the effects of lignified forage on ruminal fermentation. Here, we evaluated enzyme production by Aspergillus spp. isolates from the digestive tracts of cattle grazed in tropical pastures during the dry season. Filamentous fungi were isolated from rumen and feces by culture in cellulose-based medium. Ninety fungal strains were isolated and identified by rDNA sequence analysis, microculture, or both. Aspergillus terreus was the most frequently isolated species, followed by Aspergillus fumigatus. The isolates were characterized with respect to their cellulolytic, xylanolytic, and lignolytic activity through qualitative evaluation in culture medium containing a specific corresponding carbon source. Carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity was quantified by the reducing sugar method. In the avicel and xilan degradation test, the enzyme activity (EA) at 48 h was significantly higher other periods (P < 0.05). Intra- and inter-specific differences in EA were verified, and high levels of phenoloxidases, which are crucial for lignin degradation, were observed in 28.9% of the isolates. Aspergillus terreus showed significantly higher EA for avicelase (3.96 ±1.77) and xylanase (3.13 ±.091) than the other Aspergillus species at 48 h of incubation. Isolates AT13 and AF69 showed the highest CMCase specific activity (54.84 and 33.03 U mg-1 protein, respectively). Selected Aspergillus spp. isolates produced remarkable levels of enzymes involved in vegetal cell wall degradation, suggesting their potential as antimicrobial additives or probiotics in ruminant diets.

Sheep fed with banana leaf hay reduce ruminal protozoa population.

A ciliate protozoa suppression can reduce methane production increasing the energy efficiency utilization by ruminants. The physicochemical characteristics of rumen fluid and the profile of the rumen protozoa populations were evaluated for sheep fed banana leaf hay in replacement of the Cynodon dactylon cv. vaqueiro hay. A total of 30 male sheep were raised in intensive system during 15 days of adaptation and 63 days of experimental period. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design that included six replicates of five treatments with replacement levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) of the grass vaquero for the banana leaf hay. Samples of fluid were collected directly from the rumen with sterile catheters. Color, odor, viscosity, and the methylene blue reduction potential (MBRP) were evaluated and pH estimated using a digital potentiometer. After decimal dilutions, counts of genus protozoa were performed in Sedgewick Rafter chambers. The averages of pH, MBRP, color, odor, and viscosity were not influenced by the inclusion of the banana leaf hay. However, the total number of protozoa and Entodinium spp. population significantly decreased at 75 and 100% inclusions of banana leaf hay as roughage.

Helminthiasis characterization and anthelmintic efficacy for ewes and lambs raised in tropical semiarid region.

In this study the helminthiasis and anthelmintic effectiveness in ewes and lambs were evaluated in a semiarid region of Brazil. Twelve sheep farms were investigated using semi-structured questionnaires and fecal egg count (FEC) reduction test was employed to analyze the profile of anthelmintic resistance. Groups of at least 10 animals with FEC ≥ 300 were selected. After 12 h of fasting, homogeneous groups of lambs or ewes were treated with albendazole, levamisole moxidectin, or oxfendazole and control groups were not treated. Feces were collected before treatments and 14 days after, and larvae genera were identified after cuprocultures in both periods. Extensive grazing was the predominant creation system, using hybrid Santa Ines animals. The separation by age was promoted in 75% of herds; however, maternity pickets there were only in three farms. The strategic treatments were performed only in 8.4% of sheep farms and 16.6% used the anthelmintic efficacy test and alternated anthelmintic classes after 1 year. The initial FEC means for lambs were significantly higher than ewe FEC averages. For lamb tests, moxidectin and levamisole showed higher efficacy (p ≤ 0.05) than benzimidazoles. For ewe tests, moxidectin and levamisole showed efficiencies >75%. Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. were the most frequent nematodes before treatments and the genus Haemonchus was the most prevalent after anthelmintic treatments (p < 0.05). Variations of anthelmintic susceptibility were observed for categories and herds evaluated, which emphasizes the importance of the effectiveness tests for the choice of anthelmintics for ewes and lambs.

Control of Haemonchus contortus in sheep using basidiocarps of Agaricus blazei Murril.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects in vitro and in vivo of Agaricus blazei against Haemonchus contortus in sheep. METHODS: The in vitro efficacy of aqueous extract on egg hatching inhibition (EHI) was investigated and after 72 h incubation with varying concentrations the effects on, blastomeres, embryonated eggs, and first stage larvae (L1) were evaluated. Larval development inhibition (LDI) for dry powder and the aqueous extract were evaluated in fecal cultures of sheep infected with H. contortus. In vivo efficacy was determined by reduction in fecal egg count (FEC). Lambs were treated with powder A. blazei (11.4 g/kg pc) or trichlorfon, or were untreated and the possible toxicity of this fungus was monitored by plasmatic enzyme analysis. RESULTS: Concentrations equal to and higher than 3.62 mg/mL and of aqueous extract were 100% effective in the EHI test. In the LDI test, LC90 was estimated for 5.66 and 106.0 mg/g fecal culture for aqueous extract and powder, respectively. The mean FEC in lambs 14 days post-treatment with A. blazei powder was significantly lower than observed for the negative control, and the serum levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were normal. CONCLUSION: The fungi supplementation promotes, respectively, high and moderate anthelmintic efficacy with in vitro and in vivo tests, respectively, suggesting it as an alternative or complementary treatment for haemonchosis in sheep.

Sobrevivência de patógenos de origem alimentar aderidos em aço inoxidável após aplicação de óleo essencial de Cymbopogon flexuosus / Survival of foodborne pathogens adhered Survival of foodborne pathogens adhered to the stainless steel after applying the Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil

Foi avaliada a atividade antimicrobiana de diferentes concentrações do óleo essencial (OE) de Cymbopogon flexuosus sobre as estirpes padrão de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e Salmonella Choleraesuis aderidas em superfície de aço inoxidável AISI 304 #4. Inicialmente, as concentrações inibitórias mínimas (CIM) e as concentrações bactericidas mínimas (CBM) do OE foram determinadas pela técnica de macrodiluição em caldo. Posteriormente, a adesão e a formação de biofilme em superfícies de aço inoxidável foram avaliadas por 15 h a 37 °C sob agitação, e a ação sanitizante do OE contra as células aderidas nos cupons após 20 e 40 min de contato. O valor da CIM encontrada para todas as espécies foi de 7,5 μL.mL-1, e esta concentração foi utilizada para o preparo da solução sanitizante. Após ambos os períodos de sanitização constatou-se a remoção total das células aderidas para as espécies de E. coli e S. Choleraesuis. Não foi possível eliminar as células aderidas de S. aureus, contudo, houve uma redução quando comparada ao número de células aderidas antes de serem submetidas aos tratamentos de sanitização. O OE de C. flexuosus pode ser uma alternativa no controle microbiano em superfícies durante o processamento de alimentos.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of different concentrations of essential oil (EO) of Cymbopogon flexuosos on the standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella Choleraesuis adhered to the stainless steel surface AISI 304 #4. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined by means of EO macrodilution broth assay. Subsequently, the adhesion and the biofilm formation on stainless steel surface were evaluated for 15 h at 37 °C under agitation, and also the OE sanitizing action against adherent cells on the coupons after 20 and 40 min of contact. The MIC value found for all species was 7.5 μL.mL-1, which is the concentration used for preparing the sanitizing solution. A complete removal of adhered cells of E. coli and S. Choleraesuis occurred after being exposed during both periods of time. The adhered cells of S. aureus were not removed; however, a reduction in the number of adhered cells was detected when compared to that quantity showed before being subjected to sanitizing treatments. The EO of C. flexuosus might be an alternative for microbial control in surfaces during food processing.

Plants of the Cerrado naturally selected by grazing sheep may have potential for inhibiting development of Haemonchus contortus larva.

Plant species naturally selected by sheep grazing in the Cerrado region of Brazil were assessed in vitro for activity against Haemonchus contortus. One year of observations showed the plant families in the region exhibiting greatest richness to be Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Malpighiaceae, Bignoniaceae, Myrtaceae, and Annonaceae. Nine species commonly selected by grazing sheep showed variation in the selectivity index with respect to the dry and rainy seasons. Coproculture was conducted in five replicates of 11 treatments: ivermectin, distilled water, or dehydrated leaves of nine selected plant species administered at 333.3 mg g(-1) fecal culture. The dried powder of Piptadenia viridiflora and Ximenia americana leaves significantly reduced the number of infective larvae compared to the distilled water control. These species showed efficacy of over 85 % despite low concentrations of proanthocyanidin. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses of extracts of these plants showed major peaks of UV spectra characteristic of flavonoids. Those naturally selected plant species with high antihelminthic efficacy show promise for use in diet as an alternative control of H. contortus in sheep.

Óleo essencial de Rosmarinus officinalis L. como sanitizante natural para controle de bactérias sésseis em superfície utilizada para corte de alimentos / Essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. as natural sanitizer for controlling the sessile bacteria and as antimicrobial on the food-cutting surfaces

Objetivou-se neste estudo determinar as concentrações mínimas inibitórias (CMI) e as concentrações bactericidas mínimas (CBM) pela técnica de macrodiluição em caldo do óleo essencial (OE) de Rosmarinus officinalis L. sobre as cepas padrões de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, SalmonellaCholeraesuis e Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Avaliou-se também a ação antibacteriana de soluções do OE sobre estes micro-organismos aderidos, por 12 h a 37 °C sob agitação, em superfície de polipropileno utilizada para corte de alimentos. As soluções sanitizantes de OE foram formuladas com base nos valores encontrados nas CBM, para cada estirpe bacteriana separadamente. A ação sanitizante da solução contra as células aderidas à superfície foi avaliada após 20 e 40 minutos de contato. Para E. coli, S. Choleraesuise P. aeruginosa, o tempo de 20 minutos de contato foi suficiente para a remoção total das células aderidas, e para S. aureus houve redução significativa para ambos os períodos avaliados. O OE de alecrim pode ser considerado como alternativa natural para realizar o controle de bactérias patogênicas e contaminantes na indústria de alimentos...

Characterization of fungi from ruminal fluid of beef cattle with different ages and raised in tropical lignified pastures.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the aerobic rumen mycobiota from three age groups of Nelore beef cattle reared extensively on lignified pasture. The experiment was randomized and sampled 50 steers, 50 cows, and 50 calves grazed on Brachiaria spp. pasture during the dry season. Rumen fluid in all animals was aromatic, slightly viscous, and greenish-brown in color. Microscopic examination revealed monocentric and polycentric anaerobic fungi in similar proportions (P > 0.05) in the rumen fluid of cows and steers. However, these microorganisms were not identified in any of the samples from calves. In culture exams, aerobic filamentous population was significantly higher for rumen fluid of cows compared to the other two groups. Microculture and rDNA sequence analyses showed Aspergillus spp. as the most frequent aerobic fungus among the isolates from the three bovine groups evaluated. Biochemical profiles were determined by the growth level of yeast isolates with 44 nutrient sources. Ten different yeast profiles were obtained, and yeast isolates from cow ruminal fluid showed ability to catabolize greater diversity of carbon and nitrogen sources. The differences in the fungal populations observed in this study could be explained by microbial and physiological interactions existing in the ruminal ecosystem of each age bovine group. The present study showed the fungal population of the rumen related with differences among age of cattle raised in lignified pastures. Metabolic capabilities of mycelial fungi or yeast identified in this study may be employed in new probiotics or microbial additives for different bovine categories.

Chemical composition and efficacy in the egg-hatching inhibition of essential oil of Piper aduncum against Haemonchus contortus from sheep

Piper aduncum L., Piperaceae, has been used to treat mainly inflammatory diseases and has shown several biological activities such as insecticidal and larvicidal. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of essential oil of P. aduncum and its efficacy to egg-hatching inhibition of Haemonchus contortus from sheep. The essential oil was obtained from leaves and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. It was possible to characterize 22 different substances, among them monoterpenes (80.6%) and sesquiterpenes (13.9%). The major compound was identified as 1,8-cineole (55.8%). Eggs of the nematode were exposed to four concentrations of the essential oil. Levamisole phosphate was used as positive control. The essential oil showed to be effective in inhibiting H. contortus hatchability and the LC90 was calculated as 8.9 mg.ml-1. These results can point out the P. aduncum essential oil and its chemical components as potential alternative to control of H. contortus .

Effect of aqueous extracts of Baccharis trimera on development and hatching of Rhipicephalus microplus (Acaridae) eggs.

This study evaluated the effects of aqueous extracts of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC (Asteraceae), colloquially known as carqueja, on egg production, and hatching rate of larvae of Rhipicephalus microplus. Plant samples were collected in Montes Claros, north of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Adult female ticks were distributed into 24 homogeneous groups of 10. The in vitro test was performed by immersing each group in 10 ml solutions of aqueous extracts at 50, 100, 150, or 200mg of fresh leaves ml(-1). These concentrations were compared with distilled water as negative control and a commercial product as positive control and the tests were repeated four times. The carqueja extract at concentrations of 150 and 200mg of fresh leaves ml(-1) showed 100% efficacy in inhibiting egg hatching and therefore could have potential as an acaricide.

Anthelminthic efficacy of banana crop residues on gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep: in vitro and in vivo tests.

Resistance to anthelminthics is common due to intensive and incorrect use. In searching for alternatives, extracts of banana plant were evaluated for egg hatching inhibition and fecal egg count reduction of sheep nematodes. Aqueous extracts of the leaf, pseudostem, and heart of the banana plant cv. Prata anã were tested at concentrations of 0.31, 0.62, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg ml(-1) in egg hatching inhibition tests. For in vivo analysis, aqueous extracts were evaluated at dosages calculated according to the 10% lethal dose derived from acute toxicity testing in mice. Efficacy was evaluated at two time periods following oral administration. For the banana extracts at 2.5 mg ml(-1), egg hatching was significantly fewer than the negative control, with an LC(50) and LC(90) of 0.19 and 0.84 mg ml(-1), respectively. In vivo analysis for weeks 1 and 2 following a single treatment with aqueous leaf extract showed 33.1% and 32.5% anthelminthic efficacy, respectively. Further research on higher dosages with more frequent administration is needed to evaluate the potential for utilizing banana plant residues in gastrointestinal nematode control.

Cinética da degradação ruminal de dietas contendo farelo de casca de pequi / Ruminal degradation kinetics of diets with pequi hulls bran

A casca de pequi é um resíduo do processamento do fruto, encontrado em grande volume nas regiões do cerrado brasileiro, que pode constituir uma alternativa para a alimentação de ruminantes. Avaliou-se a cinética da degradação ruminal da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) do farelo da casca de pequi (FCP) e de dietas contendo diferentes níveis do resíduo em substituição ao capim-elefante (CE). Foram utilizados quatro caprinos, machos, portando cânulas ruminais, dispostos em um delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com parcela subdividida. Avaliaram-se os parâmetros de degradabilidade do FCP, capim-elefante e de dietas contendo 0, 10, 20 e 30 por cento de FCP em substituição ao CE. Os alimentos foram incubados no rúmen nos tempos de 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 e 96 horas. Os resultados indicaram degradação potencial da MS, PB e FDN do resíduo superiores a 90, 80 e 80 por cento, respectivamente. A adição do FCP em substituição ao CE resultou em maior degradabilidade da matéria seca e fibra em detergente neutro, reflexo da maior fração solúvel e potencialmente degradável da MS do FCP. Para a fração protéica, a adição de FCP correlacionou-se negativamente com a fração solúvel, degradação potencial e efetiva, e positivamente com a fração insolúvel potencialmente degradável. A substituição do capim-elefante por FCP permite melhor aproveitamento da dieta, elevando o aporte de nutrientes ao animal.

The pequi hulls is a waste of pequi processing, found in large volume in the Brazilian Cerrado, which may provide an alternative to ruminants' diet. This experiment was developed to evaluate the ruminal degradation kinects of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of pequi hulls bran (PHB) and experimental diets, with different substitution levels of elephant grass (EG) by pequi hulls bran. Four goats castrated with ruminal cannulas were used in a randomized complete block as experimental design. It was evaluated the ruminal degradation of PHB, elephant grass and four diets with 0, 10, 20 e 30 percent of PHB in substitution to elephant grass. The feeds were incubated in the rumen at times 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The results showed that the PHB had high degradation potential DM, CP and NDF, over 90, 80 and 80 percent respectively. The addition of the PHB, replacing the EG, resulted in a higher degradability of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber, because the pequi waste had higher soluble and potentially degradable fraction of DM than elephant grass. The PHB addition was negatively correlated with the soluble CP and with the potential and effective degradation of the CP, and positively correlated with insoluble potentially digestible CP. The EG substitution for PHB allows better utilization of the diets, increasing the nutrient supplies to the animal.

Eficiência da compostagem sobre a qualidade do biossólido de esgoto doméstico e resíduos agrícolas, utilizado para cultivo do cogumelo do sol (Agaricus blazei Murril) / Efficiency of composting biosolids on the quality of domestic sewage and agricultural waste, used for cultivation of the mushroom of the sun (Agaricus blazei Murrill)

A eficácia da compostagem foi estudada para remoção de contaminantes presentes em substratos alternativos contendo lodo de esgoto a serem utilizados para cultivo do cogumelo do sol (Agaricus blazei Murril). Substratos contendo cinco relações de carbono/nitrogênio: 25, 30, 35,40 e 45 eram compostos por cinco combinações diferentes de resíduos agrícolas. O material foi preparado e submetido ao processo de compostagem. Para avaliar a eficiência da remoção de coliformes fecais e aeróbios mesófilos, realizaram-se análises microbiológicas de amostras de cada ingrediente a ser utilizado para preparo dos compostos, de amostras de cada biossólido referentes aos 5 tratamentos com as cinco diferentes relações C/N, antes e após da pasteurização. Amostras dos frutos cultivados nos diferentes substratos também foram analisadas. Ao serem analisados os resultados, observou- se que houve redução na presençade aeróbios mesófilos como de coliforme, em 80% das amostras analisadas. Essa ocorrência de microorganismos permitiu a classificação como lodo A, sendo de uso irrestrito. Não houve contaminação dos frutos cultivados em nenhum dos substratos avaliados. Concluiu-se que o tratamento adotado promoveu a higienização dos substratos tomando os aptos para aplicação no cultivo do cogumelo do sol e demais hortaliças.

The effectiveness of composting was studied in order to remove the contaminants in alternative substratescontaining sludge, used in the cultivation of Sun Mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murril).Substrates containing five relations of carbon/ nitrogen: 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 were composed of five different agricultural waste combinations. The material was prepared and submitted to the composting process. With the purpose of evaluating the efficiency of the removal of fecal coliforms and aerobic mesophiles, were conducted microbiological analysis of samples of each ingredient used in the compost preparation and samples consisting of each biosolid relating to the five different relations C/N, before and after the pasteurization. Samples of fruit grown on different substrates were also analyzed. According to the results analyzed, it was observed the decrease of aerobic mesophiles and coliforms, in 80% of the samples. The sludge was classified as "A ", because of the occurrence of microorganisms. There was no contaminationof fruits grown in any of the substrates evaluated. It was concluded that the treatment promoted the substrates hygiene, making them suitable for application in the cultivation of Sun Mushroom and other vegetables.

Eficácia de resíduos da bananicultura sobre a inibição do desenvolvimento larval em Haemonchus spp. provenientes de ovinos / Efficacy of banana crop residues on the inhibition of larval development in Haemonchus spp. from sheep

Com o presente estudo, foi avaliada a eficácia in vitro de extratos vegetais de resíduos da bananicultura sobre a inibição do desenvolvimento larval de nematódeos gastrintestinais de ovinos. A técnica de coprocultura quantitativa e qualitativa foi empregada para avaliar a eficácia anti-helmíntica dos extratos aquosos de folhas, pseudocaules e corações de bananeiras da cultivar 'Prata Anã', nas concentrações 25, 75 e 150mg mL-1, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que os três extratos, em concentrações iguais ou superiores a 75mg mL-1, reduziram significativamente (P<0,05) o desenvolvimento larval dos nematódeos, com eficácia acima de 96,9 por cento. A identificação das larvas desenvolvidas revelou a ocorrência de Haemonchus spp. nas culturas avaliadas, permitindo concluir que as partes testadas da bananeira apresentam propriedades anti-helmínticas sobre o desenvolvimento larval desse importante parasito.

This study evaluated the in vitro efficacy of aqueous extracts from banana crop residues on the inhibition of larval development of sheep gastrointestinal nematodes. The quantitative and qualitative coproculture technique was performed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of the aqueous extract of leafs , pseudostems and hearts from banana plants, cv 'Prata Anã', at 25, 75 and 150mg mL-1 concentrations, in a completely randomized design. The results showed that the three extracts, in concentrations equal to or greater than 75mg mL-1, decreased significantly (P<0.05) the nematodes larval development, with efficacy up 96.9 percent. The identification of the developed larvae revealed occurrence of Haemonchus spp. in the evaluated samples, allowing to conclude that the tested parts of this plant showed anthelmintic properties on the larval development of this important parasite.