Primary Photosensitization by Chamaecrista serpens in Santa Inês Sheep.

This study aimed to clarify the type of photosensitization induced by C. serpens and to verify if the plant remains toxic after being collected and stored. Eight crossbred sheep, aged between 6 and 36 months, were divided into three groups (G1 to G3). Over 30 days, daily, G1 received an exclusive diet of C. serpens, and G2 and G3 received 10 g/kg/BW and 20 g/kg/BW, respectively. Two other sheep were used as controls (CG). Before administration, the plant had been harvested every 15 days. Liver biopsies and blood samples were taken from all sheep on day zero and weekly. All sheep that received the plant developed clinical signs of photosensitization, and no changes were observed in the serum activities of AST and GGT. On day 30, all sheep except Ov1 from G1 and Ov7 were euthanized and necropsied. All sheep that received the plant developed clinical signs. Macroscopic or histologic lesions were not observed in the liver. Ov 1 recovered 13 days after the end of ingestion. These results demonstrated that C. serpens causes primary photosensitization. It is advisable to avoid grazing on pastures invaded by the plant or to remove them from the pastures immediately after observing the first signs.

Tracing lineage by phenotypic and genotypic markers in Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- and Salmonella Typhimurium isolated in state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Fifty-three Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- and 45 Salmonella Typhimurium strains were characterised using phage typing, plasmid profiles and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for comparison. The majority of the strains were subdivided into definitive type (DT) 41 (22.6%) and DT 193 (18%) and the 60-MDa plasmid was detected in 94.3% and 84.4% of strains, respectively. Genetic diversity was observed among all strains and 90% presented a > 70% similarity through PFGE analysis. These results suggest a close relationship between Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- and Salmonella Typhimurium at the serotype level.

Resultados econômicos da atividade leiteira na região de Lavras (MG) nos anos 2004 e 2005: um estudo multicasos / Economical results of milk production systems in Lavras region (MG) throughout the years 2004 and 2005: a multicase study

Estudou-se a rentabilidade da atividade leiteira de 17 propriedades da região de Lavras/MG e identificaram-se os componentes que exerceram maior influência sobre os custos finais da atividade. Os dados foram coletados mensalmente durante o período de janeiro de 2004 a dezembro de 2005. Considerou-se a margem bruta, a margem líquida e o resultado (lucro ou prejuízo) como indicadores de eficiência econômica. Os itens componentes do custo operacional efetivo que exerceram maior influência sobre os custos da atividade leiteira foram, em ordem decrescente, alimentação (55,9 por cento), mão-de-obra (19,1 por cento), despesas diversas (11,3 por cento), energia (7,1 por cento), sanidade (4,9 por cento), ordenha (0,74 por cento), impostos (0,74 por cento) e inseminação artificial (0,23 por cento). A margem líquida e o resultado positivo indicam que os pecuaristas têm condições de produzir a médio e a longo prazo, com conseqüente capitalização. Os resultados do estudo não podem ser extrapolados por não se tratar de uma amostra probabilística.

It was studied the profitability of the milk production in 17 properties in the region of Lavras (MG), and the components that had the greatest influence on the final costs of the business were identified. The data were monthly collected from January 2004 to December 2005. The gross margin, net margin, and the result (profit or loss) were taken into consideration as indicators of economic efficiency. The component items of the effective operational cost that had the greatest influence upon the costs of dairy business were, in decreasing order, feeding (55.9 percent), labor (19.1 percent), different expenses (11.3 percent), energy (7.1 percent), health (4.9 percent), milking (0.74 percent), taxes (0.74 percent), and artificial insemination (0,23 percent). The net margin and the positive result show the farmers have conditions to produce in middle and long terms, with consequent capitalization. Although, the results of the study can not be extrapolated, since they do not represent a random sampling.

Phenotypical and genotypical characterization of Bordetella pertussis strains isolated in São Paulo, Brazil, 1988-2002.

Whooping cough or pertussis was a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the world until the introduction of a whole-cell vaccine in the 1940's. However, since the early 1980's whooping cough cases have increased in many countries, becoming an important problem of public health. This increase may be due to accuracy of laboratory diagnosis and reporting of the disease, a decline in immunity over time, demographic changes, and adaptation of the bacterial population to vaccine-induced immunity. The purpose of this study was to analyze phenotypically and genotypically a collection of 67 Bordetella pertussis isolates recovered during the period 1988-2002 in São Paulo State, Brazil to determine their characteristics and relatedness. All isolates were submitted to susceptibility testing to erythromycin, serotyping, and 56 isolates were analyzed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). All isolates were susceptible to erythromycin and the majority of them belonged to serotype 1,3. The 56 isolates were classified into 11 PFGE profiles according to the differences in banding patterns. Although more than 60% of the isolates were recovered from patients aged less than three months, almost 15% of them were isolated from adolescents/adults evidencing the increase in the incidence of pertussis among this age group.

Phenotypical and genotypical characterization of Bordetella pertussis strains isolated in São Paulo, Brazil, 1988-2002

Whooping cough or pertussis was a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the world until the introduction of a whole-cell vaccine in the 1940's. However, since the early 1980's whooping cough cases have increased in many countries, becoming an important problem of public health. This increase may be due to accuracy of laboratory diagnosis and reporting of the disease, a decline in immunity over time, demographic changes, and adaptation of the bacterial population to vaccine-induced immunity. The purpose of this study was to analyze phenotypically and genotypically a collection of 67 Bordetella pertussis isolates recovered during the period 1988-2002 in São Paulo State, Brazil to determine their characteristics and relatedness. All isolates were submitted to susceptibility testing to erythromycin, serotyping, and 56 isolates were analyzed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). All isolates were susceptible to erythromycin and the majority of them belonged to serotype 1,3. The 56 isolates were classified into 11 PFGE profiles according to the differences in banding patterns. Although more than 60 percent of the isolates were recovered from patients aged less than three months, almost 15 percent of them were isolated from adolescents/adults evidencing the increase in the incidence of pertussis among this group of age.

A coqueluche ou pertussis foi a maior causa de morbidade e mortalidade infantil em todo o mundo até a introdução de uma vacina na década de 1940. Entretanto, desde a década de 1980, a coqueluche tornou-se, em muitos países , um importante problema de saúde pública. Este acontecimento pode ser atribuído à melhoria do diagnóstico laboratorial e da notificação da doença, declínio da imunidade no decorrer do tempo, mudanças demográficas ou adaptação da população bacteriana à imunidade induzida pela vacina. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as características fenotípicas e genotípicas de uma coleção de 67 cepas de Bordetella pertussis isoladas no período 1988-2002 em São Paulo, Brasil. Todas as cepas foram submetidas à determinação do perfil de resistência à eritromicina, à sorotipagem e 56 cepas à eletroforese em campo pulsado (PFGE). Todas as cepas foram sensíveis à eritromicina e a maioria delas pertencia ao sorotipo 1,3. As 56 cepas foram classificadas em 11 perfis de PFGE com base nas diferenças no padrão de bandas. Embora mais de 60 por cento das cepas tenham sido isoladas de crianças com menos de três meses de idade, cerca de 15 por cento delas era de adolescentes/adultos evidenciando um aumento da incidência da coqueluche nesse grupo etário.

Análise de rentabilidade de uma empresa com opção de comercialização de queijo ou leite / Analysis of profitability in a production system with the option of commercializing cheese or milk

Por meio de simulações, compararam-se os dados de rentabilidade do sistema de produção de uma propriedade rural localizada em Nepomuceno, MG, considerando duas situações: a primeira, real, produz queijo, e a segunda, simulada, vende leite para o laticínio. A produção e a comercialização de queijo mostraram-se mais rentáveis que a comercialização do leite in natura, representando uma alternativa para o incremento da renda do produtor de leite.

It was performed a simulation in order to compare the profitability of a cheese producer dairy farm, located in Nepomuceno city, Minas Gerais state. According to the simulation, data of the production system were compared in two different situations: cheese production (real) and selling milk to dairy. The cheese production and marketing was more profitable than milk selling, representing an alternative to increase the productorÆs income.

Imunidade conferida por vacinas anti-meningocócicas / Immunity confered by anti-meningococci vaccines

Em razäo da recente epidemia de doença meningocócica causada por N. meningitidis B na Grande Säo Paulo, Brasil, foi feita revisäo das epidemias dessa doença ocorridas no Brasil desde o início do século e uma análise das vacinas atuais contra N. meningitidis A, C, Y e W135. Também säo discutidos os mais recentes avanços no desenvolvimento e aplicaçäo de vacina contra N. meningitidis B, um desafio constante para os maiores centros de pesquisa de todo o mundo