CoffeebEST: an integrated resource for Coffea spp expressed sequence tags.

Coffee is one of the most important commodities in the world, and its production relies mainly on two species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Although there are diverse transcriptome datasets available for coffee trees, few research groups have exploited the potential knowledge contained in these data, especially with respect to fruit and seed development. Here, we present a comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora with a focus on fruit development using publicly available expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Most of the fruit and seed EST data has been obtained from C. canephora. Therefore, we performed a fruit EST analysis of the 5 developmental stages of this species (18, 22, 30, 42, and 46 weeks after flowering) comprising 29,009 sequences. We compared C. canephora fruit ESTs to reference unigenes of C. canephora (7710 contigs and 8955 singletons) and C. arabica (15,656 contigs and 16,351 singletons). Additional analyses included functional annotation based on Gene Onthology, as well as an annotation using PlantCyc, a curated plant protein database. The Coffee Bean EST (CoffeebEST) is a public database available at http://bioinfo-02.cp.utfpr.edu.br/. This database represents an additional resource for the coffee scientific community, offering a user-friendly collection of information for non-specialists in coffee molecular biology to support experimental research on comparative and functional genomics.

Factors associated with seropositivity for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pregnant women of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between seropositivity for IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and socio-economic and environmental variables in pregnant women of Londrina, state of Paraná, Brazil. We interviewed 492 pregnant women, each of whom answered an epidemiological questionnaire, and collected blood samples for measurement of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies by chemiluminescence. A confirmatory diagnosis of acute infection was made by an IgG avidity test. Titres of specific IgG anti-T. gondii were obtained by IFAT. Seropositivity for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies was observed in 242 women (49.2%) and, of these, six pregnant women (1.2%) showed seropositivity for IgM. Age group, level of education, per capita income, presence of a cat in the house and a habit of eating green vegetables were all factors associated with a greater chance of infection with T. gondii. This study showed that 250 (50.8%) pregnant women were susceptible to T. gondii and considered to be at high risk for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Based on the results obtained, is critical to establish a program of health surveillance for toxoplasmosis, in order to contribute to diagnosis and early treatment during the prenatal period. It is also necessary to introduce measures to prevent the Toxoplasma infection in seronegative pregnant women.

Ocorrência de enteroparasitos em amostras de alface (lactuca saliva) comercializadas em porto Murtinho - MS / Enteroparasites occurrence in lettuce samples (lactuca sativa) commercialized in porto Murtinho - MS / Presencia de enteroparásitos en muestras de lechuga (Lactuca sativa) consumidas en porto murtinho - MS

A freqüência de parasitos em hortaliças é de grande importância para a saúde pública, pois fornece dados para a Vigilância Sanitária sobre a real situação higiênico-sanitária desses produtos. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de ovos de enteroparasitos em amostras de alface (Lactuca sativa) comercializadas no município de Porto Murtinho, MS, e relacioná-los à origem dos estabelecimentos comerciais. Amostras de alface foram coletadas aleatoriamente em diferentes locais de comércio, sendo eles: hipermercados, frutarias, vendedores ambulantes, mercados, hortas e feiras livres. O material foi processado segundo técnica descrita por Oliveira e Germano (1992). Das 59 amostras de alfaces analisadas, 54 (91,52) foram positivas, sendo 18 (30,5) amostras positivas para Ascaris sp., 13 (22,03) para Trichuris sp, 12 (20,34) para Ancilostomatidae, oito (13,56) para Strongyloides sp. e três (5,09) para Toxocara sp. Com relação à origem dos estabelecimentos que comercializavam alface, 18 amostras foram obtidas diretamente de hortas (dezoito positivas); 12 amostras foram coletadas em frutarias (dez positivas); dez amostras coletadas nos hipermercados (oito positivas); nove amostras de vendedores ambulantes (nove positivas); seis amostras de feiras livres (seis positivas) e quatro amostras coletadas em mercados (três positivas). Estes resultados sugerem que as alfaces comercializadas em Porto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, apresentam condições higiênicas precárias, evidenciada pela alta freqüência de formas parasitárias encontradas.

Occurrence of parasites in vegetables is very important to the public health, because it supplies information to the Health Surveillance on the real hygienical-sanitary situation of these products and the risks in their production. The aim of this work was to evaluate the occurrence of enteroparasites lettuce samples (Lactuca sativa) commercialized in the town of Porto Murtinho, MS, and to relate it to the origin of the commercial establishments. Samples of lettuce were colleted randomly from different types of commerce: supermarkets, fruits venders, ambulant venders, markets, vegetables gardens and free fairs. The material was processed according to technique describe by Oliveira and Germano (1992). A number of 59 samples of lettuce was analyzed 54 (91.52) positive ones, 18 (30.5) positive samples for Ascaris sp., 13 (22.03) for Trichuris sp., 12 (20.34) for Ancilostomatidae, eight (13.56) for Strongyloides sp. and three (5.09) for Toxocara sp. In reference to the establishments that commercialized lettuce had been collected 18 samples in vegetables gardens and all were positive for some parasite; were collected 12 samples in the fruits venders and ten were positive; in the supermarkets with ten collected samples and eight positive; in ambulant with nine and fairs free with six samples and all positive they; and markets, with four collected samples and three positive. These results suggest that the lettuces marketed in Porto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, present precarious hygienic conditions, evidenced by the high frequency in found parasitic ways.

La presencia de parásitos en las verduras es de gran importancia al conocimiento de la salud pública, pues proporciona a la Vigilancia de Salud la información de la situación higiénico-sanitaria verdadera de estos productos y los riesgos en su producción. La investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar la ocurrencia de los huevos de los enteroparásitos en las muestras de lechuga (Lactuca sativa) consumidas en la ciudad de Porto Murtinho, MS, y relacionarla con el origen de los establecimientos comerciales. Las muestras de lechuga fueron recogidas aleatoriamente en diferentes locales del comercio: supermercados, fruterías, vendedores ambulantes, mercados, huertos y ferias libres. El material se procesó según la técnica descripta por Oliveira y Germano (1992). Las 59 muestras de lechugas analisadas 54 (91.52) eran positivas. Tras el análisis se verificó que 54 (91,52) muestras fueron positivas, siendo 18 (30.5) muestras positivas para el Ascaris sp., 13 (22.03) para el Trichuris sp., 12 (20.34) para Ancilostomatidae, 8 (13.56) para el Strongyloides sp. y 3 (5.09) para el Toxocara sp. Con relación al origen de los establecimientos que comercializaban lechuga, 18 muestras fueron obtenidas directamente de huertos (dieciocho positivas); 12 muestras fueron recogidas en fruterías (diez positivas); 10 muestras recogidas en los supermercados (ocho positivas); 09 muestras de vendedores ambulantes (nueve positivas) ; 06 muestras de ferias libres (seis positivas) y 04 muestras recogidas en mercados (tres positivas). Estos resultados sugieren que las lechugas comercializadas en Porto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, presentan las condiciones higiénicas inciertas, evidenciadas por la alta frecuencia de parásitos encontrados.

Prevalência de neoplasias da cavidade oral de cães atendidos no Centro Odontológico Veterinário - Odontovet®-SP - entre 1994 e 2003 / Prevalence of oral cavity neoplasias in dogs attended in the Centro Odontológico Veterinário - Odontovet®-SP - from 1994 to 2003 / Prevalência de las neoplasias de la cavidad oral de perros atendidos en el centro odontológico veterinário - odontovet® - entre 1994 y 2003

A cavidade oral a faringe ocupam o quarto lugar em incidência de neoplasias malignas no corpo do cão doméstico. As neoplasias orais malignas mais comuns são melanoma, o carcinoma de células escamosas e o fibrossarcoma. A epúlide e a papilomatose oral respondem pela grande maioria das neoplasias orais benignas em carnívoros domésticos. Em geral, a literatura relata que os machos são mais freqüentemente acometidos que as fêmeas. A maioria dos casos atinge animais de idade média a avançada, ainda que não sejam raros os acometimentos em animais jovens. Raças como o Cocker Spaniel, o Pastor Alemão e o Boxer são amplamente citadas como as mais predispostas a formações neoplásicas. Neste trabalho, foram estudados os casos de neoplasia oral, comprovados por exame histopatológico, que foram atendidos no Centro Odontológico Veterinário – Odontovet® - SP – entre os anos de 1994 e 2003. De todos os atendimentos de cães, 5,2% foram destinados ao tratamento de formações neoplásicas orais. Noventa e uma formações (45,5%) eram neoplasias de caráter benigno e 100 (50%) eram malignas. Os outros 4,5% dos casos correspondem a tumores diversos e de ocorrência rara na cavidade oral de cães. O melanoma maligno foi o tumor mais freqüente (53% dos casos) seguido pelo carcinoma espino-celular (21%) e pelo fibrossarcoma (11%). A epúlide respondeu pela grande maioria das formações benignas (50%). A idade média dos cães acometidos por lesões malignas foi de 7,3 anos e de 8,5 para aqueles acometidos por lesões benignas. Os animais mais acometidos foram os sem raça definida (SRD) (30 casos), Poodle (27 casos), Cocker Spaniel (18), Pastor Alemão (16), Boxer (15) e Dobermann Pinscher (12). No Brasil, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Pastores Alemães, Boxers e os SRDs estão entre os que mais freqüentemente são conduzidos ao atendimento odontológico para avaliação de tumefações em cavidade oral.

The oral cavity and the pharynx are responsible for the fourth most attacked site by malignant neoplasias. The most common malignant oral tumors in dogs are the melanoma, the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the fi brossarcoma. The epulis and the oral papiloma are the most frequent benign tumors in the domestic carnivorous. Papers report that neoplasia occur in male dogs more than in females. The majority of it occur in middle or advanced age, although it is not rare to occur in young dogs. The Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd Dog and the Boxer are the most frequently attacked by tumors. This work compiled the oral neoplasia diagnosed by histopathologic exam by the Centro Odontológico Veterinário ­ Odontovet®-SP ­ from 1994 to 2003. Of all dogs, 5.2% were submmitted to treatment of oral neoformation. Ninety one (45,5%) were benign tumors and a hundred (50%) were malignant. The other 4,5% were mixed and rare oral tumors. The malignant melanoma was the most commonly observed (53%) followed by SCC (21%) and by fi brossarcoma (11%). The epúlide was the most frequent of the benign tumors (50%). The mean age of the dogs with malignant neoformations was around 7.3 years old and with benign, around 8.5 years old. Mixed breed was the most involved (30 cases), followed by Poodle (27), Cocker Spaniel (18), German Shepherd Dog (16), Boxer (15) and Dobermann Pinscher (12). In Brazil, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, German Shepard, Boxers and the mixed breeds are frequently refered to dental exams or to oral tumor treatment.

La cavidad oral y la faringe de los perros corresponden al cuarto local más acometido por los tumores malignos. Las neoplasías orales malignas más comunes en perros son el melanoma, el carcinoma de células escamosas y el fi brosarcoma. El epúlide y la papilomatosis responden por gran parte de los acometimientos benignos de los carnívoros domésticos. En general, la literatura relata las hembras como siendo menos afectadas que los machos. Gran parte de los casos alcanzan animales con edad media o avanzada, pero no son raros los acometimientos en los animales jóvenes. Razas como el Cocker Spaniel, el Pastor Alemán y el Boxer son ampliamente citadas como las más predispuestas a neoformaciones neoplásicas. En este estudio, fueron acompañados los casos de neoplasía oral comprobados por examen histopatológico que fueron atendidos en el Centro Odontológico Veterinario ­ Odontovet® - entre los años de 1994 y 2003. De todos los perros atendidos, 5,2% fueron destinados al tratamiento de formaciones neoplásicas orales. Noventa y una formaciones (el 45,5%) fueron neoplasías de caracter benigno y 100 (el 50%) fueron malignas. Los otros 4,5% de los casos correspondieron a tumores diversos y raros de ser encontrados en la cavidad oral de perros. El melanoma maligno fue el tumor más frecuente (el 53% de los casos), seguido por el carcinoma espino-celular (el 21%) y fi brosarcoma (el 11%). El epúlide respondió por la grand mayoría de las formaciones benignas (el 50%). La edad media de los perros acometidos por lesiones malignas fue de 7,3 años y por lesiones benignas, 8,5 años. Los animales más acometidos fueron los mestizos (30 casos), Poodle (27 casos), Cocker Spaniel (18), Pastor Alemán (16), Boxer (15) y Dobermann Pinscher (12). En Brasil, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Pastores Alemanes, Boxers y mestizos están entre los animales que más frecuentemente son conducidos a los atendimientos odontológicos para evaluación de las neoformaciones en la cavidad oral.