RESUMO

Abstract Between July 2014 and April 2015, we conducted weekly inventories of the circadian activity patterns of mammals in Passo Novo locality, municipality of Alegrete, southern Brazil. The vegetation is comprised by a grassy-woody steppe (grassland). We used two camera traps alternately located on one of four 1 km transects, each separated by 1 km. We classified the activity pattern of species by the percentage of photographic records taken in each daily period. We identify Cuniculus paca individuals by differences in the patterns of flank spots. We then estimate the density 1) considering the area of riparian forest present in the sampling area, and 2) through capture/recapture analysis. Cuniculus paca, Conepatus chinga and Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris were nocturnal, Cerdocyon thous had a crepuscular/nocturnal pattern, while Mazama gouazoubira was cathemeral. The patterns of circadian activity observed for medium and large mammals in this Pampa region (southern grasslands) may reflect not only evolutionary, biological and ecological affects, but also human impacts not assessed in this study. We identified ten individuals of C. paca through skin spot patterns during the study period, which were recorded in different transects and months. The minimum population density of C. paca was 3.5 individuals per km2 (resident animals only) and the total density estimates varied from 7.1 to 11.8 individuals per km2, when considering all individuals recorded or the result of the capture/recapture analysis, respectively.

Resumo De julho de 2014 a abril de 2015, realizamos levantamentos semanais para estudar padrões de atividade circadiana da mastofauna na localidade de Passo Novo, Alegrete, sul do Brasil. A vegetação é compreendida por savana estépica (campo). Utilizamos duas armadilhas fotográficas distribuídas alternadamente ao longo de quatro transectos, com extensão de 1 km e distantes cerca de 1 km entre si. Nós classificamos o padrão de atividade das espécies através da percentagem de fotos registradas em cada período diário. Nós identificamos indivíduos de Cuniculus paca através dos diferentes padrões de manchas nos flancos dos animais. Nós então estimamos a densidade 1) considerando a área de floresta ripária presente na área amostrada, e 2) através da análise de captura/recaptura. As espécies Cuniculus paca, Conepatus chinga e Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris foram classificadas como noturnas, Cerdocyon thous apresentou um padrão crepuscular/noturno, enquanto Mazama gouazoubira foi classificada como catemeral. O padrão de atividade circadiana observado para os mamíferos de médio e grande porte nessa região do Pampa (campos sulinos) pode refletir não só aspectos evolutivos, biológicos e ecológicos, mas também impactos humanos não avaliados nesse estudo. Através do padrão de manchas da pelagem de C. paca nós identificamos dez indivíduos durante o período de estudo, que foram registrados em diferentes transectos e meses. A densidade populacional mínima de C. paca foi de 3,5 ind/km2 (apenas indivíduos residentes) e a densidade total variou de 7,1 a 11,8 ind/km2, quando consideramos todos os indivíduos registrados ou com base em análises de captura e recaptura, respectivamente.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Between July 2014 and April 2015, we conducted weekly inventories of the circadian activity patterns of mammals in Passo Novo locality, municipality of Alegrete, southern Brazil. The vegetation is comprised by a grassy-woody steppe (grassland). We used two camera traps alternately located on one of four 1 km transects, each separated by 1 km. We classified the activity pattern of species by the percentage of photographic records taken in each daily period. We identify Cuniculus paca individuals by differences in the patterns of flank spots. We then estimate the density 1) considering the area of riparian forest present in the sampling area, and 2) through capture/recapture analysis. Cuniculus paca, Conepatus chinga and Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris were nocturnal, Cerdocyon thous had a crepuscular/nocturnal pattern, while Mazama gouazoubira was cathemeral. The patterns of circadian activity observed for medium and large mammals in this Pampa region (southern grasslands) may reflect not only evolutionary, biological and ecological affects, but also human impacts not assessed in this study. We identified ten individuals of C. paca through skin spot patterns during the study period, which were recorded in different transects and months. The minimum population density of C. paca was 3.5 individuals per km2 (resident animals only) and the total density estimates varied from 7.1 to 11.8 individuals per km2, when considering all individuals recorded or the result of the capture/recapture analysis, respectively.

Assuntos

RESUMO

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the main perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and their associations with the frequency of LTPA in a representative sample of industrial workers from Brazil (n = 47,477), according to their income strata (low income: ≤$US280, middle income: $US281-$US1400, and high income: ≥$US1401). Data were collected between 2006 and 2008 via questionnaires about the main perceived barrier to LTPA and the frequency of LTPA. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate differences among groups. There was a lower prevalence of regular practice of LTPA in the low- (15.8%) and middle-income strata (18.2%) than among the individuals of the high-income stratum (27.6%). A large proportion of workers who regularly participated in LTPA reported no barriers (low: 43.1%; middle: 46.8%; high: 51.6%). Additional obligations and fatigue were the two most common perceived barriers in all family income strata among participants who engaged in different frequencies of LTPA. The odds for all perceived barriers showed a positive trend related to frequency of LTPA (from regular to no LTPA), with higher values according to income. In summary, the ordering of the main perceived barriers to LTPA differed according to workers' income stratum and frequency of engaging in LTPA.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Um grande número de genótipos e fenótipos do VBI (sorotipos e patótipos) aparece com frequência em todo o mundo, incluindo as cepas variantes encontradas no Brasil, apesar da vacinação rotineira que acontece neste país com estirpes do VBI Massachusetts. No entanto, agrupar isolados do VBI em imunotipos é mais relevante do ponto de vista prático, porque fornece informações diretas sobre a eficácia de uma vacina contra o VBI. Cepas do VBI que induzem proteção contra o outro pertencem ao mesmo imunotipo. Neste estudo, a proteção induzida pela vacina da estirpe Massachusetts (H120) foi avaliada após o desafio com uma estirpe variante do VBI isolado no Brasil. Doze frangos LPE (livres de patógenos específicos) foram vacinados via óculo-nasal aos 21 dias de idade e desafiados com isolados de campo 21 dias pós-vacinação. Três frangos foram sacrificados aos 4, 7, 11, 14 dias pós-infecção (dpi). Os sinais clínicos foram registrados e amostras de tecidos foram coletadas da traqueia, rins e gônadas, e avaliadas quanto à presença de lesões por exame histopatológico, à carga viral por RT-qPCR, ao tropismo viral por imuno-histoquímica, e estase traqueal ciliar. Sintomas respiratórios leves foram observados em aves vacinadas e desafiadas. Além disso, a VBI foi detectada em todos os órgãos de aves vacinadas, embora as cargas virais mais elevadas estivessem presentes em rins e testículos. As lesões traqueais foram mais proeminentes entre 4-7 dpi. Os rins apresentavam uma nefrite moderada entre 4-11 dpi, e o testículo apresentou degeneração das células dos túbulos seminíferos entre 7-14 dpi. Assim, a vacina H120 promoveu apenas uma proteção parcial contra esta variante brasileira com relação à infecção da traqueia e dos rins e nenhuma proteção cruzada para a infecção dos testículos. Concluindo, este estudo caracterizou um novo imunotipo de um genótipo variante do isolado do VBI brasileiro no que diz respeito à estirpe da vacina Massachusetts, que é utilizada no Brasil atualmente.

A high number of IBV genotypes and phenotypes (serotypes and pathotypes) are frequently emerging worldwide, including the variant strains found in Brazil, despite the routine vaccination in this country with Massachusetts IBV vaccine strains. However, grouping IBV strains into immunotypes or protectotypes is more relevant from a practical point of view, because it provides direct information about the efficacy of an IBV vaccine. IBV strains that induce protection against each other belong to the same protectotype. In this study, we conducted the evaluation of protection induced by the Massachusetts (H120) vaccine strain upon challenge with a variant strain of IBV isolated in Brazil. Twelve SPF (specific pathogen free) chickens were vaccinated with by oculo-nasal route at 21 days old and challenged with field isolate 21 days post-vaccination. Three birds were euthanized at 4, 7, 11, 14 days post-infection (dpi). Clinical signs were recorded and tissue samples were collected from trachea, kidney and gonads, and were evaluated for the presence of lesions by histopathology, viral load by RT-qPCR, viral tropism by immunohistochemistry, and tracheal ciliary stasis. Mild respiratory symptoms were observed in vaccinated and challenged chickens. Additionally, IBV was detected in all organs of vaccinated birds, though higher viral loads were present in kidneys and testicles. The tracheal lesions were more prominent between 4-7 dpi. The kidney showed a moderate nephritis between 4-11 dpi, and the testicle showed degeneration of the seminiferous tubules cells between 7-14 dpi. Thus, the H120 vaccine induced only a partial protection against this Brazilian variant isolate with regard to the infection of trachea and kidney and no cross-protection to the infection of testicles. In conclusion, a new protectotype. of a variant genotype of a Brazilian IBV isolate was characterized in this study with regard to Massachusetts vaccine strain which is currently used in Brazil.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Um grande número de genótipos e fenótipos do VBI (sorotipos e patótipos) aparece com frequência em todo o mundo, incluindo as cepas variantes encontradas no Brasil, apesar da vacinação rotineira que acontece neste país com estirpes do VBI Massachusetts. No entanto, agrupar isolados do VBI em imunotipos é mais relevante do ponto de vista prático, porque fornece informações diretas sobre a eficácia de uma vacina contra o VBI. Cepas do VBI que induzem proteção contra o outro pertencem ao mesmo imunotipo. Neste estudo, a proteção induzida pela vacina da estirpe Massachusetts (H120) foi avaliada após o desafio com uma estirpe variante do VBI isolado no Brasil. Doze frangos LPE (livres de patógenos específicos) foram vacinados via óculo-nasal aos 21 dias de idade e desafiados com isolados de campo 21 dias pós-vacinação. Três frangos foram sacrificados aos 4, 7, 11, 14 dias pós-infecção (dpi). Os sinais clínicos foram registrados e amostras de tecidos foram coletadas da traqueia, rins e gônadas, e avaliadas quanto à presença de lesões por exame histopatológico, à carga viral por RT-qPCR, ao tropismo viral por imuno-histoquímica, e estase traqueal ciliar. Sintomas respiratórios leves foram observados em aves vacinadas e desafiadas. Além disso, a VBI foi detectada em todos os órgãos de aves vacinadas, embora as cargas virais mais elevadas estivessem presentes em rins e testículos. As lesões traqueais foram mais proeminentes entre 4-7 dpi. Os rins apresentavam uma nefrite moderada entre 4-11 dpi, e o testículo apresentou degeneração das células dos túbulos seminíferos entre 7-14 dpi. Assim, a vacina H120 promoveu apenas uma proteção parcial contra esta variante brasileira com relação à infecção da traqueia e dos rins e nenhuma proteção cruzada para a infecção dos testículos. Concluindo, este estudo caracterizou um novo imunotipo de um genótipo variante do isolado do VBI brasileiro no que diz respeito à estirpe da vacina Massachusetts, que é utilizada no Brasil atualmente.(AU)

A high number of IBV genotypes and phenotypes (serotypes and pathotypes) are frequently emerging worldwide, including the variant strains found in Brazil, despite the routine vaccination in this country with Massachusetts IBV vaccine strains. However, grouping IBV strains into immunotypes or protectotypes is more relevant from a practical point of view, because it provides direct information about the efficacy of an IBV vaccine. IBV strains that induce protection against each other belong to the same protectotype. In this study, we conducted the evaluation of protection induced by the Massachusetts (H120) vaccine strain upon challenge with a variant strain of IBV isolated in Brazil. Twelve SPF (specific pathogen free) chickens were vaccinated with by oculo-nasal route at 21 days old and challenged with field isolate 21 days post-vaccination. Three birds were euthanized at 4, 7, 11, 14 days post-infection (dpi). Clinical signs were recorded and tissue samples were collected from trachea, kidney and gonads, and were evaluated for the presence of lesions by histopathology, viral load by RT-qPCR, viral tropism by immunohistochemistry, and tracheal ciliary stasis. Mild respiratory symptoms were observed in vaccinated and challenged chickens. Additionally, IBV was detected in all organs of vaccinated birds, though higher viral loads were present in kidneys and testicles. The tracheal lesions were more prominent between 4-7 dpi. The kidney showed a moderate nephritis between 4-11 dpi, and the testicle showed degeneration of the seminiferous tubules cells between 7-14 dpi. Thus, the H120 vaccine induced only a partial protection against this Brazilian variant isolate with regard to the infection of trachea and kidney and no cross-protection to the infection of testicles. In conclusion, a new protectotype. of a variant genotype of a Brazilian IBV isolate was characterized in this study with regard to Massachusetts vaccine strain which is currently used in Brazil.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Gold extraction and its commercialization in the Amazon region is mainly by rudimentary procedures. Therefore, during the process of extraction and recovery of this precious metal, large amounts of mercury vapors are thrown into the environment. This paper is an attempt to establish a correlation between the concentration of total mercury in the urine of workers at the gold shop in the Municipality of Itaituba, Pará, and the information related to the lifestyles of each individual studied. Through statistical analysis, it was possible to divide the workers into three groups: people with normal mercury concentrations, [Hg] < or = 10 ppb, (29%); with concentrations at the biological limit of tolerance, [Hg] up to 50 ppb, (49%); and contaminated people, [Hg] > or = 50 ppb (22%). It may be concluded that fish consumption, time of alcohol consumption, number of amalgam fillings, as well as working hours, are important variables when evaluating mercurial contamination of people who are occupationally exposed to mercury vapors.

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RESUMO

Neuropeptides have been shown to modulate the bidirectional communication between the central nervous and immune systems. The endooligopeptidase (EC 3.4.22.19), originally isolated and characterized in the nervous tissue, was shown to hydrolyse several neuropeptides and to generate enkephalin from enkephalin-containing peptides. This report shows the presence of endopeptidase 22.19 in the rat immune system using both biochemical and immunochemical methods. The specific activity of endopeptidase 22.19 in soluble fraction of lymphocytes was 3-4-fold higher than the one found in the nervous tissue. Among rat blood cells the highest specific activity of endopeptidase 22.19 was found in T lymphocytes, being 2.5-fold higher than the activity found in other leukocytes. Immunocytochemical studies performed in tissues and cells of the immune system indicate the presence of endopeptidase 22.19-like enzyme in all types of leukocytes. The occurrence of this enzyme in cells of the immune system can be considered an important step in understanding the metabolism of neuropeptides in the immune system as well as its possible participation as a regulatory enzyme in neuroimmunomodulation.

Assuntos