Abstract This study aimed to obtain physicochemical characteristics and the fatty acid profile of bocaiuva nut oil and to evaluate the impact of its daily consumption on glucose, lipid, and energy metabolism in mice. The acidity content in the bocaiuva nut oil exceeded the maximum limit for crude oils (5.68 mg KOH g-1). However, the peroxide value is within the standard considered adequate for crude oils (3.33 mEq O2 kg-1). In the fatty acid profile, lauric (42.25%) and oleic (23.96%), saturated and monounsaturated, respectively, stand out. After 90 days of in vivo experimentation, the administered oil doses had not influenced the animals' food intake and body weight. Regarding the biochemical parameters, only the non-HDL fraction showed a significant difference, considering that this parameter represents the sum of atherogenic lipoproteins directly linked to atherogenic cholesterol. However, there was no statistical difference between the groups regarding histological changes in the liver, showing that the bocaiuva oil does not cause considerable damage to the liver, even though it is saturated oil. Results show that daily consumption of bocaiuva nut oil did not produce metabolic changes in mice.

<p>Influências exercidas pela nutrição sobre produção animal dão-se por variações no peso e condição corporal, afetando a homeostase, em dietas com altos níveis de energia ou proteínas, cujas modificações causam rápida e imediata alteração em vários agentes metabólicos humorais. Com objetivo de avaliar a influência de cinco diferentes dietas de curto prazo sobre ganho de peso e perfil bioquímico (colesterol total e frações HDL/LDL, triglicerídeos, glicose, ureia, creatinina, proteínas totais, albumina), 70 ovelhas mestiças Santa Inês, aleatoriamente distribuídas em cinco grupos, foram submetidas às dietas, durante sete dias (1- milho, farelo de soja, gordura protegida, silagem de milho; 2 - milho, farelo de soja, silagem de milho; 3 - gordura protegida, silagem de milho; 4 - silagem de milho; 5 - feno de Tifton). Nos dias 0 e 8 (anterior à instituição das dietas e seguinte ao término) pesou-se as ovelhas e colheu-se sangue, visando quantificação do perfil bioquímico. Os dados foram analisados com delineamento experimental de 5x2 por ANOVA de duas vias de medidas repetitivas e pós-teste de Tukey. Não se observaram variações no peso corporal entre grupos de dieta, mas evidenciaram-se diferenças no ganho de peso (g/7 dias) entre grupos (G4 = 1,82±0,23 g <italic>versus</italic> G1 = 0,21±0,43 g). Colesterol total e LDL-colesterol variaram entre grupos, tendo o G1 apresentado maiores valores. Os demais componentes bioquímicos não tiveram diferenças significativas. Ovelhas submetidas a programa de <italic>flushing</italic>de curto prazo, responderam com ganho de peso, associado a aumentos em seus níveis de colesterol total e reduções na ureia sérica.</p>

<p>Nutrition influence on animal production is given by changes in weight and body condition, affecting homeostasis, with use of diets with high levels of energy or protein. Changes in the diet cause a rapid and immediate change in various metabolic humoral agents. With the objective to evaluate the influence of five different short-term diets on weight gain and biochemical profile (total cholesterol and fractions HDL/LDL, triglicerydes, glucose, urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin), 70 ewes Santa Inês crossbred, randomly distributed into five groups, were subjected to diets for seven days (1 - corn, soybean meal, protected fat, corn silage, 2 - corn, soybean meal, silage corn, 3 - protected fat, corn silage, 4 -corn silage, 5 - Tifton hay). The days 0 and 8 (before the institution of the diet and after finish) was weighed and blood was obtained from ewes in order to quantify the biochemical profile. Data were analyzed with 5x 2 experimental delineation using two-way ANOVA for repeated measures and Tukey post-test. There were no changes in body weight between diet groups, but became evident variations in weight gain (g / 7 days) between groups (G4 = 1.82 ± 0.23 g <italic>versus</italic> G1 = 0.21 ± 0.43 g). cholesterol-LDL and total cholesterol varied between groups, with the G1 presented the highest values. The other biochemical component shad no statistically significant differences. Ewes subjected to a flushing program, responded with weight gain, associated with increases in their cholesterol levels and reductions in serum urea.</p>

Cryptococcus neoformans é a levedura capsulada causadora de criptococose em humanos e animais. A variedade neoformans, encontrada em diversas fontes ambientais, inclusive habitats de aves, é importante causa de mortalidade em indivíduos com AIDS em todo o Mundo. Contudo, ainda não há estudos sobre a sua ecologia na região Centro Oeste brasileira, onde há registro da ocorrência de casos humanos da micose. Para estudar fontes saprofíticas de C. neoformans, na cidade de Campo Grande, foram coletadas 20 amostras de excretas de aves em distintos ambientes. Suspensão das amostras em salina estéril foram semeadas em placas com meio ágar níger. Após 5 dias, colônias mucóides marrom-escuro foram subcultivadas para identificação através de provas morfofisiológicas, determinação da variedade e sorotipagem. C. neoformans var. neoformans sorotipo A foi isolado de 10 (50%) das amostras, comprovando a ocorrência saprofítica de C. neoformans na cidade de Campo Grande, relacionada a habitat de aves em cativeiro.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast agent of human and animal cryptococcosis. The variety neoformans is an important cause of mortality in AIDS-patients throughout the world. It has already been isolated worldwide from different environmental sources, including avian habitats. However, in spite of the occurrence of human cases of cryptococcosis, there are no studies on the ecology of this agent in the Brazilian Central-Western region. To study saprophytic sources of C. neoformans in the city of Campo Grande, 20 samples of avian droppings from distinct environments within the city were collected. The samples were suspended in sterile saline and then smeared on niger seed agar medium. Five days later smooth dark-brown colonies were subcultivated for identification by morphophysiologic tests. The variety and serotype was determined. C. neoformans var. neoformans serotype A was isolated from 10 (50%) of the samples collected. Consequently, the saprophytic presence of C. neoformans is related to avian habitats.