In order to maintain the high production and export rates achieved by the Brazilian poultry industry, it is necessary to prevent and control certain disease agents, such as Salmonella spp. Using bacterial cultures, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in specimens collected from broiler facilities. Local wild birds were also sampled, as well as the feces of swine housed on the poultry farm. After sample collection, the isolated serotypes were subsequently inoculated into broiler chicks to determine their effects. Positive samples were collected from the following locations in the poultry facilities: poultry litter (S. serotype 4,5,12:R:-; S. Heidelberg; S. Infantis), broiler feces (S. Heidelberg; S. serotype 6,7:R:-; S. serotype 4,5,12:R:-; S. Tennessee), water (S. Glostrup; S. serotype 6,8:d:-;), and lesser mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus) found in the litter (S. Tennessee). Among the 36 wild birds captured, S. Heidelberg was isolated from one bird's organs and intestinal contents (Colaptes campestris), and S. Enteritidis was isolated from another bird's intestinal contents (Zenaida auriculata). Salmonella Panama and Salmonella Typhimurium were isolated from swine feces. One-day-old chicks (150) were divided into 10 groups of 15 animals each. Each group was orally inoculated with a previously isolated serotype of Salmonella. Soft stools were observed on the cage floor and around the birds' cloaca between 3 and 12 days post-infection (dpi). The different serotypes of Salmonella used to inoculate the chicks were re-isolated from the spleen, liver, and cecal content samples of the infected birds on 15 and 21 dpi.

Although the natural reservoirs of the avian influenza (AI) virus have been extensively studied in many countries, there is a clear lack of information on this subject in South America, particularly in Brazil. The objective of this study was to conduct a serological survey for H5, H7 and H9 antibodies to AI-subtype viruses in wild birds in the state of São Paulo , Brazil. Serum samples were tested using the hemagglutination-inhibition assay. Out of the 31 wild birds sampled between January and December of 2006, seven (22.58%), were seropositive for H5, H7 and H9; four (12.90%) were seropositive for H5 and H7; 13 (41.94%), were seropositive only for H7; three (9.7%), were seropositive only for H9; and four (12.90%) were negative for all three hemagglutinin subtypes. These results indicate that AI viruses belonging to H5, H7 and H9 subtypes circulate among wild birds in the state of São Paulo in the form of either concurrent or consecutive infections. This study contributes to the knowledge of AI epidemiology in Brazil, and stresses the need of further detailed and long-term epidemiological and ecological investigation to determine the current status of this virus.

Em Engenharia Tecidual, a fabricação de scaffolds capazes de guiar o crescimento, a organização e a diferenciação de células no processo de formação de novos tecidos apresenta grande relevância. Várias são as técnicas de processamento para a fabricação desta classe de material: réplica de esponjas poliméricas, incorporação de material orgânico ao pó cerâmico, gelcasting, emulsão, entre outras. Na fabricação de scaffolds focados na terapia de tecidos ósseos, os cimentos de fosfato de cálcio (CFC) apresentam grande destaque, pois além de reabsorvíveis, apresentam morfologia e composição química semelhante à fase mineral óssea. Este trabalho tem como objetivo a obtenção de espumas de CFC por meio de duas rotas de processamento, emulsão e gelcasting. As espumas foram caracterizadas quanto suas propriedades físicas e mecânicas e as fases cristalinas formadas após a cura do cimento foram determinadas por difração de raios X. As amostras obtidas por ambos os métodos apresentaram porosidade entre 58-62% e microestrutura constituída de poros aproximadamente esféricos (d50=50-100 µm). A resistência mecânica das amostras variou entre 5,5-1,5 MPa. As fases cristalinas encontradas foram monetita (CaHPO4) e brushita (CaHPO4 2H2O).

In Tissue Engineering, the need for scaffolds which are capable of guiding the organization, differentiation and growth of cells leading to the formation of new tissues is highly relevant. For the development of new scaffolds focused on bone tissue therapy, calcium phosphate cements (CPC) have great potential, because besides their resorbability, they present morphology and chemical composition similar to the bone mineral phase. Moreover, there are several processing techniques to produce ceramic scaffolds: polymeric sponge replication, incorporation of organic material into the ceramic powder, gelcasting, emulsion, among others. The aim of this work was to obtain CPCs foams by using two processing routes, emulsion and gelcasting. The foams were characterized by their physical and mechanical properties and the crystalline phases formed after the setting reaction of cement were determined by X-ray diffraction. The samples obtained by both methods presented porosity between 58-62% and the microstructure consists of nearly spherical pores (d50 = 50-100 µm). The mechanical strength of the samples ranged from 5.5 to 1.5 MPa. The crystalline phases found were monetite (CaHPO4) and brushite (CaHPO4 2H2O).

Dentre as biocerâmicas de fosfato de cálcio, o fosfato tricálcio (TCP) em sua forma polimórfica β, tem recebido grande atenção dos pesquisadores devido à sua excelente bioatividade e elevada taxa de reabsorção in vivo tornando-o candidato em potencial para a a fabricação de implantes ortopédicos temporários. Entretanto, esta biocerâmica apresenta uma limitação em seu processamento que está associada com a transformação da fase β para a fase γ. Desta forma se faz necessário o uso de aditivos de sinterização para se obter corpos de provas com boa densificação e, consequentemente, melhores propriedades mecânicas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o efeito da adição de alumina nas propriedades físicas e mecânicas do β-fosfato tricálcico. As amostras foram conformadas por compactação uniaxial, seguida da prensagem isostática e, submetidas a tratamento térmico durante 2 h em varias temperaturas (1100, 1200 e 1300 °C). Os resultados mostraram que apesar da alumina não ocasionar uma melhora nas propriedades mecânicas dos biocompósitos nas temperaturas estudadas, esta conseguiu estabilizar a fase β-TCP.

Among calcium phosphate bioceramics, tricalcium phosphate (TCP), in its polymorphic form β, receives many research efforts due to its excellent bioactivity and high resorbability rate making it suitable for the development of temporary orthopedic implants. However, this bioceramic presents a limitation in its processing which is associated with the β-γ phase transition. Then, it is necessary to use sintering additives for obtaining samples with higher densification and, consequently, higher mechanical properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of alumina addition on the physical and mechanical properties of β-tricalcium phosphate. Samples were prepared by uniaxial pressing followed by isostatic pressing. Afterwards, samples were submitted to heat treatments during 2 h at different temperatures (1100, 1200 and 1300 °C/2 h). Even though alumina was not responsible for increasing β-TCP/Al2O3 biocomposite mechanical strength, it acted as a good β phase stabilizer.

As cerâmicas celulares têm sido produzidas por diferentes métodos, resultando em uma ampla faixa de estruturas e propriedades. Este trabalho descreve uma nova rota para a produção de cerâmicas celulares, a qual se baseia na gelificação de emulsões constituídas de suspensões cerâmicas aquosas contendo monômeros orgânicos solúveis em água e uma fase líquida apolar emulsificada (querosene). Os efeitos do teor de sólidos e da fração de querosene nas propriedades reológicas das emulsões foram avaliados. A estrutura celular foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e revelou poros isolados nas amostras de baixa porosidade, os quais mudaram para uma rede interconectada de poros com o aumento da porosidade. Compressão diametral foi usada para avaliar a resistência mecânica das amostras sinterizadas, a qual variou entre 2,0 e 48 MPa, dependendo da porosidade.

Cellular ceramics have been produced by several methods, resulting in a wide range of structures and properties. This work describes a novel route to produce cellular ceramics based on the gel casting of emulsions consisting of an aqueous ceramic suspension containing water-soluble organic monomers and an emulsified insoluble liquid phase (kerosene). The effects of solids loading and kerosene content on the rheological properties of emulsions were evaluated. SEM of the cellular structure revealed isolated pores for samples with low porosity, which changed to an interconnected network of pores as the porosity increased. Diametrical compression was used to evaluate the strength of sintered samples, which varied in the range of 2.0 and 48 MPa, depending on the porosity.

Espumas vítreas do sistema Li2O-ZrO2-SiO2-Al2O 3 (LZSA) foram produzidas pelo processo gelcasting, associado à aeração de suspensões cerâmicas, sem controle atmosférico. Por meio da adição de diferentes concentrações de agente espumante (Fongraminox) foi possível obter espumas vítreas com densidade relativa variando entre uma estreita faixa (0,10-0,15). As espumas vítreas apresentaram resistência à compressão de 2,5-3,7 MPa, que correspondem a porosidade entre 85 e 89% e macroestrutra com poros aproximadamente esféricos e interconectados. Tais características tornam esses materiais atraentes para as seguintes aplicações tecnológicas: filtros para metais fundidos e gases quentes e, suportes catalíticos.

Vitreous foams in the Li2O-ZrO2-SiO2-Al2O 3 (LZSA) system were produced by the gelcasting process with aeration of ceramic suspensions and without atmospheric control. By the addition of different concentrations of foaming agent (Fongraminox) it was possible to attain glass-ceramic foams in a narrow range of relative density (0.10-0.15). The glass-ceramic foams showed compressive strength of 2.5-3.7 MPa, which corresponds to porosity between 85-89%, and macrostructure with pores nearly spherical and interconnected, these characteristics make these materials attractive for the following applications technology: filters of molten metals and hot gas, and catalytic support.

O processo de gelcasting, associado à aeração de suspensões cerâmicas, permite a produção de espumas cerâmicas com uma ampla faixa de porosidade (50-90vol.%). Uma das etapas críticas do processo é o enrijecimento da espuma, o qual se baseia na gelificação por meio da polimerização in situ de monômeros previamente adicionados à suspensão cerâmica. Sabidamente, tal reação é inibida pela presença de oxigênio, o que tornou usual o controle atmosférico durante a produção e gelificação da espuma. Neste trabalho, estudou-se a viabilidade de produzir espumas de alumina pelo processo de gelcasting sem controle atmosférico. Para a produção das espumas, dois diferentes agentes espumantes foram testados. As propriedades físicas e mecânicas das espumas cerâmicas, bem como a microestrutura, foram avaliadas e comparadas com resultados obtidos em condições idênticas, porém com controle atmosférico. Os resultados mostraram que ambos os processos proporcionam características semelhantes e com potencial de aplicação tecnológica.

The gelcasting process with the aeration of ceramic suspensions allows the production of ceramic foams with a wide range of porosity (50-90vol.%.). One of the critical steps of the process is the setting of the foam, which is based on a gelling reaction by the in-situ polymerization of monomers previously added in the ceramic suspension. This reaction is inhibited by the presence of oxygen, which requires atmospheric control for the stabilization of the foam. In this work, the feasibility of producing alumina foams by the gelcasting process without atmospheric control was studied. For the foams production, two different foaming agents were tested. The physical and mechanical properties of ceramic foams, as well the microstructure, were evaluated and compared with those produced with the same foaming agents but with atmospheric control. The results obtained using the two procedures were similar and with potential to be applied with technological purposes.