ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate different n6:n3ratios on performance, serum biochemical variables, and egg quality in 81-week-old laying hens. A total of 224 laying hens, 81-week-old Hysex White, were utilized and distributed in a completely randomized design consisting of seven treatments and eight replications of four birds per cage, totaling 56 cages. The experimental treatments consisted of seven different n6:n3fatty acid ratios: 1.0:1.0, 2.0:1.0, 4.0:1.0, 8.0:1.0, 16.0:1.0, 32.0:1.0, and 64.0:1.0. For diet formulation, sunflower oil, rich in omega-6, and linseed oil, rich in omega-3, were used. Productive performance, egg quality and serum biochemical variables of laying hens were evaluated at the end of the cycle at 26, 27, and 28 days. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted and orthogonal contrasts were used to obtain the sum of squares of the treatment of the analysis of variance in polynomial regression effects. Egg quality variables did not vary significantly between the diets. Therefore, diet supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids at different ratios was possible without altering egg quality. The only exception was Haugh unit, which displayed a quadratic effect indicating that the best value was the n6:n3ratio of 32, according to data significance. It was concluded that an increase in n6:n3ratios decreases laying hens’ feed intake. The n6:n3 ratio of 34.64 provides greater eggs’ Haugh units, decreasing from that value on. The ratios of n6:n3 did not influence the hens’ serum biochemical variables.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate diets supplemented with probiotic (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and organic acids (lactic, acetic and butyric acid) in attempt to replace the antibiotics and anticoccidial (avilamycin + sodium monensin) growth promoters on performance and economic viability of broilers challenged by Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella. A total of 900 male Cobb® chickens, with a mean weight of 39.90g, were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement: supplementation or not of probiotic and organic acids and a treatment with inclusion of antibiotics, comprising five treatments with six replicates. For the studied performance variables, there was no effect of the isolated additives and no interaction between them (p>0.05). Only the antibiotics promoted better results for weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion rate (FCR). Therefore, the use of organic acids and probiotic, isolated or associated, provided lower performance to those receiving antibiotics, not improving the performance of chickens under the imposed challenge conditions. The highest revenues were generated with the use of antibiotics, providing greater profits.

Lutzomyia peruensis has been the only species found in the Inca´s Sacred Valley (Urubamba river valley), but previously had not been incriminated in the transmission of Bartonellosis. L. peruensis usually shares its habitat with Lutzomyia verrucarum, which is the vector of Carrion´s disease. The entomological aspects were conducted in May 1998. Entomological collections were performed using CDC designed light traps all night long and daytime collections in the houses. The epidemiological relevance of L. peruensis must be highlighted. Bartonella bacilliformis was detected using Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. The estimation of the entomological transmission risk for bartonellosis by Lutzomyia peruensis is also shown by means of the inoculation index of Bartonella bacilliformis

En el valle Sagrado de los Incas (valle del río Urubamba) encontramos una sola especie de Lutzomyia, nos referimos a la Lutzomyia peruensis, que hasta el momento no había sido incriminada en la transmisión de bartonelosis. Esta Lutzomyia suele compartir su hábitat con el vector de la enfermedad de Carrión, la Lutzomyia verrucarum. Los aspectos entomológicos fueron llevados a cabo, en mayo de 1998. Las colectas entomológicas se realizaron utilizando trampas de luz CDC toda la noche y en capturas diurnas en las viviendas. Se muestra la importancia de Lutzomyia peruensis incriminándola epidemiológicamente y se detectó Bartonella bacilliformis mediante PCR y haciendo secuenciamiento de ADN. Se presenta también la estimación del riesgo entomológico de transmisión de bartonelosis por Lutzomyia peruensis, mediante el índice de inoculación de Bartonella bacilliformis.

We reported the standarization and aplication of PCR-RFLP for confirmation of patients infected with Bartonella bacilliformis. This method is based in PCR amplification of 380 pb fragment corresponding of citrato sinthetase gene using whole blood and in vitro culture. The analysis of fragment amplification with endonuclease restriction Hinfl and Taql allow tipify when outbreak is caused for Bartonella bacilliformis.

Reportamos la aplicación de las técnicas moleculares PCR-RFLP para la confirmación de infecciones por Bartonella bacilliformis. El método de PCR-RFLP se basa en la amplificación in vitro de un fragmento de 380 pb correspondiente al gen citrato sintetasa a partir de sangre y cultivos in vitro. El análisis del producto de amplificación por cortes con las enzimas restricción Hinfl y Taql permite caracterizar molecularmente que el brote ocurrido en Urubamba, Cuzco fue producido por Bartonella bacilliformis. Este método es aplicado directamente a sangre y a cultivos.