Abstract INTRODUCTION: Dengue is an important mosquito-borne disease in tropical and subtropical regions. Adhesion molecules have not been systematically characterized in the renal tissue of patients with severe dengue (SD). The objective of this study was to detect viral antigens in samples from patients that evolved with SD, correlating with the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, VE-cadherin, and E-selectin to contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of SD. METHODS: Kidney specimens from patients with SD were selected according to clinical and laboratorial data and submitted to histological and immunohistochemistry analysis. A semiquantitative evaluation was performed considering positive immunostaining in 20 glomeruli. RESULTS: Viral antigens were mainly detected in distal tubules. The intense immunostaining of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was observed. The expression of E-selectin was discrete, and VE-cadherin expression varied from mild to moderate. VCAM-1 was slightly intense in the glomerular capsule; the expression of ICAM-1 was diffuse. E-selectin was diffuse, and VE-cadherin varied from mild to moderate. The most frequent histological findings were glomerular congestion, mild glomerulitis, acute renal injury, and glomerular atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: The results appear to demonstrate an imbalance between vascular endothelial permeability regulating events in renal lesions in SD. The increase in the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 is an in-situ indicator of higher permeability with a consequent influx of cells favoring the inflammation of the endothelium. These molecules are important in the pathophysiology of the disease and provide the possibility of developing new markers for the evaluation, clinical follow-up, and therapeutic response of patients with SD.

SUMMARY: The intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly are very difficult to achieve stable bone healing and fixation in arthroplasty for complete and functional recovery of the elderly. In elderly patients without bone stock, it is recommended to make an attachment to the hip arthroplasty the placement of tension band with the purpose of providing greater stability to the fragments and support to the primary arthroplasty with the aim of a return to the normal quality of life, in the results at 4 weeks post-surgery an improvement in the functional scale is evidenced having as average score 83 taken as good results. In the subsequent controls a mean on the Harris scale of 87 was evidenced, the patients returned to their level of preoperative activity, more than half of the patients were able to walk without support, no complications were reported in the postoperative follow-up controls. of 1 year of patients.

RESUMEN: Las fracturas intertrocantéricas en adulto mayor presentan gran dificultad para lograr una cicatrización ósea estable y una fijación en la artroplastía, para la recuperación completa y funcional del anciano. En pacientes adultos mayores sin stock óseo, se recomienda realizar anexo a la artroplastía de cadera, la colocación de una banda de tensión, con la finalidad de brindar mayor estabilidad a los fragmentos y sustentación a la artroplastía primaria, con el objetivo de lograr un retorno a la calidad de vida normal. A las cuatro semanas de la cirugía, se evidencia una mejora en la escala funcional alcanzando una puntuación media de 83, considerandose un buen resultado. En los controles subsecuentes se evidencia una media en la escala de Harris de 87. Los pacientes volvieron a su nivel de actividad preoperatoria, más de la mitad de los pacientes fueron capaces de caminar sin apoyos, y finalmente, no se reportaron complicaciones en los controles postquirúrgicos al seguimiento de un año.

Resumo O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a atividade sérica da aspartato aminotransferase (AST), fosfatase alcalina (ALP), creatina quinase (CK), gamaglutamiltransferase (GGT) e as concentrações séricas de albumina, bilirrubina, cálcio total e ionizado, colesterol, creatinina, fósforo, magnésio, potássio, proteína total, sódio, triglicérides e ureia de vacas das raças Nelore (n=120) e Girolando (n=120) clinicamente saudáveis, com 24 a 36 meses de idade, utilizando-se espectrofotômetro semiautomático e analisador automático de íons. A influência da raça foi verificada na avaliação da atividade da CK, cujos valores foram maiores em vacas da raça Nelore (87,5 U/L), quando comparados com aqueles de vacas Girolando (68,6 U/L). Os teores séricos de creatinina (Crea), bilirrubina total (BT), bilirrubina indireta (BI) e cálcio ionizado também foram influenciados pela raça, e os valores obtidos em vacas da raça Nelore (Crea: 1,61 mg/dL, BT: 0,28 mg/dL e BI: 0,19 mg/dL) foram superiores aos apresentados pelas vacas Girolando (BT: 1,47 mg/dL, BD: 0,23 mg/dL e BI: 0,14 mg/dL), exceto para a concentração sérica de cálcio ionizado (Nelore: 0,66 mMol/L e Girolando: 0,73 mMol/L). Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram a influência do fator racial em alguns parâmetros bioquímicos e, portanto, este deve ser levado em consideração para a correta interpretação de exames laboratoriais.

Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and on serum concentrations of albumin, bilirubin, total and ionized calcium, cholesterol, creatinine, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, total protein, sodium, triglycerides, and urea of Nellore (n=120) and Girolando (n=120) healthy cows, aged 24 to 36 months, using a semiautomatic spectrophotometer and automatic ion analyzer. Assessment of enzyme activity showed the influence of racial factors in the results of CK, the values of Nellore cows (87.5 U/L) being higher than the Girolando cows (68.6 U/L). Serum levels of creatinine (Crea), total bilirubin (TB), unconjugated bilirubin (UB) and ionized calcium were also influenced by breed, and the values obtained for the Nellore cows (Crea: 1.61 mg/dL, TB: 0.28 mg/dL and UB: 0.19 mg/dL) were higher than those observed for Girolando cows (Crea: 1.47 mg/dL, TB: 0.23 mg/dL and UB: 0.14 mg/dL), except for ionized calcium (Nellore: 0.66 mMol/L and Girolando: 0.73 mMol/L). The results evidenced the influence of racial factor on some biochemical parameters, and, therefore, should be taken into consideration for correct interpretation of laboratory tests.

Abstract This work aims to reduce the energy consumption and thus increase the availability of blast furnace compressors of a steelmaking company, located in Alto Paraopeba region in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, through the elimination of waste points in the compressed air distribution. In order to develop this work, an ultrasound test in the compressed air line was performed to identify and quantify leaks in the flow. Once the leaks were identified, they were eliminated through corrective maintenance and improvements, and then the energy consumption scenarios before and after the improvements were compared. As a result, the average monthly electricity consumption in the reporting period decreased by 57.2%. In addition, one compressor was set aside in stand-by condition, as in the original plant. Thus, one can prove the efficiency in eliminating of waste points in compressed air distribution, since the reduction of energy consumption is important for the company to remain competitive, as the cost of electric energy affects the final price of the final products.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of silicon (Si), acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), and potassium phosphite (Phi) on the potentiation of rice resistance to infection by Bipolaris oryzae. The treatments included the soil amended with Si (1.25 g of calcium silicate per kg of soil), spraying of plants with ASM (500 mg∙L–1), Phi (5 mL∙L–1), and distilled water (control) 24 h before inoculation with B. oryzae. The treatments Si supply and the spraying of ASM and Phi were effective in reducing the area under brown spot progress curve and the number of lesions per cm2 of leaf. Polyphenoloxidases activity was higher for plants supplied with Si. On plants sprayed with ASM, the activities of polyphenoloxidases, phenylalanine ammonia-lyases, chitinases, and β-1,3-glucanases increased. The spraying of plants with Phi did not increase the activities of the studied defense enzymes. Taken together, the results of this study indicated that brown spot symptoms can be greatly reduced with the use of Si, ASM, and Phi.

RESUMO Diversas aplicações industriais, tais como nos setores automotivo e aeronáutico, que necessitam de resistência e tenacidade, utilizam ligas do sistema Al-Cu. As ligas do sistema ternário Al-Cu-Ag são empregadas como modelo para o estudo de ligas eutéticas ternárias, além do uso em certo número de aplicações técnicas. Estudos relacionados aos efeitos da adição de Ag em ligas do sistema Al-Cu solidificadas em regime transitório, sob aspectos microestruturais e de microdureza, não são encontrados na literatura. Nesse sentido, o objetivo principal deste trabalho consiste na investigação dos efeitos da adição de 4%Ag na liga Al-4%Cu solidificada unidirecionalmente no sentido vertical ascendente em regime transitório, abordando análises de microestrutura, microdureza e parâmetros de solidificação dados pela velocidade de crescimento (VL) e pela taxa de resfriamento (Ṫ). São apresentadas leis experimentais para as ligas Al-4%Cu e Al-4%Cu-4%Ag que correlacionam os espaçamentos dendríticos primário (λ1) e secundário (λ2) com VL e Ṫ. Foram realizadas análises de Difração de Raios-X (DRX) para a caraterização das fases cristalinas dos compostos presentes na microestrutura das ligas. O difratograma da liga binária mostrou a presença dos intermetálicos θ-Al2Cu, Al-Cu, Al4Cu9 e Al6Fe e, para o caso da liga ternária, adicionalmente foi detectado o intermetálico µ-Ag3Al. Composições químicas de regiões do contorno da dendrita, assim como de seu interior, foram obtidas com o auxílio de um microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV) acoplado a um sistema de análise por energia dispersiva (EDS). Diversas posições ao longo do lingote foram analisadas através da técnica de Fluorescência de Raios-X (FRX) com objetivo de se detectar a existência de macrossegregação. Constatou-se que a microdureza não é influenciada pelas duas formas de espaçamentos da matriz rica em Al. Os intermetálicos ρ-Ag2Al e µ-Ag3Al são responsáveis pelo aumento de dureza devido a sua interação com o espaçamento dendrítico terciário e outros intermetálicos.

ABSTRACT Al-Cu alloys are used in several industrial applications, such as automotive and aerospace manufacturing, which demand mechanical strength and toughness performances. The Al-Cu-Ag ternary alloy system has been investigated to obtain a better understanding on ternary eutectic alloys besides its inherent applications. However, studies concerning the effects on microstructure and hardness due to Ag addition on Al-Cu alloys solidified under transient conditions, are not found in literature. In this sense, the main objective of this work consists in investigating the solidification parameters such as growth (VL) and cooling (Ṫ) rate, microstructure and microhardness regarding the effects of adding 4wt% Ag on a Al-4wt%Cu alloy unidirectionally solidified vertically upwards under unsteady-state solidification conditions. Experimental growth laws correlating the primary (λ1) and secondary (λ2) dendritic spacings with growth and cooling rate are proposed for Al-4wt%Cu and Al-4wt%Cu-4wt%Ag alloys. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed in order to determine the crystalline phases of the compounds present in the alloys microstructure. The diffractogram of the binary alloy showed the presence of θ-Al2Cu, Al-Cu, Al4Cu9 and Al6Fe intermetallics and, for the case of the ternary alloy, the µ-Ag3Al intermetallic was detected. Chemical compositions at the boundary regions of the dendrite as also inside the dendrite were obtained using scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected to an Energy-Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) system. Several positions along the ingot were analyzed through the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique permitting the detection of macrosegregation occurrence. It is shown that the microhardness is not influenced by both spacing patterns of the Al-rich matrix. The ρ-Ag2Al and µ-Ag3Al intermetallics are responsible for the increase in hardness due to the interaction with ternary dendrite arm spacing and other intermetallics.

Blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, has become a significant disease threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Brazil. This study aimed to investigate at the histochemical level if silicon (Si) could enhance the production of flavonoids in the leaves of wheat plants in response to P. oryzae infection. Plants from the Aliança cultivar, which are susceptible to blast, were grown in hydroponic cultures containing 0 (-Si) or 2 mM of Si (+Si) and inoculated by spraying a conidial suspension of P. oryzae (1 × 105 conidia mL−1) on all adaxial leaf surfaces of plants at 60 days after emergence (growth stage 65). The fourth and fifth leaves of each plant were used to evaluate blast severity at 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h after inoculation (hai). At 96 hai, leaves were collected from plants to determine the foliar Si concentration. For cytological observations, leaf samples were randomly collected from the fourth and fifth leaves of each plant at 72 hai. The foliar Si concentration was higher in +Si plants (36 g kg−1) in comparison to -Si plants (2.6 g kg−1). This increased Si concentration was correlated with reduced fungal growth inside the epidermal cells and the development of blast symptoms on leaves. Strong fluorescence, which is an indication of the presence of flavonoids, was detected in the leaf cells of +Si plants using Neu’s and Wilson's reagents. A novel item of evidence is that, at the histochemical level, Si is involved in the potentiation of the biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids that increases wheat resistance to blast.

Several wood species from the Amazon region are used in the manufacture of furniture, which leaves behind large amounts of waste (slabs, sawdust, sanding dust and bark), thus causing serious environmental impacts. An interesting alternative for the use of these wastes is the manufacture of particleboards. However, few studies have focused on the behavior of Amazonian tree species and the wastes resulting from production with this type of material. This paper discusses the potential use of Tauari (Couratari oblongifolia) wood waste as a raw material for the production of particleboards, using castor oil-based bi-component polyurethane adhesive. Experimental boards were prepared with dry wood particles and a castor-oil polyurethane adhesive content of 16%. The boards, whose nominal density was 1000 kg·m-3, were subjected to uniaxial compression (5 MPa) at 90, 110 and 130ºC for ten minutes. The particleboards were characterized by performing the following tests: Apparent density (D AP), Moisture (M), Water Absorption (WA), Thickness Swelling (TS), Static bending strength: MOR (Modulus of rupture) and MOE (Modulus of elasticity), Perpendicular Tensile Strength (IB - internal bonding) and Screw Pullout (SP), according to the Brazilian NBR 14.810:2006 standard. The results indicate that, regardless of the processing temperature, the average density of Tauari particleboard is 930 to 941 kg·m-3, with higher IB and TS than those specified by the NBR 14810-2 and ANSI A208.1 standards, enabling this product to be classified as high-density particleboard suitable for industrial and commercial use.

Disseminated leishmaniasis (DL) differs from other clinical forms of the disease due to the presence of many non-ulcerated lesions (papules and nodules) in non-contiguous areas of the body. We describe the histopathology of DL non-ulcerated lesions and the presence of CD4-, CD20-, CD68-, CD31- and von Willebrand factor (vW)-positive cells in the inflamed area. We analysed eighteen biopsies from non-ulcerated lesions and quantified the inflamed areas and the expression of CD4, CD20, CD68, CD31 and vW using Image-Pro software (Media Cybernetics). Diffuse lymphoplasmacytic perivascular infiltrates were found in dermal skin. Inflammation was observed in 3-73% of the total biopsy area and showed a significant linear correlation with the number of vW+ vessels. The most common cells were CD68+ macrophages, CD20+ B-cells and CD4+ T-cells. A significant linear correlation between CD4+ and CD20+ cells and the size of the inflamed area was also found. Our findings show chronic inflammation in all DL non-ulcerated lesions predominantly formed by macrophages, plasmacytes and T and B-cells. As the inflamed area expanded, the number of granulomas and extent of the vascular framework increased. Thus, we demonstrate that vessels may have an important role in the clinical evolution of DL lesions.

OBJETIVO: desenvolver um modelo experimental de isquemia global normotérmica transitória capaz de demonstrar os tempos de isquemia e reperfusão necessários para desenvolvimento de lesão de isquemia/reperfusão em intestinos delgados de ratos Wistar através clampeamento de aorta abdominal suprarrenal. MÉTODOS: Vinte ratos Wistar adultos machos, pesando entre 250 e 350g, foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em cinco grupos, com quatro ratos cada, e submetidos a tempos crescentes de isquemia (0 - 30 - 45 - 60 - 90 minutos). Dentro de cada grupo, à exceção do grupo controle, dois ratos foram submetidos à 60 minutos de reperfusão e dois à 90 minutos. Após os procedimentos, procedeu-se análise histológica através de medição de áreas de necrose. RESULTADOS: O grau de necrose intestinal variou de 15 a 54% (p=0,0004). Houve tendência de aumento progressivo no grau de lesão relacionado ao aumento no tempo de isquemia, contudo, os maiores graus de lesão foram observados nos menores tempos de reperfusão. A análise do coeficiente de variação de necrose entre os dez grupos de isquemia/reperfusão demonstrou diferença estatisticamente significante em 15 postos, sendo 13 relacionados ao grupo controle. CONCLUSÃO: O modelo foi capaz de demonstrar os tempos necessários para que ocorra lesão de isquemia/reperfusão intestinal através de clampeamento aórtico e poderá servir como base para facilitar o desenvolvimento de estudos voltados para a compreensão deste tipo de lesão.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an experimental model of global normothermic ischemia able to demonstrate the transient ischemia and reperfusion periods required for development of ischemia/reperfusion injury in the small intestines of Wistar rats by clamping the abdominal aorta. METHODS: Twenty adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-350g were randomly divided into five groups with four rats each and submitted to increasing times of ischemia (0 - 30 - 45 - 60 - 90 minutes). Within each group, except the control one, two rats underwent 60 minutes of reperfusion and two 90 minutes. After the procedures, histological analysis was conducted by measurement of areas of necrosis. RESULTS: The degree of intestinal necrosis ranged from 15% to 54% (p = 0.0004). There was progressive increase in the degree of injury related to increase in ischemic time. However, greater degrees of injury were observed in the lowest times of reperfusion. The analysis of the coefficient of variation of necrosis among the ten groups of ischemia/reperfusion showed a statistically significant difference in 15 areas, 13 related to the control group. CONCLUSION: The model was able to show the periods required for the occurrence of ischemia/reperfusion injury by aortic clamping and can serve as a basis to facilitate the development of studies that aim at understanding this kind of injury.

A logística, ao longo do tempo, tornou-se processo determinante para a sobrevivência das empresas em função dos seus aspectos. Os aspectos logísticos são responsáveis pelo fluxo de materiais e de informações, desde o fornecedor até o consumidor, e impactam, diretamente, no desempenho das empresas, bem como no custo dos produtos e serviços que oferecem. Isso é razão suficiente para sugerir a adição dos aspectos logísticos nas ferramentas de análise e seleção de materiais. Esse estudo tem como objetivo apresentar o desenvolvimento de um modelo de seleção de materiais metálicos que considera os aspectos logísticos no processo de decisão. Para isso, utilizou-se uma adaptação da rede PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique), relacionando-se indicadores da variável seleção de materiais com os da variável logística. Implementamos o nosso modelo e apresentamos a especialistas de empresas do setor minerometalúrgico com fins de validação. Esses relataram que não possuem sistema gerencial que realize processo de seleção utilizando informações do material com informações logísticas. Assim, consideraram o modelo proposto um importante instrumento de tomada de decisão gerencial.

Logistics has become a decisive process for the survival of companies. Logistic aspects are responsible for the flow of materials and information from the supplier to the consumer, and have a direct impact on the performance of companies, as well as on the costs of the products and services they offer. This is enough to justify the addition of logistic aspects as tools for analysis and material selection. This work aims at presenting the development of a model for the selection of metallic material, which considers the logistic aspects on the decision process. For this reason, we have used an adaptation of the PERT net (Program Evaluation and Review Technique), relating indicators of variables from material selection with those from logistics. For the purpose of validation, we then implemented the model and presented it to experts of the mining-metallurgical sector. These experts had previously reported a lack of management systems that support the selection process relating to material and logistic information. As a result, they considered the proposed model to be an important instrument for undertaking managerial decisions.

Foram investigados a prevalência e os fatores de risco da leptospirose bovina no Estado do Maranhão. O Estado foi dividido em quatro circuitos amostrais com base em parâmetros de produção distintos que variam conforme os diferentes sistemas de produção, as práticas de manejo, a finalidade de exploração, o tamanho médio dos rebanhos e os sistemas de comercialização. Objetivou-se estudar as características epidemiológicas da leptospirose bovina no Estado do Maranhão, de modo a determinar a prevalência em bovinos e em rebanhos, detectar as sorovariedades de Leptospira spp. presentes, identificar os fatores de risco eventualmente associados à leptospirose em bovinos e diferenciar os circuitos pecuários entre si no que se refere à prevalência de leptospirose. A pesquisa foi realizada em 136 propriedades rurais pertencentes ao circuito I, no qual 841 fêmeas bovinas com idade igual ou superior a 24 meses foram analisadas; 238 do circuito II, com 2.582 fêmeas analisadas; 122 do circuito III, com 869 fêmeas analisadas; e 77 do circuito IV, com 540 fêmeas analisadas; no total, 573 propriedades e 4.832 fêmeas foram estudadas. A presença de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. foi verificada pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM). Das 4.832 fêmeas bovinas analisadas, 1.904 (35,94%; IC 95% = 33,01% - 38,98%) foram reagentes. Das 573 propriedades analisadas, 380 (64,81%; IC 95% = 61,10% - 68,35%) foram consideradas positivas. As sorovariedades Hardjo e Wolffi foram as mais frequentes em todo o Estado. O circuito III foi o que apresentou menor prevalência de leptospirose em todas as comparações. As variáveis identificadas como fatores de risco de leptospirose foram: presença de equinos (p = 0,000), presença de capivaras (p = 0,034) e rebanhos bovinos com 32 ou mais fêmeas adultas (p = 0,002).

Prevalence and risk factors of bovine leptospirosis in the State of Maranhão were investigated. Based on production parameters that vary across different production systems, management practices, the purpose of exploitation, the average size of herds and market systems, the state was divided in four sampling circuits. The study aimed to investigate the epidemiological features of bovine leptospirosis in the State of Maranhão, in order to determine the prevalence of the infection in cattle and herds, to determine the occurrence of serovars of Leptospira spp., to identify risk factors associated with leptospirosis in cattle and to differentiate the livestock circuits itself regarding the prevalence of leptospirosis. The survey was conducted in 136 herds in the circuit I, in which 841 > 24 months old females were analyzed; 238 in the circuit II and 2,582 females were analyzed; 122 in the circuit III and 869 females were analyzed; 77 in the circuit IV and 540 females were analyzed; a total of 573 herds and 4,832 females were analyzed. The presence of antibodies against Leptospira spp. was verified by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Of the 4,832 cows examined, 1,904 (35.94%, CI 95% = 33.01% - 38.98%) were positive. Of the 573 herds, 380 (64.81%, CI 95% = 61.10% - 68.35%) were positive. Serovars Hardjo and Wolffi were the most frequent in the state. The circuit III showed the lowest prevalence of leptospirosis in all comparisons. The variables presence of horses (p = 0.000), presence of capybaras (p = 0.034) and herds with up to 32 adult females (p = 0.002) were identified as risk factors for leptospirosis.

O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar o comportamento do feijão-caupi (Vigna ungüiculata (L.) Walp.) cv. BRS Novaera sob quatro lâminas de água (273; 257; 241 e 187 mm) e doses de fósforo (0; 70; 140; 210 kg ha-1 de P2O5, aplicados na forma de superfosfato triplo), em Boa Vista, Roraima. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso, no esquema de parcelas subdivididas com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas pelas lâminas de água e as sub parcelas pelas doses de fósforo, resultando em 16 tratamentos. A irrigação foi realizada por um sistema convencional de aspersão, montado no campo segundo o sistema de "aspersão em linha". As massas seca da parte aérea e de 100 grãos foram influenciadas significativamente pela interação entre lâminas de água e doses de fósforo, enquanto o número de grãos por vagem e o comprimento da vagem foram influenciados somente pelas doses de fósforo. A dose de máxima eficiência econômica foi de 89,45 kg de P2O5, com produtividade de 1.306 kg ha-1.

This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of irrigation depth and phosphate fertilizer (0; 70; 140; 210 kg ha-1 de P2O5) on yield and production components of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) cv. Novaera at the Savanna of Roraima, Brazil. The experimental design was arranged in a completely randomized block in split-plot and four replications. Irrigation depths were applied through a sprinkler line source system. The principal treatments constituted on the depths of irrigation and the secondary treatments by the phosphate fertilizer. Significant effects (p < 0.05) of the depth of irrigation and phosphate fertilizer interaction with aerial mass production and mass of 100 grains were observed. The number of grains per pods and size of pod were affected by the phosphate fertilizer only. The highest economical yield (1,306 kg ha-1) was obtained by 89.45 kg of P2O5.

Domestic dogs are considered to be the main reservoirs of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis. In this work, we evaluated a protocol to induce Leishmania infantum/Leishmania chagasi-specific cellular and humoral immune responses in dogs, which consisted of two injections of Leishmania promastigote lysate followed by a subcutaneous inoculation of viable promastigotes. The primary objective was to establish a canine experimental model to provide positive controls for testing immune responses to Leishmania in laboratory conditions. After inoculation of viable promastigotes, specific proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to either Leishmania lysate or recombinant proteins, the in vitro production of interferon-γ by antigen-stimulated PBMCs and a significant increase in circulating levels of anti-Leishmania antibodies were observed. The immunized dogs also displayed positive delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to Leishmania crude antigens and to purified recombinant proteins. An important finding that supports the suitability of the dogs as positive controls is that they remained healthy for the entire observation period, i.e., more than seven years after infection. Following the Leishmania antigen lysate injections, the infection of dogs by the subcutaneous route appears to induce a sustained cellular immune response, leading to an asymptomatic infection. This provides a useful model for both the selection of immunogenic Leishmania antigens and for immunobiological studies on their possible immunoprotective activities.

INTRODUÇÃO: O vírus linfotrópico da célula T humana (HTLV) é um retrovírus de prevalência elevada em Salvador, Bahia, quando comparado a outras capitais brasileiras. O estudo de seus fatores de risco é muito importante para se entender a dinâmica da infecção no município. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a soroprevalência e alguns fatores de risco para a infecção por HTLV-I/II em indivíduos assistidos pelo Programa Saúde da Família (PSF) no município de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Amostras biológicas foram obtidas em postos do PSF do município de Salvador. Foram realizados imunoensaios do tipo ELISA para a detecção de anticorpos anti-HTLV-I/II. Dados retrospectivos sobre alguns fatores de risco para a infecção pelo HTLV foram obtidos por meio de questionário. RESULTADOS: Foram testadas 765 amostras, 529 (69,2%) do sexo feminino e 236 (30,8%) do masculino. A soroprevalência geral para HTLV-I/II foi de 1,96%, aumentando de acordo com a idade. Observou-se soroprevalência de 2,16% e 1,89% para os sexos masculino e feminino, respectivamente (p = 0,833). Entre os indivíduos com idade inferior a 30 anos (n = 161), não houve soropositivos para HTLV-I/II. Entre os soropositivos, 84,6% relataram ter parceiro sexual fixo e 61,5% não utilizam preservativo com frequência em suas relações sexuais, semelhante ao observado entre os soronegativos, com 76,5% e 67,4%, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A soroprevalência encontrada é considerada alta em comparação a outros municípios brasileiros. Os fatores de risco analisados não foram estatisticamente diferentes entre os grupos soronegativos e soropositivos para HTLV-I/II. A transmissão vertical não se mostrou como importante fator na manutenção do vírus.

INTRODUCTION: HTLV is a retrovirus with high prevalence in Salvador, Bahia, when compared to other Brazilian capitals. The study of its risk factors is very important in order to understand the infection dynamics in the municipality. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and some risk factors for HTLV-I/II infection among people assisted by the Family Health Program (FHP) in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biological samples were obtained from FHP health centers in Salvador city. Immunoassays were performed by ELISA method for HTLV antibody detection. Retrospective data about potential risk factors to HTLV infection were obtained through questionnaire. RESULTS: 765 samples were tested, 529 (69.2%) females and 236 (30.8%) males. The overall HTLV-I/II seroprevalence was 1.96%, increasing according to age. HTLV-I/II seroprevalence was 2.16% and 1.89% for males and females, respectively (p = 0.833). Among seropositive individuals, 84.6% reported having a steady sexual partner and 61.5% do not use condoms frequently in their sexual intercourses, what similarly was observed among seronegative with 76.5% and 67.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence found is considered high compared to other Brazilian municipalities. The analyzed risk factors were not statistically different between HTLV-I/II seronegative and seropositive groups. The vertical transmission was not an important factor for virus maintenance.