The authors investigated the effects of replacing a portion of a commercial broiler feed with false yam tuber meals on broiler growth performance, feed conversion rate (FCR) and blood parameters. Furthermore, wood charcoal was added at various levels to the meals to explore their potential to attenuate toxic effects. One hundred and sixty-eight 28-day-old healthy female broiler chickens (average initial bodyweight 1081.1 ± 66.20 g) were randomly assigned to 28 experimental groups (7 dietary treatments, 4 replicates) of six birds each, using a randomized complete block design. Dietary treatments included the control diet (commercial broiler feed) (C), raw false yam tuber meal (RFY) replacing 50 g/kg of the commercial broiler feed, false yam tuber meal soaked in water (SFY) replacing 150 g/kg of the commercial broiler feed, RFY with 30 g/kg and 60 g/kg wood charcoal, and SFY with 30 g/kg and 60 g/kg wood charcoal. Growth performance, feed intake and FCR were assessed over four weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from 21 birds (three from each dietary treatment) to analyse haematological and serum biochemical parameters. Analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and simple regressions were used to evaluate the effects of the meals and charcoal. The results indicated that broilers fed 150 g/kg SFY had a significantly lower growth rate and poorest FCR. Consequently, highest bodyweights were observed for C and RFY diets. Additionally, blood serum proteins were below the references ranges for birds fed SFY, particularly with additional charcoal. In contrast, RFY could be included at 50 g/kg in broiler chicken diets without any adverse effects on their performance and blood (serum) parameters. Anti-nutritional substances contained in SFY at this substitution level are harmful to the birds, irrespective of whether charcoal is added or not. In contrast, RFY could replace commercial feed at the studied level (50 g/kg).

ABSTRACT Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis in which the dog appears as the main source of infection in urban areas. Its diagnosis is complex and the cytopathological exam is a fast and cheap alternative to parasite direct visualization and its sensitivity can be increased by immunocytochemistry, though with a higher cost. The accuracy of such methods is dependent on the microscopist's experience and therefore, this study evaluated the reliability of such techniques between two observers, from bone marrow aspirates of 50 dogs from an endemic area for the disease. The parasitological culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle medium was used as the reference standard. Among the main findings, the sensitivities obtained by observers I and II were respectively 62.5% and 37.5%, while specificities were 81.1% and 100%. On immunocytochemistry evaluation, the sensitivity was 0% for both evaluators and the specificity 97.3% and 100%. The agreement between evaluators was weak (κ = 0.167) for the cytopathological test and it could not be evaluated for immunocytochemistry, for which there was no detection by the evaluator II. The agreements among the diagnostic methods and the standard reference for the observer I were reasonable (κ = 0.364) for cytopathological examination and bad (κ = -0.041) for immunocytochemistry. For observer II, such agreement could be assessed only for the cytopathological test, being moderate (κ = 0.497). The results point to the possible expertise difference between evaluators, with the evaluator II demonstrating greater experience when interpreting the citopathological test. Although there was the expected sensitivity increase with immunocytochemistry, the technique used in this study was not effective for the diagnosis of infection, regardless of the evaluator.

Descreveram-se as alterações anatomopatológicas provocadas pelo parasitismo por Calyptospora sp. em 40 espécimes de Aequidens plagiozonatus, provenientes do município de Peixe-boi, Pará, Brasil. Foram encontradas formas imaturas e oocistos característicos do gênero Calyptospora, nos exames frescos por compressão e cortes histológicos, além de um grande número de centros melanomacrofágicos dispersos por todo o órgão. Digna de nota foi a ausência de inflamação significativa no tecido hepático. Centros melanomacrofágicos e compressão dos hepatócitos estão envolvidos na resposta do hospedeiro ao parasito. Este é o primeiro registro de ocorrência de parasitismo por Calyptospora sp. na espécie estudada.

The present study focuses on the anatomopathological alterations provoked by parasitism by Calyptospora sp. in 40 specimens of Aequidens plagiozonatus collected in Pará, Brazil. Examinations of the fresh material by compression of the hepatopancreas and histological sections showed immature forms and oocysts characteristic of the genus Calyptospora, in addition to a large quantity of melanomacrophagic centers spread throughout the organ. No significant inflammation of the hepatic tissue was observed. The melanomacrophagic centers and the compression of the hepatocytes are part of the response of the host to the parasite. This study represents the first record of parasitism by Calyptospora in A. plagiozonatus.

The prevalence of T. gondii infection was investigated in free-range chickens for human consumption in the county of Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thus, a search for antibodies to T. gondii by indirect fluorescent antibody test was done in the serum of 220 chickens from twenty two farms. Titres equal or greater than 16 were considered positive. The prevalence of toxoplasmic infection found in chickens was 27.6% (61/220). There were positive cases in eighteen (77.2%) farms. The more frequent titre was 16 (12.5%) and the highest was 4096 (0.4%). The high prevalence of T. gondii in chickens and the high percentage of farms with positive cases indicate environmental contamination in the studied area showing the possibility of human and animal infection.

The results of a study on nematode fauna occurring in wild iguanas (Iguana iguana) from Brazilian Northeast (Alagoas and Maranhão) and Central-west (Goiás and Mato Grosso) areas were presented. Six adult iguanas, three males and three females, were necropsied and the digestive system removed to examination. All the iguana specimens were heavily parasitized. The helminths diagnosed were: Ozolaimus cirratus in the cecum and colon of five iguanas; Ozolaimus megatyphlon in cecum, colon and rectum of three iguanas; and Alaeuris vogelsangi in the small intestine, cecum, colon and rectum of five animals. Two larvae of Ozolaimus sp. were recovered from the pyloric region of the stomach of one iguana. The three diagnosed species of nematodes were reported for the first time in the Brazilian Central-West region.

Verificaram-se a prevalência e as características anatomopatológicas de neoplasias espontâneas encontradas em camundongos, provenientes de biotério. Foram necropsiados 9.219 camundongos pertencentes a 13 linhagens, entre agosto de 2002 e janeiro de 2007, para monitoramento sanitário. Amostras de tecidos foram colhidas, fixadas em formol tamponado a 10% e processadas pelas técnicas habituais para inclusão em parafina. Foram realizados 84 diagnósticos de neoplasmas, sendo acometidos 82 camundongos (0,9%). As principais neoplasias diagnosticadas com as respectivas ocorrências foram: carcinoma mamário, 27,4%; linfoma, 19,0%; adenocarcinoma papilífero pulmonar primário, 17,9%; carcinoma epidermoide, 8,3%; osteossarcoma osteoblástico, 4,8%; e outros com menor porcentagem de ocorrência. Houve predomínio de tumores malignos, sendo mais frequentes os carcinomas mamários. A linhagem BALB/c An foi a que apresentou a maior variedade de tipos de neoplasias, seguida das linhagens outbred Swiss Webster e NIH. Fibrossarcoma em camundongos C57BL/10 ScSn-Dmd mdx/J e carcinoma mamário na linhagem NOD foram relatados pela primeira vez.

The prevalence and the pathologic features of spontaneous neoplasms found in mice from a breeding colony were verified. Nine thousand two hundred and nineteen mice belonging to 13 strains were submitted to necropsy from August 2002 to January 2007 for health monitoring. Tissue samples were collected, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and processed by the usual techniques for inclusion in paraffin. Eighty-four neoplasms were diagnosed and 82 mice had tumors (0.9%). The main neoplasms were diagnosed with the following occurrences: mammary carcinoma, 27.4%; lymphoma, 19.0%; primary papillary pulmonary adenocarcinoma, 17.9%; squamous carcinoma, 8.3%; osteoblastic osteosarcoma, 4.8%; and others with a lower percentage of occurrence. The malignant tumors predominated and the most common tumor was the mammary carcinoma. The wider variety of neoplasm types was found in the BALB/c An strain, followed by the outbred strains Swiss Webster and NIH. The fibrossarcoma in C57BL/10 ScSn-Dmd mdx/J mice and mammary carcinoma in NOD mice were reported for the first time.

O trematódeo digenético Paratanaisia bragai é referido pela primeira vez parasitando a rolinha-caldo-de-feijão, Columbina talpacoti, proveniente de área suburbana do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Embora com baixa prevalência (10%), a intensidade de infecção foi alta, considerando que 116 exemplares do parasito foram obtidos de um dos rins. Não foram observadas lesões macroscópicas. A análise histopatológica demonstrou grande dilatação dos dutos coletores renais, com destruição e achatamento das células epiteliais de revestimento, sem reação inflamatória. Os achados patológicos foram comparados aos anteriormente relatados para P. bragai em outros hospedeiros, desde a proposição da espécie em 1934.

This is the first report of the digenetic trematode Paratanaisia bragai infestation in a ruddy ground dove Columbina talpacoti, captured in a suburban area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although with a low prevalence (10%), the intensity of infection was high, considering that 116 worms were recovered from one of the kidneys. Gross lesions were not observed and histopathological analysis showed very dilated renal collecting ducts with destruction and flattening of the lining epithelial cells, without inflammatory reaction. The pathological findings were compared to those previously reported for P. bragai in other hosts, since the proposal of the species in 1934.

Leihsmaniasis is a protozoal disease transmitted by dipteran insects. The dog is an important domestic host of both visceral and cutaneous forms of the disease. These forms affects humans in many countries, and it is considered a serious risk for human health. This study reports clinical and laboratorial data from 18 dogs. Nine dogs were positive by indirect immunofluorescence technique and the other nine were negative. The dogs were clinically monitored for 30 days and laboratorial changes were assessed. Three blood samples were collected for hemogram and serum biochemistry at 0, 15, and 30 days. The clinical signs of positive dogs were compatible with the disease, including lymphadenopathy, cutaneous ulcers, hyperthermia, apathy, cachexia and ulcerated mucosa. Marked differences were observed in the blood cell counts and blood biochemistry between positive and negative dogs. In conclusion, blood and biochemistry analyses of positive dogs were not sufficient to diagnose the disease within the period studied. The serologic test associated with the clinical signs are important to confirm the diagnosis.