Foi estudado o valor nutricional (digestibilidade total e ileal) de duas leveduras spray dry (cana-de-açúcar - LEV35 e cerveja+cana-de-açúcar - LEV40) e o efeito da sua inclusão em rações para suínos na fase de crescimento e terminação. Os valores de ED (kcal/kg) da LEV35 e da LEV40 foram 3.496 e 3.901 e EM (kcal/kg) foram 3.475 e 3.862, respectivamente. Os valores de lisina, metionina+cistina e treonina digestível para a levedura de cana-de-açúcar e da levedura de cerveja+cana-de-açúcar são 2,66 e 2,64, 1,11 e 1,03, 1,95 e 1,92, respectivamente. No desempenho foram utilizados 40 suínos com peso inicial de 34,39± 7,57kg (crescimento) e de 62,45± 5,68kg (terminação), distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco níveis de inclusão (0, 5, 10, 15 e20%) da LEV35. Na fase de crescimento, houve piora do GDP e da CA com o aumento da inclusão. Na fase de terminação, porém, houve efeito quadrático para o CDR, sendo o melhor nível 3.32%. Da mesma forma, ocorreu piora linear para o GDP, CA, peso de carcaça quente, rendimento de carcaça fria e peso de pernil. Os resultados sugerem que a adição de níveis crescentes da LEV35 pode prejudicar o desempenho dos suínos.

The nutritional value of two spray dry yeast (sugar cane - SCYSD and brewer+sugar cane - BYSD) and their inclusion effects on growing and finishing pigs feeding was studied. The DE (kcal/kg) values for SCYSD and BYSD were 3.496 and 3.901 and for ME (kcal/kg) they were 3.475 and 3.862. The values of digestible lysine, methionine+cistine and threonine for SCYSD and BYSD were: 2.66 and 2.64%; 1.11 and 1.03%: 1.95 and 1.92%. 40 pigs with initial weight of 34.39±7.57kg (growing) and 62.45±5.68kg (finishing), allotted in a completely randomized design with five levels of SCYSD inclusion were used in the performance assay. In the growing phase, there was an impairing on DWG and F:G, however, in the finishing phase, DFI presented a quadratic effect, being 3.32% the best level and linear reduction of DWG, F:G, slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass yield and ham weight. The results suggest that increasing levels of SCYSD may impair the performance of growing and finishing pigs.

Dois experimentos foram realizados para se estudar a metodologia de uso de porcentagens crescentes de substituição da ração referência pelo alimento teste fibroso (casca de café melosa - CCM), em ensaios de digestibilidade com suínos. No Experimento I, foi realizado um ensaio de digestibilidade utilizando 30 machos castrados, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso. No Experimento II, foram utilizados 42 suínos na fase de crescimento e 42 suínos na fase de terminação, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com seis rações, sete repetições e um animal por unidade experimental. As seis rações foram: uma ração controle, quatro rações usando os valores de energia metabolizável (EM) da CCM obtidos no Experimento I e uma ração com EM da CCM estimada por equação de regressão linear para 15% de substituição. Os estudos de digestibilidade indicaram que o uso de porcentagens crescentes de substituição - 7, 14, 21 e 28% - reduziu a digestibilidade da CCM. Os valores de EM, na matéria natural, obtidos para a CCM foram 2.456, 2.377, 2.247 e 1.945kcal/kg. Os resultados indicam que porcentagens mais elevadas de substituição superestimam o valor energético e que a crescente substituição da ração referência pelo alimento teste pode ser utilizada para estimar, de forma mais precisa, os valores energéticos de alimentos fibrosos para suínos. Para suínos em crescimento e em terminação, pode-se usar, respectivamente, até 28% e 15% de casca de café melosa sem prejudicar o desempenho e a viabilidade econômica.

Two experiments were carried out to study the methodology of using increasing levels of substitution of the basal diet with fibrous test feedstuffs (sticky coffee hull - SCH) in digestibility trials with pigs. In Experiment 1, a digestibility trial was conducted using 30 crossbred barrows, allotted in a randomized block design. In Experiment 2, 42 growing and 42 finishing pigs were used, allotted in a completely randomized design, with six diets and seven replicates, with one animal per experimental unit. The six diets consisted of: a control diet, four diets using SCH ME values as obtained in Experiment 1 plus a diet using SCH ME value estimated by linear regression equation for 15% substitution. The digestibility study indicated that the use of increasing levels of substitution (7, 14, 21 and 28%) reduced SCH digestibility. ME values, as-fed basis, were 2,456, 2,377, 2,247 and 1,945kcal/kg. The overall results indicate that higher levels of substitution overestimate the energy value and that the method of increasing levels of substitution of the basal diet with feedstuffs test can be used to more accurately estimate the energy values of fibrous feedstuffs for pigs. For growing and finishing pigs respectively, up to 28% and 15% of sticky coffee hull can be used without impairing pig performance and economic feasibility.

Dois experimentos foram realizados para determinar o valor nutricional e verificar o desempenho de leitões dos 6 aos 15kg, alimentados com dietas que continham dois tipos de soja integral desativada, caracterizada pela presença (SC) ou não de casca (SS). No ensaio de digestibilidade total, foram utilizados 15 leitões machos, castrados, com média de peso inicial de 7,36±1,71kg, alojados em gaiolas de metabolismo. Exceto para energia bruta (EB), não foram observadas diferenças entre tratamentos nos coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca, da proteína bruta, do extrato etéreo e da matéria orgânica, e no coeficiente de metabolização da EB entre as duas sojas avaliadas. Os teores de energia digestível e energia metabolizável na matéria natural para SC e SS foram: 3.979 e 4.300kcal/kg; 3.768 e 4.111kcal/kg, respectivamente. No experimento de desempenho, foram utilizados 56 leitões, desmamados aos 21 dias de idade, com média de peso inicial de 6,19±0,67kg. Neste experimento, os leitões receberam os dois tipos de soja integral desativada em três porcentagens de inclusão. Não foram observadas diferenças para as variáveis de desempenho com a inclusão da soja desativada às dietas. Concluiu-se que os tipos e as porcentagens de inclusão da soja podem ser utilizados na dieta de leitões.

Two experiments were carried out to determine the nutritional value and to verify the piglets performance from 6 to 15kg, fed diets with two types of disabled whole soybeans characterized by shell presence (CS) or not (SS). In the digestibility assay 15 castrated male piglets were used, with average weight of 7.36±1.71kg, housed in metabolism cages. Except for gross energy (EB), no differences between treatments were observed for the dry matter digestibility, crude protein, ether extract and organic matter, and for the coefficient of metabolism of EB between the two soybeans evaluated. The values of digestible energy (DE), as well the metabolizable energy (ME) on fed basis for SC and SS were: 3,979 and 4,300kcal/kg, 3,768 and 4,111kcal/kg, respectively. In the performance experiment 56 weaned piglets were used, at 21 days of age with initial body weight of 6.19±0.67kg. No differences were observed in the performance variables with the inclusion of SS and SC disabled soybeans in the diets, concluding that the studied soybeans can be used for piglet diets.

We determined and analyzed risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected Brazilian hemophiliacs according to their virological, clinical and epidemiological characteristics. A cross-sectional and retrospective study of 469 hemophiliacs was carried out at a Brazilian blood center starting in October 1997. The prevalence of HCV infection, HCV genotypes and factors associated with HCV RNA detection was determined. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies (ELISA-3.0) was 44.6% (209/469). Virological, clinical and epidemiological assessments were completed for 162 positive patients. There were seven (4.3%) anti-HCV seroconversions between October 1992 and October 1997. During the same period, 40.8% of the positive anti-HCV hemophiliacs had abnormal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. Plasma HCV RNA was detected by nested-RT-PCR in 116 patients (71.6%). RFLP analysis showed the following genotype distribution: HCV-1 in 98 hemophiliacs (84.5%), HCV-3 in ten (8.6%), HCV-4 in three (2.6%), HCV-2 in one (0.9%), and not typeable in four cases (3.4%). Univariate analysis indicated that older age (P = 0.017) and abnormal ALT levels (P = 0.010) were associated with HCV viremia, while the presence of inhibitor antibodies (P = 0.024) and HBsAg (P = 0.007) represented a protective factor against the presence of HCV RNA. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between HCV infection and hemophilia.

Sm14 is a 14-kDa vaccine candidate antigen from Schistosoma mansoni that seems to be involved in cytoplasmic trafficking of fatty acids. Although schistosomes have a high requirement for lipids, they are not able to synthesize fatty acids and sterols de novo. Thus, they must acquire host lipids. In order to determine whether Sm14 is present in different stages of the life cycle of the parasite, we performed RT-PCR. Sm14 mRNA was identified in all stages of the life cycle studied, mainly schistosomulum, adult worm and egg. Additionally, we used a rabbit anti-Sm14 polyclonal antibody in an indirect immunofluorescence assay to localize Sm14 in adult worm sections. The basal lamella of the tegument and the gut epithelium were strongly labeled. These tissues have a high flow of and demand for lipids, a finding that supports the putative role of Sm14 as an intracellular transporter of fatty acids from host cells.