Abstract The use of creep feeding for preweaning piglets is important to improve the performance of the piglets. The objective of this experiment was evaluate the effect of using or altering the position of piglet’s creep feeder during lactation on piglet’s performance and on behavior of piglets and sows kept in a hot climate environment. Forty-five sows and their litters at 10 days of lactation were randomly distributed into three treatments: front feeder (FF) - near the side of the sow’s head; back feeder (BF) - near the side of the rump of the sow; and no feeder (NF). All piglets were weighed individually to evaluate the average weight, weight gain and coefficient of variation of the weight. Behavior assessments of the piglets and sows were recorded in 3 period. At 15 and 21 d, piglets of the FF treatment were heavier (P ≤ 0.0001) than piglets of the other treatments. At 10-21d piglets of FF treatment had 76.2% less belly nosing behavior than the NF piglets (P=0.015). The treatments had no impact on behavior of the sows. The creep feeders positioned in the front of the farrowing crate increased piglet growth rate and decreased frequency of belly nosing behavior.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the testicular echotexture of Nelore bulls and to correlate it with spermatogenic parameters. Forty one bulls aged 3-5 years, with body weight of 510.2 ± 21.61 kg were selected for the study. The animals were subjected to ultrasonography, using a portable device coupled with a linear transducer at a frequency of 7.5 MHz. Immediately afterwards they were castrated and the testicular tissue was treated with Karnovsky fixative. Next, the fragments were embedded in glycol methacrylate and stained with toluidine blue-1% sodium borate solution. The average pixel intensity in the testicular parenchyma was determined for 1,600-mm2 surface sections. The right and left testicles and the area between the two testicles resulted in average pixel intensities of 105.22 ± 13.58, 107.95 ± 12.82, and 106.59 ± 11.43, respectively. The efficiency coefficient of spermatogonial mitosis was 19.74; meiotic index was 2.63, and overall yield of spermatogenesis was 52.0. No correlation (P>0.05) was observed between testicular echotexture and any of the measured morphometric parameters. These results suggest that testicular echotexture was not a viable method for the indirect analysis of cellular population in the seminiferous epithelium, intrinsic spermatogenic performance, or the Sertoli cell index in Nelore bulls.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la ecotextura testicular de los toros Nelore y correlacionarlo con los parámetros de espermatogénesis. Para este propósito, 41 toros de edades de 3-5 años y con pesos corporales en el intervalo de 510,2 ± 21,61 kg fueron seleccionados para el estudio. Los toros se sometieron a ecografía, utilizando un dispositivo portátil junto con un transductor lineal a una frecuencia de 7,5 MHz. Inmediatamente después, los animales fueron castrados, y el tejido testicular se trató con Karnovsky fijador. Los fragmentos testiculares se incluyeron en metacrilato de glicol y se tiñeron con una solución de borato de sodio-azul de toluidina al 1%. La intensidad media de pixeles en el parénquima testicular se determinó para secciones de superficie de 1.600 mm2. Los El área entre los dos testículos derecho e izquierdo dieron lugar a la intensidad media de los pixeles de 105,22 ± 13,58, 107,95 ± 12,82 y 106,59 ± 11,43, respectivamente. El coeficiente de eficiencia de la mitosis espermatogonial fue 19,74; Índice meiótico fue 2,63, y el rendimiento global del espermatogénesis alcanzó el 52,0. No se observó correlación (P>0,05) entre ecotextura testicular y cualquiera de los parámetros morfométricos medidos. Estos resultados sugieren que ecotextura testicular no es un método viable para el análisis indirecto de la población celular en el epitelio seminífero, el rendimiento de la espermatogénesis intrínseco, o el índice de células de Sertoli en toros Nelore.

OBJETIVO: estimar a prevalência da infecção pelos vírus respiratórios em pacientes pediátricos com câncer e infecção respiratória aguda (IRA) e/ou febre. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal, de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro de 2012. Foram analisadas secreções de aspirado da nasofaringe de menores de 21 anos, com quadro respiratório agudo, atendidos nos hospitais Grendacc e HU, Jundiaí, SP. Foi aplicado o teste rápido para detecção dos vírus influenza (Kit Biotrin(r)) e a reação em cadeia da polimerase multiplex em tempo real (Kit multiplex/Fast Trade(r)) para detecção dos vírus: influenza (A, H1N1, B), rinovírus, parainfluenza, adenovírus respiratório, vírus respiratório sincicial, parechovírus, bocavírus, metapneumovírus humano e coronavírus humano. Foi estimada a prevalência de infecção viral e usados testes de associação (χ2 ou teste exato de Fisher). RESULTADOS: foram analisadas 104 amostras de aspirado de nasofaringe e sangue. A mediana para a idade foi 12±5,2 anos; masculino (51%); cor branca (68%); IVAS de repetição (32%); uso prévio de antibiótico (32%); tosse (19,8%); e contato com IVAS (8%). Apresentavam-se em bom estado geral 94,3% dos pacientes. A leucemia linfocítica aguda (42,3%) foi mais prevalente. Foram detectados vírus respiratórios em 50% das amostras: rinovírus (23,1%), vírus sincicial respiratório A/B (8,7%) e coronavírus (6,8%). Ocorreu codetecção em 19% entre dois vírus, e de 3% entre três vírus, sendo a mais frequente entre rinovírus e coronavírus 43. Febre em neutropênicos foi de 13%, sendo quatro (30,7%) com vírus positivo. Não houve óbitos. CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência de vírus respiratórios foi importante no episódio infeccioso, sem aumento da morbimortalidade. As codetecções foram frequentes em pacientes com câncer e IRA.

OBJECTIVE: to estimate the prevalence of infection by respiratory viruses in pediatric patients with cancer and acute respiratory infection (ARI) and/or fever. METHODS: cross-sectional study, from January 2011 to December 2012. The secretions of nasopharyngeal aspirates were analyzed in children younger than 21 years with acute respiratory infections. Patients were treated at the Grupo em Defesa da Criança Com Câncer (Grendacc) and University Hospital (HU), Jundiaí, SP. The rapid test was used for detection of influenza virus (Kit Biotrin, Inc. Ireland), and real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (FTD, Respiratory pathogens, multiplex Fast Trade Kit, Malta) for detection of influenza virus (H1N1, B), rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human parechovirus, bocavirus, metapneumovirus, and human coronavirus. The prevalence of viral infection was estimated and association tests were used (χ2 or Fisher's exact test). RESULTS: 104 samples of nasopharyngeal aspirate and blood were analyzed. The median age was 12 ± 5.2 years, 51% males, 68% whites, 32% had repeated ARIs, 32% prior antibiotic use, 19.8% cough, and 8% contact with ARIs. A total of 94.3% were in good general status. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (42.3%) was the most prevalent neoplasia. Respiratory viruses were detected in 50 samples: rhinoviruses (23.1%), respiratory syncytial virus AB (8.7%), and coronavirus (6.8%). Co-detection occurred in 19% of cases with 2 viruses and in 3% of those with 3 viruses, and was more frequent between rhinovirus and coronavirus 43. Fever in neutropenic patients was observed in 13%, of which four (30.7) were positive for viruses. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of respiratory viruses was relevant in the infectious episode, with no increase in morbidity and mortality. Viral co-detection was frequent in patients with cancer and ARIs.