D. S. da Silva

Prevalence and risk factors for human toxoplasmosis in a rural community

Toxoplasma gondii infection may lead to important pathological questions, especially in rural areas, where several sources of infection exist. Therefore, it is important to determine risk factors in order to establish adequate prophylactic measures. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors involved in human toxoplasmosis infection in a rural community, in Eldorado, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. This community was composed of 185 farms - with 671 inhabitants - from which 20 were randomly chosen. In these farms, blood samples were collected from rural workers, who also answered a risk factor questionnaire. Serum samples were analyzed by means of direct agglutination test for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. From 73 samples collected, 79.45% were positive. None of the studied variables was significantly associated with the prevalence of the infection. However, among the individuals who reported eyesight impairments, 94.4% had anti-T. gondii antibodies, compared with 74.0% who did not report eyesight changes (p = 0.0594). Moreover, most individuals in the study (68.20%) were older than 18 years and presented 84.44% positivity, compared with 66.67% of positive individuals younger than 18 years old. We were able to conclude that a high prevalence of antibodies did not imply significant associations with the risk factors studied.

Características de produção do capim-buffel submetido a intensidades e freqüências de corte

EnglishThe objective of this experiment was to evaluate morphogenetic and structural charac- teristics and biomass production of buffel grass as a function of cut intensities and frequencies. A previously established pasture of buffel grass cultivar Molopo was used. Total area was splited in twenty 8 m 2 experimental unities with 1 m border lines. A split plot scheme was used with plot in factorial scheme 2x2 to combination of two height of cut (60 and 80 cm) and two height post cut (20 and 40 cm). The experimental design was entirely randomized blocks, with five replicates named 20- 60, 20-80, 40-60, 40-80. There (p Tillering, leaf/steam ratio, number of alive leafs per tiller and diameter of plant were influenced by (p Leaf appearance ratio and phylocron were not different (p>0.05) between treatments. Cutting frequency and intensities influenced tillering, leaf/ stem ratio and dry matter production for both the cut as to the total. portuguesObjetivou-se avaliar caracteristicas morfoge- nicas, estruturais e a producao de biomassa do capim-buffel sob intensidades e frequencias de corte. Utilizou-se um pasto ja implantado de capim- buffel, cultivar Molopo. A area total utilizada foi dividida em 20 parcelas de 8 m 2 cada com linha de bordadura de 1 m entre as parcelas. Foi utilizado um esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, tendo nas parcelas um arranjo fatorial 2x2 refe- rente a combinacoes entre duas alturas de corte (60 e 80 cm) e duas alturas de residuo (20 e 40 cm), em delineamento experimental de blocos comple- tos ao acaso, com cinco repeticoes, totalizando 20 unidades experimentais, que receberam as denominacoes 20-60, 20-80, 40-60, 40-80. Houve efeito (p0,05), entre os tratamentos. A frequencia e a intensidade de corte influenciaram o perfilhamento, relacao lâmina/col- mo e a producao de materia seca do capim-buffel tanto para o corte como para a producao total.

Using atmospheric plasma to increase wettability, imbibition and germination of physically dormant seeds of Mimosa Caesalpiniafolia

In this study, we analyzed seed wettability as well as imbibition and germination after treatment with atmospheric pressure cold plasma (APCP) using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in seeds that have very low germination rates. To aid industrial applications, several seeds were simultaneously treated with plasma within a space between two coaxial glass tubes sandwiched by two metal mesh screens that produced high-voltage pulses at 17.5kV with a frequency of 990Hz. Three treatment times (3min, 9min and 15min) as well as untreated seeds were used to conduct the wettability, imbibition and germination tests. The wettability and imbibition were found to be directly related to the treatment duration, but saturation of the imbibition was found for treatment durations greater than 9min. Plasma treatment was also effective in improving germination, but shorter treatment duration presented greater germination. This apparent contradiction is explained by the cell damage caused by the increased exposure to plasma, as observed in other studies. The results suggest that there must be an optimal wettability and imbibition condition that ensures that excessive moisture does not harm the germination process.

PRODUÇÃO E COMPOSIÇÃO BROMATOLÓGICA DO SORGO (SORGHUM BICOLOR) CULTIVADO SOB DOSES DE NITROGÊNIO

Objetivou-se avaliar a resposta produtiva e a composicao bromatologica do sorgo hibrido BR 601 ao incremento da adubacao nitrogenada. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados com cinco repeticoes. Os trata- mentos foram: 0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg/ha de N (sulfato de amonio). A producao variou de forma quadratica ao incremento da adubacao nitro- genada, o ponto de maxima para a materia verde foi obtido com 143,19 kg de N/ha (37 996 kg/ha) e para materia seca com 155,67 kg de N/ha (16 275 kg/ha). A producao de lâmina foliar e material morto na planta nao diferiu entre os tratamentos. O percentual de colmo na planta diminuiu de forma quadratica ate a dose de 100 kg/ha, o componente panicula aumentou de forma quadratica em 30,96%, o que explica que este componente foi o principal responsavel pelo aumento na PMS. O percentual medio de materia seca da planta variou de 34,84% no tratamento controle a 38,98% no tratamento com 200 kg de N/ha. Os teores de MM diminuiram (6,41 a 5,49%). O teor de PB incrementara linearmente com o aumento nas doses de adubo aplicadas, com variacao no teor proteico de 4,99% a 6,23%, respectivamente nos tratamentos 0 e 200 kg de N/ha. Os teores de fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente acido e hemicelulose nao diferiram em funcao da adubacao nitrogenada. A adubacao nitrogenada aumenta a producao de materia seca e panicula sem alterar os constituintes fibrosos da planta.

ANÁLISE MULTIVARIADA DA MICROFLORA EPÍFITA EM S. OFFICINARUM ENSILADA COM G. SEPIUM

EnglishThe objective of this work was to evaluated the epiphytic micro flora of sugarcane (Saccharrum officinarum L.), fresh gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) (GNE), wilted gliricidia (GE) and mixtures ensiled. This study was conducted at the Universidade Federal de Alagoas-UFAL, from January until December 2005. The experimental design was entirely randomized in outline [(2x3x4)+4)]. The sugarcane silages added with GNE or GE were maded in the referred percentages: 100/0; 75/25; 50/50 and 25/75. There were 28 treatments, each one with three replications. Silages were kept in experimental silos (plastic boxes), sealed with sailcloth and adhesive ribbon. These silos were maintained under controlled temperature, and humidity conditions and saved from rodent presence. The silos were opened at 15, 45, 90 and 120 days, and sampled. In relation to effects of factors and variables tested, the multivariate analysis showed significant differences (p portuguesObjetivou-se com este trabalho caracterizar a microflora epifita da cana-de-acucar (C), da gliricidia fresca (GNE) e emurchecida (GE) e das misturas ensiladas. Este estudo foi desenvolvido na Universidade Federal de Alagoas, UFAL, de janeiro a dezembro de 2005. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial [(2x3x4)+4]. As silagens de cana-de-acucar aditivadas com GNE e GE foram confeccionadas nas proporcoes: 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 e 25/75. Os 28 tratamentos, com tres repeticoes cada, foram acondicionados em silos experimentais (baldes plasticos de 10 l), vedados com lona de PVC e mantidos sob condicoes controladas de temperatura, umidade e protecao da presenca de roedores. Os tempos de armaze-namento das silagens foram: 15, 45, 90 e 120 dias, nos quais foram abertos para a coleta de amostras. A analise multivariada mostrou-se significativa para os efeitos dos fatores e variaveis analisadas (p