Luciana Pötter

In vitro and in vivo susceptibility of two-drug and three-drug combinations of terbinafine, itraconazole, caspofungin, ibuprofen and fluvastatin against Pythium insidiosum.

The present study investigated the in vitro inhibitory activity of terbinafine, itraconazole, caspofungin, fluvastatin and ibuprofen against 15 isolates of Pythium insidiosum in double and triple combinations and determined in vivo correlations using rabbits with experimental pythiosis. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M 38-A2 protocol (2008), and the in vitro interactions were evaluated using a checkerboard microdilution method. For the in vivo study, 20 rabbits inoculated with P. insidiosum zoospores were divided into four groups: group 1 was treated with terbinafine and itraconazole; group 2 was treated with terbinafine, itraconazole and fluvastatin; group 3 was treated with terbinafine and caspofungin; and group 4 was the control group. Combinations of terbinafine with caspofungin or ibuprofen were synergistic for 47% of the isolates, and antagonism was not observed in any of the double combinations. The triple combinations were mostly indifferent, but synergism and antagonism were also observed. In the in vivo study, the histological aspect of the lesions was similar among the groups, but group 2 showed the lowest amount of hyphae and differed significantly from the other groups.

Concentrate supplementation for beef heifers on cool-season cultivated pastures

Com o objetivo de avaliar as relacoes nao-aparentes em estudos individuais foram analisadas em conjunto variaveis provenientes de nove experimentos realizados com diversos niveis e tipos de suplementos para novilhas de corte em pastagens cultivadas de estacao fria. Os dados foram estratificados em dois grupos: com e sem suplemento concentrado. A massa de forragem e a oferta de lâminas foliares, assim como a estrutura do dossel (altura e relacao folha:colmo), foram semelhantes entre os grupos com e sem suplementacao. As novilhas que receberam suplemento consumiram pasto com menor teor de fibra em detergente neutro e apresentaram maior ganho medio diario. A suplementacao aumentou em 33,3% o consumo total de materia seca. Para cada kg consumido de MS do concentrado, o consumo de MS do pasto reduziu 0,7 kg. A eficiencia de transformacao da forragem foi semelhante entre os grupos com ou sem suplementacao, com valor medio de 9,5 kg de MS da forragem/kg de peso corporal ganho. As novilhas que receberam suplemento ingeriram 6,4 kg de MS do suplemento a cada kg de ganho adicional. O uso de suplemento concentrado permitiu o aumento da taxa de lotacao e do ganho de peso por area. Novilhas sob suplementacao com concentrado apresentam maiores pesos corporais, maiores alturas de cernelha e maiores escores de condicao corporal no final do periodo de utilizacao da pastagem.

Fungal ovicidal activity on Toxocara canis eggs

BACKGROUND Visceral toxocariasis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by Toxocara canis. The prevalence of this parasite in dogs, soil contamination and the resistance of eggs increase human exposure to the disease. Moreover, the difficulties of the control measures justify the need for alternative ones. AIMS The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ovicidal activity of fungi isolated from soils from public places in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on Toxocara canis. METHODS Samples of soil from ten localities were inoculated onto Petri dishes with 2% water-agar (WA) that contained antibiotics, and incubated at 25°C/21 days. Isolated fungi were tested in vitro for ovicidal activity, with five replicates. One mL of an embryonated Toxocara canis egg suspension (10(3) eggs) was poured over the fungal cultures after 10 days of growth. At intervals of 7, 14 and 21 days, 100 eggs were removed from each plaque and evaluated by optical microscopy. RESULTS Acremonium, Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Mucor and Trichoderma were isolated from the soil. A significant ovicidal type 3 effect was observed in Trichoderma, Fusarium solani complex and Acremonium. Those isolates from the genus Trichoderma showed their ovicidal effect on the 14th day of fungus-egg interaction. The other fungal genera tested showed a type 2 effect. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the use of Trichoderma and Fusarium solani complex in biological control of T. canis is promising; however, further studies should be performed.

Comportamento de pastejo e ingestão de forragem por novilhas de corte em pastagens de milheto e papuã

It was studied performance, behavior and forage ingestion by beef heifers on pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) and Alexander grass (Urochloa plantaginea) pastures from January to April 2008. The continuous grazing method with a variable number of animals was used. Forage ingestion was estimated during vegetative and reproductive stage of forage plants using chromic oxide as fecal production marker. Evaluations of behavior were carried out by visual observation in four 24-hour continuous periods. Mean values of forage mass, forage offer and leaf blade offer were 3,927 kg/ha of DM, 14.6 kg of DM/100 kg BW and 3.36 kg of DM/100 kg BW, respectively. The variables of the pasture, animal performance, ingestive behavior and forage intake were similar for pearl millet and alexander grass. Variables of forage, animal performance and grazing times, idle and rumination and number of bites per day showed variation over days of pasture utilization. Forage ingestion was 2.49% of the body weight and it did not vary according to phenological stage. Use of sites infested with alexander grass as pastures provides performance similar to the one obtained with pearl millet.

Desempenho de ovinos recebendo suplementos ou mantidos exclusivamente em pastagem de azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)

Avaliou-se o desempenho de ovelhas com cria e, posteriormente, das cordeiras recem-desmamadas, mantidas exclusivamente em pastagem de azevem (Lolium multiflorum Lam) ou recebendo grao de milho ou farelo de soja na proporcao de 1% PV da unidade ovina (ovelha + cordeira). Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: ganho medio diario, ganho de peso vivo por hectare e carga animal. Na pastagem, as avaliacoes realizadas foram: massa, perdas e oferta de forragem, altura da pastagem, oferta de lâminas de folhas verdes, taxa de acumulo de materia seca, producao total de forragem, teor de proteina bruta e digestibilidade in vitro da materia orgânica da forragem aparentemente consumida. A carga animal nao foi afetada com a suplementacao aos animais. Ovelhas suplementadas com farelo de sojam no periodo de 17/09 a 08/10, apresentaram maior ganho medio diario que os animais nao-suplementados. Ovelhas tiveram ganho diario medio decrescente no decorrer do periodo de pastejo, com reducao de 3,4 g a cada dia de pastejo. A producao de PV/ha foi maior quando os animais receberam suplementacao com farelo de soja. A estrutura da pastagem sofreu modificacoes no decorrer do ciclo do azevem, independentemente do fornecimento do suplemento aos animais.

In vitro susceptibility of zoospores and hyphae of Pythium insidiosum to antifungals

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro susceptibilities of 22 Brazilian isolates of Pythium insidiosum to antifungals using a standardized inoculum of zoospores and a proposed novel inoculum prepared from cultured mycelia (hyphae) of P. insidiosum. METHODS A zoospore suspension of P. insidiosum was obtained by the zoosporogenesis technique. The hyphal inoculum was prepared from a suspension of P. insidiosum mycelium. Susceptibility to each drug was evaluated using the CLSI M38-A2 method. RESULTS Of the 88 MIC comparisons performed, 36 (41%) showed the same MIC value for the two inocula. The agreement (differences not greater than one dilution) between MICs obtained with both types of inocula was 39.8% (35/88). In other MIC comparisons analysed, 17 (19.3%) showed differences of two or three dilutions. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the use of hyphal inocula of P. insidiosum for in vitro susceptibility tests could be a suitable method for evaluating antimicrobial susceptibility, particularly when it is not possible to obtain a standardized zoospore inoculum.

Levantamento das pastagens naturais da região de Santa Maria-RS, Brasil

This study was carried out to obtain a survey of natural pastures in the Santa Maria region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experiment was subdivided in four sites: Dilermando de Aguiar, Pains, Santa Flora and Sao Martinho. The survey was based on visual assessment of species frequency by the BOTANAL method and allowed the identification of 61 species within those 45 showed significant contribution to the vegetation aerial biomass. Pains site presented higher frequency of the species Axonopus affinis, and Eragrostis plana. Dilermando de Aguiar showed higher contribution of Schizachyrium microstachyum and Paspalum notatum, which was, as well, an abundant specie in Santa Flora, as well as Desmodium incanum. The most frequent species in Sao Martinho were Baccharis trimera and Paspalum plicatulum. The randomization test showed differences in floristic composition of all sites (P=0.0058), showing that physiognomic-floristic types were not associated with soil types. This survey allows the establishment of priorities in management and research on natural pastures of the different regional physiognomic groups.

Treatment of experimental pythiosis with essential oils of Origanum vulgare and Mentha piperita singly, in association and in combination with immunotherapy.

This study investigated the in vivo antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of Origanum vulgare and Mentha piperita both singly, associated and in combination with immunotherapy to treat experimental pythiosis. The disease was reproduced in 18 rabbits divided into six groups (n=3): group 1, control; group 2, treated with essential oil of Mentha piperita; group 3, treated with essential oil of Origanum vulgare; group 4, treated with commercial immunotherapic; group 5, treated with a association of oils of M. piperita and O. vulgare and group 6, treated with a combination of both oils plus immunotherapy. Essential oils were added in a topical cream base formula, and lesions were treated daily for 45 days. The animals in groups 4 and 6 received a dose of immunotherapeutic agent every 14 days. The results revealed that the evolution of lesions in groups 5 and 6 did not differ from one another but differed from the other groups. The lesions of group 5 increased 3.16 times every measurement, while those of group 6 increased 1.83 times, indicating that the smallest growth of the lesions occurred when the combination of therapies were used. A rabbit from group 5 showed clinical cure at day 20 of treatment. This research is the pioneer in the treatment of experimental pythiosis using essential oils from medicinal plants and a combination of therapies. This study demonstrated that the use of essential oils can be a viable alternative treatment to cutaneous pythiosis, particularly when used in association or combination with immunotherapy.

Productivity and reproductive performance of grazing beef heifers bred at 18 months of age

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance and body development of beef heifers reared from 15 to 18 months of age on Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum), Alexandergrass pasture (Urochloa plantaginea) or native pasture invaded by Annoni-2 grass (Eragrostis plana Nees). The experimental design was completely randomized following a repeated measure arrangement, with three treatments and two replications. The grazing method was continuous with variable stocking rate in order to maintain the sward height at 40 cm. Masses of leaf, stem and dead material, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were similar between Pearl millet and Alexandergrass. Average daily gain, stocking rate, live weight gain per hectare, body weight, body condition score, weight-to-height ratio and reproductive tract score of the heifers kept on annual summer pastures (Pearl millet or Alexandergrass) were superior, compared with the heifers on Annoni-2 grass pasture.

Consumo de forragem por cordeiras suplementadas em pastagem de milheto

This research evaluated the influence of different levels of supplement (0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5% in relation to the live weight (LW)) on the forage intake of beef lambs, in Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) pasture. The forage intake was conditioned by the levels of supplement only at the beginning of the pasture utilization (days 1-21), with maximum ingestion of dry matter when lambs received supplement at the ratio of 0.84% of the LW. The influence of the levels of supplement on the daily weight gain and live weight gain was observed only in the half and in the end of the cycle of the pasture (days 22-64).The intake and performance of lambs in Pearl millet are more dependent on the phenological stage of the pasture rather than the level of supplement received.