Synanthropic rodents, present in both urban and rural areas, are responsible for the zoonotic transmission of several diseases to humans as well as for significant economic losses. They act as reservoirs for important viral diseases, bacterial diseases such as leptospirosis, and parasitic diseases such as toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis. The aim of the present study was to assess the seropositivity of synanthropic rodents in Umuarama city, located in the northwestern region of Paraná State, Brazil, to agents causing leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis. The microscopic agglutination technique (MAT) was used to detect anti-Leptospira antibodies, and the indirect immunofluorescence reaction (IIFR) was used to detect anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Of 178 animals collected, four (2.24%) were seropositive for Leptospira spp. and ten (5.62%) for Toxoplasma gondii. Ninety-five (53.38%) of the collected animals were male and 83 (46.62%) were female, and two (1.23%) originated from urban areas while 176 (98.87%) originated from peri-urban areas. Serological results showed that the synanthropic rodents examined here had low seroreactivity for agents causing both leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis, in both urban and peri-urban regions of Umuarama city. This could be associated with the high Human Development Index for the study area. However, preventative measures must continue to be observed, as rodents are important reservoirs for, and disseminators of, disease causing agents.
The pet industry is currently expanding and specializing mainly in the field of domestic felines. Problems related to antimicrobial resistance are frequent, and the use of essential oils (EOs) in animal feed has become a novel treatment strategy. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the bacteriostatic activity of Brazilian lemon balm (Lippia alba), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), and oregano (Origanum vulgare) in bacterial isolates from 12 samples of cat food sold in bulk. The EOs from fresh leaves of crops were obtained from the Medicinal Garden of Paranaense University, Umuarama, Paraná. Cat food samples were processed for identification of gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. The determination of the bacteriostatic activity of the EOs was performed by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at dilutions of 2.5, 1.25, and 0.62 mg/mL. The diffusion disc technique was used to evaluate the resistance profile to the main antimicrobials used in the feline clinic and to analyze the effect of the association of these antimicrobials with the EOs studied. A total of 23 isolates were obtained, of which 16 were gram-negative and seven were gram-positive. As for the oil composition for L. alba, C. citratus, and O. vulgare, 40, 24, and 44 compounds were identified, respectively, with the major ones being geranial, geranial/?-citral, and carvacrol, respectively. Regarding MIC, no differences were found for any EOs tested. The lowest MIC value was obtained for the C. citratus EO (0.83 mg/mL) for two bacteria (coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium kutscheri). The means of the inhibition halos for the 10 antimicrobials tested in association or not with one of the EOs for Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, and Serratia rubidaea showed that, for S. rubidaea, the inhibition halo diameter (12.4 mm) was greater (p < 0.05) when amoxicillin was associated with the O. vulgare EO than the association of the same antibiotic with the C. citratus EO (11.0 mm). For K. aerogenes and P. vulgaris, there was no difference in inhibition halo diameter when EOs were included. In conclusion, L. alba, C. citratus, and O. vulgare EOs are effective in inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and can be added to cat food to replace chemical antimicrobials.
The functionality of nutraceutical foods is attributed to their bioactive compounds. These compounds are widely produced by plants, such as phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant activity and/or antimicrobial activity, acting against damage to macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Secondary plant metabolites, including classes such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and terpenoids, have a wide variety of biological activities with medicinal potential. These secondary metabolites are considered bioactive compounds. The Zingiberaceae family received special attention for their large bioactive compound production. Such compounds are useful in foods as herbs, spices, flavorings, and seasonings and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as antioxidants and antimicrobials. Gingers are recognized as safe by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), resulting in no side effects when consumed in moderate amounts. Recent studies show that, in addition to rhizomes, the leaves and flowers of some ginger species have antioxidant activity and consequent medicinal potential. Studies have demonstrated that in vitro and in vivo research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of ginger extracts and understand their role in the modulation of biological and molecular pathways, thus enabling the development of new therapeutic strategies. Thereby, the present work aims to provide a bibliographic review on the antimicrobial activity of Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae), popularly known as ginger and red ginger respectively, and their potential use in the One Health initiative.
Currently, the use of exogenous enzymes in the diet of broilers has grown, not only in diets based on corn and soybean meal, but also in diets with proteins of animal origin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing a multi-carbohydrase complex (xylanase, glucanase, other carbohydrases) with phytase (MCCP) in broiler diets containing animal ingredients on performance, litter quality, jejunum morphometry and feed cost. Three treatments were evaluated: T1 - positive control diet: reference diet; T2 - negative control diet + MCCP; T3 - negative control diet (reference ration minus the MCCP nutritional matrix), with five replicates per treatment, totaling 15 experimental units of 15 female chicks each for an experimental period of 47 days. It was found that the T1 animals showed better feed conversion when compared to the T2 and T3 in the period from one to 21 days. In addition, greater weight at 28 days was found for T1compared to T3. The greater villus height of the jejunum at seven days was verified for the T3 animals concerning the T2 and T1 treatments. There were no differences between treatments in relation to the litter quality and the cost of the feed to produce one kilogram of broiler chicken. It is concluded that the supplementation of the MCCP in broiler chicken diets with ingredients of animal origin does not improve the performance, does not modify the jejunum morphometric, litter quality, and cost parameters evaluated. Keywords: Feed Conversion. Glucanase. Phytase. Villus Height. Xylanase. Resumo Atualmente, tem crescido o uso de enzimas exógenas na dieta de frangos de corte, não só em rações à base de milho e farelo de soja, mas também em rações com proteínas de origem animal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação de um complexo multi-carboidrase (xilanase, glucanase, outras carboidrase) com fitase (CMCF) em dietas de frangos de corte contendo ingredientes de origem animal sobre o desempenho, qualidade da cama, morfometria do jejuno e custo da alimentação. Foram avaliados três tratamentos: T1 - dieta controle positivo: dieta referência; T2 - dieta controle negativo + CMCF; T3 - dieta controle negativo (ração referência menos a matriz nutricional CMCF), com cinco repetições por tratamento, totalizando 15 unidades experimentais de 15 pintos fêmeas cada, por um período experimental de 47 dias. Verificou-se que os animais T1 apresentaram melhor conversão alimentar quando comparados aos T2 e T3 no período de um a 21 dias. Além disso, maior peso aos 28 dias foi encontrado para T1 em relação a T3. Maior altura de vilo do jejuno aos sete dias foi verificada para os animais T3 em relação aos tratamentos T2 e T1. Não houve diferenças entre os tratamentos em relação à qualidade da cama e ao custo da ração para produzir um quilo de frango de corte. Conclui-se que a suplementação do CMCF em rações de frangos de corte com ingredientes de origem animal não melhora o desempenho, não altera os parâmetros morfométricos do jejuno, a qualidade da cama e o custo avaliado. Palavras-chave: Altura de vilo. Conversão alimentar. Fitase. Glucanase. Xilanase.
A produção de codornas tem se expandido no Brasil, devido ao seu baixo custo, rusticidade e precocidade. O uso do extrato de erva-mate, devido à sua propriedade anti-inflamatória, antioxidante e antimicrobiana pode ser importante na produção de codornas. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho, foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação de erva-mate na dieta de codornas em relação ao desempenho zootécnico, morfometria intestinal, capacidade antioxidante e relação heterofilo: linfócito. 240 codornas de postura foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em quatro tratamentos com diferentes níveis do extrato de erva-mate (0, 250, 500 e 1000 ppm), com quatro repetições de 15 aves cada por 34 dias. Foram avaliados o desempenho (1 a 34 dias de idade), a morfometria intestinal (7 e 34 dias de idade), a capacidade antioxidante do plasma (34 dias de idade) e a relação heterofilo: linfócito (34 dias de idade). Um maior consumo de ração e ganho de peso foram observados para o período de um a 34 dias para o grupo tratado com 1000 ppm do extrato de erva-mate. Entretanto, a conversão alimentar, capacidade antioxidante do plasma, morfometria intestinal e relação heterofilo: linfócito não diferiram entre os diferentes níveis do extrato de erva-mate. Conclui-se que as codornas que receberam 1000 ppm do extrato de erva-mate apresentam maior ganho de peso, por outro lado, outros estudos são necessários, visando avaliar seu efeito na produção de ovos e em animais com genética direcionada para ganho de peso, tais como as linhagens específicas para corte.
Palavras-chave: Altura de Vilo. Coturnix Coturnix Japônica. Conversão Alimentar. Desempenho Zootécnico.
Abstract
The production of quail has expanded in Brazil, due to its low cost, rusticity and precocity. Using of yerba mate extract, due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties can be important in quail production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of yerba mate supplementation on quail diet in relation to zootechnical performance, intestinal morphometry, antioxidant capacity and heterophile: lymphocyte ratio. 240 laying quails were randomly distributed in four treatments with different levels of yerba mate extract (0, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm), with four replicates of 15 birds each by 34 days. The performance (1 to 34 days of age), intestinal morphometry (7 and 34 days of age), plasma antioxidant capacity (34 days of age), and heterophile: lymphocyte ratio (34 days of age) were evaluated. Higher feed intake and weight gain were observed at the period from one to 34 days for the group treated with 1000 ppm of yerba mate extract. However, the feed conversion, plasma antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphometry and heterophile: lymphocyte ratio did not differ among the different levels of yerba mate extract. It can be concluded that quails which received 1000 ppm of yerba mate extract had higher weight gain, besides, others studies are needed to evaluate their effect on egg production and in animals genetically directed to weight gain, such as the meat-type lines.
Keywords: Villum Height. Coturnix Coturnix Japonica. Feed Conversion. Zootechnical Performance.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a spice that has in its extracts and essential oils biological activities of interest, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant. These qualities are in line with the increased interest in natural alternatives for preserving foods such as fresh cheese due to its short shelf life. The objective of this research was to evaluate the acceptance, antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of O. vulgare incorporated in fresh cheese during cold storage. For this, cheeses were produced with different concentrations of extract (0, 0.5, 1 and 3 g of extract/kg). Acceptance was assessed using a nine-point hedonic scale. The presence of Salmonella was investigated and the enumeration of coagulasepositive staphylococci, mesophilic, psychrotrophic and thermotolerant coliforms was performed in the samples. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro (DPPH and FRAP assays) and directly in the food (measuring the malondialdehyde content). The data revealed a good acceptance of all cheeses regardless of the oregano concentration (mean 7.0 to 7.7). The addition of 0.3 g of oregano extract/kg of cheese promoted the inhibition of thermotolerant coliforms during the storage period. Antioxidant activity was demonstrated in vitro but not verified in the cheese. Foods have a complex composition, and the concentration and proportion of different constituents may have influenced the biological actions of the extract. Thus, further research becomes necessary, with variation in storage time and concentrations to know the action of this extract directly in the food model.
