Résumé L'objectif de cet article est d'étudier les stratégies collectives de gestion d'activité développées par l'équipe chargée d’analyser l’affectation des agents technico-administratifs récemment recrutés lors d’un concours public d’une université fédérale. Il cherche à souligner les défis auxquels l'équipe est confrontée dans sa préoccupation d’une gestion du travail qui articule santé, productivité et qualité au sein d'une université publique, libre, autonome et de qualité, dans un contexte de controverse avec les pressions du pôle mercantile, imprégnées de la logique néolibérale. Les outils méthodologiques suivants ont été choisis, en ayant comme référence la perspective ergologique et celle du matérialisme historico-dialectique: la recherche bibliographique et documentaire, les Rencontres du Travail et un journal de terrain. La recherche souligne un besoin constant de créer des stratégies de gestion collective, dans la construction de partenariats internes et externes, la matérialisation des valeurs du bien commun, la création de normes capables de garantir l'isonomie du processus, et les renormatisations - de façon à sauvegarder la santé des travailleurs et l'amélioration du service public.

Abstract The aim of the current article is to investigate collective activity management strategies developed by the team accountable for analyzing the allocation of technical-administrative servants who have recently taken public exam at a Federal University. It emphasizes the challenges this team faces in the fight for a work management process capable of articulating health, productivity and quality in favor of a public, free, autonomous and high-quality university, within a context of dispute with mercantile pole forces influenced by the Neoliberal logic. By taking the ergological perspective and the historical-dialectical materialism as reference, the following methodological tools were here in selected: bibliographic and documental research, Meetings about the Work, and field diary. The research indicates the constant need to develop collective management strategies, through internal and external partnerships, to enable common good values by creating norms to ensure the isonomy of this process, as well as by resetting them, for the sake of workers’ health and public services’ improvement.

Resumen Este artículo tiene como objetivo comprender las estrategias colectivas de gestión de las actividades desarrolladas por el equipo responsable del análisis de la asignación de los servidores técnico-administrativos recientemente concursados de una universidad federal. Busca enfatizar los desafíos que enfrenta el equipo en la lucha por una gestión del trabajo que articule salud, productividad y calidad a favor de una universidad pública, gratuita, autónoma y de calidad, en un contexto de disputa con las fuerzas del polo mercantil, permeadas por la lógica neoliberal. Tomando como referencia la perspectiva ergológica y el materialismo histórico-dialéctico, las herramientas metodológicas elegidas fueron: investigación bibliográfica, documental, Encuentros sobre el Trabajo y diario de campo. La investigación apunta a una necesidad constante de crear estrategias colectivas de gestión a través de la construcción de alianzas internas y externas, la concreción de valores del bien común, la creación de normas que aseguren la isonomía del proceso y la reestructuración de normas, por la salud de los trabajadores y la mejora del servicio público.

Resumo Este artigo visa compreender as estratégias coletivas de gestão da atividade desenvolvidas pela equipe responsável pela análise de lotação de servidores técnico-administrativos recém-concursados de uma Universidade Federal. Busca enfatizar os desafios que a equipe enfrenta na luta por uma gestão do trabalho que articule saúde, produtividade e qualidade em prol de uma universidade pública, gratuita, autônoma e de qualidade, em um contexto de disputa com forças do polo mercantil, permeadas pela lógica neoliberal. Tomando como referência a perspectiva ergológica e o materialismo histórico-dialético, as ferramentas metodológicas escolhidas foram: pesquisa bibliográfica, documental, Encontros sobre o Trabalho e diário de campo. A pesquisa aponta para uma constante necessidade de criação de estratégias coletivas de gestão, a partir da construção de parcerias internas e externas, da concretização de valores do bem comum, da criação de normas que assegurem a isonomia do processo, de renormatizações, pela saúde dos trabalhadores e pela melhoria do serviço público.

Résumé En mars 2020, une situation d'urgence sanitaire a été déclarée au Brésil en raison de la pandémie de covid-19. De grands changements dans le travail quotidien en ont résulté, rendant nécessaire l'adoption d'échelles de face à face associées au travail à distance, contribuant à la réduction de la circulation des personnes et au ralentissement de la propagation du virus. La santé mentale a pris une place prépondérante, devenant une préoccupation sociale majeure. Des responsabilités et des attentes accrues en ont dérivé pour l'équipe de psychologues intégrée au sein de la coordination de la santé des travailleurs d’une institution fédérale de référence en matière de santé publique. L'objectif de l'article est d’engendrer un dialogue entre l'expérience de travail de cette équipe et les concepts offerts par la perspective ergologique et la Psychodynamique du travail, en cherchant à élargir, à la fois, la compréhension des concepts et l'expérience elle-même des soins de santé mentale dans le contexte de l'urgence sanitaire du covid-19.

Abstract In March 2020, a health emergency was declared in Brazil due to the covid-19 pandemic. This has brought major changes to daily work, making it necessary to adopt duty rosters to combine on-site and remote work, contributing to the decrease in the movement of people with the aim of slowing the spread of the virus. Mental health assumed a prominent place, emerging as a major social concern, which led to an increase in responsibilities and expectations regarding the performance of the team of psychologists in the coordination of worker's health in a noteworthy federal public health institution. The objective of the article is to produce a dialogue between the work experience of this team and concepts offered by the ergological perspective and by the Psychodynamics of work, seeking to broaden both the understanding of the concepts and the experience of mental health care in the context of the covid-19 health emergency.

Resumen En marzo de 2020, se declaró una emergencia sanitaria en Brasil debido a la pandemia de COVID-19. Esto ha traído cambios importantes en el trabajo diario, haciendo necesaria la adopción de escalas presenciales asociadas al trabajo remoto, contribuyendo a la reducción de la circulación de personas con el objetivo de frenar la propagación del virus. La salud mental asumió un lugar destacado, revelándose como una gran preocupación social, lo que llevó al aumento de responsabilidades y expectativas en cuanto al desempeño del equipo de psicólogos en la coordinación de la salud del trabajador en una institución pública federal de referencia en salud. El objetivo del artículo es producir un diálogo entre la experiencia de trabajo de este equipo y los conceptos ofrecidos por la perspectiva ergológica y por la Psicodinámica del trabajo, buscando ampliar tanto la comprensión de los conceptos como la experiencia del cuidado de la salud mental en el contexto de la emergencia sanitaria de COVID-19.

Resumo Em março de 2020 foi declarada no Brasil uma situação de emergência sanitária devido à pandemia da covid-19. Isso trouxe grandes mudanças para o cotidiano de trabalho, tornando-se necessária a adoção de escalas presenciais associadas ao trabalho remoto, contribuindo para a diminuição da circulação de pessoas com o objetivo de desacelerar a propagação do vírus. A saúde mental assumiu um lugar de destaque, revelando-se como uma grande preocupação social, o que conduziu ao aumento das responsabilidades e expectativas com relação à atuação da equipe de psicólogos da coordenação de saúde do trabalhador em uma instituição pública federal de referência em saúde. O objetivo do artigo é produzir um diálogo entre a experiência de trabalho dessa equipe e conceitos oferecidos pela perspectiva ergológica e pela Psicodinâmica do Trabalho, buscando ampliar tanto a compreensão dos conceitos como da própria experiência de cuidado em saúde mental no contexto da emergência sanitária da covid-19.

ABSTRACT Background: After decentralizing the actions of the Chagas Disease Control Program (CDCP) in Brazil, municipalities were now responsible for control measures against this endemic, supervised by the Regional Health Superintendencies (RHS). We aimed to evaluate the recent entomological surveillance of Chagas disease in the Regional Health Superintendence of Governador Valadares (RHS/GV) from 2014 to 2019. Methods: Triatomines captured by residents during entomological surveillance were sent to the reference laboratory, where the species and evolutionary stages were identified, place of capture, and presence of Trypanosoma cruzi. A database was created, and the following were calculated: the rate of infection by T. cruzi (overall rate and rate by species), monthly seasonality, spatial distribution of species, number of captures, and infected triatomines/health microregions. Results: We identified 1,708 insects; 1,506 (88.2%) were triatomines, most were adult instars (n=1,469), and few were nymphs (n=37). The identified species were Triatoma vitticeps, Panstrongylus megistus, Panstrongylus diasi, Rhodnius neglectus, and Panstrongylus geniculatus. The first three were most frequently captured and distributed throughout the study area. Most bugs were captured intradomicile (72.5%), mainly in the second semester, between September and November, with an average infection rate of 41.5% (predominantly T. vitticeps, 49.2%). All municipalities sent triatomines, especially in the microregions of Governador Valadares. Conclusions: These data reinforce the need and importance of improving Chagas disease control measures in the region to establish active and participatory entomological surveillance.

Trypanosoma cruzi strains from distinct geographic areas show differences in drug resistance and association between parasites genetic and treatment response has been observed. Considering that benznidazole (BZ) can reduce the parasite burden and tissues damage, even in not cured animals and individuals, the goal is to assess the drug response to BZ of T. cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, before treatment. Mice infected and treated with BZ in both phases of infection were compared with the untreated and evaluated by fresh blood examination, haemoculture, polymerase chain reaction, conventional (ELISA) and non-conventional (FC-ALTA) serologies. In mice treated in the acute phase, a significant decrease in parasitaemia was observed for all strains. Positive parasitological and/or serological tests in animals treated during the acute and chronic (95.1-100%) phases showed that most of the strains were BZ resistant. However, beneficial effect was demonstrated because significant reduction (p < 0.05%) and/or suppression of parasitaemia was observed in mice infected with all strains (acute phase), associated to reduction/elimination of inflammation and fibrosis for two/eight strains. BZ offered some benefit, even in not cured animals, what suggest that BZ use may be recommended at least for recent chronic infection of the studied region.

Introduction Açucena Municipality, Rio Doce Valley, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil temporarily (2001-2005) interrupted epidemiological surveillance for Chagas disease. The objective of this work was to evaluate the Chagas Disease Control Program (CDCP) in Açucena and to offer suggestions for improving local epidemiological surveillance. Methods This study was conducted in three phases: I) a serological investigation of schoolchildren aged 5 to 15 years using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test performed on blood collected on filter paper followed by ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and indirect hemaglutination (IHA) on venous blood for borderline cases and those in the gray zone of reactivity; II) vector evaluation using the data obtained by local health agents during 2006-2010; and III) examination by ELISA, IIF and IHA of serum samples from the inhabitants of houses where infected Triatoma vitticeps was found and evaluation of their knowledge about Chagas disease. Results Five individuals had inconclusive results in the ELISA screening but were seronegative for Chagas disease. The triatomine evaluation revealed the presence of three species: Triatoma vitticeps, Panstrongylus megistus and Panstrongylus diasi. Triatoma vitticeps was the most prevalent and widespread, with a higher (67%) index of Trypanosoma cruzi flagellates and evidence of colonization. Most of the inhabitants of the infested houses recognized triatomines and had basic knowledge about Chagas disease. Conclusions Although T. vitticeps is not clearly associated with Chagas disease transmission, these results highlight the importance of maintaining CDCP in endemic areas and the need for greater emphasis on epidemiological surveillance, especially in areas with important vectorial changes or that have been modified by human intervention.

The etiological treatment of Chagas disease is recommended for all patients with acute or recent chronic infection, but controversies remain regarding the benefit of chemotherapy and interpretations of the parasitological cure after etiological treatment. This study compares the laboratory and clinical evaluations of Chagas disease patients who were diagnosed 13 years earlier. Fifty-eight Chagas disease patients (29 treated with benznidazole and 29 untreated) were matched at the time of treatment based on several variables. Conventional serology revealed the absence of seroconversion in all patients. However, lower serological titres were verified in the treated group, primarily among patients who had the indeterminate form of the disease. Haemoculture performed 13 years after the intervention was positive for 6.9% and 27.6% of the treated and untreated patients, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction tests were positive for 44.8% and 13.8% of the treated and untreated patients, respectively. Patients who presented with the indeterminate form of the disease at the beginning of the study exhibited less clinical progression (17.4%) compared with the untreated group (56.5%). Therefore, this global analysis revealed that etiological treatment with benznidazole may benefit patients with respect to the clinical progression of Chagas disease and the prognosis, particularly when administered to patients with the indeterminate form of the disease.

Introduction The biological diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi strains plays an important role in the clinical and epidemiological features of Chagas disease. Methods Eight T. cruzi strains isolated from children living in a Chagas disease vector-controlled area of Jequitinhonha Valley, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were genetically and biologically characterized. Results The characterizations demonstrated that all of the strains belonged to T. cruzi II, and showed high infectivity and a variable mean maximum peak of parasitemia. Six strains displayed low parasitemia, and two displayed moderate parasitemia. Later peaks of parasitemia and a predominance of intermediate and large trypomastigotes in all T. cruzi strains were observed. The mean pre-patent period was relatively short (4.2±0.25 to 13.7±3.08 days), whereas the patent period ranged from 3.3±1.08 to 34.5±3.52 days. Mortality was observed only in animals infected with strain 806 (62.5%). Histopathological analysis of the heart showed that strains 501 and 806 caused inflammation, but fibrosis was observed only in animals infected with strain 806. Conclusions The results indicate the presence of an association between the biological behavior in mice and the genetic characteristics of the parasites. The study also confirmed general data from Brazil where T. cruzi II lineage is the most prevalent in the domiciliary cycle and generally has low virulence, with some strains capable of inducing inflammatory processes and fibrosis.

Objective: to describe the experience at two tertiary centres during the first year of use of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) for the management of Crohn's disease (CD): indications and influence of the technique in clinical decision making. Material and method: retrospective descriptive study in which patients who underwent MRE were included consecutively. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected from the patients, as well as the indication for the study and how it influenced clinical decision making in the 10 days following the radiological study. Results: 24 MREs were performed in suspected CD and 126 known CD; partial bowel obstruction in 53 patients (42%), monitoring of medical treatment in 34 (27%), due to incomplete ileocolonoscopy in 16 (13%), extension study of the small intestine in 15 (12%) and suspected complicated CD in 8 patients (6%). The MRE influenced in a change in treatment in 83 (55.3%) patients: 16 (10.7%) started with immunosuppressants, 41 (27.3%) with anti-TNFα were started on or switched, 15 (10%) were ordered surgery and in 3 (2%) changed from combined therapy to monotherapy. The MRE had less influence on clinical decision making in the group in which the indication was suspected CD (p < 0.05). Conclusions: the use of MRE helped on decision making in more than half of patients, especially with regards to decisions related to the use of biological therapies and the indication for surgery. MRE was less useful in suspected CD patients.

Objetivo: describir la experiencia de dos centros terciarios durante el primer año de uso de la enterografía por resonancia magnética (enteroRM) para el manejo de la enfermedad de Crohn (EC): indicaciones e influencia en la toma de decisiones clínicas. Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo. Se incluyeron de forma consecutiva a pacientes a los que se realizaba una enteroRM. Se recogieron los datos epidemiológicos y clínicos de los pacientes, la indicación de la prueba y como influyó sobre la toma de decisiones clínicas en los 10 días posteriores a la realización de la prueba radiológica. Resultados: se realizaron 24 enteroRM por sospecha de EC y 126 por seguimiento clínico en pacientes con EC conocida: clínica suboclusiva en 53 (42%), monitorización de los tratamientos médicos en 34 (27%), completar el estudio por ileocolonoscopia incompleta en 16 (13%), estudio de extensión en intestino delgado en 15 (12%) y finalmente la sospecha de EC complicada en 8 pacientes (6%). La realización de la enteroRM influyó en el tratamiento en 83 (55,3%) pacientes. Dieciséis (10,7%) pacientes con inmunosupresores, 41 pacientes (27,3%) iniciaron o cambiaron de anti-TNFα, en 15 pacientes (10%) se indicó la cirugía y en 3 pacientes (2%) la enteroRM indujo a cambiar de terapia combinada a monoterapia. La enteroRM en la sospecha de EC influyó menos en las decisiones clínicas que cuando se indicaba por seguimiento (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: la enteroRM ayudó a decidir en más de la mitad de los pacientes, en especial en el seguimiento clínico para el manejo de las terapias biológicas y la indicación de la cirugía. Fue menos útil cuando la indicación fue la sospecha de EC.

Para confirmar que cães Beagle são um bom modelo para doença de Chagas, foram avaliadas as alterações hematológicas durante as fases aguda e crônica em cães Beagle infectados com as cepas Y, Berenice-78 (Be-78) e ABC de Trypanosomacruzi, correlacionando os sinais clínicos com a curva de parasitemia. Foi demonstrado que a fase aguda da infecção foi marcada por letargia e perda de apetite. Simultaneamente, observou-se anemia, leucocitose e linfocitose. Ainda, foram descritas alterações hematológicas e sinais clínicos positivamente correlacionados com a parasitemia durante a infecção experimental com as três cepas de T.cruzi estudadas, demonstrando que a infecção em cães Beagle constitui um modelo fidedigno para a doença de Chagas.

To confirm that Beagle dogs are a good experimental model for Chagas disease, we evaluated hematological alterations during the acute and chronic phases in Beagle dogs infected with the Y, Berenice-78 (Be-78) and ABC strains of Trypanosomacruzi, correlating clinical signs with the parasitemia curve. We demonstrate that the acute phase of infection was marked by lethargy and loss of appetite. Simultaneously, we observed anemia, leukocytosis and lymphocytosis. Also,we describe hematological alterations and clinical signs that were positively correlated with the parasitemia during the experimental infection with the three strains of T.cruzi, and demonstrate that experimental infection of Beagle is a trustworthy model for Chagas disease.

INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo foi desenvolver um método sorológico in-house de alta especificidade e sensibilidade para diagnosticar e monitorar a morbidade da doença de Chagas. MÉTODOS: Para tal, a reatividade sorológica de IgG e subclasses foi testada em soros de pacientes chagásicos de Berilo, Vale do Jequitinhonha/MG/Brasil. A reatividade sorológica foi também avaliada em amostras de pacientes com outras doenças infecto-contagiosas relevantes, incluindo o HIV, vírus da hepatite C (VHC), sífilis (SYP), leishmaniose visceral (LV), leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) e controles não infectados (NI) para verificar o desempenho do método. Outras análises foram feitas para avaliar a aplicabilidade desta metodologia no monitoramento da morbidade da doença de Chagas. Com este propósito os pacientes com doença de Chagas foram anteriormente classificados em três grupos: indeterminados (IND), cardíacos (CARD) e digestivos/mistos (DIG/Mis) conforme seu estado clínico. RESULTADOS: A análise da reatividade sorológica de IgG total na diluição 1:40 mostrou ser uma abordagem importante no diagnóstico da doença de Chagas (100% de sensibilidade e especificidade e ausência de reação cruzada com as demais infecções). A análise das subclasses de IgG mostrou reação cruzada principalmente com NI, LV e LTA em todas as diluições. O grupo IND apresentou a maior reatividade para IgG3 e o grupo DIG/Mis apresentou nível mais elevado de IgG se comparados aos grupos IND e CARD. CONCLUSÕES: Estes achados demonstram que o método de ELISA in-house apresenta uma promissora aplicabilidade no diagnóstico diferencial e na avaliação da morbidade da doença de Chagas.

INTRODUCTION: The goal was to develop an in-house serological method with high specificity and sensitivity for diagnosis and monitoring of Chagas disease morbidity. METHODS: With this purpose, the reactivities of anti-T. cruzi IgG and subclasses were tested in successive serum dilutions of patients from Berilo municipality, Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The performance of the in-house ELISA was also evaluated in samples from other relevant infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis (SYP), visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), and noninfected controls (NI). Further analysis was performed to evaluate the applicability of this in-house methodology for monitoring Chagas disease morbidity into three groups of patients: indeterminate (IND), cardiac (CARD), and digestive/mixed (DIG/Mix), based on their clinical status. RESULTS: The analysis of total IgG reactivity at serum dilution 1:40 was an excellent approach to Chagas disease diagnosis (100% sensitivity and specificity). The analysis of IgG subclasses showed cross-reactivity, mainly with NI, VL, and ATL, at all selected serum dilutions. Based on the data analysis, the IND group displayed higher IgG3 levels and the DIG/Mix group presented higher levels of total IgG as compared with the IND and CARD groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that methodology presents promising applicability in the analysis of anti-T. cruzi IgG reactivity for the differential diagnosis and evaluation of Chagas disease morbidity.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o Programa de Controle de doença de Chagas instalado desde 1982 no município de Berilo, Vale do Jequitinhonha, MG, Brasil, baseado na avaliação de 5.242 unidades domiciliares e 7.807 anexos após oito anos de implantação da vigilância epidemiológica que ocorreu em 1997. Um total de 391 triatomíneos (280 Panstrongylus megistus e 111 Triatoma pseudomaculata) foram capturados, indicando o contínuo predomínio da primeira espécie. No entanto, Triatoma pseudomaculata está claramente se tornando mais importante nesta região, com colônias intradomiciliares sendo detectadas recentemente. Parâmetros entomológicos, como os índices de dispersão (17%) e infestação intradomiciliar (0,15%), são compatíveis com a fase de vigilância epidemiológica. A maioria das UDs apresenta padrão de construção tipo A (tijolo com reboco) e C (adobe com reboco). Dentre os habitantes das unidades domiciliares infestadas por triatomíneos, 25% apresentavam testes reativos na ELISA, HAI e IFI para antígenos de Trypanosoma cruzi.

This study aimed to evaluate the Chagas Disease Control Program which has operated since 1982 in the municipality of Berilo in the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, based on evaluation of 5,242 domiciliary units (DUs) and 7,807 outbuildings over an eight-year period of epidemiological surveillance implanted in 1997. A total of 391 triatomines (280 Panstrongylus megistus and 111 Triatoma pseudomaculata) were captured, indicating the continued predominance of the former species. However, Triatoma pseudomaculata is clearly becoming more important in this region, with intradomiciliary colonies being detected in recent years. Entomological parameters, such as dispersion (17%) and intradomiciliary infestation (0.15%) indices, are compatible with the results of the epidemiological surveillance. The majority of DUs were of construction type A (plaster over bricks) or C (plaster over adobe). Twenty-five percent of the inhabitants of the DUs infested by triatomines were reactive in ELISA, IHA and IIF tests for Trypanosoma cruzi antigens.

Twenty-eight Chagas disease patients (CD), 22 with the indeterminate clinical form (IND) and six with the cardiac or digestive form (CARD/DIG), were treated with benznidazole and underwent clinical and laboratorial analysis before (IND and CARD/DIG) and nine years after [patients after treatment (CDt), patients with the indeterminate clinical form at treatment onset (INDt) and with the cardiac or digestive form at treatment onset (CARD/DIGt)] treatment. The data demonstrate that 82.1% of CDt patients (23/28) remained clinically stable and 95.4% of the INDt (21/22) and 33.3% of the CARD/DIGt (2/6) patients showed unaltered physical and laboratorial examinations. The clinical evolution rate was 2%/year and was especially low in INDt patients (0.5%/year) relative to CARD/DIGt patients (7.4%/year). Positive haemoculture in treated patients was observed in 7.1% of the cases. None of the INDt (0/21) and 33.3% of the CARD/DIGt (2/6) patients displayed positive cultures. The PCR presented a positive rate significantly higher (85.2%, 23/27) than haemoculture and two samples from the same patient revealed the same result 57.7% of the patients. Conventional serology-ELISA on 16 paired samples remained positive in all individuals. Semi-quantitative ELISA highlighted significant decreases in reactivity, particularly in INDt relative to IND. Non-conventional serology-FC-ALTA-IgG, after treatment, showed positive results in all sera and 22 paired samples examined at seven and nine years after treatment, demonstrated significantly lower reactivity, particularly in INDt patients. This study was retrospective in nature, had a low number of samples and lacked an intrinsic control group, but the data corroborate other results found in the literature. The data also demonstrate that, even though a cure has not been detected in the none-treated patients, the benefits for clinical evolution were selectively observed in the group of INDt patients and did not occur for CARD/DIGt patients.

Bactérias endofíticas desempenham papel importante na agricultura, melhorando a performance e adaptação de plantas contra estresses bióticos e abióticos. No presente estudo, métodos moleculares foram empregados para identificar bactérias endofíticas do gênero Bacillus isoladas de cultivares de milho doce brasileiro. SDS-PAGE de extratos protéicos totais de quarenta e dois isolados revelaram elevado número de bandas escrutináveis. Vinte e quatro isolados formaram nove grupos diferentes de réplicas bactérianas e dezoito foram considerados como únicos. Entre os isolados, alguns polipeptídios, de tamanhos variados, foram altamente acumulados. Seqüenciamento parcial do gene ribosomal 16S revelou que todos os isolados pertencem ao gênero Bacillus e que, entre treze isolados com padrão protéico similar, dois eram linhagens diferentes. Entre os quarenta e dois isolados identificados por seqüenciamento de rDNA, Bacillus subtilis e B. pumilus foram mais frequentes (15 e 12 isolados, respectivamente), seguido por, B. licheniformes (7 isolados), B. cereus (5 isolados) e B. amiloliquefascens (3 isolados). Baseado nos resultados, conclui-se que a técnica de SDS-PAGE poderá ser usada como primeiro procedimento, rápido e barato, para identificar variação inter-específica em coleções de bactérias endofíticas isoladas do milho, enquanto o método de seqüenciamento de rDNA poderá ser aplicado para analisar variações intra-específica entre isolados com padões similares de proteínas e estudos de taxonomia.

Endophytic bacteria play an important role in agriculture by improving plant performance and adaptation against biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study molecular methods were used for identifying Bacillus endophytic bacteria isolated from Brazilian sweet corn. SDS-PAGE of wholecell protein extract of fortytwo isolates revealed a high number of scrutinable bands. Twenty-four isolates were identified in nine different groups of duplicated bacteria and eighteen were identified as unique. Some high-accumulated polipeptides with variable length were observed in almost isolates. Partial sequencing of 16S ribosomal gene revealed that all isolates are Bacillus sp. and among thirteen isolates with similar protein profiles, two were different strains. Among the forty-two isolates identified by rDNA sequencing, Bacillus subitilis and B. pumilus were the most frequenty species (15 and 12 isolates, respectively) followed by B. licheniformes (7 isolates), B. cereus (5 isolates) and B. amiloliquefascens (3 isolates). According to present results, SDS-PAGE technique could be used as a fast and cheap first tool for identifying interspecific variation in maize endophytic bacterial collections while rDNA sequencing could be applied for analyzing intraspecific variation among isolates with similar protein profile as well as for taxonomic studies.

The goals of the present study were to evaluate the kinetics of blood parasitism by examination of fresh blood, blood culture (BC) and PCR assays and their correlation with heart parasitism during two years of infection in Beagle dogs inoculated with the Be-78, Y and ABC Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Our results showed that the parasite or its kDNA is easily detected during the acute phase in all infected animals. On the other hand, a reduced number of positive tests were verified during the chronic phase of the infection. The frequency of positive tests was correlated with T. cruzi strain. The percentage of positive BC and blood PCR performed in samples from animals inoculated with Be-78 and ABC strains were similar and significantly larger in relation to animals infected with the Y strain.Comparison of the positivity of PCR tests performed using blood and heart tissue samples obtained two years after infection showed two different patterns associated with the inoculated T. cruzi strain: (1) high PCR positivity for both blood and tissue was observed in animals infected with Be-78 or ABC strains; (2) lower and higher PCR positivity for the blood and tissue, respectively, was detected in animals infected with Y strains. These data suggest that the sensitivity of BC and blood PCR was T. cruzi strain dependent and, in contrast, the heart tissue PCR revealed higher sensitivity regardless of the parasite stock.

Quatro vacas lactantes canuladas no rúmen, com 155 dias em lactação, foram dispostas em um quadrado latino 4 × 4 e alimentadas, duas vezes ao dia, com silagem de milho e concentrado (relação 55:45, base matéria seca), para se avaliarem os efeitos da monensina e do óleo de soja na dieta de vacas lactantes sobre a contagem de protozoários ciliados, além de estabelecer correlações entre os protozoários com alguns parâmetros da digestão e da fermentação ruminal. Os tratamentos consistiram da inclusão de 33 ppm de monensina sódica ou de 4% de óleo de soja na dieta, assim representados: dieta controle, sem óleo ou monensina - CT; dieta com monensina - MN; dieta com óleo - OL; combinação de 33 ppm de monensina e 4% de óleo de soja - OM. Verificou-se a ocorrência de 11 gêneros de ciliados, sendo Entodinium o predominante em todos os tratamentos. Não foi observada interação significativa óleo de soja × monensina sobre a contagem de protozoários e gêneros. Os gêneros Entodinium, Dasytricha, Eremoplastron e Isotricha foram reduzidos nas dietas com óleo, enquanto a monensina diminuiu a contagem de Dasytricha, Eremoplastron e Epidinium. O número total de protozoários e de ciliados celulolíticos foi reduzido pelos efeitos de óleo de soja e monensina, indicando efeito aditivo defaunatório quando combinados o óleo e a monensina. Os ciliados celulolíticos foram reduzidos pelo consumo de ácido linoléico e positivamente relacionados à digestibilidade ruminal da FDN e amônia ruminal. O número total de protozoários foi correlacionado à proporção de propionato no líquido ruminal, indicando que monensina e óleo de soja, pelo seu efeito defaunatório, podem reduzir a perda de metano no rúmen.

Four lactating dairy cows with ruminal cannula and 155 DIM were allotted to a 4 × 4 Latin square and fed twice daily corn silage and concentrate (55:45, %DM) to evaluate the effect of monensin and soybean oil in the diet of lactating cows on the counting of ciliate protozoa beyond establishing correlations between number of protozoa with some parameters of digestion and ruminal fermentation. The treatments consisted of the inclusion of 33 ppm of sodium monensin or soybean oil at 4% DM, as following: control diet, without oil or monensin - CT; diet with monensin - MN; diet with soybean oil - OL; diet with the combination of 33 ppm of monensin and 4% of soybean oil - OM. Occurrence of 11 ciliate genera was observed, being Entodinium the predominant in all treatments. No significant soybean oil × monensin interaction was observed on protozoa number and genera. The genera Entodinium, Dasytricha, Eremoplastron and Isotricha reduced in the diets with oil, while monensin reduced the counting of Dasytricha, Eremoplastron and Epidinium. The total number of ciliate protozoa and cellulolytics protozoa was reduced by soybean oil and monensin effects, showing a defaunatory additive effect when combined the oil and the monensin. The ciliate cellulolytics was reduced by linoleic acid intake and was related positively with NDF ruminal digestibility and ruminal ammonia. The total number of protozoa was correlated with the molar proportion of propionate in the ruminal liquid, suggesting that monensin and soybean oil, due their defaunatory effect, can reduce the loss of methane in the rumen.