ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to examine the effects of replacement of an antibiotic (ANT, chlorohydroxyquinoline) in the diet of weaned piglets with a prebiotic composed of β-glucans, glucomannans, and mannan-oligosaccharides on growth performance, diarrhea occurrence (DO), hematological parameters, pH of digestive content, organ weights, intestinal epithelium morphology, and intestinal bacterial counts. A total of 120 piglets (weaned at 21 d old; 6.32±0.10 kg BW) were allocated in a randomized block design, with six pens replicates and four piglets per pen as experimental unit. Treatments consisted of diets with 0, 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 mg kg−1 of prebiotic and a basal diet with 120 mg kg−1 ANT. No differences of treatments were observed on performance, DO, pH of digestive content, organ weights, and hematological parameters. Duodenal villus density (VD) increased linearly with the prebiotic levels. In the jejunum, the prebiotic level of 2,000 mg kg−1 resulted in a greater VD compared with the ANT. Enterobacteriaceae count in the ileum and total and lactic acid bacteria counts in the cecum responded quadratically to increasing prebiotic levels. The equations estimated the prebiotic levels of 2,125, 1,167, and 1,500 mg kg−1 to provide reduced counts of the respective bacteria (ileal enterobacteria: 6.47 log CFU g−1; total cecal bacteria: 6.70 log CFU g−1; and cecal lactic acid: 7.29 log CFU g−1). Salmonella spp. was not detected, whereas Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus spp. gene copies were unaffected by the treatments. Prebiotic levels or ANT do not enhance performance or health of weanling pigs, but the effects observed on VD and microbiota profile might be an indication of the potential benefits of these products in commercial farming conditions.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of different concentrations of Trolox® and the addition of a fixed concentration of DHA in the freezing of semen of Mangalarga Marchador stallions. To that end, 16 ejaculates were frozen in the following extenders: E1) BotuCrio® (BC; Control); E2) BC + 50 ngml-1 DHA + 30 µM Trolox® (BCDHA30T); E3) BC + 50 ngml-1 DHA + 40 µM Trolox® (BCDHA40T); E4) BC + 50 ngml-1 DHA + 50 µM Trolox® (BCDHA50T). All the tested extenders were similar in preserving different kinematic parameters, cell functional integrity, compacted DNA, and high and intermediate mitochondrial activity (P>0.05). However, sperm cryopreserved in BCDHA40T showed higher velocities than sperm frozen in the control extender (P<0.05). The 30 µM concentration of Trolox® was worse for sperm motility and the 50 µM concentration of Trolox® did not adequately preserve the structural integrity of the membranes in an extender containing DHA when compared to the BotuCrio® (P<0.05) extender. The use of Trolox® in freezing extenders containing DHA did not maximize the effect of BotuCrio®, except for in the case of sperm velocity parameters when at a concentration of 40 µM.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by a parasite endemic to large areas of tropical and subtropical countries, is a growing public health problem. METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were infected with Leishmania amazonensis and treated with extracts isolated from Annona mucosa. RESULTS: Treated groups had significantly reduced footpad swelling. The group treated intraperitoneally with hexane extract showed footpad swelling similar to groups treated with Pentamidine® and Glucantime®. Groups treated with dichloromethane extract and hexane extract presented the recovering phenotype associated with reduced parasite levels. CONCLUSIONS: Extracts of A. mucosa are promising sources of novel antileishmanial compounds.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets containing different levels of digestible energy (DE). The fish were housed in 15 fiberglass tanks (500 L) in a recirculating system at an average temperature of 27.5 °C. The treatments consisted of five diets with increasing levels of DE (3,200; 3,400; 3,600; 3,800; and 4,000 kcal/kg). The levels of DE did not significantly influence the final weight or the hepatosomatic, gonadosomatic, and visceral fat indices. The absolute fecundity was influenced by the treatments, for which the highest values were observed from the 3,600 kcal/kg DE level and upward. The proximate composition of the fish also had a significant effect on the variables crude protein, ether extract, and ash; the fish fed diets with higher levels of DE exhibited the lowest body protein content, while the accumulation of ether extract exhibited the opposite response. A level of 3,600 kcal/kg of digestible energy should be used in diets with 380 g/kg crude protein and a starch/lipid ratio of 1.33 for female Nile tilapia.

O conhecimento de como os animais depositam componentes químicos como água, proteína, gordura e cinzas na carcaça é importante para a formulação de uma dieta equilibrada, permitindo o máximo desempenho com baixo impacto ambiental. Logo, o trabalho foi conduzido, com o objetivo de avaliar a influência de diferentes linhagens de tilápia sobre a deposição de componentes químicos na carcaça. Os componentes corporais analisados foram água, proteína, gordura e cinzas. Para a determinação das curvas de deposição química corporal em função da idade foram ajustados os modelos exponencial, Brody, logístico, Gompertz e vonBertalanffy. Houve ajuste apenas do modelo exponencial para a água, tendo as linhagens UFLA e Comerciais as que depositaram numa velocidade mais rápida (P<0,05) em relação às demais linhagens. Quanto à proteína, a linhagem Vermelha foi a que teve menor peso à maturidade, estimado (49,37g) e foi mais precoce quanto à deposição máxima em relação as outras linhagens (Chitralada, UFLA e Comercial), no qual obtiveram peso a maturidade estimada em 231,5g e deposição máxima aos 337 dias de idade. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) dos parâmetros do modelo logístico entre as linhagens Vermelha,UFLA e Comercial para extrato etéreo, sendo a deposição máxima (0,23 g) aos 310 dias de idade. Em relação à deposição de cinzas, a linhagem Comercial teve maior deposição máxima (0,10 g) e, aos 337 dias de idade, sendo mais tardia em relação as outras linhagens que obtiveram deposição máxima de 0,033 g, aos 254 dias de idade. Portanto, conclui-se que as linhagens genéticas avaliadas diferem quanto às curvas de deposição química de água, proteína, extrato etéreo e cinzas.

The knowledge of how animals deposited chemical components as water, protein, fat and ash in the carcass is importance for the formulation of a balanced diet, allowing maximum performance with a low environmental impact. So, the study was carried out to evaluate the influence of different tilapia strains (Chitralada, Commercial, Red and Universidade Federal de Lavras [UFLA]) on the deposition of bodily chemical components in the carcass. The bodily components analyzed were water, protein, fat and ash. For the determination of the bodily chemical deposition curves by age, the exponential, Brody, logistic, Gompertz and von Bertalanffy models were adjusted. The Commercial and UFLA strains deposited water at a faster speed (P<0.05) compared with the remaining strains. As for protein, the Red strain had a lower estimated maturity weight (49.37 g), and was more precocious (202 days) with regard to maximum deposition in comparison to the other strains (Chitralada, UFLA and Commercial) in which there was an estimated maturity weight of 231.5 g and maximum depositionfor 337 days. There were no differences (P>0.05) for the logistic model parameter between Red, UFLA and Commercial strains for fat, which presented a maximum fat deposition (0.23 g) at 310 days of age. Regarding ash deposition, the Commercial strain presented a higher maximum deposition (0.10 g) at 337 days, occurring later than the other strains that presented maximum deposition (0.033g) at 254 days of age. Thus, it was concluded that the genetic strains evaluated differ in chemical deposition curves of water, protein, fat and ash.

The main factor considered in breeding programs for fish is growth, which can be assessed in terms of a gain in either weight or body measurements. This study was undertaken to evaluate the morphometric traits of GIFT strain tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) selected for weight gain. The data set used contained information on 6,650 animals. The genetic values of 8,590 animals in a relationship matrix of five generations were predicted. The following morphometric measurements were evaluated: standard length; body depth and body width. Body area and volume were also calculated. Bi-character analyses involving morphometric traits were used to estimate (co)variance components. Heritability, larval and fingerling common environmental effects were estimated for each trait, together with the genetic and phenotypic correlations between traits. Bayesian procedures were utilised by Gibbs chains, and the convergence of the chains was tested using the Heidelberger and Welch method. Genetic trends were estimated by segmented regression of the fish breeding values of the generations considered in this study. Estimates of heritability (0.28 a 0.31) had moderate to high magnitudes for all traits. Genetic correlations between traits were all above 0.8, and the genetic gains were satisfactory from the third generation onwards. From the estimates of the genetic parameters and genetic gain the morphometric traits evaluated have good potential for selection.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphometric growth and weight gain of strains of tilapia (Thai, Red, UFLA and Commercial) by nonlinear models. Initially, 500 male fingerlings of each strain, at 85 (Red and UFLA) and 86 (Thai and Commercial) days of age, were stocked separately in raceways with 56 m³. Twenty fish of each strain were randomly sampled, weighed and measured monthly. Five nonlinear models (Brody, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, logistic and exponential) were tested, choosing one that best fit to the data. The variables studied were: weight, standard length (SL), head length (HL), height 1 (H1), height 2 (H2), height 3 (H3), first distance (D1), second distance (D2), first width (W1), second width (W2) and third width (W3). The exponential model had the best fit to weight and morphometric data, with the exception of W2, in which the best fitted model was von Bertalanffy. The convergence of the exponential model to data indicates that the cultivation period studied was not enough for the strains to reach maturity weight. The UFLA strain presented the lowest value for parameter "a" (initial weight estimate), 8.71 g, and the highest for parameter k (specific growth rate), 0.0127, when compared with other evaluated strains. However, the highest k of UFLA was not enough to overcome the final weight observed for the Commercial strain (603.1 g), which was higher than all other strains. Regarding the morphometric measurements, the UFLA strain also had the highest k for the variables SL, HL, HH, H1, H2, H3 and D2, and similar k to Commercial and Thai strains for the variables D1 and W3 respectively. The strains differ as to weight gain and morphometric growth.

With the purpose of evaluating the changes and the degree of heterosis on performance and carcass traits of fish from the diallel crossing between Pacu and Tambaqui, four genetic groups were generated through hormonal induction: pacu, tambaqui, tambacu and paqui. For 196 days, 400 juveniles of each genetic group were stocked in a pond divided into four parts of equal size, one for each group. At the end of this period, when the fish weighed on average 1024 g (±115.52 g), 20 specimens of each genetic group were sampled, weighed, measured: head length; standard length; body height; and width; and also processed resulting in following body yield: viscera; carcass; head; fillet; rib; residue and skin yields. There was positive heterosis for body weight, viscera and skin yield and head measures and negative heterosis for carcass and filet yield and body width, indicating that the hybrids have better performance on weight gain, but are inferior in relation to the carcass conformation.

The objective of this study was to verify which morphometric measures and ratios are more directly associated with the weight and body yields of rounded fish. A total of 225 specimens of rounded fish (59 pacus, 61 tambaquis, 52 tambacus and 53 paquis) with average weight of 972.43 g (±115.52 g) were sampled, stunned, slaughtered, weighed, measured, and processed for morphometric and processing yield analysis. The morphometric measures taken were: standard length (CP); head length (CC); head height (AC); body height (A1); and body width (L1). For completeness, the following morphometric ratios were calculated: CC/CP, AC/CP, A1/CP, L1/CP, CC/A1, AC/A1, L1/A1, CC/AC and L1/CC. The yields of carcass, filet, rib and filet with rib were estimated after processing. Initially, a "stepwise" procedure was performed in order to eliminate multicollinearity problems among the morphometric variables, and the phenotypic correlations were then calculated for the dependent variables (weight and body yields) and independent variables (morphometric measurements and ratios). These correlations were later deployed in direct and indirect effects through path analysis, and the direct and indirect contributions of each variable were measured in percentage terms. The CC and A1 measures were important for determining the weight of rounded fish. The CC/A1 ratio was the variable most directly associated with carcass yield. For filet, filet with rib and rib yields, the L1/CC ratio was found to be more appropriate and can be used directly.

Este trabalho foi realizado para se obter uma equação de predição para estimar os valores de energia metabolizável aparente corrigida (EMAn) dos alimentos proteicos usualmente utilizados em rações para frangos de corte utilizando-se o princípio da meta-análise. Realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica de estudos no Brasil para catalogar informações sobre valores de EMAn e composição química dos alimentos: proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), matéria mineral (MM), fibra bruta (FB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra em detergente ácido (FDA). Foram considerados os efeitos de: sexo, em três níveis (macho, fêmea e mistos); idade, em quatro níveis (1ª e 2ª semana de vida, 3ª e 4ª semana, 5ª e 6ª semana e acima ou indefinido) e metodologia empregada no metabolismo em dois níveis: coleta total (CT) e alimentação forçada + (CT). Os dados foram analisados em um esquema fatorial 3 × 4 × 2, podendo totalizar até 24 grupos, adotando-se o procedimento Stepwise para a seleção de variáveis e o Proc Reg do (SAS) para ajustar o modelo de regressão linear múltipla. A equação obtida que melhor se ajustou foi EMAn = 2707,71 + 58,63EE - 16,06FDN (R² = 0,81), sendo o EE a variável mais importante, em se tratando de possíveis variações nos teores energéticos dos alimentos proteicos.

This study was accomplished aiming to obtain prediction equations to estimate the values of corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) of the protein feedstuffs usually used in broiler rations, through the meta-analysis principle. Literature review of the studies realized in Brazil was performed to catalog information about values of AMEn and chemical composition of the feedstuffs reported (CP = crude protein; EE = ether extract; CF = crude fiber; NDF = neutral detergent fiber; ADF = acid detergent fiber). Effects of sex at three levels (male; female and mixed); age at four levels (1st and 2nd weeks of life; 3rd and 4th weeks; 5th and 6th weeks; above or indefinite) and the methodology employed in the metabolism assay at two levels (total collection of excreta - CT and forced fed plus + CT) were considered. The data were analyzed in a 3 × 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, capable of amounting up to 24 groups. The Stepwise procedure was adopted for selection of variables, and the Proc Reg of the (SAS), to fit the multiple linear regression model. The equation obtained which best fitted was AMEn = 2707.71 + 58.63EE - 16.06NDF (R² = 0.81), with the EE as the most important variable, concerning the possible variations in the energy contents of protein feedstuffs.

Foram avaliados métodos alternativos de restrição alimentar qualitativa em comparação à técnica convencional de muda forçada. Utilizaram-se 480 galinhas Babcock de 78 semanas distribuídas em três níveis de restrição alimentar (100, 75 e 50%) e três percentuais de redução de peso corporal (15, 20 e 25%), cada um com cinco repetições de 32 aves. Quando as aves atingiram o percentual de redução de peso corporal, determinaram-se o volume globular, os percentuais de ovário, oviduto, moela, intestino e gordura abdominal e o comprimento de oviduto. A partir do 28º dia e durante cinco períodos de 28 dias, observaram-se as características quantitativas e qualitativas de produção pós-muda. O maior período de restrição foi observado no nível de 50% e proporcionou menores percentuais de gordura abdominal (0,66%), ovário (0,60%), oviduto (0,77%) e comprimento de oviduto (32 cm). O percentual de produção de ovos foi maior no primeiro período para as aves submetidas aos métodos de 75 e 100% de restrição com 15 e 20% de redução de peso, respectivamente. Entretanto, para as aves com 50% de restrição e 25% de redução de peso, as maiores produções (86,80 e 83,20%) ocorreram no quarto e quinto períodos. A restrição alimentar qualitativa, em 50% da dieta com ração e casca de arroz, por ser menos agressiva, proporciona melhores condições de bem-estar e facilita o manejo da granja.

Alternative methods were assessed of qualitative feed restriction compared to the conventional forced molt technique. Four hundred and eighty Babcock hens were used distributed in three levels of feed restriction (100, 75 and 50%) and three body weight reduction percentages (15, 20 and 25%), with five replications of 32 hens. When the birds reached the body weight reduction percentage the packed cell volume, percentages of ovary, oviduct, gizzard, intestine, abdominal fat and oviduct length were determined. Starting on day 28 and during five 28-day periods the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of production after forced molt were measured. The largest restriction period occurred at 50% of restriction that resulted in the smallest percentages of abdominal fat (0.66%), ovary (0.60%), oviduct (0.77%) and oviduct length (32 cm). The egg production percentage was higher in the first period, for the 75 and 100% restriction methods with up to 15 and 20% body weight reduction, respectively. However, for the birds with 50% restriction and 25% body weight reduction, the highest productions (86.80 and 83.20%) occurred in the 4th and 5th periods. Qualitative feed restriction at 50% of the diet with feed and rice hulls, because it was less aggressive, resulted in better welfare conditions and facilitated farm management.