RESUMO Objetivando avaliar a presença de micro-organismos indicadores e de estafilococos em carcaças bovinas e a influência da refrigeração sobre a microbiota contaminante, foram analisadas amostras de regiões da superfície externa de meias carcaças tais como coxão, lombo e ponta-deagulha, logo após a lavagem e após 24 horas sob refrigeração. As médias das populações de microorganismos heterotróficos mesófilos, psicrotróficos e Staphylococcus sp. em UFC/cm2 obtidas imediatamente após a lavagem apresentaram valores respectivamente de 1,8 x 10, 6,4 x 10 e 3,5 x 10 UFC/cm2, enquanto que para as amostras colhidas após refrigeração os valores foram de 1,3 x 10, 1,6 x 102 e 5,2 x 10 UFC/cm2. As populações foram consideradas reduzidas, decorrentes de eficientes cuidados higiênicos sanitários durante as operações de abate, e as diferenças observadas entre as médias dos dois grupos de amostras não foram significativas do ponto de vista estatístico, o que permite concluir que não houve aumento considerável da população microbiana, demonstrando a eficiência do processo de refrigeração em seguida ao abate.

ABSTRACT With the aim of evaluating the presence of microorganisms in bovine carcasses and the influence of refrigeration on the contaminating microbiotics, some samples were collected from the outer surface of half-carcasses in these regions (rump, loin and rib), after washing and after 24 hours under refrigeration. The average of the mesophilic heterotrofic, psychrotrofic andStaphylococcusmicroorgarnisms, obtained immediately after the carcass washing were respectively 1.8 x 10, 6.4 x 10 and 3.5 x 10 CFU/cm2, while for the samples collected after refrigeration these values were 1.3 x 10, 1.6 x 102 and 5.2 x 10 CFU/cm2. The populations were considered low due to the hygienic practices during the slaughter process, and the differences observed between the averages of the two groups of samples were not statistically significant, leading to the conclusion that that was not an increase of the microorganism population, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the refrigeration process after the slaughter.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the single most important infectious agent affecting recipients of organ transplants. To evaluate the incidence and the clinical importance of CMV infection in renal transplants in Brazil, 37 patients submitted to renal allograft transplants were tested periodically for the presence of cytomegalovirus DNA in urine using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against CMV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). The PCR-amplified products were detected by gel electrophoresis and confirmed by dot-blot hybridization with oligonucleotide probes. Thirty-two of the 37 patients (86.4%) were positive by at least one of the three methods. In six patients, PCR was the only test which detected the probable CMV infection. Ten patients had a positive result by PCR before transplantation. In general, the diagnosis was achieved earlier by PCR than by serologic tests. Active infection occurred more frequently during the first four months after transplantation. Sixteen of the 32 patients (50%) with active CMV infection presented clinical symptoms consistent with CMV infection. Five patients without evidence of active CMV infection by the three tests had only minor clinical manifestations during follow-up. Our results indicate that PCR is a highly sensitive procedure for the early detection of CMV infection and that CMV infection in renal transplant patients is a frequent problem in Brazil.