ABSTRACT Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is a growing threat to public health. Methods: A 3-year retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and lethality of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii isolated from Brazilian patients. Results: In this study, 219 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were identified, of which 70.8% (155/219) were isolated from patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Of these, 57.4% (n = 89/155) were assessed, of which 92.1% (82/89) were carbapenem-resistant, and 49 were classified as infected. The lethality rate was 79.6% (39/49). Conclusions: We highlight the need of an effective epidemiological surveillance measure to contain the dissemination of CRAB in the hospital environment.

ABSTRACT The present study proposes to characterize the parasites isolated during the initial phase of production in fish farms located in Mato Grosso do Sul in the central-western region of Brazil, using histopathology analysis and molecular techniques. A total of 340 hybrid surubim fish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × P. corruscans) from four farms were examined during the co-feeding phase. Histopathology analysis showed that 10.9% (n = 37) of the fish were infected with parasites. Branchitis, lifting epithelium, hypertrophy of epithelial cells, lamellar fusion, aneurisms and infection in the bone tissue of the gill filament was observed. The parasite species was determined by amplification of the 18S rRNA gene followed by sequencing. The phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences indicates a close relationship (99.6%) with Henneguya pseudoplatystoma reported to be infecting the hybrid Pseudoplatystoma. This study demonstrates the occurrence of H. pseudoplatystoma in hybrid surubim (P. reticulatum × P. corruscans) during the co-feeding phase in fish farms in Mato Grosso do Sul. Also, molecular techniques provide a faster and sensitive method to identify fish parasites, and may assist in the development of new management techniques aimed at improving the sanitary conditions contributing to the reduction of mortality rates in these animals.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in hospital settings has rapidly emerged worldwide as a serious health problem. METHODS: This review synthetizes the epidemiology of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, highlighting resistance mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the genetic mechanisms of resistance as well as the associated risk factors is critical to develop and implement adequate measures to control and prevent acquisition of nosocomial infections, especially in an intensive care unit setting.

ABSTRACT Vocalization and behavior are non-invasive methods of animal welfare analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the welfare of piglets during Australian ear notching, tooth wear and castration, from vocalizations and behavioral aspects of pigs. For this, 281 piglets were used, with measurements of the maximum and minimum intensity of the noise emitted by the piglets and the time of accomplishment. The behavior of the piglets was obtained according to the activity performed during handling and containment. For behavioral analysis a specific etogram was used. The comparison of means was performed by T-test and PDIFF. The castration was the practice with the highest average of time of accomplishment, followed by the wear of teeth and ear notching. The highest mean values of minimum and maximum intensity were found for male castration in the slow process. It was observed that sex did not influence the time when the ear notching and tooth wear were performed, but at the same time the avoidance behavior was the most observed (P <0.05), with low frequency in castration. Therefore, it can be concluded that the procedures caused pain, characterized by vocal demonstrations and negative behavior.

RESUMO Vocalização e comportamento são métodos não invasivos de análise de bem-estar animal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o bem-estar de leitões durante as práticas de mossa australiana, desgaste de dentes e castração, a partir de vocalizações e aspectos comportamentais dos suínos. Para tal, foram utilizados 281 leitões, com aferições da intensidade máxima e mínima do ruído emitido pelos leitões e o tempo de realização. O comportamento dos leitões foi obtido de acordo com a atividade desempenhada durante o manejo e contenção. Para análise comportamental um etograma específico foi utilizado. A comparação de médias foi realizada pelo teste-T e PDIFF. A castração foi a prática com maior média de tempo de realização, seguida pelo desgaste de dentes e mossa. Os maiores valores de média de intensidade mínima e máxima foram encontrados para a castração de machos, no processo lento. Observou-se que o sexo não influenciou no tempo em que a mossa e o desgaste de dentes foram realizados, mas durante os mesmos o comportamento de esquiva foi o mais observado (P<0,05), com baixa frequência na castração. Portanto, pode-se concluir que os procedimentos ocasionaram dor, caracterizada por demonstrações vocais e de comportamento negativo.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the presence of roosters on welfare and egg production of laying hens reared in an alternative system. Two breeding systems were established: barn 1 - laying hens reared without roosters (4500 birds); and barn 2 - laying hens reared with roosters (4500 layers and 250 roosters). In the poultry facilities, microclimate, egg production, mortality rate, and bird behavior were evaluated. Microclimate analysis showed that the birds were subjected to periods of constant heat stress, except for the morning hours. However, even under these conditions, egg production results and mortality rate were consistent with the indices recommended in the Isa Brown management guide in the barn with roosters; the indices obtained were even better and were characterized by higher egg production and lower mortality rates. In addition to productivity benefits, the presence of roosters broadened the behavioral repertoire of the birds due to the introduction of reproductive behaviors. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the tolerance-reflex behavior, which is associated with the impossibility of displaying reproductive behaviors. This alternative egg production system proved to promote animal welfare since it provides and stimulates the display of behaviors considered important for birds.

A irradiação de alimentos é eficiente tecnologia que pode ser empregada na conservação dos alimentos. Porém, o conhecimento dos consumidores sobre os alimentos irradiados tem se mostrado insuficiente, resultando em baixa aceitação destes alimentos. Considerando que o nutricionista é o profissional de saúde habilitado para orientar pacientes e consumidores sobre a ingestão e seleção de alimentos, este estudo avaliou o conhecimento e a atitude frente aos alimentos irradiados entre nutricionistas que atuam na docência em instituições de ensino superior em Belo Horizonte - MG, Brasil. Dos 66 participantes, 86,4% referiram saber o que são alimentos irradiados, todavia 71,2% desconhecem o processo, 75,8% desconhecem a legislação, 21,2% desconhecem as finalidades da irradiação, 12,1% consideram os alimentos irradiados como sendo radioativos e, 31,8% acreditam que a irradiação de alimentos resulta em redução do valor nutritivo dos alimentos. Os alimentos irradiados não seriam recusados pelos doutores, porém seriam recusados por 5 mestres e por 6 especialistas. Foi concluído que a formação dos futuros nutricionistas pode estar sendo realizada sem o mínimo de conhecimento necessário a respeito dos alimentos irradiados, podendo estar corroborando para a atitude negativa dos consumidores.

Food irradiation is an efficient technology that can be used in the conservation of foods. However, consumers' knowledge about irradiated foods has proved insufficient resulting in low acceptance of such foods. Considering that dietitians and nutritionists are the qualified health professionals to guide patients and consumers towards the ingestion and selection of foods, this study aims to evaluate the knowledge and views about radiated foods of professors of nutrition working in higher education institutions in the city of Belo Horizonte - MG, Brazil. A total of 86.4% out of the 66 participants had general knowledge about irradiated foods. However, 71.2% were not familiar with the process, 75.8% were totally unaware of the specific legislation, 21.2% were not sure of the purposes of irradiation, 12.1% considered irradiated foods radioactive, and 31.8% believed that food irradiation results in the reduction of the nutritional value of foods. Irradiated foods would not be rejected by professionals with Ph.D degree, but they would be rejected by five masters and six experts questioned. The study concluded that the current higher education of future dietitians and nutritionists has been provided without the minimum necessary knowledge regarding irradiated foods corroborating the negative view of consumers about this kind of food.

Com o acréscimo da demanda do mercado consumidor nacional e internacional por produtos rastreados, urge o desenvolvimento de conhecimento sobre processos de identificação e rastreamento de informações na produção animal. Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar dois tipos de rastreabilidade em suínos: individual e de grupo, utilizando o sistema de identificação e registro de dados eletronicamente. Os 50 leitões foram identificados ao nascer e as variáveis peso e conversão alimentar serviram de base para comparação entre os dois sistemas. Uma amostra foi considerada a partir do erro admissível, estabelecido pelo produtor. Foi desenvolvida uma função e validada a partir da escolha de uma amostra. Foi constatado que, para maior rapidez na obtenção de dados pode-se utilizar uma amostra de leitões identificados e rastreados, em função do erro desejado e este erro será inversamente proporcional ao tamanho da amostra.

With the increasing demand of traced products to supply national and international market, it is urgent the development of knowledge about the processes of animal's identification and the tracing of information related to production. This research aimed to compare two kinds of swine traceability: individual and in group, using the electronic identification and data recording system. It was used 50 piglets identified at birth, and the control variables of weight gain and feed conversion were used for comparing both systems. A sample was considered from the feasible error established by a specialist. A function was developed and validated from the sample size choice. It was found that for faster data recording an identified piglet sample can be used for tracing information, and the final error will be inversely proportional to the size of the sample.