No abstract

Realizou-se, em quatro propriedades rurais no Pantanal Matogrossense, em 2009 e 2010, um estudo clínico e epidemiológico da pitiose em bovinos e equinos. A enfermidade ocorreu predominantemente entre os meses de novembro e março, correspondendo ao período chuvoso na região. A incidência média anual foi de 0,22% e 12,5% em bovinos e equinos, respectivamente. Nos bovinos, a distribuição dos casos ocorreu no ápice das cheias e restringiu-se a novilhas de 6 a 18 meses de idade, nas quais as lesões cutâneas estiveram associadas com edemas perilesionais discretos e claudicações, mas curaram espontaneamente, em um período máximo de 90 dias. Nos equinos, a pitiose acometeu animais de ambos os sexos, de três a oito anos de idade e registrou-se um caso de reinfecção. A doença evoluiu com agravos no sítio lesional, com desenvolvimento de extenso tecido de granulação, kunkersem permeio à lesão, acentuada caquexia e mortes, as quais ocorreram entre três e sete meses após o início dos sinais. A mortalidade média foi 5,88% e a letalidade 45,45%. A confirmação do diagnóstico incluiu ELISA-teste, PCR, histopatologia (HE e Grocott) e isolamento de P. insidiosum. Na área endêmica estudada, a enfermidade não causou impacto econômico em bovinos, a despeito da evolução insatisfatória registrada na maioria dos equinos. Nesse estudo, a incidência de pitiose em equinos foi 57,23 vezes a observada em bovinos, com significância estatística. Apesar das mesmas condições ambientais, tal diferença foi provavelmente associada com susceptibilidade, comportamento e manejo das espécies nos campos alagados.

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The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different options of soil preparation and management of harvesting debris on biodiversity and biomass of understory vegetation in plantations of Eucalyptus globulus of Central Portugal. The experiment consisted of six treatments in a replanted area and four treatments in a coppice area with five replicates, following a randomised block design. Surveys of vegetation were performed for 6 years. The proportion of soil cover by plant species was estimated and the Shannon-Wiener diversity and equitability indexes determined for each treatment and year. After the 2nd year, the understory vegetation was randomly sampled for above-ground biomass determination. Within the planted area, the removal of slash without soil preparation induced the highest number of species during the experimental period. A similar trend was observed in the coppice area, but less regularly. Significant differences in the proportion of soil cover only occurred within the planted area in the first year, when slash removal without soil preparation induced the highest understory cover. Species diversity was not clearly affected by treatments: significant differences only occurred occasionally and were apparently related to differences in the number of species. Therefore, differences in the equitability index between treatments never were significant. Removal of slash without soil disturbance and broadcast of slash over the soil usually shared the highest biodiversity. Differences between treatments in the amount of understory biomass were never statistically significant during the experimental period. Tendency for a negative influence of soil mobilisation on the amount of understory biomass was observed within the planted area, as well as a similar effect of the treatments consisting of broadcast of slash over the soil surface in the coppice area. In parallel to tree development and canopy closure biomass of that vegetation along the study period was reduced, especially in the planted area.

A cutaneous Pythium insidiosum reinfection was diagnosed in an equine in Brazil. Lesions with focal presentation appeared 2 years apart. The first infection and even immunotherapy were not likely to develop enough immune response to prevent reinfection. The use of adjuvants should be considered in the immunotherapy of pythiosis. CASE REPORTThe case occurred in May 2007 in the Pantanal wetlands, Brazil. The animal showed a single fast-growing lesion in the left pelvic limb with approximately 45 days of evolution. The lesion in the shin region was moist, hemorrhagic, ulcerated, and slightly elliptical in shape, with irregular borders and a diameter of approximately 15 cm. Necrotic foci intermingled with sinuses containing yellowish firm structures measuring 2 to 5 mm, referred to as "kunkers," were observed throughout the lesion (4, 13). Vital signs were within normal limits, although the animal was moderately emaciated.One biopsy specimen was fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and stained by the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) techniques. Irregularly ramified, scarcely septate hyphae with thick brown walls were visualized with GMS staining (Fig. 1A). Hypha-like structures surrounded by irregular, eosinophilic material could be observed in the necrotic areas and corresponded to SplendoreHoeppli reactions (H&E) (Fig. 1B). A second biopsy specimen was refrigerated and used for PCR (1). Serum analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tested positive for pythiosis (14). The animal underwent five doses of a vortexed immunotherapy product (Pitium-vac; Mycological Research Laboratory [LAPEMI/UFSM]; Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation [Embrapa-Pantanal]) at 14-day intervals, according to the manufacturer's instructions and information from previous studies (12,14). Remission of signs and weight gain were observed after 4 months of follow-up, when the animal was considered cured; i.e., it showed complete healing of the wound and negative ELISA values ( Fig. 2A and B).Two years later, in December 2009, a new lesion with a clinical course of 30 days was observed in the ventral abdomen of the animal. The ulcerated area measured around 20 cm in diameter, and the perilesional edema around 60 cm. Serosanguinolent discharge and a great quantity of "kunkers" of approximately 2 mm inside the sinuses were also observed. Diagnostic and follow-up procedures were the same as described earlier, and the animal was successfully cured following four doses of immunotherapy ( Fig. 3A and B). Culture of Pythium insidiosum is time sensitive, which probably impaired the isolation of the agent in this study.Pythiosis insidiosi, a disease caused by the oomycete P. insidiosum, often causes lesions in horses and other mammals, including humans (2, 13). Equines are the most affected, without having, to our knowledge, a predisposing epidemiological factor (4). Cutaneous/subcutaneous lesions affecting mainly the distal extremities of limbs and the ventral portion of the thoracoabdominal wall are...

The aim of the study was to evaluate soybean response to boron (B) fertilization leaf at different times and rates of application. The experiment was conducted in Borrazópolis (PR) in the 2008/2009 season. We used the experimental design in blocks with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments were: 1 kg ha-1 of B in the V4 stage, 1 kg ha-1 of B in the R2 stage, 0.5 kg ha-1 of B in the V4 stage and 0.5 of B in the V4 stage, 2 kg ha-1 of B in the V4 stage, 2 kg ha-1 of B in the R2 stage, 1 kg ha-1 of B in the V4 stage and 1 kg ha-1 of B in the R2 stage, beyond the control treatment. We analyzed the content of macro and micronutrients in the leaves, as well as yield, weight of 100 grains, grain number per pod and nutrient content in grains. The results were subjected to analysis of variance (F test) and means compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. There was response from Leaf spray fertilization of B on the concentrations of N and K in the grains. The boron fertilization did not affect the grain yield of soybean

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different slash management practices on understory biodiversity and biomass in Eucalyptus globulus coppices in Central Portugal. The experiment consisted of four treatments: (a) removal of slash (R), (b) broadcast over the soil (S), (c) as in S but concentrating woody residues between tree rows (W) and (d) incorporation of slash into soil by harrowing (I). Understory vegetation was surveyed during 1-6, 9, and 10 years, the proportion of soil cover by plant species estimated, and diversity and equitability indexes determined. Above ground understory biomass was sampled in years 2-6, 9, and 10. The highest number of species in most years occurred in plots where slash was removed. Differences between treatments in the proportion of plant soil cover were never significant, whereas differences in diversity index were only occasionally significant and apparently related to the number of species. Thus, differences in the equitability index were not significant. Understory biomass did not decrease during the rotation period, and was usually highest in R and I, and lowest in S, but not significantly different. At the end of the rotation period, understory biodiversity indices and biomass were apparently independent of slash treatment.

Relata-se a intoxicação espontânea por Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa (canudo, algodoeiro) em bovinos no Pantanal Matogrossense. As investigações iniciaram após a morte de 12 bovinos, de um rebanho de 500 animais, criados em uma extensa área intensamente infestada por I. carnea subsp. fistulosa com escassa disponibilidade de outra forragem. As mortes ocorreram entres os meses de junho e setembro de 2006. O quadro clínico foi caracterizado por emagrecimento e sinais neurológicos com dificuldade locomotora. Um bovino foi necropsiado sem que se observassem alterações macroscópicas significativas. Histologicamente havia tumefação e vacuolização celular, em neurônios, células acinares pancreáticas, tubulares renais e foliculares da tireóide. Bovinos com quadro clínico similar foram retirados da área invadida por I. carnea subsp. fistulosa e colocadas em áreas com pastagem nativa e de Brachiaria sp. e apresentaram melhora clínica após período de 15 dias.