In Portugal, Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is caused by R. conorii Malish and Israeli spotted fever (ISF) strains. It has been suggested that the ISF strain isolated from patients with MSF causes different clinical manifestations compared to those caused by Malish strain, namely the absence of eschar and greater severity. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence or absence of eschar and of fatality in Portuguese patients infected with either Malish or ISF strain. Of 94 patients with a clinical diagnosis of MSF between 1994 to 2004, 47 were infected with Malish strain and 47 with ISF strain. Eschars were reported in 20 patients (49%) infected with Malish strain, and in 17 (39%) with ISF strain. The presence of eschar is not statistically associated to a greater extent with either R. conorii strain (P=0.346). A total of 22 patients died, 9 infected with Malish strain and 13 infected with ISF strain, and no statistically significant difference was found (P=0.330). This study showed that the concepts of absence of the eschar and greater severity in Israeli spotted fever infection should be revised.

Acurácia, precisão e robustez de indicadores internos para predição da digestibilidade aparente total de matéria seca em equinos [Accuracy, precision and RESUMOObjetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a acurácia, a precisão e a robustez de diferentes indicadores internos na predição da digestibilidade aparente total da matéria seca (MS) para equinos. Foram utilizadas cinco éguas em manutenção, sem raça definida, com peso médio de 406±76,9kg e idade aproximada de 3,5 anos, alojadas em baias individuais. O experimento foi disposto em quadrado latino 5x5 (cinco dietas e cinco animais). Foram coletadas amostras dos alimentos fornecidos e das fezes para determinação bromatológica dos indicadores, e, para determinação das frações indigestíveis, foi realizada incubação in vitro. Os indicadores utilizados foram fibra em detergente neutro indigestível (FDNi), fibra em detergente ácido indigestível (FDAi), celulose indigestível (CELi) e lignina em detergente ácido indigestível (LDAi

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Essential oils (EO) such as carvacrol represent a wide range of mainly volatile aromatic plant compounds which hold antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal potential, in addition to other properties of interest to animal health, such as the ability to modulate the microbiome. Current horse care commonly involves an intensive management system with an excessive use of concentrated feed, which can lead to severe digestive and metabolic disorders. Studies with EO in horses are limited, but the use of carvacrol essential oil (CEO) can promote benefits in microbial fermentation. The objective was to investigate the effect of different quantities of CEO on the apparent total digestibility of nutrients, microbial profile in the feces and postprandial blood glucose and insulin response when added to the equine diet. Eight Mini-Horse geldings were used (42±6 months; 135±15 kg BW) and fed with a proportion of 60% concentrate and 40% grass hay. The treatments were: 0, 100, 200 and 300 ppm of CEO. The addition of CEO up to 300 ppm did not influence the apparent digestibility of nutrients or the postprandial plasma glucose and insulin response. The use of CEO maintained the fermentative digestive health of horses fed with concentrate diets.