Anthelminthic resistant populations of Haemonchus contortus are a major problem in sheep rearing, but plant extracts may offer viable alternative treatments. In our preliminary studies, Piptadenia viridiflora was frequently selected by sheep grazing in the Cerrado. The present research evaluated its in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity. The HPLC chromatograms of P. viridiflora aqueous extract (AE) and ethanolic extract (EE) showed the presence of flavonoids. The total condensed tannin (proanthocyanidin) was 0.2 and 1.01% in AE and EE, respectively. In an egg hatching inhibition (EHI) test, the LC90 of AE was 2.4mg/mL, and, of EE, was 2.1mg/mL. After tannin extraction, higher EHI and lower LC90 were observed. In a larval development inhibition test, the LC90 of AE was 13.66mg/g of fecal culture. The highest dose of AE administered to mice (203.0mg/kg bw) was well tolerated, suggesting low toxicity. In vivo, AE was orally administered to lambs at 283mg/kg bw, and, at weeks one, two, and three post-treatment, the mean fecal egg count (FEC) was significantly lower than in untreated lambs (P<0.05). Blood parameters were normal and similar in untreated and treated sheep. For all lamb groups, the mean total serum protein was significantly higher at week two post-treatment than at other evaluated periods (P<0.05). Piptadenia viridiflora extracts had low condensed tannin content and exhibited high anthelminthic efficacy in vitro and significantly reduced FEC. Tannins were not shown to be the principal components affecting EHI, hence it is necessary to isolate and characterize the principal active P. viridiflora compounds, and to assess their possible synergism.

The fungi supplementation promotes, respectively, high and moderate anthelmintic efficacy with in vitro and in vivo tests, respectively, suggesting it as an alternative or complementary treatment for haemonchosis in sheep.

Plant species naturally selected by sheep grazing in the Cerrado region of Brazil were assessed in vitro for activity against Haemonchus contortus. One year of observations showed the plant families in the region exhibiting greatest richness to be Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Malpighiaceae, Bignoniaceae, Myrtaceae, and Annonaceae. Nine species commonly selected by grazing sheep showed variation in the selectivity index with respect to the dry and rainy seasons. Coproculture was conducted in five replicates of 11 treatments: ivermectin, distilled water, or dehydrated leaves of nine selected plant species administered at 333.3 mg g(-1) fecal culture. The dried powder of Piptadenia viridiflora and Ximenia americana leaves significantly reduced the number of infective larvae compared to the distilled water control. These species showed efficacy of over 85 % despite low concentrations of proanthocyanidin. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses of extracts of these plants showed major peaks of UV spectra characteristic of flavonoids. Those naturally selected plant species with high antihelminthic efficacy show promise for use in diet as an alternative control of H. contortus in sheep.

Parâmetros sanguíneos de ovinos com alta infecção porHaemonchus contortus e tratados com "cogumelo do sol" (Agaricus blazei) AbstractBlood and parasitological parameters of sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and treated with "mushroom of the sun" (Agaricus blazei) were assessed. Lambs infected with the nematode were divided into three groups: treated with basidiocarp powder from the fungus, wormed with trichlorfon, and a control group that did not receive anthelmintic. Split-plot design analysis was performed where the treatments were defined as plots and four periods of collection were defined as subplots. Interaction between the treatments and the collection periods for the fecal egg counts per gram of feces (FEC) was observed. Treatment with "mushroom of the sun" showed anthelmintic efficacies ranging from 28.6 to 54.2%. Similar performances to weight gain were observed among the groups. A significant interaction between treatments and evaluation periods was observed for erythrocyte counts, hematocrit value, and serum concentrations of albumin and urea. The values of the mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte distribution width, and leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil counts, as well as the mean platelet volume, varied among the collection days. The administration of "mushroom of the sun" significantly reduced the FEC, did not influence on the erythrocyte count and hematocrit value, which remained within normal limits. However it increased the serum concentrations of albumin. com triclorfon e grupo controle, que não recebeu anti-helmíntico. Utilizou-se delineamento em parcelas subdivididas, sendo os tratamentos as parcelas e quatro períodos de coletas, as subparcelas. Verificouse interação dos tratamentos e dos períodos de coleta para o número de ovos por grama de fezes (OPG). O tratamento com "cogumelo do sol" apresentou eficácia anti-helmíntica variando de 28,6% a 54,2%, entretanto o desempenho foi semelhante entre os grupos. Verificou-se interação significativa dos tratamentos e os períodos avaliados para as contagens de eritrócitos, o valor do hematócrito e as concentrações séricas de albumina e ureia. Os valores do volume corpuscular médio, da amplitude de distribuição de eritrócitos, as contagens de leucócitos, neutrófilos, linfócitos, monócitos e eosinófilos, bem como o volume plaquetário médio variaram entre os dias de coleta. A administração do "cogumelo do sol" reduziu o OPG, não influenciou a contagem de eritrócitos e o valor do hematócrito, que estiveram dentro dos limites da normalidade, e aumentou significativamente as concentrações séricas de albumina. Palavras-chave: Agaricus blazei. Controle alternativo. Haemoncose. Ovinos. Perfil sanguíneo.

Background:Beef cattle is considered to be one of the most important economic activities, however, it presents problems in the production chain such as the occurrence of parasites that reduce the growth, performance, productivity and may cause mortalities occasionally. The chemical control is the most used alternative to reduce ectoparasites. Nevertheless, inappropriate management of insecticides has contributed to the selection of population resistant to the products available on the market. This paper aimed to evaluate the practices of management and the application of insecticides used to control horn flies in farms of dairy cattle in the North of the state of Minas Gerais. Materials, Methods & Results:It was visited 62 rural properties, which produce milk. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied in order to obtain information on the characteristics of the properties (location, size and type of the cattle), on the knowledge about the epidemiology of the horn flies, and on the practices adopted to the control of those parasites. The practices adopted include the moment of application of the insecticides, frequency of the cattle treatment, used products, method of application, number of animals treated, and choice and substitution criteria of insecticides. The data collected were tabulated in contingency tables, and they were analyzed using the chi-square test, considering a significance of 5%. The racial composition of the cattle in the farms was mainly mixed-race of unknown origin, representing 77% of the animals evaluated. In this research, it was reported a greater incidence of horn flies infestation on adult beef herd, and 23.6% of the producers reported occurrences of infestation in the whole herd, not differing by categories. The infestation peaks of the fly occurred from November to March. It was also found a greater frequency of pyrethroid use in the region (P < 0.001), where 43.1% of the producers used associations of pyrethroid or organophosphate to control the flies, high efficiency being reported. From the properties assessed, 92% presented inadequacy in the practices of control of horn flies, for instance, the lack of using cattle manure tank, the accumulation of open waste, the lack of rotation of insecticides, which can favor the selection of resistant flies. Discussion: In this paper, it was reported 77.19% of predominance of Haematobia irritans infestation from November to March mainly in animals with a higher percentage of European or mixed-race genetics. Such results corroborate with the literature, because it was verified the influence of race and hair color in the level of infestation in the animals, although, in the same race, each individual presents different susceptibilities. Taurine beef cattle are more susceptible to infestation by horn flies than zebu cattle. Thus, the lower the proportion of zebu cattle genetics in the herd, the greater the infestation. Taurine beef cattle are more infested because shows a greater number of sebaceous glands and greater concentration of testoster...

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 34(8):785-790, agosto 2014 785 RESUMO.-Objetivou-se avaliar o perfil sanguíneo e o tamanho absoluto e relativo dos órgãos internos de bezerros em sistema de aleitamento convencional ou fracionado. Foram utilizadas 10 fêmeas, com peso corporal inicial médio de 37,53 kg (±2,36) e 12 machos com peso corporal médio de 81,6 kg (±8,6), ambos da raça Holandesa. O aleitamento convencional constituiu-se de quatro litros de leite fornecidos diariamente durante 54 dias de avaliação e o fracionado, de seis litros do 6º ao 25º dias de idade, quatro litros do 26º ao 45º dias de idade e dois litros do 46º ao 59º dias de idade, além de concentrado, feno de Cynodon sp., água e suplemento mineral fornecidos ad libitum. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco repetições para os parâmetros sanguíneos e seis repetições para o desenvolvimento dos órgãos internos. The objective was to evaluate the blood profile together with the relative and absolute size of the internal organs of calves in conventional or fractionated feeding system. Ten females were used, with an average initial body weight of 37.53 kg (±2.36), and 12 males with a mean body weight of 81.6 kg (±8.6), both Holstein breed. The conventional feeding consisted of four liter milk supplied daily for 54 days of evaluation, and fractioned six liter milk was given from 6 to 25 days of age, four liter from 26 to 45 days of ager, and two liter from 46 to 59 days of age. Cynodon sp. hay, water and mineral supplement was provided ad libitum. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates for blood parameters and six replicates for the development of internal organs. Blood collections were performed in females on days seven, 21, 28, 42, 49 and 56 of age. For the evaluation of internal organs males were slaughtered at two months of age, after 16 hours of fasting. No differences occurred in the values of total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, urea, cholesterol and β-hydroxybutyrate in ages evaluated (p>0.05). However, for the concentration of glucose no interaction was found between lactation systems and periods evaluated. It can be noted that at 21 days of age the concentration was higher in calves kept in the fractionated system, when compared with animals of the conventional group. The feeding system did not affect the final body weight, the empty body weight or the weight of the internal organs, except for the heart, demonstrating that the fractional feeding system does not alter the assessment of the internal organs.

Compounds isolated from Agaricus blazei Murill represent a group of promising natural immunomodulators for use in the treatment of neoplasms. We have evaluated the serum biochemical profile of healthy and Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice treated with different extracts of A. blazei. Total, supernatant, and polysaccharide extracts of A. blazei were obtained from suspensions (at acidic or neutral pH) kept in a water bath at 60 °C or in an ultrasonic bath at 37 °C. After oral administering the extracts to mice for 21 days, blood samples were collected for determination of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), urea, total protein, albumin, globulins, and alpha-, beta-and gamma-globulin fractions. The presence of the tumor led to a significant increase in serum CK and AST activities and in the concentrations of total globulin and the gamma-globulin fraction, and to a decrease in the albumin and alpha2-globulin levels. The polysaccharide extracts of A. blazei reduced the serum AST and ALT activities, probably due to a hepatoprotective effect. In addition, polysaccharide and supernatant extracts inhibited the tumor-induced increase in gamma-globulin levels. Thus, the supernatant and polysaccharide fractions of the extract of A. blazei have potential for use in complementary antineoplastic treatments. Key words: Agaricaceae. Agaricales. Sun mushroom. Extracts. Polysaccharides. Antitumor. saudáveis ou portadores do tumor de Ehrlich tratados com diferentes extratos de A. blazei. Em pH ácido ou neutro e sob temperatura de extração de 60 ºC em banho-maria ou 37 ºC em banho ultrassônico foram obtidos extratos totais, de sobrenadante e de polissacarídeos de A. blazei. Após administração oral dos tratamentos para camundongos por 21 dias foram realizadas coletas de sangue e determinadas as atividades de aspartato aminotransferase (AST), alanina aminotransferase (ALT), creatina quinase (CK) e as concentrações de ureia, proteína total, albumina, globulinas e frações alfa, beta e gamaglobulina. A presença do tumor de Ehrlich foi responsável por aumento significativo nas atividades séricas de AST e CK e das concentrações de globulinas totais e da fração gama-globulina, além de redução dos níveis de albumina e das alfa2-globulinas. Os extratos de polissacarídeos de A. blazei reduziram as atividades séricas de AST e ALT, provavelmente devido a um efeito hepatoprotetor. Além disto, extratos de polissacarídeos e sobrenadante inibiram o aumento das gama-globulinas induzido pelo tumor. Assim, as frações de polissacarídeos e sobrenadante do extrato de A. blazei apresentam bom potencial para uso complementar ao tratamento antineoplásico. Resumo

Background: Caryocar brasiliense Cambess (Caryocaraceae) is an arboreal plant native of Brasilian Cerrado and its fruit is an important source of food and income for the human population of this region. In addition to using as food, different parts of this tree have great medicinal potential as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antihelmintic. However, the active metabolites those are likely to confer these pharmacological properties healing may also be toxic dependent upon the dose and route of administration. In this quest, the aim of this study was to assess the acute toxicity of aqueous extracts of fruit peels and leaves of C. brasiliense in mice of both genders.Materials, Methods & Results: The aqueous extracts were obtained by decoction, diluted in water and filtered through membrane. The toxicity of extract of fruit peels (62.5 at 500 mg/kg of body weight (BW) and leaf extract (18.75 mg/kg bw) were evaluated in males and  females mice (Mus musculus) Swiss by intraperitoneal route. For 2 control groups were administered injection water. The clinical signs and deaths were recorded up to 14 days after administration. The lethal doses for 10 (LD10) or 50 (LD50) % of population were estimated with Probit regression analysis. The Chi-square test was used to analyze differences of mortality frequencies between males and females. The groups treated with the two lower doses of both extracts completely abolished the clinical alteration between two and four hours after inoculation. The comportment of control group’s animals was normalized immediately after administration of injection water. The higher dose administered in both experiments were lethal for all animals, but the doses 250 mg/kg BW of fruit peels extract and 150 mg/kg  of BW of leaves extract caused mortality of 100% just in males.  However, in both experiments there were no significant differences between the mortality frequency for groups of male and female, as well the comportment of these animals when these doses were administered. Dose-dependent response was observed to mortality. The LD10 corresponded to 89.6 mg/kg BW and LD50 was 149.8 mg/kg BW for fruit peel extract. For the leaf extract , LD10 and LD50 were 33.35 and 67.01 mg/kg BW, respectively.Discussion: Aqueous extracts of the fruit peels and leaves of C. brasiliense were classified as very toxic since the LD50 ranged from 50 to 500 mg / kg BW. For both extracts, similar behavioral changes were observed. Among the secondary metabolites present in fruit peel and leaves, saponins and tannins can promote nervous symptoms. Although there are no records in the literature about animals and human orally intoxicated with any part of C. brasiliense, the development of specific studies to determine its toxicity is relevant, considering the social and ecological importance of this plant.