RESUMO -A temperatura retal (TR), freqüência respiratória (FR) e temperatura da superfície corporal (TS) foram avaliadas em vacas ½, ¾ e 7 / 8 Holandês-Zebu (HZ) durante dois verões e dois invernos nos períodos da manhã e da tarde no Município de Coronel Pacheco -MG, Brasil. O objetivo nesta pesquisa foi estimar níveis críticos superiores do índice de temperatura e umidade (ITU) para os grupos genéticos pesquisados. As medidas para análise de correlação e de regressão múltipla entre as variáveis foram obtidas de um grupo de 15 vacas em lactação por estação estudada, sendo cinco de cada um dos grupos genéticos ½, ¾ e 7 / 8 HZ. Os resultados obtidos na análise de correlação evidenciaram que a freqüência respiratória (FR) é um indicador de estresse térmico melhor que a temperatura retal (TR ABSTRACT -The objective of this trial was to estimate the upper critical levels of the temperature-humidity index (TUI) measuring morning and afternoon rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RF), and hair coat surface temperature (ST) of ½, ¾ and 7/8Holstein-Zebu (HZ) dairy cows during two consecutive years (two summers and two winters) in Coronel Pacheco, MG, Brazil. Correlation and multiple analysis were determined using data obtained from 15 dairy crossbreed cows/season; five from each genetic group (GG). Results showed that RF was more reliable than RT as an indicator of heat stress based on both correlation and regression analysis. Estimated upper critical values of the TUI were 80, 77, and 75 using RT and 79, 77, and 76 using RF for ½HZ, ¾HZ, and 7/8HZ dairy cows, respectively. When ST was used the estimated upper critical values of the TUI were very similar among the three GG averaging 79. The ½HZ dairy cows were more heat tolerant than those in the 7/8HZ GG while the ¾HZ were intermediate. Key Words: cattle, physiology, confort index IntroduçãoAproximadamente dois terços do território brasileiro estão situados na faixa tropical do planeta, onde predominam temperaturas elevadas, como conseqüência da grande intensidade da radiação solar incidente. Em torno de 64% dos bovinos no mundo são criados nessa região. Não obstante, a produtividade é menor que aquela das regiões temperadas, ocorrendo lentas taxas de crescimento e baixa produção de leite (Baccari Jr., 1990). Entre as causas desse menor rendimento produtivo, inclui-se o baixo valor nutritivo das pastagens, as doenças e parasitas e o estresse por calor (Tizikara, 1985).Esse tipo de estresse provoca redução na produção de leite e na eficiência reprodutiva dos bovinos. Na zona de termoneutralidade, a homeotermia é mantida pelos processos de produção e perda de calor, como radiação, convecção, condução e evaporação. A zona termoneutra para bovinos leiteiros situa-se entre 5 e 25°C (Youlsef, 1985;Roenfeldt, 1998) e depende da idade, da espécie, da raça, do consumo alimentar, da aclimatização, do nível de produção, do isolamento externo (pelame) do animal, entre outros. Ela é limitada pelas temperaturas críti-cas superior e inferior e seu limite superior varia entre 24 ...

Lesions observed in chronic chagasic cardiopathy frequently produce electrocardiographic alterations and affect cardiac function. Through a computerized morphometrical analysis we quantified the areas occupied by cardiac muscle, connective and adipose tissues in the right atrium of dogs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. All of the infected dogs showed chronic myocarditis with variable reduction levels of cardiac muscle, fibrosis and adipose tissue replacement. In the atrial myocardium of dogs infected with Be78 and Be62 cardiac muscle represented 34 and 50%, fibrosis 28 and 32% and adipose tissue 38 and 18%, respectively. The fibrosis observed was both diffuse and focal and mostly intrafascicular, either partially or completely interrupting the path of muscle bundles. Such histological alterations probably contributed to the appearance of electrocardiographic disturbances verified in 10 out 11 dogs which are also common in human chronic chagasic cardiopathy. Fibrosis was the most important microscopic occurrence found since it produces rearrangements of collagen fibers in relation to myocardiocytes which causes changes in anatomical physiognomy and mechanical behavior of the myocardium. These abnormalities can contribute to the appearance of cardiac malfunction, arrythmias and congestive cardiac insufficiency as observed in two of the analyzed dogs. Strain Be78 caused destruction of atrial cardiac muscle higher than that induced by strain Be62.

Estimou-se a degradabilidade in situ de 10 forrageiras tropicais em três idades ao corte (21, 42 e 63 dias) e em três tempos de incubação (6, 24 e 96h). As forrageiras utilizadas foram: Andropogon gayanus cv. Planaltina, Brachiaria brizantha (acessos 3401, 3413 e 3451 CPAC), Cenchrus ciliaris (acessos 79119, 79146, 79148, 80199 e 81302 CPATSA) e Panicum maximum (3616 CPAC). Os acessos de B. brizantha, P. maximum e A. gayanus apresentaram os maiores valores de degradabilidade da matéria seca e os de C. ciliaris os valores mais baixos. Todas as forrageiras apresentaram queda no desaparecimento da matéria seca com o avanço da idade. Os acessos de Brachiaria brizantha 3413 e 3451 apresentaram as maiores degradabilidades efetivas.

The present study suggests that genetic factors are associated with susceptibility to develop symptomatic dental abscesses.

Forage degradability data from pooled forage samples were compared to those obtained from field samples using an in situ technique. Four fistulated sheep were employed as part of a Split Plot design within a 4×2 factorial (four times of incubation as plots and two forages as subplots) over a 4×4 Latin Square. The field site sample technique led to more realistic confidence limits for all parameters when modelling forage degradation and suggested the possibility of working with a single fistulated ruminant. Such a technique meets animal welfare requirements, saves experimental work and may stimulate the use of the in situ technique with simpler designs.

Entre as variáveis usuais em estudos de mortalidade, a causa de morte vem se destacando como uma das mais importantes, especialmente, quando analisada sob as óticas do sexo e idade. Por outro lado, uma das grandes limitações das estatísticas oficiais de mortalidade é a sua restrição à tabulação de uma só causa -a causa básica de morte -como é então denominada. Esse procedimento implica em grande perda de informações especialmente quando muitos diagnósticos são mencionados no atestado de óbito. Chamblee & Evans 6 ressaltam que, embora a seleção da causa básica de morte seja feita através de regras uniformes e padronizadas, são muitas vezes arbitrárias e nem sempre levam a uma seleção satisfatória. Assim, muitas doenças e lesões mencionadas na declaração de óbito não podem ser selecionadas como causa básica por determinismo das regras de seleção e, por isso, não aparecem nas

A major characteristic of Chagas' disease is a myocarditis constituted primarily of mononuclear cells, both during the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Using monoclonal antibodies and image analyses we have quantified canine CD8(+) T cells (caCD8(+) T cells), canine CD4(+) T cells (caCD4(+) T cells) and neutrophils in canine chagasic myocardiopathy induced by two strains isolated from the first human clinical case of Chagas' disease. We also evaluated the influence of tissue parasitism in the genesis of chronic myocarditis through immunohistochemistry. As in human myocarditis, there was a predominance of T lymphocytes in the inflammatory infiltrate in all animals studied. In the dogs inoculated with strain Berenice 78 (Be78) and necropsied during the acute phase of infection, we found 58% caCD8(+) and 42% caCD4(+) T cells. In chronically infected animals, 53% of T cells were represented by caCD8(+) and 47% were caCD4(+) T cells. Since normal canine lymphoid organs are constituted by 70-80% caCD4(+) T cells and 20-30% caCD8(+) T cells our results indicate a higher proliferation of caCD8(+) T cells in dogs inoculated with the Be78 strain. In chronic myocarditis induced by the Berenice 62 (Be62) strain, caCD8(+) cells constituted 33% of the T cells and 67% were caCD4(+) T cells, a proportion similar to that found in normal canine lymphoid organs. Since the Be78 strain induces greater loss of myocardiocytes than strain Be62, we believe that the caCD8(+) T cells, among other factors, can be important in the genesis of these lesions. Amastigote nests and immunohistochemically labelled Trypanosoma cruzi antigen were not found in dogs necropsied during the chronic phase. The absence of the parasite in the myocardium suggests the involvement of other mechanisms in the genesis of the inflammatory process.

The objective of this study was to assess the agronomic, morphogenic and structural characteristics of tropical forage grasses during the establishment phase and throughout the second year in northeast Brazil. The treatments included 9 grasses: Brachiaria humidicola (koronivia grass), Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato, Brachiaria brizantha cvv. Piatã, Xaraés and Marandu, Brachiaria ruziziensis (ruzi grass), Brachiaria decumbens (signal grass), Panicum hybrid cv. Massai and Andropogon gayanus (gamba grass). The grasses were planted in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The following parameters were measured: total forage production, leaf:stem ratio, tiller population density, number of dead tillers, leaf emergence rate, phyllochron, leaf elongation rate, stem elongation rate, rate of leaf senescence, final length of leaf blade and life-span of leaves. In the establishment year, cv. Mulato produced the highest forage yields, followed by cvv. Xaraés and Massai, with gamba grass and koronivia grass worst. In the second year, cvv. Mulato, Xaraés and Marandu, and gamba grass showed highest forage production, while cvv. Massai and Piatã produced the least. All grasses showed a marked drop in production during the dry season. Cultivar Massai consistently had the highest leaf:stem ratio. The morphogenic and structural characteristics differed according to cultivar and season of the year. In general, leaf emergence rate, leaf elongation rate, stem elongation rate, rate of leaf senescence, final length of the leaf blade, number of live leaves per tiller and density of living tillers were higher in the rainy season, while the phyllochron and life-span of leaves were higher in the dry season. The results of this research highlight the potential of the Brachiaria cultivars Mulato and Xaraés, gamba grass and Panicum cv. Massai in subhumid Maranhão, northeast Brazil. ResumenEl estudio se realizó en el nordeste de Brasil con el objetivo de evaluar las características agronómicas, morfogénicas y estructurales de 9 gramíneas forrajeras tropicales durante la fase de establecimiento y el primer año de producción. Los tratamientos incluyeron: Brachiaria humidicola, Brachiaria híbrido cv. Mulato, Brachiaria brizantha cvs. Piatã, Xaraés y Marandu, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria decumbens, Panicum híbrido cv. Massai y Andropogon gayanus. Las gramíneas fueron sembradas en un diseño de bloques completos al azar con 4 repeticiones. Se midieron los parámetros siguientes: producción total de forraje; relación hoja:tallo; densidad populacional de rebrotes; número de rebrotes muertos; tasa de aparición foliar; filocrono; tasas de elongación de hojas y tallos; tasa de senescencia foliar; longitud final de la lámina foliar; y duración de la vida útil de las hojas. En el año de establecimiento, Brachiaria hí-brido cv. Mulato produjo los mayores rendimientos de forraje, seguido por B. brizantha cv. Xaraés y Panicum híbrido cv. Massai, siendo A. gayanus y B. humidicola los de peor desempeño. En el segundo año, los cvs. M...