In order to characterize the expression of genes associated with immune response mechanisms to mastitis, we quantified the relative expression of the IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-g and TNF-a genes in milk cells of healthy cows and cows with clinical mastitis. Total RNA was extracted from milk cells of six Black and White Holstein (BW) cows and six Gyr cows, including three animals with and three without mastitis per breed. Gene expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. IL-10 gene expression was higher in the group of BW and Gyr cows with mastitis compared to animals free of infection from both breeds (p < 0.05). It was also higher in BW Holstein animals with clinical mastitis (p < 0.001), but it was not significant when Gyr cows with and without mastitis were compared (0.05 < p < 0.10). Among healthy cows, BW Holstein animals tended to present a higher expression of all genes studied, with a significant difference for the IL-2 and IFN-g genes (p < 0.001). For animals with mastitis no significant difference in gene expression was observed between the two breeds. These findings suggest that animals with mastitis develop a preferentially cell-mediated immune response. Further studies including larger samples are necessary to better characterize the gene expression profile in cows with mastitis.

Recebido em 13/4/2009 Mapping of quantitative trait loci mapping in chromosomes 5, 7 and 8 of swinesABSTRACT -The aim of this experiment was to map QTL in chromosomes 5, 7 and 8 and to associate them to carcass traits, carcass cuts, meat quality, performance and internal organs of swines. An F2 offspring with 614 animals was produced from the matting of two Brazilian naturalized Piau boars with 18 commercial females (Landrace × Large White × Pietrain). The population was genotyped for 14 microsatellite markers covering chromosomes 5, 7 and 8. After that, it was built the linkage map for each chromosome. Analysis of association were done using interval mapping by regression for QTL detection. For carcass and cuts of carcass traits, 20 QTL were mapped in the three chromosomes, whereas for traits of meat quality, only three QTL were found on chromosomes 7 and 8. Among them, significant QTL at 5% in the genome were found for midline lower backfat thickness above the last lumbar vertebrae on chromosome 5; and for total length of small intestine, abdominal fat weight and brightness on chromosome 8. For carcass length by the Brazilian method and carcass length by the American method, it was found significant QTL at 1% in the genome on chromosome 7.The results found in this work will facilitate future researches as fine mapping and identification of genes that control body composition and meat quality and that will be able to be incorporated in marker-assisted selection programs to accelerate genetic improvement in swine populations, in addition to help a better understanding of the physiology of traits in swine production.

 RESUMOA realização do presente estudo teve como objetivo mapear Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) de carcaça e qualidade de carne em uma população F2 de suínos desenvolvida pelo cruzamento de dois reprodutores da raça brasileira Piau com 18 fêmeas comerciais (Landrace x Large White x Pietrain). O mapa de ligação para essa população foi construído após a genotipagem de 684 animais para 35 marcadores microssatélites. Os dados foram analisados pelo mapeamento por intervalo usando-se sexo, lote e genótipo halotano como efeitos fixos e peso de carcaça ao abate, peso da carcaça direita e idade ao abate como covariáveis. Um total de 18 QTLs foi encontrado; os QTLs para maior espessura de toucinho na região da copa, na linha dorsolombar, e a perda por cozimento foram significativos em nível de 5% genômico. A característica espessura de toucinho foi essencialmente associada aos alelos da raça Piau, conhecido como porco tipo banha. As informações dos QTLs significativos encontrados servem para futuros estudos de mapeamento fino para identificação de genes a serem usados em conjunto com os métodos tradicionais de seleção, para melhorar a eficiência dos programas de melhoramento, assim como prover informação acerca da fisiologia envolvida no desenvolvimento das características quantitativas dos suínos.Palavras-chave: suínos, raça Piau, marcador molecular, microssátelites ABSTRACT The accomplishment of the present study had as objective to map Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) associated to carcass and quality traits in a F2 pig population developed by mating two Brazilian Piau breed sires with 18 dams from a commercial line (Landrace × Large White × Pietrain

parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos da água de 10 bebedouros utilizados para consumo em escolas públicas na cidade de Timon -MA a fim de verificar se as mesmas estão de acordo com os padrões de potabilidade estabelecidos pela legislação vigente. A água usada para fins de consumo que apresentam contaminações por microorganismos ou apresentam alterações nos padrões de qualidade fora do estabelecido pela legislação quando usada em excesso podem ser prejudiciais á saúde. As 10 escolas foram escolhidas aleatoriamente e as amostras coletadas em duas etapas das torneiras dos bebedouros, no horário da manhã, no qual foram recolhidas 10 amostras no total com interval de 15 dias. Os parâmetros analisados foram pH, condutividade elétrica, dureza total, cloretos, cloro residual livre e análise microbiológica. Os resultados das amostras analisadas pH, condutividade elétrica, dureza total e cloreto, apontaram que todas as águas possuem composição química dentro dos limites estabelecidos pela Portaria 2914 do Ministério da Saúde, exceto para concentrações de cloro residual livre em que 90% das amostras apresentaram teor de cloro residual fora dos padrões da legislação e quanto à análise microbiológica 30% das amostras apresentaram coliformes totais. A ausência de higienização e monitoramento mais eficaz nestes estabelecimentos pode ter contribuído para a distribuição da água contaminada aos consumidores. Palavras-chave: coliformes, condutividade, pHPhysicochemical and microbiological analysis of the water used for drinking fountains in public schools of the city of Timon-MA ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to analyze the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of water from 10 drinkers used for consumption in public schools in the city of Timon -MA to verify if they are in accordance with the standards of potability established by the current legislation. Water used for consumer purposes that is contaminated by microorganisms or exhibits changes in quality standards that are not established by legislation when used in excess may be harmful to health. The 10 schools were randomly selected and the samples were collected in two stages of drinking taps in the morning, in which 10 samples were collected in total with a 15 days interval. The

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