Resumo: Esse estudo objetivou avaliar a composição química e potencial terapêutico do extrato hidroalcóolico de geoprópolis produzidas por abelhas Plebeia aff. flavocincta no semiárido do Rio Grande do Norte. Oito amostras (A-H) foram submetidas a quantificação dos teores de fenóis e flavonoides totais e avaliação da atividade antioxidante através do método DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazilo). Além disso, foram investigadas as atividades antibacteriana, através do método de difusão em ágar, e a cicatrizante, através da indução de feridas cirúrgicas experimentais em Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769, linhagem Wistar, tratados com creme à base de geoprópolis. Duas amostras (F e G) se destacaram por apresentar altos valores de fenóis e flavonoides totais. A capacidade antioxidante acima de 90% foi observada em cinco amostras. Os extratos foram considerados eficazes no que se refere a atividade antibacteriana, pois das oito amostras, cinco promoveram a formação de halos de inibição ≥9mm para todas as cepas testadas. Duas amostras (D e G) se destacaram em relação as demais por apresentar excelentes resultados, uma vez que, promoveram a formação de halos de inibição para as bactérias Staphylococcus epidermidis e Escherichia coli, superiores estatisticamente aos valores dos antibióticos controles, quando na concentração de 100%. As amostras A e G promoveram, respectivamente, a formação de halos de inibição, que não diferiram significativamente dos halos produzidos pelos antibióticos controles em todas as concentrações testadas para E. coli e Staphylococcus aureus. A análise do processo de cicatrização sob os pontos de vista clínico, macroscópico e histológico permitiu concluir, que o uso do creme à base de geoprópolis apresentou influência positiva na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas experimentais, por promover reação inflamatória menos intensa e fechamento mais rápido das feridas em relação ao grupo controle.

Geopropolis collected by stingless bees is a product widely used in the semiarid Northeast region of Brazil. The wound healing activity, palynological analysis, free-radical scavenging activities, and the chemical composition of the hydroalcoholic extract of six samples from jandaíra geopropolis were determined. The wound healing activity was evaluated using 10% geopropolis hydroalcoholic extract added to the formulation incorporated into a base of Lannette cream, and the chemical composition of six samples was determinate by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and quadrupole time-offlight mass spectrometry. The detected compounds in the five samples (1-5) were classified as flavonoid aglycones (flavonols, flavanonols, flavonones, flavones, and chalcones). In sample 6, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and hydrolysable tannins were identified. Analysis of the pollen types in geopropolis showed that pollen from Leguminosae was predominant, indicating the visit of bees in the species of this family. This sample (6), with the highest content of phenolic compounds and high freescavenging activity, was tested to evaluate the wound healing potential. The topical application of geopropolis (10%) increased the wound healing rate and re-epithelialization of wounds in rats. Our data indicate that the mixture of phenolic components in the geopropolis may contribute to the activities of free-radical scavenging and wound healing.

The present work aimed to investigate the presence of T. vivax DNA in the semen of experimentally infected goats. Twelve male goats native to the Brazilian Northeast, adults, were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: the infected group consisting of six goats infected intravenously with 0.5 mL of blood containing approximately 1.25 × 10 trypomastigotes of T. vivax, and a control group composed of six uninfected goats. After the infection, clinical examinations aiming to evaluate rectal temperature, parasitemia and hematocrit were performed. Semen samples were collected from goats by electroejaculation on the 7th, 14th and 21st days post-infection (dpi). The recombinant DNA-encoding gene encoding the L-like-specific gene for T. vivax. The infection was characterized by increased rectal temperature, high parasitemia and significant reduction of hematocrit values. Results for T. vivax DNA detection using TviCatL-PCR were positive in all semen samples from the infected group collected on 7th, 14th and 21st dpi. The presence of T. vivax DNA in 7th dpi suggests the early invasion of the parasite in the reproductive organs. Also, the finding of T. vivax DNA in all periods analyzed may suggest the continued elimination of the parasite in the semen, which may increase the chances of sexual transmission. Thus, T. vivax DNA is recorded for the first time in the semen of infected goats. Thus, these data are of great importance, since the detection of the T. vivax genetic material in the semen may point to the possibility that the parasite may be transmitted through the sexual pathway.

O presente estudo promoveu o levantamento epidemiológico dos acidentes ofídicos ocorridos no município de Mossoró no período de 2004 a 2010, notificados pelo Sistema de Informações de Agravos e Notificação (SINAN). Os acidentes foram analisados nos seguintes aspectos: época do ano com maior acometimento, zona de ocorrência, faixa etária, sexo, local da agressão, tempo decorrido do acidente até o atendimento, sintomatologia apresentada, classificação e evolução dos casos e utilização de soroterapia. Dos 244 acidentes por animais peçonhentos notificados neste período, 58,6% correspondem a agressões por serpentes dos gêneros: Bothrops (44,8%), Crotalus (9,8%) e Micrurus (2,8%). O sexo masculino foi o mais acometido (65,7%), com predomínio da faixa etária de 20 a 49 anos (57,3%), sendo os membros inferiores a região anatômica mais afetada (39,9%). O tempo decorrido entre a picada e o atendimento foi menor que três horas (66,4%), sendo a maioria dos casos considerados leves (58,7%), os quais evoluíram para a cura (86,0%). Percebe-se tendência de aumento no registro de casos ao longo dos anos, porém muitas pessoas não procuram ajuda por não terem o conhecimento adequado, o que resulta em subnotificações. DESCRITORES: Serpentes; ofidismo; soroterapia.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the honey bee Apis mellifera ethanolic extract of the red propolis, obtained in four municipalities of the Rio Grande do Norte semi-arid region, through an in vitro evaluation of the antineoplastic potential in human hepatic carcinoma (HepG2) and normal cell lines (L929), and from the comet assay in hepatic cell lines (ZF-L hepatocytes) to evaluate the genoprotective potential of the extract. The hepatoprotective effect was also evaluated in vivo by the induction of chronic experimental hepatic lesions in rodents (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769), Wistar line, by intraperitoneal administration of thioacetamide (TAA) at the dose of 0.2g/kg. The animals were distributed in the following experimental groups: G1 (control), G2 (treated with 500mg/kg ethanolic extract of propolis), G3 (treated with 500mg/kg of ethanolic extract and TAA) and G4 (treated with TAA). All rats were submitted to serum biochemical, macroscopic, histological and stereological biochemical exams of the liver. It was verified the genoprotective effect of red propolis since the mean damages promoted to DNA in cells tested with the extract were significantly lower than the mean of the positive control damage (hydrogen peroxide). The red propolis extract did not present cytotoxic activity to the tumor cells of human liver cancer, as well as to normal ones. The absence of cytotoxicity in normal cells may indicate safety in the use of the propolis extract. The results of the serum biochemical evaluation showed that the serum levels of the aminotransferase enzymes (AST) did not differ significantly between G1, G2 and G3 when compared to each other. G4 showed significant increase in levels compared to the other groups, indicating that the administration of the extract did not cause liver toxicity, as well as exerted hepatoprotective effect against the hepatic damage induced by TAA. The G3 and G4 animals developed cirrhosis, but in G3 the livers were characterized by the presence of small regenerative nodules and level with the surface of the organ, whereas in G4 the livers showed large regenerative nodules. The livers of the G1 and G2 animals presented normal histological appearance, whereas the livers of the G3 animals showed regenerative nodules surrounded by thin septa of connective tissue, and in G4 the regenerative nodules were surrounded by thick septa fibrous connective tissue. The analysis of the hepatic tissues by means of stereology showed that there was no statistical difference between the percentage of hepatocytes, sinusoids, and collagens in G1 and G2. In G3 the percentage of hepatocytes, sinusoids, and collagen did not differ significantly from the other groups. It was concluded that the ethanolic extract of the red propolis exerted a hepatoprotective effect, because it promoted in vitro reduction of the damage to the DNA of liver cells, antineoplastic activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) and did not exert cytotoxic effect in normal cells or was able to reduce liver enzyme activity and the severity of cirrhosis induced by TAA in vivo.

Despite its known resistance, the sheep are subject to endoparasitoses, which are the main limiting factor for its production worldwide, especially in tropical regions. This study aims to evaluate the changes in parasitic load, serum biochemical and hematological panel, and Famacha scores of mixed-bred sheep naturally infected with nematodes and treated with ivermectin and closantel. The study was conducted at July 2010, in a farm in the municipality of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. We selected 41 animals were divided into three groups: group I-control (without treatment), group II-treated with ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), and Group III-treated with closantel (5mg/kg). Stool samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 after treatment for quantitative analysis (EPG) and qualitative analysis (stool culture), we used samples from days 0, 14 and 21. The ϐirst blood sample was given on day 0, the second and third 24 and 72 hours after the ϐirst, respectively the fourth and ϐifth 7 and 14 days after the ϐirst of which analyzed the blood count, serum total protein, albumin and globulins, and albumin/globulins ratio. Famacha scores were determined the degree of each animal at all times of sampling. Closantel administration was effective in the treatment of helminthiasis, especially Haemonchus contortus in evaluated sheep. On the other hand, there was parasite resistance to ivermectin. Famacha data showed negative correlation with packed cell volume, leukocytes, hemoglobin, albumin, total protein, globulin and albumin/globulin ratio. The packed cell volume showed a strong and positive correlation with hemoglobin, albumin and total protein. Treatment with ivermectin and closantel were not responsible for considerable changes in hematological and biochemical parameters evaluated.

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This study aimed to identify the presence of Trypanosoma vivax DNA in the colostrum of infected goats and to explore the possibility of transmission for neonates fed using colostrum collected from infected goats. We used twelve goats in the final third of gestation with an age of approximately 24 months. Six goats were inoculated intravenously with 0.5mL of blood containing approximately 1.25x105 trypomastigotes of T. vivax, and six remained uninfected. The presence of T. vivax in colostrum was evaluated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The possibility of T. vivax transmission by colostrum was assessed by feeding six neonates born of serologically negative goats using colostrum from infected goats. Peripheral blood from neonates was collected daily for thirty days to assess the T. vivax presence through the examination of Giemsa-stained smears of leukocyte layers with the buffy coat technique (BCT) and by PCR. The results of a direct examination of colostrum were negative, but PCR confirmed the presence of T. vivax DNA in all infected goats. Additionally, lactogenic transmission by colostrum was not demonstrated once both BCT and PCR of neonate peripheral blood were negative.