The present study compared the effects of diets formulated with fibers of different fermentability and protein sources of animal or vegetable origins on old and adult dogs. The experiment was organized in a 3 (diets) × 2 (ages) factorial arrangement, totaling 6 treatments. Thirty-six Beagle dogs were used (18 old dogs [10.2 ± 1.0 yr] and 18 young adult dogs [2.6 ± 0.9 yr]), with 6 dogs per treatment. Three diets with similar compositions were used: a nonfermentable insoluble fiber source (sugarcane fiber) and chicken byproduct meal (nonfermentable fiber [NFF] diet), a fermentable fiber source (beet pulp) and chicken byproduct meal (fermentable fiber [FF] diet), and soybean meal as a protein and fiber source (soybean meal [SM] diet). Data were evaluated using the MIXED procedure and considering the effects and interactions of block, animal, diets, and age. Means were compared using Tukey's test ( < 0.05). Age × diet interactions were evaluated when < 0.1. Old dogs had a reduced coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of DM, which was explained by the age and diet interaction of CP and fat digestibility that was lower for old than for adult dogs fed the FF diet ( < 0.05). The SM diet obtained higher DM, OM, CP, and fiber digestibility compared with the NFF diet ( < 0.05). The feces of dogs fed the NFF diet had increased DM content ( < 0.05). The short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) did not change by age group and were higher for dogs fed the FF and SM diets compared with dogs fed the NFF diet ( < 0.05). An age and diet interaction was observed for lactate and was increased in the feces of old dogs compared with adult dogs fed the FF diet ( < 0.05). Fecal putrescine, cadaverine, and spermine were increased for old dogs compared with adult dogs ( < 0.05), and the spermidine fecal concentration was increased for dogs fed the SM diet regardless of age ( < 0.05). Old dogs had reduced peripheral T and B lymphocytes ( < 0.05). An age and diet interaction was observed for fecal IgA ( < 0.001). Adult dogs fed the SM diet had increased IgA in feces compared with animals fed the NFF and FF diets ( < 0.05). However, for old dogs, both the FF and SM diets induced increased IgA compared with the NFF diet ( < 0.05). In conclusion, beet pulp may reduce digestibility and induce increased lactate in the feces of old dogs. The protein and oligosaccharides of soybean meal are digestible by dogs, induce the production of SCFA and spermidine, and increase fecal IgA. Old dogs had increased putrecine, cadaverine, and spermine fecal concentrations.

The present study compared the effects of diets formulated with fibers of different fermentability and protein sources of animal or vegetable origins on old and adult dogs. The experiment was organized in a 3 (diets) × 2 (ages) factorial arrangement, totaling 6 treatments. Thirty-six Beagle dogs were used (18 old dogs [10.2 ± 1.0 yr] and 18 young adult dogs [2.6 ± 0.9 yr]), with 6 dogs per treatment. Three diets with similar compositions were used: a nonfermentable insoluble fiber source (sugarcane fiber) and chicken byproduct meal (nonfermentable fiber [NFF] diet), a fermentable fiber source (beet pulp) and chicken byproduct meal (fermentable fiber [FF] diet), and soybean meal as a protein and fiber source (soybean meal [SM] diet). Data were evaluated using the MIXED procedure and considering the effects and interactions of block, animal, diets, and age. Means were compared using Tukey's test ( < 0.05). Age × diet interactions were evaluated when < 0.1. Old dogs had a reduced coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of DM, which was explained by the age and diet interaction of CP and fat digestibility that was lower for old than for adult dogs fed the FF diet ( < 0.05). The SM diet obtained higher DM, OM, CP, and fiber digestibility compared with the NFF diet ( < 0.05). The feces of dogs fed the NFF diet had increased DM content ( < 0.05). The short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) did not change by age group and were higher for dogs fed the FF and SM diets compared with dogs fed the NFF diet ( < 0.05). An age and diet interaction was observed for lactate and was increased in the feces of old dogs compared with adult dogs fed the FF diet ( < 0.05). Fecal putrescine, cadaverine, and spermine were increased for old dogs compared with adult dogs ( < 0.05), and the spermidine fecal concentration was increased for dogs fed the SM diet regardless of age ( < 0.05). Old dogs had reduced peripheral T and B lymphocytes ( < 0.05). An age and diet interaction was observed for fecal IgA ( < 0.001). Adult dogs fed the SM diet had increased IgA in feces compared with animals fed the NFF and FF diets ( < 0.05). However, for old dogs, both the FF and SM diets induced increased IgA compared with the NFF diet ( < 0.05). In conclusion, beet pulp may reduce digestibility and induce increased lactate in the feces of old dogs. The protein and oligosaccharides of soybean meal are digestible by dogs, induce the production of SCFA and spermidine, and increase fecal IgA. Old dogs had increased putrecine, cadaverine, and spermine fecal concentrations.

Many molluscs may be infected with angiostrongylid larvae. Following the histopathological diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in a grape farmer from southern Brazil, molluscs in the area were investigated. During a nocturnal search, 245 specimens of slugs were collected and identified as the invasive Chinese slug Meghimatium pictum. Angiostrongylus costaricensis worms were recovered from mice that were experimentally infected with larvae obtained from 11 (4.5%) of the molluscs. This study presents the first report of M. pictum being identified as an intermediate host for A. costaricensis. Most of the slugs were collected from grape plants, which suggests that transmission may be associated with grape consumption.

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Ingredients of animal origin are important for the animal feed industry because they contain significant amounts of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. However, the use of these raw materials is a problem due to pathogenic bacterial contamination, especially Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella spp. One way to control contamination is the addition of chemical products during ingredient production. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate a formaldehyde and organic acid-based product (SALMEX ® ) for two periods of action after experimental challenge with C. perfringens in two poultry feed ingredients. Microbiological analyses to enumerate the pathogen were conducted using colony-forming units per mL (CFU/mL) after incubation on SPS agar at 37°C for 48 h in anaerobic jars using the GasPak ® system. The results show that there were significant differences among the dosage treatments and ingredients. With respect to the action time of the product, there were no significant differences observed between 24 h and 5 days, but there was a reduction in bacterial count with doses above 3 kg/t. This reduction was greater in the five-day SALMEX ® treatment when compared to the 24-hour period. Thus, we can conclude that a higher product dose and a longer incubation time leads to more efficient product action.

RESUMOO aumento da produção e do consumo per capita de carne de frango ocorreu devido a modernização neste setor. Tal aumento gerou preocupação com a transmissão de patógenos para o ser humano, porém com uma higienização adequada essa transmissão pode ser controlada. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a higiene pré-operacional e operacional das esteiras condutoras de cortes de frangos através da quantificação de Clostridium spp. e Enterobactérias. As análises estatísticas da contagem de Clostridium spp. mostraram uma diferença entre os frigoríficos visitados e entre os tipos de limpeza realizados nas esteiras (p<0,0001). Já as análises estatísticas para a contagem de Enterobactérias mostraram diferenças significativas somente entre os frigoríficos visitados (p<0,0001), não havendo diferença entre os tipos de limpeza das esteiras (p=0,4057). Os resultados demonstraram que houve uma variação na contagem bacteriana entre os frigoríficos e que a higienização das esteiras foram deficientes pois apresentaram contagens superiores aos valores recomendado pelas organizações internacionais. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Aves. Bactérias patogênicas. Frigoríficos. Microbiologia. SUMMARYThe increase in production and consumption of chicken meat has occurred due to modernization in this area. Such increase caused the concern about the transmission of pathogens to humans; however, with proper hygiene this transmission can be controlled. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the pre-operational and operational hygiene in sanitary conveyors belts of chicken cuts in slaughterhouses through Clostridium spp. and Enterobacteria quantification. Statistical data analysis for Clostridium spp. colony count showed a difference between the studied slaughterhouses and the types of cleaning performed on sanitary conveyors belts (p<0,0001). Already statistical analysis for Enterobacteriaceae colony count showed significant differences only between the visited slaughterhouses (p<0,0001), with no difference between the types of conveyors belts cleaning (p=0,4057). The results showed that there was a variation in bacterial count among the slaughterhouses and the hygiene process in sanitary conveyors belts were deficient because they presented counts higher than the values recommended by the international organizations.

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