Pesq. Vet. Bras. 33(6) ), at the ratio of 4g/kg of pelleted feed. The completely randomized design with two treatments was used: one control group and one group fed on the mentioned diet. The evaluation of survival rate, the intestinal microbiota analysis by microbiological culture, histomorphometrical analysis of intestinal mucosa and chemical analysis of carcass was performed. The results showed that tilapias from the treated group had higher relative survival rate (P<0.05) than the control group, higher number of colony--forming units (P<0.05) regarding intestinal colonization by B. cereus and B. subtilis, and higher rates of intestinal mucosal integrity (P<0.05), evaluated by histomorphometry. As for the latter, the group being fed on feed with probiotic additive was observed to have higher and larger villi, besides having a higher number of goblet cells than the control group. Concerning the carcass quality, the results showed that there was positive interference (P<0.05) of the probiotic on the treated group in comparison to the control group as in regard to levels of protein and ether extract. These results allow the inference that the supplementation with probiotic, as tested in this experiment, led to the intestinal colonization by beneficial bacteria and resulted in higher relative survival rate, decreased the mucosal desquamation and helped in the increase of the number of goblet cells.

ResumoDioctophyma renale (GOEZE, 1782) é um nematóide de ocorrência mundial que parasita os rins, podendo ser encontrado na cavidade peritoneal e outros órgãos do cão e outras espécies de animais domésticos e silvestres, inclusive o homem. O ciclo deste parasita é indireto, tendo como hospedeiro definitivo (HD) os mustelídeos e canídeos; como hospedeiro intermediário (HI), um anelídeo oligoqueta parasita de brânquias de peixe. No HD, o parasita adulto localiza-se geralmente no rim direito, assim os ovos podem ser eliminados com a urina. No meio ambiente os ovos requerem um período de incubação em meio aquático, necessitando ser ingeridos pelo HI para se tornarem infectantes (L3), que pode ser ingerido por um hospedeiro paratênico (peixe, caranguejo) ou pelo HD. O presente trabalho relata a ocorrência de D. renale em dois cães atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Escola Superior de Ciências Agrárias de Guarapuava, PR. Palavras-chave: Dioctophyma renale, cães, rim, zoonose AbstractDioctophyma renale (GOEZE, 1782) is a worldwide nematode that infects the kidneys and could be found in peritoneal cavity and other organs of dog and another species of domestic and wild animals, includes human species. The life cycle envolves one intermediate and often one paratenic host. In mustelids and in wild and domestic carnivores (DH), the adult parasite is usually located in the right kidney, like this the eggs can be eliminated with the urine. In the environment the eggs request an incubation period in half aquatic, needing to be ingested by IH (an annelid oligochaetes parasite of fish) for if they turn infectantes (L3), that it can be ingested by a host paratênico (fish, crab) or for HD. This paper reports the occurence of D. renale in two dogs assisted in the Veterinary Hospital in the Guarapuava city, PR.

No abstract

This study was performed to investigate the effect of food supplementation with chromium carbochelate on cortisolemia, glycemia and unspecific acute inflammation of pacus (Piaractus mesopotamicus) challenged by inactivated Aeromonas hydrophila in the swim bladder. 120 pacus (80.5 ± 11.3 g) were randomly distributed into 24 tanks (310 L, n = 5). After the adaptation period, the pacus were fed diets supplemented with 0 (control), 12, 18 and 36 mg of chromium carbochelate/kg of dry diet for 90 days (ad libitum). Fish fed diets containing 18 and 36 mg of Cr•kg −1 resulted in a reduction of cortisolemia and glycemia, and in an increase in the inflammatory response, seen through the greater accumulation of lymphocytes and thrombocytes. These results together suggest that food supplementation with chromium carbochelate, at the concentrations of 18 and 36 mg•kg −1 of feeds, brought homeostatic benefits to P. mesopotamicus. These benefits were translated, at least partially, as reductions in the consequences from inflammatory stress, with diminished cortisolemia and glycemia, which favored accumulation of lymphocytes and thrombocytes at the affected focus, as an increase in the immune response.

ResumoObjetivou-se determinar a prevalência da toxoplasmose em suínos abatidos em frigoríficos com inspeção sanitária do Estado do Paraná. Do total de 114 abatedouros foram selecionados aleatoriamente 13 com média diária de abate de 30 ou mais animais, de acordo com cada mesorregião paranaense. Coletou-se 424 amostras de sangue no período de outubro de 2002 a janeiro de 2003. Os soros foram submetidos à pesquisa de anticorpos anti-T. gondii (IgG) pela imunofluorescência indireta e 17 (4,00%) foram positivos, considerando títulos ≥ 64. De acordo com as categorias zootécnicas, seis das 29 matrizes avaliadas (20,69%) e 11 dos 395 animais de terminação (2,60%) foram positivos.Tal diferença foi estatisticamente significativa (p=0,0004) e pode estar relacionada ao maior tempo de exposição das matrizes aos fatores de risco associados à toxoplasmose. Comparando-se este estudo a outros previamente realizados no Estado do Paraná, observou-se uma tendência de decréscimo da prevalência da toxoplasmose no rebanho suíno, provavelmente devido às melhorias sanitárias adotadas nos últimos 15 anos. Palavras-chave: Toxoplasma gondii, suíno, prevalência, imunofluorescência AbstractThe aim of this study was to verify toxoplasmosis's prevalence in swine from slaughterhouses with inspection service in Paraná State. 13 of the 114 abattoirs were randomized in accordance with each State region and with the minimum daily abate of 30 animals. 424 swine blood samples were collected from October 2002 to January 2003. The Indirect Immunofluorescence Test (IFAT) was realized to detect Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgG) and 17 (4,00%) were positive, considering titers ≥ 64. According to the animals categories, six from 29 sows (20,69%) and 11 from 395 finisher pigs (2,60%) were positives. This difference was significant (p=0,0004) and could be related with the sow's period of exposition to toxoplasmosis risk factors. Comparing this research to previous ones in Paraná State, we could see a tendency of decrease in the toxoplasmosis prevalence in pig farms, maybe related to the swine industry improvements in the last 15 years.

No abstract

Understanding the functional mechanisms of the humoral and cellular immune responses among teleost broadens the possibilities for intervention and improvement of vaccination methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of the humoral immune response, hematological biochemical changes, and electrophoretic profile of proteins in Oreochromis niloticus, when submitted to antigen stimulation using sheep erythrocytes in a single dose and with booster doses. Seventy O. niloticus were distributed in two groups (n=35): one received a single dose and the other received two doses of antigen. Evaluations were made at the following predetermined times: zero (pre-immune, i.e., before inoculation with the first injection of sheep erythrocytes, negative control) and on 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after the first immunization to evaluate the hemogram, biochemistry, and electrophoresis of proteins and direct hemagglutination. Twenty-eight days after antigen inoculation, it was observed that there had been an increase in the serum antibody titer and fractions gamma globulins after second antigen stimulation. The results suggest that teleost fish have the capacity to produce antibodies from a single stimulation, and a second antibody production wave after second stimulation.

Objective. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of glyceryl guaiacolate ether (GGE) and compare the times of induction, recovery, hematological changes, total protein and glycaemia among anesthetics in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Materials and methods. A total of 60 tilapia distributed in 3 aquariums (N=20) were used, which formed the group benzocaine (100 mg/L), eugenol (50 mg/L) and guaiacol glyceryl ether (9.000 mg/L). After the induction of anesthesia fish blood samples were collected to determine the complete hemogram and glycemia. Then the animals were placed in aquariums with running water for assessing the anesthesia recovery. Results. It was verified that GGE showed longer induction and recovery times as well a significant increase (p<0.05) of glycemia, when compared with the other groups (p<0.05). The concentration of total protein did not differ between groups (p>0.05). An increase in the number of monocytes in the group treated with benzocaine (p <0.05) was observed in the analysis of the hematological parameters with no difference between groups for other variables. Conclusions. Eugenol and benzocaine allow rapid induction and recovery in Nile tilapia, without evidence of stress during handling and GGE showed high induction and recovery times, being inadequate for anesthetic use in Nile tilapia.