Gabriela Rocha Santos

Formaldehyde-based disinfectants, although widely used for hatching egg sanitation and pathogen control in poultry production, pose serious occupational health risks and face increasing consumer opposition, driving the search for eco-friendly alternatives. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of Gallesia integrifolia (Phytolaccaceae) fruit essential oil, known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, as a natural biocide for eggshell disinfection. For the experiment, 192 eggs were selected from the nests of two breeder houses located in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná. The selected eggs were divided into control and treatment groups and identified using sequential numbers in groups of four eggs. Eggs in the control group were disinfected by spraying them with an aqueous solution containing 2% polysorbate at a rate of 2 mL per egg. Eggs in the treatment group were disinfected with an aqueous solution containing 2% polysorbate and G. integrifolia essential oil at a concentration of 0.44 mg mL-1. The efficacy of G. integrifolia essential oil was assessed by counting aerobic mesophiles and fungi on the eggshell surface. The eggs were incubated, and the production and quality parameters of the hatched chicks were evaluated using scores. The results showed that G. integrifolia fruit essential oil did not alter the evaluated production parameters. Aerobic mesophile counts, chick quality scores, the egg weight-to-chick weight ratio, total hatchability, and hatchability of fertile eggs did not differ significantly (p ³ 0.05) between treatments in either breeder house. However, fungal counts in the first breeder house differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the treatment and control groups.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the benefits of acetic acid in different periods of inclusion in broiler drinking water on broiler performance, pH, and microbiota, especially the morphometry of the jejunum of broiler chickens. For this, 240 chickens of the Cobb500® lineage of 21 days of age were used and distributed in boxes in an experimental broiler house, considering a completely randomized design, with four treatments and four replications of 15 birds each (experimental unit). The treatments were: T_{1 -} Control (chlorinated water at 3 ppm); T_{2 -} chlorinated and acidified water with acetic acid in the period from 21 to 42 days of age; T₃- chlorinated and acidified water with acetic acid in the period from 28 to 42 days of age; T_{4 -} chlorinated and acidified water with acetic acid in the period from 35 to 42 days of age. The results were analyzed using Analysis of Variance, followed by Tukey's post-test, considering a significance level of 5%. No differences in performance were observed in the period from 21 to 42 days of age, pH, and Lactobacillus spp. counts of the crop at 42 days of age and height of villi and jejunum crypt depth in the same age. However, there was a reduction (P<0.05) in the enterobacteria count in the crop at 42 days of age, which could contribute to the reduction of intestinal enterobacteria counts and, in turn, reduce the contamination of the carcass of broiler chickens.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi comparar o desempenho zootécnico e o custo de produção de diferentes linhagens de frangos de corte (Cobb Slow, Cobb Fast e Hubbard), sistemas de ventilação (positiva e negativa) e tipos de aviário (lona amarela/convencional, blue house e dark house). Foi realizado um levantamento de dados de desempenho e custo de duas granjas avícolas localizadas na região oeste do estado do Paraná, no período de 25 de setembro de 2012 a 25 de setembro de 2017. Verificou-se que as linhagens Hubbard e Cobb Slow apresentaram melhores resultados nas variáveis índice de eficiência produtiva (IEP) (356,3 vs. 334,6) e peso médio final (3,014 kg vs. 2,902 kg). A linhagem Hubbard também mostrou significativamente maior ganho médio diário de peso (GMDP) em relação às duas outras linhagens, com uma média de 64,4 g. Em relação ao sistema de ventilação, verificou-se que a ventilação negativa é mais eficiente do que a positiva quando avaliado o GMDP, e que os sistemas dark e blue house mostraram um desempenho superior ao sistema convencional (lona amarela). Conclui-se que animais da linhagem Hubbard e Cobb Slow apresentam melhores resultados de desempenho zootécnico (IEP, peso médio) do que animais da linhagem Cobb Fast. Em relação ao sistema de ventilação (positiva e negativa) e tipos de aviário (dark house, blue house e convencional), melhores resultados de desempenho zootécnico são observados para sistemas que propiciam melhor ambiência, ou seja, ventilação negativa e com controle de luminosidade (dark e blue house). Por outro lado, em termos de custos, não houve diferenças nos parâmetros avaliados.

This study aimed to macroscopically and microscopically evaluate the healing of skin wounds induced in rats by topical application of cassava polyamide biopolymer hydrogel. In total, 32 rats were used and divided into four groups (n= 8): negative control - saline solution; positive control - use of commercial ointment; experimental group - I - ointment + cassava hydrogel; experimental group - II - cassava hydrogel. A 1cm² wound induced on the animals dorsum was treated and evaluated. At day 21 post-operation, the animals were sacrificed by anesthetic overdose, and then 1cm² of cicatricial skin from the wound region was collected. The material was cut to evaluate healing. In the macroscopic evaluation, complete healing was observed at the end of 21 days. Re-epithelialization was observed histologically; the connective tissue in the negative control, positive, and experimental - I groups was characterized by an abundance of collagen fibers, fibroblasts, and blood vessels. In experimental group - II additional healing was observed, as evidenced by the arrangement of collagen fibers and fibroblasts, and the reduction of neoformed vessels. Thus, we concluded that the hydrogel can assist in healing skin wounds, especially in the remodeling phase.