Lucas de Almeida Reati

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.

Resumo A resistência antimicrobiana em cepas de Escherichia coli tem contribuído para a busca por produtos alternativos ao seu uso, como os extratos vegetais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil dos genes de resistência a cefalosporinas em isolados de E. coli com fenótipo de produção de beta-lactamase de espectro estendido (ESBL), a composição fenólica e a atividade antibacteriana do extrato etanólico de Pereskia aculeata contra cepas isoladas de frangos de um dia de vida e em crescimento. Para determinar a Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e a Concentração Bactericida Mínima (CBM) do extrato etanólico de P. aculeata, foram selecionados isolados de E. coli que apresentaram perfil ESBL em uma das origens (pintos de um dia ou frangos em crescimento). Os genes de resistência blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2, blaCTX-M-8 e blaSHV foram detectados com maior percentual em isolados de frangos em crescimento. O extrato de P. aculeata apresentou diversos compostos fenólicos, sendo o ácido málico e a rutina os predominantes. A determinação da CIM foi possível em apenas dois isolados de E. coli, um do Aviário A (frangos em crescimento) e outro do Aviário B (pintos de um dia). Em ambos os casos, a CIM foi de 20 mg/mL. Na cepa ATCC 25922 de E. coli, utilizada como cepa padrão para a avaliação do teste, a CIM foi de 20 mg/mL. Conclui-se que isolados de E. coli provenientes de pintos de um dia e frangos em crescimento carregam genes de resistência a cefalosporinas, e que não há diferença na CIM do extrato etanólico de P. aculeata Mill. quando comparadas cepas com perfil fenotípico ESBL àquelas que não apresentam esse perfil, demonstrando a necessidade de estudos adicionais com plantas com potencial antimicrobiano.

Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli strains has contributed to the search for alternative antimicrobial products, such as plant extracts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of cephalosporin-resistance genes in E. coli isolates with an extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) production phenotype, and the phenolic composition and antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract of Pereskia aculeata against strains isolated from 1-day-old and growing chickens. To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the ethanolic extract of P. aculeata, E. coli isolates that exhibited an ESBL profile when isolated from either 1-day-old chicks or growing chickens were selected. The resistance genes blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2, blaCTX-M-8, and blaSHV were detected in a higher percentage of isolates from growing chickens. The P. aculeata extract was found to contain several phenolic compounds, with malic acid and rutin being predominant. Determination of MIC was only possible for two E. coli isolates (one from Broiler house A (growing chickens) and the other from Broiler house B (1-day-old chicks) - and for the standard strain E. coli ATCC 25922; in all cases, the MIC was 20 mg/mL. These findings indicate that E. coli isolates from both age groups carried cephalosporin-resistance genes and exhibit similar susceptibility to the P. aculeata extract, regardless of ESBL phenotype. These results highlight the need for further research into plant-based antimicrobials.

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.

Coturniculture has been promising, progressing from a subsistence to a technical activity due to its quick production, low breeding investment, and rapid economic return. After the restriction of antimicrobials as growth promoters, some studies aimed to evaluate alternative products that would make the farming of healthy birds viable without impacting their performance, with commercial Macleaya cordata extract being one of these substitutes. The functions of the gastrointestinal tract are coordinated mainly by the enteric nervous system, and the myenteric plexus is responsible for the reflex control of contractile activities of the external muscles. Thus, this study located and demonstrated the distribution of the myenteric plexus, quantifing the total population of myenteric neurons (Giemsa+) and the subpopulation of myenteric nitrergic neurons (NADPH-d+), and evaluated the effects of commercial Macleaya cordata extract on these populations of quail jejunum neurons. A total of 240 one-day-old female laying quails were distributed into four treatments, with four repetitions of 15 birds each. The test groups (T1, T2, and T3) were treated with commercial Macleaya cordata extract throughout the experimental period using the following doses: T1 - test group, basal diet added with 150 ppm of the extract in the feed; T2- test group, basal diet added with100 ppm of the extract in the feed; T3 - test group, basal diet added with 50 ppm of the extract in the feed; and T4 - control group, basal diet with no added extract. The study included histological analysis, Giemsa+, and NADPH-d+ myenteric neuron staining. The results showed that the myenteric plexus is located between longitudinal layer fibers and in the transition region between the longitudinal and circular layers of the muscular tunic, with the myenteric population organized into ganglia and isolated in the region of neuronal fiber bundles. The commercial Macleaya cordata extract showed no quantitative changes in the myenteric Giemsa+ population and myenteric NADPH-d+ subpopulation, however, the groups that consumed the extract showed greater NADPH-d+ neuron activity compared to the control group, implying that the food remained longer in the intestinal lumen, therefore, enabling greater nutrient use and resulting in increased productive performance.

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.