Ministério da Agricultura

Several Avian paramyxoviruses 1 (synonymous with Newcastle disease virus or NDV, used hereafter) classification systems have been proposed for strain identification and differentiation. These systems pioneered classification efforts; however, they were based on different approaches and lacked objective criteria for the differentiation of isolates. These differences have created discrepancies among systems, rendering discussions and comparisons across studies difficult. Although a system that used objective classification criteria was proposed by Diel and co-workers in 2012, the ample worldwide circulation and constant evolution of NDV, and utilization of only some of the criteria, led to identical naming and/or incorrect assigning of new sub/genotypes. To address these issues, an international consortium of experts was convened to undertake in-depth analyses of NDV genetic diversity. This consortium generated curated, up-to-date, complete fusion gene class I and class II datasets of all known NDV for public use, performed comprehensive phylogenetic neighbor-Joining, maximum-likelihood, Bayesian and nucleotide distance analyses, and compared these inference methods. An updated NDV classification and nomenclature system that incorporates phylogenetic topology, genetic distances, branch support, and epidemiological independence was developed. This new consensus system maintains two NDV classes and existing genotypes, identifies three new class II genotypes, and reduces the number of sub-genotypes. In order to track the ancestry of viruses, a dichotomous naming system for designating sub-genotypes was introduced. In addition, a pilot dataset and sub-trees rooting guidelines for rapid preliminary genotype identification of new isolates are provided. Guidelines for sequence dataset curation and phylogenetic inference, and a detailed comparison between the updated and previous systems are included. To increase the speed of phylogenetic inference and ensure consistency between laboratories, detailed guidelines for the use of a supercomputer are also provided. The proposed unified classification system will facilitate future studies of NDV evolution and epidemiology, and comparison of results obtained across the world.

Despite evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) activity in Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, this virus has not been reported in most South American countries. In February 2009, we commenced an investigation for WNV in mosquitoes, horses and caimans from the Pantanal, Central-West Brazil. The sera of 168 horses and 30 caimans were initially tested using a flaviviruses-specific epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (blocking ELISA) for the detection of flavivirus-reactive antibodies. The seropositive samples were further tested using a plaque-reduction neutralisation test (PRNT90) for WNV and its most closely-related flaviviruses that circulate in Brazil to confirm the detection of specific virus-neutralising antibodies. Of the 93 (55.4%) blocking ELISA-seropositive horse serum samples, five (3%) were seropositive for WNV, nine (5.4%) were seropositive for St. Louis encephalitis virus, 18 (10.7%) were seropositive for Ilheus virus, three (1.8%) were seropositive for Cacipacore virus and none were seropositive for Rocio virus using PRNT90, with a criteria of ≥ four-fold antibody titre difference. All caimans were negative for flaviviruses-specific antibodies using the blocking ELISA. No virus genome was detected from caiman blood or mosquito samples. The present study is the first report of confirmed serological evidence of WNV activity in Brazil.

Agriculture has become a focus of planning for urban regeneration in the United States. However, to make agriculture an impactful part of urban community and economic development – rather than a passing fad – it is vital to identify its most effective forms. This paper reports on field research in six cities in the United States where municipalities, non-profit organizations and residents are deploying farming and gardening for diverse economic development objectives. Our findings suggest that despite expectations that urban agriculture will attract capital, create jobs and tax ratables and increase property values in preparation for ‘higher-value’ development, its greatest potential is in social enterprise, supplementing incomes, developing human and social capital and promoting food security.

Este trabalho problematiza a concepção de agronegócio, em voga no meio rural brasileiro, tratando de compreender as relações sociais subjacentes a esse universo. Ao questionar a abordagem essencialmente produtivista aplicada para o registro das transformações operadas nas regiões entendidas como "modernas" ou, ainda, como "novas fronteiras agrícolas" do país, buscamos apreender com mais detalhes as relações que se estabelecem entre os que administram a produção agrícola e industrial e seus subordinados, mapeando a teia de relações sociais que atravessa o setor. No entanto, nossa preocupação foi mais ampla que a unidade agrícola ou a planta industrial: tratou-se de identificar/estudar o(s) conjunto(s) de posições e de oposições sociais que permitem ao chamado agronegócio existir como tal. Adicionalmente, interessounos, ainda, observar como tais posições se consolidaram (ou se opuseram) em relação a um conjunto de políticas públicas, setoriais ou não, que marcaram e continuam a definir a forma de intervenção do Estado nessas áreas, ainda que tais mecanismos de política tenham sido percebidos de forma diferenciada pelos diferentes grupos sociais e implementados a partir de estratégias governamentais não necessariamente sinérgicas.

This article reviews the different aspects of biochar as source and sink of organic and inorganic contaminants. Biochar can contain organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heavy metals. As the distribution coefficients of the biochar especially for contaminants are high, the freely dissolved concentrations are low and with that also the bioavailability. The link between biochar’s inherent contaminants and toxicity to soil meso– and macro–fauna remains unclear, with data being often contradictory and influenced by feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. The biochar’s potential to remediate contaminated soils has mainly been addressed in lab studies, but rarely in the field. This far, results have been contradicting. Many studies reported successful immobilization of contaminants but some not. In summary, the ambivalent face of the biochar with regard to contaminants prevails. In future, long term field studies are needed to properly address the sustainability of biochar in this respect.

Abstract Neolithic man probably used fertilizers, but the first fertilizer produced by chemical processes was ordinary superphosphate, made early in the 19th century by treating bones with sulfuric acid. Coprolites and phosphate rock soon replaced bones as the P source. The K fertilizer industry started in Germany in 1861. In North America the K industry started during World War I and expanded with development of the New Mexico deposits in 1931 and the Saskatchewan deposits in 1958. Modern K fertilizers are more the product of physical than of chemical processes. The first synthetic N fertilizer was calcium nitrate, made in 1903 from nitric acid produced by the electric arc process. The availability of synthetic ammonia after 1913 led to many new N fertilizers, but physical quality was poor. In 1933 TVA was formed with a national responsibility to increase the efficiency of fertilizer manufacture and use. More than 75% of the fertilizer produced in the United States is made with processes developed by TVA. Major fertilizers and fertilizer intermediates introduced by TVA include ammonium nitrate, high‐analysis phosphates, diammonium phosphate, nitric phosphates, ammonium polyphosphate, urea ammonium phosphates, 11‐16‐0 and other liquid base solutions, superphosphoric acid, wet‐process superphosphoric acid, suspensions, granular urea, and S‐coated urea. These have had major impact upon the production of mixed fertilizers, bulk blending, and the fluid fertilizer industry. Future fertilizers not only must be technologically feasible, economical, and agronomically suitable—as have been past fertilizers—but also must meet various air and water pollution standards during production and have reduced total energy requirements.

Abstract Soils from 92 fields in California were analyzed for extractable Zn by four methods, namely, ammonium acetate‐diphenyl‐thiocarbazone (dithizone), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), 0.1 N HCl, and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Na 2 EDTA). Each soil was tested in the greenhouse for plant response in relation to Zn applications. All four methods exhibited a high degree of correlation with each other; the highest correlation coefficient was obtained for the comparison of dithizone with DTPA. Calculated predictive values for DTPA, dithizone, 0.1 N HCl, and Na 2 EDTA were 83, 79, 73, and 72%, respectively, for the 92 soils studied. On this basis the DTPA is preferable to the others and the critical level is approximately 0.5 ppm Zn. For some soils, more than one method may be required to properly characterize the Zn status. The choice of method will depend upon the correlation with plant response, equipment and facilities available, and to some extent on the preference of the analyst.

The increase in food consumption and limitations in food production areas requires improved fertilizer efficiency. Slow- or controlled-release fertilizers are an alternative for synchronizing nutrient availability with the plant demands, reducing losses to the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of polymer-coated KCl compared with conventional KCl. The products were incubated in soil under controlled conditions to evaluate the time required for nutrient release. A greenhouse experiment was performed with corn plants in pots with loamy sand- or clay-textured soil types to evaluate plant nutrition and losses due to leaching. The K application rates were 0, 18, 36, and 54 mg dm-3. The pots were irrigated, and the percolated liquid was collected. The plants were harvested 30 days after sowing to quantify dry matter (DM) and its K content. In the incubation study, the K release from the coated fertilizer was found to be 42 % over 154 days. The data were fit to a linear function from which a period of 315 days was estimated as required for the release of 75 % of the nutrient. Meanwhile, conventional KCl releases 85 % of the K nutrient in the first 48h. In the cultivation of plants in pots, the coating reduced K losses due to leaching in the loamy sand soil; however, only the application rate of 54 mg dm-3 promoted DM production equivalent to conventional KCl. It is possible that the need for K in the early stages of corn development was not met by a coated KCl.

Human cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) were first detected in Spain in 2016. National human and animal health authorities organized a large, multidisciplinary study focusing on ticks as sentinels to determine the nationwide distribution of ticks with CCHF virus. Ticks were collected from animals and vegetation, samples pooled (12,584 ticks; 4,556 pools), and molecular methods used to look for the virus. We detected the virus in 135 pools from most of the regions studied, indicating that it is widespread in Spain. We found sequences of CCHF virus genotypes I, III, and IV in the tick species collected, most commonly in Hyalomma lusitanicum, suggesting this tick has a prominent role in the virus's natural cycle. The red deer (Cervus elaphus) was the host that most frequently yielded positive ticks. Our study highlights the need for larger studies in Spain to ascertain the complete risk to public health.

In 2001, Brazil launched the National Program for Control and Eradication of Animal Brucellosis and Tuberculosis (PNCEBT). After 15 years, After 15 years, it can be checked that there was mistakes and successes in driving the program, but it is undeniable that in this period, a series of structuring actions was initiated. In addition, a large volume of high-quality epidemiological data were produced, which will allow the country to move forward more rationally and safely in combating these two diseases. Today, Brazil have a sufficient contingent of veterinarians to develop the accreditation of farms and vaccination against brucellosis in all States; all batches of vaccines against brucellosis produced by private laboratories are controlled by an official laboratory; the brucellosis vaccination program is well established in most States and it has produced a decrease in prevalence in Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rondônia and Minas Gerais; there are two ongoing eradication experiences: of brucellosis in Santa Catarina and of tuberculosis in Mato Grosso; nowadays there is a culture to combat brucellosis and tuberculosis in the Brazilian Official Veterinary Services. The epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis is well known in the major part of the country. However, progress has been limited by the difficulty in engaging the beef and dairy productive chains as true partners in the process.

Clostridium perfringens is a normal inhabitant of the intestinal tract of chickens as well as a potential pathogen that causes necrotic enteritis and colangio hepatitis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of seven different compounds used for therapy, growth promotion or prevention of coccidiosis was determined by agar dilution method for 55 C. perfringens strains isolated from the intestines of broiler chickens. All strains showed high susceptibility to penicillin, avilamycin, monensin and narasin. Only 7.3% of the strains showed an intermediated sensitivity to lincomycin, and 49 (89.1%) were considered susceptible. For tetracycline and bacitracin, 41.8% and 47.3% of strains, respectively, were considered resistant.

There have been ethnoveterinary reports from around the world investigating plant usage in therapeutic protocols; however, there is no information regarding the ethnoveterinary practices in Brazilian Amazonia. The objective of this work was to register and document the ethnoveterinary knowledge of the inhabitants of the Island of Marajó, eastern Amazonia, Brazil. In the study, interviews were conducted with 50 individuals, with the application of semi-structured questionnaires that were quantitatively analyzed using descriptive statistic methods of frequency distribution. Use-value was calculated to determine the most important species. Samples of plants that were reported to have medicinal value were collected and identified by botanical classification. Fifty plants, distributed among 48 genera and 34 families, were indicated for 21 different medicinal uses. The family Asteraceae had the largest number of reported species; Carapa guianensis Aubl., Copaifera martii Hayne, Crescentia cujete L., Caesalpinia ferrea Mart., Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Jatropha curcas L. and Momordica charantia L. were species with highest use- value. The plant parts that were more commonly utilized for the preparation of ethnoveterinary medicines were the leaves (56%), bark (18%), roots (14%), seeds (14%) and fruit (8%). With regard to usage, tea was reported as a usage method by 56% of the informants; most preparations (90.9%) utilized only a single plant. In addition to medicinal plants, informants reported using products of animal and mineral origin. The present study contributed to the construction of an inventory of Marajó Island's ethnoveterinary plants, which might be the basis for future scientific validation studies.

The Pantanal hosts diverse wildlife species and therefore is a hotspot for arbovirus studies in South America. A serosurvey for Mayaro virus (MAYV), eastern (EEEV), western (WEEV) and Venezuelan (VEEV) equine encephalitis viruses was conducted with 237 sheep, 87 free-ranging caimans and 748 equids, including 37 collected from a ranch where a neurologic disorder outbreak had been recently reported. Sera were tested for specific viral antibodies using plaque-reduction neutralisation test. From a total of 748 equids, of which 264 were immunised with vaccine composed of EEEV and WEEV and 484 had no history of immunisation, 10 (1.3%) were seropositive for MAYV and two (0.3%) for VEEV using criteria of a ≥ 4-fold antibody titre difference. Among the 484 equids without history of immunisation, 48 (9.9%) were seropositive for EEEV and four (0.8%) for WEEV using the same criteria. Among the sheep, five were sero- positive for equine encephalitis alphaviruses, with one (0.4%) for EEEV, one (0.4%) for WEEV and three (1.3%) for VEEV. Regarding free-ranging caimans, one (1.1%) and three (3.4%), respectively, had low titres for neutralising antibodies to VEEV and undetermined alphaviruses. The neurological disorder outbreak could not be linked to the alphaviruses tested. Our findings represent strong evidence that MAYV and all equine encephalitis alphaviruses circulated in the Pantanal.

The usefulness of the variance and covariance component estimation methods based on a threshold model was studied in a multiple-trait situation with two binary traits. Estimation equations that yield marginal maximum likelihood estimates of variance components on the underlying continuous variable scale and point estimates of location parameters with empirical Bayesian properties are described. Methods were tested on simulated data sets that were generated to exhibit three different incidences, 25, 15, and 5%. Results were compared with analyses of the same data sets with a REML method based on normal distribution and a linear model. Heritabilities and residual correlations calculated from discrete observations were transformed to underlying parameters. In estimation of heritabilities, all methods performed equally well at all incidence levels and with no detectable bias. As suggested by threshold theory, the genetic correlation was accurately estimated directly from the observations without any need of correction for incidence. Marginal maximum likelihood estimates of genetic correlations were similar to linear model estimates; discrepancies from the true parameters were consistent with both methods. In estimation of residual correlations, the method with the linear model approach yielded satisfactory estimates only at the highest incidence level, 25%. For 5% incidence, the uncorrected estimate of residual correlation was 50% less than the true value, and after correction for incidence, the parameter was overestimated by 90%. The estimates of residual correlation from the threshold model were regarded fair, except at the lowest level of incidence, where the estimate was 27% higher than the true value. Results indicated that when an accurate estimate of residual correlation is needed, the marginal maximum likelihood estimates are superior to the estimates calculated with the linear model. Using correction for the incidence level for residual correlation did not work well except at the highest incidence level.

Foram realizadas coletas de moscas-das-frutas em armadilhas e frutos na região semi-árida do Rio Grande do Norte, de janeiro/1999 a dezembro/2000. Dez espécies foram capturadas: Anastrepha alveata Stone, A. dissimilis Stone, A. distincta Greene, A. montei Lima, A. obliqua (Macquart), A. pickeli Lima, A. sororcula Zucchi, A. zenildae Zucchi, Anastrepha sp. aff. pickeli e Ceratitis capitata (Wied). Das 41 espécies de fruteiras amostradas, os frutos de 17 espécies estavam infestados por pelo menos uma espécie de moscas-das-frutas. Os novos registros de hospedeiros são: A. sororcula em cajarana (Spondias sp.), A. zenildae em cajarana, acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) e kunquat (Fortunella sp.), Anastrepha sp. aff. pickeli em maniçoba (Manihot glaziovii Muell.) e C. capitata em umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda), trapia (Crateva tapia L.) e juá (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.).Os principais hospedeiros de Anastrepha spp. foram juá, cajarana e goiaba (Psidium guajava L.) e de C. capitata foi a serigüela (Spondias purpurea L.). O hospedeiro mais infestado pelas espécies de Anastrepha foi o juá (67,7 pupários/kg) e por C. capitata foi o kunquat [Fortunella japonica (Thunb.) (159,1 pupários/kg)].

The present study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of Salmonellae in broiler chicken carcasses and to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolated strains. Twenty-five out of the 260 broiler chicken carcasses samples (9.6%) were positive for Salmonella. S. Enteritidis was the most frequent serovar. Nineteen Salmonella isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance, and the results indicated that 94.7% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to streptomycin (73.7%), nitrofurantoin (52.3%), tetracycline (31.6%), and nalidixic acid (21%) were the prevalent amongst Salmonella strains tested.

Leptospira isolation allows definitive diagnosis of the infection. Contamination by microorganisms is one of the inconveniences of the culture. The objective of this study was to describe the isolation of Leptospira from dogs, bovine and swine naturally infected. Urine samples from 14 dogs and three bovines, and kidney, liver, ovary, and uterus body samples from 36 slaughtered sows with unknown health history, were used. The urine and organ samples were cultured in culture medium. Modified Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris medium (EMJH) culture medium was used with addition of 5-fluorouracil, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, nalidixic acid and neomycin. Incubation was performed at 28oC for 24 hours, followed by subculture in modified EMJH without antibiotics. The cultures were assessed weekly for up to eight weeks for the dog and swine samples and for up to 16 weeks for the bovine samples. With this methodology, Leptospira spp could be isolated from 11 dogs, two bovines and liver fragments from two sows.

Com o objetivo de avaliar o crescimento e a produtividade agrícola da cana-planta em diferentes fontes de fósforo, conduziu-se um experimento de campo em Coruripe, AL, com 10 tratamentos: 1. Testemunha; 2. NK + micro; 3. Superfosfato simples (SS); 4. Superfosfato triplo (ST); 5. Fosmag; 6. Gafsa; 7. MAP; 8. Fórmula 06-26-24 (460 kg ha-1); 9. Composto e 10. SSP - parcelado. O delineamento estatístico foi em blocos ao acaso com 4 repetições. Avaliaram-se: população de perfilhos, altura de plantas, Índice de Área Foliar (IAF), taxa de crescimento do colmo, taxa de produção de matéria fresca do colmo, taxa de crescimento relativo, rendimento agrícola e as concentrações foliares de P e os níveis disponíveis no solo. As fontes de fósforo não influenciaram o crescimento da cana-planta em função do efeito residual, proveniente de adubações anteriores, mas proporcionaram produtividades médias superiores a 80 t ha-1. O ST proporcionou o melhor rendimento agrícola na cana-planta a qual, por sua vez, apresentou três fases de crescimento: 1ª fase: intenso perfilhamento até 120 DAP; 2ª fase: grande crescimento de 120 a 240 DAP e 3ª fase: maturação dos 240 aos 360 DAP. As maiores taxas de crescimento e produção de matéria fresca do colmo ocorreram logo após a fase de intenso perfilhamento entre 120 e 240 DAP.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of Salmonellae in broiler chicken carcasses and to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolated strains. Twenty-five out of the 260 broiler chicken carcasses samples (9.6%) were positive for Salmonella. S. Enteritidis was the most frequent serovar. Nineteen Salmonella isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance, and the results indicated that 94.7% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to streptomycin (73.7%), nitrofurantoin (52.3%), tetracycline (31.6%), and nalidixic acid (21%) were the prevalent amongst Salmonella strains tested.

ABSTRACT: Listeria monocytogenes is a relevant foodborne pathogen in public health, responsible for outbreaks of listeriosis often associated to the consumption of ready to eat meat, dairy and fishery products. Listeriosis is a serious disease that can lead to death and mainly affect children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. In pregnant women causes abortion or neonatal listeriosis. In Brazil, ready to eat food are appreciated and increasingly consumed by the population. Furthermore, products such as sausages, bologna, hams and cheeses have characteristics such as pH, Aw and sodium chloride content that favor the development of L. monocytogenes during their shelf life. The purpose of this paper was to present an overview of L. monocytogenes contamination in different meat, dairy and fishery products that are ready for consumption and thereby support the adoption of strategies to mitigate this risk, contributing to achieve the appropriate level protection for the consumers and thus strengthen Brazil's food safety system.