Browsing by Author "Pires, Maria J."
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- An Antibody-Based Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infection in Client-Owned Cats from PortugalPublication . Pereira, Maria Aires; Nóbrega, Carmen; Mateus, Teresa Letra; Almeida, Daniela Gomes de; Oliveira, Andreia; Coelho, Catarina; Cruz, Rita; Oliveira, Paula; Faustino-Rocha, Ana; Pires, Maria J.; Mesquita, João R.; Vala, HelenaToxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of hosts worldwide. However, information on the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in cats from Portugal is limited. Thus, this study aims to evaluate anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and to identify risk factors using a panel of well-characterized sera. A total of 183 domestic cats were sampled and screened for antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum using commercial ELISA assays, and their owners answered an online questionnaire designed to obtain background information. The overall anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalences were 13.1% (CI: 8.97–18.77) and 3.8% (CI: 1.87–7.68), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that living strictly indoors was a significant protection factor (cOR: 0.053; CI: 0.005–0.627), and the presence of a chronic disease a significant risk factor (cOR: 3.106; CI: 1.062–9.082) to T. gondii seroprevalence. When performing multivariate analysis, only chronic disease (aOR: 57.527; CI: 1.7–1976.7) and seropositivity to N. caninum (aOR: 7.929; CI:0.8–82.9) were found to be a significant risk factor to anti-T. gondii antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N. caninum seropositivity in cats from Portugal.
- Animal Models in Phytopharmacology and Toxicological Testing of Plant ProductsPublication . Faustino-Rocha, A. I.; Medeiros-Fonseca, B; Vala, Helena; Pires, Maria J.; Vasconcelos-Nóbrega, C.; Oliveira, Paula A.; Corresponding author: Faustino-Rocha, A. I..Plant products have been used worldwide for thousands of years in traditional medicine for their potential health benefits. Nowadays, plant products still play an important role in healthcare, especially in developing countries where the access to basic medicines and health facilities is inadequate. Although the plant products are presumed safe and there is a conviction that “It is natural, then it is harmless”, some of them have been associated with acute or chronic intoxications. The toxic effects include allergic reactions; carcinogenic action; cardiovascular, hematological, and neurological difficulties; gastrointestinal symptoms; renal or hepatic toxicity; and, in most severe cases, the death. Once safety is a major concern with the plant products to be used in animals or humans, it is important to conduct toxicity studies on them to ascertain their safety. Animals have been long used to study several diseases, and they are an invaluable tool to test the safety of plant products. This chapter aimed to offer a review concerning the animal models available for phytopharmacology and toxicological testing of plant products.
- Study on the antineoplastic and toxicological effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) leaf infusion using the K14-HPV16 transgenic mouse modelPublication . Yu, Manyou; Gouvinhas, Irene; Pires, Maria J.; Neuparth, Maria J.; Costa, Rui M. Gil da; Medeiros, Rui; Bastos, Margarida M.S.M.; Vala, Helena; Félix, Luis; Venancio, Carlos; Barros, Ana I: R. N. A.; Oliveira, Paula A.Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) has been used in functional foods due to its various health benefits. However, the in vivo biological potential of its leaf remains little known. This study has aimed to characterize the antineoplastic and toxicological properties of using pomegranate leaf infusion (PLI) on transgenic mice carrying human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 oncogenes. Thirty-eight mice were divided into 3 wild-type (WT) and 3 transgenic (HPV) groups, with exposure to 0.5% PLI, 1.0% PLI, and water. The animals' body weight, drink and food consumption were recorded. Internal organs, skin samples and intracardiac blood were collected to evaluate toxicological parameters, neoplastic lesions and oxidative stress. The results indicated that PLI was safe as no mortality, no behavioural disorders and no significant differences in the levels of microhematocrit, serum biochemical markers, internal organ histology, and oxidative stress was found among the WT groups. Histological analysis revealed that HPV animals that consumed PLI exhibited reduced hepatic, renal and cutaneous lesions compared with the HPV control group. Low-dose PLI consumption significantly diminished renal hydronephrosis lesions and relieved dysplasia and carcinoma lesions in the chest skin. Oxidative stress analysis showed that low-dose PLI consumption may have more benefits than high-dose PLI. These results suggest that oral administration of PLI has the potential to alleviate non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions against HPV16-induced organ and skin injuries, though this requires further scientific research studies.