ESAV - DZERV - Artigo em revista científica, indexada ao WoS/Scopus
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- A 2-Year Longitudinal Seroepidemiological Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in a Cohort of Autochthonous Sheep from Central PortugalPublication . Almeida, Daniela; Quirino, João; Barradas, Patrícia Ferreira; da Silva, Priscilla Gomes; Pereira, Maria; Cruz, Rita; Santos, Carla; Mega, Cristina; Esteves, Fernando; Nóbrega, Carmen; Vala, Helena; Gärtner, Fátima; Amorim, Irina; Mesquita, João R.Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonosis and one of the major causes of abortion in sheep worldwide. (2) Methods: We performed a 2-year longitudinal serological antiT. gondii IgG screening on a cohort of a spatially confined population of a Portuguese autochthonous sheep breed in central Portugal. (3) Results: From the screening of the 2015 and 2016 sera, an increase of seroprevalence was observed (57.7% (95% CI: 49.9–65.3%) versus 69.1% (95% CI: 61.5–75.9), from 2015 and 2016, respectively) (p = 0.031). (4) Conclusions The present study is the first to provide prospective data on the anti-T. gondii serological status of a sheep cohort in Portugal, showing an increase in the occurrence of T. gondii. There is a need to provide a clearer understanding of T. gondii epidemiology in Portugal, ideally by implementing monitoring programs on sentinel herds, not only due to the high impact of T. gondii on animal health but also for it being a zoonosis.
- 3% polidocanol foam sclerotherapy versus hemorrhoidal artery ligation with recto anal repair in hemorrhoidal disease grades II-III: a randomized, pilot trialPublication . Neves, Sara; Falcão, Daniela; Povo, Ana; Castro-Poças, Fernando; Oliveira, Jorge; Salgueiro, PauloPurpose: polidocanol foam sclerotherapy (SP) versus doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation with recto-anal repair (HAL-RAR) in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease (HD) was analyzed. Methods: a prospective, randomized study including patients with HD grades II and III was performed. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) into SP or HAL-RAR, during a recruitment period between September 2019 and February 2020. Therapeutic success (Sodergren’s and bleeding scores) was the primary outcome. Other outcomes evaluated included complications and implication in the professional life. Efficacy and safety outcomes were evaluated during the eight weeks after surgery or the final SP session. Results: forty-six patients were allocated either to SP (n = 22) or HAL-RAR (n = 24). Most patients achieved therapeutic success (SP 100 % vs HAL-RAR 90.9 %, p = 0.131). Complete success was higher in the SP group (91.7 % vs 68.2 %, p = 0.045) and SP patients had less complications (25 % vs 68.2 %, p = 0.003). HAL-RAR had a greater negative impact on work activity of the patient.
- A 3-year field study to assess winter cover crops as nitrogen sources for an organic maize crop in Mediterranean PortugalPublication . Perdigão, Adelaide; Pereira, José L.S.; Moreira, Nuno; Trindade, Henrique; Coutinho, JoãoCurrent environmental concerns, the rising economic and environmental costs of mineral fertilizers and the need to respond to the limitations of N fertilization in organic farming motivate the search for alternative sources of N in maize cropping. Forage legumes used as winter cover crops may improve soil N fertility and offer benefits to the environment. The aim of this study was to examine the effects, in a factorial field experiment, of two sowing dates (SD) and nine different cover crop treatments (balansa clover, crimson clover, gland clover, arrowleaf clover, French serradella, yellow lupin, Italian ryegrass, a cover mixture and a weedy fallow) as a potential alternative N source in an organically managed maize crop. The experiment was conducted at Viseu (Portugal) for three years (2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2011/12), in the same field. Results showed that maize grain yield was not influenced by cover crop species but was affected by SD and the higher dry matter (DM) aboveground biomass production was observed in early SD (6.1 t ha 1). The cover crops revealed their importance in maize N uptake: yellow lupin of earlier SD had the highest N uptake (83.6 kg N ha 1), but this was not significantly different from balansa clover (83.2 kg N ha 1). Ryegrass was the most efficient in depleting soil mineral N but values were just significantly lower than yellow lupin. Lupin was the least efficient, leaving more mineral N in the soil than the others cover crops, immediately before the period when the risk of leaching is high. It was concluded that, under the edaphoclimatic conditions tested, most of the tested cover crops were efficient in supplying N to maize, and balansa clover had the best performance.
- Acute gastroenteritis outbreak associated to norovirus GI.9 in a Portuguese army basePublication . Lopes, António João; Mesquita, João R.; de Sousa, Rita; Oleastro, Mónica; Gonçalves, Carlos Penha; Nascimento, Maria Sao JoséGastroenteritis is considered a major illness within the military settings being caused by foodborne enteric pathogens that are particularly easily spread in the crowded conditions of military camps. Gastroenteritis outbreaks caused by norovirus usually affect a great number of soldiers due to the low infectious dose, copious viral shedding, and environmental stability. The present study describes the investigation of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that occurred in April 2015 in a Portuguese army base, focusing on the study of the epidemiological curve, symptoms experienced by the affected soldiers, and results of food, water, and stool microbiological analysis. From a total of 938 military personnel stationed on the base 46 soldiers developed acute gastroenteritis. Stool analysis of seven cases showed to be positive for norovirus GI.9 that was the probable cause of the outbreak. This report shows that genogroup I norovirus can also cause considerable morbidity in healthy young soldiers, affecting the operational effectiveness on the military forces. J. Med. Virol. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
- Aloysia citrodora extract as a chemopreventive agent against HPV16-induced lesions: findings from K14-HPV16 micePublication . Medeiros-Fonseca, Beatriz; Faustino-Rocha, Ana I.; Silva, Jéssica; Silva, Mónica G.; Pires, Maria João; Neuparth, Maria João; Vala, Helena; C, Vasconcelos-Nóbrega; Dias, Maria I.; Barros, Lillian; Gonçalves, Lio; Gaivão, Isabel; Bastos, Margarida M. S. M.; Félix, Luís; Venâncio, Carlos; Medeiro, Rui; Costa, Rui M. Gil da; Oliveira, Paula A.Aim: Aloysia citrodora has a long history of traditional use in treating various ailments. This study evaluated the in vivo chemopreventive efficacy and systemic toxicity of an extract of A. citrodora in a transgenic mouse model of HPV16 (human papillomavirus type 16)-induced cancer. Methods: The experiment involved six groups (n = 5): group 1 (G1, wild-type (WT), water), group 2 (G2, HPV, water), group 3 (G3, WT, 0.013 g/mL), group 4 (G4, HPV, 0.006 g/mL), group 5 (G5, HPV, 0.008 g/mL), and group 6 (G6, HPV, 0.013 g/mL). Throughout the assay, humane endpoints, body weight, food, and water consumption were recorded weekly. The internal organs and skin of the mice were collected for analysis after they were sacrificed. Toxicological parameters that were studied included hematological and biochemical blood markers, splenic and hepatic histology, and hepatic oxidative stress. Results: A. citrodora extract seems to reduce the incidence of dysplastic and in situ carcinoma skin lesions induced by HPV16 in this model, suggesting that dietary supplementation with concentrations of 0.008 g/mL and 0.013 g/mL may have beneficial chemopreventive effects. Conclusions: The extract did not induce any concentration-dependent toxicological effects on any of the parameters included in the study, indicating a favorable toxicological profile under these experimental conditions.
- 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.
- Assessment of ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from broiler houses in PortugalPublication . Pereira, José Luís da SilvaABSTRACT: Broiler husbandry is a significant source of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions but scarce studies have been made under Mediterranean conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NH3, N2O, CO2 and CH4 emissions on commercial broiler houses under Portuguese winter conditions. The study was made on a commercial broiler farm located in central Portugal. Three tunnel ventilated broiler houses with similar equipment and production practices were selected. The outdoor and indoor environmental conditions, gas concentrations and ventilation rates of each broiler house were measured during 42 days of growing cycle. Results showed that the maximum concentrations of NH3, N2O, CO2 and CH4 did not exceed the threshold values recommended to maintain indoor air quality on broiler houses. The average emission rates from broiler houses under winter conditions were 0.13 ± 0.04, 0.041 ± 0.002, 96.2 ± 8.8 and 0.226 ± 0.013 g day−1 bird−1 (22.0 ± 7.3, 6.7 ± 0.3, 16,028 ± 1465 and 37.7 ± 2.1 g day−1 LU−1) for NH3, N2O, CO2 and CH4, respectively. Furthermore, NH3 and N2O emission rates of this study are in the same range than measurements from most European countries, but CH4 emission rate seems higher to those reported for Mediterranean countries.
- Assessment of Mineralized Nitrogen During Maize Growth Succeeding Different Winter Cover Crops in the Mediterranean EnvironmentPublication . Perdigão, Adelaide; Pereira, José L.S.; Moreira, Nuno; Trindade, Henrique; Coutinho, JoãoBackground: Understanding soil nitrogen (N) dynamics is essential to find alternative N sources and improve N use efficiency in agriculture. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess N mineralization rates from residues of winter cover crops, during maize crop season, under Mediterranean conditions. Methods: A field experiment was carried out from May to September in central Portugal, with four replications, two sowing dates of cover crops (15/10/2011 and 29/11/2011) and three cover crops residues (balansa clover, ryegrass and yellow lupine) that were incorporated in the soil. Plots were cropped with local maize and net N mineralization was measured during the crop cycle, using soil cylinders placed inside micro-perforated polyethylene bags. Results and Discussion: Early sowing of the cover crops residues increased the NH4+ and NO3- contents in the soil. Yellow lupine residue had the highest rate of daily N mineralization (0.71 mg N kg-1 day-1). For all treatments, the highest mineralization rate was found in the last incubation period, ranging between 0.78 mg N kg-1 day-1 and 1.84 mg N kg-1 day-1, both for balansa clover, from the second and the first sowing date, respectively. Conclusion: The present study suggests that, under Mediterranean field conditions, cover crops residue of Italian ryegrass, balansa clover and yellow lupin can be used as a nitrogen source namely for sustainable maize crops.
- Biochar as an Alternative Litter Additive to Mitigate Gaseous Emissions from Broiler Housing and Subsequent StoragePublication . Pereira, José L.S.; Martins, Filipa; Bonifácio, Gabriel; Garcia, Carla; Teixeira, José; Trindade, HenriqueBroiler farming is a significant source of gaseous emissions. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of different litter additives on the emission of NH3, N2O, CO2, and CH4 during broiler housing and subsequent manure storage. The gaseous emissions from the housing facilities were evaluated during one fattening cycle in environmentally controlled rooms with three different additives applied to the litter material (10% w/w aluminum sulphate or biochar and 2.50 mg m−2 urease inhibitor), as well as a control. A storage experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions for 90 days to evaluate the influence of these three additives on gaseous losses. During broiler housing, the results indicated that NH3 emissions were reduced significantly (40–60%) by litter additives, while global warming potential (GWP) emissions were reduced significantly (31%) by Alum. The addition of Biochar (a 58% reduction) had the same significant effect as Alum (a 60% reduction) to mitigate these losses. The re-application of Urease (a 41% reduction) may be required to reach an equal or higher reduction. During storage, NH3 and GWP emissions were not significantly affected by the litter additives. During broiler housing and subsequent manure storage, NH3 emissions were reduced significantly (22–41%) by litter additives, whereas GWP emissions did not decrease significantly. Globally, it can be concluded that Biochar appears to be a good alternative to Alum due to its equal effectiveness in mitigating NH3 losses, without increasing the GWP potential in the housing and avoiding pollution swapping.
- Bulk-Tank Milk Longitudinal Serosurvey Reveals Decreasing Schmallenberg Virus Circulation in a Confined Population of Portuguese SheepPublication . Esteves, Fernando; Cruz, Rita; Nóbrega, Carmen; Santos, Carla; Ferreira, Ana S.; Petrovic, Tamas; Cardoso, Luís; Vala, Helena; Nascimento, Maria S.J.; Mesquita, João R.Introduction: In 2011, Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was first detected in dairy cattle herds in The Netherlands and Germany having since then spread across Europe. Today studies are starting to show a decrease in new SBV infections, a circumstance that raises alerts for possible re-emergence if ideal conditions for vector development occur. To assess the potential decrease in SBV circulation, we performed a 2-year longitudinal serological investigation for SBV infection at the herd level by using bulk-tank milk of a specific sheep breed from central Portugal. Materials and Methods: Bulk-tank milk samples from 68 flocks were collected in both 2015 and 2016, and lactosera were tested for IgG anti-SBV by EIA. Results and Discussion: Results show that in 2015, 92.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83.9–96.8) of the bulk-tank milk samples were positive, whereas in 2016 only 77.9% (95% CI: 66.7–86.1 of the samples from the same flocks were positive. Differences in the 2015/2016 seroprevalences showed to be statistically significant (p = 0.027). This significant decrease at the herd level seems to be in agreement with reported data from other European countries and raise alerts, since increasingly favorable conditions (higher number of susceptible animals) are now present, potentially favoring SBV epidemics if improved conditions for midge replication occur in the future.