Ministry of Agriculture

About: Ministry of Agriculture is a government organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Chemistry & Salmonella. The organization has 1153 authors who have published 1189 publications receiving 14442 citations.

Electric Breast Milk Pump

Abstract: An breast milk pump having an electric motor, a pump driven by the motor, a suction cup, an electrically activated first three-way valve in a suction line, an electrically activated second three-way valve in a pressure line, an electronic control system, which sets the electric motor into an operating mode or an idle mode depending on an activation of a switch; in the operating mode, it operates the electric motor and the electrically activated first and second three-way valves in cycles, which comprise a suction phase, in which the electric motor is switched on, the inlet of the pump is connected to the suction cup via the first three-way valve and a floater valve, the pump outlet is connected via the second three-way valve.

Detection, epidemiology and characterization of VP6 and VP7 genes of group D rotavirus in broiler chickens

Abstract: Rotaviruses infect humans and animals and are classified into eight groups (A to H). Group D rotavirus (RVD) has been described in birds, although relatively few reports are available. The present study focused on RVD, including epidemiological and molecular aspects of samples collected from broiler chickens in the state of Para, Brazil. A total of 85 faecal samples were collected between 2008 and 2011 from 37 chicken farms located in eight different municipalities. The viral double-stranded RNA was extracted from faecal suspensions and analysed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), followed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequencing of the VP6 and VP7 genes. Comparing the positive results, 16.5% (14/85) were obtained by PAGE and 35.3% (30/85) by RT-PCR. Samples from seven of eight municipalities were positive for RVD and infections were recorded in 17 (45.9%) of 37 chicken farms. The RVD infection rate was significantly higher in the 16-day to 30-day age group (62.2%; 23/37) compared with other ages. No consistent relationship was found between the infection rate and either the population density in poultry houses or the climatic conditions. The nucleotide sequences of the VP6 gene were 89.9 to 90.9% similar to the prototype strain 05V0049 and were 88.3 to 100% similar among themselves; VP7 gene nucleotide sequences were 84.3 to 85.4% similar to the prototype strain 05V0049 and 93.8 to 100% similar among themselves. Overall, this study provides new insights into the epidemiology and genome characterization of group D rotaviruses.

New cucurbitaceous hosts of Myrothecium roridum in Amazonas State, Brazil.

Abstract: Myrothecium roridum is a soil inhabitant and a facultative parasite with a large host range worldwide. However, its importance as a pathogen of vegetable crops, particularly cucurbits, in the humid tropical conditions of the Brazilian Amazon is not known. Seven samples of diseased plants of cucumber(Cucumis sativus), gherkin (C. anguria)and squash (Cucurbita moschata) showing leaf spots were collected in Rio Preto, Silves and Iranduba counties, Amazonas State, Brazil. Five fungal isolates were obtained and identified as Myrothecium roridum, with phialide length ranging from 10.3 to 11.2 µm and conidia measuring 6.4-7 x 1.7-2.3 µm. Pathogenicity of these isolates was tested on wounded and non-wounded leaves of gherkin, cucumber, squash, pumpkin, watermelon and melon plants. All isolates fulfilled Koch’s postulates and showed a slight variability in their aggressiveness. This is the first record of M. roridum causing leaf spots on cucumber, gherkin and squash in Brazil.

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in peanuts using modified QuEChERS sample preparation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detection

Abstract: A multiclass method has been optimized and validated for the simultaneous determination of 113 pesticide residues belonging to several classes in peanuts. It has been based on the QuEChERS methodology (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) and ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Several extraction solutions were tested and the composition that showed the best results consisted of a mixture of ethyl acetate and acetonitrile. A cleanup step using the dispersive phases C18 (octadecyl) and PSA (Primary and Secondary Amine) was necessary due to the high amount of oil present in the matrix. The method was validated and the parameters of validation were satisfactory. The accuracy was assessed by calculating the recovery of spiked blank samples in four concentration levels (0.010; 0.025; 0.050 and 0.100 mg kg−1). The results showed satisfactory recoveries (between 70 and 120%), except for oxamyl and tricyclazol at the 0.010 mg kg−1 level that did not show acceptable parameters for the recovery assays. Repeatability and intermediate precision showed coefficients of variation <20%, except for buprofezin, etione and picolinafen at the 0.100 mg kg−1 level. Limits of detection and quantification of the method were 0.005 and 0.010 mg kg−1, respectively, except for oxamyl and tricyclazol.