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: Biology & Chemistry. The organization has 1153 authors who have published 1189 publications receiving 14442 citations.

Use of soil insecticides to control the Brazilian ground pearl (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) in vineyards

Abstract: The Brazilian ground pearl (BGP), Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), is one of the most important grape pests in Brazil. Granular and water dispersible granule formulations, doses of application, times of treatment, and application technology of the soil insecticides imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were evaluated to control BGP in infested vineyards. Thiamethoxam and imidacloprid effectively reduced BGP by 90% in established vineyards. No difference in insect control was observed between the formulations of thiamethoxam. Multiple applications of thiamethoxam in November and January were more effective than a single treatment delivered in November. Doses higher than 0.2 g a.i./plant of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam reduced BGP infestations in 3-year-old vineyards. The granular formulation of thiamethoxam was more effective when applied around the root system than when delivered in six points around the trunk using a hand-operated granular spreader. Drench application of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam using a hand-operated hydraulic sprayer was effective for insecticide treatment, allowing regulation of the amounts of water and active ingredients applied per plant.

Sorovares de Salmonella em carne de eqüídeos abatidos no nordeste do Brasil

Abstract: In the sixties and seventies there was an extraordinary increase in export of horse meat products to Europe and Japan. This favored an increase in risk of Salmonella outspread through those products to human and animal consumer populations. Thus, from an exporting company dealing with horse meat located in northeastern Brazil (state of Pernambuco), 19,238 fragments of more external muscles, Salmonella was isolated from 666 samples colleted from 433 animals (horses and donkeys). The serotyping of 745 isolates showed 98 serovars pertaining to 14 serogroups, predominantly classified into subspecies I (98.9%). S. Anatum, S. Carrau, S. Saintpaul, S. Agona, and S. Typhimurium were the most frequent serovars isolated. Preliminary data indicate that the primary causes for the presence of Salmonella in the meats probably was contact with feces from slaughtered animals, as well as possible contamination of environments, in view of the absence of human carriers researched in part of the personnel.

Caracterização das lesões por Cysticercus bovis, na inspeção post mortem de bovinos, pelos exames macroscópico, histopatológico e pela reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR)

Abstract: Considering the importance of improving methods for diagnosis of bovine Cysticercosis, this study aimed to verify Cysticercus bovis occurrence in different anatomical sites, as head, heart, esophagus, diaphragm, tongue, liver and carcass, examined by federal inspection service. Diagnosis was performed by gross examination, histopatholgy and PCR with boiling DNA extraction for metacestode identification. Of 22043 slaughtered cattle, 713 (3.23%) were infected. The heart was mostly affected with 1.90% (420/22043), followed by head, 1.11% (245/22043), esophagus, 0.08% (18/22043), carcass, 0.07% (15/22043), diaphragm, 0.03% (7/22043), liver, 0.02% (5/22043) and tongue, 0.01% (3/22043). Of the cysts obtained, 58.35% (416/713) were dead and 41.65% (297/713) were alive. The differences among anatomical sites and cysts status were significant (p<0.05). Of the 416 dead cysts 253, characterized by nodular firm whitish lesions, containing yellowish material, some times in calcareous aspect were examined for histopathology. The histological exams of these cysts yielded granulomatous lesions, whose centers were characterized by caseous and/or calcareous material, multinucleate giant cells, histiocytes in palisade and infiltrate composed predominantly by lymphoid cells, wrapped up by fibrosis. Some times the lesions peripheries had granulation tissue and mineralized areas, like linear blade. The parasite debris were like a hyaline, non cellular material with spherical and ovoid, basophilic, eosinophilic and colorless corpuscles. These corpuscles were seen rarely, some times, among inflammatory reaction. Fibrous nodules, rich in lymphoid or mixed infiltrates, were frequently seen. Of the live cysts subjected to PCR with boiling DNA extraction, 65% (13/20) were positive for C. bovis, confirming the ambulatory diagnosis and the efficacy of the PCR procedure used. Due to microscopic and PCR diagnostic exams of C. bovis, mainly in the liver and esophagus, it is suggested changes in the 176 article of the regulatory inspection, by including these sites in the bovine routine inspection at the slaughterhouses.