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.

Principais causas de condenação ao abate de aves em matadouros frigoríficos registrados no Serviço Brasileiro de Inspeção Federal entre 2006 e 2011

Abstract: The poultry industry in Brazil as well as the domestic consumption and exportation of poultry have experienced significant growth. The Federal Inspection Service is responsible for the sanitary inspection of poultry slaughter, and it routinely records injuries or illnesses that have been identified in the Management Information System of the Federal Inspection Service (SIGSIF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the main causes of condemnation in poultry slaughterhouses registered in the Federal Inspection Service from data entered into the SIGSIF system from 2006 to 2011. The total rate of condemnations observed during this period was 5.99%, and the major causes were contamination (1.80%), contusion /traumatic injuries (1.57%), dermatosis (0.74%) and cellulitis (0, 50%). Regional variations were observed in the occurrence of condemnations, and only in case of dermatosis a seasonal behavior was observed. The SIGSIF is an important source of information concerning the causes of condemnations in poultry slaughter and can be a useful tool for assessing the causes and proposing measures to prevent or mitigate risks. Keywords: condemnation; diseases; poultry; slaughter; traumatic injuries.

Wood related chemical markers of aged wine brandies

Abstract: SUMMARY Several low molecular weight phenolic compounds - phenolic acids, phenolic aldehydes, coumarins, acetovanillone and ethyl vanillin – were quantified by HPLC in Portuguese wine brandies aged four years in Portuguese oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.), Allier oak (Quercus sessiliflora Salisb.) and chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wooden barrels (250 L), in order to identify those of chemical markers of the wood botanical species. The results obtained demonstrated that gallic acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, scopoletin, acetovanillone and ethyl vanillin play that role in the aged brandies. Gallic acid and acetovanillone present the highest contents in the brandies aged in chestnut, while ethyl vanillin exhibit the highest content in the brandies aged in oak woods. The differentiation of the brandies aged in oak woods is made by ellagic and ferulic acids, whose contents are higher in Portuguese oak, and by scopoletin that predominates in the brandies aged in Allier oak. Complementary, a practical and reproducible HPLC method was validated allowing a good separation and quantification of acetovanillone and ethyl vanillin in wine aged brandies. RESUMO Com o objectivo de identificar os compostos que podem desempenhar o papel de marcadores quimicos associados a especie botânica da madeira utilizada no envelhecimento, diversos compostos fenolicos de massa molecular baixa – acidos fenolicos, aldeidos fenolicos, cumarinas, acetovanilona e etilvanilina – foram quantificados, por HPLC, em aguardentes vinicas portuguesas envelhecidas durante quarto anos em vasilhas (250 L) de carvalho portugues (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.), carvalho frances Allier (Quercus sessiliflora Salisb.) e castanheiro (Castanea sativa Mill.). Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o acido galhico, o acido elagico, o acido ferulico, a escopoletina, a acetovanilona e a etilvanilina presentes na aguardente envelhecida funcionam como marcadores quimicos da madeira. As aguardentes envelhecidas em madeira de castanheiro apresentam os teores mais elevados de acido galhico e de acetovanilona, enquanto as aguardentes envelhecidas em madeira de carvalho exibem concentracoes superiores de etilvanilina. A diferenciacao das aguardentes envelhecidas em diferentes especies de madeira de carvalho pode ser baseada nos acidos elagico e ferulico, cujos teores sao superiores nas aguardentes envelhecidas em carvalho portugues, e na escopoletina, que predomina nas aguardentes envelhecidas em carvalho frances Allier. Complementarmente, um metodo cromatografico (HPLC) pratico e reprodutivel foi validado, permitindo uma boa separacao e quantificacao da acetovanilona e da etilvanilina em aguardentes vinicas envelhecidas.

(Epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis in the State of Sergipe, Brazil)

Abstract: A study to characterize the epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis in the State of Sergipe was carried out. The State was divided in two regions. Around three hundred herds were randomly sampled in each region and a pre-established number of animals were sampled in each of these herds. A total of 4,757 serum samples from 590 herds were collected. In each herd, it was applied an epidemiological questionnaire focused on herd traits as well as husbandry and sanitary practices that could be associated with the risk of infection. The serum samples were screened by the Rose-Bengal Test (RBT) and positive sera were re-tested by the 2-mercaptoethanol test (2-ME). The herd was considered positive if at least one animal was positive on both RBT and 2-ME tests. The prevalences of infected herds and animals in the State were, respectively: 12.6% (9.2-16.0%) and 3.4% (2.3-4.4%). The prevalences of infected herds and animals in the regions were, respectively: region 1, 11.1% (7.9-15.0%) and 2.6% (1.6-3.5%); and region 2, 12.9% (9.1-17.6%) and 6.2% (3.0-9.5%). The risk factors associated with the presence of the infection were: veterinary assistance (OR= 2.89 (1.15-7.23)), herd size ≥30 adult females (OR= 1.88 (1.07-3.28)), and use of artificial insemination (OR=1.92 (0.84-4.38)).