Anti-Whole Serum polyclonal antibody

Research pertaining to exposure of humans to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) has received considerable public and regulatory attention in recent years. Although several studies have reported exposure to PFASs by populations in North America and western Europe, such information is still scarce in Latin America, including Brazil. In this study, concentrations of thirteen PFASs were determined in whole blood collected during the second trimester from 252 pregnant Brazilian women. This is a nested case-control study within the Brazilian Ribeirao Preto and Sao Luiz Birth Cohort Study (BRISA) with selected birth outcomes cases (n = 63) and matched controls (n = 189). PFASs concentrations were associated with conditions including preeclampsia, birth weight (BW), preterm birth, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Among PFASs measured, per- fluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was found at the highest concentration (range: 1.06-106 ng(-1) with a median value of 3.41 ng mL(-1)) which was followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, range: 0.11-2.77 ng mL(-1) with a median value of 0.20 ng mL(-1)). A significant positive association of PFOS and PFOA concentrations with fetal growth restriction (p < 0.05) was found. This is the first study to assess whole blood concentrations of PFASs and their effect on fetal growth in pregnant Brazilian women.

The tickRhipicephalus microplusis responsible for the transmission ofAnaplasma marginale, which causes hemolytic anemia, abortion, decreased production, and mortality in cattle in Brazil. However,A. marginalecan also persist in cattle herds without any clinical signs. This study investigated the relationship between the number of ticks present on each cattle and the circulating number ofA. marginale msp1 beta gene copies in the blood of Brangus and Nellore cattle reared in the Brazilian Cerrado through a year period. Twenty-three animals (11 Brangus and 12 Nellore) were raised for 12 months with ticks counted every 18 days, and blood collected every 36 days. Blood sera was used for total antigen iELISA, genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood by the phenol/chloroform method and then analyzed by PCR to confirmA. marginalepresence with themsp5gene. Positive samples were quantified by qPCR usingmsp1 beta gene. Brangus cattle presented 4.5 fold more ticks than Nellore group. Although Brangus cattle carried a higher overallA. marginale msp1 beta gene presence than Nellore cattle, no relationship of tick count and copy number could be achieved due to high variability in copy number. Moreover, both breeds showed similar weight gain and a similar serological pattern throughout the year. None of the animals showed any clinical signs of anaplasmosis during the experimental period, indicating that a low level of tick infestation may be sufficient to maintain a stable enzootic situation.