Intestinal parasitic infections (IPI's) are considered to be a public health problem of global importance by the World Health Organization. The present epidemiologic survey study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of pathogenic IPI's on the growth, nutrition and psychomotor development of 244 Ecuadorian children aged 0.2-14 years. The study was conducted in five rural hamlets located in a tropical rainforest area in northwest Ecuador. The study data were obtained by means of a structured questionnaire, a developmental screening examination, anthropometry, and lab analysis of blood and fecal samples. Data analysis was conducted using appropriate bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques. The study results revealed that 90% of the child subjects were infected with at least one pathogenic IPI species. Fifty-one percent were identified with helminthic infections, 37.6% with protozoal infections, and 21.4% were infected with both. The most common intestinal parasites detected were Ascaris lumbricoides (39.7%), Giardia intestinalis (25.2%), Trichuris trichiura (19.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (18.5%), Blastocystis hominis (13.3%), and Ancylostoma duodenale (1.7%). The prevalence of growth stunting (40%) and iron-deficiency anemia (26%) also was high. Children infected with Giardia exhibited a risk for stunted growth that was twice that of their non-infected counterparts (51.7% vs. 33.1%; OR=2.16, 95% C.I.= 1.13-4.15; p= 0.01). They also had significantly reduced mean blood hemoglobin levels compared to non-infected children 11.8 + 1.5.g/dL vs. 12.2 + 1.4g/dL; p= 0.023) but the proportion with iron-deficiency anemia was slightly but not significantly increased (29.4% vs. 24.3%). The characteristic most consistently associated with risk for pathogenic protozoal IPI's was a high density of domestic animals living in and around the home. Children who lived in such households had a risk for infection that was 2-5 times greater than others. This suggests that domestic animals were important reservoirs for IPI infection in the child group studied. Contrary to the a priori hypothesis, no gender, ethnic, nor age differences in infection risk were identified except for Trichuris infection, which was reduced in younger children contrary to expectations. Mass or targeted chemotherapy combined with health education and promotion are needed to reduce the cycle of infection and re-infection and the negative impact of these on child growth and iron status. Health education and promotion messages can be incorporated into other types of programs already in place in local schools and by the Ecuadorian Ministries of Public Health, Education, and Social Welfare and other agencies. / Master of Science

A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the effects of amylase supplementation upon the endogenous amylase levels and growth performance of male turkey poults. [In the first experiment, a multi-enzyme supplement containing amylase and an additional protease supplement were added to diets of low (24%) and high (28%) protein content. Enzyme supplements Significantly improved performance of birds on the low, but not on the high protein diet. Even with the improvement from enzyme addition, the performance of poults fed the low protein diet was not equal to poults fed the high protein diet. The second experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of varying levels of amylase and xylanase on bird performance, and to determine optimal level of enzyme inclusion in the basal corn-soybean meal diet. Feed utilization or growth of birds did not differ between the amylase diets, however 200 units of amylase per kilogram of feed produced numerically optimal growth and feed efficiency values. Xylanase inclusion greater than 160 units per kilogram of feed appeared to be detrimental to bird growth and feed efficiency. In the third experiment, endogenous amylase levels were measured to determine if supplemental amylase produced a quantitative, qualitative, or inhibitory effect upon the endogenous amylase activity. Amylase supplementation was found to be additive to the endogenous levels and did not inhibit endogenous activity. Amylase supplemented diets decreased body weight and feed efficiency loss due to weighing and handling stress on the birds when compared to the control and xylanase diets. Villi lengths within the jejunal and ileal sections of the small intestine were longer during the first three weeks for amylase supplemented birds when compared to intestinal villi of either the control or xylanase fed poults. The fourth experiment was conducted to compare the effect on growth and feed utilization of the serial addition of various enzyme preparations to corn-soybean poult diets. In retrospect, due to the serial application of the supplements, assessment of the benefits of a given supplement within a composite application was futile. Amylase, however, was present within the composite supplements fed to poults with the highest growth performance values. These experiments suggest that the addition of amylase to conventional corn-soybean meal turkey poult starter diets can be effective in improving growth and feed utilization during the first few weeks. The addition of amylase supplements to basal diets did not inhibit the poult endogenous amylase activity levels and were associated with increased intestinal villus length corresponding to increased utilization and absorption of nutrients. Xylanase appeared to be a detrimental enzyme additive to corn-soybean meal diets fed to male poults. / Ph. D.

Transport properties of bovine intestinal brush border membranes were investigated. Isolation of brush border membrane vesicles involved magnesium precipitation followed by a sucrose density gradient. Characterization by alkaline phosphatase activity (the brush border marker enzyme) showed 7 fold enrichment over homogenate at the interface between 38 and 42% sucrose. This fraction was employed to study transport of sugars and amino acids. Transport of D-glucose into an osmotically active space, was sodium stimulated, and inhibited by phloridzin, D-galactose, and D-xylose. Transport of L-alanine was sodium stimulated and mediated by at least two systems. Apparent affinities for L-alanine transport were .039, and .943 mM. Maximum velocities were 29.2, and 53.4 pmoles/mg protein/sec, for the two systems. Transport of L-proline, L-lysine, L-methionine, and L-phenylalanine were sodium stimulated. Data indicated sodium independent transport accounted for more influx of L-lysine, L-methionine, and L-phenylalanine than sodium dependent transport. Sodium dependent and sodium independent fluxes were equal for uptake of L-proline. Amino acid inhibition data indicated a common transporter for methionine, alanine, and phenylalanine. There was an additional methionine transport system not shared by alanine or phenylalanine. None of the amino acids effectively inhibited methionine uptake. Data indicated praline was transported by system(s) not shared by the other amino acids. Bovine brush border membranes transported the amino acid analog alpha-methyl-aminoisobutyric acid by sodium stimulated processes. / Ph. D.

Yes / & aims Parenteral nutrition (PN) provides nourishment and hydration as an intravenous infusion to patients with intestinal failure (IF). The aim of the study is to generate theory that explains the experiences of adult patients living with home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and complex medication regimens. Methods A grounded theory methodology was used to explore the experiences of twelve patients receiving HPN. A semi-structured interview was conducted and recorded in each participant's home setting. Each interview was transcribed verbatim. The simultaneous process of data collection and analysis was followed reflecting the principles of the constant comparative approach. Results A total of 15 patients gave written consent, with 12 of them agreeing to be interviewed. All the participants had previously undergone surgery as a result of chronic ill health or sudden illness. Analysis revealed two core categories: stoma and HPN, and these were supported by the subcategories: maintaining stoma output, access to toilets, managing dietary changes, maintaining the HPN infusion routine, access to technical help to set up an HPN infusion, mobility with HPN equipment and general health changes. The strategy of living with loss was demonstrated by all the participants, and this was supported by the action strategies of maintaining daily activities and social interactions. Conclusions This study generates new understanding and insight into the views and experiences of patients receiving HPN in the UK. The findings from these participants have been shown to resonate with the Kubler-Ross Model [1] of the five stages of grief. The theory of living with loss was generated by the use of a grounded theory methodology. This small scale exploratory study reveals opportunities for improvements in practice to be considered by the nutrition support team (NST) and other healthcare professionals involved in the patient's hospital stay prior to discharge on HPN.

La Protéine Cellulaire du Prion (PrPc), isoforme non pathogène de la Protéine Scrapie, est une protéine ubiquitaire qui a été impliquée dans de nombreux processus cellulaires tels que la prolifération, la migration, l’adhésion, la différenciation et l’apoptose, par des mécanismes qui restent en grande partie à élucider. L’épithélium intestinal est en constant renouvellement et son homéostasie repose sur une régulation fine et coordonnée de l’ensemble de ces processus. Notre équipe s’est intéressée au rôle de la PrPc dans l’épithélium intestinal et a mis en évidence son expression dans le type cellulaire majoritaire de cet épithélium, les entérocytes, et sa double localisation selon leur état de différenciation. En effet, dans les cellules différenciées, la PrPc est majoritairement présente au niveau des desmosomes, alors que dans les cellules prolifératives, elle est principalement nucléaire. Nous mettons en évidence que la PrPc desmosomale est impliquée dans le maintien et l’intégrité de l’ensemble des jonctions intercellulaires (jonctions serrées, adhérentes et desmosomes) et contribue à la fonction de barrière de l’épithélium intestinal. La PrPc nucléaire, quant à elle, interagit avec plusieurs effecteurs de la voie de signalisation Wnt : la -caténine, la -caténine et le facteur de transcription TCF7L2. Dans ce contexte, nous révélons la capacité de la PrPc nucléaire à moduler l’expression de gènes cibles de la voie Wnt canonique. L’ensemble de ces travaux permet de révéler la PrPc comme un nouvel élément clé de l’homéostasie de l’épithélium intestinal – du maintien de la fonction de barrière jusqu’à la régulation de l’expression de gènes – et de définir la PrPc comme un nouveau membre de la famille des protéines NACos. / The cellular Prion Protein (PrPc), the normal conformer of the Scrapie protein, is a ubiquitous protein, which has been involved in several cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, adhesion, differentiation and apoptosis, through mechanisms that are not fully characterized. Intestinal epithelium is renewing constantly and its homeostasis requires a fine and coordinated regulation of all these processes. Our team has focused on PrPc functions in this tissue and has demonstrated that it is expressed in enterocytes, the major cell type in the intestinal epithelium, with a dual localization depending on the differentiation state of the cells. Indeed, in differentiated cells PrPc is localized in desmosomes while being mostly in the nucleus in proliferative cells. We demonstrated the involvement of desmosomal PrPc in the maintenance and integrity of all the intercellular junctions (tight, adherens junctions and desmosomes) and its requirement for the intestinal barrier function. PrPc in the nucleus interacts with key effectors of the Wnt pathway: -catenin, -catenin and the transcription factor TCF4/TCF7L2. In this context, we revealed the ability of nuclear PrPc to modulate the expression of a subset of Wnt target genes. Altogether, this work highlights the role of PrPc as a new key element of the intestinal epithelial homeostasis – from the barrier function to gene regulation – and allows considering PrPc as a new member of the NACos family proteins (proteins associated with the Nucleus and Adhesion Complexes).

Orientador: Valquíria Cação Cruz-Polycarpo / Resumo: Os ácidos orgânicos protegidos têm mecanismo de ação diferenciado dos ácidos orgânicos não protegidos, permitindo que sua atuação aconteça em uma área específica do intestino, possibilitando maior eficácia em sua ação como antimicrobiano, o que influenciará as condições do trato gastrintestinal, e consequentemente o desempenho. Para tanto, foram utilizados 1.320 pintos de corte machos, Cobb, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram em: T1 - Ração Basal (RB); T2 - RB + ácido butírico livre (L); T3 - RB + ácido butírico microencapsulado (M); T4 - RB + ácido butírico L+M; T5 - RB + antibiótico e anticoccidiano. Aos 16 dias de idade, todas as aves foram desafiadas por meio da inoculação de um pool de Eimerias. Foi observado efeito dos ácidos fornecidos de forma isolada no GP e CR das aves nas fases de 1 a 14 e 1 a 21 dias, quando comparado com o os ácidos na forma associada. Aos 42 dias, aves que foram suplementadas com o ácido butírico, independente da forma, apresentaram queda no desempenho. Após o desafio, os aditivos proporcionaram recuperação da mucosa, mostrando melhorias na altura das vilosidades em relação ao grupo controle negativo, além do aumento de células caliciformes por vilo no jejuno das aves suplementadas com o ácido na forma livre. O número de oocistos excretados por grama de fezes mostrou interação entre aditivo e período de coleta. Na leitura de escore de lesão foi observado q... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Segundo o Instituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA), o câncer de colorretal é o terceiro tipo de câncer mais comum entre os homens e o segundo entre as mulheres. Atualmente a avaliação visual feita por um patologista é o principal método utilizado para o diagnóstico de doenças a partir de imagens microscópicas obtidas por meio de amostras em exames convencionais de biópsia. A utilização de técnicas de processamento computacional de imagens possibilita a identificação de elementos e a extração de características, o que contribui com o estudo da organização estrutural dos tecidos e de suas variações patológicas, levando a um aumento da precisão no processo de tomada de decisão. Os conceitos e técnicas envolvendo redes complexas são recursos valiosos para o desenvolvimento de métodos de análise estrutural de componentes em imagens médicas. Dentro dessa perspectiva, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de um método capaz de realizar o processamento e a análise de imagens obtidas em exames de biópsias de tecidos de pólipo de cólon para classificar o grau de atipia da amostra, que pode variar em: sem atipia, baixo grau, alto grau e câncer. Foram utilizadas técnicas de processamento, incluindo um conjunto de operadores morfológicos, para realizar a segmentação e a identificação de estruturas glandulares. A seguir, procedeu-se à análise estrutural baseada na identificação das glândulas, usando técnicas de redes complexas. As redes foram criadas transformado os núcleos das células que compõem as glândulas em vértices, realizando a ligação dos mesmos com 1 até 20 arestas e a extração de medidas de rede para a criação de um vetor de características. A fim de avaliar comparativamente o método proposto, foram utilizados extratores clássicos de características de imagens, a saber, Descritores de Haralick, Momentos de Hu, Transformada de Hough, e SampEn2D. Após a avaliação do método proposto em diferentes cenários de análise, o valor de acurácia geral obtida pelo mesmo foi de 82.0%, superando os métodos clássicos. Conclui-se que o método proposto para classificação de imagens histológicas de pólipos utilizando análise estrutural baseada em redes complexas mostra-se promissor no sentido de aumentar a acurácia do diagnóstico de câncer colorretal / According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and the second most common cancer among women. Currently the main method used for the diagnosis of diseases from microscopic images obtained through samples in conventional biopsy tests are the visual evaluation made by a pathologist. The use of computational image processing techniques allows the identification of elements and the extraction of characteristics, which contributes to the study of the structural organization of tissues and their pathological variations, leading to an increase of precision in the decision making process. Concepts and techniques involving complex networks are valuable resources for the development of structural analysis methods of components in medical images. In this perspective, the general objective of this work was the development of a method capable of performing the image processing and analysis obtained in biopsies of colon polyp tissue to classify the degree of atypia of the sample, which may vary in: without atypia, low grade, high grade and cancer. Processing techniques including a set of morphological operators, were used to perform the segmentation and identification of glandular structures. Next, structural analysis was performed based on glands identification, using complex network techniques.The networks were created transforming the core of the cells that make up the glands in vertices, making the connection of the same with 1 to 20 edges and the extraction of network measurements to create a vector of characteristics. In order to comparatively evaluate the proposed method, classical image characteristic extractors were used, namely, Haralicks Descriptors, Hus Moments, Hough Transform, and SampEn2D. After the evaluation of the proposed method in different analysis scenarios, the overall accuracy value obtained by it was 82.0%, surpassing the classical methods. It is concluded that the proposed method for the classification of histological images of polyps using structural analysis based on complex networks is promising in order to increase the accuracy of the diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Durante os últimos anos a avicultura nacional tem sofrido constantes desafios, tendo como objetivo ampliar o mercado consumidor do frango de corte ao redor do mundo. Entretanto, cada mercado apresenta exigências diferentes, como no caso do mercado europeu que estabelece a exclusão dos antibióticos como promotores de crescimento na alimentação dos frangos de corte. Visando esta problemática, realizou-se este estudo, com o objetivo de analisar os resultados da utilização dos ácidos lático e butírico, isolados e associados, como aditivos em dietas de frangos de corte, em relação ao promotor de crescimento usualmente utilizado nas dietas dos mesmos. Foram avaliados: o desempenho, a imunidade humoral e a morfometria intestinal das aves. Utilizaram-se 1400 pintainhos machos da linhagem comercial Ross, divididos em cinco tratamentos (controle - sem aditivo -; ácido butírico; ácido lático; ácido butírico + ácido lático e avilamicina - antibiótico, promotor de crescimento tradicionalmente utilizado na produção de frangos de corte). Os resultados de desempenho indicaram que a interação dos ácidos foi significativa na fase inicial, entretanto não ocorreu um efeito aditivo dos ácidos, sendo o uso do ácido butírico isoladamente mais recomendável durante essa fase. Já na fase de crescimento, a interação foi significativa com um efeito aditivo, recomendando seu uso nas rações de crescimento. De acordo com os títulos médios de anticorpos obtidos no estudo, a interação foi significativa aos 35 dias de idade e mostrou um efeito sinérgico, sendo a combinação dos ácidos em questão um potente modulador da imunidade humoral. Os resultados obtidos nas análises de morfometria intestinal não foram conclusivos. Em termos gerais, requerem-se mais estudos quanto ao uso dos ácidos orgânicos como promotores de crescimento. / During the last years, the national poultry keeping has suffered constant challenges, having as objective to diversify the consuming market of the broiler to around of the world. However, each market presents different requirements, as in the case of the European market that establishes the exclusion of antibiotics as promotional of growth in the feeding of the broilers. Aiming at this problematic one, this study was become fullfilled, with the objective to analyze the results of the association of the butyric and lactic acids as additives in the ration of broilers, in comparison to the results gotten for the usually used promoters of growth in the diets of broilers. They had been evaluated: the animal performance, humoral immunology and intestinal morfometric of the birds. 1400 male chickens of the commercial ancestry Ross had been used, dividing them in five groups with different treatments to that if it relates to the additive use. Being a group it has controlled absent of additive, a group with butyric acid, a group with lactic acid, the fourth group with the association of butyric and lactic acids, and the fifth group with avilamicina (antibiotic) as promotional of traditionally used growth in the production of broilers. The performance results had indicated that the interaction of acid ones was significant in the initial phase, mean while did not occur an additive effect of acid ones, being the use of the butyric acid separately more recommendable during this phase. Already in the growth phase, the interaction was significant with an additive effect, recommending its use in the rations of growth. In accordance with the average headings of antibodies gotten in the study, the interaction was significant in the third sampling and showed a synergic effect of acid ones, being the combination of acids in question a powerful modulator of the humoral immunity. Meanwhile, the results gotten in the analyses of intestinal morfometric had not been conclusive. In general terms, one requires more organic acid studies that confirm the use of as the promotional ones of growth.

Evidências clínicas e experimentais mostram que a isquemia e reperfusão intestinal (I/R-intestinal) induz lesão pulmonar aguda (LPA) que, em casos mais graves, pode evoluir para a síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (SDRA). A LPA se caracteriza pela liberação de amplo espectro de mediadores inflamatórios, infiltração de neutrófilos e aumento de permeabilidade vascular. Sabe-se que mediadores inflamatórios gerados no local da I/R-intestinal são transportados pelo sistema linfático mesentérico e, ao atingirem o pulmão, contribuem para a LPA. A enzima heme oxigenase 1 (HO-1), exerce importante função na homeostasia celular, devido à sua ação catabólica sobre o grupo heme das hemoproteínas, gerando como subprodutos ferro, biliverdina e monóxido de carbono. Esses subprodutos possuem ação antiinflamatória, antioxidante e antiapoptótica. Todavia, o papel da HO-1 no controle da LPA causada pela I/R-intestinal ainda não está totalmente esclarecido. No presente estudo investigamos a expressão da HO-1 e o efeito de sua indução sobre as repercussões pulmonares decorrentes da I/R-intestinal. Para tanto, ratos machos Wistar (220-250 g) foram submetidos a 45 min de isquemia intestinal pela obstrução da artéria mesentérica superior e a 2 h de reperfusão. O grupo controle consistiu de animais falsamente operados (Sham). Ainda, a indução da HO-1 foi realizada pelo tratamento dos animais com o composto Hemin (10 mg/kg) 48 e 24 h antes da indução da I/R-intestinal. A I/R-intestinal aumentou a atividade pulmonar da mieloperoxidase (MPO) e o extravasamento do corante azul de Evans (AE) no pulmão. Os níveis de IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b elevaram no explante pulmonar (24 h) enquanto os de IL-10 foram reduzidos após a I/R-intestinal. Ainda, a I/R-intestinal diminui a expressão pulmonar da SOD-1 e promoveu aumento da expressão da iNOS. Os resultados obtidos revelam que a I/R-intestinal por si só não induziu a expressão gênica da enzima HO-1, porém o tratamento dos animais com Hemin elevou a sua expressão, a qual foi acompanhada pela redução da atividade pulmonar de MPO e do extravasamento do corante AE. Os elevados níveis pulmonares de IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b foram reduzidos pelo tratamento dos animais com o Hemin e houve elevação da IL-10 e VEGF no mesmo tecidos. A indução da HO-1 preveniu o aumento dos níveis de IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b e IL-10 e promoveu aumento dos níveis de VEGF na linfa dos animais. Com respeito ao sistema antioxidante, nossos dados indicaram que a indução da HO-1, parece estar relacionada com a elevação da expressão de SOD-1, SOD-2 e redução da expressão de iNOS. Concluindo, os dados obtidos permitem sugerir que a indução prévia da expressão de HO-1 controla a magnitude da lesão pulmonar causada pela I/R-intestinal por mecanismos envolvendo o aumento da atividade de parcela do sistema antioxidante e regulação do balanço entre a geração de citocinas antiinflamatórias e pró-inflamatórias no pulmão. / Clinical and experimental evidences have reported that intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R-intestinal) induces acute lung injury (ALI), which in severe cases can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The ALI is characterized by the release of a broad spectrum of inflammatory mediators, neutrophil infiltration and increased vascular permeability. It is known that inflammatory mediators generated at the site of I/R-intestinal are transported by the mesenteric lymphatic system and, on reaching the lung, contribute to the ALI. The enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) plays an important role in cellular homeostasis, due to its catabolic action on heme group of hemoproteins, forming as by-products such as iron, biliverdin and carbon monoxide. It is known that these by-products have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions. However, the role of HO-1 in the control of ALI caused by I/R-intestinal is not yet fully understood. In the present study we investigated the expression of HO-1 and the effects of its induction on pulmonary complications resulting from I/R-intestinal. So, male Wistar rats (220-250 g) were subjected to 45 min of intestinal ischemia by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and 2 h of reperfusion. The control group consisted of animals falsely operated (Sham). Still, the induction of HO-1 was performed by treating animals with the compound Hemin (10 mg/kg) 48 and 24 h before the induction of I/R-intestinal. The I/R-intestinal increased the pulmonary activity of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the extravasation of Evans blue dye (EB) in the lung. Levels of IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b increased in lung explant (24 h) while the IL-10 were reduced after I/R-intestinal. Further, the I/R-intestinal reduces pulmonary expression of SOD-1 and promoted the increase of iNOS expression. The results indicate that the I/R-intestinal alone did not induce gene expression of HO-1 enzyme, but the treatment of animals with Hemin increased its expression which was accompanied by reduction of pulmonary activity of MPO and extravasation of the dye EB. The high pulmonary levels of IL-1 were reduced by treatment of animals with Hemin and there was an increase of IL-10 and VEGF in the same tissue. The Induction of HO-1 prevented the increased levels of IL-<font face=\"Symbol\">b 1 and IL-10 and promoted increasing of the VEGF levels in the animals lymph. With respect to the antioxidant system, our data indicate that induction of HO-1, seems to be related to the elevation of expression of SOD-1, SOD-2 and reduction of iNOS expression. In conclusion, our data may suggest that prior induction of HO-1 expression controls the magnitude of lung injury caused by I/R-intestinal by mechanisms involving increased activity of a portion of the antioxidant system and regulation of the balance between generation anti-inflammatory cytokines and pro-inflammatory in the lung.

O baixo crescimento após o desmame ainda é um grande desafio na suinocultura. A queda no consumo de ração e o aparecimento de diarreias nos leitões desmamados são uma constante no manejo suinícola e estão diretamente relacionados com desempenho dos animais nesta fase. Estratégias como a utilização do cobre em níveis acima das exigências nutricionais dos leitões já são amplamente utilizadas nas dietas a fim de controlar a diarreia e melhorar o desempenho dos animais nessa fase. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar diferentes fontes de cobre (sulfato e cloreto de cobre tri-básico) e níveis deste mineral (125 e 200 mg/kg) no controle de diarreia, seus efeitos como melhorador desempenho e na morfologia intestinal de leitões no período de creche. Para a realização do experimento foram utilizados 96 leitões de linhagem comercial, desmamados com idade média de 21 dias e peso médio de 6,14 ± 0,269 kg. Os leitões foram divididos em 24 baias, sendo que cada unidade experimental foi composta por 4 animais, o delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2x2, os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância através do teste F a 5% de significância. Foram investigados o desempenho dos animais, a incidência de diarreia, e a morfometria intestinal. Pode-se concluir que o cloreto de cobre é uma fonte efetiva de cobre quando incluída na dieta de leitões desmamados a níveis farmacológicos, sendo tão eficaz quanto o sulfato de cobre como promotor de crescimento e no controle da diarreia. Além disso, pode-se inferir que a utilização do cloreto de cobre tem como vantagem uma maior concentração deste micro mineral. / Low growth after weaning still a big challenge in the swine production. The low feed intake and diarrhea in weaned pigs are a constant in swine management and are directly related to the performance of the animals at this stage. Strategies such as the use of copper at levels above the nutritional requirements of the piglets are already widely used in the diets to control diarrhea and improve animal performance. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate different sources of copper (copper sulfate and tri-basic copper chloride) and levels of this mineral (125 and 200 mg/kg) in the diarrhea control, their effects as growth promotor and the intestinal morphology of nursery piglets. For the trial, 96 commercial line piglets were used, they were weaned at 21 days of age in average with mean body weight of 6,14 ± 0,269 kg. The piglets were divided in 24 pens and each experimental unit was composed of 4 animals, the experimental design was a randomized complete block in factorial scheme 2x2, the data were submitted to analysis of variance through the F test at 5% of significance. The performance of the animals, incidence of diarrhea and intestinal morphometry were investigated. It was concluded that copper chloride is an effective source of copper when it is included in the diet of weaned pigs at pharmacological levels, this source seems to be nearly as efficacious as copper sulfate as growth promotor and in the diarrhea control. In addition, it can be inferred that the use of copper chloride has the advantage of a higher copper concentrarion is indicated since it brings a higher concentration of this trace mineral.