Este trabalho objetivou analisar os benefícios econômicos gerados pelos sistemas de produção agropecuária mistos, e também, avaliar o resultado econômico do sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária em Tangará da Serra, sudoeste do Estado de Mato Grosso. Na primeira etapa, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com artigos internacionais que obtiveram a análise do resultado econômico em sistemas de produção mistos em 16 países. Na segunda etapa, utilizou-se um modelo determinístico para avaliar a viabilidade econômica do sistema de agricultura convencional (Sistema I) versus o sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (Sistema II) no sudoeste de Mato Grosso. Ainda, aplicou-se um modelo estocástico para analisar o risco dos Sistema I e II. Os resultados obtidos comprovaram a mitigação do risco econômico quando utiliza-se sistemas de produção mistos, como a integração lavoura-pecuária. Porém, indicam que as principais limitações para a expansão desse sistema é a exigência de fatores de produção e a gestão na empresa rural. / This study aimed to analyze the economic benefits generated by mixed agricultural production systems and also to evaluate the economic results of integrated crop-livestock system in Tangara da Serra, southwest of Mato Grosso State. In the first step, a systematic review was performed with international articles that have achieved the economic analysis results in mixed production systems in 16 countries. In the second stage, we used a deterministic model to evaluate the economic viability of the conventional farming system (System I) versus the integrated crop-livestock system (System II) in the southwest of Mato Grosso. Still, it was applied a stochastic model for analyzing the risk of system I and II. The results proved the mitigation of economic risk when used mixed farming systems, such as integrated crop-livestock. However, indicate that the main constraints to the expansion of this system is the requirement for factors of production and management in rural business.

A pecuária é um setor do agronegócio que vêm se destacando na economia nacional. Com a intenção de amparar esta importante cadeia produtiva, a atuação dos serviços de fomento e defesa sanitária animal tornam-se cada vez mais necessárias. A compreensão integral do espaço sobre o qual estes serviços exercem sua influência, tornaria mais efetiva as estratégias de atuação frente aos problemas enfrentados. Em 2001, o Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária e Abastecimento realizou um estudo soroepidemiológico visando conhecer a situação epidemiológica da brucelose bovina em 14 Unidades Federativas. O trabalho incluiu um questionário epidemiológico aplicado na intenção de avaliar os possíveis fatores de risco para a doença nos rebanhos. O mesmo possibilitou a realização de uma análise descritiva da pecuária em diversas regiões. Os resultados demonstraram que a cadeia produtiva no país é altamente heterogênea, revelando diferenças significativas mesmo dentro dos Estados. De maneira geral, as frequências encontradas a respeito de investimento em tecnologia, intensificação dos manejos, utilização da inseminação artificial, utilização de raças especializadas, e participação de assistência veterinária, demonstrou-se crescente à medida que se avança em direção às Unidades Federativas da região Sul. A comercialização de reprodutores demonstrou-se intensa e realizada diretamente entre as propriedades. O comércio informal do leite e da carne bovina ainda corresponde por uma parcela significativa do mercado. Tendo em vista a escassez de projetos com este foco, reflete-se a respeito da necessidade de outros projetos deste tipo, considerando que os cenários em que as criações estão inseridas, deveriam ser tomados como ponto de partida na elaboração de estratégias de atuação frente aos problemas encontrados no setor. / Livestock is an agribusiness sector highlighted in the current national economy. With the intention of supporting this important activity, the performance of animal health promotion and defense services become increasingly necessary. With a full understanding of the environment on which these services exert its influence, strategies actions to minimize the problems faced become more effective. In 2001, the Ministry of Livestock Agriculture conducted a seroepidemiological study aiming to explore the epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis in 14 Federal Units. The study included an epidemiological questionnaire which objective was to assess the possible risk factors for disease in livestock. It also allowed the development of a descriptive analysis of livestock breeding and raising in various regions. The results showed that the productive chain in Brazil is highly heterogeneous, revealing significant differences even within the same state. In general, frequencies of investment in technology, management practices, use of artificial insemination, use of specialized breeds, and veterinary care, increases as one moves toward the Federal Units located in the South of Brazil. The sale of breeding proved to be intense and conducted directly between the properties. The informal trade of milk and beef still accounts for a significant portion of the market. Given the lack of projects with this focus, the need for other projects of this type appears to be relevant when one considers that the scenarios in which the creations are found should be the starting point to develop strategies to act face the problems found in the industry.

Este trabalho objetivou analisar os benefícios econômicos gerados pelos sistemas de produção agropecuária mistos, e também, avaliar o resultado econômico do sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária em Tangará da Serra, sudoeste do Estado de Mato Grosso. Na primeira etapa, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com artigos internacionais que obtiveram a análise do resultado econômico em sistemas de produção mistos em 16 países. Na segunda etapa, utilizou-se um modelo determinístico para avaliar a viabilidade econômica do sistema de agricultura convencional (Sistema I) versus o sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (Sistema II) no sudoeste de Mato Grosso. Ainda, aplicou-se um modelo estocástico para analisar o risco dos Sistema I e II. Os resultados obtidos comprovaram a mitigação do risco econômico quando utiliza-se sistemas de produção mistos, como a integração lavoura-pecuária. Porém, indicam que as principais limitações para a expansão desse sistema é a exigência de fatores de produção e a gestão na empresa rural. / This study aimed to analyze the economic benefits generated by mixed agricultural production systems and also to evaluate the economic results of integrated crop-livestock system in Tangara da Serra, southwest of Mato Grosso State. In the first step, a systematic review was performed with international articles that have achieved the economic analysis results in mixed production systems in 16 countries. In the second stage, we used a deterministic model to evaluate the economic viability of the conventional farming system (System I) versus the integrated crop-livestock system (System II) in the southwest of Mato Grosso. Still, it was applied a stochastic model for analyzing the risk of system I and II. The results proved the mitigation of economic risk when used mixed farming systems, such as integrated crop-livestock. However, indicate that the main constraints to the expansion of this system is the requirement for factors of production and management in rural business.

Este trabalho trata do avanço do cultivo de soja sobre novas áreas na porção sul do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, onde está localizado o Pampa. O objetivo desta pesquisa é identificar e entender as causas e as consequências do expressivo aumento de áreas plantadas de soja no Pampa gaúcho. Para isso, foram definidos municípios que melhor evidenciam esta recente transformação, além do estabelecimento de conceitos chave para o entendimento deste processo e dos responsáveis por tal. Além disso, foi realizado um breve histórico da presença da soja no Rio Grande do Sul, onde a modernização da agricultura e o surgimento das sementes transgênicas tiveram um importante papel para o avanço deste cultivo pelo estado. Com este panorama é feita uma comparação entre o avanço da soja no norte e sul do estado, pelo qual foi possível constatar que a presença de colonos acostumados com a produção em grande escala de trigo no planalto gaúcho favoreceu a implantação do cultivo antes na porção norte do que na sul. O Pampa esteve, por muito tempo, condicionado a uma série de fatores que impossibilitavam o aumento das áreas de lavoura de soja e, só depois do surgimento e da disseminação do Sistema de Plantio Direto, este quadro se modificou. A partir de algumas teorias foram selecionados alguns atores importantes para o entendimento do que vem acontecendo na região do Pampa e, através de entrevistas com produtores e demais atores, nos municípios selecionados, foram constatados alguns resultados da pesquisa como identificação de grande quantidade de produtores vindos de outras regiões do estado e que as compras de máquinas, implementos e insumos são feitas em municípios vizinhos movimentando a economia de centros já consolidados no setor de serviços. Contudo, este trabalho também traça algumas tendências para as regiões produtoras de soja, por exemplo, a busca por nichos de mercado mais rentáveis, seja com a produção de novos cultivos de grãos ou com a produção de orgânicos. / This work approach the advancement of soybean cultivation into new areas in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, where is located the Pampa. The objective of this research is to identify and understand the causes and consequences of the significant increase in areas planted to soybeans in Pampa. For this, we defined municipalities that best show this recent transformation, beyond the establishment of key concepts for the understanding of this process and those responsible for such. In addition, there was a brief history of the presence of soy in Rio Grande do Sul, where the modernization of agriculture and the emergence of transgenic seeds had an important role in the advancement of this growing state. With this scenario a comparison is made between the advance of soybeans in northern and south of the state, by which it was established that the presence of farmers accustomed to large-scale production of wheat in the gaucho upland favored the deployment of cultivation before at the north than in the south. The Pampa, has long been conditioned to a number of factors that made it impossible to increase the soybean crop areas and only after the emergence and spread of Tillage System, this frame could be modified. From some theories some key players were selected to the understanding of what is happening in the Pampa region, and through interviews with producers and other actors, from selected municipalities, were found some search results as the identification of large numbers of producers coming other regions of the state and that purchases of machinery, implements and inputs are made in neighboring municipalities moving the economy centers already established in the service sector. However, this paper also outlines some trends for the soybean growing regions, for example, the search for the most profitable market niches, either by producing new varieties of grain or organic production.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-04-07T15:59:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Diego Loiola Dourado.pdf: 1024825 bytes, checksum: 67f08d727f1ecf918df9ce46fd421c39 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-07T15:59:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Diego Loiola Dourado.pdf: 1024825 bytes, checksum: 67f08d727f1ecf918df9ce46fd421c39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-30 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Pasture management depends on several factors, including the replacement of the nutrient and adopted stocking rate. Replacement of nutrients to the system will depend on soil conditions and nutritional requirements of the species and management must be carried through in accordance with the forage, animal and pasture conditions. This study evaluated elephant grass under grazing conditions and managed under different N fertilization and stocking rates. The experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA) during two growing seasons. The objective was to evaluate the effect of three stocking rates (2, 3.9 and 5.8 AU / ha) and three nitrogen levels (0, 150 and 300 kg N / ha / year) on qualitative and quantitative response variables of elephant grass cv. IRI-381 pastures. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with split plots. Stocking rate was the main plot and N fertilization level the split-plot. The following quantitative variables were evaluated: pre-grazing herbage mass, botanical composition and soil cover. Qualitative variables determined included DM and OM samples collected from representative samples from each subplot. The N, P, K in plant tissues, as well as the „in vitro‟ dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were determined from hand-plucked samples. Leaf area index (LAI), light interception (LI) and leaf angles (LA) were evaluated at pre- and post-grazing. Nitrogen fertilization at 300 kg N / ha at 2 AU / ha resulted in the highest values of herbage mass. Post-grazing LAI was affected by stocking rate, decreasing its value with increasing stocking rate over the course of two years of grazing. Plant height cannot be considered a good indicator to correlate with light interception on grazed elephant grass pastures due to low R2=0.0126. The increase in stocking rate provides a decrease in the presence of elephant grass in the botanical composition. Increasing N fertilization level results in higher plant tissue N concentration in hand-plucked samples. Nutritive value of elephant grass IRI - 381 suffered direct influence of nitrogen fertilization and different stocking rates, with higher levels of nutrients in the dosage of 300 kg N / ha and the lowest rate of 2 AU / ha, over time in grazing conditions in the „Zona da Mata‟ of Pernambuco. / O manejo de uma pastagem depende de vários fatores, dentre eles da reposição de nutrientes ao sistema e da taxa de lotação animal utilizada. A reposição dos nutrientes ao sistema vai depender das condições do solo e da exigência nutricional das espécies, enquanto que o manejo deverá ser realizado de acordo com a espécie forrageira, do animal e das condições físicas e estruturais da pastagem. Essa pesquisa avaliou o capim elefante sob condições de pastejo e sob diferentes níveis de adubação nitrogenada e lotação animal. O experimento foi conduzido na Estação Experimental do Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco (IPA), ao longo de duas estações de crescimento. O objetivo foi avaliar o efeito de três lotações animais (2; 3,9 e 5,8 UA/ha) e três níveis de adubação nitrogenada (0, 150 e 300 kg N/ha/ano) sobre características qualitativas e quantitativas do capim elefante cv. IRI-381. Foi utilizado delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas, tendo como parcela principal a lotação animal e, a subparcela, os níveis de adubação nitrogenada. Como variáveis quantitativas foram avaliadas a massa de forragem pré pastejo, a composição botânica e a cobertura do solo. Para as variáveis qualitativas foram determinados os teores de MS e MO de amostras coletadas do padrão médio de cada subparcela. Em amostras de pastejo simulado determinaram-se os teores de N, P, K e a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS). Também foi avaliado o índice de área foliar, interceptação luminosa e ângulos foliares médios do pasto no pré e pós pastejo. A adubação nitrogenada ao nível de 300 kg de N/ha/ano, associada à taxa de lotação de 2 UA/ha proporcionaram os maiores valores de massa de forragem no pré pastejo. O IAF pós pastejo foi influenciado pelas diferentes taxas de lotação, sendo os valores médios reduzidos com o aumento da taxa de lotação e o decorrer das duas estações de pastejo. A altura da planta não pode ser considerada um bom indicativo para se correlacionar com a interceptação luminosa em pastagem de capim elefante, devido ao baixo valor de R2 observado (0,0126). O aumento da taxa de lotação proporcionou decréscimo na participação do capim elefante na composição botânica da pastagem. O aumento dos níveis de adubação nitrogenada proporcionou teores mais altos de nitrogênio nas amostras de pastejo simulado. O valor nutritivo do capim elefante IRI - 381 sofreu influência direta da adubação nitrogenada e das diferentes taxas de lotação, com teores mais altos dos nutrientes na dosagem de 300 kg de N/ha e na menor taxa de 2 UA/ha, ao longo do tempo nas condições de pastejo na Zona da Mata Pernambucana.

Analisando a entrada significativa de turistas nas fazendas de criação extensiva de gado bovino no Pantanal de Aquidauana/MS, na tentativa de conhecer melhor o espaço, nos últimos anos, foram realizadas entrevistas com pantaneiros/as, sempre observados no seu dia-a-dia. Procurou-se verificar então, através de literatura específica e da observação do comportamento sócio-ambiental dos atores locais, se houve alguma influência e/ou alteração deste comportamento em relação às informações externas chegadas através dos turistas, por meio desta recente atividade iniciada na fazenda. Após diversas visitas à região de Aquidauana, no Mato Grosso do Sul, para estudos científicos, procurou-se identificar possíveis mudanças que pudessem ter ocorrido a partir do início da década de 1990, em relação à interferência na cultura tradicional dos pantaneiros da região fazendeiros, peões, as mulheres destes, suas famílias - em virtude de, nesta época, o turismo ecológico ter começado a entrar com mais força na região, pois, até então, apenas o chamado turismo de pesca era praticado. Também neste mesmo período um marketing maciço direcionado para o turismo no Pantanal teve início, devido à grande projeção que obteve a novela Pantanal, exibida pela extinta Rede Manchete. Desde então, tradicionais fazendas de criação extensiva de gado começaram a receber turistas tanto do Brasil como também do exterior. O turismo ecológico começa a entrar com força na região. / Analyzing the significant entry of tourists in the farms involved in cattle raising in Pantanal de Aquidauana/MS, in order to know the space better, in the last few years, interviews have been made with the pantaneiros/as, always focused on the day by day. Then attempts to verify, through the specific literature and the observation of the natives socio-environmental behavior, if had suffered some influence or alteration of this behavior regarding external information, which came with the tourists, through this recent activity that has begun on the farm. After several visits to Aquidauanas region, Mato Grosso do Sul, to scientific studies, sought to identify possible changes that might have occurred since the beginning of the 1990s, in relation to the interference of the pantaneiros traditional culture farmers, pawns, their wives, their families since at this time, the eco tourism had started to come stronger in the region, because, until then, only the fishing tourism was practiced. Also in the same period, a mass marketing directed to Pantanals tourism had begun, because of the huge projection that achieved with the soap opera, Pantanal, showed by the extinct Rede Manchete. Since then, traditional farms involved in cattle raising had begun to welcome tourists both in Brazil and abroad. The eco tourism begin to come powerfull in the region.

Quando a cidade de Corumbá foi fundada no século XVIII demorou muito tempo para encontrar sua vocação econômica. Assim, dentro das referências revisadas para a elaboração deste trabalho desta tese, não houve constatação de uma vocação econômica específica que tenha relevância pelo menos até os 50 primeiros anos do século XIX, só a partir daí, é que a economia corumbaense teve um rumo, quando prevalece o comércio para a extração de excedente e na qual existe uma articulação devido à navegação e a comunicação com os portos principais da Bacia do Prata. Fato diferente ao acontecido com a cidade logo após o conflito bélico. A delimitação temporal estabelecida para este projeto de pesquisa obedece a alguns critérios adotados para sua definição. A delimitação inicial do período, 1870, se justifica em razão do fim da guerra da Tríplice Aliança, evento este que teve uma relevância marcante para esta região do Brasil, porque foi ocupada pelas tropas paraguaias deixando um rastro de destruição e desolação por toda Corumbá, isso ocorreu justamente no momento em que a cidade estava definindo a sua vocação econômica. Já a escolha do ano de 1914 se deve a alguns fatos como a chegada ao Pantanal a estrada de ferro Noroeste do Brasil, que à época se estendia até as margens do Rio Paraguai, a 70 quilômetros de Corumbá. O clima pantaneiro favorece uma adaptação à atividade pecuária, assim a introdução do gado no início do século XVIII, a atividade pecuária encontrou no sul de Mato Grosso as condições climáticas e ecológicas propícias à sua reprodução e proporcionou a fixação da população em torno das grandes fazendas de criação. Desta maneira, a grande parte riqueza desta parte do Mato Grosso foi o gado, base de sua economia no início do povoamento e também foi o fator de articulação da economia incipiente no Pantanal em Corumbá, quando a atividade agrícola ainda era restrita à zona litoral do país. Esta articulação consiste na ligação com outros setores econômicos. Desta forma, o setor primário consiste na própria exploração da atividade pecuária. No setor secundário estavam as charqueadas que, apesar de não apresentarem uma transformação completa da matéria-prima em outro produto, propiciam agregação de valor à carne. E no setor terciário, a distribuição dos produtos que se daria, num primeiro momento, pela via fluvial e mais adiante, pela ferroviária nos principais centros consumidores. Outros produtos passaram pelo porto corumbaense, mas o mais importante foi borracha, ambos comercializados tanto visando o mercado externo, assim como a importação de produtos para toda a região do Mato Grosso. / When the city of Corumba was founded in the 18th century, it took a long time for finding its economic vocation. Thus, among the references herein revised, we found no evidence of a specific and relevant vocation at least until the first 50 years of the 19th century. From that moment on, the corumbaense economy took a direction towards the commerce of the extractions, articulated by the navigation growth and the communication among the main harbors of the Prata river basin, what differs from what happened to the city right after the war. The temporal limits herein established followed some criteria and the starting point of 1870 was chosen for marking the end of the War of Triple Alliance, whose event was strongly relevant for this Brazilian region because the troops occupation of the territories brought together a trail of destruction and desolation all over Corumba city, what happened when the economic vocation was being chosen. The year of 1914 closed the period of research. It coincided with the arrival of the railroad Noroeste do Brasil [Northeast of Brazil], which, at that time, reached the margins of Paraguay river, 70 km away from Corumba. The pantanalian climate favored the adaptation of livestock activity, which dated the beginning of the 18th century, especially in south of the Mato Grosso state, whose climate and ecologic conditions were propitious to reproduction, proportioning the formation of a new villages around the big livestock farms. Thus, the great wealth of this part of the state was based on livestock, which was the basis of the economy during the population settlement and were the main economic factor of the in both Pantanal and Corumba regions in a period which the agriculture was still restricted to the coastal areas of Brazil,whose articulation was bonded to other economic sectors. Thus, the primary sector consisted on the livestock itself. The secondary sector was formed by the charqueadas [area destined to jerk beef maturation] which, although showed no modification on the raw materials, added financial value to the meat. The tertiary sector was the distribution of the products to consume centers, firstly done by waterways and later by railways. Other products were commercialized on corumbaense harbor the most important one was the rubber and their destination were both the foreign market and the importation around Mato Grosso state.

Research was undertaken to investigate the demographics of the pet population in a local community. A sample of the general dog population and owners was then compared with a sample of relinquished dogs and their surrendering owners, to identify dog and household characteristics associated with canine relinquishment to an animal welfare centre (AWC). The investigation was carried out in Strathclyde Region, Scotland. A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted to establish the pet owning status of a randomly selected sample of households. The dog and cat populations were then estimated by extrapolation of results to local census data. Using an area based approach, the association between deprivation, community setting and pet ownership were assessed using available census data. A Geographical Information System approach was applied to the data to display the spatial distribution of pet ownership in Strathclyde Region. Dog owning households identified by the telephone survey were invited to participate in a second study. This case-control study compared information regarding dog and household characteristics of these successful owners (controls), with a sample of unsuccessful dog owners and their pets (cases). The control sample was assessed by mailed questionnaire. Case households were selected by AWC staff at the time of relinquishment and data collected using self-administered questionnaires. Results revealed that 36.1% of households were pet owners, with dogs and cats being the most prevalent species owned. The canine population of Strathclyde Region was estimated to be 248,649 and the feline population estimated to be 170,044. These dogs and cats were owned by an estimated 185,589 and 121,235 households, respectively. Deprivation and urban communities were negatively associated with pet ownership. A sample of 360 of the dog owning households agreed to participate in the second study. Based on a response rate of 89.2%, 321 of these households returned usable questionnaires. Comparison of data from these questionnaires with data obtained from 49 case households revealed that several factors were associated with relinquishment. Although certain dog characteristics were identified as important, most of the predisposing characteristics were owner-related. Uneducated, inexperienced dog owners who impulsively acquired their dog for little cost, were more likely to relinquish their pet after a short duration of ownership because of inappropriate care expectations, lack of planning and the dog failing to meet their expectations. Surprisingly, dog behavioural problems were no more prevalent in relinquished animals. These data were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. Variables retained in the final model associated with relinquishment included ownership of a small mammal pet, no history of previous pet ownership, young dogs, mixed breed dogs, lack of veterinary care, short duration of residence in the present home and absence of a garden. The study identified several risk factors associated with canine relinquishment, many of which could potentially be modified to decrease the numbers of animals abandoned at AWCs. Use of the multivariable logistic regression model could enable the assessment of the likelihood of future relinquishment. In particular, application of the model in AWCs could decrease the number of adopted dogs that are subsequently relinquished.

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, has a debilitating effect on the livestock industry worldwide, owing to its being a vector of the causative agents of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. In South Africa, co-infestation of livestock with R. microplus and R. decoloratus occurs. An alternative to chemical control methods is sought in the form of an anti-tick vaccine. Using microarray technology, this study aimed at identifying genes that are shared between midgut tissues of adult female R. microplus and R. decoloratus ticks. In addition, results from another study were used and a reverse vaccinology pipeline was devised to identify putative novel vaccine candidates. Using a custom oligonucleotide microarray comprising 13 477 R. microplus sequences, 2476 genes were found to be shared between the two abovementioned tick species. In addition, 136 were found to be more abundantly expressed in R. decoloratus and 1084 in R. microplus. Chi-square analysis revealed that genes involved in lipid transport and metabolism are significantly over-represented in R. microplus and R. decoloratus. With vaccine design in mind, considering genes that are expressed in the midgut of both tick species, 6730 genes were identified and of these, 1224 are predicted to contain membrane-spanning helices. One major limitation to anti-tick vaccine discovery in the past has been a lack of candidates to evaluate, combined with limited knowledge of the transcriptome of R. microplus. This study identified a large pool of transcripts that are expressed in the midgut of both R. microplus and R. decoloratus adult females. Of these, those that are expressed in larvae, nymphs and the midgut were identified in another study and an in silico pipeline was used to predict membrane-bound protective antigens using an alignment-free approach, which led to the identification of seven proteins that were predicted to be both glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored and more likely than Bm86 to be protective antigens. Finally, epitopes were predicted and corresponding synthetic peptides were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), resulting in the identification of three epitopes that are recognized to a greater extent than previously published Bm86 epitopes, when using murine serum raised against membrane proteins from the midgut of R. microplus. These results are significant because novel R. microplus proteins that are also present in R. decoloratus were identified. Trials using recombinant protein are under way and this will ultimately validate the experimental methodology discussed in this dissertation. Finally, regardless of whether the next-generation anti-tick vaccine has been discovered, this study also led to the identification of novel reference genes that can be used for real-time PCR experiments. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Biochemistry / Unrestricted

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Ronaldo G. Maghirang / This research was conducted to investigate the potential of charged-water spray in controlling dust in livestock buildings. Specific objectives were to: (1) develop a method to measure the electrostatic charge of airborne particles; (2) characterize the size distribution and charge of airborne particles in a livestock building; (3) evaluate the effectiveness of charged-water spray in controlling dust concentration in enclosed spaces under laboratory conditions; (4) model the effectiveness of charged-water spray in controlling dust in an enclosed building; and (5) develop and evaluate an electrostatically-assisted particulate wet scrubber (EAPWS). A dynamic Faraday-cage sampler was developed for measuring the net charge-to-mass ratio of particles. The device involves collecting particles on a filter and measuring the charge induced. The sampler was calibrated and then used to measure the charge of dispersed particles (i.e., corn starch, NaHCO3, positively charged water spray, negatively charged water spray, and uncharged water spray). The corresponding net charge-to-mass ratios were -0.11 (SD=0.07), +0.20 (0.001), +7.24 (1.6), -6.47 (0.9), and -0.30 (0.12) mC/kg. Characterization of dust in a swine building showed mean dust concentration of 0.89 (SD=0.45) mg/m3, geometric mean diameter of particles of 9.34 μm, and geometric standard deviation of 2.11. The Faraday-cage sampler was also used in the swine building; the net charge-to-mass ratio of particles was +0.68 mC/kg (SD=0.31 mC/kg). The effectiveness of charged-water spray in reducing dust concentration was investigated in an experimental chamber. Test particles (i.e., corn starch, NaHCO3) were dispersed into the chamber and then charged water was sprayed into the chamber. The charged-water spray was significantly more effective than either the uncharged-water spray or no water spray. The removal efficiency of the charged water spray (4 min spray duration, 120 mL/min), based on mass, ranged from 88% to 92% for particles ≤ 10 µm equivalent aerodynamic diameter (EAD) and from 34% to 70% for particles ≤ 2.5 µm EAD. A model based on coagulation was used to predict the particle concentration after spraying of charged water. Predicted values of concentration and removal efficiency agreed well with measured values. A prototype EAPWS was also developed. Laboratory and field evaluations of the EAPWS indicated that it had significantly higher particle removal efficiency than either the control (i.e., no water spray) or the uncharged wet scrubber.