Serum cortisol, lactate and creatinine concentrations in Thoroughbred fillies of different ages and states of training

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Gonadal function arrest in fillies after birth, as reflected by steroid serum concentrations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da reação em cadeia pela polimerase para diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral em sangue de cães

Canine and human visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in several States of Brazil, and it is associated with infected dogs and the presence of the vector. Aiming at using polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic tool in dogs, we amplified a 120bp fragment from kDNA of Leishmania spp. by PCR in blood samples. The lower detection limit observed was 0.1 parasites per 500 mu L of blood, which is a highly satisfactory result. on the other hand, PCR evaluation in 166 blood samples of dogs from Poxoreo, MS, Brazil, resulted in 55% sensitivity and 66.3% specificity, considering indirect imunnofluorescent test as gold standard.

Oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils in sheep treated with sodium monensin and experimentally submitted to ruminal acidosis.

Ruminal acidosis is due to excessive ingestion of carbohydrates of rapid fermentation without previous adaptation of the microorganisms, causing severe metabolic disturbances to the animals. The objective of the present study was to assess the neutrophilic oxidative metabolism in sheep treated with sodium monensin in experimentally induced ruminal lactic acidosis. A total of 18 male sheep, half-bred (ideal x Merino), fistulated in the rumen, were used; nine of them received 33 mg/kg of the ionophore diet per day, for 30 days; the others were controls. The acidosis was induced by supplying 15g of sucrose/kg of body weight. The clinical evaluation and the rumen and blood samples were obtained before (0h) and at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours post-induction. In both groups, all the animals presented clinical manifestations of ruminal lactic acidosis 6 hours after the induction. From this period on, a significant pH decrease (P<0.05) was observed in the ruminal fluid, which reached levels below 5. There were relevant differences (P<0.05) between the groups 12 hours after the induction, when the sheep treated with monensin had higher values than those of the control group. During this period, the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils remained inhibited, and the reestablishment of this function only occurred in the sheep which received monensin. Blood pH, plasmatic glucose and the ionizable calcium suffered alterations within its levels. The seric cortisol concentration rose significantly (P<0.05) in both groups, although differences (P<0.05) between them were found at the end of the observation period. The treatment with monensin did not influence the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils inhibited by the lactic acidosis; however, a faster recovery of this metabolism was verified in the animals treated with the ionophore.

Clinical, histological and immunophenotypic findings in a mare with a mammary lymphoma associated with anaemia and pruritus

An 18-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented with an 18 week history of dermatological lesions characterised by recurrent urticaria and recent signs of enlarged mammary glands, pyrexia, alopecia and intense pruritus. Haematological and serum biochemical analyses revealed anaemia, leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia and hyperfibrinogenaemia. Mammary discharge was evaluated and revealed neutrophilia. Cytological examinations of fine needle aspirates from the parotid lymph nodes were normal. Common causes of anaemia were ruled out by specific tests. The initial diagnosis was mastitis and 2 weeks later the animal returned to the hospital with worsening of clinical signs, intermittent fever, intense pruritus and generalised alopecia. Blood samples were collected for haematological and serum biochemical analyses, and the mammary gland and parotid lymph nodes were biopsied. Rectal palpation revealed a large irregular mass near the left kidney with adhesions of surrounding structures. The animal died before the laboratory results were ready. This report details the clinical, histological and immunophenotypic findings of a case of large lymphoma in a mare.

Transferência de imunidade passiva em bezerros das raças Nelore e Limousin e proteinograma sérico nos primeiros quatro meses de vida

Com o objetivo de investigar alguns aspectos relacionados à transferência de imunidade passiva em bovinos de corte, foram selecionados 90 bezerros aparentemente sadios, 45 da raça Nelore e 45 da raça Limousin, distribuídos em 3 grupos (com 15 bezerros cada) de acordo com o número de parições de suas mães: primeira cria; segunda cria; e terceira ou mais crias. Amostras de sangue foram colhidas de cada bezerro entre 24 e 36 horas de vida e com 15, 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias. Determinaram-se as concentrações de proteína total no soro (PT) e no plasma (PPT), a atividade sérica da gamaglutamiltransferase (GGT), e as concentrações séricas de albumina, alfa, beta e gamaglobulinas por eletroforese em gel de agarose e de IgG estimada por meio do método de turvação pelo sulfato de zinco. Empregou-se a análise de variância bifatorial para as variáveis mensuradas na primeira colheita. O comportamento das variáveis em função da idade foi estudado por meio da análise de variância de medidas repetidas. Correlações foram estabelecidas entre as variáveis. A transferência de imunidade passiva foi bem sucedida nos bezerros de ambas as raças e o número de parições das mães não interferiu no processo. As concentrações mais elevadas de gamaglobulinas ao término do primeiro dia de vida declinaram até valores mínimos aos 60 dias. A partir dessa idade, a elevação conseqüente à produção ativa de anticorpos foi mais precoce nos bezerros taurinos e mais lenta nos zebuínos. A gamaglobulina, ao término do primeiro dia de vida, correlacionou-se com as seguintes variáveis: IgG (r=0,859), PPT (r=0,807), PT (r=0,811) e GGT (r=0,399). O fator etário exerceu efeito sobre todas as variáveis mensuradas. As variações das proteínas séricas obedeceram a um padrão de comportamento fisiológico ao longo dos quatro primeiros meses de vida, de forma geral, não distinto em taurinos e zebuínos.

Parâmetros hemogasométricos e equilíbrio ácido-básico de cabritos nascidos de partos normais

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Índices de falha de transferência de imunidade passiva (FTIP) em bezerros holandeses e nelores, às 24 e 48 horas de vida: valores de proteína total, de gamaglobulina, de imunoglobulina G e da atividade sérica de gamaglutamiltransferase, para o diagnóstico de FTIP

Com o objetivo de determinar os índices de falha de transferência de imunidade em bezerros holandeses e nelores foram selecionadas, aleatoriamente, 413 amostras sanguíneas de animais de ambas as raças. Os filhos de vacas pluríparas e os bezerros holandeses apresentaram maiores níveis séricos de proteína total, da fração gamaglobulina e de IgG, do que bezerros da raça Nelore. Contudo, os índices de falha de transferência de imunidade passiva foram mais elevados nos animais da raça Holandesa, às 24 e 48 horas de idade. Estabeleceram-se valores de alguns componentes séricos para o diagnóstico de falha de transferência de imunidade passiva, de acordo com o desafio antigênico ambiental.

Diagnóstico de falha de transferência de imunidade passiva em bezerros através da determinação de proteína total e de suas frações eletroforéticas, imunoglobulinas g e m e da atividade da gama glutamil transferase no soro sangüíneo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparison between ELISA using total antigen and immunochromatography with antigen rK39 in the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of neonatal castration and androgenization on sexual dimorphism in bone, leptin and corticosterone secretion

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of periodontal treatment on metabolic control, systemic inflammation and cytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estrous behavior and the estrus-to-ovulation interval in Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) with natural estrus or estrus induced with prostaglandin F2 alpha or norgestomet and estradiol valerate

Estrous behavior and the estrus-to-ovulation interval are essential for estimating the best time to artificially inseminate cattle. Because these parameters are not well characterized in the Nelore breed (Bos indicus), the main purpose of the this study was to determine the estrus-to-ovulation interval in Nelore heifers and cows with natural estrus or with estrus induced by treatments with PGF2 alpha or norgestomet and estradiol valerate (NEV). The cows and heifers were observed continuously (24 h a day) to determine the onset of estrus and to study estrous behavior in the cows. Ten hours after the start of estrus the ovaries were scanned every 2 h by ultrasonography to monitor the dominant follicle until ovulation. Blood samples were collected periodically to determine progesterone levels by RIA. Administration of PGF2 alpha (2 injections, 11 days apart) did not induce estrus in most Nelore females in spite of the presence of functional CL, indicated by progesterone concentrations above 6.0 ng/ml in 25 of 28 animals. Treatment with NEV induced high sexual receptivity in cows (10/11), but only 66% ovulated. Cows with natural or induced estrus exhibited behavioral estrus of 10.9 +/- 1.4 h, and ovulation occurred 26.6 +/- 0.44 h (n = 26) after the onset of estrus. In most of the cows (53.8%) estrus began at night (between 1801 and 600 h), and 34.6% it started and finished during the night. It is concluded that in Nelore females ovulation occurs approximately 26 h after the onset of estrus. Additionally, estrous behavior is shorter than in European breeds, and there is a high incidence of estrus at night, which makes it difficult to detect and, consequently, impairs Al in Nelore cattle. The observation that a high percentage of Nelore females with an active CL did not respond to usual dosages of PGF2 alpha warrants further investigation. (C) 1998 by Elsevier B.V.

Occurrence of feline immunodeficiency virus infection in cats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Field study on nematode resistance in Nelore-breed cattle

The present study evaluated Nelore cattle with different degrees of resistance to natural infections by gastrointestinal nematodes. One hundred weaned male cattle, 11-12 months of age, were kept on the same pasture and evaluated from October 2003 to February 2004. Faecal and blood samples were collected for parasitological, haematological and immunological tests. In February 2004, the 10 most resistant and the 10 most susceptible animals were selected based on individual means of nematode faecal egg counts (FEC). Such animals were slaughtered for worm burden determination and nematode species identification. The repeatability estimates for FEC (+/- S.D.), log-transformed FEC and packed-cell volume (PCV) in all animals were 0.3 (+/- 0.05), 0.26 (+/- 0.04) and 0.42 (+/- 0.05), respectively. The resistant group showed lower FEC and worm burdens than the susceptible group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups regarding mean body weight, weight gain, PCV and total serum protein values (P > 0.05). The resistant group showed higher total serum IgE levels (P < 0.05) and higher mean eosinophil blood counts. However, the latter was statistically significant only 42 days after the beginning of the study. Nematodes Cooperia punctata and Haemonchus placei were predominant and the correlation between Cooperia and Haemonchus burdens was 0.64 (P < 0.05), which indicated that animals presenting increased numbers of one of those genera probably had increased numbers of the other. The current study provides further evidence of IgE active role in nematode immunity and suggests that total serum IgE level might serve as an additional marker to select Nelore cattle that are responsive to H. placei and C. punctata infections. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.