Resistance of Santa Inês and Ile de France suckling lambs to gastrointestinal nematode infections.

A trial was carried out to determine the resistance to natural infection by gastrointestinal nematodes in 12 Santa Inês and nine Ile de France lambs before weaning. Faecal samples were obtained for faecal nematode egg counts (FEC). Blood samples were collected to determine packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma protein levels and peripheral eosinophil counts. Most Ile de France lambs (77.8%) were treated with an anthelmintic at 43 days of age, while 50% off Santa Inês lambs were treated at weaning, 57 days of age. The mean PCV values were normal in Santa Inês lambs, while in Ile de France lambs showed lower values reaching 22.3% at 43 days of age. The lowest mean plasma protein values were observed in Ile de France lambs (4.13 g/dl) at 43 days of age and in Santa Inês lambs (5.0 g/dl) at 57 days of age. Before weaning, Santa Inês lambs were susceptible to natural infections by gastrointestinal nematodes but with a greater capacity to stand the adverse effects of parasitism compared to Ile de France lambs.

Distribution of antibodies against Neospora caninum, BVDV and BHV-1 among cows in brazilian dairy herds with reproductive disorders.

Neospora caninum, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV-1) are worldwide spread pathogens associated with reproductive problems in cattle. The present work aimed to observe the infection pattern of these three pathogens in two dairy herds with distinct reproductive managements from Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The herds were not vaccinated against either N. caninum, BVDV or BHV-1. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for presence of specific antibodies, and N. caninum IgG avidity was measured in N. caninum positive samples. In herd 1, 34 out of 174 sampled cows (20%) had antibodies to N. caninum and the seropositivity of BVDV and BHV-1 were 62% and 86%, respectively. Of 69 sampled cows in herd 2. 7 (10%) had antibodies to N. caninum, and 49% and 39% were seropositive to BVDV and BHV-1, respectively. The IgG avidity profiles indicated that N. caninum had been present in both herds for some years and that herd 1 had an ongoing horizontal spread of the parasite. The results indicate that the studied reproductive pathogens were present in the herds and partly may have contributed to their reproductive problems.

Influence of the physiological state on infestation by Rhipicephalus microplus in dairy cows

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of physiological state, season, breed, number of lactations, dairy productivity, and stocking rate on infestation by Rhipicephalus microplus in dairy cows. Two hundred cows were selected through proportional representative sampling at the Seropédica Experimental Station (Pesagro-Rio), Brazil. Fully or partially engorged R. microplus females measuring between 4.5 and 8.0. mm were counted on the right side of each animal. The tick infestation prevalence data were analyzed in relation to the risk factors, using multiple logistic regression. Associations between prevalence and its possible influencing determinants were measured using odds ratios. The average tick count of cows during the peripartum and lactation periods was significantly higher (p<0.05; OR=4.82) than the count in dry cows. Taurine animals showed significantly higher infestation (p<0.05; OR=3.28) than pure zebuine animals. Among cross-bred animals, the infestation was higher (p<0.05) in F1 animals (1/2 taurine × 1/2 zebuine) than in Girolando animals (5/8 zebuine × 3/8 taurine). Primiparous cows (p<0.05) had significantly heavier infestations than multiparous cows. Dairy production showed a positive correlation with tick infestation (p<0.03; OR=2.94), such that the most productive animals were the most parasitized ones. Animals kept at high densities were significantly more heavily infested (p<0.05, OR=6.32) than animals kept at low density. First-lactation and high-productivity taurine animals were more vulnerable to R. microplus, thus comprising a high-risk group in dairy herds. © 2012 Elsevier GmbH.

In vitro activity of pineapple extracts (Ananas comosus, Bromeliaceae) on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Measures to control the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, based only on chemical products are becoming unsustainable, mainly because of the development of resistance. The objective of this study was to test the effect of the aqueous extract of pineapple skin (AEPS) and bromelain extracted from the stem (Sigma-Aldrich®, B4882) on engorged females and larvae of R. (B.) microplus in vitro. These substances were diluted in water and evaluated at eight concentrations. Engorged females were collected and distributed in groups of 10, with three repetitions for each treatment. After immersion in the solutions, the females were placed in an incubator for observation of survival, oviposition and larval hatching. The larval packet method was used, also with three repetitions with about 100 larvae each. The packets were incubated and the readings were performed after 24h. The estimated reproduction and efficacy of the solutions were calculated. The LC50 and LC90 were estimated using the Probit procedure of the SAS program. The eight concentrations were compared within each treatment by the Tukey test. For the experiment with engorged females, the most effective concentrations were 125, 250 and 500mg/mL: 33%, 48% and 59% for the AEPS and 27%, 51% and 55% for the bromelain. The LC50 and LC90 values were, respectively, 276 and 8691mg/mL for AEPS and 373 and 5172mg/mL for bromelain. None of the dilutions tested was effective against the larvae of R. (B.) microplus. This is the first report of the action of pineapple extracts or their constituents on cattle ticks. The results demonstrate that further studies regarding composition of tick cuticle, with evaluation of other solvents and formulations, should be conducted seeking to enhance the effect of pineapple extracts and compounds against this ectoparasite. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Caracterização molecular de Staphylococcus sp, isolados de leite de vacas com mastite, em diferenes regiões do estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Biologia Geral e Aplicada - IBB

Aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos das infecções por Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina e Anaplasma marginale em bezerros da raça Nelore no Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Descrição de duas novas técnicas cirúrgicas para o tratamento de prolapso vaginal em vacas zebuinas: vaginectomia parcial e vaginopexia dorsal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desenvolvimento de imunossensor baseado na imobilização de anticorpo monoclonal em fibroína da seda para diagnóstico rápido da cisticercose bovina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Padronização do teste dot blotting e comparação entre testes de diagnóstico de brucelose em bovinos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of bovine astrovirus in Brazil

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

Ocorrência sorológica de Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina e Anaplasma marginale em bovinos e bubalinos no estado do Pará, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Serological Evidence of Bovine Herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) in Cattle at the Colombia's Eastern Plains

Several diseases involve the nervous system of cattle, among which infections with Rabies Virus and Bovine Herpes Virus 5 (BoHV-5) are noteworthy. In order to detect seropositive animals to BoHV-5, 156 Brahman-Zebu bovines blood samples from Colombia's eastern plains were analyzed through seroneutralization assay; the area has a history of animals dying with nervous symptoms and which rule out the disease of rabies. All animals were over one year old and randomly selected from two different herds reporting no vaccination for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in a period exceeding one year. Results indicated seropositivity for BoHV-5 in 91 cases (58.4%), of which 88 were also seropositive for bovine herpes virus 1 (BoHV-1), while 41 were seronegative for both agents. 22/64 seronegative cases for BoHV-5 were seropositive for BoHV-1 and 2/43 seronegative cases for BoHV-1 were seropositive for BoHV-5, and consequently, these animals could be only infected by encephalitis herpes virus. With these initial findings, emphasis its placed on the need establish the true impact of the disease in Colombia and proposes the epidemiological surveillance of cattle in the region studied in order to establish mechanisms for control of viral infection.

Use of repellents for honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in vitro in the yellow passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis Deg) crop and in confined beef cattle feeders

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

Association between MUC1 gene polymorphism and expected progeny differences in Nelore cattle (Bos primigenius indicus)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)