Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii in sheep raised in the Jaboticabal microregion, São Paulo State, Brazil

Seroprevalence of and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in sheep from different properties in the Jaboticabal microregion, São Paulo State, Brazil were determined. Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were found in sera of 52.0% of 488 sheep tested by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT >= 64). T gondii seropositivity in sheep was significantly associated with gender of the sheep, pasturing system, contact with cats, and the use of mineral supplements and the type of feed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Respiratory heat loss in the sheep: a comprehensive model

A model is presented for the respiratory heat loss in sheep, considering both the sensible heat lost by convection (C-R) and the latent heat eliminated by evaporation (E-R). A practical method is described for the estimation of the tidal volume as a function of the respiratory rate. Equations for C-R and E-R are developed and the relative importance of both heat transfer mechanisms is discussed. At air temperatures up to 30 degreesC sheep have the least respiratory heat loss at air vapour pressures above 1.6 kPa. At an ambient temperature of 40 degreesC respiratory loss of sensible heat can be nil; for higher temperatures the transfer by convection is negative and thus heat is gained. Convection is a mechanism of minor importance for the respiratory heat transfer in sheep at environmental temperatures above 30 degreesC. These observations show the importance of respiratory latent heat loss for thermoregulation of sheep in hot climates.

Laparoscopic ovum collection in sheep: Gross and microscopic evaluation of the ovary and influence on ooctye production

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

Occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum and anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in goats and sheep in western Maranhão, Brazil

A neosporose e a toxoplasmose são doenças parasitárias que podem causar problemas reprodutivos em caprinos e ovinos. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos IgG anti-Neospora caninum e anti-Toxoplasma gondii em caprinos e ovinos dos municípios de Amarante do Maranhão e Buritirana, microrregião de Imperatriz, Oeste maranhense, Nordeste do Brasil, bem como avaliar fatores associados à infecção por esses agentes etiológicos. Amostras de sangue de 110 animais (46 caprinos e 64 ovinos), provenientes de cinco propriedades, foram coletadas, e a reação de imunofluorescência indireta utilizada para o diagnóstico sorológico. Das 46 amostras de caprinos, 17,39% (n = 8) apresentaram anticorpos anti-N. caninum e 4,35% (n = 2) anti-T. gondii, enquanto das 64 amostras de ovinos, 4,69% (n = 3) e 18,75% (n = 12) apresentaram anticorpos anti-N. caninum e anti-T. gondii, respectivamente. Não houve diferença significativa, considerando-se a presença de gato e/ou cão na propriedade e assistência veterinária para ambos os agentes estudados. Entretanto, suplementação alimentar e presença de animais com problemas reprodutivos diferiram significativamente (p < 0,05) em ovinos e caprinos, respectivamente. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram que caprinos e ovinos, da região Oeste do Maranhão são expostos aos coccídios N. caninum e T. gondii. Essa é a primeira evidência desses agentes em pequenos ruminantes nessa região.

Growth curve in Santa Ines sheep

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modeling of average growth curve in Santa Ines sheep using random regression models

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparison of non-linear growth models to describe the growth curve in West African Dwarf sheep

The objectives of this study were to compare the goodness of fit of four non-linear growth models, i.e. Brody, Gompertz, Logistic and Von Bertalanffy, in West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep. A total of 5274 monthly weight records from birth up to 180 days of age from 889 lambs, collected during 2001 to 2004 in Betecoucou breeding farm in Benin were used. In the preliminary analysis, the General Linear Model Procedure of the Statistical Analysis Systems Institute was applied to the dataset to identify the significant effects of the sex of lamb (male and female), type of birth (single and twin), season of birth (rainy season and dry season), parity of dam (1, 2 and 3) and year of birth (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004) on the observed birth weight and monthly weight up to 6 months of age. The models parameters (A, B and k), coefficient of determination (112), mean square error (MSE) were calculated using language of technical computing package Matlab(R), 2006. The mean values of A, B and k were substituted into each model to calculate the corresponding Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). Among the four growth functions, the Brody model has been selected for its accuracy of fit according to the higher R(2), lower MSE and A/C Finally, the parameters A, B and k were adjusted in Matlab(R) 2006 for the sex of lamb, year of birth, season of birth, birth type and the parity of ewe, providing a specific slope of the Brody growth curve. The results of this study suggest that Brody model can be useful for WAD sheep breeding in Betecoucou farm conditions through growth monitoring.

Frequency of Leptospira spp. in sheep from Brazilian slaughterhouses and its association with epidemiological variables

A leptospirose é uma antropozoonose mundialmente distribuída que infecta animais de produção, incluindo as ovelhas como carreadores para outros animais e o homem. O presente estudo objetivou determinar a prevalência de Leptospira spp. em ovinos de dois abatedouros do estado de São Paulo e sua associação com algumas variáveis epidemiológicas estudadas. Amostras de soro de 182 ovinos foram pesquisadas para a presença de anticorpos para Leptospira spp. pela soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM). Os resultados indicaram 34/182 (18,68%; IC95% 13,70-24,98%) amostras positivas, principalmente para o sorovar Copenhageni (17/34; 50%; IC95% 33,99-66,01%). Crescimento bacteriano no meio de Fletcher foi observado em amostras de 13/34 (38,24%; CI95% 23.87-55.08%) animais, e confirmados pela Reação em Cadeia pela Polimerase (PCR) e seqüenciamento para somente duas amostras renais de dois animais. Assim, o tratamento e vacinação dos ovinos, além do controle de roedores, pode ser útil na prevenção da infecção na região estudada, visto que os ovinos são importantes carreadores de Leptospira spp. para o homem, e sua transmissão aos trabalhadores de abatedouros ocorre principalmente pela manipulação das vísceras.

First report of coenurosis in sheep in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Este trabalho relata o primeiro caso de cenurose no Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Essa doença é causada por estágios larvais de Taenia multiceps (Leske, 1780). O animal no qual foi diagnosticado, tinha cerca de 18 meses de idade, oriundo de uma área endêmica no Sul do Brasil, integrante de um grupo de 30 ovinos importados para o Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. O quadro clínico-patológico apresentado é aquele comumente descrito para herbívoros, infectados com o agente, especialmente ovinos. Os sinais clínicos relatados foram: apatia, nistagmo, cegueira intermitente, andar em círculos e pressão da cabeça contra obstáculos. Na necropsia foi observada uma lesão, no subcórtex do hemisfério cerebral direito, caracterizada por um cisto em forma de vesícula, medindo 4 cm de diâmetro, e seu interior preenchido por líquido translúcido com grande número de pequenas esferas brancas, identificadas como protoscolices. Os protoscolices foram identificados como Coenurus cerebralis, e os tecidos do cérebro submetidos complementarmente a exames histopatológicos para descrição da lesão.

Hypertrophy and neuron loss: structural changes in sheep SCG induced by unilateral sympathectomy

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

Goniometric measurements of the forelimb and hindlimb joints in sheep

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

Gait analysis in clinically healthy sheep from three different age groups using a pressure-sensitive walkway

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

Hematological changes in sheep inoculated with natural and Cobalt60-irradiated Crotalus durissus terrificus venom (Laurenti, 1768)

Natural (NV) and Cobalto60-irradiated (IrV) Crotalus durissus terrificus venom were used to evaluate serum production capacity of sheep and possible hematological and biochemical effects. Freeze-dried venom aliquots were diluted in acidified saline solution (NaCl 150 mM, pH 3.0) and irradiated by a Cobalt 60 source at a dose of 5.54 x 102 Gy/h and a concentration of 2.000 Gy. Twelve sheep were divided into two groups of six animals. One group received irradiated venom (IrV) and the other natural venom (NV). Three antigen doses (venom) were administered at monthly intervals. Blood samples were collected weekly for analysis of serum neutralization potency and capacity, complete blood count (CBC), total plasma protein, fibrinogen, albumin, and globulin. At the end of the experiment, the animals were challenged with a LD50 for sheep and showed no signs of envenoming. The two groups did not present clinical alterations. Results of the total leukocyte count did not present interaction or time factor effect for both groups, but there was a different action between them, with the NV group presenting more cells than the IrV group. The leukocyte increase to 13,000/ml indicates that slight leukocytosis occurred in the week after the first inoculation in the NV group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in the absolute count of segmented neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes but there were statistically significant oscillations in values at the different collecting times. The NV group presented an increase in the absolute neutrophil count after the first inoculation that persisted for 5 weeks. In the IrV group, the increase in neutrophils occurred only in the first week returning to normal in the following weeks. The alterations in the neutrophil count are indicative of systemic inflammatory response related to cytokine release; response was more marked in the NV group, showing its greater toxicity.

Identification, characterization and expression analysis of hepcidin gene in sheep

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)