Estimates of genetic parameters for total milk yield over multiple ages in Brazilian Murrah buffaloes using different models

The objective of this study was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for accumulated 305-day milk yield (MY305) over multiple ages, from 24 to 120 months of age, applying random regression (RRM), repeatability (REP) and multi-trait (MT) models. A total of 4472 lactation records from 1882 buffaloes of the Murrah breed were utilized. The contemporary group (herd-year-calving season) and number of milkings (two levels) were considered as fixed effects in all models. For REP and RRM, additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual effects were included as random effects. MT considered the same random effects as did REP and RRM with the exception of permanent environmental effect. Residual variances were modeled by a step function with 1, 4, and 6 classes. The heritabilities estimated with RRM increased with age, ranging from 0.19 to 0.34, and were slightly higher than that obtained with the REP model. For the MT model, heritability estimates ranged from 0.20 (37 months of age) to 0.32 (94 months of age). The genetic correlation estimates for MY305 obtained by RRM (L23.res4) and MT models were very similar, and varied from 0.77 to 0.99 and from 0.77 to 0.99, respectively. The rank correlation between breeding values for MY305 at different ages predicted by REP, MT, and RRM were high. It seems that a linear and quadratic Legendre polynomial to model the additive genetic and animal permanent environmental effects, respectively, may be sufficient to explain more parsimoniously the changes in MY305 genetic variation with age.

Characterization of the Exonic Regions of the JY-1 Gene in Zebu Cattle and Buffaloes

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

Construction and preliminary characterization of a river buffalo bacterial artificial chromosome library

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

Two-stage rumenostomy in buffaloes

Background: Rumenostomy may be performed for therapeutic and digestibility research purposes in bovines, small ruminants and camelids. Several studies requires romenostomy in buffaloes in order to sample ruminal content for laboratorial assays. However, complications and outcome of rumenostomy was poorly studied in buffaloes. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to describe a two-stage rumenostomy technique in buffaloes, focused on intra and post-operative period.Materials, Methods & Results: Nine Murrah buffaloes were submitted to a 36-h and 12-h of food and water fastening. The animals were given acepromazine and maintained in standing position. Flank local anesthesia was carried out. A circular skin incision was carried out in the center of the left flank, followed by divulsion of the external and internal obliques and transversus abdominus muscles, and incision of the peritoneum. Subsequently, a segment of the dorsal aspect of the rumen was grasped and pulled through the flank incision. The rumen was attached to the peritoneum and skin incision margins in four points (dorsal, ventral, cranial and caudal). Additional simple interrupted sutures attaching the rumen serosa to the skin were applied subsequently. Four additional interrupted horizontal mattress sutures were applied equidistantly, taking bites only in the skin and rumen serosa. Following 12 h, the second stage was carried out. The buffaloes were prepared and restrained as performed for the first stage. A circular flap was excised from the exteriorized rumen and the silicone romenostomy cannula was placed. Clinical parameters, postoperative recovery, weight and behavioral pain scale were assessed. Positioning and anesthesia regimen were adequate for the achievement of the procedure. However, two animals fell in the restraint chute during the first surgical stage. Mild ischemia of the exteriorized rumen segment was observed on the second surgical stage, which resulted in less hemorrhage and enhanced cannula positioning. Complete cicatrization and permanent adhesion of the rumen to the skin were achieved. No ruminal leakage to the abdominal cavity occurred. No signs of pain were reported. There were few cases of laxity of the romenostomy opening leading to drop of cannula, myiasis on the margin of the stoma site and few cases of mild ruminal content leakage on the long-term assessment.Discussion: Restraint in standing position was considered adequate, although lateral recumbence constitutes another option. However, higher risk of contamination and technical difficulties in placing the cannulas are expected if lateral recumbence is considered. In other trials using acepromazine, no accidental recumbence occurred. Xylazine was also indicated for chemical restraint of buffaloes. It is known that flexible cannulas provide better anatomic adjustment and adaptation as well as being effective for sampling ruminal content, as seen in the current study. Ruminal leakage is one of the most frequent complications of romenostomy, which may affect animal's welfare. The animals in the current study presented no variations on the body score, even though on those presenting cannula loosening or ruminal content leakage. Moreover, no significant changes of the ruminal content parameters were noticed. Myiasis was also reported following ruminal surgical interventions, which were mainly attributed to extensive breeding. Loss of the cannula, subcutaneous emphysema and suture dehiscence are common complications of romenostomy. Nonetheless, none of those complications were found on the current study. Thus, romenostomy was feasible and efficient for sampling and performing assays of the ruminal content in buffaloes.

Prevalence and etiology of buffalo mastitis and milk somatic cell countin dry and rainy seasons in a buffalo herd from Analândia, São Paulo State,Brazil

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

Padronização de técnica manual para obtenção de plasma rico em plaquetas de bovino

To evaluate the biochemical profile and protein concentration of whey from milk samples of healthy Murrah primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes, 30 female buffaloes were analyzed during a complete lactation. The animals were divided into three groups: G1 = 10 primiparous buffaloes, G2 = 10 pluriparous buffaloes with 2-3 lactations and G3 = 10 pluriparous buffaloes with > 3 lactations. The lactation period was divided into: early stage (I: 1-3 months of lactation), intermediate stage (T: 4-6 months of lactation) and final stage (F: 7-9 months of lactation). Before milk sampling, physical examination of the mammary gland, strip cup test and California Mastitis Test (CMT) were performed. After mammary quarters asepsis, 20mL of milk were collected monthly from each mammary quarter, during a complete lactation, in sterilized plastic bottles without preservative, in order to perform microbiological isolation, biochemical profile and protein electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and 30mL of milk from each mammary quarter were collect, in sterilized plastic bottles containing preservative bronopol to perform the somatic cell count (SCC). A total of 1,042 milk samples were collected from the experimental groups during lactation, of which 923 samples showed negative reaction to CMT and negative microbiological isolation and were selected to biochemical profile analysis and protein electrophoresis in SDS-PAGE. There were influence of parity order and stage of lactation in biochemical profile and protein concentration of healthy Murrah buffaloes'whey. Primiparous buffaloes (G1) showed higher gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT: 2,346 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALP: 181 U/L), phosphorus (P; 56.6mg/dL), potassium (K; 32.0mg/dL) and alpha-lactalbumin (458mg/dL). Buffaloes with 2-3 lactations (G2) showed higher SCC (70,700 cells/mL) and higher concentrations of total protein (1.55g/dL), albumin (100mg/dL), magnesium (Mg; 8.80mg/dL), chlorides (Cl; 176mg/dL), iron (Fe; 10.7 mu g/dL), sodium (Na; 178mMol/L) and lactoferrin (59.5mg/dL). Bufalloes with > 3 lactations (G3) showed higher concentrations of total calcium (Ca; 41.8mg/dL), ionized calcium (iCa; 2.92mMol/L), immunoglobulin A (IgA; 1.32mg/dL), serum albumin (99.1mg/dL), immunoglobulin G (IgG; 49.7mg/dL) and beta-lactoglobulin (1,068mg/dL). During lactation it was observed increase in SCC, GGT, ALP, total protein, albumin, P, Mg, Cl, Na, lactoferrin, serum albumin, IgG and alpha-lactalbumin, as well as decrease in concentrations of Ca, Fe, iCa, K, IgA and beta-lactoglobulin in buffaloes'whey. The results may be used as reference for buffaloes and to support diagnosis and prognosis of diseases common to lactation periods.

Comparative analysis of the river buffalo somatostatin gene

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

Genetic analysis of superoxide dismutase 1 gene in murrah river buffalo

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

Prospecting major genes in dairy buffaloes

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

Perfil bioquímico sérico de bezerros bubalinos no período neonatal

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

High prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum and Fasciola gigantica in bovines from Northern Samar, the Philippines

The cause of zoonotic schistosomiasis in the Philippines is Schistosoma japonicum, which infects up to 46 mammalian hosts, including humans and bovines. In China, water buffaloes have been identified as major reservoir hosts for schistosomiasis japonica, contributing up to 75% of human transmission. In the Philippines, water buffaloes (carabao; Bubalus bubalis carabanesis) have, historically, been considered unimportant reservoirs. We therefore revisited the possible role of bovines in schistosome transmission in the Philippines, using the recently described formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation (FEA-SD) technique and a qPCR assay to examine fecal samples from 153 bovines (both carabao and cattle) from six barangays in Northern Samar. A high prevalence of S. japonicum was found using qPCR and FEA-SD in both cattle (87.50% and 77.08%, respectively) and carabao (80.00% and 55.24%, respectively). The average daily egg output for each bovine was calculated at 195,000. High prevalence and infection intensity of F. gigantica was also found in the bovines by qPCR and FEA-SD (95.33% and 96.00%, respectively). The identification of bovines as major reservoir hosts for S. japonicum transmission suggests that bovine treatment and/or vaccination, as one becomes available, should be included in any future control program that aims to reduce the disease burden due to schistosomiasis in the Philippines.

Productive performance, nutrient digestion and metabolism of Holstein (Bos taurus) and Nellore (Bos taurus indicus) cattle and Mediterranean Buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) fed with corn-silage based diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, nutrients digestion and metabolism of three different genetic groups fed with the same diet based on corn silage. 30 heifers in growth were used of three groups of cattle, the following: Nellore (Bos taurus indicus) (n = 10), Holstein (Bos taurus taurus) (n = 10), and Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) (n = 10). The animals were fed in groups and received the same experimental diet composed of corn silage and concentrate for growing heifers. In the evaluation of animals the performance, consumption and total apparent digestibility of dry matter and nutrients with the aid of internal markers (chromic oxide) and external (iADF), rumen fermentation, excretion of purine derivatives, nitrogen balance and blood metabolites were measured. No differences were observed in animal performance. There were differences in nutrient intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter and nutrients in different groups of cattle. The concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the rumen were higher and lower, respectively, for the group of buffaloes in relation to other experimental groups evaluated. When considering the excretion of total purine derivatives, buffaloes showed the lowest value compared to other genetic groups evaluated; about 61.76% of the total genetic group Nellore and 57.62% of the total genetic group Holstein with an average of 33.67 mmol/day. For the buffaloes, the excretion of xanthine and hypoxanthine observed was of 5.11% of total purine derivatives. There was a better nitrogen balance (g/day) for groups of Holstein heifers and Nellore in relation to the group of buffalo heifers. There were differences in the concentrations of urea and urea nitrogen in serum and liver enzymes where the buffaloes had higher values in relation at the bovines. There is a great metabolic diversity among the experimental groups evaluated and it was more exacerbated among buffaloes and bovines, when submitted to the same diet and same management conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surto de tétano em búfalos (Buballus bubalis) no Estado do Pará

Descreve-se um surto de tétano em búfalos da raça Murrah em uma propriedade situada no município de São Caetano de Odivelas, localizado na região metropolitana de Belém, estado do Pará. Do rebanho de 250 bubalinos, 80 animais foram vacinados contra raiva por via intramuscular na região da garupa. Em um período de 15 a 19 dias após a vacinação quatro animais adoeceram, um morreu com dois dias de evolução, um foi eutanasiado in extremis no sétimo dia após o início dos sinais clínicos e os demais se recuperaram após tratamento. Nos bubalinos, o primeiro sinal clínico observado foi o prolapso da terceira pálpebra, em especial quando o animal era estimulado, seguido por andar rígido, manifestado por dificuldade de flexão dos membros e permanência em decúbito lateral com os membros estendidos, pálpebras muito abertas, sialorréia, hiperexcitabilidade, orelhas eretas, leve trismo e acúmulo de alimento na cavidade oral. À necropsia foi evidenciada uma área de coloração amarelada com presença de exsudação purulenta na musculatura da região da garupa, local de aplicação da vacina. Ao exame histopatológico não foram evidenciadas alterações significativas. Em dois animais foi realizado tratamento com penicilina por via intramuscular e soro antitetânico por via intramuscular e sub-aracnóide; após duas semanas esses animais se recuperaram. Diante do quadro clínico, dos dados epidemiológicos e da ausência de lesões histológicas foi feito o diagnóstico de tétano. Concluiu-se que o tétano é uma doença a ser considerada na bubalinocultura no Brasil. A infecção, provavelmente ocorreu durante o procedimento de vacinação, através injeções intramusculares utilizando agulhas contaminadas.

Microgemma vivaresi n. sp (Microsporidia, Tetramicridae), infecting liver and skeletal muscle of sea scorpions, Taurulus bubalis (Euphrasen 1786) (Osteichthyes, Cottidae), an inshore, littoral fish

The ultrastructure of a new microsporidian species Microgemmia vivaresi n. sp. causing liver cell xenoma formation in sea scorpions, Taurulus bubalis, is described. Stages of merogony, sporogony, and sporogenesis are mixed in the central cytoplasm of developing xenomas. All stages have unpaired nuclei. Uninucleate and multinucleate meronts lie within vacuoles formed from host endoplasmic reticulum and divide by binary or multiple fission. Sporonts, no longer in vacuoles, deposit plaques of surface coat on the plasma membrane that cause the surface to pucker. Division occurs at the Puckered stage into sporoblast mother cells, on which plaques join up to complete the surface coat. A final binary fission gives rise to sporoblasts. A dense globule, thought to be involved in polar tube synthesis, is gradually dispersed during spore maturation. Spores are broadly ovoid, have a large posterior vacuole, and measure 3.6 mu m x 2.1 pint (fresh). The polar tube has a short wide anterior section that constricts abruptly, then runs posteriad to coil about eight times around the posterior vacuole with granular contents. The polaroplast has up to 40 membranes arranged in pairs mostly attached to the wide region of the polar tube and directed posteriorty around a cytoplasm of a coarsely granular appearance. The species is placed alongside the type species Microgemmia hepaticus Ralphs and Matthews 1986 within the family Tetramicridae, which is transferred from the class Dihaplophasea to the class Haplophasea, as there is no evidence for the occurrence of a diplokaryotic phase.

Microbiological evaluation of milk samples positive to California Mastitis Test in dairy buffalo cows (Buballus bubalis)

In order to observe the microbiological status of CMT positive samples, 734 apparently health mammary quarters from buffalo cows were submitted to physical evaluation, strip cup test and CMT. After milk samples inoculation in 10% ovine blood agar base media and in MacConkey agar and incubation under aerobic condition for 72 hours at 37 degrees C, identification was proceeded. According to CMT, 227 quarters (30,93%) were positive, among them 73 (32,16%) presented 1+ reaction, 53 (23,35%) were 2+ and 101 (44,49%) were 3+. Microbiological exams of such samples were positive in 147 (64,76%) out of 227 CMT positive samples and among the remaining 72 (31,72%) were negative and 8 (3,52) were contaminated. In the 147 microbiological positive samples 204 bacteria were found in pure or associated growth and the most frequent agents were: Corynebacterium sp (59,25%); Staphylococcus sp (17,65%) among which 86,11% were coagulase negative and 13,89% were coagulase positive; and Micrococcus sp (6,37%). The results revealed that, excluding the eight contaminated samples, 147 (67,12%) quarters out of 219 CMT positive could be considered as bacteria-carrier and that even in a smaller percentage false-positive results can cause problems in a sanitary program for mastitis control in dairy buffalo cows.