Alternativas atuais e potenciais de suplementação alimentar de caprinos no semi-árido do Nordeste.

A caprinocultura na reglao semi-árida do Nordeste se caracteriza pela extensividade e por baixos níveis de produtividade decorrentes, principalmente, da acentuada variação estacional na oferta de forragem da caatinga, a qual constitui sua base alimentar. Existe um consenso quanto a necessidade de suplementar os animais nos períodos críticos, tanto com energia como com proteína. As alternativas atualmente disponíveis, como a palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica Mill), os restolhos de cultura, e o capim buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris) sao volumosos de reduzido valor energético e são mais utilizados dentro de um enfoque de sobrevivência dos animais. Os suplementos de maior valor nutritivo são de uso limitado e apresentam problemas de economicidade. As perspectivas de uso da ureia, da leucena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) e do guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp) na suplementaçao de caprinos no semi-árido, são discutidas com base no seu potencial como fontes de nutrientes e como alternativas adaptáveis às condições agro-ecológicas e sócio-econômicas da região.

Usefulness of clinical observations and blood chemistry values for predicting clinical outcomes in dairy goats with pregnancy toxaemia

Background Pregnancy toxaemia (PT) is a disease that affects pregnant goats during their last month of gestation and is characterized by a high case fatality rate. This study involved 32 does maintained on a commercial dairy goat farm that were diagnosed with PT. A physical examination was performed on and haematology parameters obtained from each doe, at the time of diagnosis. The data from the 24 PT goats that died was compared with the corresponding data from the 8 PT goats that survived. Results Polypnea, swollen limbs, anorexia with absence of ruminal motility, recumbency, nervous signs and drooping ears were the most frequently observed clinical manifestations. Nineteen out of 21 recumbent goats died. Sixteen out of 17 goats with anorexia and absence of ruminal motility died. Mean beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) values in the goats that died were not significantly different from those in goats that survived. The blood values for pH and pCO2 (p < 0.005) as well as for HCO3 −, BE and K+ (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the goats that died than in those that survived. Conclusions The clinical signs most indicative of a poor prognosis are anorexia with absence of ruminal motility and recumbency. Among the blood parameters to be considered, hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis are the most relevant. Goats with PT have a high mortality and their condition can deteriorate very fast. Based on the authors’s experience, a good strategy to minimize the economic losses caused by PT is to focus on the offspring survival rate since an early decision (induction of kidding or caesarian surgery) can increase the number of alive kids.

Orientações sobre ordenha higiênica utilizando o kit Embrapa de ordenha manual® para caprinos leiteiros.

2013

Performance and ruminal morphologic characteristics of Saanen kids fed ground, pelleted or extruded total ration

The aim of the present study was to determine feed intake and average weight gain and to evaluate the ruminal morphologic characteristics of Saanen kids slaughtered at 30, 45 and 60 days of age, according to a completely randomized design. Thirty-six non-castrated male Saanen kids were fed ground total ration, pelleted total ration, or extruded total ration. Feed intake and refusals were controlled daily and the animals were weighed at birth and then once a week. Newborn kids received a milk replacer and were weaned at 45 days. Immediately after slaughter, the animals were eviscerated, the entire digestive apparatus was removed from the carcass. The reticulo-rumen was separated, emptied, washed and weighed. Samples were collected from the dorsal sac, pillar area and ventral sac of the rumen, fixed for about 24h in Bouin's solution, dehydrated, embedded in Histosec and cut into 5 mu m sections. Results showed that dry matter intake (DMI) at weaning and post-weaning and weight gain were higher (P < 0.05) in animals that received the pelleted total ration. The weight of the reticulo-rumen accompanied body development and was heavier in these animals. Histologically, after weaning ruminal papillae were more developed in animals that received pelleted total ration. Length of papillae increased with increase of age. The ratio of papillary height to papillary width increased with age in the ventral sac and until weaning (P > 0.05). We conclude that the pelleting process of the total ration favored increased intake, with a 46.7% increase in weight gain and increase in rumen weight and papillae length, suggesting that best results are obtained with this processing. In general, no difference was observed between the results obtained with extruded and ground total ration, although animals fed extruded total ration showed an increase in rumen weight and papillae width. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Diagnóstico de mastite subclínica caprina por meio da detecção de Staphylococcus aureus utilizando a técnica de RT-PCR.

A presente publicação descreve os procedimentos necessários para a identificação e confirmação molecular de estirpes de S. aureus causadoras de mastite subclínica, provenientes de amostras de leite de cabra, por meio da técnica de RT-PCR.

Sorological evaluation of commercial vaccines against enterotoxemia in goats.

Enterotoxemia in sheep and in goats is caused by the effects of the epsilon toxin of C/ostridium perfringens type D, being considered the main infectious cause of mortality in those animal species. The main prophylactic measures include adequate nutritional management and vaccination of ali animais using vaccines of high immunogenic power. Six commercial vaccines containing in its formulation the epsilon toxoid of C. perfringens type D were sorogically evaluated. Eighty four female goat kids, whose mothers had no previous vaccination history against clostridioses were used. They were divided into six groups of 14 animais each. The animais of the control group didn't receive any vaccine dose and the animais from the groups 1 to 5 received two vaccine doses, The first vaccine dose was applied at 45 days of life (day zero) and the second dose at 75 days (30 days after the first dose). Blood samples were collected from the goat kids at the days zero, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 after the beginning of the experiment, in order to evaluate the immunologic response. The Indirect ELlSA technique was used for the quantification of the antibodies against epsilon toxin in the samples of blood serum of the animais. In day zero, no animal presented titre considered protector. The largest number of animais considered protected was found at day 60, in response to the two initial doses of the vaccine (days O and 30, first and second doses, respectively). Only tive animaIs which received the vaccine 1 and one animal which received the vaccine 3 stayed wilh titres of antibodies considered up to 150 days after the first vaccine dose. Based on the results, it was concluded lhat the evaluated vaccines showed small amount of epsilon toxoid in the commercial formulations, a crucial fact for lhe low efficiency of. the vaccines. For commercial reasons, the vaccines against the clostridioses present versatile formulations, with several toxoid types, used for various animal species, which certainly contributed to reduce their effectiveness in preventing the iIInesses caused by the clostridia or their toxins.

Eficiência da recuperação de embriões e os efeitos de consecutivas colheitas sobre o aparelho reprodutor de doadoras da espécie caprina.

Resumo: 0 objetivo deste experimento foi comparar a eficiêncÎa e o efeito de consecutivas colheitas de embriões, por três diferentes métodos (transcervical-T1, laparoscopia-T2 e laparotomia-T3), sobre a atividade reprodutiva de doadoras da espécie caprina. Utilizaram-se 10 cabras em cada método (T1, T2 e T3), sendo as colheitas de embriões repetidas três vezes consecutivas nas mesmas fêmeas, com intervalo de 56 dias. As fêmeas foram sincronizadas com esponjas vaginais impregnadas com 60 mg de acetato de medroxiprogesterona durante 10 dias e 100 ug de cloprostenol aplicados pela via lM no oitavo dia da sincronizaçao. No 8º dia, iniciou-se a superovulaçao com 250 UI de FSH de origem suína, divididas em oito doses decrescentes, aplicadas em intervalo de 12 horas. As fêmeas foram acasaladas e as colheitas de embriões realizadas no 5° ou 6° dia após a ultima cobertura. Após 56 dias da terceira colheita de embriões, foram realizados o abate e a necrópsia das doadoras. 0 tempo necessário para a a colheita de embriões em cada método foi de 21 minutos e 32 segundos; 37 minutos e 14 segundos e 56 minutos e 22 segundos, respectivamente, para TI, T 2 e T 3 (p<0,0I). A maior taxa de recuperaçao da soluçao de lavagem foi no T3 (83,7%), seguido por T2 (72,2%) e TI (64,3%) (p<0,05). As taxas médias de recuperaçao dos embriões foram 57,1; 81,1 e 27,3% para TI' T2 e T3' respectivamente, com variaçao entre 0-100%. A taxa de recuperaçao de embriões sofreu influência de varios fatores, com a presença de corpos luteos regredidos, a taxa de ovulaçao e a presença de aderências no sistema genital, mas, isoladamente, a taxa de recuperaçao de embriões foi satisfatória nos três métodos. 0 T1 causou eversao do endométrio e aderência entre o corno uterino e o epíploo em uma unica fêmea, o T2 causou eversao do endométrio em 30%, 40% e 60% e aderências do sistema genital em 10%, 10% e 70% das fêmeas à 1 a, 2a e 3a colheitas, respectivamente. 0 T3 causou aderências no sistema genital em 80% das doadoras ; após a primeira e 100% após a segunda colheita. 0 T1 e o T2 permitem o usa de doadoras em repetidas colheitas de embriões, o que nao ocorre com o T3, que causa aderências no sistema genital e órgaos circunvizinhos em 100% dos casos. [Efficiency and effect of consecutive embryo recoveries on the reproductive system of goat donnors].

Flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) em um sistema agroflorestal da Região Metropolitana de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Sandflies stand out as important vectors of leishmaniasis. The females need to ingest blood meals, enabling them to transmit protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which may give rise to visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), in addition to transmitting other parasites. Leishmaniasis are important infirmities, distributed worldwide, whose infection results from the interaction of reservoir animals, the vector insect, parasitic protozoa and the healthy host. In the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, these insects are important transmitters of VL, which usually presents in the most serious form. It occurs mainly in metropolitan areas, with the dog as its main reservoir and Lutzomyia longipalpis as the vector. ATL is most present in the highland areas of the state. In addition to hematophagia, engaged in by the females, both sexes need to ingest carbohydrates, which are essential to the sand flies energy requirements and may interfere in the development of Leishmania. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and abundance of sand flies in different environments on the farm belonging to the Empresa de Pesquisas Agropecuárias do RN (Institute of Agricultural Research of RN), in the municipality of Parnamirim, in order to relate this occurrence with climatological and biological references and eating habits. Three consecutive monthly collections were carried out with CDC traps in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest, in a residence, on a goat breeding farm and on cashew, dwarf and giant coconut, mango, banana, eucalyptus, acacia and bean plantations. A total of 1241 sandflies from eight species (Lutzomyia evandroi, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lutzomyia shannoni, Lutzomyia sordellii Lutzomyia walkeri, Lutzomyia wellcomei, Lutzomyia whitmani, and Lutzomyia intermedia) were collected, most in the forest environment. L. longipalpis, the main VL transmitter, was confirmed as a species adapted to anthropic environments, whereas others such as L. wellcomei, the vector of ATL, occurred predominantly in forests. Carbohydrate characterization of the sand flies and plants of the region demonstrated that a number of exotic plants such as hay and eucalyptus may play some role in the adaptation of these species to modified environments. Breeding in laboratory showed a mean biological cycle of 53.5 days from egg to adulthood for L. shannoni and the possibility of diapause behavior in L. wellcomei. This study serves as a source of information that may contribute to the epidemiological vigilance of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis in the state, given that it analyzes the bioecology of transmitting species, as well as their potential to adapt to new environments

Positive biocompatibility of nanocrystalline glass-like carbon thin films

The interest in carbon nanomaterials with high transparency and electrical conductivity has grown within the last decade in view of a wide variety of applications, including biocompatible sensors, diagnostic devices and bioelectronic implants. The aim of this work is to test the biocompatibility of particular nanometer-thin nanocrystalline glass-like carbon films (NGLC), a disordered structure of graphene flakes joined by carbon matrix (Romero et al., 2016). We used a cell line (SN4741) from substantia nigra dopaminergic cells derived from transgenic mouse embryo cells (Son et al., 1999). Some cells were cultured on top of NGLC films (5, 20 and 80 nm) and other with NGLC nanoflakes (approx. 5-10 mm2) in increasing concentrations: 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 μg/ml, during 24 h, 3 days and 7 days. Cells growing in normal conditions were defined under culture with DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS, Glucose (0,6%), penicillin-streptomycin (50U/ml) and L-glutamine (2mM) at 5%CO2 humidified atmosphere. Nanoflakes were resuspended in DMEM at the stock concentration (2 g/l). The experiments were conducted in 96 well plates (Corning) using 2500 cells per well. For MTT analysis, the manufacturer recommendations were followed (Roche, MTT kit assay): a positive control with a 10% Triton X-100 treatments (15 minutes) and a negative control without neither Triton X-100 nor NGLC. As apoptosis/necrosis assay we used LIVE/DEAD® Viability/Cytotoxicity Assay Kit (Invitrogen). In a separate experiment, cells were cultured on top of the NGLC films for 7 days. Primary antibodies: anti-synaptophysin (SYP, clone SY38, Chemicon) and goat anti-GIRK2 (G-protein-regulated inward-rectifier potassium channel 2 protein) (Abcom) following protocol for immunofluorescence. WB for proteins detection performed with a polyclonal anti-rabbit proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Results demonstrated the biocompatibility with different concentration of NGLC varying the degree of survival from a low concentration (1 mg/ml) in the first 24 h to high concentrations (20-50 g/ml) after 7 days as it is corroborated by the PCNA analysis. Cells cultured on top of the film showed after 7 days axonal-like alignment and edge orientation as well as net-like images. Neuronal functionality was demonstrated to a certain extent through the analysis of coexistence between SYP and GIRK2. In conclusion, this nanomaterial could offer a powerful platform for biomedical applications such as neural tissue engineering

Ocorrência da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii e avaliação da imunização em caprinos do sertão do cabugi, Rio Grande do Norte

Toxoplasmosis is one zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii protozoan. Goats, amongst the production animals, are one of the species most susceptible to this parasite, being one them main involved agents in ovine and goat abortions, determining great economic losses and implications for public health, since the presence it parasite in the products of goat origin, consist in one of the main sources of infection for the man. In this study 244 blood samples in 8 farms situated in 4 cities from the Sertão do Cabugi region, Rio Grande do Norte State, northeast of Brazil and, tested by ELISA assay. The results had shown a prevalence of 47.13% for anti- T. gondii antibodies and a significant association between positivity and variable evaluated as age, locality and property. The IgG avidity assay evaluated in 115 positive samples was carried to discriminate acute and chronic infection. Twelve samples (10.4%) had presented antibodies of low avidity while 103 (89.6%) presented high avidity antibodies; indicating that most of the animals was precocious exposure to the parasite. Significant difference was verified only for the variable sex. We also evaluate the capacity of recombinant adenoviruses codifying SAG1, SAG2, SAG3 and CMV in inducing activation of specific immune response in goat. These 109 animals received 109 pfu of the AdSAG1, AdSAG2, AdSAG3, AdCMV or PBS in vaccine protocol with 3 immunizations. Serum samples of the each animal, before and after mmunization, had been submitted to the ELISA. The results demonstrate that the immunizations had induced the production of IgG antibodies specific against T. gondii proteins

Assessment of genetic diversity of zoonotic Brucella spp. recovered from livestock in Egypt using multiple locus VNTR analysis

Brucellosis is endemic in most parts of Egypt, where it is caused mainly by Brucella melitensis biovar 3, and affects cattle and small ruminants in spite of ongoing efforts devoted to its control. Knowledge of the predominant Brucella species/strains circulating in a region is a prerequisite of a brucellosis control strategy. For this reason a study aiming at the evaluation of the phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of a panel of 17 Brucella spp. isolates recovered from domestic ruminants (cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goat) from four governorates during a period of five years (2002-2007) was carried out using microbiological tests and molecular biology techniques (PCR, MLVA-15, and sequencing). Thirteen strains were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3 while all phenotypic and genetic techniques classified the remaining isolates as B. abortus (n = 2) and B. suis biovar 1 (n = 2). MLVA-15 yielded a high discriminatory power (h = 0.801), indicating a high genetic diversity among the B. melitensis strains circulating among domestic ruminants in Egypt. This is the first report of the isolation of B. suis from cattle in Egypt which, coupled with the finding of B. abortus, suggests a potential role of livestock as reservoirs of several zoonotic Brucella species in the region.

Wild boar tuberculosis in Iberian Atlantic Spain: a different picture from Mediterranean habitats

BACKGROUND Infections with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) are shared between livestock, wildlife and sporadically human beings. Wildlife reservoirs exist worldwide and can interfere with bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication efforts. The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a MTC maintenance host in Mediterranean Iberia (Spain and Portugal). However, few systematic studies in wild boar have been carried out in Atlantic regions. We describe the prevalence, distribution, pathology and epidemiology of MTC and other mycobacteria from wild boar in Atlantic Spain. A total of 2,067 wild boar were sampled between 2008 and 2012. RESULTS The results provide insight into the current status of wild boar as MTC and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) hosts in temperate regions of continental Europe. The main findings were a low TB prevalence (2.6%), a low proportion of MTC infected wild boar displaying generalized TB lesions (16.7%), and a higher proportion of MAC infections (4.5%). Molecular typing revealed epidemiological links between wild boar and domestic - cattle, sheep and goat - and other wildlife - Eurasian badger (Meles meles) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) - hosts. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the likelihood of MTC excretion by wild boar in Atlantic habitats is much lower than in Mediterranean areas. However, wild boar provide a good indicator of MTC circulation and, given the current re-emergence of animal TB, similar large-scale surveys would be advisable in other Atlantic regions of continental Europe.

Sequence analysis of bitter taste receptor gene repertoires in different ruminant species

Bitter taste has been extensively studied in mammalian species and is associated with sensitivity to toxins and with food choices that avoid dangerous substances in the diet. At the molecular level, bitter compounds are sensed by bitter taste receptor proteins (T2R) present at the surface of taste receptor cells in the gustatory papillae. Our work aims at exploring the phylogenetic relationships of T2R gene sequences within different ruminant species. To accomplish this goal, we gathered a collection of ruminant species with different feeding behaviors and for which no genome data is available: American bison, chamois, elk, European bison, fallow deer, goat, moose, mouflon, muskox, red deer, reindeer and white tailed deer. The herbivores chosen for this study belong to different taxonomic families and habitats, and hence, exhibit distinct foraging behaviors and diet preferences. We describe the first partial repertoires of T2R gene sequences for these species obtained by direct sequencing. We then consider the homology and evolutionary history of these receptors within this ruminant group, and whether it relates to feeding type classification, using MEGA software. Our results suggest that phylogenetic proximity of T2R genes corresponds more to the traditional taxonomic groups of the species rather than reflecting a categorization by feeding strategy.

Carbon in humic fractions of organic matter in soil treated with organic composts under mango cultivation.

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a key role in maintaining the productivity of tropical soils, providing energy and substrate for the biological activity and modifying the physical and chemical characteristics that ensure the maintenance of soil quality and the sustainability of ecosystems. This study assessed the medium-term effect (six years) of the application of five organic composts, produced by combining different agro-industrial residues, on accumulation and chemical characteristics of soil organic matter. Treatments were applied in a long-term experiment of organic management of mango (OMM) initiated in 2005 with a randomized block design with four replications. Two external areas, one with conventional mango cultivation (CMM) and the other a fragment of regenerating Caatinga vegetation (RCF), were used as reference areas. Soil samples were collected in the three management systems from the 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.20 m layers, and the total organic carbon content and chemical fractions of organic matter were evaluated by determining the C contents of humin and humic and fulvic acids. Organic compost application significantly increased the contents of total C and C in humic substances in the experimental plots, mainly in the surface layer. However, compost 3 (50 % coconut bagasse, 40 % goat manure, 10 % castor bean residues) significantly increased the level of the non-humic fraction, probably due to the higher contents of recalcitrant material in the initial composition. The highest increases from application of the composts were in the humin, followed by the fulvic fraction. Compost application increased the proportion of higher molecular weight components, indicating higher stability of the organic matter.

Organic and nitrogen fertilization of soil under Syrah grapevine: effects on soil chemical properties and nitrate concentration.

Viticulture is an activity of great social and economic importance in the lower-middle region of the São Francisco River valley in northeastern Brazil. In this region, the fertility of soils under vineyards is generally poor. To assess the effects of organic and nitrogen fertilization on chemical properties and nitrate concentrations in an Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo (Typic Plinthustalf), a field experiment was carried out in Petrolina, Pernambuco, on Syrah grapevines. Treatments consisted of two rates of organic fertilizer (0 and 30 m3 ha-1) and five N rates (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 kg ha-1), in a randomized block design arranged in split plots, with five replications. The organic fertilizer levels represented the main plots and the N levels, the subplots. The source of N was urea and the source of organic fertilizer was goat manure. Irrigation was applied through a drip system and N by fertigation. At the end of the third growing season, soil chemical properties were determined and nitrate concentration in the soil solution (extracted by porous cups) was determined. Organic fertilization increased organic matter, pH, EC, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, sum of bases, base saturation, and CEC, but decreased exchangeable Cu concentration in the soil by complexation of Cu in the organic matter. Organic fertilization raised the nitrate concentration in the 0.20-0.40 m soil layer, making it leachable. Nitrate concentration in the soil increased as N rates increased, up to more than 300 mg kg-1 in soil and nearly 800 mg L-1 in the soil solution, becoming prone to leaching losses.