Efeito da temperatura ambiente e da restrição alimentar protéica ou energética sobre o ganho de peso e crescimento ósseo de frangos de corte

The effect of protein or energy restriction during the second week post-hatching on body weight gain and femur development of broiler chickens reared at different environmental temperatures (18°C, 25°C and 33°C) was studied. From 1 to 7 days of age and after a restriction period broilers were fed on a control diet with 2850 kcal ME/kg and 20% crude protein. From 8 to 14 days of age, two groups of broilers were fed on restricted energy and protein diets with 2565kcal ME/kg and 20% of crude protein or 2850kcal ME/kg and 15% of crude protein, respectively. At 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days, the bones were weighed and the length and width of bones measured. The protein restriction reduced the body weight gain and the diameter of bone at second week of life. After 21 days of age no differences between treatments for these traits were observed. The body weight gain and femur growth were not affected by energy restriction. The high temperature (33°C) reduced weight gain and femur diameter from 21 to 42 days of age, and femur length at 42 days of age. The protein restriction at second week or the high environmental temperature after 21 st day of life decreased body weight gain and femur growth of broiler chickens.

Investigação soroepidemiológica de leptospirose canina na área territorial urbana de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil

Leptospirosis was seroepidemiologically investigated in 775 dogs from Botucatu, state of Sao Paulo, in blood samples collected during the annual anti-rabies vaccination campaign. The samples were collected from 14 out of the 45 vaccination stations geographically distributed in five different municipal districts, with a territorial urban area of 31Km2. Samples were taken from 449 males and 326 females; 564 were of undetermined breed, and 211 were pedigree animals; ages ranged from 3 months to 20 years. Diagnosis included the microscopic serum agglutination tests using 12 Leptospira spp serovars. Serological results and epidemiological variables were compared using Goodman and chi-square tests, with χ=0.05. There were 119 (15.3%) positive samples for 11 serovars; the most important was canicola with 48 (40.3%), followed by pyrogenes 41 (34.5%). Statistical analysis showed significant difference for: breed, 17.7% positive in undetermined breeds and 9.0% in pedigrees; and sex, 18.4% positive in males and 11.0% in females. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to age with uniform distribution of positives.

The materno-fetal interface in llama (Lama guanicoe glama)

Samples from 9 llamas (28 through 36 weeks of gestation) were collected and fixed in 4% buffered paraformaldehyde (light microscopy) and in 2.5% buffered glutaraldehyde (transmission and scanning electron microscopy). The material was processed in paraplast and slides (5μm) were stained with HE, PAS, Masson-Trichrome, acid phosphatase and Perl's. The uteroferrin was immunolocalized. The results show that llama placenta is chorioallantoic, diffuse, folded and epitheliochorial, and the fetus is covered with an epidermal membrane. The trophoblast cells have variable morphology: cubic, rounded and triangular cells, with cytoplasm containing PAS-positive granules. Binucleated cells with large cytoplasm and rounded nuclei, as well as giant trophoblastic cells with multiple nuclei were also observed. Numerous blood vessels were observed beneath the cells of the uterine epithelium and around the chorionic subdivided branches. Glandular activity was shown by PAS, Perl's, and acid phosphatase positive reactions in the cytoplasm and glandular lumen, and by immunolocalization of the uteroferrin in the glandular epithelium. The uterine glands open in spaces formed by the areoles, which are filled by PAS-positive material. The llama fetus was covered by the epidermal membrane, composed of stratified epithelium, with up to seven layers of mono-, bi- or trinucleated cells. The high level of maternal and fetal vascularization surfaces indicates an intense exchange of substances across both surfaces. The metabolic activity shown in the uterine glands suggests an adaptation of the gestation to the high altitudes of the natural habitat of this species.

Mastite subclínica causada por Staphylococcus aureus: Custo-benefício da antibioticoterapia de vacas em lactação

Economic evaluation of the treatment bovine subclinical mastitis caused by S. aureus was evaluated. Two hundred and seventy udder quarters with or without subclinical mastitis were distributed into four groups, in conformity to lactational stage and treatments. Group 1 included animals treated between 10 and 60 days of lactation; group 2 included animals treated from 61 days of lactation to two months before drying; group 3 included animals no treated between 10 and 60 days of lactation; group 4 included animals no treated from 61 days of lactation to two months before drying. Treatment with gentamicin (150mg) was accomplished by intramammary doses, once a day, after performing sensitivity tests. The mammary quarters were re-evaluated after 30 days. The costs with the treatment were calculated considering a S. aureus prevalence of 5% as well as expenses with antibiotic, milk disposal, tests of drug sensitivity and workload. There was loss of income of 2% and 14% in the groups 1 and 2, respectively, when compared with the values before the treatment. In such case, the treatment of bovine subclinical mastitis caused by S. aureus in the lactation was economically unviable.

Cor, capacidade de retenção de água e maciez da carne de cordeiro maturada e injetada com cloreto de cálcio

Biceps femoris, Longissimus and Triceps brachii muscles from Morada Nova lambs were submitted to ageing and calcium chloride injection. Colour, water holding capacity and tenderness were studied. Lambs were slaughtered weighting 25kg.. The muscles presented differences in colour (lightness-L*, redness-a* and yellowness- b*) 24 hours after rigor mortis instalation. Ageing intensified redness of the meats. Calcium chloride did not modify the colour of Longissimus and Triceps brachii, however, Biceps femoris became more redness after receiving calcium chloride. In relation to water holding capacity, ageing affected meats from Triceps brachii. However, it did not affect Biceps femoris and Longissimus. The calcium chloride didn't modify the water holding capacity of the muscles. Ageing influenced tenderness of Biceps femoris and Longissimus.

Toxoplasma gondii in semen of experimentally infected swine

Eight reproductive boars were divided into three groups and inoculated with Toxoplasma gondii [GI (n=3) 1.5×104 oocysts strain P; GII (n=3) 1.0×106 tachyzoites strain RH; and GIII (n=2) non-inoculated control]. Clinical, hematological, parasitemia and serological tests and studies of the parasite in the semen through bioassay and PCR, and in reproductive organs (Bioassay and immunohistochemical analyses) were conducted to evaluate the toxoplasmic infection. Blood and semen were collected on day -2, -1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14 and weekly up to 84 days post-inoculation (DPI). No clinical or hematimetric alteration was observed in the boars. Parasitemia was detected in one boar inoculated with oocysts at the 7th DPI and in another boar infected with tachyzoites (GII) at the 3rd and 49 th DPI. Serological tests revealed antibodies against T. gondii in animals inoculated with oocysts or tachyzoites at the 7th DPI with dilutions of 1:256 and 1:64, which reached peaks of 1:4096 at day 11 and 9, respectively. The bioassays revealed the presence of the parasite in semen samples of a boar inoculated with oocysts (GI) at 3, 49 and 56 DPI and from two boars infected with tachyzoites (GII), one animal at 5 and two animals at 49 days DPI. Mice inoculated with semen from the control group (GIII) remained serologically negative. PCR analysis showed T. gondii DNA in the semen of Boar 1 and Boar 3 inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. The immunohistochemical tests showed T. gondii in the reproductive organs of Boar 1 and Boar 2, inoculated with tachyzoites and oocysts, respectively. These findings suggest the possible occurrence of venereal transmission of T. gondii in swine.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of e-cadherin, Ki-67 and PCNA in canine mammary neoplasias: Correlation of prognostic factors and clinical outcome

E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion molecule and low e-cadherin expression is related to invasiveness and may indicate a bad prognosis in mammary neoplasms. The expression of cell proliferation markers PCNA and especially Ki-67, has also proved to have a strong prognostic value in this tumor class. The expression of these markers was related to the clinical-pathological characteristics of 73 surgically removed mammary tumors in female dogs by immunohistochemistry. There was no statistical correlation between these markers and death by neoplasm, survival time and disease-free interval. However, the loss of e-cadherin expression and marked Ki-67 expression (p=0.016) were considered statistically significant for the diagnosis (p=0.032). When evaluated as independent factors, there was evidence of the relationship between the loss of e-cadherin expression and high PCNA expression with changes in the body status (divided into obese, normal and cachectic) of female dogs (p=0.030); there was also evidence of the relationship between pseudopregnancy and e-cadherin alone (p=0.021) and for ulceration and PCNA alone (p=0.035). The significant correlation between the markers expression and these well known prognostic factors used individually or in combination suggests their prognostic value in canine mammary tumors.

Descripción inmunohistoquímica de la encefalitis en bovinos brasileños naturalmente infectados con el herpesvirus bovino tipo 5 (HVB-5)

Twelve cases of viral meningoencephalitis in Brazilian cattle were submitted to immunohistochemical analysis for inflammatory response description. All the cases showed severe neurological signs followed by death. Mild to moderate histological inflammatory changes in the brain and cerebellum characterized the neurological infection showing meningitis, mononuclear perivascular cuffing, gliosis, haemorrhage, and macrophages (gitter cells) accompanying great areas of malacia. None of the cases showed intranuclear inclusion bodies. However, in five of them it was possible to isolate the BoHV-5. In order to collect data to allow the description of the inflammatory response in these cases, brain samples from all of the cases were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibodies against CD3 to detect T cells, and against GFAP to detect astrocytes. On the other hand, monoclonal antibodies were used against BLA to detect B cells and, against MAC 387 to detect macrophages. The results indicate different degrees of prominent astrocytic response, and at the same time, T lymphocytes constituted a high percentage of the mononuclear cells which characterized the inflammatory response.

Avaliação comparativa da eficácia de fitoterápicos e produtos químicos carrapaticidas no controle do boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) por meio do biocarrapaticidograma

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of plant extracts and chemical products for the control of Boophilus microplus. Three commercial products for the control of Boophilus microplus were in vitro evaluated, chemical compounds of cypermethrin + DDVP and organophosphate as recomended by the manufacturer, and also four plant extracts, Azadirachta indica (1%), Cymbopogon densiflorus, Lippia alba and Ipomoea asarifolia at different concentrations. The results showed that the chemical compounds tested had efficacy lower than 95% against the Boophilus microplus samples in the experiment. The extracts of all plants have shown some biological activity in the mortality of ingurgitated females and inhibition of egg crash, however the extract of Azadirachta indica presented efficacy higher than 95% in all tested concentrations, being the best sample tested in this experiment.

Avaliaçãeo ultrassonográfica da dinâmica folicular ovariana de jumenta (equus asinus) durante o ciclo estral

The ovarian activity was accessed by ultrasound throughout 10 estrous cycles from Jennies (Marchador Brasileira). Daily ultrasound examinations were performed and the dada was retrospectively studied based on daily identification of each follicle detected. Blood samples were collected every 24 hours from ovulation (D0) until the next identified ovulation. The follicles measuring 11mm were detected and their mean diameter was registered daily using an ovarian map and permitting a retrospective evaluation of the dada, which represented the follicular growth dynamics. One and two major follicular waves were detected in six (60%) and four (40%) cycles respectively from ten estrous cycles in the present study. The primary wave emergency and follicle deviation from the cycles observed during the present study with one major follicular wave occurred at day 10.2 ± 0.75 and at day14.1 ± 0.81 and for cycles with two major waves, those events occurred at 9.0 ± 2.0 and 14.0 ± 1.15 days after ovulation. The maximum diameter of the dominant follicle at the cycles with one and two follicular waves were 37.2 ± 3.35 mm and 37.3 ± 1.1, respectively. The mean intervals from two ovulations were 23.0 ± 1.79 and 22.3 ± 1.26 days when observed in cycles with one and two major follicular waves. The maximum diameter of the dominant follicle was slightly smaller when double ovulations were observed if compared with the single ovulations (P > 0.05). It can be concluded that wave emergency period is observed around 9.6 days of the estrous cycle and the occurrence of deviation can be observed on day 14 of the estrous cycle.

Concentraçãeo plasmática de progesterona durante o ciclo estral de jumentas (equus asinus) com ovulaçõees simples e duplas

Ten estrous cycles of seven Machador Brasileiro jennies located at Estaçãeo Experimental de Zootecnia - Colina - Sãeo Paulo were monitored and the plasmatic progesterone concentration determined by the radioimmunoassay method in solid phase, employing commercial kits (DPC). For progesterone concentration determination and CL diameter there were excluded the animals which presented diestrus ovulations. The corpora lutea formed from single ovulations or double ovulations presented a mean diameter of 26.2 ± 4.4 and 22.1 ± 2.7 mm, respectively, which represented 66.1% and 64.1% of the preovulatory follicle diameter. The presence of two CLs from double ovulations was not reflected by a significant increase on progesterone concentrations.

Pitiose nasal em equino

Pythiosis is a subcutaneous infection caused by aquatic fungi (Pythium insidiosum) which occurs in some animal species, as human beings. This paper describes an Quarter Horse, breed in Pernambuco, Brazil, who had this infection. The horse presented nodular and ulcerated lesions only in nasal mucosa and the diagnosis was made by histopathologic analysis and clinical signals. Based in the histopathologic findings and anamneses information by the owner the authors believed this is an atypical presentation of this infection caused by the contact with water offered at stable.

Anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em animais selvagens do zoológico municipal de Ribeirão Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Leptospirosis may affect all domestic and wild animals as well as human beings. Some serological studies have shown the involvement of wild species in the epidemiology of the disease. Once captive wild animals are not much studied, especially in Brazil, the present study aimed to detect anti- Leptospira spp. antibodies in animals from Ribeirão Preto city zoo, in São Paulo state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from captive birds, fish, reptiles and mammals, sinanthropics and free-living animals and also from employees between March and October, 2006. Four hundred and three blood samples were obtained, 388 animals' samples (110 reptiles, 143 birds, 110 mammals and 25 fish) and 15 humans'. The sera were analysed by Microscopic Agglutination Test using 22 serovars from pathological leptospiras and two from non-pathological serovars. Among the animal samples, 339 were from captive animals, and 49 from free-living ones, captured with traps inside the zoo. One hundred and three (103/388 = 26.5%) samples reacted to leptospirosis, ninety-two (92/339 = 27.1%) samples were from captive animals and eleven (11/49 = 22.4%) from free-living ones. All humans' samples were negative. Serological titles varied from 40 to 5.120, with predominance of titles between 40 and 80 and the most frequent serovars were Patoc, Andamana, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Panama.