Condição imunológica de bovinos das raças Holandesa e Nelore frente a Babesia bovis e B. bigemina em duas regiões do Estado de São Paulo

The immunological reply of a population to an infectious agent can vary between races and handling of this population. Regional research becomes important, in order to know the interrelation between the agent and its host. In this way, the occurrence of immunoglobulins of class G, anti-Babesia bovis and anti-Babesia bigemina in the Nelore (Bos indicus) and Hostein breed (Bos taurus), was investigated in two regions of the State of São Paulo, 300 km distant from each other. For the indirect method of ELISA, 1, 161 bovine serum samples were tested. The medium frequencies of antibodies showed that in the two regions exists an enzootic stability for B. bovis in both breeds studied; even so there was a tendency of marginal area for the Nelore breed in one of the regions. Regarding B. bigemina, in both regions exists enzootic stability for the Hostein and enzootic instability for the Nelore breed. Therefore, acute cases of the disease or specific outbreaks by B. bigemina infection in the Nelore breed may occur in these regions.

Microbiological analyses of poultry litter used for ruminant feeding

The aims of this study were to estimate the changes in total bacterial counts (TBC) in poultry litter samples, consisting of rice hulls, after storage, and to identify pathogenic bacteria. For the countings Plate Count agar (Difco) was used. Enrichment and selective media such as blood agar, MacConkey, Baird Parker, brain and heart agar, and egg yolk solid media, and cooked meat and brain and heart infusion, incubated under aerobic or anaerobic conditions were used to isolate Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp, Clostridium perfringens, C. botulinum, C. chauvoei, Campylobacter sp, Escherichia coli, and Corynebacterium sp. Litter samples were collected from the houses of the Veterinary School experimental aviary. A fully randomized experimental design was used with four treatments and four replications, for a total of 16 samples. A decrease in TBC was detected when treatment T1 (zero days of storage) was compared with treatments T2 (14 days of storage). on the other hand the treatments T3 (28 days of storage) and T4 (42 days of storage) presented significantly superior counting in relation to treatment T1. Some pathogenic bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coil, Proteus, Arizona, Providencia, Edwardsiella, as well as Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, different species of genus Clostridium as C. perfringens, C. sordelli, C. chauvoei, C. tetani and C. novyi as well as some strains of Corynebacterium pyogenes were isolated.

Efeito de diferentes relações volumoso: concentrado no consumo, digestibilidade aparente e partição da digestão da dieta de bovinos

Three steers equipped with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were fed roughage:concentrate ratios 80:20, 60:40 and 40:60 in order to study intake and apparent, rumen and post-rumen digestibilities. The roughage was ''coast cross'' (Cynodon dactylon) hay (5.67% CP and 83.30% NDF). Undigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was used as dry matter (DM) flow marker. DM intake means were 77.99, 91.03 and 91.81g DM/kg BW0.75, for the 20, 40 and 60% concentrate diets, respectively. DM intake for the 20% diet was statistically (P < 0.05) different from the other two diets. Apparent digestion coefficient (%) of DM (50.48, 57.32 and 61.33), organic matter (OM) (52.03, 58.91 and 62.76) and gross energy (GE) (48.95, 56.40 and 60.00) increased significantly with the increase in concentrate ratio of the diets. For the following components the apparent digestion coefficients were not statistically different: NDF (44.54, 45.28 and 42.53), ADF (40.69 44.39 and 43.60), cellulose (51.54, 54.34 and 52.03), hemicellulose (49.63, 46.78 and 39.18) and starch (86.59, 91.89 and 93.21). DM, OM, NDF, ATF, cellulose and starch ruminal and post-ruminal digestibilities were not statistically different. But the ruminal digestibilities of hemicellulose (94.81, 90.26 and 85.99) and EG (93.85, 83.30 and 78.77) decreased significantly as the concentrate ratio of the diets increased. The post-ruminal digestibility of hemicellulose (5.19, 9.74 and 14.03%) and GE (6.12, 16.20 and 21.23%) increased as the concentrate ratio of the diets increased.

Comparative susceptibility and pathogeny of Nelore and Holstein-Friesian calves to the experimental infection of Haemonchus placei (Place, 1893)

Two groups of Holstein-Friesian and Nelore calves, five animals each, about nine months old, received, by oral route, 1,000 infective larvae (L-3) per kg of body weight of Haemonchus placei. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture, at weekly intervals, from one week before, to eight weeks after infection. Hematological studies comprised the hematocrit, differential leukocyte counts, hemoglobin, fibrinogen and plasma protein determinations. Parasitological examinations covered weekly fecal egg counts (EPG) and worm burden counts at necropsy. Samples of the abomasal mucosa were submitted to gross examination and histopathological studies. Both groups had increasing EPG after the fifth week, with Holstein calves showing higher counts than the Nelore. Holstein calves had anemia and hipoproteinemia from the third week post-infection to the end of the experiment, whereas Nelore calves showed no significant differences in those, parameters. Holstein calves had significantly larger worm counts than the Nelore. The gross and histopathological lesions in the abomasum at necropsy were very similar, although macroscopically they look more apparent in the Holstein group. These results showed that Holstein calves are more susceptible to the infection and pathogenic effects of H. placei than Nelore calves.

Níveis séricos de cortisol e 17-& estradiol durante o ciclo estral em marrãs (Sus domestica - Linnaeus 1758)

In the present study 21 young swine females, sexually mature, reared and kept under an industrial management system were assessed for cortisol and oestradiol-17 beta serum prolifes during the oestrus cycle. Blood sampling was performed always at the same interval, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Each animal was submitted to 14 venal punctions at days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the oestrous cycle. The first day of the oestrous phase was assumed to be day 0 and the 23(rd) as the first of the next cycle. Hormone determinations were performed using a solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). Regarding to cortisol concentrations, there was a variation from 3.5 to 8.0 mu g/dl and for oestradiol-17 beta the mean values detected varied from 3.5 to 14.9pg/ml.

Influência da estação do ano, estádio de lactação e da hora da ordenha sobre o número de células somáticas do leite bovino

From January to October of 1995, somatic cell countings were accomplished in 2,218 milk samples collected from 67 quarters of 17 lactating cows at the initial, middle and final stages of lactation, in the morning and evening milkings. The highest means of cell countings were observed among the milk samples collected at the Final stage of lactation 15.652cell/ml), in the winter (5.358cell/ml) and the afternoon milking (5.199cell/ml). The differences observed amongst the cell countings in samples obtained at the different stages of lactation and the morning and afternoon milkings were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). In contrast differences observed amongst the seasons of the year, showed to be non-significant at the level of 5% probability. Higher occurrence of samples with cell countings superior to 500,000cell/ml was verified at the final stage of lactation (34.9%), in the winter (23.6%) and the afternoon milking (21.3%). These findings show the influence of physiologic and management factors (stage of Lactation and milking time) on milk cell concentrations.

Canine hepatozoonosis in Brazil: description of eight naturally occurring cases

Eight cases of canine hepatozoonosis were diagnosed at the Veterinary Hospital (Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus de Botucatu), between October 1993 and April 1994. Clinical signs included anorexia, pale mucous membranes, weight loss, pain, diarrhoea, vomit, gait abnormalities, fever, polyuria and polydipsia. Haematologic findings revealed anaemia in seven cases, leucocytosis with neutrophilia in three cases, lymphopenia in three cases and monocytosis in four cases. Serum biochemistries included alterations in many parameters. Thr micrometry of Hepatozoon canis gametocytes ranged from 6.8 x 4.0 mu m to 7.5 x 4.5 mu m. Parasitaemia ranged from less than 0.5% to 2%. In all the cases reported other concurrent diseases were present. Diagnosis of canine hepatozoonosis was made by identifying H. canis gametocytes within leucocytes in stained blood smears. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Proteina total, fracionamento eletroforético e fibrinogênio do sangue de caprinos confinados e em pastoeiro semi-extensivo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Perfil hormonal da progesterona em ovelhas (Ovis aries) no início da gestação, no pré-parto e início da lactação

The main objectives of this work were to determine the physiological patterns of progesterone on pregnancy and lactation in ewes, and to verify whether the hormone presents a 24h secretion rhythm. Serum levels of progesterone increased during gestation with an abrupt decrease by two days preterm. The autocorrelation analysis showed that this hormone, had a more evident circadian rhythm on preterm, than during early pregnancy and lactation.

Melanocitoma dérmico fribroso em bezerra

Melanomas are neoplasm not frequent in rattle. They constitute less than 2% of all the bovine turners. This report describes a 11-month-old female Holstein heifer hearing a subcutaneous mass of tissue approximately 18 x 8 cm surrounding the right eye, extending to the top of the neck. This mass appeared when the animal was 4-month-old. A biopsy sample taken to histopathology revealed neoplastic tissue composed of melanin-loaded cells and not disorganized connective tissue fibers. Partial pigment removal, utilizing potassium permanganate technique, revealed large nucleus in thp melanocitic cells. In some of these cells, a nucleolus was evident. Considering that previous reports on fibrous dermic melanocytoma are rarer in the literature, these findings are documented.

Use of vaccine and probiotic in the control of swine diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

A total of 42 pregnant sows were divided into eight groups and submitted to the following treatments: group I with seven unvaccinated sows whose piglets did not receive probiotic, was used as control, group II with five vaccinated sows whose piglets did not receive probiotic, groups III, IV and V with five vaccinated sows each whose piglets received probiotic for 5, 15 and 28 days, respectively, and groups VI, VII and VIII with five unvaccinated sows each whose piglets received probiotic for 5, 15 and 28 days, respectively. Each animal in the vaccinated groups received subcutaneously Two doses of 5.0ml of vaccine containing pill K88, K99, 987P and F42 of Escherichia coli. The probiotic contained Lactobacillus acidophilus at the dose of 2.0x10(8) live cells in 20ml of milk and was administered orally. All animals were observed clinically and bacteriologically and the titers of anti-K88, anti-K99, anti-987P and anti-F42 antibodies were determined in serum and colostrum. The results showed that the vaccine associated to the probiotic administered for 28 days was the most effective treatment for the control of diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Anticorpos para Borrelia burgdorferi em indivíduos que trabalham com animais silvestres

The occurrence of serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in professionals in close contact with wild animals was determined. Seventy eight technicians workers coming from two São Paulo public institutions housing wild animals had their blood collected (serum samples). All samples were submitted to ELISA for IgM and IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi. The results showed five positive (6.4%), two suspect (2.6%) and 71 negatives (91%) samples. Based on positive results it is concluded that the infection level is higher to that detected in the general population and similar to values of endemic areas, concluding that this assessed population could be considered at risk for Lyme disease.

Common bile duct obstruction associated with platinosoma concinum in cat

Extrahepatic obstruction in cat,can be caused by cholelithiasis, inspissated bile, pancreatic inflammation or fibrosis, duodenal inflammation, bile duct carcinoma or liver fluke infection (Amphimerus pseudofelineus e Platynosomurn concinum). A three-year-old, female neutered siames cat was present with a two-month history of progressive letargy, anorexia and emaciation. She had severe icterus of the mucous membranes, skin, and sclerae. A diagnosis of extrahepataic biliary obstruction was made based on the increased levels of conjugated bilirubin in the serum and the ultrasonography. Hepatic fluke eggs were not diagnosed in the feces because the fibrotic bile ducts were occluded and no eggs were shed into the intestine. Cholecystoduodenostomy was done to relieve posthepatic-biliary obstruction.