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Appropriate hematological reference intervals mitigate the risk of unnecessary investigations and failures on disease diagnosis. Species, breed, environment, handling, and physiologic stage could influence hematological variables. In this context, there is a lack of hematological reference intervals for Pêga donkeys, an important Brazilian asinine breed. This study aimed to establish hematological reference values for Pêga donkeys and determine the influence of age and sex on these variables. The complete blood count of samples collected from 110 animals, 79 females and 31 males was performed, maintained under field conditions. The animals under 1 year old (three females and five males) were monitored by collections on the day of birth, on 3rd, 7th, 15th day, and monthly until 12 months of life, while the other donkeys were sampled once. There were differences in several variables analyzed, confirming the requirement of different reference intervals according to age group and sex. Moreover, differences among the values obtained and those of previous studies show a breed influence on the hematological variables of donkeys. For Pêga breed donkeys, animal's age and sex influence most of the hematological variables. This study can be useful in the clinical routine and serve as basis to other scientific researches related to Pêga donkeys.

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ABSTRACT:In this study sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to evaluate the influence of age and sex on serum proteins in 110 Pega donkeys, 79 females and 31 males, classified into three age groups (under one year -eight animals; one to three years -33 animals and over three years old -69 animals). SDS-PAGE allowed identification of 10 serum proteins, some with unknown functions. No age-related differences were observed (P > 0.05) for haptoglobin, α 1 -acid glycoprotein and 23 kDa molecular weight protein (MWP 23 ) and no sex-related differences (P > 0.05) for immunoglobulin A, albumin, MWP 23 and haptoglobin. With advancing age, immunoglobulin A levels decreased (P < 0.001), whereas immunoglobulin G levels increased (P < 0.001). The youngest donkeys showed the lowest albumin (P < 0.001) and 33 kDa molecular weight protein (MWP 33 ) (P < 0.05) means. The oldest group showed a higher transferrin mean (P < 0.05) than the youngest one. Animals between one and three years had the highest mean (P < 0.001) for 138 kDa molecular weight protein (MWP 138 ). Animals over three years showed higher ceruloplasmin levels (P < 0.05) than the one-to-three year old group. Males showed greater means of MWP 138 (P < 0.05), ceruloplasmin (P < 0.05), α 1 -acid glycoprotein (P < 0.001) and MWP 33 (P < 0.01). Females had higher transferrin (P < 0.001) and immunoglobulin G (P < 0.001) concentrations. Sex and age influenced the levels of the majority of proteins in the serum profile of Pega donkeys, including some acute phase proteins. Our results differ from those of previous studies in the effects of breed and environmental factors on some of the measured variables.

This study describes a one-stage rumenostomy technique with placement of permanent flexible silicone cannula, performed in seven Santa Inês ewes used in a research on ruminal acidosis for six months. The surgical procedure proved to be easy to perform, with few postoperative complications and effective to carry out the ruminal fluid sampling during the period of study.

Osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis are highly correlated to reproductive failure in bulls. This study aimed to evaluate the carpal, tarsal and interphalangeal lesions in beef zebu bulls on semen collection regimen. Twentyone beef cattle bulls, in a total of forty-one animals, were split into three age-based groups: animals from two to four years old (GI), from more than four to eight years old (GII) and above eight years old (GIII). The clinical findings were conformational changes of limbs, synovial effusion, peripheral venous engorgement of joints and prolonged decubitus. The total population showed moderate clinical manifestation and radiographic score. The GIII presented more severe joint lesions. Carpi and tarsi regions had discrete to difuse osteophytosis, subchondral cysts, cartilaginous flaps, bone incongruence and fragmentation, osteitis, and ankylosis. Interphalangeal joints presented osteophytosis, distal phalanx osteitis and enthesophytosis. The digital radiographic examination allowed full identification of articular lesions and their clinical correspondences, besides the positive correlation between age, body weight and radiographic score.Keywords: cattle, infertility, male, overweight, radiology RESUMO Osteoartrite e osteocondrose estão altamente correlacionados à falha reprodutiva em touros. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as lesões do carpo, tarso e interfalangianas em touros zebuínos de corte em regime de coleta de sêmen. Vinte e um bovinos de corte, touros, provenientes de um total de 41 animais, foram divididos em três grupos baseados na idade, sendo eles: animais de dois a quatro anos (GI), de mais de quatro a oito anos (GII) e acima de oito anos de idade (GIII). Os sinais clínicos encontrados foram mudanças

The electrophoretic fractionation represents one of the most reliable methods for the identification of blood proteins in ruminants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum proteinogram of sheep with acute ruminal lactic acidosis (ARA) using the SDS-PAGE electrophoresis technique. Ten Santa Inês ewes were used and blood was collected to establish the basal values for induction of ARA. Sucrose was administered orally in a single dose of 15 g/kg body mass. After the administration, blood samples were obtained at the following moments: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 h. Subsequently, samples were obtained every seven days for three further weeks, until complete one month. The total of 13 proteins were identified: immunoglobulins A and G, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin, α1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, α1-acid glycoprotein, proteins of molecular weight 95, 46, 36 and 31 kDa. The increase of haptoglobin from 08 h coincides with the ruminal pH decrease, possibly due to the death of Gram negative bacteria and also the inflammatory process on the rumen. Fibrinogen was presented on highest mean at 48 h and returned to normal with 144 h. We can conclude that changes in serum levels of acute phase proteins can assist the clinical evaluation and diagnosis of ARA in sheep.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) on total serum protein (TP), plasma fibrinogen (Fb), and serum protein fractions in seven hay-adapted Santa Inês ewes fed with a highconcentrate diet for 133 days. Blood was extracted, before feeding, by external jugular venipuncture into tubes with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dipotassium anticoagulant, to evaluate the Fb concentration by heat precipitation, and into plain tubes, for TP analysis by the Biuret method and for sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE obtained the following proteins: immunoglobulin A (IgA) and G (IgG); ceruloplasmin (Cp); transferrin (Tf); albumin; α 1 -antitrypsin (α 1 AT); haptoglobin (Hp); α 1 -acid glycoprotein (α 1 AG); and 140, 101, 95, 46, 36, 34, 31, and 23 kDa molecular weight proteins (MWP). Associations among variables and time were evaluated using regression analysis. Fb concentrations did not change (P > 0.05); IgA, α 1 AT, and Hp levels increased, while Cp decreased throughout the period. Mean Tf levels increased, reaching the highest value on the 72nd day. The other protein levels oscillated during the study. A positive correlation, measured using Pearson's coefficient, was found between TP and IgG levels (r = 0.77; P < 0.0001). IgA, Hp, Tf, and α1AT showed greater potential for use in the diagnosis of SARA. The occurrence of proteins with unknown functions, but that have been highly influenced by the high-grain diet, increases the possibility of identifying inflammatory markers for SARA.