This study has detected BPV-1 DNA sequences in wart, blood and plasma samples collected from animals affected by papillomatosis, suggesting viral presence inside the cell. We sellected an animal in which we could detect BPV-1 DNA sequences in wart, blood, placenta and amniotic liquid samples and her offspring which presented BPV-1 DNA sequences in blood sample collected immediately after birth. These results show a possible vertical transmission of BPV-1.

Purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) is a prevalent uterine disease of dairy cows during the puerperium that affects the milk production and affects the profitability of farms. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the biochemical profile, the body condition score, the milk production of cows with PVD and the effects PVD on reproductive performance. A total of 338 Holstein dairy cows aged from 3 to 5 years, from three commercial dairy farms, from Brazil, were used. Blood samples were collected within 25 ± 3 days post‐partum from Holstein dairy cows without PVD (control cows, n = 242) and cows with PVD (n = 96), based on scoring of the vaginal discharge. The body condition score and milk production were recorded on the day of sampling. The biochemical profile encompassed albumin, urea, gamma‐glutamyl transferase, calcium, fibrinogen and cholesterol concentrations. The number of services per pregnancy was lower (p < 0.01), and the number of days until first insemination and the median time to pregnancy were higher in cows with PVD (p < 0.01) when compared with control cows. Milk production and body condition score were lower (p < 0.01) in cows with PVD than in control group. Cows with PVD had lower (p < 0.05) serum albumin, urea, calcium and cholesterol concentrations, and higher serum gamma‐glutamyl transferase activity and fibrinogen concentration than cows without PVD. Our results show that cows with PVD have changes in the biochemical profile and negative effects on production and reproduction performance.

Com o objetivo de estabelecer os valores de referência de parâmetros bioquímicos que avaliem a função hepática, por meio da determinação da atividade enzimática da aspartato-aminotransferase (AST) e da gama-glutamiltransferase (GGT), de bovinos da raça Jersey, criados no Estado de São Paulo, bem como avaliar a influência dos fatores etários, sexuais e da infecção pelo vírus da leucose dos bovinos sobre os referidos parâmetros bioquímicos, foram colhidas e examinadas amostras de soro sangüíneo de 170 animais, sendo 106 fêmeas e 17 machos, considerados clinicamente sadios e não reagentes ao antígeno glicoprotéico (gp51) da cápsula do vírus da leucose dos bovinos e 47 fêmeas soro-reagentes ao mencionado vírus. Os valores de referência obtidos para a AST foram iguais a 33,91±10,99U/l enquanto para a GGT obtiveram-se valores médios de 13,21±12,72U/l. A avaliação dos resultados demonstrou que as transaminases sofreram influência dos fatores etários, pois comprovou-se que os teores séricos da AST aumentaram significativamente com o evoluir da idade, sendo o valor mínimo observado nas bezerras com até 3 meses de idade (26,39±22,17U/l) e valor máximo em vacas com idade entre 48 e 72 meses de idade (38,60±11,24U/l). Para os níveis séricos da GGT observou-se que nas bezerras com até 3 meses de idade os níveis séricos (31,15±38,70U/l) foram maiores do que os observados nos animais mais velhos (entre 8,70±2,40U/l e 14,24±10,37U/l). Nesta pesquisa não foram observadas influências dos fatores sexuais e da infecção pelo vírus da leucose dos bovinos sobre a atividade enzimática das transaminases.

Com o objetivo de estabelecer os valores de referência do eritrograma de bovinos da raça Jersey, criados no Estado de São Paulo, e avaliar a influência exercida pelos fatores etários realizaram-se exames em amostras de sangue colhidas de 253 fêmeas clinicamente sadias (não reagentes ao antígeno glicoprotéico gp 51 da cápsula do vírus da leucose dos bovinos). Nas amostras de sangue, que continham EDTA como anticoagulante, foram realizadas as seguintes provas: contagem do número de hemácias em câmara de Neubauer modificada, utilizando líquido de Gower como diluidor; determinação do volume globular pelo método do microematócrito; dosagem de hemoglobina pelo método de cianometaemoglobina e cálculo dos índices hematimétricos absolutos (volume corpuscular médio - VCM, hemogloina corpuscular média - HCM, concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média - CHCM). Observou-se influência dos fatores etários sobre os valores do eritrograma, sendo o número de hemácias e o volume globular significativamente maiores nos animais jovens, enquanto que os teores de hemoglobina não variaram em função da idade. Os valores de referência para o número de hemácias, volume globular e hemoglobina foram, respectivamente, 6,62±1,47 células × 10(6)/mm³, 31,6±3,5% e 10,45±1,29 g/dl. Os resultados médios dos índices hematimétricos absolutos aumentaram com o desenvolvimento etário, sendo os valores de referência para o VCM, HCM e CHCM, 49,18±8,28mim³; 16,37±3,37pg e 33,14±2,57%, respectivamente.

No abstract

ABSTRACT. Recombinant coagulation factor IX must be produced in mammalian cells because FIX synthesis involves translational modifications. Human cell culture-based expression of human coagulation factor IX (hFIX) is expensive, and large-scale production capacity is limited. Transgenic animals may greatly increase the yield of therapeutic proteins and reduce costs. In this study, we used a lentiviral system to obtain transgenic cells and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to produce transgenic animals. Lentiviral vectors carrying hFIX driven by 3 bovine β-casein promoters were constructed. Bovine epithelial mammary cells were transduced by lentivirus, selected with blasticidin, plated on extracellular matrix, and induced by lactogenic hormones; promoter activity was evaluated by quantitative PCR. Transcriptional activity of the 5.335-kb promoter was 6-fold higher than the 3.392-and 4.279-kb promoters, which did not significantly differ. Transgenic bovine fibroblasts were transduced with lentivirus carrying the 5.335-kb promoter and used as donor cells for SCNT. Cloned transgenic embryo production yielded development rates of 28.4%, similar to previous reports on cloned non-transgenic embryos. The embryos were transferred to recipient cows (N = 21) and 2 births of cloned transgenic cattle were obtained. These results suggest combination of the lentiviral system and cloning may be a good strategy for production of transgenic cattle.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do puerpério fisiológico e da fase pós-puerperal no lipidograma de vacas sadias foram colhidas 104 amostras de sangue por punção da veia coccígea de fêmeas da raça Holandesa criadas no Estado de São Paulo. O lipidograma foi avaliado pela determinação dos teores séricos de colesterol, triglicérides, ácidos graxos não esterificados, beta-hidroxibutirato, e teores plasmáticos de glicose. Observou-se que os teores séricos de colesterol aumentaram gradativamente, enquanto os teores de ácidos graxos não esterificados diminuíram gradativamente com a evolução do puerpério. Na fase pós-puerperal (mais de 45 dias pós-parto) ocorreu a estabilização dos valores de colesterol e de ácidos graxos não esterificados.

Climate change is seen as a significant threat to the sustainability of livestock production systems in many parts of the world, particularly in tropical regions. Extreme meteorological events can result in catastrophic production and death of livestock. Heat waves in particular can push vulnerable animals beyond their survival threshold limits. However, there is little information about buffalo responses to sudden changes in the thermal environment, specifically the heat waves. This study aimed to quantify the thermoregulatory and blood biochemical responses of heat-acclimatized buffaloes to a simulated heat wave. The experiment was designed in a climatic chamber with two periods of 4 days each. Twelve heat acclimated buffalo heifers aged 18 months were used. The climatic chamber environment was set as follows: 4-day period (P1) simulating the same weather conditions of a summer in humid tropical climate used as a baseline, with daily cycle with Ta and RH at 27 ± 1 °C and 76% from 0600 h to 1900 h and 24 ± 1 °C and 80% from 1900 h to 0600 h, and 4-day period (P2), simulating a daily heat wave cycle, from 0600 h to 1900 h with Ta and RH kept at 36 °C and 78% and from 1900 h to 0600 h, 27 °C and 74%. All animals were subject to both treatments and data were analyzed by a repeated measure analysis of variance, with post-hoc pooling comparison performed by Tukey’s test. In P2, there was observed a significant increase in respiratory frequency (p < 0.01), found four times in P1. The sweating rates were quite high in both periods; still, there were significant increases in P2 compared to P1 (p < 0.01) (4931 and 3201 g/m2/h, respectively). A slight but significant increase in rectal temperature was observed during the day (p < 0.01), with a rising until 1900 h. The simulated heat wave in P2 did not affect the values of the erythrogram or leukogram, excluding the significant reduction in K+ (p < 0.05). The low heat storage and the subsequent fast and full recovery of the thermal balance late afternoon appear to be related to the high sweating rate values. The massive sweating rate emphasizes its relevance in the maintenance of buffalo homeothermy. The absence of changes in hematological parameters has revealed the considerable physiological resilience of buffaloes toward simulated heat waves.