In the northeast of Brazil, caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) is one of the key reasons for herd productivity decreasing that result in considerable economic losses. A comparative study was carried out using computed radiography (CR), histological analysis (HA), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) of the joints of CAE infected and normal goats. Humerus head surface of positive animals presented reduced joint space, increased bone density, and signs of degenerative joint disease (DJD). The carpal joint presented no morphological alterations in CR in any of the animals studied. Tarsus joint was the most affected, characterized by severe DJD, absence of joint space, increased periarticular soft tissue density, edema, and bone sclerosis. Histological analysis showed chronic tissue lesions, complete loss of the surface zone, absence of proteoglycans in the transition and radial zones and destruction of the cartilage surface in the CAE positive animals. Analysis by SEM showed ulcerated lesions with irregular and folded patterns on the joint surface that distinguished the limits between areas of normal and affected cartilage. The morphological study of the joints of normal and CAE positive goats deepened understanding of the alteration in the tissue bioarchitecture of the most affected joints. The SEM finding sustained previous histological reports, similar to those found for rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting that the goat infected with CAE can be considered as a potential model for research in this area.

We aimed to assess the effects of melatonin in the in vitro production of bovine embryos. Our experiment was conducted at the Laboratório de Reprodução Animal of the Universidade Estadual do Maranhão. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were distributed among treatments at concentrations of 0, 10-1, 10-3 and 10-5 µMol/L melatonin. Our experiment was further divided into two: the first was to assess the effect of different concentrations of melatonin (treatments) on the maturation rate of COCs, and the second was to assess the effects of melatonin treatments on the in vitro production of bovine embryos. The results from the first experiment demonstrated no significant difference between the in vitro maturation rate of the cultivated COCs in treatments with melatonin. In the second experiment, however, melatonin treatments yielded statistically higher cleavage, morula and blastocyst rates in the 10-5 µM group (52.9%, 52.9%, and 35.3%, respectively), and lower rates in the 10-1 µM group (19.5%, 19.5% and 7.8%, respectively), compared to the others. The control group (no melatonin) and the 10-3 µM group showed similar results. We concluded that supplementation of melatonin in the in vitro maturation medium resulted in no improvement in the oocyte maturation rate, but in the in vitro production of embryos at different concentrations, the 10-5 µM group displayed better results, but with no improvement in the variables (P < 0.05).

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RESUMO O objetivo foi avaliar protocolos de maturação in vitro (MIV) para oócitos de cutias, seguida de fertilização in vitro (FIV) e ativação partenogenética (AP). Os oócitos imaturos (CCOs) foram obtidos por fatiamento do ovário, após OSH, e submetidos a três grupos: MAT - 16 (16 horas de maturação), MAT - 20 (20 horas de maturação) e MAT - 24 (24 horas de maturação), em incubadora de cultivo a 38,8°C, com atmosfera de 5% de CO2 e 95% de umidade relativa. A maturação foi analisada pela presença do primeiro corpúsculo polar. Em seguida, os CCOs maduros foram submetidos à FIV, com período de coincubação dos CCOs e dos espermatozoides de 15h, a 38,8ºC e 5% de CO2, e AP com ionomicina. Os grupos de MIV foram analisados utilizando-se o teste qui-quadrado e, nos experimentos de FIV e AP, foram analisadas a taxa de clivagem e a proporção de desenvolvimento embrionário. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando-se o programa SAS. Houve diferença significativa entre os grupos de maturação, tendo os grupos MAT - 20 e MAT - 24 apresentado maior porcentagem de oócitos maturados in vitro. As taxas de clivagem e de desenvolvimento embrionário foram de 8,6% e 2,9%, respectivamente, na FIV, e de 63,6% e 15,1%, na AP. Entretanto, nos dois casos, o embrião não passou do estágio de mórula.

Detecção de Histophilus somni (Haemophilus somnus) no sêmen bovino mediante reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR) [I] Detection of Histophilus somni (Haemophilus somnus) in bovine semen using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [a] ResumoO presente estudo avaliou o uso da PCR para a detecção do Histophilus somni no sêmen bovino. Amostras de sêmen foram contaminadas experimentalmente com H. somni diluída em escalas de 10 7 a 10 1 bactérias/ mL, submetidas à extração de DNA pelo método de fenol/clorofórmio e amplificadas pela PCR. Os produtos da amplificação do DNA foram analisados por eletroforese em gel de acrilamida 8%. Por meio de oligonucleotídeos iniciadores obteve-se a amplificação de um fragmento de 400 pares de bases a partir do DNA da bactéria. Conseguiu-se amplificação positiva até na diluição de 10 1 bactérias/mL. A PCR mostrou-se eficiente na detecção de H. somni. O resultado disponibiliza conhecimento relevante para o diagnóstico de H. somni,

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of synchronization with prostaglandin F2α in Baixadeiro mares during the rainy and dry seasons. Fourteen mares were synchronized by administering two doses of 1 mL prostaglandin PGF 2α and monitored by rectal palpation and ultrasound for the assessment of follicular development and uterine echotexture. Of this total, nine mares allowed the collection of blood, in which the blood was collected by venipuncture of the jugular vein to determine progesterone (P4) by ELISA. Mares showed no differences (P > 0.05) in weight, body score condition (BSC), tone, uterine edema, frequency of ovulation, synchronization interval, estrus, and the total number of follicles between periods. However, there was a difference in large increased follicle diameter (P < 0.05) during the dry season. The average concentrations of P4 in mares differed (P < 0.05) between the pre-and post-ovulatory phases for both seasons and after ovulation, with higher concentrations in the rainy season. Furthermore, statistical differences in daily light (P < 0.05) were observed between the dry and rainy periods. Thus, we conclude that mares from the genetic grouping Baixadeiro showed no reproductive seasonality, though there was a difference in luminosity between the rainy and dry seasons. The treatment with two doses of PGF 2α was effective in synchronizing the mares, promoting the return of estrus in the dry and rainy periods. The mares remaining cyclically active throughout the year provided there were appropriate forage availability and quality levels to allow for normal values of body weight and condition.

O objetivo com este trabalho foi caracterizar os aspectos de morfoecogenicidade uterina e de corpo lúteo (CL) e a relação com as concentrações de progesterona (P4) em éguas “Baixadeiro”, durante os períodos chuvoso e seco. Foram utilizados nove animais, sincronizados com duas doses de análogo sintético de prostaglandina PGF2a, com intervalo de 10 dias e monitorados por palpação transretal e ultrassonografia a cada 48 horas. A ecogenicidade uterina foi determinada pelo grau de edema e a do CL foi classificada quanto à organização glandular. O sangue foi coletado por punção da veia jugular para determinação das concentrações de P4 pelo método ELISA. O índice pluviométrico não apresentou diferença estatística (p < 0,05). A taxa de luminosidade diferiu entre os períodos (p < 0,05). Peso e ECC não diferiram entre os períodos (p < 0,05). Dentre as éguas, 88,89% (8/9) ovularam no período chuvoso enquanto 55,56% (5/9) ovularam no período seco, não havendo diferença estatística (p < 0,05). Quanto à morfoecogenicidade uterina, não houve diferença significativa entre os períodos (p < 0,05). Houve diferença entre períodos (p > 0,05) para os níveis plasmáticos de P4, sendo maior a concentração no período chuvoso. Quanto à morfoecogenicidade de CL, estes apresentaram desde centro anecoico a hiperecogênico. Assim, as éguas do grupamento genético “Baixadeiro” mantiveram-se cíclica em ambos períodos chuvoso e seco; as mudanças na ecogenicidade e as concentrações de P4 correspondem ao esperado para a espécie independente do período; bem como não houve diferença de morfoecogenicidade uterina e de CL entre os períodos.

In horses, acid-base balance disorders are common after intense exercise, with metabolic acidosis being the most common after high intensity and short duration exercise. Understanding the processes that cause them is fundamental for procedures, which aimed to improve the physical fitness of horses for athletic purposes, with fewer changes in homeostasis. The present study assessed the effect of barrel racing on acid base balance in Quarter Horse, at the following times: T0 - immediately before training; T1 - immediately after the end of the second course; T2 - one hour after the end of the second course. In T1, there was decrease (P<0.05) in the pH, HCO3 -, pCO2, cBase, tCO2 and strong ion difference concentrations, while the plasma lactate and anion gap increased (P<0.05). It was concluded that barrel racing training caused transient metabolic acidosis in the horses, and hyperlactatemia was still present after an hour of rest.