Thirty Santa Ines adult, non-lactating, non-pregnant ewes, ten with a brown coat, ten black coated and ten white coated, as well as ten Bergamasca and ten of mixed breed were used to evaluate the effect of climate on physiological and blood parameters in sheep. Two sample collections were taken (6 AM: and 2 PM: ) on six days. Sweating rate (SR), heart (HR) and breathing rates (BR), complete hemogram, rectal (RT) and skin temperatures (ST) were measured. Variance analyses were carried out using SAS(R). In general, there were significant differences between animals due to skin type, time and day of collection. White coated animals showed lower HR, BR and RT, with afternoon parameters higher than morning. Correlations between HR, BR, RT, SR and ST were medium and positive. Correlations between physiological and blood traits were in general negative and medium. Packed Cell Volume (PCV), total plasma proteins, red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration had high positive correlations between each other. The first two autovectors explained 49% of variation between traits. White coated Santa Ines animals were shown to be better adapted to climatic conditions in Central Brazil and wool sheep more affected by heat.

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This chapter presents experiments aiming to examine the aspects of Brachiaria spp. poisoning in sheep in Brazil, and analyse the epidemiological records from spontaneous outbreaks. The susceptibility of sheep to signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens [Urochloa decumbens]) poisoning, the effect of signal grass maturity on poisoning in naïve sheep and the performance of sheep grazing Brachiaria spp. and other pastures are described. It is shown that the susceptibility or resistance to Brachiaria spp. poisoning in sheep is complex and is probably influenced by genetic and acquired resistance and factors determining the saponin concentration in grasses. Nevertheless, Brachiaria spp. is an important option for grazing sheep in central-western Brazil. Therefore, more research is necessary to develop management measures to prevent the intoxication.

RESUMO -O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os diversos fatores que influenciam o intervalo de partos (IEP), a fertilidade real (FR), razão do peso do bezerro ao nascer (RPN) ou desmame (RPD) em relação ao peso da vaca ao parto, no rebanho de gado mestiço da Embrapa Cerrados. Foram analisados dados de 4469 parições, coletados no período entre 1976 e 1999, usando os procedimentos GLM, CORR e PRINCOMP do SAS. As características incluíram as relações peso ao nascimento do bezerro/peso da vaca no parto (RPN), peso ao desmame do bezerro/ peso da vaca no parto (RPD) e a fertilidade real (FR), bem como a condição corporal (CC) e os pesos dos animais. A CC da vaca no parto (CCVP) não afetou a mortalidade, o peso ao nascer dos bezerros, ou o IEP. A FR elevou-se com o aumento da CCVP, seguindo a tendência oposta que o IEP. Verificaram-se menor IEP e maior FR com maiores valores de CC da vaca ao desmame (CCVD). O grupo genético do pai não influenciou nenhuma das características analisadas, enquanto o grupo da mãe foi significativo para todas as características estudadas. Somente o ano do nascimento influenciou a mortalidade dos bezerros. O ambiente (mês, ano e número do parto da mãe) e a genética (sexo) influenciaram significativamente os pesos ao nascer e ao desmame. As correlações entre as características estudadas foram, em geral, baixas e, às vezes, negativas para RPN e RPD, enquanto com FR foram mais altas. Os dois primeiros componentes explicam 56% da variação total entre as características examinadas.Palavras-chave: fertilidade real, intervalo de partos, parâmetros reprodutivos, componentes principais, correlações Reproductive and Production Components for the Beef Herd of Embrapa CerradosABSTRACT -The objective of this work was to analyze the various factors which influence calving interval (CI), true fertility (TF), ratio of birth (RBW) and weaning weight (RWW) of the calf to the calving weight of the cow, using the crossbred herd of EMBRAPA Cerrados as a model. The data, from 4469 calvings, collected between 1976 and 1999, was analyzed using the GLM, CORR and PRINCOMP procedures of SAS. The reproductive parameters investigated include ratio of calf birth weight/calving weight of cow (RBW), calf weaning weight / calving weight of cow (RWW) and TF as well as body condition scores (BC) and weights. The correlations between the traits were, generally, low, and sometimes negative with RBW and RWW while with TF they were higher. BC at calving did not affect mortality nor calf birth weight but did affect the following calving interval. The FR increased with increased calving BC as did calving interval. A lower calving interval and higher true fertility was observed with higher weaning BC score. The genetic group of the bull did not influence any of the traits analyzed, which group of the cow influenced birth weight. The environment (month, year and number of parturition) and genetics (sex) significantly influenced birth and weaning weights. The first two principal components explain 56% of the total variation between...

Rangelia vitalii is a protozoon described from dogs in the south and southeast regions of Brazil. It is phylogenetically related to Babesia spp. that infects dogs, but data on this enigmatic parasite is still limited. The aim of this work was to detect piroplasm species in dogs in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by 18S rRNA gene-based PCR assay, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence analyses. Of 103 dogs examined, seven (6.8%) were positive for Babesia spp. by PCR. The amplified products were digested by restriction enzymes to differentiate the Babesia species, and one sample was identified as Babesia vogeli. The pattern observed for the other six amplification products did not match with pattern described for large Babesia infecting dogs. Sequencing analysis confirmed these six samples as R. vitalii, with high homologies (99-100%) with a sequence from south Brazil. This study confirms the presence of Babesia vogeli and Rangelia vitalii circulate in domestic dogs in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Keywords: Babesia vogeli, Rangelia vitalii, piroplasms, dogs, PCR. ResumoRangelia vitalii é um protozoário que infecta cães e foi descrito nas regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil. R. vitalii é filogeneticamente próxima à Babesia spp., mas dados deste misterioso parasito ainda são escassos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi detectar a presença de piroplasmas em cães naturalmente infectados no estado do Rio de Janeiro, através da amplificação do gene 18S rRNA pela PCR, clivagem com enzimas de restrição (RFLP) e caracterização genética através do sequenciamento. De 103 cães, sete (6,8%) foram positivos para Babesia spp. pela PCR. Os produtos amplificados foram digeridos por enzimas de restrição para a diferenciação das espécies de Babesia e uma amostra foi identificada como Babesia vogeli. O padrão de amplificação observado nas outras seis amostras não correspondeu ao padrão descrito para babesias que infectam cães. O sequenciamento das seis amostras confirmou ser uma espécie geneticamente idêntica a R. vitalii apresentando grande homologia (99-100%) com a sequência do sul do Brasil. Este estudo confirma a presença de Babesia vogeli e Rangelia vitalii infectando cães em Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Adaptability can be evaluated by the ability of an animal to adjust to environmental conditions and is especially important in extreme weather conditions such as that found in tropical Brazil. A multivariate analysis using physical and physiological traits in exotic (Nellore and Holstein) and naturalized (Junqueira, Curraleira, Mocho Nacional, Crioula Lageana, and Pantaneira) cattle breeds was carried out in the Federal District of Brazil to test and determine which traits are important in the adaptation of animal to heat stress as well as the ability of these traits and statistical techniques to separate the breeds studied. Both physical and physiological traits were measured on three occasions and included body measurements, skin and hair thickness, hair number and length, pigmentation, sweat gland area as well as heart and breathing rates, rectal temperature, sweating rate, and blood parameters. The data underwent multivariate statistical analyses, including cluster, discriminate, and canonical procedures. The tree diagram showed clear distances between the groups studied, and canonical analysis was able to separate individuals in groups. Coat traits explained little variation in physiological parameters. The traits which had higher discriminatory power included packed cell volume, shoulder height, mean corpuscular volume, body length, and heart girth. Morphological and physiological traits were able to discriminate between the breeds tested, with blood and size traits being the most important. More than 80% of animals of all breeds were correctly classified in their genetic group.

There are few papers about physiological indices in Callithrix penicillata, an increasing primate model in biomedicine. We investigated levels of plasmatic cortisol, plasmatic glucose, free fatty acids, blood cells, tympanic temperature, rectal temperature in C. penicllata, under a fast restraint. Measures of body and weight were accomplished. Males and females were not different regarding any measurements. Body measurements indicated differences between adults and juveniles. Adults showed higher hematocrit and a tendency for higher free fatty acids than juveniles. Right tympanic temperature was higher in adults than juveniles. This result suggests a higher reaction metabolism in adults than juveniles under a restraint stress. Due to the short-time of collecting the data, plasmatic cortisol did not influence physiological parameters. Therefore, we suggest that present results could be considered referential values of C. penicillata physiology.

RESUMO -Os cavalos do exército brasileiro são usados em dias de exposição e, muitas vezes, submetidos a exercício intenso, que, aliado às condições climáticas do cerrado do Centro-Oeste brasileiro, resulta na necessidade de extrema aclimatação dos mesmos. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar o efeito do estresse térmico e do exercício a que estão submetidas às raças de eqüinos estudadas. Foram utilizados 40 cavalos adultos (4 a 13 anos) do 1 o Regimento de Cavalaria de Guarda (10 animais de cada uma das raças Puro Sangue de Corrida -PSC, Mestiço -M e Brasileiro de Hipismo -BH) e do 32 o Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha (10 animais da raça Bretã), localizado no Setor Militar Urbano do Distrito Federal. Foram realizadas três medidas das freqüências cardíaca e respiratória, da temperatura retal e colhidas amostras de sangue quatro vezes por dia, de manhã e à tarde, antes e depois dos animais terem sido submetidos a exercício. A raça afetou todas as características exceto VCM, HCM e CHCM. Animais da raça PSC tiveram médias mais altas para leucócitos (7,83 ± 1,59), hemácias (9,21 ± 1,27), VG (40,75 ± 4,58) e hemoglobina (14,34 ± 1,67), enquanto os mestiços tiveram médias mais altas para proteína plasmática total (6,93 ± 0,66). Na raça Bretã foram observados níveis mais baixos para a maioria das características examinadas. O exercício afetou todas as características exceto VCM, HCM e CHCM com o nível das características aumentando em todos os casos. As correlações entre as características investigadas variam muito, sendo que entre hemácias, hemoglobina, VG foram em geral altas e positivas (>0,58), enquanto com a proteína plasmática total foram de médias a baixas (<0,26). O presente experimento nos permite concluir que os animais da raça PSC são os mais susceptíveis e os da raça Bretã os melhores adaptados às condições do clima do DF.Palavras-chave: aclimatação, estresse, calor, respostas fisiológicas, exercício Effect of Heat Stress and Exercise on Physiological Parameters of Horses of the Brazilian ArmyABSTRACT -The horses of the Brazilian army are used for expositions, and frequently subjected to intense exercise. This, together with environmental conditions of the Central west savanna result in the need for acclimatization. The objective of this study was to determine what is the effect of thermal and exercise stress on four groups of stabled horses in the savanna region. 40 Adult horses (4 to 13 years of age) from the 1 st Mounted Guard Regiment (10 of each breed Thoroughbred -PSC, Crossbred -M and Brazilian Showjumper -BH) as well as 10 Bretãs from the 32 nd Campaign Artillery Group, were used. All horses were kept in the Urban Military Sector in the Federal District. The measurements made on the animals included heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature and blood samples were taken at four opportunities during the day, in the morning and afternoon, before and after exercise. Genetic group influenced all traits except VCM, HCM e CHCM. Animals of the PSC group had higher means for leukocytes (7.83 ± 1.59), ...