The pregnancy loss are common problems in the creation of equine, being the cause of concern among professionals, the numerous economic losses to the agribusiness sector. Early miscarriages are more incidents late, being attributed to maternal, environmental and embryonic factors. The factors include maternal reproductive tract changes, the mare's age, progesterone deficiency, when the cover reproductive status, failure in maternal recognition of pregnancy covering the foal heat, among others. Environmental factors include maternal stress, nutrition and effect of semen. Late pregnancy losses are fewer incidents and were attributed mainly to infectious disorders related to fetal-placental interactions, as ascending placentitis of origin. Equine herpesvirus type I and leptospirosis are the most common infectious causes, making essential health control and vaccination of the squad. Due to the alarming figures, the aim of this study, a literature review describing the main causes of pregnancy loss in the equine species.

Avaliou-se a eficiência de dois indutores da ovulação: cipionato de estradiol (CE) e benzoatode estradiol (BE), na inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF). Foram utilizadas 128novilhas. Todos os animais foram submetidos ao mesmo protocolo de sincronização, a partirdo dia 8 os animais foram distribuídos em dois tratamentos: Tratamento com CE no dia 8 (64novilhas) e tratamento com BE no dia 9 (64 novilhas). Quanto ao número de folículos, sóobservou-se diferença significativa entre os tratamentos no dia 8. Não houve diferença(p>0,05) para taxa de crescimento folicular, diâmetro do folículo dominante (10,97 ± 1,24 e9,77 ± 1,36 mm), e intervalo da ovulação à inseminação artificial (13,20 ± 3,79 e 23,00 ±14,28 horas) entre os tratamentos. A retirada do dispositivo de progesterona à ovulação, emhoras, foi de 60,60±3,69 e 74,75±15,17 horas, respectivamente para CE e BE (p<0,05).Houve diferença (p<0,05) entre os tratamentos para a taxa de ovulação, que foi de 90,00% e40,00% para CE e BE, respectivamente. A taxa de prenhez foi de 37,3% (p˃0,05) para ambostratamentos. A administração de CE no dia 8 possibilitou a redução de um manejo na IATFem novilhas sem influenciar na taxa de prenhez.

Background: The enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is a viral disease with a chronic aspect and its etiological agent is an oncogenic deltaretrovirus called bovine leukemia virus (VLB). It has a wide distribution in dairy cattle herds, and it may take several years before the first clinical manifestations occur. Animals seropositive for VLB are more susceptible to developing infectious diseases such as mastitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of EBL, the prevalence of mastitis, the possible association between leukosis and mastitis, and the risk factors related to leukosis in municipalities of the Caparaó region of Espírito Santo, Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: The prevalence of enzootic bovine leukosis and its association with mastitis were evaluated in an 854 clinically healthy crossbred (Bos tauros tauros x Bos taurus indicus) dairy cows were used, in different lactation phases, from farms located in the 12 municipalities that compose the Caparaó Capixaba micro-region, in the southern part of Espírito Santo, Brazil, in the period from February to July 2015. The seroprevalence of EBL was determined by the agar gel immunodiffusion test, the presence of clinical mastitis was ascertained by the black background mug test and of subclinical mastitis by the CMT. The reuse of needles, type of milking, reproductive management, calf mortality, presence of reproductive problems and milk yield were the risk factors assessed. The association between the variables was estimated by the odds ratio (95% confidence interval). The significance of the associations was determined by the Chi-square test. The prevalence of EBL, clinical and subclinical mastitis was 56.79%, 5.50% and 43.55%, respectively. There was a positive association between the EBL virus and the presence of subclinical mastitis (P < 0.05, OR = 1.41, CI = 1.07-1.86). The reuse of disposable needles (OR = 1.92, CI = 1.46-2.53), mechanical milking (OR = 2.03, CI = 1.34-3.08), calf mortality (OR = 2.39; CI = 1.25-4.55) and the presence of reproductive problems (OR = 1.62; CI = 1.23-2.14) were considered risk factors associated with LEB (P < 0.05).Discussion: Enzootic bovine leukosis is disseminated in the dairy herds in the municipalities the study. The lack of knowledge about EBL among farmers and the failure to adopt measures for its control and elimination favor the appearance of new cases in the herd. Factors such as animal age, absence of exams when purchasing animals, reuse of gloves for rectal palpation and needles, contribute to dissemination of the infection. The economic losses associated with subclinical mastitis can even be greater than those caused by clinical mastitis. The differences for prevalence of clinical mastitis can be associated with the breeding system, type of management, intensification and level of production.  In this context, we noted a much larger number of animals with subclinical infection, where the losses may not be perceptible to the farmers. It is concluded that EBL is widespread in dairy herds of the municipalities of Caparaó Espírito Santo's region. The prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis is high in some cities surveyed. The presence of EBL increases the chances of developing subclinical mastitis. The reuse of disposable needles and mechanical milking were considered risk factors associated with EBL. Seroreagent animals for EBL are more likely to present calf mortality and reproductive problems. It is necessary to discuss the best sanitary management system for the region, with a better economic and social response and then carry out the elaboration of educational and implementation measures, through technical assistance.

Taxa de prenhez em vacas de leite após uso de protocolos hormonais de inseminação artificial em tempo fixo* Pregnancy rates in dairy cows after the use of hormonal protocols of timed artificial insemination

Devido ao crescimento da ovinocultura e o aumento da demanda em relação aos seus produtos, há a necessidade de se investir na sanidade desses animais. Com isso, torna-se imprescindível a utilização de meios diagnósticos para afecções metabólicas, principalmente a toxemia da prenhez. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo validar a técnica diagnóstica em fita reagente para β-hidroxibutirato (BHB) em glicosímetro portátil humano em ovelhas da raça Dorper e White Dorper. Foram utilizadas 111 ovelhas hígidas, 79 da raça Dorper e 32 White Dorper, em diferentes fases produtivas, sendo elas vazias (n=44), gestantes (n=37) e recém-paridas (n=30). A coleta de sangue foi realizada por punção da veia jugular, com sistema de coleta a vácuo, em tubo sem anticoagulante. Instantaneamente, foi realizada a determinação do BHB pelo método da fita reagente utilizando-se o glicosímetro portátil e a determinação do BHB no soro foi realizada em analisador bioquímico automático. A análise estatística foi realizada, mediante o teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov (p<0,05), verificou-se a distribuição não paramétrica dos dados, sendo eles arranjados de maneira pareada, ao qual o mesmo indivíduo era analisado pelas duas técnicas, foi escolhido o teste de McNemar para a verificação da hipótese de diferença entre os testes. Além disso, foi realizado o cálculo do coeficiente Kappa (IC 95%) para verificar a reprodutibilidade dos testes, associado aos cálculos de sensibilidade e especificidade, considerando o teste laboratorial como padrão ouro. Não houve diferença estatística significativa entre os resultados da fita reagente para corpos cetônicos e da análise bioquímica em laboratório, considerando o total de 111 animais. Nesta análise, a estatística resultou em um índice Kappa de 85%, com sensibilidade da fita reagente de 93% e especificidade de 96%. Na classificação recém-parida, o teste McNemar (p=0,3173) com IC 95% demonstrou haver um coeficiente Kappa 80,6%, com 93% de sensibilidade e 87% de especificidade. As ovelhas recém-paridas, nesta categoria de grupos, possuem resultados pareados e, desta forma apresentou um coeficiente Kappa de 80,6%, com 93% de sensibilidade e 87% de especificidade. O teste da fita reagente para β-hidroxibutirato em glicosímetro portátil humano foi considerado excelente e confiável, podendo ser utilizado como recurso diagnóstico em ovinos.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) at the moment of implementation of the timed artificial insemination protocol, on follicular dynamics and pregnancy rate in crossbred cows. Materials and Methods: A total of 346 cows were used in two experiments with a factorial 2×2 design. The cycling cows (Tcycling) and the anestrous cows (Tanestrous) were considered as factor 1 and the administration of rbST (TrbST) or not (Tcontrol) as factor 2. The experimental protocol: (1) Tcontrol – day 0 (D0), insertion of a progesterone-release intravaginal device (PRID) plus 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB); D8, PRID removal, plus 0.150 mg of prostaglandin F2α, and 400 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin; D9, 1 mg of EB; and with artificial insemination at day 10; (2) TrbST – similar to Tcontrol plus 500 mg of rbST on D0. In experiment I, ultrasound examinations were performed in all treatments. In experiment II, the cows' pregnancy rate was evaluated. Data were analyzed with 5% probability. Results: There was no effect of the protocols on cows cyclicity or follicular growth rate (p>0.05). There was no interaction of the effects, administration of rbST, and the cyclicity of cows on the pregnancy rate. The total pregnancy rate observed was 49.0%. The pregnancy rate in cows receiving rbST was lower for anestrous compared with cycling cows (p<0.05). Conclusion: The administration of rbST did not alter the patterns of follicular dynamics nor the ovulation rate. However, cows in anestrous that received rbST had lower pregnancy rates than cycling cows.

This study evaluated the seroprevalence and associated factors of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), and to analyze the possible relationship between IBR, BVD, and the occurrence of mastitis. For this purpose, 854 crossbred dairy cows were evaluated from 69 properties allocated in the 12 municipalities that make up the Caparaó region, Espírito Santo (ES), Brazil. The seroprevalence of IBR and BVD was determined using the indirect ELISA test. Associations between variables were estimated using the prevalence ratio (PR) with a 95% confidence interval. The chi-square test was used to verify the significance of the associations (P < 0.05). The average prevalence of IBR and BVD was 48.59% and 26.46%, respectively. Animals seroreactive for IBR were more likely to develop subclinical mastitis (P < 0.01; PR: 1.27), and cows that were seroreactive for BVD were more likely to develop clinical mastitis (P < 0.01; PR: 2.24). Mechanical milking was considered a factor associated with IBR (P < 0.01; PR: 1.36) and BVD (P < 0.01; PR: 1.25). Reproductive management by natural breeding was considered a factor associated with IBR (P < 0.01; PR: 1.22). Animals seroreactive for BVD were more likely to develop reproductive problems (P < 0.01; PR: 1.34). It was concluded that the agents that cause IBR and BVD are widely disseminated in dairy cattle herds in the municipalities of the Caparaó region, ES, Brazil. The presence of IBR and BVD increased the chances of cows developing subclinical mastitis and clinical mastitis, respectively, and the cows that were mechanically milked were more likely to be seroreactive for IBR and BVD.

Caseous lesions in the esophagus of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the coast of Brazil have been described as obstructive lesions and can lead to the death of these animals. However, their etiology remains unclear. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the aerobic bacterial microbiota of the esophagus of green turtles (C. mydas) from the Brazilian coast and to verify its possible participation in the etiology of caseous lesions. For this, 42 animals were used, 33 alive and healthy and 9 naturally dead that had esophageal lesions confirmed by necropsy, from Anchieta and Piúma beaches, Espírito Santo. Microbiological tests and morphological evaluation of the esophagus were performed. We isolated 14 different bacterial agents from healthy animal samples, with the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa being (36.36%), Staphylococcus aureus (33.33%), Aeromonas hydrophila (27.27%), and Vibrio alginolyticus (24.24%). In dead animals, only three distinct agents were isolated: S. aureus (50.00%), A. hydrophila (25.00%), and V. alginolyticus (25.00%). Morphological evaluation revealed a predominance of the lesions at the gastroesophageal junction, with multifocal-to-coalescent distribution, discrete intensity, and absence of obstruction. Ulcerations and caseous exudates, inflammatory infiltrates, parasitic eggs, and giant foreign body cells were also observed as well as bacterial lumps and glandular alterations, such as necrosis, adenitis, and fragments of adult parasites. There was a positive correlation between bacterial lumps and microbiological culture and a negative correlation between bacterial lumps and microbiological culture with parasites. Thus, it was noted that the esophageal aerobic microbiota of C. mydas was predominantly composed of Gram-negative bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, A. hydrophila, and V. alginolyticus, in addition to several enterobacteria and Gram-positive bacteria, such as S. aureus. These agents are opportunists and may be involved in the etiology of caseous esophagitis in association with other pathogens as co-factors working in association or, even in a secondary way.