No abstract

Even though sheep embryo cryopreservation is a commonly used procedure the survival and pregnancy outcomes can vary greatly. This study investigated whether cryopreservation was causing subtle changes in ultrastructure, mitochondrial activity or cytoskeletal integrity. Sheep embryos were either slow cooled in 1.5 M EG (n = 22), or vitrified in 20% EG + 20% DMSO with 0.5 M sucrose in Open Pulled Straws (OPS) (n = 24). One hour after warming the cryopreserved embryos differed from control embryos in that they had no mitochondrial activity combined with cytoskeletal disorganization and large vesicles. Vitrified embryos also showed many points of cytoskeleton disruption. Ultrastructural alterations resulting from actin filaments disorganization were observed in both cryopreserved groups. This includes areas presenting no cytoplasmic organelles, Golgi complex located far from the nucleus and a decrease of specialized intercellular junctions. Additionally, large vesicles were observed in vitrified morulae and early blastocysts. The alterations after cryopreservation were proportional to embryo quality as assessed using the stereomicroscope. Even in the absence of mitochondrial activity, grade I and II cryopreserved embryos contained mitochondria with normal ultrastructure. Embryos classified as grade I or II in the stereomicroscope revealed mild ultrastructural alterations, meaning that this tool is efficient to evaluate embryos after cryopreservation.

Coinfecção por Anaplasma platys e Ehrlichia canis em cães diagnosticada pela PCRCo-infection by Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis in dogs diagnosed by PCR

O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a contaminação das praças públicas de Cuiabá, Estado de Mato Grosso, por fezes de cães. Foram pesquisadas 55 praças, de agosto a novembro de 2006. Destas, 14 localizavam-se no centro da cidade e 41 em diversos bairros periféricos do município. As amostras foram coletadas pela manhã, armazenadas em sacos plásticos sob refrigeração e processadas no Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias do Hospital Veterinário da UFMT, através das técnicas de Willis-Mollay e Hoffmann, Pons e Janer, 1934. Das 55 praças, 40 possuíam amostras de fezes de cães. Ao todo foram coletadas 121 amostras e em 45 foram observados ovos de helmintos. Destas, 38 (84,4%) apresentaram ovos de Ancylostoma sp; 07 (15,5%) de Toxocara sp; 09 (20%) de Trichuris vulpis e 01 (2,2%) de Platynossomum sp e Cystoisospora sp. Vinte e duas das 121 amostras encontradas foram nas praças centrais e 99 nas de bairros periféricos, entretanto não houve diferença estatística significativa (p>;0,05) entre as mesmas. Este estudo revelou alta contaminação de praças públicas da cidade de Cuiabá por ovos de helmintos, incluindo os de importância em saúde pública, o que indica risco de transmissão dessas zoonoses a população.

ResumoO presente artigo objetiva revisar os mecanismos de ação das plantas cianogênicas e, adicionalmente, se inclui uma seção sobre sinais clínicos e distribuição dos surtos no Nordeste brasileiro. As plantas cianogênicas com registro de surtos de intoxicação são Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Piptadenia macrocarpa), Cnidoscolus quercifolias (C. phyllacanthus), M. carthaginensis var glaziovii, Passiflora foetida, Piptadenia viriflora, Sorghum halepense e S. bicolor. É notória a grande distribuição e importância da intoxicação por plantas cianogênicas no Nordeste brasileiro, sendo primordial a divulgação e disseminação das informações dos surtos de intoxicação nos municípios com pouco conhecimento das espécies causadoras de intoxicação cianídrica.

Background: Despite the proven copper deficiency in several parts of Brazil, reports of acute and accumulative copper poisoning are increasing in ruminants. Sheep are known to be far more sensible to copper toxicity than cattle, but the sensibility of goats is not quite known. The present paper aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratorial and pathological findings of two outbreaks of accumulative copper poisoning in sheep fed poultry litter in Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil, and to compare these findings with national outbreaks.Cases: Two outbreaks of copper poisoning occurred in the municipalities of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte [outbreak 1], and Icapuí, Ceará [outbreak 2], Brazil. A total of 35 sheep [outbreak 1] and 190 small ruminants (175 sheep and 15 goats) [outbreak 2] were fed poultry litter. First clinical signs of poisoning started after two months of litter consumption. Main clinical signs were apathy, jaundice, hepatomegaly, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dark urine. Clinical evolution varied between one and eight days. Laboratorial findings in ill animals consisted of anemia, highly increased serum AST and GGT activities and urea and creatinine levels; whilst in the non symptomatic sheep and one goat revealed high and light GGT increase, respectively. Poultry litter analysis revealed levels of 449, 2610, 414 and 333 mg/kg of copper, iron, manganese and zinc, respectively. Analysis of copper levels by atomic absorption spectrometry in two sheep showed 730.1 and 1526.5 mg/kg in liver and 485.1 and 519.4 mg/kg in the kidneys. Treatment consisted of oral administration of 100 mg ammonium molibdate and 1 g sodium sulphate for five days. A total of 32 sheep died and necropsy of five animals showed deep jaundice, livers presenting a yellow to orange coloration, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, blackish kidneys and dark urine. The microscopic examination of liver and kidneys showed degenerative and necrotic lesions.Discussion: This is the first report of copper poisoning in sheep from Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. Even though it is not allowed in Brazil, the use of poultry litter for animal feeding still occurs and represents a great risk for copper poisoning in ruminants, especially sheep. The use of poultry litter should be discouraged to producers for feeding ruminants and requires more awareness of them that the use of this product is prohibited for this purpose. Clinical signs were typical of accumulative copper poisoning and the most evident changes in the serum biochemistry analyses were anemia and increased serum AST and GGT activities and urea and creatinine levels. Serum activity of GGT in a non symptomatic goat was slight increased, which is suggestive of an initial liver damage promoted by copper accumulation. Main pathological changes are associated to liver and kidney damage. Measurement of copper levels in liver and kidney fragments by atomic absorption spectrometry confirmed the diagnosis of poisoning by this element. Oral administration of ammonium molibdate associated to sodium sulphate was efficient for the treatment of poisoned sheep because both compounds reduce digestive absorption and increase excretion of copper. The absence of poisoning in goats fed the same poultry litter confirms that this species is more resistant than sheep to copper toxicity. Nevertheless further research must be carried out to test this sensibility. The use of poultry litter should be discouraged to producers for feeding ruminants and requires more awareness of them that the use of this product is prohibited for this purpose.Keywords: jaundice, hemoglobinuric nephrosis, poultry litter, small ruminants.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate performance and biometrics of lambs fed different sources of forage. Twenty-four six-month-old Santa Inês female lambs were randomly allocated to four experimental diets and housed in individual stalls. They weighed on average 26.35±0.20 kg. The diets were coast cross hay (HAY), cassava hay (CAS), dehydrated by-product of pea crop (PEA) and saccharin (SAC). The diets were formulated with the same amount of protein and energy with fixed levels of forage (60%) and concentrate (40%). Adaptation to the diet took 7 days, with 45 days on experiment. Weights and biometric measurements were obtained every fortnight and feed intake three times a week. Rights half-carcasses were weighed and sectioned into retail cuts, rib, loin, shoulder, belly, neck and leg, which were weighed individually. Weight gain in lambs was significantly different between diets, with those fed saccharin gaining more. Overall, treatments did not significantly affect biometric measurements. There was a significant difference for feed intake and live weight at the end of the experiment. Animals fed PEA and SAC showed the best results. Average positive correlations were found between biometric measurements and live weight. Treatment PEA had heavier hot (14.36 kg) and cold (14.01 kg) carcass weights than the other groups. Hot carcass kill-out was higher for animals fed PEA as well as ham weight, belly, neck and heart girth. The weight of the abdominal viscera (%) for lambs fed CAS was greater than those fed SAC and PEA. The weights of the thoracic viscera as well as the liver, for lambs fed PEA were higher. The by-product of pea yielded best results, followed by saccharin, and can replace traditional forage sources in the region, providing similar results in terms of cuts and body components. These could be an alternative for feeding sheep in the dry season. The substitution of forages using by-product of pea and saccharin led to improved productivity over the coast-cross hay available in the Federal District -Brazil.

Superovulation in ewes has been a source of many studies aimed at obtaining high superovulatory response and number of viable embryos recovered. In a protocol called Day 0, superovulatory treatment was initiated at the time of wave emergence in the absence of a dominant follicle (Menchaca A et al. 2002 Theriogenology 58, 1713-1721). The aim of this study was to compare ovarian response and number of embryos recovered after treatment between ewes treated with a Day 0 protocol and those treated with a traditional protocol. Santa InÊs ewes (n= 18) between 2 and 5 years old were randomly distributed into 2 superovulation treatment groups: traditional protocol and Day 0 protocol. Each treatment was repeated twice in a crossover model. The traditional protocol consisted of the intravaginal insertion of a sponge containing 60 mg of medroxiprogesterone acetate (MAP; Progespon®, Tecnopec, São Paulo, Brazil) for 14 days, which was replaced on Day 7, followed by 150 μg of cloprostenol (Prolise®, Tecnopec) i.m. On Day 12, FSH (Folltropin®-V, Bioniche, Belleville, Ontario, Canada) treatment was initiated using a total dose of 200 mg, given in twice-daily i.m. injections that decreased in dose over 4 days. A dose of 200 IU of eCG (Novormon®, Syntex, Buenos Aires, Argentina) i.m. was given at the time of sponge withdrawal. The AI was done by laparoscopy at 48 and 55 h after sponge withdrawal using fresh semen. The Day 0 protocol consisted of a previous 9-day synchronization treatment with a sponge containing 60 mg of MAP, followed by 150 μ of cloprostenol i.m. and 200 IU of eCG i.m. given on Day 7. A dose of 0.05 mg of GnRH (lecirelin; Gestran Plus®, Tecnopec) i.m. was given 16 h after sponge withdrawal. In a preliminary study, 38 ewes ovulated 42 ± 52 h after sponge withdrawal. Therefore, 48 h after sponge removal was considered as Day 0 and FSH treatment was initiated at that time, with a total dose of 200 mg of Folltropin®-V, given in 6 twice-daily decreasing doses. Two doses of cloprostenol (150 μg) were given i.m. concurrent with the fifth and sixth FSH treatments. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (0.05 mg of lecirelin i.m.) was given 12 h after the last FSH treatment. Artificial insemination with fresh semen was done by laparoscopy 16 and 26 h after GnRH treatment. Five days after AI, embryos were recovered surgically. Results were evaluated by the parametric t-test. The number of corpora lutea and ova/embryos recovered did not differ (P > 0.05) between the traditional (9.8 ± 5.3; 4.5 ± 4.6) and Day 0 (10.0 ± 6.0; 3.5 ± 4.3) protocols. Similarly, no difference in the number of viable embryos was observed between treatments (1.6 ± 2.0 and 1.7 ± 2.4 for the traditional and Day 0 treatments, respectively). Within viable embryos, the traditional protocol (0.4 ± 1.0) resulted in ahigher (P < 0.05) number of morulae than that of the Day 0 protocol (0.1 ± 0.3). The ewes that had no superovulatory response did not differ (P > 0.05) between the traditional (11.11%) and Day 0 (5.56%) protocols. In summary, there was no difference in the parameters evaluated between both protocols. Financial support: FAPDF, CNPq, Tecnopec.