Is Bluetongue Virus a Risk Factor for Reproductive Failure in Tropical Hair Sheep in Brazil?

Background: Bluetongue is a vector-borne viral disease transmitted by midges from the genus Culicoides. The disease can infect most of the ruminant and camelid species, but the severe disease is most often seen in european wool and mutton sheep breeds. In this sense, there is a gap in the knowledge on BTV infection in hair sheep breeds from tropical zones. Thus, this study aimed at establishing whether exposure to BTV is a risk factor for reproductive failure in Santa Inês ewes, a hair sheep breed, reared under tropical conditions in Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in sheep farms in São Paulo state, Brazil, after the rainy season. Serum samples from 110 Santa Inês ewes with a history of reproductive disorders, in the last 6 months, which were included: abortion, premature birth, stillbirth, retention of placenta, infertility, estrus repetition, fetal malformation, weak lamb birth and neonatal death were collected. The presence of antibodies against BTV was assessed by agar gel immunodiffusion method (AGID). Serology to the infectious agents Brucela ovis, Lepstopira spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Campylobacter sp. were also assessed. Bivariate associations between the outcome and individual explanatory variables were assessed using the Fisher's exact test. Abortion was the most common reproductive disorder (53%; 74/139) observed, followed by estrus repetition (12%; 17/139) and infertility (11%; 15/139). Other disorders related to the conceptus totaled nearly one fourth of the reported disorders. A total of 20% (22/110) of the ewes were seropositive to BTV. A higher frequency of BTV seropositive than BTV seronegative ewes with a history of abortion was found. Also, abortion with seroreactivity to BTV was tested for prevalence ratio that showed 1.38 [95% CI 1.10-1.74; P = 0.030]. With regards to the abortion involvement of other infectious diseases associated with the seropositive ewes to BTV, more than a half of ewes (53%; 10/19) were solely seropositive for BTV.Discussion: In the current study, it was detected 20% (22/110) of seropositive ewes to BTV. These findings demonstrated that even though the BTV has been considered endemic in tropical countries such as Brazil, there are regions or microclimates in which the virus cannot be present or in varied prevalence. The history of abortion was identified as the potential factor associated with BTV seropositivity in Santa Ines ewes. Equally, the differential diagnosis for other infectious agents related to abortion demonstrated the unique presence of antibodies against BTV in more than half of all cases. Other studies with native sheep flocks in Iran and Nepal also demonstrated a strong positive correlation between abortion history and seropositivity for BTV. Thus, it is possible that in other continents of the world, under tropical conditions, the virus does not behave the same asymptomatic infection such as have been reported for native sheep breeds in Africa. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that one-fifth animals were positive for antibodies against BTV clearly implying the viral spreading in the local hair sheep flocks. These findings highlight the importance of surveillance related to BTV in endemic areas. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen the surveillance system for BTV within Brazil and to educate farmers about the management and control of this disease. 

Metastatic Seminoma in a Male Alpine Goat: Clinical and Histopathological Approach

Background: Seminomas are germ cell tumors mainly originating from spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules and has been described in several domestic animal species, even though has rarely been described in goats. Moreover, seminomas tumors are not usually metastatic and rarely trigger paraneoplastic syndrome. In this sense, this is a case report of a 12-year-old male Alpine goat, suspected of testicular neoplasm based on clinical examination and ultrasound imaging, diagnosed as a seminoma with metastasis in liver by histopathology upon necropsy.Case: A 12-year-old male Alpine goat presented a 10 month history of progressive weight loss, prostration, and scrotal sac enlargement. The major clinical findings were pale conjunctival mucus, bilateral nasal catarrhal secretion, obstructive dyspnea, an increased abdominal component, crackling at trachea auscultation, silence upon lung auscultation of the ventral area and wheezing upon auscultation of the dorsal area, and enlargement of the left testicle with contralateral atrophy. At the Ultrasonography scan, the enlarged left testicle presented architecture loss, as well as circumscribed masses differing in echogenicity and echotexture with scattered small hyperechoic nodules. The shrunken right testicle showed acoustic shading across the surface suggestive of calcification. Due to the poor prognosis and regard for animal welfare, the goat was euthanized. The main necropsy findings on testicles were: enlarged left testicle with white parenchyma on the dorsal side as well as diffuse yellow elliptical lesions of 0.5-2.5 cm on the surface in association with two circumscribed areas at the cranial and caudal poles, firm upon cutting. The right testicle was half the typical size, slightly pale, firm at cutting of the tunica albuginea, and presented dark parenchyma with abundant calcification dots suggestive of microlithiasis. The histological findings included diffuse tumoral stroma of the left testicle composed of large, polyhedral, discretely demarcated circular cells exhibiting a large nucleus varying in size with little cytoplasm and a high mitotic rate. The right testicle exhibited areas of necrosis and fibrosis of the testicular parenchyma, contiguous with the area of degeneration and normal parenchyma, caseous necrosis, and focal calcification. The liver presented some foci of the same cellular pattern of the seminoma, as described in the parenchyma. The findings summarized at necropsy and histopathological evaluation were seminoma in the left testicle, with metastasis to the liver; degeneration and necrosis of the right testicle with abscess and calcification.Discussion: Seminoma has been described in several species, even though rarely in goats. This report was the second ever seminoma reported in caprine species, and particularly this case presented liver metastasis, showing the pathologic potential of this neoplasia for this species, and it differed from first reported which described ulcerative lesions in, and adhesion of the skin covering the testis. Regarding the US scan, even though this technique cannot be considered as a conclusive diagnostic, it may help to reach a prognosis by the tumor’s characteristics. An US scan along with cytology or biopsy enables an earlier diagnosis of testicular lesions and prognosis. Orchidectomy, when unilateral, can be carried out to increase the animal's productive life

Indirect detection of respiratory viruses responsible for respiratory disease in sheep

Respiratory disease in sheep is an important disease in sheep flocks, in which viruses are categorized as primary etiological agents. It is responsible for elevated economic losses in sheep production and new data about its occurrence and the etiological agents are necessary to understand its situation in Brazilian flocks.  This research aimed to detect antibodies against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Bovine Herpesvirus type 1, Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) and Bovine Parainfluenza type 3 (bPI-3) virus in healthy and pneumonic sheep in relation to clinical signs of respiratory disease. Ninety-nine male and female sheep from the states of São Paulo (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ) were enrolled in this study. They were classified as healthy and pneumonic using physical examination. Serum samples were obtained, and they were used to determine the presence of antibodies against respiratory viruses using serum neutralization test. The association between the microorganisms, clinical status, and clinical signs of respiratory disease in sheep was evaluated. Antibodies against Bovine Parainfluenza type 3 virus were mainly detected (52.5%), followed by Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (48.5%). Data analysis did not reveal any association between the presence of antibodies and clinical signs of respiratory disease in sheep. Respiratory disease is an important issue in sheep production in which different bacterial and viral etiologic agents may be involved in its development. BRSV and bPI-3 are circulating in sheep flocks from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

Is Bluetongue Virus a Risk Factor for Reproductive Failure in Tropical Hair Sheep in Brazil?

Background: Bluetongue is a vector-borne viral disease transmitted by midges from the genus Culicoides. The disease can infect most of the ruminant and camelid species, but the severe disease is most often seen in european wool and mutton sheep breeds. In this sense, there is a gap in the knowledge on BTV infection in hair sheep breeds from tropical zones. Thus, this study aimed at establishing whether exposure to BTV is a risk factor for reproductive failure in Santa Inês ewes, a hair sheep breed, reared under tropical conditions in Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in sheep farms in São Paulo state, Brazil, after the rainy season. Serum samples from 110 Santa Inês ewes with a history of reproductive disorders, in the last 6 months, which were included: abortion, premature birth, stillbirth, retention of placenta, infertility, estrus repetition, fetal malformation, weak lamb birth and neonatal death were collected. The presence of antibodies against BTV was assessed by agar gel immunodiffusion method (AGID). Serology to the infectious agents Brucela ovis, Lepstopira spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Campylobacter sp. were also assessed. Bivariate associations between the outcome and individual explanatory variables were assessed using the Fisher's exact test. Abortion was the most common reproductive disorder (53%; 74/139) observed, followed by estrus repetition (12%; 17/139) and infertility (11%; 15/139). Other disorders related to the conceptus totaled nearly one fourth of the reported disorders. A total of 20% (22/110) of the ewes were seropositive to BTV. A higher frequency of BTV seropositive than BTV seronegative ewes with a history of abortion was found. Also, abortion with seroreactivity to BTV was tested for prevalence ratio that showed 1.38 [95% CI 1.10-1.74; P = 0.030]. With regards to the abortion involvement of other infectious diseases associated with the seropositive ewes to BTV, more than a half of ewes (53%; 10/19) were solely seropositive for BTV.Discussion: In the current study, it was detected 20% (22/110) of seropositive ewes to BTV. These findings demonstrated that even though the BTV has been considered endemic in tropical countries such as Brazil, there are regions or microclimates in which the virus cannot be present or in varied prevalence. The history of abortion was identified as the potential factor associated with BTV seropositivity in Santa Ines ewes. Equally, the differential diagnosis for other infectious agents related to abortion demonstrated the unique presence of antibodies against BTV in more than half of all cases. Other studies with native sheep flocks in Iran and Nepal also demonstrated a strong positive correlation between abortion history and seropositivity for BTV. Thus, it is possible that in other continents of the world, under tropical conditions, the virus does not behave the same asymptomatic infection such as have been reported for native sheep breeds in Africa. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that one-fifth animals were positive for antibodies against BTV clearly implying the viral spreading in the local hair sheep flocks. These findings highlight the importance of surveillance related to BTV in endemic areas. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen the surveillance system for BTV within Brazil and to educate farmers about the management and control of this disease. 

The Efficacy of Vaccination in the Prevention of Renal and Genital Leptospirosis in Experimentally Infected Sheep

(1) Background: Leptospirosis, mainly determined by strains belonging to serogroup Sejroe, has a direct impact on the reproductive efficiency of ruminants, such as sheep. In Brazil, Leptospira santarosai serovar Guaricura, known to be able to chronically colonize the uterine environment, is of special note. Although vaccination minimizes the effects of acute disease, whether or not it can protect from renal colonization remains controversial, and its effects on the genital tract are unknown. In this context, the present study aims to investigate the efficacy of vaccination in the prevention of experimental genital leptospirosis. (2) Methods: Eighteen sheep were divided into three groups: one vaccinated with a polyvalent commercial bacterin, one vaccinated with an autologous bacterin, and one unvaccinated. After 14 days, the sheep were experimentally challenged with 108 leptospires (L. santarosai, serogroup Sejroe, serovar Guaricura, strain FV52) intraperitoneally. Serology and colonization of the urinary and genital tracts were carried out monthly by PCR for 210 days in all animals. (3) Results: Vaccination significantly elicited antibody titers with a predominance of agglutinins against serogroup Sejroe. Both urinary and genital infections were confirmed by PCR. Positivity in urine PCR was absent after D120, while genital infection persisted until the end of the study. Serological results and the finding that vaccination did not avoid renal colonization align with previous studies. Despite vaccination, Leptospira established chronic and asymptomatic colonization of the genital tract until D210, an outstanding finding that remains to be fully understood in its mechanisms. (4) Conclusions: This is the first study conducted to analyze the effects of vaccination in the prevention of genital leptospirosis

Pre-Selection test to identify high responder donor goats

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of pre-selection of high or low responder does prior to the superovulatory protocols. Twenty Saanen does received 800 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) at the end of long-term progestogen treatment. Fourteen days later, a second progestogen protocol associated with a multiple-dose follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) treatment (5 IU/kg of FSH, in six decreasing doses between days 4 to 6 of the protocol) was administered. Transrectal ultrasound was used to assess the follicular status at the beginning of superovulatory treatments, at the oestrous onset and on the seventh day of the oestrous cycle for counting corpora lutea (CL). A significant lower number of CL was obtained in eCG-treated in comparision with FSH-treated does (p 0.05). In conclusion, the screening test with eCG has the potential to identify Saanen does that will better respond to the superovulatory protocol with FSH. In addition, it highlighted the importance of an ultrasound evaluation prior to the beginning of superovulatory treatments with FSH to characterize the follicular status and identify the potential donors of high ovulatory response in MOET programmes in goats.EEA BarilocheFil: Balaro, Mario Felipe Alvarez. Universidade Federal Fluminense. Faculdade de Veterinária. Departamento de Patologia e Clínica Veterinaria; BrasilFil: Brandao, Felipe Zandonadi. Universidade Federal Fluminense. Faculdade de Veterinária. Departamento de Patologia e Clínica Veterinaria; BrasilFil: Maia, A.L.R.S. Universidade Federal Fluminense. Faculdade de Veterinária. Departamento de Patologia e Clínica Veterinaria; BrasilFil: Cueto, Marcela Isabel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Gibbons, Alejandro Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Fonseca, Jeferson Ferreira. Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos. Núcleo Regional Sudeste; Brasi