Evaluation of colostrum of mares and use of silage (anaerobic fermentation) as a substitute method of colostrum in natura

Two studies were carried out to evaluate the quality and constitution of colostrum from mares and to use a substitute method of colostrum in natura when it is unavailable to the neonatal foal. The first study describes the literary data regarding the constituents of colostrum, as well as it quality. The literary data are valid for gathering and comparing with the collected data of the subsequent study. In the second study it was perfume the evaluation of the quality of colostrum in natura and in the anaerobic fermentation of colostrum. The colostrum of 35 mares was used, all the mares demonstrated healthy gestation. Colostrum was collected and evaluated within six hours of delivery. To prepare the silage, the colostrum was collected and placed in sterile bottles and sent to the microbiology laboratory of the Federal University of Pelotas. The anaerobic fermentation was elaborated in different periods and proceeded with physical-chemical, immunological and microbiological evaluation. It was evidenced that the anaerobic fermentation of the equine colostrum maintained the constituents, demonstrating that the silage can be used as an alternative method to storage the equine colostrum.Sem bolsaForam realizados dois estudos, com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade e constituição do colostro de éguas e utilizar um método substituto do colostro in natura quando este é indisponível ao potro neonato. O primeiro estudo descreve os dados literários em relação aos constituintes colostrais bem como sua qualidade. Os dados descritos são válidos para reunir e comparar com os dados colhidos. No segundo estudo avaliou-se a qualidade do colostro in natura e a comparação a partir da fermentação anaeróbica do colostro. Foram utilizados o colostro de 35 éguas, todas as éguas demonstraram gestação saudável. O colostro era coletado e avaliado em até seis horas após o parto. Para elaboração da silagem, o colostro foi coletado e acondicionado em frascos estéreis e encaminhados ao laboratório de microbiologia da Universidade Federal de Pelotas. A fermentação anaeróbica foi elaborada em distintos períodos e procedeu-se com avaliação físico-química, imunológica e microbiológica. Foi evidenciado que a fermentação anaeróbica do colostro equino manteve os constituintes colostrais avaliados, demonstrando a eficácia da técnica para espécie equina

Atividade in vitro e ex vivo de nano partículas de prata sobre Pythium insidiosum

Pythium insidiosum é um oomiceto patogênico e agente etiológico da pitiose em mamíferos. Embora haja tratamento para enfermidade, as terapias disponíveis nem sempre são eficazes e os custos com os tratamentos são elevados. Diante das peculiaridades deste oomiceto, e devido ao fato da doença ser de rápida evolução, prognóstico desfavorável e elevadas taxas de mortalidade nas espécies afetadas, pesquisadores vêm desenvolvendo diversos estudos empregando princípios ativos naturais ou metálicos e drogas antimicrobianas em busca de um tratamento eficaz. Nanopartículas de prata (AgNP) possuem propriedades antimicrobianas contra bactérias, leveduras, algas e alguns fungos. Levando em consideração as propriedades de AgNP, o presente trabalho verificou a atividade antimicrobiana in vitro e ex vivo de uma nanopartículabiogênica de prata (bio-AgNP) frente a isolados brasileiros de P. insidiosum

CÉRVIX EM ESPIRAL EM PEÇA DO SISTEMA REPRODUTIVO FEMININO DE BOVINO

Alterações no sistema reprodutor das fêmeas bovinas possuem grande importância econômica em ambos rebanhos: tanto em gado de leite quanto em gado de corte, pois podem afetar a eficiência reprodutiva dos animais. O presente trabalho possui como objetivo relatar a existência de uma cérvix bovina que é anatomicamente anormal pois possui o formato de seu canal em espiral ao invés de apresentar-se retilíneo. Na maioria das vezes a ocorrência desta anormalidade não é diagnosticada, tendo em vista que não é possível verificar esta alteração em exames ginecológicos rotineiros do aparelho reprodutivo de fêmeas bovinas. Sendo assim, embora de pouca ocorrência, a cérvix em espiral possui importância econômica em função do nível de modificação que apresenta, pois pode prejudicar de diversas formas o desempenho reprodutivo dos animais

Risk factors and infection due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs and cats in southern Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract This study investigated the frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in feces from dogs and cats in five municipalities in the southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The risk factors associated with infection were also investigated. Feces samples from 110 dogs and 18 cats were stained using the auramine method. At the time of feces sampling, a questionnaire with semi-open-ended questions was applied to the animal guardians and all data obtained underwent statistical analysis. The real frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. was 24.63% (27 dogs and two cats). Only four samples of dog feces were diarrheic and no presence of oocysts was observed in any of them. Variables that represented risk factors for infection were: homemade food, untreated water, circulation of animals on grassy terrain and living in the same environment as other animals (cattle). The results made it possible to inferring that within the population studied, the frequency of parasitism due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs was relevant and emphasize the asymptomatic nature of this infection. The adopting control measures are highlighted, particularly in relation to variables that represent risk factors for this infection

Foals Developmental Orthopedic Disease Associated with Metabolic and Biometric Characterization of Pregnant Overweight Crioulo Mares

Background: Musculoskeletal changes in growing foals can be linked to metabolic disorders which affect the cartilage metabolism associated of obesity during the late gestation of the mares, negatively affecting the athletic performance of the otherwise prospective foals. High basal insulin levels can be associated with increased weight and obesity of the mares, altering the supply of the glucose to the fetus and the production of IGF-1, which plays an important role in the endochondral cartilage metabolism. The present study aims to describe the association of the articular and the physeal possible lesions and the IGF-1 levels of the foals to metabolic and biometric measurements alterations of the overweight Crioulo mares in the late gestation.Materials, Methods & Results: A prospective and observational cohort study was conducted using the foals and the overweight mares at field conditions. Twenty-eight foals and their overweight mothers were utilized. The foals’ biometric and metabolic features as weight and height; glucose, total cholesterol, cholesterol HDL, triglycerides, basal insulin, leptin, glucose, total T4 and IGF-1 were analyzed, from the birth until the weaning period around sixth month of life of it. All the foals, at the weaning period, were submitted to the radiograph examination of the tarsal joints and the metacarpal-phalangeal joints to evaluate signs of lesions and the possible distal metacarpal physeal changes, respectively. The mares’ biometric and metabolic features as weight, height and fat tail-head deposition; basal insulin, leptin, glucose, total cholesterol, cholesterol HDL and triglycerides were analyzed at the final period of gestation. The basal insulin levels of the foals at the second, fourth and sixth month of life were 9.87 + 1.82 µUI/mL, 9.13 + 1.94 µUI/mL, 9.39 + 2.54 µUI/mL. The IGF-1 levels of the foals at the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth month of life were 290.27 + 79.72 ng/mL; 180.77 + 66.22 ng/mL; 151.79 + 46.64 ng/mL; 110.81 + 33.13 ng/mL and 89.59 + 14.00 ng/mL. Foals presented osteoarthritis (92.85%) of the distal tarsal joints and 50% of it presented physitis of the distal metacarpal epiphyseal plate. The weight and the basal insulin levels of the mares at the last three months of gestation were 501.80 + 6.4 kg, 511.76 + 8.0 kg, 533.23 + 8.2 kg and 11.7 + 2.1 µUI/mL, 9.8 + 1.1 µUI/mL, 13.7 + 1.6 µUI/mL, respectively.Discussion: In the present study, from the second to the sixth month of the period life, the foals showed IGF-1 levels of 290 to 89 ng/mL, and demonstrated, at 6-month-old, a prevalence of 92.85% of distal tarsus lesions and 50% of physitis of the distal metacarpal epiphyseal plate. In association, the overweight mares showed an increase of the insulin basal levels when nearing parturition. The occurrence of physitis in 50% of the 6-month-old foals in the present study demonstrate that the metabolic changes are involved in this process and the IGF-1 levels were observed to be lower than in healthy foals of other breeds. The lower IGF-1 levels during the developmental period of the foals are associated with a decrease of bone density and mass, musculoskeletal atrophy and osteoarthritis. In the present study, the decreasing curve of IGF-1 levels (P < 0.05) of the foals, from the second to sixth month of life, is similar to others researches with foals from other breeds from 0 to 7 months of life. In previous researches with Crioulo horses, it was observed that foals aged less than 18 months had up to 100% of prevalence of articular tarsus lesions. This suggest that the tarsus lesions observed in 92.85% of the 6-month-old foals in the present study, could not heal and that lesions should remain in the foals to adulthood

Risk factors and infection due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs and cats in southern Rio Grande do Sul

<div><p>Abstract This study investigated the frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in feces from dogs and cats in five municipalities in the southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The risk factors associated with infection were also investigated. Feces samples from 110 dogs and 18 cats were stained using the auramine method. At the time of feces sampling, a questionnaire with semi-open-ended questions was applied to the animal guardians and all data obtained underwent statistical analysis. The real frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. was 24.63% (27 dogs and two cats). Only four samples of dog feces were diarrheic and no presence of oocysts was observed in any of them. Variables that represented risk factors for infection were: homemade food, untreated water, circulation of animals on grassy terrain and living in the same environment as other animals (cattle). The results made it possible to inferring that within the population studied, the frequency of parasitism due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs was relevant and emphasize the asymptomatic nature of this infection. The adopting control measures are highlighted, particularly in relation to variables that represent risk factors for this infection.</p></div

Risk factors and infection due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs and cats in southern Rio Grande do Sul

<div><p>Abstract This study investigated the frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in feces from dogs and cats in five municipalities in the southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The risk factors associated with infection were also investigated. Feces samples from 110 dogs and 18 cats were stained using the auramine method. At the time of feces sampling, a questionnaire with semi-open-ended questions was applied to the animal guardians and all data obtained underwent statistical analysis. The real frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. was 24.63% (27 dogs and two cats). Only four samples of dog feces were diarrheic and no presence of oocysts was observed in any of them. Variables that represented risk factors for infection were: homemade food, untreated water, circulation of animals on grassy terrain and living in the same environment as other animals (cattle). The results made it possible to inferring that within the population studied, the frequency of parasitism due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs was relevant and emphasize the asymptomatic nature of this infection. The adopting control measures are highlighted, particularly in relation to variables that represent risk factors for this infection.</p></div

Risk factors and infection due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs and cats in southern Rio Grande do Sul

<div><p>Abstract This study investigated the frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in feces from dogs and cats in five municipalities in the southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The risk factors associated with infection were also investigated. Feces samples from 110 dogs and 18 cats were stained using the auramine method. At the time of feces sampling, a questionnaire with semi-open-ended questions was applied to the animal guardians and all data obtained underwent statistical analysis. The real frequency of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. was 24.63% (27 dogs and two cats). Only four samples of dog feces were diarrheic and no presence of oocysts was observed in any of them. Variables that represented risk factors for infection were: homemade food, untreated water, circulation of animals on grassy terrain and living in the same environment as other animals (cattle). The results made it possible to inferring that within the population studied, the frequency of parasitism due to Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs was relevant and emphasize the asymptomatic nature of this infection. The adopting control measures are highlighted, particularly in relation to variables that represent risk factors for this infection.</p></div

Development of a weight-estimation model to use in pregnant criollo-type mares

<div><p>ABSTRACT: The aims of this study were: 1) to compare the tape weight and associated weight-estimation formula to evaluate weight gain in pregnant mares, and 2) to develop a mathematical model to estimate the weight of pregnant mares using body measurements. Thirty-four criollo-type mares were evaluated every two weeks during the middle and late pregnancy. The mares were weighed on a livestock scale, and we estimated body weight using tape weights and an associated body-weight estimation formula. Also, heart-girth circumference (heartgirth) and abdominal circumference were measured; the latter at the 12th intercostal space (12th ICS) and 18th rib (18th Rib), to use in a mathematical model to estimate the weight of pregnant mares. Observations were divided into three periods of pregnancy: 5th to 7 h month, 7th to 9 h month, and 9th to 11th month. Mares in late pregnancy showed an increase in actual weight and an increase in 12th ICS and 18th Rib measurements. Tape weight and body-weight estimation formula underestimated the weight of pregnant mares. However, the regression model using heart-girth circumference, 12th ICS, and 18th Rib measurements showed high correlation (r2 = 0.87, P<0.001) with actual weight. Finally, the alternative methods usually used in horses are not accurate to estimate body weight in pregnant mares. In conclusion, the regression model Y=-540.143 + (heartgirth x 3.068) + (12th ICS x 1.278) + (18th Rib x 0.944) can be used to estimate body weight in pregnant mares from the 5th to 11th months of pregnancy.</p></div