Clinical effectiveness of autohemotherapy as an adjuvant in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected sheep

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of autohemotherapy as an adjuvant in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. Four experimental groups were formed: G1, 10 animals receiving autologous venous blood; G2, 10 animals receiving autologous venous blood and vermifuge containing levamisole; G3, 10 animals receiving only vermifuge containing levamisole; and G4, 10 animals as the control group receiving no treatment. We performed fecal egg count (eggs per gram, EPG) of strongyles, larval culture, hemogram, leukogram, and serum protein dosage prior to the start of treatment (D0), and on days 14 (D14) and 42 (D42). There was a significant decrease in the EPG of the groups receiving levamisole (G2 and G3) from D14 to the end of the experimental period. At the end of the evaluations, the mean EPG of G2 and G3 was significantly lower than that of G1 and G4. The most common nematode genus was Haemonchus (88%), and the least common was Trichostrongylus (1%). The Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT) of G2 and G3 on D14 were 98.1% and 97.9%, respectively, however, in G1, the FECRT was zero on the two days when evaluation took place. G1 and G2 showed a significant increase in monocyte counts on D14 and D42. There was a significant increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin values in G2 and G3, however, a significant increase in the absolute value of red blood cells was observed only in G2. Two doses of autohemotherapy at 21-day intervals, administered alone or as an adjuvant to levamisole, is ineffective in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected sheep. Keywords: autologous whole blood; FECRT; isotherapic; levamisole; small ruminant

Prevalência e distribuição das lesões podais e graus de claudicação em vacas da raça Holandesa Preta e Branca mantidas em sistema “free stall” e “compost barn” / Prevalence and distribution of foot lesions and degrees of lameness in Black and White Holstein cows kept in free stall and compost barn systems

Objetivou-se apresentar a prevalência, a distribuição das lesões podais e graus de claudicação em vacas primíparas e multíparas da raça Holandesa preta e branca, mantidas em dois sistemas de confinamento “free stall” e “compost barn” em uma mesma propriedade. Foram examinados os dígitos de 100 animais (800 dígitos). Todos os bovinos examinados apresentavam algum tipo de lesão podal. Em ambos os sistemas de produção e categorias animais, a maior distribuição das lesões encontrava-se nos membros pélvicos. As lesões de maior prevalência nas vacas primíparas mantidas no sistema “free stall” foram erosão axial, erosão dos talões e sola dupla; Nas vacas multíparas mantidas no sistema “free stall”, por sua vez, foram: erosão axial, erosão dos talões e dermatite digital papilomatosa. No sistema “compost barn”, as lesões podais de maior prevalência tanto nas vacas primíparas como nas multíparas foram: erosão axial, erosão dos talões e dermatite digital papilomatosa. A maioria dos animais (54%) apresentou grau de claudicação leve (2).

Phyto-biotherapy to control gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep

A resistência parasitária e a tendência dos últimos anos de mudança para sistemas orgânicos tem resultado em diversas alternativas de manejo animal como a seleção de raças resistentes, integração com outras espécies animais, fitoterapia, fungos nematófagos, vacinas contra nematódeos, entre outros. Visando uma alternativa para controle da verminose ovina, objetivou-se analisar o efeito da administração de larvas inativadas de Haemonchus associadas ou não a alho in natura no controle de nematódeos gastrointestinais em ovinos naturalmente infectados. Para tanto, 32 ovinos foram avaliados por até 144 dias após tratamentos com larvas inativadas de Haemonchus e/ou alho in natura, quanto à diminuição da eliminação de ovos nas fezes (taxa de Redução na Contagem de Ovos nas Fezes - RCOF), eficiência destes tratamentos sob os gêneros de helmintos e alterações hematológicas. Observou-se aumento significativo na contagem de OPG dos grupos G1 (controle) e G4 (alho in natura). Ao final do experimento observou-se menor contagem de OPG no G3 (larvas inativadas + alho in natura) em relação ao G1, mas sem diferença significativa entre o G3 e os outros tratamentos. Quanto a RCOF, verificou-se redução média de 44% na contagem de ovos do grupo G2 (larvas inativadas) e do grupo G3 e um aumento de 44% no grupo G4. A eficácia dos tratamentos sob o gênero Haemonchus variou de 0 a 77%, sendo esta ultima taxa observada 67 dias no G3, justamente 7 dias depois de observado aumento significativo de linfócitos. Concluiu-se neste estudo que o alho in natura administrado na concentração de 2,5mg/Kg não foi capaz de reduzir a carga parasitária dos ovinos, mas que, quando associado a administração de larvas inativadas de Haemonchus pode ter contribuído como imunoestimulante e que a redução dos ovos eliminados nas fezes dos ovinos tratados com larvas inativadas, apesar de insuficiente para ser considerado um método de controle eficaz, demonstra a possibilidade de viabilidade no uso de vacinas contra Haemonchose.The parasitic resistance and the tendency of recent years to shift to organic systems has resulted in several alternative animal management as the selection of resistant breeds, integration with other animal species, phytotherapy, nematophagous fungi, nematodes vaccines, among others. Looking for an alternative control of nematode parasites of sheep, this paper aimed to analyze the effect of administration of inactivated larvae of Haemonchus and fresh garlic on the level infection with gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected sheep. Therefore, 32 animals were monitored for 144 days after phyto-biotherapy treatments in relation to reduction of parasite eggs (egg reduction rate - FECR), these treatments under the genres of helminths and hematological changes. It was observed significant increase in the EPGs of G1 (control group) and G4 (fresh garlic). At the end of the experiment observed lower EPG in G3 (inactivated larvae + fresh garlic) compared to G1, but no difference between the EPG of the other groups. As for FECR, there was an average reduction of 44% in egg count in G2 (inactivated larvae) and G3 and an increase of 44% in G4. The effectiveness of the treatments under the genus Haemonchus ranged from 0 to 77%, the latter being rate observed in G3 in day 67, just 7 days after the significant increase of lymphocytes. It was concluded from this study that fresh garlic administered at 2.5 mg / kg concentration failed to reduce the parasite burden of sheep, but which, when associated with administration of inactivated larvae of Haemonchus may had contributed to immune stimulant and reduction of eggs eliminated in the faeces of sheep treated with inactivated larvae, though not enough to be considered an effective treatment, the study highlights the importance and use of vaccines to control this parasite

Application of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt and Azadirachta indica A. Juss in the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

Parasitism constitutes one of the main problems that affect livestock. Commercial acaricides have been used to control tick, but these chemicals have been responsible for the development of drug resistance and residues in the environment. Changes in the concept of production determined the search for natural measures, which guarantees animal sanity along with safety of the produced food. This assay had as objective to evaluate the citronella oil and neem oil in the control of bovine ticks. By the technique of adult ticks immersion, 280 ticks were evaluated, distributed in equal number throughout four treatments: negative control group, positive control (ivermectin), neem oil and citronella oil. It was analyzed the mortality index, estimated reproduction, product efficiency, index of eggs production and the hatchability rate. The efficiency of the product was verified by the mortality index just for the positive control group (100%) and citronella oil (97.14%). Also, the citronella oil inhibited the eclosion of eggs in 100%. The other treatments did not presented the minimum eclosion inhibition level of 95%. Under the conditions of the present assay citronella oil was efficient against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. This result was not observed in relation to the neem oil

Senciência, bioética e bem estar animal: conceitos que necessitam ser discutidos no ensino superior para mudar o paradigma na forma de ensinar e pesquisar

This study investigated the knowledge of students of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences of the State University of Northern Paraná, Campus Luiz Meneghel, on the ethical and legal guidelines of animal experimentation, as well as the possibility of substitute methods for using sentient animals in classes and scientific practices. The research involved 162 freshman students and graduating students, aged 17 to 32 years. The students responded to the questionnaire containing objective and subjective questions, and the answers were analysed by descriptive statistics. It was observed that 87% of the students were unaware of the concept of the “3Rs” and 81.5% did not know the existence of alternative methods that can replace the use of live animals in studies. In addition, only 24.7% of respondents reported they had studied “bioethics” before graduation. However, 94.3% and 96.2% of the students from veterinary medicine and biological sciences, respectively, considered it important to insert animal welfare and bioethics in the curriculum of such courses. The results demonstrated that the ethical and statutory guidelines that rule the use of animals in scientific experiments and in classes are unknown even among senior students and there is still great resistance to the exclusion of animal models. Thus, it is important that animal welfare and bioethics remain in the curriculum in higher education through the insertion of such subjects, even as elective courses that aim to work with methodologies and innovative strategies in synergistic action with ethics committees for animal use, which are responsible for analysing, guiding and supervising the relevance of animal use in education and research. Therefore, the curriculum will be able to achieve rationalization in the use of animal models, the sustainable and “humanitarian” development of teaching and research, and the training of more conscious and ethical professionals, perceptions that must be achieved through a national education curriculum. Este trabalho investigou o conhecimento dos estudantes de Medicina Veterinária e de Ciências Biológicas, da Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná – Campus Luiz Meneghel, sobre as diretrizes éticas e legais da experimentação animal, bem como a possibilidade de substituição dos animais sencientes no ensino e na pesquisa. Foram entrevistados 162 discentes, dentre os quais ingressantes e concluintes dos referidos cursos, com idade entre 17 e 32 anos. No final do período letivo, concluindo as disciplinas curriculares do primeiro ou do último ano, os discentes responderam a perguntas objetivas e subjetivas, que foram analisadas por estatística descritiva. Observou-se que aproximadamente 87% dos discentes desconheciam os conceitos dos “3Rs” e que 81,5% desconheciam métodos alternativos que poderiam substituir o uso de animais vivos em estudos; apenas 24,7% afirmaram ter estudado bioética ao longo da graduação. Contudo, 94,3% e 96,2% dos discentes, respectivamente, de Medicina Veterinária e de Ciências Biológicas consideraram importante a oferta periódica de disciplina optativa que abordasse o bem estar animal e a bioética. Os resultados demonstraram, inclusive dentre os formandos, desconhecimento das diretrizes éticas e legais que norteiam o uso do animal em experimentos didático-científicos e que ainda há grande resistência na substituição de modelos animais. Assim, no ensino superior é importante manter na grade curricular, mesmo que de forma optativa, disciplina que aborde a bioética e o bem-estar animal e que propicie ampla discussão e reflexão sobre o tema. Além disso, não menos importante, é necessário maior envolvimento dos docentes, abordando o assunto em todas as disciplinas do curso, quando for oportuno. Com isto, esperar-se-á maior racionalização dos modelos animais, tanto no ensino quanto na pesquisa e maior conhecimento por parte dos discentes, quer sejam calouros ou formandos. Desta forma, o desenvolvimento sustentável e humanitário do ensino superior poderá refletir na formação de profissionais mais conscientes e éticos, perspectivas estas que devem ser tidas como meta na educação nacional

Associations between reproductive and carcass traits in Nellore

The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters and (co)variance of Nellore animals and to characterize the associations between these characteristics for the following carcass traits: weight (W), longissimus muscle area (LMA), rump fat thickness (RF) and fat thickness between the 12th and 13th ribs obtained by ultrasound (BF); also, the following reproductive traits: age at first calving (AFC), first calving interval (FCI), scrotal circumference at 450 and 550 days of age (SC450 and SC550). The genetic parameters were estimated by a single-trait and two traits animal model using Bayesian inference. The model used for all of the features included the genetic random effect and age as covariate assuming a quadratic effect. Additionally, sex, month and year of birth and management of creation and environmental effects identified were included for the carcass traits. For AFC, FCI and SC450 and SC550, we considered only the month and year of birth. The heritability estimates for all of the traits were higher in the two traits analysis, except for AFC and FCI, which showed 0.75 and 0.29, respectively, similar values in the single trait analysis. The two traits analyses resulted in heritability estimates for a posteriori for the features W, LMA, BF, RF, SC450 and SC550 of 0.49, 0.66, 0.74, 0.68 0.66 and 0.74, respectively, suggesting the possibility of genetic gains during a short period of time. The genetic correlations between AFC and carcass traits measured by ultrasound were close to zero. A similar trend was found for AFC, SC450 and SC550 days, indicating that the selection for these traits does not promote changes in AFC. High genetic correlations (0.92, 0.93 and 0.94) were observed between the characteristics LMA and W, BF and RF, and SC450 and SC550, respectively.</p