Influência do selênio orgânico na resposta imune humoral antirrábica de ovelhas

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of mineral supplementation with organic selenium (Se) on rabies humoral immune response in ewes. It was randomly selected 18 Texel ewes without antirabic vaccination in the last 12 months and divided into 2 groups: treated group (TG) supplemented with a mineral mixture additioned of organic selenium and immunized against rabies and a control group (CG) supplemented with mineral mixture without organic selenium addition and immunized. Determination of Se serum was obtained by the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in two moments, the title and the persistence of anti-rabies neutralizing antibodies in five times by the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT). The mean values found in D210 GSH-Px were higher in TG with 981.8 ± 105.2 U/g Hb and 628.2 ± 188.2 U/g Hb in the CG (p-value < 0.001). The mean values of titers of anti-rabies neutralizing antibodies 30 days after primary vaccination, demonstrated statistically similar titles in the GT and GC, 1,020 IU/ mL in GT and 1,885 IU/ mL CG. Oral mineral supplementation of organic selenium during 210 days did not enhance the humoral immune response and persistence of evidence of rabies neutralizing antibodies, however caused increased serum retention of selenium in ewes.O objetivo foi avaliar a eficácia da suplementação mineral com selênio (Se) orgânico na resposta imune humoral antirrábica em ovinos. Foram selecionadas, aleatoriamente, 18 ovelhas da raça Texel sem vacinação antirrábica nos últimos 12 meses e divididas em 2 grupos: grupo tratado (GT) suplementado com mistura mineral adicionada de selênio orgânico e vacinados contra raiva e grupo controle (GC) suplementado com a mistura mineral sem adição de selênio orgânico e vacinados. A determinação de Se sérico foi obtida através da atividade da enzima glutationaperoxidase (GSH-Px) em dois momentos, e a persistência do título de anticorpos neutralizantes anti-rábicos em cinco momentos pelo Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT). Os valores médios encontrados no D210 de GSH-Px foram superiores no grupo GT com 981,8±105,2 U/g Hb e de 628,2±188,2 U/g Hb no GC (valor de p<0,001). Os valores médios encontrados de títulos de anticorpos neutralizantes anti-rábicos 30 dias após a primovacinação, demonstraram títulos similares estatisticamente no GT e GC, 1.020 UI/mL no GT e de 1.885 UI/mL no GC. A suplementação mineral oral de selênio orgânico durante 210 dias não incrementou a resposta imune humoral e a persistência do título de anticorpos neutralizantes antirrábicos, entretanto promoveu aumento da retenção sérica de selênio em ovelhas

Causas de óbito e razões para eutanásia em uma população hospitalar de cães e gatos

To determine the main causes of death in a population of dogs and cats from a University Veterinary Hospital, data from clinical records obtained from July, 2005 to July, 2009 were analyzed. During that period, 2,243 animals were taken to the hospital, 2,075 dogs and 168 cats. The percentage of death was 10.6% (220/2.075) in dogs, and 8.92% (15/168) in cats. The median age at death was 59.97 months for dogs and 82.79 months for cats. The main causes of death and reasons for euthanasia in dogs were infectious or parasitic diseases, diseases caused by physical agents and neoplasia. Except by their age, all other characteristics described did not have an effect on life expectancy or death causes in dogs. In cats, physical agents and urinary diseases were the main cause of mortality. The results observed in this work identify the need for prophylactic measures that will enable a better life expectancy, and consequently, change the frequency of the main causes of death and reasons for euthanasia in dogs and cats.Com o objetivo de determinar as principais causas de morte em cães e gatos, foram analisadas informações correspondentes às fichas clínicas de cães e gatos provenientes de um hospital veterinário universitário entre julho de 2005 e julho de 2009. Durante o período estudado foram atendidos 2243 casos novos, sendo 2075 cães e 168 gatos. Em cães, o percentual de óbito foi de 10,6% (220/2075) e em gatos, 8,92% (15/168). A idade média quando do óbito em cães e gatos foi de 59,97 e 82,79 meses, respectivamente. Em cães, as principais causas de morte e razões para eutanásia foram distúrbios infecciosos ou parasitários, distúrbios causados por agentes físicos e neoplasias. Exceto pela idade, as demais características de resenha não influenciaram a expectativa de vida ou a causa de morte em cães. Em gatos, distúrbios provocados por agentes físicos e distúrbios urinários foram os principais motivos que resultaram na morte do animal. Os resultados observados identificam a necessidade de medidas profiláticas que possibilitarão maior expectativa de vida e, consequentemente, alteração na frequência das principais causas de morte e razões para eutanásia em cães e gatos

Positive effect of organic zinc supplementation on the persistence of anti-rabies neutralizing antibodies in healthy sheep

The main prophylactic tool to control rabies in herbivores is the systematic vaccination of susceptible animals. This study aimed to evaluate the positive effect of organic zinc (Zn) supplementation on the persistence of anti-rabies neutralizing antibodies in healthy sheep. A total of 36 Texel ewes were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups of 18 animals each. The treated group (TG) received organic Zn supplementation for 90 days, and after this period, 2 doses of rabies vaccine with a 30-day interval. The control group (CG) received the vaccine doses only and was not supplemented with organic Zn. Blood samples were collected before the first vaccination and 30, 60, and 90 days after vaccination, to determine the anti-rabies neutralizing antibody titer using the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT). The average values of anti-rabies serum-neutralizing antibodies 30 days after the first dose were 1.33 ± 0.62 IU mL-1 for the CG and 1.57 ± 0.80 IU mL-1 for the TG; 60 days after the second dose the average values were 7.60 ± 7.08 IU mL-1 and 12.97 ± 9.46 IU mL-1 for the CG and TG, respectively, with a significant difference between groups. The TG presented 100% vaccine coverage of the primary vaccination, whereas the CG presented 89.47% coverage. Oral supplementation with 75 mg organic Zn significantly increased the persistence of anti-rabies antibody titers in sheep, and it improved the vaccine coverage of the primary vaccination