Concentrações de ferro, cobre, zinco e manganês em equinos da raça Puro-sangue Lusitano, antes e após exercício

In order to evaluate the sera concentrations of iron, copper, zinc and manganese trace minerals in thirty Pure-bred Lusitano athlete horses before and after exercise certified by clinical and laboratory assessments were studied. Blood samples were taken before and after 20 minutes of a dairy trot and gallop slight training, perfomed in a sandy floor ring, to measure the mineral concentrations, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. It was observed that after exercising, the serum activity of iron did not change (P=0.2365), whereas copper values have significantly risen after training (P<0.001). On the other hand, zinc and manganese trace minerals decreased after exercise (P<0.001). In conclusion, it is possible to consider that the short time exercise may trigger sweating and consequently to change the seru.Universidade do Oeste Paulista (Unoeste), Rodov. Raposo Tavares Km 572, Bairro Limoeiro, Presidente Prudente, SP 19067-175, Rod. Raposo Tavares Km 572, Bairro Limoeiro. Presidente Prudente, SPDepartamento de Clínica Médica Veterinàra FMVZ, Unesp, Botucatu, SP 18618-970Hospital Veterinário Unoeste, Rodov Raposo Tavares Km 572, Bairro Limoeiro, Presidente Prudente, SPDepartamento de Clínica Médica Veterinàra FMVZ, Unesp, Botucatu, SP 18618-97

Influence of chromium supplementation on energy metabolism in horses used in policing activity

The influence of chromium supplementation on some blood variables in 11 adult stallions used for policing activities was evaluated. Each animal was treated with 11mg of chromium/400kg body weight, orally, for a period of 30 days. On days 0 (before) and 30 (after) the animals were evaluated and blood samples were obtained before and after exercise. Plasma glucose and lactate and serum cortisol and insulin were analyzed in each of these moments. On day 0, plasma glucose concentrations were 68.4±5.6mg/dL and 78.7±6.5mg/dL; plasma lactate concentrations were 6.2±0.6mg/dL and 13.1±7.6mg/dL; serum cortisol values were 48.5±7.9ng/mL and 42.6±19.7ng/mL; and serum insulin values were 3.0±6.4µUI/mL and 1.9±1.7µUI/mL, respectively, before and after exercise. On day 30, plasma glucose concentrations were 73.3±5.7mg/dL and 78.4±6.7mg/dL; plasma lactate concentrations were 7.3±0.9mg/dL and 7.6±1.2mg/dL; serum cortisol values were 62.9±21.8ng/mL and 40.3±17.0ng/mL; and serum insulin values were 1.4±1.3µUI/mL and 1.7±1.4µUI/mL, respectively, before and after exercise. As an effect of the exercise, a decrease was shown in the concentration of serum insulin and an increase in plasma lactate and glucose. Chromium supplementation resulted in a reduction of lactate values after physical activity, possibly indicating that chromium contributed to a better utilization of plasma glucose and to a better adaptation of animals to physical activity

Epidemiology of leptospirosis at Sorocaba Zoo, São Paulo state, Southeastern Brazil

Leptospirosis is considered a worldwide distributed zoonosis, caused by the bacteria Leptospira spp. Since several species of wildlife animals are reportedly reservoirs, the aim of the present study was to know the epidemiology of leptospirosis at the Sorocaba Zoo, Southern Brazil. Serum samples of wild mammals from Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Didelphimorphia, Diprotodontia, Perissodactyla, Pilosa, Primates, Proboscidea and Rodentia orders, kept in captivity as well as from zoological staff were assayed by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Whole blood, urine and tissue samples from wild mammals and synanthropic animals were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An epidemiological survey was applied to evaluate the risk factors for animal infection and staff level of knowledge on leptospirosis. A total of 13/229 (5.68%; CI95% 3.37-9.47%) serum samples from wild mammals were reagent on MAT. Serology from synanthropic animals, zoo staff and molecular analysis of animal samples were all negative. Leptospirosis knowledge of zoo park staff was considered medium. In conclusion, leptospiral infection occurs at the studied zoo but due to the low occurrence found, the lowest reported in literature, wild captive mammals do not act as source of infection of leptospirosis to other animals and human beings

Phenotypic, additive genetic and environment correlations of maize landraces populations in family farm systems

Knowledge of the association between characters is very important in the genetic breeding programs, but there is limited information about correlations between traits in maize landraces in the current literature. The objectives of this study were to estimate phenotypic, additive genetic and environment correlations among traits in maize landraces, which were cultivated in family farm systems, in order to guide the participatory breeding on maize landraces. Between 294 and 400 half-sib progenies from the six populations were evaluated, subdivided in triple 7X7 and 10X10 lattice design, respectively, with single row plots of 4 m long and spaced 1.00 × 0.20 m. Estimates of correlation coefficients are reported for nine traits: grain yield (GY), relation grain weight per ear weight (GE), ears per plant (EP), days to flower (DF), plant height (PH), ear height (EH), percentage of root loding (%L), percentage of stalk loding (%BS) and percentage of damaged ears (%DE). A high number of additive genetic correlation (rA) was obtained between grain yield and the other traits, in maize landraces populations, cycles and locations. For grain yield, the highest averages of the rA estimate were with EP (0.67), GE (0.47) and %DE (-0.63). In contrast to the current published researches, negative correlations between grain yield and days to flower were observed.O conhecimento da associação entre caracteres é de grande importância nos programas de melhoramento genético, contudo a literatura apresenta limitadas informações sobre correlações em populações de milho crioulo. Os objetivos deste estudo foram estimar correlações fenotípicas, genéticas aditivas e ambientais entre caracteres de populações de milho crioulo, cultivados em sistemas de agricultura familiar, para orientar o programa de melhoramento genético participativo. Entre 294 e 400 de progênies de meios-irmãos de seis populações, foram avaliadas em látices triplos 7X7 e 10X10, respectivamente, com parcelas de 4 m de comprimento e espaçadas 1,00 × 0,20 m. Os coeficientes de correlações foram estimados para nove características: produtividade de grãos total (GY), relação peso de grãos por peso de espiga (GE), nº de espigas por planta (EP), nº de dias do florescimento (DF), altura da planta (PH), altura espiga (EH), porcentagem de acamamento (%L), porcentagem de colmos quebrados (%BS) e porcentagem de espigas danificadas (%DE). Houve um alto número de correlação genética aditiva (rA) entre produtividade de grãos e as demais características, nas populações de milho crioulo, ciclos e locais. As maiores médias das estimativas rA para o produtividade de grãos foram com EP (0,67), GE (0,47) e DE% (-0,63). Diferentemente dos trabalhos publicados, foram observadas correlações negativas entre produtividade de grãos e dias para florescimento