Andrological, pathologic, morphometric, and ultrasonographic findings in rams experimentally infected with Brucella ovis

AbstractBrucella ovis is considered the most important infectious cause of reproductive disorders in sheep. The disease is characterized by epididymitis, subfertility and infertility in rams. B. ovis occasionally results in abortion in ewes, as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate kinetic changes in the reproductive organs of rams experimentally infected with B. ovis. Nine rams were experimentally inoculated intrapreputially with 2mL of a suspension containing 1.2×109CFU (colony-forming units)/mL of B. ovis (strain ATCC25840). In addition, 50μL of a suspension containing 1.2×1010CFU/mL of the same B. ovis strain was inoculated into each conjunctival sac, resulting in 3.6×109CFU total per ram. Six of nine infected rams had developed clinical changes in the tail of the epididymis at 30 days post-infection (dpi), but these changes regressed in 50% of these rams. Ultrasound demonstrated an increase in the area of the tail of the epididymis (P<0.001), reduction in the area of the testes (P<0.001), and an increased length and width of the seminal vesicles (P<0.001) during the course of infection. A sperm granuloma was diagnosed on the basis of ultrasonography findings. Microscopically, there was epididymitis, testicular degeneration, and seminal vesiculitis. Inflammatory cells were detected in the semen even before the development of epididymitis. Moreover, inflammatory cells were also found in the semen of asymptomatic rams, indicating that the presence of leukocytes in the ejaculate is a valuable method for screening potential carriers of infections in the genital tract

Real-time PCR for detection of Brucella ovis and Histophilus somni in ovine urine and semen

RESUMO A epididimite infecciosa ovina é uma das principais enfermidades reprodutivas de carneiros. O presente estudo teve por objetivo desenvolver protocolos de PCR em tempo real para B. ovis e H. somni e avaliar sua aplicabilidade em amostras de sêmen e urina de carneiros. Delinearam-se primers e sondas espécie-específicos para cada agente. As sondas foram delineadas com o sistema TaqMan incorporando um marcador FAM para B. ovis e Cy5 para H. somni na extremidade 5' e um quencher na extremidade 3'. A PCR em tempo real para B. ovis e H. somni foi altamente sensível, uma vez que a amplificação de DNA ocorreu com até 0,2ng de DNA/reação. A especificidade dos iniciadores e sondas foi avaliada com amostras de DNA de outros agentes causadores de epididimite ovina e nenhuma amplificação inespecífica foi observada. A aplicabilidade da técnica em amostras biológicas também foi confirmada, pois não houve perda de eficácia (P>0,05) quando comparada à PCR convencional com amostras de sêmen e urina de carneiros experimentalmente infectados

Atividade folicular ovariana em avestruz (Struthio camelus) avaliada por ultrassonografia e sua relação com fotoperíodo e postura

The objective of the experiment was to verify, through ultrasonography, the follicular activity of ostriches in different seasons of the year, correlating them with photoperiod, number of rainy days in each month and egg laying. Eight females were evaluated monthly, during 12 consecutive months in an ostrich farm located in the Center-West of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It was found that the time of the year for egg laying lasts for eight months, from June to January. The egg laying was positively correlated (r = 0.48; P<0.01) with photoperiod. However, there was no correlation between the egg laying and the follicular activity with the amount of rain. Considering the technique adopted, the right antimere offered better ultrasonographic access. The method was efficient for ovary follicular evaluation in the ostrich, offering adequate subsidies for the evaluation of the reproductive activity of the female

Teofilina como agente capacitante do sêmen bovino

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar a teofilina como agente capacitante substituto ou associado à heparina sobre a reação acrossômica dos espermatozoides e o desenvolvimento de embriões produzidos in vitro. O experimento foi realizado com quatro touros e três tratamentos, totalizando 12 grupos experimentais. O sêmen dos touros foi avaliado nos tratamentos descritos a seguir: tratamento 1 (HEP): heparina - 10µg/mL; tratamento 2 (TEO): teofilina - 5mM; tratamento 3 (HEP + TEO): heparina (10µg/mL) + teofilina (5mM), por zero, seis, 12 e 18 horas, corados com trypan blue/Giemsa para avaliação da reação acrossômica. Para a produção dos embriões, os agentes capacitantes foram adicionados aos meios de fertilização. Na análise espermática, a taxa de reação acrossômica verdadeira foi maior (P0,05) entre touros na análise de reação acrossômica nem na PIVE. A utilização da teofilina foi tão eficiente quanto a da heparina na indução da reação acrossômica, no entanto resultou em menores taxas de produção embrionária

Andrological, pathologic, morphometric, and ultrasonographic findings in rams experimentally infected with Brucella ovis

AbstractBrucella ovis is considered the most important infectious cause of reproductive disorders in sheep. The disease is characterized by epididymitis, subfertility and infertility in rams. B. ovis occasionally results in abortion in ewes, as well. The aim of this study was to evaluate kinetic changes in the reproductive organs of rams experimentally infected with B. ovis. Nine rams were experimentally inoculated intrapreputially with 2mL of a suspension containing 1.2×109CFU (colony-forming units)/mL of B. ovis (strain ATCC25840). In addition, 50μL of a suspension containing 1.2×1010CFU/mL of the same B. ovis strain was inoculated into each conjunctival sac, resulting in 3.6×109CFU total per ram. Six of nine infected rams had developed clinical changes in the tail of the epididymis at 30 days post-infection (dpi), but these changes regressed in 50% of these rams. Ultrasound demonstrated an increase in the area of the tail of the epididymis (P<0.001), reduction in the area of the testes (P<0.001), and an increased length and width of the seminal vesicles (P<0.001) during the course of infection. A sperm granuloma was diagnosed on the basis of ultrasonography findings. Microscopically, there was epididymitis, testicular degeneration, and seminal vesiculitis. Inflammatory cells were detected in the semen even before the development of epididymitis. Moreover, inflammatory cells were also found in the semen of asymptomatic rams, indicating that the presence of leukocytes in the ejaculate is a valuable method for screening potential carriers of infections in the genital tract

Theophylline as a capacitating agent of bovine semen

<p></p><p>ABSTRACT The sperm capacitating process should take special attention during in vitro embryo production (IVEP) once that affects the success of embryo production. The study aimed to evaluate theophylline as substitute capacitating agent or in combination with heparin on the sperm acrosome reaction and development of embryos produced in vitro. The experiment was carried out using 4 bulls and 3 treatments, establishing 12 experimental groups. Each bull was evaluated in the following treatments: Treatment 1 (HEP): Heparin - 10mg/mL; Treatment 2 (THEO): Theophylline - 5mM; Treatment 3 (HEP + THEO), Heparin (10mg/mL) + Theophylline (5mM). The semen of bulls was incubated in each treatment for 0, 6, 12 and 18h, stained with Trypan blue / Giemsa and analyzed by electron microscopy for assessment of acrosome reaction. Using sperm of same bulls, capacitating agents were added to the fertilization media, for IVEP. In sperm analysis, the true acrosome reaction rate was higher (P<0.05) in time 0h, while sperm dead rates were highest (P<0.05) at 12h (84.46±5, 82), and 18h (86.75±4.19). The produced embryos rate (37.97±13) and hatching rate (33.50±14) were larger (P<0.05) for HEP treatment. There was no difference (P>0.05) between bulls in acrosome reaction analysis neither for IVEP. The use of theophylline was as effective as heparin in the induction of the acrosome reaction, although it resulted in lower embryo production rates.</p><p></p