Influência da suplementação com monensina sódica no desempenho produtivo de garrotes mantidos em semi-confinamento

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da suplementação de monensina sódica sobre os parâmetros produtivos de bovinos em regime de semi-confinamento. Foram utilizados 30 garrotes cruzados, inteiros e com um ano de idade, pesados e divididos em dois lotes homogêneos: controle e suplementado com monensina sódica na dose de 200 mg por animal/dia. Os grupos foram mantidos em pastagem e receberam dieta concentrada calculada em 0,6% do peso corporal. O estudo teve duração de 60 dias e foram realizadas pesagens dos animais zero, e 60. Amostras de forragem foram obtidas nos dias zero e 30 do estudo para determinação do teor de proteína bruta. Os resultados do ganho de peso, teor de proteína nos capins foram submetidos à análise de variância e teste T de Student para comparação entre os grupos. Não existiram diferenças significativas entre os teores médios de proteína bruta na forragem dos piquetes dos grupos no decorrer do experimento. O ganho de peso total e diário foram superiores nos bovinos suplementados com monensina (p<0,05). A suplementação com monensina sódica, na dose de 200 mg/dia, incrementou o ganho de peso de garrotes em 8,6%. O retorno financeiro obtido com o uso desse aditivo foi compensador em sistemas de semi-confinamento

Dietary Zinc Supplementation to Prevent Chronic Copper Poisoning in Sheep

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether zinc (Zn) supplementation protects against hepatic copper (Cu) accumulation in copper-loaded sheep. Forty cross-bred lambs were assigned to five experimental groups. These included the control group (C) and four treatment groups that received Cu and/or Zn supplementation (dry matter (DM) basis) over 14 weeks, as follows: Cu (450 mg Cu/kg); Zn-35 (450 mg Cu + 35 mg Zn/kg); Zn-150 (450 mg Cu + 150 mg Zn/kg); and Zn-300 (450 mg Cu + 300 mg Zn/kg). Blood, liver, and bile samples were obtained for mineral determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES). The hepatic metallothionein (MT) concentrations were also determined. At the end of the experiment, hepatic Cu concentrations were higher in all Cu-supplemented groups than in C. Hepatic Cu accumulation was lower in the groups receiving the Zn supplementation than in the Cu group, although the difference was only statistically significant (66%) in the Zn-300 group. The MT concentrations tended to be higher (almost two-fold) in the Zn groups (but were not dose related) than in the C and Cu groups, and they were related to hepatic Zn concentrations. Zn supplementation at 300 mg/kg DM is useful for preventing excessive hepatic Cu accumulation in sheep exposed to high dietary concentrations of CuThis research was funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). A research productivity fellowship was granted by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) to AHHMS

Prevention of acute ruminal lactic acidosis in sheep by probiotic or monensin supplementation: clinical aspects

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two additives (probiotic and monensin) over clinical parameters of sheep submitted to acute ruminal lactic acidosis (ARLA). Eighteen sheeps were divided into three groups of six animals each as follows: probiotic group, supplemented with 4×109 CFU/animal/day of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; monensin group, supplemented with 33 mg of monensin sodium per kg of diet; and control group, without any supplementation. After 30 days of diet (75% of Coast-cross hay and 25% concentrate with 14% of crude protein) and additive intake, ARLA was induced in the all animals by intraruminal administration of 15g of sucrose per kilogram (kg) of body weight. Complete physical examinations to assess the vital signs of the animals were conducted at the following times: baseline (T0), six (T6h), 12 (T12h), 18 (T18h), 24 (T24h), 36 (T36h), and 48 (T48h) hours after ARLA induction. At those times, blood samples were obtained to determine the plasma volume deficit (PVD) and ruminal content for pH measurement. All animals experienced clinical signs of ARLA with ruminal pH lower than 4.9 at T24h. The heart rate and PVD were lower (P < 0.05) in the probiotic group at T36h. Compared to the control and monensin groups, the probiotic group experienced milder ARLA characterized by lower degrees of dehydration and fewer clinical symptoms

Melanoma in a Dairy Goat

Background: Skin neoplasms in goats, albeit less frequent than in equines and cattle, are no less important, given that the presence of melanoma is worrisome due to its local and metastatic aggressiveness, which leads to death, especially in northeastern Brazil, where ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels are high, being an important factor the development of this neoplasia, especially in light-skinned animals. This report describes the clinical and pathological aspects, beyond the attempted surgical treatment a case of Saanen goat melanoma raised in Feira Nova, Pernambuco, Brazil.Case: A 4-year-old pregnant Saanen goat was treated at the AGA/UFRPE. The animal presented blackened fetid masses located on the lower lip and ventral region of the jaw that had grown for two months. In addition to the tumor, a physical examination revealed altered submandibular and left prescapular lymph nodes. Local anesthesia and sedation were applied and both neoplasms were excised.  The goat was then medicated with anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs and discharged. However, 45 days later, the goat returned with multiple nodules similar in appearance to the previous one and in a severe clinical condition, characterized by pale mucous membranes, dehydration, enophthalmia, bilateral nasal serous secretion and enlargement of the lymph nodes mandibular, retro pharyngeal and right paratid, as well as slight respiratory snores in the ventral portion of lungs and productive cough. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, the animal was euthanized. Macroscopic findings revealed multiple nodular, infiltrative and blackened lesions on the tongue, lung, kidneys and liver, enlarged and blackened lymph nodes, and sagittal section of the cervical spine identified a dark spot on the seventh thoracic vertebra. In the histological evaluation of necrotic lesions present in the skin, lung, liver and kidneys was observed nodular infiltration of anaplastic cells was noted, with anisocytosis, anisocariosis, multiple nucleoli and intracytoplasmic granulation compatible with melanin and larger amelanotic cells compatible with cells high degree of malignancy. The bone marrow of the mandible and vertebrae, in turn, have melocytic and amelanocytic cell metástases.Discussion: The animal’s region of origin is characterized by high incident solar radiation, which, allied to skin depigmentation in this breed, favor the formation of neoplasms. Clinical signs are multifactorial, depending on the lesion, and may be nonspecific, as in this case. Ninety percent of cases occurring in the region of the mouth are malignant. The initial tumoral mass was located in the lower lip, which corresponds to the second region of highest incidence reported in the literature. Despite the aggressive and metastatic characteristics of melanomas, surgical excision and/or cryosurgery are the only forms of treatment, with a poor to reserved prognosis, depending on the occurrence of locoregional lymph node metastasis. Early detection can be achieved by aspiration biopsy cytology, which may suggest neoplastic cells, or by imaging exams that reveal possible metastases and adjacent structures compromised by tumors. Necropsy of the animal revealed local infiltration of the tumors and metastatic dissemination, which may be attributed to the depth of the lesion and extracellular propagation through blood vessel lumina. The histological findings revealed dissemination of neoplastic cells and intracytoplasmic melanin granulation, which are compatible with melanoma. Melanocyte metastasis to lymph nodes and vital organs leads to systemic involvement, so early identification and surgical removal of blackened and ulcerated masses is crucial

Copper Deficiency in Sheep with High Liver Iron Accumulation

An outbreak of enzootic ataxia among sheep raised in the northeastern region of Brazil is described. Copper (Cu) deficiency was diagnosed in a herd of 56 sheep, among which five presented characteristic clinical symptoms of enzootic ataxia. The symptoms began 30 days after birth, with a clinical condition that included locomotion difficulty, limb ataxia, tremors, and continual falls. Liver biopsies were performed and blood was collected to determine hepatic and plasmatic Cu, iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) concentration, respectively. The laboratory results showed that the animals presented low copper concentrations in the plasma and liver, without difference between the clinically healthy animals and those affected by enzootic ataxia. Even after supplementation with adequate Cu levels had been recommended, it was found on a new visit to the farm four months later that one animal still presented a clinical condition and that the hepatic Cu levels of the herd had not risen. Despite the low copper content of the diet, the high hepatic Fe levels found suggest that antagonism due to this element may have been an important factor in triggering copper deficiency in these animals, and thus, additional copper supplementation may be necessary for these animals