André Guimarães Maciel e Silva

Multifocal Cutaneous Orf Virus Infection in Goats in the Amazon Region, Brazil

Orf virus is the etiological agent of contagious ecthyma, a severe exanthematic disease that affects small ruminants. Orf virus is zoonosis that is associated with occupational contact with infected animals in human disease. Clinically, contagious ecthyma is characterized by the appearance of vesicles, pustules, ulcers, and papillomatous proliferative lesions on the skin of the lips and nostrils. Here we describe a case of lethal cutaneous multifocal Orf virus infection in goats in the Amazon region of Brazil. Exanthematic lesions were collected and epidemiological and clinical data were obtained. Orf virus was detected using PCR amplification of the whole B2L, VIR, and VEGF open reading frame. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this virus clustered together with the Orf virus samples isolated during classical contagious ecthyma. The present work is the first to report a severe proliferative Orf virus case in South America.

Assessment of surface temperatures of buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) raised under tropical conditions using infrared thermography

This paper aimed to evaluate the surface temperatures of buffalo bulls using infrared thermography, considering four distinct anatomical parts over time, and to correlate surface temperatures and thermal comfort indexes. The humid tropical climate (Koppens Afi) was predominant in the research station where the experiment was performed and the trial lasted from April to August. Ten bulls (n=10) were evaluated every 25 days (morning: 6:00-9:00; afternoon: 12:00-15:00) and the parameters assessed were respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), and the thermograms of surface temperature for orbital area (ORB), right flank (RF), left flank (LF) and scrotum (SCR). Climatological data was continuously monitored and the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) and the Index of Comfort of Benezra (ICB) were calculated. The average values of THI were ≥78, and significant differences between shifts were observed (P<0.05). The ICB ranged from 1.96 to 2.25 and significant differences were observed for shifts and throughout the months (P<0.05). The averages of surface temperatures were RT=38.2±0.5°C, ORB=36.1±0.8°C, LF=33.5±2.5°C, RF=35.4±1.7oC and SCR=33.3±1.1°C, which exhibited significant differences for shifts and throughout the months (P<0.05). Positive correlations were obtained between THI and ORB (0.72), RF (0.77), LF (0.75) and SCR (0.41) (P<0.0001). The maximum temperature of ORB showed the highest correlation with RT (0.58, P<0.0001). Therefore, the surface temperatures are subject to climatic variations and increase throughout the day, due to the variation in thermal comfort indexes, and the maximum ORB temperature was the parameter most related to rectal temperature. Lastly, the results indicate that IRT may be a useful non-invasive and accurate tool to detect the variations in ORB, LF, RF and SCR temperature in buffalo bulls.

Dermatite alérgica à picada de insetos em ovinos no estado do Pará

A skin disease was studied in 159 sheep on 15 farms located in seven counties of northeastern and southeastern of the state of Para and in one farm in the state of Roraima, Brazil. The disease affected mainly two to four year-old sheep of the Santa Ines breed and crossbreds. Clinical signs were characterized by alopecia, multifocal erythema, small papules, and crusts in several areas of the body, mainly around the eyes. Severe itching in the affected areas, restless, weight loss and lacrimation were also observed. Insects were always seen around the animals. Insects apparently associated with the lesions were captured and identified as pertaining to the genera Simulium and Hippelates. Biopsies of the skin lesions of 10 sheep revealed inflammatory non suppurative mononuclear infiltrates of the dermis with presence of eosinophils. The epidemiologic, clinical and pathological studies of the cases allowed the diagnosis of allergic dermatitis due to the insect bites.

Efeito do tamanho de partícula do volumoso e da freqüência de alimentação sobre o consumo e a digestibilidade em ovinos

Intake, apparent digestibility and ingestive behavior were studied in sheep fed four particle size of forage in two daily frequencies. Twenty-four sheep with live weight of 37.0kg were studied in a completely randomized design in factorial 2x4 scheme (two feeding frequency and 4 particle sizes) totaling six animals per treatment. Tifton-85 hay and a commercial concentrate were used with a ratio of 25:75%, respectively. The responses of intake and apparent digestibility were not modified with the treatments. Dry matter intake (DMI) was 97.43g/day/kgW0.75 and DMDA was 66.12%. The intake of neutral detergent fiber was 47.2g/day/kgW0.75. Smaller particle size (2mm) had lower times of rumination (214.58minutes/day) and chewing activity (360.41minutes/day). Animals spent 423.48minutes/day/kg of intake of neutral detergent fiber in rumination and 676.19 minutes/day/kg of intake of neutral detergent fiber in chewing activity. The times spent with rumination and the total chewing activity in sheep decreased as the particle size of the forage was reduced. The particle size of the forage and frequency of feeding did not affect the intake and apparent digestibility in sheep.

Complete Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strain PA01, Isolated from Sheep in Pará, Brazil

ABSTRACT Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis disease. In this work, we present the first complete genome sequence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis strain PA01, isolated in northern Brazil from an infected sheep. The genome length is 2,337,920 bp, and 2,003 coding sequences (CDS), 12 rRNAs, and 49 tRNAs were predicted.

Desempenho e características da carcaça e da carne de novilhos não-castrados alimentados com ou sem adição de monensina e/ou probiótico à dieta

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o desempenho e as caracteristicas da carcaca e da carne de novilhos nao-castrados alimentados com ou sem adicao de monensina (M) e/ou probiotico (P) (Sacharomyces cerevisiae) a dieta. Os animais foram distribuidos em baias individuais, permanecendo 145 dias em confinamento. A dieta foi composta de silagem de milho e 1,2% do peso vivo de concentrado com base da materia natural. Nao houve efeito da adicao dos aditivos fornecidos de forma isolada ou mesmo da associacao destes sobre o consumo de alimento, o ganho de peso e a conversao alimentar. As medias de consumo, ganho de peso e conversao alimentar apresentaram comportamento quadratico com o avanco do periodo de confinamento. Embora a adicao de M ou P a dieta tenha resultado no aumento numerico (P>0,05) do consumo (4,2%), a media de ganho de peso reduziu (5,8 e 5,3%, respectivamente), resultando em pior conversao alimentar (P>0,05). Ja a associacao de M+P aumentou (P>0,05) o consumo em 9,5%, com concomitante aumento (P>0,05) do ganho de peso (6,4%) em relacao a dieta controle. Os animais alimentados com M+P apresentaram melhor acabamento de carcaca (5,5mm), seguidos por aqueles do grupo controle (4,7mm), sendo os valores inferiores verificados nas carcacas dos animais M (3,7mm) e P (3,5mm). A adicao de monensina e/ou probiotico (Sacharomyces cerevisiae) na dieta de novilhos na fase de terminacao em confinamento nao proporciona melhora no desempenho e nas caracteristicas da carcaca e da carne de novilhos.

Tucumã Oil Shifted Ruminal Fermentation, Reducing Methane Production and Altering the Microbiome but Decreased Substrate Digestibility Within a RUSITEC Fed a Mixed Hay – Concentrate Diet

Tucumã oil is sourced from the fruit pulp of the tucumã tree and contains high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids. Due to these properties it may have the potential to decrease enteric methane (CH4) from ruminants when included in the diet. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of oil mechanically extracted from the fruit pulp of tucumã on fermentation characteristics, CH4 production and the microbial community using the rumen stimulation technique. Treatments consisted of a control diet (forage:concentrate; 70:30), and tucumã oil included at 0.5 or 1.0% (v/v). Addition of tucumã oil linearly decreased (P < 0.01) dry matter disappearance. Total gas (mL/d) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production (mL/d, mL/g DM) were unaffected (P ≥ 0.36) to increasing addition of tucumã oil where 0.5% (v/v) of Tucumã oil numerically increased both variables. Acetate and butyrate percentages of total VFA were linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.01) and propionate and valerate percentages of total VFA were linearly increased (P < 0.01) by increasing concentrations of tucumã oil added to the substrate. The ratio of acetate to propionate was linearly decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing concentration of tucumã oil. Methane production (mL/d) was linearly decreased (P = 0.04) with increasing addition of tucumã oil to the substrate. Tucumã oil reduced the bacterial richness and diversity when included at 1.0% (v/v) in both solid- and liquid- associated microbes. The abundance of the genera Fibrobacter and Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group were decreased and Pyramidobacter, Megasphaera, Anaerovibrio, and Selenomonas were enriched by the addition of 1.0% tucumã oil. In conclusion, tucumã oil resulted in the favorable shift in fermentation products away from acetate toward propionate, decreasing the production of CH4 when tucumã oil was included at 1.0% (v/v), however, substrate digestibility was also inhibited. The rumen microbiota was also altered by the addition of tucumã oil.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis PA04, Isolated from the Lymph Node of a Sheep in the Amazon, Brazil

ABSTRACT This study reports the complete genome sequence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis strain PA04, isolated from a sheep in the Amazon, Brazil. This bacterium is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis. This genome contains 2,338,093 bp, 52.2% G+C content, and a total of 2,104 coding sequences (CDSs), 41 pseudogenes, 12 rRNAs, and 49 tRNAs.

Erratum for Alves et al., Complete Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strain PA01, Isolated from Sheep in Pará, Brazil

Volume 4, no. 1, [e01664-15][1], 2016. Page 1: The byline and affiliation line should read as given above. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1128/genomeA.01664-15

Nutrient intake and digestibility of the lipid residue of biodiesel from palm oil in sheep

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of lipid residue of biodiesel originated in the processing of palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) in the diet on the digestibility of feedlot lambs. Twenty-five crossbred male castrated lambs, weighing 20±1.61 kg, were distributed in randomized blocks with five treatments and five replications. The experimental period lasted 22 days; 15 for diet adaptation, 2 for the adaptation to the indicator LIPE (lignin from Eucalyptus grandis isolated, purified and enriched, UFMG, Minas Gerais) and 5 for fecal sampling. Diets were formulated with 64% concentrate based on corn and soybean meal, 31% Massai grass (Panicum maximum cv. Massai) hay and 5% lipid supplementation from increasing levels of substitution of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of palm oil for biodiesel oil from palm residue. The lambs were offered two meals a day, at 7h00 and 16h00. There was linear effect of inclusion of the residue from palm oil biodiesel on dry matter intake. There was no change in digestibility of nutrients except for ether extract. The use of biodiesel from palm oil residue up to 100% replacement for the lipid supplementation of sheep positively influences the consumption without altering the digestibility of nutrients.