Antonio Campanha Martinez

Acaricidal effects of fluazuron (2.5 mg/kg) and a combination of fluazuron (1.6 mg/kg) + ivermectin (0.63 mg/kg), administered at different routes, against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus parasitizing cattle.

The present study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal efficacy of fluazuron (2.5 mg/kg), administered as a pour-on, in comparison to an injectable formulation containing fluazuron (1.6 mg/kg) + ivermectin (0.63 mg/kg), against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in naturally and experimentally infested cattle. Two studies were conducted with different tick strains, one with artificial infestations (Stall Test, using leight animals per group) and one with natural infestations (utilizing ten animals per group). In both studies, the animals were randomized, according to average tick counts performed on days -3, -2 and -1, into four groups: T01, negative control (saline solution); T02, pour-on fluazuron (2.5 mg/kg); T03: subcutaneous fluazuron (1.6 mg/kg) + ivermectin (0.63 mg/kg); and T04 subcutaneous ivermectin (0.63 mg/kg). Based on obtained results, and considering the utilized tick strains, it was possible to conclude that the pour-on fluazuron (2.5 mg/kg) formulation demonstrated high acaricidal efficacy, with protection periods ranging from 49 to 77 days against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. On the other hand, for the injectable fluazuron (1.6 mg/kg) + ivermectin (0.63 mg/kg) formulation, it was not possible to observe elevated anti-R. (B.) microplus effect on both artificial and experimental infestation studies. Results observed for this combination were similar or inferior to those obtained by subcutaneous ivermectin (0.63 mg/kg). Future studies with this formulation containing fluazuron (1.6 mg/kg) + ivermectin (0.63 mg/kg), regarding pharmacokinetic and/or bioavailability profiles, or even studies analyzing both this active principles separately, are needed, seeking to better understand the effects of such combination against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus parasitizing cattle.

Características reprodutivas de veado-bororó-do-sul ou veado-mão-curta (Mazama nana)

Mazama nana is the least known of Brazilian deer species. The male reproductive parameters are still unknown, but apparently they did not show reproductive seasonality. In this work were used nine males of M. nana in reproductive age, kept in captivity. They were assessed for weight, height of wither, crown-rump length, the situation of horns, testicular volume and consistency. The sperm was collected by electro-ejaculation and subjected to analyses of motility, vigor and morphology. The correlation between age, weight, height of wither, crown-rump length, testicular volume and characteristics of the ejaculate (volume, motility, vigor and sperm concentration) were evaluated by the procedure Corr., of SAS®. The mean ± standard deviation observed for weight (kg), crown-rump length (cm) and height of wither (cm) were: 15.72±1.98, 74.9±3.05, and 48.5±2.06 respectively. For primary reproductive parameters were observed: volume of ejaculate (91.46±68.24il); motility (70±8.16%); vigor (3.0±0.67); sperm concentration (1536x106 ±351x106 spermatozoa per ml). For sperm morphology was found a high percentage of abnormal cells (40.90%), with predominant defects in the tail (25.95%).

Colheita de sêmen por eletroejaculação em cutia-parda (Dasyprocta azarae)

Agoutis are animals that live in South and Central America, present rearing potential and call increasing scientific interest. The aim of this paper was to establish a model for semen collection by electroejaculation in Azara´s agouti (Dasyprocta azarae). Anesthetized adult males (n=4) were submitted to four series of 20 electroejaculatory stimuli, during 3 seconds each and with 2, 4, 6 and 8 volts, with a 2 minutes rest among series. Semen collection was accomplished in every animal, with partial penis erection at 2 volts, makeable erection at 4 volts, ejaculation at 6 volts, glans and penis spines exposition at 8 volts, and sperm collected in all samples. The described technique for Azaras agouti semen collection was efficient.

Eimeria species in young and adult sheep raised under intensive and / or semi-intensive systems of a herd from Umuarama city, Parana State, Brazil

The present study aimed to identify Eimeria species in young and adult sheep raised under intensive and / or semi-intensive systems of a herd from Umuarama city, Parana State, Brazil using the traditional diagnostic methods and to correlate the infection level/types of infection in the different age/system in this herd. Fecal samples were collected from the rectum of 210 sheep and were subjected to laboratory analysis to differentiate the species. Furthermore, animals were observed to determine the occurrences of the clinical or subclinical forms of eimeriosis. Out of the 210 collected fecal samples, 147 (70%) were positive for Eimeria oocysts, and 101 (47.86%) belonged to young animals that were raised under intensive and / or semi-intensive farming systems. Oocysts from 9 species of Eimeria parasites were identified in the sheep at the following prevalence rates: E. crandallis, 50.0%; E. parva, 21.6%; E. faurei, 8.1%; E. ahsata, 8.1%; E. intricata, 5.4%; E. granulosa , 2.7%; E. ovinoidalis , 2.0%; E. ovina , 1.3%; and E. bakuensis , 0.6%. There were no differences regarding the more frequent Eimeria species among the different ages of animals or between the different farming management systems. Based on these data, E. crandallis was the most prevalent, followed by E. parva and E. faurei species, regardless of the age. Higher parasitism was diagnosed in the young animals that were raised in a confinement regime, and the disease found in the herd was classified as subclinical. Further studies should be conducted in this herd, to verify if the eimeriosis subclinical can cause damage especially in young animals with a high level of infection.

Intoxicação aguda por triclorfon em caprinos tratados com a dose terapêutica

The present study describes an outbreak of trichlorfon poisoning in goats from the State University of Maringa, campus Umuarama/PR that received orally the therapeutic dose of the active ingredient in question (100mg/kg). Fifty-three sheep had been treated with the same formulation/solution and no side effects were observed in any of these sheep medicated with triclorfon. But from 20 goats medicated with trichlorfon, eight goats showed, about 40 minutes after its administration, the classic clinical signs of ataxia, external lateral decubitus, drooling, tremors, constricted pupils, noisy dyspnea, involuntary urination and defecation, spastic paresis, bloat and tearing. Almost immediately after the detection of these signals, eight goats were medicated with 1% atropine sulfate (0.5mg/kg and fluid). Five of these goats received a second dose of atropine sulfate one hour after the first application because of some clinical signs such as muscle tremor still being present. Forty-eight to 72 hours after administration of trichlorfon, three of those five goats died. At necropsy we observed cyanotic mucous membranes, congestion of liver, spleen, kidneys and mesenteric vessels, filled gallbladder, emphysema, and reddish lungs. The results of this study call attention to the outbreak that occurred in adult goats in good clinical conditions and, above all, that they received the therapeutic dosage recommended on the manufacture label. This suggests a higher sensitivity of the species to the recommended dose of trichlorfon (100mg/kg) for goats.

Acetato de deslorelina como agente indutor de ovulação em éguas

The mares are seasonal reproductive animals, being influenced by the changes in the daily relation of luminosity during the year, presenting a greater difficulty in the control of the estrous cycle when compared to the cattle. The use of ovulation inducers can improve reproductive efficiency by synchronizing the time of ovulation and reducing the period of estrus. The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the use of progesterone-device for cow estrous induction and ovulation time in mares using deslorelin acetate as an ovulation inducer. Five mares of reproductive age were used, which had their estrus induced twice each. In one of them it was administered with 750 mg of deslorelin acetate. For estrous induction, a 5mg dose was administered via IM of prostaglandin F2alpha at the D0 and an intravaginal device was inserted, which was removed at D8, and a dose of prostaglandin was administered concomitantly. After removal of the vaginal devices follicular growth was evaluated at 12 / 12h intervals until ovulation. All animals showed estrus behavior. Mares treated with deslorelin acetate had a mean ovulation time of 43.2 ± 6.57 while the untreated group was 84.0 ± 14.70, with a significant difference. It

ALTERAÇÕES EM ÓRGÃOS GENITAIS DE CÃES E GATOS HÍGIDOS

There are several diseases capable of causing alterations in the genital organs (GO) in domestic animals. In order to evaluate the GO of healthy dogs and cats surgically sterilized, establishing the prevalence of alterations of these, the excised OGs were analyzed macro and microscopically. The descriptive results showed that 92 animals whose GO were studied, 66.3% (61/92) were canine, 33.7% (31/92) felines and 11.95% (11/92) presented alterations. The canines presented greater number of alterations in the GO, being observed in eight bitches, two male dogs and one female cat. 10.87% (10/92) of the alterations were observed in pure breed animals (28 animals), although undefined breed animals were more numerous (64 animals: 37 canines and 27 felines). The mean age and weight of the animals that presented alterations were 59.7 + 32.4 months and 84 months, and 13.8 ± 13.7 and 4.5 Kg, respectively, for canines and felines, respectively. In the conditions of this study, it was concluded that dogs which were submitted to surgical sterilization more frequently than cats had a higher occurrence It is also suggested that females of pure breeds, age and weight are more susceptible to changes in GO.

RESISTÊNCIA AO USO DO ANTI-HELMÍNTICO LEVAMISOL EM REBANHOS DE OVINOS NA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DE UMUARAMA – PARANÁ

As helmintoses gastrointestinais de pequenos ruminantes estabelecem uma das maiores razoes de danos economicos na America Latina e outras regioes tropicais e subtropicais do mundo (BORDIN, 2004). Sao responsaveis por promover um dos maiores problemas sanitarios na ovinocultura, ocasionando prejuizos ao produtor (AMARANTE, 2008). Animais podem ir a obito rapidamente em casos agudos, ou sob a forma cronica, ocorre queda na producao, diminuicao na imunidade e perda de peso (VIEIRA, 2008; SCZESNY-MORAES et al., 2010). O uso indiscriminado de antiparasitarios e a dificuldade no controle dos parasitas (SANGSTER, 2001) acarretou a queda da eficacia e sinais do aparecimento da resistencia anti-helmintica (LEATHWICK et al., 2001; MOLENTO, 2004), associada a falta de informacao em relacao a administracao (VIANA, 2008). Varios fatores beneficiam a sobrevivencia dos parasitas resistentes, como o tratamento de todo o rebanho concomitantemente, tratamentos sistematicos sem previo exame diagnostico; tratamento com subdoses, compra de animais com nematodeos resistentes sem realizacao de quarentena (TORRES-ACOSTA e HOSTE, 2008; JACKSON et al., 2012). Ha relatos de casos de resistencia anti-helmintica em ovinos em varios paises do mundo, por exemplo, Canada (FALZON et al., 2013), Irlanda do Norte (MCMAHON et al., 2013), Quenia (MWAMACHI et al., 1995) e em todo continente americano (TORRES-ACOSTA et al., 2012). Tem sido cada vez mais frequente o relato de casos de resistencia anti-helmintica pela excessiva frequencia de tratamentos com anti-helminticos (ECHEVARRIA et al., 1996; WILLIANS, 1997), havendo, em alguns casos, resistencia multipla (MEJIA et al., 2003). Com base nessas informacoes, este trabalho tem por objetivo debater a resistencia dos nematoides gastrointestinais de ovinos ao anti-helmintico levamisol em 08 propriedades atendidas na regiao metropolitana de Umuarama do Estado do Parana. Estas propriedades de ovinos foram atendidas durante os meses de abril a setembro de 2017, sendo seis produtores na cidade de Umuarama, uma em Sao Jorge do Patrocinio, e uma em Cidade Gaucha no Estado do Parana. Foi coletadas amostras de fezes em 144 animais antes e apos o tratamento, com uma variacao de 15 a 158 animais em cada propriedade. Os animais com OPG ≥ 250 ovos por grama de fezes foram tratados com antiparasitario que apresenta como principio ativo Cloridrato de Levamisol a 5% e testados antes e depois atraves da formula: %Eficacia vermifugo = (mediaOPGinicial– mediaOPGvermifugo / mediaOPGinicial) x100 Ao todo, somente uma propriedade, da cidade de Umuarama demonstrou um percentual de 100% de eficacia com o uso do levamisol. De acordo com ZAJAC e CONBOY, 2006 a porcentagem de eficacia entre 80% e 90% tem baixa eficiencia ou suspeita, e inferior a 80% a medicacao e ineficiente. As outras cinco propriedades testadas com o levamisol obtiveram eficacia de 80%, 37%, 17%, 16% e 12% em cada uma. Em Sao Jorge do Patrocinio o resultado foi de 25%. E, por fim, no municipio de Cidade Gaucha mostrou que sua eficacia foi de 42%. Portanto, nas outras 8 propriedades nao tiveram um efeito significativo no rebanho, confirmando resistencia a esse farmaco. No Brasil, CHAGASA et al. (2013) demonstraram ampla resistencia de H. contortus a benzimidazois, imidazotiazois e lactonas macrociclicas. A ivermectina comprovou acao eficaz na Nova Zelândia (MCMAHON et al., 2013), enquanto que o levamisol apresentou resistencia (BARRERE et al., 2014). Na Malasia, os benzimidazois, levamisol e closantel foram ineficientes (CHANDRAWATHANI et al., 2013). Considerando-se que as parasitoses gastrointestinais sao responsaveis por grandes prejuizos na ovinocultura, praticas de manejo devem ser adotadas para evitar a resistencia dos anti-helminticos. Deve-se conscientizar o produtor a utilizacao correta na aplicacao dos vermifugos, pois os resultados nas propriedades atendidas confirmam-se resistencia ao uso do levamisol. Praticas alternativas podem ser utilizadas no controle de nematodeos que acometem os ovinos.

Purification, structural and biophysical characterisation of the major seminal plasma protein from Texel rams

Spermadhesins are a group of low molecular weight proteins present in seminal plasma. In Texel rams, they represent more than 70% of the seminal plasma proteins. Although their functions have not yet been fully clarified, there is much discussion about the role of these proteins in maintaining sperm viability during and after the semen freezing process. This work sought to isolate the major component of the seminal plasma from rams of the Texel breed (O. aries SPD2) and to evaluate its structural and biophysical characteristics in order to better understand its role in spermatic viability. The protein was isolated by centrifugation and ion exchange chromatography and its biophysical properties were evaluated by circular dichroism spectrometry. Molecular dynamics simulations of the modelled protein compared to the homologous bovine protein were also carried out. The results showed that O. aries SPD2 has a transition temperature (Tm) of 65 °C and a ΔHm of 322.5 kJ mol-1, similar to the results for other spermadhesins described in the literature. The estimated composition of the secondary structure elements for the native protein is in agreement with that observed for the theoretical model. Its structural characteristics were preserved in simulations at temperatures of 27 °C and 40 °C, as was the case for bull spermadhesin. Taken together, these results suggest that the major component of the spermadhesins of Texel rams (O. aries SPD2) may play an important role in maintaining the viability of spermatozoa in fresh semen as well as after thawing.

Eficácia in vivo do tratamento com Amitraz em bovinos naturalmente infestados por Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

RESUMO Os carrapatos são ectoparasitos de grande relevância, por transmitirem agentes infecciosos e causarem injúrias a seus hospedeiros durante a hematofagia. O R. microplus, é amplamente distribuído nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais, sendo considerado um dos ectoparasitas mais preocupantes no Brasil. Além disso, é um vetor importante na transmissão de diversos hemoparasitos, especialmente a babesiose e a anaplasmose. Há uma grande demanda por proteína animal no mundo, especialmente com o aumento do poder aquisitivo de mercados emergentes como o Brasil. Isso leva ao aumento do consumo de produtos cárneos e lácteos e à necessidade de expansão na produção de bovinos. O carrapato é um desafio a ser superado para aumentar a produção animal pois estes afetam cerca de 1,4 bilhões de bovinos em todo o mundo. Foram selecionados 20 bovinos machos, com infestação natural mínima de 20 partenóginas de R. (B.) microplus, entre 4,5 e 8,0 mm, presentes no lado esquerdo do corpo. Cada grupo foi constituído com 10 bovinos, formados de acordo com a randomização pela média individual de contagens das teleóginas três dias antes do tratamento (D-3, D-2 e D-1). O Grupo I (Controle não tratado) e o Grupo II (tratado com a formulação contendo Amitraz) apresentaram número médio de fêmeas de R. (B.) microplus de 50,60 e 49,67, respectivamente. No dia do tratamento os bovinos do GI foram aspergidos com água com o auxílio de bomba costal e os do GII foram pulverizados com Amitraz, preparados em solução aquosa na diluição de 2mL/L, em um volume total de 5L/animal. Cada bovino foi aspergido individualmente em brete de contenção, sendo primeiramente pulverizados os animais do GI e depois o GII, para evitar a interferência residual medicamentosa. As quantificações de ixodídeos foram realizadas nos dias -3, -2, -1, 0, + 3, +5, +7, e semanalmente até 42o dia pós-tratamento (DPT). A eficácia das formulações foi calculada por meio de fórmula preconizada por protocolos internacionais, utilizando médias geométricas: (Ta.Cb/Tb.Ca).100, em que “Ta” é o número médio de partenóginas contadas nos animais tratados, póstratamento; “Tb” é o número médio de partenóginas contadas nos mesmos, pré-tratamento; “Ca” é o número médio de partenóginas contadas no controle, pós-tratamento; e “Cb” é o número médio contado nos mesmos, pré-tratamento. Os percentuais de eficácia nos dias pós-tratamento: 1 (71,35%), 3 (85,74%), 5 (95,92%), 7 (97,10%), 14 (96,05%), 21 (87,13%), 28 (70,29%), 35 (43,04%) e no 42o DPT atingindo eficácia de apenas 20,89%. O tratamento com Amitraz mostrou-se eficaz (acima de 95%) a partir do quinto DPT e mantendo-se até o 14o DPT. No 21o DPT observou-se diminuição da eficácia gradativa até o 42o DPT, onde foi realizada a última avaliação. Portanto, nesta propriedade foram observadas elevadas eficácias acaricidas do 5o ao 14o DPT.