Augusto Heck

Functional bovine immunoglobulins in Boophilus microplus hemolymph

The aim of the present work was to quantify the passage of bovine immunoglobulins into the hemolymph of the tick Boophilus microplus during the feeding process and to determine their antibody activity. The knowledge is of paramount importance when vector control or blocking of disease transmission is attempted by vaccination of cattle. Approximately 2% of bovine immunoglobulin present in the serum as determined by competitive ELISA was demonstrated in hemolymph of B. microplus and antibody activity against an antigen of B. microplus in the hemolymph of ticks fed on bovine immunized with the antigen purified from tick eggs was detected by Western blot assay. The antibody reactivity detected against the B. microplus antigen showed that functional antibodies are present in the hemolymph of fully engorged ticks for at least 48 h after completing the parasitic life cycle.

A hipertermia durante o estro pode afetar o desempenho reprodutivo de fêmeas suínas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyperthermia at the day of artificial insemination (AI) up to day 13th on reproductive performance of gilts and sows. In the experiment 1, 488 females were divided in two groups according to the rectal temperature: G1= £ 39.5oC (normothermia), and G2 = > 39.5oC (hiperthermia). The females having hyperthermia showed higher return to estrus rate (ERR), and lower farrowing rate (FR) and litter size (LS) (p<0.05) than females having normothermia. In the second experiment, 764 females were grouped in four groups: G1 = hyperthermia on the day of AI; G2 = hyperthermia on one of the first four days after AI; G3 = hyperthermia in one day of the first two groups, and, G4 = hyperthermia betwen 10-13th day of pregnancy. Females having hyperthermia at the day of the first AI and during the first four days after AI, had a higher ERR and lower FR (p<0.01) in G1 and G2, and lower LS in G1, G2 and G3 (p<0.01), than the females with normothermia. There were not differences among the females havig hyperthermia or normothermia in G4. In the experiment 3, from 102 gilts, 88 were slaughtered from 29 to 34 days after AI. The ERR were higher (p<0.01)and the pregnant rate (PR) at up to 24 days, the number of viable embryos (NVE) and the embryo survival rate (ESR) were lower in females having hyperthermia (p<0.05). In conclusion, hyperthermia at the day of the first AI and during the first four days after AI can be deleterious to the female reproductive performance.

REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF GILTS SUBMITTED TO SEMINAL PLASMA TRANSCERVICAL INFUSION AT BREEDING OESTRUS

Doutor, Professor Adjunto, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 15094, 90540-000, Porto Alegre, RS. E-mail: ivowentz@vortex.ufrgs.br. Autor para correspondência. Mestre, Médico Veterinário, Bolsista CAPES. Doutor, Médico Veterinário, Bolsista FAPERGS. Doutor, Professor Adjunto, Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090, 90540-000, Porto Alegre, RS. RESUMOThe aim of this study was to evaluate the estrus length, time of ovulation and reproductive performance of gilts submitted to the infusion of seminal plasma at the beginning of the breeding oestrus. A hundred and forty seven pre-puberal Camborough O gilts housed in the summer (n=69) and in the winter (n=78) were used. In the beginning of the three oestrus, gilts were submitted to a transcervical infusion of seminal plasma or allocated to a control group. Gilts were examined Three times daily for oestrus and ovulation detection, and three inseminations were performed in 8 and 16h intervals after the beginning of oestrus. Oestrus duration was not influenced by seminal plasma infusion. In the summer, gilts received seminal plasma infusion anticipated ovulation in 4.18h (p=0.06), whereas in the winter no difference was found. As to return to oestrus rate, adjusted farrowing rate and litter size, no difference was observed between the groups in both evaluated seasons.

Some Comments on the Age – Abundance Relation

From the results obtained with the tri-dimensional quantative classification method of Spite (1966), the relation age-abundance is analyzed for the Galaxy. The dispersion on the abundance for stars at a given age appears to prevail over a possible relation between the age and the abundance for these stars. From a detailed analysis of eight F2-G2 stars, it appears that the index Δ m 1 is sensitive to microturbulence velocity.