Bianca Lemos dos Santos

Senecio madagascariensis Poir. (Asteraceae): uma nova causa de seneciose em bovinos no Sul do Rio Grande do Sul

Two outbreaks of Senecio madagascariensis poisoning in cattle occurred in October 2013 in southern Brazil. Morbidity rate ranged were 3.2% and 6.1%, and lethality rate was 100%. A third case of poisoning occurred on a property in which out of 54 cattle one died with clinical signs of intoxication. In all cases, the cattle were in areas highly infested by S. madagascariensis that was in bloom. The clinical signs were diarrhea, tenesmus, opisthotonus, and progressive weight loss. Death occurred between 10 and 15 days after the onset of clinical signs. At necropsy, lesions were edema in the mesentery, in the wall of the rumen and abomasum, and in the walls of the gall bladder; the liver was firm with marbled aspect. Histologically, the liver had proliferation of fibrous connective tissue, especially in portal areas, hepatomegalocytosis, and bile duct hyperplasia. The observation of large number of S. madagascariensis in several farms in the counties of Arroio Grande, Pedro Osorio and Capao do Leao reinforces that this plant is in the process of adaptation and dissemination in this region and that other outbreaks may occur in coming years. The cases reported here apparently resulted from the consumption of the plant during the fall/winter of 2013, when it was in bloom. The quantification of alkaloids in S. madagascariensis revealed the presence of 500µg/g and 4000µg/g of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the dry plant from two properties. It is believed that the large amount of the plant in the areas where the animals were and the amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids found were factors that contributed to the occurrence of outbreaks.

Uso inadequado de organofosforados: uma prática de risco para bovinos no Sul do Rio Grande do Sul

In order to determine the cause of the sudden increase in the number of outbreaks of organophosphate poisoning, nine outbreaks diagnosed in cattle were analyzed at the Laboratorio Regional de Diagnostico, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (LRD/UFPel) between November 2013 and February 2014. In all outbreaks the animals were treated with concentration from two to 151 times higher than the concentration recommended of diazinon for tick treatment. The incorrect route of application, and the intense heat recorded at the time of the outbreaks also contributed to the large number of poisoning.

Paratuberculose em bovinos de corte na região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul

The epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of paratuberculosis diagnosed in southern Rio Grande do Sul in a beef cattle property are described. Two cattle raised extensively and that presented progressive weight loss and chronic diarrhea were necropsied. The mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged and edematous. The intestinal mucosa was thickened and wrinkled with cerebroid aspect, especially in the final portion of the ileum, ileocecal valve and cecum. Fragments of the organs were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN). Feces samples were referred to Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria, Area de Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, for the cultivation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis with Lowenstein Jensen for mycobacterial and PCR analysis. Histologically, granulomatous enteritis was observed in the jejunum, ileum, cecum and rectum, and in multifocal areas the duodenum and colon. Lymphangitis and granulomatous adenitis was also observed. In ZN staining numerous resistant acid-fast bacilli (AFB) within macrophages, giant cells of Langhans and mesenteric lymph nodes in the jejunum, ileum cecum and rectum were observed. There was no bacterial growth in stool samples. Five samples amplified the gene sequence IS900 specific for Mycobacterium aviumsubsp. paratuberculosis. It can be concluded that paratuberculosis, despite the few reports, occurs in beef cattle raised extensively in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Paratuberculosis may have a higher prevalence in the region than it is assumed. There is need for diagnosis of this disease and to assume effective measures for its control, as for many it is still considered an exotic malady in Brazil.

Urolithiasis with uroperitoneum and hydronephrosis in grazing cattlein Southern Brazil

The purpose of this paper was to describe obstructive urolithiasis with uroperitoneum and hydronephrosis in range cattle in southern Rio Grande do Sul. The disease was observed in castrated male cattle, aged between 18 months and 3 years in a herd of 200 steers that were in a ryegrass pasture during the winter and a native pasture during the summer. Different mineral salts were used as a supplement for the animals during the two seasons of the year. Cattle presented a progressive abdominal distention, depression and dehydration ranging from 10 days to one month in duration. One animal was necropsied, and approximately 50 liters of urine (uroperitoneum) in the abdominal cavity were observed. The bladder had a small rupture and was adhered to the pelvic cavity. The right kidney was enlarged with hydronephrosis. Uroliths of more than 1cm in diameter were housed in the penile urethra. In this study, the disease occurred probably because of mineral salt supplementation, resulting in an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus intake.

Intoxicação espontânea por Amaranthus hybridus (Amaranthaceae) em bovinos no sul do Rio Grande do Sul

An outbreak of Amaranthus hybridus poisoning in cattle was observed in February/March 2013 in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The morbidity rate observed was 48.33%, the mortality rate was 41.66% and lethality rate was 86.20%. The diagnosis of A. hybridus poisoning was made based on the epidemiological data, clinical signs, macroscopic and histological lesions characteristic of intoxication by nephrotoxic plants and by the presence of large amounts of the plant in the area where cattle were placed. Invasion of Brachiaria sp. pasture by A. hybridus alerts for the possibility of the occurrence of poisoning not only in stubble areas with lack of forage. In the case reported here there was abundant forage availability in the area where the outbreak occurred. Favorable climatic conditions and fertile soil for planting pasture, probably favored the growth of this invasive species.