C. R. Leite

Nonsurgical embryo recovery and transfer in sheep and goats

The embryo transfer techniques used in small ruminants worldwide are based in surgical procedures. These actions are performed under general anesthesia which needs a combination of animal fasting and drugs for secure animal handling and surgery manipulations. Therefore, it involves risks to animal health and life. The major limiting sequels are adhesions formed by the abdominal surgery, in the ovaries, uterus, or between them. These occurrences can both compromise uterus accessing and oocyte capture and are responsible for decreasing success and limiting successive embryo collections. In contrast, nonsurgical embryo procedures can be performed in a relatively simplified way. Nonsurgical embryo recovery does not need animal prolonged starvation, drug retention is minimized, and donors can stay in a standing position. After the end of embryo recovery, donors are promptly restored to their routine housing and feeding. Furthermore, this technique does not need incisions and, therefore, can be used repetitively in superovulated or nonsuperovulated goats and sheep for embryo recovery-a similar procedure done in cattle. In Brazil, promising results are reported using nonsurgical embryo transfer in recipient goats, and studies are currently evaluating similar procedures in sheep. Therefore, this review aimed to present the current panorama of nonsurgical embryo transfer in sheep and goats.

Osmolaridade, ânion gap, potencial hidrogeniônico e íons plasmáticos mensuráveis de equinos puro sangue Árabe finalistas em provas de enduro de 90 km

We evaluated the behavior of osmolality, anion gap, pH and measurable plasma ions of 14 Purebred Arabian horses, 9 males and 5 females, finalists in an endurance race of 90 km. In order to achieve this, we collected venous blood samples twice, at rest and after prolonged exercise, in order to measure the interest variables. The results allowed to observe that from the rest an increase with significant difference in the values of Hct, PPT and AG, suggesting loss of fluids and slight dehydration. The pH and the H+ ion almost had no changes, indicating absence of metabolic disorders. Reductions, with significant difference, were verified for the ions Cl-, HCO3-, K+, Ca++, as well as BE. These data suggest that the type of exercise to which the animals were submitted was consistent with the athletic ability and that supplementation during the competition contributed to minimize such losses.

Steep drop in hematocrit of sheep undergoing sedation with acepromazine-diazepam and epidural injections of ketamine, ketamine-morphine or ketamine-xylazine.

The effects of acepromazine on hematocrit (Hct) values of domestic animals have been discussed by some authors (Leise et al. 2007; Ambr osio et al. 2012). We would like to report an observation during an experiment in which Santa Inês breed ewes were sedated with a combination of acepromazine and diazepam and afterwards received one of four epidural treatments. Ten ewes were studied in a randomized crossover trial. A blood sample from the caudal auricular artery was collected percutaneously before administering any drug and analyzed in a portable blood gas analyzer (i-STAT; Abbott Laboratories, RJ, Brazil) with a CG8+ cartridge. This diagnostic test yielded 13 variables, including Hct. Shortly thereafter, another blood sample from the jugular vein was collected and analyzed with the i-STAT for comparison of results between variables from arterial and venous blood. There was no significant difference between the Hct obtained from arterial and venous samples (p > 0.06). After this baseline assessment (TB), the animals were sedated with acepromazine (0.1 mg kg ; Acepran; Vetnil, SP, Brazil) and diazepam (0.2 mg kg ; Diazepam; Teuto, GO, Brazil) intravenously. Ten minutes later, another arterial blood sample was collected and analyzed and the results were recorded as sedation time (TS). The animals underwent lumbosacral epidural injections 20 minutes after sedation. Four epidural protocols were used: 1) ketamine (2.0 mg kg ; Cetamin; Syntec, SP, Brazil); 2) ketamine (2.0 mg kg ) and morphine (0.1 mg kg ; Dimorf; Cristalia, SP, Brazil); 3) ketamine (2.0 mg kg ) and xylazine (0.05 mg kg ; Kensol; K€onig, Argentina); and 4) saline (1.0 mL 7.5 kg ). The drug combinations for all treatments were diluted with saline to 1.0 mL for every 7.5 kg body weight. All animals underwent all treatments in a crossover study design, separated by a 2 week washout period. Arterial blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis and measurement of Hct at 15 (T15) and 30 (T30) minutes after the epidural administration (approximately 35 and 50 minutes after sedation, respectively). Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Duncan’s test. The Hct decreased in all animals reaching a 10% difference from baseline (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between treatments at any time (Table 1), which led us to conclude that the observed effect was related to the