Clara Satsuki Mori

Clinical observations of cattle and buffalos with experimentally induced chronic copper poisoning.

The susceptibility of cattle and buffalos to chronic copper poisoning (CCP) was compared by using cattle (n=10) and buffalo (n=10) steers distributed into two copper supplemented (n=6) and two control (n=4) groups. Supplemented animals received 2 mg copper (Cu)/kg body weight daily for one week, with an additional 2 mg weekly until the end of the experiment (day 105). Three liver biopsies (day 0, 45, and 105) were obtained for mineral analyses; clinical examinations and blood samples were obtained every 15days. Three supplemented cattle and two buffalos with typical manifestations of CCP died. There were no differences in the frequency of mortality between cattle and buffalos; hepatic copper concentration was higher in cattle than buffalos. These findings suggest that buffalos and cattle might be equally susceptible to CCP. However, buffalos accumulate less liver copper than cattle and have a lower threshold of hepatic Cu accumulation, which leads to clinical manifestation of CCP.

Efeito da adição de óleo de peixe à dieta sobre o desempenho e níveis de lípides plasmáticos e de colesterol no ovo de galinhas poedeiras

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fish oil upon egg quality, production, plasma lipids and egg yolk cholesterol levels of laying hens. 89-week-old hens were fed diets containing 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% fish oil for 5 weeks. It was observed that the addition of 1% to 4% fish oil to the diet reduced egg weight, but did not affect feed conversion. Albumen and shell quality was not impaired by the supplementation of fish oil to the diet. No significant changes were observed on plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and egg yolk cholesterol content was not affected by the addition of fish oil.

Uso de indicadores internos na avaliação da digestibilidade aparente de alimentos para gatos: comparação de métodos

The digestibility trials are important in the development and evaluation of animal feed. They are carned out through the total collection method (TC) or by the use of indicator methods (IM), where the indicators can be classified as external (added to the feed), or internal (already present in the feed). In the present work, the comparison of both methods was made, aiming the search for simpler and safer methods for the determination of the digestibility of commercial cat feed. We tested the TC and IM using, for the latter, the crudefibre (CF) and the acid-detergent fibre (ADF) as internal indicators. We used 4 young adult cats (2 males and 2 females) held in individual metabolism cages for 30 days (24 for adaptation and 6 for total collection of faeces) and fed ad libitum with a commercial dry extruded cat feed. The results for the TC, CF and ADF were, respectively, 74.0, 71.4 and 75.0% for dry matter, 77.0, 74.8 and 77.9% for organic matter, 79.2, 77.2 and 80.0% for crude protein, 81.7, 80.4 and 82.8% for ether extract and 78.8, 76.6 and 79.6% for nitrogen-free extract. The statistical analysis did not show significant differences between the methods (p > 0.2). It was recovered 96.1% of the ADF and 104.3% of the CF, and these figures could be considered statistically equivalents by the t test (p > 0.49). The internal markers method presents some practical advantages when compared to the total collection method. However, further studies are required in order to check the efficiency of the tested markers, using diets with different amounts and sources of CF and ADF.

Experimental ammonia poisoning in cattle fed extruded or prilled urea: clinical findings

Twelve yearling Girolando, rumen-fistulated steers never fed with urea before, were distributed randomly in 2 groups of 6 animals each. Both groups were administered intraruminally a single dose (0.5 g/kg BW) of extruded (G1) or prilled (G2) urea to induce ammonia poisoning. The clinical picture was followed for the next 240 min. Besides the classic signs the present study found 3 new additional sign: dehydration, hypothermia and ingurgitated episcleral veins. Convulsion, considered the definite sign, was seen in 5 out of 6 animals from both groups. One steer (G1) had only fasciculation, while another (G2) developed typical clinical signs, but not convulsion, and recovered spontaneously without treatment. The appearance of clinical signs such as muscle tremors, sternal recumbency and convulsive episode occurred at similar times in both groups, but when analyzed altogether they took place later in G1 (p < 0.04). The 1st sign to show up was fasciculation, followed by apathy, hyperaesthesia, pushing against obstacles, muscle tremor, rumen stasis, incoordination, sternal and then lateral recumbency, mild or severe dehydration, and convulsion. Higher heart rate was detected at the convulsive episodes. After the convulsions, 4 animals from each group had mild hypothermia. One steer from G2 fell down in coma and died suddenly before the beginning of the treatment. Although the extruded urea postponed the clinical picture, the signs were as severe as exhibited by cattle administered prilled urea. Both forms of urea offered at high dose can be harmful to cattle never fed urea.

The measurement of urine pH to predict the amount of buffer used in the treatment of acute rumen lactic acidosis in cattle

The purpose of the present study was to establish a practical, fast, precise and low-cost procedure to estimate the degree of metabolic acidosis in cattle with acute rumen lactic acidosis for further treatment. The rumen acidosis was induced experimentally in 40 crossbreed rumen-cannulated 1.5-year-old steers. The induction caused the development of the most characteristic clinical signs of acute rumen lactic acidosis, severe rumen acidosis and a moderate metabolic acidosis, which was evidenced by low blood pH, and blood bicarbonate concentration and base excess (BE). A highly positive correlation (r=0.80) between urinary pH and BE concentration, and between urinary pH and blood pH (r=0.75) was observed. The BE concentration estimated by urinary pH was similar to that determined by venous blood gas analysis (P>0.99). Furthermore, the results presented by the predictive formula were very significant. In conclusion, urinary pH is a good tool to predict the quantity of buffers needed to treat metabolic acidosis in cattle with acute rumen lactic acidosis.

Proteínas do soro lácteo de vacas da raça Jersey durante a lactação

To evaluate the whey proteins during the lactation, whey obtained from 48 milk samples collected from 12 Jersey cows before milking were studied. Cows were distributed into three groups as follows: early (30-120 days), middle (121-210 days) and end of lactation (more than 211 days). The proteinogram consisted of total proteins concentration determined by biuret method and polyacrymalide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A gradual and significant decrease of some fractions of the whey was observed during the lactation cycle albumin, lactoferrin, immunoglobulins, β-lactoglobulin and α -lactoalbumin. The normal ranges obtained for the whey proteins of Jersey cows were: whey total proteins 569.0 to 713.0mg/dL, lactoferrin 36.0 to 49.0mg/dL, albumin 24.0 to 34.0mg/dL, immunoglobulins heavy chain 38.0 and 51.0mg/dL; immunoglobulins light chain 59.0 to 95.0mg/dL, β-lactoglobulin 207.0 to 256.0mg/dL, α-lactoalbumin 117.0 to 157.0mg/dL; protein with 226 KDa 5.80 to 12.0mg/dL, and protein with 118 KDa 2.30 to 6.80mg/dL.

Comparison of Rumen Fluid pH by Continuous Telemetry System and Bench pH Meter in Sheep with Different Ranges of Ruminal pH

We aimed to compare the measurements of sheep ruminal pH using a continuous telemetry system or a bench pH meter using sheep with different degrees of ruminal pH. Ruminal lactic acidosis was induced in nine adult crossbred Santa Ines sheep by the administration of 15 g of sucrose per kg/BW. Samples of rumen fluid were collected at the baseline, before the induction of acidosis (T 0) and at six, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the induction for pH measurement using a bench pH meter. During this 72-hour period, all animals had electrodes for the continuous measurement of pH. The results were compared using the Bland-Altman analysis of agreement, Pearson coefficients of correlation and determination, and paired analysis of variance with Students t-test. The measurement methods presented a strong correlation (r = 0.94, P < 0.05) but the rumen pH that was measured continuously using a telemetry system resulted in lower values than the bench pH meter (overall mean of 5.38 and 5.48, resp., P = 0.0001). The telemetry system was able to detect smaller changes in rumen fluid pH and was more accurate in diagnosing both subacute ruminal lactic acidosis and acute ruminal lactic acidosis in sheep.

Clinical response and transfusion reactions of sheep subjected to single homologous blood transfusion.

Studies in relation to blood conservation and responses to transfusion are scarce for ruminants. We evaluated the clinical manifestations of sheep that received a single homologous transfusion of whole blood, focusing on transfusion reactions. Eighteen adult sheep were subjected to a single phlebotomy to withdraw 40% of the total blood volume, which was placed into CPDA-1 bags and then divided into G0, animals that received fresh blood, and G15 and G35, animals that received blood stored for 15 or 35 days, respectively. Clinical observations were recorded throughout the transfusion, whereas heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were assessed at the following times: 24 hours after phlebotomy and before transfusion; 30 minutes, six, twelve, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours and eight and 16 days after transfusion. All groups presented transfusion reactions, among which hyperthermia was the most frequent (50% of animals). Tachycardia occurred most frequently in the G35 animals (50% of them). During transfusion G35 animals presented more clinical manifestation (P < 0.05). Transfusion of fresh or stored total blood improved the blood volume, but transfusion reactions occurred, demonstrating that a single transfusion of fresh or stored blood can cause inflammatory and febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions in sheep.

Ureia como marcador de diluição em amostras de lavado traqueobrônquico de potros com rodococose

In the study of infection and inflammatory mechanisms of the lower respiratory tract, the unknown dilution of tracheobronchial wash samples is a serious problem for interpretation of the measured concentrations of various substances. The range of dilution in a true clinical situation was investigated with the goal to determine the validity of using urea dosage in tracheobronchial wash to correct the dilution. The study samples consisted of tracheobronchial wash specimens from 7 foals with Rhodococcus equi infection. Total and differential cell counts were made and compared with clinical status and bacterial recuperation of all samples. The dilution factors of the nasal lavage specimens varied between 14.3 and 130 (median 59.7). The use of urea as a dilution mark improves the accuracy of quantifying total cell concentration in washes. These findings suggest that the most common current practice of meansuring substances in tracheobronchial wash, without correction for the dilution, may induce to false conclusions.

Levantamento da concentração de enxofre em capins e de sulfato inorgânico sérico em bovinos criados em fazendas no estado de São Paulo

Este trabalho foi realizado em duas etapas. A primeira avaliou a influencia de crescentes quantidades de enxofre (S) dietetico sobre a concentracao de sulfato inorgânico serico (SIS), utilizando-se 14 garrotes para tal. Na posterior, foram estudados os teores de enxofre e proteina bruta (PB) nos capins do genero Brachiaria sp., em 12 fazendas de diferentes areas do Estado de Sao Paulo, nas estacoes seca e chuvosa, e de SIS em 20 bovinos de cada propriedade que nao fossem suplementados com nenhuma fonte dietetica de enxofre. Tanto na primeira quanto na segunda etapa, foram encontrados alto (r = 0,958) e medio (r = 0,478) coeficientes de correlacao entre os teores de enxofre nos capins (EC) e de SIS. Na segunda etapa, tambem existiu alta correlacao positiva (r = 0,806) entre o EC e PB; os teores de enxofre e PB nos capins e de SIS nos bovinos foram maiores no periodo chuvoso que no seco. Tomando por base o requerimento dietetico de enxofre para bovinos (0,20% MS), foi calculado, de acordo com a regressao obtida no primeiro experimento, o valor correspondente de SIS (0,91 mMol L -1 ). Levando-se em conta esses dois valores, 75% dos capins (0,12 ± 0,03) e 83,3% de SIS (0,53 ± 0,20) encontravam-se abaixo dos niveis recomendados, o que demonstra a existencia de carencia de enxofre nos rebanhos paulistas nao-suplementados com este macroelemento. A concentracao serica de sulfato inorgânico pode ser utilizada para predizer o “status” de enxofre em bovinos.