Eldinê Gomes de Miranda Neto

Doenças do sistema nervoso central em caprinos e ovinos no semi-árido

The knowledge of the diseases of domestic animals in the different Brazilian regions is important to determine measures for their control and prevention. The objective of this paper is to report the epidemiology, clinical signs and pathology of the diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) of goats and sheep in the Brazilian semiarid, mainly in the state of Paraiba, diagnosed at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Campina Grande, from January 2000 to May 2006. During the period, 365 cases or outbreaks were diagnosed in goats and 270 in sheep. From these, 63 (9.92%) were of diseases of the CNS, being 34 (9.31%) in goats and 29 (10.7%) in sheep. The main diseases were abscesses (19.04%), tetanus (15.9%), rabies (9.52%) poisoning by Ipomoea asarifolia (7.93%), listeriosis (6.34%), traumatism (6.34%), polioencephalo-malacia (4.77%), pregnancy toxemia (3.17%), enzootic ataxia (3.17%), and meningitis (3.17%). Other diseases diagnosed in only one opportunity (1.59%) were intoxications by Crotalaria retusa, Ipomoea carnea, Ipomoea sericophylla and Prosopis juliflora, otitis with encephalitis, malformation, lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma, medulloblastoma, and focal symmetric necrosis. In 6.34% of the cases diagnosis was unknown.

Estudo clínico e características do suco ruminal de caprinos com acidose láctica induzida experimentalmente

The objective was to study the effects of ruminal lactic acidosis in goats, induced experimentally, on the clinical manifestations, the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of the ruminal fluid. Ten 1 to 2 year old male goats, cross bred (SRD), with 25 kg body weight, in good health condition and housed in a stall, were rumen-fistulated. After establishing normal pattern for the variables studied, the acidosis was induced with the administration of 15g sucrose/kg body weight. Clinical and laboratorial observations were accomplished at intervals of 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours, after the induction (PI). Already 4 hours PI the animals showed clinical signs of apathy, anorexia, increased heart frequency, ruminal atony, abdominal distention and diarrhea. The characteristics of the ruminal fluid suffered alterations, as reduction of the pH (below 5.0), and its color became a milky aspect, acid smell and aqueous consistency. The time of sedimentation activity (TAS) was reduced and the dynamics of the fauna and flora were committed, with the prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria. At the end of the observation period the analyzed variables were not yet fully re-established in some animals.

Doenças de pele em equídeos no semiárido brasileiro

Diseases that affect the skin and appendages of equidae in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil were analyzed through a retrospective study of records of the Large Animal Clinic of the Veterinary Hospital at the Federal University of Campina Grande, from January 2002 to December 2012. At all, 2054 equidae entered the hospital being 1786 horses, 200 donkeys, and 58 mules. A total of 535 (26.05%) were affected by skin diseases, 447 horses, 68 donkeys and 20 mules. In horses the more prevalent skin diseases were pythiosis (24.38%), traumatic injuries (23.04%), abscesses (12.75%), granulation tissue (8.5%), and habronemiasis (7.38%); together, these diseases represented 76% of dermatological problems observed in this species. In donkeys the more frequent diseases, representing 79.84% of the skin diseases, were traumatic wounds (47.5%), sarcoid (19.11%), and abscesses (13.23%). In mules the most frequent disease was traumatic wounds (30%) and habronemiasis and squamous cell carcinoma (15% each), which together accounted for 60% of the skin diseases in this species. It is concluded that skin diseases are important in equidae in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil and the knowledge generated in this work is important for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

Doenças do sistema digestório de caprinos e ovinos no semiárido do Brasil

Diseases of the digestive system of goats and sheep in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil were evaluated by a retrospective study of 2,144 attendances of small ruminants in the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos, Paraiba, from January 2000 to December 2011. The records were reviewed to determine the occurrence, epidemiology, and the main clinicopathological features of the gastrointestinal diseases diagnosed during the studied period. Out of a total of 512 cases (23.9%) of gastrointestinal disorders in small ruminants, 367 (71.7%) occurred in goats and 145 (28.1%) in sheep. Gastrointestinal helminthiasis and coccidiosis were the most frequent diseases (330 cases). The disorders of the rumen and reticulum (acidosis, simple indigestion, bloat, and ruminal compaction) constituted 94 cases. The abomasum was affected by primary and secondary ulcers, and obstruction and compression of the gastrointestinal tract were also observed. Malformations, such as anal atresia and cleft palate were recorded in both species, the latter being associated with ingestion of Mimosa tenuiflora. Among the infectious diseases, five outbreaks of contagious ecthyma, two cases of paratuberculosis, and two cases of gastrointestinal pythiosis were observed. Suspected seven cases of enterotoxemia and nonspecific enteritis were identified. The lack of an integrated control of parasites and the use of inadequate food during the period of lack of forage contributes to the occurrence of a great number of gastrointestinal diseases in small ruminants in the studied area. The practice of conservation of fodder could substantially reduce the occurrence of digestive disorders in the semiarid region.

Abdômen agudo em equídeos no semiárido da região nordeste do Brasil

The cases of equidae acute abdomen diagnosed in the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Campina Grande, in the semiarid of the Brazilian Northeast were reviewed. From January 2001 to December 2011, 70 (4.5%) equidae out of 1542 were affected by colic, including 60 horses, 4 mules, and 6 donkeys. Large colon impaction diagnosed in 37.14% of the cases was the most frequent cause of colic, followed by small colon impaction (10%) and foreign body in the small colon (7.14%). In four cases, colics were caused by phytobezoars in the large gut, two of which were associated with the ingestion of large amounts of fresh Prosopis juliflora pods. Six cases of colic by foreign bodies, mainly plastic bags, were observed, five located in the small colon and one in the large colon. Strangulating small intestinal lesions were observed in four cases. Other causes of colic were spasmodic colic (two cases due to gastrointestinal parasites and two due to consumption of home residues), and gastric impaction (three cases). Large colon displacement was diagnosed twice. Laceration of the small colon, cecal torsion, and bloat by ingestion of Manihot esculenta were diagnosed once. The main risk factor for the occurrence of colic was the ingestion of choped Pennisetum purpureum, Brachiaria spp., Sorghum spp. or Echinochloa polystachya (OR=4.03; P=0.007). As a result of the low quality of the foods the frequency of colic was significantly higher during the dry season (second semester) (OR=2.61; P<0.01). It is concluded that feeding with low quality forages during the dry season contributes with the high frequency of cases of colic in the Brazilian semiarid, and that is necessary to improve food quality and food management to try to decrease the frequency of this syndrome in the region.

Estudo retrospectivo das neoplasias em ruminantes e equídeos no semiárido do Nordeste Brasileiro

In Brazil, data related to occurrence of tumors in livestock are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of tumors diagnosed in equidae, cattle, sheep and goats in the Pathology Laboratory of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos, state of Paraiba, from 1983 to 2010, and to analyze the risk factors by the chi square test, considering variables such as species, breed, age and sex. During the period, 177 (5.6%) out of 3153 specimens from biopsies or necropsies were diagnosed as tumors. There were significant differences (p<0.001) in the frequency of tumors among different species; horses (10.6%) were more affected than cattle (6.8%), and cattle were more affected than goats (3.3%) and sheep (2.1%). Squamous cell carcinoma was most frequent tumor in cattle (58.3% of the tumors), sheep (80%) and goats (46.1%), and sarcoid (45.3%) was the most frequent in horses. Regarding the location, neoplasms were more common in the skin of horses (62.5%) and sheep (60%), in the eyes and periocular skin in cattle (36.1%), and un the female reproductive system (perineal region and vulva) of goats (34.6%). Regarding the sex of the animals, only cattle had significant prevalence (p<0.001). Regarding age only goats showed significant prevalence (p=0.015). There was no significant prevalence in any animal species in relation to race. We concluded that squamous cell carcinomas in ruminants and equine sarcoid are the most common tumors in livestock in the semiarid Brazilian Northeast, and the equidae were the most affected among the species studied.

Aspectos clínicos e a bioquímica ruminal de caprinos submetidos à acidose láctica experimental e suplementados ou não com monensina sódica

Miranda Neto E.G., Silva S.T.G., Mendonca C.L., Drummond A.R.F. & Afon- so J.A.B. 2011. (Clinical aspects and ruminal chemistry in goats with lactic acidosis and sodic monensin supplementation.) Aspectos clinicos e a bioquimica ruminal de caprinos submetidos a acidose lactica experimental e suplementados ou nao com monensina sodica. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 31(5):416-424. Clinica de Bovinos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Cx. Postal 152, Garanhuns, PE 55292-901, Brazil. E-mail: eldinemneto@hotmail.com The aim of the present study was to analyze clinical and laboratory findings regarding goats submitted to the incorporation of monensin in their feed and assess its effects on the prevention of experimentally induced ruminal lactic acid. Clinical aspects as well as physiochemical and microbiological characteristics of the ruminal fluid were assessed. Twenty clinically healthy, castrated, male, mixed-breed goats with a mean weight of 30kg were used, in which permanent ruminal cannulae were implanted. Two groups of ten animals were formed: A control group (CG) and a group that received 33mg/kg of monensin (GM) per animal in the diet for 40 days. Ruminal acidosis was induced by administering 10g of sucrose/ kg of live weight, prior to the morning meal. Clinical observations and the collection of ruminal fluid were carried out at 4, 8, 12, 24, 32, 48 and 72h post-induction (PI). At 4 hours PI, there were signs of apathy, capricious appetite or anorexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, rumen stasis, abdominal distention and diarrhea of varying severity. The reflux of rumen fluid through the nostrils, signs of colic intestinal and serous bilateral nasal discharge was observed in some animals of the CG, and laminitis in GM. There was an average loss of body weight of 900g in CG (P>0.05) and 1.3kg in GM (P 0.05). The color of the rumen fluid became milky, acid smell and watery consistency. There was a significant increase (P <0.05) the acidity, of the test time reduction of methylene blue, the values of chloride and lactic acid. The dynamics of the fauna and flora has changed, with a predominance of Gram- positive. In some animals there was no full restoration of all variables. The use of monensin did not prevent the onset of the disorder fermentation in animals that received.

Sistemas produtivos de caprinocultura leiteira no semiárido paraibano: caracterização, principais limitantes e avaliação de estratégias de intervenção

Through a multidisciplinary study, eight dairy goat farms from the semiarid of Paraiba were studied for a period of two years with the aim to identify the main limiting factors for milk production and to propose and evaluate intervention strategies. A questionnaire was used to obtain information about the farms and their herd management. The forage availabilities were evaluated and proposals were made for correction. The animals were identified to facilitate the zootechnical bookkeeping and the milk production control. The major diseases were diagnosed. Analysis of variance, multiple linear regression and t test were used for data analysis. The average animal numbers in the herds were 53 at the start of the first year, 62 in the end of the year, and 49 in the second year. None herd had a defined breed. In the first year, seven farms had forage deficiency during the dry season, but only two during the rainy season. In the second year, after technical advertisement, six farms still had forage deficiency during the dry season and only two during the rainy season; however in six farms the yearly forage production was adequate and storing fodder during the rainy season would prevent the deficit during drought. The average milk production per goat was 1.19 liters. The most inadequate goat facilities were those used to keep the goat kids. Zootechnical bookkeeping was originally not practiced in any farm at the start of the study, but it was gradually and partially established. The main diseases recorded were caseous lymphadenitis, subclinical mastitis, keratoconjunctivitis and contagious ecthyma. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis, caseous lymphadenitis and gastrointestinal parasitoses were reduced after technical assistance. Reproductive problems were reported in 75% of the farms. Four herds had goat kid mortality rates higher than those acceptable. After analyzing the data, it can be concluded that a continuous and multidisciplinary technical assistance may minimize the factors limiting dairy goat production. The study showed that farmers accept the new technologies if they are appropriate to the systems and are gradually implemented.

Pulmonary choristoma associated with calf meningocele

Pulmonary choristoma is a rare malformation reported in different animal species defined as a mass of normal histological pulmonary tissue in an abnormal location. A case of pulmonary choristoma and meningocele is reported in a calf that presented a fluctuating subcutaneous fluid containing mass, measuring 15 x 15 x 20cm in the skull frontal region. The skin covering the sac was surgically removed. Macroscopically, subcutaneous nodules up to 2cm in diameter with irregular whitish areas mixed with red areas were observed. In the histological examination, pulmonary lobules tissue composed by alveoli, bronchi, bronchioles and cartilage were observed. Dilated blood vessels and hemorrhages were present between the lobules. In this case the pulmonary choristoma was associated with meningocele, and probably was the mechanical cause for the failure of the skull closure.

Outbreaks of Vesicular stomatitis Alagoas virus in horses and cattle in northeastern Brazil

The current article describes outbreaks of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in horses and cattle in Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte states, northeastern Brazil, between June and August 2013. The reported cases affected 15–20 horses and 6 cattle distributed over 6 small farms in 4 municipalities, but additional data indicated the involvement of a large number of animals on several farms. The disease was characterized by blisters; eruptive lesions in coronary bands, lips, mouth, and muzzle; salivation; claudication and loss of condition. Swollen lower limbs and lips, and ulcerated and erosive areas in the lips and muzzle were observed in some horses. A necrotizing vesiculopustular dermatitis and stomatitis was observed histologically. Vesicular stomatitis virus was isolated from the vesicular fluid of a horse lesion and shown to be serologically related to the VS Indiana serogroup (VSIV) by virus neutralization. Convalescent sera of affected horses and cattle, and from healthy contacts, harbored high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the isolated virus (named VSIV-3 2013SaoBento/ParaibaE). Genomic sequences of VSIV subtype 3 (Vesicular stomatitis Alagoas virus) were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction out of clinical specimens from a cow and a horse from different farms. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the phosphoprotein gene indicated that the 2 isolates were derived from the same virus and clustered them in VSIV-3, along with VS viruses identified in southeastern and northeastern Brazil in the last decades. Thus, the present report demonstrates the circulation of VSIV-3 in northeastern Brazil and urges for more effective diagnosis and surveillance.