José Augusto Bastos Afonso

Aspectos clínicos e características do leite em ovelhas com mastite induzida experimentalmente com Staphylococcus aureus

The objective was to study the clinical aspects and the physical-chemical characteristics of the milk in sheep with mastitis experimentally induced with Staphylococcus aureus. For such, were used 10 Santa Ines primiparity ewes, weighing 30 kg, clinically healthy and housed in a stall. After establishing the normality patterns for the studied variables, the animals were inoculated into one teat of the udder with an inoculum of 1.0x104ufc/ml of S. aureus, while the other gland served as control. The clinical observations were accomplished in intervals of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132, 168, 180, 288 and 336 hours after the inoculation of the agent (PI). All the animals presented clinical systemic manifestations, and in the inoculated glands with more intensity from 24 hours on after the inoculation. There were significant alterations (P<0.05) in the production and physical-chemical composition of the milk in relation to the controls, with reduction of volume and fat. The pH, the chlorates and CCS reached very high indexes, accompanied by the CMT test reaction. The bacteriological exam revealed the presence of S. aureus during the phase of infection. After the treatment of the sheep 36 hours PI, one animal came to death 48h PI, and the others showed clinical recovery; however there was no physiologic re-establishment of the inoculated udders which lost their function.

Intoxicação espontânea por vagens de Prosopis juliflora (Leg. Mimosoideae) em bovinos no Estado de Pernambuco

Three outbreaks of poisoning by Prosopis juliflora pods are reported in the semiarid region of the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, in cattle grazing in fields invaded by the plant or ingesting mesquite beans as a concentrate food. In two farms the disease occurred sporadically. In another, 112 (9.28%) cattle out of 1206 were affected, 84 (6.96%) died due to emaciation, and 28 (2.32%) gained weight after the pods had been withdrawn from the feed. Main clinical signs were progressive weight loss, atrophy of the masseter muscles, dropped jaw, tongue protrusion, difficulties in prehending food, tilting the head during mastigation or rumination, salivation, impaired swallowing, and decreased tone of the tongue. The hematology reveals hypoproteinemia and anemia. Gross lesions were emaciation and reduction in size of the masseter muscles, which appear thinner than normal and grayish due muscular atrophy. Degeneration of neurons of the trigeminal motor nuclei, Wallerian degeneration of the trigeminal nerve roots, and muscular atrophy of the masseter muscles with substitution by fibrous tissue were observed on histologic examination. For the prevention of the poisoning is necessary to limit the amount of mesquite beans in animal nutrition. It is also necessary to develop research to determine the economic and sustainability of the use of Prosopis juliflora for animal food, human food or other uses such as charcoal, wood and fuel wood.

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.

Proteinograma e teores de cobre, ferro e zinco no soro sanguíneo de ovelhas da raça Santa Inês com mastite experimental por Staphylococcus aureus

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Staphylococcus aureus experimentally induced mastitis on proteinogram and serum concentrations of cupper, iron and zinc levels of Santa Ines primiparous ewes . The right mammary gland of ten healthy ewes was inoculated with 1,0x104 UFC/mL of S. aureus. Clinical examination and determination of serum concentrations of proteins by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE), cupper, iron and zinc, as well plasma level of fibrinogen were measured before the inoculation (control) and 12h, 24h, 36h, 48h, 60h, 72h, 84h, 96h, 108h, 120h, 132h, 168h, 180h, 288h and 336h after bacteria inoculation. All animals experimentally infected presented clinical mastitis and subsequent loss of mammary gland function. The electrophoretogram allowed the identification of 23 proteins with molecular weights (MW) ranged from 26.000 to 185.000 daltons (Da) including acute-phase proteins, IgG and IgA. A significant increase (P<0,05) in haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, IgG and IgA concentrations was observed. Antitrypsin and acid glicoprotein concentrations did not alter. The levels of iron and zinc decreased and the cupper concentration increased . A positive correlation between plasma fibrinogen and serum ceruloplasmin (r=0.74), haptoglobin (r=0.62) and IgA (r=0.62) was also identified. Results showed the importance of ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin as acute-phase proteins in ewes with intramammary infections and confirms fibrinogen as an inflammatory marker because its high correlation with specific proteins. The alterations in the serum levels of Cu, Fe and Zn suggest the action of inflammatory mediators triggered by S. aureus.

Metabolismo oxidativo dos neutrófilos de ovinos tratados com monensina sódica e experimentalmente submetidos à acidose ruminal

Ruminal acidosis is due to excessive ingestion of carbohydrates of rapid fermentation without previous adaptation of the microorganisms, causing severe metabolic disturbances to the animals. The objective of the present study was to assess the neutrophilic oxidative metabolism in sheep treated with sodium monensin in experimentally induced ruminal lactic acidosis. A total of 18 male sheep, half-bred (Ideal x Merino), fistulated in the rumen, were used; nine of them received 33 mg/kg of the ionophore diet per day, for 30 days; the others were controls. The acidosis was induced by supplying 15g of sucrose/kg of body weight. The clinical evaluation and the rumen and blood samples were obtained before (0h) and at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours post-induction. In both groups, all the animals presented clinical manifestations of ruminal lactic acidosis 6 hours after the induction. From this period on, a significant pH decrease (P<0.05) was observed in the ruminal fluid, which reached levels below 5. There were relevant differences (P<0.05) between the groups 12 hours after the induction, when the sheep treated with monensin had higher values than those of the control group. During this period, the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils remained inhibited, and the reestablishment of this function only occurred in the sheep which received monensin. Blood pH, plasmatic glucose and the ionizable calcium suffered alterations within its levels. The seric cortisol concentration rose significantly (P<0.05) in both groups, although differences (P<0.05) between them were found at the end of the observation period. The treatment with monensin did not influence the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils inhibited by the lactic acidosis; however, a faster recovery of this metabolism was verified in the animals treated with the ionophore.

Indicadores bioquímicos e hormonais de casos naturais de toxemia da prenhez em ovelhas

Toxemia of pregnancy is a metabolic disorder with considerable economic impact on the production of sheep. However, the particularities of the systemic repercussion of the disorder have not yet been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to assess the biochemical and hormonal profile of 77 ewes with a clinical diagnosis of toxemia of pregnancy and to compare the laboratory findings based on the clinical outcome: discharge (G1) or death (G2). The clinical manifestation of the disease was observed in the pre-birth period in 100% of the ewes, from which 66.2% (n=51) were discharged and 33.8% (n=26) died. A total of 55,8% of the cases were of multiple pregnancies.. Considering the parameters analyzed, cortisol, urea, AST and CK were significantly higher in G2 in comparison to G1 (p 0.05). No changes were found in cholesterol or triglycerides. A reduction in insulin levels was found, with no statistically significant difference between groups (p>0.05). All ewes exhibited ketonuria and aciduria.

Intoxicação por Solanum paniculatum (Solanaceae) em bovinos

Outbreaks of a disease of the nervous system are reported in cattle in three farms in the Agreste region of the state of Pernambuco. Morbidity, mortality and fatality rates varied from 3 to 25%, 0 to 20% and 0 to 60%, respectively. A weed found in large amounts in the pastures was identified as Solanum paniculatum. Clinical signs were characterized by transitory, periodic attacks with loss of balance, incoordinated gait, neck and head extension, hypermetria, intention tremors, nystagmus, and falls. The attacks were induced when the animals were disturbed or by the application of the head raising test. Two cows showed permanent signs including ataxia, abnormal posture, staggering gait with limbs in abduction, intention tremors, hypermetria, and progressive weight loss. Histological lesions in one cow were fine vacuolation of the cerebellar Purkinje neurons with marginalization of the nucleus. Loss of Purkinje neurons with proliferation of Bergmann astrocytes and Wallerian degeneration with axonal spheroids in the granular layer and cerebellar white matter were also observed. Neuronal vacuolation and axonal spheroids were observed in the gracillis nucleus. In one cow that stayed for approximately 10 months in an area free of S. paniculatum with permanent signs, there was a severe depletion of Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum. The granular and molecular layers were reduced and depleted of cells. Considering that the toxic compound of S. paniculatum is unknown, and that the plant is largely used as a medical plant, it is necessary to take into account the risk of human poisoning.

Compactação primária do abomaso em 14 bovinos no estado de Pernambuco

Despite the frequent use of dry and fibrous roughage for feeding cows in many regions, especially during the dry season, impaction of the abomasum has been poorly reported in Brazil, probably because the condition is misdiagnosed by practitioners. The present paper aimed to accomplish a retrospective study on primary abomasal impaction in 14 cattle from Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Eight moderate cases, without severe abdominal distention and with no rumen compaction, were treated conservatively, and four severe cases, with severe abdominal distention and rumen compaction, were treated surgically. One bull was slaughtered and one cow died without treatment. The greater number of abomasal impaction cases was in Holstein cows with six cases (42.9%), followed by crossbred cattle with five cases (35.8%), and the breeds Brown-Swiss, Nelore and Marchigiana, each with one case (21.3%). The food composition was characterized by low quality fibers and varied greatly among cases. Most frequent clinical signs were apathy, dehydration, hypomotility and ruminal bloat, intestinal hypomotility and scanty or absent feces with mucus. The hematological findings revealed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and hyperfibrinogenemia in most cases. Ruminal fluid analysis showed compromised flora and fauna dynamics and increased chlorine ion concentration. Clinical (4/8) and chirurgical (2/4) recovery rate achieved 50%. The clinical and chirurgical methods remain as viable options for the treatment of light and severe impaction, but the prognosis is always reserved especially when associated to late pregnancy.

Avaliação clínica e hematológica em bezerros Nelore infectados experimentalmente com isolados de Babesia bigemina das regiões Sudeste, Nordeste e Norte do Brasil

ABSTRACT..- Mendonca C.L., Vieira D., Kohayagawa A., Schenk M.A.M., Madruga C.R. & AfonsoJ.A.B. 2003. [Clinical and hematological evaluation of Nelore calves experimentally infectedwith isolates of Babesia bigemina from the Southeastern, Northeastern and Northernregions of Brazil.regions of Brazil.] Avaliacao clinica e hematologica em bezerros Nelore infectadosexperimentalmente com isolados de Babesia bigemina das regioes Sudeste, Nordeste e Nortedo Brasil. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 23(1):00-00. Clinica de Bovinos, Campus Garanhuns,Univ. Fed. Rural de Pernambuco, Cx. Postal 152, Garanhuns, PE 55292-901, Brazil.A comparative study was made regarding the clinical and hematological alterations causedby isolates of Babesia bigemina from southeastern, northeastern and northern Brazil inexperimentally infected Nelore calves. Eighteen calves between 7 and 9 months of age, withoutantibodies against Babesia sp and raised free from ticks, were used. Three animals werepreviously inoculated with 2.0x10

Dinâmica celular e microbiológica do leite de ovelhas Santa Inês acompanhadas durante a lactação

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of intramammary infection in ewes by means of clinical examination, direct somatic cell count and the isolation of bacterial agents involved in the process during lactation, as well as the sensitivity profile of these isolates to different antimicrobials. Thirty four ewes from the Santa Ines breed, raised under semi-intensive conditions and submitted to identical sanitary and nutritional management were evaluated before and after parturition, about 10 days before parturition, 15 days after parturition (dap), 30 dap, 60 dap and 90 dap (weaning). In the respective phases a clinical exam of the mammary gland was accomplished. The direct somatic cell count (SCC) and the California Mastitis Test (CMT) were carried out in the phases postpartum (15 dap, 30 dap, 60 dap and 90 dap) as well as the bacteriological analysis which was also accomplished in the experimental phase that preceded parturition when the ewes were not milked. Milk sampling was achieved by manual means. All ewes were submitted to lentivirus serology test. The variable data of SCC were tested for normality according to Kolmogorov-Smirnov and not attended the premise of normality were transformed into log base 10 (Log10). Therefore was performed the analysis of variance and contrast of means by Tukey test with significance level of P<0.05. A descriptive study of the variables studied was done by frequency distribution (%). The average somatic cell count in negative reactions to the CMT varied 387.896,08 cells/mL to 620.611,11 cells/mL and glands reagents ranged up to 6.730.514,50 cells/mL, but there was no influence in the different stages of lactation. The results allowed to conclude that subclinical mastitis represents a sanitary concern in the breeding of Santa Ines ewes. The phase that precedes parturition is particularly worrying and deserves more attention since there is a higher bacterial isolation percentage in apparently healthy glands. In association, it was also in the first 30 days of lactation (initial phase) that a high frequency of bacterial isolation was perceived, with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus as the agent isolated in higher percentage