A review of maternal behaviour in dogs and potential areas for further research

Here we review information on maternal behaviour in dogs, defined as a combination of all the acts of the mother towards her offspring, which begins before parturition and continues until weaning. In dogs, maternal care is measured using the most commonly observed behaviours, such as the time spent in contact, licking/grooming and nursing of the puppies. Since newborn puppies have a very limited capacity for movement, maternal interaction is essential to their survival, nourishment and protection. It is also an important element of the bonding process between puppies and the bitch and is thought to play a role in the social development of the puppies. Nevertheless, some questions still need to be clarified, such as the best way to quantify factors that may interfere with maternal behaviour. In recent studies, maternal care, or maternal style, was measured using a scoring system and found to be influenced by factors such as litter size, breed and parity, or even human interaction. However, the impact of the emotional state of the bitch and the quality of maternal behaviour on puppy survival and development remain unclear. The long-lasting effects of mother–puppy interactions on puppy behaviour during their adult life are still poorly understood, despite their importance for breeders who wish to prevent future problem behaviours.     

Productivity and nutritional value of BRS capiaçu grass (Pennisetum purpureum) managed at four regrowth ages in a semiarid region

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity, productive efficiency, and nutritional value of the elephant grass cultivar BRS capiaçu...     

Intake,digestibility, ingestive behavior,and nitrogen balance of goats fed with diets containing residue from tamarind fruit

This study is aimed at determining the maximum inclusion level of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) residues in the diet of goats on intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, and nitrogen (N) balance. Twenty-four crossbred (Boer × undefined breed) castrated goat kids (5 months old and with an initial weight of 23.9?±?0.3 kg) were assigned in a completely randomized design (4 treatments and 6 replicates). Diets consisted of Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay as the roughage (400 g/kg) source and concentrate (600 g/kg); the levels of tamarind residue inclusion were 0.0, 7.0, 14.0, and 21.0% on a dry matter (DM) basis. The experimental period lasted 23 days (15 of adaptation and 8 of sampling). Inclusion of tamarind residue in the goat kid diets did not affect (P?>?0.05) the intake and digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrient; intake of N, urinary N, and retained N (g/day); time spent ruminating; numbers of times/day feeding, ruminating, or idling; eating efficiency of DM and NDF; number of boluses/day; and amount (g) of DM/bolus. However, there were a linear reduction in ether extract digestibility (P?=?0.011) and a linear decreasing trend in non-fibrous carbohydrate digestibility (P?=?0.083). The addition of tamarind residue had a positive linear effect (P?=?0.041) on the time spent feeding and promoted a decreasing linear trend for the time spent idling (P?=?0.063). It is recommended to include the residue from tamarind fruit at a level of 21% in diets for goat kids, as it does not affect nutrient intake and digestibility and the N balance.

     

Prevalence and risk factors for agents causing diarrhea (Coronavirus,Rotavirus, Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp., and nematodes helminthes) according to age in dairy calves from Brazil

The present study attempted to verify the prevalence of and risk factors for diarrhea-causing agents in dairy calves from Brazil. Additionally, ages with a higher risk of occurrence for each agent were verified by means of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The collections were performed on 39 farms, belonging to 29 municipalities located in eight states of Brazil. It was possible to conclude that the prevalence of Coronavirus, Rotavirus, Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp., and nematodes was 7.20% (95% CI 4.54–9.78), 6.37% (95% CI 3.85–8.89), 51.52% (95% CI 45.26–55.57), 3.46% (95% CI 2.24–4.67), and 3.46% (95% CI 2.24–4.67), respectively. Ages with higher probabilities of occurrence of these diseases in calves were <?10, >?8, >?6, >?37, and >?36 days, respectively. Diarrhea occurred more significantly (P?<?0.0001) in animals less than 21 days old and mainly on those receiving milk through automatic feeders (P?<?0.001). Cryptosporidium spp. were a risk factor for the occurrence of Rotavirus, and vice versa (P?=?0.0039) and presented a positive correlation with Coronavirus (P?=?0.0089). Calves that drink water from rivers, streams, and ponds had a higher chance of being infected by Eimeria spp. (P?<?0.0001), as well as developing infection by nematodes (P?<?0.0001). The results found in this study highlight the importance of studying the agents of diarrhea together, once they act as coinfection where the losses triggered for the owners will involve some of these agents simultaneously.

     

Live and frozen Artemia nauplii for catfish Lophiosilurus alexandri (Steindachner, 1876) larvae in different salinities

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of the study was to verify the combination of live and frozen Artemia nauplii, in different salinized water, and its influence in growth and...     

Angioarchitecture of collateral arteries of the aortic arch of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758)

The aortic arrangement is an important structure associated with the maintenance of homeostasis. Based on this information, this study was conducted to describe the collateral arteries of the aortic arch of Antillean manatee and define the standard model for the species. Three specimens, an adult male, adult female and a male neonate, all strandings on the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, were used. The study was performed in the Laboratory of Morphophysiology of Vertebrates of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, where in situ photographs were taken to demonstrate their topography. Subsequently, their hearts were removed and fixed in 10% formaldehyde and after 72 hr were dissected and analysed, obtaining schematic drawings and photographs of the vascular arrangement. The aortic arch was represented by three collateral arteries identified as the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery. This arrangement was similar to that found for other sirenians, and yet, for other mammals like hooded seal, murine, margarita island capuchin, black-handed tamarin, Mongolian gerbil and human. The morphological similarity presented in this study with different species of mammals, including humans, may contribute valuable information from an evolutionary point of view.     

Radiography and computed tomography of the heart and lower respiratory tract in toco toucans (Ramphastos toco)

This study aimed to evaluate normal features of the heart and lower respiratory tract in toco toucans by means of radiography and helical computed tomography (CT) scanner. Fifteen healthy adult toco toucans (Ramphastos toco), 10 females and 5 males, average body mass of 650 g were studied. CT examination as well as right lateral and ventrodorsal radiographic examinations of the coelomic cavity were performed under chemical restraint. Heart, lungs, air sacs, trachea and syrinx were analysed. The mean values of heart length, heart width and thoracic cavity in radiographs were, respectively, 23.76 mm, 25.94 mm and 48.87 mm. In both X-rays and CT scans, the lung parenchyma had honeycomb-like pattern. The topographic areas of the anterior and posterior air sacs were visualized as dark and air-filled spaces in X-rays. On CT evaluation, the air sacs occupied a larger area in the coelomic cavity compared to X-ray. In the lateral radiographic view, the cervical part of the trachea was positioned more ventrally in the transition from cervical to thoracic regions showing a V-shaped appearance. In all CT planes was visible division of the trachea into the right and left main bronchi at the level of 3rd thoracic vertebra. The syrinx was difficult to visualize in X-rays, but on CT it was easily identified in axial slice. In conclusion, the normal features of toco toucan's heart and lower respiratory tract that were determined on X-rays and CT scans are useful to compare with sick toco toucans, as well as other bird species.     

Collateral arteries of the aortic arch of the red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758)

Detailed knowledge of the arterial system is an important prerequisite when interpreting experimental data in research, as well as in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease using imaging techniques such as Doppler echocardiography and contrast radiography. Thus, considering the importance of the aortic arrangement, the objective of this study was to describe the collateral arteries of the aortic arch of agoutis in order to establish the standard model, and therefore contribute to studies involving research related to heart disease, and produce information for a more accurate diagnosis in complementary imaging examinations. In this study, 14 adult animals were used, comprising eight males and six females. The vascular system was washed with 0.9% aqueous saline solution and perfused with Neoprene 450 latex coloured with yellow or red pigment, which was subsequently dissected and analysed. One male animal was used for the digital contrast radiography technique perfused with a liquid barium sulphate solution (Bariogel^®) (1 g/ml) and Neoprene 450 latex, both diluted 1/3. The aortic arch of the agouti presented with only the brachiocephalic trunk as collateral branch in all the animals studied. Thus, agouti falls into type 1 for mammalian aortic arch vascular arrangements.     

Coelioscopic-assisted prefemoral ovariosalpingectomy in a d`Orbigny slider (Trachemys dorbigni) using a digital otoscope

The purpose of this study was to assess the unilateral prefemoral coelioscopic-assisted approach for ovariosalpingectomy in a d`Orbigny slider (Trachemys dorbigni) using a digital otoscope. Twenty healthy turtles were randomly assigned to one of two groups, for right (GR; n=10) or left (GL; n=10) prefemoral access, for coelioscopic-assisted ovariosalpingectomy. Anesthesia and surgery times, body weight, and ovary/oviduct weight data were recorded. Anesthesia and surgery times did not differ significantly between the groups. Wound closure was the most time-consuming surgical step. Ovary and body weights significantly affected the exposure time of the ipsilateral and contralateral ovaries, respectively. Two intraoperative complications were reported. All the animals recovered uneventfully. The digital otoscope can be safely and effectively used for coelioscopic-assisted single-access, unilateral prefemoral ovariosalpingectomy in d`Orbigny slider.     

Relationship between reproductive and productive traits in Holstein cattle using multivariate analysis

Multivariate procedures are used for the extraction of variables from the correlation matrix of phenotypes in order to identify those traits that explain the largest proportion of phenotypic variation and to evaluate the relationship structure between these traits. The reproductive traits (days from calving to first estrus [CFE], days from calving to last service [CLS], calving interval [CI] and gestation length [GL]) and milk production traits (milk yield at 305 days of lactation [MY305], peak yield [PY] and milk yield per day of calving interval [MYCI]) of 5,217 Holstein females (primiparous and multiparous) were measured. Principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis of the correlation matrix were used to estimate the correlation between traits. Analysis grouped the seven traits into three principal components and four latent factors that retained approximately 81.5% and 88.9% of the total variation of the data, respectively. The production variables exhibited positive phenotypic correlation coefficients of high magnitude (>.67). The phenotypic correlation estimates between the productive and reproductive traits were low, ranging from .13 to .22. A strong association (.99) was observed between CLS and CI. Our results indicate that multivariate analysis was effective in generating correlations between the traits studied, grouping the seven traits in a smaller number of variables that retained approximately 81% of the total variation of the data.