Oral administration of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, enhances the cellular innate immune response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.)

The effects of including lyophilised whole yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in the diet on the seabream innate immune response were investigated. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) specimens were fed four different diets for 4 weeks: a commercial diet as control and the same diet supplemented with 1, 5 or 10 g/kg yeast. After 1, 2 and 4 weeks, serum complement titres, as a humoral parameter, and phagocytic, respiratory burst, myeloperoxidase and natural cytotoxic activities of head-kidney leucocytes, as cellular parameters, were evaluated. The results showed that yeast supplements enhanced all the latter responses, but not the humoral response. This enhancement was dose-dependent except for the cytotoxic activity that was only stimulated by the lower dose of yeast assayed. As yeast cell walls are able to enhance the seabream cellular innate immune response, these results support the possible use of whole yeast as natural inmunostimulants in common fish diets.     

Risk factors for stillbirths in two swine farms in the south of Brazil

We evaluated stillbirth risk factors in two commercial swine farms of the Rio Grande do Sul State (south of Brazil). The study was conducted during 1 month in Farm A and during 2 months in Farm B, both during 1999. Data for all farrowings that occurred during the study period were recorded (101 for Farm A and 373 for Farm B), without interference in the farm management. In Farm A, 39% of all litters born during the period of interest had stillborn piglets and the stillborn risk for piglets was 12%. In Farm B, 25% of all litters had stillborn piglets whereas the stillborn risk was 2%. Variables considered as potential risk factors for stillbirths were: parity (1, 2–3, 4+); breed (purebred or crossbred); sow body-condition (normal or fat); use of oxytocin during parturition (yes or no); obstetric intervention through vaginal palpation (yes or no); farrowing duration (<4 or ≥4 h); mummified fetuses (yes or no); total litter size (<12 or ≥12 piglets); and litter birth weight (<11 or ≥11 kg). All stillborn piglets had their classification validated by necropsy. In multivariable logistic-regressions, the cases were the litters having at least one stillborn piglet. In Farm A, litters having at least 12 pigs and in which oxytocin was used during the parturition had 20.8-times-higher odds of stillborn occurrence. In Farm B, litters from sows having parity ≥4 had 2.2-times-higher odds of stillborn occurrence than litters from parity 2 to 3 females, litters having ≥12 pigs had 2.0-times-higher odds of a stillborn piglet than smaller litters and farrowings in which vaginal palpation was performed had 8.0-times-higher odds. Farrowing room management to minimize stillborn risk should target higher-parity females, large litters and optimization of practices of obstetric interventions.     

Brucellosis in Brazil

This paper reviews the epidemiology of bovine, swine, ovine, caprine, and canine brucellosis in Brazil. The zoonotic aspects of Brucella infection in Brazil is also discussed. Emphasis is given to the new program for the control of brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes that is likely to provide important insights into the prospects and strategies for controlling brucellosis in developing countries.     

Chiral inversion of R(-) fenoprofen and ketoprofen enantiomers in cats

The chiral inversion process is a characteristic metabolic pathway for different aryl-2-propionic acids or profens. Important variations have been observed between these individual compounds as well as between animal species. In this study, R(-) fenoprofen [R(-)FPF] and R(-) ketoprofen [R(-) KTF] were used to investigate their comparative stereoconversion in cats. After intravenous (i.v.) administration of R(-) FPF, the percentage of chiral inversion was 93.20+/-13.70%. A highly significant correlation (r: 0.978) was observed between the clearance of R(-) FPF and the chiral inversion process. After i.v. administration of R(-) KTF, the percentage of inversion was only 36.73+/-2.8%. No correlation between the clearance of R(-) KTF and this process was observed. R(-) FPF was metabolized by the pathways of thioesterification - chiral inversion processes. For R(-) KTF, the competitive metabolic pathways, glucuronidation and hydroxylation may be involved. However, these metabolic steps are saturable or less functional in cats. Moreover, the thioesterification of R(-) KTF in in vitro studies has been shown to be important in carnivores. The lack of correlation between clearance and chiral inversion process of R(-) KTF may be finally explained by deviation of thioesterification to other metabolic pathways of lipids and/or aminoacid conjugation, particulary glicine derivatives.     

In vitro and in vivo efficacy of lasalocid for treatment of experimental cryptosporidiosis

In vitro viability of purified Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, exposed for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min to 0.27 mg/ml lasalocid suspension was evaluated by inclusion or exclusion of two fluorogenic vital dyes and an excystation technique. Continuously, preventive and curative efficacies at different doses (9, 6.75, 5.625 and 4.5 mg/kg body weight) and regimens of lasalocid against cryptosporidial infection were evaluated on an experimental neonatal mice model. In vitro assays demonstrated a decrease in the oocyst viability related to an increase in exposure time for exposure to the lasalocid suspension. The infection was eradicated when the suspension was administered with a dose of ≥6.75 mg/kg body weight. No apparent toxic effects were observed.     

Prevalence of antibodies to Leptospira serovars in sheep and goats in Alto Adige-South Tyrol

Serum samples from 313 sheep and 95 goats were collected during November 1993 in 26 localities in Alto Adige-South Tyrol and tested by microscopic agglutination test for antibodies to 28 serovars of the genus Leptospira. At the time of blood collection all the animals appeared healthy with no clinical sign suggestive of leptospirosis. The observed seroprevalence in sheep was 6.1%, whereas the seropositivity rate for goat serum samples was 2.1%. The highest serological prevalence in sheep was recorded for serovar castellonis, followed by poi, sejroe, hardjo subtype hardjobovis, copenhageni, and cynopteri. Titres to poi were the only ones found in goats. These findings, which are proof of Leptospira infection in Alto Adige-South Tyrol, indicate that foci of several serovars exist in this region.     

A Urethrorectal Fistula due to Prostatic Abscess Associated with Urolithiasis in a Dog

An 8-year-old, entire male crossbreed dog had a 2-day history of abdominal pain and straining to urinate and defecate. A diagnosis of urolithiasis with urinary retention, and probable prostatitis was made. The dog was treated with fluids and enrofloxacin. Five days later, ultrasonography of the prostate showed two hypoechoic areas compatible with abscesses. Twelve hours later, the patient started to urinate from the rectum during micturition and urethrorectal fistula was diagnosed. The omentalization of the prostatic abscesses and castration were performed and calculi were removed. The urethrorectal fistula was treated conservatively with an indwelling urinary catheter, a low residue diet and antibiotics. The dog recovered uneventfully without recurrence of the fistula.