Brazilian foot and mouth disease status and meat exportation to the European Union

The aim of this study was to define the differences between the Brazilian states that export and do not export meat to the European Union (EU) and to identify the variables that are important to meet the export requirements. Infrastructure and computerization of the control of animal transit in Brazil that impact on regional health status were evaluated and linked to other variables such as status for foot and mouth disease (FMD) and qualification to export meat to EU. Variables related to transit control of bovines implemented by the state agencies of animal health and inspection in each Brazilian state were evaluated. Using a discriminant analysis, four variables were selected that explained the variation between Brazilian states that were “free” and “not free” of FMD while another four were selected to explain the variation between the zones “approved” and “not approved” to export meat to the EU, including number of official veterinarians, total transit of bovines and buffaloes, total number of animal transit certificates issued for bovine and buffaloes at the state or zone level, and total number of municipalities in the state or zone. It was possible to correctly discriminate between “free” and “not free” FMD states or zones. Variables related to animal transit are important in assessing the state for the classification of animal health situation and for EU approval for the exportation of meat.     

Effect of the replacement of Tifton 85 with maniçoba hay on the performance of Morada Nova hair sheep

The use of native and adapted forages is an alternative for sustainable production systems in northeast Brazil. The goal of this study was to evaluate the substitution of Tifton 85 by maniçoba hay on the performance and carcass traits of Morada Nova hair sheep. The 16 lambs that were used in this study initially weighed 19.36?±?1.48 kg, were housed in individual pens, and were slaughtered at 58 days of confinement. The dry matter intake (839.84 g/day and 3.81 % WB) was higher (P?<?0.05) in sheep fed maniçoba hay. The feed conversion was 7.39 for sheep fed maniçoba hay. The empty body weight (21.61 kg) and cold carcass weight (11.40 kg) did not differ (P?>?0.05) between sheep fed different hay types. The replacement of Tifton 85 by maniçoba hay did not influence the loin eye area (cm²) or carcass compactness index (kg/cm). The replacement of Tifton 85 by maniçoba hay in Morada Nova sheep diet did not affect the weight gain or carcass characteristics. The maniçoba hay can be considered a forage resource for feeding sheep in Brazilian semiarid tropics.     

Short-wave solar radiation level willingly tolerated by lactating Holstein cows in an equatorial semi-arid environment

The amount of short-wave solar radiation willingly tolerated by lactating Holstein cows on pasture was determined in an equatorial semi-arid environment. The study was carried out on a dairy farm located in Limoeiro do Norte, CE, northeastern Brazil. The observed behaviours were as follows: grazing, under the sun, under the shade, standing, lying, ruminating, idling and wallowing in the water. The behaviours were recorded using instantaneous scan sampling at regular intervals of 15 min from 0600 to 1800 hours over 5 days. On all sampling days, the meteorological variables, including local short-wave solar radiation (R _S-W, W m^?2), were recorded. The R _S-W data were divided into five levels. The sun exposure was more frequent under low (100 %) and moderately low (97 %) levels, when R _S-W remained below 500 W m^?2. The grazing was more intense under low (100 %) and moderately low (93 %) levels. Above 500 W m^?2, the grazing time significantly decreased (11 %). The cows avoided grazing under high (0 %) and very high (0 %) levels, when R _S-W exceeded 700 W m^?2. The ruminating behaviour was more frequent under high (33 %) and very high (37 %) levels, in which the highest averages of R _S-W were recorded (815 and 958 W m^?2, respectively). The standing posture was more frequent under low (100 %) and moderately low (97 %) levels. Therefore, the critical R _S-W level that motivates cows to stop grazing and seek shade was in the interval between 500 and 700 W m^?2.     

Ketoprofen and phenylbutazone attenuation of PAF-induced lung inflammation in calves

The purposes of this study were: (1) to investigate which arachidonic acid metabolites contributed to platelet-activating factor (PAF) induced pulmonary dysfunction; and (2) to compare the effect of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, phenylbutazone and ketoprofen in a model of PAF-induced reversible lung inflammation in six calves. In placebo and phenylbutazone groups, PAF infusion induced significant dysfunctions in the pattern of breathing, mechanics of breathing and gas exchange. These dysfunctions were prevented by ketoprofen pretreatment, except for the mechanics of breathing which was moderately but significantly altered by the PAF challenge. In all calves, leukotriene (LT) B4 plasma concentrations did not significantly increase above baseline values at any time. Prostaglandin (PG) E2 plasma concentrations showed a minor significant increase in phenylbutazone pretreated calves (55.8 +/- 25.8 pg/mL from 36.7 +/- 16.13 pg/mL). Thromboxane (TX) B2 plasma concentration was significantly increased during PAF challenge in placebo- and phenylbutazone-pretreated groups, but not in ketoprofen-pretreated calves (1580.0 +/- 1370 from 42.7 +/- 10.7 pg/mL; 2340 +/- 477 from 63 +/- 32 pg/mL; and 36.5 +/- 4.12 from 39.3 +/- 12.0 pg/mL, respectively). These data suggest that TXA2 is an important cyclooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid produced in response to PAF and that ketoprofen (intramuscular injection, 3 mg/kg) is more effective than phenylbutazone (intramuscular injection, 10 mg/kg) in preventing respiratory dysfunctions induced by the PAF challenge 30 min after drug administration. Ketoprofen did not suppress totally the PAF-induced changes in mechanics of breathing, which suggests that PAF or a secondary release of mediators could have a direct action on airway smooth muscle.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella</Emphasis> sp. infection through serological,microbiological, and molecular methods applied to buffaloes in Maranhão State,Brazil

The aim of the current study is to diagnose Brucella spp. infection using methods such as serology, bacterial isolation, and molecular analysis in buffaloes bred in Maranhão State. In order to do so, 390 samples of buffalo serum were subjected to serological tests, to Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and to 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) combined with slow agglutination test (SAT). Vaginal swabs were collected from seropositive animals and subjected to bacterial isolation and to generic PCR. According to the serological test, 16 animals had a positive reaction to the confirmatory test (2-ME/SAT). As for bacterial isolation, three samples resulted in the isolation of Brucella spp.-characteristic colonies, which were confirmed through PCR. These results confirmed Brucella spp. infection in the buffalo herd from Maranhão State.     

Performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets with increasing levels of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mimosa tenuiflora</Emphasis> (Willd.) hay replacing Buffel grass hay

This study evaluated the performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets with increasing levels of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) hay replacing Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris). Twenty-eight Santa Inês male lambs with an average body weight (BW) of 20.3 ± 1.49 kg(mean ± SD) were allocated in individual stalls and distributed in a completely random design with four treatments (0, 20, 40, and 60 g/100 g total DM M. tenuiflora hay replacing Buffel grass hay in diet) with seven replications. M. tenuiflora hay at the level of 20% dry matter (DM) total replacing Buffel grass hay increased final weight (P = 0.006), total weight gain (P < 0.001), average daily weight gain (ADWG; P < 0.001), DM intake (P < 0.001), and feed efficiency (P < 0.001). Intake of crude protein, NDF_ap, ADF_ap, ash, ether extract, total and non-fibrous carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients presented a positive quadratic effect with M. tenuiflora hay replacing Buffel grass hay and 40 g/100 g total DM level presented greater intake. There were positive quadratic effects by M. tenuiflora hay inclusion at 20 g/100 g total DM level on slaughtering weight (P = 0.005), hot carcass weight (P = 0.002), cold carcass weight (P = 0.002), empty body weight (P = 0.001), hot carcass yield (P = 0.002), cold carcass yield (P = 0.003), and increase linear on biological yield (P = 0.003). There was no influence on cooling weight loss (P = 0.284). M. tenuiflora hay may be included in lamb diets at amounts up to 20 g/100 g total DM substitution of Buffel grass hay because increase in the nutrients intake, growth performance, and carcass characteristics.     

Radiographic measurement of craniocaudal instability in stifle joints of clinically normal dogs and dogs with injury of a cranial cruciate ligament

OBJECTIVE: To determine craniocaudal laxity of the stifle joint of dogs when joints were positioned in tibial compression or neutral position. SAMPLE POPULATION: 19 normal stifle joints in 10 clinically normal dogs, 29 stifle joints with varying injury to the cranial cruciate ligament (10 complete ruptures alone, 10 complete ruptures with concomitant damage to the medial meniscus, 6 partial ruptures alone, and 3 partial ruptures with concomitant meniscal tearing), and 19 unaffected contralateral stifle joints in those 29 dogs. PROCEDURE: Relative displacement of bony landmarks was measured on paired lateral radiographs (neutral and tibial compression positions). Two measuring techniques were customized for use in dogs. RESULTS: The first technique failed to distinguish results in normal stifle joints from those in stifle joints with partial deficiency of cranial cruciate ligaments. Significant differences were found for joints with complete rupture, compared with stifle joints in clinically normal dogs. The second technique detected differences between normal stifle joints and injured joints with partial or complete rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Significant differences were not detected between joints with partial versus complete rupture. Adjusting data to account for size of dog did not improve results. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A wide range in measurements of laxity was found for stifle joints with intact cranial cruciate ligaments. Differences in degree of damage to the ligament and medial meniscus cannot be deduced from the amount of relative displacement measured on radiographs. Pathologic changes to the cranial cruciate ligament will not necessarily induce detectable changes in laxity of stifle joints in dogs.     

猪带绦虫六钩蚴cDNA文库的构建与筛选

在体外将猪带绦虫虫卵孵化为有活力的六钩蚴。采用商品化试剂盒抽提六钩蚴总 RNA、m RNA,反转录为双链c DNA,再加 Eco R Adapter。在去除小片段后 ,dsc DNA与 λgt11噬菌体 DNA连接 ,经蛋白包装 ,构建了猪带绦虫六钩蚴λgt11c DNA文库。该文库效价为 3.5× 10 9pfu/ m L ,重组 DNA片段大小为 0 .5～ 3.2 kb,平均为 1.6 kb,蓝白斑比 1∶ 9。用抗体探针对文库进行免疫学筛选 ,在消除非特异性反应的基础上筛选约 10 6 重组子 ,共得到 118株强阳性克隆 ;应用 PCR鉴定上述部分阳性克隆 ,均扩增到 0 .5 kb以上的片段。结果显示 ,构建的文库合格 ,含六钩蚴所有抗原基因 ,可用于六钩蚴 c DNA克隆的筛选 ;用免疫学与 PCR联合筛选 c DNA文库 ,可消除假阳性     

Disposition of marbofloxacin in vulture (Gyps fulvus) after intravenous administration of a single dose

The pharmacokinetics properties of marbofloxacin were studied in adult Eurassian Griffon vulture after single-dose intravenous (IV) administration of 2 mg/kg. Drug concentration in plasma was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the data obtained were subjected to compartmental and non-compartmental kinetic analysis. Marbofloxacin presented a volume of distribution at steady-state (Vdss) of 1.51 ± 0.22 L and total plasma clearance (Cl) of 0.109 ± 0.023 L/h kg. The permanence of this drug was long in vultures (T_1/2λ = 12.51 ± 2.52 h; MRT_∞ = 13.54 ± 2.29 h). The optimal dose of marbofloxacin estimated is 2.73 mg/kg per day for the treatment of infections in vultures with MIC₉₀ = 0.2 μg/mL.     

Ciclosporin A therapy is associated with disturbances in glucose metabolism in dogs with atopic dermatitis

The effect of ciclosporin A (CsA) on glucose homeostasis was investigated in 16 dogs with atopic dermatitis by determining plasma glucose, serum fructosamine and insulin concentrations, and serial insulin and glucose concentrations following a glucagon stimulation test, before and 6 weeks after CsA therapy at 5 mg/kg once daily. All dogs completed the study. Following CsA treatment, the median serum fructosamine concentrations were significantly higher (pretreatment 227.5 μmol/L; post-treatment 246.5 μmol/L; P = 0.001; reference range 162-310 μmol/L). Based on analyses of the areas under concentration-time curves (AUC) pre- and post-CsA treatment, plasma glucose concentrations were significantly higher (AUC without baseline correction 31.0 mmol/L/min greater; P = 0.021) and serum insulin concentrations were significantly lower (AUC without baseline correction 217.1 μIU/mL/min lower; P = 0.044) following CsA treatment. Peak glucose concentrations after glucagon stimulation test were significantly higher following CsA treatment (10.75 versus 12.05 mmol/L; P = 0.021), but there was no significant difference in peak serum insulin (52.0 versus 35.0 μIU/mL; P = 0.052). There was a negative correlation between baseline uncorrected insulin AUC and trough serum log CsA concentrations (r = -0.70, P = 0.005). The administration of CsA to dogs with atopic dermatitis leads to disturbances in glucose homeostasis. The clinical significance of this is unclear, but it should be taken into account when considering CsA treatment in dogs that already have such impairments.