Anthelmintic activity of Azadirachta indica A. Juss against sheep gastrointestinal nematodes

Gastrointestinal nematode control has been performed through use of anthelmintics. However, the development of resistant populations has required research into new alternatives. There are popular reports about anti-parasitic activity of Azadirachta indica in animals and plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of A. indica after feeding sheep with the dried leaves. In this experiment, 40 sheep were allotted into four treatment groups. Group I received a treatment of A. indica dry leaves mixed in a concentrate at a rate of 0.1 g/kg dose for 3 months. Group II was treated with double the dose of Group I. Group III was treated with closantel (Diantel) at the manufacturer-recommended dose once at the beginning of the study and Group IV was not treated. To compare treatment effects, the following parameters were evaluated: egg count per gram of feces (EPG), worm burden, weight gain and haematocrit. EPG and worm burden results were statistically evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Haematocrit and live weight gain were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means evaluated by Tukey's test with 95% probability. None of the evaluated parameters of the treatment groups were statistically different when compared to the control group, demonstrating that, with the protocol used, A. indica has no anthelmintic effect.     

Economical and financial analysis of lamb finishing fed with diets formulated according to the NRC (1985) and the NRC (2007)

This study compares both versions of the nutritional requirement system determined by the National Research Council (NRC) version 1985 (NRC85) and NRC version 2007 (NRC07), for finishing lambs in feedlots. Nineteen crossbred lambs were divided in four groups representing four experimental treatments: one diet according to NRC85 and three diets according to NRC07. The diets recommended by NRC07 considers crude protein intake relative to ruminal undegradable protein at 20, 40, and 60 % levels (NRC07/20, NRC07/40, and NRC07/60). Diets were composed of Brazilian semi-arid native grass silage, soybean meal, corn, annatto byproduct, and limestone. Purchases and sales of lambs were done according to average market prices in Brazil. The economic indicators considered pointed that all treatments were viable but NRC07/20 and NRC07/60 were more profitable with similar net present values (NPVs) and internal return rates (IRRs). NRC07/20 was the best option showing an IRR of 17.20 % and a payback period (PP) of 5.07 considering a fixed annual interest rate of 6 %. Sensitivity analysis considering a 10 % raise in variable costs showed negative NPVs, IRRs inferior to the opportunity cost rates adopted and PPs that exceeded the planning horizon of 7 years for both NRC85 and NRC07/40.     

Outbreaks of attacks by hematophagous bats in isolated riverine communities in the Brazilian Amazon: a challenge to rabies control

Human rabies has re-emerged in Latin America due to bat associated transmission. We present data related to attacks by hematophagous bats in three riverine communities in the Rio Negro basin, Brazilian Amazon. A cross-sectional survey was carried out to obtain demographic and epidemiological data through interviews with 201 inhabitants. A total of 721 bat attacks with bites took place from 2004 to 2006, 238 (33%) reported by residents in Campinas do Rio Preto, 329 (46%) in águas Vivas and 154 (21%) in the community of Malalahá. Incidence density among surveyed inhabitants was 84 attacks/100 persons-years in Campinas do Rio Preto, 249 attacks/100 persons-years in águas Vivas and 81 attacks/100 persons-years in Malalahá. The proportion of surveyed inhabitants bled by bats at least once was 67% (63/94) in Campinas do Rio Preto, 96% (42/44) in águas Vivas and 62% (39/63) in Malalahá. Among subjects bled by bats, the average number of bites was 4.6 ± 4.2 standard deviations (SD) in Campinas do Rio Preto, 8 ± 6 SD in águas Vivas and 4.1 ± 3.9 SD in Malalahá. Regarding houses, 67% (26/39) had animals in the peridomestic environment (chickens and/or dogs) and all were vulnerable to bats due to gaps in the walls and/or in the windows and doors. In 13 dwellings, rudimentary protection against bats through the fixation of fishing nets and/or straw nets to the windows and other openings was observed. Among dwellers reporting attacks, 48% (68/144) received the full post-exposure anti-rabies vaccination protocol with five doses of diploid human cell vaccine, 28% (39/144) received an incomplete schedule (1-4 doses), and 26% (37/144) did not receive any dose. No cases of rabies were reported during the study; however, regular pre-exposure vaccination in the studied populations must be considered.     

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.

     

Effects of methadone, alone or in combination with acepromazine or xylazine, on sedation and physiologic values in dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of methadone, administered alone or in combination with acepromazine or xylazine, on sedation and on physiologic values in dogs.Study designRandomized cross-over design.AnimalsSix adult healthy mixed-breed dogs weighing 13.5 ± 4.9 kg.MethodsDogs were injected intramuscularly with physiologic saline (Control), or methadone (0.5mg kg⁻¹) or acepromazine (0.1 mg kg⁻¹) or xylazine (1.0 mg kg⁻¹), or acepromazine (0.05 mg kg⁻¹) plus methadone (0.5 mg kg⁻¹) or xylazine (0.5 mg kg⁻¹) plus methadone (0.5 mg kg⁻¹) in a randomized cross-over design, with at least 1-week intervals. Sedation, pulse rate, indirect systolic arterial pressure, respiratory rate (RR), body temperature and pedal withdrawal reflex were evaluated before and at 15-minute intervals for 90 minutes after treatment.ResultsSedation was greater in dogs receiving xylazine alone, xylazine plus methadone and acepromazine plus methadone. Peak sedative effect occurred within 30 minutes of treatment administration. Pulse rate was lower in dogs that received xylazine either alone or with methadone during most of the study. Systolic arterial pressure decreased only in dogs receiving acepromazine alone. When methadone was administered alone, RR was higher than in other treatments during most of the study and a high prevalence of panting was observed. In all treatments body temperature decreased, this effect being more pronounced in dogs receiving methadone alone or in combination with acepromazine. Pedal withdrawal reflex was absent in four dogs receiving methadone plus xylazine but not in any dog in the remaining treatments.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMethadone alone produces mild sedation and a high prevalence of panting. Greater sedation was achieved when methadone was used in combination with acepromazine or xylazine. The combination xylazine–methadone appears to result in better analgesia than xylazine administered alone. Both combinations of methadone/sedative were considered effective for premedication in dogs.     

Use of bispectral index to monitor depth of anesthesia in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between the bispectral index (BIS) and end-tidal isoflurane (ET(ISO)) concentration and compare the use of 3 BIS sensor positions in dogs. ANIMALS: 6 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Mechanically ventilated dogs received pancuronium, and depth of anesthesia was altered by increasing ET(ISO) concentration from 1.5% to 2.3% and 3.0%. The BIS, suppression ratio (relative percentage of isoelectric electroencephalographic waveforms), and signal quality index (SQI) were recorded at each ET(ISO) concentration for each of 3 BIS sensor positions (frontal-occipital, bifrontal, and frontal-temporal positions). RESULTS: The BIS and ET(ISO) concentration were poorly correlated; regardless of sensor positioning, mean BIS values did not change significantly as ET(ISO) was increased. At 3% isoflurane, regardless of sensor positioning, there was an increase in suppression ratio coincident with BIS < 40 in some dogs, whereas paradoxic increases in BIS (> 60) were recorded in others. Furthermore, at 3.0% isoflurane, the SQI was significantly lower for the bifrontal sensor position (compared with values for the other positions), but low SQI values prevented recording of BIS values from the frontal-occipital sensor position in 2 dogs. Overall, BIS values derived from the 3 sensor positions did not differ. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs, BIS values may not reflect changes in depth of isoflurane anesthesia in the absence of noxious stimulation. Of the 3 sensor positions, frontal-temporal positioning provided better correlation with changes in depth of anesthesia induced via changes in isoflurane concentrations. However, the sensor placements yielded similar results at SQI values > 50.