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.     

Thermal antinociception following oral administration of tapentadol in conscious cats

Objective

To evaluate the onset, magnitude and duration of thermal antinociception after oral administration of two doses of tapentadol in cats.

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.     

Serum biochemical analytes in captive Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis)

Background: Establishment of reference values for serum biochemical analytes is important for monitoring health and physiological status of captive animals. Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure and report ranges for serum biochemical analytes in Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis). Methods: Blood samples were collected from 24 healthy captive Amazonian manatees that comprised a mixture of adults, subadults, and calves and males and females; serum analytes were measured and analyzed using a dry reagent bench‐top chemical analyzer. Comparisons were made between sexes and with previously published values of closely related species. Results: Medians and ranges (minimum–maximum) of values for the analytes were: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 151 (111–278) U/L (n=20); creatine kinase, 144 (76–315) U/L (n=11); alanine aminotransferase, 10 (2–28) U/L (n=18); aspartate aminotransferase, 14 (5–28) U/L (n=21); γ‐glutamyltransferase, 47 (36–73) U/L (n=21); amylase, 1428 (1010–1874) U/L (n=21); alkaline phosphatase, 73 (36–141) U/L (n=19); total protein, 6.8 (6.2–8.0) g/dL (n=24); albumin, 3.3 (2.6–4.1) g/dL (n=21); cholesterol, 188 (101–399) mg/dL (n=21); triglycerides, 126 (60–236) mg/dL (n=21); glucose, 47 (22–69) mg/dL (n=21); urea, 43 (21–69) mg/dL (n=21); uric acid, 1.1 (0.5–1.8) mg/dL (n=22); creatinine, 2.2 (1.5–3.3) mg/dL (n=22); total bilirubin, 0.2 (0.2–2.0) mg/dL (n=21); calcium, 12.7 (10.2–18.6) mg/dL (n=24); iron, 282 (207–457) μg/dL (n=13); and magnesium, 6.9 (4.3–8.9) mg/dL (n=20). With the exception of LDH, no differences were observed between sexes. Conclusions: The ranges obtained in this study provide important preliminary estimates for concentrations and activities of serum analytes in Amazonian manatees until a larger reference interval study can be conducted.     

Montenegro's skin reactions and antibodies against different Leishmania species in dogs from a visceral leishmaniosis endemic area

In this study, humoral (circulating anti-Leishmania antibodies) and cellular (Montenegro's skin test) immune responses of dogs from an endemic area of visceral leishmaniosis were tested using Leishmania chagasi, Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis antigens. The antibody response was tested in three animal groups, selected according to their anti-L. chagasi antibody activity, as measured by ELISA in the serum: 19 negative (O.D. below 0.30), seven with undefined (O.D. between 0.40 and 0.70) and 12 positive (O.D. above 1.0) ELISA result. In the group of animals with positive ELISA, the antibody activity against L. chagasi antigens (mean O.D.=1.31) was significantly higher (ANOVA, P<0.01) than against L. amazonensis (mean O.D.=0.88) or L. braziliensis (mean O.D.=0.87) antigens. The Montenegro's skin test results obtained with L. chagasi and L. braziliensis antigens showed a fair agreement (kappa=0.309). The same was observed when antigens from L. braziliensis and L. amazonensis were compared (kappa=0.374), whereas a moderate agreement between the results from tests performed with L. chagasi and L. amazonensis antigens was observed (kappa=0.530). The induration areas obtained with L. braziliensis antigen were smaller than those obtained with the other antigens. The data presented herein indicate that the use of antigens from different Leishmania species may interfere with the results of the immunological tests performed in dogs in an endemic area of visceral leishmaniosis.     

Chest wall reconstruction with latissimus dorsi and an autologous thoracolumbar fascia graft in a dog

A new technique for autogenous chest wall reconstruction using a latissimus dorsi muscle flap and a free graft of thoracolumbar fascia was utilised in a two‐year‐old Dobermann after resection of a high‐grade osteosarcoma from the left thoracic wall. En bloc excision of the chest wall mass, including six ribs, was performed. The resulting chest wall defect was too large to be reconstructed with only a pedicled muscle flap and was reconstructed with a latissimus dorsi muscle flap cranially and a free graft of thoracolumbar fascia caudally. The graft was harvested easily, and there was no donor site morbidity or postoperative complications. A free graft of thoracolumbar fascia can be considered as an option to supplement autogenous reconstruction of the chest wall.     

Genetic association between different criteria to define sexual precocious heifers with growth,carcass, reproductive and feed efficiency indicator traits in Nellore cattle using genomic information

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for different precocious calving criteria and their relationship with reproductive, growth, carcass and feed efficiency in Nellore cattle using the single‐step genomic BLUP. The reproductive traits used were probability of precocious calving (PPC) at 24 (PPC24), 26 (PPC26), 28 (PPC28) and 30 (PPC30) months of age, stayability (STAY) and scrotal circumference at 455 days of age (SC455). Growth traits such as weights at 240 (W240) and 455 (W455) days of age and adult weight (AW) were used. Rib eye area (REA), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), rump fat thickness (RFT) and residual feed intake (RFI) were included in the analyses. The estimation of genetic parameters was performed using a bi‐trait threshold model including genomic information in a single‐step approach. Heritability for PPC traits was moderate to high (0.29–0.56) with highest estimates for PPC24 (0.56) and PPC26 (0.50). Genetic correlation estimates between PPC and STAY weakened as a function of calving age. Correlation with SC455, growth and carcass traits were low (0.25–0.31; ?0.22 to 0.04; ?0.09 to 0.18, respectively), the same occurs with RFI (?0.09 to 0.08), this suggests independence between female sexual precocity and feed efficiency traits. The results of this study encourage the use of PPC traits in Nellore cattle because the selection for such trait would not have a negative impact on reproductive, growth, carcass and feed efficiency indicator traits. Stayability for sexual precocious heifers (PPC24 and PPC26) must be redefined to avoid incorrectly phenotype assignment.