Sorologia para o vírus da língua azul em bovinos de corte, ovinos e veados campeiros no Pantanal sul-mato-grossense / Bluetongue virus serosurvey in beef cattle, sheep, and pampas deer from Brazilian Pantanal

This investigation was carried out in beef cattle (n=219), sheep (n=55), and pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) (n=49) from Nhecolândia, sub region of Brazilian Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. It was aimed to assess the seropositivity of these species to bluetongue virus (BTV) by agar gel immunodiffusion test. Seropositivity rates were 42.0% for cattle and 10.9% for sheep. The pampas deer showed to be all seronegative. In cattle, seropositivity to BTV significantly increased with age (P<0.001). These data, the favorable environmental conditions to development of BTV vectors, and the bovine reproductive disorders reported by farmers may indicate that BTV infection occurrs in herds of Brazilian Pantanal, and probably induces to economical losses.

Quantitative trait loci associated with fatness in a broiler-layer cross.

An F(2) population established by crossing a broiler male line and a layer line was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting abdominal fat weight, abdominal fat percentage and serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Two genetic models, the line-cross and the half-sib, were applied in the QTL analysis, both using the regression interval method. Three significant QTL and four suggestive QTL were mapped in the line-cross analysis and four significant and four suggestive QTL were mapped in the half-sib analysis. A total of five QTL were mapped for abdominal fat weight, six for abdominal fat percentage and four for triglyceride concentration in both analyses. New QTL associated with serum triglyceride concentration were mapped on GGA5, GGA23 and GG27. QTL mapped between markers LEI0029 and ADL0371 on GGA3 for abdominal fat percentage and abdominal fat weight and a suggestive QTL on GGA12 for abdominal fat percentage showed significant parent-of-origin effects. Some QTL mapped here match QTL regions mapped in previous studies using different populations, suggesting good candidate regions for fine-mapping and candidate gene searches.

Genetic relatedness among Trypanosoma evansi stocks by random amplification of polymorphic DNA and evaluation of a synapomorphic DNA fragment for species-specific diagnosis.

In this study we employed randomly amplified polymorphic DNA patterns to assess the genetic relatedness among 14 Brazilian Trypanosoma evansi stocks from domestic and wild hosts, which are known to differ in biological characteristics. These akinetoplastic stocks were compared with one another, to three Old World (Ethiopia, China and Philippines) dyskinetoplastic stocks of T. evansi, and also with Trypanosoma equiperdum, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis showed limited heterogeneity in T. evansi stocks from different hosts and geographical regions of the world, or in other species of the subgenus Trypanozoon. However, minor variations generated random amplification of polymorphic DNA analysis disclosed a pattern consisting of a unique synapomorphic DNA fragment (termed Te664) for the T. evansi cluster that was not detected in any other trypanosome species investigated. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated that the Te664 fragment is a repetitive sequence, dispersed in intermediate and minichromosomes of T. evansi. Based on this sequence, we developed a conventional PCR assay for the detection of T. evansi using crude preparations of blood collected either on glass slides or on filter paper as template DNA. Our results showed that this assay may be useful as a diagnostic tool for field-epidemiological studies of T. evansi.

Trypanosoma evansi control and horse mortality in the Brazilian Pantanal

The impact of three treatment strategies for Trypanosoma evansi control on horse mortality in the Brazilian Pantanal based on four size categories of cattle ranches is explored. The region's 49,000 horses are indispensable to traditional extensive cattle ranching and T. evansi kills horses. About 13 percent of these horses would be lost, annually, due to T. evansi if no control were undertaken. One preventive and two curative treatment strategies are financially justifiable in the Pantanal. The best available technology for the treatment of T. evansi from a horse mortality perspective is the preventive strategy, which spares 6,462 horses, annually. The year-round cure spares 5,783 horses, and the seasonal cure saves 5,204 horses on a regional basis relative to no control strategy. Regardless of the strategy adopted, 39 percent of the costs or benefits fall to the largest ranches, while 18 percent fall to the smallest ranches

Serum electrolyte and total protein alterations in Pantaneiro horse during long distance exercise

Blood samples were taken from eight Pantaneiro horses during a 76Km endurance ride. The horses were divided into two groups: 1- four horses kept on native pasture, without working and with no supplementation during one month before the ride, 2- four horses kept on native pasture with supplementation and submitted to work during one month before the ride. Serum concentration of total protein, albumin, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphorus were measured. Samples were taken before the ride (preride), during the mid point (midride), at the end of the ride (postride) and after a 30-minute recovery period (rest). Sweat samples were collected from five horses at the end of the ride to measure sodium, potassium, and chloride. In the groups, there was a significant decrease in calcium and potassium, and an increase in sodium and phosphorus during the ride. Heart rate values after 30 minutes of rest indicated a good recovery response

Coagulopatia devido à infecçäo aguda por Trypanosoma evansi em um cäo / Coagulopathy due to Trypanosoma evansi acute infection in a dog

O Trypanosoma evansi é um tripanosoma da secçäo salivaria pertencente ao subgênero Trypanozoon. Ele causa a "surra" no velho mundo e o "mal de caderas" na área subtropical da Argentina e no Pantanal, Brasil. Há similaridades entre as lesöes e patogenia causadas por T. brucei, T. evansi e T. equiperdum, inclusive no consumo de plaquetas na coagulaçäo intravascular disseminada (DIC). O presente estudo mostra os valores de APTT, PT e contagem de plaquetas evidenciando a DIC no primeiro relato de infecçäo natural pelo T. evansi em cäo no Pantanal, Brasil