Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of testosterone cypionate (deposteron(®)).

The indiscriminate use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has motivated researchers to investigate the mutagenic action of these substances. The present study, using the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test, evaluates the genotoxic potential of testosterone cypionate (deposteron). Male Swiss mice received intramuscular injections of deposteron at three doses. The animals were sacrificed 24, 48, or 72h after treatment and bone marrow was removed immediately, followed by scoring to count the micronuclei in 2000 polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE). Two hundred erythrocytes/animal were analyzed to determine the PCE-NCE (normochromatic erythrocyte) relationship and to determine the cytotoxic effects. The animals treated with deposteron at the highest dose presented greater numbers of micronuclei. The highest dose caused a decrease in the PCE/NCE relationship, indicating a cytotoxic effect. We conclude that deposteron is genotoxic and cytotoxic in mice.

Interspecific transmission of small ruminant lentiviruses from goats to sheep.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the transmission of caprine lentivirus to sheep using different experimental groups. The first one (colostrum group) was formed by nine lambs receiving colostrum from goats positive for small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). The second group (milk group) was established by nine lambs that received milk of these goats. Third was a control group, consisting of lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of negative mothers. Another experimental group (contact group) was formed by eight adult sheep, confined with two naturally infected goats. The groups were monitored by immunoblotting (IB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). All lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of infected goats and six sheep of the contact group had positive results in the nPCR, although seroconversion was detected only in three of the exposed animals, with no clinical lentiviruses manifestation, in 720 days of observation. There was a close relationship between viral sequences obtained from infected animals and the prototype CAEV-Cork. Thus, it was concluded that SRLV can be transmitted from goats to sheep, however, the degree of adaptation of the virus strain to the host species probably interferes with the infection persistence and seroconversion rate.

Doenças podais em ovinos no estado da Bahia / Foot diseases in sheep in the state of Bahia, Brazil

As doenças dos cascos são as principais causas de claudicação em pequenos ruminantes, causando grande impacto no bem-estar dos animais e provocando sérias perdas econômicas com depreciação e abate de animais afetados. O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar a ocorrência e caracterizar as doenças podais encontradas em oito rebanhos de ovinos com histórico de doenças podais pertencentes a oito municípios do estado da Bahia. Em cada visita, foram realizadas inspeções do rebanho, aplicação de um questionário de pesquisa e caracterização das doenças. No total, 600 ovinos foram inspecionados, realizando exame do casco em animais doentes para caracterizar as lesões, registrar a quantidade de doenças presentes por animal, o casco afetado e a quantidade de membros afetados. A ocorrência de doença de casco foi de 23,3% (140/600) variando de 12,8 a 55,5% por fazenda. Duzentos e vinte casos envolvendo nove doenças foram registrados. A pododermatite infecciosa foi a doença mais comum com 51,3% dos casos (113/220), 70% correspondente aos estágios avançados e terminais. A dermatite interdigital representou 27,7% dos casos; crescimento excessivo dos cascos 8,6%; doença da linha branca 3,2%; sola dupla 3,2%; granuloma do dígito 2,3%; hiperplasia interdigital 2,3%; úlcera de sola 0,9% e 0,4% de abcesso de pé. Os principais fatores predisponentes envolvidos na ocorrência das doenças foram a alta precipitação pluviométrica, condições de umidade do solo, currais e pastagens, manejo sanitário deficiente e falta de medidas preventivas (pedilúvio, quarentena, isolamento e vacinação), falhas de tratamento e baixa infra-estrutura da maioria das propriedades.(AU)

Foot diseases are the main causes of lameness in small ruminants, causing great impact on animal welfare and important economic losses due to depreciation and culling of affected animals. The aim of the present study was to characterize foot diseases found in eight flocks of sheep with a history of the ailment, that belonged to eight municipalities in the state of Bahia. At each visit, inspection of the flock, survey questionnaire, and characterization of diseases were performed. Altogether 600 sheep were inspected through foot examination in sick animals to characterize the injuries and record the diseases present per animal, as affected hooves and the number of affected limbs. The occurrence of foot disease was 23.3% (140/600) ranging from 12.8 to 55.5% per farm. Two hundred and twenty cases involving nine diseases were recorded. Foot rot was the most common disease with 51.3% of cases (113/220), 70% corresponding to advanced and terminal stages. Interdigital dermatitis represented 27.7% of the cases, excessive hoof growth 8.6%, white line disease 3.2%, double soles 3.2%, toe granuloma 2.3%, interdigital hyperplasia 2.3%, sole ulcers 0.9% and 0.4% foot abscess. The main predisposing factors involved in the genesis of diseases were the high rainfall precipitation, soil moisture conditions, pens and pastures, poor sanitary management and lack of preventive measures (footbath, quarantine, isolation and vaccination), treatment failures and low infrastructure of most properties.(AU)

Interspecific transmission of small ruminant lentiviruses from goats to sheep

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the transmission of caprine lentivirus to sheep using different experimental groups. The first one (colostrum group) was formed by nine lambs receiving colostrum from goats positive for small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). The second group (milk group) was established by nine lambs that received milk of these goats. Third was a control group, consisting of lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of negative mothers. Another experimental group (contact group) was formed by eight adult sheep, confined with two naturally infected goats. The groups were monitored by immunoblotting (IB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). All lambs that suckled colostrum and milk of infected goats and six sheep of the contact group had positive results in the nPCR, although seroconversion was detected only in three of the exposed animals, with no clinical lentiviruses manifestation, in 720 days of observation. There was a close relationship between viral sequences obtained from infected animals and the prototype CAEV-Cork. Thus, it was concluded that SRLV can be transmitted from goats to sheep, however, the degree of adaptation of the virus strain to the host species probably interferes with the infection persistence and seroconversion rate.

Evolução clínica e avaliação de parâmetros leucocitários e de proteínas de fase aguda na pododermatite infecciosa ovina / Clinical evolution and evaluation of leukocyte parameters and acute phase protein of ovine footrot

Neste artigo realizou-se a avaliação de ovinos mestiços Santa Inês com pododermatite infecciosa, verificando as alterações no leucograma e proteínas de fase aguda. No primeiro experimento, 70 fêmeas foram separadas em três grupos de acordo com o seu escore podal: Grupo controle (G1) com escore 0; Dermatite interdigital (G2) com escore 1 ou 2 e Pododermatite necrosante (G3) com escore 3, 4 ou 5. Durante dois meses observou-se a evolução clínica e efeitos no leucograma em cinco momentos: M1 (dia 0), M2 (dia 15), M3 (dia 30), M4 (dia 45) e M5 (dia 60). A intensidade do resultado do leucograma foi de baixa magnitude, observando-se alterações significativas (p<0,05) como uma leve leucocitose (G3, M4), atribuída a neutrofilia e um discreto aumento no número total de monócitos (G3, M2 e M3) apesar do extenso dano e necrose tecidual existentes na última fase da doença. No segundo experimento, utilizaram-se 105 animais de sete propriedades com objetivo de isolar o agente etiológico e avaliar os efeitos da doença sobre proteína plasmática total e proteínas de fase aguda. Os animais também foram separados em três grupos: controle, dermatite interdigital e pododermatite necrosante. Em todas as propriedades foi realizado o isolamento de Dichelobacter nodosus. Não houve correlação significativa (p<0,05) das diferentes fases da doença sobre as proteínas estudadas, porém a haptoglobina dos grupos com animais doentes apresentou médias superiores ao grupo controle. De acordo com a metodologia utilizada e resultados obtidos, conclui-se que as proteínas de fase aguda estudadas não foram eficientes na caracterização das fases da pododermatite infecciosa ovina e que a resposta leucocitária foi branda, tornando difícil sua utilização para este fim.

In this paper, Santa Inês crossbred sheep with footrot were evaluated, checking the changes on leukogram and the acute phase proteins. In the first experiment, 70 females were divided into three groups according to their podal scores: a control group (G1) with score 0, scald group (G2) with score 1 or 2 and a footrot group (G3) with score 3, 4 or 5. During two months, the clinical course and its effect on leukogram were observed at five moments: M1 (day 0), M2 (day 15), M3 (day 30), M4 (day 45) and M5 (day 60). The intensity of the white blood cell count was low magnitude, observing significant changes (p <0.05) as a mild leukocytosis (G3, M4), attributed to neutrophilia and a slight increase in the total number of monocytes (G3, M2 and M3) despite the extensive damage and tissue necrosis existed during the final stage of the disease. In the second experiment, 105 animals from seven farms were used with the objective of isolating the causative agent and to evaluate the effect of disease on total plasma protein and acute phase proteins. The animals were also divided into three groups: control, scald and footrot. In all farms, the isolation of Dichelobacter nodosus was regarded. For the different stages of the disease on the proteins studied there was no significant correlation (p<0.05) but the haptoglobin in scald and footrot groups showed higher average than the control group. Based on these results, we conclude that the acute phase proteins studied were not efficient in the characterization of the phases of the disease and the leukocyte response was mild, making it difficult to use for this purpose.