Hematology and Clinical Biochemistry Profiles in Antillean Manatee Trichechus manatus manatus from Different Types of Captivity and Free Living in Northeast Brazil.

The Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus can be found along the northern and northeastern coasts of Brazil. Previous studies on the clinical biochemistry of these animals were conducted in North America and the Caribbean, whereas little is known regarding these parameters in South American manatee populations. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to examine the hematology and clinical biochemistry of Antillean manatees of different sexes and from different environments in northeast Brazil. Whole-blood and serum samples were obtained from healthy individuals. The hemogram analysis was performed and the levels of blood biochemical components were determined using an automated platform. The only statistically significant difference observed in the hemogram was a higher number of heterophils in manatees that were screened during the dry season of the year. Clinical biochemistry profiling revealed that free-ranging manatees presented lower levels of creatinine. Albumin was detected in higher concentrations in animals from rehabilitation captivity, and amylase presented higher levels in manatees that were kept in acclimation captivity. Free-ranging manatees showed higher serum aspartate aminotransferase levels than manatees in rehabilitation captivity. These results can aid veterinarians and conservation professionals in the development of better captive management procedures and in the clinical approach to manatees.

Effect of different doses of dexamethasone on labor in Santa Inês ewes and its influence on the onset of labor and the expulsion of fetal membranes / Efeito de diferentes doses de dexametasona para a indução do parto em ovelhas Santa Inês e sua influência sobre as características do parto

The induction of labor aims to concentrate births to follow up better the parturient and the first care to the neonates. However, even if the labor induction technique with dexamethasone administration has been successfully described since the late 1970s, few studies report the technique of birth development and neonatal vitality in Santa Inês sheep. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of dexamethasone use in two doses (8 and 16mg) in labor induction of Santa Inês ewes at 145 days of gestation and to evaluate its effects on the birth characteristics. In this study, 58 ewes were used, raised in an extensive system in the experimental farms of UFBA, with confirmation pregnancy after fixed-time artificial insemination or controlled breeding. These female ewes were separated into three groups according to the dose of dexamethasone administered (G1 = 0mg, G2 = 8mg, and G3 = 16mg). From these births, 79 lambs were born. This study analyzed the period from induction of labor to birth, fetal presentation at birth, the weight of the placenta, and the period for placenta expulsion. The data were analyzed by the Statistical Analysis System (SAS v.9.1.3®, 2002), and the significance level considered for all analyzes was 5%. Births of induced groups occurred on average at 48.4±22.17 hours after induction, while the females with non-induced labor gave birth 131.96±41.9 hours on average after the placebo application (P<0.05), confirming the efficiency of both doses for induction of labor. The period from induction to birth did not differ (P>0.05) between the doses used. There were no differences in delivery about the fetal static relation, time to placental attachment, and weight. With this study, it can be concluded that the induction at 145 days of gestation with eight or 16mg of dexamethasone is a useful technique and does not alter the labor in Santa Inês sheep.(AU)

A indução do parto visa concentrar os nascimentos para melhor acompanhamento das parturientes e primeiros cuidados aos neonatos. Contudo, mesmo que a técnica de indução de parto, com administração de dexametasona, tenha sido descrita com sucesso desde o final da década de 70, existem estudos escassos que relatam a influência desta técnica sobre o parto em ovinos da raça Santa Inês. Dessa forma, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a eficácia da dexametasona em duas doses (8 e 16mg), para a indução do parto de ovelhas Santa Inês com 145 dias de gestação e avaliar os seus efeitos nas características de desencadeamento e finalização do parto. Para este estudo foram utilizadas 58 ovelhas, criadas em sistema extensivo nas fazendas experimentais da UFBA, com prenhez confirmada após inseminação artificial em tempo fixo ou monta controlada. Essas fêmeas foram separadas em três grupos, de acordo com a dose de dexametasona administrada (G1 = 0mg, G2 = 8mg e G3 = 16mg). Destes partos nasceram 79 cordeiros. Foram avaliados o período em horas da indução do parto aos nascimentos, a apresentação fetal ao nascimento, assim como o peso da placenta e o período para o delivramento. Os dados foram analisados pelo pacote estatístico Statistical Analysis System (SAS v.9.0®, 2002) sendo considerado para todas as análises o nível de significância de 5%. Os nascimentos dos grupos induzidos ocorreram em média com 48,4±22,1 horas após a indução, enquanto que as fêmeas com parto não induzido pariram em média 131,96±41,9 horas após aplicação do placebo (P<0,05), confirmando a eficácia de ambas as doses para indução do parto. O período da indução até o parto não diferiu (P>0,05) entre as doses utilizadas. Não ocorreram diferenças no parto em relação à estática fetal, tempo para o delivramento e peso da placenta nos diferentes grupos. Com este estudo, conclui-se que a indução de parto em ovelhas aos 145 dias de gestação com oito e 16 mg de dexametasona é uma técnica eficaz e que não altera o trabalho de parto nas ovelhas da raça Santa Inês.(AU)

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with equineleptospirosis in the metropolitan region of Salvador and Recôncavo Baiano region, Bahia state (NE Brazil).

Equine leptospirosis, although usually asymptomatic, has been associated with recurrent uveitis, abortion, and other systemic signs, constituting a major economic loss in the equine agribusiness sector. The occurrence of anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinins were investigated in 1200 serum samples of horses from 27 municipalities of the Recôncavo Baiano region, Bahia state (NE Brazil), besides the risk factors related to animals and their cattle farms. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed using 13 serogroups of Leptospira spp. as antigens. From 1200 analyzed equines, 97 (8%) were considered as positive, which obtained titer equal to or higher than 200. In 22 (78.6%) from the 28 properties, at least one animal was detected as seropositive. The most prevalent serogroup in animals, raised in stables, was the Australis (serovar Bratislava) 67%; in mounted police animals was the Sejroe (serovar Wolffi and Hardjobovis) 50%; and equestrian animals was the Australis (serovar Bratislava) 25% and Icterohaemorrhagiae (serovar Copenhageni) 25%. Equine leptospirosis is present in most cattle farms of the region studied. The risk factors of major importance regarded the semi-extensive livestock farming, the land topography of the cattle farm, the contact with animals in neighboring properties, and cohabitation with goats.

Effects of ammoniated pearl millet silage on intake, feeding behavior, and blood metabolites in feedlot lambs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of urea as an additive in the ensiling of pearl millet on the intake, feeding behavior, and metabolic parameters of feedlot-finished lambs. Thirty-two uncastrated, mixed-breed male lambs were used in the experiment. Diets were composed of pearl millet silage enriched with 0, 2, 4, or 6% urea plus a concentrate containing ground corn, soybean meal, and a mineral mixture. The treatments did not affect feed intake (P > 0.05) but influenced (P < 0.05) eating time (in min/day, in min/kg of dry matter (DM), and in min/kg of neutral detergent fiber (NDF)) and chewing time in min/kg of DM. Eating efficiency (in g DM/h and in g NDFap/h) responded linearly (P < 0.05) to the increasing urea levels in the silages. By contrast, there was no effect (P > 0.05) of diets on the blood protein profile (total proteins and albumin), although the serum urea levels responded quadratically (P < 0.05). Increasing urea levels in the silage did not change the blood energy profile (cholesterol and triglycerides) or blood enzyme activity (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT); P > 0.05). In conclusion, the treatment of pearl millet silage with urea does not influence the DM intake or metabolic parameters of lambs, but leads to increased eating time and decreased eating efficiency.

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.