Bacterial Meningitis in Buffaloes in Brazil.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes surrounding the central nervous system and is poorly described in water buffaloes. Five cases of meningitis in adults buffaloes of the Murrah and Mediterranean breads were studied. All buffaloes came from a farm located in the municipality of Castanhal, Pará, Brazil at different times. Clinical examination showed neurological clinical signs, such as apathy, reluctance to move, spastic paresis especially of the pelvic limbs, hypermetria, difficulty getting up, pressing of the head into obstacles and convulsion. In three buffaloes, a large part of the horn had been lost, exposing the corresponding frontal sinus, through which a bloody to purulent exudate flowed. The hemogram revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis. At necropsy, adherence of the dura mater to the periosteum and a purulent to fibrinopurulent exudate were observed in the sulci of the cerebral cortex and on the pia mater over almost the entire surface of the brain and throughout the spinal cord. The cerebrospinal fluid had a cloudy aspect with fibrin filaments. The histopathology of buffaloes confirmed the diagnosis of bacterial fibrinopurulent meningitis. Buffaloes are susceptible to bacterial inflammation of the meninges due to fractures of the base of the horn and mostly present with neurological manifestations.

Extracutaneous Melanotic Melanoma with Nervous System Involvement in a Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Melanomas are tumors arising from externally uncontrolled melanocytes that produce varying amounts of melanin. In this study, we report a case of melanoma with neurological impairment without evidence of cutaneous neoplastic lesions in an adult buffalo in the state of Pará, Brazil. Clinically, the buffalo exhibited apathy, decreased mandibular tone, and occasionally an open mouth with motor incoordination, and eventually succumbed to the condition. Necropsy revealed multifocal tumor masses in the brain, pituitary gland, trigeminal ganglion, and spinal cord. The neoplastic cells showed strong positive signals for vimentin, Melan-A, PNL-2, and SOX10. The diagnosis was made via necropsy, histopathology, and positive immunostaining for Melan-A and PNL-2, which are specific markers for melanocyte identification.

Polioencephalomalacia in Buffaloes in the Amazon Biome.

The epidemiological and clinical pathological aspects of polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in five buffaloes in the Amazon biome are described. Epidemiological data were obtained during the clinical visit in which buffalos were submitted to an examination of the nervous system. The diagnosis of PEM was based on epidemiological, clinical-pathological, and histopathological findings, similar to findings in other ruminants. In the clinical examination, all buffaloes had a body score between 2.5 and 3 (scale from 1 to 5), with decreased alertness, postural changes, marked hypermetria when stimulated to move, total or partial blindness demonstrated by colliding with the corral structures, head pressing and circumduction of the hindquarters when supported on the thoracic limbs, opisthotonos, muscle tremors, convulsions, paddling movements, sialorrhea, decrease in palpebral and pupillary reflexes, and eyeball rotation placing the pupillary slit in a vertical position. At necropsy, mild lesions characterized by edema and flattening of the cerebral convolutions were observed. A histopathological examination showed laminar necrosis of the cerebral cortex. The cause of PEM in the studied buffaloes was not established, which indicates the need for further studies to elucidate this disease in the species, particularly in the Amazon region.

Leucoderma in Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the Amazon Biome.

Leucoderma is a condition that affects the skin and hair of animals, causing depigmentation and acromotrichia. In buffaloes, this condition results in significant economic losses for the production chain due to its impact on the leather trade. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and clinicopathological aspects of leucoderma in buffaloes in the Amazon biome and describe the prophylactic treatment to control the disease. The study included 40 buffaloes, 16 males and 24 females, aged between 1 and 10 years, and were of the Murrah, Jafarabadi, Mediterranean, and Murrah × Mediterranean crossbreed breeds. The animals were raised without mineral supplementation. The clinical signs observed in the animals included acromotrichia and depigmentation, with varying degrees and distribution of skin lesions. Histological examination of the epidermis showed interrupted melanin production, mild dermal fibrosis, mild perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, and pigmentary incontinence. None of the animals had the genotype for albinism. After 120 days of mineral supplementation based on the use of copper sulfate, the clinical signs of leucoderma regressed. There was no predisposition by breed, sex, or age for the occurrence of the disease. The regression of skin lesions after proper mineral supplementation suggests that copper deficiency may be considered an important factor for the occurrence of leucoderma in buffaloes in the Amazon biome.

Proximal and Distal Vagal Indigestion in Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the Amazon Biome.

This study aims to describe the clinical signs and ultrasonographic and necropsy findings of the first cases of proximal (Buffalo 1) and distal (Buffalo 2) vagal indigestion in two Bubalus bubalis in the Brazilian Amazon biome. The clinical histories of the buffaloes were characterized by progressive weight loss, recurrent tympany, abdominal distention (apple and pear shapes), anorexia, and scant feces. Buffalo 1 was submitted to orogastric intubation, and due to the recurrent tympany, an exploratory laparotomy. Buffalo 2 was submitted to ultrasound examination, and a segment of the pylorus was shown to be adhered to the eventration by ultrasonography. Both animals produced positive results for the atropine test. In the necropsy evaluation, Buffalo 1 was shown to have dilation of the esophagus, rumen, and reticulum; the ruminal contents of animal 1 were olive green and foamy with bubbles within the ingesta. On the other hand, Buffalo 2 was shown to have distention of the forestomach and abomasum; the complex rumen-reticulum and omasum contents were semi-liquid and had a yellowish color. In animal 2, in the eventration region, there was adherence to the pyloric region. The diagnosis of vagal indigestion was based on the history, clinical signs, and ultrasound and necropsy findings, in addition to the results of the atropine test.

Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Myeloencephalitis in the Brazilian Amazon.

An investigative and epidemiological study was carried out for equine herpesvirus type 1 (HVE-1) in 10 outbreaks of neurological disease from different farms in the state of Pará, Brazil. 25 horses were studied: six male and 19 females, aged between one and 13 years. A necropsy of six horses was performed, and the others recovered either with or without treatment (T1-vitamin B1 + dexamentasone; T2-vitamin B1 + flunixim meglumine). Animals that received treatment recovered after eight days. The main clinical signs observed were motor incoordination, progressive paresis, thoracic and/or pelvic limbs abducted after induction of clinical examination, knuckling of the hind fetlocks, sagging and swaying of the hindquarters while standing or walking and paresis. All animals were positive: 88% (22/25) in nested PCR and 72% (18/25) in serum neutralization (including three negatives in serology). Focal brownish areas compatible with hemorrhage were found in the white and gray matter of the spinal cord of two animals. On histological analysis, there were perivasculitis and neutrophilic vasculitis in the gray matter of the spinal cord and brain. Based on the evidence, this work proves the circulation of HVE-1 in the Amazon biome, mainly in the state of Pará, Brazil.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of the Copaifera reticulata oleoresin and its main diterpene acids.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The oleoresin of Brazilian Copaifera reticulata is a traditional remedy used for the treatment of skin and urinary tract infections, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, ulcer and tumours; thus, playing an important role in the primary health care of the indigenous population. AIM: As most previous pharmacological tests used the crude oleoresin and only a few studies so far dealt with enriched fractions or pure chemically defined compounds, the aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of the Copaifera reticulata oleoresin and to assign traditional uses to specific secondary metabolites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The oleoresin, as well as its neutral and acidic fractions were tested for their activity against six cancer cell lines, two clinically relevant bacterial strains, and two dermatophytes. Both fractions were analysed by GC-MS and UHPLC-ELSD, respectively. The antibacterial acidic phase was further fractionated by preparative chromatography to purify and characterize the compounds responsible for the observed pharmacological effect. RESULTS: Whereas no cytotoxic activity was detected, the crude oleoresin and its acidic fraction showed antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecium (IC50 values 4.2 and 4.8 µg/mL, respectively) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, IC50 values 5.3 and 7.2 µg/mL, respectively). Purification of the acidic fraction of the C. reticulata oleoresin yielded two dicarboxylic diterpene acids and the four main diterpene acids, comprising three different diterpene scaffolds. Interestingly, the activity was not restricted to a particular diterpene-type but rather depended on the compounds' lipophilicity, with the most active constituent showing IC50 values of 1.6 (E. faecium) and 2.5 µg/mL (MRSA), respectively. Furthermore, ent-polyalthic acid, the major diterpenoid, was significantly active against dermatophytes with IC50 values of 6.8 µg/mL (Trichophyton rubrum) and 4.3 µg/mL against (T. mentagrophytes). CONCLUSION: The present study proved the antimicrobial effects of the C. reticulata oleoresin and its diterpenoid constituents, confirming its wide use in folk medicine for the treatment of skin and urinary tract infections. The inhibitory activity of copaiba diterpenoids against dermatophytic fungi as well as the gram-positive bacteria E. faecium and MRSA is being reported for the first time, providing potential lead structures for the treatment of these clinically relevant bacterial strains.

Close relationship of Plasmodium sequences detected from South American pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) to Plasmodium spp. in North American white-tailed deer.

We report, for the first time, the presence of ungulate malaria parasites in South America. We conducted PCR-based surveys of blood samples of multiple deer species and water buffalo from Brazil and detected Plasmodium sequences from pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) samples. Phylogenic analysis revealed that the obtained sequences are closely related to the Plasmodium odocoilei clade 2 sequence from North American white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Nucleotide differences suggest that malaria parasites in South American pampas deer and North American P. odocoilei clade 2 branched more recently than the Great American Interchange.

Serological survey of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in cattle (Bos indicus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in ten provinces of Brazil.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii among 500 cattle (Bos indicus) and 500 buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) technique. Blood samples from were collected from water buffalo and cattle in 10 municipalities in the northern region of Brazil. The frequency of cattle and water buffaloes seropositive for Neospora caninum in Pará state, Brazil, was 55% and 44%, respectively, and the frequency of cattle and water buffaloes seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii was 52% and 39%, respectively. Seropositivity for both N. caninum and T. gondii was detected in 10.6% of the cattle samples and 14.8% of the buffalo samples. The frequency of cattle positive for N. caninum and T. gondii was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of buffalo in two and three provinces, respectively. Buffaloes had a lower seroprevalence for N. caninum or T. gondii in all of the provinces studied. These results suggest that both species, when exposed to the same risks for N. caninum and T. gondii infection, have a high serological prevalence. Cattle showed a higher probability of being seropositive when exposed to the same risks for N. caninum and T. gondii. Our study, which included an extensive number of blood samples, provides important epidemiological information pertinent to buffalo production in tropical countries that can be used as a basis for disease-management practices in Latin America.

Detecção e tratamento de otite por Rhabditis blumi em bovinos da região Norte do Brasil / Detection and treatment of otitis by Rhabditis blumi in cattle of northern Brazil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever a ocorrência de otite parasitária causada por Rhabditis blumi em bovinos leiteiros de raça Gir de uma fazenda da região Norte do Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de 42 bovinos por swab e lavado dos condutos auditivos externos (CAE). Ao exame clínico, 9,5% (4/42) dos bovinos apresentavam sintomatologia nervosa, como leve a moderada rotação da cabeça, apatia, flacidez dos lábios e ptose palpebral unilateral, alopecia das regiões da cabeça e cupim, causados pelo desconforto e prurido da região auricular, alteração na mastigação e acúmulo de alimento na cavidade oral. Adicionalmente, 71,4% (30/42) dos abovinos mostraram a presença do parasita no cerúmen dos condutos auditivos. À análise microscópica do material do saco conjuntival foi observado presença do parasita em 90% (9/10) dos bovinos avaliados. Os 30 bovinos positivos para Rhabditis spp. foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em três grupos de 10 animais: (G1) Bovinos controle, (G2) Bovinos tratados com ivermectina 1% pour on e (G3) Bovinos submetidos a lavado dos condutos auditivos externos (CAE). Cada tratamento foi repetido três vezes com intervalo de sete dias. No G1 os 10 bovinos mantiveram-se infectados durante todo o estudo. No G2 20% dos bovinos foram negativos após os dois primeiros tratamentos, porém, mostraram-se positivos na terceira avaliação. No G3 todos os bovinos mantiveram-se positivos, sendo observada apenas diminuição da carga parasitária. A identificação por análise molecular por meio de fragmentos amplificados da expansão D2/D3 do 28S rDNA confirmou a presença apenas da espécie Rhabditis blumi nos animais. Baseado nas observações clínicas, morfológicas e moleculares pode-se relatar o primeiro caso de R. blumi em bovinos da raça Gir no Estado do Pará, através da compra de animais oriundos de áreas onde a otite parasitária tem sido diagnosticada, principalmente de Minas Gerais, para formar animais mestiços (Gir x Holandês). Desta forma ressalta-se a importância do exame clínico prévio dos animais a serem transferidos para outras propriedades ou regiões. Este relato também parece ser o primeiro sobre a presença de R. blumi no saco conjuntival de bovinos. O tratamento com ivermectina no G2 não surtiu melhora clínica dos bovinos.(AU)

This study aimed to describe the occurrence of parasitic otitis caused by Rhabditis blumi in dairy cattle of the Gir race from a farm in northern Brazil. Forty-two samples were collected from cattle by swab washed from the external auditory canal (EAC). On clinical examination, in 71.4% (30/42) of the cattle the parasite was found in the cerumen of the ear canal, along with alopecia of head and hump caused by discomfort and itching of the auricular region. At microscopic analysis of material from the conjunctival sac the parasite was found in 90% (9/10) of the evaluated cattle. In addition, 9.5% (4/42) of the cattle showed nervous symptoms, such as mild to moderate rotation of the head, apathy, flaccid lips and unilateral ptosis, change in chewing and food accumulation in the oral cavity. Thirty cattle positive for Rhabditis spp. were randomly divided into three groups of 10 animals each: (G1) Cattle Control, (G2) Cattle treated with ivermectin 1% pour-on, and (G3) Cattle undergoing wash of the external auditory canal (EAC). Each treatment was repeated three times with intervals of seven days. In G1, 10 cattle remained infected throughout the study. In G2, 20% of the cattle were negative after the first two treatments, however were positive at the third evaluation. In G3, all cattle remained positive, but with decrease in parasite load. Identification by molecular analysis of amplified fragments through the expansion D2/D3 28S rDNA confirmed the presence of only Rhabditis blumi. Based on clinical, morphologic and molecular examination, it appears to be the first report of the occurrence of R. blumi infection in Gir cattle in the State of Pará, due to the purchase of cattle from areas where parasitic otitis has been diagnosed, as from Minas Gerais, to produce crossbred animals (Gir x Holstein). This emphasizes the importance of prior clinical examination by the veterinary service in order to transfer only healthy animals to other properties or regions. This appears also to be the first report on R. blumi infection of the conjunctival sac in cattle. Treatment with ivermectin in G2 did not produce clinical improvement.(AU)

Paratuberculosis in buffaloes in Northeast Brazil.

Several farms in the Northeast of Brazil were investigated for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in order to identify the occurrence of paratuberculosis in buffaloes. Samples were obtained from 17 farms, two slaughter houses, and a quarantine area in the Northeast. About 15,000 buffaloes of the Murrah, Mediterranean, and Jafarabadi breed as well as their crossbreeds were evaluated for meat, dairy, and mixed farms with semi-intensive or extensive breeding practices. For diagnostic purposes, postmortem and histopathological examination, including Ziehl-Neelsen test of fecal smears and scraped intestinal mucosa were performed. PCR was applied for fecal samples, mesenteric lymph nodes, and intestines. Six Johne's disease-positive farms, which together with those previously identified, indicate that the disease is spread through the Brazilian Northeast, similar to what occurs in cattle herds in other regions of the country. The increase in prevalence of paratuberculosis is a consequence of introduction of animals from other regions without adequate veterinary assistance and due to the little official attention paid to this initially silent and chronic disease.

The detection of Vaccinia virus confirms the high circulation of Orthopoxvirus in buffaloes living in geographical isolation, Marajó Island, Brazilian Amazon.

In Brazil, serologic evidence of Orthopoxvirus (OPV) circulation showed positivity around 20% in cattle, humans, monkeys and rodents. Although OPV seropositivity has been described in buffalo herds in southeastern Brazil, no Vaccinia virus (VACV) (member of genus OPV) outbreaks in buffalo herds have been described in this country. This study aimed to investigate the detection of anti-OPV antibodies and to study the OPV genome in Brazilian buffalo herds. Our results demonstrated a high OPV seropositivity in buffalo herds on Marajó Island and molecular data confirmed the circulation of VACV. The geographical isolation conditionmight be a sine qua non condition to explain our results.

Equine infectious anemia on Marajo Island at the mouth of the Amazon river / Anemia infecciosa equina na Ilha de Marajó na foz do Rio Amazonas

Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a transmissible and incurable disease caused by a lentivirus, the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). There are no reports in the literature of this infection in Equidae on Marajo Island. The objective of this study was to diagnose the disease in the municipalities of Cachoeira do Arari, Salvaterra, Santa Cruz do Arari and Soure, on Marajó Island, state of Pará, Brazil. For serological survey samples were collected from 294 horses, over 5-month-old, males and females of puruca and marajoara breeds and from some half-breeds, which were tested by immunodiffusion in Agar gel (AGID). A prevalence of 46.26% (136/294) positive cases was found. EIA is considered endemic in the municipalities studied, due to the ecology of the region with a high numbered population of bloodsucking insect vectors and the absence of official measures for the control of the disease...

A anemia infecciosa equina (EIA) é uma importante enfermidade, transmissível e incurável causada por um lentivírus, equine infectious anemia vírus (EIAV), e não há relatos na literatura desta infecção em equinos da Ilha de Marajó. O objetivo deste estudo foi diagnosticar a anemia infecciosa equina nos municípios de Cachoeira do Arari, Salvaterra, Santa Cruz do Arari e Soure, Ilha de Marajó, no bioma amazônico do estado do Pará, Brasil. Para a pesquisa sorológica foram coletadas 294 amostras de animais da espécie equina, acima de cinco meses de idade, de ambos os sexos, das raças puruca, marajoara e de mestiços, testadas pela imunodifusão em gel de Agar (IDGA). Foi verificada uma prevalência de 46.26% (136/294) de casos positivos para EIA. A doença é considerada endêmica nos municípios estudados, tanto pelos aspectos ecológicos da região que propiciam a manutenção da população de insetos hematófagos vetores, quanto pela ausência de medidas oficiais de controle da doença...

Molecular detection of bovine immunodeficiency virus in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from the Amazon region, Brazil.

Bovine immunodeficiency is a chronic progressive disease caused by a lentivirus that affects cattle and buffaloes. Although the infection has been described in cattle in some countries, including in Brazil, there are only two reports of infection in buffaloes: one in Pakistan and one in Cambodia. The aim of the present study was to survey the occurrence of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) in water buffaloes from the Amazon region, Pará state, Brazil. BIV proviral DNA was surveyed in 607 whole blood samples of water buffaloes from 10 farms located in the state of Pará using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (PCR-SN) to amplify the pol region of the viral genome. Of the 607 samples tested, 27 (4.4 %) were positive for BIV proviral DNA. The amplified fragments were confirmed by sequence analysis after cloning and nucleotide sequencing. The sequence obtained had 99 % similarity to the reference strain (R-29). The present study provides important epidemiological data because BIV was detected for the first time in water buffaloes in Brazil. Further, the results suggest the possibility of the virus being a risk factor for herd health because it may be a potential causal agent of chronic disease and, also may be associated to other infectious diseases.

Molecular characterization of Anaplasma marginale in ticks naturally feeding on buffaloes.

Anaplasma marginale is the most prevalent pathogen transmitted by ticks in cattle in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. However, the tick species involved in the transmission of A. marginale in buffaloes in Brazil have not been identified. The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of A. marginale in ticks parasitizing water buffaloes. A total of 200 samples of Rhipicephalus microplus, Dermacentor nitens, Amblyomma cajennense, and Amblyomma maculatum were collected and tested by conventional and quantitative PCR for the presence of the msp1a and msp5 genes. In the present study, 35 ticks (17.5%) were positive for A. marginale DNA by qPCR analysis. The positive ticks belonged to four different species: R. microplus (22.2%), A. cajennense (13.8%), A. maculatum (16.0%), and D. nitens (10.0%). Individuals of the three developmental stages (larvae, nymphs, and adults) of R. microplus and A. cajennense were found to be positive for A. marginale, only nymphs and adults of A. maculatum were found to be positive, and finally, only adults of D. nitens were positive for A. marginale. Our results suggest that R. microplus, A. cajennense, A. maculatum, and D. nitens ticks may be involved in the transmission of A. marginale in buffaloes. However, while A. marginale PCR positive ticks were recorded, this does not indicate vector competence; only that the ticks may contain a blood meal from an infected host. Additionally, the results show that the strains of A. marginale from buffaloes and cattle are phylogenetically related.

Comparison of the tuberculin test, histopathological examination, and bacterial culture for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Brazil.

Tuberculosis is a disease with a great zoonotic potential. It is considered a major obstacle to cattle production and is responsible for severe losses in several production systems. A comparative cervical test (CCT) was performed in 1140 buffaloes from different mesoregions of the state of Pará, Brazil, with the aim of comparing the sensitivity and specificity of CCT with histopathological examination and bacterial culture. Of the animals tested using CCT, 4.65% (53/1140) were positive, 2.98% (34/1140) were inconclusive, and 92.36% (1053/1140) were negative. Among the 168 sacrificed animals, 33 were positive, 18 were inconclusive, and 117 were negative by CCT, and samples from the sacrificed animals were collected for histopathological examination and bacterial culture. A qualitative evaluation of the tuberculin test was performed by comparing the test results with the histopathological and bacteriological results. The latter two tests yielded a prevalence of 4.16%, a sensitivity of 71.43%, and a specificity of 82.61%. Based on these results, we concluded that CCT yielded satisfactory results and can be applied in diagnostic studies in buffaloes. The prevalence rate obtained using three distinct diagnostic methods suggests that Mycobacterium bovis was present in a few animals in the population evaluated.

Bovine herpesvirus 6 in buffaloes (Bubalus bulalis) from the Amazon region, Brazil.

This study presents the first description of Bovine herpesvirus 6 (BoHV-6) that was isolated from buffaloes of Amazon region in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the BoHV-6 Brazilian strains clustered with the sequence of BoHV-6 from elsewhere available at the GenBank. It was observed in some buffaloes with lymphoproliferative disease in one herd, thus the animals were also tested for Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), which has been associated to lymphoma in bovines. All animals were negative to BLV. These results indicate that BoHV-6 is present in buffaloes in Brazil, but the importance and impact of this infection and its association with any illness is still undefined.

Lead poisoning in cattle and chickens in the state of Pará, Brazil / Intoxicação por chumbo em bovinos e galinhas no estado do Pará

The present study describes the occurrence of lead poisoning in cattle and chickens in Pará, Brazil. In a lot composed of 80 calves from a dairy herd, 10 animals became sick and nine died, but one animal recovered after being removed from the paddock. Upon inspection of this paddock, the presence of truck batteries used to store energy captured by solar panels was found. The clinical signs observed in calves included difficult breathing, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, corneal opacity, pushing of the head against objects and recumbency. The chickens had decreased oviposition and produced eggs with thin or malformed shells. The necropsy findings of the cattle, as well as the histopathological changes observed, were of little significance except for one animal that showed mild astrocytosis histopathology in the cerebral cortex. In one of the chickens, renal histopathology showed mild multifocal acute tubular necrosis. The mean lead concentrations in the livers and kidneys of the cattle were 93.91mg/kg and 209.76mg/kg, respectively, and the mean concentration detected in chicken livers was 105.02mg/kg. It was concluded that the source of lead poisoning in these calves and chickens were the truck battery plates, which were within reach of the animals.(AU)

O presente estudo descreve a ocorrência de intoxicação por chumbo em bovinos e galinhas no Pará, Brasil. Em um lote composto de 80 bezerros de um rebanho leiteiro, 10 animais ficaram doentes e nove morreram, e um animal se recuperou após ser removido do piquete. Após a inspeção deste piquete, foi observada a presença de baterias de caminhões usados para armazenar a energia captada por painéis solares. Os sinais clínicos observados nos bezerros incluíam dificuldade respiratória, corrimento nasal, salivação excessiva, opacidade da córnea, pressão da cabeça contra objetos e decúbito. As galinhas tinham diminuída oviposição e os ovos produzidos eram com cascas malformadas ou tinham a casca mais fina. Os achados de necropsia e as alterações histopatológicas observadas nos bovinos eram de pouco significado, com exceção de um animal que mostrou leve astrocitose no córtex cerebral. Em uma das galinhas, na histopatologia renal observou-se leve necrose tubular aguda multifocal. As concentrações de chumbo médios nos fígados e rins dos bovinos eram 93,91mg/kg e 209,76mg/kg, respectivamente, e a concentração média no fígado de galinhas foi 105,02mg/ kg. Concluiu-se que a fonte de contaminação por chumbo nesses bezerros e galinhas eram placas de bateria de caminhão, aos quais os animais tiveram acesso na pastagem.(AU)

Surto de intoxicação por sal em ovinos no estado do Pará / Salt poisoning outbreak in sheep in the state of Pará

O presente trabalho relata um surto de intoxicação por sal em ovinos no Brasil, em uma propriedade no estado do Pará. De um total de 545 ovinos, oito animais adoeceram (1,46%) e quatro destes morreram (50%). A avaliação das instalações e do manejo indicaram como fatores predisponentes a ingestão excessiva de mistura mineral e a restrição hídrica. Os principais sinais clínicos foram decúbito, diminuição ou ausência da sensibilidade cutânea, ausência dos reflexos de ameaça, palpebral e auricular, midríase, nistagmo, opistótono, espasticidade de membros, sonolência e estupor. Havia ainda, timpanismo, diarreia, taquipneia, taquicardia, desidratação e poliúria. A evolução do quadro clínico nos animais que morreram variou de duas horas e meia a 48 horas. As médias das concentrações séricas de sódio e de potássio de 31 ovinos do mesmo lote afetado pela intoxicação, em amostras colhidas durante o surto, revelaram hipernatremia (190mEq/l) e hipercalemia (8,2mEq/l). À necropsia, observou-se em um animal, achatamento das circunvoluções cerebrais. Microscopicamente, neste animal, evidenciou-se vacuolização moderada do neurópilo, particularmente nas lâminas intermediárias do córtex cerebral, com aumento dos espaços perineural e perivascular. Nessas áreas foram observados ainda, acentuada tumefação e edema dos astrócitos e necrose neuronal aguda. A dosagem de sódio no encéfalo de um ovino, revelou-se elevada com valor de 3.513ppm. O diagnóstico foi realizado com base na epidemiologia, nos sinais clínicos, nas lesões macro e microscópicas e nas dosagens de sódio no soro e no encéfalo dos ovinos.(AU)

This paper reports an outbreak of salt poisoning in sheep on a farm in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. Eight (1.46%) animals were affected from a total of 545 sheep and four (50%) of them died. The evaluation of the facilities and the handling indicated as predisposing factors excessive intake of the mineral supplement and water restriction. The main clinical signs were recumbency, decrease or absence of cutaneous sensibility, absence of auricular, palpebral and menace reflex, mydriasis, nystagmus, opisthotonus, spasticity of limbs, somnolence and stupor. Beside these signs bloat, diarrhea, tachypnea, tachycardia, dehydration and polyuria were observed. The course of the disease in animals that died ranged from two hours and a half to 48 hours. The medium of serum concentration of sodium and potassium of 31 sheep from the same group affected on samples collected during the outbreak revealed hypernatremia (190mEq/l) and hyperkalemia (8.2mEq/l). At necropsy, there was flattening of the cerebral gyri in one sheep; in this animal was found vacuolization of the neuropil in the cerebral cortex with moderate intensity in the intermediary and mild on the superficial layers, with increased perineural and perivascular spaces. In these areas there were markedly swollen nucleus of astrocytes with acute neuronal necrosis. The dosage of sodium in the brain of a sheep revealed a high value of 3.513ppm. The diagnosis was made based on the epidemiology, clinical signs, macro and microscopic lesions and in the dosages of sodium in serum and brain.(AU)

Degenerative joint disease in cattle and buffaloes in the Amazon region: a retrospective study / Doença articular degenerativa em bovinos e búfalos na Amazônia: estudo retrospectivo

A retrospective study of the epidemiological and clinic-pathological aspects of cattle and buffaloes with degenerative joint disease (DJD) was conducted in the state of Pará, Brazil. From 1999 to 2014, eleven cattle and 24 buffaloes were evaluated. All the treated animals with suspected DJD underwent a clinical examination of the musculoskeletal system. In seven cattle and eight buffaloes with clinical signs of the disease postmortem examination was performed. The common clinical signs observed in both species were chronic lameness, stiff gait, postural changes, audible crackles in the affected limb, prolonged recumbency, difficulty in getting up and progressive weight loss. The lesions observed at necropsy were: irregular articular surfaces, erosion of the articular cartilage and the underlying bone tissue, and proliferation of the periarticular bone tissue with formation of osteophytes. The most affected joints in cattle and buffaloes wereof the hind limb. In buffaloes, the main predisposing factor to the onset of DJD was phosphorus deficiency. In cattle, defects of the anatomical conformation of the hind limbs, chronic trauma due to the activities performed, such as semen collection, and advanced age possibly contributed to the emergence of the disease...

Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo sobre os aspectos epidemiológicos e clínico-patológicos em bovinos e búfalos com doença articular degenerativa (DAD) no estado do Pará, Brasil. Durante os anos de 1999 a 2014 foram avaliados 11 bovinos e 24 bubalinos. Todos os animais atendidos com suspeita clínica de DAD foram submetidos a exame clínico do sistema locomotor. Foram necropsiados sete bovinos e oito bubalinos com sinais clínicos da enfermidade. Os sinais clínicos comuns observados em ambas as espécies foram claudicação crônica, andar rígido, alterações posturais, crepitações audíveis no membro acometido, decúbito prolongado, dificuldade para levantar, e emagrecimento progressivo. As lesões articulares evidenciadas na necropsia consistiram em irregularidade da superfície articular, presença de erosão na cartilagem articular e no tecido ósseo subjacente, proliferação de tecido ósseo periarticular com formação de osteófitos. Tanto nos bovinos como nos bubalinos as articulações mais acometidas foram as dos membros posteriores. Nos bubalinos, possivelmente o principal fator predisponente ao surgimento de DAD foi à deficiência de fósforo, ao contrário dos bovinos, nos quais os defeitos de conformação anatômica dos membros posteriores, traumas crônicos em virtude da atividade exercida, como a coleta de sêmen e a idade avançada, foram o que, possivelmente, contribuíram para surgimento da enfermidade...