Co-occurrence of periodontal lesions and dental wear in incisor and masticatory teeth in two sheep flocks in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis and tooth wear are multifactorial diseases with distinct etiopathogenesis that affect the health, feed efficiency and welfare of sheep. METHODS: This study evaluated the co-occurrence of tooth wear and periodontal lesions in 129 ewes from two Brazilian flocks, clinically classified the lesions and presence of dental calculus, and identified potential pathogens in the dental biofilm of 63 ewes by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of the 129 ewes included in the study, 75 presented periodontal lesions, while all animals presented tooth wear and dental calculus. Of the animals with periodontal lesions, 16.2% had lesions in incisor teeth and 52.7% in masticatory teeth. Regarding excessive tooth wear, 38.6% had severe wear on the incisor teeth and 89.1% on the masticatory teeth. Ewes older than 36 months had a higher frequency of periodontal lesions in incisor teeth (p < 0.001) and a greater amount of dental calculus (p < 0.001), but there was no association between tooth wear and animal age. Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium necrophorum predominated in periodontal lesions. LIMITATION: This study is limited by the small sample size and lack of diagnostic imaging to assess periodontal disease. CONCLUSION: The co-occurrence of periodontal lesions and excessive dental wear involving both the incisor and masticatory teeth suggests that although the two diseases have different aetiologies, they likely have common risk factors.

Soil type determines the magnitude of soil fertility changes by forest-to-pasture conversion in Western Amazonia.

The deforestation of tropical forests raises environmental concerns worldwide. Removing the pristine forest impacts the soil, consequently affecting the environmental services it provides. Within this context, the main goal of this study was to determine how the conversion of the tropical rainforest to pasture affects soil fertility across an extended range of soil heterogeneity, including different soil types. We sampled 13 sites, among forests, recent pastures (≤7-year-old), and old pastures (≥10-year-old), on Acrisols, Ferralsols, Plinthosols, and Luvisols, across a ± 800 km geographical range in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Soils were classified taxonomically, and their superficial layer's chemical and physical properties (0-10 cm) were analyzed. Furthermore, we tested the sensibility of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria to detect changes in these soil properties based on their ecological habitat. An inter-regional gradient of soil fertility was observed, and the sampling sites were clustered mostly by soil type and associated land use than by spatial distance. The Sum of bases, Ca + Mg, base saturation, Al saturation, and pH were consistently affected by land use, increasing after conversion to pasture, at different degrees and with a more pronounced effect on oxidic soils. The Sum of bases was the only property that increased significantly among the study sites (Radj = 0.860, p < 0.001), being able to detect the effect of anthropic land use on a larger coverage of soil types. Finally, the Actinobacteria:Proteobacteria ratio was also sensitive to the impact of forest-to-pasture conversion, with a higher ratio observed in pasture systems, and it was positively correlated with soil pH (rho = 0.469, p < 0.001). Our results consistently show that the forest-to-pasture conversion leads to strong alterations in the soil environment, with varying intensities depending on soil type.

Type C botulism in dogs from rural properties located in Goiânia, Brazil

Botulism is a disease usually fatal, caused by the ingestion of neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. In dogs, intoxication is caused by the ingestion of botulinum toxin type C, and animals often recover spontaneously. The present study describes the occurrence of type C botulism in two dogs domiciled on neighboring rural properties in the municipality of Goiânia, state of Goiás, Brazil, probably associated with ingestion of decomposing bovine carcass. Upon clinical evaluation, the dogs were alert in the lateral decubitus position with ascending flaccid paralysis, absence of eyelid reflexes, and reduced muscle tone. Due to their worsening clinical symptoms, the animals died within 12 h and 3 days after supportive treatment. Botulinum toxin type C was identified, in the serum and feces of both dogs, by seroneutralization in mice with homologous monovalent antitoxin. The results of the high-throughput gene sequencing showed that the abundance of C. botulinum in the fecal microbiota of one of the affected dogs was low (0.53%). In this way, the present study highlights the need of sanitary practices related to the appropriate collection and disposal of bovine carcasses in rural areas since they represent a risk factor for the occurrence of botulism in dogs domiciled on rural properties.

Land-Use System and Forest Floor Explain Prokaryotic Metacommunity Structuring and Spatial Turnover in Amazonian Forest-to-Pasture Conversion Areas.

Advancing extensive cattle production is a major threat to biodiversity conservation in Amazonia. The dominant vegetation cover has a drastic impact on soil microbial communities, affecting their composition, structure, and ecological services. Herein, we explored relationships between land-use, soil types, and forest floor compartments on the prokaryotic metacommunity structuring in Western Amazonia. Soil samples were taken in sites under high anthropogenic pressure and distributed along a ±800 km gradient. Additionally, the litter and a root layer, characteristic of the forest environment, were sampled. DNA was extracted, and metacommunity composition and structure were assessed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Prokaryotic metacommunities in the bulk soil were strongly affected by pH, base and aluminum saturation, Ca + Mg concentration, the sum of bases, and silt percentage, due to land-use management and natural differences among the soil types. Higher alpha, beta, and gamma diversities were observed in sites with higher soil pH and fertility, such as pasture soils or fertile soils of the state of Acre. When taking litter and root layer communities into account, the beta diversity was significantly higher in the forest floor than in pasture bulk soil for all study regions. Our results show that the forest floor's prokaryotic metacommunity performs a spatial turnover hitherto underestimated to the regional scale of diversity.

A cross-sectional study to estimate the frequency of anti-bovine viral diarrhea virus-1 antibodies in domestic pigs of Mossoró region in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil / Estudo transversal para estimar a frequência de anticorpos anti-vírus da diarreia viral bovina-1 em suínos domésticos da região de Mossoró, no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the occurrence of antibodies for BVDV-1 in swine herds located in the region of Mossoró city of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. A sample size of 412 animals was estimated assuming unknown prevalence (set at 50%). Virus neutralization assay was used to the detect the presence of antibodies for BVDV-1 and the results found were analysed using multivariable logistic regression model. The obtained prevalence was 4% at animal level and 45% at the animal and herd level. The titers were highly variable between animals and within farms. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an association between being housed outside and exposure to BVDV-1 (OR=0.24, 95% CI:0.06, 0.96, P=0.04). Highly correlated data and low prevalence of antibodies at the animal level resulted in insufficient power to detect significant differences with other selected risk factors. In conclusion, the prevalence is within the range reported for other countries.

RESUMO: Este estudo investigou a ocorrência de anticorpos contra o BVDV-1 em rebanhos suínos localizados na região da cidade de Mossoró do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Um tamanho de amostra de 412 animais foi estimado assumindo uma prevalência desconhecida (fixada em 50%). O teste de virusneutralização foi utilizado para detectar a presença de anticorpos ao BVDV-1 e os resultados obtidos foram analisados usando o modelo de regressão logística multivariada. A prevalência obtida foi de 4% em nível animal e de 45% dos rebanhos. Os títulos foram muito variáveis entre os animais e dentro de fazendas. A análise de regressão logística multivariada apontou associação entre animais criados soltos e a exposição ao BVDV-1 (OR=0,24; 95% IC: 0,06; 0,96; P=0.04). A alta correlação entre os dados junto com a baixa prevalência de anticorpos a nível animal pode ter sido insuficiente para que as diferenças reais fossem detectadas. Em conclusão, a prevalência está dentro do intervalo referido em outros países.

Febre catarral maligna em bovinos do Mato Grosso do Sul e de São Paulo / Malignant catarrhal fever in cattle from the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo, Brazil

São descritos a epidemiologia, os sinais clínicos, os achados de necropsia e a histopatologia de seis casos de febre catarral maligna (FCM) em bovinos de 5 fazendas localizadas nos estados de Mato Grosso do Sul e São Paulo. A doença ocorreu em bovinos de ambos os sexos e com idades variando de 4 meses a 11 anos. Os índices de morbidade variaram de 0,25 por cento a 6.6 por cento e a letalidade foi de 100 por cento. A evolução clínica foi aguda (2-3 dias) em seis casos e crônica em um (3 meses). O diagnóstico presuntivo de FCM nos casos descritos neste relato foi baseado nos sinais clínicos, achados de necropsia e confirmados pela histopatologia. Os principais sinais clínicos nos casos agudos foram febre, corrimento mucopurulento pelas fossas nasais, opacidade da córnea, sialorréia, úlceras em várias superfícies mucosas e distúrbios nervosos. O bovino do caso crônico mostrou opacidade da córnea e distúrbios neurológicos. Os principais achados de necropsia incluíam hiperemia e lesões diftéricas em várias superfícies epiteliais e a histopatologia consistiu de vasculite, focos de infiltrado mononuclear multifocal em vários órgãos e necrose de superfícies epiteliais.

Botulismo: riscos decorrentes do processamento inadequado dos alimentos: o charque como enfoque / Botulism: current risks of the inadeqate processing of the foods: the \"charque\" as focus

Apresenta um diagnóstico sobre a gravidade do botulismo no país. Há um notório contraste entre a elevada incidência de esporos de C. botulinum detectados nas pastagens e alhures, em órgäos e tecidos de bovinos mortos nestas localidades e o relativo pequeno número de casos de botulismo relatados em humanos no país. Devido ainda a natureza incipiente e artesanal da fabricaçäo do charque, se faz necessária pesquisa sobre a eventual possibilidade do desenvolvimento da bactéria por causa da atual implantaçäo da embalagem a vácuo na comercializaçäo do produto.