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A feasible and non-invasive luteal function assessment which enables timely intervention to improve progesterone (P4) support at early pregnancy is not well-established. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation among morphological and functional assessment methods of corpus luteum (CL) on Day 5 (D5) following timed-artificial insemination effect on luteal blood perfusion (LBP), CL diameter and serum P4 concentration. Beef heifers (n = 89) were synchronized and inseminated (D0). On D5, CL was scanned by colour-Doppler ultrasonography using an LBP score (0 = absent; 3 = high blood perfusion); CL diameter was obtained and blood was collected. Diameter of CL had a positive linear effect on P4 concentration (p

Foot-and-mouth disease represents an important barrier to the international commerce of animal products, potentially associated with significant economic losses. The systematic vaccination of bovines and buffaloes was fundamental for the eradication of this disease; however, the use of vaccines can lead to reactions at the application site. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of the vaccination protocol to the production of dairy cows and to observe the occurrence of vaccinal reactions in the animals. At one property located in the municipality of Salvador do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, 270 dairy cows were vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease in May 2019. The vaccine was administered via a subcutaneous application using disposable syringes and needles for each animal. Inspection of the animals was performed before and 20 days after the vaccination to verify the presence of reactions to the vaccine. The study’s sample was set by convenience, including 203 lactating animals with or without bovine somatotropin (BST) administration during the data collection period, which was limited to 20 days before and 20 days after the vaccination. Milk production data was obtained through SmartDairy® HerdMetrix™ software, tabulated in electronic spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel® and processed using the program SAS®, considering a 5% significance level for mixed model statistical analysis. A total of 160 animals (78.82%) presented local lesions at the application site, even when the recommended vaccination practices were followed, suggesting that the high reaction power was provoked by the vaccinal components. In regards to milk production, a statistically significant (p

EnglishThe objective of this paper is to report the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological aspects of a case of rumenitis due to the ingestion of soybean oil in a bovine. The ox had access to barrels that stored soybean oil and ingested an indeterminate amount of the product. After consuming it, the animal presented hiporexia; liquid, brownish, and greasy feces; severe dehydration (12%); apathy; sternal recumbency; and death with a clinical evolution of 4 days. At necropsy, the rumen was filled with voluminous food and moderate amount of white-gray liquid with a greasy appearance. Upon microscopic examination, hydropic degeneration of the epithelium and areas of mucosal necrosis were observed in the rumen and reticulum. From these findings, we concluded that the bovine developed a state of acidosis and acute rumenitis due to excessive intake of lipids. Key words: diseases of ruminants; nutrition; ruminal acidosis; soybean oil portuguesO objetivo deste trabalho e relatar os aspectos epidemiologicos, clinicos e patologicos de um caso de ruminite por ingestao de oleo de soja em um bovino. O animal teve acesso acidental a toneis que armazenavam oleo de soja e ingeriu uma quantidade indeterminada do produto. Apos o consumo, o bovino apresentou hiporexia, fezes liquidas, acastanhadas e de aspecto gorduroso, desidratacao severa (12%), apatia, decubito esternal e morte, com evolucao clinica de quatro dias. Na necropsia o rumen estava repleto por alimentos volumosos e moderada quantidade de liquido branco-acinzentado e de aspecto gorduroso. Microscopicamente, no rumen e reticulo havia degeneracao hidropica do epitelio e areas de necrose da mucosa. A partir destes achados, concluimos que o bovino desenvolveu um quadro de acidose e ruminite aguda por consumo excessivo de lipideos. Palavras-chave: doencas de ruminantes; nutricao; acidose ruminal; oleo de soja

Alternative diagnostic tools and interesting epidemiological assumptions were associated with an outbreak of Johne's disease. In a buffalo herd infected with paratuberculosis, seven clinically affected animals and 21 animals with anti-Mycobacterium avium ELISA reactions were identified. Total herd included 203 buffaloes. Most lesions were comparable to those described in buffaloes and cattle affected by Johne's disease. Water buffalo behaviors such as communal nursing and allosuckling may be additional risk factors for this disease. Detection of positive Ziehl-Neelsen staining and anti-M. avium immunolabeling in rectal biopsies from one buffalo with paratuberculosis are highlighted as auxiliary diagnostic tools for Johne's disease in live animals.

Beef heifers that conceive early during their first breeding season calve earlier, wean heavier calves, and tend to continue doing so throughout the rest of their reproductive lives. Otherwise, under extensively managed systems in Southern Brazil, only a variable proportion of 2-year-old beef heifers reach puberty before the start of the breeding season. The aim of this study was to evaluate a protocol to induce puberty in peripubertal beef heifers using injectable progesterone (P4) and oestradiol cypionate (EC) to improve pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in fixed-time AI (FTAI) programs. A total of 311 Angus heifers, 24 ± 3 months of age, 3.1 ± 0.3 body condition score (1 = emaciated; 5 = obese), and 328 ± 41 kg of body weight (BW), were examined before FTAI protocol (Day −24) by transrectal ultrasonography to determine reproductive tract score (RTS; 1 = prepubertal; 5 = pubertal). Prepubertal heifers (RTS 1; 12.8%, 40/311) were excluded from the study. Heifers with RTS = 2 (n = 271) were assigned to 2 groups: P4 (RTS 2 or 3, n = 100) and cyclic (RTS 4 and 5, n = 171). Peripubertal heifers were treated on Day −24 with 150 mg of injectable P4 IM (Sincrogest® injectable, Ourofino Animal Health, Cravinhos, Brazil) and on Day −12 received 1 mg of EC IM (Sincro CP®, Ourofino Animal Health). Cyclic heifers received no hormonal treatment before FTAI protocol. On Day 0, heifers in the P4 group were evaluated again to determine RTS, body condition score, and BW. Induction of puberty was defined by the presence of a follicle >8.5 mm (RTS = 4) or a corpus luteum (RTS = 5). All heifers received an FTAI protocol consisting of 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate IM (Sincrodiol®, Ourofino Animal Health) and an intravaginal progesterone implant (1 g; Sincrogest®, Ourofino Animal Health). On Day 8, heifers had implants removed and were injected with 1 mg of EC and 500 µg of sodium cloprostenol IM (Sincrocio®, Ourofino Animal Health). After 48 h, all heifers received an FTAI. Thirty days after AI, the diagnosis of gestation was performed by ultrasonography. Statistics included chi-square and linear regression with coefficients analysed as independent variables, considering a significant P-value of 0.05. On Day 0, percentages of RTS 5, 4, and 3 in the P4 heifers were 37, 27, and 36%, respectively, resulting in 64% of puberty induction. The P/AI was similar (P = 0.14) in P4-treated and cyclic heifers (59 v. 50.3%, respectively). The regression analysis presented a linear and positive effect of BW on P/AI (P

Background: The pregnancy rate in fixed-time insemination (FTAI) programs in beef cattle is affected by several factors, including the size of ovulatory follicle (OF). Induced ovulation of small OF (≤11 mm) reduces the chance of pregnancy after FTAI when compared to ovulation of larger follicles (≥12 mm). Hormonal treatments to enhance the follicle growth have been widely used in comercial beef cattle systems, aiming to improve the development of a dominant follicle. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of treatment with eCG or FSH at the time of progesterone implant removal on the diameter of OF, final follicle growth and pregnancy rate in beef cows.Materials, Methods & Results: Three hundred and seven suckled beef cows with body condition score 2.80 ± 0.24 (1 to 5 scale) and 45 to 70 days postpartum were synchronized to FTAI. On day 0, intravaginal implants containing 1 g of progesterone, were inserted and administered 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB), i.m. On day 7, intravaginal implants were removed and 150 µg of D-cloprostenol were administered i.m. At this time, three groups were assigned according to the treatments: eCG (400 UI eCG, i.m.), FSH (25 UI FSH, i.m.) and Control (1 mL Saline, i.m.). On day 8, all cows were injected with 1mg EB i.m. and were inseminated 52 to 56 h after the implant removal. Transrectal ultrasonography exams of ovaries were performed at the time of implant removal and before FTAI to determine the diameter of the largest follicle and the follicular daily growth. Pregnancy exams were conducted by transretal ultrasonography 30 days after FTAI. Statistical analyzes were performed by Chi-square test for pregnancy rate. Ovarian diameters and follicular daily growth were analyzed by ANOVA with means compared by Tukey test considering significant P value < 0.05. The diameter of the largest follicle measured on day 7 (10.07, 9.64 and 10.36 mm) and on day 9 (12.73, 11.53 and 12.57 mm), to eCG, FSH and Control respectively, did not differ within treatments (P > 0.05). Final follicular growth was greater (P < 0.05) on eCG group (1.33 mm/day) compared to Control (1.1 mm/day) and FSH (0.94 mm/day). The pregnancy rates of FTAI were 56.6% (60/106), 52% (51/98) and 50.4% (52/103) to eCG, FSH and Control, respectively, with no statistic difference (P > 0.05).Discussion: Suckled beef cows managed under grazing systems frequently have reduced follicular development and longer postpartum anestrous. In this situation, protocols to FTAI combining progesterone, estradiol and eCG or FSH at the time of progesterone device removal are encouraged to improve final follicular growth, ovulation and to increase conception rate. The hypotesis of similar follicular growth and pregnancy rate in suckled beef cows treated with eCG or FSH was not confirmed in the field trial. eCG treated cows had greater follicular growth, follicular diameter at day 9 and higher pregnancy rate compared to FSH and Control cows. FSH produced similar follicular growth rates to Controls and both were significantly smaller than observed in cows receiving eCG. Also FSH supplementation failed to enhance pregnancy rate compared to Control cows. The longer half-life of eCG and its greater LH-like effects could explain the difference in final follicular stimulation when compared to FSH in FTAI protocols. Thus, administration of a single dose of FSH at progesterone device removal failed to be an alternative to eCG in FTAI synchronization programs.

Background: Lead poisoning is one of the major toxic diseases of cattle. Contamination occurs with ingestion of products containing lead, especially batteries, or through contaminated pastures and water sources. Clinical signs are neurological and necropsy findings and histopathological changes may vary depending on the clinical presentation. Although the diseaseis widely reported in the literature, there are rare descriptions of intoxication in cattle raised in military training areas. This work describes the epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological features of an outbreak of lead poisoning in cattle kept in a military artillery training camp.Case: Fifteen cattle out of a herd of sixty 4-6 year-old, mixed breed castrated males were affected. The cattle were held in a 100 ha of native pasture used for military artillery training. After three weeks in this area, the affected cattle had predominantly neurological clinical manifestations, characterized by somnolence, ambulatory incoordination, muscle tremors,bruxism, aimless walking, blindness and decubitus. The clinical course was 24-72 h. Eight of the 15 affected cattle died and two were necropsied. Necropsy finds were non-specific and the histological lesions of both necropsied cattle were restricted to the brain and kidneys. Laminar neuronal necrosis, neuropil vacuolization (spongiosis) and vascular endothelial hypertrophy were observed in the telencephalic cortex. Additionally there was astrocytic degeneration and neuronophagia.There was degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular epithelium and in one bovine there were intranuclear inclusion bodies in the renal epithelial cells; these inclusion bodies were highlighted using both modified Ziehl-Neelsen and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stains. The levels of lead found in the kidneys and livers of the two necropsied cattle were respectively51.7 μg/g and 41.00 μg/g for one of the necropsied cattle; and 431μg/g and 39.0 μg/g for the other. After the diagnosis of intoxication, cattle were removed from the area and the remaining seven affected bovines recovered.Discussion: The diagnosis of lead poisoning in cattle in the current study was based on epidemiological, clinical, anatomopathological data and in the determination of lead levels in the kidney and liver. The association of these data provides an invaluable aid in confirming a presumptive diagnosis of lead poisoning. Pasturing on military artillery training fieldsis a rarely described form source of lead for the intoxication in bovine species. In such cases, cattle may ingest the lead directly from the soil or through contaminated pastures containing lead dust on the surface of the leaves. Histologically, laminar neuronal necrosis in the telencephalic cortex, associated with tubular necrosis and intranuclear inclusion bodies intubular epithelial cells, are characteristic features of the intoxication. These changes are usually associated with ischemic anoxia in the nervous system and alteration in nuclear function which interferes in gene expression in the kidney. Lead poisoning in cattle should be differentiated from other neurological conditions, especially rabies, hepatic encephalopathyand several causes of polioencephalomalacia. Areas of military artillery training are unfit for the development of agricultural exploitation activities, as they represent potential sources of contamination for livestock.Keywords: diseases of cattle, toxicology, heavy metal, polioencephalomalacia.

Scrapie é uma encefalopatia espongiforme transmissível (EET) que causa lesões cerebrais degenerativas em ovinos e caprinos. Caracteriza-se pelo acúmulo, no tecido encefálico e linforreticular, da forma anormal da proteína priônica (PrP Sc) que provoca a morte maciça de neurônios e células gliais, além de vacuolização intensa no tecido afetado. Esse trabalho descreve a utilização da técnica de imuno-histoquímica (IHQ) para proteína priônica em tecido linforreticular de biópsias de terceira pálpebra e mucosa retal, como método diagnóstico de scrapie em ovinos. Realizaram-se exames de IHQ para scrapie em amostras de uma propriedade de origem de um ovino com diagnóstico dessa enfermidade. Utilizaram-se anticorpos monoclonais antipríon para diagnóstico ante mortem pela técnica de IHQ. Nas 318 amostras de biópsias analisadas, encontrou-se 19 resultados positivos para PrP Sc nos folículos de terceira pálpebra e não foi obtida marcação no tecido linfático de mucosa retal em nenhuma das amostras coletadas. Realizaram-se 18 necropsias dos animais positivos anteriormente por biópsia e 21 necropsias de ovinos parentes dos positivos de scrapie. Confirmou-se o resultado de scrapie pela IHQ após a necropsia dos animais positivos nas biópsias de terceira pálpebra. Nesses animais, os órgãos com maior número de cortes positivos foram a terceira pálpebra (18/18) e a tonsila (8/18). Nos ovinos com parentesco com os positivos, nenhum resultado de scrapie ocorreu. A utilização de tecidos linfoides no diagnóstico de scrapie por IHQ através de biópsias mostrou-se um método viável e eficaz para o diagnóstico pré-clínico. Scrapie, a form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSEs) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects sheep and goats. The disease is characterized by an accumulation of the abnormal prionic protein (PrP Sc) in the encephalic and lymphoreticular tissues. This paper describes the use of anti-prionic protein immunohistochemical (IHC) procedure as a method of pre-clinical diagnosis of scrapie.The test was carried out in biopsied lymphoreticular tissues from third eyelid and rectal mucosa. Anti-prion protein monoclonal antibodies F89/160.1.5 and F99/97.6.1 were used. Scrapie diagnosis in lymphoreticular tissues through IHC was achieved when the samples had a minimum of three lymphoid follicles in well delimited germinal centre. Positive immunostaining was identified in 19 out of 318 samples of the third eyelid. Material sampled at post-mortem examination in 18 of these scrapie-positive sheep, which were previously verified by biopsy, and in 21 of its relatives, was confirmed with IHC tests. Positive immunostaining from rectal mucosa tissue was not observed. Third eyelid and tonsil were the organs with the larger amount of positive immunostaining (18/18 and 8/18 respectively) at post-mortem examination. None positive result was obtained along the 21 animals related to the positive ones, and none of the positive cases showed IHC labeling in the brain. The use of lymphoid tissues for scrapie diagnosis by IHC through biopsies showed to be a viable and efficient method for pre-clinical diagnostic.

Descreve-se um surto de intoxicação por monensina em avestruzes e equinos em uma propriedade no Rio Grande do Sul. Oito dias antes do aparecimento dos primeiros sinais clínicos, uma ração comercial formulada para bovinos, cuja composição incluía monensina (177ppm), foi introduzida na dieta dos animais. Três equinos manifestaram di iculdade de movimentação, cólica, sudorese e decúbito permanente; dois morreram em 48 horas após o inicio dos sinais. Três avestruzes adoeceram, dois apresentaram decúbito esternal permanente, o outro estava apático e relutante ao movimento. Dois avestruzes morreram 15 e 30 dias após o início dos sinais. Nas necropsias dos equinos, observou-se miocárdio com palidez multifocal, hemorragia no endocárdio e no epicárdio (principalmente ao redor dos vasos coronarianos) e musculatura esquelética com áreas branco-amareladas bilaterais e focalmente extensas. Essas alterações corresponderam histologicamente, à miopatia e cardiomiopatia necróticas. Nos avestruzes, músculos esqueléticos difusamente pálidos e com múltiplos pequenos pontos brancos corresponderam à necrose segmentar polifásica, com alterações necróticas e regenerativas. An outbreak of monensin poisoning affected ostriches and horses from a farm in Rio Grande do Sul. Eight days before the onset of clinical signs, a commercial cattle concentrate containing monensin (177ppm) was introduced in the diet of the animals. Three horses showed dif iculty moving, cramping, sweating and permanent recumbency, and death within 48 hours. Three ostriches showed sternal permanent recumbency or sluggish and reluctance to move. Two ostriches died 15 and 30 days after the onset of signs. Gross changes in the horses included multifocal myocardial pallor, endocardial and epicardial hemorrhages mainly around the coronary vessels, and bilateral yellowish white foci in skeletal muscles. Histological lesions were necrotic myopathy and cardiomyopathy. At necropsy of ostriches, skeletal muscles were diffusely pale with multiple small white spots, which corresponded to polyphasic segmental necrosis and regenerative changes.

Nas últimas décadas, os cuidados sanitários de vacas leiteiras passaram por um processo de adaptação, no qual o enfoque individual foi substituído pelo coletivo, cujo sistema de manutenção e interpretação de registros por veterinários assumiu papel fundamental. Os registros de eficiência produtiva e reprodutiva, bem como os de ordem sanitária observados em um rebanho bovino leiteiro no Sul do Brasil foram apresentados e discutidos. O período estudado foi 2000-2009. Os dados de produção leiteira média incluíram, por período de lactação de 349 dias, 8436 kg de leite, 290 kg de gordura e 275 kg de proteína, com média de contagem de células somáticas de 201000 células/ml de leite. Idade ao primeiro parto (31 meses), serviços por concepção (2,1), intervalo entre partos (428 dias), intervalo parto-concepção (146 dias), taxas médias anuais de parição (76,2%), perdas fetais (9,8-19%) e natimortos (3,6%), além de período de espera voluntária (94 dias) foram alguns dos índices de desempenho reprodutivo registrados. Informações sanitárias do rebanho incluíram prevalência média de doenças comuns em bovinos leiteiros tais como anaplasmose (29,8%), mastites (27,8%), doenças digitais (26,3%), cistos ovarianos (21,3%), retenção de placenta (19,7%), infecções uterinas (10,6%), diarreia (23,7%) e pneumonia (16,8%) em terneiras, entre outras. Além disso, razões de descartes (baixo desempenho reprodutivo [56,3%], alterações de úbere [33,6%], etc.), causas de morte (anaplasmose [16,4%], leucose [11.4], etc.) e o impacto de doenças de bovinos como tuberculose, leucose e neosporose sobre o rebanho foram também apresentados e sucintamente discutidos. Números entre colchetes representam taxas acumuladas no período 2000-2009. Over the last decades, the emphasis on the health of dairy cows has changed from an individual to a herd level. In this scenario, the role played by the recording system and its interpretation by veterinarians has gained primordial importance. The records of productive and reproductive performance and of sanitary status from a southern Brazilian dairy cattle herd have been presented and discussed. The period of study was 2000-2009. Mean values per lactation period were 349D 8436M 290F 275P 201SCS (D: days in lactation, M: kg of milk yield, F: kg of fat, P: kg of protein and SCS: somatic cell score in 1000 cells/ml of milk). Major indexes of reproductive efficiency included age at first calving (31 months), services per conception (2.1), intercalving interval (428 days), calving to conception interval (146 days), mean annual rates of parturitions (76.2%), fetal losses (9.8-19.0%), and stillbirths (3.6%), apart of voluntary waiting period (94 days). Main information on sanitary status of the herd was associated with the mean prevalence of common disorders of dairy cattle such as anaplasmosis (29.8%), mastitis (27.8%), digital diseases (26.3%), ovarian cysts (21.3%), placental retention (19.7%), postpartum uterine infections (10.6%), and calf diarrhea (23.7%) and pneumonia (16.8%), among others. In addition, culling reasons (low reproductive performance [56.3%] and udder/mastitis problems [33.6%]), causes of cattle deaths (anaplasmosis [16.4%] and leukosis [11.4]), and the impact of cattle diseases such as tuberculosis, leukosis, and neosporosis on the herd have also been presented and succinctly discussed. Numbers between brackets represent rates accumulated in the 10-year period.