In some Portuguese inland regions, small ruminants can be subject to hot climate conditions, as high temperatures or heat waves. These conditions can affect animal production, mainly milk and its quality. In fact, data from revious years, shows that temperatures in Summer tend to be high, and several heat waves have occurred, with temperatures above 40 oC. To minimize the effects of these adverse climatic situations on animal production, we are carrying out a work to tackle this problem. Dans quelques régions intérieures du Portugal, les petits ruminants peuvent être sujets à des conditions climatiques chaudes, comme les températures levées ou vagues de chaleur. Ces conditions peut affecter la production animale, principalement le lait et sa qualité. En fait, les données des années précédentes, prouvent que les températures en été tendent à être de plus en plus hautes, et plusieurs vagues de chaleur se sont produites, avec les températures au-dessus du 40 oC. Pour réduire au minimum les effets de ces situations climatiques défavorables sur la production animale, nous menons à bien des travaux pour aborder ce problème.

Chlamydophila abortus (C. abortus) infection is related to reproductive failure in domestic ruminants. Although it has not been well characterized worldwide, this pathogen has already been identified in some European countries and in the USA. In Brazil, preliminary studies have shown serological evidence of C. abortus infection in herds with low antibody prevalence. Until now, the identification of C. abortus in biological samples from females presenting reproductive failures has not been described in Brazilian herds of domestic ruminants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of the C. abortus in a collection of abortions from cattle (n=85), sheep (n=12), and goats (n=8), in samples of vaginal mucus from cows (n=13), sheep (n=90), and goats (n­=20), and in semen from sheep (n=10) and goats (n=5). The specimens (n=243) were evaluated using a PCR assay developed to amplify the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic space of C. abortus. A PCR assay with an internal control, which amplifies a fragment from the ND5 gene of bovine mitochondrial DNA, was used in order to evaluate the efficiency of the DNA extraction and of the PCR reaction. All biological samples (n=243) included in this study were negative for C. abortus in the PCR assay. The internal control enabled the amplification of a product from the bovine mitochondrial ND5 gene in all cattle abortion samples (n=85). Given the serological evidence indicating the presence of C. abortus infection in Brazilian herds of domestic ruminants...

C. perfringens é uma bactéria anaeróbia presente no intestino delgado do homem e animais em equilíbrio e, sob a ação de alguns fatores predisponentes como mudança brusca de alimentação ou super alimentação, stress no manejo ou alto parasitismo intestinal, há a proliferação do microrganismo com a consequente produção de potentes toxinas que provocam a morte do animal. Dentre as toxinas principais destaca-se a toxina alfa, importante fator de virulência, produzida por todos os tipos de C. perfringens, sendo os pertencentes ao tipo A os maiores produtores. A fim de caracterizar o microrganismo em suspeitas de enterotoxemia em ruminantes, trabalhamos com 61 amostras de intestino delgado de bovinos e 12 de ovinos como grupo estudo e no grupo controle composto de animais hígidos levados ao abate, 73 amostras de intestino delgado de bovinos e 24 de ovinos. Foram realizados procedimentos de isolamento e tipagem molecular de C. perfringens e quantificação celular, detecção molecular da toxina β2, além de avaliações moleculares qualitativa (PCR convencional) e quantitativa (PCR em tempo real) do gene da toxina alfa dos diferentes isolados. Em 29 amostras do grupo estudo bovino (47,54%) e em 4 (33,33%) do grupo estudo ovino isolou-se o microrganismo...

As intoxicações por plantas em animais pecuários têm particular importância em áreas onde o manejo do pastoreio é feito de forma extensiva. Entre os herbívoros, os ruminantes são os mais suscetíveis. Esse estudo retrospectivo incluiu as intoxicações por plantas em ruminantes diagnosticadas no Setor de Patologia Veterinária (SPV) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) no período de 1996-2005. Essas intoxicações causaram 7,58% (43/567) das mortes de bovinos, 11,46% (25/218) de ovinos e 7,69 % (16/208) de caprinos necropsiados pelo SPV-UFRGS. Destaca-se que das perdas associadas com intoxicações: 62,79% das mortes em bovinos foram atribuídas à lesão hepática crônica causada por Senecio spp.; 28% das mortes em ovinos, às lesões no trato gastrintestinal por Baccharis coridifolia e 75% das mortes em caprinos, à doença de depósito lisossomal por Sida carpinifolia. Os achados indicam que a intoxicação por plantas é importante causa de perda econômica em ruminantes na área de atuação do SPV/UFRGS no Rio Grande do Sul.; Spontaneous poisoning by toxic plants in farm animals has particular importance in areas where extensive pastoral management is practiced. Among herbivores, ruminants are the most susceptible species. This retrospective study includes the cases of plant poisoning in ruminants diagnosed in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology...

A infecção por Neospora caninum é uma importante causa de abortos em bovinos, assim como mortalidade neonatal em caprinos e ovinos. Uma pesquisa sorológica de anticorpos anti-N. caninum foi realizada no município de Ibimirim (PE, Brasil). Os resultados ao teste de imunofluorescência revelaram que 26,6% (85/319) dos caprinos e 64,2% (52/81) dos ovinos foram positivos. A reatividade à sorologia foi associada com a idade nos caprinos (p < 0,01) e ovinos (p > 0,05), com maior ocorrência nos animais mais velhos. Estes resultados indicam exposição a N. caninum entre pequenos ruminantes na área estudada.; Neospora caninum infection is an important cause of bovine abortion as well as neonatal mortality in goats and sheep. A serological survey for antibodies against N. caninum in goats and sheep was carried out in the municipality of Ibimirim, PE, Northeastern Brazil. The imunnofluoresce antibody test showed that 26.6% (85/319) of the goats and 64.2% (52/81) of the sheep were positive. Serologic reactivity was associated with age in goats (p < 0.01) and sheep (p > 0.05), with increasing rates in older animals. These results indicate exposure to N. caninum among small ruminants in the study area.

Presentation; Small ruminants as a fire management tool in a Mediterranean mountain region Castro M. and Fernández-Núñez E. Forests represent a key-resource for the Mediterranean region and have supplied wood and non-wood products for centuries. Socioeconomic transformations of last decades in rural areas convert these areas into bombs-clock able of blowing up every summer. Actually, Southern Europe has in last years experienced dramatic changes in the fire regime because of changes in land use. Further alterations toward more severe fire events are expected with the prospect of a warmer and drier future. Portugal has adopted some policy regulations to protect the forest, including national strategy for forests, national defense plan against forest fires. Despite improvements fire’s statistics, Portugal failed to achieve the goals it had set itself. Political options privilege fire suppression, even though land and forest management issues are at the core of the wildfire problem. Agroforestry systems can be used as a forest fire prevention technique, since they implement a fuel management network at different scales of landscape. Particularly, silvopastoral systems (SSP) are especially interesting as a fuel management tool and reducing fire risk. The objectives of this study were to compare the diet of goats and sheep in a SSP namely mosaic of different land uses within one management unit. Grazing itineraries were recorded by means of a GPS. Goats´ diet had a significantly higher content of shrubs and trees species than of sheep. Sheep showed a higher content of herbaceous species in their diets and a higher preference for stubble. Erica sp. and Rubus sp. in goats were the shrubs with the highest preference index. Both animals avoided Cytisus multiflorum in winter and spring...

This paper presents a hypothesis on the involvement of species of the genus Raillietia Trouessart in the pathology of parasitic otitis in domestic ruminants. The chelicerae and claws of the tarsi are structures that contribute significantly towards producing primary lesions. The movable digits of the chelicerae accidentally injure the epithelium that lines the ear canal, while the claws of the tarsi perforate the epithelium, allowing the mites to affix themselves while feeding. The lesions in the epithelium caused by the chelicerae and the claws favor multiplication of the bacteria that inhabit the ear canal, resulting in typical cases of otitis.

Chlamydophila abortus (C. abortus) infection is related to reproductive failure in domestic ruminants. Although it has not been well characterized worldwide, this pathogen has already been identified in some European countries and in the USA. In Brazil, preliminary studies have shown serological evidence of C. abortus infection in herds with low antibody prevalence. Until now, the identification of C. abortus in biological samples from females presenting reproductive failures has not been described in Brazilian herds of domestic ruminants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of the C. abortus in a collection of abortions from cattle (n=85), sheep (n=12), and goats (n=8), in samples of vaginal mucus from cows (n=13), sheep (n=90), and goats (n­=20), and in semen from sheep (n=10) and goats (n=5). The specimens (n=243) were evaluated using a PCR assay developed to amplify the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic space of C. abortus. A PCR assay with an internal control, which amplifies a fragment from the ND5 gene of bovine mitochondrial DNA, was used in order to evaluate the efficiency of the DNA extraction and of the PCR reaction. All biological samples (n=243) included in this study were negative for C. abortus in the PCR assay. The internal control enabled the amplification of a product from the bovine mitochondrial ND5 gene in all cattle abortion samples (n=85). Given the serological evidence indicating the presence of C. abortus infection in Brazilian herds of domestic ruminants...

The decisive role of metallic cations in the formation of supramolecular clusters involving lignin, cellulose, and hemi-cellulose and its relationship to energy losses in ruminants associated with fibrous feed resources is still not well understood. Indeed, interactions between lignin, cellulose and metallic cations generate highly stable clusters that significantly decrease the capability of cellulase to break bonds between sugar units in order to facilitate the absorption of a great quantity of cellulose, which is ingested by ruminants as forage. Furthermore, several metallic cations cannot be absorbed as a consequence of the formation of coordinated ligations with the oxygen atoms of the lignocellulosic cluster. The loss of lignocellulose-metal clusters by ruminants is responsible for a substantial waste of nutrients, which is a significant problem in animal science. Moreover, the chemical structure of these relevant supramolecular systems is poorly understood. In the present review, we discussed this topic in detail in reference to relevant literature from the chemical and animal sciences in order to analyze the perspectives associated with the improvement of nutritional absorption from feed resources by ruminants.

Neospora caninum infection is an important cause of bovine abortion as well as neonatal mortality in goats and sheep. A serological survey for antibodies against N. caninum in goats and sheep was carried out in the municipality of Ibimirim, PE, Northeastern Brazil. The imunnofluoresce antibody test showed that 26.6% (85/319) of the goats and 64.2% (52/81) of the sheep were positive. Serologic reactivity was associated with age in goats (p < 0.01) and sheep (p > 0.05), with increasing rates in older animals. These results indicate exposure to N. caninum among small ruminants in the study area.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a contagious viral disease of small ruminants that is of economic importance in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. We developed a rapid competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rapid c-ELISA) for the diagnosis and surveillance of PPR. This assay detects PPR virus (PPRV) antibodies in serum samples by quantifying the amount of monoclonal antibody (MAb) P-3H12 after 30 min of incubation of a serum-MAb conjugate mixture on plates coated with a PPRV recombinant nucleocapsid protein (rPPRV-N). We tested 249 PPRV-positive serum samples and 733 PPRV-negative serum samples from field ruminants. The threshold of percent inhibition (PI) was determined to be <50 on the basis of the mean PI plus 3 standard deviations for sera from PPRV-negative ruminants. The relative specificity and sensitivity of the rapid c-ELISA were 98.5% (722 of 733 serum samples) and 93.4% (234 of 249 serum samples), respectively. The rapid c-ELISA sensitively detected PPRV antibodies in hyperimmune sera (virus neutralization test [VNT] titer, >512), even at dilutions ≥512 in normal goat serum, and as early as 6 to 13 days postinfection from 12 goats, each of which was infected with one of the four PPRV lineages. Hyperimmune sera from animals experimentally vaccinated with rinderpest virus gave positive results by the rapid c-ELISA when the rinderpest virus VNT titers were >512...

Concurrent infections with vector-borne pathogens affected a cattle herd in Switzerland, and one of the pathogens was identified as Babesia bigemina, which had never been observed in this country before. Therefore, a survey of the occurrence of ruminant Babesia spp. and their tick vectors in Switzerland was conducted. A total of 2,017 ticks were collected from sheep, goats, cattle, and wild ruminants (deer, roe deer, and chamois) in southern parts of Switzerland and identified morphologically. The vast majority of the ticks (99.2%) were Ixodes ricinus, but 14 ticks from sheep and goats were identified as Dermacentor marginatus and two ticks from wild ruminants were identified as Hemaphysalis punctata. PCR analyses of 700 ticks revealed the presence of Babesia divergens (n = 6), Babesia sp. genotype EU1 (n = 14), and B. major (n = 2), whose suggested occurrence was confirmed in this study by molecular analysis, and the presence of novel Babesia sp. genotype CH1 (n = 4), which is closely related to B. odocoilei and to Babesia sp. genotype RD61 reported from North America. The identification of B. divergens and B. major in ticks collected from wild ruminants cast doubt on the postulated strict host specificity of these bovine Babesia species. Furthermore...

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a recently discovered Bunyavirus associated mainly with abortions, stillbirths and malformations of the skeletal and central nervous system (CNS) in newborn ruminants. In this study, a detailed immunophenotyping of the inflammatory cells of the CNS of affected animals was carried out in order to increase our understanding of SBV pathogenesis. A total of 82 SBV-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive neonatal ruminants (46 sheep lambs, 34 calves and 2 goat kids) were investigated for the presence of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. The study focused on 15 out of 82 animals (18.3%) showing inflammation in the CNS. All 15 neonates displayed lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalomyelitis affecting most frequently the mesencephalon and the parietal and temporal lobes. The majority of infiltrating cells were CD3-positive T cells, followed by CD79α-positive B cells and CD68-positive microglia/macrophages. Malformations like por- and hydranencephaly, frequently found in the temporal lobe, showed associated demyelination and axonal loss. SBV antigen was detected in 37 out of 82 (45.1%) neonatal brains by immunohistochemistry. In particular, SBV antigen was found in 93.3% (14 out of 15 ruminants) and 32.8% (22 out of 67 ruminants) of animals with and without encephalitis...

Few data are available on the prevalence and molecular typing of species belonging to the genus Anaplasma in Mediterranean ruminants. In this study, PCR analysis and sequencing of both 16S rRNA and groEL genes were combined to investigate the presence, prevalence, and molecular traits of Anaplasma spp. in ruminants sampled on the Island of Sardinia, chosen as a subtropical representative area. The results demonstrate a high prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in ruminants, with animals infected by at least four of six Anaplasma species (Anaplasma marginale, A. bovis, A. ovis, and A. phagocytophilum). Moreover, ruminants host a number of neutrophil-tropic strains genetically closely related to the canine pathogen A. platys. The high Anaplasma spp. prevalence and the identification of as-yet-unclassified neutrophil-tropic strains raise concerns about the specificity of serological tests routinely used in ruminants and provide additional background for reconstructing the evolutionary history of species genetically related to A. phagocytophilum.

Experiments were designed for the early detection of vitamin B12 deficiency in sheep and cattle. Metabolic indicators were examined in animals where deficiency was induced with either nitrous oxide (N2O) or by feeding diets of low cobalt content. Results showed that vitamin B12 dependent enzymes in the liver of ruminants appeared to be affected only at a late stage of deficiency. However changes in concentrations of metabolites of these pathways occured earlier.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Sciences, 1994; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-21).; 2 v. (xxiv, 409 leaves) : ill. ; 30 cm.; Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.

Although differing considerably with respect to their biology, the parasites Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum have often been discussed collectively because of their role as common causes of waterborne gastrointestinal disease in humans. Because both parasites are extremely common in ruminants, much of the discussion and research concerning G duodenalis and C parvum during the past decade has focused on their zoonotic potential and the role of ruminants as reservoirs for human infection. By contrast, the importance of these parasites as causes of disease and production losses in ruminants appears to have received little attention. Recent research indicates that, although both G duodenalis and C parvum infections in ruminants do pose some risk for zoonotic transmission, the risk is much less significant than was once believed and is easily managed. Research also indicates that, although G duodenalis is not likely to be a major cause of clinical disease in ruminants, it may have an important and overlooked impact on production. C parvum, by contrast, remains an important cause of diarrhea in neonatal ruminants, but it does not appear to be as significant a pathogen in beef calves as it is in dairy calves. In addition, abomasal cryptosporidiosis...

Lipids in liver wet and dry matter, liver moist and dry matter and their relationships were investigated based on species, sex and age in cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats. Mean percentage of lipids in liver wet and dry matter and liver dry matter in cows were 3.60%, 1.10%, 29.70%, and for buffaloes were 5.30%, 1.55%, 29.20%, sheep 3.00%, 0.83%, 27.90%, and goats 2.910%, 1.55% and 28.40%, respectively. The highest and lowest percentage of lipids in liver wet and dry matter was observed in buffaloes and sheep, and for the liver dry matter was recorded in cows and sheep, respectively. Analyses showed significant differences in liver parameters among ruminants (p < 0.01). Gender, except for goats, did not affect the animals' liver parameters. In overall 15.00% of buffaloes and 3.50% of cows showed over 10.00% lipids in liver, while none of small ruminants appeared to have over 6.00% lipids in liver. There was no correlation between liver lipid and liver dry matter. In conclusion mean percentage of lipid in liver dry matter in small ruminants was less than large ruminants. Liver dry matter was high in cows and low in sheep. Mean differences in liver parameters was significant, while the age and sex of the animals were not. Liver lipidosis in buffaloes seems greater than in cows...

Although the importance of wild ruminants as potential reservoirs of bluetongue virus (BTV) has been suggested, the role played by these species in the epidemiology of BT in Europe is still unclear. We carried out a serologic and virologic survey to assess the role of wild ruminants in the transmission and maintenance of BTV in Andalusia (southern Spain) between 2006 and 2010. A total of 473 out of 1339 (35.3%) wild ruminants analyzed showed antibodies against BTV by both ELISA and serum neutralization test (SNT). The presence of neutralizing antibodies to BTV-1 and BTV-4 were detected in the four species analyzed (red deer, roe deer, fallow deer and mouflon), while seropositivity against BTV-8 was found in red deer, fallow deer and mouflon but not in roe deer. Statistically significant differences were found among species, ages and sampling regions. BTV RNA was detected in twenty-one out of 1013 wild ruminants (2.1%) tested. BTV-1 and BTV-4 RNA were confirmed in red deer and mouflon by specific rRT-PCR. BTV-1 and BTV-4 seropositive and RNA positive wild ruminants, including juveniles and sub-adults, were detected years after the last outbreak was reported in livestock. In addition, between the 2008/2009 and the 2010/2011 hunting seasons...

La llengua blava (LB) és una malaltia transmesa per vectors Culicoides de declaració obligatòria causada pel virus de la llengua blava (VLB) i considerada emergent i re-emergent a Europa. Aquesta malaltia afecta principalment a remugants domèstics i salvatges i també camèlids, causant importants pèrdues econòmiques en el sector ramader. La implicació de diferents hostes i vectors en el cicle de transmissió del VLB dificulta el control de la malaltia. El cicle de transmissió del virus està condicionat per factors externs, com són el canvi climàtic i l'alteració dels ecosistemes, els quals han afavorit l'expansió dels vectors en les últimes dècades. Entre les mesures de control, destaquen la vacunació, la restricció de moviment d'animals susceptibles en zones de risc i els programes de vigilància epidemiològica, tant d'animals domèstics com de vectors. Tot i que les vacunes comercials actuals han demostrat ser efectives en remugants domèstics, l'elevat nombre de serotipus del VLB presents (fins a 26 descrits actualment), fa que sigui complicat desenvolupar una vacuna universal que ofereixi protecció creuada. Totes aquestes variables han fet impossible fins al moment l'eradicació d'aquesta malaltia. La majoria d'espècies de remugants salvatges presents a Europa...

As atividades desenvolvidas pelo Departamento de Clínica Médica da Faculdade deMedicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ) se baseiam nos três pilares fundamentaisda Universidade de São Paulo: ensino, pesquisa e extensão. O presente projeto teve oobjetivo de propiciar a estudantes de medicina veterinária o aprendizado e treinamentoprático das principais técnicas de diagnóstico e tratamento das enfermidades que acometemos ruminantes, auxiliando o atendimento do hospital e atendendo aos anseiosda comunidade. Com a Clínica Ambulante, foi possível o atendimento a propriedadesperto de São Paulo, com cuidados veterinários aos animais enfermos e coleta de materialpara análise nos laboratórios do Hospital. Durante o período de agosto de 2009até julho de 2010, o serviço da Hospital de Bovinos e Pequenos Ruminantes da FMVZ--USP atendeu 238 animais, sendo 88 bovinos, 83 caprinos, 47 ovinos, 19 suínos e 1 búfalo.O Hospital de Bovinos e Pequenos Ruminantes tem uma alta casuísta, permitindoo acompanhamento de grande quantidade e variedade de casos clínicos atendendo acomunidade da região da cidade de São Paulo e arredores. O aprendizado prático é valorizadoe a construção do conhecimento é constante.; The activities developed by the Department of Clinical Medicine...