In Brazil, lamb producers face challenges raising their animals because of high anthelmintic resistance and loss of productivity due to parasites. It is well known that parasitic infections can reduce the performance of sheep. However, until the publication of this work, no research was found that quantified the effects that anemia reflected by FAMACHA© scores can exert on other zootechnical indicators in a lamb production system. The objective of this study was to use the FAMACHA© scores to quantify the impacts of anemia in ewes at breeding and lambing on the productive and reproductive performance of a meat sheep flock. The variables evaluated were i) FAMACHA© score of ewes at breeding and lambing, ii) body condition score of ewes at breeding and at lambing, iii) average daily gain of lambs until weaning, iv) ewe’s age, v) birth weights per individual lamb and litter, vi) weaning weight, vii) ewe’s weight, viii) litter size and ix) pre-weaning survival. The treatments evaluated corresponded to the FAMACHA© score of the ewes during breeding and lambing. Quantitative responses were submitted to analyses of variance and compared by Duncan’s test. In contrast, qualitative or discrete responses were evaluated by the Kruskal & Wallis test and compared to Dunn’s test. The Wilcoxon test was performed to compare the FAMACHA© scores of ewes at breeding and lambing. All statistical analyzes were performed using the R-Studio software version 4.2.0 at a 5% significance level. The FAMACHA© score of breeding ewes was related to the body condition score at breeding, ewe weight, pre-weaning survival, ewe age, litter size, and birth weight. Furthermore, the FAMACHA© score of ewes at lambing was related to the body condition score at lambing, ewe weight, pre-weaning survival, birth weight per lamb and litter, pre-weaning average daily gain, weaning weight, and age of the ewe. There was no significant difference between the test times of the FAMACHA© scores of the ewes, indicating that an ewe will present a similar score at both stages. It was concluded that ewes with FAMACHA© scores of 4 and 5 and their offspring showed the worst productive and reproductive performances. Conversely, the ewes with FAMACHA© 1 obtained the opposite result, demonstrating better technical performance.

National dairy production is characterized by significant heterogeneity in production techniques and herd and farmer profiles. Our objective was to characterize 18 dairy farms under family farming in Senador Guiomard, Acre State, from January to December 2019. Data were gathered through 255 question semi-structured forms applied to farmers in monthly visits. The data were then stored in Excel® spreadsheets and subjected to descriptive statistics. A joint analysis showed the following characteristics: farmers with low schooling level (89%); farmers of advanced age (61%); nonadoption of good dairy practices (100%); inadequate milk transport (72%); adequate brucellosis vaccination (100%); non specialized herds (40%); pasture production system (100%); low productivity per area (873 L/ha/year) and per cow (4.0 liters/cow/day); low number of lactating cows (53%); and gross milk income (29,466.65 R$/year) representing 69% of the total gross income. The region studied has positive factors such as market guarantees, proximity to large market centers, reasonable land prices, suitable climate, ease of credit, rural education, and technical assistance. Overall, the farms are managed under a traditional production system, with low use of technology and unsatisfactory zootechnical indexes. However, the region has favorable conditions for dairy farming development.

The management of wild animals generally requires chemical containment with the use of sedatives, tranquilizers, general anesthetics or dissociative drugs. The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only member of the family Ursidae characteristic of South America. There are few reports on the main anesthetic protocols used in this specie. The aim of the present study was to report the use of propofol and isoflurane in a captive spectacled bear, after sedation with tiletamine-zolazepam. A male bear approximately 15 years old and 264 lb (scale weight) underwent anesthesia for treatment of a recurrent ulcerated wound on the neck. A combination of tiletamine and zolazepam injected intramuscularly was initially used. Due to the need to prolong the anesthetic time, the decision was made to administer propofol 1% (4.0 mg/kg/IV), which proved satisfactory regarding the inhibition of eyelid and laryngotracheal reflexes, thereby facilitating tracheal intubation. The subsequent use of isoflurane provided adequate maintenance of anesthesia, with vital signs within the normal range for the species, but there was hyperthermia. Based on the present findings, the use of tiletamine/zolazepam, propofol and isoflurane proved satisfactory and the doses employed were safe for the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus). Inhalation anesthesia was essential to prolonging the time and maintaining safety throughout the procedure.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease in the tropical zone with a broad and endemic distribution. The condition is complex, where different host factors, serovar type, reservoirs, environment, and agricultural practices intervene. In cattle, the disease causes significant damage to the livestock sector, and the surrounding conditions can influence its dynamics. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies and the risk factors in cattle in the tropical savannah from eastern Colombia. Blood was taken from the coccygeal veins of 1,000 animals. The MAT (Microagglutination) technique was used for the identification of the serogroup Autumnalis, Bataviae, Bratislava, Canicola, Copenhagen, Cynopteri, Grippotyphosa, Sejroe, Mini, Pomona, Shermani, Tarassovi, and Celledoni. Studies of risk factors were carried out according to the serovar through the calculation of X2 and OR. Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. was 34.2% with 92.3% of herds. Pomona had the highest frequency of 7.9%, followed by Hardjo prajit with 7.0% and Grippotyphosa with 6.2%. Antibody agglutination with more than one serovar was seen in 102 (29.8%) samples. The serogroup with the highest correlations were Pomona and Hardjo prajit.

Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tick-borne disease caused by Ehrlichia canis that manifests as acute, chronic, or subclinical forms without specific clinical symptoms. This disease is diagnosed using clinical and laboratory findings (blood smears, molecular techniques, and serology). This study aimed to demonstrate the occurrence of false-positive results for Ehrlichia spp. in veterinary clinical practice. Seventy dogs with positive blood smears before treatment for Ehrlichia spp. subjected to doxycycline and imidazole treatment were analyzed using hematological examination, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and indirect immunofluorescence assay. PCR analysis identified no samples positive for E. canis according to PCR analysis, while serological techniques showed a frequency of 51.4% in dogs with antibodies (IgG) against Ehrlichia spp. There was a correlation between hyperproteinemia and titers > 10,240. Nonspecific changes occurred in 24.3% (17/70) of the patients with CME, such as anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The results indicated that the blood count and blood smear analysis were insufficient for diagnosis and that positive serological results associated with hematological changes suggestive of ehrlichiosis in dogs can be incorrectly assigned by a veterinarian, putting animals at risk.

The presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and resistance to beta-lactams in healthy sheep represents a potential public health risk. This study aimed to characterize STEC isolates in sheep feces for toxin production and resistance to beta lactam antibiotics. In the present study, among the 40 isolates, we found a predominance of subtype Stx1 (22/40), followed by subtype Stx1 + Stx2 (11/40), while the less prevalent group was Stx2 (7/40). Also, we found phenotypical resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in 50% (20/40) of the strains analyzed, forming two groups, one with resistant isolates and the other with non-resistant isolates. The cytotoxicity of the isolates did not vary among the groups. In addition to having this characteristic, some multiresistant isolates produced significant amounts of toxins. This leads to the conclusion that the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance via beta lactamases are present in sheep STEC and that the cytotoxicity of those isolates is variable regarding such resistance.

This study aimed to evaluate methods for studying the in vitro antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against Brucella abortus and to evaluate the antagonistic effect of LAB on the viability of this pathogen. A total of 18 LAB strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, n = 11; Pediococcus acidilactici, n = 1; Lactobacillus rhamnosus, n = 4; and Lactobacillus brevis, n = 2), isolated from Minas artisanal cheeses produced in three regions (Canastra, Campos das Vertentes, and Araxá) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were tested for their antimicrobial activity against B. abortus using three methods: spot-on-lawn, agar well diffusion assay, and antagonistic activity of the culture supernatants. None of the tested LAB strains could inhibit B. abortus in the spot-on-lawn and agar-well diffusion assays. The supernatants produced by LAB had an acidic pH, with intensity depending on bacterial growth and strain, and could inhibit the growth of B. abortus. In contrast, pH-neutralized (pH 7.0) LAB supernatants did not suppress the growth of B. abortus. The results showed that the best technique to study the in vitro antagonism of LAB against B. abortus was the antagonistic activity of culture supernatants. The growth of B. abortus may have been inhibited by acid production.

Fatty acids are considered metabolic intermediaries, although new facts indicate they also work as signaling molecules with different roles in the immune response. Based on that, in this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and α-linolenic acid (LNA) in ex vivo bovine endometrial explants. For this, two groups were formed: (1) LPS-challenged and (2) control, both to evaluate the accumulation of proinflammatory cytokines as interleukin 1β (IL1B) and interleukin 6 (IL6). To develop the study, bovine female reproductive tracts from non-pregnant Angus heifers without evidence of reproductive diseases were selected. Endometrial explants were processed and treated for 24 h with EPA, DHA, and LNA in five different concentrations (0μM, 50μM, 100 μM, 200μM and 400 μM) and then, challenged with LPS for 24 h. Supernatants were collected to evaluate the concentration of IL1B and IL6 by ELISA. Explants treated with EPA from control groups reduced the concentrations of ILB (200µM) and IL6 (400 µM), and IL6 (50 µM; 100 µM) from the LPS-challenged group. DHA decreased the accumulation of IL1B and IL6 at 200 µM on explants from the LPS-challenged group, and 200 µM reduced IL6 from the control group. In contrast, explants treated with LNA only reduced the accumulation of IL1B to 400μM (from both groups). In conclusion, the EPA acid is the best anti inflammatory option to decrease the concentration of both pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1B and IL6) from LPS-challenged and control groups in bovine endometrial explants; while LNA evidence to be the last option to promote an anti-inflammatory response.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of the cactus pear levels (0, 15, 30, and 45%) in cassava shoot silages on the fermentation profile, chemical composition, and aerobic stability. Four treatments were tested with five repetitions, totaling 20 silos. The inclusion of cactus pear in cassava shoots silages promoted an increase in gas losses (P < 0.001), buffering capacity (P < 0.001), pH (P = 0.033), mineral matter (P < 0.001), total carbohydrates (P < 0.001), non-fiber carbohydrates (P < 0.001) and a decreasing in dry matter (P < 0.001), organic matter (P < 0.001), ether extract (P = 0.002), and crude protein (P < 0.001) content. A quadratic effect was observed for effluent losses (P < 0.001), with greater effluent losses (94.78 kg/t natural matter) obtained with the inclusion of 30% cactus pear in cassava shoots silages. Cactus pear inclusion in cassava shoots silage promoted a reduction in the pH during oxygen exposure (P = 0.008). Including cactus pear in up to 45% of cassava silage, shoots cause changes in the fermentation and nutritional characteristics. However, values found in the silages are by good quality standards.

During embryological development, the eyelids of snakes fuse and no longer open like in mammals. They become transparent, thus forming spectacles, a transparent structure that covers the eyes. The primary function of these spectacles is to provide a physical barrier to protect the eyes without eyelids. This study aimed to evaluate the ocular biometry of Python bivittatus snakes. Ocular ultrasound examinations were performed on four individuals using the Logic E ultrasound device (GE, United States) with a 10-22 MHz linear probe. Conduction gel was used to make transducer contact with the cornea in these snakes. Images were obtained to evaluate the following measurements: axial length of the eyeball, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and vitreous depth. These measurements of intraocular structures were, respectively: 0.05 ± 0.02 cm for corneal thickness in the right eye and 0.04 ± 0.007 cm in the left eye; 0.11 ± 0.04 cm for anterior chamber depth in the right and left eyes; 0.36 ± 0.07 cm for the lens thickness in the right eye and 0.39 ± 0.05 cm in the left eye; 0.35 ± 0.05 for the depth of the vitreous chamber in the right eye and 0.31 ± 0.02 cm in the left eye; and 0.85 ± 0.18 cm for the length of the globe in the axial plane in the right eye and 0.85 ± 0.14 cm in the left eye. Knowledge of snakes’ anatomical and ophthalmological parameters is scarce, and the incidence of eye diseases is still little known, making further studies necessary.