In general, European and North American countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand, have already eradicated or reached good levels of control of brucellosis and tuberculosis in cattle. In the rest of the world, however, the epidemiological situation of these two diseases is frequently poorly understood. In this review article, quantified data on these diseases in the South American countries are presented. Initially, the aspects that led the continent to host 25% of the world cattle population are presented, in addition to the aspects that placed the continent at a prominent position in the international meat market. Subsequently the continent was divided into three country groups, considering the size of the cattle population and how well the epidemiological situation of brucellosis and tuberculosis in cattle is quantified. It is argued that countries that do not generate high-quality quantitative epidemiological data on these diseases have serious limitations in outlining and managing control or eradication strategies. Thus, for successful outcomes, at least methodologies to estimate the prevalence of infected herds should be employed.

vulnerability. The fact that these people share the environment with animals promotes the establishment of zoonotic parasitic infections, as well as the resultant parasitic cycles. Thus, parasites present in the environment must be identified, so that control measures can be recommended. In this context, this study’s objective was to evaluate environmental contamination by parasitic forms in a socially vulnerable community in southern Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 100 soil samples collected from the community were processed by a sodium dichromate centrifuge-flotation technique and analyzed by a compound microscope (40X objective) for the identification of parasite eggs, oocysts and cysts. All points were positive for two or more parasites, with the identification of 33.59% non-identified coccidian oocysts, Strongylida (25.4%), Ascaridida (21.31%), Trichuris spp. (8.19%), Toxocara spp. (3.27%), Amoebas (4.08%), Dioctophyma renale (2.45%), and Giardia spp. (1.63%). The presence of parasitic forms in all points analyzed surpasses other studies of environmental contamination carried out in the southern region of Brazil. In addition, the identification of several parasitic forms with zoonotic potential is concerning, since it shows the possibility of parasitic transmission to humans and other animals. In view of the results, the conclusion is that the environment analyzed is contaminated by parasitic forms, constituting a serious public health problem. Therefore, implementing educational and preventive measures in the community to control parasites is of crucial importance.

Helminths and protozoa are examples of endoparasites that, during their biological cycles, can alternate between free-life stages and parasitic stages in the environment. Pets, such as dogs and cats, live together with men and play an important role in the society; however, these animals may carry a large number of parasites which, besides showing direct pathogenicity to the host, represent risks to the human health, as is the case of parasitic zoonoses. Public areas like parks, gardens, squares and beaches may offer risks to human users since these environments may contain feces deposited by parasitized dogs. The present study  verified the occurrence of helminth eggs and/or protozoan cysts or oocysts in fecal samples collected from sand strips at the beaches Armação do Pântano do Sul, Campeche and Morro das Pedras, in the south of Florianópolis Island, Santa Catarina State (SC), during the summer period. Pet feces were collected in the 2016/2017 summer season, from December 2016 to February 2017. In the Laboratory of Animal Parasitology (CCA-UFSC), fecal samples were processed based on Willis-Mollay flotation technique and Hoffman sedimentation technique. Samples from all three analyzed beaches were positive for the presence of parasites and fecal material was found along the seashore, sites where people walk freely and barefoot. Of 104 fecal samples collected, 45 (43.27%) were positive for one or more parasites. The greatest prevalence was found in Campeche Beach, which had 72.22% positive samples. Ancylostomids were most prevalent, indicating that cutaneous larva migrans is likely to occur in humans. Other parasites such as Trichuris vulpis, Toxocara spp. and Giardia spp. were also detected in coproparasitological analyses. Based on the results, it was concluded that contamination of the beaches in Florianópolis Island, SC, constitutes a public health problem due to the possibility of zoonosis transmission. These results reinforce the importance of establishing health programs for parasite control and educational programs for elucidating the risks of transmission of these zoonoses to the population, as an attempt to reduce environmental contamination risks at beaches of seaside resorts.

The present investigation evaluated the quality of turkey meat produced in two production systems, according to the following parameters: water loss in cooking, drip water loss, texture (shear strength), pH, color, humidity, protein, ashes and lipids. A total of 200 turkey breast samples of 500 g, separated by a batch of 20 samples, from ten aviaries from Santa Catarina, Brazil, were used: five from breeding with a traditional ventilation system and five with a mechanical ventilation system. Samples were obtained after slaughter and frozen at -15°C for 30 days. The results were submitted to variance analysis and the Tukey test. Significant differences were found only in the analysis of drip water loss. The birds of the traditional ventilation system presented 14.26% loss of water drip, while those of the ventilation exhaust system presented a loss of 19.21%. There were no differences in the chemical composition of poultry meat in relation to the production systems.

The present study aimed to evaluate non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) in sugarcane-based diets on rumen pH, and forage digestibility, and to describe NFC degradation curves. The study consisted of two trials. For the first trial, three rumen cannulated steers, BW of 350 ± 15 kg (mean ± SE), were assigned in a 3×3 Latin Square (LS) design. They were fed diets containing finely-ground (0.9 mm average particle size) corn (GC), steam-rolled corn (SRC), or pelleted citrus pulp (PCP). Each period had 14 d, with the first 12 for adaptation. The 13th d was for serial measurement of rumen pH, and the14th for rumen fluid collection and in vitro incubation for DM and NDF digestibility (IVDMD and IVNDFD) of bermudagrass hay (Hay), corn (CS), and sugarcane (SS) silages. In the second trial, rumen fluid of a cannulated bull, fed corn silage and a regular concentrate, was collected for in vitro digestion of NFC for multiple time points. The incubation results were used to adjust the NFC degradation curves, and calculate lag-time, feed fractions, and degradation rate. Data from first trial was analyzed in a 3×3 LS. The model for the digestibility parameters included fixed effects of forage (Feed), diets with NFC (Diet), and their interaction (Feed × Diet), and random effect of animal and period. The model for rumen pH included fixed effect of diet, time as repeated measures, animal and period as random effects. The significance was considered at probability ≤ 5% (α = 0.05). The NFC degradation curves were adjusted using the PROC NLIN procedure from SAS, and equation parameters compared using confidence intervals. There was a Diet × Time interaction on rumen pH (P = 0.04), where SRC decreased pH compared to PCP and GC diets at the time 6 h, only. There was no Feed × Diet interaction effect (P > 0.05) for any digestibility parameter. There was a Feed effect on both IVDMD and IVNDFD, either after 30 or 48 h incubation (P < 0.01). The CS had the greatest IVDMD, followed by SS and Hay, after 30 and 48 h of incubation. The CS had the greatest IVNDFD after 30 h, compared to SS and Hay. However, for IVNDFD after 48 h, CS presented the greatest mean, followed by SS and Hay. The rumen fluid from animals fed SRC decreased both IVDMD and IVNDFD (P < 0.05) of all roughages after 48 h. Results from the second trial showed that the PCP had lower Lag Time, B fraction and greater kd compared to both corn sources, and SRC had greater kd than GC. In conclusion, the SRC diet decreased rumen pH 6 h after feeding and, consequently, decreased fiber digestibility of the tropical forage sources evaluated. Although the PCP had lower lag time, and faster rate of degradation of B fraction, it did not negatively affect rumen pH or fiber digestibility of forage.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the aim to assess aspects of cattle production. A multistage clustering model was used to select 2,202 farms in seven cattle production strata in the state, and a questionnaire was applied to obtain information related to the characterization of the farms and their management of animal reproduction and production. The study showed that livestock-rearing in Minas Gerais continues to be unspecialized. Triângulo Mineiro and North were the regions that used most technology and had highest beef cattle activity. The Zona da Mata region showed the least use of technology and had the smallest farms. Milk production in this state was distributed among all strata, but was concentrated among a few producers in the stratum of highest production, especially in the region of Alto Paranaíba. This study showed a great heterogeneity among the strata regarding the characteristics of type of exploitation, type of rearing, herd size, specialization and milk production. Thus, it validated the stratification established by the Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária e Abastecimento – MAPA (Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply), thereby suggesting that these strata should be maintained for further epidemiological studies.

Actinobacteria have been researched as a source that produces crude extracts, which contain bioactive compounds able to act as antimicrobial agents. The present investigation evaluated the dose-response effect of two crude extracts, obtained at Caatinga rhizosphere (Caat) and Rhizophora mangle (AMC), on in vitro ruminal fermentation by: cumulative gas production, digestibility of dry (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD), and short-chain fatty acids concentration (SCFA). Three multiparous Holstein dairy cows with ruminal fistula were used as the inoculum donors and fed a basal diet consisting of corn silage, soybean meal, urea, ground corn and mineral supplement. Ruminal fluid samples were incubated in glass bottles with 1 g of the dried and milled diet, a buffer solution, and the crude extracts evaluated in four doses (0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.20 mg/10 mL inoculum) in a randomized block design, and the donators were considered as blocks with random effects. Additionally, negative controls were used. The results were expressed as average values based on triplicate analyses. Decreased cumulative gas production was observed according to linear dose response at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation with the addition of Caat extract. The IVOMD showed a linear decrease at 72 h of incubation with dose Caat inclusion. Furthermore, the inclusion of Caat extract linearly reduced butyric and isovaleric acid concentrations, as well as acetate:propionate ratio. Finally, the Caat inclusion increased the propionic acid concentration in comparison to AMC extract. However, the inclusion of AMC extract did not affect any of the analyzed variables at the used doses. The Caat extract could be used as a modulator of in vitro ruminal fermentation, since it reduced acetate:propionate ratio and cumulative gas production.

Human-wildlife conflicts, a growing and sad reality worldwide, makes population control of wildlife and feral animals one of the biggest challenges in wildlife management, especially due to the rapidly expanding human population, and consequently the ever-diminishing natural habitats of animals. Human activities and the destruction of nature forcing wildlife to move inevitably into urban and agricultural areas, causing “conflicts”, such as the risk of zoonosis and traffic accidents, as well as damage to crops in the search for food, whose losses reach millions of dollars. For decades, science has been engaged in extensive efforts to develop methods of “humane” population control methods, and many techniques are being employed in order to control wildlife population. In this article, we present an overview of applied contraceptive methods with simplified graphic demonstrations of their interactions with reproductive physiology, furthermore relating pro and contra of utilized antifertility agents. These are being compared to a set of desired characteristics for free-ranging wildlife for in-field applications, with emphasis on reversible immunocontraception – concluding, therefore, the reasons why this concept is becoming the most appropriate and promising for free-ranging wildlife.

The present study hypothesized that intramammary infection (IMI) might reduce milk ethanol stability (MES), mainly when IMI is caused by major pathogens. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of IMI on bovine MES using a natural exposure experimental design. Ninety-four lactating cows from five dairy herds were selected once they were determined to have an IMI, based on milk bacteriological culturing with positive isolation and somatic cell count (SCC) > 200×103 cells/mL in two out of three composite milk samples collected during three consecutive weeks. After selection, cows were sampled a second time (within two weeks) for evaluation at mammary quarter level (n = 326): milk yield (kg/quarter/day), MES, composition (fat, protein, lactose, casein, total solids and solids-non-fat), and bacteriologic culture. The effect of subclinical mastitis on MES was tested by two models: 1) comparison of healthy vs. infected quarters; and 2) comparison of contralateral mammary quarter within cow. The only milk composition variable associated with MES was lactose (r = 0.18; P < 0.01). Subclinical IMI did not affect MES when the comparison was performed using both models (1 and 2). Likewise, MES did not change when infected quarters were sorted into two groups of pathogens (major, minor and infrequent; and contagious, environmental, minor and infrequent) and compared with healthy mammary quarters. Considering the results of both models, subclinical IMI did not affect MES of dairy cows.

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is an oral inflammatory condition that frequently affects felines. Its etiology is not well defined, but several viral agents are thought to be involved. Several therapeutic protocols have been described, yet treatment response is often variable, and the therapeutic success is transient with an unpredictable duration. Therefore, the therapeutic strategy needs to be tailored for each patient. This work relates a case characterized by viral involvement in its etiopathogenesis providing an alternative to the most widely-used methods that so often frustrate both veterinary doctors and pet owners.