PESQUISA VETERINÁRIA BRASILEIRA

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Nóbrega Jr J.E., Macêdo J.T.S.A., Araújo J.A.S., Dantas A.F.M., Soares M.P. & Riet-Correa F. 2008. [Contagious echtyma in sheep and goats in the semiarid of Paraíba, Brazil.] Ectima contagioso em ovinos e caprinos no semi-árido da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 28(3):135-139. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: franklin.riet@pq.cnpq.br Ten outbreaks of contagious ecthyma in goats and two in sheep in the semiarid of Paraíba State are reported. Young animals were more frequently affected, but in 8 outbreaks adult animals were also affected, mainly lactating goats which developed udder lesions. None of the affected flocks had been vaccinated. Upon histologic examination the epidermis showed acanthosis with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and multifocal ballooning degeneration forming vesicles or pustules. Eosinophilic inclusion bodies were observed in keratinocytes. Crust of necrotic cells, hyperkeratosis, and intracorneal microabscesses or large ulcerated areas were also observed. Severe diffuse infiltration by mononuclear cells was observed in the dermis. A human case was observed in an investigator that was feeding a goat that later appeared with lesions of the disease. In this case, the virus was identified by electron microscopy of a skin biopsy. These results show that contagious ecthyma is endemic in Northeastern Brazil and therefore systematic vaccination of the flocks is necessary to control the disease. The use of gloves to handle affected animals is advisable to minimize the risk of human exposure.

• Contagious ecthyma sheep goat human infection parapoxvirus Poxviridae

Abstract in Portuguese:

ABSTRACT.- Nóbrega Jr J.E., Macêdo J.T.S.A., Araújo J.A.S., Dantas A.F.M., Soares M.P. & Riet-Correa F. 2008. [Contagious echtyma in sheep and goats in the semiarid of Paraíba, Brazil.] Ectima contagioso em ovinos e caprinos no semi-árido da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 28(3):135-139. Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: franklin.riet@pq.cnpq.br Ten outbreaks of contagious ecthyma in goats and two in sheep in the semiarid of Paraíba State are reported. Young animals were more frequently affected, but in 8 outbreaks adult animals were also affected, mainly lactating goats which developed udder lesions. None of the affected flocks had been vaccinated. Upon histologic examination the epidermis showed acanthosis with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and multifocal ballooning degeneration forming vesicles or pustules. Eosinophilic inclusion bodies were observed in keratinocytes. Crust of necrotic cells, hyperkeratosis, and intracorneal microabscesses or large ulcerated areas were also observed. Severe diffuse infiltration by mononuclear cells was observed in the dermis. A human case was observed in an investigator that was feeding a goat that later appeared with lesions of the disease. In this case, the virus was identified by electron microscopy of a skin biopsy. These results show that contagious ecthyma is endemic in Northeastern Brazil and therefore systematic vaccination of the flocks is necessary to control the disease. The use of gloves to handle affected animals is advisable to minimize the risk of human exposure.

Abstract in English:

ABSTRACT.- Nóbrega Jr J.E., Riet-Correa F., Medeiros R.M.T. & Dantas A.F.M. 2006. [Poisoning by Sorghum halepense (Poaceae) in cattle in the Brazilian semiarid.] Intoxicação por Sorghum halepense em bovinos no semi-árido. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 26(4):201-204. Hospital Veterinário, CSTR, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-000 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: franklin.riet@pesquisador.com.br An outbreak of poisoning by Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. in cattle in the Brazilian semiarid is reported. Nine cattle were introduced 15 days after the first rains into a paddock where the plant was sprouting and had 25-30cm high. Clinical signs of dyspnea, anxiety, muscular tremors and incoordination appeared 15 minutes after the animals began to graze. Two of them died within about 3 hours. The others recovered. Cyanotic mucosa, dark muscles, lung edema and hemorrhages, and leaves of the plant in the rumen were observed at necropsy. The plant was positive for the picrosodic paper test. S. halepense from another farm of occurrence of the poisoning was transplanted into two pots. The picrosodic paper test was performed fortnightly in the plants growing in one of them. The plant was positive for cyanide in all growth stages; during the first 45 days the test was positive within 1 minute, but after day 60 within 3 minutes. Thirty days after the plant had been transplanted into one of the pots, it was administered to a goat at a dose of 11.8g/kg, causing clinical signs of HCN poisoning. The animal recovered after the intravenous administration of 5mL/10kg body weight of a 20% sodium thiosulfate solution. In the Brazilian semiarid S. halepense is frequently found invading the border of ponds and irrigated crops, and is used as forage during the dry season.

• Poisonous plants Sorghum halepense cyanogenic glycosides plant poisoning cattle

Abstract in Portuguese:

ABSTRACT.- Nóbrega Jr J.E., Riet-Correa F., Medeiros R.M.T. & Dantas A.F.M. 2006. [Poisoning by Sorghum halepense (Poaceae) in cattle in the Brazilian semiarid.] Intoxicação por Sorghum halepense em bovinos no semi-árido. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 26(4):201-204. Hospital Veterinário, CSTR, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-000 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: franklin.riet@pesquisador.com.br An outbreak of poisoning by Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. in cattle in the Brazilian semiarid is reported. Nine cattle were introduced 15 days after the first rains into a paddock where the plant was sprouting and had 25-30cm high. Clinical signs of dyspnea, anxiety, muscular tremors and incoordination appeared 15 minutes after the animals began to graze. Two of them died within about 3 hours. The others recovered. Cyanotic mucosa, dark muscles, lung edema and hemorrhages, and leaves of the plant in the rumen were observed at necropsy. The plant was positive for the picrosodic paper test. S. halepense from another farm of occurrence of the poisoning was transplanted into two pots. The picrosodic paper test was performed fortnightly in the plants growing in one of them. The plant was positive for cyanide in all growth stages; during the first 45 days the test was positive within 1 minute, but after day 60 within 3 minutes. Thirty days after the plant had been transplanted into one of the pots, it was administered to a goat at a dose of 11.8g/kg, causing clinical signs of HCN poisoning. The animal recovered after the intravenous administration of 5mL/10kg body weight of a 20% sodium thiosulfate solution. In the Brazilian semiarid S. halepense is frequently found invading the border of ponds and irrigated crops, and is used as forage during the dry season.

Abstract in English:

Nóbrega Jr J.E., Riet-Correa F., Nóbrega R.S., Medeiros J.M., Vasconcelos J.S., Simões S.V.D. & Tabosa I.M. 2005. [Perinatal mortality of lambs in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil.] Mortalidade perinatal de cordeiros no semi-árido da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 25(3):171-178. Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, UFCG, Campus de Patos, 58700-000 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: riet@cstr.ufcg.edu.br The causes of perinatal lamb mortality were studied, from March 2002 to October 2004, on 27 farms in the semiarid region of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. In 90 lambs necropsied the following frequency of different causes of death was found: neonatal infections (41.1%), malformations (23.3%), dystocia (10%), starvation/hypothermia (10%), abortion (4.4%), and predation (2.2%). Regarding the time of death, 4.4% of the lambs died before parturition, 10% during parturition, 30% on the first day after parturition, 20% between the second and the third day, and 35.6% between the 4th and the 28th day after parturition. The assistance during parturition, umbilical disinfection of the neonates, colostrum ingestion between 2 and 6 hours after parturition, and keeping the ewes in healthy environmental conditions during and after parturition could improve lamb surviving. The high frequency of malformations in different breeds suggests that malformations are due to a toxic plant. The main defects were permanent flexure of the front legs, brachygnathia, cleft palate, and other head malformations. In a recent report the authors demonstrated the teratogenic effects of Mimosa tenuiflora, a very common plant in the semiarid region, which is probably the cause of those malformations. Lambs which died due to starvation/hypothermia and had low birth weight (1.37 ± 0.70kg), suggesting that a better nutrition of the ewe during the last trimester of gestation is a way to control this cause of lamb mortality. Considering that in the northeastern region, in most farms, the rams stay with the ewes during the whole year, the adoption of a breeding season would help to control the different causes of perinatal lamb mortality.

• Lamb mortality newborn lambs sheep production perinatal mortality.

Abstract in Portuguese:

Nóbrega Jr J.E., Riet-Correa F., Nóbrega R.S., Medeiros J.M., Vasconcelos J.S., Simões S.V.D. & Tabosa I.M. 2005. [Perinatal mortality of lambs in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil.] Mortalidade perinatal de cordeiros no semi-árido da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 25(3):171-178. Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, UFCG, Campus de Patos, 58700-000 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: riet@cstr.ufcg.edu.br The causes of perinatal lamb mortality were studied, from March 2002 to October 2004, on 27 farms in the semiarid region of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. In 90 lambs necropsied the following frequency of different causes of death was found: neonatal infections (41.1%), malformations (23.3%), dystocia (10%), starvation/hypothermia (10%), abortion (4.4%), and predation (2.2%). Regarding the time of death, 4.4% of the lambs died before parturition, 10% during parturition, 30% on the first day after parturition, 20% between the second and the third day, and 35.6% between the 4th and the 28th day after parturition. The assistance during parturition, umbilical disinfection of the neonates, colostrum ingestion between 2 and 6 hours after parturition, and keeping the ewes in healthy environmental conditions during and after parturition could improve lamb surviving. The high frequency of malformations in different breeds suggests that malformations are due to a toxic plant. The main defects were permanent flexure of the front legs, brachygnathia, cleft palate, and other head malformations. In a recent report the authors demonstrated the teratogenic effects of Mimosa tenuiflora, a very common plant in the semiarid region, which is probably the cause of those malformations. Lambs which died due to starvation/hypothermia and had low birth weight (1.37 ± 0.70kg), suggesting that a better nutrition of the ewe during the last trimester of gestation is a way to control this cause of lamb mortality. Considering that in the northeastern region, in most farms, the rams stay with the ewes during the whole year, the adoption of a breeding season would help to control the different causes of perinatal lamb mortality.