Abstract in English:
Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality in horses were investigated in the Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (SPV-UFRGS) from 2000 to 2015. In this period, 107 cases were analyzed using macroscopic, microscopic, and complementary tests. Of these, 77 were aborted fetuses, 16 were stillbirths, and 14 were perinatal deaths. Conclusive diagnosis was established in 42.8% of the fetuses analyzed, with 28.6% classified as infectious origin, 9.1% as non-infectious, and 5.1% as other. Bacterial infections, especially those related to Streptococcus spp. were the most frequently observed. In stillborn foals, diagnosis was established in 62.5% of cases, and 50% of these were related to non-infectious causes, such as dystocia and birth traumas. As for perinatal mortality, a conclusive diagnosis was reached in 78.57% of cases, and infectious causes associated with bacterial infections accounted for 64.1% of these diagnoses.
Abstract in Portuguese:
Causas de aborto, natimortalidade e mortalidade perinatal em equinos foram investigadas no Setor de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (SPV-UFRGS) durante o período de 2000 a 2015. Nesse período, foram analisados 107 casos através de exames macroscópico, microscópico e exames complementares, desses 77 correspondiam a fetos abortados, 16 natimortos e 14 mortes perinatais. Diagnóstico conclusivo foi estabelecido em 42,8% dos fetos analisados e classificados como origem infecciosa em 28,6% dos casos, não infecciosa com 9,1% e outros com 5,1% dos casos. As infecções bacterianas, em especial as relacionadas a Streptococcus spp. foram as mais frequentemente observadas. Em potros natimortos, diagnostico foi estabelecido em 62,5% dos casos, e destes, 50% foram relacionados a causas não infecciosas, como distocia e traumas durante o parto. Quanto a mortalidade perinatal, em 78,57% dos casos houve um diagnostico conclusivo, e as causas infecciosas associadas a infecções bacterianas corresponderam a 64,1% desses diagnósticos.
Abstract in English:
Medeiros J.M., Tabosa I.M., Simões S.V.D., Nóbrega Jr J. E., Vasconcelos J.S. & Riet-Correa F. 2005. [Perinatal mortality in kids in the semiarid region of Paraíba, Brazil.] Mortalidade perinatal em cabritos no semi-árido da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 25(4):201-206. Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: riet@cstr.ufcg.edu.br
The causes of perinatal kid mortality were studied from May 2002 to August 2004 in the semiarid region of Paraíba. In 118 necropsied kids the frequency of different causes of death were neonatal infections (50%), distocia (12.71%), hypothermia/starvation (11.86%), malformations (7.62%), floppy kid (6.77%) and abortions (1.69%). Regarding the time of death, 1.69% of the kids died before parturition, 16.94% during the parturition and 81.34 % after birth. The high occurrence of neonatal infections, dystocias, and hypothermia/starvation is probably to due to factors related with error in the sanitary, reproductive and nutritional management. Arthrogryposis of the forelimbs was the main malformation observed. This defect is endemic in goat flocks in the semi-arid of Brazil. Most deaths occurred after birth (25.42%) and from the 4th to the 28th day of life (38.98%) suggesting that care with the kids during their first 28 days of life is important for the improvement of the survival rate.
Abstract in Portuguese:
Medeiros J.M., Tabosa I.M., Simões S.V.D., Nóbrega Jr J. E., Vasconcelos J.S. & Riet-Correa F. 2005. [Perinatal mortality in kids in the semiarid region of Paraíba, Brazil.] Mortalidade perinatal em cabritos no semi-árido da Paraíba. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 25(4):201-206. Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, 58700-970 Patos, PB, Brazil. E-mail: riet@cstr.ufcg.edu.br
The causes of perinatal kid mortality were studied from May 2002 to August 2004 in the semiarid region of Paraíba. In 118 necropsied kids the frequency of different causes of death were neonatal infections (50%), distocia (12.71%), hypothermia/starvation (11.86%), malformations (7.62%), floppy kid (6.77%) and abortions (1.69%). Regarding the time of death, 1.69% of the kids died before parturition, 16.94% during the parturition and 81.34 % after birth. The high occurrence of neonatal infections, dystocias, and hypothermia/starvation is probably to due to factors related with error in the sanitary, reproductive and nutritional management. Arthrogryposis of the forelimbs was the main malformation observed. This defect is endemic in goat flocks in the semi-arid of Brazil. Most deaths occurred after birth (25.42%) and from the 4th to the 28th day of life (38.98%) suggesting that care with the kids during their first 28 days of life is important for the improvement of the survival rate.
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.
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.
Abstract in English:
A study on ovine perinatal mortality was done on one farm near Bagé in 1978 and on 15 farms in the counties of Bagé, Pelotas and Santa Vitória do Palmar, Rio Grande do Sul, in 1979. Six hundred and twelve lambs were necropsied. The most commom cause of death was starvation/exposure which accounted for 58.2% of deaths in 1978 and 56.7% in 1979. Dystocia was the second cause of mortality, 8.6% in 1978 and 22.9% in 1979. Predators were the primary cause of death of 2.4% of necropsied lambs, in 1979. Other causes of death (congenital infections, neonatal infections, congenital malformations) were not considered important in the total number of mortalities. When a comparison was made of birth weights on one farm, it was observed that those lambs that died had weighed significantly less than those that survived (P < 0.01). Lambs which had died from starvation/exposure were significantly lighter than those that died of complications due to dystocia (P < 0.01). Lambing percentages, lamb mortality and survival rate were determined on seven of the farms studied in 1979. Perinatal mortality (21%) was the main cause of the low reproductive performance on only one farm. Although lamb mortality was not great, between· 8 and 13% on the rest of the farms, the low marking percentage, between 66 and 84%, was due to low lambing rates.
Abstract in Portuguese:
O estudo foi realizado em um estabelecimento de Bagé em 1978, e em 15 estabelecimentos de Bagé, Pelotas e Santa Vitória do Palmar, RS, em 1979. Pela necropsia de 612 cordeiros, observou-se que a causa mais freqüente de mortalidade foi o complexo inanição/exposição (58,2% em 1978 e 56,7% em 1979), ficando a distocia em segundo lugar (8,6% em 1978 e 22,9% em 1979). A predação primária foi diagnosticada em 2,4% dos cordeiros necropsiados, não sendo causa importante de mortalidade, já que foi superada tanto pela predação secundária como pela de pós-morte. Infecções congênitas, infecções neonatais e malformações congênitas também não foram causas importantes no total das mortes. Em um estabelecimento os cordeiros foram pesados ao nascimento e verificou-se que os que morreram foram significativamente mais leves que os sobreviventes (P < 0,01). Os cordeiros mortos devido ao complexo inanição/exposição foram significativamente mais leves (P < 0,01) do que os mortos por distocia. Em 7 dos estabelecimentos estudados em 1979, foram determinadas as porcentagens de parição, de mortalidade de cordeiros e de assinalação. Somente em um estabelecimento a mortalidade perinatal (21%) foi a principal causa de baixa eficiência reprodutiva. Nos 6 restantes, apesar de a mortalidade ter sido considerada baixa (entre 8 e 13%), a porcentagem de assinalação variou entre 66 e 84%, devido, aparentemente, às baixas taxas de parição.
Abstract in English:
The following results reflect the lamb mortality rates of two neighbouring flocks of sheep in the district of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul. Post mortem examination was performed on 200 lambs, in order to establish the causa mortis and its relationship to sex, weight and climatic conditions. Perinatal mortality is a complex problem that does not have one specifc cause, but is the result of a variety of interrelating factors which are believed to differ from flock to flock. In this study, the non-infectious causes were found to be more important than the infectious ones. Based on the criteria used, the mortality was olassified as follows: complex of starvation/exposure to climatic conditions 157 (78.5%); dystocia, 21 (10.5%); predators, 9 (4.5%); stillbirth, 5 (2.5%); traumatism, 5 (2.5%); congenital defects, 1 (0.5%); neonatal infections, 1 (0.5%); without diagnosis, 1 (0.5%). There were a total of 119 males and 81 females. The mean weight of all lambs subrnitted to necropsy was 3,127 g, ranging from 1,400 to 5,100 g. The highest rate of mortality in relation tó weight was recorded in the group weighing between 3,000 and 3,500 g, 31 % of the total number of animals examined.
Abstract in Portuguese:
Estes resultados refletem a situação da mortalidade perinatal que ocorreu em dois rebanhos de propriedades vizinhas no município de Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, onde foram necropsiados 200 cordeiros no sentido de se tentar estabelecer o diagnóstico da causa mortis e, quando possível, correlacioná-la com o sexo, peso e as condições climáticas. A mortalidade perinatal de cordeiros é um problema complexo que não tem apenas uma causa específica, sendo, pois, o resultado do envolvimento de muitos fatores, os quais, acredita-se, se podem diversificar de rebanho para rebanho. Durante este estudo, as causas não infecciosas foram mais importantes que as infecciosas. Conforme os critérios adotados, a mortalidade ficou distribuída nos seguintes grupos: complexo da inanição/exposição às condições climáticas 157 (78,5%); distocia, 21 (10,5%); predadores, 9 (4,5%); natimortos, 5 (2,5%); traumatismo, 5 (2,5%); sem diagnóstico, 1 (0,5%). No total, foram 119 machos e 81 fêmeas. A média dos pesos de todos os cordeiros necropsiados foi de 3 .127 g, variando de 1.400 a 5.100 g. A maior freqüência de mortalidade em relação ao peso foi entre 3 .000 a 3.500 g, perfazendo 31 % dos animais examinados.