An outbreak of enzootic ataxia among sheep raised in the northeastern region of Brazil is described. Copper (Cu) deficiency was diagnosed in a herd of 56 sheep, among which five presented characteristic clinical symptoms of enzootic ataxia. The symptoms began 30 days after birth, with a clinical condition that included locomotion difficulty, limb ataxia, tremors, and continual falls. Liver biopsies were performed and blood was collected to determine hepatic and plasmatic Cu, iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) concentration, respectively. The laboratory results showed that the animals presented low copper concentrations in the plasma and liver, without difference between the clinically healthy animals and those affected by enzootic ataxia. Even after supplementation with adequate Cu levels had been recommended, it was found on a new visit to the farm four months later that one animal still presented a clinical condition and that the hepatic Cu levels of the herd had not risen. Despite the low copper content of the diet, the high hepatic Fe levels found suggest that antagonism due to this element may have been an important factor in triggering copper deficiency in these animals, and thus, additional copper supplementation may be necessary for these animals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological, biochemical, and blood gas alterations of goat whole blood stored in different blood bags. Seven male, adult, crossbreed goats were used, weighing 62±1.8 kg. Nine hundred milliliters of whole blood from each animal was collected and stored in blood bags (450 ml in each), CPDA-1 (citrate phosphate dextrose-adenine) and CPD/SAG-M (citrate phosphate dextrose with saline-glucose-mannitol) as additive solutions, and kept refrigerated (2-4 ºC) for 42 days. Blood samples were collected from the plastic bags at baseline (T0) and after seven, 14, 21,28, 35, and 42 days for hematological, biochemical, blood gas, and microbiological evaluations. Free hemoglobin, degree of hemolysis, lactate, and pO2were increased in both bags, whereas hydrogen potential (pH) and the total hemoglobin concentration decreased overtime(P<0.05). The red blood cell count, glucose, sodium, and potassium remained stable, compared to the baseline. The CPD/SAG-M bag presented a lower red cell count, globular volume, total hemoglobin, and sodium, and a higher degree of hemolysis and plasma hemoglobin, compared with the CPDA-1 bag. The whole goat blood remained viable for therapeutic use; although, there were some important changes in the variables of the 42-day stored blood in relation to fresh blood (T0). We concluded that the CPDA-1 bag is more suitable for use in the storage of goat blood because of its lower commercial value.

The aims of the present study were (i) to determine the occurrence and (ii) to evaluate possible factors associated with infection by Brucella abortus in free-ranging equids from Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Sera from 227 free-ranging equids (178 donkeys, 43 horses and 6 mules), captured by the highway police and the prefecture agents, were screened by the rose bengal test (RBT) and confirmed for B. abortus-antibodies by the standard tube agglutination (STAT) and the 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) tests. Of the 227 equids tested, four (1.76%) were positive for B. abortus antibodies. All were horses, which resulted in an observed frequency of infection for this species of 9.30% (4/43). No association was found among seropositivity for B. abortus and the age and sex. Thus, data from the present study showed that infection by B. abortus is present among horses in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Key words: Brucellosis, B. abortus, free-ranging equids, Mossoró ResumoOs objetivos deste trabalho foram (i) determinar a ocorrência da infecção por Brucella abortus em equídeos de vida livre no município de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte e (ii) avaliar possíveis fatores associados a esta infecção. Soros de 227 equídeos (178 asininos, 43 equinos e 6 muares), capturados pela polícia rodoviária e funcionários da prefeitura, foram coletados por punção venosa. A pesquisa de anticorpos anti-Brucella abortus foi realizada empregando-se, como triagem, o teste do antígeno acidificado tamponado (AAT) e como confirmatório o teste de redução pelo 2-Mercaptoetanol (2ME Brucella abortus infection in horses was a wellstudied subject during the 1970s and 1980s but recently, only a few reports could be found in the literature. Brucellosis in equids is important due to its clinical manifestations, which could result in the reduction of working capacity. Moreover, infected equids could be a potential source of infection to other species, including man (DENNY 1973). The frequencies of Brucella spp. infection in equids observed in studies throughout the world vary from 0.0% to 73.1% in horses, 0.0% to 7.4% in donkeys and 0.0% to 0.95% in mules (HIPÓLITO; SOUZA;

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