We report two brothers with a cystic malformation of the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. In both cases the malformation was fatal and the children died shortly after birth. The pathological findings, consisting of multicystic dysplastic kidneys, dilated and dysgenetic bile ducts, dilated pancreatic ducts, and polysplenia, correspond to those reported by Ivemark as renal-hepatic-pancreatic dysplasia. Many polymalformation syndromes include cystic affectation of these three organs, so this syndrome could be an isolated entity or a final common pathway of response of these organs to a variety of developmental disturbances, which could also include splenic abnormalities. We propose an autosomal recessive pattern ofinheritance for renal-hepatic-pancreatic dysplasia.

The present study evaluated the use of haptoglobin (Hp) as an indicator of health and performance in 166 Holstein heifer calves reared in an intensive production system. Calves were evaluated at D6-9; D10-13; D20-23; D35-38 and D65-68, corresponding to the days of life. The absence or presence of diseases was evaluated by physical examination and classification of scores. The performance parameters evaluated were body weight, height at withers and hind width. Hp was measured by spectrophotometric technique. The highest prevalence of diarrhea (59.4%; 98/165) was observed in D10-13, bovine respiratory disease (BRD) was on D35-38 (25.8%; 42/163), and umbilical inflammations in D6-D9 (7.8%; 13/166). Highest values of Hp were observed in animals with diarrhea (P=0.02), and umbilical inflammation (P=0.057), in comparison with the group of healthy calves. A significant negative correlation was observed between Hp and performance index. This protein presented an important relation with diarrhea and performance of the calves, opening perspectives on its utilization as a biomarker of diseases.

Background: Physiological events occur in the transition period marked by negative energetic balance, where the energetic demand is higher due to fetal nutrition and lactogenesis and intensified by the decrease of the dry matter intake in the pre-partum period. The adaptation of cows is dependent of homeostatic and homeorhetic mechanisms regulated by catecholamine, cortisol, GH, IGF-I, insulin and glucagon but the priorization of homeorhetic mechanisms could result in metabolic diseases. Considering the scarce longitudinal studies about the Brazilian conditions the aim of this project was to evaluate the influence of transition period on metabolic indicators, cortisol and IGF-I in Holstein cows.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirteen cows, from 2nd to 4th lactation were evaluated weakly from week -2 to week +3 in relation to calving to determine the body condition score (BCS), metabolic and endocrine profile. The BCS decreased between week -2 (BCS = 4.0) and +1 (BCS = 3.0), followed by and slight increase on weeks +2 and +3 (P = 0.000). The most of metabolic indicators and hormones have changed during the transition period (P ≤ 0.05), especially around calving. It was possible to detect the peak of cortisol, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), ß-hydroxibutyrate (BHB), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) on delivery and week +1. On the other hand, total calcium, triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) decreased was observed around parturition. Insulin like growth factor type I (IGF-I) showed marked reduction between pre and postpartum, and the lowest value was observed in the week +1. TP and GLOB had the lowest value on calving and globulin has a gradual increase from delivery to week +3.Discussion: Cows included in this experiment had dystocia (4/13, 30.8%), retention of placenta (1/13, 7.7%) and clinical hypocalcemia (1/13, 7.7%). One of the animals with episodes of dystocia was also aggravated by ketosis in week +1 and +2 (1/13, 7.7%). Uterine infections were observed in five animals (5/13, 38.4%). Of this total of animals with uterine infection (5/13), three had already expressed earlier disturbances: two cows had dystocia and one cow with retention of placenta. The weight loss observed between pre and postpartum may be due to an increase of energy demand for fetal maintenance and the concomitant initiation of lactation, in conjunction with an approximately 30% reduction in dry matter intake during the transitional period. The hyperglycemia concomitant with the peak of cortisol at delivery may be explaining by the activation of the somatotropic axis, due to the stress of calving. The increase of NEFA, BHB and AST around calving associated with decreased of TG and CHOL could be associated with homeorhetic mechanisms, especially lipolysis and gluconeogenesis. The IGF-I decrease in postpartum may be by the decreased expression of receptors for growth hormone (GH) in the liver, and consequently reduced synthesis and/or IGF-I hepatic clearance, which reduce of the negative feedback of IGF-I on GH secretion. The total calcium concentrations were below the threshold (8.50 mg/dL) established by Goff [10] at parturition, week +1 and +2 and probably is due to the secretion of 20-30 g of calcium per day during the colostrum synthesis. Total protein and albumin have a slight variation, except for the peak observed on week +3 due to uterine infection.

Acute phase proteins (APPs) may be an alternative for the prognosis, monitoring and diagnosis of diseases. Studies involving APPs in horses with easy access and low cost methodologies are important for use in the hospital context. The objective of this study was to determine the serum concentration of the haptoglobin (Hp) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) proteins by spectrophotometric technique, to compare the genera and to evaluate the association between these proteins and fibrinogen (Fib) in Brazilian Sport Horse. The intentional non-probabilistic study delineated two groups: G1 = 11 females and G2 = 9 males. Hematological exams of the mean cell volume, total leukocytes, total proteins and fibrinogen and clinical examination were performed to verify the health of the animals. As a general result (G1 + G2) the mean values of Hp and Cp were 0.29 ± 0.12 g / L and 20.1 ± 8.6 IU / L, respectively. Both females and males presented similar concentrations for both APPs. The concentration of Hp in G1 was 0.30 ± 0.11 g / L and in G2 0.26 ± 0.13 g / L. The values of the concentrations of Cp in G1 were 19.8 ± 10.6 IU / L and in G2 of 20.48 ± 5.9 IU / L. Hp showed a moderate significant correlation with Fib (P = 0.046). The study of the detection of Hp and Cp proteins does not show the influence of sex, and shows an association between Hp and Fib. It also highlights the importance of the use of spectrophotometric techniques for the detection of APP.

Background: Newborn calves are born immunosuppressed, hypogammaglobulinemic, immunologically immature, and therefore more vulnerable to many infectious diseases. During pregnancy, the fetal-placental environment is regulated by Th2-type cytokines that neutralize Th1 responses, an important factor for immune defense against viral agents. The ingestion and absorption of colostral immunoglobulins enhance the immunity of the neonate. However, the presence of maternal antibodies might negatively affect the success of parental vaccination in the first two months of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effecacy of parenteral vaccination in newborn calves with high titers of maternal antibodies against respiratory viruses.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty-eight Holstein calves were allocated to the vaccinated group (VAC, n = 18) or an unvaccinated control group (NVAC, n = 10). The initial vaccination with 5 mL of a commercial vaccine occurred around the 14th day of life (D14) and the booster at D35. Respiratory and diarrhea symptoms were evaluated at D12, D14, D16, D20, D31, D36, D45, D53, and D60. Blood samples were taken for leukogram, haptoglobin, and seroneutralization of BVDV, BoHV-1, BRSV, and BPI3V, at the time of vaccination at D14 (T1), at booster (D35, T2), and 21 days after the booster (D56, T3). Despite the increased prevalence of BRD during the period of the study, no calves from either group exhibited respiratory disease at D12 or D14. In subsequent assessments, the frequency of BRD increased over time in the VAC group until it reached a maximum prevalence of 38.9% (7/18) at D31. In the NVAC group, the maximum prevalence observed was 40% at D45 and D60. A comparison of the frequencies for BRD cases showed a statistical trend at D36 (P = 0.07), with a higher prevalence for the NVAC group (30%) in relation to the VAC group (5.6%). For the NVAC group, a greater number of total leukocytes was observed at T3 (P = 0.038) and granulocytes (trend) at T2 (P = 0.066). Time analysis demonstrated a decrease in haptoglobin concentration in both groups (NVAC, P = 0.005 and VAC, P = 0.006), with a reduction in the values at T1 and T3 (NVAC = 0.005 and VAC = 0.024). Antibody titers were similar between groups for BVDV, BoHV-1, and BRSV. Higher titers for BPI3V were observed for the VAC group at D56 (P = 0.045).Discussion: The early-onset BRD was present in both groups between 30 and 60 days of age, based on the higher prevalence observed. These data reinforce the importance of early immunization programmes before infection. Factors such as management practices and facilities may have also contributed to the higher prevalence of BRD. The increased number of leukocytes and neutrophils at T2 (D35) and T3 (D56) in the NVAC group points to a stronger inflammatory response to various types of potential challenges. The inflammatory leukocyte profile explains the higher haptoglobin values observed in the NVAC group at T2 (D35). The similarity of titers of antibodies against BVDV, BoHV-1, and BRSV between groups may indicate that vaccinating the calves at 14 days of age did not induce a humoral immune response to these viruses, likely due to interference from the maternal antibodies. Early vaccination prevented a drop in specific viral antibodies and promoted partial protection for vaccinated calves around 14 days of age, with a decrease in the intensity of the inflammatory response at the peak of the disease and a higher concentration of antibodies against BPI3V after the booster.