, 20 e 10 dias antes do parto, no momento do parto e nos 10, 20 e 30 dias pós-parto. As variáveis mensuradas foram: glicose, frutosamina, ácidos graxos não esterificados (AGNEs), β-hidroxibutirato, colesterol, triglicérides, proteína total, albumina, ureia e pesquisa de corpos cetônicos na urina. As determinações hormonais foram cortisol e a insulina. No fluido ruminal foi determinado o pH e a concentração dos ácidos graxos voláteis. Na análise estatística foi empregada a ANOVA e estudo de correlação (P<0,05). A monensina elevou (P<0,05) a concentração do propionato no rúmen e frutosamina e insulina no sangue. A administração da monensina promoveu melhora em alguns indicadores do balanço energético. Palavras-chave: ácidos graxos voláteis; ionóforo; ovinos; perfil energético; perfil proteico. AbstractThe study was carried out to analyze the effect of monensin supplementation during 60 days prior to parturition, and 30 days postpartum, on the metabolic and hormonal profile of ewes. Pregnant ewes (n=13) were randomly divided into two groups: monensin group (n = 7; 30 mg/day) and control group (n = 6). Blood and ruminal fluid samples were collected 60, 50,40,30,20 and 10 days prior to parturition, at the time of parturition and on 10, 20 and 30 days postpartum. The following variables were analyzed: glucose, fructosamine, non-esterfied fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, urea and ketone bodies in the urine. The hormonal determinations were cortisol and insulin. The analysis of the ruminal fluid involved pH and concentration of volatile fatty acids. The statistical analysis involved ANOVA and correlation studies (P<0,05). Monensin increased (P<0,05) the propionic acid concentration in the rumen and blood fructosamine and insulin. The administration of monensin improved some indicators of energy balance.

Background: Intussusception, characterized by invagination of an intestinal segment into the lumen of the adjacent segment, is one of the main causes of intestinal obstruction in cattle, and occurs more frequently in calves. The diagnosis of the disease is based on the history, clinical examination, and complementary exams, which are a challenge in this species, especially in calves, in which transrectal palpation is limited. As it is a non-invasive, effective, and low-cost test, ultrasonography could be an important tool in the diagnosis of intestinal obstructions, in which time is essential for the prognosis. Therefore, the objective was to report a case of intussusception in a calf diagnosed by ultrasound.Case: A 4-month-old calf, weaned at 3 months and raised intensively, was treated at the Clínica de Bovinos de Garanhuns, campus of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (CBG/UFRPE), with a history of apathy, anorexia, and dyschezia for 3 days. On physical examination, fever, moderate dehydration, tachycardia, tachypnea with polypnea, bilaterally bulging abdomen, sound of fluid on ballottement, ruminal and intestinal hypomotility, and melena were observed. The hematological findings revealed leukocytosis due to neutrophilia (degenerate neutrophils), hypoproteinemia, and hyperfibrinogenemia. The analysis of the ruminal fluid showed compromised microbiota and increased chloride content. The transabdominal ultrasonography demonstrated, in the right ventral region, hypermotile and full small bowel loops and an increase in the volume of the peritoneal fluid. In addition, there was a segment of the small intestine which, in cross-section, showed multiple concentric rings (“onion rings”, “target pattern”, or “bull’s eye”) and adherence to adjacent loops, compatible with intestinal obstruction due to intussusception. Due to the seriousness of the clinical condition and the ultrasound findings, the animal was euthanized and the necropsy revealed focal fibrinous peritonitis and intestinal obstruction due to intussusception in ileum intestinal segments.Discussion: Intussusception has previously been reported in calves, however this is the first report of ultrasound diagnosis of the disease in Brazil. Although the etiology is rarely confirmed, the age group and recent changes in diet (weaning) were predisposing factors. The history, clinical signs, and laboratory tests were similar to those described in cattle with intussusception, however they may be present in other gastrointestinal illnesses. Other authors have also reported that the nonspecificity of the signs and the impossibility of performing transrectal palpation made it difficult to diagnose intestinal obstruction in calves without the use of other diagnostic tools. As it is a non-invasive and accurate technique, ultrasound has been used in ruminants for diagnostic purposes, including intestinal obstructions. In the present case, the main findings are described as the presence of a lesion with the appearance of multiple concentric rings, hypermotile, dilated, and full intestinal loops. The pathological findings were compatible with the ultrasound images and similar to those described by other authors, confirming the diagnosis. The use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool in cattle should be expanded, aiming at the early determination of diagnosis and prognosis, to reduce producer costs and animal discomfort. In cases of intussusception, late diagnosis makes treatment unfeasible.

The increase in energy imbalance at the beginning of lactation leads to metabolic disorders, especially clinical ketosis, in highly productive dairy cows. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters, and cardiac biomarkers creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) of 15 cows diagnosed with clinical ketosis treated at the Bovine Clinic of Garanhuns at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco. Nine of the 15 cows were diagnosed with primary ketosis and six had concomitant diseases, including left abomasal displacement, metritis, pneumonia, and renal failure. The observed clinical signs were non-specific and included decreased appetite and milk production and weight loss. Approximately 53% of the animals had central nervous system involvement. For biochemical evaluation, 15 high-production healthy dairy cows at the initial stage of lactation served as the control group. The data were subjected to analysis of variance for simultaneous comparison between two means allowing testing the hypothesis on the means of the different groups and subjected to Pearson correlation at a level of significance of 5%. The levels of ?-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, fructosamine, total protein, albumin, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, CK-MB, and cTnI were higher in the group with ketosis. The diseased animals presented changes in glycemia, reduction in tissue sensitivity to insulin, and a lower RQUICKI-BHB index, especially hyperglycemic animals. The increase in the levels of cardiac biomarkers suggests the occurrence of myocardial injury associated with bovine ketosis.

/agrariacad Avaliação da bioquímica sanguínea de vacas leiteiras acometidas por desordens digestivas de natureza mecânica. Evaluation of biochemical metabolites in dairy cows affected by mechanical digestive disorders

Background: Primary neoplasms of the respiratory tract are rare in cattle, and they present with nonspecific clinical signs and are usually found at post-mortem. Pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the acinar type is uncommon, and information about this neoplasm in cattle is scarce. This paper aims to describe the clinical, laboratory, and pathological findings in a cow with this neoplasm.Case: A 10-year-old, adult, mixed-breed Holstein cow weighing 300 kg was referred to the Garanhuns Cattle Clinic of the Campus of Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Brazil, with a history of decreased appetite, tiredness, weight loss, and difficulty in breathing for two months. The animal had been treated at the farm of origin with enrofloxacin, florfenicol, and flunixin meglumine. The animal’s appetite improved, but no improvement in the respiratory symptoms was observed. On examination at our center, the cow was in an orthopedic position, with neck extension and elbow abduction; and it remained in a recumbent position. The cow had neutrophilia, normochromic normocytic anemia, and hyperfibrinogemia. The body condition score (BCS) was 1 (BCS ranges from 1 to 5), and the cow had moderate enophthalmia, serous secretions in nostrils, tachycardia, and tachypnea. It also had increased breathing intensity; increased breath sounds in the cranial regions of both lungs; areas of reduced breath sounds in the medial portions of the lungs; intermittent wheezing in the cranial region of the left lung medially and in the cranial region of the right lung medially; intermittent crepitations in the cranial region of the right lung medially; reduced thoracic expansion; and expiratory dyspnea. Pulmonary ultrasonography revealed hyperechogenic multifocal structures in both lungs. In view of the severe clinical condition and unfavorable prognosis, the owner opted for euthanasia. Necropsy revealed that there was a significant amount of yellow fluid in the thoracic cavity, and the cut surfaces of the lungs were covered with fibrin and pleural adhesions. The lungs had irregular surfaces with multifocal nodules of various sizes and firm consistency. The texture of the cut nodules was solid, and the nodules had a yellowish color. Histologically, the pulmonary nodules were composed of neoplastic cells. They were pleomorphic, infiltrative epithelial cells with little cytoplasm; large and spherical nuclei with abundant euchromatin; occasional anisokaryosis; visible nucleolus; and numerous mitotic figures. Results of anti-cytokeratin immunohistochemistry were strongly positive for cytokeratin in the lungs and lymph nodes. Discussion: The diagnosis of acinar pulmonary adenocarcinoma was based on clinical, laboratory, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings. Clinical signs and lung ultrasound suggested a severe respiratory disease. Pulmonary tumors are usually solid, and they show areas of central necrosis that resemble granulomas. However, the histopathological findings in the current case were compatible with a primary pulmonary neoplasm. Primary pulmonary neoplasms, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of weight loss, cachexia, and respiratory symptoms in adult cattle. The morphological pattern and the strong immunoreactivity on immunohistochemical examination were conclusive for a diagnosis of a primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the acinar type because these tumors specifically contain cytokeratin.