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 study investigated the gross and microscopic anatomy of the genital organs of 20 agoutis at different stages of the estrous cycle and four in the final trimester of pregnancy. Specimens were euthanized and their reproductive organs were fixed in a 4% paraformaldehyde or 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution and submitted to routine histological techniques for light and scanning electron microscopy. In the ovary, during the proestrus phase, we observed developing follicles and corpus luteum (CL) in regression; during estrus, there were Graafian follicles; during metestrus, there was a hemorrhagic corpus, whereas in diestrus, there was a mature CL. The uterus was partially double because the cervix was cranially septate but caudally, the septum disappeared, forming a single ostium that opened into the vagina. Changes occurred along the estrous cycle in the uterine and vaginal epithelia, that is, an increase in the uterine epithelium height accompanied by an increase of thickness of the vaginal epithelium during the follicular phase and a decrease of thickness of both epithelia during the luteal phase. The endometrial lining was composed of a simple cuboidal epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with basal nuclei. The vaginal mucosa consisted of epithelium that varied from nonkeratinized stratified squamous (luteal phase) to keratinized stratified squamous (follicular phase). The clitoris was external to the vagina. It presented two protruding lateral keratinized spicules and a centralized urethra, with no common parts between the urinary and genital tracts. Anatomical and histological changes were observed mainly in the cervix, vagina and spicules of the clitoris during the EC.

ResumoOrigem do plexo lombossacral em Galea spixii (Wagler, 1831) (Rodentia, Caviidae). O preá silvestre é um roedor pertencente à família Caviidae presente na região semiárida do Nordeste do Brasil. Foram utilizados 20 preás que vieram a óbito por causas naturais, obtidos no Centro de Multiplicação de Animais Silvestres (CEMAS) da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA). Os animais foram ixados em solução aquosa de formaldeído a 10% e, após 48 h, foram dissecados para visualização do plexo. As relações topográicas do plexo lombossacral foram agrupadas em tabelas e, posteriormente, submetidas a análises estatísticas (teste do qui-quadrado com correção de Yates). O plexo lombossacral originou-se das raízes ventrais dos três últimos nervos lombares e dos três primeiros nervos sacrais, correspondendo a 65% dos animais estudados (L 5 L 6 L 7 S 1 S 2 S 3 ). Originam-se do plexo os nervos: femoral, obturatório, isquiático, glúteo cranial, glúteo caudal e pudendo. Palavras-chave:Anatomia; Nervos; Preá; Roedor; Sistema nervoso AbstractThe yellow-toothed cavy is a rodent belonging to the Caviidae family that inhabits the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. We used 20 cavies that had died of natural causes, obtained from the Reproduction Center of Wild Animals (CEMAS) of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA). The animals were ixed in aqueous solution of 10% formaldehyde and, after 48 hours, they were dissected to visualize plexus. The topographic relations of the lumbosacral plexus were grouped into tables and then they underwent statistical analysis (chi-square test with Yates' correction). The lumbosacral plexus stemmed from the ventral roots of the last 3 lumbar nerves and the irst 3 sacral nerves, corresponding to 65% of the animals under study (L 5 L 6 L 7 S 1 S 2 S 3 ). These nerves stemmed from plexus: femoral, obturator, ischiatic, cranial gluteal, caudal gluteal, and pudendal.

BackgroundAcute ruminal lactic acidosis (ARLA) is a major nutritional and metabolic disorder usually characterized by excessive or non-adapted intake of diets rich in nonstructural carbohydrates. Feed additives that regulate the ruminal environment have been used to prevent ARLA, such as ionophores and, more recently, yeast culture. Thus, we aimed to compare the efficacy of a yeast-based culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with that of monensin sodium in the prevention of ARLA in sheep. Eighteen male, crossbred, rumen-cannulated sheep were randomly distributed into three groups of six animals: control, yeast culture and monensin. Thirty days after the start of supplementation with yeast culture (4 × 109 cfu/animal/day of S. cerevisiae) and monensin (33 mg/kg of total dry matter intake), 15 g/kg BW of sucrose was administered directly into the rumen of the animals to induce ARLA. Samples of blood and ruminal fluid were collected at the following time points: at baseline (T0 h) immediately before the induction of ARLA; 6 h (T6 h); 12 h (T12 h); 18 h (T18 h); 24 h (T24 h); 36 h (T36 h); and 48 h (T48 h) after ARLA induction.ResultsRuminal pH was higher in monensin group at T12 h and in yeast culture group at T36 h when compared to control group. Lower values of L-Lactate were found at yeast culture group at T24 h and T36 h. Monensin showed prophylactic effect by decreasing the rate of ruminal pH decline and occasionally reducing ruminal acidosis, whereas probiotics resulted in less accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen and a lower degree of systemic acidosis.ConclusionThe use of yeast culture can be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of ARLA in sheep, because it can effectively reduce the accumulation of lactic acid, and thereby increase ruminal pH and reduce ruminal osmolarity. On the other hand, monensin showed prophylactic effect by decreasing the rate of ruminal pH decline and occasionally reducing ruminal acidosis, however, it did not directly prevent these conditions.

O presente estudo promoveu o levantamento epidemiológico dos acidentes ofídicos ocorridos no município de Mossoró no período de 2004 a 2010, notificados pelo Sistema de Informações de Agravos e Notificação (SINAN). Os acidentes foram analisados nos seguintes aspectos: época do ano com maior acometimento, zona de ocorrência, faixa etária, sexo, local da agressão, tempo decorrido do acidente até o atendimento, sintomatologia apresentada, classificação e evolução dos casos e utilização de soroterapia. Dos 244 acidentes por animais peçonhentos notificados neste período, 58,6% correspondem a agressões por serpentes dos gêneros: Bothrops (44,8%), Crotalus (9,8%) e Micrurus (2,8%). O sexo masculino foi o mais acometido (65,7%), com predomínio da faixa etária de 20 a 49 anos (57,3%), sendo os membros inferiores a região anatômica mais afetada (39,9%). O tempo decorrido entre a picada e o atendimento foi menor que três horas (66,4%), sendo a maioria dos casos considerados leves (58,7%), os quais evoluíram para a cura (86,0%). Percebe-se tendência de aumento no registro de casos ao longo dos anos, porém muitas pessoas não procuram ajuda por não terem o conhecimento adequado, o que resulta em subnotificações. DESCRITORES: Serpentes; ofidismo; soroterapia.