Prevalence and risk factors associated with ectoparasite infestation of buffaloes in an Amazonian ecosystem.

BACKGROUND: The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is well adapted in some regions of the Amazon. Of all Brazilian states, Pará contains the largest number of this species, with 510,000 animals, approximately 38% of the Brazilian buffaloes. Despite the socioeconomic importance of bubaline farming in the northern region, little is known about the prevalence of ectoparasites that affect buffalo herds. This study aimed to identify the species of buffalo ectoparasites in the municipality of Santarém, Pará, and to determine possible risk factors related to ectoparasitic infestation. A cross-sectional study was conducted by sampling 60 rural properties and 621 buffaloes for ectoparasites. When present, ectoparasites were collected for subsequent identification. RESULTS: Of all the animals sampled, 18.5% (115/621) had ectoparasites, 7.8% (49/621) had ticks from the species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Amblyomma cajennense (sensu stricto), and 11.5% (72/621) had lice from the Haematopinus tuberculatus species. Six animals presented mixed infestations of ticks and lice. Among the sampled farms, 51.6% (31/60) had at least one animal infested with ectoparasites. The prevalence of ticks and lice on buffaloes was associated with the farm site, with higher prevalence (11.5% ticks, 15.4% lice) in animals at dry land (OR: 16.7 and 5.7 for ticks and lice, respectively) when compared with floodplains (0.5% ticks, 3.4% lice). Buffaloes aged 1 to 12 months had more ticks whereas buffaloes aged 13 to 24 months had more lice (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Buffaloes bred in the municipality of Santarém present different levels of tick and lice infestation according to the direct influence of Amazon ecosystem characteristics. The floodplain environment, widely used for buffalo farming, contributes toward minor ectoparasite infestations in these animals.

Peso e condição corporal, contagem de OPG e perfil metabólico sanguíneo de ovelhas da raça Santa Inês no periparto, criadas na região da Baixada Litorânea do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Body weight and body condition, EPG couting and blood metabolic profile of Santa Ines ewes in the peripartum kept in the coastal plains of Rio de Janeiro

O presente trabalho descreveu mudanças do peso, da condição corporal (CC), da contagem de ovos por grama (OPG) defezes e do perfil metabólico de ovelhas da raça Santa Inês em diferentes tempos do periparto. Análise de variância foiefetuada considerando 5% de significância e aplicação da equação de regressão nas variáveis significativas. A condiçãocorporal diminuiu após o parto. As concetrações de hemoglobina diminuíram entre T+20 e T+30 coincidente com o aumentodo OPG. As concentrações de albumina e ureia apresentaram equações de regressão lineares com decréscimo dos valoresdo pré-parto para o pós-parto. As equações de regressão para o beta-hidroxibutirato, cálcio, fósforo e magnésio apresentaramum comportamento quadrático. As concentrações de beta-hidroxibutirato e cálcio foram mais elevados tanto nos dias queantecederam quanto nos que sucederam ao parto. Os valores mais elevados de fósforo foram observados nos tempospróximos ao parto, decrescendo aos 30 dias do pós-parto. O magnésio apresentou um aumento de seus valores no pósparto.A manutenção do ECC entre 3,0 e 2,5 no período periparto garantiu parâmetros hematológicos compatíveis com aprodução e saúde dos animais. Os valores baixos de albumina sérica e ureia evidenciaram um balanço proteico inadequado.O OPG foi sensível a variações no periparto

Changes in weight, body condition (BC) and eggs per gram (EPG) in the feces and the metabolic profile of Santa Ines ewes in different peripartum times were described in this study. Analysis of variance was used considering a 5% significance and the application of regression equation for the significant variables. Body condition declined after birth.Hemoglobin concentrations decreased between T+20 and T+30, coincidently with the increase of EPG. Albumin and urea concentration  had linear regression equations together with the decline of pre- and postpartum values. Regression equations for betahydroxybutyrate,   calcium, phosphorus and magnesium had quadratic behavior. Beta-hydroxybutyrate and calcium concentrations were higher in the days pre- and postpartum. Highest values of phosphorus were observed in the times close to birth, declining at 30 days postpartum. Increased values of magnesium were observed postpartum. Maintenance in ECC between 3.0 and 2.5 in the peripartum maintained the blood parameters compatible with the production and health of these animals. Low values of serum albumin and urea evidenced inadequate protein balance. EPG was sensitive to peripartum variations

Eficiência produtiva de búfalos no estado do pará em diferentes condições de suplementação mineral / Productive efficiency of buffalos in the state of pará in different conditions of mineral supplementation

O monitoramento do consumo de diferentes misturas minerais foi avaliado em 84 búfalos mestiços distribuídos em duas fazendas (1 e 2) localizadas na Meso-região do Nordeste Paraense para a avaliação do custo benefício de cada produto. As fazendas apresentavam pastagens do tipo Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandú onde os animais foram mantidos durante 14 meses. Os animais foram divididos em dois lotes. O lote 1 de cada fazenda recebeu um produto comercial de suplementação mineral recomendado para bubalinos (Topbúfalo Matsuda®) e o lote 2, o produto comercial de suplementação mineral convencional da propriedade, no qual era indicado para a espécie bovina. Na fazenda 1, o consumo da mistura mineral a ser testada foi inferior ao consumo da mistura mineral convencional e na fazenda 2, o consumo de ambos os lotes foi semelhante. O produto comercial recomendado para búfalos em regime de pastagem, em ambos os sistemas, promoveu um melhor desempenho no ganho de peso dos búfalos quando comparado a produtos comerciais recomendados para a espécie bovina. O peso médio da carcaça quente dos animais que consumiram a mistura mineral a ser testada foi superior a dos animais que receberam a mistura mineral convencional. O gasto com a suplementação mineral foi superior com os produtos convencionais em ambas as fazendas, com rendimentos líquidos menores do que a suplementação a ser testada. Conclui-se que a eficiência produtiva dos animais utilizando uma suplementação recomendada para bubalinos em regime de pastagem supera a eficiência produtiva de búfalos quando se utiliza uma suplementação recomendada para bovinos.

The monitoration of the consumption of different minerals mixtures was evaluated in 84 crossbred buffaloes distributed in two farms (1 and 2) located in Meso-area of Paraense's Northeast for the evaluation of the cost benefit of each product. The farms presented pastures of the type Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandú where the animals were maintained for 14 months. The animals were divided in two lots. The lot 1 of each farm received a commercial product of mineral supplementation recommended for buffalos (Topbúfalo Matsuda®) and the lot 2, the commercial product of conventional mineral supplementation of the property, in which was indicated for the bovine species. In Finance 1, the consumption of the mineral mixture to be tested was inferior to the consumption of the conventional mineral mixture and in Finance 2, the consumption of both lots was similar. The commercial product recommended for buffalos in pasture regime, in both systems, it promoted a better acting in the earnings of weight of the buffalos when compared to commercial products recommended for the bovine species. The medium weight of the hot carcass of the animals that consumed the mineral mixture to be tested was superior the one of the animals that received the conventional mineral mixture. The expense with the mineral supplementation was superior with the conventional products in both farms, with smaller net yields than the supplementation to be tested. Was ended that the productive efficiency of the animals using a recommended supplementation for buffalos in pasture regime overcomes the productive efficiency of buffalos when a supplementation is used recommended for bovine.