Presence of Papillomavirus DNA sequences in the canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT).

BACKGROUND: The canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) or Sticker's sarcoma is a neoplastic disease affecting dogs. This disease is presented as a tumoral mass in the genital organs of both, male and female individuals. Up to date, there is no clear evidence indicating a viral agent as the causative mediator for CTVT development. PURPOSE: The present work aims to analyze 21 samples from canines with CTVT for molecular identification of Papillomavirus DNA sequences. In addition, microbiological analysis, cytologic and histopathologic evaluations were also performed. RESULTS: All patients showed no biochemical and microbiological alterations. Molecular analysis demonstrated the viral DNA presence in the samples using different primer sets. The MY primers amplified a 450 bp band in seven out of 21 samples (33%). The PVF and Fap64 primer set, targeting the L1 sequence of Canine Papillomavirus (CPV), showed positivity in 16 out of 21 samples (76%). CONCLUSION: These results support the possible causative association between CPV and CTVT; nevertheless, additional studies are required to uphold such statement. This work presents evidence indicating that a viral agent might be involved in the pathogenesis of CTVT and set the bases for a better understanding of the CTVT pathobiology.

Short communication: estrus synchronization using progestogens or cloprostenol in tropical hair sheep.

The objective of the experiment was to compare the use of a PGF2α analogue (Cloprostenol) IM, with an intravaginal progestagen sponge, flurogestone acetate (FGA), and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) IM application protocol. A total of 30 cyclical hair ewes (54.07 ± 0.5 kg live weight, body condition score 3.5 ± 0.5, and age 3 ± 1 years) were used. For the control group ewes (n = 15), intravaginal sponges (IS) impregnated with 20 mg of FGA were inserted for 12 days with 500 IU of eCG IM at sponges withdrawal. For the PG group ewes (Treatment group n = 15), two injections of Cloprostenol (75 mcg) were given 12 days apart. The presence of estrus was detected using two rams with 8 h interval beginning at the end of the treatment. Progesterone concentrations in blood were measured by solid phase radioimmunoassay. A student's t test was performed to analyze the duration of estrus and the interval between the ends of the treatment and the onset of estrus (ET-OE) presentation. Progesterone levels were compared with two-way ANOVA, with treatment, and day of menstrual cycle as fixed factors. Treatment costs ratio was calculated by dividing the total costs of FGA IS application between total costs of Cloprostenol application. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in the (ET-OE) interval and estrus duration. For the control group, estrus was presented at 30 + 8.2 h; in treatment group, at 44 h after the last application, duration of estrus was 54.9 + 8.34 h, and 41 + 1.83 h for the control and treatment group, pregnancy rates were 53.3 and 60.0 %, respectively. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found from days 9 to 13 on Progesterone levels in both treatments. Treatment costs of Cloprostenol protocol were 2.63 cheaper than FGA including disposable material, biological products, and labor. It was concluded that Cloprostenol could be an effective tool in estrus synchronization in hair sheep in tropical areas.

Diseases of backyard turkeys in the Mexican tropics.

With the purpose of identifying the causes of disease and death in backyard turkeys, 768 interviews with growers were carried out in communities of the coastal region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Later, a clinical sanitary evaluation was performed on five randomly selected turkeys of different age and sex. The laboratory tests included: necropsy for clinical diagnosis of diseases and for a histopathological examination of tissues with macroscopic lesions to identify microscopic lesions; hemagglutination inhibition tests to diagnose Newcastle disease and avian influenza; agglutination test to identify Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae, and Salmonella pullorum; and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to identify infectious bronchitis and infectious bursal disease. Both internal and external parasites were identified. The data obtained by the interviews showed that sudden death, avian pox, respiratory disease, and diarrhea were the most important manifestations in backyard turkeys. The laboratory tests found avian pox, avian influenza, and infectious bronchitis; sensitivity to M. synoviae and M. gallisepticum; protozoal infections by Eimeria meleagridis and E. dispersa; internal parasite infestation by Heterakis gallinae and Ascaridia gallinae; and mycotoxicoses.

Sistemas neurales de retroalimentación durante el ciclo reproductivo anual de la oveja: una revisión / Neural feedback systems during the annual reproducctive cycle of the ewe: a review

El ciclo reproductivo anual de la oveja es regulado por la amplitud del fotoperiodo. La señal luminosa se traduce en una señal hormonal a través de la síntesis de melatonina. La disminución en la duración del fotoperiodo induce la actividad reproductiva y el aumento en las horas luz, inhibe la actividad ovulatoria estral, la conducta de estro y la ovulación (anestro estacional). Durante la época reproductiva, la progesterona (P4) regula los ciclos estrales de la oveja inhibiendo la secreción pulsátil de la hormona liberadora de gonadotropinas (GnRH) a nivel del área preóptica (POA) del hipotálamo, donde ejerce su acción de manera indirecta, posiblemente a través del ácido gama amino butírico (GABA) y los péptidos opioides endógenos (POEs). En la fase folicular del ciclo estral, el estradiol (E2) ejerce un efecto de retroalimentación positiva a nivel del hipotálamo mediobasal (HMB), incrementa la secreción pulsátil de GnRH y de la hormona luteinizante (LH), e induce el pico preovulatorio de ambas hormonas, provocando la conducta de estro y la ovulación. Durante la época de anestro estacional, el patrón de secreción de melatonina favorece el aumento en la sensibilidad del hipotálamo a la concentración basal de E2; este esteroide inhibe la secreción pulsátil de GnRH, actuando específicamente en el núcleo A15 dopaminérgico del área retroquiasmática lateral (Arch) hipotalámica. En este mecanismo, el sistema dopaminérgico participa como intermediario entre el E2 y las neuronas GnRH

Pubertad en corderos pelibuey nacidos de ovejas con reproducción estacional o continua / Puberty in male pelibuey lambis offspring of seasonal or continuous breeding ewes

Corderos Pelibuey (n= 14) nacidos de siete madres con reproducción estacional (E) o de otras siete continuas (C) fueron mantenidos en condiciones intensivas con finalidad de determinar si existen diferencias en algunos eventos asociados a la pubertad. Los corderos, nacidos en noviembre, fueron pesados cada 15 días y una vez destetados a los 60 días fueron revisados semanalmente para registrar el momento del completo desprendimiento de adherencias prepuciales (DAP) y el grado de desarrollo de la circunferencia escrotal (CE). Al observarse el DAP, los corderos fueron sometidos semanalmente al electro-eyaculación (7,5 volts). No existieron diferencias (p>0.05) entre los grupos en la edad al DAP (92,29 ± 27,63 vs 95,43 ± 15,69 días para corderos E y C, respectivamente), y en el peso corporal al DAP (24,43 ± 24,14 ± 1,93 kg) y la CE (17,14 ± 2,17 vs 18,14 ± 1,44 cm) a esta edad. La CE se correlacionó con el DAP (r= 0,59, P= 0,026) y el peso corporal en este momento (r= 0,69, P= 0,007). Por otro lado, los corderos de ambos grupos tampoco mostraron diferencias (P>0,05) en el momento en que alcanzaron la pubertad, referida como el momento en que se obtuvo un eyaculado con al menos 50 x 10 elevado a la seis espermatozoides/mL y al menos 50% de motilidad (144,07 ± 8,43 días), el peso corporal (32,60 ± 3,94 kg) la CE (25,86 ± 2,24 cm) y el porcentaje de anormalidades espermáticas (18,33 ± 15,57%). La edad a la pubertad se correlacionó con la CE (r= 0,59, P= 0,027). Los resultados sugieren que los mecanismos fisiológicos que provocan la aparición de la pubertad en corderos Pelibuey son independientes del patrón de reproducción de sus madres.