Ultrasonographic anatomy of the distal flexor structures of the thoracic members of rodeo bulls.

The veterinarian is responsible for monitoring and inspecting rodeos, thus ensuring the welfare of the animals. Clinical follow-up is of great importance in animal athletes, and ultrasound has become an important, widely used complementary diagnostic method in the evaluation of these animals. In equine medicine and dairy cattle, there are several studies that describe tendon injuries through ultrasonography. However, in athlete bulls, there are still no studies using this tool as a diagnostic aid for these injuries. The first objective of the present study is to describe the ultrasound anatomy of the distal flexor structures of the thoracic limbs of healthy rodeo bulls and their measurements. The second objective is to report sonographic findings referring to changes found in the studied region of these animals. Forty-two bulls from a farm specialized in breeding and training high-performance animals were evaluated. Physical evaluation and measurements of external parameters were performed to verify possible correlations. For the ultrasound examination, a 10 MHz linear probe was used. Measurements were taken of the tendons of the flexor digit muscles, branch of the interosseous muscle for the tendon of the superficial digital flexor muscle and interosseous muscle. 42 animals were evaluated, but two were excluded from the statistical analysis because they had a history of lameness or excessive effort in the preceding six months, and their cases are described in this study. Based on knowledge of ultrasound and anatomy, greater reliability is obtained in the diagnosis and prognosis of these animals.

Detecção de coronavírus em amostras de fezes diarreicas de búfalos ( Bubalus bubalis ) criados no Estado de São Paulo / Detection of coronavirus in diarrhea samples from water buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis ) raised in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

A diarreia neonatal pode ser consequência de infecções bacterianas, endoparasitarárias e virais. Enquanto esses agentes virais são extensamente estudados nos rebanhos bovinos, faltam informações sobre a importância destes para os rebanhos bubalinos brasileiros. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a presença de rotavírus e coronavírus em amostras de fezes diarreicas de búfalos (Bubalus buballis) criados em oito propriedades localizadas em Pariquera-açu, Registro, Pirassununga, Dourado, São João da Boa Vista e Congonhas, Estado de São Paulo. Foram coletadas 40 amostras de fezes diarreicas de bezerros búfalos (Bubalus bubalis). A detecção de coronavírus foi realizada pela nested-PCR, enquanto que a detecção de rotavírus foi realizada pela Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida (PAGE) com coloração com nitrato de prata. Enquanto rotavírus não foi identificado, duas amostras (2/40, 5,0%) foram positivas para coronavírus. Embora no presente trabalho tenha havido baixa detecção de coronavírus e a ausência de rotavírus nos rebanhos estudados, a possível interferência desses vírus no desenvolvimento dos quadros diarreicos não deve ser descartada. Considerando o escasso material encontrado na literatura a respeito da diarreia em bezerros búfalos, principalmente aquele relativo ao coronavírus, nossos resultados são um incentivo para que novos estudos sejam realizados para impulsionar o desenvolvimento da bubalinocultura em nosso país.(AU)

Neonatal diarrhea can be a consequence of bacterial, endoparasite and viral infections. Although virus involved in diarrhea is frequently studied in cattle herds, there is lack of studies in Brazilian buffalo herds. The aim of this study was evaluate the presence of rotavirus and coronavirus in diarrhea samples of buffaloes (Bubalus buballis) raised on eight farms in Pariquera-açu, Registro, Pirassununga, Dourado, São João da Boa Vista e Congonhas, State of São Paulo, Brazil. We collected 40 diarrhea samples from water buffalo calves. While coronavirus was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction, rotavirus was detected using Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) with silver stain. Rotavirus was not detected, while two samples (2/40, 5.0%) were positive for coronavirus. Although we did not detect rotavirus, a low percentage of coronavirus was observed; possible interference of these viruses in the development of diarrhea should not be discarded. Considering the lack of literature about diarrhea in water buffalo calves, particularly the one related with coronavirus, our results encourage new studies to enhance buffalo health in our country.(AU)

Evaluation of Mollicutes Microorganisms in Respiratory Disease of Cattle and Their Relationship to Clinical Signs.

BACKGROUND: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an important problem in cattle production that is responsible for economic losses in dairy herds. Mycoplasma spp. are described as an important etiological agent of BRD. HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the occurrence of the most important mycoplasmas in the lower respiratory tract of healthy and BRD cattle in relationship to clinical signs of BRD. ANIMALS: Sixty young dairy cattle were classified as healthy (n = 32) or cattle showing clinical signs of BRD (n = 28). METHODS: Tracheal lavage samples were collected and added to tubes containing Hayflick media. Mycoplasma spp. were identified by the presence of "fried egg" like colonies, biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Occurrence of Mollicutes, M. bovis, M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC and M. dispar was evaluated. The association between clinical signs of BRD and the presence of Mycoplasma spp. also was evaluated. RESULTS: Colonies were obtained from a 1-year-old BRD calf only. However, species identification was not possible. Mollicutes (P = .035) and M. dispar (P = .036) were more common in BRD cattle. The relationship between Mollicutes and crackle (P = .057) was not significant. M. dispar was associated to tachypnea (P = .045) and mixed dyspnea (P = .003). Relationships to heart rate (P = .062) and crackle (P = .062) were not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results confirmed the importance of mycoplasma as an etiologic agent of BRD and suggested M. dispar as part of the respiratory microbiota and its possible role in the development of BRD.

Prophylaxis and therapeutic potential of ozone in buiatrics: Current knowledge.

Ozone therapy has been in use since 1896 in the USA. As a highly reactive molecule, ozone may inactivate bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts and protozoans, stimulate the oxygen metabolism of tissue, treat diseases, activate the immune system, and exhibit strong analgesic activity. More recently, ozone has been used in veterinary medicine, particularly in buiatrics, but still insufficiently. Medical ozone therapy has shown effectiveness as an alternative to the use of antibiotics, which are restricted to clinical use and have been withdrawn from non-clinical use as in-feed growth promoters in animal production. This review is an overview of current knowledge regarding the preventive and therapeutic effects of ozone in ruminants for the treatment of puerperal diseases and improvement in their fertility. In particular, ozone preparations have been tested in the treatment of reproductive tract lesions, urovagina and pneumomovagina, metritis, endometritis, fetal membrane retention and mastitis, as well as in the functional restoration of endometrium in dairy cows and goats. In addition, the preventive use of the intrauterine application of ozone has been assessed in order to evaluate its effectiveness in improving reproductive efficiency in dairy cows. No adverse effects were observed in cows and goats treated with ozone preparations. Moreover, there is a lot of evidence indicating the advantages of ozone preparation therapy in comparison to the application of antibiotics. However, there are certain limitations on ozone use in veterinary medicine and buiatrics, such as inactivity against intracellular microbes and selective activity against the same bacterial species, as well as the induction of tissue inflammation through inappropriate application of the preparation.