Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro

Contagious ecthyma, or Orf, is a highly transmissible skin disease caused by the Orf virus, affecting small ruminants and occasionally humans, with a significant impact in all countries with sheep and goat farming. Although live vaccines are available to prevent Orf, their use is associated with several problems. Also, no registered vaccines are available in some countries, such as Brazil. This study developed a vaccine using a recombinant non-structural protein fragment derived from the GM-CSF/IL-2 inhibitory factor (GIF) attached to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) nanoparticles. The experimental vaccine was administered to lambs aged 291 months over four consecutive years within a herd experiencing natural disease. The vaccine induced seroconversion, reversed viral immune suppression, and reduced viral load, leading to improved weight gain relative to non-vaccinated controls. Clinical efficacy could not be determined as lesions spontaneously regressed in all animals, including controls. Nevertheless, overall, the data confirmed efficacy, and the vaccine is a promising candidate against Orf.

Orf virus (ORFV) is an epitheliotropic, double-stranded DNA pathogen belonging to the genus Parapoxvirus, and it is the causative agent of contagious ecthyma (CE) in small ruminants. It is an endemic disease on goat and sheep herds around the world. It is often a neglected disease, with impacts on herd health and productivity, while also being an occupational zoonosis. This review explores the causative agent of ovine ecthyma, its epidemiology, and clinical manifestations, with a particular emphasis on its interaction with the host’s immune system and the development of ORFV vaccines. Like other members of the Poxviridae family, ORFV expresses numerous immunomodulatory genes, which complicate vaccination efforts and disease management. This review highlights the challenges posed by ORFV in achieving effective immunization and discusses potential vaccine strategies to overcome these obstacles.

Moxidectin (MOX) is used to control helminth parasites in ruminant livestock. It is released through feces and remains in the environment for a long period. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of faeces excreted by moxidectin-treated sheep on soil biodiversity (coprophagous insects, soil microbial biomass, and activity) to establish environment-related guidelines regarding the use of MOX in sheep livestock. The study consisted of two experiments. In the first one, faeces from MOX-treated (subcutaneous dose of 0.2mgkg⁻¹ body weight) and nontreated rams were placed on an animal-free pasture field, protected or not against rain, for 88days. Then, coprophagous insects were captured, identified, and counted, and faeces degradation was evaluated by measuring dry weight and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents over time. Diptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, and Coleoptera were equally encountered in faeces from MOX-treated and nontreated animals. Faecal boluses of MOX-treated animals (with higher N content) not protected against rain degraded faster than faecal boluses of nontreated animals (with lower N content). In the second experiment, faeces from nontreated animals were amended with increasing amounts of MOX (75 to 3,000ngkg⁻¹ faeces), mixed with soil samples from animal-free pasture (1.9 to 75ngkg⁻¹ soil), and incubated in a greenhouse for 28days. Increasing concentrations of MOX did not prevent the growth of cultivable bacteria, actinobacteria, or fungi in culture media. However, even the lower MOX concentration (1.9ngkg⁻¹ soil) abruptly decreased soil microbial biomass, basal respiration, and N mineralization. Thus, the results indicate that faeces excreted from sheep treated with MOX under the experimental conditions of this study are not harmful to the coprophagous insects. However, adding MOX to faeces from drug-free sheep had a negative impact on soil microbial activity and biomass.

Background: There is a high lamb mortality rate during the first 3 days of life, resulting in sheep flock economic losses and neonate welfare concerns. A significant number of neonatal deaths could be avoided by preventive management, early diagnosis, and consequently well-timed intervention. The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of umbilical artery Doppler to predict the vitality score (APGAR) of lambs at birth, and its use as a screening tool for detecting high-risk neonatal cases in the last week of gestation, describing changes in the resistivity and pulsatility index in singletons and twins. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 27 White Dorper pregnant ewes were studied: 19 multiparous (ewes, 2 to 4-years-old) and 8 primiparous (yearling, up to 1-year-old). From 130 days of pregnancy, gestational ultrasound was performed weekly until delivery, but only data from the last pre-partum scan for each ewe was included. The inclusion criteria for the analysis of the umbilical arteries Doppler were the positioning of the fetus and the quality of the images obtained. Identification of each of the twin fetuses after birth was performed by reference to ultrasound fetometry and its correlation with birth weight. The vitality score at birth (APGAR) was used to classify each group, regardless of the characteristic of eutocic or dystocic delivery, with Group 1 lambs having normal vitality (APGAR ≥ 7) and Group 2 lambs having low vitality (APGAR < 7). A transabdominal Doppler ultrasound of 28 fetal umbilical arteries was performed in the last week before delivery (146 ± 2.4 days of gestation), and the results were compared with the vitality scores of lambs at birth. There were 53.6% of lambs (15/28) with normal vitality scores (Group 1), and 46.4% of lambs (13/28) had low vitality scores (Group 2). The umbilical artery Doppler ultrasound analyzes of the resistance index (RI), the pulsatility index (PI), and the RI and PI oscillations determined by the resistivity index gradient (RIgrad), the resistivity index variations (RIvar%), the pulsatility index gradient (PIgrad) and the pulsatility index variation (PIvar%) were established for each fetus. Pearson’s correlation was performed for each umbilical artery Doppler ultrasound variable and vitality score of each lamb, and the T Student’s test was performed between Groups 1 and 2. There were no statistically significant differences between groups. Furthermore, the RI values or oscillations did not correlate with the lambs' vitality score, and mildly increased PI values need to be interpreted with caution. Neonatal vitality in lambs was correlated with pulsatility index oscillations: PIgrad (r = 0.4005; P = 0.0346) and PIvar% (r = 007; P = 0.0299). Discussion: Measurement of umbilical artery RI and PI is possible in ewes with singleton and twin pregnancies in the last week of gestation. High PI of the umbilical artery did not correlate with a low lamb vitality score at birth, as previously described in human fetal medicine. The PI alone cannot be correlated with APGAR in lambs, but the PIgrad and PIvar% analyzes should be performed. In conclusion, the RI and PI values, if analyzed in isolation, show no correlation with the vitality scores of lambs at birth. However, making multiple measurements to derive associations between maximum and minimum values of PI such as PIgrad and PIvar% in the same fetus, could help to screen for high-risk neonates. Keywords: sheep, ultrasound, neonatal risk, Apgar.

O leite ovino é utilizado em escala global para a produção de queijos e outros derivados, ou para consumo in natura. A produção de leite e de seus derivados, seja formal ou informal, faz parte de uma cadeia produtiva, com menor ou maior grau de organização dependendo do desenvolvimento regional da atividade. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e discutir os elementos da cadeia produtiva de leite ovino no Brasil utilizando a metodologia SWOT. Este estudo foi desenvolvido em 2017 a partir de pesquisa direta com agentes ligados ao setor produtivo de leite ovino de 15 propriedades distribuídas em sete Estados do Brasil. Os agentes apontaram e descreveram os pontos fortes e fracos, as oportunidades e ameaças dos segmentos de insumos, produção, processamento, e venda e distribuição de produtos e, posteriormente, esses elementos foram organizados em uma matriz SWOT. No segmento produção, a baixa adoção de técnicas adequadas de produção, controle de dados e conhecimento dos custos de produção são fatores críticos. No segmento processamento, aspectos positivos foram apontados para as características físico-químicas do leite ovino, enquanto aspectos relacionados com a legislação foram considerados pontos críticos. A falta de cultura e conhecimento do consumidor sobre os produtos derivados do leite ovino são pontos críticos que afetam o segmento de venda e distribuição. A pequena escala de produção e a baixa demanda pelo leite e seus derivados, assim como a falta de insumos específicos para a atividade, também são pontos críticos da cadeia produtiva. Entretanto, o uso de insumos de outras atividades pecuárias (principalmente da bovinocultura leiteira) é uma opção importante para reduzir os custos de produção e otimizar o uso dos recursos na ovinocultura leiteira. Técnicas adequadas de produção e de processamento do leite ovino devem ser implementadas, assim como o controle de dados e de custos da produção. Apesar dos sistemas de produção estudados serem heterogêneos, alguns apresentam indicadores econômicos positivos, o que demonstra o potencial produtivo e econômico da atividade. Nesse cenário, a produção intensiva de produtos com maior valor agregado e o crescimento do mercado consumidor são fatores que estimulam o crescimento da ovinocultura leiteira, e são considerados oportunidades, de modo que campanhas de marketing para promover o consumo de derivados do leite devem ser realizadas. O pequeno volume de leite produzido gera oportunidades ao setor pela falta de concorrência e pelo grande mercado potencial a ser explorado, especialmente nos grandes centros, com maior poder aquisitivo.

Ciência Brasileira: Múltiplos olhares - Agroecologia, Agronomia, Ciências do Campo e Medicina Veterinária (978-85-5722-568-8) - Avaliação Da Emergência E Crescimento Inicial De Sementes De Soja (Glycine Max (L.) Merrill) Tratadas Com Bioestimulantes

Sheep farming has shown organizational and development initiatives since the beginning of the 21st century in the State of Paraná. This study identified and characterized the meat sheep production system profile in five mesoregions of the State of Paraná. The study sample was defined and selected by using the rapid appraisal methodology, which was applied in five mesoregions of Paraná State. These mesoregions together account for 65.22% of the sheep population of the State. Data were collected by means of a semi-structured questionnaire applied during visits to these farms with the support of technicians from the Federation of Agriculture of the State of Paraná (FAEP) as well as local technical assistants, addressing the following aspects: (i) farm, farm owner and labor profile, (ii) flock characteristics, (iii) production and feeding systems, (iv) facilities, (v) reproductive and sanitary management, (vi) challenges and future prospects. The results obtained revealed the occurrence of a production system heterogeneity and difficulties in defining standards for the activity development. However, positive prospects were also identified, such as: the use of crop-livestock integrated systems, the farmers' intention to keep their businesses and the importance of cooperative organizations in the production process coordination.