Goats In Brazil Research Articles

The Silent Threat: Unraveling the Impact of Rabies in Herbivores in Brazil.

Rabies, a zoonotic viral disease, poses a significant threat due to its adaptability to diverse environments. Herbivore rabies, predominantly affecting cattle, horses, and goats in Brazil, remains a concern, results in substantial losses in the livestock industry, and poses risks to public health. Rabies virus transmission, primarily through hematophagous bats in Latin America, underscores the need for effective strategies, and vaccination plays a crucial role in controlling herbivorous rabies, with systematic vaccination beingly the primary method. Efforts to control rabies in herbivores include vaccination campaigns, public awareness programs, and the enhancement of surveillance systems. Despite these initiatives, rabies persists and imposes an economic burden and a significant health risk. Economic impacts include losses in the livestock industry, trade restrictions on livestock products, and financial burdens on governments and farmers owing to control measures. Despite the considerable costs of campaigns, surveillance, and control, investing in rabies vaccination and control not only safeguards livestock, but also preserves public health, reduces human cases, and strengthens the sustainability of the livestock industry. Mitigating the impact of herbivorous rabies in Brazil requires integrated approaches and continuous investments in vaccination, surveillance, and control measures to protect public health and ensure the sustainability of the livestock industry, thus contributing to food and economic security.

Isolation and genotyping of Clostridium perfringens from goats in Minas Gerais, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Despite the known importance of Clostridium perfringens as an enteropathogen in small ruminants, little is known about the role of its additional virulence factors or the frequency of the various C. perfringens genotypes in healthy goats; this complicates the laboratory diagnosis of the infections caused by this microorganism. In light of this, the aim of the present study was to isolate and genotype C. perfringens from stool samples from healthy goats in Brazil. Stool samples from 250 apparently healthy adult goats from 17 different herds in Minas Gerais, Brazil were collected, and isolation and genotyping of C. perfringens was performed. C. perfringens type A was isolated from 189 (75.6%) goats, whereas C. perfringens types C and D were each detected in one goat (0.4%). All isolates were negative for enterotoxin-, NetB-, NetE-, and NetF-encoding genes. These results confirmed C. perfringens type A as part of the microbiota in these animals, and they suggested that C. perfringens type C and D are rarely isolated from healthy goats.

Coxiella burnetii in dairy goats with a history of reproductive disorders in Brazil

Coxiella burnetii, an intracellular bacterium, is the agent of Q fever/coxiellosis, a worldwide zoonosis. Dairy animals are the primary reservoirs of C. burnetii, and although the disease is usually asymptomatic or subclinical, abortion is a serious clinical outcome among small ruminants. This study was conducted to investigate C. burnetii seroprevalence and infection In a flock of dairy goats in Brazil. Serum samples from 312 goats collected from a dairy goat flock with a history of reproductive failure were tested by a commercial ELISA (LSIVet Ruminant Q Fever − Serum/Milk; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Lissieu, France) for anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies. Samples of cotyledons from 23 placentas were analyzed by nested PCR for the presence of the bacterial DNA. ELISA seroreactivity was found in 55.1% (172/312; 95% CI = 49.4%–60.7%) of the serum samples analyzed. C. burnetii DNA was detected in 8.7% (2/23) of the placental samples tested, where both animals were also seropositive. This study reports the first description of C. burnetii infection in an abortion outbreak in goats in Brazil. The results point out to the importance of including this disease in animal and public health surveillance programs as well as into the list of abortive diseases in goats in Brazil.

Short communication: Passive shedding of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in commercial dairy goats in Brazil

Goat farming is a low-cost alternative to dairy production in developing countries. In Brazil, goat production has increased in recent years due in part to the implementation of programs encouraging this activity. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis, a disease that causes chronic granulomatous enteritis in ruminants, but MAP transmission dynamics are still poorly understood in goats. In a previously published study of our research group, 10 dairy goat farms (467 animals) from Minas Gerais state were analyzed for MAP detection; 2 fecal cultures and 11 milk samples tested positive for MAP by conventional PCR and were confirmed by sequencing. Because no clinical signs were observed over 1 yr of monitoring, we hypothesized that these MAP-positive goats could be passive shedders. Thus, in the present study, 4 positive goats (4/13) from the previous study were purchased and feces and milk samples were collected for evaluation (twice, with an interval of 3 mo between tests) by culture of MAP, IS900 PCR, or both. All analyses were negative for MAP. At the last time point, blood samples were collected for ELISA, the animals were killed, and tissues collected for tissue culture and histopathology. At necropsy, no macroscopic lesions related to paratuberculosis were observed. Similarly, no histological changes were observed and MAP in samples stained by Ziehl-Neelsen was not detected. These animals were characterized as potential passive shedders with upward contamination of the teat canal by MAP. This is the first report of the passive shedding phenomenon in goats in Brazil and it highlights the importance of identifying these animals for control programs and to ensure the quality of dairy products.

Molecular typing of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) isolated from dairy goats in Brazil

In the last decade there was a significant increase dairy goat participation in the world and Brazilian agricultural scenario. Minas Gerais state is the third largest producer of goat milk in Brazil. Paratuberculosis is a chronic intestinal disease that mostly affects ruminants and can become a public health problem due to the possible association with Crohn's disease. It is transmitted by ingesting Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) contaminated food or water. In recent years, with the development of molecular techniques, the disease has been identified with greater precision and more quickly. MAP strains (S-Sheep, Cattle-C and B-Bison) have also been typed. The detection of a circulating MAP strain in a herd is important to develop epidemiological studies and thus establish better strategies to control paratuberculosis. This study aimed to identify and type MAP in dairy goat farms in the Zona da Mata, the main producing region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Feces and milk samples of 467 animals were collected, processed, inoculated in Herrold's Egg Yolk Agar (HEYM) and submitted to PCR and REA techniques. Eleven (2.36%) animals were positive for the presence of MAP in four properties and the isolates were characterized as type C strain. It was concluded that MAP is present in dairy goats from properties in Zona da Mata, MG and that strain type C circulates in the area. This is the first report of MAP typing isolated from dairy goat in Brazil.

Genetic parameters for reproduction and growth traits in Boer goats in Brazil

Data collected over a period of 15 years in a herd of Boer goats in Brazil were used to estimate genetic parameters for reproductive and growth traits. The analyses included weights of about 1300 kids and nearly 750 reproductive records by 345 goats. The mixed model analyses of reproductive traits (kidding interval, litter size, litter weight at birth and weaning, doe weight at parturition) included the fixed effects of contemporary group and parity, and the random effects of additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. For growth traits (birth weight, weaning weight, average daily gain and relative growth rate) the fixed effects considered were contemporary group, sex, number born and parity, while the random effects were the direct and maternal genetic effects (allowing for their covariance), permanent environmental effect of the dam and litter common environmental effect. The mean performance in the Boer goats included in our study was 56.4±11.5kg for live weight at parturition, 456±198days for kidding interval, 1.70±0.66 kids for litter size, 5.8±2.2 and 23.4±9.7kg for litter weight at birth and weaning, respectively, while the kids had means for birth and weaning (112 days) weight of 3.4±0.8 and 15.2±4.7kg, with average daily gain and relative growth rate of 105.2±40.0g and 1.3±0.3%, respectively. The heritability (h2) estimate for reproductive traits was near zero for litter size and litter weight at birth, about 0.1 for kidding interval and litter weaning weight, and close to 0.4 for doe weight at parturition. The estimated repeatability was about 0.5 for doe weight at parturition and near 0.1 for all the other reproductive traits. The h2 of direct effects for growth traits was consistently higher than h2 of maternal effects. For birth weight, h2 estimates of direct and maternal effects were smaller than for the other traits, in the range of 0.05 to 0.08. For growth and weight traits measured after birth, h2 of direct effects ranged from 0.23 to 0.31, and h2 of maternal effects was about 0.13 for the various traits. There was a strong antagonism between direct and maternal effects, with a genetic correlation of −0.67 for birth weight, and about −0.8 to −0.9 for the other traits. Relative to the phenotypic variance, the influence of the permanent environmental effect of the dam represented about 0.11–0.15 and the common environmental effect of the litter corresponded to 0.32 for birth weight and ranged from 0.13 to 0.18 for the other traits. These results indicate that selection for some reproductive traits such as litter size may be difficult, given the low levels of genetic variability, but could be more successful for other traits like litter weaning weight and kidding interval. Selection for weight at and growth rate up to weaning should take into account the importance of direct and maternal genetic effects as well as the genetic antagonism between these two components. Factors which are seldom considered in mixed model analyses, such as the common litter effect, were found to be of major importance, and must be considered in the linear models used to estimate genetic parameters and predict breeding values in meat goats.

Genetic variability in a nucleus herd of Boer goats in Brazil assessed by pedigree analysis

Genetic diversity and population structure were analyzed in Boer goats raised in Brazil, based on pedigree information of a population established from 92 animals imported in 1996, which received additional imported embryos in 2000 and some sires from other breeders between 2007 and 2012. Pedigree information on 1826 young kids born between 1997 and 2012 was used in the analyses. The herd census varied considerably among years, with a mean number of registered offspring of 82.1±36.1 kids. The mean generation interval was 3.67±1.81 years, and the mean number of offspring per parent was 19.01±31.38 for sires and 3.85±2.80 for dams. Parents were known for all animals in the reference population (animals born in the period 2009–2012), and 71.4% and 63.5% had grandparents and great-grandparents known, respectively. Animals in the reference population had a mean number of equivalent generations known of 3.55±1.27 years, a mean inbreeding coefficient of 0.75±0.04% and about 19% were inbred. The mean relatedness was 2.28±0.01% for this group of animals. Over the period studied, the rate of inbreeding/year was 0.04±0.0002%, and the effective population size, estimated from the individual rate of inbreeding, was 173.5. The effective number of founders and ancestors represented in the reference population was 33 and 14, respectively, and 15 founders and 5 ancestors contributed with 50% of the gene pool. While in the early years the genetic contributions to the herd were mostly from American-imported animals, in recent years the influence of Brazilian- and Australian-born animals has gained importance. The results of our study indicate that inbreeding has been maintained at low levels in this population, essentially because the herd has been kept open to the introduction of new animals. This strategy should be continued, to maintain high levels of genetic diversity, which are needed for a successful selection program of Boer goats in Brazil.

Molecular characterization of the first leptospires isolated from goats in Brazil.

Two Leptospira sp. isolates were obtained by the first time from goats in Brazil and characterized by sequencing rrs, rpoB and secY genes, PFGE and typing with monoclonal antibodies. Both isolates are identical and belong to Leptospira santarosai. Analysis of the rrs and the rpoB genes sequences revealed 100% identity between the goat isolates and the Bananal reference strain. When secY sequences of the two isolates were compared to each other, it was observed that they had identical sequences. However, when compared to that of the Bananal reference strain, there were 15 mismatches along the 549 bp secY sequence. In conclusion, molecular methods are increasingly useful for the characterization of leptospires and allowed to identify those isolates of caprine origin as closely related but not identical to serovar Bananal, and constitute a new type named Carioca.

First molecular characterisation of Giardia duodenalis infection in dairy goats in Brazil

The aim of this study was to perform the first molecular genotyping of Giardia duodenalis from goats in Brazil, in order to assess the risk for zoonotic transmission. Samples were collected from two dairy goat farms (Saanen breed) located in the city of Niteroi in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Goat faecal samples (n = 58) were collected directly from the rectums of all animals up to one year of age and were subjected to centrifuge-flotation in sugar saturate solution. Nested-PCR and sequencing using β -giardin and tpi gene targets was performed on positive samples. Seventeen out of fifty-eight (29.31%) faecal samples were positive for Giardia duodenalis cysts, all belonging to the same farm. Only eight isolates were successfully sequenced (eight samples for β-giardin and four samples for tpi), all belonging to genotype E. Two types of sequences were identified for each locus within isolates from the current study, which exhibited sequence heterogeneity with variable numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms. The present study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology of this parasite.  

Cluster evaluation of Brazilian and Moroccan goat populations using physical measurements

The aim of this study was to compare the genetic diversity of 12 populations of goats in Brazil and Morocco (n = 796) through the use of physical measurements and different multivariate techniques. Traits measured included wither height (WH), distance from the brisket to the ground (BH) and ear length (EL). The standardized Euclidean distance (D) was adopted. The D values were submitted to clustering analysis using hierarchical methods (from nearest neighbor and UPGMA - Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) and the numbers of clusters were analyzed using the Tocher optimization method. The population clustering was different depending on the method of analysis used. Among the hierarchical methods, UPGMA showed the best fit (CCC = 0.82). The Tocher method enabled the formation of four different clusters. Although the hierarchical and Tocher methods resulted in different cluster formations, both contributed to the interpretation of the genetic cluster divergence. The results obtained through UPGMA and Tocher optimization enable their use for future studies that may include a larger number of biometric variables on greater numbers of individuals and additional populations.

Validation of a microsatellite panel for parentage testing of locally adapted and commercial goats in Brazil

Brazilian goats are generally kept in small herds and extensive rearing systems, mainly in the northeastern region of the country. Despite production improvement in recent years, the lack of pedigree control has affected genetic progress. This study aimed to validate a panel of 16 microsatellites for parentage testing in locally adapted and commercial goats breeds raised in Brazil, as well as to compare its efficiency with the panel recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supplies (MAPA) in 2004. The number of alleles and expected heterozygosity (He) per marker ranged from four to 18, and from 0.051 to 0.831, respectively. Using all markers, 100% of parentage cases of the validation dataset were resolved with a strict confidence level of 95%. The 16 microsatellites panel showed adequate exclusion power (99.99%) and identity accuracy (99.99%). Suggestions for improvement of the marker panel endorsed by MAPA are provided.

Spatialization of climate, physical and socioeconomic factors that affect the dairy goat production in Brazil and their impact on animal breeding decisions

Brazil has high climate, soil and environmental diversity, as well as distinct socioeconomic and political realities, what results in differences among the political administrative regions of the country. The objective of this study was to determine spatial distribution of the physical, climatic and socioeconomic aspects that best characterize the production of dairy goats in Brazil. Production indices of milk per goat, goat production, milk production, as well as temperature range, mean temperature, precipitation, normalized difference vegetation index, relative humidity, altitude, agricultural farms; farms with native pasture, farms with good quality pasture, farms with water resources, farms that receive technical guidance, family farming properties, non-familiar farms and the human development index were evaluated. The multivariate analyses were carried out to spatialize climatic, physical and socioeconomic variables and so differenciate the Brazilian States and Regions. The highest yields of milk and goat production were observed in the Northeast. The Southeast Region had the second highest production of milk, followed by the South, Midwest and North. Multivariate analysis revealed distinctions between clusters of political-administrative regions of Brazil. The climatic variables were most important to discriminate between regions of Brazil. Therefore, it is necessary to implement animal breeding programs to meet the needs of each region.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Chlamydophila abortus infection in dairy goats in the Northeast of Brazil

Few data are available on the prevalence and risk factors of Chlamydophila abortus infection in goats in Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the flock-level prevalence of C. abortus infection in goats from the semiarid region of the Paraíba State, Northeast region of Brazil, as well as to identify risk factors associated with the infection. Flocks were randomly selected and a pre-established number of female goats > 12 mo old were sampled in each of these flocks. A total of 975 serum samples from 110 flocks were collected, and structured questionnaire focusing on risk factors for C. abortus infection was given to each farmer at the time of blood collection. For the serological diagnosis the complement fixation test (CFT) using C. abortus S26/3 strain as antigen was performed. The flock-level factors for C. abortus prevalence were tested using multivariate logistic regression model. Fifty-five flocks out of 110 presented at least one seropositive animal with an overall prevalence of 50.0% (95%; CI: 40.3%, 59.7%). Ninety-one out of 975 dairy goats examined were seropositive with titers >32, resulting in a frequency of 9.3%. Lend buck for breeding (odds ratio = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.04-5.33) and history of abortions (odds ratio = 3.06; 95% CI: 1.37-6.80) were associated with increased flock prevalence.

Eimeria species in dairy goats in Brazil

The focus of this work is to determine the distribution and identify species of Eimeria parasites of dairy goats in the livestock of the National Goat and Sheep Research Center in Sobral, State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. Results showed the presence of multiple species in 196 of 215 analyzed samples (91.2%). Fifty five out of these were from kids (28%) and 141 from adult goats (72%). Eight different Eimeria species were identified and their prevalence in the herd was: Eimeria alijevi Musaev, 1970 (26.7%), E. arloingi (Marotel, 1905) Martin, 1909 (20.6%), E. hirci Chevalier, 1966 (18%), E. ninakohlyakimovae Yakimoff & Rastegaieff, 1930 (16.2%), E. jolchijevi Musaev, 1970 (8.7%), E. christenseni Levine, Ivens & Fritz, 1962 (6%), E. caprovina Lima, 1980 (2.8%) and E. caprina Lima, 1979 (1%). Moreover, E. ninakohlyakimovae showed higher prevalence in kids (97%), followed by E. arloingi and E. alijevi (88%). On the other hand, E. alijevi (77%) was more common in adult goats followed by E. hirci (74%) and E. ninakohlyakimovae (70%). The species E. caprina had low frequency in both kids (27%) and adult goats (13%). Data indicated that infection was relatively common among kids and adult goats. The implementation of a routine diagnostic strategy can be useful in maintaining Eimeria populations under monitoring and will enable the determination of its potential impact on dairy goat herds in Northeast Brazil.

Genetic improvement of goats in Brazil: Experiences, challenges and needs

The challenges that Brazil faces to set down real genetic improvement programs for goats are enormous, due to the vast range of its territory, along with the peculiar characteristics of the Northeast Region, which concentrate 93% of the goat population. This is the most extensive semiarid region of the country, where environmental resources are limited, with poor and irregular rainfall, with direct implications on scarcity and quality of forage, lack of a supply chain structured. Adding to this, the most of the herds are small, without appropriate management, run by small producers with scarce financial resources, and little technical assistance. The objective of this paper is to present a view of policies and technical-scientific activities regarding genetic improvement programs for goats in developing countries, establishing a parallel with actions of improvement carried out in Brazil in recent years, centered on the production of meat and dairy. The major experiences, challenges, needs and priorities will also be discussed to make possible, in the shortest time the consolidation of solid improvement programs for goats in Brazil.

Strategies to improve the reproductive efficiency of goats in Brazil

The dispersion of technologies, as well as from the production chain, and the lack of qualified human resources at all levels of the goat rearing, seems to be the biggest problem with which we face. Since the efficiency of a herd can be assessed by the number of pups weaned per female per year, some guidelines should be sought so that there is promotion of production indices, such as raising the fertility rate, high rate of prolificacy; reduction mortality rate of kids, reducing the calving interval. Since the females of tropical breeds have reproductive activity throughout the year, and that males produce an extraordinary amount of sperm throughout the year, it can be recommended the use of biotechnologies such as artificial insemination which aim to maximize reproductive efficiency. Obviously, success in using these tools for genetic improvement depends on the general management, in particular the health and nutritional status of the herd. In this article, the following topics are covered: the process of cooling and freezing semen, some semen extenders, the powder coconut water as an alternative semen extender, some information about artificial insemination, the artificial insemination technique. In addition, we present the results of the use of extender based on coconut water in goats.

23 INDUCTION OF ESTRUS IN CYCLIC ALPINE GOATS WITH SHORT-TERM PROGESTAGEN PROTOCOLS WITH OR WITHOUT eCG ADMINISTRATION

Depending on the season, estrus can be efficiently induced using male effect, melatonin implants, light controlled programs, prostaglandin, progestagens, and gonadotrophins. The eCG is the most used hormone employed in estrus induction protocols in goats. However, as eCG is a foreign protein, a humoral immune response (i.e. antibody formation) is displayed in goats, which tends to reduce the efficiency of eCG when successively administered. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of omitting the administration of eCG to induce estrus in Alpine goats during the breeding season in herds submitted to successive hormonal estrus induction. This study was done in April (local breeding season) of 2009 in Florestal/MG, Brazil. Nulliparous (n = 10) and pluriparous (n = 10) Alpine goats were equally assigned to receive (Day 0) MAP 60 mg intravaginal sponges (Progespon®, Schering Plough Animal Health, São Paulo, Brazil) for 6 days and 50 μg D-cloprostenol (Ciosin®, Schering Plough Animal Health) i.m. with (T1) or without (T2) 200 IU of eCG (Novormon 5000®, Schering Plough Animal Health) i.m. 24 h before sponge removal. Transrectal ultrasound (5 MHz probe, Aloka SSD 500®, Tokyo, Japan) was done at 12-h intervals until 72 h after sponge removal. All goats underwent timed AI 55 h after sponge removal according to expected ovulation (Menchaca et al. 2007 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 102, 76-87). Statistical analysis was performed using all tests at the 95% confidence interval (SAEG® program, Funarbe, Viçosa, Brasil). Data are reported as percentage or mean ± SD. The following results for T1 or T2 animals (respectively) were observed: estrus response (80 and 80%), goats ovulating (80 and 100%), interval from sponge removal to estrus onset (46.0 ± 17.0 and 53.5 ± 18.1 h) and to ovulation (58.8 ± 6.2 and 66.0 ± 9.8 h), interval from estrus onset to ovulation (26.0 ± 8.5 and 26.0 ± 0.7 h), diameter of ovulatory follicles (7.1 ± 0.6 and 7.4 ± 0.9 mm), number of ovulations (1.7 ± 0.8 and 1.8 ± 0.9 h), intervals from sponge removal to insemination (56.9 ± 2.3 and 58.2 ± 1.2 h) and from estrus onset to insemination (10.9 ± 14.5 and 4.6 ± 16.1h) and pregnancy rate (20 and 40%). Eight goats were inseminated at 17 to 23 h after estrus onset, which resulted in 50% pregnancy rate, and the other 2 pregnant goats were inseminated without being detected in estrus. In Brazil, dairy goats are inseminated with frozen-thawed semen 12 to 24 h after estrus onset or 42 to 55 h after sponge removal. Thus, for Alpine goats, this study suggests that earlier AI time should be avoided. However, under heat detection, AI at 18 to 24 h can be indicated. Ovarian ultrasonography of goats submitted to estrus induction gives great information of ovulation time relative to device removal and to estrus onset, which can optimize AI efficiency. In herds with successive estrus induction this kind of information could indicate an error in the common times currently used in AI programs in goats in Brazil. Financial support: Embrapa Goats and Sheep, CNPq and FAPEMIG.

Pênfigo foliáceo em cabra Boer

Pênfigo foliáceo é uma doença auto-imune crônica da pele observada com freqüência em cães e, com menor freqüência, em outras espécies animais. Neste trabalho é descrito um caso desta enfermidade no semi-árido da Paraíba, em uma cabra da raça Boer, que apresentava lesões crônicas de pele com extensas áreas alopécicas irregulares, esfoliativas, com crostas amareladas e bilaterais que afetavam a região dorsal da escápula, do tórax, do dorso, da parede do abdominal, da garupa, dos membros pélvicos e da cauda. No rodete coronário, havia espessamento da pele e lesões crostosas. Microscopicamente foram observadas hiperqueratose, espongiose e pústulas intracorneais ou subcornais afetando epiderme e infundíbulos. Nas pústulas, havia grande quantidade de neutrófilos, eosinófilos e células acantolíticas. Na derme, havia acentuada congestão e moderado infiltrado inflamatório composto por eosinófilos, raros plasmócitos, linfócitos e macrófagos, principalmente na periferia de capilares e nos folículos pilosos. Os achados macro e microscópicos são característicos de pênfigo foliáceo. Esta enfermidade é rara em caprinos e, provavelmente, este seja o primeiro relato da doença no Brasil.

First isolation of leptospires from dairy goats in Brazil

Leptospires have never been recovered from goats in Brazil. Serum samples were obtained from 248 goats from Rio de Janeiro and from the seroreactive animals, urine samples were collected and processed for Leptospira isolation. A total of 52 positive reactions were observed, corresponding to 20.9% of the samples. The most prevalent reactions were to serovars Hardjo (36.5%), Shermani (30.8%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (9.6%), Grippotyphosa (9.6%), Autumnalis (5.8%), Castellonis (3.8%) and Bratislava (3.8%). Two strains of Leptospira sp. were isolated, both in the same region, but from different flocks. Presumptive identification based on serologic methods suggests those strains to be from Grippotyphosa serogroup.

Anthelmintic action of eprinomectin in lactating Anglo-Nubian goats in Brazil

Eprinomectin is the only avermectin approved for use to control gastrointestinal nematodes in lactating cows. Some studies in the USA and Europe have also demonstrated that this drug is highly effective in small ruminants. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of pour-on eprinomectin in Anglo-Nubian goats at the end of lactation. Twenty-four goats were used, naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, and divided into two groups: control and treated with eprinomectin (Eprinex, Merial, pour-on 0.5%) at a dose of 850 microg/kg. Counts were made of the eggs per gram (EPG) of feces, along with coprocultures, on days -7, 0, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 and 29. The milk production of each group was recorded throughout the experiment. The coprocultures detected 98% Haemonchus contortus and 2% Oesophagostomum. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in daily milk output between the two groups. Eprinomectin at the tested dosage was not effective (P > 0.05) in reducing the EPG. Positive results would serve as basis for use of an avermectin without residues in dairy goats, providing a scientific basis for greater food safety.