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Our objective was to determine whether the inclusion of pepper extract would improve health in suckling lambs, stimulating antioxidant activity, and improving performance. We used Lacaune lambs distributed in four treatments, with four repetitions per treatment and three lambs per repetition: control group (T0) and treatments T1, T2, and T3 that received 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of pepper extract, respectively. Groups T1 and T2 consumed more significant amounts of silage than group T0, and animals from group T1 consumed more concentrate and, consequently, consumed more solids. The addition of pepper extract enhanced growth performance, with the lowest dose (T1) giving rise to the most significant weight gain, average daily gain, and body weight, compared to T0. Regression analysis showed that the optimum point for pepper extract supplementation was 301.5 mg/kg. The levels of total protein and globulins were significantly higher for animals supplemented with pepper extract (day 28) than the control; the concentrations of albumin and urea increased over time but did not differ significantly among treatments. Serum glucose levels decreased significantly over time; however, the groups supplemented with pepper extract showed higher concentrations than group T0. The hematocrit was significantly higher in groups fed pepper extract; hemoglobin concentrations were also more significant, increasing over time in both groups. The groups that consumed the pepper extract had higher leukocyte counts due to greater lymphocytes and neutrophils. Levels of non-protein thiols increased significantly over time, while lipid peroxidation levels decreased significantly in all groups. The concentrations of reactive oxygen species significantly decreased in the serum of group T3 animals, those fed with pepper extract (day 28), compared to the control. In general, the addition of pepper extract in lamb feed can enhance weight gain, increase antioxidant levels, and stimulate the production of leukocytes and globulins in lambs.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of grape residue flour (GRF) in the diet of suckling lambs would improve their health and consequently enhance their growth. We used 48 lambs, 30 days of age divided into four treatments with four repetitions each, with each repetition consisting of three animals. The groups were identified as follows: G-0%, used as a control (without GRF) and G-0.5%, G-1% and G-2% referring to treatment with grape residue flour in doses of 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of inclusion in the concentrate, respectively. Lambs in groups G-1% and G-2% had higher final body weights, weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) compared to the other groups. GRF dietary supplementation had good antioxidant potential, being able to stimulate glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and consequently reduce levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lambs that consumed the highest dose of GRF (G-2%). GRF supplementation improved humoral responses, with increased serum levels of heavy-chain and light-chain immunoglobulins; however, there was a reduction in serum ceruloplasmin levels in these lambs. We observed higher concentrations of glucose and triglycerides in lambs in the 2% group. There were lower lymphocyte counts in lambs that received GRF. Lambs supplemented with the highest doses of GRF (G-1% and G-2%) had lower total bacterial counts in the feces. We conclude that the use of GRF in the supplementation of suckling lambs improved animal health, as it stimulated the antioxidant and immune systems and consequently favored their growth.

Curcumin-containing nanocapsule powder formulations have not been used in ruminant feed to date, despite the fact that curcumin is known to be a functional food additive. The objective of this study was to determine whether ethyl polymethacrylate (Eudragit L-100) nanocapsules loaded with curcumin (N-CU) would improve health and growth of lambs. Thirty-two male Lacaune lambs (body weight [BW] = 16 ± 0.99 kg; 45 d of age) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: T0, T1, T2 and T4, representing supplementation of curcumin at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg concentrate, respectively. The animals in each treatment were allocated in 4 pens of 2 lambs each (8 lambs per treatment). The experiment lasted 17 d, with samples and measurements collected on d 0, 7, 12, and 17. The T2 lambs had greater average daily gain than T0 lambs. Regression analysis showed that the ideal dose of N-CU to enhance weight gain was 1.89 mg/kg concentrate. There were significant interactions (P

Trypanosoma vivax is an emerging infectious agent in Brazil. Trypanosomosis kills cattle, especially in regions where the protozoan is unknown and herd immunity does not occur. The present study aims to report infection by T. vivax in dairy cattle from Santa Catarina, Brazil, and evaluate the effects on the percentage of red cells in the blood. Was analyzed 146 cattle blood samples with a clinical diagnosis of anaemia (pale pink mucosa: ocular and vaginal) using indirect immunofluorescence assay PCR and blood smear. 39% of the samples were positive by IFA, but none of them were positive by PCR. It was possible to verify the presence of trypomastigote forms of parasite in 3 samples of cows positive by IFA. The percentage of red cells (hematocrit) did not differ between animals with a positive serological diagnosis compared to seronegative ones. Regardless of the concentration of antibodies, hematocrit did not differ. Another piece of information that drew attention was the hematocrit of the three animals with a parasitological diagnosis. That is, these animals had a percentage of red cells of 35, 38, 39%. Among the symptomatic animals evaluated, 11 had fever and anorexia, cows that presented hematocrit between 21 and 30%. This is the first description of infection in cattle in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Anaemia is not a clinical finding in asymptomatic dairy cows but seroreactive for T. vivax.

The present study aimed to determine whether the inclusion of a mixture based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae lysate, zeolite, silicon dioxide, propylene glycol, Carduus marianus extract, soy lecithin, and carbonate in the piglet diet would be able to minimize the negative effects caused by feed with aflatoxin; a study focusing on animal health and performance. Seventy-two entire male piglets (7.35 ± 1.17 kg) weaned with an average of 26 days were used, allotted into four groups, with six repetitions (pens) per group and three piglets/pen. The treatments were as follows: NoAfla-NoAntiMyc - negative control (without aflatoxin); Afla-NoAntiMyc - positive control (500 ppb of aflatoxin); NoAfla-AntiMyc - 1000 mg/kg of anti-mycotoxin mixture; Afla-AntiMyc - 500 ppb aflatoxin + 1000 mg/kg anti-mycotoxin. We evaluated the performance (feed intake - FI, weight gain - WG and feed:gain ratio- FGR) andblood variables (10 days between samples). On day 32, six pigs from each group (a total of 24 pigs) were slaughtered to collect fragments of the liver, intestine, and spleen for analysis of oxidants/antioxidants and histology. It was observed that piglets in the positive control group (Afla-NoAntiMyc) had lower body weight and weight gain when compared to the other groups during the experimental period. Also, piglets from Afla-NoAntiMyc consumed less feed between days 1 to 20 and 1 to 30 compared to NoAfla-NoAntiMyc. A considerable increase in liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the piglets' serum of Afla-NoAntiMyc compared to other treatments, which indicates that the anti-aflatoxin blend worked. Fewer neutrophils and an increase in monocyte were observed in the piglets of Afla-NoAntiMyc compared to NoAfla-NoAntiMyc; changes that were not seen in the animals of Afla-AntiMyc. We did not see any change in the oxidant and antioxidant status in the piglet serum during the experimental period; different from what happened in Afla-NoAntiMyc piglets in the liver (higher glutathione reductase activity and levels of reactive oxygen species - ROS), in the spleen (higher levels of ROS) and the intestine/jejunum (reduction of nitrate/nitrite levels - NOx). Intestinal morphometry revealed that piglets from Afla-NoAntiMyc had higher villus height than the other groups, while the folded size was smaller in this group. The crypt depth was greater in the intestine of piglets in both treatments that consumed aflatoxin. In general, it is concluded that the consumption of aflatoxin B1 by piglets has negative impacts on the health and, consequently, the animals' performance; however, supplementation of the contaminated feed with an anti-mycotoxin blend was able to protect the piglets, minimizing the negative problems caused by the mycotoxin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of curcumin in concentrate of nursing lambs exerts benefits on their growth and health, as well as on the prevention of coccidiosis. For this, 64 lambs 15 day-old Lacaune breed were randomly distributed into four groups (four repetitions per group with four animals per experimental unit): two groups that received concentrate without curcumin, corresponding to the negative control group (Control) and the positive control group (Baycox) that received the coccidiostatic toltrazuril at an unique dose on day 1 of the experiment; and two groups that received curcumin at concentrations of 100 (the group T100) and 200 (the group T200) mg/kg for 30 days. Animals from groups T100 and T200 showed higher weight gain when compared to the other two groups. A significant reduction of total leukocytes as a consequence of the reduction on lymphocytes was observed in animals that received curcumin, and the same was observed for serum total protein and globulin levels. In some moments of the experiment, groups that received curcumin (mainly those treated with higher dose) showed alterations on serum levels of glucose, urea, triglycerides and cholesterol. Serum antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals increased on groups T100 and T200, while lipoperodixation decreased in the group T200 on day 30. Serum creatine kinase activity was higher on group T200 compared to other groups, while serum pyruvate kinase activity was lower. With the exception of the Baycox group, all groups had animals positive for Eimeria sp., but without significant difference between groups. In summary, the addition of curcumin in the diet increased total antioxidant levels and exerted anti-inflammatory action, as well as altered the activity of enzymes involved on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) metabolism, which may have contributed to weight gain. Therefore, curcumin supplementation in the concentrate of nursing lambs can be an interesting approach to improve animal health.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação intra-mamária de curcumina em ovelhas com mastite subclínica e ovelhas saudáveis sobre produção de leite, qualidade do leite e saúde de ovelhas. Para isso foi realizado dois experimentos: Experimento I: 10 ovelhas com mastite subclínica crônica foram divididas em dois grupos de cinco ovelhas cada: a) controle, foi aplicado 3 mL de óleo mineral via intra-mamária; b) curcumina, aplicado 2 mg de curcumina diluída em óleo mineral via intra-mamária. Houve efeito do tratamento, isto é, ovelhas que receberam a aplicação de curcumina tiveram maior produção de leite. Houve o efeito do tratamento para percentagem de proteína no leite, assim como tendencia de efeito do tratamento para lactose e solidos totais; com destaque para menores níveis de proteína, lactose e sólidos não gordurosos nas ovelhas do grupo curcumina comparado ao controle. Verificamos uma interação entre tratamento versus dia para proteína no leite nos dias 7 e 14 após aplicação; menor no grupo curcumina. Efeito do dia foi verificado para contagem de eritrócitos e leucócitos, assim como a concentrações de hemoglobina em ambos os grupos. Para o experimento II usamos 80 ovelhas divididas em 4 grupos: controle, T2, T3 e T4 (2, 3 e 4 mg de curcumina diluída em óleo mineral via intra-mamaria, respectivamente). Efeito do dia foi observado para o grupo T2, isto é, houve um aumento na produção de leite do dia 1 para 20. A contagem de células somáticas (CCS) sofreu efeito do tratamento, dia e interação entre tratamento versus dia. O maior CCS foi observado no grupo T4. Do grupo de ovelhas, 17 tiveram problemas na glândula mamaria após a aplicação dos quatro tratamentos, sendo que cinco ovelhas desenvolveram uma grave mastite ambiental e morreram; e os demais animais também testaram positivos para mastite subclínica no teste da raquete (Califórnia Mastite Teste). De modo geral, o uso da curcumina via intra-mamaria nas doses testadas não tem efeito curativo, assim como quando usado em ovelhas saudáveis causa efeito negativo, afetando a qualidade do leite (elevou CCS). Além disso, a aplicação de produtos intra-mamários (óleo mineral ou óleo + curcumina) são um risco elevado para o animal; portanto, não recomendamos.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of the aqueous extract of green propolis in vitro against mastitis-causing and in vivo bacteria, evaluating the efficacy of treatment in Lacaune sheep. In the in vitro test, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was used; first, the MIC was obtained from the aqueous extract of green propolis for the strain of Staphylococcus. aureus ATCC 25523, defined as 1 mg/ml. For bacterial agents isolated from sheep with mastitis (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Corynebacterium spp. and Acinetobacter spp.), The concentration of 10 mg/ml was determined, while for Streptococcus equinus, Escherichia coli, and hemolytic E. coli, also isolated from sheep with mastitis, the concentration capable of reducing bacterial growth was 100 mg/ml. In the in vivo test, ten sheep were used, distributed in two treatments, five in the control group (CG) that received 2.5 ml of saline (vehicle), and five in the treated group (GT) that received 2.5 ml of aqueous (saline) propolis extract by the mammary route. The propolis dose tested (0.1 g/ml) was not effective for the treatment of mastitis, because the sheep remained positive in the racket test (CMT). The main microorganism isolated in the cases of mastitis in this study was Staphylococcus epidermidis. These results are preliminary; however, at the tested dose, the aqueous extract of green propolis delivered by the mammary route had no curative effect of mastitis. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el potencial antimicrobiano del extracto acuoso de propóleos verdes in vitro contra las bacterias causantes de la mastitis e in vivo, evaluando la eficacia del tratamiento en ovejas lacaune. En la prueba in vitro, se utilizó una concentración mínima de inhibición (CIM); en primer lugar, CIM se obtuvo del extracto acuoso de propóleo verde para la cepa Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25523, definida como 1 mg/ml. Para agentes bacterianos aislados de ovejas con mastitis (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Corynebacterium spp. y Acinetobacter spp.) se determinó la concentración de 10 mg/ml, mientras que para Streptococcus equinus, Escherichia coli y E coli Hemolitica. En la prueba in vivo, se utilizaron diez ovejas, distribuidas en dos tratamientos, cinco en el grupo de control (CG) que recibieron 2,5 ml de solución salina (vehículo), y cinco en el grupo tratado (TG) que recibieron 2,5 ml de extracto acuoso de propóleo (salina) vía intramamaria. La dosis de propóleos probada (0,1 g/ml) no fue eficaz para el tratamiento de la mastitis, ya que las ovejas siguieron siendo positivas en la prueba de ráquetica (CMT). El principal microorganismo aislado en casos de mastitis en este estudio fue Staphylococcus epidermidis. Estos resultados son preliminares; sin embargo, a la dosis probada, el extracto acuoso de propóleos verdes a través de intramamária no tuvo ningún efecto curativo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial antimicrobiano do extrato aquoso de própolis verde in vitro contra bactérias causadoras de mastite e in vivo, avaliando a eficácia do tratamento em ovinos da raça Lacaune. No teste in vitro, utilizou-se concentração inibitória mínima (CIM); primeiro, a CIM foi obtida a partir do extrato aquoso de própolis verde para a cepa de Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25523, definido como 1 mg/ml. Para agentes bacterianos isolados de ovelhas com mastite (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Corynebacterium spp. e Acinetobacter spp.) a concentração de 10 mg/ml foi determinada, enquanto para Streptococcus equinus, Escherichia coli e E. coli hemolítica a concentração capaz de reduzir o crescimento bacteriano foi de 100 mg/ml. No teste in vivo, foram utilizados dez ovinos, distribuídos em dois tratamentos, cinco no grupo controle (CG) que receberam 2,5 ml de soro fisiológico (veículo), e cinco no grupo tratado (GT) que receberam 2,5 ml de extrato aquoso de própolis (salina) via intramamária. A dose de própolis testada (0,1 g/ml) não foi eficaz para o tratamento da mastite, pois as ovelhas permaneceram positivas no teste de raquete (CMT). O principal microrganismo isolado nos casos de mastite neste estudo foi o Staphylococcus epidermidis. Estes resultados são preliminares; no entanto, na dose testada, o extrato aquoso de própolis verde via intramamária não teve efeito curativo.

This study evaluated the effects of propolis extract, mixed in milk, on growth as well as on antimicrobial, antioxidant and immune responses in lactating lambs. Thirty-six Lacaune lambs [males; 7.0 ± 1.2 day (d) of age; 4.9 ± 0.80 kg of body weight (BW)] were assigned to the following groups: T0, T150, T200 and T250, representing 0, 150, 200, and 250 μL of propolis/kg of BW/d, respectively. All dosages (T150, T200, and T250) significantly increased weight gain (P = 0.01) with the greatest increase observed in T150 lambs (0.174, 0.244, 0.213, and 0.200 kg/d for T0, T150, T200, and T250, respectively). On regression analysis, the optimal dosage for improving weight gain was 137 μL of propolis/kg of BW/d. All dosage increased (P = 0.05) serum concentrations of total protein on d 10, but only T250 increased it on d 30. Only T150 increased (P = 0.02) the serum concentration of albumin on d 10, and all dosages increased it on d 30. The T200 tended to increase (P = 0.09) the serum concentration of immunoglobulin A, and T150 and T200 tended to increase (P = 0.09) the concentration of immunoglobulins heavy-chain. The T200 and T250 increased the concentration of transferrin on d 10 and only T250 increased it on d 42 (P = 0.01). All dosages increased (P = 0.04) the serum concentration of glucose. No effects were detected (P ≥ 0.11) for globulin, IgG light-chain, ceruloplasmin, urea, triglycerides, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. All dosage decreased (P = 0.01) the serum concentration of reactive oxygen species on d 30; however, only T150 and T200 decreased it on d 42, and the greatest reduction was observed for T150. All dosages increased (P = 0.01) nitric oxide levels on 30; however, only T150 and T200 increased them on d 42. All dosage decreased (P = 0.01) the concentration of superoxide dismutase. All dosages increased (P = 0.01) the concentration of non-protein thiols and protein thiols, with the greatest effects detected for T250. All dosages decreased (P = 0.01) counts of E. coli and total coliform counts in feces, with the greatest effects observed for T150 and T200. Taken together, the data suggest that addition of propolis to milk increased growth as well as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immune responses in lactating lambs. The greatest effects were observed for the dosage of 150 μL of propolis/kg of BW/d.

Modulation of fatty acid content in meat is thought to be a primary approach to increase human consumption of healthy fatty acids, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Recently, curcumin has been used to enhance PUFA content, as well as to reduce the content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in egg yolk and milk; nevertheless, its effects on meat remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether curcumin supplementation in the concentrate of post-weaning lambs would influence fatty acid profiles in their meat. Thirty-two Lacaune lambs fed on a corn silage-based diet were divided into in four groups with four repetitions each and two lambs per repetition, as follows: curcumin-supplemented animals received concentrate containing 100 mg kg−1 (T100), 200 mg kg−1 (T200) and 300 mg kg−1 (T300) of curcumin, while the other group (control; T0) received the same concentrate without curcumin. No significant differences were observed between groups regarding body weight on all evaluated days, while average daily weight gain was significantly higher in group T300 than in T0. Total fat in meat was significant lower in groups T200 and T300 than in group T0. Total SFAs were significant lower in group T300 than in T0, while total PUFAs were higher. No significant difference was observed between groups with respect to total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Based on this evidence, we conclude that 300 mg curcumin/kg enhances daily weight gain. This supplement improves the fatty acid profiles in meat via reduction of SFAs and augmentation of PUFAs. Both effects are positive in terms of human health.