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Adenoviral gizzard erosion (AGE) in broilers is an emerging infectious disease with negative impact on flock productivity. Despite of known primary etiological role of fowl adenovirus serotype 1 (FAdV-1) in AGE, there are a limited number of field reports worldwide, possibly because the disease is less noticeable and clinically difficult to assess. The present study documents an outbreak of AGE in 16-day-old broiler chickens on a farm in the north of Iran and the reproduction of the disease in an experimental setting. In the field, a sudden onset of mortality was noticed in affected broilers resulting in 6% total mortality and decreased weight gain leading to approximately 1-week delay to reach the target slaughter weight. Necropsy findings in dead broilers revealed black colored content in crop, proventriculus and gizzard together with severe gizzard erosions characterized by multiple black-brown areas of variable size in the koilin layer and mucosal inflammation. Microscopic examination revealed necrotizing ventriculitis marked with severe dissociation of koilin layer and degeneration of glandular epithelium with infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells. FAdV-1 was isolated from affected gizzards. Phylogenetic analysis of the hexon loop-1 (L1) sequence of the isolated virus showed 100% identity with pathogenic FAdV-1 strains previously reported from broiler chickens with AGE. Subsequently, an in vivo study infecting day-old commercial layer chickens with the field isolate demonstrated characteristic lesions and histopathological changes of AGE together with decreased weight gain in the infected birds. For the first time, the progress of a natural outbreak of AGE in Iran is described and experimental reproduction of the disease is demonstrated. The findings highlight the economic impact of the disease for regional poultry production due to mortality and impaired weight gain of the affected broilers.

This study aimed to describe and discuss the results of an experiment carried out in two stages with pregnant cows fed 25kg/apple pomace/day. The first stage involved 16 pregnant Holstein Friesian cows divided into four groups: Group 0 - Control (5 cows); Group I - 1 month-gestation (4 cows); Group II - 3 month-gestation (4 cows); Group III - 6 month-gestation (3 cows) and was performed from September to December 2015. The second stage comprised 12 pregnant Holstein Friesian cows divided into three groups: Group 0 - Control (6 cows), Group I - 1 month-gestation (3 cows), and Group II - 3 month-gestation (3 cows) and was conducted from April 2016 to February 2017. All study animals received apple pomace at a dose of 25kg/day. As for the first experiment stage, a cow in Group III bred a calf with complete absence of the coccygeal vertebrae and tail, slight bending of the hind limbs, scoliosis in the thoracic spine, and limited mobility. At 30 days, it presented with diarrhea and underdevelopment, and was euthanized for necropsy. At gross examination, malformations were observed in the thoracic spine, coxofemural joint, and genitourinary tract. Regarding the second experiment stage, a cow in Group I gave birth to a calf with curved pelvic and thoracic limbs with thick joints and flattening hooves. Microscopic examination of the femur showed disorganized, irregular hypertrophic zone and scarce growth zone, in addition to primary spongy zone with short, slightly mineralized trabeculae. Samples of the apple pomace used in this study were frozen and sent for laboratory evaluation of pesticide residues, which showed a positive result for the fungicide carbendazim. RESUMO: O presente trabalho tem por finalidade descrever e discutir os resultados do experimento realizado em vacas prenhes que foram alimentadas com 25kg/dia de bagaço de maçã. Experimentos foram conduzidos em duas etapas, a primeira no ano de 2015, de setembro a dezembro onde foram utilizadas 16 vacas prenhes da raça holandês. Estas foram divididas em quatro grupos: Grupo 0, Controle (5 vacas); Grupo I, 1 mês gestação (4 vacas); Grupo II, 3 meses gestação (4 vacas); Grupo III, 6 meses gestação (3 vacas). A segunda etapa foi realizada em abril de 2016 a fevereiro de 2017. Foram utilizadas 12 vacas prenhes da raça holandês, divididas em três grupos: Grupo 0, Controle (6 vacas); Grupo I, 1 mês gestação (3 vacas); Grupo II, 3 meses gestação (3 vacas). Todas as vacas receberam bagaço de maçã na dose de 25kg/dia/vaca. Para o primeiro experimento, uma vaca do Grupo III pariu uma bezerra, com ausência completa das vértebras coccígeas e cauda, encurvamento leve dos membros posteriores, escoliose na coluna torácica e dificuldade de locomoção. Decorridos 30 dias do nascimento, manifestou diarreia e pouco desenvolvimento, sendo eutanasiada para necropsia. Na macroscopia, havia malformações na coluna torácica, articulação coxofemoral e no aparelho urogenital. Em relação ao segundo experimento uma vaca do Grupo I pariu uma bezerra com membros pélvicos e torácicos, curvos e com articulações consideravelmente grossas e “achinelamento” de cascos. Na microscopia do fêmur foi observado na placa epifisária, zona hipertrófica desorganizada, irregular e zona de crescimento escassa. Na zona esponjosa primária observou-se trabéculas curtas e pouco mineralizadas. Amostras do bagaço de maçã utilizado na experimentação foram congeladas e enviadas para avaliação de resíduos agrotóxicos, onde foi encontrado resultado positivo para o fungicida carbendazim.

We experimentally reproduced star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst var. nlemfuensis cv. “Florico”) poisoning in cattle. Star grass was planted in four shaded (1, 2, 3, and 4) and three sunny paddocks (5, 6, and 7) and were fertilized with the equivalent of 0, 750, 200, or 100 kg/ha urea. Fresh plant leaves were collected from each paddock and fed to 8 calves aged 5 months to 1 year at 10g/kg live weight. Clinical examinations were performed pre- and post-feeding. Fresh leaves were also subjected to sodium picrate paper and diphenylamine tests to evaluate hydrocyanic acid and nitrate concentration, respectively. Clinical signs of poisoning by the star grass cv. “Florico” in cattle were observed 5-15 minutes after ingestion; these included wobbling, muscle tremors, frequent and/or dripping urination, tachycardia, ruminal atony, depression, red ocular mucous membranes, and bright red venous blood. Three animals became severely ill, 4 manifested mild to moderate clinical signs, and 1 did not become ill. The 3 severely ill bovines received a thiosulfate and sodium nitrite solution at a dose of 40ml/100 kg live weight, intravenously (IV). Florico star grass poisoned bovines and the reaction to the sodium picrate paper and diphenylamine tests was more significant for samples cultivated in the shade and with high nitrogen fertilization. Florico grass utilization should be avoided in a silvopastoral system. RESUMO: Descreve-se a reprodução experimental da intoxicação cianogênica por grama estrela (Cynodon nlemfuensis vanderyst var. nlemfuensis cv. ‘Florico’) em bovinos. A grama estrela foi plantada em quatro piquetes em área sombreada (1, 2, 3 e 4) e em três piquetes em área ensolarada (5, 6 e 7) e foram adubados com o equivalente a 0, 750, 200 ou 100kg/ha de ureia. Folhas da planta foram coletadas de cada piquete e imediatamente fornecidas na dose de 10g/Kg de peso vivo para 8 bezerros com idades entre 5 meses a 1 ano. Exames clínicos foram realizados antes e durante fornecimento da planta. Folhas verdes de estrela africana foram submetidas ao teste do papel picro-sódico para verificar a presença de ácido cianídrico e ao teste da difenilamina para avaliar a concentração de nitrato. Sinais clínicos de intoxicação pela grama estrela cv. “Florico” nos bovinos foram observados entre 5 e 15 minutos após o término da ingestão, estes incluíram andar cambaleante, tremores musculares, micção frequente e/ou em gotejamento, taquicardia, atonia ruminal, depressão, mucosas oculares e sangue venoso de coloração vermelho-vivo. Três animais adoeceram gravemente, quatro manifestaram sinais clínicos leves a moderados e um não adoeceu. Os 3 bovinos que adoeceram gravemente receberam solução de tiossulfato e nitrito de sódio na dose de 40ml/100kg de peso vivo, por via endovenosa (IV). Grama estrela florico produziu intoxicação em bovinos e a reação ao teste do papel picro-sódico e difenilamina foi mais significativa para as amostras cultivadas à sombra e com alta adubação nitrogenada. Utilização de grama florico deve ser evitada em sistema silvipastoril.

El propósito de este trabajo es analizar y criticar el argumento del regreso del experimentador propuesto por Harry Collins en 1985. Para ello, comenzaremos comentando el experimento destinado a detectar ondas de gravedad que diseñó Joseph Weber en la década de 1970. Luego, continuaremos con el análisis y la discusión de las dos versiones del argumento de Collins: la versión epistemológica y la versión ontológica. Finalmente, luego de formular los lineamientos básicos para una teoría de la reproducción experimental, y una elucidación del concepto de replicación, propondremos dos formas de evitar el regreso del experimentador. The aim of this article is to analyze and criticize the argument of the experimenter's regress proposed by Harry Collins in 1985. To this end, we begin by discussing the experiment that aimed to detect gravity waves performed by Joseph Weber during the 1970s. We continue with analysis and discussion of both the epistemological and ontological versions of Collin's argument. Then, finally, after giving an outline of a theory of experimental reproduction and an explication of the concept of replication, we propose two ways of avoiding the experimenter's regress.

Malabsorption syndrome (MAS) is a multifactorial disease that causes intestinal disorders in broilers due to infection of the gastrointestinal tract with different infectious agents. The exact aetiology is unknown, although several viruses are isolated from MAS affected chickens. None of these isolated infectious agents alone inducted the malabsorption syndrome. MAS in broilers is characterised by poor growth and lesions in the Gl-tract, mainly in the small intestine. Experimentally, MAS can be induced in one-day old broilers by oral inoculation of homogenates obtained from digestive tract tissues of MAS affected broilers. Susceptibility to the MAS syndrome differs between broiler lines. The susceptibility to MAS is correlated with the severity of the lesions, apoptosis and heterophil infiltration of the jejunum. Susceptibility to MAS is also related to the frequency of CD4 and CDS positive T-cells in the intestinal villus and the mRNA expression level of different cytokines in control and in MAS induced broilers. With the use of micro-arrays differences in gene expression levels between broiler lines that differ in MAS susceptibility were observed. From these experiments genes that are immune and food absorption related were identified. If some of these genes or the T-cell population in the gut and the other MAS susceptible related parameters could predict or prevent MAS susceptibility in broilers needs to be further investigated but can be interestingly for breeding programmes.

Potential risk factors for clinical signs of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) in pigs in the Netherlands were investigated in a matched case-control study using a questionnaire (personal interview). Eighty-two pig farmers were questioned about management, hygiene, husbandry systems, disease history, and preventive health care. In this study, 30 pig herds with (cases) and 30 pig herds without (controls) characteristic clinical signs of PMWS were compared. For PDNS, 11 pig herds with (cases) and 11 pig herds without (controls) characteristic clinical signs of PDNS were compared. Univariate analysis (P

This study aimed to determine the clinical signs and pathological findings caused for Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and Escherichia coli in White Leghorn layers under controlled conditions. A total of 80 replacement hens of five weeks were selected. Before starting the experiment, microbiological tests were conducted in 16 chicks to verify if they were exposed to pathogens. The remaining 64 chicks were distributed in four equal groups (n=16). On day 1 of the experiment G1 and G2 were inoculated via intranasal with 0.6 x 107 UFC/ml of O. rhinotracheale and G3 and G4 (negative control) received brain heart infusion broth. Forty eight hours later, G2 and G3 were inoculated via intranasal with 0.6 x 107 UFC of E. coli. Four chicks per group were slaughtered on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 after inoculation and samples were collected from paranasal sinuses, trachea, lung, air sacs and liver for optic and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, histochemical techniques (PAS and Weigert) were used to show the presence of mucus and fibrin in respiratory organs. The study allowed evidencing a delay in the growth rate and presence of lymphoid tissue associated to mucosa in chicks inoculated with O. rhinotracheale and E. coli., El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar los signos clínicos y los hallazgos anatomopatológicos ocasionados por Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale y Escherichia coli en aves de postura bajo condiciones controladas. Se seleccionaron 80 gallinas ponedoras White Leghorn de cinco semanas de edad. Previo al experimento, se realizaron análisis microbiológicos en 16 aves para chequear si habían sido expuestas a agentes microbianos. Las restantes 64 pollitas fueron distribuidas en cuatro grupos de 16 aves. G1 y G2 fueron inoculadas con 0.6 x 107 UFC/ml de O. rhinotracheale en el día 1 del experimento, y G3 y G4 (control negativo) recibieron caldo cerebro corazón por vía intranasal. En las 48 h siguientes, G2 y G3 fueron inoculadas con 0.6 x 107 UFC de E. coli por vía intranasal. Cuatro pollitas por grupo fueron sacrificadas a los 3, 7, 14 y 21 días de la inoculación y se tomaron muestras de exudados de senos paranasales, tráquea, pulmón, sacos aéreos e hígado para microscopía óptica y electrónica de transmisión. Además se utilizaron técnicas histoquímicas (PAS y Weigert) para demostrar la presencia de mucus y fibrina en órganos respiratorios. El estudio permitió evidenciar un retardo del crecimiento y se demostró alteraciones del tejido linfoide asociado a mucosas en las pollitas inoculadas con O. rhinotracheale y E. coli.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar los signos clínicos y los hallazgos an atomopatológicos ocasionados por Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale y Escherichia coli en aves de postura bajo condiciones controladas. Se seleccionaron 80 gallinas ponedoras White Leghorn de cinco semanas de edad. Previo al experimento, se realizaron análisis microbiológicos en 16 aves para chequear si habían sido expuestas a agentes microbianos. Las restantes 64 pollitas fueron distribuidas en cuatro grupos de 16 aves. G1 y G2 fueron inoculadas con 0.6 x 107 UFC/ml de O. rhinotracheale en el día 1 del experimento, y G3 y G4 (control negativo) recibieron caldo cerebro corazón por vía intranasal. En las 48 h siguientes, G2 y G3 fueron inoculadas con 0.6 x 107 UFC de E. coli por vía intranasal. Cuatro pollitas por grupo fueron sacrificadas a los 3, 7, 14 y 21 días de la inoculación y se tomaron muestras de exudados de senos paranasales, tráquea, pulmón, sacos aéreos e hígado para microscopía óptica y electrónica de transmisión. Además se utilizaron técnicas histoquímicas (PAS y Weigert) para demostrar la presencia de mucus y fibrina en órganos respiratorios. El estudio permitió evidenciar un retardo del crecimiento y se demostró alteraciones del tejido linfoide asociado a mucosas en las pollitas inoculadas con O. rhinotracheale y E. coli This study aimed to determine the clinical signs and pathological findings caused for Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and Escherichia coli in White Leghorn layers under controlled conditions. A total of 80 replacement hens of five weeks were selected. Before starting the experiment, microbiological tests were conducted in 16 chicks to verify if they were exposed to pathogens. The remaining 64 chicks were distributed in four equal groups (n=16). On day 1 of the experiment G1 and G2 were inoculated via intranasal with 0.6 x 107 UFC/ml of O. rhinotracheale and G3 and G4 (negative control) received brain heart infusion broth. Forty eight hours later, G2 and G3 were inoculated via intranasal with 0.6 x 107 UFC of E. coli. Four chicks per group were slaughtered on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 after inoculation and samples were collected from paranasal sinuses, trachea, lung, air sacs and liver for optic and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, histochemical techniques (PAS and Weigert) were used to show the presence of mucus and fibrin in respiratory organs. The study allowed evidencing a delay in the growth rate and presence of lymphoid tissue associated to mucosa in chicks inoculated with O. rhinotracheale and E. coli

International audience; Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can induce reproductive disorders and is involved in the porcine respiratory disease complex, causing tremendous economic losses to the swine industry. Inactivated PRRSV vaccines are preferred over attenuated vaccines because of their safety and flexibility towards emerging virus strains, but the efficacy of current inactivated PRRSV vaccines is questionable. In this study, experimental inactivated PRRSV vaccines were developed, based on two formerly optimized inactivation procedures: UV irradiation and treatment with binary ethylenimine (BEI). In a first experiment, it was shown that vaccination with UV- or BEI-inactivated virus in combination with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant induced virus-specific antibodies and strongly primed the virus-neutralizing (VN) antibody response. Subsequently, the influence of adjuvants on the immunogenicity of neutralizing epitopes on the inactivated virus was investigated. It was shown that vaccination with BEI-inactivated virus in combination with a commercial oil-in-water adjuvant induced high titers (3.4 log2) of VN antibodies in 6/6 pigs, instead of only priming the neutralizing antibody response. After challenge, neutralizing antibody titers in these vaccinated animals rose to a mean value of 5.5 log2, and the duration of the viremia was reduced to an average of 1 week. This study shows that, by the use of an optimized inactivation procedure and a suitable adjuvant, inactivated PRRSV vaccines can be developed that induce VN antibodies and offer partial protection upon challenge.

Potential risk factors for clinical signs of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) in pigs in the Netherlands were investigated in a matched case-control study using a questionnaire (personal interview). Eighty-two pig farmers were questioned about management, hygiene, husbandry systems, disease history, and preventive health care. In this study, 30 pig herds with (cases) and 30 pig herds without (controls) characteristic clinical signs of PMWS were compared. For PDNS, 11 pig herds with (cases) and 11 pig herds without (controls) characteristic clinical signs of PDNS were compared. Univariate analysis (P

Em função das dúvidas que ainda perduram 25 anos após a ocorrência do surto de peste suína africana (PSA), em Paracambi, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, em 1978, são apresentados os resultados, relativos a este foco, obtidos pelos estudos epidemiológico, clínico-patológico, virológico, bacteriológico e ultra-estrutural dos casos naturais, bem como os relativos à reprodução experimental da doença no Brasil e sua confirmação por isolamento e determinação de patogenicidade realizada no Plum Island Animal Disease Center, New York, EUA. Os animais se infectaram pela ingestão de restos de comida de aviões procedentes de Portugal e da Espanha, países nos quais a doença existia. De acordo com publicação do Ministério da Agricultura, após o diagnóstico do surto de PSA descrito neste trabalho, 223 novos focos foram relatados, entre 1978 e 1979, em todas Regiões do país (Norte, Nordeste, Centro-Oeste, Sudeste e Sul) e focos adicionais em 1981, sem informações exatas referentes ao seu número. O último caso foi relatado em 15 de novembro de 1981, e em 5 de dezembro 1984 o Brasil foi declarado livre da PSA. Para o diagnóstico da PSA foram processadas 54.002 amostras no Departamento de Virologia do Instituto de Microbiologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, no período de 1978 a 1981. No processamento das amostras foram usadas as técnicas de hemadsorção em cultura de leucócitos (HAd), imunoflorescência em cortes de tecido (FATS), imunoflorescência em cultivo celular (FATCC), imuno-eletrosmoforese (IEOP) e imunoflorescência indireta (IIF). Somente 4 amostras foram positivas pela técnica de FATCC, a única das provas que inclui o isolamento viral; não é mencionada a procedência dessas amostras, mas provavelmente trata-se das amostras oriundas de Paracambi. Com base na análise de todos os dados publicados sobre o tema, na possível ocorrência de falso-positivos, na falta de informações sobre isolamento e caracterização do virus, bem como na ausência de dados sobre epidemiologia, sinais clínicos e patologia nesses outros supostos focos, pode-se concluir que o surto de Paracambi constitui a única ocorrência de PSA no Brasil, comprovada por isolamento, identificação do vírus e determinação de sua patogenicidade, e que a doença manteve-se confinada a esse local, provavelmente em função do diagnóstico precoce e da rápida adoção de eficientes medidas de controle pelas autoridades sanitárias; o abate dos suínos desse rebanho iniciou-se 10 dias depois da primeira morte e 3 dias após o diagnóstico presuntivo. Due to doubts which still persist 25 years after the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) which ocurred in the county of Paracambi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1978, the results obtained through the studies to establish and confirm the diagnosis are presented. These include data on the epidemiology, clinic-pathological aspects, bacteriological, virological and ultramicroscopic examinations, the experimental reproduction of the disease and cross immunity tests with classical swine fever virus performed in Brazil, and on the confirmation with isolation of the virus and determination of its identity at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, New York, USA. The pigs of the affected herd had been fed untreated remains of meals from airplanes of international lines flying to Brazil from Portugal and Spain where ASF was occurring at the time. According to publication by the Ministry of Agriculture, after the diagnosis of the outbreak of ASF described in this paper, 223 additional outbreaks were reported in Brazil between 1978 and 1979, in all the Brazilian regions (North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast and South). Further outbreaks were reported in 1981, but their number is not known. The last case was reported to have occurred on November 15, 1981, and on December 5, 1984, Brazil was declared free of ASF. For the diagnosis of ASF 54,002 samples were examined by the Department of Virology of the Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, from 1978 to 1981, by the techniques of haemadsorption in leucocyte cultures (HAd), direct immunoflorescence in tissue sections (FATS), direct immunoflorescence in cell cultures (FATCC), immuno-electro-osmophoresis (IEOP) and indirect immunoflorescence assay (IIF). Only 4 samples were positive with the FATCC procedure. This is the only technique which includes virus isolation; the origin of these positive samples was not reported, but probably they were from the Paracambi outbreak. From other suspected outbreaks of ASF in Brazil there is no information on the isolation and characterization of the virus isolates. Likewise there is no information available about the epidemiology, clinical signs, and pathology of suspected ASF in other outbreaks. The analysis of all published data on this matter in Brazil, the possibility of false-positive results, the lack of information about isolation and characterization of the virus, as well as the lack of epidemiological, clinical and pathological data of these other supposed outbreacs of ASF strongly suggest that the outbreak of Paracambi was the only occurrence of ASF in Brazil, confirmed by the isolation, identification of the virus, and the determination of its pathogenicity, and that ASF occurred and maintained itself confined to this area probably due to the early diagnosis and the rapid application of efficient control measures by the Brazilian authorities; the slaughter of the animals in the outbreak of Paracambi started as soon as 10 days after the first death, 3 days after the presumptive diagnosis.

In this study, 60 pigs with clinical signs of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) from 20 different pig herds and 180 control pigs (without clinical signs of PMWS) were examined to get more insights into the frequencies of porcine circovirus 2 infections and the presence of co-infections in pigs with and without clinical signs of PMWS in the Netherlands. Porcine circovirus type 2 was detected in 100% of the pigs with clinical signs of PMWS by virus isolation and/or PCR and in 50% of the pigs from PMWS-free herds. There was an association between the levels of infectious PCV2 and/or PCV2 DNA load and the severity of clinical signs as described for PMWS. A high variation in PCV2 antibody titres was found in the clinically affected pigs, and 27% of these pigs did not mount PCV2 antibody titres higher than 1:200. A concurrent infection of PCV2 and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was found in at least 83% of the pigs with clinical signs of PMWS and in 35% of the pigs from PMWS-free herds. Co-infections of European- and American-type PRRSV were detected only in PMWS herds and in one control herd with a history of PMWS clinical signs.

The bovine and human respiratory syncytial viruses cause severe lower respiratory tract infections. Effective vaccines against the respiratory syncytial viruses have been lacking since vaccine failures in the 1960s and 1970s. In this report, we describe a bovine respiratory syncytial virus (bRSV) challenge model in which both classical bRSV respiratory infection and vaccine-enhanced immune pathology were reproduced. The classical, formalin-inactivated (FI) bRSV vaccine that has been associated with vaccine failure was efficient in inducing high antibody titers and reducing viral loads but also primed calves for a far more serious enhanced respiratory disease after a bRSV challenge, thereby mimicking the enhanced clinical situation in FI human RSV (hRSV)-immunized and hRSV-infected infants in the 1960s. We show that immunization with FI-bRSV mainly primes a Th2-like inflammatory response that is characterized by a significant eosinophilic influx in the bronchial alveolar lung fluid and lung tissues and high levels of immunoglobulin E serum antibodies. The current model may be useful in the evaluation of new bRSV candidate vaccines for potency and safety.

This study aimed to describe and discuss the results of an experiment carried out in two stages with pregnant cows fed 25kg/apple pomace/day. The first stage involved 16 pregnant Holstein Friesian cows divided into four groups: Group 0 - Control (5 cows); Group I - 1 month-gestation (4 cows); Group II - 3 month-gestation (4 cows); Group III - 6 month-gestation (3 cows) and was performed from September to December 2015. The second stage comprised 12 pregnant Holstein Friesian cows divided into three groups: Group 0 - Control (6 cows), Group I - 1 month-gestation (3 cows), and Group II - 3 month-gestation (3 cows) and was conducted from April 2016 to February 2017. All study animals received apple pomace at a dose of 25kg/day. As for the first experiment stage, a cow in Group III bred a calf with complete absence of the coccygeal vertebrae and tail, slight bending of the hind limbs, scoliosis in the thoracic spine, and limited mobility. At 30 days, it presented with diarrhea and underdevelopment, and was euthanized for necropsy. At gross examination, malformations were observed in the thoracic spine, coxofemural joint, and genitourinary tract. Regarding the second experiment stage, a cow in Group I gave birth to a calf with curved pelvic and thoracic limbs with thick joints and flattening hooves. Microscopic examination of the femur showed disorganized, irregular hypertrophic zone and scarce growth zone, in addition to primary spongy zone with short, slightly mineralized trabeculae. Samples of the apple pomace used in this study were frozen and sent for laboratory evaluation of pesticide residues, which showed a positive result for the fungicide carbendazim.