Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Leishmania infantum (synonym: Leishmania chagasi) and transmitted by the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis in Brazil. It is an endemic zoonosis in several regions of the country, including Belo Horizonte (State of Minas Gerais). In urban areas, the domestic dog is susceptible and considered the most important animal reservoir. However, L. infantum has been previously diagnosed in other species, including captive primates and canids. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of the agent DNA in captive animals as well as some free ranging animals from the Zoo-Botanical Foundation of Belo Horizonte by Polymerase Chain Reaction. Eighty one blood samples from primates, carnivores, ruminants, edentates, marsupial, and a monogastric herbivore were analyzed. Three primates Alouatta guariba (brown howler monkey), and two canids Speothos venaticus (bush dog) were positive, demonstrating the importance of leishmaniasis control in endemic areas for preservation of wildlife species in captivity.

The objectives of this study were: (1) to identify and rank phenotypically divergent animals for residual feed intake (RFI) regarding their efficiency (high: HE or low: LE); (2) to evaluate their relationships with ingestive behavior, ruminal and blood parameters, performance, and infrared thermography; and (3) to determine if such measurements can be used as feed efficiency markers in rearing dairy heifers. Thirty-eight heifers, 143 d ± 4 (Mean ± SD) of age and 108.7 kg ± 17.9 of body weight were used. The animals were fed with a total mixed ration during the 91 d of the trial. A phenotypic divergence of DMI for RFI was observed between −0.358 and 0.337 kg/d for HE and LE, respectively. Dry matter intake (DMI) was lower in the HE (2.5 kg DMI/d vs. 3.1 kg DMI/d), as was the number of visits to the feed bin with consumption (59 vs. 71). Feed intake was the best predictor of said divergence. Water intake and number of visits to the feed bin were presented moderate correlations with RFI. The ruminal fermentation variables, blood metabolites, blood hormones (such as the other ingestive behavior variables), and infrared thermography were not able to accurately predict HE or LE animals.

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of dose, start and application interval of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on performance, health, and reproduction parameters of 180 crossbred Holstein x Gyr dairy cows (¾ and 7/8). The statistical design in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design included: application dose (250 or 500 mg) x starts of application (40 or 63 days in milk – DIM) x application interval (12 or 14 d). The treatments with 500 mg – rbST (rbST 500) resulted in increased milk production, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), and energy-corrected milk (ECM). In the factorial design analysis, an increase in the production of FCM, ECM, and milk solids production (kg/d) were observed when the rbST 500 started at 63 DIM, while for the animals that received 250 mg – rbST was observed increase in milk production (kg/d), FCM, ECM, and milk solids production (kg/d) when it was performed every 12 d. In rbST 500 there was an increase in the number of open days and number of services per pregnancy (P = 0.01). The Holstein-Gyr cows (¾ and 7/8) showed better response to rbST when treated with 500 mg, started at 63 DIM, and performed every 14 d.

Bovine colostrum (BC) is widely recognized for its fundamental role in the nutrition and protection of newborn calves. However, it may also contain pathogens, and research is still limited to a few agents. This study aimed to assess the presence of Anaplasma marginale (msp4), Babesia bovis (cytb), B. bigemina (cytb), and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (hemoplasmas) (16S rRNA or gapN) in BC and blood by molecular investigation. Aseptically collected blood (5 mL) and colostrum (40 mL) were obtained once from 104 Holstein cows from a commercial dairy herd in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil, within the first 24 hours after parturition. Blood analyses by PCR revealed the frequencies of 95.19% (99/104) for A. marginale, 62.5% (65/104) for B. bigemina, 52.88% (55/104) for B. bovis, and 74.85% (82/104) for hemoplasmas. The most prevalent blood co-infection was A. marginale plus hemoplasmas. The investigation in BC by PCR showed that the agents were present in 22.12% of the samples, with frequencies of 12.12% (12/99) for A. marginale, 10.91% (6/55) for B. bovis, and 6.1% (5/82) for hemoplasmas. No co-infection was identified. These findings highlight the relevance of management for control of the hemopathogens, and demonstrate the need for further investigation into the viability of the microorganisms and their epidemiological role, once the vertical transmission is an important route for some pathogens.