Gastrointestinal nematodes cause significant economic losses in the sheep industry, with frequent reports of anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, alternative methods to control these parasites are necessary. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of treatment with selenium and copper on the protein profile of sheep that were experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. Twenty-eight lambs were experimentally infected with H. contortus and divided into four experimental groups as follow: G1 - untreated animals; G2 - treated with sodium selenite; G3 - treated with copper; G4 - treated with sodium selenite and copper. The serum protein, body weight and egg count per gram of feces (EPG) were assessed at the baseline and after 20, 40, 60 and 80 days. The parasite burden was assessed 80 days after the beginning of the experiment. Higher levels of total protein and gamma globulin were observed in the lambs treated with sodium selenite and copper on D80. Copper acted as a growth promoter. The copper-supplemented groups exhibited higher daily and total weight gain. The association of selenium and copper altered the protein profile of sheep. Copper and selenium supplementation reduced EPG and worm burden at the end of the experiment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the positive effect of the combined parenteral supplementation of Se and Cu on H. contortus infection. This injectable supplementation could be used as an auxiliary method to control H. contortus in sheep.

To evaluate the effect of supplementation of iron dextran on blood variables and iron metabolism in lambs experimentally infected by Haemonchus contortus, four experimental groups were used: uninfected and non-supplemented animals (GI); infected animals supplemented with iron (GII); uninfected animals supplemented with iron (GIII); and infected non-supplemented animals (GIV). Groups II and IV received 10,000 larvae (L3) of Haemonchus contortus, and groups II and III received three doses of iron dextran (20mg/kg) intramuscularly with seven days of interval. Blood and faeces samples were collected on days 10 (D10), 17 (D17), 24 (D24), and 31 (D31), in order to determine red blood cell counts, iron metabolism, and EPG. Infected animals developed anemia from D24 and anemia was more severe on D31. Animals from GII had higher hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration compared to animals of GIV on D31. Iron stores in the bone marrow were higher in GII and GIII compared to GI and GIV. The GIV showed lower seric levels of iron on D24 compared to the other groups. The iron supplementation reduces the severity of the anemia caused by infection with Haemonchus contortus in lambs, improving erythropoietic response after blood loss.

Foot lesions are one of the main causes of productivity losses in the dairy industry. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of claudication and distribution of hoof lesions by associating them with preventive hoof trimming, as well as list the main causes of involuntary discarding and the main health problems reported in dairy farms. The study included 10 farms distributed in 7 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul state. The body condition score (BCS) and locomotion score (LS) of the cows were assessed. Hoof examination, lesion classification, and hoof trimming of the animals were performed. Of the 492 animals, 38.4% presented lameness and 36% had foot lesions, 81.4% of which were observed in the pelvic limbs and 19.6% in the thoracic limbs. Of the lesions in the limbs, 47.1% were of infectious origin and 52.9% were noninfectious. The main lesions were sole ulcers (31.6%), digital dermatitis (30.3%), thin soles (12%), and interdigital dermatitis (11.2%). Cows aged 4 to 6 years had a higher number of lesions and a higher LS. Preventive hoof trimming reduced the chances of lameness by 55% as the locomotive system was the main sanitary problem and the first reason for involuntary disposal of the farms. The results show that dairy cows raised in a free stall system have a high prevalence of claudication and foot diseases. These data should be taken into account when altering the livestock management of these animals in order to reduce significant economic losses in the herd.

The aim of the present study was to report the in vivo distribution of selenium in sheep. For this, animals were allocated into two groups (control group and treated group) and kept in metabolic cages for a period of 37 days. The treated group received a single dose (6µmol/kg) of Diphenyl Diselenide, intravenously. Plasma and erythrocytes samples were collected at different times. Adipose tissue, muscles (latissimusdorsi, semitendinosus, and supra-scapular) heart, liver, lung, kidney, intestine and brain were sampled at 30 days post-treatment, in order to determine the selenium concentration. The results demonstrated that the selenium, from the Diphenyl Diselenide group, was higher in erythrocytes (4.8mg/L, six hours post-treatment) when compared with the control sheep. The deposition of selenium occurred in the liver (7.01µg/g), brain (3.53µg/g) and kidney (2.02µg/g). After 30 days of a single intravenous injection of Diphenyl Diselenide, liver was the main organ of selenium deposition.

The aim of this study was to assess the metaphylactic effect of subcutaneous doses of trace minerals (copper, zinc, selenium, and manganese) and vitamins A and E on biochemical (NEFA, BHBA, fructosamine, urea, triglycerides, HDL, and calcium) and hormonal parameters (cortisol, insulin, and IGF-1) of Holstein cows in the transition period. Sixty animals kept in a semi-confinement system, with an average production of 22 liters of milk per day (Farm 1) and 24 liters of milk per day (Farm 2) and a diet according to NRC (2001) with a low metabolic challenge, were divided into two groups: a treatment group, supplemented with trace minerals and vitamins (MTVG) (n=30), and a control group (CG) (n=30). The collection of blood samples was performed at the moments M1 (21 days prepartum), M2 (14 days prepartum), M3 (7 days prepartum), M4 (parturition day), M5 (7 days postpartum), M6 (14 days postpartum), and M7 (21 days postpartum). The experimental design was a randomized block design and the data were submitted to analysis of variance with repeated measures in time within the random variable cow. Differences were considered significant at 5% significance level and trend at 10% level. No difference was observed between treatment and the interaction treatment × day in the assessed parameters. However, some variables showed a significant difference of day. NEFA levels (P < 0.0001) were higher on the parturition day. BHBA concentrations were higher after parturition (P=0.0031), with a peak at the third week of lactation. Fructosamine showed increasing values until the parturition day (P=0.0373), in which higher concentrations were observed. Average values of HDL were higher at 21 days postpartum (P < 0.0001). Triglycerides levels remained high during the prepartum period but showed a sudden drop on the parturition day (P < 0.0001), with lower values postpartum. Regarding serum calcium and IGF-1, lower values were observed on the parturition day (P < 0.001) for both parameters. Cortisol presented a difference regarding day, with higher values on the parturition day (P=0.0151). Thus, the use of trace minerals and vitamins A and E in animals with an adequate body score and low metabolic challenge presents a low response to biochemical and hormonal parameters.