This study reports the occurrence and appearance of various reproductive tract pathologies of small ruminants diagnosed using ultrasound. An eight-year retrospective study of collected ultrasound data was carried out in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil from September 2012 to July 2020. A total of 3463 animals from 16 sheep flocks and 10 dairy goat flocks, raised under extensive and intensive management systems, respectively, were used in the study. All animals were submitted to an ultrasound examination of their reproductive tract. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test (p < 0.05), to compare disorder frequencies within and between species. Ewes (4.14%) had fewer reproductive disorders than does (8.98%), while rams (43.63%) and bucks (56.25%) presented no significant differences. Hydrometra was the most frequent finding in does, represented by 50.98% of cases; while, in ewes, recent fetal loss (22.85%) and cystic endometrial hyperplasia (20.00%) were the most frequent. In bucks, the findings showed no clear differences; while, for rams, the most frequent finding was testicular microlithiasis (75.00%). Ultrasonography offers clinically useful information about the reproductive tract via the images it provides; knowledge of which makes it possible to improve the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of genital pathologies.

Resynchronization protocols have been proposed as a way of shortening females’ unproductive time in the flock, with good results in cattle and sheep. In goats, initial studies have shown that a second progestogen device inserted before luteolysis and pregnancy diagnosis does not interfere with the corpus luteum lifespan or functionality. This study aimed to evaluate the follicular growth, ovulation pattern and pregnancy rate after insertion of a second and new progestogen device for resynchronizing, with or without equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin (eCG), submitted to natural mating (NM) or artificial insemination (AI) to propose a viable resynchronization protocol for dairy goats. A total of 38 multiparous Saanen goats underwent a short-term progesterone protocol [six days exposed to medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) intravaginal sponges + 200 IU eCG and 0.12 mg of cloprostenol sodium on the 5^th day + 0.025 mg of lecirelin 34 hours after sponge withdrawal] and, on day 16th after the ovulation, received a new MAP device which was retained until day 21. At this moment females were split into four groups: G_eCG+NM – 100 IU eCG with NM; G_Sal+NM – saline solution with NM; G_eCG+AI – 100 IU eCG with AI; and G_Sal+AI – saline solution with AI. Ultrasound scans were performed every 12 h from sponge withdrawal (day 21) until 108 h after sponge withdrawal (day 25) for follicular dynamics evaluation, at 240 h (day 31) for assessing the presence of active corpus luteum, and on day 60 for pregnancy diagnosis. No differences were found regarding ovulation time, synchronization and follicle size. However, G_eCG+NM presented a greater estrus manifestation rate (100%) and pregnancy rate (62.5%) when compared to G_Sal+AI. In conclusion, resynchronization protocols in dairy goats may present satisfactory results.

The increase in energy imbalance at the beginning of lactation leads to metabolic disorders, especially clinical ketosis, in highly productive dairy cows. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters, and cardiac biomarkers creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) of 15 cows diagnosed with clinical ketosis treated at the Bovine Clinic of Garanhuns at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco. Nine of the 15 cows were diagnosed with primary ketosis and six had concomitant diseases, including left abomasal displacement, metritis, pneumonia, and renal failure. The observed clinical signs were non-specific and included decreased appetite and milk production and weight loss. Approximately 53% of the animals had central nervous system involvement. For biochemical evaluation, 15 high-production healthy dairy cows at the initial stage of lactation served as the control group. The data were subjected to analysis of variance for simultaneous comparison between two means allowing testing the hypothesis on the means of the different groups and subjected to Pearson correlation at a level of significance of 5%. The levels of ?-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, fructosamine, total protein, albumin, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, CK-MB, and cTnI were higher in the group with ketosis. The diseased animals presented changes in glycemia, reduction in tissue sensitivity to insulin, and a lower RQUICKI-BHB index, especially hyperglycemic animals. The increase in the levels of cardiac biomarkers suggests the occurrence of myocardial injury associated with bovine ketosis.

The objective was to conduct a systematic review on vagus indigestion in ruminants. This syndrome, caused by vagus nerve dysfunction and characterized by motility disorders of the pre-stomachs and abomasum, is categorized into four types, based on the location of the functional disorder: type I or failure in eructation, type II or failure in omasal transport, type III or failure in the pyloric flow and type IV or indigestion caused by advanced pregnancy. Due to its clinical and economic importance for cattle breeding, it is essential to approach this disease, aiming to expand knowledge and promote the correct diagnosis by veterinarians working in the field of internal medicine for ruminants.