Oral and Poster Abstracts

Materials and methods: ovaries were collected from a local abattoir
and transported within 3 h to the laboratory in awarm saline solution
(30-35 °C), supplemented with 100 µg streptomycin sulfate/ml.
Cumulus-oocytecomplexes (COC’s) were obtained by slicing of
follicles, washed in TCM-199 modification with NaHCo 3 and
supplemented with 50 µg/ml gentamycin, and 0.25 mM sodium
pyruvate without any serum supplementation. The COC’s were
randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 (n = 105) COC’s were
fresh control and cultured in TCM-199 medium without serum
supplementation. Group 2 (n = 108) COC’s were washed five times and
cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10% MS. Group 3 (n
= 112) COC’s were washed five times and cultured in TCM-199
medium supplemented with 15% MS. Group 4 (n = 114) COC’s. After
38-42 h of IVM, oocytes were denuded with the aid of 0.1%
hyaluronidase and passing them through a fine pipette, fixed for 24-48
h in a mixture of acetic acid and alcohol (1:3) at room temperature,
stained for 10 min with 1% (w/v) orcein in 45% acetic acid and
examined for the evidence of different stages of maturation.
Results: In this study significantly higher (p < 0.05) maturation rates of
oocytes (69-72%) were observed in all concentrations of Mare serum
compared to those without serum supplementation. However, no
significant difference was observed between the 10, 15% and 20%
serum supplemented group.
Conclusion: In conclusion, it can be said that the supplementation of
10% MS in TCM-199 medium could be used to achieve optimal
maturation rate.
Key words: sheep, mare serum, follicle slicing, oocyte maturation,
ovary
760 Evaluation of Decoquinate Influence on Fast Growing Young
Awassi Lambs: Field Trial
H. Leibovich, A. Ben Zeev, A. Richard
Alpharma, Animal Health Division, Verrieres, France
Most of the sheep kept under intensive conditions suffer some level of
coccidiosis. Most young sheep and goats undergo coccidial infestation,
which is known to cause diarrhea, and can also silently decrease growth
and so impair performance significantly. Decoquinate is a non-antibiotic
synthetic molecule, active against certain protozoa: coccidia,
cryptosporidia, toxoplasma, neospora. The purpose of this trial was to
evaluate the ability of 1 mg/kg BW per day décoquinate to control
Coccidia in young lambs and its influence on lamb’s growth performances
under intensive management in Israel. Experiment was conducted on a
commercial Awassi dairy farm (1500 ewes) located in Kibbutz Ein-
Harod. Experimental lambs were born to synchronized ewes lambed on
May 2005 - an out of season time. 92 Male and Female lambs, were
separated from their dams just after birth, fed colostrums for 4 days, and
then were assigned to the treatment or control groups, in order to design
similar groups according to birth weight, litter size and sex. Lambs were
offered ad lib of reconstituted milk until the age of 31 days. Deccox
included in lamb’s diet from the age of day 4 until 91 days. Body weights
were collected at birth, 31 days (weaning), 60 days, 91 days, 132 days, and
168 days. Milk replacer and concentrates were offered fresh daily for ad
lib., residues were collected and recorded daily. Oocyst counting on
faeces samples from 10 lambs from each group collected on days 14, 28,
and 91. Lambs average weight was 4.7 kg, consumed during suckling
period 6.9 kg per lamb in the Deccox group and 9.5 kg in the control
group. Weaning weights were 11.5 kg and 10.4 kg for control and Deccox
groups. After weaning, the Deccox lambs increased daily food intake to
an average of 38.2 kg compare to 29.7 kg for the control group for the age
31 - 91 days. The Deccox lambs weight 24.2 kg compare to 21.5 kg of the
control group. During the consecutive period, the Least Square means of
the Deccox lamb’s weight on days 63, 91, 133, and 168 were 16.6, 24.2,
35.1, 49.2 kg compare to 15.8, 21.5, 32.0, and 43.9 kg for e control group.
Food conversion rate was 2.7 for the Deccox group, and 3.0 kg for the
control. Numbers of oocyst counted on day were 2650 for the control and
460 in the Deccox. These results confirm that the decoquinate treatment
improves performance of the fast growing lambs - increased growth rate
and food conversion rate of the lambs.
761 Pestiviral Infections in Sheep in Sao Paulo State, Brazil
E. Pituco 1 , C. Ribeiro 1 , E. De Stefano 1 , N. Galleti 1 , M. Oliveira 1 ,
A. Nogueira 2
1 Instituto Biológico, Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de
Sanidade Animal, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2 Apta Regional, Pólo Regional do Extremo Oeste / UPD de
Aracatuba, Aracatuba, Brazil
To determine the prevalence of Pestivirus infections in sheep,
antibodies to Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) using the NADL
strain of BVDV (BVDV-NADL), were investigated. The number of
samples that had to be studied for correct statistical evaluation was
determined with an estimated prevalence of 50%, confidence interval
of 95% and relative precision desired of 7%. As a result, 64 flocks were
randomly selected. Only ewes over one year old were included. Serum
samples of 1306 ewes, from three regions of Sao Paulo State namely
Bauru, Sorocaba and Araçatuba from healthy ewes that had not been
vaccinated for BVDV and BDV were analyzed using virus
neutralization method recommended by the OIE. Ewes with antibody
titers equal or greater than 4 were considered as positive. The overall
percentage of animals with antibodies to BVDV was 2% (27/1306), in
nine flocks 14% (9/64) and the titers ranged between 4 and 64. There
were highly significant geographical variations in antibody prevalence
ranging from 0% in Bauru and Sorocaba regions to 26,5% in Araçatuba
region. These results show that pestivirus infections are present in
Brazilian sheep, although at a low rates. The presence of reactors
sheeps only in Araçatuba may be attributed to the nearness of the Mato
Grosso do Sul State, where there is movement of relatively large
number of cattle, and also because cattle and sheep are in close
proximity, which is in contrast to the others two regions analyzed.
Further studies are being undertaken to detect the viremia and also to
evaluate the cross neutralization on all positive samples with BDV, and
to identify the causative agent. This will be necessary because
Pestiviruses are not strictly host specific, and BVDV infections have
been found to occur frequently in sheep.
Key words: Pestivirus, serology, antibodies, prevalence, sheep
762 Determination of Myocardial Degeneration due to White
Muscle Disease in Lambs by Qualitative Cardiac Troponin
Kits
V. Gunes1 , K. Ozcan2 , M. Citil3 , A. Onmaz1 , H. Erdogan3 1 University of Erciyes, Faculty of Veterinary, Internal Medicine,
Kayseri, Turkey
2 University of Kafkas, Faculty of Veterinary, Pathology, Kars,
Turkey
3 University of Kafkas, Faculty of Veterinary, Internal Medicine,
Kars, Turkey
White muscle disease (WMD) is one of the common problems of
lambs. It develops due to Vit-E and Selenium deficiency. Hyalin
degeneration and severe necrosis occurs in myocardial. This leads to
acute heart failure. The aim of this study was to determine the value of
human cTn-I and cTn-T immunochromatographic strip kits in the
diagnosis of myocardial degeneration due to WMD in lambs. For this
purpose, 10 lambs with acute WMD, mean age 3.5±1 weeks old (range
2-8 weeks), and, 6 clinically healthy lambs, mean age 4±1 weeks old
were used. Routine clinical examinations, troponin analyses and
necropsy were performed in the lambs with acute WMD. Only blood
samples were collected from healthy lambs for cTn-I and cTn-T assays.
Cardiac Tn-T was determined by Tropt Sensitive Rapid Assay (Roche-
Germany). Cardiac Tn-I tests was carried out using Card-I Kit Combo
Test (Aboatech-Finland) in serum of the animals. Cardiac Tn-I and
cTn-T tests were determined as positive in the all lambs with WMD,
but these tests were negative in blood samples collected from healthy
lambs. In necropsy findings, the cardiac and skeletal muscles were
observed to be affected in varying degrees by chalky white lesions.
Histopathological examination revealed necrosis and calcification in
the myocardium and skeletal muscles in lambs with WMD.
Histopathological findings of heart muscle and positive cTn results
were correlated in cases with WMD. In conclusion, Troponin assays
(cTn-T and cTn-I) may be sensitive and specific marker for small
ruminants with myocardial injury, and can be used to predict the future
cardiac disorders in ambs.
Key words: lamb, white muscle disease, cardiac troponins
763 The Effect of Oxfendazole + Oxyclozanide Paste and Tablet
Formulations on Parasite Burden and Metabolic Status of
Sheep
V. Günes 1 , A. Inci 2 , F. Uyanik 3 , A. Yildirim 2 , N. Altug 4 , M. Eren 3 ,
A. Onmaz 1 , C. Gelfert 5
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