Oral and Poster Abstracts

limb incoordenation. These signs gradually gave place to hind limb
paresis and finally to ataxia. Severe hyperalgesia and allodynia were
present on both flanks and hind quarters. There were no seizures,
hypertermia or change in temperament. Appetite was reduced but
present. Leukogram revealed a leucocytosis. Lumbar/sacral region X-
Ray did not show any lesions. Liquid obtained by lumbar puncture was
negative to microbiology tests. Treatment with antibiotics was
unsuccessful and the animal was euthanized 6 days after first signs.
Post-mortem examination revealed cachexia, hind limbs muscular
atrophy, two well demarcated nodules with 1 cm in diameter in the
right lung, caseous lymphadenitis and lumbar spinal cord showing
extensive oedema. Microscopically the lungs showed signs of mycotic
pneumonia (Cryptococcus sp.) and the lumbar spinal cord showed
mycotic meningitis with extensive oedema with lymphocyte
infiltration. A diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was possible due to
microscopic lesions. Lymphadenitis was caused by C. pseudotuberculosis.
Cryptococcus neoformans seems to have a predilection
for the central nervous system in humans. Cryptococcal meningitis has
been described in imunnocompromised human patients and cats but no
report of goat lumbar-meningitis due to Cryptococcus infection has
been published.Pigeons are thought to be the main carriers of
Cryptococcus neoformans. Pigeons had access to both the stable and
the pastures used by the buck but no other animal in the herd has shown
any neurological signs. A few goats in the herd have shown respiratory
disease signs for which a mycotic etiology has not been confirmed.
Key words: goat, mycotic meningitis, allodynia, neurologic signs
823 Periparturition Dynamics of Serum Protein Levels in Goats
L. Janku, L. Misurova, J. Filipek, A. Pechova, R. Dvorak, L. Pavlata
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Ruminants, Brno, Czech Republic
The aim of the study was to compare levels of individual protein fractions
(PF) in blood serum of goats determined by electrophoresis (ELFO) in the
periparturition period (p.p.). Eight clinically healthy white shorthaired
goats were examined. Blood samples of these goats were repeatedly taken
from v. jugularis 3 weeks (wk) before the parturition (p.), on the
parturition day (p.d.) and on day 28 after the parturition (a.p.). Each PF
was identified using Hydragel Protein K20 kit. Agarose gel ELFO divided
PF to albumins (A), alfa1, alfa2, beta1, beta2 and gama-globulins
(gamaG). Separated PF zones were stained and evaluated by
densitometry. Percentage shares of individual PF were converted from
total protein (TP) values to g/l values. The results indicated that serum PF
in goats in the p.p. show significant dynamics of change. No significant
differences between samples taken 3 wk before the p. and on the p.d.
(except for gamaG that decreased from 9.5±2.6 to 8.1±1.7 g/l) were
determined (the values obtained 3 weeks before the p. vs. the p.d. values
were as follows (in g/l): TP 60.8±3.8 vs. 60.6±4.3, A 36.7±1.7 vs.
37.4±2.9, alfa1 3.5±0.5 vs. 3.5±0.6, alfa2 3.1±0.5 vs. 3.4±0.5, beta1
5.5±0.3 vs. 5.6±0.5, beta2 2.5±0.3 vs. 2.6±0.2). However, most of the
values from day 28 a.p. were significantly higher (TP 71.3±2.4, A
42.7±1.0, alfa2 4.1±0.8, beta2 6.3±0.9, gamaG 9.9±1.6 g/l). The only
fractions that did not changed significantly during the period were alfa1
and beta2 (day 28 values were 3.3±0.6 or 2.5±0.6 g/l respectively).
Interpretation of PF results must consider the stage of reproduction and
lactation, as these significantly affect most of the monitored parameters
(TP, A, alfa2, beta1, gamaG) also in healthy animals. Three wk before the
p., many values obtained from healthy animals were substantially lower
than those measured during lactation period. Lower values identified
before the p. should be associated above all with the production of
colostrum and other immunological changes that happen in the p.p. As we
monitored healthy animals only, we believe that not even increased values
of fractions involving acute-phase proteins can be associated with any
disease.
The work was supported by the Research Project MSM6215712403.
Key words: protein fractions, blood, globulins, electrophoresis
824 Supplementing Goats in Semi-arid Conditions with Maize
during the Last 12 Days of Pregnancy Improves the Ability of
New-born Kids to Recognize Their Mother
H. Hernandez 1 , S. Ramírez 1 , J. Flores 1 , P. Poindron 2 , A. Terrazas 3 ,
J. Delgadillo 1
1 CIRCA, UAAAN, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
2 UMR 6175, INRA, Tours, France, France
3 FESC, UNAM, Mexico, Mexico
Objectives of the study: We investigated if a supplementation with
maize during the last 12 days of pregnancy could improve the ability of
newborn kids to reunite with their mother and recognize her in goats
grazing natural pasture under semiarid conditions.
Materials and Methods: A group of 21 control goats (C group) were
maintained under traditional extensive management, in which the
animals were taken out daily to graze the available natural vegetation
until parturition. Another group of 31 supplemented goats (S group)
were managed in the same conditions as the controls, but received in
addition 0.6 kg of flaked maize/mother/day during the last 12 days of
pregnancy. At 8 hours postpartum one kid from each mother underwent
a 5 min two-choice test between their own mother and an alien goat that
had given birth at about the same time in a 4x4 m enclosure. Thus, 21
C kids (4 singles, 11 twins and 6 triplets) and 31 S kids (7 singles, 15
twins and 9 triplets) were tested.
Results: Fewer C kids than S kids reached a mother during the test
(9/21versus 23/31; P0.05). In contrast, in the S group
all these variables were significantly higher toward the own mother than
toward the alien mother (time near a mother: 135.8 ± 20.0 s vs 18.7 ±12.0
s; time looking: 117.7 ± 18.0 s vs 17.0 ± 4.1 s; number of visits: 1.4 ± 0.2
vs 0.3 ± 0.2; P