ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the impact of metabolic changes occurring in induced subclinical gestation toxaemia in ewes on metabolic parameters and vigour in the first 72 h of their lambs’ life. Fifty-one adult Corriedale ewes of known gestation date and fed on a natural pasture were randomly divided into four groups at day 145 of gestation. Group A (ewes with single pregnancies) and group C (ewes with twin pregnancies) were fed on a natural pasture throughout the trial; group B (ewes with single pregnancies) and group D (ewes with twin pregnancies) were subjected to 75% feed restriction for three days until they reached glycaemia and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) values indicative of subclinical gestational toxaemia. The birth-to-first station and birth-to-first suckling times of the born lambs were studied. Within the first hour after parturition and at 24, 48, and 72 h, glycaemia and BHB concentrations were determined in the blood of lambs, and body temperature and body weight were assessed at the same time. Relative weight gain at 72 h of age was calculated for all lambs. The BHB concentration determined at all times studied showed no difference among the groups. Subclinical gestation toxaemia induced in ewes subjected to feed restriction causes a decrease in the glycaemia of their lambs in the first hour of life; however, it does not cause an increase in ketone bodies. The metabolic changes induced in the mothers do not have negative effects on the vigour of the lambs at birth, as the weight, temperature, and the time it took for lambs to stand and suckle are not affected. However, they have a negative effect on relative weight gain in the critical period of the first 72 h of life.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi testar a composição química do líquido hidático bovino (BHCF) obtido de cistos hidáticos férteis (FC) e não férteis (NFC). Oito lotes de FC e 5 de NFC foram preparados e testados quanto à composição química, proteínas totais, proteínas derivadas do hospedeiro, conteúdo de carbohidratos e lipídeos. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os dois primeiros parâmetros sendo que o conteúdo de carbohidratos e lipídeos foi maior nos lotes FC do que nos NFC. Por SDS-PAGE foram observadas bandas de 38 e 116 kD somente nos BHCF do FC. Foram preparados dois «pools» de BHCF, um de FC (PFC) e outro de NFC (PNFC). Os padrões de reconhecimento dos antígenos foram analisados por imunoblot. As condições físico-químicas para adsorção dos antígenos na superfície das placas de poliestireno (ELISA plates) foram otimizadas. O valor de diagnóstico de ambos tipos de BHCF bem como a importância diagnóstica da oxidação das moléculas de carbohidratos com periodato foram analisadas por ELISA usando 42 amostras de soro de pacientes com hidatidose, 41 de pacientes com outras doenças e 15 de doadores aparentemente saudáveis. A reatividade de todos soros contra antígenos nativos foi analisada com e sem fosforilcolina livre. A melhor eficiência diagnóstica foi observada usando BHCF de PFC tratado com periodato usando tampão glicina com forte força iônica para sensibilizar as placas de ELISA.

The aim of this work was to assess the influence in the diagnostic value for human hydatid disease of the composition of bovine hydatid cyst fluid (BHCF) obtained from fertile (FC) and non-fertile cysts (NFC). Eight batches from FC and 5 from NFC were prepared and analysed with respect to chemical composition: total protein, host-derived protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents. No differences were observed in the first two parameters but carbohydrate and lipid contents were shown to be higher in batches from FC than in those from NFC. Bands of 38 and 116 kD in SDS-PAGE profiles were observed to be present in BHCF from FC only. Two pools were prepared from BHCF batches obtained from FC (PFC) and NFC (PNFC), respectively. Antigen recognition patterns were analysed by immunoblot. Physicochemical conditions for adsorption of antigens to the polystyrene surface (ELISA plates) were optimized. The diagnostic value of both types of BHCF as well as the diagnostic relevance of oxidation of their carbohydrate moieties with periodate were assessed by ELISA using 42 serum samples from hydatid patients, 41 from patients with other disorders, and 15 from healthy donors. Reactivity of all sera against native antigen were tested with and without free phosphorylcholine. The best diagnostic efficiency was observed using BHCF from periodate-treated PFC using glycine buffer with strong ionic strength to coat ELISA plates.