130 ANTRAL FOLLICLE COUNTS, VULVA WIDTH, AND SERUM ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN BOVINE FEMALES OF THE TABAPUÃ BREED

Bovine genetic selection for fertility is difficult in part due to the low heritability of fertility traits and to the extension of the calving interval and the productive life length inherent to this species, which makes it harder to identify superior individuals from their records. In this regard, it is feasible to try to identify characteristics that are easy to detect and may be linked to superior reproductive efficiency as early as possible in females. The objective was to evaluate the possible relationships between vulva width, antral follicle counts (AFC), and the serum concentrations of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). Tabapuã (a Brazilian Zebu breed) heifers (n = 155) and cows (n = 422) from 4 herds were used in the study in which all antral follicles ≥3 mm were counted directly with an ultrasound unit. Follicle counts were classified into 2 classes, based on the methodology proposed by Burns et al. (2005) in dairy cattle, such that the low and intermediate AFC classes were merged into one class (low; n = 245) and the high and very high into another (high; n = 332). The vulva width was determined by measuring the distance between the lateral borders of the vulva with a digital caliper placed at a 90-degree angle from the half point of the rima vulvae. Single blood samples were collected from a subgroup of animals (n = 220) and the serum frozen (–20°C) after centrifugation for the AMH analysis, which was performed by specific bovine ELISA (Ansh Laboratories, Webster, TX, USA) test. All statistical analyses were performed with SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Data was submitted for analyses of variance using the PROCGENMOD procedure. Vulva width was larger (P = 0.02) in the class of animals of the high AFC (8.73 ± 0.11 cm) in comparison with those of the low AFC (8.39 ± 0.09 cm), considering the larger sample (n = 591). In the subsample (n = 220) the concentration of AMH was higher (P < 0.0001) in the high AFC class females (1.15 ± 0.07 ng mL–1; n = 95) in comparison with the low AFC class (0.50 ± 0.06 ng mL–1; n = 125). Vulva width, AFC, and AMH serum concentrations were interrelated and likely fertility indicative phenotypes under the present experimental conditions and should be further evaluated in larger samples in order to be considered in bovine genetic selection.

133 ANTRAL FOLLICLE COUNT, VULVA WIDTH, AND FERTILITY TRAITS IN BOS TAURUS INDICUS CATTLE (TABAPUÃ)

The intense selection of characteristics related to animal production may affect negatively the reproductive efficiency of beef cattle. Thus, the search for characteristics that indicate fertility is readily justifiable in the selection of bovine females. The aim was to evaluate possible associations between the antral follicle counts (AFC), external genitalia measurements, and reproduction efficiency in Tabapuã (a Zebu breed from Brazil) females. The AFC was evaluated in Nulliparous heifers (n = 162) and cows (n = 429) by directly counting all follicles ≥3 mm in diameter with ultrasound. From the frequency distribution of the AFC, animals were divided into groups of high (>50 follicles), average (28–50 follicles), and low (<28 follicles), according to Burns et al. (2005). The vulva width was determined by measuring the distance between the lateral borders of the vulva with a digital caliper placed at a 90-degree angle from the half point of the rima vulvae. Two official reproductive efficiency indexes, adopted by the Brazilian Zebu Breeders Association (ABCZ), were used: age at first calving and calving interval. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). An initial complete model was submitted to logistic regression and all body measurements, such as weight, rump height, and width at pins and hooks, were later excluded because they had no relationships with AFC. The AFC class and parity effects of vulva width were submitted to the PROCGENMOD procedure and the reproductive efficiency indexes were regressed onto age, vulva width and the AFC using the PROCREG procedure. Vulva width was greater (P = 0.05) in the high-AFC class cows (8.81 ± 0.12 cm) in comparison to those of the low (8.38 ± 0.13 cm) and average (8.42 ± 0.11 cm) classes, and was not influenced (P = 0.08) by parity (8.37 ± 0.11 and 8.77 ± 0.14 cm for heifers and cows, respectively). Vulva width was larger in cows with lower calving intervals (r2 = –0.21 P = 0.0008), but was not correlated with age at first calving (P = 0.78). Antral follicle counts were similar (P = 0.71) between heifers (38.6 ± 23.96) and cows (38.9 ± 28.00). Calving intervals were shorter in females with higher AFC (r2 = –0.17 P = 0.0064). Age was slightly related to a decrease in the AFC (r2 = –0.066 P < 0.0001). Vulva width and antral follicle count were correlated and were indicators of reproductive efficiency in females of the Tabapuã breed under the present experimental conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first report where vulva width, a fairly simple to detectable phenotype, was correlated with fertility.

Sulcus vocalis: evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance

We found evidence of autosomal dominant hereditary transmission of sulcus vocalis. Four dysphonic patients from three generations of the same family were submitted to videolaryngoscopic examination (three patients) and to direct laryngoscopy (one patient) to diagnose the hoarseness. Sulcus vocalis was diagnosed in all four patients. The finding of four affected individuals in three generations, with vertical transmission affecting man and women, is more consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance pattern; it is an etiological model that we propose for the sulcus vocalis in this pedigree.

Fatty acid profile and qualitative characteristics of meat from zebu steers fed with different oilseeds

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of ground oilseed sources on the quality, fatty acid profile, and CLA content of meat from zebu steers. Thirty-one zebu steers with an initial average age of 23 mo and an initial BW of 365 kg were used in this study. The experimental period was 84 d, which was preceded by an adaption period of 28 d. The diet was provided ad libitum with a forage:concentrate ratio of 40:60. Corn silage was used as the forage source. Four different concentrates were formulated for each treatment: without additional lipids (control) or with ground soybeans (SB), ground cottonseed (CS), or ground linseed (LS). The SB, CS, and LS diets were formulated to have 6.5% ether extract on a total dietary DM basis. The experiment was set up as a completely randomized design. After slaughter, samples were taken from the longissimus thoracis muscle for the measurement of fatty acid concentration and the evaluation of meat quality. The luminosity index was greater in the control and LS diets (P < 0.01). The greatest percentages of myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), trans octadecenoic acid (C18:1 trans-10, trans-11, or trans-12), and SFA in the subcutaneous fat were observed in the CS treatment (P < 0.01). Moreover, the least percentages of oleic acid (C18:1 cis-9) and total unsaturated fatty acids in the subcutaneous fat were observed in the CS diet (P < 0.01). The meat linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid percentages were greatest in the SB and LS treatments, respectively (P < 0.001). The unsaturated fatty acid:SFA ratio was smallest for the CS diet (P < 0.01). A gradual increase in oxidation was observed as a function of storage time; however, the diets did not affect the rancidity of the meat (P > 0.05). The fatty acid profile of subcutaneous fat was impaired by the addition of CS. Supplying ground oilseeds did not increase the content of CLA in the meat.

Prevalence and impact of chronic otitis media in school age children in Brazil. First epidemiologic study concerning chronic otitis media in Latin America

OBJECTIVE

The first epidemiological study carried out in Latin America to investigate the prevalence of otological disease and its impact in a representative random sample of the school children population.

METHODS

A cross sectional epidemiological survey to investigate the epidemiology of otitis in a representative random sample of 1119 children and adolescents from a total of 486166 elementary and high-school students, aged 6-18 years, regularly registered in one of the 521 public and private schools of the city of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais, southern Brazil. The interviews were conducted individually, in the school, by an otolaryngologist or a pediatrician. The interview included all of the personal data and also detailed questions regarding otological disorders and hearing. The otological examination was carried out with Mini-Heine otoscopes and the audiometric evaluation with the AudioScope 3 with 25dB intensity. The questionnaire and basic procedures for medical examination had been previously tested through a pilot test in two schools.

RESULTS

The prevalence of chronic otitis media was 0.94%. Impacted wax was found in 12.3% of the students. The prevalence of abnormalities (excluding wax) in the otoscopy examination was 10.5%. It was found that 8.3% of students had a past history of otitis and 7.7% had a past history of otorrhea. These two special groups presented statistically significant associations with chronic otitis media, hearing loss and otolaryngological surgeries (when compared with the other school children). Parents and school children seemed significantly able to identify a special group of children with past history of otitis during childhood.