Clinical and laboratorial evaluation of lambs born at term and preterm

• Grant number: 11/10098-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Leydson Formiga Feitosa
• Grantee: Vitor Franco da Silveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

After birth, the newborn's survival depends on intense changes in respiratory and circulatory patterns. The neonatal asphyxia (neonatal acidosis) is a complex pathology that affects newborn ruminants and it has its origin already in the middle of intrauterine and / or during the birth process, and / or due to immaturity in premature births. In lambs, severe hypoxia during birth causes death soon after birth, with a higher risk of metabolic acidosis and reduced capacity for heat production (thermogenesis) in those who survive, which leads to the development of hypothermia. During the birth, the animal is submitted to low oxygen supply. The quantities of serum immunoglobulins, within 48 hours of life, are related to the health of animals before and after weaning, and indirectly related to weight gain during these periods, because of the higher frequency of illnesses in animals with low rates of colostral protection.