Ultrasound of the breast parenchyma of goats infected with Caprine Arthritis-encephalitis Virus

• Grant number: 11/24175-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Alice Maria Melville Paiva Della Libera
• Grantee: Raphael Schneider Vianna
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (AEC) is a viral disease that is distributed worldwide in cattle, and the properties most affected are those with higher technical levels with practices such as housing animals, high population density, and high milk production per head. Among the consequences of the disease in the clinic the predominant forms of AEC are nervous, arthritic, respiratory, and breast (Narayan and Cork, 1985, Peretz et al., 1993). In the breast, the form is predominant chronic mastitis which can cause asymmetry and hardening of the udder known as mastitis chronic induration (Oliver et al., 1981, Peretz et al., 1993). The latter leads to a reduction in milk production and is characterized by presenting hypertrophy of the mammary gland by increasing the thickness of the parenchyma and lymph nodes. The ultrasound is a good way of evaluating the mammary gland because it is non-invasive and easy to apply which can often be used without causing side effects (Lele, 1979). The research project aims to evaluate the sonographic characteristics of breast parenchyma of 10 goats and 10 seropositive or not seropositive to AEC and thus make it possible to measure the level of involvement of the gland and provide information on the replacement rate of the flock or the production of milk in order to reduce production and economic losses in dairy herds.(AU)