Acefalia em ovino - relato de caso

Abstract

Acephalia is a malformation that consists in total or partial absence of the head. The mortality of sheep that bear the malformation occurs mainly during the period between 28 and 60 days of pregnancy. Malformation can occur during the embryonic or fetal development stage of every species of animals, which can be hereditary, caused by the consumption of toxic plants or chemical substances ingested by their parents. It was reported the case of a stillborn sheep originated from the cross-breeding of Dorper sheep with Santa Inês sheep, which present a severe malformation of the head. It is believed that it occurred due to the intake of Mimosa bimucronata (D.C.) Kuntze (Fabaceae) which is a toxic plant that causes malformation of ruminants in general, found in large amount at the related farm. For sheep farming, it is necessary to consider several factors that might affect the fetal development, amongst them is the control of plants with teratogen potential, such as Mimosa bimucronata, in order to reduce the cases of malformation and perinatal mortality.