Gas therapies improve chronic osteoarthritis and productivity in SRLV-infected dairy goats

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are chronic and progressive diseases that compromise animal health and production. This study aimed to evaluate the ozone therapy on different clinical, production and ultrasound indices in dairy goats naturally infected by SRLV. A total of 42 adult Saanen goats with chronic signs of arthritis and weight loss were used after molecular and/or seropositivity to SRLV confirmation. Animals were allocated into three experimental groups: Goxygen/ozone (n = 14); Goxygen (n = 14); and Gcontrol (n = 14). A therapeutic ozone dose of 0.05 mg/kg was adopted. Monthly, throughout 90 days, all goats underwent a clinical examination, carpal ultrasound and production index collection. There was a treatment effect for production (Body Condition Score [BCS] and body weight) and clinical (clinical articular index, biometric indices and carpal volumes) indices. Goxygen/ozone showed a greater BCS when compared to Gcontrol, and Goxygen had a score equal to other groups (2.7 ± 0.4 ≠ 2.5 ± 0.3 = 2.6 ± 0.4 BCS). Goxygen/ozone and Goxygen had a greater body weight when compared to Gcontrol (62.0 ± 9.9 = 61.2 ± 11.3 ≠ 57.2 ± 9.5 Kg). In clinical evaluations, Goxygen and Goxygen/ozone obtained lower carpal joint indices when compared to Gcontrol (8.2 ± 1.0 = 8.2 ± 1.3 ≠ 8.7 ± 1.0 cm). Regarding joint ultrasound data, Goxygen/ozone and Goxygen had lower indices when compared to Gcontrol. The distance from the joint capsule to the subchondral space (8.7 ± 3.4 = 8.6 ± 3.2 ≠ 11.0 ± 4.3 mm), area (153.7 ± 68.1 = 156.2 ± 69.4 ≠ 239.0 ± 89.3 mm2) and perimeter (81.6 ± 15.7 = 81.1 ± 16.4 ≠ 101.7 ± 15.9 mm) of the carpal lesion are highlighted. Likewise, there was found interaction between treatment and time for ultrasound parameters of the distance from the joint capsule to the subchondral space, area and perimeter of the carpal lesion. In conclusion, both gas therapies, under the current conditions, can be safely used to improve joint clinical signs and production rates in dairy goats naturally infected by SRLV displaying chronic arthritis and weight loss.