Post-thaw viability of in vivo-produced canine blastocysts cryopreserved by slow freezing

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of renal and hepatic functions in dogs naturally infected by visceral leishmaniasis submitted to treatment with meglumine antimoniate

The present study aimed to evaluate the renal and hepatic responses in eight dogs with visceral leishmaniasis submitted to treatment with meglumine antimoniate and to verify the occurrence of possible side effects. Urinalysis, hepatic and renal function tests were carried out in all animals at up to seven moments. After the end of a six-month observation period, all dogs were euthanized. Before the beginning of the experiment urinary and biochemical alterations were observed in four dogs due to the changes caused by the parasite itself. These alterations included the presence of renal cells, cylindruria, proteinuria, azotemia, hyperproteinemia, and hypoalbuminemia. One dog died on the third day after treatment because an aggravation of the clinical picture, probably due to the medication. During the course of the study, an increase in hepatic enzymes was verified in two animals. Sixty days after the beginning of the treatment four dogs showed remission of clinical signs. The other three were asymptomatic with persistent biochemical alterations. From these, two presented recurrence of clinical signs about 150 days after the beginning of the treatment while in the other, hyperproteinemia persisted. Meglumine antimoniate was not efficient to treat dogs with severe renal dysfunction and the side effects observed were pain at the site of injection and the probable transient hepatotoxicity, evidenced by biochemical examinations, but without the presence of clinical signs. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical and parasitological evaluation of dogs naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi submitted to treatment with meglumine antimoniate

Aiming to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis, to verify the occurrence of a possible disease relapse, and to search for the presence of the parasites after the end of the treatment, seven dogs naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi were used. The dogs were subjected to a treatment with 75 mg/kg meglumine antimoniate subcutaneously every 12 h for 21 days, and followed-up for a period of 6 months. During the whole experimental period the animals wore deltamethrin collars and were kept in a screened kennel to avoid reinfection. Lymph node and bone marrow aspiration biopsy was carried out to search for the parasite at seven moments: before the treatment, 30, 60, 90, 120 150 and 180 days after the start of the treatment. After the end of the experiment all dogs were humanely euthanized. Then, spleen and liver imprints and ill vitro cultures were carried out to search for amastigote forms of the parasite. During the treatment all animals presented remission of symptoms. However, two dogs were observed to present new symptoms in the course of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, the presence of amastigote forms of the parasite was evidenced in five of the seven dogs. This enabled us to conclude that the treatment promoted clinical cure but did not eliminate the parasites completely. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Naturally acquired antibodies against Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin in goats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparison of conventional PCR, quantitative PCR, bacteriological culture and the Warthin Starry technique to detect Leptospira spp. in kidney and liver samples from naturally infected sheep from Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evaluation of TNF-alpha, IL-4, and IL-10 and parasite density in spleen and liver of L. (L.) chagasi naturally infected dogs

Dogs are the main domestic reservoirs of L. (L.) chagasi. Once in the vertebrate host, the parasite can cause visceral leishmaniasis, which can also be transmitted to humans. Cytokines are key elements of the host immune response against Leishmania spp. To investigate whether tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 are associated with pattern infection in dogs, these cytokines were quantified in the spleen and liver of dogs naturally infected with L. (L.) chagasi, with or without clinical manifestations, and their levels were correlated with the parasite load verified in these organs. A total of 40 adult dogs naturally infected with L. (L.) chagasi were assessed, together with 12 uninfected control dogs. Samples from spleen and liver were used to determine the cytokine levels by capture ELISA and for quantifying parasite load by real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using the minimum Chi square method and group means were compared using the Tukey test. TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-10 levels in infected dogs were higher than in control groups; the liver was the main cytokine-producing organ during infection. The level of splenic TNF-alpha showed correlation with parasite load and may represent an important marker for infection process evolution, with the participation of IL-10. These results may contribute to a clearer understanding of the immune response in dogs infected with L. (L.) chagasi, which may lead to the development of prophylactic or preventive measures for these animals.

Serological diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis by an enzyme immunoassay using protein A in naturally infected dogs

Um ensaio de imunoadsorção enzimática para detecção de anticorpos contra Leishmania chagasi, utilizando antígeno total de formas promastigotas lisados foi desenvolvido. Cinqüenta cães com sintomas clínicos de leishmaniose visceral foram examinados. Esta técnica utilizou anti-IgG de cão conjugado a peroxidase ou proteína A conjugado a peroxidase. Foi verificado que nos animais positivos diagnosticados por exame parasitológico direto o ensaio ELISA utilizando proteína A conjugada a peroxidase (média da densidade óptica ± desvio padrão 2,078 ± 0,631) detecta mais anticorpos do que o sistema utilizando anti-IgG de cão conjugado a peroxidase (média da densidade óptica ± desvio padrão 1,008 ± 0,437), enquanto para os animais negativos o resultado obtido nos dois sistemas de detecção são similares. Esse resultado sugere que o sistema de ELISA utilizando proteína A conjugado a peroxidase pode ser útil na detecção de animais na fase aguda da infecção e desta forma auxiliar na identificação dos animais positivos e no controle desta importante zoonose.

Evaluation of Stress Patterns Produced by Implant-Retained Overdentures and Implant-Retained Fixed Partial Denture

The purposes of this study were to photoelastically measure the biomechanical behavior of 4 implants retaining different cantilevered bar mandibular overdenture designs and to compare a fixed partial denture (FPD). A photoelastic model of a human edentulous mandible was fabricated, which contained 4 screw-type implants (3.75 x 10 mm) embedded in the parasymphyseal area. An FPD and 3 overdenture designs with the following attachments were evaluated: 3 plastic Hader clips, 1 Hader clip with 2 posterior resilient cap attachments, and 3 ball/O-ring attachments. Vertical occlusal forces of 100 N were applied between the central incisor and unilaterally to the right and left second premolars and second molars. Stresses that developed in the supporting structure were monitored photoelastically and recorded photographically. The results showed that the anterior loading, the overdenture with 3 plastic Hader clips, displayed the largest stress concentration at the medium implant. With premolar loading, the FPD and overdenture with 3 plastic Hader clips displayed the highest stresses to the ipsilateral terminal implant. With molar loading, the overdenture with 3 ball/O-ring attachments displayed the most uniform stress distribution in the posterior edentulous ridge, with less overloading in the terminal implant. It was concluded that vertical forces applied to the bar-clip overdenture and FPD created immediate stress patterns of greater magnitude and concentration on the ipsilateral implants, whereas the ball/O-ring attachments transferred minimal stress to the implants. The increased cantilever in the FPD caused the highest stresses to the terminal implant.

Exposed collagen in aged resin-dentin bonds produced on sound and caries-affected dentin in the presence of chlorhexidine

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Artificial methods of dentine caries induction: A hardness and morphological comparative study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Correlation between Clinical/Radiographic Features and Inflammatory Cytokine Networks Produced by Macrophages Stimulated with Endodontic Content

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)