Acquired hepatocerebral degeneration and hepatic encephalopathy: correlations and variety of clinical presentations in overt and subclinical liver disease

A degeneração hepatocerebral adquirida (AHD) e a degeneração hepatolenticular podem ter apresentações clínicas semelhantes, mas quando uma doença hepática crônica e achados motores atípicos coexistem, a distinção entre AHD e encefalopatia hepática (HE) pode ser ainda mais complicada. Descrevemos três casos de AHD (dois tendo HE) com diferentes achados em neuroimagem, doenças hepáticas distintas e apresentações motoras semelhantes, todos com hipertensão arterial e perda de peso antes das manifestações motoras. O diagnóstico e a fisiopatologia são comentados e comparados com relatos prévios. Concluímos que existem muitas correlações entre HE, degeneração hepatolenticular e AHD, mas a sobreposição de HE e AHD pode ser mais comum dependendo do conhecimento clínico e da acurácia dos critérios diagnósticos adotados para cada enfermidade. Como a AHD não é considerada prioridade na lista de transplante hepático, o prognóstico dos pacientes com AHD permanece ruim, e a interrupção do fluxo nos shunts portossistêmicos deve ser sempre considerada.

Relationship between teat-end condition, udder cleanliness and bovine subclinical mastitis

The aims of the present study were to relate intramammary infection (IMI) occurrence and somatic cell count (SCC) with teat-end condition (TEC) and udder cleanliness (UC). Milk samples from 1931 teats were evaluated according to the presence of IMI and SCC. Scores were applied to teats according to the TEC and to UC. Teats ends with a very rough ring had the largest number of IMI when compared to the other three categories, as well as animals with dirtier udders. The change in a TEC score increased by around 30% the chance of IMI. Also, the chance of the animal developing IMI increased by approximately 47% when the UC score increased. No significant association between both scores and quarter SCC was found. It can be concluded that animals with very rough teat end rings and very dirty udders have a greater predisposition to IMI. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of methods for the detection of biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis

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

Subclinical abnormalities of glucose metabolism in Brazilian women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus

Background. To evaluate insulin release and insulin sensitivity in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to gain a better understanding of type 2 diabetes pathogenesis.Methods. GDM women were individually matched for age, body mass index, and waist/hip ratio with those who were normal glucose tolerant in a previous pregnancy (NGT). All women presented with normal glucose tolerance. Twenty pairs were submitted to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide determinations. of the 20 pairs, 18 participated in hyperglycemic (10.0 mmol/l) clamp experiments with frequent plasma glucose and insulin determinations, allowing us to calculate first- and second-phase insulin release and the insulin sensitivity index. GDM and NGT women were compared using Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney U-test, Friedman's non-parametric test, and the two proportion test for independent groups.Results. GDM women showed higher glycosylated hemoglobin values; at OGTT, they showed late insulin peak with increased plasma insulin levels only during the second hour, and a similar plasma C-peptide response despite a higher plasma glucose curve; during hyperglycemic clamp procedures, they showed similar biphasic insulin release and insulin sensitivity index. Considering that a woman with previous GDM had a defect in insulin release and/or insulin sensitivity, if its magnitude was at least 25% lower than that of the matched NGT woman, 43.8% showed impairment of first-phase insulin release and 55.6% insulin resistance.Conclusions. GDM women showed some degree of glucose intolerance. It is therefore necessary to follow them for a longer time.

Minimum inhibitory concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus recovered from clinical and subclinical cases of bovine mastitis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Subclinical mastitis caused by staphylococcus aureus: Analysis cost benefit of antibiotic therapy in lactating cows

The cost benefit analysis of treatment of bovine subclinical mastitis caused by S. aureus was evaluated. Two hundred and seventy udder quarters with subclinical mastitis and healthy were selected in four groups, in conformity to lactational stage and with the treatment or not. Group 1 included treated animals 10 to 60 days in milk; group 2 included treated animals 61 days in milk until two months before the end of lactation; group 3 included animals not treated 10 to 60 days in milk; group 4 included animals not treated from 61 days in milk until two months before the end of lactation. Treatment with gentamicin (150 mg) was accomplished by intramammary doses, once a day, after sensitivity tests. The mammary quarters were evaluated after 30 days again. The costs with the treatment were calculated considering a S. aureus prevalence of 5%, expenses with antibiotic, loss in milk, tests of sensitivity and workload. There was loss of income of 2% and 14% in the groups 1 and 2, respectively, when compared with the incomes before treatment. In such case, the treatment of bovine subclinical mastitis by S. aureus in the lactation was economically not practicable.

Subclinical muscle injuries in dogs infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi

Although canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) has been extensively studied, muscular damage due to Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi infection remains to be fully established. The aim of this study was to describe the electromyographic and histological changes, as well as search for the presence of amastigote forms of Leishmania spp, CD3+ T-lymphocytes, macrophages and IgG in skeletal muscles of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Four muscles (triceps brachial, extensor carpi radialis, biceps femoris and gastrocnemius) from a total of 17 naturally infected and six healthy dogs were used in this study. Electromyographic alterations such as fibrillation potentials, positive sharp waves and complex repetitive discharges were observed in, at least, three muscles from all infected dogs. Myocyte necrosis and degeneration were the most frequent muscular injury seen, followed by inflammatory reaction, fibrosis and variation in muscle fibers size. Immunohistochemistry in muscle samples revealed amastigote forms in 4/17 (23. 53%), IgG in 12/17 (70. 58%), CD3+ T-lymphocytes in 16/17 (94. 12%) and macrophages in 17/17 (100%) dogs. Statistically positive correlation was observed between: inflammatory infiltrate (p=0. 0305) and CD3+ immunoreaction (p=0. 0307) in relation to the number of amastigote forms; inflammatory infiltrate (p=0. 0101) and macrophage immunoreaction (p=0. 0127) in relation to the amount of CD3+; and inflammatory infiltrate (p=0. 0044) and degeneration/necrosis (p<0. 0001) in relation to the presence of macrophages. Our results suggest that different mechanisms contribute to the development of myocytotoxicity, including celular and humoral immune responses and direct muscular injury by the parasite. Nevertheless, the catabolic nature of the disease can probably interact with other factors, but cannot be incriminated as the only responsible for myositis.

Diversity of Staphylococcus species and prevalence of enterotoxin genes isolated from milk of healthy cows and cows with subclinical mastitis

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

Incidence of subclinical endometritis and its effects on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows

In dairy cattle, uterine infections are not life threatening and often unavoidable; however, they reduce fertility and increase the production costs of properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of subclinical endometritis from 32 to 70 days in milk (DIM) and its effects on the reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows. Lactating cows (Holstein/Gir; n = 172), with no history of retained placenta, without clinical signs of uterine infection were used. The body condition score (BCS) was evaluated on a scale from 1 to 5. Ultrasound examination was performed to evaluate uterine lining and ovarian activity, while vaginal mucus was analyzed by gloved hand. The diagnosis of subclinical endometritis was performed by endometrial cytobrush technique. The samples were collected, stained, and examined microscopically; positive cases for subclinical endometritis were considered with the presence of a parts per thousand yen5 % of neutrophils. Later, the cows were submitted to conventional artificial insemination or timed artificial insemination. The incidence of subclinical endometritis in the herd was 26 %, and this was not affected by the season of calving, presence of corpus luteum, DIM, and parity. Cows with a BCS a parts per thousand currency sign2.50 had a higher incidence of subclinical endometritis. The conception rate to first insemination and pregnancy rate at 150 days postpartum were not influenced by the presence of subclinical endometritis in crossbred dairy cows.

Evaluation of clinical and inflammatory markers of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women

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

Utility of inline milk fat and protein ratio to diagnose subclinical ketosis and to assign propylene glycol treatment in lactating dairy cows

The objective was to identify a fat-to-protein ratio (FPR) cut-off to diagnose subclinical ketosis (SCK) and to evaluate the effect of propylene glycol (PPG) treatment of cows with high FPR. The optimized cut-off was > 1.42; sensitivity (Se) = 92%; specificity (Sp) = 65%. A cut-off > 1.5 was selected for the PPG trial for balanced Se-Sp. Fat-to-protein ratio cut-offs > 1.25, 1.35, 1.50, 1.60, and 1.70 resulted in Se-Sp of 100% to 49%, 96% to 59%, 75% to 78%, 33% to 90%, and 8% to 96%, respectively. The proportions of cows with FPR > 1.25, 1.35, 1.42, 1.50, 1.60, and 1.70 were 60%, 50%, 44%, 30%, 14%, and 6%, respectively. Incidences of clinical ketosis and milk yield were similar between cows that received 400 mL of PPG (n = 34) and control cows (n = 38). Prevalence of SCK at enrollment was 29.2%; therefore, FPR > 1.5 is not indicated for treatment. Lower cut-offs should be used for screening.

Subclinical diagnosis of Caseous lymphadenitis based on Elisa in Sheep from Brazil

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, is a chronic contagious disease that affects small ruminants and still remains an important problem for many lamb-producing countries. Animals are considered clinically infected when occurs abscesses in superficial lymph nodes. Visceral or internal form can coexist which no apparent clinical signs of infection are seen. The best procedure to avoid spread of the disease is elimination of infected animals. However, as the chronic and subclinical nature of the infection of CLA alternative methods are required for detection and screening. In this study, we described the performance of indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of CLA in asymptomatics sheep. Also, test culture and biochemical identification were achieved to confirm CLA infection. The serological diagnostic was performed in sheep symptomatics (n=50) and asymptomatics (n=374) from nine flocks. Analysis reported high positivity of 71% for ELISA in 85% of asymptomatic animal for CLA with a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 31%. Results from ELISA test in asymptomatic animals against culture for caseous lymphadenitis were more specific (97%) and permitted to exclude healthy animals without symptoms. This study concluded that C. pseudotuberculosis infection could be widely disseminated in sheep flocks in Northwestern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil and only one screening test is not enough. The association with indirect ELISA test and culture could better indicate the real problem of CLA in sheep flocks.