Vaginal weight cone versus assisted pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of female urinary incontinence. A prospective, single-blind, randomized trial

Vaginal weight cone (VWC) versus assisted pelvic floor muscle training (APFMT) in the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) in women.One hundred three incontinent women were randomly distributed into two groups: group G1 (n = 51) treated with VWC and G2 (n = 52), APFMT. The following parameters were performed initially and after treatment: (1) clinical questionnaire, (2) visual analogue scale (VAS), (3) 60-min pad test, and (4) subjective and objective assessment of pelvic floor muscle (PFM).There was a significant decrease in nocturia and urine loss after treatment in both groups (p < 0.05). In VAS, there was a significant improvement of all parameters in both groups (p < 0.05). The pad test showed significant decrease in both groups (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase of PFM strength in both groups (p < 0.05).There was no difference between groups treated with VWC and APFMT.

Malignant mammary tumor in female dogs: environmental contaminants

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Extramedullary hematopoiesis in a case of benign mixed mammary tumor in a female dog: cytological and histopathological assessment

Backgroud: Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is defined as the presence of hematopoietic stem cells such as erythroid and myeloid lineage plus megakaryocytes in extramedullary sites like liver, spleen and lymph nodes and is usually associated with either bone marrow or hematological disorders. Mammary EMH is a rare condition either in human and veterinary medicine and can be associated with benign mixed mammary tumors, similarly to that described in this case.Case presentation: Hematopoietic stem cells were found in a benign mixed mammary tumor of a 7-year-old female mongrel dog that presents a nodule in the left inguinal mammary gland. The patient did not have any hematological abnormalities. Cytological evaluation demonstrated two distinct cell populations, composed of either epithelial or mesenchymal cells, sometimes associated with a fibrillar acidophilic matrix, apart from megakaryocytes, osteoclasts, metarubricytes, prorubricytes, rubricytes, rubriblasts, promyelocytes, myeloblasts. Histological examination confirmed the presence of an active hematopoietic bone marrow within the bone tissue of a benign mammary mixed tumor.Conclusions: EMH is a rare condition described in veterinary medicine that can be associated with mammary mixed tumors. It's detection can be associated with several neoplastic and non-neoplastic mammary lesions, i.e. osteosarcomas, mixed tumors and bone metaplasia.

Effects of synbiotic-based Bifidobacterium animalis in female rats experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a synbiotic composed of Bifidobacterium animalis and fructooligosaccharides on female rats infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Female Wistar rats, treated or not with dexamethasone, were daily supplemented with synbiotics for 21 days. After 15 days of supplementation, the rats were orally infected with 10(4) T. gondii bradyzoites. Blood samples were collected to measure the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-10 and T. gondii antibodies. All synbiotic-supplemented rats survived until the end of the experiment; however, non-supplemented dexamethasone-treated rats died between the fifth and the eighth days after T. gondii infection. Dexamethasone-treated rats supplemented with synbiotics (P < 0.05) were capable of synthesizing IFN-gamma, and this immunological response was essential to ensure their survival. In addition, brain cysts were found in one rat not supplemented with synbiotics. Results suggest that the synbiotic composed of B. animalis and fructooligosaccharides may be beneficial to toxoplasmosis control. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in the milk of experimentally infected Wistar female rats

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

Vaccine immune response and interference of colostral antibodies in calves vaccinated against rabies at 2, 4 and 6 months of age born from antirabies revaccinated females

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

PYOMETRA IN A FEMALE LION (Panthera leo): REPORT of CASE.

Pyometra is a common disease of intact bitches that may also occur in large wild cats. The present study describes a case of pyometra in female lion (Panthera leo). The animal was referred with a vulvar discharge; physical examination and complementary exams did not show abnormalities. An ovariohysterectomy was performed, and the uterus reveals a thick endometrium with purulent/sanguinolent fluid. The bacterial culture resulted in Escherichia coli. The animal had an excellent recovery.

Babesia spp. infection in Boophilus microplus engorged females and eggs in São Paulo State, Brazil

Babesia spp. infections were investigated in Bos taurus x Bos indicus dairy cows and calves and in Boophilus microplus engorged female ticks and eggs. Blood samples and engorged female ticks were collected from 25 cows and 27 calves. Babesia spp. was detected in ticks by microscopic examination of hemolymph of engorged female and by squashes of egg samples. Cattle infection was investigated in blood thin smears and by DNA amplification methods (PCR and nested PCR), using specific primers for Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Merozoites of B. bovis (3 animals) and B. bigemina (12 animals) were detected exclusively in blood smears of calves. DNA amplification methods revealed that the frequency of B. bigemina infection in calves (92.6%) and in cows (84%) and of B. bovis in calves (85.2%) and in cows (100%) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Babesia spp. infection was more frequent in female ticks and eggs collected from calves (P < 0.01) than from cows, especially in those which had patent parasitemia. Hatching rates of B. microplus larvae were assessed according to the origin of engorged females, parasiternia of the vertebrate host, frequency and intensity of infection in engorged female tick, and frequency of egg infection. Hatching rate was lower in samples collected from calves (P < 0.01) than from cows, and in those in which Babesia spp. was detected in egg samples (P < 0.01). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Growth curve of Nellore calves reared on natural pasture in the Pantanal

Weight-age and hip height-age relations of Nellore calves, from birth to 10 months old were fitted using a logistic model including sex and year of birth as fixed effects. Calves and their dams were reared on natural pasture using continuous grazing system. The crude protein content and total digestible nutrients were analyzed for pasture selected by the animals. The weights of the calves were adjusted to 205 days and 365 days. There were no significant effects of sex and birth year on the growth curve parameters, but there were significant effects of sex on hip height. The average weight (a parameter) at 10 months of age was 170 kg and the inflection point was observed at 93.5 days old. When weight-age and hip height-age curves were combined in the same graph, the intersection occurred at 142 days. The number of days to gain 160 kg from birth to 205 days of age (adjusted) and number of days to gain 240 kg from 205 days to slaughter was different between the birth years, which were probably due to the quality of the natural pastures. It is necessary to implement nutritional management strategies such as high quality pasture and/or feeding supplementation for calves once they reach three months of age.

Detection of Babesia bigemina in cattle of different genetic groups and in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick

Babesia bigemina infections were investigated in four genetic groups of beef cattle and in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus engorged female ticks. Blood samples and engorged female ticks were collected from 15 cows and 15 calves from each of the following genetic groups: Nelore, Angus x Nelore, Canchim x Nelore, and Simmental x Nelore. Microscopic examination of blood smears and tick hemolymph revealed that merozoites of B. bigemina (6/60) as well as kinetes of Babesia spp. (9/549) were only detected in samples (blood and ticks, respectively) originated from calves. PCR-based methods using primers for specific detection of B. bigemina revealed 100% infection in both calves and cows, regardless the genetic group. Tick infection was detected by nested-PCR amplifications showing that the frequency of B. bigemina was higher (P 0.01) in female ticks collected from calves (134/549) than in those collected from cows (52/553). The frequency of B. bigemina was similar in ticks collected from animals, either cows or calves, of the four genetic groups (P > 0.05). (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time interval from ovulation to extrusion in female bullfrog in different photoperiods

It was analyzed in this work the influence of photoperiod on time interval from ovulation induction period to extrusion of ovocits in female bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus). It was used 54 females reared from metamorphosis to 9 months of age under three photoperiods: dark time (DL 0:24), 16 hours of daylight (DL 16:8) and 12 hours of daylight (DL 12:12). Ovulation was induced by intramuscular application of two doses of LHRHa with 12 hours of interval between the injections. After 10, 25, 28, 31, 34 and 37 hours from the first hormone injection, 10-gram samples (3,000 eggs) were extracted from each female at each time interval and fertilized. Egg hatching rate was checked in each sample 72 hours after fertilization. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of extrusion delay and the interaction between photoperiod and this delay. Extrusion should be carried out 33, 24 and 26 hours after the first hormone dosage in females reared in environments without light, with 12 hours of daylight and with 16 hours of daylight, respectively, to obtain the maximum fertilization rate.

Voluntary intake of dry matter and performance of Nellore cows and their Nellore and crossbred Simental x Nellore calves

This study aimed to investigate the influence of calf genetic group on the performance of Nellore lactating cows. The variables studied included milk ingestion, pasture intake, calf weight gain and cow body weight. A total of 13 Nellore calves and 8 crossbred Simental x Nellore calves were used, all born from Nellore mothers. During the experimental period of 210 days, calves were weighted at birth and at 30-day intervals, whereas cows were weighed every 14 days. Milk intake was estimated using the weigh-suckle-weigh method. Pasture intake was determined 6, 12, and 24 weeks after birth by using chromic oxide as an external marker and indigestible acid detergent fiber as an internal marker. Average weight of crossbred calves was 10.1 kg and their milk intake was 0.42 kg higher than in purebred calves. There was no difference, however, in pasture intake between genetic groups. In Nellore cows, body weight and pasture consumption (9.2 kg of DM/cow/day) were not influenced by calf heterosis.

Voluntary intake of dry matter and performance of Nellore cows and their Nellore and crossbred Simental × Nellore calves

This study aimed to investigate the influence of calf genetic group on the performance of Nellore lactating cows. The variables studied included milk ingestion, pasture intake, calf weight gain and cow body weight. A total of 13 Nellore calves and 8 crossbred Simental × Nellore calves were used, all born from Nellore mothers. During the experimental period of 210 days, calves were weighted at birth and at 30-day intervals, whereas cows were weighed every 14 days. Milk intake was estimated using the weigh-suckle-weigh method. Pasture intake was determined 6, 12, and 24 weeks after birth by using chromic oxide as an external marker and indigestible acid detergent fiber as an internal marker. Average weight of crossbred calves was 10.1 kg and their milk intake was 0.42 kg higher than in purebred calves. There was no difference, however, in pasture intake between genetic groups. In Nellore cows, body weight and pasture consumption (9.2 kg of DM/cow/day) were not influenced by calf heterosis.

Ingestive behavior of Nellore cows and their straightbred or crossbred calves

O objetivo neste trabalho foi estudar a influência do grupo genético do bezerro nas características comportamentais de vacas nelores e de seus bezerros em pastejo. Foram usadas 21 vacas nelores (primíparas e pluríparas): 13 com bezerros nelores; e 8 com bezerros mestiços Simental × Nelore. As observações do comportamento nas pastagens começaram pela manhã, no momento em que a luminosidade permitia a identificação dos animais, e terminaram ao final da tarde, quando não era mais possível a identificação, e foram realizadas nas semanas 3, 6, 12, 24 e 30 após o parto. Foram avaliados continuamente os seguintes eventos nas vacas e nos bezerros: pastejo, ruminação, ócio, consumo de água e de mistura mineral; e frequência e duração das mamadas. As vacas com bezerros nelores apresentaram menor tempo de ruminação e maior tempo de ócio e seus bezerros, menor tempo de pastejo e maior número de mamadas. O comportamento ingestivo de vacas nelores em pastejo é influenciado pelo grupo genético do bezerro, possivelmente em decorrência da frequência das mamadas.

Matricaria chamomilla CH12 decreases handling stress in Nelore calves

Matricaria chainomilla CH12 is a phytotherapeutic or homeopathic product, which has been used to reduce stress. Here, we examined its effect on preventing handling stress in bovines. Sixty Nelore calves were randomly distributed into two equal groups. One group was administered Matricaria chainomilla CH, in diet and the other the 'control' was not. Animals in both groups were maintained unstressed for 30 days to adjust to the feeding system and pasture, and were then stressed by constraint on the 31th, 38th, 45th and 60th experimental days. Blood samples were taken on these days after animals had been immobilization in a trunk contention for 5 min. Stress was followed by analyzing serum cortisol levels. These peaked on the 45th day and then decreased, but not to baseline, on the 60th day. on the 45th day cortisol levels were significantly lower in animals fed Matricaria chantomilla CH12, suggesting that this product reduces stress. These effects may be a consequence of its inhibiting cortisol production and its calming and anxiolytic effects.