Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic echocardiographic parameters in healthy dogs by pulsed-wave Doppler

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction plays an important role on heart failure progression. In order to obtain additional reference values of left ventricular diastolic parameters and investigate influence of common variables, peak E wave (peak E), peak A wave (peak A), E/A ratio (E/A), E wave deceleration time (EDT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IRVT) were studied in 40 clinically healthy dogs, by pulsed wave Doppler. The following values were obtained: peak E = 0.747 ± 0.117 m/s, peak A = 0.487 ± 0.062 m/s, E/A = 1.533 ± 0.198, EDT = 88.7 ± 9.2 ms and IRVT = 0.080 ± 0.009 s. Some parameters were influenced by heart rate (peak E, peak A and IRVT), by age (peak A and E/A) and by body weight (TRIV). Gender influence was absent. Values obtained can be used as reference for canine specimens but its interpretation should consider on the influence of related variables.

Avaliação dos fluxos das valvas aórtica e pulmonar com ecocardiografia Doppler pulsátil em cães clinicamente sadios

Avaliaram-se com Doppler pulsátil os fluxos das valvas aórtica (AO) e pulmonar (Pul) por meio de análise qualitativa (presença de regurgitações valvares e características do espectro avaliado) e quantitativa, com obtenção de parâmetros ecocardiográficos como velocidades máxima (V. Max.) e média (V. Me.), integral de velocidade (VTI), tempo de aceleração (TA) e ejeção (TE), de 30 cães considerados clinicamente sadios por meio de exames físico, laboratoriais, eletrocardiográfico, ecocardiográfico (modos uni e bidimensional), radiográfico de tórax e mensuração da pressão arterial sistêmica. Obtiveram-se os seguintes resultados para os referidos parâmetros: V.max. AO= 1,22± 19,38m/s; V. Me. AO= 0,72± 0,08m/s; VTI AO= 0,14± 0,02m; TA AO= 38,80± 11,29ms; TE AO= 197,90± 24,77ms; V. Max. Pul= 0,95± 0,18m/s; V. Me. Pul= 0,63± 0,10m/s; VTI Pul= 0,13± 0,02m; TA Pul= 70,97± 18,87ms; TE Pul= 203,70± 28,98ms. Em apenas três animais observou-se regurgitação pulmonar. Alguns parâmetros apresentaram correlação negativa com a variável freqüência cardíaca (VTI AO, TE AO, VTI Pul, TA Pul, TE Pul); outros correlação positiva com a variável peso (VTI AO, TA AO, TE AO, VTI Pul, TE Pul,) e não se observou influência da variável sexo na maioria dos parâmetros avaliados. Na comparação entre os dois fluxos, observaram-se V. Max. AO e V. Me. AO maiores que V. Max. Pul. e V. Me. Pul., respectivamente, VTI AO maior que VTI Pul, e TA AO menor que TA Pul.

Serological survey of Rickettsia sp. in horses and dogs in an non-endemic area in Brazil

Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF) is a lethal rickettsiosis in humans caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii, and is endemic in some areas of Brazil. Horses and dogs are part of the disease's life cycle and they may also serve as sentinel animals in epidemiological studies. The first human BSF case in the State of Paraná was reported in 2005. The present study was conducted in the municipality of Almirante Tamandaré, where no previous case of BSF was reported. Serum samples were collected from 71 horses and 20 dogs from nine properties in the area. Ticks were also collected from these animals. All farmers completed a questionnaire about their knowledge of BSF and animal health management. Serum samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) using R. rickettsii and R. parkeri as antigens. Ticks were analyzed by PCR for Rickettsia sp., and all of them were PCR-negative. Six horses (8.45%) and 4 dogs (20%) were identified as seropositive. Farmers were not aware of the correlation between the presence of ticks and risk of BSF. Although a non-endemic area, Almirante Tamandaré is a vulnerable environment for BSF and effective tick control measures are required.

Etiologic diagnosis of bovine infectious abortion by PCR

Infectious abortion is a significant cause of reproductive failure and economic losses in cattle. The goal of this study was to detect nucleic acids of several infectious agents known to cause abortion including Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Bovine Herpesvirus 1, Brucella abortus, Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis, Chlamydophila abortus, Leptospira sp., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella sp., Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, Neospora caninum, and Tritrichomonas foetus. Tissue homogenates from 42 fetuses and paraffin-embedded tissues from 28 fetuses and 14 placentas/endometrium were included in this study. Brucella abortus was detected in 14.2% (12/84) of the samples. Salmonella sp. DNA was amplified from 2 fetuses, and there was one positive for Neospora caninum, and another for Listeria monocytogenes. This PCR-based approach resulted in identification of the etiology in 19% of samples, or 20% if considered fetal tissues only.

Caracterização molecular do vírus da raiva isolado de Desmodus rotundus capturados no Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Caracterizou-se filogeneticamente o vírus da raiva, isolado de morcegos hematógafos (Demodus rotundus). Cento e noventa e nove D. rotundus foram capturados em cinco abrigos, no Norte e Noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e sul do Espírito Santo. Sete deles foram positivos para a raiva. Amostras desses vírus foram sequenciadas e comparadas com sequências provenientes de diversos estados brasileiros. As sequências de vírus da raiva isoladas, na região norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, mostraram características que as distinguem de amostras de vírus isoladas em outras regiões do país, no entanto foram idênticas às isoladas de bovinos no noroeste do Rio de Janeiro.

Effects of croton urucurana extracts and crude resin on Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Hundreds of plant species have been studied in order to find out the active ingredient responsible for their insecticidal activity against the pests of economic importance. To verify the insecticidal activity in the husk of stem of Croton urucurana Baillon 1864 (Euphorbiaceae) against Anagasta kuehniella Zeller 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the methanolic (EMeOH) extract, dichloromethane fraction (FDM), ethyl acetate fraction (FAE) and crude resin, incorporated into an artificial diet were evaluated. EMeOH (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%) and crude resin (2.0%) interfered with neither the weight nor the survival of fourth instar larvae and other analyzed parameters. FDM (2.0%) fraction caused mortality of 65%, and the artificial diet containing 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5% FAE caused 100, 55 and 68% mortality respectively when compared with the control, confirming the least efficiency rates of food conversion for FDM(2.0%) and FAE(1.0%). The tryptic analysis performed with the midgut fluid of fourth-instar larvae demonstrated that tryptic and chymiotryptic activities for the larvae fed artificial diet containing EMeOH and crude resin were not different.

Hepatotrophic factors reduce hepatic fibrosis in rats

CONTEXT: Hepatic fibrosis occurs in response to several aggressive agents and is a predisposing factor in cirrhosis. Hepatotrophic factors were shown to stimulate liver growth and to restore the histological architecture of the liver. They also cause an improvement in liver function and accelerate the reversion of fibrosis before it progresses to cirrhosis. OBJECTIVE: To test the effects of hepatic fibrosis solution composed by amino acids, vitamins, glucose, insulin, glucagon and triiodothyronine on hepatic fibrosis in rats. METHODS: Fibrosis was induced in rats by gastric administration of dimethylnitrosamine (10 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. After liver biopsy, the rats received either hepatotrophic factors solution (40 mg/kg/day) or saline solution for 10 days by intraperitoneal injection. Blood samples and liver fragments were collected for hepatic function analysis, standard histopathology evaluation, and morphometric collagen quantification. RESULTS: Rats in the hepatotrophic factors group showed a decrease of the histopathological components of fibrosis and an increase of their hepatic mass (12.2%). There was no development of neoplasic lesions in both groups. Compared with the saline group, the hepatotrophic factors group also had a decrease of blood levels of hepatic-lesion markers (AST, ALT) and a decrease of collagen content in the portal spaces (31.6%) and perisinusoidal spaces (42.3%), as well as around the hepatic terminal vein (57.7%). Thus, hepatotrophic factors administration in the portal blood promoted a regenerative hepatic response, with an overall reduction of the volumetric density of collagen, improved hepatic function, and a general improvement in the histopathological aspects of fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest the potential therapeutic use of this hepatotrophic factors solution to treat chronic liver diseases.

Análise das metodologias diretas e indiretas para a contagem de células somáticas no leite de cabras hígidas

A particularidade da secreção láctea caprina, do tipo apócrina, diferente da secreção merócrina da vaca, leva a erros de interpretação durante a realização de técnicas de avaliação da celularidade do leite de fêmeas desta espécie. Portanto, o presente trabalho teve o objetivo de determinar a contagem de células somáticas pelo método indireto California Mastitis Test (CMT), e por métodos diretos, incluindo a contagem por citometria de fluxo e a contagem microscópica direta, através da coloração de verde de metil e pironina-Y, além de comparar os métodos de contagem celular. Foram analisadas 102 amostras de 51 fêmeas caprinas, das raças Saanen, Parda Alpina e Toggenburg, criadas no Estado de São Paulo. Os animais foram categorizados segundo a fase da lactação, exame físico da glândula mamária e exame do leite. As amostras foram colhidas, após a realização do exame Califórnia Mastitis Test, em duas alíquotas, uma destinada à contagem celular automática e a outra, a contagem microscópica direta, utilizando-se o corante verde de metil e pironina- Y. De acordo com os diferentes escores do CMT, observou- se 74,5% de amostras negativas, 8,8% de amostras com escore traços, 8,8% de amostras ligeiramente positivas (+), 6,8% de amostras fracamente positivas (++) e 0,9% de amostras fortemente positivas (+++). Os valores medianos das contagens de células somáticas presentes no leite de cabras, avaliadas através de contador automático e microscopia direta, e analisadas de acordo com os diferentes escores do CMT, foram, respectivamente, 181.000, 578.000, 628.000, 1.421.500 e 5.542.000 células/mL de leite e 74.991, 271.396, 71.420, 640.995 e 5.049.394 células/ mL de leite, nos escores negativo, traços, +, ++ e +++. Os valores medianos obtidos através da contagem de células somáticas pelo método automático e microscópico direto, de acordo com as fases de lactação foram de 159.500, 508.000 e 277.500 células/mL de leite, e 62.493, 89.275 e 146.411. A correlação obtida entre a contagem celular automática e microscópica direta foi de 88%. A partir dos resultados observados pode-se concluir que existe diferença na contagem celular determinada através do método automático e microscópico sendo este último o mais adequado para a determinação da celularidade no leite de cabras.