Antonio Vicente Mundim

Clinical and hematological signs associated with dogs naturally infected by Hepatozoon sp. and with other hematozoa: a retrospective study in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

An evaluation was made of the clinical and hematological aspects of 115 dogs infected naturally by Hepatozoon sp. and treated at the Hospital School of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. Of the 115 dogs for whom peripheral blood films were evaluated, 89 (77.39%) presented parasitemia by Hepatozoon sp. solely, while 26 (22.61%) had combination of Hepatozoon sp., Babesia sp. and Ehrlichia sp. Young male dogs less than a year old, of undefined breed (UB), were the most commonly affected. Thirty-nine (33.92%) of the dogs were asymptomatic while 76 (66.08%) presented varied clinical symptoms, the most frequent being anorexia, pulmonary alterations, hyperthermia, pale mucosae, apathy and/or prostration, and diarrhea. The majority of hematological alterations were normochromic-normocytic anemia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and nuclear deviation of neutrophils to the left (NDNL). The findings of this study confirm that Hepatozoon sp. causes clinical and hematological alterations of varied intensity, which, albeit not specific to canine hepatozoonosis, reinforce the notion that the discovery of the agent in dogs, even with low parasitemia, should be taken into consideration.

Occurrence of Hepatozoon sp. in dogs in the urban area originating from a municipality in southeastern Brazil

The occurrence of Hepatozoon sp. infection in dogs was evaluated in the urban area of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study involved 300 animals, 120 from the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândias Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 80 from private clinics, and 100 from the Animal Protective Association (APA). Among these animals, 7.66% presented Hepatozoon sp. gamonts inside neutrophils. No statistically significant difference was found among the diagnoses based on capillary and venous blood smears, but a statistical significance was identified in age range and breed. The main signs and symptoms the animals presented were pale mucous membranes, swollen lymph nodes, ocular discharge and pain in response to renal palpation. All the ticks collected were of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus and no oocyst of the parasite was found in the hemolymph of the ixodidae. The findings of this study reinforce the presence of Hepatozoon sp. infecting dogs in Uberlândia, MG, with age and breed possibly related to the infection. The symptoms presented by the animals were consistent with those reported by other researchers.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Hepatozoon canis in dogs from urban and rural areas in Southeast Brazil

The objective of this survey was to investigate the prevalence of Hepatozoon infection in dogs in the rural and urban areas of Uberlândia, Brazil by PCR and molecular characterization. DNA was obtained from blood samples collected from 346 local dogs from both genders and various ages. Seventeen PCR products from positive blood samples of urban dogs and 13 from the rural dogs were sequenced. Partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene indicated that all 30 dogs were infected with Hepatozoon canis similar in sequence to H. canis from southern Europe. Four local dog sequences were submitted to GenBank (accessions JN835188; KF692038; KF692039; KF692040). This study indicates that H. canis is the cause of canine hepatozoonosis in Uberlândia and that infection is similarly widespread in rural and urban dogs.

Influência da ordem e estádios da lactação no perfil bioquímico sangüíneo de cabras da raça Saanen

The serum biochemical profile of Saanen dairy goat was investigated with the purpose of analyzing the physiological variations and the influence of lactation order and stage in terms of possible biomarkers to monitor the energetic balance and the metabolic adequacy during lactation. Blood samples were taken from lactating goats at first, second and third lactation. They were collected from the jugular vein in a vacutainer tube with separator gel to obtain sera and to determine protein, metabolite, mineral and enzyme concentrations. The lactation order influence was observed on total protein, glucose, triglycerides, total and ionized calcium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase values and the lactation stages on serum concentrations of total proteins, glucose, triglycerides and magnesium, AST and alkaline phosphatase. It was inferred that glucose, triglycerides, total calcium, ionized calcium, magnesium, AST and alkaline phosphatase are effective biomarkers to detect the energetic and mineral imbalance in Saanen dairy goats.

Perfil hematológico de equinos submetidos à prova de Team Penning

Variations in hematologic parameters are used to assess the degree of training or clinical state of the animal. The hematologic evaluation of horses at rest has been an object of study in order to establish a correlation with training or athletic capacity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hematologic profile of horses subjected to Team Penning competitions, correlating sex and frequency of physical activity. Two milliliters of blood were drawn through a puncture made in the external jugular vein from 29 horses, 18 males and 11 females, at rest (Moment I) and after exercising (Moment II). The blood samples were processed in an ABC VET automated veterinary hematology analyzer (Horiba ABX Diagnostics). The animals were divided into Group A, B, C and D according to the number of times they participated in the competition. The values of globular volume, hemoglobin, erythrocytes, rod-shaped segmented neutrophils and monocytes increased after the physical exercise, unlike the number of lymphocytes and eosinophils, which decreased. A comparison of the before/after exercise correlations showed no significant differences (p<0.05) between males and females. In addition, it was found that the value of the MI/MII ratio for the globular volume, hemoglobin and number of erythrocytes varied according to the frequency of the exercise. It was concluded that the Team Penning competition produces hematologic alterations in horses, which are affected by the frequency of exercising, regardless of sex.

Helmintos e protozoários em fezes de javalis (Sus scrofa scrofa) criados em cativeiro

ABSTRACT Faecal samples from 79 wild boars ( Sus scrofa scrofa ) were examined by sedimentation method, zinc sulfate flotation method, and centrifugal flotation in sugar solution for endoparasites research. The results showed that 97.5% of the samples were positive for helminths and/or protozoa as follows: strongilides (70.9%), Ascaris suum (46.9%), Trichuris suis (29.1%), Metastrongylus sp. (12.6%), Strongyloides ransomi (3.8%), Balantidium coli (38.0%), Entamoeba spp. (15.2%), Giardia spp. (1.3%), Blastocystis sp. (12.6%). The frequency of Entamoeba was higher in young animals. Coccidian oocysts were observed in 59.5% samples and five species of Eimeria and one Isospora were recovered: Eimeria scabra (31.9%), E. deblieck (31.9%), E. perminuta (23.4%), E. cerdonis (17.0%), E. scrofae (12.8%) and Isospora suis (12.8%). Keywords: wild boar, Sus scrofa scrofa , helminths, protozoan, coccidian REFERENCIAS BIBLIOGRAFICAS ANTUNES, R. Comida de gaules? Suin. Industr. , v.151, p.24-27, 2001. ATWILL, E.R.; SWEJTZER, R.A.; PEREIRA, M.D.G. et al. Prevalence of and associated risk factors for shedding

Bioquímica sérica de avestruzes (Struthio camelus) com quatro dias de idade

A fim de avaliar o perfil de proteinas sericas, metabolitos, minerais e enzimas sericas e correlacionar com o sexo das aves, este estudo analisou 30 avestruzes de quatro dias de idade. Os valores obtidos foram: proteinas totais 3,59±0,72g/dL; albumina 1,04±0,14g/dL; globulinas 2,51±0,56g/dL; relacao A:G 0,43± 0,07; colesterol total 615,10±101,15mg/dL; lipoproteina de alta densidade colesterol (HDL-C) 132,72±20,33mg/dL; lipoproteina de baixa densidade colesterol (LDL-C) 454,93±90,81mg/dL; lipoproteina de muito baixa densidade colesterol (VLDL-C) 27,45±9,96 mg/dL; triglicerides 137,23±49,78mg/dL; acido urico 6,24±2,15mg/dL; ureia 18,27±12,33mg/dL; creatinina 0,30±0,04mg/dL; calcio total 9,38±0,76mg/dL; calcio ionizado 7,17±0,64mg/dL; fosforo 6,96±0,91mg/dL; relacao Ca:P 1,37±0,21; ferro 24,74±13,02µg/dL; sodio 142,03±6,17mEq/L; cloretos 109,59±4,99mEq/L; aspartato aminotransferase (AST) 200,67±31,42 U/L; alanina aminotransferase (ALT) 3,90±1,92 U/L; γ-glutamiltransferase (GGT) 1,18±0,73 U/L; fosfatase alcalina (ALP) 597,30± 231,36 U/L; e creatina quinase (CK) 2348,30±755,60 U/L. Diferencas significativas existiram para proteinas totais, globulinas, fosfatase alcalina, relacao A:G e acido urico entre machos e femeas.

Hematologia, perfil bioquímico e hormônios da tireoide em quatro espécies de arraias de água doce do gênero Potamotrygon

Potamotrygonidae is a family of freshwater stingray endemic in South America. We determined the hematological and serum biochemistry parameters of Potamotrygon motoro and Potamotrygon falkneri from Parana Basin and Potamotrygon orbignyi and Potamotrygon scobina from the Amazon Basin. Blood was collected from 55 specimens of Potamotrygon sp., and these parameters were evaluated: red blood cell count, hematocrit percent, hemoglobin concentration, leucocytes count, trombocytes count, total protein concentration, albumin, uric acid, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein HDL, calcium, phosphorus, calcium/phosphorus relationship, creatine kinase CK, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase GGT, Aspartate transaminase AST, alanine transaminase ALT, globulin, albumin/globulin relationship, alkaline phosphatase AP, sodium, chloride, potassium, triiodothyronine T3, and thyroxine T4 hormones. The hematological indices were similar for all species, except for levels of heterophils in P. orbignyi and P. scobina that were higher. Calcium, phosphorus, calcium/phosphorus relationship, sodium, potassium, chloride, AST, ALT, GGT, CK, albumin/globulin relationship, uric acid, creatinine, urea, triglycerides, HDL, T3, T4 levels had no significant difference between the species. These results suggest that there is low influence of habitat and feeding habits. AP, total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, and total cholesterol had significant differences between the studied species. These results support the theory that stingrays migrated from the Atlantic Ocean, adapting to different conditions over time and placed themselves geographically distant from each other.

Phytochemical characterization of the Vochysia rufa (Vochysiaceae) extract and its effects on oxidative stress in the pancreata of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Aqueous extract of macerated Vochysia rufa stem bark has been commonly used in the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, we evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of an extract of V. rufa on the pancreata of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Animals received one of the following treatments daily by oral gavage: water (diabetic-control), V. rufa extract (diabetic-V. rufa), or glibenclamide (diabetic-GBD). Total antioxidant capacity; levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione, and sulfhydryls; and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured in the pancreas. Biochemical analysis of serum total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, acid uric, ALP, γ-GT, AST, and ALT was performed, and pancreatic β-cells positive for insulin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Rats treated with extract exhibited a decrease in fasting blood glucose compared with levels in diabetic control rats. GPx activity and sulfhydryl levels were significantly lower in diabetic-V. rufa rats compared with those of diabetic-control rats. V. rufa extract acted to normalize the biochemical alterations found in diabetic rats (diabetic-controls), as demonstrated by increases in urea, HDL, ALP, AST, and ALT. Reduction in blood glucose was independent of an increase in insulin. The V. rufa extract was found to be composed of free sugars (inositol, galactose, glucose, mannose, sucrose, arabinose, and ribose) as the main metabolites. Thus, aqueous extract of the stem bark of V. rufa is capable of reducing blood glucose, resulting in an antioxidant effect on the pancreatic tissue of STZ-diabetic rats.

Revealing the kinetics of Leishmania chagasi infection in the male genital system of hamsters

BackgroundLeishmaniasis causes alterations and lesions in the genital system, which leads to azoospermia and testicular atrophy in animals during the chronic phase of the infection. The aim of this study was to reveal the kinetics of Leishmania chagasi infection in the genital system of male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).MethodsAnimals were intraperitoneally inoculated with amastigotes from L. chagasi. At different time points animals were euthanized and genital organs processed for histo-pathological, qPCR, cytokines and testosterone detection assays.ResultsOur results showed a high parasite load in testis, followed by an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL1-β, TNF-α and IFN-γ, and testosterone. Subsequently, IL-4 expression was upregulated and basal parasite persistence in testis was observed using the experimental approach.ConclusionExtracellular amastigotes migrated to the epididymis posing as a potential major factor of parasite persistence and venereal transmission of L. chagasi infection in hamsters.