Carla Bargi Belli

Ocorrência de neoplasias em 15 anos de atendimento hospitalar de equídeos

Although several prior studies have provided information regarding incidence of tumors in horses, there is a wide variation due to regional differences, such as climate and breed population. A number of 133 cases involving tumors was found among the 6669 equides submitted to the Veterinary Hospital (HOVET) of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo, during a 15 years period, representing 2% of all records. The most commonly found neoplasm was the squamous cells carcinoma (45%), different from most of the studies worldwide. The most common neoplasia in the integument system was melanoma (34,2%) and in the ocular (76,9%) and urogenital systems (40,9%) was squamous cells carcinoma. Surgical intervention was recommended in 68% of the cases, while a clinical approach was chosen in 10% of them. Twenty two percent of the horses were not treated due to of the owner option or euthanasia indication. Death associated with tumors occurred on 14% of the animals during the hospitalization period or treatment. The squamous cell carcinoma occurs more often in our veterinary hospital and may be related to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, whose amount in the tropics has increased considerably in the last decades.

Solução concentrada de albumina eqüina na fluidoterapia em eqüinos com desidratação leve a moderada

The effect of the equine concentrated albumin solution diluted to 5% in physiologic saline solution (PSS) during fluid therapy in horses after induced slight to moderate dehydration was evaluated in five adult horses with no clinical alterations. Each animal was submitted to two fluid therapy protocols; with only PSS (half of the total volume under pressure and half in continuous flow - control-group), or with equine albumin solution and PSS (only in continuous flow - treated-group). Body weight; general physical examination, packed cell volume (PCV); plasmatic osmometry; gasometry, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinin, Na, and K, cardiac output; and arterial pressure; and calculation of the oncotic pressure and plasmatic volume were evaluated. After the administration of the first half of PSS under pressure in control group, it was observed that alterations in PCV, total protein, albumin, arterial pressure, and oncotic pressure were similar to those found in experimental group after the administration of the albumin solution. It was concluded that the equine albumin solution is easily prepared and administered, with no deleterial effects in the employed dose and speed, and it is suitable for use as a colloid in fluid therapy in equine species.

Transplacental transmission of Theileria equi in mules: Should we worry?

Equine piroplasmosis, disease globally responsible for significant economic losses, is caused by the transmission of the hemoprotozoa Theileria equi and Babesia caballi by ticks. Transplacental transmission has been reported previously in horses, which is not the case for mules´ foals. The present study investigated, by Real Time-PCR (RT-PCR), the presence of both Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in newborn mules before the ingestion of colostrum. Blood samples of 18 mares and their respective mules´ foals were collected and analyzed by RT-PCR. Only one mare was positive for B. caballi. In contrast, 13 mares were positive for T. equi, with two foals (11.1%) positive for the same protozoon, both of affected mares. We may conclude that transplacental transmission of Theileria equi also occurs in mules which may be an important concern while breeding such animals.

Hemoperitoneo por linfoma em raiz mesentérica em equino

Hemoperitoneo e o acumulo de sangue na cavidade peritoneal, uma condicao pouco relatada na especie equina. Relata-se aqui o caso de um equino, Quarto de Milha, macho, 6 anos de idade, com queixa de edema recorrente em bolsa escrotal, distensao abdominal e alteracoes em auscultacao pulmonar. O exame fisico revelou baixo escore corporal, taquicardia, mucosas congestas e distensao abdominal. Realizou-se abdominocentese, onde foi observado liquido peritoneal sanguinolento, com 5% de hematocrito, proteina 2 g/dL, 24.900 de celulas nucleadas e lactato 18,6 mmol/L. No ultrassom abdominal, notou-se grande quantidade de liquido com presenca de fibrina e baco com superficie irregular, de tamanho reduzido e afastado da parede abdominal. Indicou-se uma laparotomia exploratoria, onde, alem de grande quantidade de liquido sanguinolento, observou-se a presenca de formacao tumoral em porcao distal do jejuno, estendendo-se desde a raiz mesenterica ate a juncao com a alca intestinal. Devido a impossibilidade de remocao cirurgica, indicou-se a eutanasia. Durante a necropsia, alem da tumoracao, havia tambem aumento de linfonodos mediastinais. O exame histopatologico indicou linfoma na forma multicentrica. O incomum do caso e o acometimento da raiz mesenterica e o desenvolvimento de distensao abdominal e hemoperitoneo. O diagnostico definitivo com o animal vivo e dificil, porem neste caso foi possivel devido a laparotomia exploratoria. Conclui-se que o linfoma deve ser considerado como diagnostico diferencial em cavalos com hemoperitoneo.