Karin Erica Brass

Prevalência dos tumores cutâneos de equinos diagnosticados no Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the equine skin tumors diagnosed at the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology (LPV) of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). Cases of equine skin biopsies diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2009 and filed at the LPV-UFSM were reviewed. In all cases the morphological diagnosis considered was the one written in the filed biopsy report. During the period studied 139 equine skin biopsies were submitted to the LPV-UFSM. Out of those, 108 (77.6%) were skin tumors, neoplastic or otherwise and 31 cases were non-tumoral dermatosis. Fifty three of the 108 horses were females (49.1%), 37 (34.2% %) were males and in 18 cases (16.7%) the sex was not stated in the report. Sixty six affected horse (61.1%) were purebreds, 13 (12%) were crosses and in 29 instances (26.9%) the breed was not stated in the report. The Crioulo was the most prevalent breed (44/108 [40.7%]) and the remaining 22 purebreds horses were distribute among seven different breed. The most prevalent age categories affected in decreasing order were 1-5 year-old (47/108 [43.5%]) and 6-14 year-old (21/108 [19.5%]); 12 horses (11,1%) were 15 year-old or above .Only one horse was less than 1year-old. In 27 reports the age was not mentioned. More prevalent tumors included equine sarcoid (62/108 [57.4%]); squamous cell carcinomas (11/108 [10.2%]); pythiosis (9/108 [8.3%]); granulation tissue (proud flesh) (7/108 [6.5%]) and eosinophilic granuloma (4/108 [3.8%]). The remaining tumors accounted for approximately 14% of the cases.

Cultivo individual de blastocistos bovinos produzidos in vitro

In vitro produced bovine embryos were individually cultured from D7 to D9 to observe their development. Forty-nine blastocysts (early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst) were individually cultured, from D7 to D9 (D0= fertilization), in 50ml SOF medium plus 5% OCS. Between D7 and D8, blastocysts were cultured in straws (SC) or in plates (PC) and from D8 up to D9, they were cultured on plates. The ratio of early blastocyst, blastocyst, and expanded blastocyst advancing at least one stage of development were, respectively, 71%, 37%, 44% in PC and 100%, 66%, 36% in SC (P>;0.05). Overall development rates on D8 were not significantly different (P>;0.05) for PC (50%) and SC (60%). At D9, both culture systems produced similar (P>;0.05) hatching rates (29% and 24% for PC and SC, respectively). After fluorescent nuclei staining, the average number of cells counted in the hatched (182.7 vs. 202.8) and expanding (94.5 vs. 88.0) blastocysts were similar (P>;0.05) for PC and SC, respectively. In vitro produced bovine blastocysts can be individually cultured from D7 to D9, and the culture system employed (dishes or straws) has no effect on hatching rates and cell number of developed blastocysts.

CK, ASTand LDH seric concentration in crioulo breed horses

Creatine Kinase (CK), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Lactic Dehidrogenase (LDH) concentration was determined in serum samples obtained from 60 horses of the Criollo breed: 20 mares managed on pasture (Group A), 20 horses in training (Group B) and 20 horses participating of the Freio de Ouro 1997 competition (Group C), where samples were collected 24-48 hours before competition and 24 and 48 hours there after. There was no difference in LDH values between groups. Group B horses had higher (p<0.05) CK and AST serum concentrations than horses in groups A and C, indicating an adaptation to exercise. Forty eight hours after competition, CK values were lowest and AST highest. CK and AST were more informative than LDH in evaluating muscular function. Females had higher CK activity (p<0.05) than males. There were significam diferences related to final outcome of competition with a trena of lower values in the first places, indicating the athletic condition of the best horses.

Efeito clínico do uso do parecoxib em modelo de sinovite induzida em pôneis

An experimental synovitis model was used in ponies to evaluate the effect of parecoxib, a selective non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Five days after synovitis induction, three ponies received parecoxib (IV) 0.55mg/kg/day and three ponies received sterile 0.9% saline solution (IV) for five days. Clinical parameters and synovial fluid were evaluated before synovitis induction, prior treatment and 12, 24, 48, 96, and 120 hours after the first treatment. The intra-articular injection of Freunds complete adjuvant induced a moderate to severe synovitis. The parecoxib treated ponies showed lameness reduction; maintenance of stride length, articular flexion, temperature, and heart rate; and attenuation of articular effusion. Although the used dosage of parecoxib had no effect on evaluated synovial fluid parameters, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and especially analgesic effects were observed.

CONCENTRAÇÕES DE CREATINO QUINASE, ASPARTATO AMINOTRANSFERASE E DESIDROGENASE LÁTICA EM POTROS DO NASCIMENTO ATÉ OS SEIS MESES DE IDADE

Ten Thoroughbred foals, male and female, had the seric concentration of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) determined. Blood samples were collected every day from days 1 to 7 and on days 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 of age. CK activity decreased significantly (p< 0.0003) in the first week and showed significant variation between day 15 and 6 months of age. AST showed a significant (p< 0.0001) increase in its values until 102 days of age, decreasing subsequently until 6 months of age. LDH values decreased significantly (p< 0.0002) between days 15 and 120, increasing subsequently until 6 months of age. At 6 months of age CK, AST and LDH activities were close to those of adult horses.

Avaliação de sete protocolos para obtenção de plasma rico em plaquetas na espécie equina

PRP is plasma that contains a high numbers of platelets and growth factors in a small volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate seven different protocols to obtain PRP by the manual method according to their capacity to concentrate platelets, leukocyte and erythrocyte contamination and correlation between platelet count and TGF-β1 growth factor levels in PRP samples. Ten healthy horses with a mean age of 7 years (±2.39), weighing on average 500 kg (±67.1) were used in this study. The protocols tested varied according to the speed and time used at the two centrifugations. PRP samples were analyzed regarding platelet concentration, leukocyte and erythrocyte contamination and TGF-β1 levels quantified by ELISA. No significant differences among protocols were observed regarding the ability to concentrate platelets and TGF-β1. However, protocol I showed significantly higher erythrocyte and leukocyte counts in PRP samples than the other protocols, reason why it was considered inadequate for the volume of blood processed in this experiment. The remaining protocols are suitable for extracting PRP.

Fechamento das placas epifisárias do metacarpiano principal, do rádio e da tíbia em potros Crioulos

Aiming at documenting the closure of the physeal plates of the long bones, 92 Criollo foals, males and females, between 6 and 29 months of age, were used in this study. Dorsopalmar radiographs were taken from the distal portion of the radius, 3rd metacarpal bone and tibia. The radiographic image of the growth plate was classified as visible, partially visible or not visible. At 7 months of age the growth plate of the 3rd metacarpal bone was no longer visible. In the distal physis of the tibia the growth plate was no longer visible at 23 months and at 25 months of age in the radius. The results of this study show that period of closure of the physeal plates of the main metacaopal bone, the radius and tibia is similar to the some described in other breeds.

Genetic variability in the brazilian criollo horse breed

Allelic frequencies of 7 blood groups and 8 protein systems were determined in 6 herds of Criollo horse breed raised in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Analysis of these frequencies showed a significant isolation component (Fst = 0.0866; p<0.01) and construction of dendogram using Nei´s D confirmed this difference among the 6 herds. The highest values measuring genetic variability on 15 blood types were average heterozygosity: 0.4631; total number of alleles: 87 and probability of exclusion: 98%. When all herds were considered together, the inbreeding level (Fis) was zero. These results indicate that the Criollo horses have a large genetic variability.

Fertilidade pós-parto em éguas Puro-Sangue de Corrida

Observaram-se 549 eguas da raca Puro-Sangue de Corrida paridas durante o segundo semestre, no periodo de 1o de julho de 1983 a 31 de dezembro de 1994, com a finalidade de se analisar o indice de concepcao pos-parto, a duracao e a fertilidade dos cios pos-parto, os percentuais de produtos nascidos no ano seguinte e relaciona-los com a idade das eguas. Verificou-se que eguas com idade superior a 13 anos apresentam uma capacidade significativamente menor de conceber e levar a gestacao a termo do que eguas mais novas. O 1o cio pos-parto ocorre em media aos 12,3 (± 10,9) dias pos-parto e, quando apresenta uma duracao de 8 a 14 dias, e significativamente mais fertil do que quando tem uma duracao fora destes limites. A taxa de prenhez observada no 2o cio pos-parto foi significativamente superior a do 1o cio pos-parto.

Equine protease inhibitor system as a marker for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The protease inhibitor system (PI) was investigated to ascertain if it can be used as a marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in thoroughbred horses. Serum samples were taken from healthy thoroughbreds (n = 13) and those diagnosed as having COPD (n = 24) or inflammatory airway disease (IAD, n = 38) as well as from 3,600 undiagnosed thoroughbred horses. PI allelic and genotypic frequencies were estimated using protein electrophoresis on starch and polyacrylamide gels. The four groups of horses showed high genotypic similarity and none of the observed alleles or genotypes of the equine PI system were found to be associated with COPD.