Paula Diniz Galera

Brachial plexus blockade in chickens with 0.75% ropivacaine

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of brachial plexus blockade with 0.75% ropivacaine in domestic chickens. STUDY DESIGN Prospective experimental trial. ANIMALS Six 30-week-old female chickens, weighing 4.5 +/- 0.4 kg. METHODS Six brachial plexus injections were performed after anesthetic induction with isoflurane. After achieving adequate muscle relaxation, the animals were positioned in dorsal recumbency and injected with ropivacaine (1 mL kg(-1)). The birds recovered and assessments of motor function and response to pinch were scored every 5 minutes for 180 minutes. The scores were from zero (no response) to three (greatest response). The scores over time were analyzed using a Wilcoxon nonparametric test with statistical significance accepted if p <or= 0.05. RESULTS There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) from 15 to 130 minutes and 15 to 120 minutes for motor and sensory blocks, respectively. The onset of both blocks took 15 minutes and the effective periods of sensory and motor anesthesia were 105 and 115 minutes, respectively. Comparison between blocks at different times did not demonstrate significant differences (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE No complications were observed after the technique. Brachial plexus blockade with 0.75% ropivacaine is a simple and effective technique for procedures on the thoracic limb of domestic chickens.

Tear production in canine neonates – evaluation using a modified Schirmer tear test

PURPOSE The ability of human newborns to produce tears has been a subject of controversy in the literature since the mid-20th century, and there has been considerable debate as to whether they are able to produce tears. Recently, it was established that total tear secretion (reflex + basal) in full-term infants is similar to those of adults whereas both reflex and basal tear production is reduced in premature babies. The objectives of this study were to assess whether newborn dogs have measurable aqueous tear production at the fourth week of life and to evaluate a modified Schirmer tear test (mSTT) as a useful method for measuring neonatal tear production in dogs. METHODS Thirty four-week-old healthy puppies from six litters were evaluated. A control group was composed of 10 normal adult dogs. The mSTT strips were obtained by cutting a 5 mm-wide strip in half (making two 2.5 mm-wide strips). The mSTT1 was performed in puppies and adult dogs. Values were compared using t-tests. RESULTS In neonates, the average value for the mSTT1 was 13.6 ± 3.07 (range = 7-19 mm/min), which was significantly lower in neonates than in adult dogs (23.25 ± 3.5, range = 17-30 mm/min, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Canine neonates do produce tears by the fourth week of life, which can be successfully measured with the mSTT. This report established for the first time that canine neonates have significantly reduced total (reflex + basal) tear secretion compared to adults.

Comparison of two methods of tear sampling for protein quantification by Bradford method

by the Bradford method. Results were analyzed by Student’s t test. The average protein concentration and standard deviation from tears collected with microcapillary tube were 4.45mg/mL ±0.35 and 4,52mg/mL ±0.29 for right and left eyes respectively. The average protein concentration and standard deviation from tears collected with Schirmer Tear Test (STT) strip were and 54.5mg/mL ±0.63 and 54.15mg/mL ±0.65 to right and left eyes respectively. Statistically significant differences (p<0.001) were found between the methods. In the conditions in which this study was conducted, the average protein concentration obtained with the Bradford test from tear samples obtained by Schirmer Tear Test (STT) strip showed values higher than those obtained with microcapillary tube. It is important that concentration of tear protein pattern values should be analyzed according the method used to collect tear samples.

Optimal management of equine keratomycosis

Keratomycosis in the horse exists in several unique clinical forms. This paper discusses the diagnosis and clinical management of keratomycosis in the horse associated with tear film instability, epithelial keratopathy, subepithelial infiltrates, superficial and deep ulcers, plaques, melting ulcers, descemetoceles, iris prolapse, and stromal abscesses. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment of equine keratomycosis can make a major difference in the maintenance of a cosmetic and visual eye.

Bilateral lamellar keratoplasty in descemetocele treatment in dog with botulism by use of equine renal capsule and conjunctival pedicle graft

A 3-year-old, male mixed breed dog with botulism and bilateral descemetocele was submitted to lamellar keratoplasty with equine renal capsule preserved in glycerin in the right eye and conjunctival pedicle graft in the left eye. The evolution was satisfactory in both eyes, but better in the eye receiving the equine renal capsule, because the corneal transparence was more evident in that eye. On the other hand, the surgical period was more quickly in the eye receiving the equine renal capsule because the preparation of the conjunctival pedicle before the keratoplasty was not necessary.

GESSO SINTÉTICO E PINOS TRANSCORTICAIS NA REDUÇÃO DE FRATURA DE TÍBIA EM UMA BEZERRA

SUMMARYA case of tibial fracture in a 7-month-old calf isreported, with closed comminuted diaphysial fracture. It has beengiven preference to external fixation as means of fractureimmobilization, and transcortical pins and fiberglass cast havebeen used. Effective immobilization of the fracture and fastrecovering of the animal as well as less time consuming towardthe postoperative have been obtained. This technique has showedfeasible to be done in the field. Key words: bovine, fracture, external fixation, tibia. INTRODUCAOAs fraturas em bovinos ocorrem com re-lativa frequencia, traduzindo em perdas economicassignificativas tanto para pecuaria leiteira como paraa destinada ao corte. O valor economico do animal eo principal ponto a ser analisado, quando se trata deanimais de producao, e, na maioria das vezes, opta-se pela eutanasia devido aos elevados custos impli-cados na reducao de fraturas e manejo das mesmas.Levantamentos de dados de univer-sidades norte-americanas demonstraram que asfraturas de tibia sao responsaveis por 12% do totaldas fraturas, sendo indicado o uso do gesso desde aarticulacao femur-tibio-patelar ate o casco, aparelhomodificado de Thomas, combinacoes de aparelhomodificado de Thomas com tala de gesso, pinos detransfixacao, transfixacao com pino e gesso sinteticoe placas ortopedicas (ADAMS & FESSLER., 1983;ADAMS, 1985; DENNY et al., 1988).O uso da tecnica de fixacao externa da ti-bia depende da configuracao da fratura, da injuria dotecido mole e da presenca de fraturas expostas(ADAMS, 1985; ANDERSON et al., 1994). Temsido aplicada com sucesso em ossos longos de bovi-nos, ovinos, caprinos, lhamas como citado porANDERSON & SAINT-JEAN (1996) e em peque-nos animais (VERSCHOOTEN et al., 1972).O uso da tecnica de fixacao externa comgesso sintetico e pinos transcorticais tem merecidodestaque dentre os metodos convencionais de imo-

SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN POPULATIONS OF MANED WOLF (CHRYSOCYON BRACHYURUS) AND CRAB-EATING FOX (CERDOCYON THOUS) FROM ÁGUAS EMENDADAS ECOLOGICAL STATION, BRAZIL

Abstract:  Domestic dogs are reservoirs for many infectious diseases and may represent a potential source of infection for wild canid populations. A serologic investigation of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Brucella abortus, and Leptospira spp. was conducted on three maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and seven crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), all free-living, at the Águas Emendadas Ecological Station (ESECAE), Federal District, Brazil, between February and October 2006. Out of the 10 samples analyzed, eight (80%) were seropositive for T. gondii: 3/3 (100%) of the maned wolves and 5/7 (71.4%) of the crab-eating foxes. None of the animals presented anti–N. caninum, B. abortus, and Leptospira spp. antibodies. This study demonstrated that the wild canid populations at ESECAE presented high exposure to T. gondii and indicated that there is high environmental contamination at the Station, which can be attributed to its proximity to urban zones, the presence of domestic cats in the study area, or the existence of other wild infected felines.

Survival analysis of female dogs with mammary tumors after mastectomy: epidemiological, clinical and morphological aspects

Mammary gland tumors are the most common type of tumors in bitches but research on survival time after diagnosis is scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between survival time after mastectomy and a number of clinical and morphological variables. Data was collected retrospectively on bitches with mammary tumors seen at the Small Animal Surgery Clinic Service at the University of Brasilia. All subjects had undergone mastectomy. Survival analysis was conducted using Coxs proportional hazard method. Of the 139 subjects analyzed, 68 died and 71 survived until the end of the study (64 months). Mean age was 11.76 years (SD=2.71), 53.84% were small dogs. 76.92% of the tumors were malignant, and 65.73% had both thoracic and inguinal glands affected. Survival time in months was associated with age (hazard rate ratios [HRR] =1.23, p-value =1.4x10-4), animal size (HRR between giant and small animals =2.61, p-value =0.02), nodule size (HRR =1.09, p-value =0.03), histological type (HRR between solid carcinoma and carcinoma in a mixed tumor =2.40, p-value =0.02), time between diagnosis and surgery (TDS, with HRR =1.21, p-value =2.7x10-15), and the interaction TDS*follow-up time (HRR =0.98, p-value =1.6x10-11). The present study is one of the few on the subject matter. Several important covariates were evaluated and age, animal size, nodule size, histological type, TDS and TDS*follow up time were identified as significantly associated to survival time.

Proteomic analysis of equine amniotic membrane: characterization of proteins

INTRODUCTION Human amniotic membrane (AM) has been used as a biomaterial for surgical wound skin and ocular surface reconstruction for several years. Currently, equine AM has been used for corneal reconstruction in several animal species, and appears to have the same properties as human AM. Despite the observed positive healing abilities of this tissue in horses with ulcerative keratitis the proteins of equine AM have not been described. OBJECTIVE To identify proteins known to be associated with corneal healing from frozen equine AM. PROCEDURES Placentas were acquired from healthy live foal births from a local Thoroughbred breeding farm. The amnion was removed from the chorion by blunt dissection, washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and treated with 0.05% trypsin and 0.02% ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid in PBS. Amnion was attached to nitrocellulose paper (epithelial side up), and cut into 4 × 4 cm pieces. The sheets were frozen at -80 °C. The protein samples were solubilized, and analyzed by 2D gel electrophoresis and shotgun proteomics. RESULTS A reference identification map of the equine AM proteins was produced and 149 different proteins were identified. From gel-based proteomics, 49 spots were excised and 43 proteins identified by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Shotgun proteomics identified 116 proteins with an overlap of 10 proteins in both analyses. CONCLUSIONS We have described a reference map for equine AM proteins that may provide a background to explain the positive results found in horses with ulcerative keratopathies using this biomaterial.

Experimental lamellar keratoplasty in rabbits using microfibrilar cellulose membrane: clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical findings

The clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of the cornea were investigated in adult male New Zealand rabbits submitted to lamellar keratoplasty with microfibrillar cellulose membrane. Thirty animals were divided into five groups (n=6) and evaluated up to 60 days after surgery. Clinical examination revealed moderate manifestations of edema, blepharospasm and photophobia on the second day, which became mild or disappeared after the seventh day. This period was characterized clinically by repair of the corneal defect. Histopathological analysis showed the presence of a thin layer of squamous cells covering the damaged area as early as 7th day, accompanied by a mild infiltrate of polymorphonuclear cells. Blood vessels were observed in the epithelium after the 15th day, which had regressed by day 48. Ki67 antibody labeling showed an increase of proliferating cells in the epithelium by the 15th day and in the stroma by day 30. Remodeling and epithelial adhesion were observed during this period. Microfibrillar cellulose membrane (Bionext®) used for lamellar keratoplasty was found to yield good results considering the good integration of the implant.