Simone Tostes de Oliveira

Hemoplasma infection in HIV-positive patient, Brazil.

Hemotrophic mycoplasmas infect a variety of mammals. Although infection in humans is rarely reported, an association with an immunocompromised state has been suggested. We report a case of a Mycoplasma haemofelis–like infection in an HIV-positive patient co-infected with Bartonella henselae.

Association of canine obesity with reduced serum levels of C-reactive protein

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in dogs as well as in humans. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important tool for the detection of inflammation and/or early tissue damage and is linked to obesity in humans. The objective of the present study was to determine if serum CRP levels are altered in obese dogs. Fifteen lean (control group) and 16 overweight (obese group) dogs were examined. Blood samples were collected under fasted conditions for serum determination of CRP, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, and fructosamine. Results indicated that obese dogs were insulin resistant because serum insulin and insulin/glucose ratios were higher than in lean dogs (P ≤ 0.05). Serum CRP concentrations were lower in obese dogs than in controls (P ≤ 0.001). C-reactive protein was negatively correlated with insulin/glucose ratio (R = −0.42) and cholesterol (R = −0.39; P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fructosamine were increased in the obese group compared with the control group. Based on these results, it can be postulated that CRP production is inhibited by obesity and insulin resistance in dogs.

Laparoscopic versus open splenectomy in dogs

In the last few years, the use of laparoscopy in veterinary medicine has expanded and consequently so was the need for studies that establish the advantages, disadvantages and possible complications of each procedure. The purpose of the current study was to describe a laparoscopic splenectomy technique and the alterations due to this access, and compare it to the open procedure in dogs. A total of 15 healthy female mongrel dogs were used, with mean weight of 17.4±2.5kg. The animals were distributed into three groups: Group IA of open splenectomy (laparotomy) using double ligation of the vessels of the splenic hilum with poliglicolic acid, Group IB of open splenectomy (laparotomy) with bipolar electrocoagulation of the splenic hilum, and Group II of laparoscopic access with bipolar electrocoagulation of the splenic hilum. Operative time, blood loss, size of incisions, complications during and after surgery were evaluated. Other parameters included pain scores, white blood cell (WBC) counts and postoperative serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose and cortisol. No differences were found in the evaluation of parameters between both open splenectomy techniques employed. Laparoscopic access presented significant differences (p<0,05) when compared with open surgery: Longer operative time, smaller abdominal access, decrease in blood loss, lower concentrations of CRP, higher levels of CK and ALP, and lower scores in the pain scale. Laparoscopic surgery showed fewer complications of the surgical wound. No significant differences were observed between groups in the postoperative temperature, WBC, ALT, cortisol and glucose concentrations. In conclusion, the laparoscopic technique is useful for splenectomy in dogs, being advantageous in terms of blood loss, surgical stress and surgical wounds. However, it expends more operative time and causes transitory increase in hepatic and muscular enzymes.

Presence of infectious agents and co-infections in diarrheic dogs determined with a real-time polymerase chain reaction-based panel

BackgroundInfectious diarrhea can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or protozoan organisms, or a combination of these. The identification of co-infections in dogs is important to determine the prognosis and to plan strategies for their treatment and prophylaxis. Although many pathogens have been individually detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a comprehensive panel of agents that cause diarrhea in privately owned dogs has not yet been established. The objective of this study was to use a real-time PCR diarrhea panel to survey the frequencies of pathogens and co-infections in owned dogs attended in a veterinary hospital with and without diarrhea, as well the frequency in different countries. Feces samples were tested for canine distemper virus, canine coronavirus, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2), Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin (CPA), Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., and Salmonella spp. using molecular techniques.ResultsIn total, 104 diarrheic and 43 control dogs that were presented consecutively at a major private veterinary hospital were included in the study. Overall, 71/104 (68.3%) dogs with diarrhea were positive for at least one pathogen: a single infection in 39/71 dogs (54.9%) and co-infections in 32/71 dogs (45.1%), including 21/32 dogs (65.6%) with dual, 5/32 (15.6%) with triple, and 6/32 (18.8%) with quadruple infections. In the control group, 13/43 (30.2%) dogs were positive, all with single infections only. The most prevalent pathogens in the diarrheic dogs were CPA (40/104 dogs, 38.5%), CPV-2 (36/104 dogs, 34.6%), and Giardia spp. (14/104 dogs, 13.5%). CPV-2 was the most prevalent pathogen in the dual co-infections, associated with CPA, Cryptosporidium spp., or Giardia spp. No statistical difference (P = 0.8374) was observed in the duration of diarrhea or the number of deaths (P = 0.5722) in the presence or absence of single or co-infections.ConclusionsDiarrheic dogs showed a higher prevalence of pathogen infections than the controls. Whereas the healthy dogs had only single infections, about half the diarrheic dogs had co-infections. Therefore, multiple pathogens should be investigated in dogs presenting with diarrhea. The effects of multiple pathogens on the disease outcomes remain unclear because the rate of death and the duration of diarrhea did not seem to be affected by these factors.

Hematological, biochemical and ruminant parameters for diagnosis of left displacement of the abomasum in dairy cows from Southern Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar indicadores hematologicos, bioquimicos e ruminais no diagnostico e tratamento do deslocamento de abomaso a esquerda (DAE) em vacas leiteiras, na Regiao do Planalto do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de liquido ruminal, sangue e urina de 40 animais, dos quais 20 vacas com DAE e 20 vacas clinicamente sadias utilizadas como grupo controle. Os animais com DAE, quando comparados ao grupo controle, apresentaram diminuicao da producao de leite diaria, do peso corporal e do escore condicao corporal. A utilizacao de fitas reagentes para medicao do pH ruminal demonstrou-se eficaz em campo, em comparacao ao potenciometro digital. A dinâmica ruminal apresentou-se prejudicada nos animais com DAE, o que foi evidenciado pelos valores aumentados do tempo de reducao de azul de metileno. Os valores sericos de lactato, beta-hidroxibutirato, ureia, albumina, acidos graxos livres e colesterol apresentam-se como ferramentas auxiliares na caracterizacao da doenca.

Molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys in dogs in Southern Brazil

The aims of this study were to determine the occurrence of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil; and to investigate their association with hematological abnormalities. Serum samples from 196 dogs were first tested using dot-ELISA for antibodies against Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia canis. Peripheral blood samples from 199 dogs were subjected to 16S rRNA nested PCR (nPCR) for A. platys and E. canis, followed by DNA sequencing to ensure pathogen identity. A total of 19/196 samples (9.69%) were positive for Anaplasma spp. using ELISA and 28/199 (14.07%) samples were positive for A. platys by nested PCR. All the dog samples were negative for E. canis, both in anti-E. canis antibody tests and in nested PCR. There were no significant differences in hematological parameters between A. platys-PCR positive and negative dogs and Anaplasma spp. serologically positive dogs, except for basophil counts, which were higher in nPCR-positive dogs. This is the first report showing A. platys presence in dogs in Southern Brazil. In conclusion, hematological parameters may not be sufficient to diagnose A. platys infection in dogs in Southern Brazil, probably due either to low pathogenicity or to chronic infection. On the other hand, E. canis may either have very low occurrence or be absent in dogs in Porto Alegre.

Prevalência dos tipos sangüíneos A, B e AB em gatos domésticos mestiços da cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a prevalencia dos tipos sanguineos em felinos domesticos, mesticos, da cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Foram selecionados aleatoriamente 100 gatos, clinicamente saudaveis, mesticos e sem parentesco entre si. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas da veia jugular e a tipagem sanguinea foi realizada atraves do teste RapidVet H Feline (DMS Laboratories, Flemington, USA) e do teste hemaglutinacao em tubo de ensaio. A tipagem reversa foi realizada para confirmar o tipo e a presenca de aloanticorpos naturais. No presente estudo encontrou-se prevalencia de 97% e 3% de gatos do tipo A e B, respectivamente. Nao foram encontrados gatos do tipo AB. Os resultados indicam que no sul do Brasil ha uma alta prevalencia de gatos domesticos mesticos do tipo A, entretanto a prevalencia de gatos do tipo B encontrada no trabalho e mais alta do que aquelas relatadas em alguns paises. O conhecimento da prevalencia dos tipos sanguineos da populacao de gatos de uma regiao pode auxiliar na determinacao dos riscos de reacoes transfusionais e de ocorrencia de isoeritrolise neonatal, e estes podem ser prevenidos atraves de tipagem sanguinea e teste de compatibilidade sanguinea.

Reparação do ligamento cruzado cranial de cães por tendão homólogo conservado em glicerina e associado a fio de náilon

Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is one of the most prevalent stifle diseases in dogs and its therapy is a problem today. The purpose of this report was to evaluate the response to long digital extensor muscle tendon preserved in glycerol as a substitute of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs. The technique was performed in 18 mongrel dogs, with mean body weight of 16.5kg, and evaluated until 45, 80 or 120 postoperative days. Clinic, radiographic, macroscopic and histologic studies were done. The technique was efficient to return to normal gait determining good articular stability, although the biologic implant was absent in most animals and the mononylon was not taut.

Clinicopathologic and electrocardiographic features of Akita dogs with high and low erythrocyte potassium phenotypes.

BACKGROUND Canine RBCs are expected to have high sodium and low potassium (LK) concentrations. However, some dogs have a low sodium and high potassium (HK) phenotype due to a Na-K pump in the mature RBC membrane. Awareness of this particularity avoids misinterpretation of hyperkalemia in affected dogs. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the CBCs, serum biochemistry profiles, urinalysis data, and electrocardiography data in HK and LK Akita dogs. METHODS In this study, the intra-RBC potassium (KRBC) was measured in 48 healthy adult Akita dogs. The HK group included dogs with KRBC concentration at least 5-fold that of plasma, while the LK dogs served as controls. RESULTS The HK phenotype was determined in 10 dogs (21%). With the exception of higher plasma potassium concentrations in the HK group compared with LK controls (6.6 mmol/L vs 4.4 mmol/L, P < .001), there were no other differences in serum biochemistry variables. In hematology, mean HGB concentration (13.5 vs 15.9, P < .001), PCV (42.9 vs 46.7, P = .009), RBC (6.1 vs 7.4, P < .001), and MCHC (31.3 vs 34.0, P < .001) were significantly lower in the HK group, while MCV (70.0 vs 63.4, P < .001) was higher compared with the LK controls. There were no significant differences in urinalysis or electrocardiography data between groups. CONCLUSIONS HK Akita dogs showed significant differences in several hematologic variables, as well as higher plasma potassium concentration. Therefore, the HK phenotype should be considered in the interpretation of these variables in this breed.

Development of a quantitative PCR for the detection of Rangelia vitalii

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a SYBR Green qPCR assay to detect and quantify a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene of Rangelia vitalii in canine blood. Repeatability of the qPCR was determined by the intra- and inter-assay variations. The qPCR showed efficiency of E=101.30 (r(2)=0.996), detecting as few as one copy of plasmid containing the target DNA. Specificity of the assay was performed using DNA samples of Babesia canis, B. gibsoni, Ehrlichia canis, E. ewingii and Leishmania sp. No cross-reactivity was observed. Field samples consisting of blood from 265 dogs from Porto Alegre, Brazil were also tested. A total of 24 (9.05%) samples were positive for R. vitalii. Amplicons of 50% of positive samples were confirmed to be R. vitalii by Sanger sequencing. The positive samples had an average of 3.5×10(5) organisms/mL of blood (range: 1.27×10(3)-1.88×10(6)) based on the plasmid-generated standard curve. In conclusion, the SYBR Green qPCR assay developed herein is sensitive and specific and can be used as a diagnostic tool for detection and quantification of R. vitalii in canine blood samples.