Wilson Roberto Fernandes

Reference Values on Serum Biochemical Parameters of Brazilian Donkey (Equus asinus) Breed

Abstract Summary Seventeen serum biochemical variables were determined in 40 donkeys of the Brazilian breed (34 females and 6 males) aged from 3 to 19 years. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) (minimum–maximum) values, obtained by automated analysis, were as follows: glucose, 58.35 ± 10.40 (44.00–90.00) mg/dL; cholesterol, 88.41 ± 9.86 (73.58–124.26) mg/dL; serum protein, 6.82 ± 0.40 (6.00–7.52) g/dL; albumin, 3.13 ± 0.21 (2.65–3.69) g/dL; creatinine, 1.80 ± 0.14 (1.51–2.19) mg/dL; urea, 24.25 ± 5.37 (14.12–34.39) mg/dL; lactate, 20.10 ± 4.58 (12.99–33.47) mg/dL; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 295.81 ± 62.79 (173.71–466.07) IU/L; creatine kinase (CK), 158.00 ± 76.94 (51.69–440.33) IU/L; γ-glutamil-transferase (GGT), 45.82 ± 13.34 (26.17–86.38) IU/L; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 576.02 ± 156.32 (213.53–1162.81) IU/L; alkaline phosphatase (AP), 345.36 ± 65.90 (227.25–490.16) IU/L; calcium (Ca), 8.54 ± 0.18 (8.19–8.90) mg/dL; phosphorus (P), 2.76 ± 0.38 (1.99–3.97) mg/dL; chloride (Cl), 106.05 ± 3.20 (99.00–112.00) mEq/L; sodium (Na), 121.50 ± 4.14 (116.00–132.00) mEq/L; and potassium (K), 3.70 ± 0.42 (2.80–4.40) mEq/L. Comparisons of biochemical ranges obtained for the Brazilian donkey breed with reference ranges for other donkey breeds suggested that most values were similar. Biochemical values determined in the present study serve as reference ranges for donkey populations and can be used for health control and diagnosis of diseases.

Características eletrocardiográficas em eqüinos clinicamente normais da raça Puro Sangue Inglês

The determination of the electrocardiographic parameters of amplitude, duration, rhythm and electrical axis in the frontal plane from clinically healthy Thoroughbred foals, yearlings and pregnant mares was performed. Fifty foals and 50 yearlings, males and females, and 11 pregnant mares were used. It was concluded that the heart rate decreases with age and that foals and yearlings had intermediate values between reference values of neonates and adults. In yearlings, these values were more similar to the reference values of adults. In pregnant mares, the only difference observed when compared to reference values was the slight right displacement of the electrical axis.

Alterações nas concentrações séricas de glicose, sódio, potássio, uréia e creatinina, em eqüinos submetidos a provas de enduro de 30km com velocidade controlada

Some plasmatic biochemical parameters of equines submitted to an endurance race of 30km, with controled speed between 12 to 14km/h, taken place at State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were studied. Forty five adult equines (4 to 10 years old) were used. They were divided into three groups, according to the breed features: group I: 15 Arabian animals; group II: 15 Mangalarga animals; group III: 15 mixed breed animals. Each group was constituted by 11 males and 4 females. Blood samples were collected in three different times: before the race, 20 to 30 minutes and 80 to 90 minutes after the race, with the animal resting. Seric values of potassium, glucose and creatinine were similar in all groups but there was statistical significant differences according to time collection. Concerning to sodium, all groups showed a variation statistically significcant but the Arabian equines presented a different variation pattern from the other two groups. All groups showed the same variation pattern for seric urea but significant differences for seric urea levels were observed between Mangalarga and mixed breed animals.

Estudo eletrocardiográfico de equinos de salto sadios

The electrocardiographic study was made in 100 healthy showjumping horses, with ages between 4 and 19 year-old, being 61 males and 39 females, with mean bodyweight of 516.3 kg. A mean heart rate of 40.20 ± 13.33 bpm was observed, and the most common cardiac rhythm was sinus rhythm (56%). Alterations in cardiac rhythm were observed in 38% of the animals, as wandering pacemaker (22%), second degree atrioventricular block (4%), first degree atrioventricular block (3%), ventricular premature contraction (2%), atrial premature contraction (1%). There was no relationship between the variables (heart rate, rhythm and arrhythmias) and the athletic performance, age and sex. The heart score data obtained after statistical analysis were not different concerning the athletic performance, age or sex. Therefore, heart score, in this sample, did not appear to be a confident parameter to predict the athletic future or the training level of the individual horse.

Cytological evaluation of Rosenfeld-stained tracheobronchial washes and bronchoalveolar lavages, in healthy horses

Comparisons of tracheobronchial (TBW) and bronchoalveolar wash (BAL) cytologies, using respectively 25 and 5 normal horses were made. Differential cell counts were made on both TBW and BAL fluids on Rosenfeld-stained cytocentrifuged preparations. Macrophages were the predominant cell types seen in both fluid samples and these findings suggest the possibility of an adequate sampling of the distal air passages. Differences were found in lymphocytes and macrophages between TBW and BAL cytologies. The main cell types in BAL fluids were macrophages (54.78±15.92%) and lymphocytes (33.70±14.41%). On the other hand, lymphocytes and macrophages were found in 2.91±3.44% and 81.51±11.06% of cell types in TBW fluids, respectively. Also, there were absences of epithelial and goblet cells in BAL cytology, and these explain the adequacy of the lower respiratory tract sampling, performed without causing trauma of proximal air passages. Other cell types were found in few numbers and no differences were found between TBW and BAL fluids. Differences were not detected concerning morphological characteristics between TBW and BAL preparations.

Citologia dos lavados traqueobrônquico (LTB) e broncoalveolar (LBA) de bezerros holandeses sadios durante o primeiro mês de vida

The neonatal calf is a critical moment for adaptation of the newborn to extra uterine life. The respiratory tract is functionally very demanded and often affected by disease, resulting in direct loss of their function and causing serious economic losses in livestock. The basic point to reduce these losses is appropriate clinical evaluation of neonates; but the diagnosis based solely in physical examination is very difficult to establish. The use of complementary analysis such cytology of the respiratory tract becomes an important diagnostic tool; however their findings must be standardized in the face of different techniques employed. This research studied the dynamics of the cellularity of the bronchoalveolar and tracheobronchial region obtained through lung lavage harvested by nasotracheal catheterization technique and tracheocenthesis respectively, during the first month of life of healthy calves. The tracheobronchial cytology was influenced by the time, showing decreased number of alveolar macrophages and greater number of neutrophils, possibly increased by local irritation caused by the technique, which was repeated sequentially, and/or through greater stimulation of inhaled microorganisms deposited in this region. In the bronchoalveolar region no variation in the cellular constituents in function of time was found. The results allowed the conclusion the cell population of the tracheobronchial region has changed over the week-old calves, possibly due to the technique used and/or to the normal region physiology, represented by higher magnitudes of neutrophils. Otherwise, the cells of the broncholaveolar region showed a stable behavior during the first month of life of newborn calves, presenting numerical predominance of alveolar macrophages.

Prevalência de anticorpos antivírus da arterite dos eqüinos em cavalos criados no Estado de São Paulo

With the purpose of studying the prevalence of equine viral arteritis in horses raised in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, by the standard microtiter serum neutralization test, 659 serum samples were investigated. The prevalence of antibodies in the horse population was 18.2%, which was significantly higher in Mangalarga horses (33.3%) than in any other breed (Thoroughbred, Arab, Quarter Horse, mixed breeds and others). The distribuition of horses by age showed that horses between 6 to 24 months of age (30.4%) had a higher prevalence (30.4%) rate than others. The female horses prevalence rate of 22.9% was significantly higher than in male horses.

Microbiota bacteriana e citologia da região traqueobrônquica de bezerros no período neonatal

Bronchopneumonia is important for world livestock production and one of the major causes of calf mortality during the first months of life. The preventive and therapeutic measures adopted for the disease in calves in Brazil are usually based on the results of international studies; however there is not enough known which bacteria are implicated. In the first month of life calves show immaturity of their immune system, what has been little studied in regard to pneumonia. The present investigation sought to study neonate bronchopneumonia in calves, to identify which bacteria are present in the respiratory tract of healthy and, with naturally acquired pneumonia calves, to analyze the pulmonary cytological response against pathogens. For this purpose, samples of the respiratory tract were collected by tracheocenthesis. It was noted that the microflora of the tracheobronchial region of healthy and diseased calves was the same, but they were different from the one reported by international papers. The flora was constituted mainly by Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteriae, allowing to infer that the prophylactic and therapeutic measures adopted internationally may not be as effective for the Brazilian condition. It was also found that newborn calves have an approximate ratio of 1:1 of macrophages and neutrophils in the tracheobronchial region when they were healthy, reaching a ratio of approximately 1:3 of macrophages and neutrophils when they were with bronchopneumonia. Probably, these profiles are characteristic of the age, a period when exists immaturity of the immune system and influenced by management factors which lead to greater inhalation of bacterial agents.

Achados gastroscópicos em eqüinos adultos assintomáticos

Twenty one adult horses without clinical signs were used for gastroscopic study. High prevalence (47.6%) of gastric ulceration was observed, especially adjacent to the margo plicatus, although with low severity. Mild or moderate gastritis of the glandular mucosa was an usual finding in these horses submited to fasting for gastroscopic examination. The occurrence of Habronema sp. was high (28.6%), and caused chronic catarrhal gastritis.

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.