This study sought to determine if sheep suffer neurological symptoms when fed Acacia angustissima leaves, and whether an equivalent amount of 70% acetone extract would have the same effect. In addition, the study tried to determine if treatment of leaves with 70% acetone would destroy the activity of A. angustissima toxins, and whether extraction with 70% aqueous acetone extract would separate two components of a toxic system. Twenty-five Menz lambs were randomly assigned to one of five treatments (1) A angustissima leaves as half the diet, 2) dried extract (70% aqueous acetone) of the same quantity of leaves, 3) a corresponding amount of residues, 4) a recombination of the dried extract and dried residue, or (5) a control diet containing no A angustissima leaves or extract fractions. All animals fed the leaves and the recombined fractions died or were euthanized when they were observed to be dying of severe neurological derangement. None of the other animals showed any neurological signs of impairement. The results of this study indicate that healthy, well-fed sheep can be poisoned by A angustissima, that the toxins are not destroyed by acetone or oven drying, and that severe neurological intoxication requires two components, which can be separated by acetone extraction.

International audience

International audience

peer reviewed | OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of obesity and diet in dogs on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations by assaying plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations and determining total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations as well as the concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides in various lipoprotein classes (ie, very-low-density, low-density, and high-density lipoproteins). ANIMALS: 24 Beagles; 12 lean (mean [+/- SEM] body weight, 12.7 +/- 0.7 kg) and 12 chronically obese (21.9 +/- 0.8 kg) dogs of both sexes, between 1 and 9 years old. PROCEDURES: Total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations; lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations; and plasma ghrelin, leptin, free fatty acids, insulin, and glucose concentrations were measured and compared between lean and obese dogs, both of which were fed a complete and balanced maintenance diet. Chronically obese dogs were subsequently fed a high-protein low-energy diet to evaluate effects of diet composition on plasma lipid and lipoprotein measurements. RESULTS: Chronic obesity resulted in a significant decrease in plasma ghrelin concentration and a significant increase in plasma leptin, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations in dogs. High total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations resulted from increased cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in all lipoprotein fractions. In obese dogs, modification of diet composition resulted in beneficial effects on plasma lipid and leptin concentrations, even before weight loss was observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Correlations exist between obesity and plasma measurements (ie, lipoproteins, leptin, insulin, and ghrelin) commonly associated with obesity. Modification of diet composition to control energy intake improves plasma lipid and leptin concentrations in obese dogs.

peer reviewed | OBJECTIVES: To compare the values of the urodynamic parameters of the lower portion of the urinary tract and vaginourethral measurements obtained during the phases of the estrous cycle in dogs and determine possible functional or anatomic modifications of the lower portion of the urinary tract associated with those phases. ANIMALS: 7 adult female Beagles. PROCEDURE: Urethral pressure profilometry, diuresis cystometry, and vaginourethrography were performed in each dog during proestrus; estrus; early, mid, and late diestrus; and early and late anestrus. The maximum urethral pressure (MUP), maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP), urethral functional and anatomic profile lengths (UFPL and UAPL, respectively), integrated pressure, threshold pressure, threshold volume, compliance, urethral length, and vaginal length and width were measured. RESULTS: For all measurements, significant interindividual variation was detected. Integrated and threshold pressures, APL, and each morphometric value significantly increased from late anestrus to proestrus. Compared with other phases, MUP, MUCP, and integrated pressure values were significantly lower in estrus and early diestrus; UAPL and UFPL values were significantly lower in late diestrus. At each cycle phase in old dogs, MUP, MUCP, threshold pressure, and vaginal length and width were significantly lower (except in proestrus for vaginal measurements) and threshold volume and compliance values were significantly higher, compared with middle-aged dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Urodynamic and morphometric measurements of the lower portion of the urogenital tract are affected by the changes in hormonal balance that occur during the estrous cycle. In sexually intact female dogs, estrous phase determination is important for the interpretation of urodynamic data.

A grande preocupação na preservação da fauna sul americana tem levado pesquisadores a intensa produção de trabalhos. Este trabalho constitui parte deste esforço para entender as estruturas animais, em especial do gênero Bradypus, ordem Edentata, descrevendo a anatomia macroscópica do encéfalo de duas espécies, Torquatus e Variegatus, ambas ocorrendo na mata atlântica brasileira. Os animais foram a óbito naturalmente, congelados reserva da Matinha, e descongelados, injetados, dissecados e corados por de técnicas apropriadas. Vemos as formações do neocórtex num modelo mais primitivo para mamíferos, uma predominância de áreas e estruturas ligadas ao olfato e diversas diferenças, quando comparadas a outros mamíferos, em especial a primatas. Dentre estas, a ocorrência de apenas 2 colículos no tronco encefálico, hipófise discoidal, grande fórnice e bem desenvolvidos pedúnculos cerebrais. As circunvoluções são brandas e ocorrem lobos semelhantes aos demais mamíferos, com cerebelo não recoberto pelas projeções dos telencéfalos e com proporção de até 1/4 em relação ao todo. | The great preoccupation about the preservation of the south America fauna, have guide researches to a intense productions of the works about them. This work is constitute as a part of this effort to understand the animal structures, in special the gender Bradypus, describing the macroscopic anatomy of the brain in two species, Torquatus and Variegatus, both from the atlantic forest in Brazil. The animals did have a naturally death, were freeze as the standard proceed of the Matinha reserve, the origin of them, and unfreezing, injection, dissection, and colored by the use of appropriate techniques. We observed the neo-cortex formations in a model more primitive than others mammals, a predominance of areas and structures connected to the sense of smell and many differences when compared with other mammals, in especial primates. Among then the occurrence of only two coliculus on the brain trunk, a disk form of the hipophyse, a big fornice, and too development brain peduncles. The circumvolutions are bland and is happen lobos as same to the others mammals with the cerebellum not covered by the projections of the occipital lobos and with proportion until 1/4 in relation to all brain.

A placenta possui sistemas vasculares essenciais e intimamente associados. A sua efetividade está relacionada ao tipo de fluxo sanguíneo entre as circulações materno e fetal e assim com a morfologia da vascularização. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo, estudar os aspectos anatômicos da vascularização macro e microscópica da placenta de ovinos, mestiços das raças Corriedale e Ideal, que vivem próximos do nível do mar e a sistematização dos vasos fetais desde o funículo umbilical até o leito capilar. Os cotilédones dos ovinos são esferóides na sua maioria e recebem de um a quatro ramos vasculares em sua concavidade central. Anastomoses dos vasos do funículo umbilical ocorrem somente entre artérias. Entre os ramos dos vasos coriônicos, as anastomoses são mais freqüentes em veias do que nas artérias. Foram encontrados 187 tipos de arranjos arteriocotiledonários diferentes. A artéria coriônica dirigida ao corno gestante possui um trajeto mais curto e emite menos ramos cotiledonários que a do corno não gestante. A veia coriônica é formada pela confluência de dois ramos e recebe confluentes colaterais que freqüentemente se anastomosam entre si. A microvascularização do cotilédone fetal foi estudada em microscopia eletrônica de varredura e está representada pela presença de árvores vilosas cônicas e com relato de alças capilares em forma de leque. As características microscópicas da placenta refletemas características do desenvolvimento viloso placentário determinada pela altitude na qual os animais vivem (a 95 m do nível do mar). | Placenta possesses various essential independent vascular systems and intimately associated vascular systems, the effectiveness of which are related to the type of blood stream between the maternal and fetal circulation and, therefore, the morphology of the vascularization. The aim of this research was to study the anatomical aspects of gross and microscopic vascularization of the sheep placenta (Corriedale cross breeds and Ideal breeds, living at sea level) and the systematization of the fetal vessels from umbilical funiculus until the capillary bed. The cotyledons were demonstrated to be mostly spheroids and to possess between one to four vascular in the majority and receive from one to four vascular branches in their central concavity. Anastomoses of the umbilical funiculus vessels occur only between arteries and anastomoses between the chorionic vessel branches are more frequent in veins than in the arteries.Were found 187 types of different cotyledonary-artery arrays were found. The chorionic artery leading to pregnant horn is shorter in lenght and emits fewer cotyledonary branches than the non pregnant horn. The chorionic vein is formed by the confluence of two branches and receives collateral tributary vessels that frequently are anastomosed between themselves. The microvascularization of the fetal cotyledon was studied by scanning electron microscopy and is demonstrated to possess of cylindrical villous trees with vessels and with parallel vessels and with capilarization in the villous extremities. Capillary fan-like handles and conical villous trees are also observed. The macrocospic features of the cotyledons and microscopy of the villous trees reflect the altitude in which the animals live (the 95 m above sea level).

A modificação dietética tem sido estudada e empregada no controle e prevenção da Doença do Trato Urinário Inferior dos Felinos. Este trabalho estudou a influência do teor de água e da digestibilidade das rações sobre a ingestão, excreção urinária e excreção fecal de água. Utilizaram-se 10 gatas adultas castradas, alojadas em gaiolas metabólicas.Testaram-se quatro tratamentos: ração enlatada; seca super-premium; seca econômica e seca econômica acrescida de 50% de água. Determinou-se a ingestão de água via alimento e bebedouro, a excreção de água via fezes e urina e o coeficiente de digestibilidade das rações. Foi empregado um quadrado latino com repetições no tempo. Os resultados foram avaliados por análise de variância seguido pelo teste de Tukey para a comparação de médias e a Correlação de Pearson para se verificar a associação entre variáveis (p<0,05). O consumo de ração enlatada proporcionou uma maior ingestão total de água e uma maior excreção de urina, que apresentou menor densidade. Os gatos compensaram a maior ingestão de água alimentar bebendo menos água. Quanto menor a ingestão de matéria seca e maior a digestibilidade do alimento, menor a excreção fecal de água, pois as rações secas de baixa e alta digestibilidade obtiveram, respectivamente, relação excreção de urina:excreção de água fecal de 0,7:1 e 1,6:1. A ingestão de gordura apresentou correlação positiva com o volume urinário. Rações de maior digestibilidade promovem menor perda fecal de água, mas somente a ração enlatada (alta relação água:matéria seca) proporcionou maiores ingestão total de água e volume urinário. | Dietary adjustment has been studied for the control and prevention of the Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. This work studied the influence of the amount of water and food digestibility on water intake and excretion (urinary and fecal). Ten adult female cats housed in metabolic cages were used. Four treatments were tested: low price dry food, low price dry food with 50% added water, super-premium dry food and canned food. Water intake with food and by drinking, fecal and urinary water excretion and food's digestibility coefficient were determined, in a Latin square experimental design with repetitions over time. The results were submitted to variance analysis; to Tukey's test to compare means and to Pearson's Correlation to test the association between variables (p<0.05). Moist food led to the highest water intake and the largest urine volume with the lowest density. The cats balanced the higher water intake with food by drinking less water. Adding 50% water to the food did not result in a higher total water intake and urine excretion. The lowest consumption of dry matter and highest food digestibility resulted in lower fecal water excretion. Dry foods with high and low digestibility had a urine:feces water excretion rate of 0.7:1 and 1.6:1, respectively. Among the nutrients, fat intake had a positive correlation with the urine volume. Foods with higher digestibility resulted in lower fecal water loss. Canned food (high water:dry matter ratio) led to the highest total water intake and urinary volume excretion, and lower urinary density.

Estudos sobre a morfologia e estereologia hepática são relevantes em pesquisa de anatomia e patologia comparada. Estes também facilitam o uso de primatas não-humanos como modelos experimentais em pesquisa básica, fato que tem auxiliado os estudos em medicina humana. Estudos quantitativos de estruturas hepáticas também têm sido mais prevalentes em Primatas do Velho Mundo e outros vertebrados. Foram estudados vinte e três fígados de micos-leões adultos, sendo : 06 Leontopithecus rosalia, 07 Leontopithecus chrysomelas e 10 Leontopithecus chrysopygus, os quais foram dissecados e fixados com formol tamponado a 10%. Para a quantificação estereológica, o fígado foi considerado como consistindo de parênquima (hepatócitos) e estroma (não-hepatócitos). O parâmetro estereológico densidade de volume (Vv) foi determinado por contagem de pontos, utilizando-se do sistema teste M42. As diferenças estereológicas hepáticas entre as três espécies de micos-leões não foram estatisticamente significativas. Portanto, um valor único de V V [hepatócito] e Vv [estroma] podem ser determinados como 96, 2% e 7,4%, respectivamente. Significantemente diferente, os valores encontrados para o V V [hepatócito] em micos-leões foram 0,09 vez maior do que em babuínos, e 0,17 em humanos. Contudo, o Vv [estroma] foi 1,04 vez menor do que o de babuínos e 1,79 vez menor do que o de humanos. As diferenças encontradas entre as proporções estudadas, mesmo que não comprovadas estatisticamente, mostram a necessidade de estudos futuros para correlacionar os aspectos morfo-fisiológicos destes micos. | Studies on liver morphology and stereology are relevant to the comparative anatomical and pathological research. They also facilitate the use of nonhuman primates in basic research, which has substantially supported studies in human medicine. Quantitative studies of liver structures have also been more extensive in Old World primates and other vertebrates. Twenty-three livers of adult lion tamarins were studied (06 Leontopithecus rosalia, 07 Leontopithecus chrysomelas, and 10 Leontopithecus chrysopygus), dissected, and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution. For stereological quantification, the liver was regarded as consisting of parenchyma (hepatocytes) and stroma (nonhepatocytes). The stereologic parameter volume density (Vv) was determined by point counting, using M42 test-system. Hepatic stereological differences among the three species of lion tamarins were not statistically significant. Therefore, the pooled V V [hepatocyte] and Vv [stroma] could be determined as 96.2% and 7.4%, respectively. Significantly different, the values found for V V [hepatocyte] in lion tamarins were 0.09 times greater than those in baboons, and 0.17 in man. However, the Vv [stroma] was 1.04 times smaller than that in baboons and 1.79 times smaller than that in man. The differences found among the rates studied, even if not proven statistically, point out to the need for further studies to correlate the morphological and physiological features of those tamarins.

A Artrite Encefalite Caprina (AEC) é uma enfermidade que causa perdas econômicas consideráveis, incluindo perda na produção de leite e diminuição da vida útil do animal. No diagnóstico desta enfermidade o teste de imunodifusão em gel de ágar (IDGA) é utilizado mundialmente como o teste de triagem. Este trabalho teve como objetivo testar três diferentes concentrações de soro fetal bovino (SFB) na produção do antígeno (Ag) para o diagnóstico da AEC, verificar dentre três métodos o mais eficiente para efetuar a concentração e qual a concentração do antígeno produzido mais apropriada para o teste. Tanto o método do AMICON, como o da concentração do Ag por diálise são indicados, entretanto o sistema AMICON, apesar dos custos de implantação, promoveu menor perda de antígeno, maior rapidez e praticidade. Com relação à quantidade de soro fetal bovino (SFB) colocada após a inoculação viral observou-se que 5% de SFB foi a quantidade que apresentou melhores resultados. A concentração do antígeno mais indicada é de 100 vezes, pois permite a detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus da AEC (LVC) por duas proteínas (gp 135 e p28). A purificação do Ag por precipitação/ultracentrifugação, utilizada para provas imunoenzimáticas (ELISA e Dot-BLOT), não apresentou resultados satisfatórios para o IDGA. | The Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) is a disease who cause considerable economic losses, including loss in the milk production and reduction of the useful life of the animal. In the diagnosis of this disease the agar gel immunodifusion test (AGID) is used worldwide as the selection test. The objective of thid work was to test three different concentrations of bovine fetal serum (BFS) in the production of the antigen (Ag) for the diagnosis of the CAE virus (CAEV), to verify amongst the three methods the most efficient concentration and which the antigen concentration of the antigen produced is appropriate for the test. The method of the AMICON and the concentration of the Ag for dialysis was indicated, however the system AMICON, despite the implantation costs, promoted minor loss of antigen, little time expense in the processing and greater simplicity. With relation to the amount of BFS placed after the viral inoculation it was verified that 5% of BFS the amount that presented better resulted. The antigen concentration 100 times was more indicated, therefore it allowed the diagnosis of the CAEV for two proteins (gp 135 and p28). The concentration of the Ag for precipitation/ultracentrifugation, used for imunoenzimatic tests, did not present resulted satisfactory used in the AGID.