This study was carried out to investigate the effects of vitamin E on the prevention and treatment of Babesia gibsoni. fifteen mongrel dogs, uninfected with Babesia spp, were assigned to three groups according to vitamin E(alpha-tocopherol) concentrations in the RBC. The concentrations in each of the three groups were, respectively : alpha-tocopherol in RBC less than 30 micro gram/micro liter(Group I), 30 micro gram/micro liter-60 micro gram/micro liter(Group II), more than 60 micro gram/micro liter(Group III). Artificial infection was accomplished by injecting 2*10 7-2*10 8 erythrocyte of Babesia gibsoni-infected dog into the cephalic vein. We investigated the clinical sighs, vitamin E concentrations in RBC and serum, Vitamin A concentrations in serum, hematological values, white blood cell(WBC) viability and RBC membrane osmotic fragility after infection of Bavesia gibsoni for a period of 20 days at 5 day intervals. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. After infection by Babesia gibsoni, clinical examination revealed depression, anorexia, pale mucous membranes, dark brown urine and diarrhea in proportion as time went on. After 10 days of infection, one dog each of Groups I, II and III revealed depression and anorexia. Two dogs in Group I and one dog each of Groups II and III showed dark brown urine after 15 days. Diarrhea was observed in one dog in each of the 3 groups after 20 days of infection. 2. After 5 days of infection, two dogs in each of Groups I, II and III showed Babesia gibsoni in RBC of blood smear stained with Giemsa. At the 15th day after infection with Babesia gibsoni, they were observed in all experimental animals. After both 5 days and 10 days of infection, the rate of Babesia gibsoni parasitized RBC(permillage, %) was 1%, and increased as time went on. 3. After 5 days of infection by Babesia gibsoni, Group I, which had the lowest vitamin E concentration, showed significantly decreased RBC and PCV levels(p0.01). Group II and group III also showed significantly decreased RBC and PCV levels after 15 days of infection(p0.05). particularly after 10 days of infection, Group I showed lower values in RBC and PCV levels compared to Groups II and III. WBC, RBC, fibrinogen and total protein levels between the groups did not differ during experimental periods. 4. According to the WBC differential counts, the ratios of neutrophil to lymphocyte showed a tendency to be slightly higher in Group III(more than 60 micro gram/micro liter) than in Groups I and II. 5. WBC viability did not differ between the groups. 6. RBC membrane osmotic fragility did not differ between the groups.

Foram realizadas avaliações clínicas, colpo-citológicas e endocrinológicas de duas fêmeas de cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous) pertencentes à Fundação RIOZOO, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, durante um período de 10 meses. As fêmeas, consideradas clinicamente saudáveis, foram alojadas em recintos diferentes, cada uma com dois machos. Os recintos, de substrato arenoso distavam cerca de 500 m um do outro. A técnica colpo-citológica utilizada nas fêmeas de cachorro-do-mato segue os mesmos métodos para cachorros domésticos. É interessante ressaltar que não foi observado nenhum eritrócito nos esfregaços vaginais analisados, em qualquer fase do ciclo estral, em ambas as fêmeas. A diferenciação dos tipos celulares vaginais durante as diferentes fases do ciclo estral segue os mesmos padrões demonstrados por cadelas domésticas. Os níveis de estradiol e progesterona seguiram os mesmos padrões que ocorre nas fêmeas de cachorros domésticos. A progesterona atingiu níveis máximos (46 ng/ml) por volta do décimo dia de gestação. A variação do estradiol demonstrou que, ainda que as fêmeas possam apresentar picos deste hormônio, durante o ano, tão altos como durante a época reprodutiva, a reprodução ocorre, realmente, no final do inverno e primavera. É impossível inferir, neste trabalho, se a presença do macho próximo à fêmea durante o ano todo poderia induzir a produção de estradiol, redundando no que seria considerado um artifício de cativeiro. | Serial clinical, colpo-cytological and endocrinological examinations of two five-year-old females of the crab-eating dog (Cerdocyon thous), from the RIOZOO Foundation in the State of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, were carried out over a 10-month period. Clinically healthy animals were kept in sand substratum enclosures, located 500m apart from each other. They were each housed with two males. The colpo-cytological technique employed for Cerdocyon thous used methods similar to those developed for domestic bitches. Unlike domestic dogs, blood cells were absent in all phases of the estrus cycle, including the pro-estrus phase. Differentiation of each type of vaginal cells during the estrus cycle phases in this species follows the same patterns shown by domestic bitches. The estradiol and progesterone levels were similar to those occurring in domestic bitches. The progesterone levels reach their maximum (46 ng/ml) around the 10th day of pregnancy. The estradiol analysis demonstrated that, although levels of this hormone could be high at various times throughout the year, mating actually occurs in late winter and in spring. It was impossible to evaluate whether males and females kept in close proximity throughout the entire year would stimulate the production of estradiol, resulting in what would be considered a captivity artifice.