O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar as alterações histopatológicas e detectar por imunoistoquímica, a presença de formas amastigotas de Leishmania no sistema nervoso central de cães com e sem sintomatologia neurológica da doença. Foram utilizados dois grupos de animais; o primeiro foi composto de 18 cães com leishmaniose visceral sem evidência clínica de envolvimento neurológico, e o segundo, composto de 21 cães com leishmaniose visceral e sintomas neurológicos. As mais freqüentes alterações histopatológicas encontradas no sistema nervoso central de cães de ambos os grupos foram degeneração neuronal com neuronofagia, gliose, leptomeningite, congestão vascular, presença de infiltrado linfoplasmocitário perivascular e áreas de microhemorragia. Não foram observadas marcações antigênicas para formas amastigotas de Leishmania em nenhum fragmento do sistema nervoso central de cães de ambos os grupos; entretanto, a maioria deles apresentava marcação em parede de vasos sangüíneos, o que sugere a presença de antígenos parasitários circulantes. | The present study aimed to characterize the histopathological alterations and to detect, by immunohistochemistry, the presence of amastigote forms of Leishmania in CNS tissue of dogs with and without neurological clinical signs of the disease. Two groups of animals were used: the first was composed of 18 dogs with visceral leishmaniasis without clinical evidence of neurological involvement, and the second, composed of 21 dogs with visceral leishmaniasis and neurological symptoms. The most frequent histopathological alterations found in the CNS of dogs of both groups were neuronal degeneration with neuronophagia, gliosis, leptomeningitis, vascular congestion, presence of perivascular lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and areas of focal microhemorrhage. Antigen labeling for whole forms of Leishmania amastigotes was not observed in any fragment of the CNS of the dogs of either groups; however, most of them presented labeling of blood vessels walls, which suggests the presence of circulating parasite antigens.

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus é uma espécie de parasito pulmonar que infecta preferencialmente gatos domésticos. Seu ciclo biológico é indireto, utilizando moluscos como hospedeiros intermediários, e diversos hospedeiros paratênicos que auxiliam na sua dispersão. A infecção pode ser assintomática ou cursar com sinais clínicos pulmonares inespecíficos. O diagnóstico pode ser realizado pela demonstração de larvas nas fezes dos pacientes, lavado bronqueal ou por necrópsia. O tratamento ainda não está definido, entretanto, a droga mais recomendada é a ivermectina. O presente trabalho descreve as lesões anatomopatológicas encontradas nos pulmões de um felino doméstico, submetido à necropsia de rotina no Serviço de Anatomia Patológica da Universidade Federal Fluminense. | Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is a lungworm that affects mainly domestic cats. It has an indirect life cicle, with molluscans as intermediate hosts and a large variety of auxiliary hosts that play an important role on its dispersion on the environment. Infection can be asymptomatic or unspecific pulmonary signs can be detected. Diagnosis can be made by recovering larvae from faeces, bronchoalveolar lavage or necropsy. Treatment still has to be defined, but ivermectin is the most recommended drug. This present work describes histopathologic lesions found in lungs of a domestic cat, observed in a routine necropsy at the Pathology Department of Universidade Federal Fluminense.

Este estudo teve como objetivo acompanhar o processo de desenvolvimento testicular desde a fase indiferenciada até sua completa formação. Embriões e fetos de vacas da raça nelore (Bos taurus indicus) foram obtidos em frigoríficos próximos à cidade de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. As gônadas dos fetos e os embriões foram fixados em bouin e processados para microscópica óptica convencional. A gônada foi observada primeiramente em um embrião de 1,0 cm de comprimento. Em embriões com 2,5 cm a presença da albugínea permite a identificação do sexo. A espessura média da albugínea variou de 29,08 a 558,46 mm. Gradativamente, observou-se aumento da vascularização da albugínea e do parênquima. O mediastino encontrava-se localizado centralmente. Houve uma diminuição no espaço ocupado pelos cordões testiculares de 63,71 para 41,99% do volume total dos testículos. O seu diâmetro variou de 31,68 a 48,80 mm. O diâmetro das células germinativas (e dos seus núcleos) foi de 12,27(6,65) a 16,95 (14,21) mm, respectivamente. A quantidade de células germinativas por corte transversal de cordão diminuiu de um máximo de 2,80 para 0,76. O número total de células germinativas foi de 16 no princípio da colonização da gônada para 18,32 x 10(6) no final do estudo. O número de células de Sertoli por corte transversal de cordão variou de 10,00 a 16,25. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a origem e a formação dos testículos nos embriões e fetos de vacas da raça Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) ocorre de forma muito semelhante ao do que é descrito para Bos taurus taurus. | The aim of this study was to accompany the process of testicular development from the non-differentiable phase to its complete formation. Embryos and fetuses of Nelore breed cows (Bos Taurus indicus) were obtained in slaughterhouses near the Uberlandia city, Minas Gerais. The gonads and the embryos were fixed in Bouin's fixative and afterwards processed for conventional optical microscopy. The gonadal was observed firstly in a 1.0 cm long embryo. In 2.5 cm long embryos the presence of the albuginea allows the sex identification. The mean thickness of the albuginea ranged from 29.08 to 558.45 mm. Gradually increase of vascularization of the albuginea and parenchyma is observed. The mediastinum is located centrally. There was a decrease in the space occupied by the testicular cords, from 63.71 to 41.99% of the total testes volume. Its diameter ranged from 31.68 to 48.80 mm. The diameter of germinal cells (and their nuclei) was from 12.27 (6.65) to 16.95 914.21) mm. The quantity of germinal cells by cross section of cord decreased from a maximum of 2.80 to 0.76. The total number of germinal cells was from 16 at the beginning of colonization of the gonad to 18.32 x 10(6) at the end of the study. The number of Sertoli's cells by cross section of cord ranged from 10.00 to 16.25. The results obtained show that the origin and formation of testes in embryos and fetuses from Nelore breed cows (Bos taurus indicus) does occur in a very similar way to what is described for Bos taurus taurus.

O estudo referente à formação do sistema venoso portal (VP) em chinchila (Chinchilla lanigera) foi obtido através da análise de 10 animais dos quais o sistema porta extra-hepático sofreu injeção de látex corado, seguidos de dissecação em estereolupa. Logo após foram confeccionados esquemas a partir dos resultados observados, onde se averiguou que a VP é originada sempre através da confluência de duas raízes. A primeira destas raízes é o tronco mesentérico comum (TM), formado a partir da união das veias mesentérica cranial e mesentérica caudal. O TM recebe ainda como tributárias as veias pancreaticoduodenal cranial e gastroepiplóica direita. A segunda raiz, que apresenta menor calibre, é a veia lienal. Esta descrição foi observada em 100% dos espécimes mantendo-se constante, sugestionando que os resultados obtidos possam ser considerados como modelo padrão. | The study regarding the formation of the system portal vein (VP) in chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) was obtained through the analysis of 10 specimens in which the extra-hepatic portal system suffered injection of red-faced latex, following by dissection in estereolupa. Thereafter outlines were made starting from the observed results, where it was discovered that VP is always originated from the confluence of two roots. The first of these roots is the truncus mesentericus communis (TM), formed from the union of the vena mesentericas cranialis and mesenterica caudalis. TM still receives as tax the vena pancreaticoduodenalis cranialis and gastroepiploica sinistra. The second root, with smaller caliber, is the vena lienalis. This description was observed in 100% of the specimens staying constant, suggesting that the obtained results can be considered as standard model.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are responsible for the transmission of a large number of pathogens to livestock and wild animals. In this study the presence of the genus, using light traps based at four different sites within the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, was investigated during 2002-2004. In total, 37 species were recorded, including large numbers of Culicoides imicola Kieffer, 1913, which is responsible for the transmission of economically important arboviruses in South Africa, Europe, Middle and Far East. These results are discussed with reference to the wider Culicoides fauna in the Onderstepoort area of South Africa, their vector competence as well as biosecurity at the National Zoological Gardens.

The occurrence of cross-resistance among melarsoprol-resistant Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense isolates was investigated in this study. The isolates, T. b. rhodesiense KETRI 237, 2538, 1992, 2709, 2694 and 3530, had been obtained from sleeping sickness patients in Kenya and Uganda between 1960 and 1985. Five groups consisting of six mice each were inoculated intraperitoneally with 105 parasites of each isolate, and 24 h later treated with either melarsoprol, homidium chloride, diminazene aceturate or isometamidium chloride. The control group comprised infected but untreated mice. The mice were monitored for cure for a period of 60 days post-treatment. The mean prepatent period in the control mice was 5 days while the mean survival period was 22 days. Five of the stabilates, KETRI 237, 2538, 2709, 2694, and 3530, were confirmed to be melarsoprol resistant. Cross-resistance was observed, with the majority of the isolates being resistant to homidium chloride (5/6) and diminazene aceturate (5/6), but all were sensitive to isometamidium chloride (6/6). However T. b. rhodesiense KETRI 1992, which was previously considered as melarsoprol resistant, was sensitive to all the drugs tested. In conclusion, our study has revealed the existence of cross-resistance among the melarsoprol resistant isolates which could only be cured by isometamidium.

The length of the antibiotic withdrawal period after intramammary treatment was influenced by the milk yield of dairy goats during this trial. Shorter withdrawal periods were seen in relatively high yielding dairy goats (production above 1.5 ℓ per day) compared to low producers (less than 1.3 ℓ per day). High yielding goats treated with Curaclox LC (Norbrook [Pharmacia AH]) had a withdrawal period of 42 h, while low yielding goats, treated with the same product, had a withdrawal period of 74 h. The recommended withdrawal period for Curaclox LC for use in cattle is 72 h. Relatively high yielding goats treated with Rilexine 200 LC (Logos Agvet [Virbac]) had a significantly shorter withdrawal period (37 h) than that recommended for use in cattle (96 h). Low yielding goats treated with Spectrazol Milking Cow (Schering-Plough Animal Health) had a significantly longer (95 h) withdrawal period than that recommended for use in cattle (60 h). Withdrawal periods were also influenced by stage of lactation and parity. There was a moderate positive correlation between lactation number and withdrawal period, as measured by TRIS (R2 = 0.621), and a moderate negative correlation between stage of lactation and withdrawal period (R2 = -0.669). In Trials 1, 2 and 3 combined there was a moderate negative correlation between withdrawal period and volume (R2 = -0.511) and a strong positive correlation between withdrawal period and lactation number (R2 = 0.720). The differences in percentage milk fat, protein and lactose before, during and after treatment were not statistically significant except in Trial 3 (Curaclox LC and Rilexine 200 LC) where protein and lactose differed significantly. In Trial 2 (Spectrazol Milking Cow) milk fat percentages differed significantly between treatment and control groups as did protein percentages in Trial 3. These differences are however, not biologically meaningful.

Between July 2005 and November 2006 the gastro-intestinal helminths of 15 Helmeted guineafowls and a single Crested guineafowl from Musina, Limpopo Province were examined, and in July and August 2005 helminths were collected from five Helmeted guineafowls from Mokopane in the same province. The acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus gallinarum, the cestodes Abuladzugnia gutterae, Davainea nana, Hymenolepis cantaniana, Numidella numida, Octopetalum numida, Ortleppolepis multiuncinata, Porogynia paronai, Raillietina angusta, Raillietina pintneri, Raillietina steinhardti and Raillietina sp. and the nematodes Ascaridia numidae, Cyrnea parroti, Gongylonema congolense, Hadjelia truncata, Sicarius caudatus, Subulura dentigera, Subulura suctoria, Subulura sp., Tetrameres numida and an unidentified subulurid were recovered. A single trematode species, Dicrocoelium macrostomum, was present in the liver. Mediorhynchus gallinarum, A. gutterae, O. multiuncinata, H. truncata and S. caudatus are recorded for the first time from Helmeted guineafowls, as well as from South Africa. South Africa is a new geographic record for D. macrostomum, G. congolense and D. nana. Subulura suctoria, G. congolense and H. truncata from the Crested guineafowl constitute new host-parasite associations.

The toxic effects of an aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius were studied in 20 male white rats over a period of 18 days. The rats were divided into four groups of five rats per group. Those in Group A served as controls while the rats in Groups B, C and D were dosed per os with 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1 600 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Blood samples were collected for haematological and biochemical analysis and specimens of the liver, kidney and testes were taken for histopathological studies. The study showed that the extract of A. precatorius caused decreased levels of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The extract also resulted in increased levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histologically, testicular degeneration characterized by decreased numbers of lining cells of the epithelium as well as reduction in sperm cells with presence of scattered Sertoli cells were noted. The study thus showed that aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius is toxic and caution should be exercised in its use for medicinal purpose.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides var. mycoides small colony (MmmSC), is one of the most important diseases of cattle in Africa. The role of innate or acquired cell mediated and humoral immunity in conferring protection against MmmSC infection has not yet been elucidated. On the other hand, the pathological lesions caused by the aetiological agent have been considered indicative of an immunopathological process. In this study ten nave cattle were exposed to in-contact infection with animals infected by intubation with a strain of MmmSC. Clinical signs, antibody response, IFNg release and pathological changes at necropsy were analysed and compared with the events following in-contact infection of an equal number of animals kept under daily treatment with cyclosporine for the entire observation period of 84 days. Cyclosporine is a suppressor of the immune response related to the T-cell system. Under the conditions of the experiment, cyclosporine appeared to condition the pathogenesis of CBPP by delaying the events that follow infection, bringing further support to the possibility that the immune response may have an impact on the disease outcome.