Being able to study anatomical structures of wildlife species for science and clinical practice is of great importance. We aimed to describe the normal gross osteology of the common adult capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766), using macerated bone specimens and high-resolution digital radiography. The complete axial and appendicular skeleton was further compared with previously reported anatomical findings. For this purpose, we used three adult capybara cadavers (two females and one male), with a mean bodyweight of ±50 kg. Some H. hydrochaeris-specific morphological characteristics, especially in the skull region, show evidence of adaptation to aquatic life, such as an elongated head shape, with eyes, ears, and nose, located dorsally, to stay above water. Additionally, the entire bone structure demonstrates the size and weight support of the largest rodent and its adaptation with respect to foraging and locomotion behaviors. As a semi-aquatic herbivore, classified as cursorial (having limbs adapted for running), the authors believe it should be reclassified as cursorial-swimming/diving. Moreover, we argue to consider a differentiation between H. hydrochaeris silvestris to H. hydrochaeris synanthrope, due to substantial weight variation, in some cases > 100%. This inevitably has an impact on the development of bone structure, thus influencing habitual adaptation, and consequently, its clinical implications and animal handling. Radiography exams helped in the identification of bone structures, which otherwise were not observed in anatomical specimens, such as ossa sesamoidea, including the ossicle lunulae. Likewise, the radiographs were particularly helpful in overall better comprehension of the intubation and catheterization procedures. We believe this work can contribute as a reference to anatomical studies for students and professionals acting in clinic, surgery, and research.

Fourteen adult beavers (Castor canadensis) weighing 16.5 +/- 4.14 kg (mean +/- SD) were anesthetized for surgical implantation of radio telemetry devices. Beavers were anesthetized with diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) and ketamine (25 mg/kg) administered IM, which provided smooth anesthetic induction and facilitated tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with halothane in oxygen via a semiclosed circle anesthetic circuit. Values for heart rate, respiratory rate, esophageal temperature, direct arterial blood pressure, end-tidal halothane concentration, and end-tidal CO2 tension were recorded every 15 minutes during the surgical procedure. Arterial blood samples were collected every 30 minutes to determine pH, PaO2, and PaCO2. Values for plasma bicarbonate, total CO2, and base excess were calculated. Ventilation was spontaneous in 7 beavers and controlled to maintain normocapnia (PaCO2 approx 40 mm of Hg) in 7 others. Vaporizer settings were adjusted to maintain a light surgical plane of anesthesia. Throughout the surgical procedure, all beavers had mean arterial pressure < 60 mm of Hg and esophageal temperature < 35 C. Mean values for arterial pH, end-tidal CO2, PaO2, and PaCO2 were significantly (P < 0.05) different in spontaneously ventilating beavers, compared with those in which ventilation was controlled. Respiratory acidosis during halothane anesthesia was observed in spontaneously ventilating beavers, but not in beavers maintained with controlled ventilation. All beavers recovered unremarkably from anesthesia.

A captive female capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) of unknown age discharged a bloody mass from the vaginal region. A histopathology examination revealed the mass to be a reproductive leiomyosarcoma, and an ovariohysterectomy was performed. The histopathology examination confirmed that the excised tissue was a uterine leiomyosarcoma. The purpose of this report is to describe clinical history and histopathological diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma in capybaras. This report is novel because it describes the first diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma in a capybara. Since clinical data about capybaras are rare, this case report will help to diagnosis and treat reproductive diseases of this species.

In order to evaluate the present epidemiological situation of Trichinella infection in wild animals in Hokkaido, Japan, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), brown bears (Ursus arctos), martens (Martes melampus), rodents and insectivores captured in Hokkaido were examined for muscle larvae by the artificial digestion method from 2000 to 2006. Foxes (44/319, 13.8%), raccoon dogs(6/77, 7.8%) and brown bears (4/126, 3.2%) were found to be infected with Trichinella larvae and all other animal species evaluated were negative. Multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing revealed that larvae from a fox captured in Otofuke, in south-eastern Hokkaido, were T. nativa, and larvae from 27 animals including 21 foxes, 2 raccoon dogs and 4 brown bears captured in western Hokkaido were Trichinella T9.

A total of 204 rodents comprising of 14 species were identified from four different habitats namely urban, forest, paddy field and coastal. The Gombak forest reserve habitat was found to be ideal&#xD;for the survival of 11 different rodent species. Maxomys rajah, Leopoldamys sabanus and Sundamys muelleri were the predominant rodent species distributed in the Gombak forest. Rattus ratus diardii was found mainly in the urban, paddy field and coastal habitat (67.1%). Morphological measurements of the rodents trapped from the four habitats did not show any major changes.

Hantaviruses are causative agents of some severe human illnesses, including hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The viruses are maintained by rodent hosts, and humans acquire infection by inhaling virus-contaminated excreta from infected animals. To examine the epidemiology of hantavirus infections in Japan and Far East Russia, we conducted epidemiological surveys in these regions. In Japan, anti-hantavirus antibodies were found in four rodent species, Clethrionomys rufocanus, Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, and Apodemus speciosus. Although no new HFRS cases have been officially reported over the past 20 years in Japan, one member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force did test positive for hantavirus antibody. Repeated surveys in Far East Russia have revealed that two distinct hantavirus types cause severe HFRS in this region. Hantavirus sequences identified from A. peninsulae, fetal HFRS cases in Vladivostok, and Amur virus are highly similar to each other (92% identity) , but they are less similar (-84% identity) to the prototypical Hantaan virus, which is carried by A. agrarius. Phylogenetic analysis also indicates that Amur and A. peninsulae -associated viruses are distinct from Hantaan virus, suggesting that A. peninsulae is the reservoir animal for Amur virus, which causes severe HFRS. From HFRS patients in the Khabarovsk region, we identified viruses with nucleotide sequences that are more similar to Far East virus (96%identity) than to the Hantaan (88-89%identity) or Amur (81-83% identity) viruses. Phylogenetic analysis also indicates that the viruses from Khabarovsk HFRS patients are closely related to the Far East virus, and distinct from Amur virus.

The present study was design to investigate the hepatic arteries branches and your intraparenchymal distribution in agoutis. Were studied ten agouti's livers, female and male from our colony (Núcleo de Estudos de Preservação de Animais Silvestres do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Piauí - FUFPI/IBAMA 02/99). After injection with colored latex Neoprene 650 (DuPont do Brasil, Chemistry Industries), through the hepatic artery, eight livers were dissected through the visceral faces. The samples were fixed in 10% aqueous formaldehyde solution and after a minimum period of 48 hours. Two organs were injected with colored vinil acetate, following procedures of acid chloride corrosion in order to obtained vascular casts. The study shows that the agouti's hepatic arteries bifurcate into two principals branches, right and left (100%). In general, the right branches usually (80%) gave origin vessels that are responsible for the right medial, right lateral and caudate lobes's vascularization. The left branches normally (80%) give origin vessels that are responsible for the left medial, left lateral, quadrate lobes's vascularization, also to the caudate lobos (50%) and right lateral (20%). In this way, the vascular distribution of the hepatic artery is related to the organ's lobos; where the right and left branches have intraparenchymal distribution into the liver's lobos. This study gave support to the anatomic-surgery artery segmentation. | Com o objetivo de analisar a ramificação da artéria hepática e sua distribuição intraparenquimal em cutias, foram utilizados dez fígados de cutias adultas, fêmeas e machas, cedidas pelo Núcleo de Estudos e Preservação de Animais Silvestres do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Piauí (Convênio FUFPI/IBAMA número 02/99). Oito fígados foram dissecados pela face visceral após injeção com látex do tipo Neoprene 650 (DuPont do Brasil Industrias Químicas) corado em vermelho, através da artéria hepática, e fixados em solução aquosa de formol a 10%, durante pelo menos 48 horas. Dois órgãos foram utilizados para a confecção dos moldes vasculares, através de injeção de solução de acetato de vinil corado em vermelho e corrosão em solução aquosa de ácido clorídrico a 30% até total destruição do parênquima. O estudo das peças mostrou que a artéria hepática na cutia divide-se em dois ramos principais, direito e esquerdo (100%). De forma geral, o ramo direito predominantemente (80%) origina vasos responsáveis pela vascularização dos lobos medial direito, lateral direito e caudado. O ramo esquerdo apresenta-se com maior freqüência (80%) constituindo um tronco comum aos vasos que se destinam aos lobos lateral esquerdo, medial esquerdo, quadrado, em 50%, também ao lobo caudado e em 20% ao lobo lateral direito. Sendo assim, conclui-se que a distribuição vascular da artéria hepática está relacionada à lobação do órgão, onde os ramos direito e esquerdo se distribuem no parênquima dos lobos do fígado, podendo-se inferir a presença de territórios com vascularização própria nos lobos hepáticos, caracterizando, portanto, a segmentação anátomo-cirúrgica arterial.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there were analyzed data on studying the species specificity of anatomic and topographic characteristics of the most important component of neuroimmunoendocrine system providing body homeostasis - thymus gland of 5-6 year-old European beavers (Myocastor coypus). As a result of studies taking into consideration the sexual dimorphism there was formed a database of morphometric indexes characterizing the degree of development of left and right lobes of thymus gland of European beavers, as well as to reveal their species-specific anatomic and topographic characteristics correlating with processes typical for age-specific and accidental involution.

Determination of regular variations of macromorphological and topographical characteristics of thymus gland, spleen, thyroid gland, and atrabiliary capsules of swamp beavers (Myocastor coypus) at the postnatal ontogenesis was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. Taking into consideration active participation of immune and endocrine system organs in metabolic processes and vicarious and adaptive reactions there were revealed species and age-specific anatomical peculiar features of thymus gland, spleen, thyroid gland, and atrabiliary capsules of swamp beavers that made it possible to broader knowledge in the sphere of species, age-specific, breed and topographic anatomy