The introduction of new strains of mice in specific pathogen-free (SPF) animal facilities should be performed carefully to avoid breaking sanitary barriers. To meet this need, animals should be rederived to reduce infection risk and thus avoid research interference caused by loss of animal health status and welfare. The objective of this study was to implement mice embryo transfer in the laboratory mouse facility of the Department of Immunology at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences/University of São Paulo, Brazil. Embryo transfers were performed to rederive genetically modified mouse strains with undefined sanitary status, received from different research and educational institutions. Fertilized eggs at two-cell stage were obtained by natural means and transferred into the oviducts of SPF pseudo-pregnant female mice. All surgical procedures were performed under aseptic conditions. A total of 625 embryos were transferred into the recipients. 148 pups were born, of which 140 were reared. Viruses, bacteria and intestinal protozoa were eliminated using this technique. The improvement in the microbiological status of mice allowed their expansion in our SPF facility. With these results, we can stimulate the use of embryo transfer technique between rodent facilities in Brazil and thus encourage the distribution of better models to our scientific community.

This study analyzed the ectoparasitic fauna of freshwater ornamental fish marketed by a wholesaler in the São Paulo city. This study was undertaken from January to December 2016. A total of 268 freshwater ornamental fishes of various species that showed signs of disease after arrival at the establishment were evaluated. From the individuals, ectoparasites were collected by scraping off the skin and gills and visualized using an optical microscope at increasing magnification of 40x, 100x, 200x, and 400x. Parasites were found in 220 animals (82%); 11 different parasites were recorded, which included Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Monogenes, Metacercariae (Centrocestrus formousus), Epistylis spp., Chilodonella spp., Lernaea spp., Tetrahymena spp., Piscinoodinium spp., Trichodina spp., Ichthyobodo spp. and Argulus spp. The occurrence of the parasites in the establishment studied can indicates that the suppliers’ lack of good sanitary and hygiene practices in the management of their facilities, consequently distributing infested animals and putting the whole supply chain at risk.

Aspergillus species are widely distributed throughout the world and can develop parasitic and saprophytic ways of life, allowing Aspergillus to infect living hosts, including plants, insects, birds and mammals. The most common form of aspergillosis in poultry and other birds is respiratory infection. Clinical manifestations depend on the infective dose, pre-existing diseases, and the immune response of the host. The aim of the present research was to study aspergillosis in domestic and wild birds from Argentina. We carried out morphological and molecular identification, and determination of antifungal susceptibility against seven antifungal drugs. Six birds from different cities of Buenos Aires Province of Argentina were studied. Three of the samples belonged to broiler chicks, while the other three belonged to an eagle, a pheasant, and a kelp gull. Two isolates were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus by morphological characteristics and growth at 50 °C. Morphology and BenA sequencing enabled us to identify three isolates as Aspergillus flavus, and one as Aspergillus sydowii. All antifungal drugs tested showed low MIC values, ranging from 0.008 to 1 mg/L. Aspergillosis in birds causes high economic losses and could be controlled by sanitation, avoidance of moldy food, nest and litter and reducing stress factors.

This report describes a 14-year-old Pit Bull dog presenting with a soft tissue swelling of 3-month progression in the right sublingual region. Histopathological analysis of the surgically resected specimen revealed large numbers of mature adipocytes and islets consisting of mucin-containing atrophic acini and dilated ducts surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule. Findings were consistent with sialolipoma of the sublingual salivary gland. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of sialolipoma affecting the sublingual salivary gland in dogs.

The increasing number of obese dogs in veterinary practice has been a warning to veterinarians about the need to develop new tools to approach the obese patient, aiming to attain satisfactory results in weight loss programs. A total of 18 obese or overweight dogs with no evidence of endocrine disorders were selected for this study. These animals were randomly divided into two groups with 9 animals each. In one of the groups, strategic tools were used by their tutors, aimed at behavioral and environmental modification, and this group was assisted daily through communication using a digital instant messaging app (WhatsApp(R)). In the other group, these tools were not used, and the animals were followed only during the monthly consultation. The analyzed variable was the percentage of weight loss of each animal in one month of the method used. The animals of the daily assisted group had a mean weight loss of 5.17%, while the animals of the non-assisted group had a mean weight loss of 3.31%. Considering the results, one can state that the animals in the assisted group lost approximately 1.6 times more weight than the unassisted animals, when comparing the mean and the median weight loss percentage in the two groups. Although the results are encouraging, there was no statistical difference with a significance level of 0.05, and this is probably due to the small sample size, consisting of 18 animals.

This study investigated the existence of difference of fat deposition and lipid metabolism in horses with different races and skills that were used for the same kind of sport. 20 Purebred Arabian and 20 Thoroughbred horses trained for flat race were evaluated. The analyses performed were body condition score, weight and blood collected for determination of triglycerides, total cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acids. Ultrasonography of the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer was performed on the Longissimus dorsi muscle between the 17th and 18th rib, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer on the Gluteus medius muscle using the acetabulum as reference, and the cross section of the same muscle. Race-trained Arabian horses showed greater fat layer deposition in the Gluteus medius and Longissimus dorsei muscles than Thoroughbred horses. These facts indicate that there is a metabolic difference, besides the phenotype, between the races. They also indicate the need to study specific physical conditioning programs for each kind of race.

Essential oil (EO) from Brazilian red pepper fruit contains compounds with antimicrobial activity, and could be possible substitutes for the antibiotics commonly used in ruminant nutrition. Te objectives of the present study were to evaluate the efects of the Brazilian red pepper fruit EO (Schinus terebinthifolius) as a substitute for monensin on performance, carcass characteristics and meat of lambs fed high concentrate diets. Forty-eight lambs were used, 24 males (20 ½ Dorper × ½ Santa Inês and 4 Santa Inês) and 24 females (24 ½ Dorper × ½ Santa Inês), with 21.54 ± 0.88 kg of initial body weight (BW) and 78 ± 2.4 days of age, in a randomized complete block design. Te experiment lasted 56 days, divided into 2 periods of 28 days each. Te treatments were defned by the inclusion in diets of 8 ppm of monensin (MON), and the doses 0.14% (14EO), 0.28% (28EO) and 0.42% (42EO) of red pepper fruit EO. Te additives were included in a base diet with a 10:90 of forage to concentrate ratio. At the end of 56 days, 32 animals were slaughtered for the measurement of carcass parameters and meat composition. Tere was no interaction among treatments and periods for average daily gain (P = 0.08), DM intake (P = 0.36), feed efciency (P = 0.24) and oocyst of Eimeria ssp. in feces (P = 0.46). Te treatments did not afect (P > 0.05) the average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI) and feed efciency. Lambs fed diets containing monensin had less (P < 0.01) oocyst/g compared with the diet 14EO. Tere was no efect of diets on carcass characteristics. Te treatments with higher doses of the Brazilian red pepper fruit EO had reduced mineral content of meat compared to monensin. Te red pepper fruit EO demonstrated the potential to replace monensin in feedlot lambs fed high concentrate diets, maintaining performance and carcass characteristics. However, the monensin has greater capacity to control coccidiosis in feedlot lambs.

Chronic equine proliferative pododermatitis (canker) is a chronic hypertrophic disease of the hoof, denoted by an excessive proliferation of the horn-producing tissues, which results from a dyskeratosis of the keratinocytes. It occurs mainly at the frog and sulci regions, but can sometimes also affect the heels, sole, bulbs or hoof wall. The etiology still remains unclear. Infectious agents such as anaerobic bacteria, viruses, spirochetes and fungi have been isolated from diseased tissues, but, moreover, an immune cause has been suggested, possibly related to a genetic predisposition. This report shows a case of a Brazilian Sport Horse, 10 years old, that had been affected on the right hindlimb for more than two years without a concise diagnosis. Success was achieved with the treatment consisting of oral prednisolone and topical Purple Mush®.

In poultry, feeding diets including high concentrations of non-starch polysaccharides limits growth rate and feed conversion ratio, and causes problems in health and welfare because of the production of wet droppings. This problem is becoming more important as pressure builds to reduce costs by using alternative sources of dietary protein, such as lupin grain, rather than fish- or soybean-meal. We therefore tested whether enzymes that break down non-starch polysaccharides can overcome the problems with a lupin-based diet fed to Japanese quail. Chicks (18 days old) were allocated among 8 treatments, each replicated 3 times, with 12 chicks per replicate (ie, 36 birds per treatment). Chicks were fed diets formulated to contain 24% crude protein and 12 MJ/kg apparent metabolisable energy (AME). The diets included 10% or 20% lupin meal and, for each level of lupin, they were formulated in one of four ways: 1) no enzyme; 2) pectinase (1.4 U/g polygalacturonase and 0.2 U/g pectinesterase); 3) xylanase (1,4 endo-xylanase; 0.38 U/g); 4) combination of the above pectinase and xylanase treatments. The results indicated that, from age 28 days of age, both lupin content and enzyme treatment significantly (P 0.05) affected chick performance. Compared with the no-enzyme control, enzyme treatments improved growth at 35 days by 45-50% (P 0.05) and feed conversion ratio by 20-30% (P 0.05) for both levels of lupin content. In addition, dry matter digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy were significantly improved by the combined enzyme treatment for both levels of lupin inclusion. We conclude that pectinase and xylanase can overcome the negative effects of the non-starch polysaccharides in lupin meal, improving the growth of quail chicks fed lupin-based diets, and that the enzymes work best when combined.

Rabies cases are widespread worldwide and mostly prevalence in develeloping countries. Several Province in Indonesia are still categorized as endemic rabies, including the Province of North Sumatera. This research was aimed to evaluate the role of external factors that could influence in reduction the rabies suspected cases in the population of the City of Medan. The survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. A Case-Control Design was used in this study. The two groups were rabies suspected case and rabies unsuspected case (control), consisted both male and female respondents. All the population involved in this study were living in the City of Medan. Primary and secondary data were collected using purposive sampling approach. Data were analysed by univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis. The result was obtained the ratio of 1:2 between rabies suspected case (64 cases) and rabies unsuspected case (128 cases) in the City of Medan. The bivariate analysis showed the significant influence of the role of livestock department officer, role of health worker, role of community leader and vaccination tools on the rabies suspected case (P0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the dominant variable which affect the rabis suspected case was rabies vaccine tools.