A male adult crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) was diagnosed with systemic yeast infection. Histologically, there were extensive areas of necrosis in the lung, which were associated with a diffuse severe lympho-plasmo-histiocytic inflammatory infiltrate, with numerous multinucleated giant cells, and myriads of intralesional pseudo-hyphae and yeast like organisms within distended foveolae. Necrotic foci were also observed in the mucosa of the digestive tract, trachea, tunica intima of arteries, liver, and heart, with a marked inflammatory lympho-histiocytic infiltrate, with large numbers of epithelioid macrophages and giant cells, and intralesional and intravascular pseudo-hyphae and yeast-like organisms. Oval yeast structures with 4 to 6 μm in diameter and 5 to 8 μm thick paralleled-wall pseudo-hyphae were observed in PAS or GMS stained sections. PCR with DNA template extracted from paraffin embedded tissues amplified the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene, which was sequenced and found to be identical to sequences of a new species, isolated from rotting wood in Brazil, of the genus Spencermartinsiella, which its closest relative is Spencermartinsiella cellulosicola.

O potencial zoonótico de bactérias multirresistentes é uma preocupação global e os animais de companhia têm sido implicados na disseminação de bactérias resistentes; assim, é importante a vigilância, pois já existem relatos de transmissão destas bactérias do cão para o homem e vice-versa. Um cão, sem raça definida e de cinco anos de idade, foi atendido na cidade de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil, apresentando urolitíase obstrutiva de estruvita recorrente há um ano e meio. Na urocultura do animal foi isolada uma estirpe de Staphylococcus spp. multirresistente; o tratamento com vancomicina possibilitou acura clínica. A estirpe de Staphylococcus spp. isolada foi identificada molecularmente como S. pseudintermedius e nela foi identificada a presença do gene mecA, o principal responsável por S. pseuidintermedius resistente à meticilina (MRSP), e que é frequentemente resistente à múltiplos antimicrobianos. As hipóteses para este caso clínico são a transmissão do homem para o animal, pois o tutor era um médico intensivista, ou que a própria bactéria fazia parte da microbiota do animal e, devido a outros fatores como estresse e doença urinária obstrutiva, abriu-se uma porta de entrada para a infecção pelo S. pseudintermedius. Mais estudos são necessários para a elucidação da transmissão de bactérias multirresistentes entre animais de companhia e o ser humano.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on in vitro maturation of canine oocytes at different times of the process. Ovaries were collected from 55 bitches considered healthy and aseptically isolated, immersed in physiological solution (0.9% NaCl) and transported under refrigeration. Grade 1 cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were selected and divided into two groups: control group (CG) and treatment group (TG). In CG 698 grade I COCs were placed in 4-well plates containing TCM-199 medium supplemented with 25 mM HEPES, 100 IU/mL penicillin, 100 mg/mL streptomycin, 26 mM sodium bicarbonate, 1.5 mM sodium pyruvate, 2.9 mM sodium lactate pentahydrate, 0.6 mM cysteine, 0.03 IU/mL hCG, 0.5 μg/mL FSH, 20 μg/mL estrogen at 38.5ºC in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in times of 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. In TG 547 COCs received the same maturation medium plus 10 ηg/mL EGF. Logistic regression models (SAS, 2011) were constructed in order to estimate the chances of oocytes being observed at nuclear maturation stages in different culture times (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). Based on the results found EGF-supplemented medium showed 2.56 times more chances of having an oocyte at metaphase I (M-I) than medium without EGF (p < 0.0001). The results of this study demonstrated that the time of 72 h showed 5.88 times more chances of having an oocyte at metaphase II (M-II) compared to time of 24 h (p = 0.0001) and 7.69 times more chance than time of 48 h (p = 0.0001). The chances of finding an oocyte at M-II were also 9.09 times higher in medium supplemented with EGF than in medium without EGF (p = 0.0001). Thus, these results demonstrated the essential importance of EGF at different moments of oocyte maturation, being a key component for the acquisition of meiotic competence in bitches, increasing the M-I and M-II rates.

Among the diseases that affect equines, viral diseases play an important role from a health and economic point of view, especially influenza, viral arteritis, herpes infections and vesicular stomatitis. In the Brazilian literature, there is little or no account of the occurrence of infectious diseases in donkeys. Given the importance of donkeys in different activities and the lack of information on infections that may occur in these animals, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-equine herpesvirus (EHV), anti-equine arteritis virus (EAV), anti-vesicular stomatitis, and anti-equine influenza (H3N8) antibodies in the serum of 85 donkeys bred in some regions of the state of Sao Paulo. We found the following antibody frequencies: 50.6% (43/85) antibodies against influenza virus subtype H3N8, 47% (40/85) anti-EHV, and 20% (17/85) anti-EAV. The donkeys were not seropositive for vesicular stomatitis. The results suggested that the agents EHV, EAV, and equine influenza subtype H3N8 circulate among donkeys in some regions of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, reinforcing the importance of establishing a routine diagnosis and epidemiological study of this species.

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and histopathological aspects of topical application of pure and ozonized andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis Aublet.) on the healing process of wounds of healthy horses. Eight 6.25-cm2 wounds were surgically produced on each horse, cranial to the sacrum, being four wounds on each side of the lumbar region. In three animals, left side was used for macroscopic observations and area measurement and right side was used for histopathological analysis. For the other two animals, evaluations were inverted. Beginning of the topical treatment occurred 12 hours after surgical induction of the injuries and was maintained daily until complete healing of the wounds, using sequentially and bilaterally in the craniocaudal direction saline solution (GC), ozonized saline solution (GO), pure andiroba oil (GAP) and ozonized andiroba oil (GAO). Randomly, sequence of the treatments was modified. Macroscopic and histopathological analyses were performed at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after surgery. Completed healing time for all wounds were recorded. A wound contraction of 67.75% for GC, 65.26% for GO, 67.91% for GAP, and 69.84% for GAO were recorded. Histopathologic evaluation revealed that wounds from the GAO and GAP had an advanced epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, moderate vascular proliferation, and presence of PMN infiltrate and discrete viewing of MN. It was possible to conclude that all treatments had benefits when comparing to control group and both pure and ozonized andiroba oil can be good options for wound treatment in horses.

Little research has examined the views of Latin Americans on the use of animals in research. This study examined the degree to which Brazilians support the use of animals in research and the reasons they put forth to explain their position. Participants were randomly assigned to research scenarios describing the use of animals for biomedical or environmental benefits, and varying in the number of pigs required. Each scenario began by proposing the use of conventional pigs and then advanced to the development and use of genetically modified animals (GMA). A total of 151 quantitative and 307 qualitative answers were analysed. Scenario and number of animals had little effect on support, but opposition increased from 25% to 58% when pigs were used to develop a GM strain for the environmental scenario. Support to use of animals was often conditional upon adequate protection of the animals’ welfare. Participants were less willing to support research on environmental scenario when this involved the creation of GMA, in part because they feared the risk associated with this technology.

Substantial evidence suggests a direct link between periodontitis in pregnant women and subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, no studies have evaluated the transgenerational effects of periodontitis on the reproductive performance of subsequent generations. The present study investigated whether maternal periodontal disease exerts deleterious transgenerational effects on reproductive performance in F1 female rats. Rat female offspring from mothers that were subjected to experimentally induced periodontitis or sham operation were mated with sexually experienced male rats. The weight and reproductive performance of these F1 offspring were evaluated on gestation day 21, including maternal weight, litter weight, individual pup weight, number of pups, and number of resorptions. The percentage of dams with resorptions and the litter weight/number of pups were also calculated. Compared with the control group, an increase was observed in the percentage and number of resorptions and litter weight/number of pups, and a decrease was observed in the number of pups born in the experimental group. Maternal weight, litter weight, and individual pup weight were not different between the control and experimental groups. Maternal periodontitis impaired reproductive performance in the F1 generation. We showed that periodontitis may induce reproductive injury in adult offspring even if the offspring do not undergo any inflammatory/infectious process during their postnatal life or during gestation. These findings reinforce the importance of oral care during pregnancy.

Toxoplasma gondii is an infective parasite that causes reproductive disorders such as abortion, fetal mummification, birth of weak offspring, and stillbirth, thereby causing economic losses to sheep production. The northeastern region of Brazil has approximately 171 million small ruminants, of which 5.4% are sheep. The present study aimed at determining the rate of occurrence of T. gondii in sheep flocks on 60 farms in 19 municipalities in the three mesoregions (eastern, semi-arid, and sertão or backlands) of the state of Sergipe, Brazil, and the risk factors associated with this infection. Serum samples were collected between 2011 and 2012, from 60 farms located in 19 municipalities in the three mesoregions: 680 in the eastern region, 280 in the semi-arid region, and 240 in the backlands, totaling 1,200 samples (990 females and 210 males). Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by means of the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 64). The highest occurrence was detected in the eastern region (45.3%, p = 0.001). On farms with subsistence production, the risk of having animals infected by T. gondii was approximately twice as high as on breeding/rebreeding/fattening farms (OR: 3.03; CI: 1.97-4.68). There was a significant lack of sanitary care, such as absence of a dunghill (p = 0.000; OR: 1.60; CI: 1.26-2.03), quarantine (p = 0.000; OR: 1.87; CI: 1.45-2.41) and disinfection (p = 0.003; OR: 1.46; CI: 1.13-1.88). Regarding feeding, the risk of infection was 1.74 and 1.37 times higher in places that used a trough and/or that cats could access, respectively. The presente study allows the conclusions that T. gondii is found on farms in the three mesoregions of the state of Sergipe and that environmental and management factors have an influence on sheep infection.

Sonography is a safe and non-invasive imaging modality, with the added benefit of providing dynamic images. Power Doppler sonography allows blood vessel identification regardless of flow intensity or direction. A one-year-old Ile de France ewe was admitted to the FMVZ-USP Veterinary Hospital with a complete tibial fracture. The animal was submitted to general inhalation anesthesia and fracture repair using a 3.5 mm locking compression plate. Power Doppler sonography was used to assess neovascularization over the course of the bone healing process. Formation of new vessels was noted between postoperative days 14 and 21; new vessels regressed progressively on subsequent assessments (postoperative days 28 and 35). Power Doppler sonography enabled early detection of newly formed blood vessels at the fracture site. The non-invasive nature of this imaging modality prevented patient stress and provided useful information on the progression of bone healing. Early neovascularization was thought to reflect successful postoperative healing of the tibial fracture described.

Large quantities of waste are generated throughout the seafood supply chain. Although this material has a great potential for use (e.g. pharmaceutical industry, animal feed production), if not managed properly it represents an environmental risk. In order to meet the volume, destination, and method of storage of waste of Brazilian seafood supply chain, we got information from 29 companies that have Official Veterinary Inspection (SIF). After the industrialization of seafood only 44% on average of the total raw material is used for human consumption and 59.2% of the unused portion is discarded in landfill.