Phytase and xylanase in diets with nutritional adjustments and their effects on serum biochemistry, morphometry and intestinal health of broilers.

To examine the association between phytase and xylanase in diets with nutritional adjustments on intestinal morphometry, serum biochemistry and microbiology of broilers, 250 broilers were evaluated in a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replicates. The following treatments were tested: positive control diet - without phytase or xylanase; negative control diet - with an energy reduction of 100 kcal/kg, without phytase or xylanase; and three diets containing xylanase and phytase and energy reductions of 50, 100 and 150 Kcal/kg. For all energy-reduced diets, the nutritional matrix of phytase with phosphorus (0.15%), calcium (0.165%) and sodium (0.035%) was considered. An effect of the association between enzyme inclusion and metabolizable energy reduction in the diets was observed only by contrast analysis, for villus height. Intestinal health was not changed. Only the serum phosphorus concentration was altered by the treatments at the different evaluated ages. The association of phytase (500 FTU/kg) with xylanase (16000 BXU/kg) in diets with reductions of up to 150 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy, 0.15% digestible P, 0.165% Ca and 0.035% Na does not alter the intestinal morphometry, serum biochemistry or microbiology of broilers.

Toxicity of the different vegetative stages of Amorimia pubiflora to sheep.

Toxic plants containing monofluoroacetate (MFA) cause sudden death in livestock in Australia, South Africa and Brazil, causing economic losses to producers. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of MFA present in young leaves, mature leaves, senescent leaves, and seeds of Amorimia pubiflora harvested at different times of the year and to determine their toxic effect on sheep. Samples of Amorimia pubiflora were collected during April, August and December of 2015 and March of 2016, separated according to the vegetative stage (young leaves, seeds, mature leaves, and senescent leaves), dried in an oven, and administered in daily doses of 5 g/kg/body weight (bw) of fresh leaves to sheep through ruminal cannulae. The experiment was divided into four stages according to the time of collection of the plant so that each sheep received a different vegetative stage of the plant (young leaves, mature leaves, and senescent leaves). Only in the second stage of the experiment was it possible to collect A. pubiflora seeds, which were administered using the same method used for the administration of the leaves. The sheep were dosed with the plant until they showed clinical signs of toxicosis or until the plant was no longer available. Aliquots of leaves and seeds of A. pubiflora were analyzed for MFA concentration. The seeds and young leaves had higher concentrations of MFA than did the mature (harvested in August and December) and senescent (harvested in December) leaves. However, all vegetative stages of the plant were toxic and caused fatal poisoning. The results of our study showed that A. pubiflora is toxic to sheep even when MFA concentrations are low, demonstrating that the presence of this substance is a risk factor for the occurrence of poisoning. Knowing the toxic principle and its variations allow us to determine the conditions for the occurrence of plant toxicosis as well as possible treatment, control, and prophylaxis methods, contributing significantly to the reduction of economic losses on farms due to plant poisoning.

Hematological and biometric traits of tuvira Gymnotus inaequilabiatus (Valenciennes, 1839) (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) from the Brazilian Pantanal

ABSTRACT This study describes the hematological and biometric characteristics of male and female Gymnotus species from the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Fifty adult specimens of Gymnotus inaequilabiatus were weighed, measured, and then euthanized. Blood was collected by puncturing the celiac mesenteric vein to determine the hematocrit, hemoglobin content, number of erythrocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, glucose level, absolute value of leukocytes, and relative value of leukocytes and thrombocytes. Body weight and relative condition factor did not differ (P > 0.05) between the sexes, as well as erythrogram and the blood glucose values. Hematocrit ranged from 18.0% to 54.0%; hemoglobin from 1.1 to 14.7 g dL-1; number of erythrocytes from 0.2 × 106 to 3.8 ×106 µL-1; MCV from 24.2 to 321.7 fL; and MCHC from 4.2 to 44.5 g dL-1. In the differential count were identified thrombocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, immature leukocytes, and PAS-positive granular leukocyte (PAS-GL). Females had a higher percentage of immature leukocytes (P < 0.05) than males. Glucose levels, erythrogram, leukogram, and the morphology of defense cells are comparable to other fish species of the Pantanal. Thrombocytes were the most frequent defense cells, followed by lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Hematological and biometric traits of tuvira Gymnotus inaequilabiatus (Valenciennes, 1839) (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) from the Brazilian Pantanal.

This study describes the hematological and biometric characteristics of male and female Gymnotus species from the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Fifty adult specimens of Gymnotus inaequilabiatus were weighed, measured, and then euthanized. Blood was collected by puncturing the celiac mesenteric vein to determine the hematocrit, hemoglobin content, number of erythrocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, glucose level, absolute value of leukocytes, and relative value of leukocytes and thrombocytes. Body weight and relative condition factor did not differ (P > 0.05) between the sexes, as well as erythrogram and the blood glucose values. Hematocrit ranged from 18.0% to 54.0%; hemoglobin from 1.1 to 14.7 g dL-1; number of erythrocytes from 0.2 × 106 to 3.8 ×106 µL-1; MCV from 24.2 to 321.7 fL; and MCHC from 4.2 to 44.5 g dL-1. In the differential count were identified thrombocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, immature leukocytes, and PAS-positive granular leukocyte (PAS-GL). Females had a higher percentage of immature leukocytes (P < 0.05) than males. Glucose levels, erythrogram, leukogram, and the morphology of defense cells are comparable to other fish species of the Pantanal. Thrombocytes were the most frequent defense cells, followed by lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Experimental poisoning by Vernonia rubricaulis in sheep.

In order to evaluate the susceptibility of sheep to V. rubricaulis and to establish the clinical signs, serum biochemistry, and pathological findings, eight sheep were fed varying doses of V. rubricaulis. The onset of clinical signs occurred 6-48 h after the ingestion of V. rubricaulis. Clinical courses lasted 6-56 h after the ingestion of the plant. Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase were highly elevated and glucose blood levels were low in affected sheep. Clinical signs consisted of apathy, anorexia, dry muzzle, respiratory distress, abdominal pain, and mushy feces with streaks of blood and mucus. Two sheep had neurological signs including muscle fasciculation, nystagmus, paddling movements, and blindness. Liver necrosis could be detected antemortem through liver biopsy. Five sheep died and three recovered. The liver was affected in all necropsied sheep; it increased in volume and had marked accentuation of the lobular pattern with red, depressed areas intercalated with a pale yellow network. Ascites and hydropericardium were consistent findings. Microscopically, centrilobular to massive coagulative necrosis was observed. Coagulative necrosis was also observed in a few proximal renal tubules. Microscopic lesions were not found in any other organs. The severity of liver lesions was proportional to the dose. Chemical analysis to detect carboxyatractyloside in V. rubricaulis plant material was negative. It is concluded that V. rubricaulis poisoning in sheep is clinically, biochemically, and pathologically characteristic of an acute hepatoxicosis.

Comparação entre a citopatologia por biopsia com agulha fina e a histopatologia no diagnóstico das neoplasias cutâneas e subcutâneas de cães / Comparison between cytopathology with fine needle biopsy and histopathology for the diagnosis of cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasm of dogs

Os neoplasmas cutâneos estão entre os mais diagnosticados em medicina veterinária, diante disso busca-se que o diagnóstico desses tumores seja rápido e eficaz. Em medicina veterinária o uso da citopatologia como método para diagnóstico tornou-se crescente. Diante disso, é necessário que estudos comprovem a eficiência da técnica para que a mesma possa ser usada de maneira isolada. Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar o diagnóstico obtido pelas técnicas citopatológica e histopatológica de tumores cutâneos e subcutâneos de cães, determinar qual o tipo neoplásico mais facilmente diagnosticado pela citopatologia e a neoplasia mais prevalente nesses animais, atendidos em dois hospitais veterinários de Campo Grande/MS, no período de março de 2012 a dezembro de 2013. Foram coletadas amostras celulares de tumores de 91 cães, através de punção aspirativa por agulha fina e punch cirúrgico Os resultados citopatológicos demonstraram uma eficácia de 69,69%, em relação à histopatologia. Para a diferenciação entre tumores neoplásicos e não neoplásicos, a eficiência aumenta, com resultados iguais em 91,91%. Para diferenciar tumores benignos de malignos, foi possível chegar a uma concordância na ordem de 68,13%. Os tumores mais prevalentes foram o mastocitoma, seguido do lipoma, fibrossarcoma e tumor de célula basal.

The cutaneous cancers are among the most frequently diagnosed in veterinary medicine before it is sought that the diagnosis of these tumors are fast and effective. In veterinary medicine the use of cytology as a method for diagnosis has increased. Therefore is necessary that studies demonstrate the technical efficiency so that it can be used as only tool. This study aimed to compare the diagnosis made by cytological and histological techniques. Skin and subcutaneous tumors of dogs and their neoplastic type are more easily diagnosed by cytology and are the most prevalent tumors in this animal spécies, attended by two veterinary hospitals in Campo Grande/MS from March 2012 to December 2013. Tumor cell samples were collected by fine needle aspiration and surgical punch of 91 dogs. The cytological results showed an efficacy of 69.69% in relation to histopathology. For differentiating between neoplastic and non-neoplastic growth, the efficiency increases to 91.91%. In order to differentiate benign from malignant tumors, it was possible to find an agreement in the order of 68.13%. The most prevalent tumors were mastocytoma, followed by lipoma, fibrosarcoma and basal cell tumor.

Comparative phylogeography of Trypanosoma cruzi TCIIc: new hosts, association with terrestrial ecotopes, and spatial clustering.

We characterized 28 new isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi IIc (TCIIc) of mammals and triatomines from Northern to Southern Brazil, confirming the widespread distribution of this lineage. Phylogenetic analyses using cytochrome b and SSU rDNA sequences clearly separated TCIIc from TCIIa according to terrestrial and arboreal ecotopes of their preferential mammalian hosts and vectors. TCIIc was more closely related to TCIId/e, followed by TCIIa, and separated by large distances from TCIIb and TCI. Despite being indistinguishable by traditional genotyping and generally being assigned to Z3, we provide evidence that TCIIa from South America and TCIIa from North America correspond to independent lineages that circulate in distinct hosts and ecological niches. Armadillos, terrestrial didelphids and rodents, and domestic dogs were found infected by TCIIc in Brazil. We believe that, in Brazil, this is the first description of TCIIc from rodents and domestic dogs. Terrestrial triatomines of genera Panstrongylus and Triatoma were confirmed as vectors of TCIIc. Together, habitat, mammalian host and vector association corroborated the link between TCIIc and terrestrial transmission cycles/ecological niches. Analysis of ITS1 rDNA sequences disclosed clusters of TCIIc isolates in accordance with their geographic origin, independent of their host species.

Soroprevalência da infecção por Trypanosoma cruzi em cães de uma área rural do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul / Seroprevalence of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs in a rural area of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Doença de Chagas é uma antropozoonose causada por Trypanosoma cruzi que tem os cães como importante reservatório da doença na América do Sul. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência da infecção natural pelo T. cruzi em cães de uma área rural do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Foram utilizados os testes de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) e ensaio imunossorvente ligado a enzima (ELISA) em 75 cães residentes na área. Foram detectados anticorpos em 45,3 por cento (n=34) e 24,0 por cento (n=18) nos testes de IFI e ELISA, respectivamente. A real prevalência da infecção foi confirmada como 22,7 por cento (n=17) pelo critério de positividade em ambos os testes. Os resultados obtidos confirmam a infecção chagásica nos cães dessa região.

Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and dogs are considered to be one of the main reservoirs of the disease in the South America. This study evaluates the occurrence of the infection caused by T. cruzi in dogs from a rural area of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Indirect immunofluorescence test (IFI) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used in 75 dogs living in this area. The antibodies were detected in 45.3 percent (n=34) and 24.0 percent (n=18) with IFI and ELISA, respectively. The actual prevalence of the infection was confirmed as 22.7 percent (n=17) by the criterion of positivity in both tests. The results confirm T. cruzi infection in dogs in the region.