Female reproductive system morphology of crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) and cryopreservation of genetic material for animal germplasm bank enrichment.

The sprawl of the urbanization and road network process without building ecological corridors contributes to the high mortality rates and a threat to the population decline of wild species such as the crab-eating fox. A strategy for the ex situ conservation is the study of the reproductive biology of the species and cryopreservation of their genetic heritage through the formation of an animal germplasm bank. This research is in accordance with the principles adopted by Brazilian College of Animal Experimentation. Reproductive systems of Cerdocyon thous females (n = 7) were examined macroscopically and microscopically by histological techniques and scanning electron microscopy. Gross features showed the shape of the ovaries was similar to a bean, and the elongated oviducts lengths were between 5 and 8 cm, with body of the uterus (3 cm) with long and narrow uterine horns (9-11 cm). The cervix was as a single annular conformation carrying out communication between the uterus and the vagina. The vagina has lengthened and circular muscle and the vulva with dense anatomical conformation with a quite pronounced clitoris. In addition, with regard to the establishment of a cell line (fibroblasts) for the gene bank enrichment, cells showed a low clonogenic capacity, especially when compared to domestic dogs, which can be explained by "in vitro" environment, age and diet of the animal. However, it was possible to create a bank of limited cell number. This study had morphological and preservationist character and aimed to help at long term in the conservation of wild animal's genetic resources.

Avaliação da confiabilidade entre dois observadores em exames citopatológico e imunocitoquímico de aspirado de medula óssea no diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina / Reliability evaluation between two evaluators in the cytopathologic and immunocytochemical exams from bone marrow aspirate in the canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis

Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis in which the dog appears as the main source of infection in urban areas. Its diagnosis is complex and the cytopathological exam is a fast and cheap alternative to parasite direct visualization and its sensitivity can be increased by immunocytochemistry, though with a higher cost. The accuracy of such methods is dependent on the microscopist's experience and therefore, this study evaluated the reliability of such techniques between two observers, from bone marrow aspirates of 50 dogs from an endemic area for the disease. The parasitological culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle medium was used as the reference standard. Among the main findings, the sensitivities obtained by observers I and II were respectively 62.5% and 37.5%, while specificities were 81.1% and 100%. On immunocytochemistry evaluation, the sensitivity was 0% for both evaluators and the specificity 97.3% and 100%. The agreement between evaluators was weak (κ = 0.167) for the cytopathological test and it could not be evaluated for immunocytochemistry, for which there was no detection by the evaluator II. The agreements among the diagnostic methods and the standard reference for the observer I were reasonable (κ = 0.364) for cytopathological examination and bad (κ = -0.041) for immunocytochemistry. For observer II, such agreement could be assessed only for the cytopathological test, being moderate (κ = 0.497). The results point to the possible expertise difference between evaluators, with the evaluator II demonstrating greater experience when interpreting the citopathological test. Although there was the expected sensitivity increase with immunocytochemistry, the technique used in this study was not effective for the diagnosis of infection, regardless of the evaluator.(AU)

Short communication: risk of severe heel erosion increased with parity and stage of lactation in freestall-housed dairy cows.

Heel erosion is the most prevalent hoof lesion in housed dairy herds, particularly in freestall facilities. It is associated with hoof contact with manure slurry and abrasive floors. The objective was to assess changes in the risk of heel erosion from the dry period to mid lactation in primiparous and multiparous dairy cows. Nineteen pregnant primiparous cows, 22 late-lactation multiparous cows (parity=3.2+/-1.4; days in milk=221+/-38), and 16 nonlactating, pregnant multiparous cows (parity=3.7+/-1.4) housed in a freestall barn with concrete flooring were followed until mid lactation. The hind hooves of all the cows were examined approximately every 7 wk and heel erosion was scored. Multiparous cows more likely had heel erosion than primiparous cows (odds ratio=11.0; 95% confidence interval=3.7, 32.7). Time relative to calving showed a significant quadratic effect, revealing that the risk of heel erosion increased more rapidly as lactation progressed. Survival analysis showed that multiparous cows had a higher relative risk of developing heel erosion than primiparous cows (hazard ratio=3.4). No cows improved between early and mid lactation, but 18 cows worsened. In conclusion, stage of lactation and parity were major risk factors for severe heel erosion in dairy cattle housed in freestalls.

Digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes de dietas simplificadas baseadas em forragens para coelhos em crescimento / Apparent digestibility of nutrients of simplified diets based on forages for growing rabbits

Avaliaram-se os efeitos de dietas simplificadas à base de forragens sobre a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes em coelhos Nova Zelândia branco. As dietas experimentais foram: referência (REF), feno de alfafa (FAL), feno das folhas de rami (FRA), feno das folhas de amoreira (FAM) e feno do terço superior da rama da mandioca (FMA). A digestibilidade das dietas foi influenciada pelo tipo de alimento estudado; a FMA apresentou coeficientes de digestibilidade inferiores às demais dietas para todos os princípios nutritivos analisados. Para a dieta FAM, os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos princípios nutritivos foram maiores (P<0,05) que os coeficientes das outras dietas estudadas. Os animais que ingeriram a dieta FAM apresentaram distúrbios digestivos e baixos consumos, com efeito negativo sobre os resultados. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente das demais dietas estudadas foram semelhantes (P>0,05). Os valores estimados de energia digestível (kcal ED/kg MS) e proteína digestível ( por centoPD/MS) foram, respectivamente, para o feno de alfafa: 2285,27 e 16,04; feno das folhas de rami: 1857,88 e 16,37; feno das folhas de amoreira: 2838,48 e 15,12 e feno do terço superior da mandioca: 2155,55 e 10,57.

The effect of simplified diets based on forages on the apparent digestibility in white New Zealand rabbits was evaluated. The treatments were based on the following diets: reference (REF), hay of alfalfa (FAL), hay of rami leaves (FRA), hay of mulberry leaves (FAM) and hay of upper to 1/3 aereal part of cassava (FMA). The type of food affected the digestibility of the diets. The FMA diet showed low coefficients of digestibility in comparison to the other diets for all the analyzed nutrients. For the FAM diet the coefficients of apparent digestibility of the nutrients had higher values (P<0.05) than the coefficients of the other studied diets. The animals that ingested FAM diet showed digestive disorders and low consumption, with negative effect on the results. The coefficients of apparent digestibility of the remaining diets were similar (P>0.05). The estimated values of digestible energy (kcal DE/kg DM) and digestible protein ( percentDP/DM) were, respectively, 2285.27 and 16.04 for alfalfa hay, 1857.88 and 16.37 for hay of rami leaves, 2838.48 and 15.12 for hay of mulberry leaves and 2155.55 and 10.57 for hay of upper to 1/3 aereal part of cassava.

Identification of deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and zearalenone in the galactose oxidase-producing fungus Dactylium dendroides.

The galactose oxidase-producing fungus Dactylium dendroides was re-identified as a Fusarium species. Fungi of this genus are well known for the production of mycotoxins. Verification of growth of this fungus on rice, corn and liquid medium described for the production of galactose oxidase is provided to determine whether the fungus could produce Fusarium toxins, namely, moniliformin, fusaric acid, fumonisin, zearalenone and the trichothecenes, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, fusarenone, nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol, and toxin T-2. Under the culture conditions used, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and zearalenone were detected in the fungal culture medium. The finding is consistent with the hypothesis that the fungus is in fact a Fusarium species.