Molecular detection of hemoplasmas in rescued blackeared opossums (Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826) from southeastern Brazil, with evidence of a novel genotype infecting marsupials / Detecção molecular de hemoplasmas em gambás-de-orelha-preta (Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826) resgatados do sudeste do Brasil, com evidência de um novo genótipo infectando marsupiais

There is a growing concern about the participation of wild hosts and reservoirs in the epidemiology of several pathogens, particularly within the context of environmental changes and the expansion of the One Health concept. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hemoplasmas in opossums rescued from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 15 Didelphis aurita and subjected to DNA extraction and PCR using primers for the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes. Physical examination and hematological analysis were also performed. Three out of 15 opossums tested positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. by PCR and showed hematological alterations such as anemia and leukocytosis. Clinical signs were non-specific and associated to traumatic lesions. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the hemoplasma detected was positioned between 'Ca. Mycoplasma haemodidelphis' detected in D. virginiana from North American and hemoplasmas recently detected in D. aurita from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This study indicates the existence of hemoplasma infections in D. aurita from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, and reinforce the need for new epidemiological inquiries to clarify the participation of these in the dynamics of circulation of tick-borne pathogens.(AU)

Há uma crescente preocupação com a participação de hospedeiros e reservatórios silvestres na epidemiologia de diversos patógenos, principalmente no contexto das mudanças ambientais e da expansão do conceito "One Health". O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a presença de hemoplasmas em gambás resgatados da região metropolitana do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 15 Didelphis aurita e submetidas à extração de DNA e PCR utilizando-se "primers" para os genes 16S rRNA e 23S rRNA. O exame físico e a análise hematológica também foram realizados. Três dos 15 gambás testaram positivo para Mycoplasma spp. hemotrópico por PCR. Os sinais clínicos eram inespecíficos e associados a lesões traumáticas. Anemia e leucocitose foram detectadas em animais positivos. A análise filogenética indicou que o hemoplasma detectado estava posicionado entre 'Ca. Mycoplasma haemodidelphis' detectado em D. virginiana da América do Norte e hemoplasmas recentemente detectados em D. aurita do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Este estudo indica a existência de infecções por hemoplasmas em D. aurita, da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, e reforça a necessidade de novos inquéritos epidemiológicos, para esclarecer a participação destes na dinâmica de circulação de patógenos transmitidos por carrapatos.(AU)

Morphometry, topography and arterial supply of the thyroid gland in brazilian shorthair cat

Thyroid gland diseases are the most common endocrinopathies in feline practice. Diagnosis and surgical treatment must base on solid anatomical knowledge about the gland size, localization, and blood supply. However, some textbooks provide a general anatomical description of the thyroid gland of domestic carnivores. Thus, specific details of the feline gland are missing. The present study aimed to investigate the dimensions, topography, and arterial supply of the thyroid gland in Brazilian shorthair cats and, therefore, provide additional data to diagnose and treat feline thyroid diseases. Thirty Brazilian shorthair cats formalin-fixed cadavers (15 male and 15 female) were injected with red-stained latex solution by a canula in the thoracic aorta. The necropsy unit of the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro donated the specimens. The study included only adult animals with no history of thyroid disease. After the fixation period, the cadavers were dissected to investigate the measurements (length, width at cranial and caudal poles, and thickness), topography, and in situ arterial supply of the thyroid lobes. The mean measurements of the length, cranial pole width, caudal pole width, and thickness in the right lobe were 19.39 ± 3.10 mm, 5.36 ± 1.40 mm, 3.67 ± 0.93 mm, and 1.30 ± 0.29 mm, respectively; and 20.29 ± 3.35 mm, 4.85 ± 1.58 mm, 3.88 ± 0.91 mm, 1.64 ± 0.65 mm in the left lobe, respectively. There were no statistical differences (P > 0.05) in the comparison of the measures between sexes or antimers (sides). Pearson's linear correlation detected a positive, moderate (r = 0.55), and significant (P < 0.05) correlation between the right and left lobe lengths. In 70% of the cats, both left and right lobes had the cranial poles located at the same level. Typically, the lobes extended between the first to the eighth tracheal ring. However, the cranial pole of some lobes located as cranially as the cricoid cartilage level, and the caudal pole as caudally as the 12th tracheal ring. Fifty-six percent of the cats had a ventrally located isthmus. In all the sampling, one single thyroid artery emerged as a branch of the common carotid artery and provided branches directly to the thyroid lobe, isthmus and the adjacent muscles and esophagus. Besides establishing average dimensions of normal thyroid lobes in Brazilian shorthair cats, this study detected no significant difference between the average measurements of right and left lobes. Also, a positive linear correlation between the length and width of the right and left lobes became evident. Therefore, the practitioner must consider suspicious any length asymmetry between right and left thyroid lobes until further endocrine test proves otherwise. Most of the cats had the right and left thyroid lobe positioned at the same transversal level; however, positional asymmetries are not uncommon. Unlike dogs, Brazilian shorthair cats have only a single artery to supply each lobe: the thyroid artery. In a feline thyroidectomy, the surgeon must avoid blindly ligating the thyroid artery since this vessel also provided numerous branches to adjacent muscles and esophagus. In a bilateral thyroidectomy, the ventral region between lobes should be thoroughly inspected for the common presence of an isthmus. Sometimes, the surgeon may need to extend the incision caudally beyond the 12th tracheal ring level to visualize the gland tissue entirely.(AU)

Multiple left renal artery in mongrel cat: case report / Artéria renal esquerda múltipla em gato sem raça definida: relato de caso

Knowledge of the renal vessels variations has importance in a systematization program of radiological and surgical anatomy, both in humans and animals, applied for research and surgical training. Particular attention has been paid to the study of these vessels, outlining the numerical variations noticed among various animal species. As a rule, the right artery arises more cranially than the left one, according with the most cranial position of the right kidney. Thus, the goal of this article is to describe a case of a left multiplicity renal artery originating from the ventral portion of the aorta, in a adult mongrel male cat cadaver, formalin-preserved at 10% and with colored Petrolátex vascular injection. The left kidney has multiple renal arteries. A cranial and caudal. The cranial artery emerged ventrally from the abdominal aorta as single vessel and issued the adrenal, lumbar branches and divided into two branches: one branch to the cranial end of the kidney and the other to the lateral edge of the kidney. The second caudal renal artery emerged ventrally from the abdominal aorta as single vessel and issued two renal arteries, a dorsal and ventral both directed to the renal hilum

O conhecimento das variações nos vasos renais possui importância em um programa de sistematização da anatomia radiológica e cirúrgica, tanto para o homem quanto para animais destinados a pesquisa, ensino e treinamento cirúrgico. Atenção particular é dada ao estudo desses vasos enfatizando as variações numéricas entre as diferentes espécies animais. A artéria renal direita se origina mais cranialmente que a esquerda de acordo com a posição mais cranial do rim direito. O objetivo deste relato é descrever um caso de artéria renal esquerda múltipla originando-se da superfície ventral da artéria aorta abdominal em um cadáver de gato SRD macho adulto. O mesmo foi fixado e preservado com solução de formaldeído a 10% e teve o seu sistema arterial preenchido com Petrolátex corado. O rim esquerdo apresentou artérias renais múltiplas, uma cranial e outra caudal. A primeira se originou ventralmente à aorta abdominal de forma única, emitiu ramos para a glândula adrenal, ramo lombar e bifurcou em 2 ramos : um ramo que penetrou diretamente na extremidade cranial do rim; o segundo ramo contornou a extremidade cranial do rim e penetrou na margem lateral do rim. A segunda artéria renal emergiu ventralmente à aorta abdominal de forma única e se bifurcou em duas artérias renais, uma dorsal e outra ventral ambas direcionadas ao hilo renal

Multiple left renal artery in mongrel cat: case report / Artéria renal esquerda múltipla em gato sem raça definida: relato de caso

Knowledge of the renal vessels variations has importance in a systematization program of radiological and surgical anatomy, both in humans and animals, applied for research and surgical training. Particular attention has been paid to the study of these vessels, outlining the numerical variations noticed among various animal species. As a rule, the right artery arises more cranially than the left one, according with the most cranial position of the right kidney. Thus, the goal of this article is to describe a case of a left multiplicity renal artery originating from the ventral portion of the aorta, in a adult mongrel male cat cadaver, formalin-preserved at 10% and with colored Petrolátex vascular injection. The left kidney has multiple renal arteries. A cranial and caudal. The cranial artery emerged ventrally from the abdominal aorta as single vessel and issued the adrenal, lumbar branches and divided into two branches: one branch to the cranial end of the kidney and the other to the lateral edge of the kidney. The second caudal renal artery emerged ventrally from the abdominal aorta as single vessel and issued two renal arteries, a dorsal and ventral both directed to the renal hilum(AU)

O conhecimento das variações nos vasos renais possui importância em um programa de sistematização da anatomia radiológica e cirúrgica, tanto para o homem quanto para animais destinados a pesquisa, ensino e treinamento cirúrgico. Atenção particular é dada ao estudo desses vasos enfatizando as variações numéricas entre as diferentes espécies animais. A artéria renal direita se origina mais cranialmente que a esquerda de acordo com a posição mais cranial do rim direito. O objetivo deste relato é descrever um caso de artéria renal esquerda múltipla originando-se da superfície ventral da artéria aorta abdominal em um cadáver de gato SRD macho adulto. O mesmo foi fixado e preservado com solução de formaldeído a 10% e teve o seu sistema arterial preenchido com Petrolátex corado. O rim esquerdo apresentou artérias renais múltiplas, uma cranial e outra caudal. A primeira se originou ventralmente à aorta abdominal de forma única, emitiu ramos para a glândula adrenal, ramo lombar e bifurcou em 2 ramos : um ramo que penetrou diretamente na extremidade cranial do rim; o segundo ramo contornou a extremidade cranial do rim e penetrou na margem lateral do rim. A segunda artéria renal emergiu ventralmente à aorta abdominal de forma única e se bifurcou em duas artérias renais, uma dorsal e outra ventral ambas direcionadas ao hilo renal(AU)