Infectious muscle necrosis etiology in the Pacific White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) cultured in Ecuador

In recent years, some Ecuadorian shrimp farmers have reported several cases of muscle necrosis in P. vannamei grow out cultures, associated to low mortalities at harvest. This abnormal condition is characterized by focal to extensive necrotic areas in striated tail muscle tissues, displaying a white, opaque appearance. Furthermore, histological analysis from suspected samples with macroscopic lesions revealed a loss of sarcomeric structure accompanied by coagulative muscle necrosis along with hemocytic infiltration. Two viruses, not reported in Ecuador, are described as etiological agents of muscle necrosis in P. vannamei: infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) and Penaeus vannamei nodavirus (PvNV). In this study, the etiology of the muscle necrosis cases found in the Pacific white shrimp P. vannamei cultured in Ecuador was examined. This muscle necrosis was hypothesized to be caused by an infectious agent. Three sequential challenge tests, using diseased P. vannamei with macroscopic lesions (opaque, whitish discolorations in the abdominal muscles) as starting material (crude inoculum), were carried out. Essentially, histological examination confirmed that most of the challenged shrimp had lesions in skeletal muscle, including multifocal necrosis, fibrocytic inflammation and phagocytosis. In the first trial, 7 challenged shrimp (out of 10) presented multifocal necrosis and hemocytic infiltration in the skeletal muscle. In the second trial, 14 challenged shrimp (out of 20) exhibited coagulative muscle necrosis and hemocytic infiltration. In the third trial, 48 challenged shrimp (out of 69) showed muscle necrosis and hemocytic infiltration. There were no mortalities throughout the all four-week trials. All challenged shrimp tested by RT-PCR assay were negative for IMNV. In our experimental procedures, muscle necrosis could be consistently reproduced through three sequential trials, confirming that the disease has an infectious etiology. Our results suggest that the etiological agent of this disease could be a new infectious agent or a different strain of IMNV.(AU)

Capsaicin on the viability of random-pattern skin flaps in rats / Capsaicina na viabilidade de retalhos isquêmicos randômicos em ratos

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of capsaicin on the viability of ischemic random-pattern skin flaps in rats. METHODS:Forty EPM1-Wistar rats were randomized into two groups of 20 animals each, the capsaicin group and the control group. A random-pattern skin flap measuring 10 x 4cm was raised and a plastic barrier was placed between the flap and the donor site. After the surgical procedure, the control group was treated with an inert vehicle in the form of a cream applied uniformly to a rayon bandage which, in turn, was applied to the surface of the skin flap. The capsaicin group was treated in the same way, but in this case capsaicin was added to the cream. This procedure was repeated for two consecutive days. RESULTS: There was a significantly smaller amount of flap necrosis in the capsaicin group (35.07 percent) than in the control group (44.75 percent) (p=0.035). CONCLUSION:Topical administration of capsaicin improved the viability of ischemic random-pattern skin flaps in rats.(AU)

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da capsaicina na viabilidade de retalhos isquêmicos randômicos em ratos. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos EPM1-Wistar foram distribuídos ao acaso em dois grupos de 20 animais cada, um grupo capsaicina e um grupo controle. Um retalho isquêmico randômico medindo 10 x 4cm foi elevado e uma barreira plástica foi colocada entre o retalho e a área doadora. Após o procedimento cirúrgico, o grupo controle foi tratado com um veículo inerte sob a forma creme aplicado uniformemente sobre uma atadura de rayon, que, por sua vez, foi aplicada à superfície do retalho. O grupo capsaicina foi tratado da mesma forma, porém a capsaicina foi adicionada ao creme. Este procedimento foi repetido por dois dias consecutivos. RESULTADOS: Houve uma quantidade significativamente menor da necrose do retalho no grupo capsaicina (35,07 por cento) comparado ao grupo controle (44,75 por cento) (p=0,035). CONCLUSÃO: A administração tópica da capsaicina melhorou a viabilidade de retalhos isquêmicos randômicos em ratos.(AU)

Influência do exercício na indução da apoptose e necrose das células do líquido sinovial de eqüinos atletas / Exercise induced apoptosis and necrosis in the synovial fluid cells of athletic horses

Examinaram-se os efeitos do estresse mecânico na resposta inflamatória e adaptativa dos tecidos articulares de cavalos atletas. O líquido sinovial foi colhido das articulações metacarpofalangeanas de eqüinos atletas antes, 3, 6 e 24 horas após o exercício, assim como de um grupo controle (cavalos não exercitados). A porcentagem de apoptose/necrose, o TNF-a e a PGE2 foram determinados pelo ensaio de AnexinaV/Iodeto de Propídeo, bioensaio (L929) e ELISA, respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram que a contagem total de células nucleadas foi sempre menor no grupo controle em relação ao grupo atleta (P<0,05). Observaram-se aumentos na porcentagem de células em apoptose (P<0,05) e necrose (P<0,05), concentração de PGE2 (P<0,05) e proteína sinovial (P<0,05), e diminuição da concentração de TNF-a (P<0,05) após 3 horas do término do exercício. O grupo atleta apresentou grau moderado de inflamação articular após o exercício intenso. Esta resposta dos tecidos articulares frente ao insulto mecânico do exercício, com maior intensidade às 3 horas após término da atividade esportiva e retornando à normalidade 24 horas após, revela a capacidade da adaptação articular ao estresse físico, em eqüinos atletas.(AU)

The effects of biomechanical stress on inflammatory and adaptative responses of articular tissues in athletic horses were investigated. Synovial fluid was collected from the metacarpophalangeal joints of athletic horses before exercise and 3, 6, 24 hours after exercise, and as well as from the control group (without exercise). Apoptosis/necrosis percentage, TNF-a and PGE2 were determined by annexin V/PI assay, bioassay (L929) and ELISA, respectively. The results showed that total leukocyte count was higher in the athletic group when is compared with the control group. Three hours after the exercise was done there were increases of cellular apoptosis (P>0.05) and necrosis (P<0.05) percentage, PGE2 concentration (P<0.05) and protein concentration (P<0.05), and the TNF-a level has dropped. The athletic group showed moderate level of joint inflammation after the strenuous exercise. This articular tissue response to biomechanical insult due to the exercise, with high intensity after 3 hours after training associated with normality after 24 hours, reveals the articular adaptation to physical stress in athletic horses.(AU)

Inserção de prótese homóloga de gnatoteca em tucano de bico verde (Ramphastos dicolorus Linnaeus, 1766) / Gnatotheca homologous prothesis insertion in a red-breasted toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus Linnaeus, 1766)

O bico das aves é uma estrutura dinâmica em crescimento constante, constituída pelos ossos maxilares superior e inferior, cobertos por bainhas epidérmicas queratinizadas. Exemplos de problemas adquiridos envolvem malformações, necrose do bico ou traumas incluindo perfurações, lacerações, rachaduras e avulsões. O presente trabalho relata um caso bem sucedido de inserção de prótese homóloga de gnatoteca em um tucano de bico verde (Ramphastos dicolorus), contribuindo assim aos recentes estudos das correções de bico em aves selvagens.(AU)

The avian beak is a dynamic structure in constant growth, constituted by the upper and lower bones, covered by keratin. Examples of problems are malformations, necrosis of the beak or fractures including perforations, lacerations, cracks and avulsions. The present work report a case of gnatotheca homologous prosthesis in a red-breasted toucan(Ramphastos dicolorus), contributing to the recent studies of the beak corrections.(AU)

Inserção de prótese homóloga de gnatoteca em tucano de bico verde (Ramphastos dicolorus Linnaeus, 1766) / Gnatotheca homologous prothesis insertion in a red-breasted toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus Linnaeus, 1766)

O bico das aves é uma estrutura dinâmica em crescimento constante, constituída pelos ossos maxilares superior e inferior, cobertos por bainhas epidérmicas queratinizadas. Exemplos de problemas adquiridos envolvem malformações, necrose do bico ou traumas incluindo perfurações, lacerações, rachaduras e avulsões. O presente trabalho relata um caso bem sucedido de inserção de prótese homóloga de gnatoteca em um tucano de bico verde (Ramphastos dicolorus), contribuindo assim aos recentes estudos das correções de bico em aves selvagens.

The avian beak is a dynamic structure in constant growth, constituted by the upper and lower bones, covered by keratin. Examples of problems are malformations, necrosis of the beak or fractures including perforations, lacerations, cracks and avulsions. The present work report a case of gnatotheca homologous prosthesis in a red-breasted toucan(Ramphastos dicolorus), contributing to the recent studies of the beak corrections.