Preliminary studies of neurosensory and cardiopulmonary health compromise in captive- bred Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) suffering scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: It has been widely documented that quadrupedal animals rarely display natural spontaneous scoliotic rachis deviations of the spinal column. The objective was to determine spinal deformities developed by geriatric monkeys of the Macaca mulatta species, by radiographical and tomographical studies of the vertebral column correlating morphological changes with altered physiological parameters and electrical neurosensorial conductivity of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of six geriatric monkeys was used: three non-scoliotic subjects and three monkeys with naturally acquired true scoliosis. RESULTS: Radiographic and tomographic studies depicted a thoracic curvature displaying a left-sided thoracic vertebral rotation. The evaluation of physiological parameters demonstrated significant differences in the respiratory rate, as it was observed for the diastolic blood pressures, which showed a decrease in the monkeys with scoliosis compared with healthy monkeys. Regarding the SEPs studies, the non-parametric test for independent samples Mann-Whitney U test displayed a significant difference observed at the left and right thoracic derivative in P1; while regarding the study of upper limbs, a significant difference was seen at the Erb's point derivative, left afferency in P1, showing in all the derivatives an increase in latency in monkeys with scoliosis versus monkeys in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that quadrupedal animals can develop true scoliosis showing an analogous way to that occurring in humans.

Different doses of enoxaparin in the prevention of postoperative abdominal adhesions. Experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative abdominal adhesions (PAAs) are present in more than 90% of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. They are a cause of chronic pain, hospitalizations, multiple surgeries, and infertility in women of reproductive age. The participation of three processes have been recognized: coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammation. The usefulness of subcutaneous enoxaparin in their prevention has been established. The objective is to establish the safest and most efficient dose for PAA prevention by testing five different doses of subcutaneous enoxaparin (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mg/kg/day) given in one dose/day for seven days. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were studied, 10 in each group. Adhesions were induced through controlled rubbing of the cecum and suturing of an incision in the terminal ileum. Two independent observers recorded the degree of adhesion formation at 14 days and histologically studied the adhesions. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: ANOVA compared group averages. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to identify group differences. RESULTS: The 0.5 mg/kg/day group had greater formation of adhesions (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the 1.5 and 2 mg/kg/day groups, though the latter group had an incidence of 27.2% of bleeding in the abdominal cavity. The degree of adhesions in the histological sections coincided with the macroscopic findings. The interobserver agreement was kappa = 0.88 (very good). CONCLUSION: The safe and effective dose of subcutaneous enoxaparin to prevent PAA formation was 0.5-1.5 mg/kg/day for seven days.

Somatosensory evoked potentials of median and tibial nerves in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) under captivity: influence of ontogenic status in neonatal, infant, young, adult, and senile stages.

BACKGROUND: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) constitute a useful neurophysiologic tool commonly used to assess the functionality and developmental degree of the nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To analyze somatosensory pathways of the Macaca mulatta species throughout different ontogenetic statuses. METHODS: Twenty non-human primates were divided into five age-dependant groups. Recording of SEPs was executed by stimulation of lower limb at the tibial nerve and upper limb and recorded at the median nerve. RESULTS: Two wave series were observed for all groups for both limbs studied. Significant differences were found at the upper right limb at C4, C7 and also for the antecubital fossa site. The lower limbs showed a single significant right-wing deflection. CONCLUSIONS: Differences found in signals generated by the nervous system in response to somatosensory stimuli among the studied groups are thought to be developmental in origin, as the most remarkable deviations were seen in younger monkeys.

Postoperative abdominal adhesions: pathogenesis and current preventive techniques.

Post-operative abdominal adhesions (PAA) are a condition that occurs in more than 90% of patients undergoing abdomen surgery; they can cause chronic abdominal pain, female infertility and repeated bowel obstruction, requiring repetitive surgical interventions causing morbidity and mortality, as well as high costs. The formation of the PAA is due to an imbalance between the fibrinogenesis and fibrinolysis in favor of the first, associated with tissue hypoxia secondary to aggression of the peritoneum, also due to the own inflammatory response and the increase in the population of adhesion fibroblasts which inhibit the degradation of the extracellular matrix and facilitate mature collagen and supporting connective tissue. The prevention of PAA will decrease secondary complications, as well as hospitalizations, surgeries and consequently, cost containment. The PAA pathophysiologic process allows establishing research strategies in order to prevent them.

Las adherencias abdominales postoperatorias (AAP) ocurren en más del 90% de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía de abdomen; pueden causar dolor abdominal crónico, infertilidad femenina y obstrucción intestinal recurrente, que requieren intervenciones quirúrgicas que son causa de morbilidad y mortalidad, así como altos costos. La formación de AAP se debe a un desequilibrio entre la fibrinogénesis y la fibrinólisis a favor de la primera, asociada con hipoxia tisular secundaria a la agresión del peritoneo, también debido a la propia respuesta inflamatoria y al aumento en la población de fibroblastos de adherencia que inhiben la degradación de la matriz extracelular y facilitan el colágeno maduro y el tejido conectivo de sostén. La prevención de las AAP disminuye las complicaciones secundarias, así como la necesidad de hospitalizaciones y cirugías, y en consecuencia se conseguirá una contención de costos. Conocer el proceso fisiopatológico de las AAP permite establecer estrategias de investigación para poder intervenir en su formación y prevenirlas en los diferentes pasos del proceso.

Multiple extrauterine pregnancy with early and near full-term mummified fetuses in a New Zealand white rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Extrauterine pregnancy (EP) is infrequent in mammalian species and occurs when fertilized ova implant and develop outside the uterus. A common outcome is abdominal pregnancy resulting in mummified fetuses (lithopedia). Here we describe an unusual case of abdominal pregnancy with early and near full-term lithopedia. Macroscopic findings supported the diagnosis of lithopedia with distinct age differences and facilitated further characterization of primary ectopia and risk factors leading to this occurrence.

Characterization of spontaneous subclavian steal phenomenon in a female rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta).

In subclavian steal phenomenon (SSP), the subclavian artery develops a stenoocclusive disease proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery, leading to pronounced hemodynamic changes such as arterial flow reversal. Although SSP is a common echographic finding in humans, the phenomenon occurs only rarely in animals; consequently its physiologic features have not been reported previously. Here we describe the clinical and morphologic features of a spontaneous left SSP that was an incidental finding in an 18-y-old female rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Our findings were documented through high-quality imaging studies obtained by using a computerized 3D tomography apparatus and clinical assessment of systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Radiographic incidence of spinal osteopathologies in captive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Degenerative spinal disease is a leading cause of chronic disability both in humans and animals. Although widely seen as a normal occurrence of aging, degenerative spinal disease can be caused by various genetic, iatrogenic, inflammatory, and congenital factors. The objective of this study was to characterize the degenerative spine-related diseases and the age at onset in a random subpopulation of 20 captive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta; male, 13; female, 7; age: range, 4 to 27 y; median, 18.5 y). Spinal radiographic evaluation (left lateral, right lateral, and ventrodorsal views) of the spinal column (C1 to S1) was performed, and spinal degenerative disease was scored. The incidence of osteopathology was higher in the 14- to 18-y-old group, but incidence did not differ according to sex. In the studied population, degenerative changes were present in monkeys as young as 9 y of age.

Estudio comparativo entre conejos Chinchilla Soviético, una raza nativa local y un conejo híbrido negro, bajo condiciones agroclimáticas de la Región de Meghalaya, India / Comparative study among Soviet Chinchilla rabbits, an indigenous breed and a black hybrid rabbit under agro climatic conditions of the Meghalaya, India Region

This work had the aim to meet the demand of local tribal people of the North eastern hills (NEH) region and to evaluate the beneficial heterotic effects of crossbreeding, developing a black-coated rabbit through the crossing of Soviet Chinchilla and indigenous local rabbits, followed by selection and line breeding to maintain the exotic blood level at 50%. Afterwards, a comparative study was done analyzing the different performance traits of Soviet Chinchilla, indigenous local rabbit and the resulting hybrid black rabbits. Data analysis revealed breed-dependent (P < 0.01) effect on all productive traits except on live weight at 60 days. The hybrid black rabbit developed through crossbreeding and line breeding was better than both, the indigenous local rabbit and the Soviet Chinchilla rabbits in terms of live weight at 60, 75 and 90 days of age, live weight gain and average daily gain during 45 to 60 days, 60 to 75 days and 45 to 90 days of age. Overall, mean growth during the period of 45 to 90 days of age in black, local and Soviet Chinchilla rabbits was recorded to be 18.71 ± 0.11, 17.60 ± 0.16 and 16.23 ± 0.21 g per day, respectively. The average air temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature and relative humidity during the period of this experiment was 24.44°C, 27.16°C, 16.54°C and 66.16%, respectively. Finally, this research demonstrated that deliberate selection in rabbits leads to improvement in quantitative productive traits.

Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron satisfacer las demandas de carne de conejo de tribus de la región montañosa (NEH) de la India, y evaluar los efectos benéficos de la heterosis. Para lo cual fue necesario desarrollar un conejo de capa negra mediante mestizaje entre las razas Chinchilla Soviético y una nativa local vía selección y entrecruzamiento controlado de línea única, obteniendo un híbrido con niveles de sangre exótica del 50%. Conformada la estirpe, se analizaron comparativamente rasgos de desempeño productivo entre las razas Chinchilla Soviético, nativa local y su descendencia híbrida negra. Los resultados revelaron un impacto raza-dependiente (P < 0.01) sobre todos los parámetros productivos, con excepción del peso vivo a los 60 días. El híbrido desarrollado mediante mestizaje y apareamiento consanguíneo de línea única fue superior que los conejos de raza nativa local y Chinchilla Soviético en términos de peso vivo a los 60, 75 y 90 días de edad, en la ganancia de peso vivo y promedio de ganancia de peso diaria durante los periodos de 45-60, 60-75 y 45-90 días. Los promedios de crecimiento durante el periodo de 45-90 días entre los conejos raza híbrida negra, nativa local y Chinchilla Soviético registraron niveles de 18.71 ± 0.11, 17.60 ± 0.16 y 16.23 ± 0.21 g/día, respectivamente. Los promedios de temperatura media, máxima y mínima y humedad relativa fueron de 24.44°C, 27.16°C, 16.54°C y 66.16%, respectivamente. Esta investigación demostró que la selección deliberada en conejos conduce a una mejora de los rasgos productivos cuantitativos.