Esophageal pythiosis in an ostrich (Struthio camelus) / Ptiose Esofágica em avestrus (Struthio camelus)

Uma avestruz-do-pescoço-vermelho, com dois anos de idade, apresentava um nódulo no terço médio do esôfago e foi submetida a procedimento cirúrgico. Histologicamente, observou-se uma área focalmente extensa de necrose estendendo-se da túnica mucosa à muscular, e, em algumas secções, à túnica adventícia. Circundando a área de necrose, observou-se uma reação inflamatória composta principalmente por granulócitos e macrófagos, associada à fibroplasia e neovascularização. Em meio às áreas de necrose e inflamação, verificavam-se numerosas imagens negativas de hifas em seções longitudinais e transversais, melhor apreciadas pela coloração de metenamina nitrato de prata de Grocott. O diagnóstico definitivo de infecção por Pythium insidiosum foi confirmado por imuno-histoquímica. A avestruz recebia água para consumo de um lago localizado em uma área de pastagem, no qual alguns cavalos haviam desenvolvido pitiose cutânea anteriormente.(AU)

Heart rate variability during 6-min walk test in adults aged 40 years and older.

We evaluated age- and sex-dependent differences in heart rate variability (HRV) during the 6-min walk test (6MWT) in healthy adults. We also evaluated the intensity of the 6MWT based on HRV. 78 participants aged 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and ≥ 70 years (42 females; 36 men) performed the 6MWT. Heart rate and HRV were monitored 1 min at rest and during the last 2-min of the test. The root mean square (RMSSD), instantaneous beat-to-beat variability (SD1), and long-term standard deviation (SD2) of RR intervals were calculated. The SD1 <3 ms at the end of the 6MWT was defined as high-intensity exercise. Despite the significantly higher peak values of heart rate observed for women, we did not find sex- and age-related differences in HRV during the 6MWT. The ROC curve identified percentage of maximum heart rate >67% as the best cut-point for prediction of high-intensity exercise with 94% of sensitivity and 65% of specificity (area under the curve=0.804). We may conclude that autonomic modulation of heart rate during exercise was not dependent of age and sex. The HRV assessment during walking enables a valid estimation of exercise intensity in adults. We may therefore suggest the use of 6MWT for assessing exercise capacity and for prescribing exercises in adults aged 40 yrs and older.

Experimental intoxication by the mushroom Ramaria flavo-brunnescens in sheep.

Ramaria flavo-brunnescens collected in autumn from 1990 to 1994 was orally administered to 11 sheep. These animals were dosed with 100-430 g/kg bw administered over 3-13 d. Six sheep showed clinical signs and 4 of them died. The mininum toxic dose was of 150 g/kg bw. Clinical signs were anorexia, hyperthermia, dyspnea, polyuria, ataxy, muscle tremors and seizures. The eyes had hyperemia of the sclera and, in some cases, hemorrhages of the anterior chamber or corneal opacity. Sheep dosed with higher doses had ulcerations of the tongue and necrotic lesions in the hooves. The main histologic lesions of the feet and tongue were miopachynsis and endotelial degeneration followed by degeneration, necrosis and ulceration of the epithelium. Hemorrhages of the anterior chamber, and severe congestion and hemorrhages of the iris, ciliary body and process were observed in the eyes. Congestion and perivascular hemorrhages occurred in the central nervous system. The similarity of clinical signs and pathologic lesions induced by R flavo-brunnescens and those caused by ergotism in cattle and sheep suggests the presence ofa vasoactive constrictive substance in the mushroom. Fresh R flavo-brunnescens dosed in autumn 1993 was not toxic at doses of 200-400 g/kg demonstrating variations in the toxicity of the mushroom from year to year.