Perfil hematológico e bioquímico de búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) na Amazônia Oriental / Hematologic and biochemical profile of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Eastern Amazonia

O hemograma e as dosagens bioquímicas são exames rotineiramente utilizados na avaliação da saúde dos animais domésticos, incluindo os búfalos. Na região Amazônica pesquisas nessa temática ainda são escassas. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer intervalos de referência para hematologia e bioquímica sanguínea de Bubalus bubalis criados na Amazônia Oriental e avaliar os efeitos da idade e do sexo sobre os valores bioquímicos e hematológicos obtidos. Foram utilizados 73 animais da raça Murrah, divididos em três grupos, o grupo 1 (G1, n=22) com animais de dois a oito meses, grupo 2 (G2, n=23) com animais de nove a dois anos e o grupo 3 (G3, n=28) com animais com mais de dois anos. Os hemogramas e as análises bioquímicas foram realizados em equipamentos automatizados. Os intervalos de referência foram estabelecidos conforme as recomendações do Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Para avaliar o efeito do sexo e da idade foram utilizados os testes de Tukey, e Kruskal-Wallis, sendo as diferenças consideradas significativas quando P<0,05. Houve influencia da idade sobre os valores de hemácias (He), hematócrito (Ht), hemoglobina (Hb), leucócitos, linfócitos, eosinófilos, neutrófilos, plaquetas, volume plaquetário médio (VPM), índices hematimétricos (Volume Globular Média - VGM, Hemoglobina Corpuscular Média - HCM, e Coeficiente de variação eritrocitário - RDW) e relação neutrófilo:linfócito (N:L). O sexo influenciou o valor do VGM e do índice de amplitude de distribuição do tamanho da plaqueta (PDW) que foram maiores (P<0,05) nas fêmeas, enquanto o RDW foi maior nos machos. Na comparação dos parâmetros bioquímicos entre as faixas etárias, verificou-se que a idade influenciou a atividade das enzimas aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e fosfatase alcalina (FA) e as concentrações de creatinina, proteínas totais e bilirrubina direta. As concentrações de creatinina e bilirrubina direta foram significativamente maiores nos animais da maior faixa etária. O sexo influenciou a atividade da AST e a concentração de bilirrubina direta, que foram maiores (P<0.05) nos machos. Os valores hematológicos e bioquímicos estabelecidos podem ser utilizados como referência para búfalos criados na Amazônia Oriental.(AU)

Complete blood cell count and biochemical testing are exams routinely used in assessing the health of domestic animals, including buffaloes. In the Amazon region, research on this subject is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for hematology and blood chemistry of Bubalus bubalis raised in eastern Amazon and evaluate the effects of age and sex on biochemical and hematological values. Seventy-three (n=73) Murrah buffaloes were divided into three groups, group 1 (G1, n=22): animals from two to eight months, group 2 (G2, n=23): animals from nine months to two years and group 3 (G3, n=28): animals over two years. Blood counts and biochemical analyzes were performed on automated equipment. The reference intervals were established as recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Tukey and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate the effect of gender and age, with differences considered significant when P <0.05. There was influence of age on the values of red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin , leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, platelets, mean platelet volume (MPV), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (HCM), Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and the proportion of neutrophil: lymphocyte (N:L). The gender affected MCV and the Platelets Distribution Width (PDW), which were higher (P<0.05) in females, while RDW was higher in males. Comparing the biochemical parameters among age groups, it was found that age influenced the activity of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the concentrations of creatinine, total protein and direct bilirubin. Creatinine concentrations and direct bilirubin were significantly higher in animals of older age. The gender affected the activity of AST and the concentration of direct bilirubin, which were higher (P <0.05) in males. Hematological and biochemical values set in this study can be used as a reference for buffaloes bred in eastern Amazon.(AU)

Effect of biometric variables on two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements in the red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor constrictor).

The effects of body biometrics on cardiac measurements and description of cardiac anatomy were performed in red-tailed boas (Boa constrictor constrictor) (n = 29) using real-time B-mode ultrasonography. Statistical comparison of measured cardiac metrics according to sex and body measurements demonstrated no significant difference between sexes but a highly significant linear increase between body length and mass and all cardiac metrics.

Anthelmintic activity of Jatropha curcas L. seeds on Haemonchus contortus.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of hexane (HE), ethyl acetate (EA) and ethanol (EE) extracts obtained from the seeds of Jatropha curcas using the egg hatch inhibition assay (EHA) and the artificial larval exsheathment inhibition assay (LEIA). For the egg hatch assay, HE, EA and EE were used in concentrations of 3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg ml(-1), accompanied by a negative control (5% Tween 80) and a positive control (0.025 g ml(-1) thiabendazole). In LEIA, the extracts were tested at a concentration of 1000 µg ml(-1), accompanied by a negative control (PBS). To evaluate the effect of tannins, the extract with the greatest effect was incubated with polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP). The EE (50 mg ml(-1)) inhibited 99.8% of egg hatching. After the addition of PVPP, the ovicidal effectiveness of EE was reduced to 91.9%. Using the HE and EA, inhibition of egg hatching was 15.3% and 32.2%, respectively. In the LEIA, 18.9% of L3 incubated with EE were exsheathed (p<0.01). The addition of PVPP to EE reversed the inhibitory effect on larval exsheathment. The percentage of exsheathment of L3 incubated with HE (99.6%) and EA (97.8%) did not differ from the control group (p>0.05). The results show that the effects of EE on eggs are not solely due to the tannins. However, these secondary metabolites are implicated in blocking the larval exsheathment.