Ramos do arco aórtico e da aorta torácica em bicho-preguiça (Bradypus variegatus) / Branches of the aortic arch and thoracic aorta of the sloth (Bradypus variegatus)

As preguiças são mamíferos arborícolas, bem específicos quanto aos hábitos e à morfofisiologia. Essa condição faz delas ainda mais vulneráveis aos impactos ambientais. Com o objetivo de fornecer informações que auxiliem na clínica médico-cirúrgica desses Xenarthras, realizou-se um estudo do arco aórtico e da artéria aorta torácica, a fim de se identificarem seus principais ramos. Foram utilizados 10 animais da espécie Bradypus variegatus, sendo uma fêmea e três machos submetidos a dissecação, por meio da qual foram obtidas medidas de diâmetro e comprimento dos vasos, enquanto três fêmeas e três machos destinaram-se à técnica de radiografia digital com contraste. Constatou-se uma sintopia uniforme do arco, bem como da porção descendente da artéria aorta no tórax. No entanto, a topografia difere consideravelmente. Com base nos ramos, percebeu-se, independentemente do sexo, uma maior variação naqueles originados do arco e dos que emergem da artéria aorta torácica e irrigam estruturas medianas e do antímero direito do tórax. Foram obtidos valores maiores para o diâmetro das artérias na fêmea do que nos machos e, para o comprimento da artéria aorta torácica, foram encontrados valores correspondentes em ambos. Toda essa variação dos bradipodídeos apresenta diferenças em relação a outros mamíferos.(AU)

Sloths are arboreal mammals, very specific, regarding their habits and morphology. This condition makes them even more vulnerable to environmental impacts. In order to provide information to assist in the medical and surgical assistance to these Xenarthras, a study of the aortic arch and thoracic portion of the descending aorta was carried out with the purpose of identify its main branches. Ten animals of the Bradypus variegatus species were used. One female and three males were submitted to dissection, where measurements of vessel diameter and length were obtained, while three females and three males were submitted to the digital contrast x-ray technique. There was a uniform syntopy of the arch, as well as of the descending portion of the aorta in the thorax. However, the topography differs considerably. Based on the branches, regardless of gender, a greater variation was observed in those originating from the arch, and those that emerge from the thoracic aorta and irrigate medial structures and the right antimere of the thorax. Greater values were obtained for the diameter of the arteries in the female than in the males and corresponding values for the length of the thoracic aorta in both. All this variation is possibly related to the adaptive processes of Bradipodidae over time.(AU)

Normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival flora in the Crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) and Coati (Nasua nasua) housed in captivity in pernambuco and paraiba (Northeast, Brazil).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the normal aerobic bacterial conjunctival population of the Coatis and the Crab-eating raccoons housed in captivity in the Pernambuco and Paraiba states of Brazil. ANIMALS STUDIED: Ten healthy Coatis and 10 healthy Crab-eating raccoons were selected for this study. Animals are from three zoos situated at the Pernambuco and Paraiba States in the north-east of Brazil. PROCEDURES: After ophthalmologic examination, swabs from healthy animals were carefully collected in order to avoid contamination. Samples were identified and submitted to the laboratory. Swabs were plated for culture on ovine blood agar (8%) and agar Levine and incubated at 37 °C and observed 24 and 48 h. RESULTS: Staphylococcus spp. was the most common microorganism isolated from conjunctival sac. Shigella spp. comprised the Gram-negative genera isolated. Escherichia coli were isolated from the right eye of one Coati that had no growth at contralateral eye. Nine eyes from coatis and 10 from Crab-eating raccoons had no microorganisms isolated. CONCLUSION: Our results were in accordance with previous studies indicating Staphylococcus sp., followed by Corynebacterium spp. as the most common inhabitant of the eyes of most mammalian species.

Fractal analysis of retinal vessel patterns in ophthalmically normal dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To study the applicability of the fractal dimension as a parameter for describing retinal vessel patterns in ophthalmically normal dogs. PROCEDURES: The following strategy was adopted: (i) development of an experimental procedure to obtain digitalized photographs of the fundus; (ii) development of software to segment retinal vessel images and calculate the box-counting and radius of gyration fractal dimensions of the retinal vessels and diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA), a process with similar characteristics to retinal vessel morphology, and (iii) establishment of a standard curve for the fractal dimensions of segmented vessels. RESULTS: Digitalized photographs of the fundus showed an adequate contrast between the vessels and the rest of the fundus for numerical analysis. The software developed produced a binary image of the retinal vessels permitting calculation of the fractal dimension. The mean values of the fractal dimensions calculated by the methods of box-counting and radius of gyration for the DLA were significantly different (t = -40.33, P approximately 0). The radius of gyration method was found to be more suitable for documenting the dimension of the DLA and, consequently, of the dog's retinal vessels. CONCLUSION: This methodology may be useful to differentiate between normal and pathologic states of canine retinal vascularization.