Thermal stress index for native sheep.

The first objective of this study was to develop a thermal stress index for sheep based on environmental and animal data collected in a climate chamber under various environmental conditions. The second objective was to compare published indices of thermal comfort and the proposed index, testing them with the data from this study, with the objective of pointing out the most adequate index to be used by breeders when choosing management procedures. A total of 3024 data were obtained for the physiological variables of the sheep exposed to the eight thermal conditions in the climatic chamber and in ambient condition, kept three days in each thermal condition. A principal component analysis summarized the measurements of physiological variables into only one variable (y1). Using SigmaPlot software, multiple regression of y1 with the environmental variables and their combinations produced a number of indices. The equation chosen was the heat stress index for sheep, TSI = 24.153 - (0.0523*AT) + (0.746*BGT) + (4.104*Vp), with R2 = 0.668. The correlations presented high values, where these correlation values were assumed to indicate the efficiency of each index as indicators of the animals' response to the environment. Thus, it was assumed that the TSI presents a high efficiency.

Morphology of coat and skin of small ruminants reared in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

The structure of the coat and integument of small ruminants reared in semi-arid regions have valuable characteristics that favor their adaptation to the region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the structural characteristics of the coat and integument and sweating capacity of goats and sheep in the Brazilian semi-arid region, using 20 animals, 10 of each breed, 5 males and 5 females of each species, grouped in a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (2 species and 2 genders) with 5 replicates. The animals were already being kept under the influence of high temperatures and levels of direct solar radiation before the day of the collections. At the time of the evaluations, ambient temperature was high, with low relative humidity. The pattern of epidermal thickness and sweat glands per body region was superior in sheep (P < 0.05), and the number of hair follicles and sweat rate were similar (P > 0.05) between the species. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in the evaluated characteristics between the genders, showing that they are not influenced by hormones. The morphology of the coat and skin of these animals showed a superiority of goats compared to sheep.

Systemic and neurotoxic effects of epidural meloxicam in rabbits / Efeitos sistêmicos e neurotóxicos do meloxicam por via epidural em coelhos

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess systemic and neurotoxic changes following an epidural administration of meloxicamin to rabbits. Twelve adult rabbits four males and eight females; average mass, 1.9 ± 0.1kg were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (GC), which received a single dose of 0.9% NaCl epidurally in a volume of 0.3mL kg-1and a meloxicam group (GM), which received 0.2mg kg-1 meloxicam epidurally along with 0.9% NaCl in a total volume of 0.3mL kg-1. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and neurological abnormalities were assessed prior to administration of anesthesia (H0), 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24h following epidural puncture (H1, H2, H3, H6, H12, and H24, respectively), and every 24h afterward for 10 days after epidural puncture (D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, and D10). The surface temperature of lumbosacral region was also measured at H0, H1, H6, H12, H24, D5 and D10. Three animals from each group were euthanized on days 15 and 30 after epidural puncture to assess possible spinal injuries. Variances observed in physiological parameters were not suggestive of adverse effects of meloxicam, as all were within the reference standards, and there were no physical or behavioral changes observed. Neurological function was similar between groups, with only difference between baseline values and values 1h after epidural administration in both groups. There were no histopathological changes in the GM group, and only one animal showed discrete lymphocytic infiltrate. Epidural lumbosacral administration of meloxicam at a dose of 0.2mg kg-1 caused no significant systemic or neurotoxic effects in rabbits.

RESUMO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as alterações sistêmicas e neurotóxicas promovidas pelo meloxicam, administrado por via epidural, em coelhos. Foram utilizados 12 coelhos adultos, quatro machos e oito fêmeas, pensando em média 1,9 ± 0,1kg. Os animais foram divididos equitativa e aleatoriamente em dois grupos, os quais receberam dose única de solução de NaCl 0,9% no volume de 0,3mL kg-1, por via epidural (grupo controle - GC) ou meloxicam (0,2mg kg-1) associado à solução de NaCl 0,9%, compondo um volume total de 0,3mL kg-1 (grupo meloxicam - GM). Avaliaram-se frequências cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura corporal e alterações neurológicas, antes da administração da anestesia (H0), uma, duas, três, seis, 12 e 24 horas após a punção epidural (H1, H2, H3, H6, H12 e H24, respectivamente) e a cada 24 horas após o H24, até o 10º dia após a punção epidural (D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9 e D10). Mensurou-se ainda a temperatura superficial da região lombossacra em H0, H1, H6, H12, H24, D5 e D10. Realizou-se eutanásia em três animais de cada grupo no 15o e no 30o dia após o início do experimento, para avaliação das possíveis lesões medulares. As variâncias observadas nos parâmetros fisiológicos não foram sugestivas de efeito adverso do meloxicam, pois estiveram dentro do padrão de referência e não houve alterações físicas ou comportamentais. O exame neurológico se mostrou semelhante entre os grupos, havendo diferença apenas entre a avaliação inicial e uma hora após a epidural em ambos os grupos. Na histopatologia não houve alterações no GM e apenas um animal do GC apresentou discreto infiltrado linfoplasmocitário. A administração epidural lombossacra de meloxicam, na dose de 0,2mg kg-1, não causa efeitos sistêmicos e neurotóxicos significativos, em coelhos.

Migração cranial de diferentes volumes de iobitridol, administrados pela via epidural lombossacra, em coelhos / Cranial spread of different volumes of iobitridol, administered by epidural lumbosacral route, in rabbits

Com o objetivo de avaliar a migração cranial de diferentes volumes de iobitridol, administrado por via epidural lombossacra, bem como as possíveis alterações decorrentes dessa administração, foram utilizados 12 coelhos, sem raça definida, com 1,0±0,5 anos de idade e pesando 2,4±0,4 kg. Os animais foram anestesiados com xilazina (5 mg/kg) e cetamina (20 mg/kg), por via intramuscular, 15 minutos antes da punção lombossacra. Foram compostos dois grupos: grupo 1 (G1), onde foi administrado iobitridol, no volume de 0,33 mL/kg; e grupo 2 (G2), 0,22 mL/kg. Avaliaram-se as frequências cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (f), a duração da onda P, do intervalo PR, do complexo QRS e do intervalo QT, a saturação de oxihemoglobina (SPO2) e a temperatura retal (TR), antes da epidurografia e a cada 10 minutos após, durante 60 minutos. Também foram analisadas a migração cranial do iobitridol e a ataxia produzida. A FC, f e TR reduziram e a duração do intervalo QT aumentou após a anestesia em ambos os grupos. As durações do intervalo PR e do complexo QRS aumentaram no G1. O limite cranial da migração do meio de contraste variou entre a 4а vértebra lombar e a 8а vértebra torácica no G1 e entre a 5а vértebra lombar e a 11а vértebra torácica no G2. A ataxia foi moderada em ambos os grupos. Conclui-se que a administração do iobitridol pela via epidural lombossacra, associada à anestesia dissociativa com xilazina-cetamina, e nos volumes utilizados e sob as condições de estudo, causa alterações toleráveis nos parâmetros avaliados em coelhos hígidos, e quando utilizado neste modelo animal não causa sinais de neurotoxicidade.

In order to evaluate the cranial spread of different volumes of iobitridol, by epidural lumbosacral route, 12 mongrel rabbits, 1.0±0.5 years old, weighing 2.4±0.4 kg were used. The animals were anesthetized with xylazine (5 mg/kg) and ketamine (20 mg/kg) intramuscularly, 15 minutes before of the lumbosacral puncture. Two groups were formed: iobitridol was administered at a volume of 0.33 mL/kg in the group 1 (G1) and at 0.22 mL/kg in the group 2 (G2). The heart (HR) and respiratory rates (f), duration of P-wave, PR interval, QRS complex and QT interval, oxyhemoglobin saturation (OS) and rectal temperature (RT) were evaluated, before epidurography and every 10 minutes after, for 60 minutes. The cranial spread of iobitridol and the ataxia produced were also analyzed. FC, f and RT reduced and duration of QT interval increased after anesthesia in both groups. The duration of PR interval and QRS complex increased in G1. The cranial limit of the migration of the contrast medium varied between the 4th lumbar vertebra and the 8th thoracic vertebra in G1 and between the 5th lumbar vertebra and the 11th thoracic vertebra in G2. Ataxia was moderate in both groups. It is concluded that the administration of iobitridol by the lumbosacral epidural route, associated with dissociative anesthesia with xylazine-ketamine, and in the volumes used and under the study conditions, causes tolerable changes in the parameters evaluated in healthy rabbits, and when used in this animal model there is no signs of neurotoxicity