Evolution of fructosaminaemia and glucaemia during the growth of unweaned and early weaned half-bred zebu calves.

The purposes of the study were to obtain the confidence intervals for serum fructosamine concentrations in unweaned and early weaned calves, to verify the changes in this glycated protein during growth, when glucaemia declines, and to assess the changes in both parameters attributable to stress or alarm. Sixty out of 120 suckling half-bred zebu calves (60-75 days old) were weaned at day 0 and then received a commercial balanced diet, while the remainder continued to suck. Blood samples were taken at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, 90 and 120 days and the serum fructosamine and glucose concentrations were measured by conventional methods. Both biochemical parameters declined with time, but there were no statistical differences between the unweaned and weaned calves. The fall in fructosamine concentration correlated significantly with the decline in glucose concentrations in both groups. The confidence interval for fructosamine concentration decreased with age, from 294-303 micromol/L at 2 months old to 215-232 micromol/L at 6 months old. At the same time, glucaemia declined from 7.5-8.6 mmol/L to 4.8-5.3 mmol/L. Acute elevations in glucaemia, especially in the younger calves, were attributed to alarms, such as those caused by handling and blood extraction. The absence of resultant increases in fructosamine concentration discounts the existence of prolonged hyperglucaemias (stress) in early weaned calves.

Serum fructosamine: a reference interval for a heterogeneous canine population.

Eighty-nine healthy dogs (44 males, 45 females) of different breeds, 1-12 years of age, living under varied feeding and environmental conditions, were sampled to evaluate a reference interval for serum fructosamine using a nitroblue tetrazolium photocolorimetric method. The analytical assay was evaluated by calculation of within-run and between-day variations. The results were approximately normally distributed and the calculated reference interval was 192.6-357.4 mumol/L (mean 275.0 mumol/ L, standard deviation 41.2 mumol/L). No significant differences attributable to sex or age were observed. This reference interval is wider than those previously reported in less heterogeneous groups of dogs and in those from other geographical zones. The fructosamine values in serum from 3 diabetic dogs all exceeded the upper limit of the reference interval.

Exfoliative colpocytology: a method for the diagnosis of Capuchin monkey filariasis?

During vaginal fluid examinations (Papanicolaou) to study the physiological sexual cycle of Cebus sp., abundant Dipetalonema gracile microfilariae (110-160 microns x 4-5 microns, without a sheath) were encountered in the genital fluid, but not in peripheral blood. Considering the great difficulty in diagnosing this obscure parasitosis, exfoliative colpocytology was found to be an efficient diagnostic.

[Microfilariae in vaginal exudates from Argentinian apes]. / Microfilarias en el exudado vaginal de monos argentinos.

The finding of Dipetalonema gracile larves in vaginal content of capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) was reported. The sizes of microfilarias, which did not present capsule, were 110-160 microns long and 4-5 microns wide. Microfilarias did not find in peripheral blood. Assuming that the cycle of this worm is not yet elucidated, the authors postulate that the presence of larves in the female genital tract could relate with venereal transmission.

Effects of dietary lipidic charge in the concentration of bovine plasmatic lipids and lipoproteins. Its influence on the saturation degree of fatty acids' storaged lipids.

To estimate physiological changes due to added fat in bovine diet, whole cottonseed (19% lipids) was furnished to half-breed zebu cattle during 7 months. Thirty animals had increased its dietary lipidic charge in 2.6% (lot S), thirty were used as controls (lot C) and other two bovines were hyper-dosed with 7.9% added fat (lot H). Weight, clinical signs and plasmatic values of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), lipoproteins (LP) and other biochemical parameters were monthly controlled. At the end of the assay the steers were sacrificed and the quality of meat and fat was evaluated. The initial levels of TC were statistically homogeneous in all groups (mean = 1.0 g/l); they remained without modifications in C (1.53 g/l), but they had increased progressively in supplemented animals. At the end of the work TC was greater in H (3.95 g/l) than in S (2.44 g/l). Latest TG (initial mean = 0.30 g/l) also were greater in H (0.74 g/l) than in S (0.71 g/l). The lipoproteinogram stayed inalterable in C, meanwhile alpha LP were increased and beta LP were decreased in animals on which the dietary lipidic charge had been increased. The weight's gain/animal/day (X) was 130 g (C), 290 g (S) and 88 g (H). The general physiological condition was deteriorated in the last lot. After comparing lots C and S, results indicated that beefsteaks in the last group were heavier (2.45 vs. 2.33 kg), with more lipids (0.47 vs. 0.36 kg) and major fat veined proportion (1.40 vs. 1.25%). The stored lipids showed high saturation degree in S, with increment in the mean percentage of stearic acid (28.6%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of dietary lipidic charge in the concentration of bovine plasmatic lipids and lipoproteins. Its influence on the saturation degree of fatty acids storaged lipids.

To estimate physiological changes due to added fat in bovine diet, whole cottonseed (19

lipids) was furnished to half-breed zebu cattle during 7 months. Thirty animals had increased its dietary lipidic charge in 2.6

(lot S), thirty were used as controls (lot C) and other two bovines were hyper-dosed with 7.9

added fat (lot H). Weight, clinical signs and plasmatic values of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), lipoproteins (LP) and other biochemical parameters were monthly controlled. At the end of the assay the steers were sacrificed and the quality of meat and fat was evaluated. The initial levels of TC were statistically homogeneous in all groups (mean = 1.0 g/l); they remained without modifications in C (1.53 g/l), but they had increased progressively in supplemented animals. At the end of the work TC was greater in H (3.95 g/l) than in S (2.44 g/l). Latest TG (initial mean = 0.30 g/l) also were greater in H (0.74 g/l) than in S (0.71 g/l). The lipoproteinogram stayed inalterable in C, meanwhile alpha LP were increased and beta LP were decreased in animals on which the dietary lipidic charge had been increased. The weights gain/animal/day (X) was 130 g (C), 290 g (S) and 88 g (H). The general physiological condition was deteriorated in the last lot. After comparing lots C and S, results indicated that beefsteaks in the last group were heavier (2.45 vs. 2.33 kg), with more lipids (0.47 vs. 0.36 kg) and major fat veined proportion (1.40 vs. 1.25

). The stored lipids showed high saturation degree in S, with increment in the mean percentage of stearic acid (28.6

).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Radiological and biochemical evaluation of bone growth in young dogs.

Authors tried to find out a correlation between chronological age, inorganic phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with some radiological signs obtained from a periodical study of different sexes and breeds (small-middle-large) of dogs right foreleg from weaning to the end of osseous growth. They confirmed the period when ossification centres come in sight. The first centre appears at 3 weeks of life (humerus) and the last one at 8-10 weeks (scapular tuberosity). Epiphyseal fusion begins with the accessory carpal bone (16-20 weeks). Osseous development finished around 40 weeks with the fusion of proximal humerus and radius epiphyseal plates. During the work the ALP and P serum decreased values were significant (p less than 0.001), but Ca were not significant (p less than 0.05). There were good correlations with chronological age and both P (r = 0.98) and ALP values (r = 0.90). There was none correlation between age and Ca. When the osseous growth finished, Ca and P reached adult levels, but ALP was still elevated.

Radiological and biochemical evaluation of bone growth in young dogs.

Authors tried to find out a correlation between chronological age, inorganic phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with some radiological signs obtained from a periodical study of different sexes and breeds (small-middle-large) of dogs right foreleg from weaning to the end of osseous growth. They confirmed the period when ossification centres come in sight. The first centre appears at 3 weeks of life (humerus) and the last one at 8-10 weeks (scapular tuberosity). Epiphyseal fusion begins with the accessory carpal bone (16-20 weeks). Osseous development finished around 40 weeks with the fusion of proximal humerus and radius epiphyseal plates. During the work the ALP and P serum decreased values were significant (p less than 0.001), but Ca were not significant (p less than 0.05). There were good correlations with chronological age and both P (r = 0.98) and ALP values (r = 0.90). There was none correlation between age and Ca. When the osseous growth finished, Ca and P reached adult levels, but ALP was still elevated.

Canine dioctophymosis in the North East of Argentine.

Os Autores comunicam o achado de Dioctophyme renale em caes de duas cidades do nordeste argentino. Descrevem os dados dos caes afetados, bem como o numero, sexo e comprimento dos vermes encontrados. Os resultados de varios exames bioquimicos realizados em soro e urina indicam que os animais sofriam de pielonefrite cronica. Ilustram a comunicacao com fotografias de vermes adultos e seus ovos, encontrados estes ultimos nos sedimentos urinarios.Nos 102 animais examinados, encontram uma taxa de prevalencia de 2,9%