OSTEODENSITOMETRY AND TOMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN FOUR CAPTIVE GIANT SOUTH AMERICAN TURTLES (PODOCNEMIS EXPANSA) WITH METABOLIC BONE DISEASE.

Giant South American turtles (Podocnemis expansa) are at a risk of extinction because of the rapid decline in their population over the last few decades. Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is common in captive testudines, but is often not diagnosed until a later stage. The authors present the cases of four captive giant South American turtles with carapace deformity secondary to MBD that underwent computed tomography (CT) scans of the carapace bones and vertebral column. Findings indicative of changes in geometry were found in both. The cancellous bone pattern was characterized by varying degrees of increased trabecular spacing and cortical thinning of the pleural bones. Bone densitometry analysis of the pleural and neural bones and at the level of the body of the third, fourth, and fifth dorsal vertebrae showed mean density values much lower than those found in two adult specimens of the same species that were considered healthy. In conclusion, CT contributed important information on the degree of demineralization and possible structural changes due to MBD and should be considered a relevant tool for diagnosis of this condition.

QUANTITATIVE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF HEALTHY ADULT BOAS ( BOA CONSTRICTOR).

The evaluation of radiodensity using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) has several indications in animals. It allows for standardization of reference values for bone densitometry and helps in the clinical diagnosis of diseases. Currently, there is a lack of such data in the literature for Boa constrictor constrictor. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate reference values for bone density in boas ( Boa constrictor constrictor). Computed tomography scans were performed on 10 adult, healthy, free-ranging boas. Results showed mean values of vertebral trabecular bone for free-ranging boas were 1,237.91 ± 54.61 mg/cm3. Because of the difficulty in obtaining clinical and radiographic diagnoses of metabolic bone diseases, especially in a timely manner, densitometry may become a helpful tool in preventive veterinary medicine.

Desenvolvimento de caminhar espinal em cães paraplégicos com fraturas e luxações vertebrais toracolombares / Development of spinal walking in paraplegic dogs with thoracolumbar spinal fractures/luxations

Fraturas e luxações vertebrais (FLV) toracolombares estão dentre as afecções neurológicas mais frequentes na neurologia veterinária. São um dos distúrbios mais graves e desafiadores, devido ao elevado risco de paralisia permanente, levando muitos animais a serem submetidos à eutanásia, devido ao prognóstico desfavorável nos animais que perderam a nocicepção. Objetivou-se descrever as bases neurofisiológicas responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento do caminhar espinal e analisar, em 37 cães acometidos por FLV toracolombares, os dados referentes à taxa de recuperação dos animais com e sem nocicepção. Naqueles sem nocicepção, analisou-se ainda a frequência dos animais que desenvolveram caminhar espinal e o período médio para seu aparecimento. Em relação ao grau da lesão a as taxas de recuperação, 14/37 animais (37,8%) possuíam nocicepção, no qual a taxa de recuperação da deambulação voluntaria e das funções viscerais foi de 100%. Enquanto que 23/37 animais (62,1%) perderam a nocicepção, no qual nenhum recuperou a deambulação voluntária, ocorrendo morte por causas diversas em sete destes. Dos 16 animais sem nocicepção sobreviventes e que foram submetidos ao tratamento conservativo ou cirúrgico, cinco (31,25%) readquiriram a capacidade de caminhar (tempo médio de 115 dias) sem recuperar a nocicepção, sendo esta deambulação involuntária atribuída ao caminhar espinal. De acordo com os resultados desta pesquisa, o parâmetro isolado da perda da nocicepção não deve desencorajar a realização da terapia, pois em cães paraplégicos com FLV toracolombares, há possibilidade de ocorrer desenvolvimento de deambulação involuntária.(AU)

Thoracolumbar vertebral fractures and luxations (VFL) are one of the most common neurological disorders in veterinary neurology and one of the most serious and challenging disorders due to the high risk of permanent paralysis, leading many dogs to be euthanized without treatment due to the reports of unfavorable prognosis about ambulation in animals that lost nociception. This study aimed to describe the neurophysiologic bases responsible for the development of the spinal walking and examine in 37 dogs affected with thoracolumbar VFL, data relating to the recovery rate of animals with and without nociceptionIn those without nociception was analyzed the frequency of the spinal walking animals that developed for its appearance, and the average period was established. Regarding the degree of injury to recovery rates, 14/37 dogs (37.8%) had nociception, in which the rate of recovery of voluntary ambulation was 100%. While 23/37 dogs (62.1%) lost the nociception, where no voluntary ambulation was regained ambulation, occurred death from various causes in seven of these. From 16 dogs without nociception and survivors who underwent conservative or surgical treatment, five (31.25%) regained the ability to walk without regaining nociception; this was attributed to spinal walking, where the average time for their development was 115 days. According to the results of this study, the single parameter of loss of the nociception should not discourage the therapy, as paraplegic dogs with thoracolumbar VFL can develop involuntary ambulation.(AU)

Evaluation of cranial tibial and extensor carpi radialis reflexes before and after anesthetic block in cats.

Objectives This study aimed to test the extensor carpi radialis and cranial tibial reflexes in cats before and after anesthetic block of the brachial and lumbosacral plexus, respectively, to determine whether they depend on a myotatic reflex arc. Methods Fifty-five cats with a normal neurologic examination that were referred for elective gonadectomy were divided into group 1 (29 cats) for testing the extensor carpi radialis reflex, and group 2 (26 cats) for testing the cranial tibial reflex. In group 1, the extensor carpi radialis reflex was tested after anesthetic induction and 15 mins after brachial plexus block with lidocaine. In group 2, the cranial tibial, withdrawal and patellar reflexes were elicited in 52 hindlimbs and retested 15 mins after epidural anesthesia. Results In group 1, before the anesthetic block, 55.17% of the cats had a decreased and 44.83% had a normal extensor carpi radialis reflex. After the block, 68.96% showed a decreased and 27.59% a normal reflex. No cat had an increased or absent reflex before anesthetic block. In group 2, prior to the anesthetic block, 15.38% of the cats had a decreased cranial tibial reflex and 84.62% had a normal response, whereas after the block it was decreased in 26.92% and normal in 73.08% of the cats. None of the cats had an increased or absent reflex. Regarding the presence of both reflexes before and after anesthetic block, there was no significant difference at 1% ( P = 0.013). Conclusions and relevance The extensor carpi radialis and cranial tibial reflexes in cats are not strictly myotatic reflexes, as they are independent of the reflex arc, and may be idiomuscular responses. Therefore, they are not reliable for neurologic examination in this species.

Esporotricose felina no município de itaporanga, estado da paraíba, Brasil: relato de um caso / Esorotricosis felina en el municipio de itaporanga, estado de la paraíba, Brasil: relato de caso / Feline sporotrichosis in the city of itaporanga, state of paraiba, Brazil: a case report

No sentido de contribuir com dados relacionados à presença da esporotricose felina na região Nordeste do Brasil, o trabalho objetivou descrever um caso de esporotricose em gato doméstico nativo do município de Itaporanga, Paraíba. Um felino, macho, da raça Siamês, 11 anos de idade, apresentava o histórico de aumento de volume nasal, de caráter crônico. Clinicamente observou-se uma neoformação localizada na região nasal dorsal, com abrangência subcutânea e base de inserção séssil. Optou-se por realizar exame citológico e cultura fúngica do tecido nasal neoformado. Posteriormente executou-se biópsia excisional da lesão localizada em região nasal, encaminhando-se a amostra obtida para análise histopatológica com a utilização de colorações pelos métodos de Hematoxilina-Eosina e Ácido Periódico de Schiff. A análise citopatológica detectou inflamação granulomatosa. Na cultura microbiológica não se observou crescimento fúngico. Devido ao resultado de tais exames complementares, justificou-se a biópsia excisional da lesão nasal. A análise histopatológica demonstrou (com o auxílio da coloração do Ácido Periódico de Schiff), a presença de estruturas compatíveis com Sporothrix schenkii. Nesse sentido, foi estabelecido o diagnóstico de esporotricose e realizou-se a prescrição do itraconazol. Observou-se involução inicial da lesão. Contudo, após algumas semanas do seguimento com o tratamento antifúngico, o animal veio a óbito e não foi possível realizar necropsia. A esporotricose deve ser considerada em felinos que apresentam lesões cutâneas características da doença e oriundos do município de Itaporanga, estado da Paraíba, Brasil.

In order to contribute with data related to the presence of feline sporotrichosis in northeastern Brazil, the study aimed to describe a case of sporotrichosis in a domestic native cat of Itaporanga city, Paraíba, Brazil. An eleven-year-old, male, Siamese cat had a history of chronic condition of an increased nasal volume. Clinically, a neoformation located in the nasal dorsum with subcutaneous coverage and sessile insertion base was observed. A cytological examination of the nasal change was chosen and then some of the collected material was sent for fungal culture. Subsequently, excisional biopsy of the lesion in the nasal region was performed, and the obtained sample was sent for histological analysis with the use of staining methods with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff. The cytological analysis detected granulomatous inflammation. Microbiological culture did not show fungal growth. Due to the results of such complementary exams, excisional biopsy of the nasal injury was justified. A histopathologic analysis showed (with the help periodic acid-Schiff) the presence of structures compatible to Sporothrix schenkii. Accordingly, the diagnosis of sporotrichosis was reached and itraconazole was prescribed. Regression of the early lesions was observed. However, after a few weeks of the beginning of the antifungal treatment, the animal died and no autopsy was possible. Sporotrichosis should be considered in cats which present skin lesions with characteristics of this disease and from the city of Itaporanga, state of Paraiba, Brazil.

En el sentido de contribuir con datos relacionados a la presencia de esporotricosis felina en la región Nordeste de Brasil, este estudio ha tenido por objetivo describir un caso de esporotricosis en gato doméstico nativo del municipio de Itaporanga, Paraíba. Un felino, macho, de la raza siamés, 11 años de edad, presentaba histórico de aumento de volumen nasal, de carácter crónico. Clínicamente se observó una neo formación localizada en la región nasal dorsal, con alcance subcutáneo y base de inserción sésil. Se ha elegido realizar examen citológico y cultura fúngica del tejido nasal neo formado. Posteriormente se ha ejecutado biopsia por escisión de la lesión localizada en la región nasal, encaminando la muestra para análisis histopatológico con utilizaciones de coloraciones por los métodos de Hematoxilina- Eosina y Ácido Periódico de Schiff. El análisis cito patológica ha encontrado inflamación granulo matosa. En la cultura microbiológica no se ha observado crecimiento fúngico. Debido al resultado de tales exámenes complementares, se justificó la biopsia por escisión de lesión nasal. El análisis histopatológico demostró (con el auxilio de coloración de Ácido Periódico de Schiff), la presencia de estructuras compatibles con Sporothrix schenkii. Así, se estableció el diagnóstico de esporotricosis y se ha realizado la prescripción de itraconazol. Se observó involución inicial de la lesión. Todavía, tras algunas semanas del seguimiento con el tratamiento anti fúngico, el animal vino a óbito y no fue posible realizar necropsia. La esporotricosis debe ser considerada en felinos que presentan lesiones cutáneas características de la enfermedad y oriundos del municipio de Itaporanga, estado de la Paraíba, Brasil.