Leporacarus gibbus (Acari: listrophoridae) in a naturally-infested domestic rabbit: first report of its occurrence in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil / Leporacarus gibbus (Acari: listrophoridae) em um coelho doméstico naturalmente infestado: primeiro relato de sua ocorrência no estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil

This study aimed to report the first occurrence of Leporacarus gibbus in a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The two-year-old male rabbit came from a rural area and was admitted to the Veterinary Hospital Professor Ricardo Alexandre Hippler with intense pruritus throughout the body, severe hair loss, crustal lesions on the outer surface of the ears, and desquamation mainly in the dorsal region. A skin scraping and trichogram were performed. In the microscopic evaluation of the hairs obtained from the dorsal region, mites with morphology compatible with L. gibbus were observed. Cheyletiella parasitovorax and Psoropotes cuniculi were also detected in the same region. Treatment with ivermectin (0.4 mg/kg) was prescribed with three applications every 14 days, over a period of six weeks. This report presents the first description of the occurrence of L. gibbus in the state of Espírito Santo concomitant with poly-infestation of C. parasitovorax and P. cuniculi, and it is hoped that this will provide a research tool for future work in the region.(AU)

Este trabalho teve como objetivo relatar a primeira ocorrência de Leporacarus gibbus em um coelho doméstico (Oryctolagus cuniculus) do estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. O coelho macho de dois anos de idade veio de uma área rural e foi internado no Hospital Veterinário Professor Ricardo Alexandre Hippler com intenso prurido em todo o corpo, severa queda de cabelo, lesões crustais na superfície externa das orelhas e descamação principalmente na região dorsal. A raspagem da pele e o tricograma foram realizados. Na avaliação microscópica dos pêlos obtidos na região dorsal, observaram-se ácaros com morfologia compatível com L. gibbus. Cheyletiella parasitovorax e Psoropotes cuniculi também foram detectados na mesma região. O tratamento com ivermectina (0,4 mg / kg) foi prescrito com três aplicações a cada 14 dias, durante um período de seis semanas. Este relato apresenta a primeira descrição da ocorrência de L. gibbus no estado do Espírito Santo concomitante à poliinfestação de C. parasitovorax e P. cuniculi, e espera-se que esta seja uma ferramenta de pesquisa para futuros trabalhos na região.(AU)

Platynosomum fastosum in an asymptomatic cat in the state of Espírito Santo: first report

Platynosomum fastosum is a parasite that affects cats, and among these, domestic cats, especially those originating from areas with tropical and subtropical climates. It is the most common liver parasite of domestic cats and is usually located in the bile ducts and gall bladder, but may also be found in the small intestine and pancreas. Infection occurs through ingestion of geckos containing metacercariae, causing cholangitis in the bile ducts of domestic cats. The aim of this study was to report the occurrence of P. fastosum after necropsy of an asymptomatic domestic cat, with a history of sudden death, received at the Animal Pathology sector of the Ricardo Alexandre Hippler Veterinary Hospital, Espírito Santo, Brazil. In macroscopic examination adult specimens of P. fastosum were observed inside the visibly dilated bile ducts. The dilatation, the presence of parasites and papillary proliferations into the lumen of the ducts were confirmed by histopathological examination. Then, a cholangiohepatitis associated to P. fastosum infection was classified. This is the first report of the occurrence of P. fastosum in a domestic cat in the state of Espírito Santo

Quantitative computed tomography of the liver in juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is a highly sensitive, applicable technique for determining the x-ray attenuation of organs. This technique reveals great precision in the detection of alterations in the x-ray attenuation of hepatic parenchyma, although the lack of studies establishing normal values limits its application in wild animals. The objective of this study was to establish mean hepatic attenuation values in four healthy juvenile sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) using QCT. Helical computed tomography scans were performed and regions of interest selected in the liver after multi-planar reconstruction images were obtained. The mean attenuation value for the hepatic parenchyma in these four turtles was 60.09 +/- 5.3 standard deviation Hounsfield units. Determining normal x-ray attenuation values of the liver increases knowledge of the computed tomographic anatomy of this species and may be useful in the investigation of hepatic diseases.

Densitometria da vértebra dorsal, osso pleural e osso neural em tartarugas verdes hígidas por tomografia computadorizada quantitativa / Densitometry of dorsal vertebrae, pleural bone and neural bone in healthy green sea turtles by quantitative computed tomography

A tomografia computadorizada quantitativa (TCQ) é uma técnica com alta sensibilidade, aplicabilidade e precisão no diagnóstico de perda de massa óssea, entretanto a falta de valores de normalidade para animais silvestres limita a sua aplicação clínica. O presente estudo objetiva estabelecer valores médios de radiodensidade do osso trabecular das vértebras dorsais, osso pleural e osso neural de tartarugas marinhas juvenis hígidas utilizando a TCQ. Para isso, utilizou-se um grupo experimental de cinco animais que foram submetidos a exames de tomografia computadorizada helicoidal, sendo as mensurações da radiodensidade óssea realizadas ao nível da terceira, quarta e quinta vértebras dorsais. Os valores médios de radiodensidade do osso trabecular das vértebras dorsais, osso pleural e osso neural foram, respectivamente, de 287,4±39,1, 1093,74±100,4 e 1089,6±86,5 unidades Hounsfield (HU). Estudos complementares devem ser realizados em diferentes espécies e faixas etárias de quelônios para favorecer a aplicação clínica desta técnica.

Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is a technique with high sensitivity, applicability and accuracy in the diagnosis of bone loss; however the lack of normal values for wild animals limits their clinical application. This study aims to establish medium values radiodensity trabecular bone of the dorsal vertebrae, bone pleural and neural bone in healthy juvenile sea turtles using the QTC. For this we used an experimental group of five animals that underwent helical computed tomography, and measurements of bone radiodensity conducted at the level of the third, fourth and fifth dorsal vertebrae. The medium values of radiodensity trabecular bone of the dorsal vertebrae, pleural bone, and neural bone were respectively 287.4±39.1, 1093.74±100.4, and 1089.6±86.5 Hounsfield units (HU). Further studies should be performed in different species and ages of turtles to encourage the clinical application of this technique.

Sertoli cell index and spermatic reserves in adult captive African lions (Panthera leo, Linnaeus, 1758).

The intrinsic yield of spermatogenesis and the supporting indexes of the Sertoli cells are the best indicators for the spermatic production capacity in a species. The aim of the present study was to quantify the intrinsic yield of the spermatogenetic process, as well as the Sertoli cell index and spermatic reserves. Testicular fragments of five adult African lions was fixed in 4% glutaric aldehyde, dehydrated at increasing alcohol concentrations, included into hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and were cut into 4 microm thickness. In the seminiferous epithelium of the African lions, 10.3 primary spermatocytes at pre-leptotene phase are produced by the type-A spermatogonia. During meiotic divisions, only 2.7 spermatids were produced from the primary spermatocytes. The general spermatogenesis production in the African lions was approximately 22.1 cells, and each Sertoli cell was able to sustain and maintain approximately 14.9 cells of the germinative line, from which 7.9 are round spermatids. A total of 103x10(6) spermatozoa are produced by each testis gram at each cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. The spermatic reserve of lion is below the amplitude observed in mammals.

Cycle and duration of the seminiferous epithelium in puma (Puma concolor).

Puma or sussuarana (Puma concolor) is the second largest feline in the American continent and has an ample latitudinal distribution in very diverse habitats. In relation to its conservation status, the puma is considered an extinction-threatened species. The study of the testis morphology and the spermatogenic process in a species is fundamental for establishing the physiologic patterns that will make possible the selection of the protocols for assisted reproduction. A number of peculiarities associated with the reproductive biology of specific species such as the duration of spermatogenic process can be used to determine the frequency of sperm collection. Nine adult male pumas maintained in captivity were used to determine the relative frequency of stages in the seminiferous epithelium cycle. Three of them received intra-testicular injections of 0.1ml tritiated thymidine to determine the duration of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, and were subjected to biopsy 7 days later. The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in puma was didactically described into eight stages by the tubular morphology method. The total duration of one seminiferous epithelium cycle in puma was calculated to be 9.89 days, and approximately 44.5 days are required for development of spermatozoon from spermatogonia. The duration of spermiogenesis, prophase and other events of meiosis were 14.08, 15.20 and 1.79 days, respectively. The relative frequency of the pre-meiotic, meiotic and post-meiotic phases were 3.98, 1.79 and 4.12 days, respectively.