Anthelmintic activity of plant extracts from Brazilian savanna.

Helminth infections represent a serious problem for the production of small ruminants that is currently aggravated by resistance to anthelmintic products and has induced a search for control alternatives, such as natural products. In this study, extracts of Turnera ulmifolia L. (leaves and roots), Parkia platycephala Benth. (leaves and seeds) and Dimorphandra gardneriana Tul. (leaves and bark), which have been cited in ethnoveterinary studies and selected naturally by goats in the cerrado (Brazilian savanna), were tested in vitro against Haemonchus contortus. Hydroacetonic (ACT) and hydroalcoholic (ETH) extracts were evaluated using an Egg Hatching Assay (EHA), a Larval Exsheathment Inhibition Assay (LEIA) and a Larval Development Assay (LDA). A second set of incubations was performed using polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) to determine the influence of polyphenols on the anthelmintic effects of EHA and LEIA. Data from each extract were used to calculate inhibition concentrations (IC50). All tested extracts showed activity against at least one life stage of H. contortus. The use of PVPP revealed that the tannins are not the only extracts of secondary metabolites responsible for the anthelmintic effects. The results showed clear in vitro anthelmintic activities against H. contortus at different stages and indicated the potential use of these species as a promising alternative approach to control helminthic infections of small ruminants.

Postmortem findings in collared peccaries raised in captivity in northeastern Brazil / Achados post-mortem em catetos criados em cativeiro no Nordeste do Brasil

This study is a retrospective examination of diseases in collared peccaries that were diagnosed by the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido. Necropsy and histological examination were performed from 2005 to 2010. Of the 50 necropsied collared peccaries, 24% died due to restraint and capture myopathy; 18% died from trauma; and the remainder was diagnosed with splenic hemangioma (6%), enterolithiasis (6%), gastritis (6%), gastric ulcer (4%), intestinal volvulus (4%), gastric volvulus (2%), mammary carcinoma (2%), polycystic kidney disease (2%), pyometra (2%), and suppurative bronchopneumonia (2%). Twelve animals remained undiagnosed, seven of which (14%) were in advanced autolytic condition and five of which (10%) had no gross or microscopic lesions that were compatible with disease. This paper describes illnesses that have not been reported in the collared peccary, focusing on their clinical and pathological aspects.(AU)

Este trabalho teve por objetivo realizar um estudo retrospectivo sobre as doenças de catetos diagnosticadas pelo Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, através do exame de necropsia e histológico no período de 2005 a 2010. Dos 50 catetos submetidos à necropsia, as percentagens das enfermidades diagnosticadas foram: miopatia por captura e contenção (24%), morte por traumas (18%), hemangioma do baço (6%), enterolitíase (6%), gastrite (6%), úlcera gástrica (4%), vólvulo intestinal (4%), vólvulo gástrico (2%), carcinoma mamário (2%), doença renal policística (2%), piometra (2%) e broncopneumonia supurativa (2%). Onze (22%) animais permaneceram sem diagnóstico, dos quais sete (10%) apresentavam avançado estado autolítico e cinco (14%) não foram observadas lesões macroscópicas e microscópicas compatíveis com nenhuma enfermidade. Este estudo apresenta relatos de doenças ainda não descritas em catetos, com enfoque nos aspectos clínicos e patológicos.(AU)

Enfermidades de cutias (dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiro diagnosticadas pelo exame anatomopatológico / Diseases of agouti (dasyprocta aguti) raised in captivity diagnosed by pathological examination

O exame necroscópico é especialmente útil no diagnóstico de enfermidades em animais silvestres. Em muitas ocasiões, as manifestações clínicas não são características como em animais domésticos, sendo frequente a ocorrência de óbitos em animais assintomáticos. Este trabalho objetivou realizar um estudo retrospectivo sobre as doenças de cutias diagnosticadas pelo Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, através do exame anatomopatológico no período de 2006 a 2009. Em 32 cutias submetidas à necropsia, as percentagens das enfermidades diagnosticadas foram: morte perinatal pelo complexo inanição/hipotermia (21,6 por cento), urolitíase obstrutiva (6,24 por cento), distocia (6,24 por cento), obstrução do ceco por areia - sablose (6,24 por cento), intussuscepção (3,20 por cento), fecaloma (3,20 por cento) e obstrução do esôfago (3,20 por cento). Dezesseis (16) animais permaneceram sem diagnóstico, dos quais nove (28,48 por cento) apresentavam avançado estado autolítico e em sete (21,60 por cento) não foram observadas lesões macro e microscópicas compatíveis com nenhuma enfermidade. Este artigo apresenta relatos de doenças ainda não descritas em cutias e seus resultados poderão produzir literatura sobre os aspectos patológicos destas enfermidades nessa espécie.

Necroscopic examination is remarkably useful to diagnose wild animal's diseases. In several occasions the clinical signs are not charactheristic as in domestic animals and the occurrence of death in asymptomatic animals is frequent. Thus, the present work aimed to accomplish a retrospective study on agouti diseases diagnosed by pathological examination in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid, through January 2006 to December 2006. In 32 agoutis submitted to the necropsy, the percentage of diagnosed diseases was: perinatal death due hypothermia/ inanition complex (21.6 percent), obstructive urolithiasis (6.24 percent), dystocia (6.24 percent), cecum sablosis (6.24 percent), intussusceptions (3.20 percent), fecaloma (3.20 percent) and esophagus obstruction (3.20 percent). A total of 16 (50.08 percent) animals remained undiagnosed in which nine (28.48 percent) showed advanced autolysis and seven (21.60 percent) agouti had none macroscopic or microscopic lesions compatible with any disease. The present article presents reports of some diseases not yet diagnosed in agoutis and these results may produce literature review about the pathologic aspects of these diseases in this species.