Subsistence swine farming: seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infection in the state of Minas Gerais Brazil in 2016.

Although it is considered an economically relevant and prevalent disease, little information is available on the epidemiology and risk factors of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) in commercial pigs, and no publication is available on subsistence pig farming. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of L. intracellularis and identify associated risk factors in backyard pigs in the 12 mesoregions of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Blood from pigs between 2 months and 6 years of age were sampled; an epidemiological questionnaire was applied to 288 properties investigated in 2016. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-L. intracellularis antibodies using an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. The seroprevalence of L. intracellularis was 97.7% (CI 95%: 96.7-98.4), and there was no statistical difference among the prevalence of the sampled mesoregions. Only 3 of the 12 risk factors were significant when samples were analyzed from strongly seropositive animals (≥ 1:120) in a Poisson multivariate regression model. There was an interaction between properties in peri-urban areas and extensive production systems. This interaction demonstrated an increase in prevalence rates by 3.7 times (95%CI: 2.4-5.8). Properties close to dumps demonstrated an increase in prevalence rates by 2.2 times (95%CI: 0.99-4.8). In conclusion, anti-L. intracellularis antibodies were widely dispersed in subsistence pig farming's in Minas Gerais, indicating a wide circulation of the agent in this type of production system. The interactions of animals raised close to peri-urban areas, extensively, and close to landfills are risk factors for spread of PPE.

Overnourishment during lactation induces metabolic and haemodynamic heart impairment during adulthood.

AIM: In this study, the effects of postnatal overfeeding on heart energy homoeostasis and cardiac haemodynamics in adult male Swiss mice were examined. METHODS AND RESULTS: During the suckling period, the mice were divided into four groups of control or overfed pups in combination with baseline or ischaemia/reperfusion treatments (control group baseline, CGBL; overfed group baseline, OGBL; control group ischaemia/reperfusion, CGIR; and overfed group ischaemia/reperfusion, OGIR). End diastolic pressure (EDP), heart contraction speed (Max dP/dt), relaxation speed (Min dP/dt), isovolumetric relaxation time (Tau) and frequency by beats per minute (BPM) were measured. During baseline and ischaemia/reperfusion, key proteins such as AKT1, AKT2, AKT3, pAKT, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), pAMPK, insulin receptor beta (IRß), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), fatty acid binding protein (FABP), CD36, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) were studied. The expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) was studied as a marker of cardiac hypertrophy and energetic metabolism. Cardiac fibrosis was analyzed by quantifying collagen deposition, which is increased in the OGBL and OGIR groups compared with the control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The OGBL group showed reduced EDP compared with the CGBL group and high Max dP/dt compared with the OGBL group. Ischaemia/reperfusion increased EDP and Min dP/dt in the intragroup comparison. By contrast, Tau and frequency were not significantly different among groups. The OGIR mice showed significant alterations in heart metabolism proteins, including AKT2, pAKT/AKT1, pAKT/AKT2, AMPK, pAMPK/AMPK, PTP1B, IRS1, FABP and CD36. Furthermore, alterations in ANP, BNP, CPT1 and UCP3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression indicated hypertrophy and reduction in their efficiency, such that exclusive overnutrition in childhood induces a long-term effect on haemodynamics, metabolism and heart remodelling.

The prevalence of swine enteropathogens in Brazilian grower and finish herds.

Diarrhoea among growing and finishing pigs is an important problem in many herds. The prevalence of L. intracellularis, B. pilosicoli, B. hyodysenteriae, Salmonella spp., enterotoxigenic E. coli, Trichuris suis and the occurrence of mixed infection were investigated. Fecal samples for forty-six herds with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea were randomly collected in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The enteric pathogens were detected by culture (E. coli and Salmonella sp.), PCR (L. intracellularis and Brachyspira spp.) and eggs counts (T. suis). The overall herd prevalence of L. intracellularis, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and enterotoxigenic E. coli were 19.56%, 6.52%, 10.86% respectively. Mixed infection was diagnosed in 30.43% of herds, and L. intracellularis and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium are main pathogens association (10.87%). B. pilosicoli was diagnosed only in two herds, always associated with mixed infections. B. hyodysenteriae and T. suis were not demonstrated in any sample. These pathogens have been reported world-wide but studies regarding epidemiology in Brazil are few. This study contributes to establish of prevention programs for the control enteropathogens in grower finish herds in Brazil.

An investigation on the adsorption and removal performance of a carboxymethylcellulose-based 4-aminophenazone@MWCNT nanocomposite against crystal violet and brilliant green dyes.

The multistep chemical modification of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in the presence of 4-aminophenazone (A-PH) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been successfully conducted. The environmental performance of this material has been thoroughly investigated. Crystal violet (CV) and brilliant green (BG) were eliminated by utilising a new hybrid nanocomposite material (A-PH-CMC/MWCNTs) from a simulated textile wastewater solution. Using SEM, EDX, XRD and FTIR spectroscopy methods, the detailed characterisation of A-PH-CMC/MWCNT nanocomposites was investigated. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity was dependent on six factors (e.g., contact duration, starting concentration, adsorbent mass, the effect of the solution pH, temperature and the effect of KNO3). In addition, thermodynamic and regeneration studies have been reported. According to the theories of pseudo-second-order kinetics, the removal process involves chemical adsorption. The experimental results were best suited by the Langmuir model, in which maximum adsorption capacities of 20.83 and 22.42 mg g-1 were predicted for the BG and CV dyes, respectively. The research is a preliminary case study demonstrating the excellent potential of A-PH-CMC/MWCNT nanocomposites as a material for CV and BG dye removal.

Mechanical behavior of ropes based on polypropylene (PP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) multifilament yarns for Achilles tendon partial substitution.

In some clinical cases, attending to the type and extension of the Achilles tendon injury, a partial replacement of the tissue may be needed. Driven by this, the authors developed different structures based on polypropylene (PP) or poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) multifilament yarns, using a textile technology-based technique, in order to mimic the fibrous structure of tendons. Those structures are based on a core/shell system, being the core composed by several sub-components (braids) and the shell based on braided yarns enclosing the core. It was observed that the load at failure of ropes is mainly defined by the number of yarns that compose it, but the strain level is mostly influenced by the production take-up rate of the core braids and consequently by the braid angle. The ropes stiffness level results from a combination of the yarns number and braid angle of the core braids. The structure based on PET yarns revealed a non-linear force-strain curve similar to a typical curve of a natural Achilles tendon (AT), presenting a load at failure, strain to failure and stiffness levels very promising for AT replacement. Moreover, the PET rope also revealed a very promising fatigue and appropriate creep resistance for the final application, being in accordance with what has been reported for native AT.

Faecal shedding and serological cross-sectional study of Lawsonia intracellularis in horses in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

REASON FOR PERFORMING THE STUDY: Proliferative enteropathy, caused by the intracellular bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, has been described in horses in Australia, the USA, Canada and European countries but has not been reported in Latin America. The prevalence of the disease in horses worldwide is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of subclinical L. intracellularis infection in horses in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: A longitudinal study using serology and PCR for detecting antibodies (IgG) and shedding of L. intracellularis in faecal samples, respectively, was conducted using a total of 223 horses from 14 different horse farms in Minas Gerais, and from the Veterinary School of UFMG equine herds in Minas Gerais. The immunoperoxidase technique in glass slides was used as the serological test. RESULTS: Twenty-one horse sera had immunoglobulin G titres of 1:60 and were considered positive. The PCR technique in faeces for L. intracellularis DNA identified 7 horses as faecal shedders. Horses shedding the organism appeared healthy, indicating that subclinical infection of L. intracellularis occurred in the horses. CONCLUSION: Seropositivity and detection of faecal shedding of L. intracellularis indicates the presence of the agent in the equine population in Minas Gerais. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Results of this study should alert clinicians in countries where proliferative enteropthy in horses has not been reported to consider this disease as a possible cause of enteric disease.

Use of tylvalosin-medicated feed to control porcine proliferative enteropathy.

The effect of an oral treatment with the tartrate salt of tylvalosin on the development of proliferative enteropathy in 60 experimentally challenged pigs was studied. Thirty of the pigs were fed a diet medicated with 50 ppm tylvalosin and 30 were fed the unmedicated diet. The treated animals started to receive the medicated feed the day before they were inoculated, and continued to receive it for 14 days. The pigs' bodyweight, feed consumption and clinical signs were evaluated, and they were examined postmortem 20 days after inoculation, and samples of ileum were collected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Lawsonia intracellularis. Clinical signs of the disease were more evident in the untreated group than in the treated group. The average daily weight gain, average daily feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency were better in the treated group. The combined length of intestine with lesions was 2847 cm in the untreated group and 183 cm in the treated group. The tylvalosin treatment significantly reduced the level of L intracellularis infection; almost half of the treated pigs were IHC-negative compared with 3.3 per cent of the untreated pigs.

In vitro antimicrobial activity against equine Lawsonia intracellularis strains.

BACKGROUND: Lawsonia intracellularis is the aetiologic agent of equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). This emerging equine disease leads to diarrhoea, severe protein loss and can result in death if left untreated. Timely treatment of EPE is critical for recovery from the disease, and hence, information about antimicrobial susceptibilities of equine L. intracellularis strains to antimicrobials used in horses is needed. However, L. intracellularis is an obligate intracellular bacterium and so must be isolated and maintained in cell cultures. OBJECTIVES: To determine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of 14 antimicrobials against two equine L. intracellularis strains. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro experiments. METHODS: This study was designed to compare the relative in vitro susceptibility of each strain of L. intracellularis to different antimicrobials which included metronidazole, minocycline hydrochloride, erythromycin, cephalothin sodium salt, combination (4:1) of sulfamethazine and trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, penicillin, ampicillin, doxycycline hydrochloride, cefazolin sodium salt, clarithromycin, ceftiofur hydrochloride and enrofloxacin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was based on intracellular and extracellular activity that inhibited 99% of L. intracellularis growth in cell culture as compared to the antimicrobial-free control. RESULTS: Rifampicin and clarithromycin were the most active antimicrobials against the two L. intracellularis strains tested, with MICs of ≤0.125 when tested both intracellularly and extracellularly. Doxycycline, minocycline, erythromycin, chloramphenicol and enrofloxacin showed intermediate to high activity, and activity was generally higher when evaluating intracellular activity. Sulfamethazine/trimethoprim showed variable results. Ampicillin, penicillin and metronidazole had low to moderate activity. L. intracellularis was resistant to cefazolin, cephalothin and ceftiofur in in vitro conditions. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Only two equine isolates of L. intracellularis were available for this study due to the difficulty in isolating this obligate intracellular species from intestinal samples. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for equine L. intracellularis strains.

Non-toxigenic strain of Clostridioides difficile Z31 reduces the occurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI) in one-day-old piglets on a commercial pig farm.

Neonatal porcine diarrhea (NPD) is a current problem on pig farms and is caused by several enteropathogens. Among them, Clostridioides difficile stands out due to its importance in piglets and zoonotic potential. A non-toxigenic strain of C. difficile (NTCD), named Z31, was previously tested in hamster and piglet experimental models as a strategy to prevent C. difficile infection (CDI). To evaluate the capacity of the strain Z31 to prevent CDI and NPD in one-day-old piglets on a commercial farm, 90 piglets from 16 litters received 1 × 106 spores of Z31 while 84 animals from the same litters served as controls. Animals were clinically evaluated, and fecal samples were collected 24 h after administration and submitted to A/B toxin detection and isolation of C. difficile. Stool samples were also submitted to rotavirus, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium perfringens detection. Administration of Z31 reduced the incidence of CDI in treated animals (7.8%) when compared to the control group (25.0%; P = 0.003). In animals that developed CDI, the intensity of diarrhea was lower in those that received Z31 than in the control group. Neonatal porcine diarrhea was reduced in treated animals when compared to untreated animals (P < 0.001). The present study suggests that Z31 can potentially be used to prevent CDI in piglets on commercial farms.

Dynamic mechanical analysis of multi-walled carbon nanotube/HDPE composites.

Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), their remarkable properties make them ideal candidates to reinforce in advanced composites. In this attempt, an enhancement of mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) by adding 1 wt% of CNTs is studied using Dynamic mechanical and Thermal analyzer (DMTA). The chemically treated and functionalized CNTs were homogeneously dispersed with HDPE and the test samples were made using injection molding machine. Using DMTA, storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E") and damping factor (tan delta) of the sample under oscillating load were studied as a function of frequency of oscillation and temperatures. The storage modulus decreases with an increase of temperature and increases by adding CNTs in the composites where the reinforcing effect of CNT is confirmed. It is concluded that the large scale polymer relaxations in the composites are effectively restrained by the presence of CNTs and thus the mechanical properties of nanocomposites increase. The transition frequency of loss modulus is observed at 1 Hz. The loss modulus decreases with an increase of temperature at below 1 Hz but opposite trend was observed at above 1 Hz. The shift factor could be predicted from Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) model which has good agreement with experimental results.

An outbreak of sarcocystosis in psittacines and a pigeon in a zoological collection in Brazil.

This report describes an outbreak of acute pulmonary sarcocystosis in different species of captive psittacines and in a Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon (Gallicolumba luzonica) in a zoological collection in Brazil. A majority of the birds were found dead and had exhibited no previous clinical signs. Grossly, pulmonary congestion and edema were the most-common findings. Enlarged and congested livers and spleens were also frequently observed. Microscopically, there was edema, fibrin exudation, congestion, and perivascular and interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltration associated with numerous sinuous schizonts of Sarcocystis sp. in the lungs. Mild to moderate myocarditis, hepatitis, splenitis, and interstitial nephritis were also observed in the birds. Immunohistochemistry confirmed Sarcocystis sp. in the capillaries of lungs, hearts, livers, and spleens of most of the birds, but also in the pancreas, kidney, intestine, proventriculus, and brain of a few birds. The probable source of Sarcocystis sp. in these birds was the wild opossum (Didelphis albiventris), a common inhabitant of a local forest that surrounds the Belo Horizonte Zoo (Fundação Zoo-Botânica). This is the first documentation of Sarcocystis infection in psittacines and a pigeon from Brazil.

Viscoelastic behaviour and failure of bovine cancellous bone under constant strain rate.

A programme has been established to characterize the long-term behaviour of cancellous bone. Fresh bovine cancellous specimens of dimensions 10 x 10 x 10 mm3 and 10 x 40 x 3.6 mm3 were manufactured and used within the testing programme. Results published in the literature indicate that the long-term behaviour of cancellous bone is well described by a power law, which is a very similar response of typical polymers. So far, dynamic mechanical tests (DMA) in three-point bending, under frequencies between 0.01 and 100 Hz at room temperature, confirmed the published results in a qualitative way. Nevertheless, the measured dimensionless damping, tan delta, was slightly higher than the values reported in the literature for the compact bone. The relaxation curves were obtained from dynamic tests and confirmed that bone relaxation modulus can be described by a power law function of time. Tests under constant compression strain rate were performed at four different strain rates: 0.15/s, 0.015/s, 0.0015/s and 0.00015/s and strain rate dependent behaviour was observed. An average elastic bending modulus of 300 MPa was obtained.

Current Approaches and Future Trends to Promote Tendon Repair.

Tendons are composed by extracellular collagen fibres arranged in regular arrays and are responsible to transmit tensile forces from a muscle to a bone. Due to their poor healing ability, in some cases tendons injuries are debilitating impairments that affect life quality among adult population worldwide. In the last years, attending to the social and economic concern associated to the high prevalence of tendons injuries and the limited success of the available current treatments, several scaffolds have been developed. Some of these scaffolds are intended to be used as graft-augmentation devices and others to fully replace a damaged tendon. The synthetic ones present superior mechanical characteristics compared to biological scaffolds. However, attending to the specific tendons physiology, even the synthetic scaffolds still don´t present the ideal mechanical properties to accomplish a complete and long-term functional tissue repair. Therefore, to enhance tendogenesis when using a tendon engineering approach, several methodologies have been developed to associate with scaffolds, including surface modification and cell seeding.

Melanoma oral amelanótico metastático com acometimento neurológico e gonadal em um cão fêmea - relato de caso / [Metastatic oral amelanotic melanoma with neurologic and gonadal involvement in a female dog - case report]

Relata-se um caso de melanoma oral disseminado em uma cadela de dois anos, com protrusão de bulbo ocular unilateral e quadro convulsivo progressivo. Os exames de imagem revelaram aumento de volume nas regiões submandibular, maxilar e cerebral, padrão nodular pulmonar e aumento das dimensões ovarianas. A citologia da massa submandibular indicou proliferação epitelial maligna, enquanto a biópsia excisional foi sugestiva de melanoma amelanótico. Na necropsia, havia uma massa gengival localmente infiltrativa e nodulações brancas nos linfonodos, nos rins, no pulmão, no cérebro e nos ovários, indicativas de metástase. O diagnóstico histopatológico consistiu de neoplasia maligna metastática indiferenciada, indicativo de melanoma amelanótico. Células caracterizadas por núcleo com cromatina espessa, múltiplos nucléolos bem evidentes, mitoses atípicas e multinucleações consistiram nos principais critérios de malignidade. No espaço peritrabecular ósseo facial, havia rara diferenciação pigmentar melanocítica, confirmada histoquimicamente pela técnica de Fontana-Massom e Giemsa. Algumas células foram positivas pela imuno-histoquímica para PNL-2 e Melan-A, e o diagnóstico de melanoma amelanótico disseminado foi firmado. A indiferenciação neoplásica marcante, com disseminação metastática multissistêmica e acometimento mútuo de sítios anatômicos pouco comuns, conjuntamente com a ampla variação dos padrões celulares, foi responsável pelo desafio diagnóstico do presente caso, ressaltando o papel decisivo da imuno-histoquímica para confirmação diagnóstica. A importância clínica deste trabalho consiste ainda em alertar a comunidade clínica e científica acerca da dificuldade diagnóstica, devendo-se considerar o melanoma amelanótico como diferencial mesmo em casos de lesões orais menos perceptíveis e/ou desprovidas de pigmentação.(AU)

A case of disseminated oral melanoma in a two year old female dog with unilateral protuberance of the eye bulb and progressive seizure is described. Imaging exams revealed increase of the submandibular, maxillary and cerebral regions, nodular pattern in lungs and increased ovarian dimensions. The cytology of the submandibular mass indicated a malignant epithelial proliferation, whereas the excisional biopsy indicated an amelanotic melanoma. At necropsy, a locally infiltrating gingival mass and white nodules in the lymph nodes, kidneys, lung, brain and ovaries were observed, indicative of metastases. Histopathological diagnosis consisted of an undifferentiated malignant metastatic neoplasm. Nucleus with coarse chromatin, prominent nucleoli, bizarre mitotic figures and multinucleated cells were the major malignant features. There was a poor melanocytic pigment differentiation in the peritrabecular space of facial bones, confirmed by Fontana-Masson and Giemsa histochemical techniques. Only a few cells were immunohistochemically positive for PNL-2 and Melan-A and the diagnosis of a disseminated amelanotic melanoma was performed. The diagnostic challenge was based on marked neoplastic undifferentiation, with multisystemic metastasis and mutual involvement of uncommon anatomic sites, associated with a large variability of cellular patterns, highlighting the decisive role of immunohistochemistry for diagnostic confirmation. Therefore, the clinical importance of this study is to warn the clinical and scientific community about the diagnostic challenge, considering the amelanotic melanoma as a differential even in cases of poorly apparent and/or nonpigmented oral lesions.(AU)

Frequency of cholelithiasis in alcoholics.

In order to determine the frequency of biliary lithiasis in alcoholic patients without signs of hepatic cirrhosis, we submitted 106 male alcoholics (mean age, 42.2 +/- 11.2 years) to ultrasound examination of the biliary system. Cholelithiasis was present in 6 (5.6%). We did not observe any association between the quantity of ethanol consumed and/or the time of consumption and the presence of cholelithiasis. There was no significant difference between the frequency of cholelithiasis in these patients and that found in autopsies carried out on 716 male patients (6%) at the Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, during the period 1982 to 1993. Thus, we conclude that in the cases we examined, alcoholism did not represent a risk factor for biliary lithogenesis.

The influence of parity order and body condition and serum hormones on weaning-to-estrus interval of sows.

This study was performed to investigate the weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI) in primiparous and multiparous sows in relation to their weight and back-fat thickness changes and serum hormone imbalance (insulin, growth hormone, and cortisol) at the end of gestation and during lactation. Ten primiparous and ten multiparous Camborough sows, fourth to seventh parity, were used in this experiment. During gestation, daily food intake was 2.4 kg (sow commercial diet: 2.96 Mcal/kg, 16% crude protein) and during lactation all sows were fed on a wet commercial diet (3.34 Mcal/kg, 17% crude protein) ad libitum, three times per day. Blood samples were collected and back-fat thickness at the P(2) site were recorded at 6 days before and 2, 7, 14, 21 and 25 days after farrowing. Body weight was recorded on the same dates, except the date before farrowing. The WEI was also recorded. The average daily feed intake was different (P<0.05) between primiparous and multiparous sows during lactation (5.23 versus 5.72kg per day, respectively). There was a difference (P<0.05) between primiparous and multiparous sows in total percentage of back-fat thickness loss from the end of gestation until weaning (-20.18 and -9.03%, respectively). The total percentage of weight loss during lactation was slightly greater (P>0.05) in multiparous than primiparous sows. Weaning-to-estrus interval was greater (P<0.05) in the primiparous group when compared with the multiparous group (5.55 and 4.22 days, respectively). No differences were found in insulin, growth hormone (GH), and cortisol concentrations between parity groups, except on the 21st day of lactation, when GH was greater in primiparous sows. There was no correlation between percentage of total weight loss and WEI, or percentage of back-fat thickness loss (total or by periods) and WEI. There were positive correlations between GH serum concentration on the 14th and 21st days and the percentage of weight loss in the third week of lactation (r=0.46, P<0.04 and r=0.52, P<0.02, respectively), and between GH concentration on the 21st and on weaning days and WEI (r=0.54, P<0.02 and r=0.42, P<0.06, respectively). Our results indicate that the hormone change (imbalance) during lactation, mainly GH, seems to be a better parameter to explain the difference in WEI between primiparous and multiparous sows than change in body condition.

Detection of BHV-1 in a naturally infected bovine fetus by a nested PCR assay.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is frequently associated with abortion in naturally and experimentally infected cattle. Most of the virus isolation and immunofluorescent antibody protocols described in the literature for detecting BHV-1 in bovine foetuses are rather laborious, costly and time-consuming. The detection is described of BHV-1 in the tissues of a naturally aborted bovine foetus by a nested PCR assay with no further hybridization procedures. Optimal results were achieved by filtering the foetal tissues on a chromatography column before DNA extraction, by using two pairs of primers in a nested PCR and by evaluating the amplification products on silver-stained polyacrylamide gels. This nested PCR was faster and easier to perform than the virus isolation test. To our knowledge, this is the first time that BHV-1 has been detected in the tissues of a naturally infected bovine foetus by means of a nested PCR. The test seems to be a practical alternative for rapid detection of BHV-1 in bovine foetus.

Estudo retrospectivo da casuística de felinos domésticos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, no período de 2005 a 2014 / Retrospective study of the case load of domestic cats at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais from 2005 to 2014

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar as doenças dos gatos domésticos provenientes dos casos de necropsia e histopatologia do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HV/UFMG), de 2005 a 2014. Foram analisados 408 exames de necropsia e 197 de biópsias, segundo o sexo, a faixa etária e a raça. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes incluíram doenças infecciosas/inflamatórias ou parasitárias (22,5%), agentes físicos (18,1%), doenças proliferativas (15,2%) e degenerativas (13,5%). Politraumatismo (10,8%) foi responsável pelo maior número de mortes em felinos, sendo as chances três vezes maiores em animais com até 24 meses de idade (P=0,005 OR 3,47 [IC 95%: 1,40-8,57]). Neoplasias epiteliais corresponderam a 26 diagnósticos, sendo 20 (4,9%) casos de malignidade. A ocorrência de carcinoma e seus subtipos foi 18 vezes maior em gatos idosos (P<0,01 OR 18,15 [IC 95%: 7,41-44,45]). A insuficiência renal crônica foi mais frequente em gatos com mais de 120 meses (P=0,01). Machos apresentaram nove vezes mais chances de desenvolver doenças do trato urinário inferior quando comparados às fêmeas (P=0,001 OR 9,50 [IC 95%: 2,78-32,48]). Em relação às biópsias, animais adultos a idosos foram 10 vezes mais representados (P<0,001 OR 10,8 [IC 95%: 3,22-36,79]).(AU)

The aim of this study was to characterize the diseases of domestic cats based on necropsy and histopathological examinations at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HV/UFMG) from 2005 to 2014. A total of 408 necropsy and 197 biopsy samples were analyzed according to gender, age, and breed. The most frequent diagnoses included infectious/inflammatory or parasitic diseases (22.5%), physical agents (18.1%), proliferative (15.2%), and degenerative (13.5%) diseases. Polytrauma (10.8%) was responsible for the highest number of feline deaths, with the odds three times higher in animals up to 24 months of age (P= 0.005 OR 3.47 [95% CI: 1.40-8.57]). Epithelial neoplasms corresponded to 26 diagnoses, with 20 (4.9%) malignant cases. The occurrence of carcinoma and its subtypes was 18-fold higher in older cats (P< 0.01 OR 18.15 [95% CI: 7.41-44.45]). Chronic renal failure was more frequent in cats over 120 months (P= 0.01). Males were nine times more likely to develop lower urinary tract diseases when compared to females (P= 0.001 OR 9.50 [95% CI: 2.78-32.48]). Regarding the biopsies, adult to elderly animals were ten times more represented (P< 0.001 OR 10.8 [95% CI: 3.22-36.79]).(AU)

Barium sulphate aspiration pneumonia in a cat with megaesophagus and dextroposition of the aortic arch: case report / Pneumonia aspirativa por sulfato de barrio em gato com megaesôfago e destroposição de arco da aorta: relato de caso

A six-month-old female cat suffered aspiration of an abundant amount of barium sulfate during a radiographic procedure for the diagnosis of megaesophagus. Latero-lateral contrast radiography revealed severe dilation of the thoracic esophagus cranial to the base of the heart. Persistence of the right aortic arch was suspected and later confirmed during corrective surgery. Accumulation of barium sulfate, used as a contrast agent, was clearly observed in the lumen of the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli in the radiographic image. Days after the surgery, the animal developed severe respiratory distress, which resulted in death. Cytology results and histology analysis using polarized light demonstrated that the lumen of bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli exhibited evident histiocytic infiltration with cytoplasm filled by abundant amorphous refractive granular material consistent with barium sulfate. In this report, we describe the anatomical, cytological, histopathological (using polarized light), and x-ray findings of a case of barium sulfate aspiration pneumonia in a cat resulting from the use of this contrast medium for the diagnosis of megaesophagus secondary to persistent right aortic arch.(AU)

Uma gata de seis meses aspirou grande quantidade de sulfato de bário durante procedimento radiográfico para diagnóstico de megaesôfago. Contraste radiográfico látero-lateral revelou dilatação de esôfago torácico até a base do coração. Persistência do arco aórtico direito foi confirmada durante cirurgia corretiva. Acúmulo de sulfato de bário, utilizado como agente de contraste, foi observado no lúmen de brônquios, bronquíolos e alvéolos à imagem radiográfica. Dias após a cirurgia o animal desenvolveu insuficiência respiratória grave e evoluiu para óbito. Resultado de citologia e histologia utilizado luz polarizada demonstrou que lúmen de brônquios, bronquíolos e alvéolos mostraram infiltração histológica com citoplasma cheio de material refratário granular amorfo compatível com sulfato de bário. Nesse relatório, descrevemos achados anatômicos, citológicos, histopatológicos e radiográficos de um caso de pneumonia aspirativa em gata resultante do uso desse meio de contraste para diagnóstico de megaesôfago secundário a persistência do arco aórtico direito.(AU)