A comparison of serum vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations in shelter, feral, and pet cats

Upper respiratory infection (URI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in shelter cats. Malnutrition, specifically vitamin A deficiency, has been associated with respiratory tract infections in humans in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine whether feral cats and cats in shelters have lower serum vitamin A concentrations than pet cats, because it was surmised that a vitamin A deficiency may predispose these cats to develop URI. This was a cross-sectional study in which serum retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and beta carotene concentrations were measured from 48 shelter cats, 56 feral cats, and 42 pet cats, using HPLC. Retinol, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol concentrations were found to be significantly lower in the shelter and feral cat populations than in pet cats (p ≤ 0.0001). There was no evidence of an effect of sex or neuter status on vitamin concentrations. Sick feral cats had a higher beta carotene level than did healthy feral cats. Within shelter and feral populations, no other effect of health status was found. The lower mean serum retinol and tocopherol concentrations in the feral and shelter cat groups could be due to oxidative or other forms of stress, the amount of vitamin consumed, or combinations of these. Further studies are needed to determine whether supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins improves the health status of feral or shelter cats.     

Haematological and histopathological findings after ovariectomy in Trypanosoma cruzi infected mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of ovariectomy on histopathological and hematological parameters during the course of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Hematological and immunological homeostasis is influenced by gonadal steroid hormones. Ovariectomy exerts profound influences on parasitic diseases including T. cruzi infection through modulation of the host's immune response. Three groups of female Mus musculus were infected with 4000 blood trypomastigotes of the Y strain of T. cruzi. One group was subjected to ovariectomy, another to simulated surgery before the infection, and a third group of unoperated animals were used as controls. Marked differences were detected in the responses of blood and tissue parasites. On day 9, post-infection parasitism was significantly higher in ovariectomized animals (P<0.05). These results were confirmed by histopathological studies, in which ovariectomized animals displayed hearts with higher number of amastigote burdens, increased inflammatory infiltrate, enhanced tissue fibers disorganization and decreased lytic antibody percentage, when compared to their counterparts. On day 9 the hematological changes were more apparent, with a decrease in erythrocytes, platelets and leucocytes for ovariectomized infected animals. Simulated surgery, as a stressful agent, did not cause any imbalance in parasitism or in the hemogram profile. The results confirm the importance of the female steroids in resistance against T. cruzi infection.     

Identification of Pentatrichomonas hominis in feline fecal samples by polymerase chain reaction assay

Pentatrichomonas hominis is considered to be a commensal protozoan of the vertebrate digestive tract. On the basis of light microscopic examination of feces, some investigators presumptively identified P. hominis as a causative agent of feline diarrhea. However, molecular identification of P. hominis infection in the cat has not been reported. Another trichomonad, Tritrichomonas foetus, is recognized as an intestinal pathogen in cats and often presumptively diagnosed on the basis of the presence of trichomonads in diarrheic feces. It is of importance to determine if cats are natural hosts for P. hominis, as the presence of this organism could result in inaccurate assumption of T. foetus infection. In this study, we used a species-specific PCR assay to identify P. hominis 18S rRNA genes in fecal samples collected from a convenience population of cats in which a high prevalence of T. foetus infection had been previously identified (cat show) or suspected (submitted for T. foetus diagnostic testing). The prevalence of T. foetus infection in these samples was 31% and 28.6%, respectively. P. hominis infection was identified by PCR of DNA extracted from feces of five cats (1.9% and 2.1% of fecal samples, respectively). All cats in which P. hominis was identified were also infected with T. foetus. PCR identification of P. hominis infection in the cat should facilitate future studies to determine the pathogenicity of this species and enable differentiation of P. hominis from other known or as-yet unidentified species of trichomonads that may infect cats.     

Water quality,ecological processes and management procedures in a periphyton biofiltration system in mariculture: A statistical analysis

A periphyton biofiltration system of mariculture effluents was studied to identify ecological processes and management procedures that strongly affect the biofilter functioning, in order to attain optimal biomass production and nutrient removal. The multivariate statistical technique of factor analysis allowed reducing the large amount of data available into three main factors. The first factor, which accounted for 49% of the overall data variability, was herein called “biological activity” as it represents the joint effects on the variables measured of photosynthesis, N and P uptake, respiration and decomposition of organic matter. The second and third factors were “autotrophic biomass density” and “nitrite and phosphate uptake/release balance”, which, respectively, accounted for further 20% and 14% of the data variability. A conceptual model, describing the functioning of the periphyton biofilters, revealed a delicate equilibrium among the different processes, whose understanding help to manage the biofilters towards optimal production of periphytic biomass and nutrient removal. Raising flow rate raised the overall nutrient uptake rate but reduced uptake efficiency and diluted nitrifying particles. A reduced flow rate led to sedimentation of organic particles, decomposition and nutrients re‐mineralization. Apparently, control of water flow and nutrient content, periphyton substrate area and the cleaning of the effluent supply system are key management elements for the operation of a periphyton‐based biofilter system that maximizes both periphyton biomass production and nutrient removal.     

Elective Caesarean Operation in the Bitch Using Aglepristone Before the Pre-Partum Decline in Peripheral Progesterone Concentration

The aim of this study was to investigate caesarean operation (CO) undertaken before the pre-partum decrease of progesterone but following administration of a progesterone receptor antagonist and to evaluate the innocuity of this procedure for the dam and pups. Thirty seven bitches of 15 different breeds, received an injection of 15 mg/kg aglepristone 59 or 60 days after the estimated day of ovulation, determined by progesterone quantitative assays, and caesarean section (CS) was performed between 20 and 24 h after administration. Progesterone remained above 6 nmol/l at the time of CS (mean = 15.75, SD = 3.84). No post-operative clinical complications were reported in any of the bitches. All bitches were able to nurse and feed their puppies in the first 24 h following surgery. No pups showed any signs of prematurity and 5 out of 188 pups (2.6) died in the first 2 weeks after delivery. This small study demonstrates that a CS may be safely and successfully performed an average of 2 days before the expected date of parturition following the administration of aglepristone, without any harmful consequence for the dam and her neonates.     

Nasal and oral masses in a dog

A 5-year-old, intact male, stray dog was presented in poor body condition, with pallor, muzzle deformity, multiple oozing fistulas with grass awns, bilateral sanguinopurulent nasal discharge and a fleshy friable mass occupying part of the hard palate. A friable mass occupying both nasal cavities was found on rhinoscopy. The dog had moderate nonregenerative normochromic-microcytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperglobulinemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Cytologic preparations of the nasal and oral masses contained a neoplastic population of round cells with intracytoplasmic and extracellular vacuoles. Leishmania amastigotes also were observed, in the cytoplasm of macrophages and, occasionally, within neoplastic cells. A diagnosis of transmissible venereal tumor and concurrent leishmaniosis was made. Treatment with vincristine and allopurinol resulted in complete resolution of clinical signs and disappearance of the masses. The presence of amastigotes in neoplastic TVT cells may suggest an alternative mode of transmission of canine leishmaniosis where these diseases co-exist.     

Phosphorus,total ammonia nitrogen and chlorophyll a from fish cages in a tropical lake (Lake Palminhas,Espirito Santo,Brazil)

Cage fish farming in natural and artificial lakes has become increasingly popular in recent years in tropical countries. The most commonly farmed tropical fish species is the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). The aim of this study was to characterize the concentration of phosphorus, total ammonia nitrogen and chlorophyll a from existing fish farms (FF) in Lake Palminhas, located in Linhares/ES, Brazil. Three transects were drawn from 0 to 500 m from each of the four FF (FF1 to FF4) in the lake during six trials (three in the rainy season and three in the dry season). The lake presented a monomictic‐hot pattern, with stratification during the rainy season. Dilution of the monitored parameters did not occur sufficient over a distance of up to 500 m from the FF. The location of the FF in the lake and the input of N and P were critical to ensure optimal mixing conditions because the worst results was observed for the fish farm (FF1) located on a finger of the lake, where the highest concentrations of total phosphorus and chlorophyll a occurred. It was also noted that there was possible total phosphorus interference between FF3 and FF4. The results of this study demonstrate that Lake Palminhas had a low dilution power, and these findings may inform environmental assessments of cage fish farming in this region, providing instruments that may support environmental control of cage fish farming.