Leishmaniasis phytotherapy. Nature's leadership against an ancient disease.

The use of phytotherapy to treat human diseases has its roots in pre-historical times. Despite the modern advances achieved in the field of synthetic chemistry, the most efficient drugs available have their genesis directly or indirectly related with the vegetal kingdom. Indigenous communities have long used plant extracts to treat illnesses. Many of these extracts have shown effective action, with new bioactive compounds being extracted and screened every year. These extracts have also proven to be good sources of therapeutic agents to the treatment of Leishmaniasis. This work highlights some of these agents, while trying to emphasize the importance of plants as a source of new and powerful drugs against this widespread disease.     

Assessment of the IgG index in dogs by indirect immunoenzimatic assays as diagnostic tool for inflammatory diseases of central nervous system

The IgG index measures the intrathecal immunoglobulin production and it is a useful tool for diagnosis of inflammatory diseases involving the central nervous system. This index is based on the precise quantification of albumin and IgG in canine cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Here, we report the development of an indirect competitive ELISAs for the detection of both antigens. Thirty-two dogs were included in this study, divided into three experimental groups. Group A was composed of 22 healthy animals, as determined by standard clinical examination. In group B, six animals, presented neurological pathologies associated with endogenous IgG production and, in group C four animals presented neurological diseases or symptoms not associated with intrathecal IgG production. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples were obtained from these animals. As expected, by using the indirect ELISAs proposed here, the IgG indexes obtained in healthy animals (A) were 0.371+/-0.252 (SD). In B and C, the values (3.002+/-1.897; 0.36+/-0.306, respectively), were in agreement with the pathologic conditions of the individuals in each group. Thus, the immunometric competition ELISA methods proposed here allow the discrimination of abnormal intrathecal IgG production, in a variety of inflammatory pathologic conditions of the central nervous system.     

Meperidine prolongs lidocaine caudal epidural anaesthesia in the horse

The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effects of caudal epidural administration of meperidine (MP), lidocaine (LD), and a combination of the two (MPLD) in six mature saddle horses. Horses were randomly assigned to receive three treatments (MP 0.3 mg/kg; LD 0.2 mg/kg; and MPLD: MP 0.3 mg/kg and LD 0.2 mg/kg), with at least 1 week between treatments. Drugs were injected into the epidural space between the first and second coccygeal areas in conscious standing horses. Analgesia, ataxia, sedation, cardiovascular and respiratory effects, and rectal temperature were recorded at different intervals before (baseline) and after administration. Epidural administration of MPLD resulted in a longer duration of analgesia of the tail, perineum, and upper hind limb regions than did administration of MP or LD alone.     

Mapping genomic regions for reproductive traits in beef cattle: Inclusion of the X chromosome

Although the second largest chromosome of the genome, the X chromosome is usually excluded from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Considering the presence and importance of genes on this chromosome that are involved in reproduction, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of its inclusion in GWAS on reproductive traits (scrotal circumference [SC], early pregnancy [P16] and age at first calving [AFC]) in a Nelore herd. Genotype data from 3,263 animals with the above-mentioned phenotypes were used. The results showed an increase in the variances explained by the autosomal markers for all traits when the X chromosome was not included. For SC, there was an increase of more than 10% for the windows on chromosomes 2 and 6. For P16, the effect was increased by almost 20% for windows on chromosome 5. The same pattern was found for AFC, with an increase of more than 10% for the most important windows. The results indicate that the noninclusion of the X chromosome can overestimate the effects of autosomes on SC, P16 and AFC not only because of the additive effect of the X chromosome itself but also because of its epistatic effect on autosomal genes.     

Serum α-globulin fraction in horses is related to changes in the acute phase proteins

Serum electrophoresis is a useful technique to diagnose some diseases characterized by quantitative and qualitative changes in the serum proteins, such as the acute phase proteins. An increased synthesis of acute phase proteins has been associated with acute infection and inflammation. We wanted to study whether gastrointestinal diseases and disorders of the locomotor system in horses produce enough inflammatory reaction so the acute phase proteins can be detected by electrophoresis in serum. Serum total proteins were calculated, and the serum electrophoresis from 63 horses was performed. The horses were classified in 3 groups: Group I (19 healthy horses), Group II (20 horses suffering from inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract), and Group III (24 horses with inflammatory disorders of the locomotor system). Results indicated an increase of the acute phase proteins only in patent inflammatory disorders that showed a rapid progression. A global increase in those proteins was observed only for α₁-globulins from Group II.     

Genotype by climate interaction in the genetic evaluation for growing traits of Braunvieh cattle in Mexico

The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of genotype by climate interaction (GCI) in the national genetic evaluation for weaning (WW) and yearling (YW) weights of Mexican Braunvieh cattle. The numbers of performance records and animals in the pedigree were 12,364 and 25,173 for WW, and 7,991 and 18,072 for YW, respectively. Performance records were clustered based on climatological variables into: dry tropic (DT), wet tropic (WT), and temperate (TE) climates. Animal models were used to estimate genetic parameters and predict breeding values in each of the climates. Bivariate analyses were carried out for pairwise combinations of climates on each trait, considering the same trait in different climates as a different trait. Criteria to evaluate GCI were genetic correlations (r _g), correlations between predicted breeding values (r _BV), and frequencies of coincidence (FC) in the ranking of the top 25 sires. Results of comparisons between pairs of climates were variable, depending on specific cases. For WW, the r _g, r _BV, and FC ranged from ?0.36 to 0.84, ?0.60 to 0.97, and 0.16 to 0.92, respectively; whereas for YW, they fluctuated between 0.23 and 0.99, 0.33 and 1.00, and 0.60 and 1.00, respectively. For both traits, the results suggest absence of GCI between DT and TE; however, GCI was detected in the other pairs of climates, where WT was involved. To maximize genetic progress, the joint genetic evaluation should be performed only for animals with performance data in DT and TE, whereas a separated evaluation is suggested for animals with performance records generated under WT conditions.     

Increased renal vascular resistance in dogs with hepatic disease

Doppler ultrasound is a non-invasive technique that can be used to estimate vascular resistance by calculation of resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). Liver disease may increase renal RI and PI, and in humans with liver disease the indices are monitored to attain prognostic information. Systemic hypertension has been found in dogs with hepatic disease and is also related to increased renal vascular resistance in humans. The aim of this study was to examine renal vascular resistance increases in dogs with hepatic disease and to ascertain whether these may be related to blood pressure increases and biochemical parameters. Twenty dogs with hepatic disease were evaluated. The mean renal RI, PI, and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher than in normal animals. A positive correlation was found between the indices and alkaline phosphatase but not with systolic blood pressure. It is concluded that renal vascular resistance may increase in dogs with hepatic disease and in this study was above the limit value in 50% of the animals.     

Estimating exposed pulp lengths of tusks in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana)

Captive and wild African elephants frequently suffer tusk fractures. Several institutions shorten the tusks of captive elephants to reduce fractures and injury as a result of behaviour within enclosures. Fracturing or coronal amputations that expose pulp lead to pain for the elephant. Estimating coronal pulp lengths may thus help to minimise the risk of pulp exposure during amputations. We aimed to determine the length of the pulp beyond the lip margin from an external tusk characteristic. Tusks collected from elephants in Namibia and the Kruger National Park had similar morphological relationships. This statistical property allowed us to correct for missing data in our data sets. Pulp volume and pulp length correlated with tusk circumference at the lip. Even so, the circumference at the lip could not predict the length of the pulp in the crown external to the lip. Our findings suggest that tusks, irrespective of sex or age, amputated further than 300 mm from the lip should not expose pulp.