Oocysts of Hepatozoon canis in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus collected from a naturally infected dog

Canine hepatozoonosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoans of the genus Hepatozoon. Several tick species have been implicated as potential vectors. Therefore, extensive studies are needed to determine the 'natural' endemic cycle of this parasite. This paper presents the first report of the presence of Hepatozoon canis oocysts in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus collected from an infected dog.     

Leishmania spp. in Didelphis albiventris and Micoureus paraguayanus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) of Brazil

Leishmaniasis is kept in nature by the participation of several animal species. This study evaluated the presence of Leishmania spp. in skin samples of free-ranging marsupials Micoureus paraguayanus (n=95) and Didelphis albiventris (n=191), captured in Morro do Diabo State Park and in sections of its surrounding forest, in the region of Pontal do Paranapanema, S?o Paulo State, Brazil. The samples were tested for the presence of kDNA of Leishmania spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by real time PCR (qPCR). All samples from D. albiventris tested by PCR were negative for the presence of kDNA of Leishmania spp. However, when tested by qPCR, the positivity was 1.6%. A positivity of 7.4% by PCR and 11.6% by qPCR was observed for M. paraguayanus. Sixty-four per cent (9/14) of positive animals were limited to the same forest fragment. Presence of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis was detected in M. paraguayanus samples. While D. albiventris is the most studied marsupial species due to its urban habits, other marsupial species such as M. paraguayanus can be potential reservoirs of Leishmania spp. and should also be studied.     

Acaricidal properties of the essential oil and precocene II obtained from Calea serrata (Asteraceae) on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Calea serrata Less. (Asteraceae), an endemic species of south Brazil known as "quebra-tudo", is used in Afro-Brazilian religious rituals and in folk medicine for treating liver disorders. Phytochemical studies of the n-hexane extract of this plant demonstrated the presence of precocene II, a benzopyran derivative known for its insecticidal activity. The aim of this work was to isolate this benzopyran and determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of C. serrata and further to evaluate the acaricidal activity of the essential oil and precocene II against the larvae of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The LC(99.9) and LC(50) values obtained with the oil, which presents precocene II and sesquiterpenes, were 3.94 μL/mL and 0.28 μL/mL, respectively. For precocene II this values were 4.25mg/mL and 1.78 mg/mL, respectively. The results indicate a synergistic interaction between the components of the oil and precocene II.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the footpad with systemic metastasis in a captive crowned solitary eagle (Buteogallus coronatus)

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are one of the most common tumors of the tegument that can have a misdiagnosis of chronic skin wounds. An adult captive crowned solitary eagle presented an indolent wound-like ulcer on the footpad and a fatal outcome. An infiltrating tumoral mass in the foot and multiple tumoral metastatic nodules in visceral organs were detected. The neoplasm was composed of atypical squamous cells with strong positivity for cytokeratin, “keratin pearl” structures, and marked invasion of tissues confirming a diagnosis of metastatic SCC. This might be the first report of an SSC with metastasis on the footpad in a captive Chaco eagle, which is one of the endangered species of birds of prey.     

Effects of exogenous amylase on the in vitro digestion kinetics of whole-crop maize silages made from flint or dent grain type at different phenological stages grown in tropical condition

The effect of exogenous amylase on the in vitro rumen digestion kinetics of whole-crop maize silage made from dent (RB9004) or flint grain type (RB9308) was evaluated at different phenological stages: soft dough (SOD), early dent (EAD), ½ milkline (½M) and ¾ milkline (¾M). Forage was harvested from 70 to 110 days after sowing. Two rumen-cannulated cows receiving or not exogenous amylase (0.7 g/kg dry matter—DM, provided to achieve 396 kilo Novo units of amylase activity/kg of TMR DM) were used as donor of ruminal fluid. The in vitro gas production kinetics was evaluated according to a dual-pool logistic model. The chemical composition and gas production kinetics were affected by the hybrid and phenological stages. The flint hybrid had lower range for chemical analysis among physiological stages. Harvesting at ½M and ¾M improved DM content, bromatological composition and silage quality parameters compared to dent or flint types. Amylase (i) increased methane (CH₄) production and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in ½M stage, (ii) improved digestion kinetics by reducing lag time and increasing total gas production and fermentation rates of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and fibrous carbohydrates (FC), and (iii) increased extent and fermentation rate of NFC and increased fermentation rate of FC fraction in whole-crop maize silages produced from dent or flint types in all phenological stages. Harvesting between ½M and ¾M is the best phenological stage to improve chemical composition and silage quality parameters. Exogenous amylase showed improvements on fibre digestion of silages at ½M and ¾M phenological stages in both grain types of corn.     

Combinations of cactus pear with different roughage sources on the production,chemical composition,and milk fatty acid profile of F1 Holstein/Zebu cows

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The qualities of food, mainly of animal origin, have always been of concern to consumers. It is known that the composition of animals’ diets can...     

Production,chemical composition,and economic viability of Minas Frescal cheese from buffaloes supplemented with açai seed

Tropical Animal Health and Production - We aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, production yield, and economic viability of Minas Frescal cheese produced with milk from buffaloes...     

Sodium hydroxide or urea pretreatment of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) fruit residue increases dry matter degradability and reduces methane production in in vitro rumen fermentation

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding different concentrations of either urea or NaOH in dehydrated acerola (Malpighia emarginata) fruit...     

Quantitative and descriptive histological aspects of jaguar (Panthera onca Linnaeus, 1758) ear skin as a step towards formation of biobanks

Skin of mammals vulnerable to extinction, such as the jaguar, is used as a source of material in conservation strategies. The composition of skin is not uniform among species, and the ability to distinguish similarities in skin morphology in animal groups is fundamental in the application of skin tissue for use in biobanks. The aim of our study was to evaluate the structure, composition and capacity for culture of ear skin from the yellow and black jaguars. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used, focusing on skin thickness, cell quantification and distribution, collagen density, proliferative activity and viability. Histomorphometrical study of the skin showed a total thickness of 273.2 and 274.6 µm for the yellow and black jaguars, respectively. Melanocytes and fibroblasts were, respectively, 9.7 and 23.0 for the yellow jaguar and 11.3 and 26.8 for the black jaguar. A collagen density of 67.0% and 49.0% was observed for yellow and black jaguars, respectively. Both animals presented a proliferative activity varying between 1.20 and 1.30. All tissues could promote cellular detachment, reaching subconfluence in 10–15 days. This kind of information from histomorphometrical features and cell cultures can be essential for a more targeted application of ear skin cryopreservation in this species, as such information will enable understanding the action of substances on tissues during the conservation process.