Occurrence and molecular diagnosis of Cryptosporidium serpentis in captive snakes in S?o Paulo, Brazil

The present study aimed to determine whether Cryptosporidium oocysts were present in stools from captive snakes at Funda??o Parque Zoológico (Zoological Park Foundation) in S?o Paulo, Brazil. Two collections were performed; the first in July 2008 and the second in February 2009. Fecal samples were collected from 74 enclosures that housed 101 individuals of 23 snake species. The stool specimens collected from 16 out of the 74 enclosures (21.6%) contained Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts; all of them were confirmed as Cryptosporidium serpentis, using molecular techniques. Only in three (18.7%) out of the 16 enclosures with positive samples were there animals with clinical signs compatible with infection by C. serpentis, such as regurgitation and significant progressive weight loss. From the results, it was concluded that diagnostic examinations need to be performed periodically, even on clinically healthy animals, as a preventive measure.     

Geographic distribution of babesiosis among dogs in the United States and association with dog bites: 150 cases (2000-2003)

OBJECTIVE: To identify the geographic distribution of babesiosis among dogs in the United States and determine, for dogs other than American Pit Bull Terriers (APBTs), whether infection was associated with a recent dog bite. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 150 dogs. PROCEDURE: Canine blood samples submitted to the North Carolina State University Vector-Borne Disease Diagnostic Laboratory between May 2000 and October 2003 for which results of a Babesia-specific polymerase chain reaction assay were positive were identified, and breed and geographic origin of dogs from which samples were obtained were recorded. History and hematologic abnormalities for dogs that were not APBTs were recorded, and possible associations with a recent dog bite were examined. RESULTS: Dogs positive for Babesia DNA were located in 29 states and 1 Canadian province (Ontario). Babesia gibsoni was the most commonly detected species, with B gibsoni DNA detected in blood samples from 131 of 144 (91%) dogs. Of the 131 dogs positive for B gibsoni DNA, 122 (93%) were APBTs. Of the 10 dogs positive for Babesia canis vogeli DNA, 6 were Greyhounds. In dogs other than APBTs, there was an association between having recently been bitten by another dog, particularly an APBT, and infection with B gibsoni. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results document an expansion of the known geographic range for babesiosis among dogs in the United States. Testing for babesiosis should be pursued in dogs with clinicopathologic abnormalities consistent with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia, particularly if there is a history of a recent dog bite.     

Oral fractures in dogs of Brazil--a retrospective study

A retrospective study was performed in 100 dogs with 121 mandibular and 21 maxillary fractures. Dog fight (43.0%) and automobile (12.0%) trauma were the most common etiologies for fracture. The cause of fracture was unknown in 23.0% of the cases, while pathologic fractures occurred in 13.0% of cases. Young dogs (< 1-year-old) and dogs > 8-years of age were most affected. Mandibular fractures occurred in 90 dogs (90.0%), with two dogs (2.2%) having concurrent maxillary fractures. Maxillary fractures only were diagnosed in 10 dogs (10.0%). The molar region (47.1%) was the most commonly affected location for mandibular fracture, followed by fractures of the symphysis and parasymphysis (30.6%), premolar region (17.4%), angular process (4.1%) and vertical ramus (0.8%). In fractures of the mandibular region, the mandibular first molar tooth was often (85.9%) involved while the canine teeth were involved in 67.5% of symphyseal and parasymphyseal fractures. The most common fracture of the maxilla was the maxillary bone (52.4%), followed by the incisive (33.3%), palatine (9.5%), and nasal (4.8%) bones.     

Bovine abortion associated with Anaplasma marginale.

During the period from June 1974 to June 1975, five bovine fetuses between seven to nine months old were received for necropsy from four different counties of the S. Paulo State, Brazil. All of them were from brucellosis-free herds. Necropsy revealed slight liver enlargement generally accompanied by capsular petechial hemorrhages. Enlargement and congestion of the spleen, epicardial and endocardial petechiae were present in three fetuses and one of them had lungs with some hemorrhagic lobules. Cardiac blood films of all the fetuses stained by the Pappenheim's panoptic method showed Anaplasma marginale in two to 20% of red corpuscles. When stained with acridine orange and immunofluorescent methods blood films of the first fetus specifically showed A. marginale.     

The Effects of Cyclosporine Versus Standard Care in Dogs With Naturally Occurring Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a leading cause of chronic renal failure in dogs. However, little is known about the efficacy of available treatment options for GN in this species. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cyclosporine (Cy) administration on the outcome of naturally occurring GN in dogs. Thirteen dogs from 4 institutions were included in the study. Randomization of dogs into placeboversus Cy-treated groups was stratified according to initial morphological diagnosis and contributing institution. Seven and 6 dogs were assigned to be given placebo or Cy, respectively. The initial Cy dose of 10 mg/kg every 24 hours was adjusted to maintain 24-hour trough, whole blood Cy concentrations between 250 and 400 ng/mL. There were no statistically significant differences between placebo-and Cy-treated groups with respect to serum total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen and creatinine, and plasma protein concentrations; platelet count; urine protein-creatinine ratio; endogenous creatinine clearance; 24-hour urine protein concentrations; or 24-hour urine protein—endogenous creatinine clearance ratio. However, PCV was significantly lower in the Cy-treated group. Decreased appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, involuntary shaking, and thrombocytopenia were noted in both treatment groups; however, clinical signs in Cy-treated dogs subjectively were more severe. One Cy-treated dog developed gingival hyperplasia. After entry into the study, the median survival times for placebo-and Cy-treated dogs were 16 and 11 months, respectively. Considering the expense and the frequency of adverse effects related to Cy administration, the use of Cy in the treatment of dogs with GN does not seem warranted.     

Increased urban seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infecting swine in Panama

Toxoplasmosis gondii causes one of the most common zoonoses worldwide. The rate in Panama is one of the highest in the world. Infections are primarily asymptomatic in immune competent individuals; however, in immunocompromised patient and congenital cases can be lethal. Exposure to the pathogen is hypothesized to occur when handling or consuming infected food such as swine meat. In this study, we analyzed 290 swine sera collected from six provinces in Panama by Indirect Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) against T. gondii. Toxoplasma-specific IgG were found in 32.1% of the samples. The highest seroprevalence was found in the province of Panama.     

Combination of phytase and citric acid,but not phytase alone,ensures regular rates of growth and bone mineralization in quails under severe phosphorus restriction

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytase (PHY), alone or in combination with citric acid (CA), on growing Japanese quails under moderate and severe phosphorus (P) restriction. For this, 504 one‐day‐old female quails were distributed in a completely randomised design with seven treatments and six replications. Treatments consisted of the following diets: (a) positive control (PC): formulated according to quails nutritional requirements; (b) negative control 40% (NC₄₀): PC with 40% less aP; (c) NC₄₀+PHY; (d) NC₄₀+PHY+CA; (e) negative control 65% (NC₆₅): PC with 65% less aP; (f) NC₆₅+PHY; (g) NC₆₅+PHY+CA. Phytase and CA were included at 300 FTU/kg and 40 g/kg, respectively. Performance, bone mineralization and plasma mineral concentration were evaluated at day 35; calcium (Ca) and P metabolism, between days 36 and 39. No significant differences in performance, plasma Ca and P were detected between quails fed PC or NC₄₀; however, NC₄₀ decreased tibia ash (p < 0.01). Treatment NC₆₅ impaired daily weight gain (p = 0.01), tibia ash (p < 0.01), and tibia optical densitometry (p = 0.03), as well as modified plasma Ca (p < 0.01) and P (p = 0.03) concentrations when compared to PC. Both NC₄₀ and NC₆₅ reduced P excretion (p < 0.01). Phytase alone restored tibia ash of NC₄₀ quails to regular rates. Nevertheless, only PHY and CA combined returned plasma P, tibia ash, tibia optical densitometry, and daily weight gain of quails fed NC₆₅ to similar values as those observed in PC. In conclusion, PHY alone suppresses the negative effects of moderate P restriction in growing Japanese quails, but fails in this task under severe P restriction. In such a situation, only the combination of PHY and CA ensures regular rates of growth and bone mineralization. This concept should be better explored by producers in order to take full advantage of the reduction in P excretion achieved by lowering dietary P concentrations.     

Effect of time of progesterone supplementation on serum progesterone and the conception rate of cooled Holstein heifers during the summer

To investigate the effects of progesterone supplementation at two different times on serum progesterone (P₄) concentration, conception rate and resynchronization of cooled Holstein heifers in summer, 90 heifers were randomly assigned to two groups: (i) heifers subjected to TAI (timed artificial insemination) and progesterone supplementation from days 4 to 14 after TAI (S_1; n = 45); and (ii) heifers under the same TAI protocol as S₁ and progesterone supplementation from days 17 to 22 after TAI (S₂; n = 45). The groups S₁ and S₂ were cooled 10 days before and 21 days after TAI. Respiratory rate, body surface temperature, vaginal temperature and rectal temperature recorded during the experiment were not different (P > 0.05) between S₁ and S₂ groups. Progesterone concentration was not different (P > 0.05) in S₁ compared to S₂. The conception rates on days 30 and 55 were similar between groups (P > 0.05). Progesterone supplementation did not increase either conception rate or concentrations of P₄ in heifers during the summer. Heifers not pregnant to first service in the group S₂ were resynchronized (77.7%) for a second breeding.