Equine Sarcoid Associated with Cutaneous Habronemosis

Equine sarcoids are benign fibroblastic skin tumors affecting equids worldwide. Infection with bovine papillomavirus types 1 and 2 has been implicated as a major fact in the disease development; however, the cellular mechanisms underlying fibroblast transformation are still largely unknown. In the present study, a diagnosis of sarcoid was histologically assessed along with eosinophilic dermatitis. The sarcoid lesion expressed the viral oncoproteins E5 and E2, suggesting a causative role of the virus and its replication. Ribosomal DNA of the nematode Habronema muscae was also revealed in the lesion. This is the first report to describe and discuss an association of cutaneous habronemosis with equine sarcoid.     

Anatomical and radiological study of the thoracic paravertebral space in dogs: iohexol distribution pattern and use of the nerve stimulator

ObjectiveTo describe the landmarks and methodology to approach the thoracic paravertebral space in dogs; to evaluate if intercostal muscular response could be evoked by a nerve-stimulator; to radiographically assess the distribution pattern of a radio-opaque contrast medium after thoracic paravertebral injections.Study designRandomized, controlled, experimental trial.AnimalsTwo mongrel dog cadavers (anatomical study) and 24 mongrel dogs (experimental study).MethodsFor the anatomic study 0.2 mL kg^?1 of new methylene blue (NMB) was injected at the 5th thoracic paravertebral space; for the experimental study dogs were divided into three groups and received 1 (T₅), 2 (T₄ and T₆) or 4 (T₄, T₅, T₆ and T₇) paravertebral injections of iohexol. The paravertebral approach was performed with insulated needles using landmarks and a blind technique. When the needle tip reached the respective thoracic paravertebral space, the nerve-stimulator was switched-on and the presence/absence of intercostal muscular twitch was registered, thus a total volume of 0.2 mL kg^?1 of iohexol, divided into equal parts for each injection point, was administered. Radiological studies were performed with two orthogonal projections at different times. Positive injection was confirmed when the paravertebral space was occupied by iohexol in both projections.ResultsNMB was distributed in the T₅ paraverterbal space. In the experimental study, when the needle tip reached the respective paravertebral space, intercostal twitching was obtained in 80% of the total injections with a stimulating current of 0.5 mA. The incidence of positive cases when the intercostal twitch was obtained with 0.5 mA was 83.3%. The main distribution pattern observed was cloud like without longitudinal diffusion.Conclusion and clinical relevanceIntercostal muscular responses obtained with a stimulating current of 0.5 mA could be useful to locate thoracic spinal nerves in dogs and in our study the injected solution was confined to one thoracic paravertebral space.     

Critical Care of the Exotic Companion Mammal (With a Focus on Herbivorous Species): The First Twenty-Four Hours

The number of pet herbivorous exotic mammals is increasing, and their owners are demanding quality medical care. Successful treatment of the critical herbivorous exotic mammal patient is complicated by small patient size, physiological diversity, and a lack of research and clinical data regarding therapeutic response to disease conditions. Despite these impediments, the same principles and techniques used in other domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, can be applied to the herbivorous exotic mammal patient.     

Geostatistical analysis of fruit yield and detachment force in coffee

The aim of this study was to use geostatistical analysis to evaluate the spatial variation in the detachment force of coffee fruit and coffee yield by variograms and kriging for precision agriculture. This study was conducted at Brej?o farm, Três Pontas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The detachment force of green and mature coffee fruit was measured with a prototype dynamometer and georeferenced. The yield data were obtained from manual harvesting and were georeferenced. The data were evaluated by variograms estimated by residual maximum likelihood (REML), which provided a satisfactory approach for modeling all the variables with a small sample size. Spherical and exponential models were fitted, the first provided the better fit to mature fruit detachment force and the latter provided the better fit to coffee yield and green fruit detachment force. They were used to describe the structure and magnitude of spatial variation in the variables studied. Kriged estimates were obtained with the best fitting variogram models and mapped. The statistical and geostatistical analyses enabled us to characterize the spatial variation of the detachment force of green and mature coffee fruit and coffee yield and to visualize the spatial relations among these variables. The precision agriculture techniques used in this paper to collect, map and analyze the variables studied will help coffee farmers to manage their fields. Maps of coffee yield will enable farmers to apply nutrients site-specifically and manage harvesting either manually or mechanically. In addition, maps of detachment force of coffee fruit can enable farmers to harvest coffee selectively by choosing the appropriate places and the right time to start. This will improve the quality of the final product and also increase profits.