Evaluation of Nociception,Sedation, and Cardiorespiratory Effects of a Constant Rate Infusion of Xylazine Alone or in Combination with Lidocaine in Horses

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of xylazine or xylazine in combination with lidocaine on nociception, sedation, and physiologic values in horses. Six horses were given intravenous (IV) administration of a loading dose (LD) of 0.55 mg/kg of xylazine followed by a CRI of 1.1 mg/kg/hr. The horses were randomly assigned to receive three treatments, on different occasions, administered 10 minutes after initiation of the xylazine CRI, as follows: control, physiologic saline; lidocaine low CRI (LLCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.025 mg/kg/min); and lidocaine high CRI (LHCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.05 mg/kg/min). A blinded observer assessed objective and subjective data for 50 minutes during the CRIs. In all treatments, heart and respiratory rates decreased, end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration increased, and moderate to intense sedation was observed, but no significant treatment effect was detected in these variables. Ataxia was significantly higher in LHCRI than in the control treatment at 20 minutes of infusion. Compared with baseline values, nociceptive threshold increased to as much as 79% in the control, 190% in LLCRI, and 158% in LHCRI. Nociceptive threshold was significantly higher in LLCRI (at 10 and 50 minutes) and in LHCRI (at 30 minutes) than in the control treatment. The combination of CRIs of lidocaine with xylazine produced greater increases in nociceptive threshold compared with xylazine alone. The effects of xylazine on sedation and cardiorespiratory variables were not enhanced by the coadministration of lidocaine. The potential to increase ataxia may contraindicate the clinical use of LHCRI, in combination with xylazine, in standing horses.     

Evaluation of reproductive parameters in male Neotropical bats during dry and rainy months in a specific area of the Cerrado biome

The aim of this study was to analyse the reproductive aspects of male bats of three common species of the Phyllostomidae family: Artibeus lituratus, Platyrrhinus lineatus and Sturnira lilium, during dry and rainy months in a specific area of the Cerrado biome. Body weight was significantly higher during the dry months for S. lilium. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and testicular weight were not significantly different between dry and rainy periods. The tubular parameters were significantly bigger in A. lituratus than in the other two species during both periods. No difference in the tubular/interstitial ratio was observed in any of the species during both periods. In both periods, all sperm cells and germ cell developmental stages were visible on seminiferous tubules whereas sperm cells were observed in epididymides of all sampled animals. The percentage of morphologically normal sperm was low (35%–60%), with no difference between periods. Spermatozoa from A. lituratus presented a leaf-shaped head, while the head was round-shaped in the other two species. In conclusion, our data suggest that males from the three studied species did not present reproductive latency during the most critical weather periods (dry and rainy months) in the metropolitan region of Brasilia, Brazil.     

Digit innervation of the thoracic limb of Criollo horses: Anatomical description and consequences to perineural blocks

Criollo horse breeding is an important economic activity in South America. Because of their athletic performance, these animals tend to show great incidence of musculoskeletal disorders, many of them diagnosed by means of perineural blocks. However, incorrect interpretation of these blocks may be due to anatomical differences in nerve distribution. The objective of this study was to describe the innervation of the digit region of thoracic limbs in Criollo horses, in order to improve the interpretation of tests for claudication diagnosis based on nerve block. Thirty thoracic limbs from Criollo horses were dissected. It could be observed that in 90% of the limbs, dorsal branches of the palmar nerve originated proximally to the proximal sesamoid bone. In 93% of the cases, the palmar digital nerve and the dorsal branches communicated; in 87% of the cases, communication between branches of the dorsal branch was observed; and in 27% (8/30) of the limbs, the palmar metacarpal nerve and the dorsal branch presented communications. None of the specimens showed complete symmetry in the distribution of nerves in contralateral limbs. The high frequency of communication between the nerves may be a particularity of the Criollo breed that may interfere with the interpretation of perineural blocks. Based on the anatomical position, it may be inferred that divergent results in Criollo horses may occur when abaxial sesamoid nerve block is used. Palmar digital nerve block may be less influenced by these variations, provided it is performed as distal as possible from the ungular cartilage.     

Mitochondrial damage as an early event of monensin-induced cell injury in cultured fibroblasts L929

The present study was designed to identify, submicroscopically, the primary organelle or target structure for monensin in cultured murine fibroblasts L929. In addition, the effect of the drug on cell size and surface membranes of the cells were analysed; cellular proliferation, collagen secretion, and necrosis and apoptosis were re-evaluated. At the lowest concentration of monensin the foremost ultrastructural alteration occurred in the mitochondria, characterized by increased matrix density with disorganized and less distinct crystae. Incubation with monensin at higher concentrations resulted in severe mitochondrial damage and marked dilatation of the Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Fibroblasts exposed to higher concentrations of monensin were enlarged with decreased number of filopodia and hollows in the surface membrane. Moreover, monensin inhibited the cell proliferation, increased immunohistochemical positiveness for collagen type I in a dose-dependent manner, and, at high concentrations, caused cell necrosis whereas apoptosis was not induced. Taken together, these results show that monensin induces early mitochondrial damage, possibly causing an energy deficit that led to inhibition of fibroblasts proliferation and accumulation of collagen causing dilatation of Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Moreover, the mitochondrial damage would also explain the monensin-induced necrosis.     

Gross Anatomy of the Brachial Plexus in the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

Ten forelimbs of five Myrmecophaga tridactyla were examined to study the anatomy of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexuses of the M. tridactyla observed in the present study were formed by the ventral rami of the last four cervical spinal nerves, C5 through C8, and the first thoracic spinal nerve, T1. These primary roots joined to form two trunks: a cranial trunk comprising ventral rami from C5‐C7 and a caudal trunk receiving ventral rami from C8‐T1. The nerves originated from these trunks and their most constant arrangement were as follows: suprascapular (C5‐C7), subscapular (C5‐C7), cranial pectoral (C5‐C8), caudal pectoral (C8‐T1), axillary (C5‐C7), musculocutaneous (C5‐C7), radial (C5‐T1), median (C5‐T1), ulnar (C5‐T1), thoracodorsal (C5‐C8), lateral thoracic (C7‐T1) and long thoracic (C6‐C7). In general, the brachial plexus in the M. tridactyla is similar to the plexuses in mammals, but the number of rami contributing to the formation of each nerve in the M. tridactyla was found to be larger than those of most mammals. This feature may be related to the very distinctive anatomical specializations of the forelimb of the anteaters.     

Ruminal and histological characteristics and nitrogen balance in lamb fed diets containing cactus as the only roughage

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study examined rumen fermentation, histological, blood, and urinary characteristics as well as ammoniacal nitrogen concentration, pH, nitrogen balance,...     

Hypertrophic osteopathy associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in a dog

A 9-year-old spayed female dog diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and hypertrophic osteopathy was negative for additional lesions on computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen. Resection of the affected liver lobe resulted in resolution of clinical signs. This is the first case of hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Comparison of the intravenous and intravaginal route of oxytocin administration for cervical dilation protocol and non‐surgical embryo recovery in oestrous‐induced Santa Inês ewes

This study compared the effects of intravaginal and intravenous routes of oxytocin (OT) administration in 46 oestrous‐induced Santa Inês ewes (6‐day treatment with progestin‐releasing intravaginal sponges and a single injection of 200 IU of eCG at the time of sponge removal) that underwent transcervical embryo recovery 6–7 days after oestrous onset and mating. All ewes received 37.5 μg of d‐cloprostenol via latero‐vulvar route, and 1 mg of oestradiol benzoate i.m. 16 hr before and 50 IU of OT 20 min before non‐surgical embryo recovery (NSER), with OT being administered intravenously (n = 21) or intravaginally (n = 21). An overall oestrous response was 95.6% (44/46), and adequate cervical retraction could be accomplished in 78.6% (33/42) of ewes. The percentage of successful NSER procedures was 57% (24/42) or 72.7% (24/33) of animals with sufficient cervical retraction. The duration of NSER procedure averaged 28 min (range: 17–40 min) and ~96% of flushing fluid could be recovered (range: 85%–100%). Out of 18 ewes that could not undergo NSER, 12 (66.6%) presented various anatomical barriers, whilst the other 33.4% did not present these barriers and still could not be traversed. Excluding the ewes with those anatomical features, the overall success rate of NSER was 80% (24/30). The route of OT administration had no effect on NSER efficiency or the ease with which transcervical embryo flushing was performed. Both routes of OT administration can be used for cervical dilation protocol. Discarding ewes with anatomical features precluding cervical penetration is highly recommended to increase the efficacy of NSER in sheep.     

Ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids from canola meal in weaned piglets and growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to measure the apparent ileal digestibility coefficients (AID) of protein and amino acids from canola meal (CM) and a pelleted canola meal (PCM) and their effect on specific activity (SA) of pancreatic proteases in weaned piglets and growing pigs. In experiment one, 24 piglets weaned at 17 days and weighing 5.5 kg were used. Treatments were a reference diet with 200 g of crude protein (CP) kg^− 1 elaborated with casein (C) as the sole protein source, a diet containing C–CM and a diet containing C–PCM. These diets were obtained using the reference diet plus 100 g kg^− 1 of CM or PCM that substituted an isoproteic mixture of casein and maize starch from reference diet, so that the AID coefficients for their protein and amino acids could be calculated by difference. In experiment two, nine castrated pigs weighing 39.5 kg were used. Treatments were a reference diet with 160 g of CP kg^− 1 elaborated with casein (C) as the sole protein source, diet C–CM and diet C–PCM. These diets were obtained using the reference diet plus 300 g kg^− 1 of CM or PCM that substituted an isoproteic mixture of casein and maize starch from reference diet. In piglets, the AID coefficients for casein were highest (P < 0.05), those of PCM were intermediate, and those of CM were the lowest. In older pigs, the AID coefficients for casein were highest, and those of CM and PCM were similar (P > 0.05). The SAs of chymotrypsin, trypsin and carboxypeptidases A and B were lower in piglets than in heavier pigs. Moreover, the SAs of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase B were lower (P > 0.05) in animals fed casein. The results showed in piglets that whereas CM was less digestible, pelleted canola meal improved protein and amino acid ileal digestibility, resulting in similar AID coefficients to those of growing pigs.