Swine viscera preservation in hypersaturated salt solution after alcohol fixation as a preparation method for educational purposes

The use of live animals for educational purposes is an old practice that is still employed in teaching and research institutions. However, there are several objections to this practice, whether for ethical or humanitarian reasons. Surgical techniques teaching using anatomical pieces and/or preserved cadavers promotes greater learning efficiency, provides exercise repetition and increases the confidence and satisfaction of the students when compared to the use of live animals. The current work aimed to analyse the feasibility of using fresh swine urinary bladder and small intestines (jejunum), obtained from slaughterhouses, fixed in 99.8% ethyl alcohol (EA) and preserved in sodium chloride hypersaturated solution (SCHS) at 30%, for 7, 14 and 21 days, as an alternative method for surgical skills training (SST). Swine viscera, fixed in EA and preserved in SCHS, presented a realistic appearance, absence of odour and maintained the viable morphological characteristics during the performance of the operative techniques. Preservation solutions had low cost, were easy to acquire and did not offers risks to human health. Therefore, urinary bladders and small intestines fixed in 99.8% EA for 30 days and maintained in 30% SCHS at different periods were demonstrated as a good viable option as a preservation method for surgical skills training.     

Differentially expressed genes identified through RNA‐seq with extreme values of principal components for beef fatty acid in Nelore cattle

The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the Longissimus thoracis muscle of Nelore cattle related to fatty acid (FA) profile through RNA sequencing and principal component analysis (PCA). Two groups of 10 animals each were selected containing PC1 and PC2 extreme DEG values (HIGH × LOW) for each FA group. The intramuscular fat (IMF) was compared between cluster groups by ANOVA, and only the sum of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and ω3 showed significant differences (p < .05). Interestingly, the highest percentage (95%) of phenotypic variation explained by the sum of the first two PC was observed for ω3, which also displayed the lowest number of DEG (n = 1). The lowest percentage (59%) was observed for MUFA, which also revealed the largest number of DEG (n = 66). Since only MUFA and ω3 exhibited significant differences between cluster groups, we can conclude that the differences observed for the remaining groups are not due to the percentage of IMF. Several genes that have been previously associated with meat quality and FA traits were identified as DEG in this study. The functional analysis revealed one KEGG pathway and eight GO terms as significant (p < .05), in which we highlighted the purine metabolism, glycolytic process, adenosine triphosphate binding and bone development. These results strongly contribute to the knowledge of the biological mechanisms involved in meat FA profile of Nelore cattle.     

Immunohistochemical expression of HER - 2 and Ki - 67 in granulosa cell tumor in bitches

Granulosa cell tumour, an ovarian neoplasm of stromal origin, is an important tumour related to oestrogenic dominance syndrome and cystic endometrial hyperplasia–pyometra complex. In order to analyse ovarian tumour´s malignant potential, immunohistochemical markers can be used, such as anti-HER2 and anti-Ki-67. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of immunohistochemical markers HER-2 and Ki-67 in granulosa cell tumour from bitches´ ovaries. In HER-2 immunomarker analysis using the HercepTest^® method, most tumours were classified as 2+ (moderate labelling). Concerning Ki-67 immunomarker, only one case was described as having a high proliferative index. An association was found between immunostained cell percentage by anti-HER-2 antibodies and high pleomorphism, represented by the pattern of follicular/trabecular tumour arrangement. There was no correlation between anti-Ki-67 and anti-HER-2 antibody immunostaining intensities, probably due to only one case with a high Ki-67 index. With an effective protocol for HER-2 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical identification in granulosa cell tumours in bitches, it was possible to characterize this neoplasm proliferation profile.     

Sperm subpopulations influence the pregnancy rates in cattle

This study aimed to study the characteristics and subpopulations of spermatozoa from bulls with low and high reproductive performance based on pregnancy rates. Based on historical records of pregnancy rate from four farms, 24 bulls were selected. Two groups were established, with low pregnancy rates (n = 12; LOW), including bulls that presented pregnancy rates <52.27% (33.33% to 51.81%); and a group with high pregnancy rates (n = 12; HIGH), with pregnancy rates >52.27% (52.27% to 69.64%), after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). The thawed sperm straws were analysed to sperm kinetics, morphology, plasma membrane integrity and sperm subpopulations. The LOW group exhibited a higher proportion of static cells (p < .05). In contrast, the HIGH group showed greater percentages for membrane integrity and total and progressive motility, and cells with fast and medium velocity (p < .05). In the cluster procedures, four sperm subpopulations were established. The low-fertility bulls presented the highest percentage of subpopulation 2 (41.46%), characterized by slow and progressive spermatozoa. The high-fertility bulls exhibited the highest percentage of subpopulation 3 (37.17%), characterized by fast and nonlinear spermatozoa. Results from this study indicated that bulls with greater percentages of fast and nonlinear spermatozoa seem to have greater fertilization capacity and the subpopulations analysis can be considered a tool to identify ejaculates with high fertility.     

Computed tomographic (CT) arthrogram contributes to the diagnosis of an osteochondroma of the distal calcaneus in a horse

Osteochondromas in the horse are most commonly found as a solitary lesion affecting the distal radial metaphysis. In this location, diagnosis is reliant on radiographic and ultrasonographic examination and confirmed with post-operative histopathology. This case report describes the additional benefit of performing a CT arthrogram to aid the diagnosis of an osteochondroma in an atypical location.     

Causes of death in beef cattle in southern Brazil

We determined the prevalence of diseases and pathogens associated with mortality in beef cattle in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, based on pathology laboratory submissions. Postmortem examinations were conducted on 1,277 beef cattle that died between 2008 and 2018. Information regarding age, time of the year, breed, and regional location were analyzed statistically. Most cattle were from the surrounding region of Porto Alegre, and 78.7% of the analyzed cases had diagnostic value. The diagnostic category with most cases was infectious and/or parasitic diseases (60%), followed by toxic and toxicoinfectious (25%). Most cases occurred in the fall. Major disease conditions identified included hemoprotozoal infection (18.2%), rabies (8.2%), and plant intoxications by Senecio spp. (8.5%) and Pteridium arachnoideum (4.6%). Hemoprotozoal infection occurred at a higher frequency in young cattle, mainly in animals up to 1 y old. Intoxication by Senecio spp. was more frequent in cattle 2–3 y old.