Addition of magnesium sulfate to intraperitoneal ropivacaine for perioperative analgesia in canine ovariohysterectomy

Magnesium may be used as an adjunctive analgesic for perioperative pain management because of its antinociceptive properties. This study investigated the analgesic efficacy of intraperitoneal ropivacaine combined with magnesium sulfate in canine ovariohysterectomy. Forty-five dogs sedated with acepromazine/meperidine and anesthetized with propofol/isoflurane were randomly distributed into three treatments, administered intraperitoneally (n = 15 per group): saline solution (group S), 0.25% ropivacaine (3 mg/kg) alone (group R), or in combination with magnesium sulfate (20 mg/kg, group R-Mg). Intravenous fentanyl was given to control cardiovascular responses to surgical stimulation. Postoperative pain was assessed using an Interactive Visual Analog Scale (IVAS), the short form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale, and mechanical nociceptive thresholds. Morphine/meloxicam was administered as rescue analgesia. Intraoperatively, the R-Mg group required less fentanyl (p = .02) and exhibited higher incidence of hypotension (systolic arterial pressure <90 mm Hg, p = .006) compared with the S group. Lower IVAS pain scores were recorded during the first hour in the R-Mg group than the other groups (p = .007–.045). Postoperative rescue analgesia did not differ between groups. Intraperitoneal magnesium sulfate administration, in spite of decreasing intraoperative opioid requirements, increased the incidence of hypotension with minimal evidence of postoperative analgesic benefits.     

Pregnancy loss due to amnionitis in anglo-arabian mare—Case report

The amnion is a layer of the foetal membrane that has mechanical protection function and allows expansion and growth. The diseases that affect amnion have rarely been reported in horses. Amnionitis and funiculitis have been implicated as components of abortions as observed in abortions caused by the mare reproductive loss syndrome. Here, we report an abortion at 240-day gestation of a 7-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare with a history of previous stillbirth. Blood samples from both mare and foetus were collected for serological testing. Fragments from the placenta were taken for macroscopic and histopathological examinations. The results of these tests ruled out leptospirosis and concluded that the cause of the abortion was non-infectious chronic amnionitis. Moreover, the decreased vascularization in the placenta was consistent with placental insufficiency. This case highlights the importance of monthly ultrasound monitoring in equine pregnancy in order to diagnose placental insufficiency. The study also confirmed the efficiency of the histopathological examination for the definitive diagnosis of placental inflammation and for the study of foetal vascularization to rule out placental insufficiency in equine reproduction.     

BMP-15 activity on in vitro development of collared peccary (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758) preantral follicles

This study investigated the effects of BMP-15 on the in vitro development of preantral follicles of collared peccaries. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1 or 6 days in Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM199⁺) supplemented with BMP-15 at rates of 0, 1, 25 or 50 ng/ml. The fragments were analysed histologically by evaluating follicular morphology, activation and growth as well as the potential for proliferation of granulosa cells. Our results show the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP-15 in the medium provided the greatest percentage of normal follicles (79.67% ± 0.69) when compared to other treatments (p < .05); however, this result is similar to 1 ng/ml BMP-15 (74.00% ± 1.90, p > .05). Moreover, 25 and 50 ng/ml of BMP-15 promoted follicular activation. BMP-15 supplements did not affect oocyte and follicular growth. All concentrations of BMP-15 increased the number of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) after 1 day of culture when compared to fresh fragments or the control samples (p < .05). However, at the end of the experiment, the number of NORs in follicles cultured in all treatments was higher than that observed in the fresh control (sample taken prior to culturing) (p > .05). In summary, the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP-15 to the culture medium of collared peccary preantral follicles maintained a high number of morphologically healthy follicles and stimulated the activation of primordial follicles after 6 days in culture.     

Ultrasonographic cervical evaluation: A tool to select ewes for non-surgical embryo recovery

This study assessed the cervical ultrasonography mapping as a tool to select donor ewes for non-surgical embryo recovery (NSER). Lacaune ewes had their cervix evaluated by ultrasonography 12 hr after induced oestrus onset (Trial 1, n = 24) or 30 min before NSER (Trial 2, n = 17). Cervical rings were longitudinally evaluated and classified by their degree of misalignment on ultrasonography (DMUS) into: DMUS-1—cervix rectilinear, DMUS-2—intermediate and DMUS-3—highly asymmetrical. For predicting cervical transposing, only DMUS-1 and DMUS-2 were considered suitable. Similar ranking was attributed to degree of misalignment on the cervical map (DMCM 1–3), established immediately before NSER, which was performed at days 6 to 7 after oestrus. In Trial 1, cervical retraction for NSER was not possible only in three ewes classified as DMUS-3 (3/14, 21.4%). No difference (p > .05) was observed in the cervical transposing rates between ewes with different DMUS (ranged from 80% to 100%). In Trial 2, DMUS-1 and DMUS-2 reached 100% of transposing, and the only DMUS-3 ewe has not been transposed. In Trial 1, the prediction performance for successful cervical transposing showed low sensitivity (45%) and no specificity due to a high incidence of false negatives (52%). However, in Trial 2, sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. The DMCM and DMUS were uncorrelated, probably due to cervical stretching required to perform NSER. In conclusion, cervical ultrasound assessment immediately before NSER was more efficient to predict the cervical transposing than at induced oestrus, allowing the classification and selection of ewes eligible for NSER.     

A metabarcoding tool to detect predation of the honeybee Apis mellifera and other wild insects by the invasive Vespa velutina

The invasive Vespa velutina has been widely referred as an effective predator of honeybees. Despite the potential risk to pollination services provision and honey production, there is no accurate quantification and assessment of its real consequences for honeybees. To date, the identification of the honeybee and other insects in the diet of V. velutina has been investigated by direct observation of adult foraging or examination of food pellets. To overcome these limitations, in this study we used a DNA metabarcoding approach to evaluate the usefulness of different types of sample (jaws and stomachs collected from workers and larval faecal pellets taken from the hornet comb) to investigate the predation of V. velutina upon honeybees, and potentially on other insects. Honeybee DNA was identified in all types of samples, but larval faecal pellets retrieved the higher number of reads of honeybee DNA and the largest diversity at all taxonomic levels. Over all samples we could identify 4 orders, 9 families, 6 genera and 1 species of prey. We estimate that collecting 6 workers is sufficient to identify honeybee predation by a colony using worker’s jaws. Stomachs were the least useful sample type to detect honeybee DNA. The presence of honeybee DNA in all analysed colonies irrespective of collection site, and the variety of insect orders detected in the diet support current concerns over the acknowledged negative impact of V. velutina on managed honeybees and its potential threat to pollination services provision.

     

Timed artificial insemination in crossbred mares: Reproductive efficiency and costs

Timed artificial insemination (TAI) has boosted the use of conventional artificial insemination (CAI) by employing hormonal protocols to synchronize oestrus and ovulation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a hormonal protocol for TAI in mares, based on a combination of progesterone releasing intravaginal device (PRID), prostaglandin (PGF_2α) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); and compare financial costs between CAI and TAI. Twenty-one mares were divided into two groups: CAI group (CAIG; n = 6 mares; 17 oestrous cycles) and TAI group (TAIG; n = 15 mares; 15 oestrous cycles). The CAIG was subjected to CAI, involving follicular dynamics and uterine oedema monitoring with ultrasound examinations (US), and administration of hCG (1,600 IU) when the dominant follicle (DF) diameter's ≥35 mm + uterine oedema + cervix opening. The AI was performed with fresh semen (500 × 10⁶ cells), and embryo was recovered on day 8 (D8) after ovulation. In TAI, mares received 1.9 g PRID on D0. On D10, PRID was removed and 6.71 mg dinoprost tromethamine was administered. Ovulation was induced on D14 (1,600 IU of hCG) regardless of the DF diameter's, and AI was performed with fresh semen (500 × 10⁶ cells). On D30 after AI, pregnancy was confirmed by US. The pregnancy rate was 80.0% in TAIG and 82.3% in CAIG (p > .05). The TAI protocol resulted in 65% reduction in professional transport costs, and 40% reduction in material costs. The TAI was as efficient as CAI, provided reduction in costs and handlings, and is recommended in mares.     

Cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 inhibition and analgesic efficacy of dipyrone at different doses or meloxicam in cats after ovariohysterectomy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cyclooxygenases (COX) inhibition, adverse effects and analgesic efficacy of dipyrone or meloxicam in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.Study designProspective, blinded, randomized, clinical study.AnimalsA total of 30 healthy young cats.MethodsThe cats were randomly assigned to three postoperative groups: D25 (dipyrone 25 mg kg^?1 every 24 hours), D12.5 (dipyrone 12.5 mg kg^?1 every 12 hours) and M (meloxicam 0.1 mg kg^?1 every 24 hours). In the first 24 hours, the drugs were administered intravenously (IV), and then orally for 6 (dipyrone) or 3 days (meloxicam). Prostanoids thromboxane B₂ and prostaglandin E₂ concentrations served as indicators of COX activity and, with physiological variables and pain and sedation scores, were measured for 24 hours after first analgesic administration. Rescue analgesia (tramadol, 2 mg kg^?1 IV) was provided if Glasgow feline composite measure pain scale (CMPS-Feline) ≥5. Laboratory tests included symmetric dimethylarginine and adverse effects were evaluated regularly up to 7 and 10 days after surgery, respectively. Parametric and nonparametric data were analyzed with two-way anova and Kruskal-Wallis tests, respectively (p < 0.05).ResultsIn the first half hour after analgesic administration, COX-1 activity was close to zero and remained significantly lower than before drug administration for 24 hours in all groups. The inhibition of COX-2 activity was significant for 30 minutes in all groups and up to 4 hours in group M. No alterations in laboratory tests or significant adverse effects were observed. Pain scores and need for rescue analgesia did not differ statistically among groups.ConclusionsDipyrone at both doses and meloxicam provided a nonselective inhibition of COX-1 and -2 activities and effective analgesia without causing significant adverse effects or laboratory tests alterations.Clinical relevanceDipyrone at both doses provides equally effective analgesia without causing adverse effects in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.     

Genetic diversity in accessions of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) determined from agro-morphological descriptors and SSR markers for use in breeding programs in Brazil

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) have high genetic diversity, especially in Brazil, which has been maintained both on farms and in germplasm banks. Knowledge...     

Mineral Nitrogen Associated Changes in Growth and Xylem-N Compounds in Amazonian Legume Tree

In nodulated young Inga edulis plants, nodule and plant growth, nitrogen (N) in xylem sap and tissues total contents of amino acid, ureide, and nitrate were determined in response to nutrition with nitrate, ammonium, or no mineral N. Additionally, the amount of soluble sugars in the different plant tissues was quantified. It was found that mineral N improved plant growth in height and diameter especially with ammonium. However, nitrate dramatically reduced nodule dry weight on a root dry weight basis and impaired N organic transport by xylem sap. Additionally, a higher amount of amino acids was observed in the roots and nodules of plants fed with mineral N but sugar levels remained constant. Although nitrate inhibited symbiosis, data support the idea that I. edulis is able to use both molecular and mineral nitrogen during the life cycle.