Vasectomy in Spotted Paca (Cuniculus paca)

Background: Cuniculus paca is the second largest neotropical rodent. It is not endangered, but your habitat has been destroyed and the specie has been hunted, because of its prized meat. In this context captive breeding is an alternative to reduce the hunt. Then, adult male vasectomy is an interesting alternative for Cuniculus paca since the animal does not lose libido and maintain cyclicity of females into the enclosure. This technique is a method of sterilization which the vas deferens is surgically clamped, cut, or otherwise sealed and thus prevents the release of sperm when a male ejaculates. The aim of this study was to describe the vasectomy technique on a male spotted paca kept in captive. Case: A captive adult male of Cuniculus paca, lived in Brazilian wild fauna breeding for scientifc research. It was maintained on precinct with no other animal, ate fruits, vegetables, tubers and rodent chow and water offered ad libitum. It was submitted to bilateral vasectomy to maintain reproductive behavior on bevy, but not impregnate females. The anaesthesia was performed using ketamine hydrochloride (25 mg/kg IM) and midazolam (0.5 mg/kg IM) as premedication, and isoflurane in open system by facemask diluted in 100% O2 for induction and maintenance. Immediately after induction, was performed epidural anesthesia using 4 mg/kg of lidocaine hydrochloride without vasoconstrictor associated in the same syringe with 0.2 mg/kg of methadone hydrochloride to promote analgesia. As the testes in this species are inside the abdomen, the surgical approach was made by paraprepucial skin incision and ventral midline abdominal incision. After access the cavity, the testes were located and the vaginal tunics were incised to access the vas deferens. After exposed, both were doubly ligated, sectioned and removed a segment of approximately 1 cm of each duct. Finally, the occlusion of subcutaneous and muscle layers were made using 2-0 absorbable and skin with 2-0 non-absorbable sutures. Postoperatively, benzathine penicillin (30,000 IU/kg IM once), tramadol (4 mg/kg IM once) and meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg SC SID for 3 days) were administered. Ten days post-surgery, the animal was fully recovered and after twenty days, it was transferred to enclosure of females. None were fertilized after vasectomy, and there was no change in reproductive behavior among individuals. Discussion: Zoos and breeding have a problem when animal population increases too much, thus vasectomy is an important alternative to avoid this, because it does not lose sexual behavior, but cannot impregnate. The spotted paca presented intracavitary testicles without elevation Skin evidence to scrotum formation, however may also present inguinal regions testes beside penis or scrotum, most evident in reproductive season, similarly occurs in rats and agoutis. In the present case was performed bilaterally vasectomy to have satisfactory results for spermatogenesis reduction, confrming was indicated by some studies in rats and rabbits. Some studies in monkeys and rodents showed that after some time the spermatic cells decrease. In the present study sexual behavior and quality of patient ejaculate, were not completely monitor, to not interfere on management, but there was no female fertilized in a period of 1 year. This procedure showed to be feasible and an easy implementation for maintenance of the estrous cycle of females. Keywords: Cuniculidae, reproduction, rodent, surgery, vas deferens

Ultrassonografia modo B de alta resolução modo Doppler e uso de contraste de microbolhas na avaliação testicular de gatos domésticos

Research involving breeding of domestic cats are commonly based on macroscopic and andrologic analysis, there is no study to date with sonographic evaluation of domestic cats testicle. Thus, this study aimed to perform the ultrasound scan of 45 adult domestic cats testicles, using the techniques of B mode, Triplex Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced. The results showed homogeneous testicles, with normal echogenicity and echotexture, with evident mediastinal line. Testicular artery was observed in the spermatic cord with tortuous patter and showed monophasic-patterned waves and low vascular resistance and with systolic peak evident. Values of indices vascular were as follows: SV = 6.73 cm/s, DV = 2.8 cm/s and RI = 0.54 for left testicles; and SV = 6.23 cm/s, DV = 2.77 cm/s and RI = 0.53 for right testicles. The contrast-enhanced resulted in no side effects, being reliable and generating quality images. Contrast filled the subcapsular vascular structures and after a few seconds, a homogeneous moderate enhancement of the parenchyma, with parenchymal vessels still distinguishable and after the peak phase, a rapid homogeneous decrease in echogenicity. Values of time for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were as follows: wash-in = 8.78 s, peak enhancement = 21.62 s and wash-out = 75.36 for left testicles; and wash-in = 10.76 s, peak enhancement = 21.50 s and washout = 81.81 for right testicles. The examination in Doppler mode showed testicular artery with monophasic-patterned waves in spermatic cord. These tests were easily applied in domestic cats and should be used as auxiliary techniques in the diagnosis of testicular abnormalities in this speciesAs pesquisas envolvendo a reprodução de gatos domésticos comumente baseiam-se em análise macroscópica e andrológica do sistema reprodutor desses animais, não havendo nenhum estudo até o momento sobre a avaliação ultrassonográfica dos testículos nesta espécie. Sendo assim, este estudo prospectivo visou realizar a varredura ultrassonográfica dos testículos de 45 gatos adultos domésticos, utilizando as técnicas Modo B, Doppler e Ultrassonografia por Contraste com Microbolhas. Os resultados obtidos ao exame ultrassonográfico modo B demonstraram as estruturas testiculares com ecotextura homogênea e com ecogenicidade dentro da normalidade (semelhante à ecogenicidade do tecido esplênico), com presença de linha mediastinal evidente. Ao Doppler colorido testicular, foi possível verificar artéria testicular com padrão de ondas arterial e monofásico, em região de cordão espermático. Utilizando o Doppler Espectral, obtiveram-se os índices vasculares dos testículos direito e esquerdo, respectivamente: VS = 6.23 cm/s, VD = 2.77 cm/s e IR = 0.53; VS = 6.73 cm/s, VD = 2.8 cm/s e IR = 0.54. A avaliação ultrassonográfica contrastada por microbolhas não resultou em efeitos colaterais aos animais, apresentando-se de aplicação confiável e gerando imagens de qualidade. O contraste preencheu as estruturas vasculares subcapsulares, com moderado realce homogêneo do parênquima, além de rápida redução da ecogenicidade após o pico de realce. Os valores de tempo para o contraste de microbolhas, considerando tempo de entrada, pico de realce e tempo de saída para os testículos direito e esquerdo foram, respectivamente: tempo de entrada = 10.76 s, pico de realce = 21.50 s e pico de saída = 81.81; tempo de entrada = 8.78 s, pico de realce = 21.62 s e tempo de saída = 75.36. Esses exames foram facilmente aplicados em gatos domésticos e devem ser utilizados como técnicas auxiliares no diagnóstico de anormalidades testiculares..

ARFI Elastography of Healthy Adults Felines Testes

ABSTRACT Background: Elastography is a promising ultrasound technique that evaluates tissue elasticity, characteristic related to the ability of a body or substance to return to its original size or shape after it is deformed by an external force. In veterinary, the research conducted for the standardization of elastography in tissue evaluation of the animals are recent and given the importance of this new ultrasound technique for studying the stiffness of various tissues and its recent application in veterinary medicine, the aims of this study were to describe the use of ARFI elastography for evaluating the testicular stroma in adults felines and to establish normal reference values for this tissue. Materials, Methods & Results: Forty five male cats were submitted to B-Mode ultrasonography and ARFI Elastography, by qualitative and quantitative analysis to describe baseline data for the study of domestic feline testes. The echotexture (homogeneous or heterogeneous) ecogenicity (hypo, hyperechoic or mixed), size (increased, decreased or normal) and contours and margins (regular or irregular) of the testes (right and left) were assessed and categorised via B-Mode ultrasound in longitudinal and transverse sections for research of structural changes, such as the presence of cystic areas or masses. Qualitative and quantitative elastography of the testes in felines was performed without difficulty and without sedation. Due to the location of the evaluated structures, there was no interference from movements that hindered the acquisition of the measurements. During qualitative elastography, the felines demonstrated a homogenous and not pliable testicular stroma. The rigidity observed in the testicles of felines was lower compared to the adjacent tissue. The quantitative elastography, the mean shear velocity values were 1.51 m/s (95% confidence interval: 1.42 and 1.59 m/s) for the right testicle and 1.48 m/s (95% confidence interval: 1.41 and 1.54 m/s) for the left testicle of the felines There was no significant difference when comparing the right and left testicular structures. Discussion: The cats testicles are round or oval structures located ventrally to the anus and dorsally to the foreskin, visible only when the animal tail is raised. The normal testicular ultrasound image showed a pattern of homogeneous echotexture and echogenicity similar to the spleen. Overall, feline testicular ultrasound allowed achieving normal organ morphology, provide volume measurement, and enables the detection of testicular changes that may promote infertility of animals. Quantitative and qualitative ARFI elastography of the testes in felines was easily implemented, and this study provide baseline data for the study of these organs with ARFI. In this context, the feline testicular homogeneity and stiffness values obtained from qualitative ARFI in this study can aid the future use of elastography in the detection of tissue heterogeneity (soft or hard areas) resulting from pathological processes in felines as a noninvasive method of diagnosis. After standardising the reference values for testicular elastography in healthy cats, the differences in shear velocity values of diseased tissues can be evaluated to differentiate between benign and malignant tumours in felines, once the definitive diagnosis of benign or malignant lesions is today made only by histopathology after castration, considered a invasive method, which promotes the loss of the reproductive value of animals

Conventional and Doppler Abdominal Ultrasonography in Pacas (Cuniculus paca)

Background: The first report of ultrasound evaluation in pacas was for gestational diagnosis and monitoring. However, there are no reports of the use of this technique for the evaluation of abdominal structure in pacas. Elucidating the biology of wild species is important for preservation and potential use as experimental models for human and animal research. As such, this study aimed to describe an ultrasonographic view of major abdominal organs and determine the vascular indices of abdominal aorta and renal arteries in pacas (Cuniculus paca) by Doppler mode.Materials, Methods & Results: Fifteen adult females with a mean weight of nine kilograms were positioned into dorsal or lateral recumbency. A specific gel was applied, and transabdominal ultrasound examination was performed by a single experienced evaluator using MyLab 30 VET ultrasound equipment (ESAOTE, Italy) with 7.5 and 10.0 MHz linear transducers. Anatomy, biometry and ultrasonographic findings, such as ecogenicity, echotexture and wall thickness of main abdominal organs (bladder, kidneys, adrenals, spleen, liver, digestive system and ovaries), were assessed during the ultrasound scan. Doppler ultrasound was used to determine the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI = [PSV - EDV]/PSV) and pulsatility index (PI = [PSV - EDV]/mean velocity) of the abdominal aorta and renal arteries. The animals were healthy based on physical examination, hemogram and biochemical profile. Furthermore, we determined that the ultrasound technique for abdominal evaluation of these animals was feasible. Major abdominal organs were accessed using conventional ultrasonography biometric values and sonographic characteristics. Doppler examination was used to determine mean vascular indices of the abdominal aorta and the left and right renal arteries.Discussion: Several studies using the ultrasound technique in wild animals have demonstrated the clinical importance and applicability of this imaging method for veterinary medicine. As mentioned, ultrasound examination is feasible, effective and important for the assessment of topographical relations and ultrasound characteristics of abdominal organs in pacas. During urinary bladder ultrasound examination of the caudal abdomen, little repletion with anechoic content without sediment was observed, renal structures presented a topography, echogenicity and cortico-medullary relationship (1:1) and sonographic findings of the spleen and liver of pacas were similar to those described in dogs and cats. Upon digestive system ultrasound, the stomach showed sonographic characteristics similar to dogs such as peristaltic movements (3 to 5 per minute) and intestinal silhouettes (2 to 3 per min). The adrenal glands were easily detected by ultrasound, located cranial to the ipsilateral kidney, the same as in dogs, ferrets and coatis. Ovaries, as well as the internal follicular structures, were observed near the caudal renal pole. These findings corroborate the findings of normal ovaries in dogs and cats. Doppler mode of the abdominal aorta and renal arteries was feasible and useful for the study of the physiology and detection of hemodynamic abnormalities in pacas. Conventional and Doppler ultrasonography allowed the study of the abdominal structures of pacas (Cuniculus paca), providing original and valuable information on the topographic anatomy and morphophysiology of abdominal tissues and their sonographic descriptions. The results of this study may aid in abdominal injury evaluation in these animals and other wild species.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved