Relation between opfthalmic ultrasound biometry and the morphometric parameters of the skull, age, weight and gender in domestic cats

Ocular ultrasonography is a helpful ophthalmic examination, performed on the absence of transparency in ocular means and frequently requested prior intraocular surgery. Unfortunately, the lack of studies upon ultrasonografic images of the normal feline eye, difficults the evaluation of its biometry and its inner structures in many ophthalmic diseases and also before surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ocular biometry and the morphometric parameters of the cranium of 40 healthy adult cats, including 22 Persian cats (Brachycephalic group - BG) and 18 Mixed-breed cats (Noun brachycephalic group - NBG). B/A-mode ultrasonographic biometry, utilizing a 9 MHz probe, was performed for depth of the anterior chamber (D1), lens axial length (D2), depth of the vitreous chamber (D3) and axial length of the globe (D4). Morphometric parameters of the cranium were obtained for bizygomatic (BZ) and occipital frontal (OF) diameters. Data was collected and statistical analysis, including t paired tests, variance and covariance analysis and multiple linear regressions was performed for every obtained measure and also for animal ages, weigh and gender. Statistic relevant values were observed in D4 parameter for female cats of BG. Multiple linear regression indicated some influence of the weigh, age and OF in D1, D2 and D4 of PG; and of BZ in D1, D3 and D4 of NBG. Besides that, it was observed that biometry was also influenced by weigh, age and morphometric parameters of their craniums in both groups.O exame ultrassonográfico ocular é indispensável no pré-operatório de procedimentos cirúrgicos intraoculares como a facectomia, além de ser uma ferramenta complementar ao exame oftalmológico, em casos de perda da transparência dos meios ópticos. A inexistência de estudos acerca de padrões de normalidades para as medidas do bulbo ocular e de suas estruturas internas nos gatos, cujos valores possibilitam o monitoramento de enfermidades e auxiliam em procedimentos cirúrgicos motivaram este estudo. Utilizaram-se 40 gatos, adultos, machos e fêmeas, livres de enfermidades sistêmica e oftalmológica. Destes, 22 eram da raça persa (grupo braquicefálico - GB) e 18 sem raça definida (grupo não braquicefálico - GNB). A biometria ultrassonográfica ocular transcorneana foi realizada, em modo-B∕A, com o transdutor microlinear de 9 MHz e as medidas D1 (profundidade da câmara anterior), D2 (diâmetro do cristalino), D3 (profundidade da câmara vítrea) e D4 (diâmetro axial do bulbo ocular) aferidas. Ainda, mensuraram-se as distâncias fronto-occipital e bizigomática e o peso desses animais. Os dados obtidos foram analisados pelo teste-t pareado, seguindo-se as análises de variância e covariância, além da regressão linear múltipla relacionando-se as medidas de D1, D2, D3 e D4 às medidas bizigomática e fronto-occipital, como também à idade, ao peso e ao gênero. Obteve-se como resultado a média de D1, D2, D3 e D4, assim como dos diâmetros bizigomático e fronto-occipital, idade e peso, verificando-se diferenças significativas para D4 nas fêmeas de GB. Houve, pela análise de regressão linear, influência do peso, idade e diâmetro fronto-occipital sobre D1, D2 e D4 nos gatos do GB, e dos diâmetros bizigomático sobre D1, D3 e D4 nos gatos do GNB. Conclui-se que houve diferença no diâmetro axial do bulbo ocular nas fêmeas do GB, e que o peso, a idade e os diâmetros cranianos influenciam a biometria ocular dos gatos braquicefálicos e não braquicefálicos.Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Agrárias de ItapevaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de OftalmologiaUniversidade de FrancaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de OftalmologiaSciEL

Voluntary project “For Others” provides recreation and social interaction by implementing the activity assisted by animals / Projeto voluntário “Pelos Outros” proporciona recreação e interação social mediante implantação da atividade assistida por animais

Animal-assisted activity is characterized by informal visits to schools, daycare centers, nursing homes and hospitals with the presence of animals, trained or not, for recreation with educational, social and motivational purposes. This activity can be applied in isolation or in association with other complementary ones such as therapy and animal-assisted education. In this context, in the activity assisted by animals several species are used, but the one of choice is the canine, due to indole and dressage facility. It is essential that the participating animals have an updated health certificate so that they do not transmit infectious diseases, in addition to the importance for their own health. Scientifically, it has been proven that human-animal interaction provides social reintegration, reduction of anxiety, loneliness, depression and psychological disorders, in addition to improving self-esteem, reasoning and concentration. Thus, the association of these adjuvant factors with conventional therapies favors the quality of life and longevity of the participating individuals. In view of the promising results attributed to the activity assisted by animals, the objective of the present work is to describe the performance of the social project “For Others” in the implementation of this modality with the help of trained dogs, helping the elderly, children, disabled, sick and homeless people in the city of Franca (SP) and region. The results of this voluntary category demonstrate satisfaction not only from participants in the activity assisted by animals, but also from their families and caregivers.

Primary Corneal Hemangiosarcoma in a Tapir (Tapirus terrestris)

Background: Hemangiosarcoma is a malignant vascular tumor commonly described in veterinary ophthalmology as emerging at the margin of the third eyelid and bulbar conjunctiva. The primary corneal attachment of the tumor is considered rare, as the cornea is an avascular structure, but there are sparse reports of primary occurrences in the cornea of dogs, cats, and horses. No reports were found in wild animals. The Tapirus terrestris, commonly known as Tapir, is a perissodactyl mammal that inhabits South America regions, being considered the largest terrestrial mammal of Brazil and one of the most popular animals in zoos in various countries. This paper aims to report the first case of primary corneal hemangiosarcoma in a 25-year-old female Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) held in captivity. Case: A 25-year-old Tapirus terrestris female presented an irregular mass in the right cornea, mucopurulent secretion, and inconclusive previous cytological evaluation. It also had a history of a milky cornea for many years, and in the last 12 months, a tissue growth was observed, as well as the occurrence of mucopurulent secretion. The menace response in the right eye was negative. In the ophthalmologic examination, a red-colored, lobed, hemorrhagic, and ulcerated mass occupying approximately 90% of the cornea was observed, and in the peripheral cornea, there was an intense discoloration. Due to the extension of the mass and visual loss, the transpalpebral enucleation was performed under general inhalation anesthesia. The histopathological analysis evidenced a vascular tumor restricted to the central peripheral cornea, composed of blood vessels of small and large caliber, showing polygonal endothelial cells with moderate atypia, anisocytosis, and anisocariasis, in addition to dense stroma and inflammatory cells. The mass occupied the anterior corneal stroma, and there was no involvement of bulbar conjunctiva, sclera, or intraocular structures. The immunohistochemical study revealed the positivity of neoplastic cells for CD31, and the proliferative index of the lesion was evaluated by the Ki-67 as inferior to 10%. Discussion: The histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations evidenced a hypercellular lesion, and the diagnosis of primary corneal hemangiosarcoma (HSA) was possible due to the significant cellular atypia identified in the lesion. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of corneal hemangiosarcoma described in Tapir terrestris. The HAS is a malignant neoplasm originating in the vascular endothelial cells. There is a significant correlation between the HSA and prolonged exposure to solar radiation. The tapir of this report lived in a high-altitude region with exposure to ultraviolet rays; therefore, it might be an important predisposing factor for the HSA emergence. The chosen treatment for vascular tumors according to the visual prognostic is the lamellar keratectomy; however, the transpalpebral enucleation was the elected treatment since the eye was not visual, the neoplasm had a great extension, the animal was in advanced age and lived in captivity, and it was difficult to handle the animal without sedation to perform adjuvant therapies. Since the mass corresponded to 90% of the cornea, total removal with free edges would not be possible as described in the literature, and, therefore, there was an increased risk of relapse. In the follow-up after 3 years of surgical excision, the animal remained free of metastasis, reinforcing the diagnosis of primary corneal hemangiosarcoma. Keywords: immunohistochemistry, vascular tumors, histopathology, veterinary ophthalmology

Birdwatching: pedagogical trail on the story of animal trafficking / Passarinhando: trilha pedagógica sobre a história do tráfico de animais

Involving animals in environmental education themes is a playful strategy that contributes to the formation of a conservationist awareness in children. Activities with birds arouse children's interest, stimulate dialogues about biodiversity, and assist in the construction of humanistic values focused on the environment. The present study reports on a pedagogical experience that consisted of a trail called “birdwatching”, which integrated characters and taxidermized birds in a story about the traffic of wild animals. The story was presented to children from the 3rd year of elementary school, from Objetivo Alto Padrão school, in the municipality of Franca, SP, Brazil. With the proposed activity, it was realized that environmental issues are of interest to children. Furthermore, the playful approach used created a feeling of belonging to the environment, facilitating the teaching-learning process through the active participation of students

Epididymal Primary Mast Cell Tumor in a Dog

Background: In the literature, there are a few descriptions of epididymis neoplasia in domestic animals, especially considering primary tumors. In the few reports found in literature, the lesions were a consequence of the invasion of testicular or paratesticular neoplasia, as a papillar carcinoma in a dog’s and a bull’s epididymis, and mesenchymal tumors - fibrome/fibrosarcoma, leiomyoma/leiosarcome. On the other hand, mast cell tumors are the second most prevalent neoplasia in dogs in Brazil, affecting especially the skin. The aim of this report is to describe for the first time a low malignancy mast cell tumor in a mixed-breed dog’s epididymis, without metastasis or recurrence in a 2-year follow-up period. Case: A 10-year-old male mixed-breed dog was presented for pre-surgical evaluation for elective orchiectomy. In the physical examination, an increase in the volume of approximately two centimeters with an irregular appearance was identified on palpation in the cranial pole of the left testis. In the trans surgical period, an increase in testicular volume (4 cm long x 2 cm wide) was observed, with a firm consistency in the region of the vas deferens with macroscopic changes in the region. The testis was sectioned, and the fragments were sent for histopathological evaluation in 10% buffered formaldehyde. There was a fairly cellular circumscribed neoplastic infiltrate, distributed in a sheet and separated by fibrovascular stroma, and rounded neoplastic cells with a moderate amount of basophilic cytoplasmic granulation, and discrete anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. The nuclei were rounded with vesicular chromatin with one or two distinct nucleoli. No mitosis figures were observed in 10 high power fields (400x). Few eosinophils were distributed throughout the neoplastic cell population. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated immunostaining for KIT protein with perimembranous staining in 95% of neoplastic mast cells, giving a KIT 1 pattern. There was no positive nuclear staining for Ki67 in any cell of the histological sections examined. A grade II mast cell tumor (low grade of malignancy) was diagnosed. After diagnosis, the animal underwent radiographic evaluation of the chest and abdominal ultrasound, and a new physical inspection in search of nodules, plaques, skin lesions, or subcutaneous masses. There were no metastases in the thorax and abdominal cavity, nor physical alterations, and it can be inferred that the epididymis was the primary site of the mast cell tumor. After 2 years of orchiectomy, there were no recurrences, and no chemotherapy treatment was performed. Discussion: Extracutaneous mast cell tumors are uncommon in animals, but have been reported in oral and nasal mucosa, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, intestine, visceral lymph nodes, spleen, liver, spinal cord, intestine, ureter, conjunctiva, lung and more recently in tear gland of the third eyelid. However, in the authors' assessment, this is the first description of mast cell tumor in the epididymis in dogs. The diagnosis was established by histopathological examination, which revealed a grade II epididymal mast cell tumor and immunohistochemical evaluation (KIT and Ki-67) as being of low aggressiveness. The diagnosis of a primary tumor was confirmed since the staging was established after the histopathological diagnosis, involving chest radiography, abdominal ultrasound, cutaneous evaluation in search of nodules, plaques, cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions, and did not reveal other abnormalities or metastases not identified in the preoperative evaluation. In addition, immunostaining with KIT and Ki-67 reaffirmed the low degree of malignancy and the potential for metastases, which can be observed by the asymptomatic follow-up of the patient 2 years after the surgical excision. Keywords: tumoral, neoplasm, carcinoma, metastases, histopathology, immunohistochemistry.Introdução: Na literatura existem poucas descrições de neoplasias do epidídimo em animais domésticos, principalmente considerando os tumores primários. Nos poucos relatos encontrados na literatura, as lesões foram decorrentes da invasão de neoplasia testicular ou paratesticular, como carcinoma papilar em epidídimo de um cão e de um touro e tumores mesenquimais - fibroma/fibrossarcoma, leiomioma/leiossarcoma. Em contrapartida, os mastocitomas são a segunda neoplasia mais prevalente em cães no Brasil, acometendo principalmente a pele. O objetivo desse relato é descrever pela primeira vez um mastocitoma de baixa malignidade no epidídimo de um cão sem raça definida, sem metástase ou recidiva em um período de acompanhamento de 2 anos. Caso: Um cão sem raça definida, macho, de 10 anos de idade, foi encaminhado para avaliação pré-cirúrgica para orquiectomia eletiva. Ao exame físico foi identificado aumento de volume de aproximadamente dois centímetros com aspecto irregular à palpação no pólo cranial do testículo esquerdo. No período transcirúrgico, observou-se aumento do volume testicular (4 cm de comprimento x 2 cm de largura), com consistência firme na região do vaso deferente com alterações macroscópicas na região. O testículo foi seccionado e os fragmentos encaminhados para avaliação histopatológica em formaldeído tamponado a 10%. Havia infiltrado neoplásico altamente celular circunscrito, distribuído em leçol e separado por estroma fibrovascular, e células neoplásicas arredondadas com moderada quantidade de granulação citoplasmática basofílica, e discreta anisocitose e anisocariose. Os núcleos eram arredondados com cromatina vesicular com um ou dois nucléolos distintos. Não foram observadas figuras de mitose em dez campos de alta amplificação (400x). Poucos eosinófilos foram distribuídos por toda a população de células neoplásicas. A imunohistoquímica mostrou imunocoloração para proteína KIT com coloração perimembranosa em 95% dos mastócitos neoplásicos, fornecendo um padrão KIT 1. Não houve coloração nuclear positiva para Ki67 em nenhuma célula dos cortes histológicos examinados. Foi diagnosticado um mastocitoma grau II (baixo grau de malignidade). Após o diagnóstico, o animal foi submetido a avaliação radiográfica de ultrassonografia de tórax e abdome, e nova inspeção física em busca de nódulos, placas, lesões de pele ou massas subcutâneas. Não houve metástases em tórax e cavidade abdominal, nem alterações físicas, podendo-se inferir que o epidídimo foi o sítio primário do mastocitoma. Após dois anos de orquiectomia, não houve recidiva e nenhum tratamento quimioterápico foi realizado. Discussão: Os mastocitomas extracutâneos são incomuns em animais, mas têm sido relatados em mucosa oral e nasal, nasofaringe, laringe, traqueia, intestino, linfonodos viscerais, baço, fígado, medula espinhal, intestino, ureter, conjuntiva, pulmão e mais recentemente na glândula lacrimal da terceira pálpebra. No entanto, na avaliação dos autores, essa é a primeira descrição de mastocitoma no epidídimo em cães. O diagnóstico foi estabelecido pelo exame histopatológico, que revelou mastocitoma epididimal grau II e avaliação imunohistoquímica (KIT e Ki-67) como sendo de baixa agressividade. O diagnóstico de tumor primário foi confirmado pois o estadiamento foi estabelecido após o diagnóstico histopatológico, envolvendo radiografia de tórax, ultrassonografia abdominal, avaliação cutânea em busca de nódulos, placas, lesões cutâneas e subcutâneas, e não revelou outras anormalidades ou metástases não identificadas em a avaliação pré-operatória. Além disso, a imunocoloração com KIT e Ki-67 reafirmou o baixo grau de malignidade e o potencial de metástases, o que pode ser observado pelo acompanhamento assintomático do paciente dois anos após a excisão cirúrgica

Schirmer tear test, a useful diagnosis tool for the clinician / Teste lacrimal de Schirmer, uma ferramenta diagnóstica útil para o clínico

It was evaluated the Schirmer Tear Test 1 (STT-1) in 100 dogs randomly attended in order to identify its variations and possible relations with the clinical review, disease, breed, age and sex. The STT-1 was accomplished in both eyes in dogs over two years old, females or males. Of these, those whose complaint included ocular clinical signs or those with previously identified ocular disease were excluded from this study. After analysis it were computed 92 dogs (194 eyes), 34 males and 58 females with 7,79 ± 3,7 e 7,76 ± 3,7 years old, respectively. About the breeds, 40,2% were mixed breed, 13,0% Poodle, 6,5% Shih-tzu and Basset Hound and 5,4% Pitbull. STT-1 <10mm/min was observed bilaterally in 4,3% of the dogs with mean age 7,4 ± 3,9 years old. Of these, 75% females and 25% males. STT-1 ? 10 e ? 14 mm/min was observed in 3,2% of the dogs, of these, 66,7% males and 33,3% females, 66,7% mixed breed and 33,3% Teckel. The mean age was 7,6 ± 3,8 years old. About the systemic diseases observed in the animals with STT-1 <10mm/min it were found reproductive apparatus changes(42,8%). It is emphasized the STT-1 in the clinical-surgical veterinary attendance even when the main complaint does not relate the ocular system, mainly in patients over seven years old

Modified walking suture technique in rhytidectomy in a Shar-Pei dog

Excessive facial skin folds is observed in several breeds of dogs and the weight exerted on the eyelids accents or promotes entropion, trichiasis and ptosis. Thus, this study reported a case of the 8-months-old male Shar-pei weighting 21.5kg was presented with an obstructed visual axis, eye discharge, fetid odor in facial folds around the jaw and the neck. It was indicated the surgical resection of the folds and correction of the upper and lower entropion. In this case, the association of Hotz-Celsus technique with rhytidectomy shaped in semiarchs, using the anchoring points with the modified walking suture, was effective in correcting the entropion and unblocking the visual axis with minimal scarring and preservation of the breed standard in 12 months follow up after surgery

Co-therapist animals as complementary alternatives in the health and human well-being: literature review / Animais co-terapeutas como alternativas complementares na saúde e bem-estar humano: revisão de literatura

The main goal of Animal Assisted Therapy (TAA) and of the Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) is to promote organic, behavioral and such sentimental changes in human healthy or patients with different types of deficiencies and diseases, by the aid of animal of different species (co-therapists). Therefore, the importance of the correct selection of the co-therapists (mainly the behavioral factor), as well the periodic health attestation, issued by the veterinary doctor. It is clear that helps to control pain, sleep, appetite, stress, mood and aggression. Faced with the numerous advantages described about this activities in improving the quality of life and survival of patients, the purpose of the present final paper was to conduct a literary review emphasizing the objectives of this therapies as complementary alternatives in human medicine and, nevertheless, highlight the most commonly used animal species, type of selection and care with co-therapists, besides the human patients benefited

Effects of pneumoperitoneum and trendelenburg position on intraocular pressure (IOP) in isofluorane anesthetised cats

The aim of this study was to determine whether a pneumoperitoneum of 10 mmHg combined or not with the Trendelenburg position could lead to significant changes in intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular pressure perfusion (OPP), and cardiorespiratory variables; as well as determine whether a correlation exists between IOP and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and/or partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) in cats. Animals were allocated in two groups (n=7/group): GC (without inclination) and GTREN (Trendelenburg position). The variables were recorded before (baseline) and during 30 minutes (T5-T30) after insufflation. In GTREN, a reduction in heart rate was observed at T5 and in respiratory rate at T5 and T15. There was an increase in IOP at T5-T30 in comparison to baseline. There was a reduction in potential of hydrogen in arterial blood in both groups at all times in comparison to baseline. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood was increased at T15-T30 in GC and at T5-T30 in GTREN. In conclusion, the pneumoperitoneum of 10mmHg CO2 did not significantly affect IOP or OPP in cats anaesthetised with isofluorane and kept under spontaneous ventilation. However, induced pneumoperitoneum combined with Trendelenburg position resulted in an increase in IOP in cats subjected to the same anaesthetic conditions, but did not affect OPP

Effect of systemic administration of phytosterol on lacrimal quality of dogs

The tear lipid layer (oily outer layer) reduces evaporation and prevents tear overflow. In dogs, reductions in the lipid components of this layer (cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids) can cause eye serious diseases. In this way, the tear crystallization test analyzes the lacrimal quality, however, it is less used in veterinary. As phytosterol reduces blood cholesterol, the objective of this study was to investigate, through the tear crystallization test, whether the systemic administration of this drug influences the lacrimal quality of healthy dogs and, in addition, to verify differences in the interpretation of the ophthalmic test between different evaluators. Eight beagles, healthy, of both sexes, young and adults, without clinical ophthalmic signs apparent were selected. Basal lacrimal samples (D0) were collected from the right and left eye of all animals with glass capillary tube and arranged on a glass slide for scanning the images and subsequent microscopic analysis. Subsequently, all were medicated with the phytosterol (Collestra® 650 mg: 1 capsule, orally, every 12 hours, for 15 days). After seven (D7) and fifteen (D15) days of this systemic administration, the tear crystallization test in both eyes of all dogs was again performed for statistical comparison with the baseline results. The photographs of the slides were classified by four evaluators (AV1 and AV2 with professional experience in ophthalmology and AV3 and AV4 without previous professional experience in ophthalmology), following standards established by Rolando (1984). The results were statistically verified by analysis of simple variance (ANOVA One-Way). There was no statistical difference in the tear crystallization test between the established periods and in relation to the different ophthalmic test evaluators (p≤0.05). Although phytosterols reduce blood cholesterol levels, it was observed in the present study that these drugs when administered systemically did not interfere in the tear lipid layer and, consequently, in the lacrimal quality of healthy dogs, and may be prescribed as lipid-lowering agents for patients with ocular diseases, especially the lacrimal ones