Ocorrência de piolhos Neopsittaconirmus spp. (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) em calopsita (Nymphicus hollandicus) no nordeste brasileiro

Piolhos mastigadores são normalmente encontrados em aves e mamíferos. Esses insetos são divididos em duas subordens de importância nas aves, a Amblycera e a Ischnocera, sendo que nesta última apenas a família Philopteridae abrange os piolhos específicos desses animais. Possuem as peças bucais adaptadas à mastigação da pele e penas, e quando parasitam aves como as calopsitas (Nymphicus hollandicus) podem provocar diversas alterações dermatológicas, sistêmicas e até mesmo comportamentais. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar o encontro de espécimes de piolhos do gênero Neopsittaconirmus infestando uma calopsita domiciliada em Teresina, PI, proveniente de um criatório comercial. O animal era de mutação lutina, com 3 meses de idade, que apresentou apatia, penas eriçadas e prurido. Ao atendimento veterinário observou-se a presença de piolhos sobre as penas da ave, sendo as mesmas colhidas e levadas ao Laboratório de Parasitologia da Universidade Federal do Piauí, confirmando infestação por piolhos Neopsittaconirmus spp. O animal foi tratado com selamectina tópica em dose única e suplemento vitamínico, observando melhora do quadro clínico e ausência de piolhos quinze dias após a terapia. Até o presente conhecimento, este relato apresenta a primeira descrição de piolhos do gênero Neopsittaconirmus em calopsita no nordeste do Brasil. Conclui-se que piolhos desse gênero podem infestar e provocar lesões nessas aves, sendo recomendado o diagnóstico precoce e um tratamento adequado para eliminar estes ectoparasitos

Comparative Study of the Vertebral Heart Scale (VHS) and the Cardiothoracic Ratio (CTR) in Healthy Poodle Breed dogs

Background: Veterinary cardiology has been widely divulged, especially because of the search for diagnostic methods that allow early identification of heart disease in companion animals. Several techniques are available, such as digital radiography (DR), computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) that are being applied to patients with various diseases. VHS has been widely used in clinical practice in veterinary medicine as a way to diagnose heart size increases in lateral thoracic radiography in small animals. Cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) is a predictive factor for cardiac insufficiency in humans. In veterinary medicine, this index is still little used. The objective of the present study was to compare the vertebral heart scale (VHS) and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) to assess changes in the size of the cardiac silhouette dogs in thoracic radiographs.Materials, Methods & Results: The VHS and CTR of forty healthy poodle breed dogs (20 males and 20 females) from University Veterinary Hospital at the Federal University of Piauí were assessed. The animals were placed in supine and lateral decubitus, to obtain radiographic images in dorsoventral (DV) and right and left laterolateral projections of the thoracic region. The images acquired on the photosensitive radiographic chassis were analyzed by digital radiographic image system installed in the Image Diagnosis Service of the University Veterinary Hospital -HVU/UFPI. VHS (Vertebral Heart Scale) measurements were taken using the sum of the heart length and heart width at its greatest diameter, comparing with the vertebral bodies from the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4). The CTR was assessed by comparing the greatest width of the heart silhouette and the distance between the thoracic walls at height T8. The heart width was measured from the two greatest distances (ML and MR), from the vertical line that divides the limit between the right and left sides of the heart, at the point of its greatest diameter. Similarly, the thoracic width was measured at the point of greatest thoracic diameter (MTD). The mean of the VHS and CTR in the males was 9.83 ± 0.85v and 0.48 ± 0.05, respectively. The females showed values of 9.65 ± 0.65v and 0.50 ± 0.03, respectively (P > 0.05). The mean of the VHS and CTR, considering males and females, was 9.72 ± 0.73v and 0.48 ± 0.04, respectively. VHS and weight correlated positively (r = 0.96), as the CTR and weight (r = 0.94). VHS and age showed high correlation (r = 0.96) as CTR and age (r = 0.93). VHS and CTR showed high correlation (r = 0.96).Discussion: Although congenital malformations and genetic diseases can occur, the acquired heart diseases correspond to most of the complications found in dogs. VHS increases considerably 6 to 12 months before the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). The poodles studied, considering the universe of males and females (P < 0.05), presented mean VHS values of 9.72 ± 0.73v. Similarly, there was no significant difference between genders for VHS measured in right and left decubitus in normal dogs. The cardiothoracic ratio measured for the poodles studied showed mean values of 0.48 ± 0.05. In humans, values below 0.5 are considered normal, while values above this may indicate the presence of cardiomegaly. The CTR is intimately related to the volume of the left ventricle and CTR values above 0.5 in humans are pathological. Our results demonstrated that VHS and CTR showed strong correlation in their measurements, suggesting that CTR, constantly used in humans, could be considered as a tool to assess the size of the heart silhouette in dogs of the poodle breed

Infestação por ácaros da espécie Chirodiscoides caviae em porquinho-da-Índia (Cavia porcellus)

A espécie Cavia porcellus (Rodentia, Caviidae), conhecida popularmente como cobaia ou porquinho-da-Índia, é um roedor utilizado como animal de laboratório e, devido ao seu tamanho e fácil adaptação, vem ganhando maior espaço nos lares brasileiros como animal de estimação. Alguns agentes patogênicos, como endoparasitos e ectoparasitos, podem acometer e alterar a saúde e o bem-estar desses animais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi relatar a ocorrência de ácaros da espécie Chirodiscoides caviae em Cavia porcellus domiciliada no município de Teresina, Piauí. Uma fêmea de porquinho-da-Índia, pesando 864 g, deu entrada em uma clínica veterinária de Teresina, apresentando áreas alopécicas em grande parte do corpo. A tutora relatou prurido, anorexia e perda de peso. Após o exame físico e realização da técnica da fita adesiva foi confirmada a presença de ácaros da espécie Chirodiscoides caviae em suas diferentes formas evolutivas. O tratamento preconizado foi selamectina 15 mg/kg, uso tópico, em dose única, com repetição 15 dias após o atendimento, constatando melhora do quadro clínico do animal, com crescimento de pelos e ganho de peso. Conclui-se que a técnica da fita adesiva pode ser utilizada em casos de sarna por Chirodiscoides caviae em porquinhos-da-Índia, apresentando resultados satisfatórios, otimizando o diagnóstico e o tratamento nestes animais

Infestação por ácaros da espécie Chirodiscoides caviae em porquinho-da-Índia (Cavia porcellus)

A espécie Cavia porcellus (Rodentia, Caviidae), conhecida popularmente como cobaia ou porquinho-da-Índia, é um roedor utilizado como animal de laboratório e, devido ao seu tamanho e fácil adaptação, vem ganhando maior espaço nos lares brasileiros como animal de estimação. Alguns agentes patogênicos, como endoparasitos e ectoparasitos, podem acometer e alterar a saúde e o bem-estar desses animais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi relatar a ocorrência de ácaros da espécie Chirodiscoides caviae em Cavia porcellus domiciliada no município de Teresina, Piauí. Uma fêmea de porquinho-da-Índia, pesando 864 g, deu entrada em uma clínica veterinária de Teresina, apresentando áreas alopécicas em grande parte do corpo. A tutora relatou prurido, anorexia e perda de peso. Após o exame físico e realização da técnica da fita adesiva foi confirmada a presença de ácaros da espécie Chirodiscoides caviae em suas diferentes formas evolutivas. O tratamento preconizado foi selamectina 15 mg/kg, uso tópico, em dose única, com repetição 15 dias após o atendimento, constatando melhora do quadro clínico do animal, com crescimento de pelos e ganho de peso. Conclui-se que a técnica da fita adesiva pode ser utilizada em casos de sarna por Chirodiscoides caviae em porquinhos-da-Índia, apresentando resultados satisfatórios, otimizando o diagnóstico e o tratamento nestes animais.The guinea pig is an animal belonging to the order Rodentia, family Caviidae and species Cavia porcellus. They are used as laboratory animals and have also been bred as pets. Due to their size and easy adaptation, they have been gaining more space in Brazilian homes. However, some pathogenic agents, such as endoparasites and ectoparasites, can affect them, altering their health and well-being. The goal of this work was to report the occurrence of mites of the species Chirodiscoides caviae in Cavia porcellus domiciled in the city Teresina-PI. A female guinea pig, weighing 864 g, was admitted to a veterinary clinic in Teresina, where alopecic areas were observed in a large part of the animal's body. The owner reported signs of itching, anorexia and weight loss. After the physical examination and performing the adhesive tape technique, the presence of mites of the species Chirodiscoides caviae with its different evolutionary forms was confirmed. The recommended the therapy was selamectin 15 mg/kg, topical use, in a single dose, with repetition 15 days after the treatment, noting an improvement in the animal's clinical condition, with hair growth and weight gain. It is concluded that the adhesive tape technique can be used in cases of scabies by Chirodiscoides caviae in guinea pigs with satisfactory results, optimizing the diagnosis and treatment in these animals

Joint Ultrasonography of Goats Infected by the Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus

Background: The most important form of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus in the goat is the arthritic, generally observed in animals over eight months of age. Differently in sheep, there is less arthritis incidence, affecting 2-3-year-old animals. The clinical alterations frequently affect goat joints, and an increase in the joint consistency and size is observed. The objective of the present study was to standardize the ultrasound technique to access joints in animals infected with the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), so that it can be a complimentary support tool for diagnosis and animal management.Materials, Methods &amp; Results: Animals were examined from farms located in the municipality of Teresina, state of Piauí, Brazil. For this, the M-Turbo, Sonosite Fujifilm ultrasonography apparatus was used, attached to a linear transducer with 10-13 MHz frequency. The ultrasound examination analyzed three regions: patella-humerus joint, carpal and tarsal joints. The patella-humerus joint was characterized by its concave convex surface. The surface of the head humerus was a fine hyperechoic line composed by the junction between the joint cartilage and the subcontinent bone. The sub patella muscle was visible and its fibers present a parallel and hypoechogenic pattern compared to bone tissue. A discreet muscle edge with echogenicity was observed separating the sub patella and supraspinatus muscles. The surface of the proximal and distal rows of the carpal bones was characterized by fine hyperechogenic lines that formed acoustic shadow. Regarding the bones of the tarsal joint, the surface of the central tarsal joint bone was observed centrally as a fine, hyperechogenic line. The third tarsal joint bone was visualized on the left side and was represented by a thick hyperechoic line, while the fourth tarsal joint bone was observed to the right with a hypoechogenic surface and both formed acoustic shadow.Discussion: Joint inflammation caused by other diseases, such as derived from bacteria of the Micoplasma genus can suggest similar semiological aspects and can present positive results for the joint clinical index. Studies carried out have established measurements of the joints of animals affected by various degrees of arthritis, where absolute values equal or less than 5.5 cm would be indicative of negative arthritis diagnosis, variations between 6.0 and 6.5 cm would be considered suspicious and when equal or greater than 7.0 cm they would be positive. From the anatomical point of view, ultrasound assessment of the joints of the normal animals showed a morphological pattern as observed in dogs, horses and humans. The loss of echogenicity, surface erosions and exposure of subchondral bone observed in goats infected with CAEV were also reported in dogs with patella-humerus osteochondrosis, by the presence of a cartilage flap seen radiographically, or even as cracks, characterized by a hyperechoic line parallel to the subchondral defect, in the ultrasonography examination. The lesions observed in the ultrasound examination showed various degrees of osteoarthritis, with the presence of sound hyperreflection, hyperechogenic areas, cartilage lesions with erosion of the subchondral bone and loss of anatomic limits, and these characteristics were described for the metacarpal phalangeal and metatarsal phalangeal joints of dogs submitted to routine radiographic examination. The ultrasound examination of the joints of normal goats and goats infected with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus allowed the comparative description of normal anatomy, evolution of joint and adjacent soft tissue lesions, generating valuable clinical and surgical information