Cat epididymal semen cryopreserved with and without vitamin E: effect on sperm parameters and lipid peroxidation

The aims of this study were to investigate: 1) if the addition of \u3b1-tocopherol (vitamin E) in three concentrations (0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM) is able to preserve spermatozoa integrity after thawing and 2) the effect of \u3b1-tocopherol supplementation on lipid peroxidation. Fifty four domestic cats were used in this study constituting 18 pools (3 cats per pool). Each pool was submitted at four experimental groups: group 0 (control) \u2013 epididymal sperm were frozen with a commercial Botucrio\uae extender; group 0.3, group 0.6 and group 0.9 \u2013 the extender was supplemented with 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM of \u3b1-tocopherol, respectively. Each semen sample was evaluated for motility, progressive forward motility, morphology, sperm viability (plasma membrane integrity-PMI), hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), before and after thawing. The evaluation of lipid peroxidation reaction by Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) test was performed on thawed semen only. Results demonstrated that there was no significant difference between control and the three \u3b1-tocopherol groups with regards to motility and progressive motility after thawing (P > 0.05). As expected, in fresh samples viability was significantly higher than in all the cryopreserved groups in which there was no positive influence of any of the \u3b1-tocopherol concentration used. Lipid peroxidation was higher in the supplemented groups 0.6 and 0.9 mM of \u3b1-tocopherol than in control and in 0.3 mM group. In conclusion, the addition of \u3b1-tocopherol to the commercial extender had no positive influence on reduction of lipid peroxidation. This topic deserves further investigations to better understand the effect of cryopreservation procedures on epididymal spermatozoa and to establish adequate strategies to counteract sperm cryodamages

Precocidade sexual em bovinos Nelore avaliada por ultrassonografia testicular

The present study aimed to evaluate if there are differences in testicular parenchyma echogenicity between pre-pubescent and pubescent animals at the same age. Ultrasound examinations were performed in longitudinal and transversal planes of the testicles of 111 healthy Nelore bovines, at the ages of nine, 13 and 15 months. The EIV software calculated the echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma, which ranged from 0 (anechoic) to 100% (hyperechoic). Animals that had reached puberty at 15 months of age presented higher testicular echogenicity than the animals that had not reached puberty at the same age. These results suggest that testicular ultrasonography can be used as a predictor of sexual precocity

Frequencies Of Virulence Genes And Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis Fingerprints In Escherichia Coli Isolates From Canine Pyometra

Escherichia coli is the most common bacterial agent isolated from canine pyometra. The frequencies of 24 virulence genes and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles were determined for 23 E. coli isolates from cases of canine pyometra in Brazil. The frequencies of virulence genes were 91.3% fimH, 91.3% irp-2, 82.6% fyuA, 56.5% iroN, 47.8% traT, 39.1% usp, 34.8% sfaD/E, 34.8% tsh, 30.4% papC, 30.4% hlyA, 26.1% papGIII, 26.1% cnf-1, 21.7% papE/F, 21.7% iss, 17.4% iutA, 17.4% ompT, 17.4% cvaC, 17.4% hlyF, 17.4% iucD, 13.0% iucC, 13.0% astA, 4.3% papGII, 0% afaB/C and 0% papGI. The high frequency of yersiniabactin (fyuA and irp2) and salmochelin (iroN) genes suggests that iron uptake systems might be important in the pathogenesis of canine pyometra. PFGE profiles of 19 isolates were heterogeneous, confirming that E. coli isolates from canine pyometra are unlikely to be epidemic clones.2022393395Chen, Y.M.M., Wright, P.J., Lee, C.-S., Browning, G.F., Uropathogenic virulence factors in isolates of Escherichia coli from clinical cases of canine pyometra and feces of healthy bitches (2003) Veterinary Microbiology, 94, pp. 57-69Coggan, J.A., Melville, P.A., Oliveira, C.M., Faustino, M., Moreno, A.M., Benites, N.R., Microbiological and histopathological aspects of canine pyometra (2008) Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 39, pp. 477-483Ghanbarpour, R., Akhtardanesh, B., Genotype and antibiotic resistance profile of Escherichia coli strains involved in canine pyometra (2012) Comparative Clinical Pathology, 21, pp. 737-744Hagman, R., Kühn, I., Escherichia coli strains isolated from the uterus and urinary bladder of bitches suffering from pyometra: Comparison by restriction enzyme digestion and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (2002) Veterinary Microbiology, 84, pp. 143-153Krekeler, N., Marenda, M.S., Browning, G.F., Holden, K.M., Charles, J.A., Wright, P.J., The role of type 1, P and S fimbriae in binding of Escherichia coli to the canine endometrium (2013) Veterinary Microbiology, 164, pp. 399-404Mateus, L., Henriques, S., Merino, C., Pomba, C., Lopes da Costa, L., Silva, E., Virulence genotypes of Escherichia coli canine isolates from pyometra, cystitis and fecal origin (2013) Veterinary Microbiology, 166, pp. 590-594Ribot, E.M., Fair, M.A., Gautom, R., Cameron, D.N., Hunter, S.B., Swaminathan, B., Barrett, T.J., Standardization of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis protocols for the subtyping of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Shigella for PulseNet (2006) Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 3, pp. 59-67Siqueira, A.K., Ribeiro, M.G., Leite, D.D.S., Tiba, M.R., Moura, C.D., Lopes, M.D., Prestes, N.C., de Silva, A.V., Virulence factors in Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary tract infection and pyometra cases and from feces of healthy dogs (2009) Research in Veterinary Science, 86, pp. 206-210Smith, F.O., Canine pyometra (2006) Theriogenology, 66, pp. 610-612Wadås, B., Kühn, I., Lagerstedt, A.-S., Jonsson, P., Biochemical phenotypes of Escherichia coli in dogs: Comparison of isolates isolated from bitches suffering from pyometra and urinary tract infection with isolates from faeces of healthy dogs (1996) Veterinary Microbiology, 52, pp. 293-30

Mummified papyraceous fetuses in the abdominal cavity of an elderly female dog with pyometra

This paper reports on a rare case of fetal papyraceous mummification after asymptomatic uterine rupture in an elderly female dog with pyometra. The patient had a history of mating six months before the examination but no apparent signs of gestation or parturition. Exploratory laparotomy was used to identify a rupture of the left uterine horn and the presence of cystic endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra. Two mummified papyraceous fetuses were observed in the abdominal cavity and had adhered to the spleen, pancreas, intestine and omentum. Ovariehysterectomy and corrective surgery were performed. The patient had remained healthy after uterine rupture until a new estrous cycle and the development of pyometra. Bitches that are 10 years old or more are predisposed to implantation failure, pregnancy or parturition problems and they should not be breed to avoid complications