Acute Trigeminal Nerve Neuritis in German Shepherd

Background: Trigeminal nerve is composed by ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular portion, presenting sensory and motor functions. Its most common conditions include vascular, neoplastic, infectious and inflammatory causes. Neuritis is an inflammation caused by a primary nerve injury that can progress to demyelination and even degeneration of nerve fibers. The present report aims to describe an unusual case of a female dog, German Shepherd breed, with acute manifestation of trigeminal nerve neuritis whose etiology may be associated with erlichiosis, since infection with Ehrlichia spp. through serological test was verified.Case: A 3-year-old female German Shepherd , weighing 26.8 kg and not neutered, was attended at Veterinary Hospital Dr. Halim Atique - UNIRP, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil presenting apathy, sialorrhea and polydipsia for seven days. The tutor reported an episode of foamy and yellowish vomit three days ago and ixodidiosis last week. Physical examination revealed flaccid open-mouthed posture, with mild bilateral masseter and moderate temporal muscle atrophy. Water was offered to the animal and it was observed that it could not properly seize, confirming a false polydipsia. The neurological examination revealed a slight decrease in head sensitivity, difficulty in chewing and seizure of food. It was not observed alterations in the other pairs of cranial nerves or other neurological parameters (postural reactions and spinal reflexes), and the diagnose of bilateral dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve was based on the affected neuroanatomic region. On neurological examination, other lesions of the nervous system were ruled out, suggesting an isolated manifestation of the trigeminal nerve. CBC revealed anemia, intense thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis by neutrophilia. Radiographic examination ruled out the possibility of trauma due to the absence of mandible fracture and also temporomandibular joint alterations. Masseter and temporal muscle biopsy were performed, and myositis or other masticatory muscle alterations were discarded among the diagnostic possibilities. Serological tests showed non-reactive results for toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, but reagent for Erlichia spp.Discussion: Idiopathic trigeminal neuritis (ITN) has an unknown etiology, but is not related to signs of systemic disease, and is usually not associated with deficits in other cranial nerves. The main clinical sign related to this condition is acute jaw paralysis, with inability to close the mouth, and in some cases is observed sensitivity deficits in face, as observed in the dog of this report during the neurological examination. In the patient of the present report, no justifiable causes were found for the presented symptoms, except the presence of erlichiosis. The treatment was based on the use of prednisone, doxycycline, antioxidants and vitamin complex. Response to treatment was satisfactory after seven days, and complete remission of clinical signs occurred nine days after its onset. Although cranial nerve neuritis is an uncommon clinical manifestation of erlichiosis, the patient in this study presented a good response to the treatment instituted, suggesting that erlichiosis is an important differential diagnosis for neuritis

Comprometimento fisiológico e seminal de cães machos infectados experimentalmente por leptospira interrogans sorovar Canicola

O trabalho presente objetivou pesquisar a presença de Leptospira interrogans sorovar Canicola em 32 cães, dos quais 20 infectados e 12 controle, em 4 grupos de estudo com 5 infectados e 3 de controle. No G1 os animais foram eutanasiados 7 dias após a inoculação, no G2, 15 dias, no G3, 30 dias e no G4 45 dias. Colheu-se sêmen, urina e sangue nos dias 0, 3, 5, 7, 10 e após, a cada 5 dias, com realização de exames andrológicos do sêmen e bioquímicos da urina e do sangue, e reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) dessas amostras. Avaliou-se o estado clínico, e o soro sangüíneo foi submetido à soro-aglutinação microscópica (SAM). Os títulos sorológicos dos infectados chegaram a 2.560. Na PCR, detectou-se DNA de leptospiras primeiro no sêmen e depois na urina, e não se detectou nos testículos, epidídimos, próstata, rins e fígado. Na Levaditi, foi encontrada leptospira em um fígado, e no histopatológico, 5 animais com prostatite, evidenciada também pelo aumento do número de espermatozóides com a patologia cabeça isolada. O exame andrológico mostrou declínio na motilidade, no vigor, na concentração espermática e defeitos maiores acima de 10%. No hemograma, observou-se alterações a partir do dia 3 pós-infecção, e ao exame bioquímico a partir do dia 30, indicando possíveis alterações hepáticas e renais. Conclui-se que cães infectados com Leptospira interrogans sorovar Canicola apresentam queda na qualidade espermática, sendo importantes fontes de infecção para o homem e animais, podendo inclusive transmitir a leptospirose por meio de sêmen nos primeiros dias pós-infecção, antes da transmissão urinária, sendo detectada pela PCR anteriormente a SAM.The present study aimed to investigate the presence of Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola. in 32 dogs, of which 20 are infected and 12 control, 4 study groups with 5 infected and 3 of control. In G1 animals were euthanasing 7 days after inoculation, the G2, 15 days, the G3, 30 days in the G4 and 45 days. It is collected semen, urine and blood on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 10 and after, every 5 days, with laboratory tests of semen andrological and biochemical of urine and blood, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR ) Of these samples. Evaluated the clinical status, and serum was submitted to serum-microscopic agglutination (SAM). The serological evidence of infection arrived in 2560. In PCR, DNA was found in semen of leptospires first and then in the urine, and is not detected in testis, epididymis, prostate, kidney and liver. In Levaditi, was found leptospira in a liver, and the histopathology, 5 animals with prostatitis, evidenced also by increasing the number of sperm with the pathology head alone. The examination showed andrologic decline in motility, in effect, defects in sperm concentration and higher above 10%. In the blood, it was observed changes from day 3 post-infection, and the biochemical examination on the day 30, indicating possible kidney and liver abnormalities. It follows that dogs infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola present decrease in sperm quality, and important sources of infection for humans and animals, which may include forward to leptospirosis through semen during the first day post-infection, before urinary transmission, and PCR detected earlier by the SAM.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Sex ratio of in vitro produced embryos 60 days after fixed-time embryo transfer according to the developmental stage of the implanted embryo

In view of its wide and consolidated sale of bovine embryos and because it has the world’s largest herd, Brazil currently occupies an important position in the worldwide scenario of in vitro production (IVP) of embryos. However, sex ratio deviations have been frequently reported for IVP embryos. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy rates and fetal sex of IVP bovine embryos 60 days after fixed-time embryo transfer (FTET). Nellore females (Bos taurus indicus, n=2,920) were used as oocyte donors and 30,912 crossbred cows (Bos taurus indicus x Bos taurus taurus) were used as recipients. Of these recipients, 11,341 were submitted to fetal sexing at 60 days of gestation. No difference (P>0.05) in pregnancy rate or embryo loss was observed between stages of embryo development at the time of FTET (early blastocyst, blastocyst, and expanded blastocyst). Regarding the sex of the products obtained, there was a higher percentage of male embryos in the blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stages and a higher percentage of female embryos in the early blastocyst stage. It should be noted that the results obtained for embryos in the blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stages are highly reliable, considering that a significant number of embryos in these stages were transferred. The results obtained for embryos in the early blastocyst stage should be seen with caution in view of the reduced number of embryos in this stage

Vaginal cytology in mares in the different stages of the estral cycle associated with the seasons of the year

The reproductive biotechnologies directly assist in the development of different methods of reproductive evaluation. The objective of this study was to develop a new method to determine the estrous cycle phase in equine females through vaginal cytology throughout the seasons, as well as to establish an estimate of inflammatory cells present in the vagina. Six mares were evaluated at different ages without a defined breed and reproductive activity and were subjected to ultrasound evaluation of the reproductive system and cytological analysis of the vaginal region. In the summer, there was a predominance of keratinized epithelial cells in the estrus and intermediate in the diestrus. In the autumn, there was a predominance of keratinized cells in estrus and parabasal cells in estrus and diestrus. In anestrus (winter), a greater number of parabasal cells was identified in relation to the other cell types. In estrus (spring), there was a predominance of parabasal and intermediate cells. Conversely, in diestrus, parabasals were found in greater numbers. The evaluation of inflammatory cells of the vaginal epithelium of mares showed greater activity in the summer; however, there are no reference values for healthy animals in the literature, and it is necessary to conduct studies on the subject. It is concluded that there is an influence of cyclicity on the vaginal epithelium of the equine species, varying according to the season. Additionally, vaginal cytological evaluation is an important complementary tool in the diagnosis of vaginitis in mares, requiring further research on the subject

Efeito da suplementação na dieta com ômega-3 e -6 sobre a qualidade do sêmen fresco e congelado de cães

For years, fatty acids have been recommended as a dietary supplement to improve canine hair. For animal reproduction, supplementation with omegas has been used to increase the reproductive efficiency and conception rate, but few studies have been conducted in dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of daily dietary supplementation with omega-3 and -6 on the quality of fresh and frozen/thawed semen in canines. Semen was collected from seven dogs and evaluated for sperm motility, vigor, concentration, and morphology. The 17-week study included 119 ejaculates and was divided according to oral supplementation with omega-3 and -6: M1 (1st-5th week) or pre-supplementation; M2 (6th-9th week) and M3 (10th-13th week) or during supplementation; and M4 (14th-17th week) or post-supplementation. After analysis, the semen was frozen and then revaluated both immediately and 30 minutes (at 37° C) after thawing. Supplementation with omegas increased sperm motility, vigor, and concentration; however, supplementation had no influence on semen freezability. In addition, there was no improvement in sperm motility after supplementation when the thawed cells were maintained at 37° C for 30 minutes. We concluded that dietary supplementation with omega-3 and -6 for 4 to 8 weeks can improve the quality of fresh semen, although it has no effect on the freezability of canine semen.Os ácidos graxos têm sido recomendados há anos como suplemento dietético para a melhora do pelo canino. Na área de reprodução animal, a suplementação com ômega tem sido usada para aumentar a eficiência reprodutiva e a taxa de concepção em muitas espécies, mas poucos estudos foram conduzidos em cães. Então, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação dietética diária com ômega-3 e -6 sobre a qualidade do sêmen fresco e congelado de cães. Os ejaculados foram colhidos de 7 cães e avaliados quanto a motilidade espermática, vigor, concentração e morfologia. O estudo foi dividido de acordo com os períodos de suplementação oral com omegas-3 e -6, no qual M1 (1ª-5ª semana) foi considerado o período pré-suplementação, M2 (6ª-9ª semana) e M3 (10ª-13ª semana) período de suplementação e M4 (14ª-17ª semana) pós-suplementação, totalizando 17 semanas de estudo (119 ejaculados). Após a análise, o sêmen foi congelado e reavaliado imediatamente e 30 minutos após a descongelação (mantidas a 37º C). A suplementação resultou em aumento da motilidade espermática, vigor e concentração do sêmen fresco; no entanto, não houve influência na congelabilidade do sêmen. Além disso, não houve aumento da motilidade dos espermatozoides após a suplementação, quando as células descongeladas foram mantidas a 37° C, durante 30 minutos. Concluiu-se que a suplementação dietética com omegas-3 e -6, durante 4 a 8 semanas melhora os parâmetros do sêmen fresco de cães, embora não há nenhum efeito sobre a qualidade espermática após a congelação

Does ECG influence the conception rate Nelore cows presenting different body condition scores submitted to the same timed-AI protocol?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the conception rate (CR) of multiparous Nelore cows presenting different body condition scores (BCS), which were submitted to the same Timed-AI protocol with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG). A total of 1574 cows were inseminated, between 40 and 50 days postpartum. During insemination (timed-AI), all data regarding to bull (n=8), inseminator (n=3) and BCS (1 to 5) were recorded. The pregnancy diagnosis was performed, by ultrasonography, 40 days after timed-AI. No effect (P>0.05) of inseminator or bull was observed. No statistical difference was also observed between the groups of animals with different BCS. The animals with lower BCS (Group 1 = BCS 1.5 to 2.0; n = 139) had a CR of 47.4%. The animals with BCS from 2.5 to 2.75 (Group 2; n = 741) and BCS from 3.0 to 3.25 (Group 3; n = 463) had a CR of 47.6% and 51.2%, respectively. The animals with higher BCS (Group 4 = BCS 3.5 to 4.0; n = 231) had a CR of 45.3% (P > 0.05). It was concluded that conception rates were similar between the animals presenting different BCS in the herd, likely because the eCG minimized the effects of low LH pulsatility in animals presenting reduced nutritional condition. However, other studies are recommended to verify the real need of using eCG in animals with body condition exceeding 3.5