Electrocardiogram assessment using the Einthoven and base-apex lead systems in healthy Holstein cows and neonates

Abstract: The objective aimed to describe the electrocardiographic behavior of parameters in Holstein pregnant cows and neonates during the perinatal period. The electrocardiograms were performed using a computerized electrocardiogram. The animals selected for the study were 23 cows and 18 neonates. Maternal electrocardiographic examinations were conducted in the 35, 28, 21, 14, 7 days and one-day pre -partum and the neonates were evaluated in six moments; at the time of birth, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after delivery. The evaluations were done in pre and post-delivery cows and into the group of neonates between female and male. For each electrocardiographic recording P-wave duration and amplitude, PR interval and the QRS complex duration, R, S-wave amplitude and polarity, QT and RR interval duration were examined. Changes in heart rate, ST segment and T wave polarity were recorded in leads of Einthoven and base-apex planes. The mean electrical axis of the QRS complex was calculated. In cows the results when comparing the two leads system, there are significant changes in the amplitude of the waves P, R, S, and T and the duration of the intervals PR, ST and QRS complex. The difference between primiparous and multiparous dairy cows was in the amplitude of the Twave. It was concluded that the base-apex system is a suitable lead for monitoring heart rhythm in Holstein cows and Einthoven in neonates. During the first month of life, no differences in P, Q, S and T waves, in PR, QRS, and ST intervals and in axis orientation was observed in neonates. There was a significant difference in duration of the QT interval. Among sexes, the difference was in the Q amplitude. This study incorporated the calves and Holstein cows in a single study in search of baseline information regarding the duration and morphology of the ECG parameters. In conclusion, it was proved that, with increasing age, there are changes in ECG components associated with variations in the distance between the recording electrode and the heart. The study contributes by providing Holstein reference values for clinical evaluations

Assessment of serum lactate levels, blood glucose values and blood gas values in sheep, newborn lambs and placenta

ABSTRACT: Newborn animals, in the fetal-to-neonatal transition, usually face several challenges in their first 24 hours, including issues with acid-base balance, glycemic levels and oxygenation. Difficulties to overcome such issues have caused several deaths among newborns. Therefore, studies have been carried out in order to evaluate them. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the serum lactate level in the mother, in the placenta and in the newborn. Moreover, the study measured the lactate level, blood glucose level and blood gas level in the first 24 hours. Tests were carried out right after birth, and at 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after. Lactate levels were quite similar to the placental levels (p=0.991) which, in turn, were significantly different from the mother’s (p=0.011). Results showed that, shortly after birth, the production of lactate in the placenta is part of the issue. Along the first 24 hours, the study observed a reduction of the levels of lactate in newborns; the levels were closer to the normal index levels for the species. Regarding the blood gas test results, we observed mild metabolic acidosis at birth; acid-base balance was completely stable at the end of the period

Electrocardiographic parameters of the American Miniature Horse: influence of age and sex

Abstract: The veterinary cardiology has growing importance in equine medicine. There are studies of standardization of electrocardiographic parameters of many races, according to their stature and ability. However, no studies are in the literature with the American Miniature Horse. To evaluate the electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing configuration of this breed at rest and to verify the influence of age and sex on ECG parameters, 203 horses including 143 females and 60 males were divided into four age groups (foals, yearlings, adults and elderly). Electrocardiographic parameters were performed by computerized electrocardiogram (TEB), and the parameters were evaluated in six leads of frontal plane (Lead I, II, III, aVR, aVL and aVF) and base-apex (BA). Heart rates (HR) decreased with increasing age were higher in males than in females. Sinus tachycardia followed by sinus arrhythmia was dominant in both sexes. The cardiac axis was higher in males and ranged between 120° and 150° for foals, 30° and 60° for yearlings and adults, and 60° and 90° for the elderly. The P wave was bifid in several animals. The P-wave amplitude and T-wave duration from lead II and BA were larger in males than in females. The majority of the animals exhibited ST segment depression and a negative T-wave. The most common QRS complex morphology was Qr. Differences were observed between the electrocardiographic tracings of males and females, and age influenced the ECG parameters. Therefore, this study established the ECG patterns for the American Miniature Horse breed and could be used to determine the influence of age and sex on several of the studied variables

Perda de nutrientes por lixiviação em um Argissolo Acinzentado cultivado com meloeiro Nutrient losses by leaching in an Ultisol with melon

Pretendeu-se, com o presente estudo, avaliar as perdas de nutrientes por lixiviação, em função do tipo de matéria orgânica incorporada ao solo e a sua acumulação na cultura do meloeiro. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação da UFC/CCA. O solo utilizado foi um Argissolo Acinzentado, coletado na camada de 0-10 cm. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o inteiramente casualisado, com 4 repetições. Os tratamentos testados, foram: 0% de matéria orgânica (TEST); 100% de esterco bovino (EB); 100% de palha de arroz (PA) e 50% de esterco bovino + 50% de palha de arroz (EB + PA). Avaliaram-se: densidade do solo, nitrogênio (total NT, mineral NM e orgânico NO), C orgânico total (CO), P, K, Ca, Mg e Na no solo, na água percolada e na planta. Os menores valores de densidade do solo foram encontrados no tratamento PA e os maiores, no TEST. Ocorreu perda de nutrientes por lixiviação com destaque para o P. A lixiviação dos nutrientes foi maior nos tratamentos que contiam matéria orgânica, na forma de esterco bovino. As perdas de NT e CO não tiveram, como principal causa, a lixiviação.<br>This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient losses by leaching as a function of the type of incorporated organic residues into the soil, as well as the accumulation in the melon crop. The experiment was developed in a greenhouse of the UFC/CCA. The soil was a Ultisol, collected in the layer of 0-10 cm. A completely randomized design considering four replications was adopted. The treatments tested were: 0% of organic residues (TEST); 100% of cattle manure (EB); 100% of rice straw (PA) and 50% of cattle manure + 50% of rice straw (EB + PA). The soil bulk density, the nitrogen (total NT, mineral NM and organic NO), total organic carbon (CO), P, K, Ca, Mg and Na in the soil, in the leached water and in the plants were evaluated. The lowest and highest soil bulk density values were found in the PA and TEST treatments, respectively. Nutrients losses by leaching, mainly in relation to P, were observed. The leaching of nutrients seems to be greater in the treatments using cattle manure. The NT and CO losses were not caused exclusively by leaching

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora