INFLUÊNCIA DA TEMPERATURA E DO TEMPO DE ARMAZENAMENTO SOBRE AMOSTRAS DE SORO E PLASMA CANINOS NA ANÁLISE DA ENZIMA ALANINA AMINOTRANSFERASE (ALT)

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência do tempo e da temperatura de armazenamento sobre os valores das dosagens bioquímicas de ALT em 60 amostras de soro e plasma de cães, divididas em dois grupos: GR (grupo refrigerado, a 5 °C) e GC (grupo congelado, a -20 °C), por até 96 horas analisadas em seis tempos e até 60 dias, analisadas em cinco tempos, respectivamente. O estudo mostrou que o congelamento e a refrigeração não provocaram variações entre as amostras (p< 0,005). Os dados obtidos nas dosagens bioquímicas revelaram que o soro e o plasma com EDTA mantiveram-se próximos dos valores basais, ou seja, não se alteraram significantemente ao longo do tempo de conservação e nas diferentes temperaturas estudadas. Palavras-chave: Alanina aminotransferase; conservação; plasma; soro

Clinical, Hematological, Blood Gasometric and Electrolytic Changes in Dogs Receiving Whole Blood Transfusions

Background: Blood transfusion is a tool capable of saving lives. Patients undergoing blood transfusion usually present several alterations in the acid-base and electrolyte balance, aggravating the condition of critically ill patients. Some studies have demonstrated haematological alterations in certain species that received whole blood transfusions, however, few studies have evaluated acid base and electrolyte changes in dogs undergoing whole blood haemotherapy. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical, hematological, blood gas and electrolyte changes in anemic dogs after whole blood transfusion.Materials, Methods & Results:Twenty nine dogs transfused due to anemia were enrolled in the study. Donors blood was collected in a transfusion bag containing citrate phosphate adenine dextrose and stored up to 24 h. Blood collections and evaluations were made before and 24 h after the transfusion. Data distribution normality was tested by the Shapiro Wilk Test. The means of the variables were compared by paired t-test. It was observed an increase in diastolic blood pressure and a reduction in heart rate (P 0.05) and ionized calcium (P > 0.05) and an increase in the mean partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (P 0.05) and sodium (P < 0.05). The probable cause of anemia was monocytic ehrlichiosis (14/29), visceral leishmaniasis (1/29), babesiosis (1/29), co-infection of Ehrlichia canis and Leishmaniainfantum (2/19), co-infection of E. canis and Babesia vogeli (1/19). It was not possible to determine the etiology of the anemia in ten dogs. Discussion:Heart rate significantly reduced after transfusion, probably because of the increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin and erythrocyte values. It may be justified by the displacement of extravascular fluid to the intravascular space. Mean values of systolic blood pressure were slightly elevated before transfusion and remained elevated afterwards, while diastolic and mean arterial pressure increased significantly after transfusion. These changes may be due to the morbid condition and may be influenced by many other factors. Haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocyte values increased significantly after transfusion, according to what was observed in other studies. The significant reduction in pH and increase in pCO2 reflects the compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis to increase ventilation, leading to pCO2 reduction and changes in pH. The reduction in pH due to the contact of the collected blood with conservative solutions is one of the main changes thar occurs during blood storage. It was described significantly lower pH in dogs’ whole blood samples stored for more than 24h in vacutainer plastic containing CPDA-1. We may assume there was no intense pH reduction in the present study because the bags were stored for up to 24 h. Although not statistically significant, the increase of pO2 mean reflects the improvement of tissue oxygen perfusion. It was observed a significant increase in sodium ions. The mean sodium ionconcentration before transfusion was very close to the maximum reference value. Hyperkalaemia was not observed, nor was there significant reduction of potassium ions after transfusion. Several studies report hyperkalaemia and transfusion-associated cardiac arrests in humans, associated with infusion of large volumes of blood. Whole blood transfusion increased erythrogram values and did not negatively affect the electrolyte or acid-base status, representing a safe and useful tool in the intensive care of small animals.

Bothrops Snakebites in Dogs

Background: Snakebites occur frequently among humans and animals. In Brazil, about 23,000 cases of snakebite involving humans were recorded in 2016, 11% of them caused by venomous snakes. In the region of Cuiabá, capital of Mato Grosso, the highest occurrence is of snakes of the genus Bothrops (81%), followed by Crotalus (4%). Bothrops venom has proteolytic, coagulant and hemorrhagic effects, whereas Crotalus venom is neurotoxic, myotoxic and nephrotoxic. This paper reports on three cases of Bothrops snakebites in dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso in 2017.Cases: Three dogs were treated showing clinical signs of snakebite, possibly by Bothrops, since their owners reported that these are the snakes most frequently found where they live. This information is consistent with the known geographic distribution of snakes of the genus Bothrops in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In the first report (Case 11), the patient was bitten on two different occasions in a five-month interval, and died presumably due to anaphylactic shock caused by the venom injected by a second snakebite (Case 12). In both episodes, the animal presented a swollen face and neck, dyspnea and eye bleeding, and these signs were more severe in the second episode. Case 2 was a dog with severe neck and chest swelling and pain. The owner of this dog reported that he had taken his dog for a walk in the countryside, along with the dog of Case 1, and had returned home with both dogs about three hours before the consultation. Case 3 was a Rottweiler living at a small family farm located 67 km from Cuiabá. The animal presented with slight swelling and pain in the left forelimb, and puncture wounds on the lower limb. Neutrophilic leukocytosis was observed in cases 1 and 3.  In addition, Case 12 (the second episode of Case 1) presented with thrombocytopenia and increased prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The dog of Case 2 presented no hematological or biochemical alteration. All the dogs received antivenom serum and supportive care.Discussion: Based on the clinical signs of local swelling with bleeding and absence of neurological signs, the snakebites were attributed to the genus Bothrops. In Case 12, blood clotting tests showed non-coagulation. The greater severity of Case 1, which culminated in death, was attributed to anaphylaxis due to prior exposure or the larger amount of venom than that injected in Case 2, since the two injuries were inflicted in the same environment on the same day, probably by the same snake. Neutrophilic leukocytosis may be indicative of an inflammatory reaction, while thrombocytopenia and clotting changes are associated with the hemorrhagic activity of Bothrops venom. Death by snakebite is directly linked to the amount of venom injected, the envenomation site, and the time between the bite and the beginning of treatment. This explains the moderate signs presented by Cases 2 and 3, whose injuries were inflicted on the neck and forelimb, unlike the dog of Case 1, which was bitten on the head on two occasions. It was concluded that Bothrops venom causes systemic and local alterations characterized by pain, swelling, necrosis and bleeding. Early access to antivenom treatment is essential to neutralize clinical signs and prevent worsening of systemic poisoning. The determining factor in snakebite deaths is the amount of injected venom and the time elapsed between the injury and the beginning of treatment

Natural hemoplasma infection of cats in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil

The aim of this research was to investigate natural hemoplasma infection in cats treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, and the factors associated with infection. Blood samples from 151 cats of different sexes, breeds, and ages were analyzed by PCR and blood count. The overall occurrence of hemoplasma was 25.8%. Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm)’, and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (CMt) were observed in 15.2%, 14.6% and 2.6% of cats, respectively. In 6.6 % of cases, co-infection was observed. Male felines or mixed breed cats were associated with infection by CMhm (P = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). The data obtained demonstrated an occurrence of 25.8% for hemoplasma infection in felines coming from clinical care in the city of Cuiabá, where males were at higher risk of acquiring the infection by these agents, in addition to a higher risk for CMhm in felines with no specific breed

Quantitative analysis of bone marrow in pancytopenic dogs

The pancytopenia can be associated with intra and extra medullary disorders. When the etiology is not obvious, the examination of bone marrow is necessary. The study aims to report and discuss quantitative amendments in bone marrow and their causes in dogs with pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspirate was obtained from 65 dogs with pancytopenia over a period of 13 consecutive months for preparation of smears stained by Giemsa and observed in light microscopy. Five hundred cells differential count was held; and assessed myeloid:erythroid ratio, cellularity, megakaryocytes and direct parasitological examination. The data were evaluated by the Chi-square statistical test. Blood tests of 3120 canines with several clinical changes were analyzed to identify pancytopenia, which accounted for 167 (5.4%) dogs. Interpretation of quantitative characteristics was carried out from the bone marrow smear in 65 pancytopenic dogs and the etiology was established in 40 (61.5%) of these, which included infection by E. canis and L. chagasi, idiopathic aplastic anemia, chronic renal failure and co-infections. In 17 (26.2%) animals were not observed medullary changes. The most bone marrow change was observed myeloid and erythroid hypoplasia in 17 (26.2%) dogs, followed by myeloid and erythroid hyperplasia (24.6%). The myelogram association to the blood cell count allowed the identification of medullary findings and its participation on the occurrence of pancytopenia cases. The number of cases resulting from infectious diseases was 38 (58.5%) in canine assessed: significant number due to its endemic characteristic of the study region

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio