Alternative low doses and routes of administering a prostaglandin F2α analogue to induce luteolysis in Nelore cows

The present study was conducted in order to verify the efficacy of lower doses and alternative routes of a prostaglandin F2α analogue, luprostiol (PGF), for the induction of luteolysis and the precipitation of estrus in nonlactating Nelore cows (Bos taurus indicus). A conventional dose (15 mg) of PGF was compared to doses lower than the conventional dose, which ranges from 10 to 50%, that were administered intramuscularly (IM), intravulvosubmucosally (IVSM), or in the Bai-hui acupuncture site located within the lumbosacral area. The cows were administered PGF 8 day after estrus in the presence of a corpus luteum, and randomly assigned to the following groups: G1 (positive control), 15 mg, IM (n = 23); G2, 7.5 mg, IM (n = 23); G3, 3.75 mg, IM (n = 24); G4, 7.5 mg, IVSM (n = 25); G5, 3.75 mg, Bai-hui acupoint (n = 24); and G6, 1.5 mg, Bai-hui acupoint (n = 25). The results indicated that 50% of a conventional dose of PGF (7.5 mg) resulted in a complete luteal regression (plasma progesterone <1 ng/ml) at Hour 48, and hastened estrus, regardless of whether or not PGF was administered IM or IVSM. Comparatively, 10 or 25% of the conventional dose, even when administered to the Bai-hui acupoint, resulted in an initial reduction in the concentration of progesterone at Hour 24, followed by an increase observed at Hour 48. In conclusion, 25% of a conventional PGF dose administered via the Bai-hui acupoint proved inadequate to induce a complete luteal regression, whereas 50% of a conventional dose administered IM or IVSM was found to be the minimal dose required to induce effectively a complete luteal regression, and to precipitate the onset of estrus in nonlactating Nelore cows

Carcinoma das células escamosas no prepúcio com invasão vertebral em equino

The squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor that originates in the epidermal layer skin from the differentiation of keratinocytes. It has high incidence in dogs, cats, horses and cattle. Horses often occur in mucocutaneous junctions, areas like penis and foreskin are the most affected. The incidence is higher in castrated equines with more than 16 years old. This case describes a castrated crossbred horse, actually with 7 years old. The animal presented a mass in foreskin region with evolution of three months. Diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma by aspirative cytology and biopsy. Surgical tumor mass excision was chosen as treatment. Two months after surgery there was local recurrence of tumor. Euthanasia was performed and a necropsy later in which was found the tumor invaded the adjacent musculature extending from the spine in sacral region between vertebres S1 and S2.O carcinoma de células escamosas é uma neoplasia maligna que se origina na camada epidérmica da pele a partir da diferenciação de queratinócitos. Apresenta alta incidência em cães, gatos, equinos e bovinos. Nos equinos ocorre com frequência em junções muco-cutâneas, sendo a região do pênis e prepúcio a mais acometida. A incidência é maior em equinos machos, não castrados, com idade superior a 16 anos. Descreve-se o caso de um equino mestiço castrado, com idade atual de sete anos. O animal apresentava aumento de volume na região do prepúcio com evolução de três meses, diagnosticado como carcinoma de células escamosas por meio de exame citológico e histopatológico. A excisão cirúrgica da massa tumoral foi preconizada como tratamento. Dois meses após o procedimento cirúrgico, houve recidiva local da neoplasia. Foi realizada a eutanásia do animal e posterior necropsia, na qual foi constatada que a neoplasia invadia a musculatura abdominal, estendendo-se, até a coluna vertebral na região sacral entre as vértebras S1 e S2