Search

O gavião-carijó (Rupornis magnirostris) pertence à ordem Accipitriformes e possui grande distribuição pela América, principalmente a América do Sul. Assim como outras aves de rapina, tem papel ecológico indispensável na manutenção do equilíbrio da fauna da região onde vivem. São hospedeiras de uma variedade de parasitos, mas há poucos estudos no Brasil. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar e relatar os espécimes de parasitos achados em um gavião-carijó (R. magnirostris) encontrado na cidade de Uruguaiana, RS, Brasil e encaminhado ao laboratório do Grupo de Estudos em Enfermidades Parasitárias (GEEP). Os espécimes parasitários que estavam localizados no intestino foram identificados e montados em lâminas. As fêmeas dos parasitos foram maceradas para obtenção e identificação dos ovos. Foram identificados os gêneros e espécies Porrocaecum (n=3) (Nematoda, Ascarididae), Centrorhynchus tumidulus (n=36) (Acantocephala, Centrorhynchidae) e Platynosomum illiciens (n=8) (Platyhelminthes, Dicrocoeliidae) ocorrendo pela primeira vez em gavião-carijó (R. magnirostris) no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

Anatomical variation in wild canids is rarely described. Altered shapes, uni- or bilaterally situated, were observed in ventral laminae of C6 and/or in C7 vertebral body of two fox species: Lycalopex gymnocercus and Cerdocyon thous. The specimens were young adults, collected dead on highways in southern Brazil. Deformities were considered anatomical variations because apparently there was no interference in function. The occurrence of such variations in two related species from the same area can suggest an environmental common cause rather than genetic issues. Future studies may deepen the understanding between cause and effect of these vertebral deformities in wild canids.

Criollo horse breeding is an important economic activity in South America. Because of their athletic performance, these animals tend to show great incidence of musculoskeletal disorders, many of them diagnosed by means of perineural blocks. However, incorrect interpretation of these blocks may be due to anatomical differences in nerve distribution. The objective of this study was to describe the innervation of the digit region of thoracic limbs in Criollo horses, in order to improve the interpretation of tests for claudication diagnosis based on nerve block. Thirty thoracic limbs from Criollo horses were dissected. It could be observed that in 90% of the limbs, dorsal branches of the palmar nerve originated proximally to the proximal sesamoid bone. In 93% of the cases, the palmar digital nerve and the dorsal branches communicated; in 87% of the cases, communication between branches of the dorsal branch was observed; and in 27% (8/30) of the limbs, the palmar metacarpal nerve and the dorsal branch presented communications. None of the specimens showed complete symmetry in the distribution of nerves in contralateral limbs. The high frequency of communication between the nerves may be a particularity of the Criollo breed that may interfere with the interpretation of perineural blocks. Based on the anatomical position, it may be inferred that divergent results in Criollo horses may occur when abaxial sesamoid nerve block is used. Palmar digital nerve block may be less influenced by these variations, provided it is performed as distal as possible from the ungular cartilage.

New Zealand rabbits are widely used as experimental models and represent an important casuistic in veterinary practices. The musculoskeletal conformation of rabbits frequently leads to the occurrence of lumbosacral lesions with neural involvement. In order to contribute to the comparative anatomy and the understanding of these lesions, the origin and distribution of the obturator nerves of 30 New Zealand rabbits (15 males and 15 females) previously fixed in 10% formaldehyde were studied by dissection. The obturator nerves were originated from the ventral spinal branches of L6 and L7 in 63.3% of the cases, L5 and L6 in 13.4%, only L7 in 13.4%, L7 and S1 in 6.6 % and of L6, L7 and S1 in 3.3%. The spinal segment that most contributed to the formation of the nerve was L7 (86.6% of the nerves). The obturator nerves emitted in all the specimens, a variable number of branches for the internal obturator, external obturator, pectineum, adductor and gracilis muscles. No significant differences were observed between the frequencies of the origin and muscular branches of the obturator nerves when comparing sex and antimers. Keywords: animal anatomy; lagomorphs; lumbosacral plexus; nervous system; Oryctolagus cuniculus

Background: Cerdocyon thous is the canid with the greatest geographical coverage in South America. The aim of this study was to describe the origin, skeletopy, length and main branches of the coeliac artery in C. thous. Materials and methods: The dissections were performed on 14 cadavers of adult specimens, 6 males and 8 females, with a rostrosacral length average of 67.00 ± 4.7 cm and 62.09 ± 5.7 cm, respectively. The specimens were collected dead on highways on the banks of the Atlantic Forest (Rio de Janeiro) and the Pampa biome (Rio Grande do Sul) in Brazil. The cadavers were fixed and preserved in a formaldehyde solution until dissection. The coeliac artery was dissected, the length was measured “in situ” and its main branches were recorded. The coeliac artery emerged as a single artery in all dissected animals. Results: The average length of the coeliac artery was 1.43 ± 0.17 cm in males and 1.39 mm ± 0.24 cm in females, with no significant difference in this measurement between sexes. The predominant skeletopy was at the level of the second lumbar vertebra (57.1%), positioned on average 1.43 cm cranially to the cranial mesenteric artery. In most individuals (92.9%), the classic trifurcation was formed: the coeliac artery branched into the hepatic, left gastric, and lienal arteries. Only 1 male animal presented a bifurcation formed between the hepatic artery and a gastrolienal trunk. Conclusions: These anatomical characteristics are similar to those of other species of the Canidae family, possibly due to their phylogenetic proximity.

The characteristics of the muscles of the thoracic limb were evaluated in 22 specimens of Lycalopex gymnocercus. Descriptive and comparative analyses showed similarity with other canids in terms of topography and tendon insertions. Differences with the domestic dog were observed in the pectoralis profundus, triceps brachii and interflexorii muscles. Intraspecific variations were observed in the rhomboideus capitis, serratus ventralis cervicis, extensor carpi radialis, extensor digiti I and II, lumbricales, flexor digiti I brevis, abductor digiti I brevis, and flexor digiti V muscles. The analyses of muscle architecture carried out in nine specimens showed that there was no difference in muscle percentage mass in the thoracic limb of males and females, but a young specimen showed significant lower percentage mass. The triceps brachii caput longus muscle showed the greatest mass, the subscapularis muscle showed the greatest physiological cross‐sectional area value, and the extrinsic muscles, in general, presented the longest fascicles and higher architectural indexes. Muscle architecture data were compatible with those of a thoracic limb adapted to fast cursorial locomotion that prioritizes movements in a sagittal plane instead of rotation or adduction/abduction. There was a high association between functional percentage mass of the muscles in the thoracic limb and phylogeny in the Carnivora order. It may be inferred that carnivoran muscle mass is largely determined by phylogeny.

Background: Leopardus geoffroyi is a Neotropical wild felid with wide distribution in the south of the South American continent. The objective was to investigate the skeletopy of the intumescentia lumbalis (IL) and conus medullaris (CM) from 11 specimens of L. geoffroyi collected dead on highways. Materials and methods: The cadavers were fixed in formaldehyde solution and dissected to allow the dorsal exposure of IL and CM. The cranial and caudal limits were marked with radiopaque pins and radiographic projections were used to determine the skeletopy. The lengths of IL and CM were measured with a pachymeter. Results: In most specimens, the IL was located at the level of L4 and L5 vertebrae, although in 4 (1 male and 3 females) individuals its cranial limit was L3 and in 3 specimens (2 male and 1 female) the caudal limit was L6. The length of IL was 35.6 ± 6.7 mm. The CM had its base predominantly at the level of the L5 vertebra, although in some specimens the base was in L4 and in others in L6. The apex of the CM can be found since the lumbosacral junction until the level of the Cd2 vertebra. The CM measured 74.4 ± 14.3 mm. Conclusions: Based on the skeletopy, it can be suggested that epidural anaesthesia procedures in L. geoffroyi are safer with the introduction of the catheter through the sacrocaudal interarcual space, as recommended by some anaesthetists for the domestic cat.

RESUMO: O membro torácico é a parte do esqueleto pós-craniano que mais informações oferece sobre a locomoção e hábitos de vida de uma espécie. Objetivou-se realizar uma descrição macroscópica, comparativa, radiográfica e osteométrica do esqueleto do membro torácico de Lycalopex gymnocercus. Para tal foram analisados ossos de 24 espécimes adultos coletados mortos em rodovias. Foram realizadas descrições macroscópicas e comparadas com as de outros canídeos, imagens radiográficas para reconhecimento dos padrões de trabeculação e topografia óssea, mensurações lineares e tridimensionais e avaliações histológicas das clavículas. O esqueleto do membro torácico de L. gymnocercus apresentou adaptações morfofuncionais em todos os segmentos para a locomoção cursorial especializada e alguma capacidade de pronação e supinação para captura de presas de porte menor. Houve uma tendência de os ossos serem maiores nos machos, especialmente na região distal do úmero, presumivelmente para a fixação de músculos antebraquiais mais fortes. A clavícula vestigial foi encontrada em todos os espécimes, teve natureza predominantemente cartilagínea e foi significativamente maior nos machos. A conformação básica do esqueleto do membro torácico foi semelhante à dos canídeos domésticos e silvestres descritos na literatura, ainda que particularidades de L. gymnocercus sejam encontradas.

O Lycalopex gymnocercus (graxaim-do-campo) é um canídeo silvestre de médio porte que ocorre no cone sul. Tem dieta onívora e habita desde planícies descampadas até matas densas. A artéria celíaca é um dos principais ramos da aorta abdominal e possibilita a irrigação de importantes órgãos, tais como estômago, pâncreas, baço e duodeno. Objetivou-se estudar a topografia da artéria celíaca no L. gymnocercus, com ênfase em características comparativas e aplicadas. Para tal, foram dissecados, mensurados e radiografados 15 cadáveres de L. gymnocercus coletados mortos em rodovias. Foi registrada a posição de origem da artéria celíaca na aorta e sua esqueletopia em relação às vertebras. Também foi mensurada a distância entre as artérias celíaca e mesentérica cranial e verificada a correlação entre esta distância e o comprimento rostro-sacral dos espécimes, bem como a existência de diferenças nesta distância entre os sexos. Em 67% dos casos, a artéria celíaca foi o primeiro ramo visceral da aorta abdominal, emergindo caudalmente ao hiato aórtico. Em 33%, a artéria celíaca originou-se cranialmente ao hiato aórtico, caracterizando uma origem torácica. Apresentou uma distância média da artéria mesentérica cranial de 6,66 ± 1,85 mm, com valores mínimos e máximos de 4,63 e 10,83 mm respectivamente. Sua esqueletopia predominante foi ao nível da segunda vértebra lombar (L2), variando cranialmente até a primeira (L1). Houve correlação positiva moderada (r = 0,52) entre as distâncias das artérias celíaca e mesentérica cranial com o comprimento rostro-sacral dos indivíduos. Não houve diferença na distância entre as artérias quando comparados os sexos. O percentual elevado de indivíduos com origem da artéria celíaca cranialmente ao diafragma e a esqueletopia ao nível da segunda vértebra lombar foram as principais diferenças encontradas em relação aos carnívoros domésticos e pode ter implicação em medicina de animais silvestres.