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The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood profile and haematological changes in obese adult and senior dogs. An evaluation was made from the blood profile of 59 obese adult and senior dogs. The animals were divided into two groups, group 1 (G1) with 30 obese adult dogs (2 to 8 years) and group 2 (G2) with 29 obese senior dogs (over 8 years old). The mean values of the erythrogram and platelet count parameters of both groups remained within the compared reference ranges except the red cell distribution width (RDW), whose values were lower than the reference ranges in both groups. A comparison of the values of erythrogram and platelet count of the groups indicated that the RDW and MPV (mean platelet volume) of G2 were higher than those of G1. As for the white blood cell count (WBC), only the number of band neutrophils exceeded the physiological limits for the species in both groups, with no significant difference in values between the age groups. The males in G2 showed a significantly higher mean eosinophil count than those in G1 and than the females of both groups. As for the frequency of findings, 90% of the animals in G1 and 68.96% in G2 showed left shift neutrophils (LSN), while 34.48% in G1 and 20% in G2 showed eosinophilia. It was concluded that, irrespective of age, obese animals presented no changes in erythrogram and platelet indices, and that their WBC may exhibit discrete LSN without leukocytosis.

Training is essential to prepare the body for intense changes occurring in athletic performance. The effect of training depends on the duration, type, frequency, and intensity of athletic training. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of proteins, metabolites, minerals, and enzymes of polo horses in training and those that participate regularly in official competitions. Blood samples were collected from 82 thoroughbred horses. A single collection was performed in the morning, before training the horses. They were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of training horses, which have not yet participated in polo, whereas group 2 consisted of professional horses that regularly participated in the sport. Each sample was analyzed for levels of albumin, calcium, total cholesterol, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, gamma glutamyl transferase, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, HDL, urea, and magnesium. Every element analyzed was within the normal physiological limits. By comparison of the two groups, it was statistically significant for lactate, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, urea, creatinine, phosphorus, and potassium. Biochemical variation was observed between groups 1 and 2, it was concluded that this was relative to the physical condition of each animal.

Laboratory tests have become essential in the evaluation of horses that participate in equestrian sports. The purpose of this work, therefore, was to evaluate the serum levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, several metabolites, electrolytes, and enzymes of horses participating in an endurance ride. Blood samples were drawn from 31 Mangalarga Marchador horses during a 130-km South Minas Endurance Ride in the municipalities of Lavras and Sao Joao del Rey, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sampling was performed on the first, third, and fifth day of the event to determine the serum levels of proteins, metabolites, minerals, and enzymes in each sample. Significant differences were found in the serum levels of total proteins, globulins, and cholesterol at the three time points. Albumin, creatine kinase, creatinine, uric acid, chloride, total protein, and globulin levels increased from the first time point (TP-1) to the second (TP-2) and decreased in the third (TP-3). Cholesterol levels decreased significantly from TP-1 to TP-3. The 130-km 5-day endurance ride caused changes in most of the serum biochemical parameters of the horses, particularly in total proteins, globulins, and cholesterol.

This study evaluated the prevalence of cervicitisÂand endometritisÂand their interrelationsÂin crossbred dairyÂcowsÂthat were more than 60Âdays inÂmilk (DIM), and the efficiency of the cytology techniqueÂ(cytobrush)ÂandÂhistology as diagnosticÂmethodsÂfor these diseases. The reproductive tracts (n=149) derived from cows were collected from a slaughterhouse and grossly evaluated to determine uterine involution and the phase of the estrous cycle. Subsequently, cervical and uterine cytological evaluations were done to characterize the inflammatory response as cervicitis (with a neutrophilic count greater than 5%) or endometritis (with more than 6% neutrophils). Additionally, randomly obtained samples from the cervix and uterus were collected for histological evaluation. Cytological evaluation revealed that the frequency of cervicitis was 6% (9/149), and endometritis was diagnosed in 8.1% (12/149) of the samples; both inflammatory reactions were diagnosed 2.1% (3/149) in three of these. Histological evaluation revealed that of the cows diagnosed with cervicitis by cytology, 66.6% (6/9) had no inflammatory reaction in the cervical mucosa, and 33.3% (3/9) had mild inflammation in this region. Histological evaluation of the uterine horn revealed that of the 12 cows diagnosed with endometritis by cytology, 50% (6/12) of these had a histological diagnosis of mild and moderate inflammatory responses, 8.3% (1/12) of these demonstrated a severe inflammatory response, while no inflammatory reaction was identified in 41.7% (5/12) of the endometrial biopsies evaluated. In conclusion, the endometrial and cervical inflammatory response diagnosed by the cytobrush technique persisted in 12.1% of the cows. Comparatively, the frequency of the inflammatory responses at the cervix and uterus was reduced by histological analysis relative to cytological evaluation with the cytobrush technique. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência de cervicite e endometrite citológicas e suas inter-relações em vacas leiteiras mestiças com mais de 60 dias pós-parto (DPP), bem como avaliar as técnicas de citologia (cytobrush) e histologia como métodos diagnósticos para estas doenças. Foram utilizados 149 tratos reprodutivos de vacas com mais de 60 DPP de abatedouro e avaliados macroscopicamente para determinar a involução uterina e a fase do ciclo estral. Posteriormente, realizou-se citologia cervical e uterina para o diagnóstico de inflamação utilizando como ponto de corte, contagem de polimorfonucleares (PMN) superior a 5% e 6%, respectivamente, para cervicite e endometrite citológica. Também foram coletadas amostras de cérvix e útero para histologia. Do total de vacas, identificaram-se 6% (9/149) com cervicite e 8,1% (12/149) com endometrite citológica, sendo três destes animais (2,1%) com ambas asinflamações. Histologicamente, dos animais com cervicite citológica, 66,6% (6/9) não apresentaram infiltrado inflamatório na mucosa cervical e 33,3% (3/9) apresentaram inflamação leve. A histologia uterina mostrou que de 12 vacas com endometrite citológica, 50% (6/12) apresentaram infiltrados inflamatórios leves a moderados, 8,3% (1/12) grave e 41,7% (5/12) não tinham Inflamação endometrial. Concluiu-se que a inflamação endometrial e cervical, por meio da técnica de citologia, persistiu em 12,1% das vacas com mais de 60 DPP. Quando se utiliza a histologia como método de diagnóstico, a detecção de inflamação cervical e uterina é inferior ao detectado pela técnica de citologia por meio do esfregaço endometrial (cytobrush).

CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Contaminação bacteriana que normalmente infecta o endométrio bovino no pós-parto prejudica a defesa imunológica quando há estresse metabólico, levando a endometrite e infertilidade. A resposta do endométrio contra bactérias depende da imunidade inata, com o reconhecimento de padrões moleculares associados a patógenos, estimulando a inflamação, caracterizadas por secreção de interleucinas (IL)-1p, IL-6 e IL-8. Entretanto, animais frequentemente falham em eliminar a infecção microbiana quando apresentam reduzidas concentrações de glicose e glutamina, que são fontes de energia para o endométrio no conhecido balanço energético negativo. A contínua inflamação e resposta imune inata contra infecção bacteriana no útero após o parto compromete o bem-estar animal. Neste estudo testou-se a hipótese de que as vias homeostáticas conferidas pela glicose, glutamina e biotina integram o metabolismo energético e a imunidade inata no tecido endometrial bovino. A ausência de glicose reduziu a secreção de IL-1P, IL-6 e IL-8 em culturas de órgãos endometriais desafiadas com a endotoxina lipopolissacarídeo (LPS). Depleção de glutamina também reduziu a atividade inflamatória do endométrio contra LPS. Entretanto, as atividades de glicose e glutamina dependem da presença de glicólise. A vitamina biotina demonstrou ter caráter anti- inflamatório, reduzindo a produção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias no endométrio. Em conclusão, o estresse energético metabólico afetou as respostas inflamatórias à infecções bacterianas no endométrio. Providenciamos dados que demonstram como o balanço energético negativo pode estar ligado a doença uterina no pós-parto. Bacteria that usually infect the bovine endometrium at postpartum impairs immune defense when exist metabolic stress, leading to endometritis and infertility. The response of the endometrium to bacteria depends on innate immunity, with the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by stimulating inflammation, characterized by secretion of interleukins (IL) -1p, IL-6 and IL-8. However, animals often fail to eliminate the microbial infection when they have reduced levels of glucose and glutamine, which are sources of energy to the endometrium in the negative energy balance. Continuous inflammation and innate immune response to bacterial infection in the uterus after calving compromise animal welfare. In this study we tested the hypothesis that homeostatic pathways conferred by glucose , glutamine and biotin, link the energy metabolism and innate immunity in the bovine endometrial tissue. The deprivation of glucose reduced the secretion of IL-1P, IL-6 and IL-8 in cultures of endometrial organs challenged with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Glutamine depletion also reduces the inflammatory activity of the endometrium to LPS. However, glucose and glutamine activities depend on the presence of glycolysis. The vitamin biotin demonstrates anti-inflammatory nature, reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines in the endometrium. In conclusion, the energy metabolic stress disrupts inflammatory responses to bacterial infections in the endometrium. We provide data on how negative energy balance may be linked to postpartum uterine disease. Tese (Doutorado)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological variations and influence of age group and sex on biochemical variables of 32 male and female Dorper sheep at the age of 15 to 121 days. Four blood samples were collected from each animal, at monthly intervals, totaling 128 samples. Biochemical variables determined in each sample were total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), albumin/globulin ratio (A/G), glucose (GLU), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (tCHOL), high density cholesterol carrying lipoproteins (HDL-C), low density cholesterol carrying lipoproteins (LDL-C), very low density cholesterol carrying lipoproteins (VLDL-C), urea, creatinine (CRE), total calcium (tCa), ionized calcium (iCa), phosphorus (P), calcium/phosphorus ratio (Ca/P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The results were obtained in four moments according to age: M1 - sheep from 15 to 30 days, M2 - sheep from 45 to 61 days, M3 - sheep from 74 to 90 days and M4 - sheep from 105 to 121 days. Comparing the values of the biochemical variables among the four age groups studied a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the concentrations of all the variables evaluated except for Na, Cl and ALT. Sex did not influence (p > 0.05) the values of the biochemical variables analyzed. Based on the results, it is concluded that the age groups exert a significant influence on the majority of blood biochemical variables of Dorper sheep from 15 to 121 days of age.

Vaccination is an important control measure for neosporosis that is caused by a coccidian parasite, Neospora caninum, leading to abortion and reproductive disorders in cattle and serious economic impacts worldwide. A D-galactose-binding lectin from Synadenium carinatum latex (ScLL) was recently described by our group with potential immunostimulatory and adjuvant effects in the leishmaniasis model. In this study, we evaluated the adjuvant effect of ScLL in immunization of mice against neosporosis. First, we investigated in vitro cytokine production by dendritic cells stimulated with Neospora lysate antigen (NLA), ScLL or both. Each treatment induced TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 production in a dose-dependent manner, with synergistic effect of NLA plus ScLL. Next, four groups of C57BL/6 mice were immunized with NLA + ScLL, NLA, ScLL or PBS. The kinetics of antibody response showed a predominance of IgG and IgG1 for NLA + ScLL group, whereas IgG2a response was similar between NLA + ScLL and NLA groups. Ex vivo cytokine production by mouse spleen cells showed the highest IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio in the presence of NLA stimulation for mice immunized with NLA + ScLL and the lowest for those immunized with ScLL alone. After parasite challenge, mice immunized with NLA + ScLL or ScLL alone presented higher survival rates (70-80%) and lower brain parasite burden as compared to PBS group, but with no significant changes in morbidity and inflammation scores. In conclusion, ScLL combined with NLA was able to change the cytokine profile induced by the antigen or lectin alone for a Th1-biased immune response, resulting in high protection of mice challenged with the parasite, but with low degree of inflammation. Both features may be important to prevent congenital neosporosis, since protection and low inflammatory response are necessary events to guide towards a successful pregnancy.