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Pathoanatomical studies of diseases that affect wild animals are extremely important as appropriate measures can then be taken for the prevention and control of such diseases. We report here the case of death of a greater rhea (Rhea americana) by intestinal intussusception secondary to the ingestion of a large amount of sand. The animal was bred at the Center for Multiplication of Wild Animals of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid. The animal died after presenting clinical signs of apathy, weakness, prostration, and inability to move, drink water, or eat. After death, the carcass was immediately sent for necropsy. During necropsy, intussusception was found involving the jejunum, ileum, and colon. The duodenum contained large amounts of coarse sand. The invaginated intestinal segments were reddish in color, with necrotic spots, and covered by a fibrinous exudate. Histopathological examination of the invaginated segments showed necrosis of the enterocytes, detachment of the intestinal epithelium, and the presence of inflammatory cells. The ingestion of a large amount of sand may have resulted in altered intestinal transit, contributing to the occurrence of intussusception, which resulted in ischemic alterations, intestinal necrosis, and consequent death of the animal.

Simple Summary: Peccaries are distributed from the southern United States to southern South America. Although they were initially described as being from the pig genus Sus, they are very different. This species is currently being used on commercial farms as a source of animal protein; however, there are no studies about their salivary glands, which are important for digestion and in developing feeding strategies. Thus, this work aims to study the major salivary gland morphology of peccaries during their growth. During growth, the parotid enlarges and the mandibular gland loses weight. Histologically, the parotid has serous production, and the sublingual has mucus production, like most species; however, the mandibular gland produces mucus, unlike other animals, including pigs, which produce seromucous secretion. Histochemically, the parotid produces more acidic mucins than pigs and it undergoes maturation during development; the mandibular, especially the sublingual gland, produces more acidic and basic mucopolysaccharides than pigs. The major salivary glands reacted positively to different lecithins and showed a stronger reaction than in pigs. We conclude that peccaries have a salivary secretion that facilitates the digestion of carbohydrates, improving digestibility and performance. Their biometric characteristics and positive reactions to lecithins facilitate adaptation to foods with antinutritional factors, making them a promising production animal. This work aims to study the major salivary gland morphology of peccaries during their growth. The glands were analyzed using macroscopic description, light microscopy, electron microscopy, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. Topographically, the salivary glands resemble other animals, including domestic animals and pigs. During growth, the parotid enlarges and mandibular gland loses weight. Histologically, the parotid has serous production, and sublingual has mucous production, resembles most species, however, mandibular gland produces mucous, unlike other animals, including pigs, which produce seromucous secretion. Histochemically, parotid produces more acidic mucins than pigs and it undergoes maturation during development; mandibular, and especially the sublingual gland, produce more acidic and basic mucopolysaccharides than pigs. The results found with transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques corroborate the histological and histochemistry findings. The major salivary glands were positive to different lecithins (Com-A, BSA-I-B4, WGA and PNA), which were also more positive than in pigs and sheep. We conclude that collared peccaries have a salivary secretion that facilitates the digestion of carbohydrates, and biometric characteristics and positivity to lecithins that facilitate adaptation to foods with antinutritional factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of arterial vascular distribution patterns can contribute to more detailed knowledge on arterial systems. In this context, the aim of the present study was to describe the collateral aortic branches in the collared peccary, aiming to define a standard model for this species, providing information through comparative anatomy for analysis of some evolutionary aspects of the order Artiodactyla. Ten young male animals were employed. The vascular system was washed with a saline solution and then perfused with Neoprene 450 latex coloured with red or yellow pigment, followed by collateral aorta branch dissections and analyses. The contrasted digital radiography technique was applied to two animals, which were initially perfused with a barium sulphate solution (1 g/ml) and Neoprene 450 latex at a 1:3 ratio, and subsequently, the digital radiographic examination was performed. The aortic arch of the collared peccary emitted the brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery, while eight symmetric pairs of dorsal intercostal arteries originated from the thoracic aorta. The abdominal aorta, in turn, exhibited the celiac, cranial mesenteric, renal, caudal mesenteric, testicular, external iliac, internal iliac and sacral arteries as the collateral branches in all studied animals. Therefore, no relevant variations were observed regarding the arrangement of the arterial distribution of the aorta, thus suggesting a static standard model in the collared peccary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathoanatomical studies of diseases that affect wild animals are extremely important as appropriate measures can then be taken for the prevention and control of such diseases. We report here the case of death of a greater rhea (Rhea americana) by intestinal intussusception secondary to the ingestion of a large amount of sand. The animal was bred at the Center for Multiplication of Wild Animals of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid. The animal died after presenting clinical signs of apathy, weakness, prostration, and inability to move, drink water, or eat. After death, the carcass was immediately sent for necropsy. During necropsy, intussusception was found involving the jejunum, ileum, and colon. The duodenum contained large amounts of coarse sand. The invaginated intestinal segments were reddish in color, with necrotic spots, and covered by a fibrinous exudate. Histopathological examination of the invaginated segments showed necrosis of the enterocytes, detachment of the intestinal epithelium, and the presence of inflammatory cells. The ingestion of a large amount of sand may have resulted in altered intestinal transit, contributing to the occurrence of intussusception, which resulted in ischemic alterations, intestinal necrosis, and consequent death of the animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to study the major salivary gland morphology of peccaries during their growth. The glands were analyzed using macroscopic description, light microscopy, electron microscopy, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. Topographically, the salivary glands resemble other animals, including domestic animals and pigs. During growth, the parotid enlarges and mandibular gland loses weight. Histologically, the parotid has serous production, and sublingual has mucous production, resembles most species, however, mandibular gland produces mucous, unlike other animals, including pigs, which produce seromucous secretion. Histochemically, parotid produces more acidic mucins than pigs and it undergoes maturation during development; mandibular, and especially the sublingual gland, produce more acidic and basic mucopolysaccharides than pigs. The results found with transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques corroborate the histological and histochemistry findings. The major salivary glands were positive to different lecithins (Com-A, BSA-I-B 4 , WGA and PNA), which were also more positive than in pigs and sheep. We conclude that collared peccaries have a salivary secretion that facilitates the digestion of carbohydrates, and biometric characteristics and positivity to lecithins that facilitate adaptation to foods with antinutritional factors.