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Background and Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with a grave prognosis. A clinical assessment of kidney function can be performed based on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Cystatin C (CysC) can indicate the GFR or kidney function and its measurement is currently performed using immunological methods such as nephelometry, immunoturbidimetry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in human medicine. However, these techniques are not specific for use in veterinary medicine. This study aimed to validate an immunoturbidimetric assay for serum CysC (sCy) in dogs, determine the sCy reference intervals for healthy dogs, evaluate sCy stability in serum samples, and compare sCy with serum creatinine (sCr) in healthy dogs and dogs with AKI. Materials and Methods: Forty-three dogs were divided into a control group (n = 19) and an AKI group (n = 24). An immunoturbidimetric method including commercially available human CysC calibrated with canine CysC was used to evaluate canine serum samples. Results: An average recovery of 97% was observed for canine serum samples. The reference interval for CysC in healthy dogs was 0.57–1.29 mg/L. The sCy concentration in dogs with AKI was significantly higher (2.82 ± 1.46 mg/L) than in healthy dogs (0.93 ± 0.18 mg/L). Statistical analysis confirmed a strong correlation between sCy and sCr (r = 0.94; p < 0.05) in dogs with AKI. Conclusion: The immunoturbidimetric method of evaluating sCy yielded satisfactory results and can be used for canine samples when a species-specific calibrator is used. Furthermore, sCy is a reliable marker of renal dysfunction in dogs. It is best to store samples for sCy evaluation at temperatures between 4°C and 8°C.

Antivenom production against Loxosceles venom relies on horses being immunized and bled for plasma harvest. One horse can partake in several cycles of antivenom production, which will require years of constant venom and adjuvant inoculation and bleeding. The actual impact on the health of horses that participate in several antivenom-producing cycles is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the general health status of horses that underwent at least six cycles of loxoscelic antivenom production. Seven crossbred horses that had partaken in six to eight complete antivenom-producing cycles were used and established as the immunized group (IG). Under the same handling and general management, eleven horses were established as the control group (CG). The horses were evaluated regarding their general clinical status and had their blood sampled, and an ECG recorded. The IG presented lower RBC and PCV, despite keeping values within inferior limits for the species. Renal function was not impaired, and liver-related enzymes were higher than those in the CG, probably due to liver exertion from immunoglobulin synthesis. ECG showed some abnormalities in the IG, such as atrioventricular block and a wandering atrial pacemaker, corroborated by an increase in CK-MB. The cardiovascular abnormalities were mainly found in the horses that participated in several antivenom-producing cycles. The overall results indicate that these horses had some impairment of their general health status. Once available, some alternative, less toxic antigens should replace the venom for immunization of horses used for antivenom production.

Loxosceles spp. (brown spiders) bites are responsible for the development of a syndrome consisting mainly of dermonecrotic lesions, and also systemic effects. Rabbits are one of the main experimental models used for better understanding the systemic and local effects of Loxosceles venom. The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxic and protective effects of rabbits immunized with Loxosceles spp. venom. Male New Zealand rabbits were allocated as a control group (CG; n = 5) that received adjuvant (Montanide) and phosphate-buffer saline (PBS), or as venom group (VG; n = 5) that received 21 μg of Loxosceles venom using Montanide as adjuvant. After five immunization cycles, a trial with 7 μg of Loxosceles intermedia (L. intermedia) venom was performed, and dermonecrotic lesions were measured. The rabbits were then euthanized, and their organs were collected for histopathology analysis. Rabbits that had undergone Loxosceles venom immunization protocol showed minor clinical disturbances during the experimental period. The used immunization protocol protected the rabbits against the toxic effect of the Loxosceles venom because they showed minor clinical disturbances during the experimental period.

Critically ill hospitalized dogs are subject to certain complications, being acute kidney injury (AKI) a common one. Early diagnosis is crucial, and Cystatin C (CysC) is a reliable and early biomarker. The International Society of Renal Interest (IRIS) states that AKI severity can be assessed by mild changes in creatinine serum levels or reduction of urine output that cannot be considered biomarkers of renal injury but failure or insufficiency. Twenty-eight dogs admitted to the Intensive Care Unit under risk factors for the development of AKI were evaluated. Blood samples were collected for determination of sCr and CysC at admission and after 24, 48, and 72 h. Urine output was measured by daily monitoring, measured by collection in a closed system. The results showed the incidence of AKI was 67.9% based on the IRIS criteria and 78.6% based on cystatin C in critically ill patients' dogs. The measurement of serum cystatin C immediately on admission to the ICU was superior in the early identification of patients with AKI when compared to the IRIS classification and serum creatinine in critically ill dogs.

ABSTRACT: A 48-hour-old mixed breed pony colt was referred to the hospital because of abdominal discomfort, weak suckling reflex and prostration. During clinical investigation, supportive and symptomatic treatments were necessary, and an abdominal radiography was performed revealing a large intestine filled with feces and large amounts of gas, in addition to free fluid in the cavity. After 3 days of treatment, the foal had not yet defecated, thus exploratory abdominal surgery was indicated, but the owners declined. Therefore, the foal was humanly euthanized. Post-mortem examination revealed complete absence of the pelvic flexure. Subsequent portions of the dorsal, transverse and small colons were intensely reduced. In addition, at the abdominal cavity there was 850 ml of yellowish translucent liquid. These findings are compatible with hydroperitoneum and type III atresia coli at the pelvic flexure, associated with underdevelopment of the dorsal, transverse and small colons.

Bites of brown spiders (Loxosceles spp.) are responsible for dermonecrotic lesions and potentially systemic envenoming that can lead to death. The only effective therapy is the use of the antivenom, usually produced in horses. However, little is known about the consequences of the systematic use of the Loxosceles venom and adjuvants and of the bleedings on antivenom-producing horses. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical changes in horses in their first immunization protocol for Loxosceles antivenom production. Eleven healthy horses, never immunized, were evaluated in three different periods: T0 (before immunization); T1 (after their first venom immunization); and T2 (after their first bleeding). Horses were clinically evaluated, sampled for blood, and underwent electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings. Several suppurated subcutaneous abscesses occurred due to the use of Freund’s adjuvants and thrombophlebitis due to systematic venipunctures for the bleeding procedures. ECG showed arrhythmias in few horses in T2, such as an increase in T and R waves. In summary, the immunization protocol impacted on horses’ health, especially after bleeding for antivenom procurement.

A megabacteriose é uma doença que acomete algumas espécies de aves, tendo como agente etiológico Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, um microrganismo Gram positivo de forma bacilar e com características de fungo, sendo classificado como fungo ascomiceto anamórfico. É um agente oportunista que se torna patogênico em casos de imunossupressão, manifestando assim a sua forma clínica, que varia muito de acordo com cada animal, podendo levar o animal ao óbito. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a prevalência de megabacteria em psitacídeos criados em estabelecimentos comerciais do município de Uberaba-MG associado as condições de criação. Para isso, foram colhidas amostras de secreções do ventrículo e pro ventrículo de 71 aves, entre elas Calopsitas (Nymphicus hollandicus) (n=33), Periquitos Australianos (Melopsittacus undulatus) (n=31), Agapornis (Agapornis roseicollis) (n=4) e Catarinas (Bolborhynchus lineola) (n=3) e transferidas para lâminas de vidro. As amostras foram encaminhadas para o Laboratório de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva do Hospital Veterinário de Uberaba, para pesquisa do patógeno. Após coloração das lâminas por Gram pode-se notar a presença do microrganismo em 35,21% das aves analisadas. A prevalência entre as Calopsitas, Periquitos Australianos, Agapornis e Catarinas foi respectivamente de: 42,42% (14/33), 29,03% (9/31), 50% (2/4) e 0% (0/3). Neste contexto, pode-se concluir que a Macrorhabdus ornithogaster é comum entre as aves, principalmente entre as Calopsitas e o manejo incorreto dos animais pode ser a causa da elevada prevalência. Nos estabelecimentos comerciais observaram-se as condições das gaiolas, qualidade dos bebedouros e comedouros, quantidade de fezes na gaiola e número de animais por gaiola inadequados.

Estresse oxidativo é um distúrbio metabólico no qual moléculas instáveis, também denominadas espécies reativas, ocasionam injúrias celulares devido a reações de óxido-redução com moléculas orgânicas, tais como fosfolipídeos, proteínas e DNA. Essas injúrias podem acarretar perda da função celular e, consequentemente, disfunções importantes nos sistemas orgânicos. Tais espécies são formadas constantemente na fisiologia celular normal, seja através do metabolismo do oxigênio ou dos aminoácidos, gerando, respectivamente, as espécies reativas do oxigênio (EROS) e espécies reativas do nitrogênio (ERNS). Devido ao potencial tóxico dessas moléculas, mecanismos de proteção endógenos e exógenos, representados pelos agentes antioxidantes, entram em ação para neutralizar esses compostos e impedir a injúria celular. Quando a produção dessas espécies excede a capacidade antioxidante do organismo, o metabolismo celular entra em estresse oxidativo. Em certos casos, as produções das EROS e ERNS tornam-se desejáveis, como exemplo nos distúrbios inflamatórios, onde participarão da produção de mediadores inflamatórios, porém a exacerbação dessa produção pode ser prejudicial, sendo importante conhecer o status oxidativo para controlar a progressão do distúrbio em animais enfermos. Neste contexto, é necessário conhecer o perfil bioquímico dos compostos oxidantes e antioxidantes na rotina clínico-hospitalar de pequenos e grandes animais. O presente trabalho objetivou elucidar sobre os mecanismos fisiopatológicos do estresse oxidativo, bem como os métodos de diagnóstico laboratorial disponíveis, para explanar a importância do estresse oxidativo na prática clínica, de modo que a determinação desses compostos seja incluída na rotina médica e hospitalar.

A ruptura do ducto torácico idiopático é de ocorrência rara em medicina veterinária. Sua fisiopatologia apresenta-se de forma obscura. O presente relato descreve a admissão de felino fêmea, 5 anos de idade, no setor de emergência e terapia intensiva do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais cursando com dispneia, sons torácicos abafados, e grande volume de líquido de aspecto quiloso após punção torácica. Pela rápida coleção de fluido pleural após punção, juntamente com o aspecto laboratorial da efusão, suspeitou-se de ruptura do ducto torácico idiopático, haja vista que o paciente não havia histórico de trauma, nem acesso a rua. Após toracotomia, verificou-se a ruptura total do ducto torácico, na altura da 9o vértebra torácica, no qual realizou-se uma ligadura. O paciente evoluiu de forma satisfatória, recebendo alta dez dias após o procedimento cirúrgico. Conclui-se que a ruptura do ducto torácico acarreta importante alteração na fisiologia do paciente, exigindo preparo do médico veterinário por se tratar de situação de emergência pelas grandes alterações sistêmicas que causa.

O presente relato de caso tem como finalidade descrever uma ocorrência de quimiodectoma de caráter maligno em um cão de raça weimaraner. Quimiodectomas são neoplasias formadas a partir de quimiorreceptores presentes na base do coração envolvendo o corpo aórtico e carótido, pode ser benigno (mais comum) ou maligno. Estes tumores são pouco frequentes na clínica de pequenos animais e, quando ocorrem, geralmente estão associados a cães idosos e de raças braquiocefálicas (boxer, bulldog, dentre outros). O diagnóstico clínico é dificultoso, pois a maioria dos animais acometidos são assintomáticos, e, quando presentes, os sinais clínicos são inespecíficos, sendo, portanto, diagnosticados através dos exames radiográficos de rotina ou como achados nos exames post-mortem. No presente caso, o animal foi a atendimento clínico por outro motivo (nódulos subcutâneos), tendo sido investigado o quimiodectoma após ser percebido aumento de frequência respiratória e tamponamento de sons pulmonares em algumas regiões torácicas. O diagnóstico final foi possível após radiografia torácica e histopatologia do tecido tumoral através de técnica “tru-cut” com auxílio de ultrasonografia com ferramenta Doppler. Além de se referir à ocorrência de quimiodectoma em uma raça não predisposta, a importância do presente trabalho também se dá à abordagem do proprietário frente a uma patologia crônica maligna sem possibilidade de correção.

Parvoviral enteritis is a common viral infection in dogs and is associated with many clinical and hematological changes. Bacterial translocation is a common complication and may result in sepsis. The objective of this study is to determine the presence of clinical and hematological factors associated with the risk of death in puppies with naturally occurring parvoviral enteritis and sepsis. Twenty-four dogs with parvoviral enteritis confirmed by chromatographic immunoassay during the clinical routine of a university veterinary hospital were selected. At admission and every 24 hours until the third day of hospitalization or until death, venous blood samples were collected for complete blood count, renal and hepatic biochemistry, and lactate and magnesium measurement; arterial blood samples were collected for gas analysis. Sodium, potassium, and ionized calcium were also analyzed, and a complete physical examination was performed. The factors associated with mortality were evaluated by Cox univariate analysis at a level of significance of 5%. The increase in urea and heart rate was associated with an increase in the risk of death. In contrast, an increase in total leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, partial pressure of oxygen, base deficit, bicarbonate ion, and oxygen saturation were associated with a reduction in the risk of death.