Renata Gebara Sampaio Dória

RESUMO: As lesões lombares em ruminantes possuem grande relevância clínica e produtiva, uma vez que frequentemente passam despercebidas e geram impacto significativo no bem-estar, no comportamento e no desempenho zootécnico dos animais. Esses quadros podem ter diversas origens, variando de contusões e distensões musculares até fraturas vertebrais, luxações e abscessos epidurais, que levam a sinais como dor, relutância ao movimento, ataxia e paresia. O presente trabalho descreve o caso de um ovino, com cerca de um mês de idade, atendido com paresia dos membros pélvicos e piora progressiva da locomoção. Ao exame físico, observou-se paralisia dos membros posteriores, dor em região lombar e sensibilidade preservada de cauda e períneo. O exame radiográfico revelou fratura de L6, fragmento ósseo deslocado próximo ao canal vertebral e instabilidade entre L5-6 e L7-S1. O tratamento escolhido foi conservativo, envolvendo dexametasona para controle de edema e inflamação, vitamina B1 como suporte à regeneração nervosa, antibioticoterapia profilática devido ao risco de osteomielite e suporte físico com suspensão por cinta. Após 5 dias o animal apresentou apoio dos membros, e com 19 dias já se levantava sem auxílio, recebendo alta após 35 dias, completamente funcional. O caso demonstra que, embora a eutanásia seja uma prática comum em animais de produção com fraturas vertebrais, o tratamento conservativo pode ser uma alternativa viável em animais jovens e de baixo peso, desde que haja condições de manejo adequadas. A associação entre repouso, fisioterapia e suporte medicamentoso permite recuperação neurológica e qualidade de vida satisfatória

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in horses is defined as a group of chronic conditions characterized by persistent inflammation of the intestinal mucosa and submucosa, leading to malabsorption, progressive weight loss, intermittent diarrhea, and recurrent colic. This study aims to demonstrate the acute clinical presentation of IBD in horses and to compare five cases of acute abdomen caused by IBD, highlighting clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests, and treatments used. These reports reinforce the complex nature of IBD in horses and demonstrate that this condition is not exclusively chronic in nature. Early diagnosis, combined with an immunomodulatory therapeutic approach, improves prognosis and quality of life in affected animals. This study reports five cases of mares diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

Summary: Background: Peripheral dental caries and diastemata impair equine oral health. Diets rich in soluble carbohydrates are suspected risk factors, but few studies have assessed their impact. In Brazil, sugarcane is widely used as a forage source due to its availability and low cost. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and severity of peripheral dental caries and diastemata in horses fed sugarcane compared to horses fed Bermuda grass hay and to investigate their association. Study design: Cross‐sectional comparative study. Methods: Twenty adult mixed‐breed horses with no history of dental treatment were allocated into two groups based on dietary history: high soluble carbohydrate group (sugarcane, n = 10) and low soluble carbohydrate group (Bermuda grass hay, n = 10). Horses were sedated and underwent complete oral examination using an oral speculum, dental mirror and endoscope. Peripheral caries was classified according to the modified Honma scale, and diastemata were categorised as open or valved. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U test, prevalence difference and Pearson's correlation. Results: Peripheral caries affected 37.1% of teeth in the sugarcane group versus 7.9% in the Bermuda grass group. Lesions were more severe in the sugarcane group (grades 1–4) compared to only grade 1 in Bermuda grass group. Diastemata were detected in 80% of horses in the sugarcane group and 50% in the Bermuda grass group, with a higher prevalence in mandibular arcades. Horses fed sugarcane had a 29% higher risk of caries. Caries and diastemata were positively correlated. Main limitations: The relatively small sample size restricts the generalisation of the findings and limited the application of more advanced statistical analyses such as regression analysis. Conclusions: Sugarcane‐based diets were associated with increased prevalence and severity of peripheral dental caries and diastemata in this sample, underscoring the importance of diet composition in equine oral health and informing preventive management.

This study investigated the oral microbiome of horses maintained on a high soluble carbohydrate diet based on sugarcane, in comparison to those fed a pasture-based diet composed of Cynodon spp., aiming to identify associations between dietary intake, the composition of oral microbial communities, and the occurrence of dental caries and diastemata. A total of 20 healthy horses, both male and female, with an average age of 9 ± 3 years and weight of 400 ± 100 kg, without a defined breed, were selected. They were divided into two groups: the High Soluble Carbohydrate Group (HSCCG), consisting of 10 horses fed sugarcane for at least 3 years, and the Low Soluble Carbohydrate Group (LSCCG), consisting of 10 horses fed pasture with Cynodon spp. Dental examinations were performed using an adapted oral endoscope to assess caries and diastemata, and saliva samples were collected for microbiota analysis. Statistical analyses included a Student’s t-test and Mann–Whitney test, with significance set at p < 0.05. Horses in the HSCCG had a higher presence of peripheral caries (p = 0.001), as well as differences in the degree (p = 0.010), class (p = 0.05), and presence of diastemata. Microbial diversity indices (Chao, inverse Simpson, and Shannon) showed no significant differences, but the relative abundance differed (p = 0.003). Linear Discriminant Analysis revealed distinct microbial profiles: Candidatus Saccharibacteria and Bacteroidetes were more abundant in the HSCCG, while Cyanobacteria_Chloroplast and Proteobacteria dominated in the LSCCG. Over 35 genera differed significantly between groups. The study concludes that diet plays a significant role in shaping oral microbiota and influencing the development of dental caries in horses.

The implant of meshes in horses carries risks such as increased tissue reaction, infection at the surgical site, the occurrence of eventrations or evisceration and the rejection of materials considered foreign to the organism. In this study, the inflammatory response of horses to a polyamide surgical mesh implanted over the oblique external abdominal muscle at the flank region of six healthy horses was evaluated. Blood count and plasma fibrinogen were measured before the start of the experiment and after 7, 15, 30 and 60 days. Ultrasound examinations were performed daily on the first three postoperative days and then on the 7th, 15th and 60th day. The implant region and the healing of the skin wound were observed daily regarding the increase in volume and temperature, the presence and type of secretion and local pain sensitivity. Six months after the surgical procedure, tissue was taken from the implant region for histopathological examination. No hematologic or fibrinogenic changes were observed at the time points examined. There were no signs of infection of the surgical wound, the animals showed no pain, no increased volume or temperature and no secretion at the site where the polyamide surgical mesh was implanted. The skin wounds healed by first intention. There were no ultrasound or histologic changes indicating tissue reaction. The polyamide mesh; therefore, showed no local inflammatory reactions or rejection of the implant, being considered biocompatible for the equine species, being able to be tested especially in hernia corrections.

The ulna, humerus, femur, tibia, and calcaneus fractures repair, which are under constant tension due to exerted forces by the muscle groups adhered thereto, play a key role in the clinical-surgical routine, both in veterinary and human medicine. Therefore, the need for repairing orthopedic procedures is clear. Among the treatment options, the interlocking nail confers rigid stabilization on diaphyseal fractures. It has mechanical advantages over other stabilization techniques, such as plates, compression cortical screws (lag effect), or tension band technique. It was proposed in this study to mechanically compare two fixation methods (interlocking micro-nail or tension band) for fractures under muscular tension. The flexion force was assessed in a universal test machine (EMIC, DL 10000N model), comparing the interlocking micro-nail (IMN) to the tension band (TB) fixation system. The IMN and TB test specimens systems (n=6) went into total failure when the mean maximum force reached 511.20N and 279.90N, and the mean relative stiffness reached 31.33N/mm and 20.97 N/mm, respectively. A significant difference between IMN and TB for the variables maximum strength and relative stiffness were reported (P < 0.01). We concluded that, through mechanical flexion tests, the IMN system has superior resistance compared to the TB system. Thus, the IMN system may be a better option for fixing fractures under muscular tension forces.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), or cloning, is used to reprogram cells and generate genetically identical embryos and animals. However, the cloning process is inefficient, limiting its application to producing valuable animals. In swine, cloning is mainly utilized to produce genetically modified animals. Indeed, recombinant DNA technologies have evolved considerably in recent years, with homologous recombination and gene editing technologies becoming more efficient and capable of recombining both alleles in a single cell. The selection of appropriate cells and their use as nuclear donors for SCNT is the most common method for generating edited and genetically modified animals for commercial and research purposes. This article reviews current applications of swine cloning and shares our personal experiences with the procedure in this species.

Neuroepithelial neoplasms present in the ventricular system originate from the cells lining the choroid plexus and can be benign or malignant, such as choroid plexus carcinoma. A four-year-old equine presenting with a fifteen-day history of neurological symptoms was sent for veterinary evaluation. Upon examination, the horse exhibited apathy, severe ataxia, head tilt, circling behavior, head pressing, decreased tail tone, anosmia, absence of menace response, lack of facial sensitivity, and lingual hypotonia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed mixed pleocytosis, increased protein, and decreased glucose. Following the animal’s death, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations confirmed the diagnosis of choroid plexus carcinoma in the third ventricle. It is concluded that horses may develop central nervous system tumors, such as choroid plexus carcinoma, with nonspecific clinical symptoms, ineffective clinical treatment, and a conclusive diagnosis established postmortem.

Submitting late-term pregnant mares to anesthesia for non-obstetric surgery raises concerns about the survival of the mother and fetus. This study aimed to evaluate and describe transient maternal and fetal hemodynamic changes during general inhalation anesthesia in mares during the last month of gestation. Nine adult mares in the last month of gestation were subjected to general inhalation anesthesia and dorsal recumbency for 90 minutes. Trans-anesthetic vital parameters, arterial hemogasometry, cardiac output, pulmonary arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and fetal heart rates were assessed at defined intervals. During various timespans of the anesthetic procedure, the mares demonstrated an increase in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and diastolic pressure as well as a decrease in temperature. Additionally, arterial hemogasometry indicated respiratory acidosis. No changes in cardiac output were observed; however, there was a reduction in pulmonary arterial and central venous pressures and stroke volume. Fetal heart rate was significantly decreased. General inhalation anesthesia in late term pregnancy in mares in a recumbent position implies in significant hemodynamic and metabolic changes. Up to 90 minutes those changes does not seem to affect negatively the maternal-fetus prognosis.

The prevalence of gastric disorders in high-performance horses, especially gastric ulceration, ranges from 50 to 90%. These pathological conditions have negative impacts on athletic performance and health. This study was designed to evaluate changes in gastric pH during a 24 h period and to compare gastrin concentrations at different time points in horses undergoing general inhalation anesthesia and dorsal recumbency. Twenty-two mixed-breed mares weighing 400 ± 50 kg and aged 8 ± 2 years were used. Of these, eight were fasted for 8 h and submitted to 90 min of general inhalation anesthesia in dorsal recumbency. Gastric juice samples were collected prior to anesthesia (T0), and then at 15 min intervals during anesthesia (T15–T90). After recovery from anesthesia (45 ± 1 min), samples were collected every hour for 24 h (T1 to T24) for gastric juice pH measurement. During this period, mares had free access to Bermuda grass hay and water and were fed a commercial concentrate twice (T4 and T16). In a second group (control), four non-anesthetized mares were submitted to 8 h of fasting followed by nasogastric intubation. Gastric juice samples were then collected at T0, T15, T30, T45, T60, T75, and T90. During this period, mares did not receive food or water. After 45 min, mares had free access to Bermuda grass hay and water, and gastric juice samples were collected every hour for four hours (T1 to T4). In a third group comprising ten non-fasted, non-anesthetized mares with free access to Bermuda grass hay and water, gastric juice samples were collected 30 min after concentrate intake (T0). In anesthetized mares, blood gastrin levels were measured prior to anesthesia (8 h fasting; baseline), during recovery from anesthesia, and 4 months after the anesthetic procedure, 90 min after the morning meal. Mean values of gastric juice pH remained acidic during general anesthesia. Mean pH values were within the physiological range (4.52 ± 1.69) and did not differ significantly between time points (T15–T90; p > 0.05). After recovery from anesthesia, mean gastric pH values increased and remained in the alkaline range throughout the 24 h period of evaluation. Significant differences were observed between T0 (4.88 ± 2.38), T5 (7.08 ± 0.89), T8 (7.43 ± 0.22), T9 (7.28 ± 0.36), T11 (7.26 ± 0.71), T13 (6.74 ± 0.90), and T17 (6.94 ± 1.04) (p < 0.05). The mean gastric juice pH ranged from weakly acidic to neutral or weakly alkaline in all groups, regardless of food and water intake (i.e., in the fasted, non-fasted, and fed states). Mean gastric pH measured in the control group did not differ from values measured during the 24 h post-anesthesia period or in the non-fasted group. Gastrin concentrations increased significantly during the post-anesthetic period compared to baseline (20.15 ± 7.65 pg/mL and 15.15 ± 3.82 pg/mL respectively; p < 0.05). General inhalation anesthesia and dorsal recumbency did not affect gastric juice pH, which remained acidic and within the physiological range. Gastric juice pH was weakly alkaline after recovery from anesthesia and in the fasted and fed states. Serum gastrin levels increased in response to general inhalation anesthesia in dorsal recumbency and were not influenced by fasting. Preventive pharmacological measures are not required in horses submitted to general anesthesia and dorsal recumbency.