Anelise Carvalho Nepomuceno

Lazy heart is a condition reported in elderly cats, characterized by a more horizontal orientation of the cardiac silhouette relative to the sternum. This study aimed to demonstrate and quantify this horizontalization of the cardiac silhouette and the consequent increase in sternal contact associated with age. Radiographs from 45 cats were evaluated by two observers with different levels of experience, with measurements taken for: the angle between the cardiac silhouette axis and the sternum (ANG), the extent of cardiac silhouette contact with the sternum (CON), the length of the penultimate sternebra (STERN), and the ratio between sternal contact and sternebra length (CON/STERN). Animals were divided into groups: Group 1 (6-12 months), Group 2 (12 months-6 years), and Group 3 (≥7 years). Cats older than seven years exhibited lower ANG and higher CON, whereas younger cats showed shorter STERN. Comparisons between the two observers demonstrated high consistency across all variables and age ranges analyzed. ANG proved to be a useful tool, providing a quantitative approach that can assist in the evaluation of “lazy heart.” The results of this study suggest that aging is associated with changes in cardiac positioning. These findings should be considered in radiographic assessments to avoid misinterpretations that could be mistaken for pathological conditions.

Rangeliosis is a severe, emerging hemoparasitic disease affecting dogs in South America, caused by the protozoan Rangelia vitalii and transmitted by Amblyomma aureolatum, an ixodid tick found in the Atlantic Forest biome. Although cases are commonly reported in southern Brazil and in southeastern states such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, reports from the state of Minas Gerais remain scarce. This study describes a natural infection by R. vitalii in a dog from the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Peripheral blood smears revealed intra- and extra-erythrocytic piroplasms. Molecular testing detected DNA from the order Piroplasmida (18S rRNA and hsp70 genes). Genetic sequencing of the amplified piroplasmid fragments revealed 99.83% similarity with R. vitalii. This is the first study to report the ante-mortem molecular diagnosis of R. vitalii in a dog, along with clinical treatment and recovery, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The most commonly used techniques in the field are the pulmonary auscultation, Wisconsin score (WI), California score (CA), and pulmonary ultrasonography. However, with the exception of the latter, no studies have compared thoracic radiography with other possible techniques in calves. Therefore, the objective of the study was to compare and verify the agreement between clinical score techniques, pulmonary auscultation, and ultrasonographic and radiographic evaluations, considering the latter as reference test. Thirty‐three calves were evaluated from 17 to 60 days of age using pulmonary auscultation, Wisconsin score (WI), California score (CA), thoracic radiography, and pulmonary ultrasonography at five preestablished moments and at any time when presenting clinical respiratory disease. Of the 160 evaluations, 21% were positive for thoracic radiography, 21% for ultrasonography, 10% for pulmonary auscultation, 16% for CA score, and 14% for WI score. In the concordance analysis, there was a moderate correlation between thoracic radiography and ultrasonography ( k = 0.6035) and between pulmonary auscultation and WI score ( k = 0.5833) and CA score ( k = 0.5277), and substantial between the WI and CA score methods ( k = 0.7258). All techniques used in the study were useful for the diagnosis of pneumonia; however, due to high accuracy and practicality, ultrasonography proved to be an interesting method to be implemented on farms.

In Veterinary Medicine, diseases restricted to the gallbladder (GB) are uncommon in dogs. The histopathological examination of GB is considered the gold standard. However, abdominal ultrasound examination is increasingly included in the veterinary clinical routine, as it allows changes in previously underdiagnosed GB to have a more accurate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to identify, quantify and correlate the different aspects of GB in dogs through ultrasound and histopathological examinations. The GB of 60 dog cadavers were evaluated, without predilection for sex, age, and breed. The results demonstrated that the ultrasound examination, when compared to the histopathological examination, presented 83% agreement in the analysis of general data for the presence or absence of GB changes. The level of agreement in the Kappa test was considerably high (K=0.63). There was a high agreement in the diagnosis of changes observed by ultrasound and histopathological examinations, when compared “affected” or “non affected”. However, when compared the findings of mucocele, cystic mucinous hyperplasia and cholecystitis, there is a low Kappa agreement. Thus, ultrasound examination is an excellent tool for identifying changes related to the GB. However, more studies must be carried out to deepen the understanding of the correlation between imaging and pathological findings to lead diagnostic conclusions.

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is a congenital genetic defect primarily found in Collie dogs but occasionally in other breeds. Its significance lies in its genetic implications for breeding in predisposed breeds. Diagnosing CEA can be challenging and relies on clinical history, epidemiological data, clinical and ophthalmological examinations, and ocular ultrasonography to assess the extent of damage and prognosis. This article presents a case of CEA in a 6-month-old Border Collie dog who exhibited reduced vision and acute hyphema. The condition was diagnosed through direct ophthalmoscopy and ocular ultrasonography

This retrospective case series study describes the clinical and vascular ultrasound findings of 26 dogs diagnosed with abdominal thrombosis. Images were selected based on the detection of intravascular echogenic thrombus or the absence of vascular flow on color Doppler, confirmed by surgery or necropsy. Images were acquired using the Mylab 40 model, with linear and microconvex multifrequency probes. All the reports were evaluated along with the corresponding images by a veterinary diagnostic imaging radiologist. The ultrasonographic aspects evaluated were echogenicity (92.3%), anechogenicity (7.7%), vascularization (11.5%), mineralization (15.4%), and recanalization (7.7%) of the thrombosis. The vascular and hemodynamic findings were dilation of the affected vein (57.7%), total occlusion of blood flow (30.8%), presence of turbulent flow (65.38%), and visualization of smoke signal (blood flow detected as moving echogenic points in dynamic bidimensional mode) (11.5%). Neoplasms (19 cases) and nephropathies (13 cases) were the most common clinical conditions in the affected dogs. Eleven cases of vascular invasion due to adrenal neoplasms were identified. The results indicate that the vascular ultrasound examination is an important method for diagnosis, as 23 of the 26 cases did not show any clinical signs of thrombosis.

Niedenzuella (Tetrapterys) multiglandulosa, a vine plant found in Brazil, has been correlated to outbreaks of poisoning in cattle and buffaloes, generating economic losses related to the death due to heart failure, miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the embryotoxic potential of the aqueous plant extract on in vitro bovine embryos. In vitro study was performed in five replicates of bovine embryo culture assigned in two groups: control, in vitro embryo culture medium without the aqueous plant extract; treated group, with addition of 2.7mg/mL of aqueous plant extract (10%) to the embryo culture on the sixth day of culture. Cleavage rate was evaluated at day 2 of the cell culture. Viability, hatchability and underdevelopment of blastocysts on the seventh, eighth, and ninth days (D7, D8, and D9, respectively) of culture were assessed under stereoscopic microscope. On day 7, blastocysts were submitted to TUNEL assay to determine apoptotic index. In vitro exposure of bovine embryos to of N. multiglandulosa resulted in reduced embryo development and survival, evaluated by dark cytoplasm indicating poor morphology and poor quality with marked reduction of hatchability. We observed a significant reduction of blastocyst production/number of cleaved embryos (60.6% vs 41.5%); reduction of blastocysts production/total number of matured bovine oocytes (35.1% vs 21.3%); and embryonic hatching rates (38.0% vs 10.0%). However, no effects were observed on the apoptotic rate. In conclusion, aqueous extract of N. multiglandulosa leaves reduces bovine embryo viability in vitro, suggesting possible detrimental effects on embryo development.

Resumo Niedenzuella (Tetrapterys) multiglandulosa, uma videira encontrada no Brasil, tem sido correlacionada a surtos de intoxicações em bovinos e búfalos, gerando perdas econômicas relacionadas à morte por insuficiência cardíaca, aborto, natimorto e mortalidade neonatal. O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar o potencial embriotóxico do extrato vegetal aquoso em embriões bovinos in vitro. O estudo in vitro foi realizado em cinco repetições de cultura de embriões bovinos distribuídos em dois grupos: controle, meio de cultura de embriões in vitro sem o extrato aquoso da planta; grupo tratado, com adição de 2,7mg / mL de extrato vegetal aquoso (10%) à cultura do embrião no sexto dia de cultivo. A taxa de clivagem foi avaliada no dia 2 da cultura de células. Viabilidade, eclodibilidade e subdesenvolvimento de blastocistos no sétimo, oitavo e nono dia (D7, D8 e D9, respectivamente) de cultura foram avaliados em microscópio estereoscópico. No dia 7, os blastocistos foram submetidos ao ensaio TUNEL para determinar o índice apoptótico. Observamos redução significativa da produção de blastocisto / número de embriões clivados (60,6% vs 41,5%); redução da produção de blastocistos / número total de oócitos bovinos maturados (35,1% vs 21,3%); e taxas de eclosão embrionária (38,0% vs 10,0%). No entanto, nenhum efeito foi observado na taxa de apoptose. Em conclusão, o extrato aquoso das folhas de N. multiglandulosa reduz a viabilidade do embrião bovino in vitro, sugerindo possíveis efeitos prejudiciais no desenvolvimento embrionário.