Fernando Fumagalli

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether an ACTH-induced increase in serum cortisol affects hematological variables and serum serotonin concentration in healthy dogs. Methods: Eight healthy dogs were evaluated using a randomized crossover design. Each dog received either ACTH (5 µg/kg, i.v.) or saline solution during the first experimental period and the alternate treatment after a 15-day interval, so that all dogs underwent both treatments. Blood samples were collected during the first 5 h after treatment. Serum cortisol and serotonin concentrations and hematological variables were determined. Results: ACTH-treated dogs showed higher serum cortisol concentrations than controls (p = 0.0002). ACTH treatment increased white blood cell and absolute neutrophil counts (p < 0.05), whereas the percentage of lymphocytes decreased at 120 min (p < 0.05), with no significant effects on the remaining hematological variables. ACTH treatment did not affect serum serotonin concentrations. Conclusions: This study shows that ACTH-induced increases in cortisol affected selected hematological variables in healthy dogs, including increased white blood cell and absolute neutrophil counts and a reduced percentage of lymphocytes, although all values remained within the reference interval. In contrast, ACTH-induced cortisol increases did not acutely affect serum serotonin concentrations during the first 300 min after treatment.

Morbillivirus canis (canine distemper virus, CDV) remains a pathogen of major veterinary and conservation significance. Here, we summarize two decades of CDV surveillance in Uruguay by integrating laboratory-confirmed cases, diagnostic advances, molecular epidemiology, and neuropathological findings. Between 2006 and 2026, CDV infection was confirmed in 270 of 460 dogs submitted for diagnostic testing, supporting sustained transmission among clinically suspected cases. Confirmed infections were concentrated in young dogs and were more frequent during colder months, although the season was not significantly associated with diagnostic outcome. Dogs reported as vaccinated had a lower proportion of positive results than unvaccinated dogs; however, CDV infection was also detected in animals with reported vaccination history, suggesting that failures at some point in the immunization process cannot be ruled out and highlighting the need for improved records of vaccination protocols, immune status, and vaccine handling. Diagnostic capacity evolved from conventional RT-PCR to RT-qPCR, droplet digital PCR, and whole-genome sequencing, strengthening both clinical diagnosis and genomic surveillance. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin gene showed that all Uruguayan strains characterized to date belong to the Europe/South America 1 lineage and revealed two locally differentiated clades, UY-I and UY-II, that co-circulated without clear temporal or geographic segregation in the available dataset. Comparative neuropathological analysis of fatal cases showed severe demyelinating lesions in both vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs, with no detectable differences in lesion pattern or stage in this limited series. These findings reveal sustained CDV transmission and local genetic structuring in Uruguay and support the need for continuous molecular and genomic surveillance, improved vaccination monitoring, and integrated One Health strategies to reduce the impact of CDV on domestic dogs and susceptible wildlife.

Traumatic injuries in turtles pose a significant challenge for veterinarians, requiring extended follow-up and rehabilitation periods. With conventional healing methods often yielding limited results, the realm of regenerative medicine in reptiles and amphibians has offered promising alternatives. Among these, the utilization of thrombocyte-leukocyte rich plasma and analogous hemocomponents akin to platelet-rich plasma in mammals has garnered attention. Hence, the objective of this study was to explore therapeutic hemocomponents in reptiles, specifically thrombocyte-leukocyte rich plasma, and its application in a clinical case involving Chelonia mydas. Autologous thrombocyte-leukocyte rich plasma was prepared via a density gradient centrifugation process to isolate the buffy coat and concentrate thrombocytes and leukocytes in the final formulation. The selected clinical case involved a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) undergoing rehabilitation at the Karumbé center, exhibiting lesions and abscesses in the jaw and flipper regions. Treatment entailed abscess removal, antibiotic administration, and the application of gelified thrombocyte-leukocyte rich plasma in the affected areas. Results demonstrated a recovery rate of 20.8% for thrombocytes and leukocytesin the thrombocyte- leukocyte rich plasma preparation, which effectively gelled upon application. Regarding the clinical case evolution, after 2 months of follow-up, an improvement in wound healing was observed. In conclusion, this is the first report of the preparation of thrombocyte-leukocyte rich plasma in Chelonia mydas and its application in a clinical case with favorable progression. However, more cases are needed in this species and type of lesion to obtain conclusive results on its beneficial effects in turtles.

La insuficiencia renal crónica es una patología frecuente en caninos y una importante causa de muerte en esta especie. La finalidad de este estudio fue determinar si la insuficiencia renal crónica (IRC) afecta los parámetros hemostáticos y las variables hematimétricas, así como evaluar si las alteraciones de estos parámetros se correlacionan positiva o negativamente con los niveles séricos de urea y creatinina. Para esto se seleccionaron 9 perros sanos (grupo control) y 14 perros con IRC confirmada, en distintos estadios de evolución acorde a la clasificación de la International Renal Interest Society (IRIS). Se extrajo sangre para la evaluación de crasis sanguínea, hemograma y perfil renal; los resultados obtenidos se compararon entre ambos grupos y entre los distintos estadios evolutivos de IRC. Perros con IRC presentaron hemoglobina, hemoglobina corpuscular media y concentración de hemoglobina corpuscular media menores que en los animales sanos (p = 0,022, p = 0,0001 y p = 0,0001, respectivamente), así como una correlación negativa importante entre los niveles de creatinina y las variables de eritrocitos, hemoglobina y hematocrito. Animales con IRC presentaron niveles más bajos de tiempo de protrombina (TP), p = 0,04, y mayores concentraciones de fibrinógeno con respecto al grupo control. Se observó una correlación positiva entre el aumento del tiempo de sangrado en mucosa bucal (TSM) y el aumento de las concentraciones séricas de creatinina y urea. Si bien el TSM no difirió entre el grupo sanos y el grupo con IRC, sí fue mayor en los estadios avanzados de esta patología, lo que está altamente correlacionado con las concentraciones de creatinina y urea séricas. Las alteraciones más notorias de los parámetros de la crasis sanguínea, como era esperable, se observaron en pacientes en estadios 3 y 4 de la IRC, consistente con los signos clínicos observados.

La ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA), es una de las principales causas de claudicación en caninos, por lo que termina siendo una de las cirugías más comunes en el mundo. El objetivo del presente trabajo es comunicar la posibilidad de que el Cimarrón uruguayo presente enfermedad de ligamento cruzado anterior (ELCA). El estudio recopila 15 casos en la raza de perros Cimarrón uruguayo, diagnosticados y operados de ruptura de LCA. Se confirmó la lesión LCA por el examen clínico, radiografías y la confirmación fue por artrotomía lateral de rodilla. Se analizo la presentación de la ruptura de LCA según el sexo, edad, peso, nivel de claudicación y grado artrosis en todos los perros. El 66,7 % (n=10), fueron machos y las hembras el 33,3 % (n=5), la edad de los animales al momento de la consulta fue 4,9 ± 0,1 años, el grado de artrosis articular en machos 14,23 ± 3.34, en hembras de 12,76 ± 2,54 (Escala Bioarth). El peso de los animales fue diferente dependiendo del sexo, los machos tuvieron pesos de 41,1 ± 0,6 Kg, mientras que las hembras presentaron un peso de 36,2 ± 1,4 Kg (p = 0,001) Si bien el número de animales es reducido, este trabajo permite suponer la posibilidad de la ELCA en el Cimarrón uruguayo y dejando como una causa posible la existencia de una predisposición genética en la raza.

The pampas deer is an endangered species, from which reproductive biology little is known. We aimed to describe and compare the reproductive seasonal patterns of adult and yearling pampas deer stags throughout the year, including morphological traits, testosterone concentration, sperm morphology and cryoresistance pattern changes. Six adult (AS) and five yearling (YS) stags were captured with anesthetic darts once in winter, spring, summer and autumn to study morphological variables, serum testosterone and semen. Adult males were heavier, their neck girth tended to be greater and their testosterone concentration was higher than in YS. Animals were heavier in summer and autumn. Neck girth and testosterone concentration were greater in autumn. Scrotal circumference, testicular volume and gonado-somatic index varied with seasons, decreasing from winter to spring, increasing in summer and remaining in greater values in autumn. Sperm quality had maximum values from summer to winter. However, the cryoresistance ratio of motility score was greater in spring. In conclusion, in the captivity conditions, pampas deer stags seems to present a light seasonal reproductive pattern, with maximum testis size, testosterone secretion and fresh semen quality in autumn. Nevertheless, sperm cryoresistance ratio seemed to remain stable along the year. Although YS were still growing, they achieved similar semen quality than AS.