Background and Aim: Urethral obstruction (UO) is a common condition in feline medicine. Severe acid-base and electrolyte disorders promote relevant electrocardiographic changes in these animals. Cardiac biomarkers such as cardiac troponin I have been shown to be useful in identifying cats with myocardial disease, but it has not been investigated whether UO leads to myocardial damages. This study aimed to evaluate biochemical changes, electrocardiographic findings, troponin I measurements, and electrolyte disturbances for 7 days in cats with UO. Materials and Methods: This follow-up prospective study included 33 cats diagnosed with UO for 7 days. For all cats, clinical examination, serum biochemistry, electrolyte analyses, blood pressure, and electrocardiography were performed. Cardiac troponin I was measured in the serum in 16 cats at 3 different times. Results: The mean age of the feline population was 1.83±1.58 years (mean±standard deviation). Creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, phosphorus, base excess, bicarbonate, and serum potassium decreased significantly (p≤0.05), while ionic calcium and blood pH increased significantly (p≤0.05) at different times. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed in 21/33 (63.63%) of the felines on admission day. The electrocardiographic abnormalities were no longer observed on the subsequent days. Only one feline showed changes in troponin I cardiac concentrations. Conclusion: This study suggests the sum and severity of electrolyte abnormalities aggravate the clinical and cardiovascular status of these patients. However, cTnI, blood pressure, and heart rate within the reference range do not exclude the presence of major cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities. The hyperglycemia in felines with UO appears to be associated with decreased renal clearance, which may reflect the severity of hyperkalemia and azotemia. The metabolic and cardiovascular changes of these felines are minimized by the establishment of appropriate intensive care; however, cardiac and blood gas monitoring is essential to assess the severity of the disease.

A carne bovina moída é um alimento altamente perecível e requer métodos de conservação e manipulação adequados. É comercializada em açougues, supermercados e mercearias e possui recomendações higiênico-sanitárias preconizadas por uma legislação. A Instrução Normativa Nº 83, de 21 de novembro de 2003, do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, entende por carne moída o produto cárneo obtido a partir da moagem de massas musculares de carcaças de bovinos, seguido de imediato resfriamento ou congelamento. Para realização do presente trabalho foram utilizadas 20 amostras de carne moída à granel refrigeradas e provenientes de estabelecimentos comerciais no município de Sinop-MT, as quais foram submetidas às análises microbiológicas. As condições higiênico-sanitárias foram verificadas através da presença de Salmonella sp. e Escherichia coli, contagem de microrganismos aeróbios mesófilos e determinação do número de coliformes totais e termotolerantes. A presença de Salmonella spp. foi verificada em 55% e E. coli em 60% das amostras. A contagem de microrganismos aeróbios mesófilos variaram de 2,6x10 2 a 1,9x10 6 UFC/g. Os valores da determinação de coliformes totais variaram de <3 a >2.400 NMP/g, enquanto que para termotolerantes variaram de 3 a >2.400 NMP/g. Estes resultados são importantes, pois 55% das amostras de carne moída pesquisadas apresentaram-se em desacordo com o estabelecido na Resolução RDC n°12 (Ministério da Saúde) para carne in natura. Não há na legislação um padrão para coliformes totais e termotolerantes, E. coli e micro-organismos aeróbios mesófilos, porém são importantes, pois são indicadores de más condições higiênico-sanitárias, e alguns capazes de causarem doenças transmitidas por alimentos.

As queimadas que ocorreram no ano de 2020 no Pantanal trouxeram intensos prejuízos à fauna e flora da região, sendo que o tamanduá-bandeira foi um dos mamíferos mais afetados pelas queimadas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo descrever alterações hematológicas encontradas nos exames laboratoriais de um tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), vítima dos incêndios ocorridos no Pantanal mato-grossense, correlacionando-as ao quadro clínico do animal. O paciente foi resgatado no mês de setembro de 2020 com lesões graves por queimaduras nas regiões de membros e face. Após quatro dias de internação (D4) foi feita colheita de sangue para a realização de hemograma e bioquímica sérica. Notou-se diminuição nos valores de eritrócitos (0,98 x 106/mm3; 2,05 – 2,67 x106/mm3),  hemoglobina (4,8 g/dl; 10,6 – 12,9 g/dl) e hematócrito  (16%; 35,44 – 40,1%), contagem total de leucócitos dentro dos valores de normalidade (16,0 x 103/mm3; 5,59 – 18,14 x 103/mm3), com desvio à esquerda degenerativo, presença de metamielócitos (0,7 x 103/mm3; 0 – 0 x 103/mm3), bastonetes (5,2 x 103/mm3; 0 – 0,06 x 103/mm3) e segmentados (5,1 x 103/mm3; 3,91 – 3,88 x 103/mm3). Os eosinófilos (3,4 x 103/mm3; 0,08 – 1,86 x 103/mm3), monócitos (0,5 x 103/mm3; 0,01 – 0,2 x 103/mm3) e plaquetas (168 x 103/mm3; 52,2 – 134,4 x 103/mm3) estavam aumentados e os valores de proteínas plasmáticas totais diminuídos (4,2 g/dl; 7,77 – 8,42 g/dl). Os valores de ALT (121 UI/L; 7,51 – 23,47 UI/L), AST (143 UI/L; 13,62 – 28,62 UI/L) e CK (13252,0 UI/L; 41,45 – 81,77 UI/L), mostraram-se significativamente aumentados e de proteínas totais diminuído (4,8 g/dl; 5,49 – 6,61 g/dl). Queimaduras de segundo e terceiro graus em tamanduá-bandeira podem causar desvio à esquerda degenerativo, anemia intensa, hipoproteinemia e alterações marcantes de enzimas que avaliam dano muscular. O impacto das queimadas no Pantanal mato-grossense no ano de 2020 precisa ser avaliado, sendo necessária a implantação de políticas públicas de combate aos incêndios mais eficazes.

Background: Blood transfusion is a tool capable of saving lives. Patients undergoing blood transfusion usually present several alterations in the acid-base and electrolyte balance, aggravating the condition of critically ill patients. Some studies have demonstrated haematological alterations in certain species that received whole blood transfusions, however, few studies have evaluated acid base and electrolyte changes in dogs undergoing whole blood haemotherapy. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical, hematological, blood gas and electrolyte changes in anemic dogs after whole blood transfusion.Materials, Methods & Results:Twenty nine dogs transfused due to anemia were enrolled in the study. Donors blood was collected in a transfusion bag containing citrate phosphate adenine dextrose and stored up to 24 h. Blood collections and evaluations were made before and 24 h after the transfusion. Data distribution normality was tested by the Shapiro Wilk Test. The means of the variables were compared by paired t-test. It was observed an increase in diastolic blood pressure and a reduction in heart rate (P < 0.05). There was a not significant increase in systolic blood pressure, temperature, and a reduction in respiratory rate per minute. Erythrocyte, haemoglobin and haematocrit averages were significantly increased after blood transfusion (P < 0.05). It was observed a reduction in the mean values of pH (P < 0.05), potassium (P > 0.05) and ionized calcium (P > 0.05) and an increase in the mean partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (P < 0.001), bicarbonate (P > 0.05) and sodium (P < 0.05). The probable cause of anemia was monocytic ehrlichiosis (14/29), visceral leishmaniasis (1/29), babesiosis (1/29), co-infection of Ehrlichia canis and Leishmaniainfantum (2/19), co-infection of E. canis and Babesia vogeli (1/19). It was not possible to determine the etiology of the anemia in ten dogs. Discussion:Heart rate significantly reduced after transfusion, probably because of the increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin and erythrocyte values. It may be justified by the displacement of extravascular fluid to the intravascular space. Mean values of systolic blood pressure were slightly elevated before transfusion and remained elevated afterwards, while diastolic and mean arterial pressure increased significantly after transfusion. These changes may be due to the morbid condition and may be influenced by many other factors. Haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocyte values increased significantly after transfusion, according to what was observed in other studies. The significant reduction in pH and increase in pCO2 reflects the compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis to increase ventilation, leading to pCO2 reduction and changes in pH. The reduction in pH due to the contact of the collected blood with conservative solutions is one of the main changes thar occurs during blood storage. It was described significantly lower pH in dogs’ whole blood samples stored for more than 24h in vacutainer plastic containing CPDA-1. We may assume there was no intense pH reduction in the present study because the bags were stored for up to 24 h. Although not statistically significant, the increase of pO2 mean reflects the improvement of tissue oxygen perfusion. It was observed a significant increase in sodium ions. The mean sodium ionconcentration before transfusion was very close to the maximum reference value. Hyperkalaemia was not observed, nor was there significant reduction of potassium ions after transfusion. Several studies report hyperkalaemia and transfusion-associated cardiac arrests in humans, associated with infusion of large volumes of blood. Whole blood transfusion increased erythrogram values and did not negatively affect the electrolyte or acid-base status, representing a safe and useful tool in the intensive care of small animals.

Incêndios florestais ocorrem anualmente no Pantanal Mato-grossense nos períodos de seca causando morbidade e mortalidade de inúmeras espécies animais, onde os tamanduás-bandeira enquadram-se entre as principais vítimas dessas catástrofes. Devido a difícil criação dessa espécie em cativeiro, há poucos dados na literatura veterinária a respeito dos perfis hematológicos e bioquímicos de tamanduás-bandeira sadios e não há descrição sobre as alterações encontradas nesses animais com lesões térmicas ocasionadas pelo fogo. Portanto, objetivou-se a avaliação dos perfis hematológico e bioquímico de tamanduás-bandeira provenientes de áreas incendiadas do Pantanal (MT) no ano de 2020, assim como a determinação das alterações laboratoriais mais frequentes. No Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária do HOVET-UFMT foram realizados hemograma completo e bioquímica sérica de amostras sanguíneas de seis indivíduos da espécie Myrmecophaga tridactyla após admissão hospitalar. Dentre os resultados avaliados, observou-se que: 83,3% (5/6) dos animais apresentaram anemia normocítica hipocrômica nos eritrogramas, nos leucogramas 66,7% (4/6) apresentaram desvio à esquerda e neutropenia, além de outros achados predominantes nos hemogramas como hipoproteinemia plasmática total observada em 100% (6/6) dos indivíduos e trombocitose em 66,7% (4/6). Poucas alterações foram observadas na bioquímica sérica, diferentemente dos dados encontrados na literatura humana. Concluiu-se que tamanduás-bandeira com queimaduras térmicas graves apresentam principalmente alterações laboratoriais no hemograma e poucas alterações bioquímicas na primeira avaliação pós- resgate. Salientando assim a necessidade da realização destes exames em vários intervalos de tempo pós lesão para melhor compreensão das alterações laboratoriais sofridas por esses pacientes, haja vista, que todos os indivíduos desse estudo vieram a óbito.

Blood coagulation tests are used to check hemostasis in all its phases and to investigate the presence of hemostatic diseases in small animals. In view of the scarcity and the high acquisition value of specific reagents for the evaluation of hemostasis in felines, human reagents are used in most veterinary clinical laboratories, which compromises the sensitivity of the results. The present study had as objective to determine reference values for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) for domestic felines (Felis catus)  using standardized Wiener reagents for humans. Blood samples from 50 clinically healthy adult cats were used. The results obtained were 3.9 ± 1.52 seconds for the PT, with minimum and maximum values of 3.52 and 4.34; and 27.94 ± 1.77 seconds for aPTT, with minimum and maximum values of 27.50 and 28.48, respectively. It is concluded that the values obtained in this experiment can be used as a reference for felines, in manual tests with a human kit from the Wiener Lab brand.

BackgroundSynthetic peptides of tandem repeat proteins (TRPs) have been employed in the serologic analysis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and used in epidemiological studies in Brazil. Based on molecular studies of TRPs, different genotypes of Ehrlichia canis have been described, but data on their pathogenicity remain unknown.ObjectivesTo correlate hepatic, renal, and muscular alterations in relation to different genotypes of E. canis in naturally exposed dogs using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with TRP19 and TRP36 synthetic protein antigens.MethodsTwo hundred serum samples were subjected to ELISA with the antigens of TRP19 and three genotypes (US, Br, and CR) of TRP36 of E. canis circulating in Brazil. Positive sera were evaluated through eight biochemical parameters, and the results were evaluated by principal component analysis and canonical correlation.ResultsELISA revealed that 47 (23.5%) serum samples reacted to the BrTRP36 peptide, 36 (18%) reacted to the TRP19 peptide, and 8 (4%) reacted to the USTRP36 and CRTRP36 peptides separately. The most frequent biochemical alterations observed were for CK (59.4%), ALB (31.8%), GLO (28.9%), TP (28.9%), ALP (26%), urea (24.6%), creatinine (14.4%), and ALT (14.4%). The most prominent diagnostic method in canonical correlation analysis was BrTRP36, followed by TRP19, which correlated with hyperglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia.ConclusionsAntibodies that reacted against the Brazilian genotype of E. canis correlated positively with hyperglobulinemia and increases in serum urea and creatinine. According to our results, the Brazilian genotype of E. canis is related to the chronic phase of CME.