Background: With the continuously increasing release of heavy metals in the environment, mostly from anthropogenic sources, there is a need to find ways of evaluating and managing the issuance of these contaminants and correct its damages. The birds being at the top of some food chains reflect the presence of metals in the environment, keeping this in perspective, raptors have been successfully used for heavy metals biomonitoring studies in the past. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) in the feathers and livers of free-living southern caracaras, live and dead, from Recife, Pernambuco state, Northeast of Brazil. Material, Methods & Results: Sixty-two feathers from live and dead southern caracaras and 21 livers from dead southern caracaras were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry for Hg and by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for Cd, Cr, Pb, and Cu. Concentrations of Cr and Cu elements were detected in all feather and liver samples analyzed from live and dead caracaras. There was no difference in the concentration of metals between feathers of dead and live caracaras: Pb (P = 0.3576), Cd (P = 0.0792), Cr (P = 0.5475), and Cu (P = 0.3603), but significant variation was observed for Hg (P = 0.0459). The highest concentrations of Pb (P < 0.0001) and Cr (P < 0.0001) were found in the feathers than in the liver. On the other hand, the highest concentrations of Cu were found in liver samples (P = 0.0011). No significant variation in the concentrations of Cd (P = 0.7770) and Hg (P = 0.3669) was found between feathers and liver samples. Discussion: Chromium, as well as Hg, and Cu have a high affinity for keratin, which may explain the higher concentrations of Cr in caracaras feathers in this research. Lead was detected in all liver samples analyzed. Elevated levels were also found in the feathers of dead (95.2%) and live (75.6%) caracaras. The presence of Pb may be due to external contamination by pollutants, such as fossil fuels. Higher concentrations of Hg were observed in dead caracaras feathers, this concentrations change during molting but are not affected by external contamination. Metals, such as Hg, and Cd, accumulate in organisms from different trophic levels, which may indicate that this contamination comes mainly from feed. Pearson's coefficient here showed no correlation between metals from dead caracaras feathers and livers, although a few previous studies have shown a correlation between metal concentrations from tissues and feathers. This pattern can be attributed to the different time of exposure of feathers to metals in relation to livers. The concentrations of metals in hepatic tissues reflect the levels of elements in the diet of these birds, characterizing acutely the contamination of the ecosystem. On the other hand, feathers represent the exposure in the time of molting, when the artery supplies metals, thus representing a chronic exposure. In feathers from live birds, the ...

/agrariacad Avaliação da bioquímica sanguínea de vacas leiteiras acometidas por desordens digestivas de natureza mecânica. Evaluation of biochemical metabolites in dairy cows affected by mechanical digestive disorders

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) during pregnancy is characterized by high levels of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory factors in the placenta. Once these reactive species reach the foetus, they trigger physiological adaptations that allow the foetus to survive, but programme the organism to develop metabolic disorders in adulthood. The male reproductive system is highly susceptible to foetal programming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of intrauterine exposure to T2D on testicular histomorphometry and redox homeostasis of adult rats and evaluate the effects of maternal treatment with metformin and pentoxifylline. Female rats were induced to T2D, then treated with metformin and pentoxifylline, or co-treated with both drugs. The females were mated, the male offspring were sacrificed on postnatal day 90, and the testicles were collected for analysis. Metformin protected the tubular compartment, with the maintenance of the Sertoli cell population and daily sperm production. Pentoxifylline attenuated the effects of diabetes on Leydig cells, in addition to stimulating testosterone production and lowering lipid peroxidation. Intrauterine exposure to T2D results in important testicular alterations that compromise gonadal function, and the cotreatment with metformin and pentoxifylline may represent a promising therapy that attenuates these effects by combining the positive influences in both the tubular and interstitial compartments of the testicular parenchyma.

The increase in energy imbalance at the beginning of lactation leads to metabolic disorders, especially clinical ketosis, in highly productive dairy cows. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters, and cardiac biomarkers creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) of 15 cows diagnosed with clinical ketosis treated at the Bovine Clinic of Garanhuns at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco. Nine of the 15 cows were diagnosed with primary ketosis and six had concomitant diseases, including left abomasal displacement, metritis, pneumonia, and renal failure. The observed clinical signs were non-specific and included decreased appetite and milk production and weight loss. Approximately 53% of the animals had central nervous system involvement. For biochemical evaluation, 15 high-production healthy dairy cows at the initial stage of lactation served as the control group. The data were subjected to analysis of variance for simultaneous comparison between two means allowing testing the hypothesis on the means of the different groups and subjected to Pearson correlation at a level of significance of 5%. The levels of ?-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, fructosamine, total protein, albumin, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, CK-MB, and cTnI were higher in the group with ketosis. The diseased animals presented changes in glycemia, reduction in tissue sensitivity to insulin, and a lower RQUICKI-BHB index, especially hyperglycemic animals. The increase in the levels of cardiac biomarkers suggests the occurrence of myocardial injury associated with bovine ketosis.

Os antiinflamatórios não esteroidais (AINE's), por serem comercializados, suprimidos-se entre os medicamentos mais prescritos no mundo, possuindo ação anti-inflamatória, analgésica e antipirética por inibição das prostaglandinas mediante bloqueio das cicloxigenases (COX). Atualmente sabe-se da existência de três enzimas COX com ações distintas. Postulou-se que as propriedades farmacológicas dos AINE's decorrem principalmente da ação inibitória da COX-2, enquanto que as reações adversas são geradas da inibição da COX-1, criando subgrupos de AINE's: preferenciais, seletivos e não seletivos para COX-2. A introdução dos inibidores da COX-2 na prática clínica visa manter a eficácia antiinflamatória sem os efeitos adversos indesejáveis. Todavia, estudos comprovados toxidade associada ao seu uso. Objetivou-se com este trabalho levantar informações sobre os efeitos do uso prolongado de inibidores da COX-2 na espécie de AINE. Para isso, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica buscando estudos sobre os efeitos do uso de inibidores da COX-2 em cavalos. Foi observado que esta classe de medicamentos diversos efeitos tóxicos para uma espécie, principalmente em situações onde existiram sobredosagens, uso por tempo prolongado e associação com outros AINE's. São necessárias para o controle de comercialização desses fármacos. A escolha do fármaco no tratamento deve ser individualizada a cada paciente, levando em consideração seus fatores de risco e benefícios. Seu uso de forma racional é um importante aliado dos clínicos veterinários na promoção da saúde e bem-estar-animal.

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There is particular interest in knowledge of the physiological alterations that occur during the transition period, with the aim of understanding the intensity of metabolic alterations and their impacts on animal health. Due to the paucity of data on Moxotó females, related to the dynamics of the energy profile, protein, and mineral metabolites, the present study aimed to evaluate the profile of some blood biomarkers during the transition period. There was significant variation in metabolic dynamics related to energy, protein, and mineral profiles. There is a need for further study of other parameters, rendering them reference values in the different periods of gestation, particularly in the final third of gestation, when metabolic diseases can occur, putting the lives of the animals at risk. ResumoÉ grande o interesse pelo conhecimento das modificações fisiológicas que ocorrem no período de transição, visando conhecer a intensidade das alterações metabólicas e seus reflexos na saúde animais. Mediante a escassez de dados com fêmeas da raça Moxotó relacionado à dinâmica de metabólitos do perfil energético, proteico e mineral, objetivou-se avaliar o perfil de alguns biomarcadores sanguíneos durante os períodos de transição. Verificou-se significativa variação na dinâmica de metabólicos relacionados aos perfis energético, proteico e mineral. Há necessidade de melhor estudar outros parâmetros, tornando-os como valores referenciais nos diferentes períodos da gestação, particularmente no terço final da gestação, quando enfermidades metabólicas podem ocorrer, colocando em risco a vida dos animais.