ABSTRACT:Mycoplasma ovis is a hemoplasma that may cause anemia and mortality in small ruminants. Our aim was to determine whether M. ovis infects populations of free-ranging deer in Brazil. Buffy coat samples from 64 Blastocerus dichotomus from Porto Primavera, 18 Ozotocerus bezoarticus from Pantanal, and 21 O. bezoarticus from Emas National Park were tested. Using a M. ovis PCR protocol to amplify extracted DNA, 46/64 (72%) of deer from Porto Primavera, 10/18 (56%) from Pantanal, and 4/ 21 (19%) from Emas National Park were positive, giving an overall positive rate of 58% for hemoplasma in these wild deer. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 3 genetically distinct hemoplasmas including M. ovis, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma erythrocervae', and a hemoplasma most closely related to M. ovis. Phylogenetic analysis of the 23S rRNA gene from selected sequences confirmed these relationships.

Opossums of the genus Didelphis are considered synanthropic animals due to their close contact with human beings. Previously, two species of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been detected in opossums: 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemodidelphidis' in the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and a potentially novel hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. in the white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from Brazil. Accordingly, the aims of this study were as follows: (a) to determine the prevalence of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in free-ranging opossums, (b) to characterize molecularly the hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. infecting opossums and (c) to determine factors associated with hemoplasma infection in opossums from Canoinhas municipality, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. For this purpose, 50 How to cite this article: Pontarolo GH, Kühl LF, Pedrassani D, et al. 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemoalbiventris', a novel hemoplasma species in white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from Brazil.

Aim:The aim of this study was to investigate 10 cases of bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) diagnosed in Holstein or Holstein-crosses cows.Materials and Methods:The investigation was performed exclusively in OSCC cases diagnosed in the State of Paraná and Santa Catarina. A combination of two previously existing histopathological classifications systems was used. The tissue samples were tested for immunoexpression of p53 and p16 and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for bovine herpesvirus and papillomavirus.Results:A positive correlation between number of mitotic figures and tissue invasion was found. Anaplasia parameters did not correlate well with tumor invasion of deeper tissues and mitotic counts. Six of 10 OSCC cases were in animals with heavily pigmented eyes. Immunoexpression of p53 and p16 was observed in 3 cases each. Bovine herpesvirus and papillomavirus were not detected by PCR.Conclusions:Our results indicate that OSCC occurrence is most likely multifactorial with genetic, phenotypic, and environmental influences contributing to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite which affects dogs as definitive hosts and several mammalian species as intermediate hosts mainly causing abortions and central nervous system disorders. The reemerging population of cart horses for carrying recycling material in urban areas of major cities in Brazil may have an impact on disease spreading, and these animals may be used as sentinels for environmental surveillance. Thus, the present study investigated the frequency of Neospora sp. antibodies in cart horses from Curitiba and surrounding areas, Paraná State, Southern Brazil. IgG antibodies against Neospora sp. were detected using indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and titers equal to or higher than 1:50 were considered reactive. Of all samples, 14/97 (14.4%) were positive: 2/29 (6.9%) were younger than 5; 5/26 (19.2%) between 6 and 9; and 6/31 (19.4%) older than 10 years of age. One of the 11 animals with unknown age was positive (9.1%). Cart horses are likely to be more exposed to dog feces and to Neospora sp. oocyst contamination in urban settings and a lower frequency of disease in dogs may have a negative impact on horse infection risk in these areas.

A orquiectomia bilateral é uma cirurgia simples e rotineira na prática eqüina, embora o potencial para complicações seja alto. A complicação mais comum é a hemorragia, que se não tratada leva ao quadro de choque e morte. Diversas técnicas e variações destas estão descritas na literatura, sendo a mais freqüentemente empregada a técnica aberta. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar duas técnicas de hemostasia aplicadass por alunos do curso de medicina veterinária, sem experiência com orquiectomia em eqüinos. Para tal foram utilizados 16 equinos machos, com idade média de seis anos (±4), que foram separados em dois grupos, aleatoriamente, por sorteio: GRUPO 1, onde os animais foram castrados utilizando-se emasculador, para promover a hemostasia vascular (n=8); GRUPO 2, com animais que foram  castrados utilizando-se abraçadeiras de nylon, de 2,5 mm de largura, para promover a hemostasia (n=8). Foram mensurados os tempos do ato cirúrgico, presença de edema de prepúcio e secreção purulenta, tempo de fechamento da ferida e claudicação no pós operatório, sendo que nenhuma diferença foi observada entre os grupos. A presença de sangramento no período pós operatório imediato apresentou diferença significativa, onde o grupo castrado com o emasculador demonstrou maior grau de hemorragia. As abraçadeiras de nylon podem ser utilizadas na castração de eqüinos, sendo que neste experimento elas não apresentaram complicações associadas a curto e no longo prazo. Ambas as técnicas mostraram-se viáveis e de fácil aplicabilidade na prática docente.

In the present study, we have microscopically and molecularly surveyed blood samples from 11 captive capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) from the Sanctuary Zoo for Plasmodium sp. infection. One animal presented positive on blood smear by light microscopy. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out accordingly using a nested genus-specific protocol, which uses oligonucleotides from conserved sequences flanking a variable sequence region in the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssrRNA) of all Plasmodium organisms. This revealed three positive animals. Products from two samples were purified and sequenced. The results showed less than 1% divergence between the two capybara sequences. When compared with GenBank sequences, a 55% similarity was obtained to Toxoplasma gondii and a higher similarity (73-77.2%) was found to ssrRNAs from Plasmodium species that infect reptile, avian, rodents, and human beings. The most similar Plasmodium sequence was from Plasmodium mexicanum that infects lizards of North America, where around 78% identity was found. This work is the first report of Plasmodium in capybaras, and due to the low similarity with other Plasmodium species, we suggest it is a new species, which, in the future could be denominated "Plasmodium hydrochaeri".

Apresentam-se, neste artigo de revisão, informações sobre os acidentes botrópicos em animais domésticos. Descrevem-se as principais espécies do gênero Bothrops, a sensibilidade dos animais ao veneno, a patogenia, os sinais clínicos, as seqüelas e complicações, os achados laboratoriais e de necropsia, bem como, o diagnóstico, tratamento e reações à soroterapia.

The purpose of this study was to describe the normal ocular anatomy and establish reference values for ophthalmic tests in the Barbary sheep or aoudad (Ammotragus lervia). Aoudad eyes are large and laterally positioned in the head with several specialized anatomic features attributed to evolutionary adaptations for grazing. Normal values for commonly used ophthalmic tests were established, Schirmer tear test (STT) - 27.22 ± 3.6 mm/min; Predominant ocular surface bacterial microbiota - Staphylococcus sp.; Corneal esthesiometry- 1.3 ± 0.4 cm; Intraocular pressure by rebound tonometry- 19.47 ± 3.9 mmHg; Corneal thickness- 630.07 ± 20.67 µm, B-mode ultrasonography of the globe-axial eye globe length 29.94 ± 0.96 mm, anterior chamber depth 5.03 ± 0.17 mm, lens thickness 9.4 ± 0.33 mm, vitreous chamber depth 14.1 ± 0.53 mm; Corneal diameter-horizontal corneal diameter 25.05 ± 2.18 mm, vertical corneal diameter 17.95 ± 1.68 mm; Horizontal palpebral fissure length- 34.8 ± 3.12 mm. Knowledge of these normal anatomic variations, biometric findings and normal parameters for ocular diagnostic tests may assist veterinary ophthalmologists in the diagnosis of ocular diseases in this and other similar species.