Considering that neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) causes deleterious effects on fertility, the objective was to evaluate the effect of feeding quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica Linnaeus, 1758) of 90 days old with neem seeds on seminal quality, biometric parameters, and testicular morphometrics, as an experimental model. After the 30 day adaptation period to the experimental conditions, birds were randomly distributed in five treatments of neem seeds incorporated into feed, with 10 replicates: T1 (0%), T2 (5%), T3 (10%), T4 (20%) and T5 (40%). After 60 days of receiving experimental rations, their semen was collected to evaluate the sperm quality, the birds were euthanized, and testes were submitted to biometric, histological, and histomorphometric evaluation. The data were evaluated by analysis of variance and later by Tukey test with a significance level of 5%. The mean values of testicle weight, length, and width significantly decreased in T4 and T5, due degeneration of germinal epithelial cells. In these treatments, it occurred a significant increase (P>0.05) in the average values of the tunica albuginea thickness and a significant reduction in the values of the seminiferous tubule diameter and the height of the germinal epithelium. In addition, the mean values of seminal volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, vigor, and sperm viability were significantly reduced. Thus, the use of neem in bird feeding, as well as the use for therapeutic purposes, is questionable, considering its negative impact on reproduction.

No abstract

Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever casos de abortamento por leptospirose em éguas, ocorrido no município de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte. Cinco éguas com histórico de abortamento foram submetidas a exames clínicos, hematológico e pesquisa de aglutininas anti-Leptospira para 22 diferentes sorovares, pelo Teste de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM). Foi realizado exame anatomopatológico da placenta e de um feto equino abortado com 9 meses de idade. A infecção por Leptospira sp. ocorreu em três éguas que abortaram, sendo uma positiva para o sorovar Pomona, título 800; uma para o sorovar Hardjo, título 400; uma para o sorovar Icterohaemorrhagiae, título 400. No exame anatomopatológico da placenta foram observados cotilédones edemaciados de coloração vermelho escuro, com áreas focais enegrecidas, friáveis e necróticos. No exame necroscópico do feto observou-se icterícia, presença de líquido sero-sanguinolento na cavidade abdominal, torácica e saco pericárdico, áreas multifocais de hemorragia no fígado, coração e pulmão, rins de consistência friável e áreas multifocais branco amareladas. Histologicamente, verificou-se necrose e inflamação do epitélio placentário coriônico; necrose difusa de hepatócitos e hepatite mononuclear; acentuada hemorragia no interstício do córtex renal, degeneração hidrópica e necrose das células do epitélio tubular e presença de cilindros hemáticos intratubular; além de nefrite intersticial mononuclear e pneumonia intersticial mononuclear difusa acentuada. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram títulos elevados de aglutininas anti-Leptospira em éguas e a presença de lesões histológicas nos órgãos fetais e placenta, confirmando a importância da Leptospira como agente causador de abortamento.

The present study was aimed to assess the clinical changes and reproductive indices of dairy cows naturally infected with Trypanosoma vivax in a herd located in the Central Sertão of Ceará, Brazil. For the study, 40 animals were selected from a herd consisting of 210 dairy cows, and subdivided into two groups: group I, consisting of 20 cows naturally infected with T. vivax, and group II, consisting of 20 uninfected cows. Data on the parameters of reproductive efficiency were evaluated using a farm database (Propad Profissional GP®), in which the individual reproductive characteristics of the animals were stored. Data collected both before and after the outbreak were compared. The cows from group I showed a sudden drop in milk production, mucosal pallor, depression, anorexia, and a significant increase in rectal temperature and decreased hematocrit during the parasitemia outbreak. These clinical signs of the disease disappeared over time. However, T. vivax was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in animals with a negative parasitological test one year after the occurrence. Comparison of the reproductive index data for cows from groups I and II before and after the outbreak showed significant differences in first postpartum estrus, service period, and intervals between deliveries. In addition, repetition of estrus and abortion were significantly associated with T. vivax infection. Analysis of the reproductive indices of cows in groups I and II suggests that T. vivax infection decreased the reproductive efficiency of the study cows. animais eram armazenadas em software Propad Profissional GP®, sendo as informações obtidas, comparadas tanto no período em que antecedeu o surto, quanto no que ocorreu após ele. As vacas do grupo I apresentaram durante o surto alta parasitemia, queda brusca da produção de leite, palidez de mucosas, depressão, anorexia, aumento significativo da temperatura retal e redução do hematócrito. Observou-se o desaparecimento dos sinais clínicos da enfermidade ao longo do tempo, no entanto, houve a confirmação do diagnóstico de T. vivax, através da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) em animais com exame parasitológico negativo um ano após a ocorrência. Quando comparados os dados dos índices reprodutivos das vacas do grupo I e do grupo II, no período em que antecedeu o surto, e no que ocorreu após o surto, verificou-se diferenças significativas para as variáveis: primeiro estro pós-parto (PCPP/dias), período de serviço (PS-dias) e intervalo entre parto/dias (IEP). Houve associação significativa das variáveis, repetições de estro e abortamento com a infecção por T. vivax. A análise dos dados dos índices reprodutivos das vacas dos grupos I e II sugere que T. vivax diminuiu a eficiência reprodutiva dos animais avaliados. Palavras-chave: Bovino. Eficiência reprodutiva. Tripanossomose.

No abstract

Background: Wild animals bred in captivity may develop steatosis due to unbalanced dietary intake and obesity caused by sedentary behaviour. In some rural areas, six-banded armadillos are raised in captivity inside some metal barrels, with restricted space, and are often overfeed. After getting fattening, armadillos they are slaughtered and used as food. Theunfavorable conditions may somehow contribute to likely underlie the development of many diseases, among them we can including hepatic steatosis. The present report aims to describe the pathological fndings of hepatic lipidosis in banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus), bred in captivity.Case: The animals were three female adult six-banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus), caught in the native forest of the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil and raised in domestic environment in a small enclosure and fed with human food leftovers. After eight months kept in these conditions armadillos had severe obesity and then were donated to the city zoo, where they were quarantined and presented clinical symptoms of anorexia for two weeks, weight loss and exhaustion. After being found dead during daily inspection carried out by the veterinarian zoo, the six-banded armadillos were sent to the Animal Pathology Laboratory of Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA) for pathological examination.The animals presented with a history of anorexia were extremely obese and the autopsy detected had extensive deposits of fat in the carcass and liver. Histopathologically, the liver cells hepatocytes showed marked intracytoplasmic vacuolization and with peripheral displacement of the nucleus to the periphery, with and positive staining for lipids using scarlet Sudan III. To our knowledge, this is the frst report of hepatic lipidosis in banded.Discussion: Hepatic lipidosis can be categorized into normal liver and mild, moderate, or severe fatty liver. In severe cases, it is estimated that 80% of the hepatocytes are affected. Therefore, we classifed the hepatic lipidosis of the three studied female six-banded armadillos as severe, since the lipids were deposited diffusely. Based on the severity of the lesions and absence of other fndings, we concluded here that hepatic lipidosis contributed to the cause of the six-banded armadil los death. The weight of the animals in this report may be associated with innapropriate enclosure dimensions and a diet based on human food leftovers. Such diet was reportedly composed of rice, beens, spaghetti, and bread, which are food with high levels of carbohydrate. The armadillos of the Euphractus sexcinctus species usually weigh between 3 and 6 kg and hence, the animals of this report showed twice the normal weight. The occurrence of hepatic lipidosis associated with anorexia triggered by a stressful event such as a change of environment and diet armadillos observed in the present study is in agreement with literature data pointing anorexia in obese animals as a major predisposing factors for the occurrence of hepatic lipidosis by promoting energy restriction, peripheral lipolysis and large intake of fatty acids to the liver.Keywords: Euphractus sexcinctus, armadillos, anatomopathology, liver, lipidosis.

Research on the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of geopropolis produced by stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) may contribute to expand its use of propolis-based formulations in the clinical context. Thus he study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activity of the hydroethanolic extract (HEG) of the geopropolis of Partamona cupira, obtained in the semiarid region of northeast Brazil. Chemical analyses of HEG were carried out using HPLC-DADESI-MS/MS. The antioxidant activity of extracts was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay method and cytotoxic activity by the in vitro MTT method [brometo de 3- (4.5dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2.5-difeniltetrazolio]. The antibacterial activity of the HEG was evaluated through the disc-diffusion test on agar and measurement of the promoted by the extract in different concentrations. The genoprotective potential of the HEG was evaluated through the comet assay on fibroblasts of L929, co-treated with the extract and submitted to genotoxicity induction with H2O2. We also investigated the healing effect of the cream containing geopropolis (10%) on experimental skin wounds in Wistar rats. The HEG presented in its composition phenolic compounds of high biological activity, as well as revealed high antioxidant activity and promoted genoprotective effect by reducing DNA damage from L929 fibroblasts. The HEG presented antimicrobial activity promoting inhibition of S. aureus, S. pyogenes, E. coli and E. aerogenes. The topical use of the cream containing geopropolis promoted wound closure and faster reepithelialization in relation to the control group, in addition to a less intense inflammatory reaction, increased fibroblastic proliferation and collagen deposition.