This study aimed to describe the toxic effects resulting from the administration of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton latex to rats and C. procera leaves to sheep. We studied male sheep that received C. procera leaves by gavage. Twenty male rats were separated into 5 groups and were subjected to an intra-peritoneal injection of fresh C. procera latex (without carrier solvent) at 1.0, 0.6, 0.3 or 0.1 ml of latex/kg of body weight, and control animals were injected with 0.9% NaCl. All rats were treated with the highest dose, but none of the rats from the other groups, died. The histological lesions were restricted to rats dosed with 1.0 ml of latex/kg body weight and included multi-focal coagulation necrosis of cardiac fibers and vacuolized hepatocytes. Subsequently, three groups of two sheep were treated with (1) a single dose of 30 g/kg, (2) a single dose of 60 g/kg or (3) 60 g/kg per day for 10 consecutive days. Exposure to the C. procera leaves was responsible for tachycardia and transitory cardiac arrhythmias in sheep from all groups. Gross pathological analysis of sheep dosed with 60 g/kg per day for 10 days revealed mild ascites, exudates on the trachea, pulmonary edema, mild hemorrhage in the liver, hydropericardium, flaccid heart, ulcers on the abomasum and kidneys presenting pale juxtamedullary cortex. The histological findings of the rat and sheep studies were similar and included multi-focal coagulation necrosis of cardiac fibers and vacuolized hepatocytes. In conclusion, our findings indicate that C. procera is a cardiotoxic and hepatotoxic plant.

The present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of aqueous extract of Chenopodium ambrosioides leaves. To measure acute toxicity, rats were administered 0, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 g/kg of aqueous extract from C. ambrosioides leaves by gavage. To analyze sub-chronic toxicity, rats were treated by oral gavage for 15 consecutive days with 0, 0.3, or 1.0 g/kg of extract of C. ambrosioides leaves. No animals from either trial exhibited any signs of toxicity. In the acute study, the highest dose of the extract led to an increase in the serum activities of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) and a decrease in the serum levels of urea. In the sub-chronic test, rats treated with 1.0 g/kg for 15 days exhibited increased serum ALT activity and creatinine levels and mild cytoplasmic vacuolation of hepatocytes. The results indicate that aqueous extract from C. ambrosioides leaves produce slight hepatotoxic lesions in rats.

Establishment of an anesthetic protocol for semen collection by electroejaculation in six-banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctusLinnaeus ABSTRACTThe aim was to verify the effects of different anesthetic protocols used during electroejaculation (EEJ) in sixbanded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus). Four sexually matured animals were physically restrained and subjected to semen collection by the EEJ following three treatments: The control group consisted of no use of anesthesia; in the others, the anesthetic combinations xylazine/ketamine/propofol or butorphanol/ ketamine/propofol were administered. For each group, twelve procedures were conducted for EEJ. Semen was evaluated for volume, color, aspect, motility, sperm concentration, morphology, viability, and functional membrane integrity. The highest efficiency (100% ejaculates) was achieved when the control group was used; the xylazine/ketamine/propofol association provided only 11 ejaculates from a total of 12 attempts (91.6% efficiency), while only 4 ejaculates (33% efficiency) were obtained with butorphanol/ketamine/propofol (P<0.05). Both protocols provided rapid induction and relaxation enough to perform the EEJ. In the use of butorphanol/ketamine/propofol, the animals recovered at 16.5±1.5min, a time shorter than in the use of xylazine/ketamine/propofol protocol, 20.7±1.0min (P>0.05). The semen volume and sperm concentration obtained in the use of xylazine/ketamine/propofol association were significantly higher than those verified for butorphanol/ketamine/propofol protocol. In conclusion, the xylazine/ketamine/propofol association is indicated for anesthesia of six-banded armadillos submitted to EEJ.Keywords: semen, Edentate, Xenarthra, electroejaculation RESUMO Objetivou-se verificar os efeitos de diferentes protocolos anestésicos usados durante a eletroejaculação (EEJ) em tatus-peba (Euphractus sexcinctus

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 32(9):927-930, setembro 2012 927 RESUMO.-O presente trabalho teve por objetivo identiϐi-car as principais bactérias aeróbias que compõem a microbiota natural do pavilhão auricular de cutias hígidas. Para tanto, foram utilizadas 48 cutias, criadas em cativeiro sob as condições Semiáridas do Nordeste Brasileiro. Esses animais foram distribuídos nas categorias de adultos (N=32) e ϐilhotes (N=16), e, em ambas, distribuídos igualmente entre machos e fêmeas. Através de um swab, em cada animal coletou-se de cada orelha a secreção presente na superϐície do pavilhão auricular dos animais, totalizando 96 amostras. Este material foi refrigerado, e encaminhado ao laboratório para a realização das análises microbiológicas The aim of this study was to identify the aerobic bacteria of the auricular natural microbiota from healthy agoutis (Dasyprocta aguti Linnaeus, 1758). In the total, 48 agoutis were used in this experiment, being 32 adults and 16 puppies (both groups divided into equal parts between males and females). The animals were raised under captive conditions, in the Brazilian Semiarid. From each animal, a sample of auricular secretion was collected from each auricular pinna and processed for microbiological analyses. A total of 96 samples were collected and analyzed by colony macroscopic format, cytology and by biochemistry proofs with the objective of isolate and identify the microorganisms. bastante predado, e por isso, vem sofrendo signiϐicativa redução de suas populações, atribuída tanto à caça predatória como à destruição de seu habitat natural (Lopes et al. 2004). Em contrapartida, a fauna silvestre representa importante fonte protéica para a alimentação humana, além de proporcionar produtos como pele, couro e pêlos, apresentando grande potencial de mercado e podendo resultar em vantagens econômicas e sociais (Lopes et al. 2004). Adicionalmente, a criação de animais silvestres em cativeiro desponta como forma indireta e importante para se conservar espécies ameaçadas de extinção. Diante destes fatos, cresce o interesse da sociedade em estudar tais espécies, pela possibilidade de aproveitá-las quer seja no aproveitamento direto desta fonte de alimento ou mesmo na geração de renda, através da comercialização de produtos que apresentam grande potencial de mercado (Mendonça et al. 2006). Desta feita, muitos estudos têm sido conduzidos no intuito de conhecer os mais diferentes aspectos da espécie para melhorar a eϐiciência produtiva da cutia em cativeiro, ou mesmo de identiϐicar as principais enfermidades que acometem a espécie e que interferem negativamente na produção e produtividade desses animais (Lopes et al. 2004, Mendonça et al. 2006, Reginatto et al. 2008, Filgueira et al. 2010.Sabe-se que tanto em animais de produção quanto silvestres, a otite tem repercussões econômicas acentuadas, sobretudo no que se refere aos gastos com medicamentos, manejo, diminuição da produção de leite, perda do ganho de peso e até mesmo morte de animais (Vieira et al. 2001). Assim, para o diagnóstico e conse...

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