ResumoRecentes estudos têm demonstrado potencial promissor na utilização das células-tronco em terapia de doenças degenerativas, de reparo lento ou ineficiente. A medula óssea é uma das fontes destas células em indivíduos adultos e seu isolamento é realizado por punção aspirativa. Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a viabilidade da técnica de punção aspirativa de medula óssea em eqüinos sedados e mantidos em posição quadrupedal, como alternativa à utilização de anestesia geral e decúbito dorsal. No experimento, foram realizados aspirados de medula óssea em cinco eqüinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador, utilizando a identificação ultra-sonográfica das esternebras, preparo anti-séptico e posterior introdução de agulha Jamshidi. A amostra foi aspirada com seringa com anticoagulante, permitindo a realização de esfregaços, que, submetidos à microscopia, permitiram a identificação de sua origem, de medula óssea ou sangue periférico. Não foram descritos acidentes como perfuração pleural ou cardíaca, mas somente em duas das cinco amostras foram encontradas células provenientes da medula óssea. Este resultado demonstrou que a técnica é simples e, embora confiável, necessita de coletor treinado, a fim de otimizar resultados. Com o domínio da técnica será possível baixar risco e custo do procedimento, viabilizando a implementação da terapia celular em eqüinos, tanto experimental, quanto nas aplicações clínico-terapêuticas.Palavras-chave: célula-tronco, punção aspirativa, medula óssea, eqüino. AbstractRecent studies have been demonstrating promissor results to the stem cells therapy of degenerative diseases as in cases of deficient healing process. In adults, the stem cells are found at bone marrow and their isolation could be accessed by aspiration technique. This study aims to evaluate a simple technique that enables adult horses stem cells collection, allowing further researches of cellular therapy in this species. The sternum is the site of choice for bone marrow aspiration in horses. Usually the animal is submitted to general anesthesia and it is positioned in dorsal recumbence. This experiment was developed in five Mangalarga Marchador horses. After ultrasonographic identification of 4 th sternebrae, the local was scrubbed and local anesthesia done. A Jamshidi biopsy needle was introduced and a sample was aspirated in a syringe with anticoagulant. Smears were immediately prepared and submitted to laboratory examination to verify its origin. No accidental pleural or cardiac perforation was reported but only two out of five samples were confirmed as bone marrow. This result demonstrates that the technique is simple and reliable, although needs to be improved and the collector trained to maximize results. As the knowledge is obtained, the stem-cell technologies can be implemented in this species.Keywords: stem cell, aspiration, bone marrow, equine. IntroduçãoCélulas-tronco (stem-cells) podem ser encontradas no embrião, no cordão umbilical, possivelmente na placenta e no indivíduo adulto. No adulto localizam-se em maio...

This study aimed to perform ultrasonographic evaluation of the digital flexor tendons of jumping horses undergoing complementary training on a treadmill. Fifteen Brazilian Sport horses were divided into two groups: Group I with 7 animals in physical training complementary to the standard training at the Brazilian Army's Riding School; and Group II with 8 animals in standard training used in the Brazilian Army's Riding School. Complementary training was performed on a treadmill on an inclined plane. Ultrasonographic images were taken at the beginning and at the end of training. The left thoracic and pelvic limbs of horses were evaluated for echogenicity values and cross-sectional areas of the superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) and deep digital flexor tendons (DDFTs) in zones IA, IIB, and IIIB. The mean areas of the SDFT were 93.7 mm 2 and 95.8 mm 2 at the beginning and the end of training, respectively. The cross-sectional area of DDFT increased from 124.6 mm 2 at the beginning of training to 136.8 mm 2 at the end of training. The echogenicity values of both tendons were between 0 and 1 as expected, concluding that clinically, the animals showed adaptation to the exercise protocol with no signs of tendon injury being detected, implying that traditional training and complementary training are safe.

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Athletic horses need to maintain healthy airways for optimal performance. This study investigated the presence of respiratory problems in apparently healthy Thoroughbred racehorses in training. According to the Revised Consensus Statement on Inflammatory Airway Diseases of Horses (2016), determining the prevalence of respiratory disorders in different equine populations is fundamental for understanding these diseases. In total, 72 clinically sound Thoroughbred racehorses, in training at the Brazilian Jockey Club (JCB), were initially examined using interpleural pressure measurement by ventigraphy and respiratory endoscopy. When secretions were present in the airways, transendoscopic tracheal aspiration was performed, and the sample was sent for cytology. The main findings included a combination of bronchospasm and tracheal secretions with 61% of the cytology slides showing neutrophil counts ≥20%. Overall, a significant number of the horses displayed signs suggestive of inflammatory airway disease (mild equine asthma), including 47% with increased DPplmax, 11% with tracheal mucus accumulation [mucus score (MS) ≥2] and 18% with carina edema. This was more pronounced in 2-year-old horses within the population studied. These findings are consistent with the literature and reinforce the importance of routine respiratory examination of athletic horses. There is a high incidence of subclinical respiratory disorders in Thoroughbred racehorses in training at the JCB and a significant association between tracheal MS≥2, carina edema, and elevated DPplmax.