Studies on the impact of interaction of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and the parasitic nematode Ascaridia galli with the avian host were undertaken with particular emphasis on infection and excretion of these pathogens in two different layer lines. A total of 148 salmonella-free 1-day-old chickens (73 Hellevad and 75 Lohmann Brown) were randomly divided into five groups for each line. Group 1 served as an uninoculated control group. Groups 2 and 3 were infected with A. galli and S. Enteritidis, respectively. Group 4 was first infected with S. Enteritidis and subsequently with A. galli, and vice versa for group 5. The number of chickens excreting S. Enteritidis was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the groups infected with both S. Enteritidis and A. galli compared with those only infected with S. Enteritidis over time. Furthermore, excretion of S. Enteritidis over time was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the group first infected with S. Enteritidis and subsequently with A. galli compared with the group infected in the reverse order. No significant differences were observed between the two lines concerning excretion of S. Enteritidis over time in any group (P = 0.61 (group 3), P = 0.73 (group 4), P = 0.31 (group 5)). A. galli established itself significantly better (P = 0.02) in the group first infected with A. galli and subsequently with S. Enteritidis compared with the group infected in the reverse order. Furthermore, the A. galli infection rate was significantly higher (P = 0.02) in Hellevad chickens compared with Lohmann Brown chickens at the end of the experiment.

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This paper reports pythiosis in a sheep from southwestern Paraná, Brazil, confirmed by indirect ELISA (Enzime-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and immunohistochemistry, as well as it describes the macro and microscopic injuries, in order to understand the pathogenicity. A 4-year-old ewe from a flock of 30 Santa Inês sheep, raised semi-extensively with access to a weir, showed cachexia, bilateral enlargement in nasal region, a serous and bloody secretion with a fetid odor from its nose and swollen submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Blood collection was performed trough jugular vein puncture in order to make complete blood cell count (CBC) and to obtain serum for the subsequent serological examination. As the hematological counts were within the normal range for sheep, the animal was euthanized and submitted to necropsy. Indirect ELISA resulted positive for pythiosis. Necropsy revealed necrosis of the hard palate with a diameter of 3.5cm and extending up to the nasal cavity, forming a fistula. Submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes were enlarged and edematous on section. Microscopic findings for submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes consisted in moderate infiltration of eosinophils mainly in the subcapsular sinus, characterizing reactive eosinophilic lymphadenitis. The nasal cavity revealed rhinitis and oral cavity stomatitis with necro-eosinophilic and pronounced multifocal granulomatous infiltration and presence of hyphae. Hyphae found in palate and nasal cavity were positive for Pythium insidiosum by Grocott's method and immunohistochemistry, the last one considered to be confirmatory for the pathogen diagnostic. This report has an important epidemiological aspect, as it is the first case of pythiosis in sheep confirmed by serology in South Brazil and an alert of possible infection by the pathogen in floodplains.

In feline veterinary practice sedation is often needed to perform diagnostic or minimally invasive procedures, minimize stress, and facilitate handling. The mortality rate of cats undergoing sedation is significantly higher than dogs, so it is fundamental that the sedatives provide good cardiovascular stability. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist utilized in cats to provide sedation and analgesia, although studies have been utilized high doses, and markedly hemodynamic impairments were reported. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate how the sedative and electrocardiographic effects of a low dose of DEX performing in cats. Eleven healthy cats were recruited; baseline sedative score, systolic arterial pressure, electrocardiography, and vasovagal tonus index (VVTI) were assessed, and repeated after ten minutes of DEX 5μg/kg intramuscularly (IM). A smooth sedation was noticed, and emesis and sialorrhea were common adverse effects, observed on average seven minutes after IM injection. Furthermore, electrocardiographic effects of a low dose of DEX mainly include decreases on heart rate, and increases on T-wave amplitude. The augmentation on VVTI and appearance of respiratory sinus arrhythmia, as well as sinus bradycardia in some cats, suggesting that DEX enhances parasympathetic tonus in healthy cats, and therefore will be best avoid in patients at risk for bradycardia.

ResumoO objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever as complicações hematológicas e bioquímicas em bovinos da região Sudoeste do Paraná infectados por Anaplasma marginale, comparando estas alterações com os parâmetros apresentados por bovinos sadios da mesma região. Foram avaliadas 40 vacas com aptidão leiteira, sendo 20 clinicamente suspeitas de estarem infectadas pelo parasito e outras 20 sadias, que serviram como grupo controle. O hemograma foi realizado em contador hematológico automático. Para a contagem diferencial de células brancas e pesquisa do agente realizou-se esfregaço sanguíneo. As análises de albumina, proteínas totais (PT), uréria, creatinina, aspartato-aminotrasferase, e gama-glutamiltransferase séricas, foram realizadas em analisador bioquímico semi-automático. Os resultados obtidos foram avaliados através do programa SPSS, versão 20.0, sendo submetidos ao Teste t de Student. O diagnóstico foi realizado pela identificação do hemoparasito em esfregaço sanguíneo. Os animais infectados apresentaram uma parasitemia que variou de 11 a 20%. Constatou-se diferença estatística significante (p<0,01), entre os seguintes parâmetros: hematócrito das infectadas (17,99±1,49%) e sadias (29,38±0,96); número de hemácias das infectadas (3,71±0,39x10 6 /µL) e sadias (7,23±0,37x10 6 /µL); hemoglobina das infectadas (6,08±0,65g/dL) e sadias (9,96±0,33g/dL); VCM das infectadas (52,60±3,07fL) e sadias (41,34±1,31fL); monócitos das infectadas (1353,27±373,61/μL) e sadias (517,84±113,22/μL); PT (proteínas totais) das infectadas (7,60±0,18g/dL) e sadias (5,90±0,28g/dL). Os animais infectados apresentaram acentuada anemia e aumento sérico das PT. Conclui-se que estes hemoparasitos provocam monocitose e sinais clínicos graves decorrentes da anemia acentuada, porém não alteram os marcadores da função hepática e renal de bovinos na forma clínica de Anaplasmose. Palavras-chave:função hepática e renal, hemograma, Rickettsia. AbstractThe objective of this study was to describe the hematological and biochemical complications in cattle of southwestern Paraná region infected with Anaplasma, comparing these changes with the parameters presented by healthy cattle from the same region. We evaluated 40 cows with milk aptitude, 20 clinically suspected of being infected by the parasite and other 20 healthy, which served as a control group. Blood counts were performed in automated hematology counter. For the differential white cell count and agent search was held smears. Albumin analysis, total protein (TP), urea, creatinine, aspartate-aminotransferase and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase were carried out in semi-automatic biochemical analyzer. The results were evaluated using SPSS, version 20.0, and submitted to the Student t test. The diagnosis was made by identifying the hemoparasite in blood smears. Infected mice had a parasitemia ranging from 11 to 20%. We found statistically significant differences (p<0.01) among the following: hematocrit of infected (17,99±1,49%) and healthy controls (29,38±0,96%); number of red blood cells infected (3...