Abstract:In most viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS), the integrity of brain extracelluar matrix (ECM), oxidative stress and dysfunction in neuronal transmission may contribute to the observed pathology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of these factors in demyelinating canine distemper virus (CDV) infections. Regardless of ECM integrity, the expression of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was visualized in microglial-like cells, whereas the expression of anti-oxidant like-1 (AOP-1) and synaptosomal associated protein (SNAP-25) was frequently detected in Purkinje cells (r 2 = 0.989; p < 0.05), regardless of whether the lesions were classified as acute or chronic. Increased numbers of immunolabeled microglia-like cells and reactive gliosis were observed in advanced cases of demyelinating CDV, suggesting that the expression of AOP-1 and SNAP-25 is correlated with the ultimate death of affected cells. Our findings bring a new perspective to understanding the role of the AOP-1, MMP-9 and SNAP-25 proteins in mediating chronic leukoencephalitis caused by CDV.

Psychogenic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease characterized by self-mutilation behavior that results in partial or complete hair loss (alopecia) and ulcers or injuries on the skin. In domestic cats, anxiety or stress can also generate excessive licking of the coat and, in this species, pheromones have been used to reduce stress and treat compulsive behavior. The aim of this study is to report the use of pheromone therapy (fraction F3 of the feline facial pheromone) in a group of five margay cats (Leopardus wiedii) kept at Sorocaba Zoo that were diagnosed with psychogenic dermatitis. The pheromone was sprayed at the rooms that held the five individuals for 60 days. After treatment, four of the five animals showed full recovery, which suggests that pheromone therapy is a useful fool to treat psychogenic dermatitis in margay cats.

Objetivo. Identificar la prevalencia de endoparásitos y ectoparásitos en serpientes ex situ en la Fundación Botánica y Zoológica de Barranquilla. Materiales y métodos. Para esto se analizaron muestras de materia fecal y ectoparásitos de 2 colúbridos (Leptophis ahaetulla y Spilotes pullatus), 2 dipsadinos (Oxybelys aeneus y Thamnodynastes paraguanae) y 13 boidos (9 individuos de la especie Boa constrictor, 2 de Epicrates maurus y 2 de Eunectes murinus) utilizando los métodos de flotación en solución saturada de azúcar y observación directa. Resultados. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el 65% (11/17) de los animales evaluados fueron positivos a la presencia de parásitos, de los cuales el 91% (10/11) de los ejemplares pertenece a la familia Boidae presentando en su mayoría nematodos, mientras que en los dipsadinos se observaron principalmente protozoarios y los colúbridos resultaron negativos. Finamente como ectoparásitos se identificaron 2 especies de garrapatas (Amblyomma dissimile y Ornothodoros turicata) halladas en ejemplares de Boa constrictor, Epicrates maurus y Spilotes pullatus. Conclusiones. La identificación de las formas parasitarias en este trabajo representa una contribución para el conocimiento de los parásitos en serpientes ex situ en Colombia. Provee información para desarrollar medidas profilácticas y permite comparar los datos sobre las formas parasitarias encontradas con muestreos de estas especies en vida silvestre y bajo cuidados humanos.

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