ContentsThis study aimed to evaluate tissue damage of feline testicles sectioned in two differ- (no alteration). When present, alterations were slight and the morphology was considered to be good (most classified in scores 1). Pyknosis was the main anomaly observed as score 2 in 54.6% and 58.4% of 0.3-cm 3 fragments cryopreserved in propanediol and glycerol, respectively (16.7% scored 2 in fresh tissue). In TBARS evaluation, 0.5-cm 3 fragments cryopreserved in glycerol produced less free radical compared to the 0.3 cm 3 cryopreserved in glycerol or propanediol. Our results showed that glycerol was more efficient than propanediol to cryopreserve 0.5-cm 3 fragments; this might be attributed to the fact that glycerol molecular weight is larger than propanediol and so its perfusion in the testicular tissue is slower.

This study aimed to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in semen, testicle and epididymis tissues of cats experimentally infected by this coccidium. A total of 12 male felines without a definite breed that were of reproductive age and serologically negative for T. gondii were selected and distributed to the following three experimental groups: GI, inoculated with 600 tissue cysts of the P strain of T. gondii (isolate III); GII, inoculated with 2×10 tachyzoites of the RH strain (isolate I); and GIII, not inoculated (control group). Prior to inoculation (day -7 and 0) and on post inoculation days (PIDs) 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 70, all felines were subjected to assessments of anti-T. gondii IgG by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and assessments of parasitemia. Collection of semen (electroejaculation) was performed on the specified dates, followed by nested PCR and bioassays in mice to detect T. gondii. On PID 70, all 12 felines were orchiectomized, and the presence of the parasite in the testicles and epididymides was evaluated by nested PCR, murine bioassay, and histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. All felines inoculated with T. gondii (GI and GII) seroconverted to the toxoplasmic infection after PID 14; on PID 7, seroconversion of three felines (P4, RH2 and RH4) could observed, and all exhibited detectable titers by PID 64. The GII felines exhibited greater serological titers compared with GI felines. The maximum serological titer (IgG) was observed in feline RH3 (titer 1024), while in other experimental felines, a maximum titer of 256 was detected. Parasitemic peaks were diagnosed in all felines of groups I and II from PIDs 7-42. A total of five parasitemic peaks were diagnosed in GI and nine in GII. In none of the experimental time points was the presence of T. gondii diagnosed in seminal samples collected from the felines or in the testicle or epididymis tissues collected from these animals. Thus, sexual transmission in domestic cats does not appear to be a major route of T. gondii infection, possibly demonstrating the tendency of this protozoan to develop a response directed to the formation and excretion of oocysts in the feces of these definite hosts, which act as its main route of perpetuation in the environment.

This retrospective study evaluated energy and nutrient intake of dogs in a weight loss programme. Ninety‐four obese dogs were divided into three groups: G5–15: from 5% to 15% body weight (BW) loss (n = 55); G155–25: from 15.1% to 25% BW loss (n = 29); and G > 25: more than 25.1% BW loss (n = 10). Five brands of kibble diets designed for weight loss were analysed for crude protein, amino acids, fat, dietary fibre, and minerals. The food metabolizable energy (ME) was estimated (NRC, 2006). Data were compared inside each group using the paired t test and between groups with analysis of variance and Tukey tests (p < 0.05). The BW loss (weeks in regimen) was: G5–15, 9.8% ± 2.7% (13.5 ± 5.7 weeks); G15–25, 17.5% ± 2.7% (22.6 ± 11.9 weeks); G > 25, 30.0% ± 2.1% (50.4 ± 17.4% weeks; p < 0.01). The mean weekly BW loss rate was similar between groups (0.8% ± 0.3%; p > 0.05) but was higher during the first (0.96.6% ± 0.5%) than in the second (0.64% ± 0.4%) half of the regimen (p < 0.01). At beginning ME intake for BW loss did not differ (251.6 ± 32.2 kJ/kg0.75/day), but it was lower for G > 25 in the second half of the regimen (230.3 ± 44.3; p = 0.02). Considering the observed ME intake of each dog, depending on the commercial product, intake below recommended for maintenance was verified for crude protein in 1%–20% of the dogs, methionine in 4%–38% of dogs, methionine plus cystine in 4%–22% of dogs, tryptophan in 7%–93% of dogs, potassium in 2%–85% of dogs and magnesium in 1% up to 95% of dogs. Although the diets presented elevated nutrient concentrations per MJ, due to the reduced energy allowance, the estimated intake of several nutrients was lower than the recommendations, highlighting the importance of changing the formulation perspective, which must prioritize the actual nutrient intake per kg of BW during the energy deficit.

The present study aimed to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in urine and saliva samples collected from experimentally infected cats, an unprecedented fact in consulted literature. Six felines, males, serologically negative (IgG) for T. gondii were selected and divided into two experimental groups. Four cats were inoculated with 2x105 tachyzoites (RH strain) (Group I), and two cats were kept as control group (Group II). Before inoculation (days -7 and 0) and on the 7th, 14th, 21th, 28th, 42th, 56th and 70th post inoculation days (PID), all animals were anesthetized with tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam (dosage of 15 mg/Kg) for sampling of urine, saliva and blood. Detection of serological titers was performed by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and the detection of the protozoan in the bloodstream of cats (parasitemia) was performed by mouse bioassay. The detection of T. gondii in urine and saliva samples was performed using nested PCR and mouse bioassay. All cats inoculated with T. gondii (GI) seroconverted, different from felines of the GII (control), which remained negative throughout the study. T. gondii parasitemia was diagnosed in all cats in group I, totaling five events between the 7th and 42nd PID. It was not possible to detect T. gondii in urine and saliva from infected and control group with nested PCR or mouse bioassay. It was observed that felines experimentally infected with tachyzoites of the strain RH (isolate I) of T. gondii, may not eliminate infectious forms of the parasite through urine and saliva.