This study aimed to determine whether asymptomatic horses naturally infected with Theileria equi retain infected erythrocytes in the spleen and whether the presence of the hemoparasite in this organ is associated with parasitemia. We collected samples from 25 adult horses without clinical signs of any disease. From each animal, we collected whole blood samples from the jugular vein and a splenic puncture blood sample. All samples were submited to blood cell counts and detection of Theileria or Babesia. DNA extraction and PCR were performed in all samples for identification of piroplasm infection (T. equi and B. caballi). From the 25 horses evaluated for piroplasm detection by PCR, seven horses (28%) were positive in jugular vein blood but negative in splenic blood samples, five horses (20%) were positive in splenic blood samples but negative in jugular vein blood samples, and 13 horses (52%) were positive in both jugular vein and splenic blood samples. The hematological evaluation revealed anemia in 13 of 25 (52%) infected horses, lymphopenia in five (20%), neutrophilia in two (8%), neutropenia in one (4%), and thrombocytopenia in one (4%) infected horse. The present study demonstrated that several (20%) of the asymptomatic piroplasm carrier horses did not show parasitemia, but show infected erythrocytes in the spleen.

Background Physical exercise is an essential factor in preventing and treating metabolic diseases by promoting systemic benefits throughout the body. The molecular factors involved in this process are poorly understood. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNAs that inhibit mRNA transcription. MiRNAs, which can participate in the benefits of exercise to health, circulate in plasma in extracellular particles (EP). Horses that undergo endurance racing are an excellent model to study the impact of long‐duration/low intensity exercise in plasma EP miRNAs. Objectives To evaluate the effects of 160 km endurance racing on horse plasma extracellular particles and their miRNA population. Study design Cohort study. Methods We collected plasma from five Arabian horses during five time‐points of an endurance ride. Extracellular particles were purified from plasma and characterised by electron microscopy, resistive pulse sensing (qNano) and western blotting. Small RNAs were purified from horse plasma EP, and sequencing was performed. Results Endurance racing increased EP concentration and average diameter compared to before the race. Western blotting showed a high concentration of extracellular vesicles proteins 2 hours after the race, which returned to baseline 15 hours after the race. MicroRNA differential expression analysis revealed increasing levels of eca‐miR‐486‐5p during and after the race, and decreasing levels of eca‐miR‐9083 after the end. Conclusions This study adds new data about the variation in plasma EP concentrations after long‐distance exercise and brings new insights about the roles of exercise‐derived EP miRNAs during low‐intensity endurance exercise.

The effects of oral supplementation of chromium picolinate (CrPic) on various blood parameters and their possible toxicity on the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, and testis were investigated. Twenty-four Santa Inês (SI) lambs were treated with four different concentrations of CrPic (six animals/treatment): placebo, 0.250, 0.375, and 0.500 mg CrPic/animal/day for 84 days. The basal diet consisted of hay Panicum maximum cv Massai and concentrate. Blood and serum were collected fortnightly for analysis. On day 84, the animals were euthanized, and histopathological analysis in the liver, kidney, heart, lung, and testis was made. The liver and kidney were also submitted to electronic microscopy analysis. Differences between treatments (P < 0.05) were observed for packed cell volume (day 84), hemoglobin (day 84), total plasm protein (day 56 and day 84), and triglycerides (day 70). There was no statistically significant relationship between Cr supplementation and histopathology findings, although some animals treated with supplementary Cr showed morphological changes in the liver, kidney, and testis. Thus, the effectiveness of supplementation with Cr remains in doubt as to its physiological action and toxicity in sheep.

The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a retrovirus that is found worldwide, and it can be assigned to six subtypes (A, B, C, D, E, and a putative subtype F) based on sequencing analysis of the env and gag genes. Subtypes A and B are the most common worldwide. In Brazil, several authors have isolated only subtype B, and its prevalence differs markedly among investigated populations. Blood samples from 200 domestic felines from the Federal District in Brazil were analyzed by PCR. Samples that tested positive for FIV were then cloned, sequenced, and analyzed phylogenetically and statistically. The results represent the first description of FIV infection in the Central Region of Brazil and suggest that only 2 % of felines in this region are positive for the virus. In addition, the analysis showed that one out of the four positive samples that we detected could not be assigned to any of the six classical subtypes. This sample was taken as a putative novel subtype of the FIV virus. The remaining three positive samples were assigned to subtype B, with differences existing among these samples.

IAnálise microbiológica da placa bacteriana da doença periodontal em cães e o efeito da antibioticoterapia sobre ela