Objectives This study assessed behavioral and physiologic stress parameters in cats placed in two environments: home and the veterinary hospital. With a widely used scale, several parameters were assessed, including respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), vagosympathetic responses using calculated intervals (heart rate variability [HRV]10, HRV20 and vasovagal tonus index [VVTI]) and 'stress attitude', such as struggling, vocalization and agitation during handling. In addition, we evaluated whether a feline facial pheromone analogue (FFPA) had an effect on any of these measures in either environment. Methods Using a placebo and a pheromone substance, we evaluated 30 adult and healthy cats at home and in veterinary hospitals. Statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn or ANOVA and Tukey tests, as well as Spearman's correlation ( P <0.05). Results We found that exposure to FFPA did not reduce the effects of stress. Some parameters presented differences with regard to environment: the RR was 45 and 70 breaths/min and stress attitude score was 1.3 and 0.0 for cats evaluated at home and at the hospital, respectively. The HR and two vagosympathetic responses were also different between the two environments, with a HR of 160 and 187 beats/min, HRV10 of 14.24 and 14.00, and HRV20 of 14.89 and 14.65 in cats at home and the hospital, respectively. There was no variation in SBP and VVTI parameters between the environments. Conclusions and relevance Exposure to FFPA does not reduce the physiologic and behavioral changes measured in this study. Furthermore, environmental change, physical restraint and manipulation during the physical examination alter RR, HR, HRV and behavior but not SBP and VVTI. This study is relevant because physiologic and behavioral stress can affect the quality and interpretation of physical examination results. This study presents detailed data that show the effects of environment and manipulation on such parameters. Furthermore, this study shows a lack of effect of FFPA on any of these parameters.

Human toxocariasis may be acquired by eating raw chicken liver. However, there are no reports on the prevalence of natural infection of chickens with Toxocara. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies as indicators of natural infection with Toxocara, in free-range chickens from Espírito Santo State, Brazil. An ELISA test with secretory and excretory Toxocara canis antigens was used. Negative controls were 20 industrial chickens reared in a high hygiene standard environment. Positive control serum was from a chicken infected with embryonated eggs of T. canis. Sera were adsorbed with Ascaridia galli extract to reduce cross-reactivity. Cut-off was the mean plus four times the standard deviation of optical density (OD) in negative group. One hundred and fifty-seven sera from free-range chicken were investigated. Results showed 58.5% of the chickens were positive with ELISA test; 12.7% had OD over the positive control and may be considered as true infected chickens. The results between the cut-off and the positive control may include infections with low titers of antibodies or may represent serum scar of past infection or may be the result of cross-reaction with other nematodes rather than A. galli which is used for the adsorption of sera. In conclusion, high prevalence of Toxocara sp. antibodies demonstrates natural infection of free-range chickens from Espírito Santo State which may represent a risk of infection with this nematode in people who have the habit of eating raw or undercooked chicken meat or viscera. The results also suggest that chickens may be useful as sentinels to detect soil contaminated with Toxocara eggs.

A pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) não invasiva pode ser mensurada por meio de diversos métodos, porém o Doppler vascular é considerado o mais preciso para a espécie felina. A mensuração da PAS pelos métodos indiretos pode ser realizada em três locais distintos em gatos: membro torácico (MT), membro pélvico (MP) e cauda. Objetiva-se com esse estudo avaliar os valores obtidos de diferentes locais de mensuração de PAS e determinar o local que minimize o estresse gerado aos gatos durante o procedimento. A PAS foi mensurada no MT e MP de 30 gatos hígidos com o aparelho Doppler vascular. O manguito correspondeu de 30 a 40% do diâmetro do membro aferido. Para análise de normalidade dos dados foi utilizado o teste Kolmogorov-Smirnov e a análise de concordância entre os valores do MT e MP foi determinada pelo teste de Bland-Altman, considerando p < 0,05. A mediana da PAS no MP (158 mmHg) foi significativamente maior do que no MT(135 mmHg), justificada pelo maior estresse gerado durante a manipulação do MP, pois nesse momento os gatos assumiram comportamento de desconforto e irritação. O viés de -30,64 mmHg, associado à diferença estatística dos valores de PAS no MP e MT permitem inferir que há diferenças na mensuração da pressão arterial dependendo do local a ser utilizado para o procedimento. Dessa forma, deve-se utilizar o local que minimize o estresse e, neste estudo, os gatos foram mais relutantes à manipulação do membro pélvico.

To evaluate the therapeutic contribution of MSC intravenous infusion to surgical wound healing in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed rats, thirty-five rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: in the Control Group (CG), five rats received normal saline as 0.2ml subcutaneous (SC) injections every 24 hours, for 30 consecutive days and, in the Dexamethasone Group (DG), 30 rats were given 0.2mL subcutaneous dexamethasone (0.1mg kg-1) every 24 hours, for 30 consecutive days. After 30 days, all rats underwent surgery to create an experimental skin wound. The 30 animals of the DG group were divided into two equal groups, which received different treatments: the dexamethasone group (DG) received a single application of 0.5ml normal saline, via the intravenous route (IV), 48 hours after wound creation; and the Mesenchymal Stem Cells Dexamethasone group (MSCDG) received MSC transplantation at a concentration of 9x106 cells in a single IV application, 48 hours after wound creation. The surgical wounds of CG rats closed on average 14.75 days after creation and DG rats had wounds closed within 22 days; whereas, the surgical wounds of MSCDG rats were closed in 14 days. MSC infusion in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed patients contributed positively to epithelial healing in less time.

Efeitos da acupuntura nos acupontos Shenmen (C-7) e Neiguan (PC-6) sobre a frequência cardíaca, a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e o ritmo cardíaco em cães saudáveis and Neiguan (PC-6) acupoints on the heart hate, hart rate variability and cardiac rhythm in healthy dogs]