Effects of Hypotonic and Isotonic Enteral Electrolyte Solutions Administered in Continuous Flow in Weaned Foals

The effects of fluid therapy with maintenance enteral electrolytic solutions administered by nasogastric route in continuous flow have not previously been studied in weaned foals. This study primary goal was to compare the effects of two maintenance enteral electrolytic solutions administered by nasogastric route in continuous flow on the hydro electrolytic balance in weaned foals. This paper was a controlled trial in a cross-over design (6 × 2) performed in six foals with a mean age of 7.3 ± 1.4 months; each animal received two treatments, IsoES and HypoES, with an interval of 7 days between treatments. After 12 h of fasting, the animals were treated with enteral electrolyte solutions administered via nasogastric route in continuous flow in a volume of 15 mL/kg/h for 12 h. The evaluations were performed at T-12h (the beginning of the fasting), T0h (end of fasting and beginning of fluid therapy), T4h (4 h of fluid therapy), T8h (8 h of fluid therapy), T12h (end of fluid therapy), and T24h (12 h after the end of fluid therapy). Twelve hours of fasting resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in body weight, abdominal circumference, whereas serum sodium, SID and enophthalmos increased. Twelve hours of fluid therapy normalized these parameters and promoted increased urinary volume and decreased urinary density without causing electrolyte imbalances. Both enteral electrolytic solutions were effective in reestablishing clinical and laboratorial variables without causing electrolyte imbalances.

AVALIAÇÃO DO PERÍODO PERIPARTO POR PARÂMETROS CLÍNICOS E HEMATOLÓGICOS EM CABRAS LEITEIRAS

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do período de periparto sobre os parâmetros clínicos e hematológicos de cabras adultas. Utilizou-se animais da raça Saanen e Parda Alpina, sendo 24 nos tempos: T-15 (quinze dias antes do parto), T0 (imediatamente após o parto), T2 (dois dias após o parto), T5 (cinco dias após o parto), T10 (dez dias após o parto), T15 (quinze dias após o parto) e T30 (trinta dias após o parto) e 10 animais como grupo controle (Mesma raça, não gestantes e não lactantes). Como principais achados físicos, observou-se que a frequência cardíaca (FC) dos animais é normalmente mais elevada no pré-parto e parto, caindo ao longo do tempo de lactação. A frequência respiratória (FR) dos animais avaliados é mais elevada em relação aos animais controle, com o pico acontecendo no T-15. Na avaliação das principais observações no hemograma, observam-se valores mais baixos para hemoglobina no T-15 em relação ao grupo controle, e uma redução da toda série vermelha no T15. Houve uma elevação do número de leucócitos por neutrofilia com linfopenia em T0 e a leucocitose com neutrofilia se manteve ao longo da fase observacional. Valores de proteínas mais baixos foram observados em T-15 e T0, aumentando posteriormente. A variável fibrinogênio apresentou o maior valor em T0. Conclui-se que os parâmetros físicos e hematimétricos são úteis para detecção das variações que ocorrem no periparto. Tais achados, associados ao leucograma de estresse e aumento da taxa metabólica basal, encontrado nesta mesma fase, corroboram com o momento de fragilidade fisiológica na qual a cabra se encontra. Assim, cuidados no manejo relacionados ao conforto térmico e atendimento às exigências nutricionais são fundamentais a fim de se evitar mais desequilíbrios orgânicos decorrentes de fatores externos que podem vir a comprometer a saúde do caprino e posterior desempenho produtivo.

Aneurisma de artéria ilíaca em equinos

Background: Aneurysm is a dilation and a weakening of the vessel, usually 2 times higher than the normal diameter of thevessel. Considering the complexity of the definitive diagnosis of iliac artery aneurysm, it is necessary to use technology byimaging, aiming an early diagnosis. Thus, application of Doppler ultrasound allows the study of the horse’s vascular systemallowing various types of diagnoses among these members and vascularization for diagnosing thrombi in the abdominalaorta and mesenteric arteries in side verminotic aneurysm. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of twocases of aneurysm involving the aortic-iliac diagnosed by Doppler ultrasound.Cases: The study describes two cases of the aneurism in horses diagnosed by Doppler ultrasound at the Veterinary Hos-pital of UPIS. The animals showed clinical signs of edema in the pelvic limb, with varied degree of lameness 3 to 4, pain and wound did not heal and septic arthritis. The final diagnosis was obtained by Doppler ultrasound. In case one, Doppler ultrasound analysis indicated high arterial distension and blood flow disorganized, suggesting aneurysm. The patient did not respond adequately to therapy and due to the severity of these changes, the euthanasia was performed for definitive diagnostic. On the other hand, in case two, in the imaging examination, it was diagnosed with a dilated aortic Iliac left four times larger than the right and disorganized blood flow suggesting aneurysm. As a result of diagnosis and unfavorable prognosis, it was decided to stop sports activities by the animal mainly due to the progressive increase of the aneurysm.Discussion: Between the two reported cases, one animal died with excessive extension of injury and in another it was possible to establish a palliative treatment being observed improvement in clinical symptomatology. The aneurysm was defined as a dilation of the artery, which may be congenital or acquired. In this case, it was not possible to define the main cause. However, their characteristics, visualized through ultrasound and necropsy corroborate to described in the literature, such as slow growth, achieve considerable volume may compress, displace and destroy neighboring structures. They also tend to increase in size until they break, causing bleeding. In the reports one and two it was found aneurysm verum, where in the animal of the report one was carried out euthanasia due to the rupture of the iliac artery. Surgical procedures are not usually indicated, due to the rapid evolution of the aneurysm culminating in hemorrhage and death of the patient. Ultrasound in these cases was also able to measure the extent of the lesion, to evaluate the blood flow and consequently the turbulence of blood. It is a disease with an unfavorable prognosis, by the progressive increase of the aneurysm or due to the possibility of aneurysm rupture. According to the results of this report can be concluded that Doppler ultrasound should be included in the routine practice of equine veterinary clinic, mainly in athletic horses to diagnose arterial lesions with complicated detection on clinical examination. The clinical symptomatology presented by the animals can be included in routine practice. The aneurysm of the iliac artery if was not diagnosed in time can cause death of the animal, however, if it was detected early, it can be established a palliative treatment extending the duration of animal life.

[Communication related to pesticides use in a rural area of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]

OBJECTIVE

To assess communications aspects related to pesticide use in a rural area of the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

METHODS

The study was carried out in the area of São Lourenço stream. It was based on methodological triangulation comprising: semi-structured interviews and observation of a local population sample (about 600 inhabitants); structured questionnaire to collect data on the local community; and records of lectures given by argonomic engineers, pesticides traders and other public service professionals.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study pointed out to the historical misinformation on pesticides in rural areas; the emphasis on technical language in educational and training activities available which constitutes a barrier for rural workers knowledge acquisition and empowerment; and the industry/commerce's pressure to legitimate pesticide trading, reinforcing the existing communication process, resulting in unfavorable inclusion of the rural worker into a broader market economy.

[Influence of socioeconomic factors on the pesticides poisoning, Brazil]

OBJECTIVE

The indiscriminate use of pesticides has been contributing for the environmental quality degradation, as well as it increases the occupational exposures to these products, determining a serious public health problem in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the exposures of rural workers of Rio de Janeiro State to anticholinesterasic pesticides, through the analyses of the acetylcholinesterase from red cells (AChE) and plasmatic butyrilcholinesterase (BChE) levels. Social-economic factors, such as the educational level of these workers, can strongly influence this situation, reason why the impact of some social-economic indicators and practices of pesticides' use in the human contamination status for rural areas were also evaluated.

METHODS

The evaluation of rural workers exposure to pesticides was performed to a random sample of 55 workers among the 300 inhabitants of the study area - five communities of Magé county, RJ. The AChE and BChE activities were determined to these workers. The enzymatic activities were evaluated according to the Ellman's method modified by Oliveira-Silva. Social-economic and pesticides use data were collected by a structured interview. The possible role of social-economic and pesticide use indicators as determinants of the worker's contamination was estimated by multivariate statistic techniques, using the enzymatic activity as the dependent variable and the social-economics pesticides use indicators as independent variables.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The data showed distinct results concerning the incidence of excessive exposure, according to the enzymatic indicator used. In the studied sample, a result of 3.0 % was found for the BChE values, and 41.8 %, according to AChE. Individuals with at least one positive enzymatic indicator result were considered as "intoxicated". When these data were compared to the social-economic and pesticides use factors, it was showed the importance of educational level in the prevalence of intoxication. The others indicators studied did not showed any significant and evident correlation.

Cholinesterase activities determination in frozen blood samples: an improvement to the occupational monitoring in developing countries

1. Studies were carried out on rural workers in Brazil to determine the decrease in the activity of plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE) associated with exposure to organophosphorus pesticides (OP). The goal of this work is to help prevent injury to these workers. 2. In developing countries the distance between area of pesticide use and reference laboratories is a drawback for analytical techniques, since cholinesterase activity determinations require fresh blood samples. Field methodologies can be a useful alternative to laboratory tests, however they are not as sensitive as those found in laboratories. 3. The modification of Ellman's Method presented in this paper allows blood samples to be frozen and maintain enzymatic stability: 7 days for AChE and 3 days for BChE. The proposed method is also more sensitive than Ellman's Method Modified by Magnotti (EMMM). 4. The results suggest that the Ellman Method Modified by Oliveira-Silva (EMMOS) is valid for monitoring procedures. This method represents an important contribution to the process of monitoring OP exposures, since the evaluations no longer have to be conducted near the site of OP use.