Free-living capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in an urban area in Brazil: biochemical and hematological parameters

Capybaras have found favorable conditions for survival and reproduction in green urban environments. In recent years, the population of these large rodents has been increasingly abundant in several brazilian cities such as Uberlândia, a municipality of the southeastern region with a Cerrado biome. Capybaras are important in the Brazilian Spotted Fever epidemiological chain, by amplifying infection rates of the vector population. However, knowledge of this host's physiology is scarce. Thus, the aim of this work was to describe hematological and biochemical parameters of free-living capybaras groups in urbanized areas in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Capybaras were captured in 4 different locations of Uberlândia city, Minas Gerais state, including 1 Condominium (P1), 1 Private Market Garden (P2), 1 Private Club (P3) and 1 Municipal Park (P4). The animals were baited into an octagonal iron corral and chemically contained with anesthetic darts. After sedated, blood was collected from the femoral vein in tubes with and without EDTA. Biochemical evaluation, hematological analysis with differential leukocyte counts and search for Dirofilaria sp. were done. The blood count and biochemistry values obtained from animals of different ages, sex and sectors (P1, P2, P3 and P4) were submitted to the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, considering 95% significance. Values that had a normal distribution were subjected to ANOVA tests followed by Student's t-test. Values that did not follow normality were submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis test, to obtain a P-value, with a significance level of 95%. A total of 19 capybaras were captured: 4 in P1, 6 in P2, 4 in P3 and 5 in P4. From the 19 animals, 13 were females (68.42%) and 6 were males (31.57%), 12 adults (63.15%) and 7 juveniles (36.84%). Apart from occasional skin scars and moderate to intense Ambyomma spp. tick infestations, all captured animals were healthy on a broad examination. From 5 animals captured in P4, despite the use of anticoagulant, blood from 4 animals clotted fast. No microfilariae were found in the thick drop test in any of the 19 animals sampled, and in 2 adult female capybaras captured in P1, Kurloff cells were observed. Hematological and biochemical values presented no major differences when comparing sex and age. Nevertheless, differences in liver and kidney profile were observed between the capybara groups, including ALT, alkaline phosphorus, BUN and creatinine. Blood from 4 animals clotted fast, despite the use of EDTA tubes. Blood clotting of samples with anticoagulant in this work could be associated with some physiological features inherent to capybaras. Many attempts were required to obtain enough blood from each individual due to the rapid hemostasis, what come in accordance with reports in literature. Kurloff cells were observed in 2 adult female capybaras captured in P1, which can be found in peripheral blood of female rodents during follicular phase of estrous cycle. Hematological and biochemical values differences in liver enzymes such as ALT and alkaline phosphorus, and kidney profile enzymes including BUN and creatinine could be associated to capture stress or dietetic variation between groups. Despite statistical relevant, the values were still in accordance with other works, although comparisons should be done with caution since various environments exert a diverse array of stimulus upon the animals such as parasitic, infective, stress, nutritional, social and undoubtedly blood parameters mirror them. In conclusion, this work contributes to the standardization of free-living capybaras' physiological parameters in urban areas.(AU)

Beneficios perioperatorios por condicionamiento isquémico a distancia en la revascularización coronaria / Perioperative benefits of distant ischemic conditioning in coronary revascularization

Introducción: Una serie de breves periodos de isquemias a distancia pueden limitar el daño miocárdico producido por la isquemia/reperfusión. Objetivo: Analizar las diferencias entre los dos grupos (control y estudio) teniendo en cuanta el consumo de inotrópicos y/o vasopresores durante los períodos intra y posoperatorio, así como, incidencia de eventos adversos cardiacos mayores y mortalidad en el postoperatorio. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental, explicativo, comparativo con control histórico, en dos grupos de 247 pacientes, propuestos para revascularización coronaria. Se colocó un torniquete en el brazo derecho, en el grupo estudio, alternando 3 insuflaciones con 3 desinsuflaciones con una presión de 200 mmHg, manteniéndola 5 min cada una. Este proceder se realizó previo, durante y después del evento isquémico mayor, provocado por el pinzamiento de la arteria coronaria. Resultados: Se logró una disminución significativa del consumo de drogas inotrópicas y vasoactivas. Se comprobó además, la disminución en la incidencia de bajo gasto cardiaco reversible, fibrilación ventricular, nuevo infarto agudo de miocardio. Conclusiones: El condicionamiento isquémico a distancia es una importante herramienta a tener en cuenta para la protección cardiaca perioperatoria en la revascularización coronaria(AU)

Introduction: A series of brief distant ischemia periods can limit myocardial damage produced by ischemia or reperfusion. Objective: To analyze the differences between the two groups (control and study) taking into account the consumption of inotropics and/or vasopressors during the intraoperative and postoperative periods, as well as the incidence of major cardiac adverse events and mortality in the postoperative period. Methods: A quasiexperimental, explanatory and comparative study with historical control was conducted on two groups of 247 patients proposed for coronary revascularization. A tourniquet was placed to the right arm, in the study group, alternating three insufflations with three dessufflations with a pressure of 200 mmHg, keeping each for five minutes. This procedure was performed before, during and after the major ischemic event, caused by pinching of the coronary artery. Results: A significant decrease in the consumption of inotropic and vasoactive drugs was achieved. The decrease in the incidence of low reversible cardiac output, ventricular fibrillation, and new acute myocardial infarction was also proven. Conclusions: Distant ischemic conditioning is an important tool to be taken into account for perioperative cardiac protection in coronary revascularization(AU)

Protección miocárdica por condicionamiento isquémico a distancia en la revascularización coronaria / Myocardial protection by ischemic remote conditioning in coronary revascularization

Introducción: Una serie de breves períodos de isquemias a distancia, previo al evento isquémico mayor, pueden limitar el daño miocárdico producido por la isquemia/reperfusión. Objetivo: Evaluar la utilidad del condicionamiento isquémico a distancia, en pacientes programados para procedimientos quirúrgicos de revascularización coronaria. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental, explicativo, comparativo con control histórico, en dos grupos de 247 pacientes, propuestos para revascularización coronaria. Se colocó un torniquete en el brazo derecho, en el grupo estudio, alternando 3 insuflaciones con 3 desinsuflaciones con una presión de 200 mmHg, manteniéndola 5 min cada una. Este proceder se realizó previo, durante y después del evento isquémico mayor, provocado por el pinzamiento de la arteria coronaria. Resultados: Se logró una disminución significativa de los parámetros enzimáticos. No se encontraron diferencias significativas (p>0,05) según un conjunto de variables que representan el estado inicial de los pacientes(AU)

Introduction: A series of short periods of distant ischemia, prior to the major ischemic event, can limit the myocardial damage produced by ischemia or reperfusion. Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of remote ischemic conditioning in patients scheduled for surgical procedures of coronary revascularization. Methods: A quasi-experimental, explanatory, comparative study with historical control was conducted in two groups of 247 patients proposed for coronary revascularization. A tourniquet was placed in the right arm in the study group, alternating 3 insufflations with 3 dessufflations with a pressure of 200 mmHg, keeping each for 5 minutes. This procedure was performed before, during and after the major ischemic event, caused by the impingement of the coronary artery. Results: A significant decrease in enzymatic parameters was achieved. No significant differences were found (p>0.05) according to a set of variables that represent the initial state of the patients(AU)