Parâmetros hematológicos de jumentas gestantes em diferentes períodos / Hematological parameters of pregnant donkeys in different periods

The hematological parameters and total protein concentration in healthy donkeys during pregnancy, under grass handling conditions in tropical weather, were evaluated. Fifth-two Marchador Brasileiro breed healthy donkeys, ranging from 8 to 16 years old, were evaluated, 36 of which were pregnant. The animals were separated in four groups: non pregnant (control), pregnancy from 25 to 110 days (first phase), from 111 to 210 days (second phase), and from 211 to 340 days (third phase). Total protein, erythrocyte, and leukocytes counts; packed cell volume; hemoglobin concentration; hematimetric absolute rates of mean corpuscular volume (MCV); mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH); and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were evaluated. Total protein and eosinophils count decreased in the first phase. Red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, and MCHC increased in the third phase of pregnancy. However, MCV and MCH decreased in the same phase.

Influência da heparina sódica na ocorrência de laminite eqüina induzida por sobrecarga de carboidratos / Influence of heparin in occurrence of carbohydrate overload-induced equine laminitis

Avaliou-se a eficiência da infusão intravenosa de heparina sódica (100UI/kg/8h, a partir de 24h após o fornecimento de carboidrato, até completar 48h) no controle da laminite eqüina experimentalmente induzida por sobrecarga de carboidrato (17,6g de amido de milho/kg de peso corpóreo). Foram utilizados 15 eqüinos adultos, distribuídos em três grupos experimentais: GI (grupo-controle); GII (grupo laminite) e GIII (grupo laminite+heparina). Posteriormente ao fornecimento de carboidrato, os animais foram submetidos a exames físicos e laboratoriais durante um período de 48 horas. Ao final do experimento, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia pela aplicação intravenosa de 5ml de maleato de acepromazina seguida de 1g de tiopental sódico e 1 litro de solução saturada de KCl para a obtenção de amostras de tecidos dos cascos, necessárias ao exame histológico. Os animais de GII e GIII, submetidos à sobrecarga de carboidratos, desenvolveram laminite, exibindo claudicação 12 e 24h após o fornecimento de carboidrato, respectivamente, bem como aumentos da freqüência cardíaca e do tempo de preenchimento capilar. As alterações histológicas, semelhantes em GII e GIII, eram do tipo degenerativo, como adelgaçamento de lâminas epidérmicas, retração, achatamento e deslocamento de lâminas dérmicas, vacuolização epidérmica e desorganização do tecido epidérmico. A infusão da heparina sódica não preveniu ou atenuou a degeneração laminar.

The efficacy of intravenous heparin administration (100UI/kg/8h, from 24 to 48h after carbohydrate administration) in the control of carbohydrate overload-induced equine laminitis (17.6g of corn starch/kg live weight) was evaluated. Fifteen horses were allocated into three experimental groups: GI (control group), GII (laminitis group), and GIII (laminitis+heparin group). These animals were submitted to physical and laboratorial examination during 48h. After that time, they were euthanized with intravenous administration of 5ml of acepromazine followed by 1g of thiopental sodium and 1 liter of saturated solution of KCl to obtain hoof tissues samples for histological examination. GII and GIII horses developed laminitis, showing lameness 12 and 24h after carbohydrate administration, respectively, as well increased heart rate and capillary refill time. The histological alterations, similar in GII and GIII, were degenerative lesions, as thinness of epidermal lamina, retraction, flattening and dislocation of the dermal lamina, epidermal vacuolization, and disruption of the epidermal tissues. The occurrence of laminar degeneration was not prevented or attenuated with intravenous heparin administration.