Psittacara leucophthalmus (Aves: Psittacidae) como um novo hospedeiro de Paratanaisia bragai (Trematoda: Eucotylidae) no Brasil: achados clínicos e patológicos: relato de caso / Psittacara leucophthalmus as a new host of Paratanaisia bragai (Trematoda: Eucotylidae) in Brazil: clinical and pathological findings: case report

Paratanaisia bragai é um trematódeo que parasita rins e ureteres de aves domésticas e selvagens. Apesar de considerado pouco patogênico pode levar a complicações clínicas e morte em infecções severas. No presente estudo, um caso de parasitismo fatal em maritaca (Psittacara leucophthalmus) por P. bragai é relatado. A ave, oriunda da área urbana do município de Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brasil, teve manifestações clínicas de apatia, desidratação, dispneia e veio a óbito. Na necropsia foram observados rins aumentados de volume, pálidos, com superfície irregular e nodulações esbranquiçadas. Ao corte verificaram-se parasitos nos rins, que foram processados para montagem de lâminas permanentes e identificados segundo técnica de rotina como P. bragai. No exame histopatológico dos rins foram constatados infiltrado inflamatório linfoplasmocítico multifocal moderado, dilatação de túbulos e focos de regeneração tubular, associados a fibrose intersticial moderada no córtex renal. Na medula renal havia infiltrado de macrófagos, heterófilos, eosinófilos e células gigantes multinucleadas associado a parasitos em ductos coletores dilatados. O parasitismo de P. leucophthalmus por P. bragai é relatado pela primeira vez. A importância de se considerar este parasito entre as possibilidades diagnósticas em aves com insuficiência renal é brevemente discutida.(AU)

Paratanaisia bragai is a trematode parasite of the kidneys and ureters of poultry and wild birds. Despite its low pathogenicity, this parasite can lead to several clinical complications and death in heavy infections. In the present study, a fatal case of parasitism by P. bragai in a specimen of the White-eyed Parakeet, Psittacara leucophthalmus, is reported. The bird, coming from the urban area of the county of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, was clinically evaluated and revealed apathy, dehydration, dyspnea, and death. The gross findings were pale and enlarged kidneys, which also had irregular surface with whitish nodulations. Parasites were observed on cutting surface of the renal parenchyma. They were processed for assembly of permanent slides and identified as P. bragai according to routine technique. The histologic findings were mild multifocal lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, tubular dilatation and foci of tubular regeneration related to mild interstitial fibrosis in the renal cortex, and infiltration of macrophages, heterophils, eosinophils and multinucleated giant cells associated with metazoan parasites in the collecting ducts in renal medulla. The parasitism of P. leucophthalmus by P. bragai is reported for the first time. The importance of considering this parasite among the diagnostic possibilities in birds with renal insufficiency is briefly discussed.(AU)

Período de permanência de espermatozoides em glândulas hospedeiras de espermatozoides e glândulas infundibulares em codorna de corte / Stay period of sperm in sperm-storage glands and in infundibular glands in quails

Para determinar o tempo de permanência de espermatozoides nas glândulas hospedeiras de espermatozoides (GHEs) e nas glândulas infundibulares (GIs) de codorna de corte (Coturnix coturnix coturnix), foram utilizados 12 machos e 66 fêmeas, totalizando 78 codornas em fase reprodutiva. As fêmeas foram distribuídas em 11 grupos e acasaladas por 24 horas em gaiolas individuais. Os machos, utilizados de modo intercalado, foram separados do contato com as fêmeas e colocados em descanso. As aves do grupo-controle (G0 - seis fêmeas) foram abatidas no início do experimento, enquanto as 60 fêmeas acasaladas foram distribuídas em 10 grupos (G1 a G10, com seis fêmeas cada) e abatidas a cada período de 24 horas, de forma sequencial. Fragmentos foram obtidos da região uterovaginal e do infundíbulo e submetidos às análises histológica, histoquímica e histométrica com técnicas de rotina. Os resultados morfométricos mostraram que 46% das GHEs continham espermatozoides em seu lume no primeiro dia após o acasalamento, diminuindo gradativamente nos dias posteriores chegando a 3% no quinto dia. Nesse período, os espermatozoides ascendem em direção às GIs, onde permanecem viáveis e férteis por, pelo menos, 96 horas após deixarem as GHEs, possibilitando a postura de ovos férteis por 10 dias, em média, após o acasalamento.

Sperm-Storage Tubules (SSPs) and Infundibular Tubules (ITs) are the structures responsible for sperm storage in the oviduct of birds, snakes, alligators and turtles after mating. Aiming to determine length of stay of sperm-storage tubules (SSPs) and infundibular tubules (ITs) cutting quail, Coturnix coturnix coturnix, we used 12 males and 66 females, totaling 79 quails in the reproductive phase. The females were allocated into 11 groups and mated for 24 hours in individual cages. The males used were merged and separated from contact with females and placed at rest. The poultry of the control-group (G0 six females) was slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment, the 60 previously mated females were allocated into 10 groups (G1 to G10, with six females each) and were slaughtered sequentially. On the 10th day, the last group (G10) was shot. The fragments obtained from the utero-vaginal region and the infundibulum of each female underwent histological techniques, immunohistochemistry and morphometry routine. The morphometric results showed that GHEs had 46% of the sperm in his heat on day 1 after mating, decreasing gradually in the after days reaching 3% on day 5. At this time they increase toward the infundibular tubules, where they remain viable and fertile for at least another 96 hours (4 days) after leaving the SSPs, allowing these birds to lay fertile eggs for 10 days on average after mating.

Aspectos morfológicos, morfométricos e histoquímicos dos túbulos armazenadores de espermatozoides da fêmea do peru Meleagris gallopavo / Histology, histochemistry, and morphometry of the tubuli spermatici of femeale turkeys, Meleagris gallopavo

Fragmentos da junção uterovaginal de 16 exemplares de fêmeas adultas de peru foram examinados, com o objetivo de determinar as modificações morfométricas e histológicas dos túbulos armazenadores de espermatozoides (SST), durante os períodos de atividade e repouso reprodutivo. Os estudos foram realizados a partir de dissecações do oviduto esquerdo, utilizando-se técnicas histológicas, histoquímica e histométricas de rotina. Essas estruturas originam-se de invaginações do epitélio das pregas da região uterovaginal e apresentam-se tubulosas, simples e não ramificadas, com epitélio formado por células prismáticas estreitas, claras e escuras, com núcleo vesiculoso basal e microvilos apicais. As secreções dessas células apresentaram reações negativas para PAS e Alcian Blue, indicando ausência de mucossubstâncias. Os parâmetros morfométricos utilizados mostraram que há diferenças significativas entre os períodos de atividade reprodutiva e de repouso. Na fase de atividade reprodutiva, o comprimento tubular, o volume tubular, o volume do lume, o número de SST na junção uterovaginal, o diâmetro externo e interno, a altura celular e o número de células por túbulos estão aumentados, e observam-se espermatozoides agrupados na luz do lume e células claras e escuras nos túbulos com vesículas supranucleares no citoplasma das células tubulares. Na fase de repouso, os parâmetros morfológicos estão reduzidos e não são encontrados espermatozoides na luz do lume. Nesta fase, não são evidenciadas as células escuras nem as vesículas supranucleares no citoplasma celular.

Fragments of the uterus-vaginal junction of 16 adult female turkeys were investigated aiming to determine the morphometrical and histological modifications in the tubuli spermatici (tubular sperm glands) during the breeding (August to March) and non-breeding (April to July) seasons. The studies were performed in dissected oviducts processed for histology, histochemistry, and morphometry of the tubuli spermatici (TS), structures which are originated from invaginations of the uterus-vaginal epithelium. TS are simple tubular glands, lined by a columnar epithelium formed by light and dark narrow cells, which presented euchromatic nucleus and apical microvillus. The TS epithelium secretion was negative for PAS and Alcian Blue stains, indicating the absence of mucosubstances. The tubular length, tubular volume, luminal volume, number of TS, as well as external and internal diameter, cellular height, and number of cells per tubule showed significant differences between the reproductive phases (breeding and non-breeding). In the breeding season, all these morphometrical parameters were increased when compared with the ones from the non-breeding season. Clusters of sperm in the lumen of the glands, as well vesicles in the cytoplasm of both light and dark epithelial cells, were observed in the breeding season. In the non-breeding season, luminal sperm, vesicles, and dark cells were not observed in the TS glands.

Propolis: a review of its anti-inflammatory and healing actions: [review]

Tissue healing is an adaptive biological response by which the organism repairs damaged tissue. The initial stage of healing is represented by an acute inflammatory reaction, in which inflammatory cells migrate to damaged tissue and phagocyte debris. At a later stage, fibroblasts and endothelial cells proliferate and generate a scar. The occurrence of inflammatory processes and healing imperfections have been a concern for hundreds of years, especially for individuals with healing difficulties, such as diabetics and carriers of peripheral circulation deficiencies. A wide variety of natural products have been used as anti-inflammatory and healing agents, with propolis being a remarkable option. Propolis has been used in popular medicine for a very long time; however, it is not a drug intended for all diseases. Currently, the determination of quality standards of propolis-containing products is a major problem due to their varying pharmacological activities and chemical compositions. The aim of this review is to discuss the use of propolis with emphasis on its anti-inflammatory and healing properties.