Animal-Assisted Activity for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Parents' and Therapists' Perception.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by communication and social interaction difficulties, might be positively influenced by animal-assisted activity (AAA). The aim of this study was to investigate the parents' and therapists' perception to behavior in children with ASD after they underwent AAA. The study was performed in a specialized therapeutic center in Curitiba, South of Brazil. A total of 15 children (14 boys and 1 girl), aged 5.6 ± 1.6 years, diagnosed with ASD, underwent at least 10 weekly 30-min AAA sessions. Three trained dogs were used in total, and there were two dogs in each session. Children were free to interact with dogs and among themselves, in groups of 11.2 ± 2.2 children per session, in the presence of therapists, the researcher, and a veterinarian observing the dogs and ensuring safety. The parents and therapists completed two questionnaires on their perception of the children's behavior before and after AAA. A total of 18 visits were necessary to complete the 10 sessions for each of the 15 children. According to the therapists' perception, AAA increased positive gestures and facial expression in children (p = 0.010) and improved peer interaction. Even though there was a 50% reduction in the parents' feedback at the end of the study, according to their perception there was a reduction in self-aggression and repetitive stereotyped movements, as well as an improvement in speech communication and creativity. This study demonstrated the positive effects of the AAA on the social behavior of children with ASD.

Mycotoxins in dry-cured meats: A review.

Dry-cured meats products are consumed in various regions of the world and, consumers are increasingly demanding better quality and safety of these products. Some fungal species can produce mycotoxins in drycured meats, such as aflatoxins and ochratoxins, which, when ingested, can produce carcinogenic and mutagenic effects in humans. Contamination of these products can occur at different points of the production chain, from the field (animal contaminated with feed) to the production or storage of the final product. Although the presence of mycotoxins in drycured meats has been reported in several regions of the world, the presence of these contaminants are not legislated in most countries. Therefore, it is important to put in place methods to identify and reduce the contamination of dry-cured meats, minimizing the consumption and deleterious effects caused by mycotoxins. This review aimed to describe mycotoxin-producing fungi, mycotoxins, the relationship between human food and animal feed; legislation; incidence, identification and control methods for mycotoxins in dry-cured meats intended for human consumption.

Eficácia da ciclosporina no controle da dermatite atópica em cães / Efficacy of cyclosporine in the control of atopic dermatitis in dogs

A dermatite atópica é uma dermatopatia inflamatória, pruriginosa, crônica, de origem genética, resultante da perda da função de barreira física da pele e da hiperreatividade à alérgenos ambientais, trofoalérgenos, alérgenos microbianos e a irritantes primários. Este estudo avaliou a eficácia da ciclosporina no controle do prurido e das lesões associadas à dermatite atópica em cães. Selecionaram-se 24 cães com diagnóstico de dermatite atópica baseados nos critérios de Favrot et al. (2010), os quais foram divididos em dois grupos de 12 cães, onde o Grupo 1, recebeu ciclosporina (5mg/kg/vo/24h), e o Grupo 2, foi tratado com prednisona (0,5mg/kg/vo/24h) em doses decrescentes, ambos por 60 dias. Os animais foram continuamente avaliados, e seus escores sintomato-lesionais, baseados na escala de CADESI-03, estabelecidos nos dias 0, 30 e 60. Em adição, os escores de prurido de cada animal, baseado nos critérios de Rybnicek, foram semanalmente avaliados, do dia 0 ao 63. Todos os dados coletados foram analisados pelo teste não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis, seguido do teste de Dunn´s e para as análises entre os grupos foi utilizado o teste t, considerado o nível de significância mínimo de 5%. A ciclosporina teve uma eficácia similar, no controle lesional, ao grupo que recebeu prednisona no dia (+30) (p<0,05) e no dia (+60) (p<0,001) do tratamento, em relação ao dia zero. Uma diferença significativa do escore do prurido foi observada nos dias +28, +35, +42, +49, +56 e +63 (p<0,001), e no dia +21 (p<0,01) em relação ao momento inicial do tratamento, porém sua eficácia foi inferior ao Grupo 2, a partir do 42º dia de avaliação, mantendo-se esta diferença nos dias +49, +56 e +63 (p>0,05). Apesar da ciclosporina ter sido menos eficaz no controle do prurido, este se manteve em níveis aceitáveis, e seu uso contínuo não foi associado a efeitos colaterais relevantes.(AU)

Atopic dermatitis is an itchy, chronic inflammatory skin disease of genetic origin, resulting from loss of the physical barrier function of the skin and hyper-reactivity to environmental allergens, trofoallergens, microbial allergens and to primary irritants. The efficacy of cyclosporine in the control of pruritus and lesions associated with atopic dermatitis in dogs was evaluated. Twenty-four dogs with atopic dermatitis were selected, based on Favrot et al.'s criteria (2010). They were divided into two groups of 12 dogs, where Group 1 received cyclosporine (5mg/kg/vo/24h), and Group 2 was treated with prednisone (0.5mg/kg/vo/24h) in decreasing doses, both for 60 days. The animals were continuously evaluated, and theirits lesional symptomatology scores were based on a Cadesi-03 scale, set on days 0, 30 and 60. Pruritus scores of each dog, based on Rybnicek´s criteria, were weekly evaluated, from day 0 to day 63. All collected data were analyzed by the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis´ test, followed by Dunn's test, and for the analysis between the groups, considered the minimum significance level of 5%, t-test was used. Cyclosporin had similar efficacy in lesional control in the group which received prednisone on day (+30) (p<0.05) and on the day (+60) (p<0.001) of treatment, compared with day zero. A significant difference of the itching score was observed on days +28, +35, +42, +49, +56 and +63 (p<0.001), and on day +21 (p<0.01) when compared to initial treatment. However, its efficacy was lower than Group 2, from 42 days of evaluation on, keeping such difference on days +49, +56 and +63 (p>0.05). Although cyclosporin have been less effective in controlling itching, it remained at acceptable levels, and its continued use was not associated with significant side effects.(AU)

Perfis clínico e laboratorial de cães de abrigo submetidos a esterilização / Evaluation of clinical and laboratorial profiles of shelter dogs submitted to sterilizations

We evaluated the clinical and laboratory profile of 90 dogs shelters undergoing ovariohysterectomy and orchiectomy. Preoperative evaluation was performed by clinical examination, blood tests, coagulation tests, fecal, hemoparasites research, urinalysis and biochemical tests. Participants animals, 53.33% were female; 93.3% were mixed breed (SRD); the mean age was 3.56 ± 1.32 years and average weight of 10.87 ± 6.08 kg; 65.55% had normal body score and 42.22% were considered friendly dogs. In general clinical examination, the main changes were the rectal temperature and respiratory rate, the specific examination was observed pulicilose, itching, seborrhea and dermatitis. It was 18.60% anemia in animal and its intensity was correlated with the body condition score, but this correlation was not observed with the presence of hypoalbuminemia. The leukocyte count values Neutrophils and rods were high, but due to stress. In urinalysis, the main changes were found in the density, appearance and presence of bacteria. When fecal examination, 65.45% of the animals were diagnosed with Ancylostoma sp. and Trichuris sp. Shelter dogs showed changes in the blood tests, suggesting that have clinical and laboratory profiles themselves, because no changes were suggestive of pathology, probably a stress condition and nutritional deficiency.

Avaliou-se o perfil clínico e laboratorial de 90 cães de abrigos submetidos à ovariohisterectomia e orquiectomia. A avaliação préoperatória foi realizada por exame clínico, hemograma, coagulograma, coproparasitológico, pesquisa de hemoparasitas, urinálise e exames bioquímicos. Dos animais participantes, 53,33% eram fêmeas; 93,3% eram sem raça definida (SRD); a idade média foi de 3,56 ± 1,32 anos e peso médio de 10,87 ± 6,08 kg; 65,55% apresentaram escore corporal normal e 42,22% foram considerados cães dóceis. No exame clínico geral, as principais alterações foram da temperatura retal e frequência respiratória, no exame específico foi observado pulicilose, prurido, seborréia e dermatites. Verificou-se anemia em 18,60% dos animais e sua intensidade apresentou correlação com o escore corporal, mas esta correlação não foi observada com a presença de hipoalbuminemia. Os valores de contagem de leucócitos, neutrófilos e bastonetes estavam elevados, porém decorrentes de estresse. Na urinálise, as principais alterações encontradas foram na densidade, aspecto e presença de bactérias. Ao exame coproparasitológico, 65,45% dos animais foram diagnosticados com Ancylostoma sp. e Trichuris sp. Os cães de abrigo apresentaram alterações nos exames realizados, sugerindo que possuem perfis clínico e laboratorial próprios, pois nenhuma alteração foi sugestiva de patologia, provavelmente por uma condição de estresse e deficiência nutricional.