Morphological Analysis of Air Sacs in the Red-Winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens Temminck, 1815)

The red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rusfencens) is a bird belonging to the order Tinaniforme, family Tinamidae, present in South America, and due to its population decline is classified as LC (Least Concern) on the BirdLife International red list. This study aimed to evaluate the air sacs of this species, as anatomical studies of partridges are scarce. Ten cadaveric specimens were collected, and latex perfusion was used to solidify the material. The cervical air sac in the red-winged tinamou is smaller and has a more irregular conformation than other air sacs. The thoracic air sacs are symmetrical, and the cranial thoracic air sacs are smaller than the caudal ones. The abdominal air sacs are asymmetrical, and the largest, extending to the cloaca. Only one clavicular air sac was found, with three subdivisions: right, left, and medial. Additionally, right, and left extra-coelomatic portions were found, passing under the clavicle. In one of the animals, the latex-filled humeri were found, and in three other ribs, vertebral diverticula were present. There is no clear relationship between taxonomy and biology versus the quantity and conformation of air sacs, as different animals with taxonomic proximity present differences. This study enhances species-specific anatomical knowledge of the red-winged tinamou.

Mandibular morphometry applied to local anaesthetic blockage in the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris).

Capybaras have been victims of collisions against vehicles, which can result in fractures of the teeth and mandible. Then, a local anaesthetic block of the inferior alveolar and mental nerves is important for performing therapeutic procedures in the oral cavity of these rodents. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the mandibular morphometry of the capybara with emphasis on the establishment of anatomic references for anaesthetic block of the inferior alveolar and mental nerves. For this, mandibles from eight young and adult capybaras were used. Radiography and morphometry of the capybara hemimandible were performed. The mandibular foramen had a dorsoventral diameter of 2.1 mm in young and 2.2 mm in adult capybaras, and it was situated ventrally to the third molar tooth. For extraoral block of the inferior alveolar nerve, the needle should be introduced obliquely 63.5 and 77.4 mm from the angular process in young and adult capybaras, respectively. In another extraoral approach, the needle should be introduced perpendicularly 20.8 mm in young and 26.3 mm in adult animals from the ventral margin of the capybara mandible. For blocking only the mental nerve, the needle should be inserted perpendicularly from the interalveolar margin, 10.7 and 11.5 mm in the young and adult capybaras, respectively. The findings of this study suggest that the age group should be taken into account when performing the anaesthetic block of the inferior alveolar and mental nerves in capybaras.

Effects of clamping umbilical cord on the neonatal viability of puppies delivered by cesarean section.

In human neonates, when the umbilical cord is kept intact postpartum, blood continues to flow to the neonate, but this procedure might be difficult in dogs owing to a shorter umbilical cord and several neonates in a litter. However, it might be possible to detach the placenta and keep the umbilical cord intact, allowing residual blood to flow to the puppies. This study compared the effects of clamping versus no clamping of the umbilical cord in dogs born by cesarean section on neonatal vitality. The puppies were assessed by Apgar and reflex scores. Fifty puppies delivered from 16 bitches were randomly allocated to receive immediate umbilical cord clamping (n=25) or no clamping for at least 3 min after the onset of breathing (n=25). The puppies were assessed during the first 5 min of life and 10 min after the first assessment. The no clamping group showed significantly higher Apgar scores (second assessment, P<0.01) and reflex scores (first and second assessments, P<0.05) than the clamping group, implying higher vitality in the no clamping group. The differences observed between the moments (first versus second assessment) of each group was significant (P<0.01), revealing higher vitality in the second assessment. The results suggest that keeping the umbilical cord intact for at least 3 min after the onset of breathing may contribute to increased vitality in puppies delivered by cesarean section without any negative consequences.

Feasibility of semen collection in red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) by manual stimulation and sazonality implications.

This study aimed to report in detail, the technique and challenges of cloacal massage, to collect and evaluate semen from red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) keep in captivity, performed by only one technician. Sixty-four semen collection attempts, from 16 adult males, during breeding season and 16 attempts form these same 16 males in non-breeding season, were performed. Prior to collection, all animals were conditioned to cloacal massage for 6 weeks and the ejaculates were succeed with viable spermatozoa and then, evaluated for feces, urine and mucus contamination, volume, concentration, sperm vigor, motility, morphological defects and acrosome integrity. Semen collection success rate was 63% in breeding season and 2 (5%) samples were discarded by grade 5 contamination. Only 3 ejaculates from 16 tinamou were obtained in non-breeding season. Sperm concentration and acrosome integrity was higher (p = 0.00) in breeding season, and the percentage of total sperm morphological defects, were high in both in breeding and out breeding season. Overall, we concluded that the red-winged tinamou breeding season, is linked to photoperiod (spring and summer), and at this period time, semen can be obtained by cloacal massage collection satisfactorily, allowing its use in reproduction biotechnologies and sperm cryopreservation.

Glicemia de gatos obesos obtida por meio do teste de tolerância à glicose / Glucose of obese cats obtained through the glucose tolerance test

Esse trabalho avaliou a glicemia de gatos obesos por meio do teste de tolerância à glicose, a fim de identificar a hiperglicemia por resistência à insulina nesses animais. Foram avaliados 16 gatos, sendo oito com condição corpórea ideal (Grupo Controle) e oito com sobrepeso (Grupo Sobrepeso). Após jejum alimentar de 12 horas, os animais receberam glicose, via intravenosa, na dose de 0,5g/kg e amostras de sangue foram coletadas para aferição da glicemia no Tempo zero, após 10 (Tempo 1), 30 (Tempo 2), 60 (Tempo 3), 90 (Tempo 4) e 120 (Tempo 5) minutos. No teste de tolerância à glicose, não houve diferença significativa na comparação da glicemia entre os tempos dos dois grupos. Na comparação entre os tempos de um mesmo grupo pode-se verificar que diferentemente do Grupo Controle, não houve diferença significativa entre os Tempo 1 e Tempo 2 do Grupo Sobrepeso, sugerindo um discreto retardo na redução da concentração de glicose entre esses tempos. No estudo realizado, o teste de tolerância à glicose intravenosa apresentou-se factível, porém o período mínimo de 2 anos de obesidade foi insuficiente para a observação de alterações significativas no metabolismo da glicose em gatos obesos. Entretanto, foi possível observar o retardo na redução da concentração de glicose entre 10 e 30 minutos, o que pode estar relacionado à resistência à insulina.