Antiparkinsoniano para tratamento de sequelas neurológicas causadas pela cinomose / Antiparkinsonian for treatment of neurological sequels caused by canine distemper

Background: Canine distemper (CD) is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV). In dogs, CDV infection is characterized by the presentation of systemic and/or neurological signs with viral persistence in some organs, including the central nervous system (CNS). Neurological damages resulting from CD are a defiance for veterinarians, due to occasioned clinical sequels that influence the patient quality of life. The treatment of sequelae should seek to promote the resolution or decrease of the deleterious effects that impede the patient independence. Thus, the present report aims to describe the action of antiparkinsonian medication (levodopa associated with carbidopa) administered to 3 dogs who presented neurological sequels resulting from the canine distemper. Cases: Dog 1. A 9-month-old male mixed breed; Dog 2. A 6-month-old male Shih Tzu. Dog 3. A 8-years-old bitch mixed breed. All animals were referred for neurological care because presented neurological damages after distemper involvement. Only the Dog 2 was vaccinated to CD. Dog 1 (mixed male) had severe myoclonus, lack of proprioception, decreased of muscle tonus and paralysis in both pelvic limbs, associated with a marked thoracolumbar kyphosis. Dog 2 (a puppy Shih Tzu male) presented myoclonus in PL, proprioceptive loss in thoracic and pelvic limbs, absence of withdrawal reflex in thoracic and pelvic limbs, decrease in muscle tonus in pelvic limb and increase in thoracic limb. Dog 3 (adult unneutered bitch) presented intense myoclonus, absence of proprioception, decrease in muscle tonus and paresis of pelvic limb. All patients were treated with antiparkinsonian medication (levodopa 250 mg associated with carbidopa 25 mg) with following dosages: Dog 1 received a commercially available tablet, orally once a day for 30 days, while Dogs 2 and 3 had doses calculated by extrapolation allometric. For the Dog 2 it was prescribed 0.25 mg of levodopa and 0.025 mg of carbidopa daily for 30 days. Dog 3 was treated with 1 mg of levodopa and 0.1 mg of carbidopa patient day for the same period. Thirty days after starting the treatment, the 3 patients were evaluated again, and showed improvement of the motor signs, and the treatment was maintained. At the next return (30 days): Dog 1 showed significant improvement, however, Dog 2 started to present epileptic seizures and nystagmus that were treated with levetiracetam, while the Dog 3 not returned. As Dog 1 had a better prognosis, treatment was maintained for 1 year, with the frequency being changed from 24 h x 24 h to 48 h x 48 h after 30 days and 72x72 h after another 30 days. Unfortunately, Dog 2 had a worsening of epileptic condition and died, while Dog 3 died by road-kill. Discussion: The cases reported are uncommon, because not exist information about the use of antiparksonian to treatment of neurological damages occasioned by canine distemper. Although there are emerging therapies, such as the use of mesenchymal stem cells, that can reduce these sequels, the access is still restricted to a few professionals. Thus, the use of medications for demyelinating diseases, as antiparkinsonian, may be an alternative. In fact, the three reported patients showed recovery of the motor and sensorial damages observed, which corroborates with the possibility of a new treatment using antiparkinsonian or other drugs to demyelinating diseases.

Feline demodicosis in Santa Catarina state, Brazil / Demodicose felina em Santa Catarina, Brasil

Feline demodicosis is considered a rare dermatopathy and can be caused by Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi and a third species not yet named. An adult male feline was attended with severe pruritus for 9 months and a history of treatment with cephalexin and prednisolone, with progressive worsening. On physical examination, there was alopecia, hyperkeratosis, abrasions and erythema on the head, neck, lumbosacral region, tail and pelvic limbs, in addition to the presence of fleas. For pulicosis, selamectin spot on was prescribed every 30 days and use of amitraz in the environment every seven days. In order to control secondary infection, weekly baths with chlorhexidine were recommended. Deep skin scraping and hair plucking were performed for trichogram and parasitological skin examination, respectively, with diagnoses of demodicosis by Demodex cati, and mycotic dermatitis associated with secondary bacterial infection. The treatment was modified to use selamectin every 2 weeks, but the tutor did not return and reported, after several months, that he had done therapy with selamectin only every 30 days and discontinued baths. For this feline, it was not possible to associate demodicosis with other comorbidities. It is believed that the generalized presentation of the disease occurred due to the pruritus caused by pulicosis.

A demodicose felina é considerada uma dermatopatia rara e pode ser causada pelos ácaros Demodex cati,Demodex gatoi e uma terceira espécie ainda não nomeada. Foi atendido um felino adulto apresentando prurido intenso há 9 meses e histórico de tratamento com cefalexina e prednisolona, com piora progressiva. Ao exame físico, havia alopecia, hiperqueratose, escoriações e eritema em cabeça, pescoço, região lombossacra, cauda e membros pélvicos, além da presença de pulgas. Para puliciose, foram prescritos selamectina spot on a cada 30 dias e uso de amitraz no ambiente a cada sete dias e, para controle da infecção secundária pelas escoriações, foram recomendados banhos semanais com clorexidine. Realizaram-se raspado de pele profundo e arrancamento de pelos para tricograma e exame parasitológico de pele, respectivamente, com diagnósticos de demodicose por Demodex cati, e dermatite micótica associada a infecção bacteriana secundária. O tratamento foi modificado para uso de selamectina a cada 2 semanas, mas tutor não retornou e informou, após vários meses, ter feito terapia com selamectina apenas a cada 30 dias e descontinuidade dos banhos. Não foi possível associar a demodicose, para este felino, a outras comorbidades e acredita-se que a apresentação generalizada da doença tenha se dado pelo prurido causado pela puliciose.

Demodicose felina em Santa Catarina, Brasil / Feline demodicosis in Santa Catarina state, Brazil

A demodicose felina é considerada uma dermatopatia rara e pode ser causada pelos ácaros Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi e uma terceira espécie ainda não nomeada. Foi atendido um felino adulto apresentando prurido intenso há 9 meses e histórico de tratamento com cefalexina e prednisolona, com piora progressiva. Ao exame físico, havia alopecia, hiperqueratose, escoriações e eritema em cabeça, pescoço, região lombossacra, cauda e membros pélvicos, além da presença de pulgas. Para puliciose, foram prescritos selamectina spot on a cada 30 dias e uso de amitraz no ambiente a cada sete dias e, para controle da infecção secundária pelas escoriações, foram recomendados banhos semanais com clorexidine. Realizaram-se raspado de pele profundo e arrancamento de pelos para tricograma e exame parasitológico de pele, respectivamente, com diagnósticos de demodicose por Demodex cati, e dermatite micótica associada a infecção bacteriana secundária. O tratamento foi modificado para uso de selamectina a cada 2 semanas, mas tutor não retornou e informou, após vários meses, ter feito terapia com selamectina apenas a cada 30 dias e descontinuidade dos banhos. Não foi possível associar a demodicose, para este felino, a outras comorbidades e acredita-se que a apresentação generalizada da doença tenha se dado pelo prurido causado pela puliciose.

Feline demodicosis is considered a rare dermatopathy and can be caused by Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi and a third species not yet named. An adult male feline was attended with severe pruritus for 9 months and a history of treatment with cephalexin and prednisolone, with progressive worsening. On physical examination, there was alopecia, hyperkeratosis, abrasions and erythema on the head, neck, lumbosacral region, tail and pelvic limbs, in addition to the presence of fleas. For pulicosis, selamectin spot on was prescribed every 30 days and use of amitraz in the environment every seven days. In order to control secondary infection, weekly baths with chlorhexidine were recommended. Deep skin scraping and hair plucking were performed for trichogram and parasitological skin examination, respectively, with diagnoses of demodicosis by Demodex cati, and mycotic dermatitis associated with secondary bacterial infection. The treatment was modified to use selamectin every 2 weeks, but the tutor did not return and reported, after several months, that he had done therapy with selamectin only every 30 days and discontinued baths. For this feline, it was not possible to associate demodicosis with other comorbidities. It is believed that the generalized presentation of the disease occurred due to the pruritus caused by pulicosis.

Demodicose felina em Santa Catarina, Brasil / Feline demodicosis in Santa Catarina state, Brazil

A demodicose felina é considerada uma dermatopatia rara e pode ser causada pelos ácaros Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi e uma terceira espécie ainda não nomeada. Foi atendido um felino adulto apresentando prurido intenso há 9 meses e histórico de tratamento com cefalexina e prednisolona, com piora progressiva. Ao exame físico, havia alopecia, hiperqueratose, escoriações e eritema em cabeça, pescoço, região lombossacra, cauda e membros pélvicos, além da presença de pulgas. Para puliciose, foram prescritos selamectina spot on a cada 30 dias e uso de amitraz no ambiente a cada sete dias e, para controle da infecção secundária pelas escoriações, foram recomendados banhos semanais com clorexidine. Realizaram-se raspado de pele profundo e arrancamento de pelos para tricograma e exame parasitológico de pele, respectivamente, com diagnósticos de demodicose por Demodex cati, e dermatite micótica associada a infecção bacteriana secundária. O tratamento foi modificado para uso de selamectina a cada 2 semanas, mas tutor não retornou e informou, após vários meses, ter feito terapia com selamectina apenas a cada 30 dias e descontinuidade dos banhos. Não foi possível associar a demodicose, para este felino, a outras comorbidades e acredita-se que a apresentação generalizada da doença tenha se dado pelo prurido causado pela puliciose.(AU)

Feline demodicosis is considered a rare dermatopathy and can be caused by Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi and a third species not yet named. An adult male feline was attended with severe pruritus for 9 months and a history of treatment with cephalexin and prednisolone, with progressive worsening. On physical examination, there was alopecia, hyperkeratosis, abrasions and erythema on the head, neck, lumbosacral region, tail and pelvic limbs, in addition to the presence of fleas. For pulicosis, selamectin spot on was prescribed every 30 days and use of amitraz in the environment every seven days. In order to control secondary infection, weekly baths with chlorhexidine were recommended. Deep skin scraping and hair plucking were performed for trichogram and parasitological skin examination, respectively, with diagnoses of demodicosis by Demodex cati, and mycotic dermatitis associated with secondary bacterial infection. The treatment was modified to use selamectin every 2 weeks, but the tutor did not return and reported, after several months, that he had done therapy with selamectin only every 30 days and discontinued baths. For this feline, it was not possible to associate demodicosis with other comorbidities. It is believed that the generalized presentation of the disease occurred due to the pruritus caused by pulicosis.(AU)

Avaliação de ambientes educacionais infantis / Assessment of early childhood educational environments

Dada a ausência de instrumentos brasileiros para avaliação de qualidade da educação infantil, desenvolvemos estudos com duas escalas norte-americanas (Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-ECERS e Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale-ITERS), examinando sua precisão à realidade brasileira. Cada item (ECERS-37; ITERS-35) é pontuado de 1 a 7, conforme instruções específicas, observadas durante atividades do grupo. Foram avaliadas turmas de instituições filantrópicas, municipais, privadas e universitária, obtendo-se: (1) índice de acordo entre dois avaliadores independentes acima de 85 por cento, indicando um nível satisfatório de precisão; (2) baixo nível de qualidade do atendimento nas redes filantrópica e municipal, nesta havendo melhor qualidade; (3) nível satisfatório de qualidade em pré-escolas privadas e alto nível na creche universitária. As escalas discriminaram os vários modelos de instituição, diferenciaram as turmas entre si e aspectos satisfatórios ou deficitários em cada turma, essencial para a proposição de mudanças, visando melhoria na qualidade do atendimento oferecido (AU)