Serum biochemistry of the Arrau turtle (Podocnemis expansa): Frozen analyte stability and the effects of long-term storage.

BACKGROUND: Turtles are a major source of protein for riverside human populations in Brazil. The encouragement of commercial breeding meets conservation efforts for these animals, and it is, therefore, crucial to understand the physiologic and behavioral aspects of semi-aquatic species in captive conditions. Serum biochemical tests are ancillary diagnostic tools, and sample storage is a main problem since clinical laboratories are not always available near the habitats of these species. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide information about the stability of albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), calcium, creatinine kinase (CK), total cholesterol (Chol), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), total protein (TP), and urea at different storage times. METHODS: In all, 17 Arrau turtles (Podocnemis expansa) were used, and the serum obtained was separated into aliquots and analyzed at 0, 4, 8, 16, and 32 days after being stored at -20°C. RESULTS: The results showed that albumin, AST, CK, GGT, and TP suffered interference due to the long storage times. CONCLUSION: Analytes such as ALP, calcium, Chol, and urea can be evaluated for up to 1 month after freezing. Albumin, AST, and TP can be analyzed up to 1 week after freezing without alterations, and CK GGT are best evaluated on fresh samples.

Bases ósseas e musculares do corte comercial de pescoço de jacaré-do-pantanal (Caimanyacare Daudin, 1802) / Bone and muscular bases of commercial cut from the neck of Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare Daudin, 1802)

O jacaré-do-pantanal (Caiman yacare) é uma espécie abundante no ecossistema do Pantanal. Sua exploração comercial está regulamentada desde 1990 e se tornou um agronegócio em expansão. Para atender essa demanda, uma unidade processadora instalada em Mato Grosso, vem comercializando carne de jacaré em diferentes cortes, entre os quais o filé de dorso, oriundo do pescoço, nos últimos quatro anos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi descrever os músculos e correspondentes bases ósseas desse corte. Para a descrição de ossos, utilizaram-se seis carcaças desossadas de exemplares juvenis de jacaré-do-pantanal, além de um exemplar adulto obtido após morte do animal, por doação, do Zoológico da UFMT. Os ossos foram macerados em água corrente, clareados com solução de água oxigenada a 10 volumes, e seus detalhes anatômicos foram descritos. Para descrever o músculo, 24 exemplares juvenis foram obtidos após abate e esfola, conservados em freezer e descongelados quando utilizados, sem qualquer fixação. Após a evisceração, foram dissecados em ambos os antímeros, para verificação de simetria de ocorrência, fixações musculares, relacões de sintopia, forma e arquitetura muscular. Verificou-se que a coluna cervical em C. yacare apresenta nove vértebras cervicais (VC), associadas com as respectivas costelas, que servem de base principal ao filé de dorso, que é constituído pela musculatura cervical, exceto os músculos intertransversais cervicais e intercostais cervicais externos.

The yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare) is an abundant species in the Pantanal ecosystem. Commercial exploitation was regulated in 1990 and has become a thriving business. In order to fulfill this demand, a processing plant settled in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, has been supplying for the last four years different cuts of Pantanal Caiman meat, including the "filé de dorso" (back sirloin) obtained from the neck. The aim of this study was to describe the muscles and corresponding bones related to this cut. To describe the bones, we used six boned carcasses from juvenile yacare Caiman, as well as an adult specimen obtained after animal death, by donation from the Federal University of Mato Grosso Zoo. The bones were macerated in water, bleached with 10 volume-hydrogen-peroxide solution, and their anatomical details were recorded. In order to describe the muscles, 24 juvenile specimens were obtained after slaughter and skinning, preserved in a freezer at -20oC, and thawed at the time of use, without any fixation. After evisceration, the specimens were dissected on both sides to verify symmetry of structures, muscle attachments, sintopy relations, shape, and muscular architecture. The cervical spine of C. yacare features nine cervical vertebrae (CV) associated to their ribs, serving as the main base for the back sirloin cut, which is formed by neck muscles, except for the intertransverse cervical and external intercostal cervical muscles.

Bases ósseas e musculares dos cortes comerciais do tronco de jacaré-do-Pantanal (Caimanyacare Daudin, 1802) / Bone and muscular bases of commercial cuts from yacare caiman (Caiman yacare Daudin, 1802)

O consumo de carne de jacaré-do-Pantanal tornou-se uma tendência de mercado e uma cadeia produtiva em ascensão no Estado de Mato Grosso, sendo 28,40% da carne comercializada nos últimos quatro anos oriundos do tronco. Estudos evolutivos, morfofisiológicos, ontogenéticos e tecnológicos foram desenvolvidos, mas não há descrição da musculatura e bases ósseas dos cortes comerciais. Objetivou-se descrever os músculos e correspondentes bases ósseas dos cortes filé de lombo, filé mignon e aparas. Na descrição óssea, utilizaram-se seis carcaças desossadas de exemplares juvenis de jacaré-do-Pantanal, além de um exemplar adulto, obtido por doação após óbito, do Zoológico da UFMT. Os ossos foram macerados em água corrente, clareados e descritos. Para a descrição muscular, 24 exemplares juvenis foram abatidos e esfolados, conservados em freezer e descongelados quando utilizados, sem qualquer fixação. Após a evisceração, foram dissecados em ambos os antímeros. Os músculos semiespinhal, longuíssimo e iliocostal, fixados nas vértebras e costelas torácicas, lombares e sacrais, formam o filé de lombo. O corte aparas é constituído pelos músculos grande dorsal, serrátil, peitoral e abdominais (oblíquo externo, oblíquo interno, transverso e reto), cuja base óssea corresponde as costelas torácicas, lombares e sacrais, a gastrália, o esterno e o epipúbis. Por sua vez, o m. puboisquiofemoral interno cranial, localizado na região sublombar e o m. troncocaudal, da superfície ventral da pelve, compreendem o filé mignon...

Yacare Caiman meat consumption has become a marketing trend and a commodity on the rise in Mato Grosso state in Brazil. In the last four years, cuts from the trunk represented 28.40% of total meat sales. Although evolutionary studies, morphophysiological ontogenetic and technology research have been carried out, characterization of muscle and bone bases of cuts from the torso has not been previously reported. The aim of this research is to describe the muscles and corresponding bones related to sirloin, filet mignon and meat trims cuts. To describe the bones, we used six boned carcasses from juvenile Yacare Caiman, as well as an adult specimen, obtained by donation after death from the Federal University of Mato Grosso Zoo. The bones were macerated, bleached and their anatomical details recorded. In order to study the muscle, 24 juvenile specimens were obtained after slaughter and skinning and dissected on both sides. The sirloin cut consists of the semispinal, longissimus and iliocostalis muscles, which are inserted on thoracic vertebrae and ribs, as well as lumbar and sacral ribs. The meat trims cut is formed by latissimus dorsi, serratus, pectoral and abdominal (external oblique, internal oblique, transversus and rectus) muscles, based in various bones: bone ribs are the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral ribs, the gastralia, the sternum and epipúbis. The filet mignon cut is formed by the internal puboischiofemoralis cranial (sublumbar) muscle and by the troncocaudal (ventral surface of the pelvis) muscle...