RESUMO

Serum hormone levels were compared between captive and free-living maned wolves and seasonal variations of sex hormones were studied. Blood samples were collected from 16 male and 26 female adult animals from Brazilian zoos, and from 30 male and 24 female free-living adults to determine serum progesterone and testosterone by radioimmunoassay. Serum testosterone concentrations varied (P < 0.05) across seasons for 16 captive males, being higher in autumn (2184.7 +/- 355.1 pg/mL) than in summer (1080.7 +/- 205.4 pg/mL), winter (1270.1 +/- 276.6 pg/mL) and spring (963.9 +/- 248.1 pg/mL), although they did not differ between summer, winter and spring. Testosterone concentration of 30 free-living males differed (P < 0.05) between autumn (824.1 +/- 512.2 pg/mL), winter (14.4 +/- 8.0 pg/mL) and spring (151.9 +/- 90.5 pg/mL). Comparison between captive and free-living animals showed no difference in autumn (P > 0.05). Sixteen captive males showed higher testosterone concentration during winter and spring compared with 30 free-living animals (P < 0.05). Progesterone concentration varied among seasons in 26 captive females (P < 0.05), being higher in autumn (15.3 +/- 3.1 ng/mL) than in summer (6.6 +/- 1.5 ng/mL), winter (5.3 +/- 3.1 ng/mL) and spring (4.3 +/- 0.7 ng/mL). Progesterone concentration of 24 free-living females varied between autumn (17.1 +/- 6.0 ng/mL) and winter (1.7 +/- 0.3 ng/mL) (P < 0.05), but we could not obtain data for spring or summer. No difference in progesterone levels was observed between captive and free-living females in autumn and winter.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Serum hormone levels were compared between captive and free-living maned wolves and seasonal variations of sex hormones were studied. Blood samples were collected from 16 male and 26 female adult animals from Brazilian zoos, and from 30 male and 24 female free-living adults to determine serum progesterone and testosterone by radioimmunoassay. Serum testosterone concentrations varied (P < 0.05) across seasons for 16 captive males, being higher in autumn (2184.7 ± 355.1 pg/mL) than in summer (1080.7 ± 205.4 pg/mL), winter (1270.1 ± 276.6 pg/mL) and spring (963.9 ± 248.1 pg/mL), although they did not differ between summer, winter and spring. Testosterone concentration of 30 free-living males differed (P < 0.05) between autumn (824.1 ± 512.2 pg/mL), winter (14.4 ± 8.0 pg/mL) and spring (151.9 ± 90.5 pg/mL). Comparison between captive and free-living animals showed no difference in autumn (P > 0.05). Sixteen captive males showed higher testosterone concentration during winter and spring compared with 30 free-living animals (P < 0.05). Progesterone concentration varied among seasons in 26 captive females (P < 0.05), being higher in autumn (15.3 ± 3.1 ng/mL) than in summer (6.6 ± 1.5 ng/mL), winter (5.3 ± 3.1 ng/mL) and spring (4.3 ± 0.7 ng/mL). Progesterone concentration of 24 free-living females varied between autumn (17.1 ± 6.0 ng/mL) and winter (1.7 ± 0.3 ng/mL) (P < 0.05), but we could not obtain data for spring or summer. No difference in progesterone levels was observed between captive and free-living females in autumn and winter.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aims of this study were to verify the distribution of births of captive maned wolves Chrysocyon brachyurus and the causes of their deaths during the period from 1980 to 1998, based on the registry of births and deaths in the International Studbook for Maned Wolves. To determine birth distribution and average litter size, 361 parturitions were analyzed for the 1989-98 period. To analyze causes of mortality, the animals were divided into four groups: 1. pups born in captivity that died prior to one year of age; 2. animals born in captivity that died at more than one year of age; 3. animals captured in the wild that died at any age; and 4. all animals that died during the 1980-98 period. In group 1, the main causes of mortality were parental incompetence (67%), infectious diseases, (9%) and digestive system disorders (5%). The average mortality rate for pups was 56%. Parental incompetence was responsible for 95% of pup deaths during the first week of life. In group 2, the main causes were euthanasia (18%) and disorders of the genitourinary (10%) and digestive systems (8%). Euthanasia was implemented due to senility, congenital disorders, degenerative diseases, and trauma. In group 3, the main causes were digestive system disorders (12%), infectious diseases (10%), and lesions or accidents (10%). The main causes of mortality of maned wolves in captivity (group 4) were parental incompetence (38%), infectious diseases (9%), and digestive system disorders (7%).

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aims of this study were to verify the distribution of births of captive maned wolves Chrysocyon brachyurus and the causes of their deaths during the period from 1980 to 1998, based on the registry of births and deaths in the International Studbook for Maned Wolves. To determine birth distribution and average litter size, 361 parturitions were analyzed for the 1989-98 period. To analyze causes of mortality, the animals were divided into four groups: 1. pups born in captivity that died prior to one year of age; 2. animals born in captivity that died at more than one year of age; 3. animals captured in the wild that died at any age; and 4. all animals that died during the 1980-98 period. In group 1, the main causes of mortality were parental incompetence (67 percent), infectious diseases, (9 percent) and digestive system disorders (5 percent). The average mortality rate for pups was 56 percent. Parental incompetence was responsible for 95 percent of pup deaths during the first week of life. In group 2, the main causes were euthanasia (18 percent) and disorders of the genitourinary (10 percent) and digestive systems (8 percent). Euthanasia was implemented due to senility, congenital disorders, degenerative diseases, and trauma. In group 3, the main causes were digestive system disorders (12 percent), infectious diseases (10 percent), and lesions or accidents (10 percent). The main causes of mortality of maned wolves in captivity (group 4) were parental incompetence (38 percent), infectious diseases (9 percent), and digestive system disorders (7 percent)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Vitacanis((R)), a probiotic preparation containing a Lactobacillus acidophilus, an Enterococcus faecium and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been developed for the prevention of intestinal disorders in dogs and cats. In the present study, these microorganisms were tested jointly or singly during experimental infection of gnotobiotic mice with Salmonella Typhimurium. Four experimental groups consisting of animals given probiotics jointly or singly and a control group consisting of germfree mice were used. The groups were treated with one or three of the microorganisms (experimental) or PBS (control) 10 days before intragastric challenge with a suspension containing about 10(2) cells of the bacterial pathogen. A higher survival (P<0.05) was observed in gnotobiotic mice given E. faecium (82%). All the animals in the other groups died after the challenge but the survival time was longer (P<0.05) for groups given all three of the microorganisms (7.4+/-2.4 days) or given only L. acidophilus (7.2+/-2.9 days) than for the control mice (4.4+/-1.1 days) and the mice that received S. cerevisiae (4.9+/-1.6 days) mice. The survival data agreed with the histopathological findings which showed more severe liver and intestinal lesions in control mice and in mice given Saccharomyces. In vitro antagonistic assays showed inhibition growth of E. faecium and S. Typhimurium around the colonies of L. acidophilus and for S. Typhimurium around the colonies of E. faecium. However, in vivo, S. Typhimurium became similarly established in the digestive tract of gnotobiotic mice at levels ranging from 10(8) to 10(10)CFU/g of feces and remained at these high levels until the animals died or were sacrificed. Among the three probiotic components of the commercial product Vitacanis((R)), E. faecium was the only one that provided protection against challenge with S. Typhimurium. Protection was not due to the reduction of the intestinal populations of the pathogenic bacteria.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Este estudo teve como objetivos acompanhar a resposta sorológica pós-vacinal de lobos guará cativos imunizados contra os vírus da cinomose (CDV) e da parvovirose (CPV) caninas com vacina vírus vivo modificado (VVM) produzida para cäes domésticos e determinar um programa de vacinaçäo para a espécie. Amostras de soro foram coletadas de 47 lobos com idades variadas, provenientes de seis zôos. Foram utilizados os testes de soroneutralizaçäo (SN) e inibiçäo da hemaglutinaçäo (HI) para mensurar os títulos de anticorpos contra CDV e CPV, respectivamente, sendo testadas 361 amostras para CDV e 353 para CPV. A avaliaçäo pós-vacinal demonstrou que 72 por cento dos espécimes desenvolveram títulos de SN >-100 contra CDV e 98 por cento desenvolveram títulos de HI >- 80 contra CPV. Lobos guarás sem histórico de vacinaçäo apresentaram soroconversäo após a vacinaçäo. Espécimes com histórico de vacinaçäo e títulos considerados protetores para cäes domésticos mantiveram títulos estáveis ao longo de 12 meses após a vacinaçäo. A VVM utilizada (CDV atenuado por passagens em ovos embrionados de aves SPF e posteriormente adaptado às células da linhagem VERO) mostrou-se segura para os lobos guarás adultos e filhotes

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune response of maned wolves vaccinated with modified-live vaccine (MLV) against canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV), developed for use in domestic dogs. Serum samples were collected from 47 maned wolves from zoos and were analysed by the serum neutralization (SN) and hemagglutination-inhibition (H) tests against CDV and CPV, respectively, being 361 samples tested for CDV and 353 for CPV. The results showed that 72% of samples had SN titers > or = 100 against CDV and 98% developed H titers > or = 80 against CPV. Maned wolves without vaccination history were able to develop antibodies to CDV and CPV after the vaccination. Specimens with vaccination history that showed titers considered protective mantained their response over the period of one year after the vaccination. The MLV used in this study proved to be safe and immunogenic to adult and pup maned wolves.

Este estudo teve como objetivos acompanhar a resposta sorológica pós-vacinal de lobos guarás cativos imunizados contra os vírus da cinomose (CDV) e da parvovirose (CPV) caninas com vacina vírus vivo modificado (VVM) produzida para cães domésticos e determinar um programa de vacinação para a espécie. Amostras de soro foram coletadas de 47 lobos com idades variadas, provenientes de seis zôos. Foram utilizados os testes de soroneutralização (SN) e inibição da hemaglutinação (HI) para mensurar os títulos de anticorpos contra CDV e CPV, respectivamente, sendo testadas 361 amostras para CDV e 353 para CPV. A avaliação pós-vacinal demonstrou que 72% dos espécimes desenvolveram títulos de SN > ou = 100 contra CDV e 98% desenvolveram títulos de HI > ou = 80 contra CPV. Lobos guarás sem histórico de vacinação apresentaram soroconversão após a vacinação. Espécimes com histórico de vacinação e títulos considerados protetores para cães domésticos mantiveram títulos estáveis ao longo de 12 meses após a vacinação. A VVM utilizada (CDV atenuado por passagens em ovos embrionados de aves SPF e posteriormente adaptado às células da linhagem VERO) mostrou-se segura para os lobos guarás adultos e filhotes.