RESUMEN
Background: In the routine care of non-human primates, ocular trauma is frequent, however, unlike the small animal clinic, the prevalence of corneal ulcers is not documented. Among the numerous therapeutic options available in dogs, blood serum is being increasingly used as an adjuvant treatment in these conditions, due to its tear-like properties. Based on this, the present study aims to describe a case of corneal ulcer in a southern brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) attacked by a porcupine, and the use of heterologous serum obtained from an equine as an adjuvant treatment. Case: A southern brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans), which had been attacked by porcupine quills, was treated at a University Veterinary Hospital. During the clinical examination, the presence of blepharospasm and secretion in the right eye was noticed. The ophthalmological examination, through the fluorescein test, detected the presence of an extensive superficial corneal ulcer in the right eye. After removing the spines, the corneal ulcer was treated with tobramycin-based eye drops, 1% atropine sulfate eye drops, and serum from equine blood in the form of eye drops, as an adjuvant therapy. After 5 days of treatment, the fluorescein test was repeated, which was negative in both eyes due to complete healing of the lesion, and thus the treatment was concluded. Discussion: The scarcity of scientific literature on wild animals is one of the factors responsible for the difficulty in advancing clinical and surgical procedures in non-human primates. Corneal ulcers are characterized by the loss of corneal epithelium with exposure of the stroma. The main clinical treatments adopted include antimicrobial therapy, analgesics, lubricating agents, and antiprotease drugs. Widely used as an adjuvant therapy in corneal ulcers in small animals, blood serum presents some advantages, as it is rich in growth factors, vitamins, immunoglobulins, and anti-collagenolytic substances, in addition to being obtained for a low cost. Considering the aforementioned, in the case reported, it was decided to use blood serum obtained from an equine as an adjuvant treatment of the corneal ulcer in a southern brown howler monkey. Complete healing of the corneal ulcer was confirmed in just five days, contributing to the well-being of this animal and contributing to the evolution of ophthalmology in this species that is still poorly studied.
Asunto(s)
Animales , Úlcera de la Córnea/terapia , Úlcera de la Córnea/veterinaria , Antígenos Heterófilos/sangre , Alouatta/lesiones , Erizos , Caballos/sangreRESUMEN
The purpose of the present investigation was to generate pregnancy associated glycoprotein (PAG)-profiles throughout pregnancy in a heterogenous sample of sheep using a radioimmunoassay with a heterologous antibody (anti-caPAG(55+59), #708) and utilize them for the purpose of pregnancy detection. From 2 weeks after the introduction of males into the breeding herd until 4 weeks after parturition, weekly blood samples were collected from 66 pregnant and 25 non-pregnant ewes of various breeds. Between 3 and 5 weeks after conception, plasma PAG levels increased, remained almost stable until week 17, then continued to increase, culminating in a drastic surge during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy. By 4 weeks of gestation, the plasma PAG level exceeded the level typical for non-pregnant ewes by five standard deviations, permitting a reliable pregnancy diagnosis. Plasma PAG levels were higher in twin-bearing ewes than in ewes carrying a single lamb, differences getting more evident as pregnancy proceeded. Neither breed and parity of the mother nor sex and weight of lambs borne exerted a significant effect. The heterologous assay system utilizing a caprine antibody proved to deliver results that are more consistent and less depending on various variables than those used in other studies. It may be concluded that, at the present state of development, the assay provides a reliable means of diagnosing pregnancy in sheep from the 4th week after they have been bred onward.