Iago Martins Oliveira, Letícia Oliveira Silva, Maria Eduarda Cardoso Cysneiros, Vitor Guimarães Ribeiro, Maria Fernanda Cavalcante Ramos
{"title":"Correlation between ultrasonographic measurements of the ileum and serum cobalamin concentrations in healthy cats and cats with chronic gastrointestinal signs: A pilot study.","authors":"Iago Martins Oliveira, Letícia Oliveira Silva, Maria Eduarda Cardoso Cysneiros, Vitor Guimarães Ribeiro, Maria Fernanda Cavalcante Ramos","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm000626","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm000626","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Assessing intestinal health in cats with chronic gastrointestinal signs remains challenging. Serum cobalamin concentration is commonly used as a marker of ileal dysfunction, whereas ultrasonography enables morphological evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract. This study investigated the correlation between ultrasonographic ileal wall thickness and serum cobalamin concentrations in healthy cats and cats with chronic gastrointestinal signs. Twelve cats were divided into a symptomatic group (G1, n = 6) and a healthy control group (G2, n = 6) and underwent laboratory testing and abdominal ultrasonography. Mean ileal thickness was slightly greater in G1 (0.22 ± 0.03 cm) than in G2 (0.21 ± 0.02 cm), although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.48). Serum cobalamin concentrations also did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.81). Correlation analysis demonstrated a weak, nonsignificant positive correlation in G1 and a moderate, nonsignificant correlation in G2. These findings suggest that ileal thickness alone is not a reliable predictor of serum cobalamin concentration and highlight the need for multifactorial diagnostic approaches and studies with larger sample sizes.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e000626"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13313039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148355041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mateus Gonçalves Costa, Rodrigo Vasconcelos de Oliveira, Samuel Rodrigues Bonamichi do Couto, Nicolas Moreira Piedras Monnerat Caparelli, Thiago Souza Vieira, Raphael Azevedo Lamim, Daniela Cristina Rocha de Freitas, Marco Roberto Bourg de Mello
{"title":"Effect of buserelin acetate at artificial insemination on pregnancy per AI in dairy cows inseminated with sexed semen.","authors":"Mateus Gonçalves Costa, Rodrigo Vasconcelos de Oliveira, Samuel Rodrigues Bonamichi do Couto, Nicolas Moreira Piedras Monnerat Caparelli, Thiago Souza Vieira, Raphael Azevedo Lamim, Daniela Cristina Rocha de Freitas, Marco Roberto Bourg de Mello","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003726","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study determined whether administration of buserelin acetate (BA), a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, during timed artificial insemination (TAI) improves pregnancy per AI (P/AI) of dairy cows inseminated with sexed semen. A total of 116 Girolando cows from three commercial dairy farms were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: Buserelin Group (BG; n = 58) that received 10 µg BA during AI, and Control Group (CG; n = 58) that did not receive an ovulation inducer. All animals were subjected to a standard ovulation-synchronization protocol, with AI performed 48 h after removing the progesterone device. Cyclicity status at the beginning of the protocol and preovulatory follicle (POF) diameter were included as covariates in statistical analysis. No significant difference in P/AI was observed between treatments (22.4% in BG vs. 13.8% in CG; <i>P</i> = 0.11). Exploratory subgroup analyses indicated a numerical tendency toward relatively high P/AI in anestrous cows treated with BA at the beginning of the protocol. Additionally, cows in BG with a POF < 13 mm showed numerically greater P/AI than did those with POF ≥ 13 mm. Overall, BA administration during AI did not significantly improve P/AI in dairy cows impregnated with sexed semen. The subgroup findings should be cautiously interpreted as the study was not specifically designed or powered for these comparisons. Further studies with relatively large populations are warranted to confirm these potential associations.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e003726"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13281988/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clarissa Angélica Azevedo Pardão, Jacques Fideles da Silva, Júlia Aline Santos de Mello Pereira, Mário Mendes Bonci, Carlos Alexandre Rey Matias, Águida Aparecida de Oliveira
{"title":"Isolated mycobiota from carcasses of wild animals run over on Highway 493 in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.","authors":"Clarissa Angélica Azevedo Pardão, Jacques Fideles da Silva, Júlia Aline Santos de Mello Pereira, Mário Mendes Bonci, Carlos Alexandre Rey Matias, Águida Aparecida de Oliveira","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm006425","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm006425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ''barrier effect'' is caused by the intense construction of highways in the present day. It's a phenomenon that modifies the dynamics of circulation and disperses animal communities, isolating them on both sides of the highways and reducing the gene flow of the population. In order to evaluate its impact, over a period of two years, the monitoring of the wild fauna run over on a federal highway in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was carried out. Samples of animals found dead were identified and sown on mycological culture media, and the fungi were later identified. The three most frequently found animal species were, respectively: bat (Ordem Chiroptera), opossum (<i>Didelphis aurita</i>), and capybara (<i>Hidrochoerus hidrochaeris</i>). A great diversity of fungi was found in all the 55 samples of cadaveric remains from the carcasses found throughout the period - different species belonging to more than 10 fungal genera, including <i>Mucor</i> sp. and <i>Rhyzopus</i> sp<i>.</i> (belonging to the Order Mucorales), <i>Aspergillus</i> sp., <i>Acremonium</i> sp., <i>Cladosporium</i> sp. and <i>Fusarium</i> sp. (These last 4 belong to the phylum Ascomycota). This study solidifies the understanding about the impacts caused by anthropic expansion on Brazilian fauna and the succession of mycoobiota in cadaveric decomposition.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e006425"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13281990/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rita de Cássia Anaya Gutierrez, Luciana Bandini, João Filipe Requicha, Silvia Lourenço, Cristina de Oliveira Massoco Salle Gomes
{"title":"Comparison of simple and rapid collection methods for measuring salivary IL-6 and PGE<sub>2</sub> in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis: a pilot study.","authors":"Rita de Cássia Anaya Gutierrez, Luciana Bandini, João Filipe Requicha, Silvia Lourenço, Cristina de Oliveira Massoco Salle Gomes","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm012125","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm012125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is characterized by persistent oral inflammation, leading to severe pain, hyporexia, weight loss, and reduced well-being. Affected cats exhibit altered levels of inflammatory mediators; however, most diagnostic procedures require administration of anesthesia, highlighting the need for alternative monitoring approaches. This prospective exploratory pilot study aimed to compare two simple and rapid saliva collection methods-pipetting and absorbent paper points-used for assessing prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in cats. Saliva samples were obtained from 86 cats that were initially evaluated and classified into three groups: FCGS (n=22), other oral inflammatory conditions (OOIC) (n=27), and controls without oral inflammation (n=37); 25 of the control animals were subsequently excluded from the analysis. Compared with pipetting, absorbent paper points were better tolerated by cats with oral inflammation. In the samples collected by pipetting, the mean IL-6 concentration was higher in the FCGS group (473.10 pg/mL) than in the control group (12.78 pg/mL). A similar pattern was observed in samples collected using absorbent paper points; IL-6 levels were highest in the FCGS group (170.90 pg/mL), followed by the OOIC (6.05 pg/mL) and control (1.50 pg/mL) groups. PGE<sub>2</sub> levels were also highest in the FCGS group (647.52 pg/mL), followed by the control group (182.13 pg/mL) and the OOIC group (111.40 pg/mL). These findings should be interpreted in light of the pilot design, sample exclusions, and absence of a diagnostic reference standard. Nonetheless, salivary assessment appears to be a feasible and promising noninvasive approach for monitoring oral inflammation in cats with FCGS.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e012125"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13281992/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giovanna Pestana Silva, Diana do Amaral Mendonça, Emmanuel José Fialho Camilo, Nathália da Conceição Lima, Markos Panayotis Damatis, Rafaela Pereira de Souza, Bruno Alberigi
{"title":"Cardiovascular evaluation in overweight and obese dogs.","authors":"Giovanna Pestana Silva, Diana do Amaral Mendonça, Emmanuel José Fialho Camilo, Nathália da Conceição Lima, Markos Panayotis Damatis, Rafaela Pereira de Souza, Bruno Alberigi","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm004426","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm004426","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canine obesity is a multifactorial nutritional disorder characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue with systemic health consequences. However, the cardiovascular effects of obesity in dogs have not been completely characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters of dogs with normal body condition, overweight, and obesity. Thirty client-owned dogs were divided into three groups of ten: Group 1 (G1, body condition score [BCS] 4-5/9), Group 2 (G2, overweight, BCS 6-7/9), and Group 3 (G3, obese, BCS 8-9/9). All animals underwent physical examination, electrocardiography, and echocardiography, and their canine body mass index and thoracic-to-abdominal circumference ratio were measured. Exercise intolerance and dyspnea were significantly more frequent in G3 (90% and 70%) than in G1 (20% and 10%) and G2 (60% and 10%) (p<0.05). The P-wave (p = 0.030) and QRS (p = 0.049) durations increased progressively from G1 to G3. The left atrial diameter (p = 0.010) and left atrium-to-aortic root ratio (p = 0.011) were significantly greater for G3, and mitral valve abnormalities were more prevalent in obese dogs (p = 0.023). The thoracic-to-abdominal circumference ratio was significantly lower in G2 and G3 (p = 0.003), reflecting abdominal fat redistribution. No significant differences were found in the systolic or conventional diastolic function indices. These findings indicate that obesity in dogs is associated with early cardiovascular alterations, morphometric changes, electrocardiographic conduction delays, and left atrial remodeling in the absence of overt cardiac dysfunction. This underscores the importance of routine cardiovascular monitoring in overweight and obese canine patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e004426"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13281986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ananda Teixeira Neves Pontes, Maria Katarina Lopes Cabral, Camylla Monteiro Meneses, Luis Teles Coutinho, José Augusto Bastos Afonso da Silva, Maria Isabel de Souza, Márcia Bersane Araújo de Medeiros Torres
{"title":"Ocular squamous cell carcinoma in cattle: clinicopathological and prognostic considerations.","authors":"Ananda Teixeira Neves Pontes, Maria Katarina Lopes Cabral, Camylla Monteiro Meneses, Luis Teles Coutinho, José Augusto Bastos Afonso da Silva, Maria Isabel de Souza, Márcia Bersane Araújo de Medeiros Torres","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm011025","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm011025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ocular and periocular neoplasms in cattle are of great clinical and economic significance, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most prevalent. The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of neoplasms in these regions in cattle from the Agreste region of Pernambuco by evaluating 45 cases (25 retrospective and 20 prospective), including clinical, epidemiological, and morphological data. SCC was the most frequent tumor (n = 43), with one case of papilloma also observed. In addition, one ocular dermoid, a non-neoplastic lesion, was identified. SCC was mainly located in the third eyelid, with lesions smaller than 3 cm, exclusively affecting adult females of dairy breeds. Microscopically, according to a multifactorial classification system, grade 1 tumors were predominant. The presence of multinucleated and basal cells was noted in neoplasms with relatively aggressive biological behavior. In the prospective cases, clinical progression could be followed, with records of recurrence and economic losses for farmers. Neoplasms larger than 3 cm were associated with relatively poor biological behavior, suggesting the importance of early clinical diagnosis for prognosis. The results reinforce the relevance of incorporating epidemiological, clinical, and morphological factors into lesion staging, aiming to improve the grading system used in this study for application to ocular carcinomas in cattle.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e011025"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13281987/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Fernando Balaguera Quinche, Rodrigo Forero Carrillo, Paula Andrea Balaguera Quinche
{"title":"Reflections on the use of living animals in vet education through the creation of physiology didactic biomodels.","authors":"David Fernando Balaguera Quinche, Rodrigo Forero Carrillo, Paula Andrea Balaguera Quinche","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003026","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of living animals in education remains a topic of debate, particularly in health and veterinary sciences. While some authors justify animal experimentation as essential for scientific advancement and practical learning, others question its ethical implications and advocate for alternative teaching methods. This study aimed to explore veterinary students' reflections on the use of living animals in physiology teaching through the development of functional didactic biomodels simulating physiological processes originally identified through experimental animal procedures.The study was conducted at two universities in Bogotá, Colombia, during a physiology course over one academic year. Initially, students participated in discussions addressing the history of animal experimentation and the major physiological discoveries obtained through invasive procedures involving animals. Subsequently, students developed three-dimensional didactic biomodels representing physiological mechanisms previously investigated through animal experimentation. At the end of the activity, students participated in open-ended experiential feedback sessions regarding the possibility of using living animals for educational purposes.The findings demonstrated heterogeneous perspectives among participants, ranging from acceptance to rejection of the practice. Some students opposed the use of animals based on ethical concerns and animal welfare principles, emphasizing the importance of alternative teaching approaches. Others recognized the educational value of alternative methods capable of replacing animal use. In contrast, some participants supported the use of living animals, arguing that direct contact with biological material provides a unique and impactful learning experience and may facilitate the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as stimulate future scientific research.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e003026"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13281989/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Santiago Duque-Arias, Natalia Maria Granda-Orozco, Mónica Montejo-Casteñeda
{"title":"Neoplasia and infectious disease in the critically endangered species <i>Crax alberti</i>.","authors":"Santiago Duque-Arias, Natalia Maria Granda-Orozco, Mónica Montejo-Casteñeda","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm007525","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm007525","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The following report presents the results of clinical, pathological and, histopathological analyses of two individuals of <i>Crax alberti</i>, a critically endangered species. One individual was diagnosed with cholangiocellular carcinoma with concurrent respiratory involvement, while the other presented pneumonia associated with <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp., with secondary renal involvement. In captive conditions, increased longevity and close contact between individuals may favor the occurrence of infectious and neoplastic conditions, as observed in these cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e007525"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13281991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luís Eduardo Seabra de Freitas, Lucas Araújo Ferreira, Elaine Lopes de Carvalho, Elane Guerreiro Giese
{"title":"Record of occurrence and histopathological changes induced by nematodes of the family Capillariidae in the tongue of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals.","authors":"Luís Eduardo Seabra de Freitas, Lucas Araújo Ferreira, Elaine Lopes de Carvalho, Elane Guerreiro Giese","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003826","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003826","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The family Capillaridae comprises of nematodes within the order Trichinellida that parasitize a wide range of vertebrate hosts, targeting the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary tracts. While these helminths are frequently recorded in scientific literature, few studies report their presence in other anatomical sites such as the tongue. With that in mind, this study provides a systematic review of articles from 1975 to January 2026 focusing on the description of the presence and pathological alterations caused by helminths from the family Capillariidae whose habitat is the tongue of animals A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including SciELO, PubMed, BVS, Periódico Capes, and ACS publications platforms, using the descriptors \"Tongue AND Capillariidae;\" \"Tongue AND <i>Eucoleus</i>,\" \"Tongue AND <i>Capillaria</i>,\" and \"Histopathology AND Capillariidae\". Of the 83 studies initially identified, 18 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis, and were used in the present study. The review identified 2 genera <i>Eucoleus</i> and <i>Capillaria</i>, parasitizing the tongue. These parasites were found embedded in the stratified squamous keratinized epithelium of the tongue, with adult helminths most frequently localized in the caudal third of the tongue, with eggs being present. In most cases, no significant morphological abnormalities; however, in the case of <i>E. garfiai</i>, was described that showed the presence of adjacent lymphocytic and eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrate, and hyperkeratosis caused by the helminth. Given the limited number of detailed reports, further research is needed to better characterize tissue inflammatory reactions and elucidate the potential clinical and pathological implications of lingual capillariasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"003826"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13179046/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147965785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Noelia Vazquez, Dellis Dos Santos, Germán Antúnez, Rody Artigas, Nicolás Amaro, Flavia Zanolli, Emilia Lanza, Cecilia Cajarville
{"title":"How does solid feed composition affect reticular development in calves receiving high milk replacer? A comparison of starter concentrate and alfalfa hay.","authors":"Noelia Vazquez, Dellis Dos Santos, Germán Antúnez, Rody Artigas, Nicolás Amaro, Flavia Zanolli, Emilia Lanza, Cecilia Cajarville","doi":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm010825","DOIUrl":"10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm010825","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reticulum, the second compartment of the ruminant stomach, is crucial in the stratification and sorting of ingested particles. Early-life nutrition influences forestomach development; however, its specific effects on reticular morphology are not well understood. This study evaluated the impact of two solid feed regimens-starter concentrate (Group A) versus alfalfa hay (Group B)-on reticular development in 60-day-old Holstein calves receiving 8 L/day of milk replacer. Twenty male calves were randomly assigned to the dietary treatments, and feed intake, body weight, and reticular morphometry were assessed. Reticulum samples were examined macroscopically, histologically, and using scanning electron microscopy. No significant differences were found in gross reticulum weight or linear dimensions between groups. Histological analyses, however, revealed greater structural complexity in Group B. Forage-fed calves exhibited more developed primary, secondary, and tertiary reticular crests (<i>cristae reticulares</i>), larger papillae along free margins, and more prominent unguiculiform papillae. These structural features likely improve mechanical sorting and retention of fibrous particles, promoting efficient fermentation. Starter-fed calves showed simpler crest architecture and smaller papillae, consistent with lower fiber intake; however, papillary development was still evident, indicating that solid feed contributes to epithelial growth. These findings emphasize the reticulum as a distinct anatomical and functional unit within the forestomach. Early inclusion of adequate dietary fiber through alfalfa hay enhances reticular complexity, which may support more effective particle sorting, improved fermentation, and long-term digestive efficiency. Overall, pre-weaning feeding strategies that incorporate fiber can positively influence reticular development, with potential benefits for nutrient absorption, digestive function, and calf growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":72458,"journal":{"name":"Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"e0102825"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13142043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}