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Research on electrocardiology in dogs has primarily relied on methods developed for human cardiology, specifically in placing electrodes on the limbs and thorax. However, these methods do not consider the canine heart’s unique anatomical structure and electrophysiological characteristics. In this study, we propose a new arrangement of electrodes that aligns better with the anatomy of the canine heart by creating planes and axes that are more suitable for this species. This study compared two acquisition methods this article will be made available, without undue reser both frontal and transverse planes. Ninety dogs, aged between 1 and 5 years, of varying weights and both sexes, were evaluated. All dogs underwent two distinct methods to examine 12-lead ECG and sequential vectorcardiograms. With the new electrode arrangement method, we found that leads DI, AVL, V5, and V6 accurately demonstrated the lateral wall of the left ventricle ( p  < 0.0001). The frontal, transverse, and sagittal planes consistently represented the P, QRS complex, J point, and T waves. The new method offers a unique and original approach, providing a more accurate representation of cardiac electrical activity than the conventional method. Although it has not been directly evaluated in animals with heart disease, this new electrode arrangement method has potential for future applications in diagnostic contexts. This new electrode arrangement can be a valuable tool for screening and early diagnosis in veterinary cardiology for dogs.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is characterized by the failure of complete closure of the communication between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk during the early stages of life and is frequently observed in young animals. This vascular connection originates from pulmonary non-functionality during the fetal period and should close shortly after birth. In the absence of complete closure, the patient becomes a carrier of PDA, often with hemodynamic consequences. The aim of the present case report is to describe a case of PDA in an elderly mixed-breed dog. A mixed-breed dog, approximately 12 years old, was referred for cardiological evaluation due to a history of excessive fatigue reported over the previous 60 days. Clinical and laboratory examinations revealed a continuous murmur localized over the pulmonary area. Additional diagnostic tests were requested for further investigation. On Doppler echocardiographic examination, the following findings were observed: continuous turbulent flow at the site of the ductus arteriosus in the pulmonary trunk (left-to-right shunting); a minimal ductal diameter ranging from approximately 4.3 to 5.7 mm; and no abnormalities in other cardiac structures. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of PDA. Given the presence of flow reversal, routine clinical monitoring was recommended. A persistência do ducto arterioso (PDA) é caracterizada pela falha no fechamento completo da comunicação entre a artéria aorta e o tronco pulmonar durante os estágios iniciais de vida, sendo frequentemente observada em animais jovens. A ligação entre os vasos é derivada da afuncionalidade pulmonar no período fetal, que deveria ser ocluída logo após o nascimento e, na ausência de oclusão completa, o paciente se torna portador de PDA, geralmente com repercussão hemodinâmica. O objetivo do presente relato é descrever um caso de PDA em paciente sem raça definida idoso. Um cão, sem raça definida, com aproximadamente 12 anos de idade, foi encaminhado para avaliação cardiológica mediante histórico de cansaço excessivo, identificado há 60 dias. Ao exame clínico-laboratorial, constatou-se sopro contínuo em foco pulmonar. Exames complementares foram solicitados para maiores investigações. Ao exame ecodopplercardiográfico, notou-se: fluxo turbulento e contínuo em topografia do canal arterial no tronco pulmonar (direção esquerda-direita); diâmetro ductal mínimo de aproximadamente 4,3 – 5,7mm; demais estruturas sem alterações. Os achados foram conclusivos de PDA, e mediante a presença de reversão de fluxo, foi indicado apenas o monitoramento clínico rotineiro.

A persistência do ducto arterioso (PDA) é caracterizada pela falha no fechamento completo da comunicação entre a artéria aorta e o tronco pulmonar durante os estágios iniciais de vida, sendo frequentemente observada em animais jovens. A ligação entre os vasos é derivada da afuncionalidade pulmonar no período fetal, que deveria ser ocluída logo após o nascimento e, na ausência de oclusão completa, o paciente se torna portador de PDA, geralmente com repercussão hemodinâmica. O objetivo do presente relato é descrever um caso de PDA em paciente sem raça definida idoso. Um cão, sem raça definida, com aproximadamente 12 anos de idade, foi encaminhado para avaliação cardiológica mediante histórico de cansaço excessivo, identificado há 60 dias. Ao exame clínico-laboratorial, constatou-se sopro contínuo em foco pulmonar. Exames complementares foram solicitados para maiores investigações. Ao exame ecodopplercardiográfico, notou-se: fluxo turbulento e contínuo em topografia do canal arterial no tronco pulmonar (direção esquerda-direita); diâmetro ductal mínimo de aproximadamente 4,3 – 5,7mm; demais estruturas sem alterações. Os achados foram conclusivos de PDA, e mediante a presença de reversão de fluxo, foi indicado apenas o monitoramento clínico rotineiro. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is characterized by the failure of complete closure of the communication between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk during the early stages of life and is frequently observed in young animals. This vascular connection originates from pulmonary non-functionality during the fetal period and should close shortly after birth. In the absence of complete closure, the patient becomes a carrier of PDA, often with hemodynamic consequences. The aim of the present case report is to describe a case of PDA in an elderly mixed-breed dog. A mixed-breed dog, approximately 12 years old, was referred for cardiological evaluation due to a history of excessive fatigue reported over the previous 60 days. Clinical and laboratory examinations revealed a continuous murmur localized over the pulmonary area. Additional diagnostic tests were requested for further investigation. On Doppler echocardiographic examination, the following findings were observed: continuous turbulent flow at the site of the ductus arteriosus in the pulmonary trunk (left-to-right shunting); a minimal ductal diameter ranging from approximately 4.3 to 5.7 mm; and no abnormalities in other cardiac structures. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of PDA. Given the presence of flow reversal, routine clinical monitoring was recommended.

On 15 February 2022, the city of Petrópolis in the highlands of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, received an unusually high volume of rain within 3 h (258 mm), generated by a strongly invigorated mesoscale convective system. It resulted in flash floods and subsequent landslides that caused the deadliest landslide disaster recorded in Petrópolis, with 231 fatalities. In this paper, we analyzed the root causes and the key triggering factors of this landslide disaster by assessing the spatial relationship of landslide occurrence with various environmental factors. Rainfall data were retrieved from 1977 to 2022 (a combination of ground weather stations and the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation – CHIRPS). Remotely sensed data were used to map the landslide scars, soil moisture, terrain attributes, line-of-sight displacement (land surface deformation), and urban sprawling (1985–2020). The results showed that the average monthly rainfall for February 2022 was 200 mm, the heaviest recorded in Petrópolis since 1932. Heavy rainfall was also recorded mostly in regions where the landslide occurred, according to analyses of the rainfall spatial distribution. As for terrain, 23 % of slopes between 45–60∘ had landslide occurrences and east-facing slopes appeared to be the most conducive for landslides as they recorded landslide occurrences of about 9 % to 11 %. Regarding the soil moisture, higher variability was found in the lower altitude (842 m) where the residential area is concentrated. Based on our land deformation assessment, the area is geologically stable, and the landslide occurred only in the thin layer at the surface. Out of the 1700 buildings found in the region of interest, 1021 are on the slope between 20 to 45∘ and about 60 houses were directly affected by the landslides. As such, we conclude that the heavy rainfall was not the only cause responsible for the catastrophic event of 15 February 2022; a combination of unplanned urban growth on slopes between 45–60∘, removal of vegetation, and the absence of inspection were also expressive driving forces of this disaster.

Plant-parasitic nematodes pose a significant threat to economically important crops, causing annual losses amounting to billions of dollars. Accurate identification of these pathogens is crucial for the implementation of effective management strategies. Various methods are available for nematode species identification; however, some rely on trained taxonomists (morphological methods), specific stages of the nematode (isoenzyme electrophoresis and perineal pattern analysis) or require costly equipment and reagents (conventional or real-time polymerase chain reaction). Loop-mediated isothermal amplification is a molecular technique with the potential to offer a precise, simple, and relatively affordable diagnosis of nematode species. Although widely utilized in microbiology, human and veterinary medicine, its application in plant nematology remains relatively unexplored. This article presents a comprehensive review of the loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique, existing protocols for plant-parasitic nematode diagnosis, and the future prospects for harnessing this method in the field of plant nematology.

Brazil is the largest coffee-producing nation in the world. Over 50% of the national production comes from the Minas Gerais state, with relevant contribution of the region covered by the Cerrado biome. Given the threat posed by root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) to coffee production, we collected plant and soil samples from infested plantations across 16 counties and identified the species of this pathogen. Based on the female perineal patterns, male morphology, esterase phenotypes and SCAR markers, the species found were Meloidogyne exigua, Meloidogyne paranaensis, Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne arenaria. The most prevalent species was M. exigua, occurring in 83.8% of the sampled sites, followed by M. paranaensis (19%) and M. incognita (4.9%). Mixed populations of RKN were observed in 7.7% of the sites, with the highest prevalence of M. exigua + M. paranaensis and M. paranaensis + M. incognita, followed by M. exigua + M. incognita. Meloidogyne arenaria was found in one site, in a mixed population with M. paranaensis + M. exigua. Strategies to prevent the spread of these nematodes to non-infested areas are highly recommended, particularly focusing on the most aggressive species such as M. paranaensis and M. incognita.

Tropical forests hold most of Earth's biodiversity and a higher concentration of threatened mammals than other biomes. As a result, some mammal species persist almost exclusively in protected areas, often within extensively transformed and heavily populated landscapes. Other species depend on remaining remote forested areas with sparse human populations. However, it remains unclear how mammalian communities in tropical forests respond to anthropogenic pressures in the broader landscape in which they are embedded. As governments commit to increasing the extent of global protected areas to prevent further biodiversity loss, identifying the landscape-level conditions supporting wildlife has become essential. Here, we assessed the relationship between mammal communities and anthropogenic threats in the broader landscape. We simultaneously modeled species richness and community occupancy as complementary metrics of community structure, using a state-of-the-art community model parameterized with a standardized pan-tropical data set of 239 mammal species from 37 forests across 3 continents. Forest loss and fragmentation within a 50-km buffer were associated with reduced occupancy in monitored communities, while species richness was unaffected by them. In contrast, landscape-scale human density was associated with reduced mammal richness but not occupancy, suggesting that sensitive species have been extirpated, while remaining taxa are relatively unaffected. Taken together, these results provide evidence of extinction filtering within tropical forests triggered by anthropogenic pressure occurring in the broader landscape. Therefore, existing and new reserves may not achieve the desired biodiversity outcomes without concurrent investment in addressing landscape-scale threats.