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Pathoanatomical studies of diseases that affect wild animals are extremely important as appropriate measures can then be taken for the prevention and control of such diseases. We report here the case of death of a greater rhea ( ) by intestinal intussusception secondary to the ingestion of a large amount of sand. The animal was bred at the Center for Multiplication of Wild Animals of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid. The animal died after presenting clinical signs of apathy, weakness, prostration, and inability to move, drink water, or eat. After death, the carcass was immediately sent for necropsy. During necropsy, intussusception was found involving the jejunum, ileum, and colon. The duodenum contained large amounts of coarse sand. The invaginated intestinal segments were reddish in color, with necrotic spots, and covered by a fibrinous exudate. Histopathological examination of the invaginated segments showed necrosis of the enterocytes, detachment of the intestinal epithelium, and the presence of inflammatory cells. The ingestion of a large amount of sand may have resulted in altered intestinal transit, contributing to the occurrence of intussusception, which resulted in ischemic alterations, intestinal necrosis, and consequent death of the animal.

Morphological studies concerning the digestive system can further information on animal diets, thus aiding in the understanding of feeding behavior. Given the scarcity of information on sea turtle digestive system morphology, the aim of the present study was to describe the digestive tube (DT) morphology of Eretmochelys imbricata hatchlings to further understand the diet of these individuals in the wild. DT samples from 10 stillborn turtles (undefined sex) were analyzed at the macro and microscopic levels. The esophagus, stomach, small intestine (SI), and large intestine (LI) are described. Histologically, the DT is formed by four tunics, the mucosa, submucosa, muscular, and adventitia or serosa. The esophagus is lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, while the remainder of the DT is lined by a simple columnar epithelium. The esophagus mucosa is marked by conical, pointed papillae. The stomach comprises three regions, the cardiac, fundic, and pyloric and is covered by neutral mucous granular cells. The intestinal mucosa presents absorptive cells with microvilli, neutral and acidic goblet cells, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. The SI is significantly longer than the LI (p value = 0.006841). These morphological findings are strong indications of adaptations to a carnivorous diet in this hawksbill turtle age group.

Abstract Application of assisted reproduction techniques are essential for the preservation of endangered species, and ultrasonography has emerged as an interesting tool in this process, allowing noninvasive assessment of reproductive stages and characterization of male gonads. This review provides a compilation on the applications and perspectives of using ultrasonography for investigation of the morphological and functional aspects of the male reproductive tract in wild species. The technique, which has been improved with the use of vascular doppler, allows detailed analysis of blood flow and aids in the selection of individuals for breeding programs. Although there are challenges, such as physiological variations among species and the difficulty for applying ultrasonography to birds and reptiles, advances in imaging technologies, including elastography and doppler, have expanded the possibilities for diagnosis and monitoring reproductive status in various mammals. Ultrasonographic analysis contributes to the assessment of fertility, detection of testicular diseases and the definition of protocols for reproductive management, becoming an important tool in the conservation of wildlife and in the development of more effective assisted reproductive technologies.

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), a sirenian species critically endangered throughout its range, possesses unique ocular adaptations to aquatic life, including reduced eyes, vascularized corneas and an anteriorly displaced lens. We aimed to document the first known case of congenital bilateral cataract associated with retinal dysplasia in a stranded manatee calf. We evaluated a manatee neonate calf, about 4 days old, kept in the Center for Rehabilitation of the National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals on Itamaracá Island, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Clinical signs included impaired postural behaviour, failure to avoid obstacles and inability to locate food independently. Ophthalmologic evaluation revealed absent menace response and glare reflex, supporting the hypothesis of visual impairment. Ultrasonographic imaging confirmed bilateral lens opacity and retinal folding consistent with retinal dysplasia, without signs of inflammation or persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. Although congenital cataracts may regress in terrestrial mammals, follow‐up examination 2 years later indicated persistence and slight progression of lens opacity in this case. These findings expand current understanding of congenital ocular disorders in aquatic mammals and underscore the importance of early, thorough clinical assessments for rescued individuals. Furthermore, the presence of such conditions may complicate rehabilitation and release efforts, emphasizing the need for additional research into the aetiology, progression and conservation impact of congenital diseases in small, vulnerable populations of threatened species. Summary First documented case of congenital cataract and retinal dysplasia in an Antillean manatee. Visual impairment strongly correlated with reduced exploratory behaviour and is possible cause of stranding. This study reports the first documented case of bilateral congenital cataract associated with retinal dysplasia in an Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) calf. Ophthalmologic examination and ocular ultrasonography confirmed lens opacity at the posterior pole, which correlated with behavioural deficits consistent with visual impairment. A 2‐year follow‐up revealed persistence and slight progression of the cataract, whereas behavioural responses improved, highlighting the value of ultrasonography as a non‐invasive tool for diagnosis and monitoring during rehabilitation.

In this paper we report the trauma suffered by a green turtle ), caused by a collision with a motorboat, and describe the case and . An adult female green turtle was rescued alive on December 2, 2016 at Ponta Negra beach, municipality of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The rescued animal was sent to the Marine Fauna Rehabilitation Center (PCCB-UERN), municipality of Areia Branca (RN), in Brazil. Physical examination revealed an excellent body score, noisy breathing, moderate dehydration, absence of hind limb and cloacal reflexes when stimulated by pressure, and two traumatic injuries characteristic of a collision with a motorboat. After three days of supportive treatment, the animal died and was immediately sent for necropsy. The animal had a complete fracture of the vertebral bodies (dorsal elements D9 and D10) and spinal cord section. The entire gastrointestinal tract had food content, in addition to sharp injuries in the colon caused by the bone fragments of the fractured carapace. The lungs were congested, hemorrhagic with frothy and bloody secretion, and interstitial bronchiole fibrosis. There was also present some fibrin and a large number of leukocyte cells, consisting mainly of macrophages. The liver was enlarged, with rounded edges and thickening of the capsule, multifocal areas of hepatocellular necrosis, and dissociation of the hepatocyte cords. The collision resulted in the exposure of the coelomic cavity and spinal cord, causing the animal intense pain, paralysis of the hind limbs and cloaca, septicemia, and consequently, death.

Worldwide, sea turtles are affected by anthropic waste. Animals, unable to differentiate anthropic waste from food, ingest this waste from their surroundings. After ingestion, the waste may cause a digestive tract blockage, thereby compromising the feeding and digestion capacity of the turtles, causing malnutrition, which may lead to death. Radiological imaging can be performed in turtles under rehabilitation to identify alterations of the digestive tract, such as intussusceptions, impactions, obstructions, torsions, neoplasms, and foreign bodies. These alterations are a result of either the ingestion of anthropogenic residues or natural causes. Moreover, diagnostic imaging exams play an important role in interventional medicine as they can indicate the location and type of ingested waste, thereby facilitating decision-making for the treatment of the afflicted animals. The aim of this study was to analyse the published scientific literature surrounding the effects of the ingestion of anthropogenic residue by sea turtles and the main imaging modalities used for their diagnosis. This was undertaken to provide clinicians with a greater amount of information regarding the digestive tract diseases of these animals and consequently, provide better outcomes of the rehabilitation processes. Furthermore, the outcomes of this study provide key information regarding the conservation of these species, among others.

The objective of the trial was to evaluate the effects of arginine supplementation in the feed of gestating sows on the variability of piglet birth weight. The weight of the piglets was evaluated using descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and analysis of variance with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. This arrangement included no supplementation or supplementation with 1.0 % L-arginine, combined in three periods. Period 1: from days 25 to 53 of gestation, providing 23 g/day from days 25 to 28 and 18 g/day from days 29 to 53 of gestation; period 2: from days 30 to 60 of gestation and from day 80 of gestation to farrowing, providing 18 g/day in the first period and 45 g/day in the second period and period 3: from day 85 of gestation to delivery, with 24 g/day was provided from day 85 until farrowing and 28 g/day from days 85 to 107, increasing to 56 g/day from day 108 until farrowing. Supplementation with 1.0 % of L-arginine reduced the percentage of total piglets born and piglets born alive with less than 800 g by 2.26 and 2.05 percentage points, respectively; and increased the percentage of total piglets born and piglets born alive between 1601 and 1800g by 5.89 and 6.08 percentage points, respectively. Supplementing with 1.0 % of L-arginine improves litter uniformity, with an average reduction of 4.06 percentage points in the piglet population of less than 1180 g and an increase in the piglet population of 1180 to 1890 g by 4.70 percentage points.

Background Research on cancer in wild animals provides important insights into the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Histiocytic sarcomas comprise a rare malignant macrophage-dendritic cell lineage neoplasm in wildlife. This study reports a case of histiocytic sarcoma in the small intestine of a collared peccary ( Pecari tajacu ), describing its clinical, anatomopathological, and immunohistochemical aspects. Case presentation A six-year-old male collared peccary maintained in captivity at a facility in Northeastern Brazil presented progressive weight loss, diarrhea, anorexia, dyspnea, lethargy, abdominal distension, bristled fur, and pale mucous membranes. A complete blood count indicated a mild degree of anemia and moderate leukocytosis. Treatment included anti-inflammatories and antibiotics; however, on the 18th day after initial presentation, the animal was found dead in its enclosure. An anatomopathological examination revealed that the animal exhibited poor body condition, scant body fat with a gelatinous appearance, hydrothorax, pulmonary edema, and ascites. Thickening of the duodenal wall was observed, along with the presence of a yellowish-white tumor. Histopathological examination of the affected intestinal segment revealed a neoplastic proliferation of round cells with large, hyperchromatic nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and a high mitotic index (20 mitoses per high-power field). Numerous multinucleated and binucleated giant cells were present. The neoplastic cells extensively infiltrated all layers of the intestinal wall, from the mucosa to the serosa. Immunohistochemical analysis showed strong positivity for macrophage/mononuclear phagocytic lineage markers (CD18, IBA-1, and lysozyme), while negative for T-cell (CD3), B-cell (CD79), and plasma cell (MUM1) markers. The proliferation index assessed by Ki-67 was approximately 60%. Conclusions The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of intestinal histiocytic sarcoma in a collared peccary, representing the first documented case of this neoplasm in this species.

Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar a lobação e descrever a árvore brônquica e vascularização do pulmão de catetos. Foram utilizados 12 animais que vieram a óbito no Centro de Multiplicação de Animais Silvestres (CEMAS/UFERSA). Para análise da árvore brônquica, a traqueia foi perfundida com látex ou vinil e para identificação da vascularização arterial o tronco pulmonar foi perfundido com látex vermelho. Para visualização das veias pulmonares, o átrio esquerdo foi perfundido em sentido retrógrado com látex ou vinil corado de azul. As peças injetadas com látex foram fixadas em solução de formaldeído a 10% por 48 horas e em seguida dissecadas. Aquelas perfundidas com vinil foram mergulhadas em solução de H2SO4 a 30% para corrosão. No pulmão direito identificou os lobos cranial, médio, caudal e acessório, enquanto no esquerdo os lobos cranial (porções cranial e caudal) e caudal. A traqueia, antes da bifurcação nos brônquios principais direito e esquerdo, apresentava um brônquio traqueal direcionado ao lobo cranial direito. O brônquio principal direito emitiu um ramo ao lobo médio, um para o lobo acessório e um para o lobo caudal direito, enquanto o brônquio principal esquerdo emitiu um ramo ao lobo cranial esquerdo (porções cranial e caudal) e outro para o lobo caudal esquerdo. A vascularização arterial e venosa apresentaram comportamento semelhante a árvore brônquica, com irrigação independente para cada lobo. O estudo sobre a segmentação brônquica e vascular será útil em aplicações clínico-cirúrgicas, em especial em casos de perfurações, estenoses e ou tumorações, os quais necessitam da realização de lobectomias parciais.

Abstract The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world and occurs predominantly in tropical and subtropical waters. In Brazil, the species has a wide distribution, but data on its biology and ecology remain scarce. This study reports the first confirmed stranding of an adult whale shark on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. The animal, an 11.5-m-long male, stranded alive in August 2014. Despite rescue efforts, it died naturally, with no evidence of anthropogenic impacts. Necropsy findings confirmed natural death due to multiple organ failure. This case study helps to fill existing knowledge gaps regarding the specie´s biology and ecology in Brazil, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring and research to support whale shark conservation, as well as the importance of strandings records as a management tool for these populations. Resumo O tubarão-baleia (Rhincodon typus) é o maior peixe do mundo e ocorre em águas tropicais e temperadas. No Brasil, a espécie apresenta distribuição ampla, mas dados sobre sua biologia e ecologia são ainda escassos. Este estudo descreve o primeiro registro confirmado de encalhe de um tubarão-baleia adulto no litoral do Rio Grande do Norte, Nordeste brasileiro. O animal, um macho de 11,5 metros, encalhou vivo em agosto de 2014. Apesar dos esforços de resgate, veio a óbito por causas naturais, sem evidências de interação humana. A necropsia atestou a morte por causas naturais, evidenciada pela falência múltipla de órgãos. A análise detalhada do caso contribui para ampliar o conhecimento sobre a biologia e ecologia da espécie no Brasil, destacando a necessidade de estudos contínuos para a conservação dos tubarões-baleia e a importância de monitorar os encalhes como ferramenta para a gestão dessas populações.