Universidad de la Salle

Las siguientes son publicaciones realizadas por los investigadores de la Universidad de La Salle en Salud y Bienestar Animal.

Evaluation of the seroconversion as a response to rabies vaccination in dogs, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, 2009

Introduction. The province of Valle del Cauca has been free of dog rabies for more than 20 years. However, sylvatic rabies foci remain which are threats to the health of the populace and its pets. Rabies vaccination campaigns are carried out annually in all 42 counties of the province. Objectives. The impact of dog vaccination was evaluated on the basis of humoral immunoresponse, population parameters and correlation with variables inherent to the vaccination process and logistics. Materials and methods. Sera and associated data were obtained from each of the 42 counties for a total sample of 569 rabies-vaccinated dogs. Rabies neutralizing antibodies were measured by quantitative ELISA. The data were analyzed with the statistical programs in Epi-Info 6.0. Results. Nearly 10% of dogs were seronegative (9.1%) and an additional 25.1% did not elicit an adequate humoral immune response to vaccination. Concentration of rabies neutralizing antibodies diminished gradually with the time after vaccination and was correlated with dog age and vaccine quality. No associations were noted between dog gender or breed. Conclusions. These data permit the following recommendations: (1) only viable, non expired rabies vaccines must be used to immunize animals, (2) two doses of rabies vaccine must be applied during the first six months of dog life, (3) booster immunizations must be administered every year, (4) practices and processes related to rabies vaccination in private institutions must inspected regularly by health authorities.

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Pregnancy and Outcome of Uterine Allotransplantation and Assisted Reproduction in Sheep

This pilot study was performed from March 2008 through February 2010 to demonstrate that pregnancy can be achieved in a uterine allograft in the sheep model with the guidance of assisted reproductive technology. Uterine allotransplantation was performed in 12 sexually mature African sheep (Sudanese and Ethiopian). All animals underwent uterine transplantation via a minilaparotomy incision using a Mobius retractor device. A control group of pregnant Romney Marsh sheep with nontransplanted uteri were used to compare fetal development, uterine and placental histologic findings, and blood samples of progeny of the uterine transplant recipient sheep. Fetal size was obtained from ultrasound measurements during the early (crown-rump length) and late (biparietal diameter and abdominal circumference) gestational periods. The primary end point variables included preoperative and postoperative management, embryo transfer protocol, intraoperative assessments, and physiologic cardiopulmonary changes in the lamb during the first 5 hours of life. Four months after the initial uterine transplantation, 5 of 12 uterine allografts were considered candidates for the embryo transfer procedure. Fresh and frozen blastocyst donors were transferred accordingly to the remaining 5 uterine allografts via a minilaparotomy incision. Three of these resulted in pregnancies. One was an ectopic gestation, 1 sheep carried the pregnancy to 105 days, and 1 delivered a fully developed lamb from the transplanted uterus that was delivered via cesarean section. Neonatal lamb blood gas values and chemistry, gross organ examination, and ventilation and respiratory compliance studies yielded results normal for gestational age. This first reported case demonstrates that pregnancy can be carried in an allotransplanted uterus, with the end result a successful delivery. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (2011) 18, 238-245 (C) 2011 AAGL. All rights reserved.

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