Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease of worldwide distribution, affects various animals and is considered a zoonosis. It can be transmitted directly or indirectly, mainly through contact with the carrier's urine and entering the body through mucous membranes or skin. In the city of Temuco, there are no epidemiological studies of canine leptospirosis and the country data are scarce. To determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in stray dogs of the city of Temuco. In a cross- sectional study, 400 dogs admitted to Temuco Kennel during the year 2011 were sampled. Blood samples were analyzed using a modified commercial ELISA kit. The prevalence of leptospirosis was 21.3%. Positive cases were concentrated in dogs 5 to 8 years of age, independent of gender. The high prevalence found demonstrates the need for further studies to better understand the epidemiology of the disease and to establish prevention and control measures.

As a result of their intense physical activity, racehorses suffer high tendon stress which may result in various pathologies. One of these is tendonitis in the tendon of the superficial digital flexor muscle (TSDFM). Conventional treatment with rest, has not shown to be very effective, and regenerative medicine through the application mesenchymal stem cells appears to be a promising therapy. The objective of this work was to assess the effect of the application of autologous MSC on reduction of the scar length in recurrent TSDFM tendinitis in Holsteiner horses, using image analysis. This study included two groups of five animals each: A control group that received conventional treatment (CG) and an experimental group which was also treated with intralesional injections of MSC (EG). Scar evolution was assessed by echographic analysis, with measurements taken of the scar length over a four month period; the length at month zero, was taken as the initial value of 100 %. During the first month, the mean scar length diminished to 81.14 % (EG) and 95.85 % (CG); after the second month, lengths were 64.4 % (EG) and 92.3 % (CG); following the third month lengths were 51.92 % (EG) and 87.42 % (CG); finally at the end of the fourth month the lengths recorded were 26.7 % (EG) and 83.92 % (CG). These results show that treatment with autologous MSC helps TSDFM scar length was significantly reduced, as compared to conventional treatment.

La solución para las tendinitis sufridas por los equinos deportivos ha sido, por años, el dilema de los médicos veterinarios que se dedican a tratar este tipo de lesiones. La medicina regenerativa, utilizando células madre del mismo paciente, surge como un método innovador que permite atravesar la barrera de resolución mantenida en el tiempo y con ventajas que superan a las terapias tradicionales, que no proporcionan una recuperación total. Se han descrito la médula ósea y el tejido adiposo como fuentes principales de extracción de células madre. Ambos conllevan un proceso distinto de concentración celular que finalmente termina como un producto que debe ser inyectado en el tendón afectado y, dadas las características típicas de lesión núcleo presentadas en el tejido dañado, puede ser depositado en el centro de éste. El resultado esperado es la regeneración del tendón, sin exceso de tejido fibroso, observando alineación de las fibras tendíneas, disminución de la infiltración inflamatoria y zona hemorrágica. Con un programa de rehabilitación que incluya reposo y ejercicio progresivo, el equino vuelve a su estado competitivo óptimo. La factibilidad de realizar esta terapia en nuestra ubicación geográfica es posible, ya que la técnica de extracción desde ambas fuentes es simple y dentro de las opciones de concentración celular, siendo la del tejido adiposo más sencilla ya que requiere menos elementos y menor tiempo, ejecutándose la terapia en la etapa aguda de la lesión. La utilización de células madre en equinos es un tema de investigación creciente, que promete resultados alentadores.Finding a cure for tendonitis in sporting horses has been a challenge for veterinarians during a long time. Regenerative medicine using stem cells from the patient has emerged as an innovative method that allows breaking the barriers of finding a resolution that can be maintained over time. Additionally, the benefits surpass those of traditional therapies, which do not facilitate full recovery. Bone marrow and adipose tissue have been described as major sources for stem cell extraction. The use of both tissues involves different processes of cell harvesting and concentration, which eventually yield a product that must be injected into the affected region, or in the center of a typical core lesion. The expected result is the regeneration of the tendon without excess fibrous tissue, properly aligned tendon fibers and decreased inflammatory infiltration and hemorrhage. Following a rehabilitation program that includes resting and progressive exercise, the horse returns to its previous competitive condition. This therapy is feasible because the techniques for extraction from both sources are simple. If the two techniques are compared, adipose tissue extraction is easier because it requires fewer elements and less time. Both therapies, however, can be executed in the acute stage of injury. The use of stem cells in horses is the subject of a growing body research that has already yielded encouraging results

En la Región de la Araucanía no existen estudios sobre seroprevalencia de leptospirosis en equinos. Se analizaron muestras serológicas provenientes de 100 equinos de tiro de comunidades mapuche de cuatro comunas de la región mediante la técnica de microMAT. La seroprevalencia fue de 35% para al menos un serovar de Leptospira spp., siendo los serovares más frecuentes canicola (22%), grippotyphosa (21%), hardjo (13%) y pomona (10%). Se evidenció que las poblaciones equinas estudiadas están expuestas a la infección por Leptospira spp. y revelan un riesgo potencial de transmisión a sus propietarios.