Low endogenous estrogen action causes several injuries. Medicinal plants, such as flaxseed and mulberry, contain substances that have been shown to be effective to the organism. The aim was to verify the effects of flaxseed and/or mulberry extracts on ovariectomized Wistar rats. The animals received supplements of extracts and estrogen or saline by gavage for 60 days and were weighed weekly. Vaginal wash, blood, pituitary, uterus, liver, and kidneys were collected. Phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of the extracts, lipid profile, uric acid, liver enzymes, and pituitary weight were measured. Histomorphometric for uterine wall and histopathological analyses for liver and kidney were performed. Flaxseed and mulberry extracts showed great antioxidant activity and large amounts of phenolic compounds. The treatment with extracts had less weight gain, increased pituitary weight, the predominance of vaginal epithelial cells, and reduced TC, LDL-c and lipase activity, similar to estrogen animals. Estrogen or flaxseed + mulberry animals reduced VLDL-c and TAG. HDL-c, uric acid, and liver enzymes did not differ. Estrogen or extracts demonstrated trophic action on the endometrial thickness and have not shown hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. We suggested the beneficial effects of flaxseed and mulberry extract as an alternative to reduce and/or prevent the negative effects caused by low estrogenic action.

A malignant dendritic melanoma of the oral cavity with metastases widely spread in a cow is described. The clinicopathological manifestations, developed during a two-year period, was characterized by the difficulty in mastication and swallowing, progressive weight loss, weakness and profuse sialorrhea. At the necropsy, an ulcerated black mass was found at the left jaw projecting into the oral cavity. The tumor reached the chin, inferior lip and tongue. Metastases were detected within the tongue, parotid gland, lymph nodes, trachea, thyroid, pleura, lungs, heart, peritoneum, omentum, and serosal membranes of the forestomach and abomasum, liver, and intima of some hepatic vessels, mammary gland, and muscles and fasciae of the left hind leg. No reference to metastasizing oral dendritic melanoma in the oral cavity of the cattle has been mentioned in the literature.

The prevention of HIV and unintended pregnancies is a public health priority. Multi-purpose prevention technologies capable of long-acting HIV and pregnancy prevention are desirable for women. Here, we utilized a preclinical macaque model to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of biodegradable ε-polycaprolactone implants delivering the antiretroviral islatravir (ISL) and the contraceptive etonogestrel (ENG). Three implants were tested: ISL-62 mg, ISL-98 mg, and ENG-33 mg. Animals received one or two ISL-eluting implants, with doses of 42, 66, or 108 µg of ISL/day with or without an additional ENG-33 mg implant (31 µg/day). Drug release increased linearly with dose with median [range] plasma ISL levels of 1.3 [1.0–2.5], 1.9 [1.2–6.3] and 2.8 [2.3–11.6], respectively. The ISL-62 and 98 mg implants demonstrated stable drug release over three months with ISL-triphosphate (ISL-TP) concentr54ations in PBMCs above levels predicted to be efficacious for PrEP. Similarly, ENG implants demonstrated sustained drug release with median [range] plasma ENG levels of 495 [229–1110] pg/mL, which suppressed progesterone within two weeks and showed no evidence of altering ISL pharmacokinetics. Two of the six ISL-98 mg implants broke during the study and induced implant-site reactions, whereas no reactions were observed with intact implants. We show that ISL and ENG biodegradable implants are safe and yield sufficient drug levels to achieve prevention targets. The evaluation of optimized implants with increased mechanical robustness is underway for improved durability and vaginal efficacy in a SHIV challenge model.

Syrian hamsters are a key animal model of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses and are useful for the evaluation of associated medical countermeasures. Delivery of an infectious agent or intervention to the respiratory tract mirrors natural routes of exposure and allows for the evaluation of clinically relevant therapeutic administration. The data to support instillation or inoculation volumes are important both for optimal experimental design and to minimize or avoid effects of diluent alone, which may compromise both data interpretation and animal welfare. Here we investigate four intranasal (IN) instillation volumes in hamsters (50, 100, 200, or 400 µL). The animals were monitored daily, and a subset were serially euthanized at one of four pre-determined time-points (1, 3, 7, and 14 days post-instillation). Weight, temperature, oxygen saturation, CBC, radiographs, and respiratory tissue histopathology were assessed to determine changes associated with instillation volume alone. With all the delivery volumes, we found no notable differences between instilled and non-instilled controls in all of the parameters assessed, except for histopathology. In the animals instilled with 200 or 400 µL, inflammation associated with foreign material was detected in the lower respiratory tract indicating that higher volumes may result in aspiration of nasal and/or oropharyngeal material in a subset of animals, resulting in IN instillation-associated histopathology.

The hoary fox (Pseudalopex vetulus), endemic to Brazil's Cerrado region, is a wild canid species facing ecological pressures from urbanization and habitat fragmentation. These pressures increase the risk of pathogen transmission between wild and domestic animals, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. This study reports the first instance of Dicrocoelium sp. and Hepatozoon spp. infections in a wild female hoary fox in Southeast Brazil. The fox, presented with neurological disorders, dehydration, and poor nutritional condition, was hospitalized and subjected to a series of parasitological and clinical tests. Blood smears and fecal examinations revealed the presence of Hepatozoon sp. gametocytes and a significant number of Dicrocoelium eggs. The fox received treatment with albendazole, enrofloxacin, and N-acetylcysteine, showing progressive improvement before being reintroduced to its habitat. This study highlights the significance of parasitic infections in wild canids, emphasizing the need for further research on the ecological and health impacts of such infections. It also underscores the importance of comprehensive fecal and hematological examinations in the clinical assessment of wild fauna and raises awareness about the potential of wild canids as reservoirs for zoonotic parasites. KEY WORDS: Zoonosis; one health; canids.