Marcela Scalon | Universidade de Brasília - UnB (original) (raw)

Papers by Marcela Scalon

Research paper thumbnail of RT-rtPCR quantification of circulating microRNAs in plasma and serum samples from healthy domestic cats

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptio... more MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level by silencing targeted messenger RNA (mRNA). Most studies concerning miRNA expression use solid tissue samples. However, circulating miRNAs from different body fluids have recently emerged as diagnostic and prognostic molecules, given that they hold informative value and have increased stability in cell-free form. Blood sampling of cats can be challenging given their small body size and because they often experience distress when handled. We quantified miR-20a, -192, -365, -15b-5p, and -16-5p from plasma and serum samples of 10 healthy domestic cats. Our RT-rtPCR procedure used 100 µL of either plasma or serum samples as sources of biomarker molecules. However, serum provided higher amounts of miRNA than plasma samples, with a p

Research paper thumbnail of Are women's dogs less stressed and healthier than men's dogs? An investigation in the waiting room of a veterinary hospital

Dogs are able of discriminate several human behaviors, behaving of corresponding way. Some studie... more Dogs are able of discriminate several human behaviors, behaving of corresponding way. Some studies showed that the dogs possess propensities to be more sociable and less stressed when manipulated by women regarding the dogs manipulated by men. We investigated in this study if the dogs accompanied women or men, showed a similar level of emotional reactions in agreement with the level of emotional reaction of his owners. The study occurred in an unfamiliar environment, in the attendant room of a veterinary hospital, where we evaluated the physiological, behavioral and psychological reaction to the stress of humans and his dogs. Owners answered three questionnaires about demographic data and affinities regarding the dogs themselves. We recorded pulse and blood pressure of the owners. We evaluated the emotional behavior of dogs for ten minutes. Physiological parameters related to the stress were recorded in dogs: cardiac rate and tympanic temperature. After that, we carried on a venopun...

Research paper thumbnail of RT-rtPCR quantification of circulating microRNAs in plasma and serum samples from healthy domestic cats

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptio... more MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level by silencing targeted messenger RNA (mRNA). Most studies concerning miRNA expression use solid tissue samples. However, circulating miRNAs from different body fluids have recently emerged as diagnostic and prognostic molecules, given that they hold informative value and have increased stability in cell-free form. Blood sampling of cats can be challenging given their small body size and because they often experience distress when handled. We quantified miR-20a, -192, -365, -15b-5p, and -16-5p from plasma and serum samples of 10 healthy domestic cats. Our RT-rtPCR procedure used 100 µL of either plasma or serum samples as sources of biomarker molecules. However, serum provided higher amounts of miRNA than plasma samples, with a p

Research paper thumbnail of Eurytrema coelomaticum natural infection in small ruminants: a neglected condition

Research paper thumbnail of Investigação molecular de Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum e Rickettsia spp. em felídeos selvagens cativos

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

RESUMO: Doenças transmitidas por vetores estão emergindo e reemergindo em todo o mundo, represent... more RESUMO: Doenças transmitidas por vetores estão emergindo e reemergindo em todo o mundo, representando um desafio na medicina humana e veterinária. Entre essas doenças estão aquelas causadas pelos agentes da ordem das Rickettsiales, que são bactérias Gram-negativas intracelulares obrigatórias, com capacidade de infectar vários animais e seres humanos. As Rickettsiales das espécies Ehrlichia spp. e Anaplasma spp. são observadas em vacúolos citoplasmáticos de leucócitos e plaquetas. As Rickettsiales da espécie Rickettsia spp. infectam livremente citoplasma ou núcleo de células hospedeiras. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a infecção natural por Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum e Rickettsia spp. em felídeos selvagens cativos no Distrito Federal e Goiás, Brasil. Além disso, também objetivou-se relacionar possíveis alterações hematológicas decorrentes da presença desses agentes. Amostras de sangue de 34 animais foram analisadas por meio da PCR para ...

Research paper thumbnail of Hemoplasma infection in wild captive carnivores

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

ABSTRACT: Hemoplasmas are bacteria able to adhere themselves loosely to the plasma membrane of er... more ABSTRACT: Hemoplasmas are bacteria able to adhere themselves loosely to the plasma membrane of erythrocytes and may parasitize several species of mammals. There are three known species of hemoplasmas that parasitize domestic and wild cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. Dogs are infected by at least two species of hemoplasmas: ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’ and Mycoplasma haemocanis. The hemoplasmoses are very important in veterinary clinics, either because of its worldwide distribution and severity of clinical signs, depending on parasite species and host immune competence, or due to its zoonotic potential and capability of infecting endangered species. This study set out to investigate which hemoplasmas species parasitize different captive wild carnivores in order to clarify the epidemiology of hemoplasmoses in wild animals. Furthermore, the research intended to characterize the hematological changes cause...

Research paper thumbnail of Anaplasmataceae em gatos (Felis catus) no município de Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

RESUMO: No Brasil, até o ano 2000, os agentes riquetsiais em felinos domésticos eram poucos conhe... more RESUMO: No Brasil, até o ano 2000, os agentes riquetsiais em felinos domésticos eram poucos conhecidos, existindo somente relatos esporádicos de Ehrlichia sp. As recentes pesquisas envolvendo biologia molecular e agentes riquetsiais confirmam a ideia de que estes agentes estão presentes nesses animais e, por este motivo, demonstram a necessidade de estudos mais detalhados no Brasil. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi a caracterização dos agentes da família Anaplasmataceae que acometem os felinos domésticos e esclarecer a importância dos felinos na cadeia epidemiológica das doenças riquetsiais por métodos moleculares e sorológicos associando a presença das doenças aos parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais. Foram obtidas amostras sanguíneas de 60 felinos domésticos, independentes de sanidade, provenientes de atendimentos clínicos. Destas amostras foram realizados hemograma e bioquímica sérica, e os dados foram utilizados para preenchimento da ficha laboratorial. As amostras foram proce...

Research paper thumbnail of Refractometry as an alternative to the biuret method for measuring total serum proteins in Podocnemis expansa (Podocnemididae) and Phrynops geoffroanus (Chelidae)

Acta Amazonica, Mar 1, 2017

Total serum protein is a significant indicator of health condition in animals. The aim of this st... more Total serum protein is a significant indicator of health condition in animals. The aim of this study was to analyze the precision of the portable refractometer in determining the concentration of total serum proteins in Podocnemis expansa and Phrynops geoffroanus. A total of 26 animals were used. The blood samples were collected from the supraoccipital sinus and stored in tubes without anticoagulant. Total serum protein was determined using both the biuret reaction and refractometry. The total serum protein mean concentration (g dL-1) with biuret method and refractometry for P. expansa were 3.16 and 3.2; and for P. geoffroanus were 3.56 and 2.72, respectively. These results indicate that total serum protein values can be determined with precision in P. expansa and P. geoffroanus using a portable refractometer.

Research paper thumbnail of Occurrence of Hemogregarine in Two Species of Brazilian Freshwater Turtles

Acta Scientiae Veterinariae

Background: Hemogregarines are the most common intraerythrocytic parasites found in reptiles. The... more Background: Hemogregarines are the most common intraerythrocytic parasites found in reptiles. The genus Haemogregarina has aquatic vertebrates as intermediate hosts, and as definitive hosts the leeches. The genus Hepatozoon can be found parasitizing amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and its main vectors invertebrates are mosquitoes, tsetse flies, lice, fleas and mites. The diagnosis of these parasites is done by the technique of blood smear, but modern diagnoses include evaluation of blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim this study was to determine the occurrence of infection by hemogregarine in freshwater turtles, through PCR.Materials, Methods & Results: Samples from 99 freshwater turtles of species P. expansa and P. geoffroanus of Fundação Zoológico de Brasília,Distrito Federal, Brazil, were used. The animals was captured using a hand net, and were immediately individually identified. The blood samples was collected by puncture of the occipital sinus, and place...

Research paper thumbnail of RT-rtPCR quantification of circulating microRNAs in plasma and serum samples from healthy domestic cats

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptio... more MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level by silencing targeted messenger RNA (mRNA). Most studies concerning miRNA expression use solid tissue samples. However, circulating miRNAs from different body fluids have recently emerged as diagnostic and prognostic molecules, given that they hold informative value and have increased stability in cell-free form. Blood sampling of cats can be challenging given their small body size and because they often experience distress when handled. We quantified miR-20a, -192, -365, -15b-5p, and -16-5p from plasma and serum samples of 10 healthy domestic cats. Our RT-rtPCR procedure used 100 µL of either plasma or serum samples as sources of biomarker molecules. However, serum provided higher amounts of miRNA than plasma samples, with a p

Research paper thumbnail of Are women's dogs less stressed and healthier than men's dogs? An investigation in the waiting room of a veterinary hospital

Dogs are able of discriminate several human behaviors, behaving of corresponding way. Some studie... more Dogs are able of discriminate several human behaviors, behaving of corresponding way. Some studies showed that the dogs possess propensities to be more sociable and less stressed when manipulated by women regarding the dogs manipulated by men. We investigated in this study if the dogs accompanied women or men, showed a similar level of emotional reactions in agreement with the level of emotional reaction of his owners. The study occurred in an unfamiliar environment, in the attendant room of a veterinary hospital, where we evaluated the physiological, behavioral and psychological reaction to the stress of humans and his dogs. Owners answered three questionnaires about demographic data and affinities regarding the dogs themselves. We recorded pulse and blood pressure of the owners. We evaluated the emotional behavior of dogs for ten minutes. Physiological parameters related to the stress were recorded in dogs: cardiac rate and tympanic temperature. After that, we carried on a venopun...

Research paper thumbnail of RT-rtPCR quantification of circulating microRNAs in plasma and serum samples from healthy domestic cats

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptio... more MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level by silencing targeted messenger RNA (mRNA). Most studies concerning miRNA expression use solid tissue samples. However, circulating miRNAs from different body fluids have recently emerged as diagnostic and prognostic molecules, given that they hold informative value and have increased stability in cell-free form. Blood sampling of cats can be challenging given their small body size and because they often experience distress when handled. We quantified miR-20a, -192, -365, -15b-5p, and -16-5p from plasma and serum samples of 10 healthy domestic cats. Our RT-rtPCR procedure used 100 µL of either plasma or serum samples as sources of biomarker molecules. However, serum provided higher amounts of miRNA than plasma samples, with a p

Research paper thumbnail of Eurytrema coelomaticum natural infection in small ruminants: a neglected condition

Research paper thumbnail of Investigação molecular de Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum e Rickettsia spp. em felídeos selvagens cativos

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

RESUMO: Doenças transmitidas por vetores estão emergindo e reemergindo em todo o mundo, represent... more RESUMO: Doenças transmitidas por vetores estão emergindo e reemergindo em todo o mundo, representando um desafio na medicina humana e veterinária. Entre essas doenças estão aquelas causadas pelos agentes da ordem das Rickettsiales, que são bactérias Gram-negativas intracelulares obrigatórias, com capacidade de infectar vários animais e seres humanos. As Rickettsiales das espécies Ehrlichia spp. e Anaplasma spp. são observadas em vacúolos citoplasmáticos de leucócitos e plaquetas. As Rickettsiales da espécie Rickettsia spp. infectam livremente citoplasma ou núcleo de células hospedeiras. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a infecção natural por Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum e Rickettsia spp. em felídeos selvagens cativos no Distrito Federal e Goiás, Brasil. Além disso, também objetivou-se relacionar possíveis alterações hematológicas decorrentes da presença desses agentes. Amostras de sangue de 34 animais foram analisadas por meio da PCR para ...

Research paper thumbnail of Hemoplasma infection in wild captive carnivores

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

ABSTRACT: Hemoplasmas are bacteria able to adhere themselves loosely to the plasma membrane of er... more ABSTRACT: Hemoplasmas are bacteria able to adhere themselves loosely to the plasma membrane of erythrocytes and may parasitize several species of mammals. There are three known species of hemoplasmas that parasitize domestic and wild cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. Dogs are infected by at least two species of hemoplasmas: ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’ and Mycoplasma haemocanis. The hemoplasmoses are very important in veterinary clinics, either because of its worldwide distribution and severity of clinical signs, depending on parasite species and host immune competence, or due to its zoonotic potential and capability of infecting endangered species. This study set out to investigate which hemoplasmas species parasitize different captive wild carnivores in order to clarify the epidemiology of hemoplasmoses in wild animals. Furthermore, the research intended to characterize the hematological changes cause...

Research paper thumbnail of Anaplasmataceae em gatos (Felis catus) no município de Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

RESUMO: No Brasil, até o ano 2000, os agentes riquetsiais em felinos domésticos eram poucos conhe... more RESUMO: No Brasil, até o ano 2000, os agentes riquetsiais em felinos domésticos eram poucos conhecidos, existindo somente relatos esporádicos de Ehrlichia sp. As recentes pesquisas envolvendo biologia molecular e agentes riquetsiais confirmam a ideia de que estes agentes estão presentes nesses animais e, por este motivo, demonstram a necessidade de estudos mais detalhados no Brasil. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi a caracterização dos agentes da família Anaplasmataceae que acometem os felinos domésticos e esclarecer a importância dos felinos na cadeia epidemiológica das doenças riquetsiais por métodos moleculares e sorológicos associando a presença das doenças aos parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais. Foram obtidas amostras sanguíneas de 60 felinos domésticos, independentes de sanidade, provenientes de atendimentos clínicos. Destas amostras foram realizados hemograma e bioquímica sérica, e os dados foram utilizados para preenchimento da ficha laboratorial. As amostras foram proce...

Research paper thumbnail of Refractometry as an alternative to the biuret method for measuring total serum proteins in Podocnemis expansa (Podocnemididae) and Phrynops geoffroanus (Chelidae)

Acta Amazonica, Mar 1, 2017

Total serum protein is a significant indicator of health condition in animals. The aim of this st... more Total serum protein is a significant indicator of health condition in animals. The aim of this study was to analyze the precision of the portable refractometer in determining the concentration of total serum proteins in Podocnemis expansa and Phrynops geoffroanus. A total of 26 animals were used. The blood samples were collected from the supraoccipital sinus and stored in tubes without anticoagulant. Total serum protein was determined using both the biuret reaction and refractometry. The total serum protein mean concentration (g dL-1) with biuret method and refractometry for P. expansa were 3.16 and 3.2; and for P. geoffroanus were 3.56 and 2.72, respectively. These results indicate that total serum protein values can be determined with precision in P. expansa and P. geoffroanus using a portable refractometer.

Research paper thumbnail of Occurrence of Hemogregarine in Two Species of Brazilian Freshwater Turtles

Acta Scientiae Veterinariae

Background: Hemogregarines are the most common intraerythrocytic parasites found in reptiles. The... more Background: Hemogregarines are the most common intraerythrocytic parasites found in reptiles. The genus Haemogregarina has aquatic vertebrates as intermediate hosts, and as definitive hosts the leeches. The genus Hepatozoon can be found parasitizing amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and its main vectors invertebrates are mosquitoes, tsetse flies, lice, fleas and mites. The diagnosis of these parasites is done by the technique of blood smear, but modern diagnoses include evaluation of blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim this study was to determine the occurrence of infection by hemogregarine in freshwater turtles, through PCR.Materials, Methods & Results: Samples from 99 freshwater turtles of species P. expansa and P. geoffroanus of Fundação Zoológico de Brasília,Distrito Federal, Brazil, were used. The animals was captured using a hand net, and were immediately individually identified. The blood samples was collected by puncture of the occipital sinus, and place...