Pathologic Evaluation of Influenza A H5N8 Infection Outbreaks in Mule Ducks in Bulgaria.

This article outlines pathomorphologic findings of a study involving commercial mule ducks with confirmed influenza A H5N8 infections after a series of outbreaks in Bulgaria. Examinations were carried out after performing necropsy on dead birds from three different age groups (up to 15, 20 to 30, and 40+ days of age) fattened on different farms. Among birds of all ages, gross lesions were present as lesions affecting the heart. Histologically, the myocardium exhibited severe intermyofibrillar edema, moderate to massive hemorrhages, and degenerative changes. All lesions resulted in single or multiple and small to massive myocardial infarctions. Other affected organs included the brain, lungs, liver, spleen, and pancreas. Nonpurulent lymphocytic encephalitis was found postmortem in ducks that had shown prior clinical nervous signs. Among ducks of all ages, a viral antigen in the cardiomyocytes and the epithelium of air capillaries was found through immunohistochemical detection methods. The results of the present study allowed us to conclude that the highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N8 viral infection may manifest itself as a systemic illness in commercial mule ducks with septicemic lesions, resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates of up to 100%. Pathomorphologic lesions were somewhat different from those previously reported in wild waterfowl.

Evaluación patológica de brotes de infección por influenza A H5N8 en patos mula en Bulgaria. Este artículo describe los hallazgos patomorfológicos de un estudio que involucró patos mula comerciales con infecciones confirmadas de influenza A H5N8 después de una serie de brotes en Bulgaria. Los exámenes se llevaron a cabo después de realizar la necropsia en aves muertas de tres grupos de edad diferentes (hasta 15 días, de 20 a 30 días y más de 40 días de edad) engordadas en diferentes granjas. Entre las aves de todas las edades, las lesiones macroscópicas estaban presentes como lesiones afectando el corazón. Histológicamente, el miocardio exhibió edema intermyofibrillar severo, hemorragias moderadas a masivas y cambios degenerativos. Todas las lesiones resultaron en infartos de miocardio simples o múltiples y de pequeños a masivos. Otros órganos afectados incluyeron el cerebro, los pulmones, el hígado, el bazo y el páncreas. Se encontró encefalitis linfocítica no supurativa se encontró post mortem en patos que habían mostrado signos nerviosos clínicos previos. Entre los patos de todas las edades, se encontró un antígeno viral en los cardiomiocitos y el epitelio de los capilares aéreos a través de métodos de detección inmunohistoquímica. Los resultados del presente estudio nos permitieron concluir que la infección viral altamente patógena de la influenza aviar H5N8 puede manifestarse como una enfermedad sistémica en patos mulos comerciales con lesiones septicémicas, lo que resulta en altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad de hasta el 100%. Las lesiones patomorfológicas fueron algo diferentes de las reportadas previamente en aves acuáticas silvestres.

Histological examination of skin tissue in the porcine animal model after simultaneous and consecutive application of monopolar radiofrequency and targeted pressure energy.

BACKGROUND: The cosmetic appearance of skin is substantially influenced by the organization of connective fibers and underlying subcutaneous tissue. It has been previously documented that radiofrequency and pressure energies alone are able to improve skin appearance; however, detailed histological evaluation should be done to determine their synergistic effect. AIMS: This histological study investigates the difference between simultaneous and consecutive application of monopolar radiofrequency with targeted pressure energy on porcine skin. METHODS: In a total of four weekly abdominal treatments, simultaneous emission of the energies was applied to two pigs (12 minutes per session); additionally, two pigs were treated consecutively (12 + 12 minutes per session). The 5th pig served as a control subject. Biopsies were obtained at baseline, after the 4th treatment, and at 1-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were to document changes of dermal and hypodermal tissues. RESULTS: In the treated subjects, the amount of collagen and elastin fibers increased significantly (P < .001). At follow-up, simultaneous application showed a significantly higher increase in collagen and elastin fibers (by 59% and 64%, respectively), when compared to consecutive. Thickness of the dermis increased more in the pigs treated simultaneously (+848.8 µm/50.17%; P < .001). Treated tissue also showed the upper part of dermis to be rich in blood vessels and better organized interlobular septa in hypodermis. No significant change was observed in the control subject. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous application produces significantly more profound changes, when compared to consecutive treatment. Further research is needed but our findings represent a new potential treatment of various skin conditions like cellulite or laxity.

Comparative Pathomorphologic Studies on the Incidence of Fractures Associated with Leg Skeletal Pathology in Commercial Broiler Chickens.

The aim of the present investigation is to report the prevalence of spontaneous fractures associated with leg skeletal pathology and compromised welfare in commercial broiler chickens. Our studies focused on fractures of different leg segments (femur, tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus) detected as incidental findings during pathoanatomic examinations in cases of rickets, tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), and femoral head necrosis (FHN). The morphogenetic and etiopathogenetic aspects of the findings were further investigated through histopathologic, bacteriologic, and bone mineral analyses. The gross anatomy study showed that in about 10% of bones affected by rickets-specific lesions, fractures of the proximal tibiotarsus were present. A relatively low percentage (6.5%) of fractures of the same anatomic location could be attributed to TD lesions. The highest prevalence of fractures (68.5%), mainly of the proximal femur, was associated with FHN and osteomyelites. The results from the large-scale field surveys allowed us to confirm that the prevalence of spontaneous bone fractures of the legs in broiler chickens was largely associated with FHN, rickets, and TD. The poor vascularization of the grown prehypertrophic cartilage in cases of rickets and TD, as well as the osteolytic lesions in FHN, resulted in degenerative, necrobiotic processes which may entail bone fractures.

Estudios anatomopatológicos comparativos sobre la incidencia de fracturas asociadas con patologías esqueléticas de la pierna en pollos de engorde comerciales. El objetivo de la presente investigación es informar sobre la prevalencia de fracturas espontáneas asociadas con patologías esqueléticas de la pierna y con problemas de bienestar en pollos de engorde comerciales. Estos estudios se centraron en fracturas de diferentes segmentos de la pierna (fémur, tibiotarso, tarsometatarso) detectados como hallazgos incidentales durante los exámenes anatomopatológicos en casos de raquitismo, discondroplasia tibial (TD) y necrosis de la cabeza de fémur (FHN). Los aspectos morfogenéticos y etiológico-patogenéticos de los hallazgos se investigaron más a fondo mediante análisis histopatológicos, bacteriológicos y por determinaciones de minerales óseos. El estudio de anatomía macroscópica mostró que en aproximadamente el 10% de los huesos afectados por lesiones específicas de raquitismo, se presentaban fracturas del tibiotarso proximal. Un porcentaje relativamente bajo (6.5%) de fracturas de la misma ubicación anatómica podrían atribuirse a las lesiones por discondroplasia tibial. La mayor prevalencia de las fracturas (68.5%), principalmente del fémur proximal, se asociaron con necrosis de la cabeza del fémur y osteomielitis. Los resultados de los muestreos de campo a gran escala permitieron confirmar que la prevalencia de fracturas óseas espontáneas de las patas de pollos de engorde se asociaba en gran medida con necrosis de la cabeza del fémur, raquitismo y discondroplasia tibial. La pobre vascularización del cartílago prehipertrófico con crecimiento en casos de raquitismo y discondroplasia tibial, así como las lesiones osteolíticas en la necrosis de la cabeza del fémur resultaron en procesos degenerativos y necrobióticos que pueden estar asociados con fracturas óseas.