Hepatogenous photosensitization in steer by Brachiaria decumbens

Background: Although the etiology of hepatogenous photosensitization has not yet been fully elucidated, it is known that hepatotoxic substances (saponins) present in grasses of the genus Brachiaria spp. are responsible for intoxication of ruminants and horses, causing great economic losses in the whole world. Since this grass is the source of food for the herd in Brazil, and other countries of the world, the aim of this paper is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and anatomopathological aspects of a steer with this disease. Case: A 3-year-old Nellore steer was referred to veterinary care at a property in Bahia, with a 3-week history of swelling, loss of cutaneous tissue in the ear and scrotum region, and dry faeces. The animal was raised in pasture with Brachiaria decumbens along with five animals of different age and sex; however, it was the only one to present symptoms. Although the animal had been treated at the farm, there was no clinical improvement. On clinical examination, the steer was apathetic with jaundiced mucous membranes, nasal and ocular discharge, epiphora, and ulcers on the labial and gum commissure. The steer had leukocytosis with neutrophilia, anemia, and hyperfibrinogemia. The body condition score (BCS) was 2 (BCS ranges from 1 to 5), and the skin lesions observed were bedsores, necrosis and scabs in several regions. The increase in liver enzymes (GGT, AST) indicated hepatic impairment, suggesting a case of hepatogenous photosensitization. The therapeutic protocol instituted was enteral hydration, electrolyte replacement, topical application of ointment in the injured areas. In addition, it was recommended to maintain the animal in the shade, supply of good quality grass, and a new clinical evaluation in seven days. On new examination, it was observed that there was no satisfactory clinical improvement of the animal, and persistence of laboratory changes. Despite the poor prognosis, treatment was continued for another month with the same recommendations. However, in view of the severe clinical condition and unfavorable prognosis, the animal was submitted euthanasia. Necropsy revealed extensive areas of bedsores, erythema, severe jaundice in the mucous membranes, eyeballs and opaque corneas. The liver had an enlarged volume with bulging edges and a greenish color. The kidneys had a pale brownish color, with an irregular and mottled subcapsular surface, with blackened and depressed spots. Histologically, the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes was finely vacuolated, sometimes refringent and with an abundant presence of bile pigment. It was also observed in the middle of the liver parenchyma, multiple foci of accumulation of macrophages filled with vacuoles of different sizes containing saponins and crystals of saponins inside bile ducts. Furthermore, it was possible to observe hypertrophy and hyperplasia of Kupffer cells, disarrangement of hepatocytes with individual necrosis of hepatocytes. Discussion: The diagnosis of hepatogenous photosensitization was based on history, clinical, laboratory and anatomopathological findings. Serum biochemistry was important to measure hepatic impairment and possible secondary lesions, which were confirmed by the necropsy. Although hepatogenous photosensitization is less common in adult cattle, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions, reduced appetite, and jaundice. Since it was a sporadic case, individual predisposition is probably a preponderant factor.

Clinical - pathological aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma in cattle

Background: The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant neoplasm of hepatocytes of rare occurrence in farmanimals, with ruminants being the most affected species. This neoplasm is characterized by nonspecific symptoms and it isetiology in animals has not yet been fully elucidated, although aflatoxin has been shown to be a risk factor in the development this neoplasia. Since hepatic tumors in cattle are commonly incidental findings found in postmortem examination,the objective of this paper is to describe the clinical, laboratory and pathological findings in a cow with this neoplasm.Case: A 5-year-old, adult, Girolando cow weighing 350 kg was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil, with a history of decreased appetite and weakness for one month. The animal wasraised in a semi-intensive system, with a corn-based diet, and regular vaccination. Futhermore, was not treated at the farmof origin and three days before being admitted to the hospital, began to present edema of the dewlap. On examination atour center, the cow was in lean, active, with mucupurulent secretion in nostrils; ocular conjunctiva edema; and edema ofthe dewlap. The cow had neutrophilia, hypofibrinogemia, hypoproteinemia, and trombocytopenia. It also had tachycardia, tense abdomen, engorgement of the vessels of the face and jugular veins, stasis test and bilaterally positive jugularpulse. Although evidence of pain in reticulum was negative in the examination, the initial diagnostic suspicion establishedwas of traumatic reticular pericarditis. The therapeutic protocol instituted was daily monitoring, flunixin meglumine andflofernicol. The examination of rectal palpation revealed in the right flank an irregular-sized parenchymal structure withenlarged and palpacion in pain. Thus, by location and texture...

Clinical - pathological aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma in cattle

Background: The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant neoplasm of hepatocytes of rare occurrence in farmanimals, with ruminants being the most affected species. This neoplasm is characterized by nonspecific symptoms and it isetiology in animals has not yet been fully elucidated, although aflatoxin has been shown to be a risk factor in the development this neoplasia. Since hepatic tumors in cattle are commonly incidental findings found in postmortem examination,the objective of this paper is to describe the clinical, laboratory and pathological findings in a cow with this neoplasm.Case: A 5-year-old, adult, Girolando cow weighing 350 kg was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil, with a history of decreased appetite and weakness for one month. The animal wasraised in a semi-intensive system, with a corn-based diet, and regular vaccination. Futhermore, was not treated at the farmof origin and three days before being admitted to the hospital, began to present edema of the dewlap. On examination atour center, the cow was in lean, active, with mucupurulent secretion in nostrils; ocular conjunctiva edema; and edema ofthe dewlap. The cow had neutrophilia, hypofibrinogemia, hypoproteinemia, and trombocytopenia. It also had tachycardia, tense abdomen, engorgement of the vessels of the face and jugular veins, stasis test and bilaterally positive jugularpulse. Although evidence of pain in reticulum was negative in the examination, the initial diagnostic suspicion establishedwas of traumatic reticular pericarditis. The therapeutic protocol instituted was daily monitoring, flunixin meglumine andflofernicol. The examination of rectal palpation revealed in the right flank an irregular-sized parenchymal structure withenlarged and palpacion in pain. Thus, by location and texture...(AU)

Pathological and immunohistochemical findings of a case of canine chagasic myocarditis in the state of Mato Grosso / Aspectos patológicos e imuno-histoquímico de um caso de miocardite chagásica canina no estado de Mato Grosso

Dogs are as considered important reservoirs of trypanosomiasis and play a vital role in maintaining the interaction between the domestic and wild cycles of this disease. This paper reports the clinical and pathological findings of a case of Chagas disease myocarditis in a dog from an urban area in Brazil. During clinical examination, the animal showed apathy, weakness and pale ocular mucous and died shortly after. Necropsy revealed ascites, hydrothorax and hydropericardium. The heart was remarkably globoid with scattered multifocal pale in the epicardium and ventricular miocardium and dilated chambers. Histological analysis revealed non-suppurative myocarditis and cardiomyocyte necrosis. The sarcoplasms of cardiomyocytes were frequently infiltrated by T. cruzi pseudocysts filled with amastigotes. The myocardium immunostained positive for anti-T. cruzi antibody. The presence of Chagas disease in a dog from an urban area increases the risk of disease transmission to man, which renders this diagnosis a matter of significant public health concern.(AU)

Os cães são considerados importantes reservatórios de tripanosomose e têm um relevante papel na manutenção e interação entre o ciclo doméstico e silvestre desta doença. Neste trabalho é descrito as alterações clínicas e anatomopatológicas de miocardite chagásica em um cão, domiciliado em área urbana, no Brasil. Durante o exame clínico o animal apresentava apatia, debilidade e mucosas oculares pálidas, com rápida evolução para o óbito. Na necropsia foram observados ascite, hidrotórax e hidropericárdio. O coração estava globoso com áreas multifocais pálidas no epicárdio e miocárdio ventricular e ao corte observou-se dilatação das câmaras átrio-ventriculares. Histologicamente, no coração havia miocardite não supurativa e necrose de cardiomiócitos. Frequentemente, infiltrando o sarcoplasma de cardiomiócitos, haviam pseudocistos de T. cruzi contendo múltiplas amastigotas. No exame de imuno-histoquímica, do miocárdio, houve imunomarcação positiva para o anticorpo anti-T. cruzi. A ocorrência da doença de Chagas em um canino domiciliado em área urbanizada eleva os riscos de transmissão da doença para o homem, o que consequentemente torna este diagnóstico uma nota de importância em saúde pública e de diferencial para outras patologias caninas.(AU)

Histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of rabies in foxes Cerdocyon thous / Aspectos histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos da raiva em raposas Cerdocyon thous

Background: Several wild canids are considered reservoirs of rabies virus in the Northeast of Brazil, two wild canids have been reported as reservoirs of rabies virus Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) and Pseudalopex vetulus (hoary fox) (previously called Dusicyon vetulus). The diagnosis of rabies in foxes is usually performed through fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT). However, until the moment, there are no detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) description studies in foxes affected by this disease studies. Therefore, the aim of this work was the characterization of pathological and IHC findings of foxes with rabies sent to the Laboratory of Animal Pathology (LPA) of the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) in Patos, semiarid region of Paraiba, Brazil. Case: Two foxes were sent to the LPA, phenotypic species identification through analysis of morphological aspects was performed and posteriorly necropsied. Fragments of organs of the thoracic and abdominal cavities, salivary glands, eye and Gasser ganglia were collected in addition to the central nervous system (CNS) that was collected integer and fixed at 10% buffered formalin. Later, serial sections of the 16 fragments of the CNS were performed, measuring about 0.5 cm thick and cleaved. Fragments of cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, spinal cord and salivary glands were sent...(AU)

Histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of rabies in foxes Cerdocyon thous / Aspectos histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos da raiva em raposas Cerdocyon thous

Background: Several wild canids are considered reservoirs of rabies virus in the Northeast of Brazil, two wild canids have been reported as reservoirs of rabies virus Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) and Pseudalopex vetulus (hoary fox) (previously called Dusicyon vetulus). The diagnosis of rabies in foxes is usually performed through fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT). However, until the moment, there are no detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) description studies in foxes affected by this disease studies. Therefore, the aim of this work was the characterization of pathological and IHC findings of foxes with rabies sent to the Laboratory of Animal Pathology (LPA) of the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) in Patos, semiarid region of Paraiba, Brazil. Case: Two foxes were sent to the LPA, phenotypic species identification through analysis of morphological aspects was performed and posteriorly necropsied. Fragments of organs of the thoracic and abdominal cavities, salivary glands, eye and Gasser ganglia were collected in addition to the central nervous system (CNS) that was collected integer and fixed at 10% buffered formalin. Later, serial sections of the 16 fragments of the CNS were performed, measuring about 0.5 cm thick and cleaved. Fragments of cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, spinal cord and salivary glands were sent...

Plantas tóxicas do norte baiano

Intoxicações acidentais por espécies de Jatropha já foram descritas em humanos, e em animais, por fornecimento dos subprodutos da planta. Além disso, a intoxicação tem sido reproduzida experimentalmente em diferentes espécies animais. Ainda não foram descritos casos de intoxicação por Jatropha spp. em animais a campo Descreve-se surtos de intoxicação espontânea por J. ribifolia na região semiárida do Nordeste Brasileiro em caprinos a pastejo, na época de seca. A mortalidade variou entre 6% e 40%. Clinicamente os animais apresentavam apatia, anorexia, adipsia, fezes amolecidas, perda de peso e severa desidratação. Os caprinos apresentavam manchas avermelhadas (nódoas), devido a um pigmento presente em J. ribifolia, na pele do focinho, rima labial, dentes e chifres. Na necropsia de um caprino foram observados, principalmente, sinais característicos de emaciação. Na reprodução experimental, dois dos três caprinos que receberam doses únicas de 10 e 20 g da planta por kg de peso vivo (g/kg), apresentaram desidratação leve e fezes amolecidas. A planta foi também administrada a dois caprinos que receberam doses diárias durante 8 dias. Um caprino recebeu 10 g/kg, e outro a dose 20 g/kg por dia e apresentaram sinais clínicos após 4 e 3 dias do início do consumo, respectivamente. Um caprino recuperouse espontaneamente e o outro foi eutanasiado. Os sinais clínicos e lesões observadas foram semelhantes aos observados nos casos espontâneos. Este é o primeiro caso de intoxicação por Jatropha spp. em caprinos a pastoreio que ingeriram a planta espontaneamente.

Plantas tóxicas do norte baiano

Intoxicações acidentais por espécies de Jatropha já foram descritas em humanos, e em animais, por fornecimento dos subprodutos da planta. Além disso, a intoxicação tem sido reproduzida experimentalmente em diferentes espécies animais. Ainda não foram descritos casos de intoxicação por Jatropha spp. em animais a campo Descreve-se surtos de intoxicação espontânea por J. ribifolia na região semiárida do Nordeste Brasileiro em caprinos a pastejo, na época de seca. A mortalidade variou entre 6% e 40%. Clinicamente os animais apresentavam apatia, anorexia, adipsia, fezes amolecidas, perda de peso e severa desidratação. Os caprinos apresentavam manchas avermelhadas (nódoas), devido a um pigmento presente em J. ribifolia, na pele do focinho, rima labial, dentes e chifres. Na necropsia de um caprino foram observados, principalmente, sinais característicos de emaciação. Na reprodução experimental, dois dos três caprinos que receberam doses únicas de 10 e 20 g da planta por kg de peso vivo (g/kg), apresentaram desidratação leve e fezes amolecidas. A planta foi também administrada a dois caprinos que receberam doses diárias durante 8 dias. Um caprino recebeu 10 g/kg, e outro a dose 20 g/kg por dia e apresentaram sinais clínicos após 4 e 3 dias do início do consumo, respectivamente. Um caprino recuperouse espontaneamente e o outro foi eutanasiado. Os sinais clínicos e lesões observadas foram semelhantes aos observados nos casos espontâneos. Este é o primeiro caso de intoxicação por Jatropha spp. em caprinos a pastoreio que ingeriram a planta espontaneamente. (AU)

Pathological and immunohistochemical findings of a case of canine chagasic myocarditis in the state of Mato Grosso / Aspectos patológicos e imuno-histoquímico de um caso de miocardite chagásica canina no estado de Mato Grosso

Dogs are as considered important reservoirs of trypanosomiasis and play a vital role in maintaining the interaction between the domestic and wild cycles of this disease. This paper reports the clinical and pathological findings of a case of Chagas disease myocarditis in a dog from an urban area in Brazil. During clinical examination, the animal showed apathy, weakness and pale ocular mucous and died shortly after. Necropsy revealed ascites, hydrothorax and hydropericardium. The heart was remarkably globoid with scattered multifocal pale in the epicardium and ventricular miocardium and dilated chambers. Histological analysis revealed non-suppurative myocarditis and cardiomyocyte necrosis. The sarcoplasms of cardiomyocytes were frequently infiltrated by T. cruzi pseudocysts filled with amastigotes. The myocardium immunostained positive for anti-T. cruzi antibody. The presence of Chagas disease in a dog from an urban area increases the risk of disease transmission to man, which renders this diagnosis a matter of significant public health concern.

Os cães são considerados importantes reservatórios de tripanosomose e têm um relevante papel na manutenção e interação entre o ciclo doméstico e silvestre desta doença. Neste trabalho é descrito as alterações clínicas e anatomopatológicas de miocardite chagásica em um cão, domiciliado em área urbana, no Brasil. Durante o exame clínico o animal apresentava apatia, debilidade e mucosas oculares pálidas, com rápida evolução para o óbito. Na necropsia foram observados ascite, hidrotórax e hidropericárdio. O coração estava globoso com áreas multifocais pálidas no epicárdio e miocárdio ventricular e ao corte observou-se dilatação das câmaras átrio-ventriculares. Histologicamente, no coração havia miocardite não supurativa e necrose de cardiomiócitos. Frequentemente, infiltrando o sarcoplasma de cardiomiócitos, haviam pseudocistos de T. cruzi contendo múltiplas amastigotas. No exame de imuno-histoquímica, do miocárdio, houve imunomarcação positiva para o anticorpo anti-T. cruzi. A ocorrência da doença de Chagas em um canino domiciliado em área urbanizada eleva os riscos de transmissão da doença para o homem, o que consequentemente torna este diagnóstico uma nota de importância em saúde pública e de diferencial para outras patologias caninas.