Spatial distribution analysis of bovine fascioliasis cases recorded in an abattoir in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil / Análise da distribuição espacial dos casos de fasciolose bovina registrados em abatedouro de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Fascioliasis is a zoonosis of global distribution caused by the parasitic trematode Fasciola spp. Infection in humans can occur in areas endemic for animal fascioliasis, suggesting the need for studies on this parasitosis and its determinants. This exploratory study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of bovine fascioliasis in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, based on cases notified between 2015 and 2017 in a state abattoir, located in the municipality of Orleans, and to associate disease occurrence with altitude, temperature, and rainfall. The research was conducted at Centro Universitário Barriga Verde (UNIBAVE)/Orleans, SC and Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/Rio de Janeiro, RJ. During the study period, the abattoir received animals from 58 municipalities in that state. Of the animals slaughtered in that period, 10,81% were infected with Fasciola hepatica. Presence of bovine fascioliasis infection was identified in the South and Southeast regions of the state, with higher prevalence rates in the latter. There was an association between low altitudes and higher occurrence of cases in the municipalities assessed. In addition, prevalence of bovine fascioliasis was higher in municipalities with high temperatures and low rainfall. Therefore, these results should be considered for planning disease control measures in the South and Southeast regions of the state of Santa Catarina.

A fasciolose é uma zoonose de distribuição global causada pelo parasita Fasciola spp. Infecções em humanos podem ocorrer em áreas endêmicas para fasciolose animal, sugerindo a necessidade de estudos sobre essa parasitose e seus determinantes. O presente estudo exploratório teve como objetivo analisar a distribuição espacial da fasciolose bovina, no estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil, a partir de casos notificados entre 2015 e 2017 no abatedouro frigorífico estadual, localizado em Orleans, SC, e associar a ocorrência da doença a altitude, temperatura e precipitação. A pesquisa foi conduzida na Universidade Barriga Verde em Orleans, SC e na Fundação Oswaldo Cruz no Rio de Janeiro, RJ. No período de análise o matadouro recebeu animais de 58 municípios do estado de Santa Catarina. Dos animais abatidos nesse período, 10,81% estavam infectados por Fasciola hepatica. A presença da infecção por fasciolose foi encontrada no Sul no território estudado, com maiores prevalências no Sudeste do estado. Houve uma associação entre baixas altitudes e maior ocorrência de fasciolose nos municípios. A prevalência de fasciolose bovina foi também maior em municípios com altas temperaturas e com baixa pluviosidade. Sendo assim, esses resultados devem ser levados em consideração para o planejamento de medidas de controle da doença no Sul de Santa Catarina.

Sodium iodide: an alternative treatment option for feline sporotrichosis? / Iodeto de sódio: uma alternativa de tratamento para a esporotricose felina?

Background: Sporotrichosis is caused by pathogenic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. The clinically relevant species are S. schenckii, S. globosa and S. brasiliensis. In Brazil, S. brasiliensis is the most prevalent etiological agent among humans and cats. In cats with sporotrichosis, skin lesions are mainly characterized by nodules and ulcers, usually located in the head, nasal region and limbs. The presence of respiratory signs concomitantly with cutaneous lesions is frequent, especially sneezing, and may be associated with lesions located in the nasal mucosa. Ketoconazole (KTZ), itraconazole (ITZ), potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide (NaI), terbinafine (TRB), fluconazole (FLZ) and amphotericin B (AMB) are the drugs currently available for treating feline sporotrichosis. ITZ remains the drug of choice. ITZ combined with KI has been successfully used in the treatment of naïve cats (especially cases with lesions in the nasal region), cases of recurrence and refractory to ITZ. Clinical cure with NaI has been described in some cases, but its use has been limited by adverse reactions. The conventional formulation is the saturated solution and the recommended dose in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis is 10 mg/kg every 12 h. Cats are sensitive to iodide preparations and should be carefully monitored for clinical evidence of iodism, such as apathy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, hypothermia, hyperthermia, cardiomyopathy, hyperexcitability, muscular spasms and ptyalism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic response of NaI capsules in feline sporotrichosis.Materials, Methods & Results: An observational cohort study was conducted in cats with sporotrichosis at the Laboratory of Clinical Research in Dermatozoonoses in Domestic Animals (Lapclin-Dermzoo), Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI)/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[...]

Sodium iodide: an alternative treatment option for feline sporotrichosis? / Iodeto de sódio: uma alternativa de tratamento para a esporotricose felina?

Background: Sporotrichosis is caused by pathogenic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. The clinically relevant species are S. schenckii, S. globosa and S. brasiliensis. In Brazil, S. brasiliensis is the most prevalent etiological agent among humans and cats. In cats with sporotrichosis, skin lesions are mainly characterized by nodules and ulcers, usually located in the head, nasal region and limbs. The presence of respiratory signs concomitantly with cutaneous lesions is frequent, especially sneezing, and may be associated with lesions located in the nasal mucosa. Ketoconazole (KTZ), itraconazole (ITZ), potassium iodide (KI), sodium iodide (NaI), terbinafine (TRB), fluconazole (FLZ) and amphotericin B (AMB) are the drugs currently available for treating feline sporotrichosis. ITZ remains the drug of choice. ITZ combined with KI has been successfully used in the treatment of naïve cats (especially cases with lesions in the nasal region), cases of recurrence and refractory to ITZ. Clinical cure with NaI has been described in some cases, but its use has been limited by adverse reactions. The conventional formulation is the saturated solution and the recommended dose in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis is 10 mg/kg every 12 h. Cats are sensitive to iodide preparations and should be carefully monitored for clinical evidence of iodism, such as apathy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, hypothermia, hyperthermia, cardiomyopathy, hyperexcitability, muscular spasms and ptyalism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic response of NaI capsules in feline sporotrichosis.Materials, Methods & Results: An observational cohort study was conducted in cats with sporotrichosis at the Laboratory of Clinical Research in Dermatozoonoses in Domestic Animals (Lapclin-Dermzoo), Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI)/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[...](AU)

Feline histoplasmosis: a case of supraorbital involvement / Histoplasmose felina: relato de caso com envolvimento supraorbital

Histoplasmosis is a systemic fungal infection caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum that infects humans and a wide variety of mammalian species, including cats.  In Brazil only four cases of this disease were reported in domestic cats. The present study reports a case of an indoor cat, rescued from street three years ago, that developed histoplasmosis with supraorbital involvement. The cat presented sneezing, dyspnea and increased respiratory sounds and the diagnosis suspected was allergic rhinitis. Prednisolone and amoxicillin were prescribed. The patient returned to clinic after clinical signs worsened with a swelling of the right supraorbital region, unilateral left side conjunctivitis and enlarged submandibular lymph nodes. Cytology and culture revealed Histoplasma capsulatum. Initially, itraconazole (10 mg/Kg SID orally) was prescribed and due to the worsening of clinical signs, was combined amphotericin B (0.5 mg/kg SC) for two weeks. The therapy with amphotericin was discontinued and itraconazole continued to be administered for six months. The clinical signs were resolved and no recrudescence was reported. It is important that veterinary practitioners to be aware of the clinical features of feline histoplasmosis and consider the possibility of a subclinical infection. 

Histoplasmose é uma infecção sistêmica causada pelo fungo dimórfico Histoplasma capsulatum, que infecta humanos e uma ampla variedade de mamíferos, incluindo os gatos. No Brasil, somente quatro casos dessa doença foram relatados em gatos domésticos. O presente estudo relata um caso de um gato, vivendo em ambiente domiciliar sem acesso à rua, mas que tinha sido resgatado das ruas havia três anos, que desenvolveu histoplasmose com envolvimento supraorbital. O paciente apresentava espirros, dispneia e aumento dos sons respiratórios e a suspeita clínica foi rinite alérgica. O animal foi tratado com prednisolona e amoxicilina. Com a piora dos sinais clínicos o paciente retornou apresentando um edema na região supraorbital direita, conjuntivite unilateral do olho esquerdo e linfoadenomegalia na região submandibular. A citologia e a cultura revelaram a presença de Histoplasma capsulatum. Inicialmente, itraconazol (10 mg/kg via oral, uma vez ao dia) foi prescrito e devido à piora dos sinais clínicos, anfotericina B (0,5 mg/Kg via subcutânea) foi administrada por duas semanas associada ao triazólico. A terapia com anfotericina B foi descontinuada e o itraconazol mantido por seis meses até a cura clínica e nenhuma recrudescência foi registrada. É importante ressaltar que veterinários devem estar atentos para os sinais clínicos da histoplasmose e que devem considerar a possibilidade de uma infecção subclínica.(AU)

Feline sporotrichosis: coinfection with Toxoplasma gondii, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus in cats from an endemic area in Brazil

Background: Sporotrichosis is an endemic zoonosis in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro caused by fungi included in the Sporothrix complex, in which cats are the main source of infection for humans and animals. Coinfections in cats with sporotrichosis from this region, their risk factors and how they affect the treatment outcome in these animals are little known. The objectives of this study were to determine the coinfections of Sporothrix spp. with Toxoplasma gondii, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and to correlate these infections with risk factors and the outcome of sporotrichosis treatment in cats from an endemic area of sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: It was conducted a cohort study involving 213 cats with definitive diagnosis of sporotrichosis from the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro and assisted in the Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonosis in Domestic Animals (LAPCLIN-DERMZOO)/Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI)/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, from November 2007 until February 2011. These animals were monthly evaluated due to sporotrichosis treatment until their sporotrichosis treatment outcomes. In every clinical evaluation, 5 mL of blood were collected in order to obtain the serum, which was stored at -20ºC. Information from the animals medical records have also been collected, such as sex, eating habits, living with other cats, access to the streets, castration, age and the outcome of sporotrichosis treatment. Serological follow-up of anti-T. gondii antibodies were performed through indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in all clinical evaluations. The FIV and FeLV antibody detection were made through a rapid immunoassay using the catsserum samples from the first clinical evaluation.[...](AU)

Feline sporotrichosis: coinfection with Toxoplasma gondii, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus in cats from an endemic area in Brazil

Background: Sporotrichosis is an endemic zoonosis in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro caused by fungi included in the Sporothrix complex, in which cats are the main source of infection for humans and animals. Coinfections in cats with sporotrichosis from this region, their risk factors and how they affect the treatment outcome in these animals are little known. The objectives of this study were to determine the coinfections of Sporothrix spp. with Toxoplasma gondii, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and to correlate these infections with risk factors and the outcome of sporotrichosis treatment in cats from an endemic area of sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Materials, Methods & Results: It was conducted a cohort study involving 213 cats with definitive diagnosis of sporotrichosis from the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro and assisted in the Laboratory of Clinical Research on Dermatozoonosis in Domestic Animals (LAPCLIN-DERMZOO)/Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI)/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, from November 2007 until February 2011. These animals were monthly evaluated due to sporotrichosis treatment until their sporotrichosis treatment outcomes. In every clinical evaluation, 5 mL of blood were collected in order to obtain the serum, which was stored at -20ºC. Information from the animal’s medical records have also been collected, such as sex, eating habits, living with other cats, access to the streets, castration, age and the outcome of sporotrichosis treatment. Serological follow-up of anti-T. gondii antibodies were performed through indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in all clinical evaluations. The FIV and FeLV antibody detection were made through a rapid immunoassay using the cats’serum samples from the first clinical evaluation.[...]

Furunculose eosinofílica canina / Canine eosinophilic furunculosis

Background: The eosinophilic furunculosis is an uncommon skin disease that affects young dogs aged between two and five years. Sex predilections are not noted. Most reported cases have been in large breeds with abundant access to the outdoors like public gardens and parks. The exact pathogenesis remains unknown but the pattern of lesions development suggests involvement reaction to insect bites and arthropods. The time between contact with the agent and the appearance of lesions is short, often less than 24 h. The skin lesions appear suddenly in the face, usually on the dorsal muzzle and/ or periocular region, pinnae and lips. More rarely on the trunk, chest and legs and it is characterized by predominantly hemorrhagic ulcers with edema. Pustules, nodules and plaques rapidly fistulate and drain serosanguinous exudates. Pruritus is variable, but may be severe. Severely affected dogs may be febrile, lethargic and anoretic. Peripheral blood eosinophilia is seen in the majority of cases. Clinical differential diagnosis include demodicosis, dermatophytosis, nasal deep bacterial folliculitis and furunculosis, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus erythematosus and drug reactions. None of these diseases share the fulminant rapid onset of eosinophilic furunculosis. The diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, cytology and skin biopsies. The treatment involves oral steroids until complete remission of lesions and the antibiotic therapy is indicated in cases of associated bacterial infection. Case: The patient was a 4-year-old, male Pit Bull dog attended in a small animal clinic in Niteroi-Rio de Janeiro, which presented ulcerated, exudative lesions on the dorsal muzzle and right leg. After sedation, clinical examination was performed and an exudate was collected from the ulcerated skin lesion for cytopathological analysis .The slide containing the lesion impression was stained by a quick panoptic method. In order to collect samples, the dog was sedated with a combination of ketamine hydrochloride and acepromazine and a skin fragment was collected from the nasal bridge lesion with a 6 mm punch after local anesthesia with 2% lidocaine hydrochloride. The specimen was fixed in 10% buffered formalin and sent for histopathological analysis. The cytopathological exam revealed a marked eosinophilic inflammation. Histopathological examination revealed ulcerated skin. The epidermis was moderately acanthotic with mild espongiosis and the dermis was characterized by intense eosinophilic folliculocentric inflammations. An extensive folicular rupture, eosinophilic mural foliculitis were presented and PAS staining did not identify fungal structures. Oral prednisone (2 mg/Kg) at 24h intervals was prescribed until complete remission of the lesions. After fifteen days of glucocorticoids therapy, involution of the skin lesions was observed by physical examination and was also reported by the owner. Discussion: The eosinophilic furunculosis is an acute, severe predominantly facial disease of outdoor dogs, which occurrence is rare. The diagnosis and treatment of this disease are frequently neglected because they are not included in the differential diagnosis of diverse cutaneous infections. In view of the scarcity of reports and to alert veterinarians that the disease should be included in the differential diagnosis with other bacterial diseases, this report described a case of canine eosinophilic furunculosis.

Esporotricose zoonótica: procedimentos de biossegurança / Zoonotic sporotrichosis: biosafety procedures

Background: Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii species complex, which is distributed worldwide, especially in regions of tropical and subtropical climates. It can affect both humans and a great variety of animals, among which, the domestic dog and cat. Today is considered the subcutaneous mycosis more frequent in Brazil, due to the progressive increase of zoonotic transmission of the disease in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. Review: In the endemic region of zoonotic sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro,veterinarians, their assistants and owners of cats with sporotrichosis are considered risk groups for acquiring the infection. Of the human cases of sporotrichosis in this endemic region that were accompanied by the Clinical Research Institute Evandro Chagas (IPEC / Fiocruz) in the period from 1998 to 2001, 5% of the patients diagnosed for the disease were veterinarians, demonstrating the occurrence of the infection in this occupational group. Biosafety is defined as a condition of security achieved by a set of measures aimed at the prevention, control, reduction or elimination of risks involved in activities that could endanger the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment. However, small animal veterinary pratictioners from the endemic region of Rio de Janeiro usually do not follow biosafety measures, which increases the risk of acquisition of sporotrichosis. In most cases, the infection results from traumatic inoculation of the fungus in skin and in humans, clinical forms may be: fixed or localized cutaneous, lymphatic-cutaneous, spread-cutaneous, mucosal and extra-cutaneous or systemic. In the endemic form of this disease that occurs in Rio de Janeiro, the cat is seen as a source of infection. The zoonotic potential of the cat is characterized by the abundance of yeasts found in their skin lesions and proximity with humans. Cats acquire the disease after fights with other infected cats and the skin lesions more frequently found are nodules and ulcers, covered or not by crusts, which can progress to necrosis with exposure of bones and muscles. The presence of respiratory signs, especially sneezing, with or without lesions in the mucosal and in the nasal region is common. The azole itraconazole is considered the drug of choice for humans and cats. However, unlike humans, the treatment is considered difficult in cats. The definitive diagnosis of sporotrichosis is obtained by isolation of Sporothrix in culture. Nonetheless, in cats, due to the great quantity of yeasts in their lesions, cytopathological test is strongly indicated in the presumptive diagnosis because of the speed in processing, low cost and no requirement of sophisticated technical training or complex laboratory structure. Discussion: A zoonotic form of sporotrichosis has become endemic in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro and the veterinarians are a high risk group for acquiring the disease as well as have a very important role in the application of measures for the prevention and control of sporotrichosis. Therefore, in this review, specific biosafety procedures to reduce risks during the handling of cats with suspected sporotrichosis by veterinarians, technicians, caretakers and owners of cats were described. The topics aproached were: clinical care of the cat (where were appointed the recommended personal protective equipment, animal restraint and good practices), decontamination of the environment, equipment and items used in the cat care and management of waste. Aspects related to the fungus and the disease itself were also discussed.

Micobacteriose cutânea atípica felina autóctone no município do Rio de Janeiro-Brasil / Autochthonous Case of Feline Atypical Cutaneous Mycobacteriosis in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro-Brazil

Background: Cutaneous mycobacterioses show a worldwide distribution and manifest as three forms: atypical mycobacteriosis, feline leprosy and cutaneous tuberculosis. Atypical cutaneous mycobacteriosis in cats is a rare disease commonly caused by fast-growing mycobacteria belonging group IV of the Runyon classification. This report describes for the first time an autochthonous case of atypical cutaneous mycobacteriosis in a cat from the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Case: A castrated female mongrel cat presented multiple ulcerated, exudative and alopecic lesions in different regions of the body. After sedation of the animal with 1% acepromazine hydrochloride (0.1 mg/kg) and 10% ketamine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg), clinical examination was performed and an exudate was collected from the ulcerated skin lesion for cytopathological analysis and mycological culture. The slide containing the lesion impression was stained by a rapid panoptic method. For fungal culture, material was collected with a sterile swab, seeded onto Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol and mycobiotic agar, and incubated at 25ºC. After antisepsis and asepsis, local anesthesia was performed with 2% lidocaine hydrochloride without vasoconstrictor and a 4 mm punch biopsy was collected from the lesion, fixed in 10% buffered formalin and sent for histopathological analysis. No fungal structures were detected by cytopathological or mycological analysis. Histopathological examination revealed ulcerated skin and the presence of a marked and diffuse pyogranulomatous infiltrate in the superficial and deep dermis, which also involving the subcutaneous tissue and underlying muscle tissue. Grocott’s or PAS staining did not identify fungal structures. The Wade method was positive for acid-fast bacteria suggestive of Mycobacterium. Analysis of the hematological and biochemical profiles revealed no noteworthy alterations.(...)

Micobacteriose cutânea atípica felina autóctone no município do Rio de Janeiro-Brasil / Autochthonous Case of Feline Atypical Cutaneous Mycobacteriosis in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro-Brazil

Background: Cutaneous mycobacterioses show a worldwide distribution and manifest as three forms: atypical mycobacteriosis, feline leprosy and cutaneous tuberculosis. Atypical cutaneous mycobacteriosis in cats is a rare disease commonly caused by fast-growing mycobacteria belonging group IV of the Runyon classification. This report describes for the first time an autochthonous case of atypical cutaneous mycobacteriosis in a cat from the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Case: A castrated female mongrel cat presented multiple ulcerated, exudative and alopecic lesions in different regions of the body. After sedation of the animal with 1% acepromazine hydrochloride (0.1 mg/kg) and 10% ketamine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg), clinical examination was performed and an exudate was collected from the ulcerated skin lesion for cytopathological analysis and mycological culture. The slide containing the lesion impression was stained by a rapid panoptic method. For fungal culture, material was collected with a sterile swab, seeded onto Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol and mycobiotic agar, and incubated at 25ºC. After antisepsis and asepsis, local anesthesia was performed with 2% lidocaine hydrochloride without vasoconstrictor and a 4 mm punch biopsy was collected from the lesion, fixed in 10% buffered formalin and sent for histopathological analysis. No fungal structures were detected by cytopathological or mycological analysis. Histopathological examination revealed ulcerated skin and the presence of a marked and diffuse pyogranulomatous infiltrate in the superficial and deep dermis, which also involving the subcutaneous tissue and underlying muscle tissue. Grocotts or PAS staining did not identify fungal structures. The Wade method was positive for acid-fast bacteria suggestive of Mycobacterium. Analysis of the hematological and biochemical profiles revealed no noteworthy alterations.(...)(AU)

Utilidade do coágulo sangüíneo para o isolamento de Sporothrix schenckii de gatos naturalmente infectados / Sporothrix schenckii isolation from blood clot of naturally infected cats

O diagnóstico de esporotricose disseminada costuma ser obtido através da necrópsia e o isolamento de Sporothrix schenckii do sangue é raro. Fungemia foi demonstrada in vivo através do isolamento do S. schenckii do sangue periférico de 13 (n=38; 34,2%) gatos com esporotricose naturalmente adquirida. A coinfecção com FIV e com FeLV encontradas, respectivamente, em 6 (n=34; 17,6%) casos e 1 (n=34; 2,9%), aparentemente não alterou a freqüência do isolamento de S. schenckii do sangue periférico. Comparando estes resultados aos dos hemocultivos realizados simultaneamente houve concordância de 84,2%. Assim, propomos o cultivo do coágulo como um método alternativo prático, eficiente e econômico para o diagnóstico de esporotricose disseminada em gatos in vivo.(AU)

The diagnosis of disseminated sporotrichosis is usually obtained by necropsy and the isolation of Sporothrix schenckii from blood is rare. Fungemia was shown in vivo through the isolation of S. schenckii from peripheral blood of 13 (n=38, 34.2%) cats with naturally acquired sporotrichosis. The coinfection with FIV and with FeLV found, respectively, in 6 (n=34, 17.6%) cases and 1 (n=34, 2.9%), apparently did not alter the frequency of the isolation of S. schenckii from peripheral blood. There was agreement of 84.2% comparing these results to the blood culture results simultaneously achieved. In this way, we propose the clot culture as a practical alternative method, efficient and cheap for the diagnosis of disseminated sporotrichosis in cats in vivo. (AU)