Uterine segmental aplasia in sheep / Aplasia segmentar uterina em ovelhas

The complete absence of one of the uterine horns, named segmental uterine aplasia or unicorn uterus, occurs due to deficiency in the development of segments of the paramesonephric or Mullerian ducts. It is a congenital or hereditary anomaly of the female reproductive tract caused by recessive genes, which occurrence is unusual. In cows, this malformation was initially called “white heifer disease”, comprising an alteration in the Mullerian ducts in association with the white skin gene that causes aplasia of the uterus, cervix and vagina. Two pieces of sheep reproductive system from a slaughterhouse under federal inspection in the state of Bahia, Brazil, were received for pathological diagnosis. The collection, dissection and macroscopic analysis were carried out. In the macroscopic evaluation, uterine segmental aplasia was identified in both cases, with complete absence of the left uterine horns. Both had agenesis of the uterine tubes associated with the absence of internal bifurcation of the uterine horns. Animals that have a unicorn uterus often have reduced fertility which consequently leads to losses to sheep farming.

A ausência completa de um dos cornos uterinos, denominada aplasia uterina segmentar ou útero unicorno, ocorre por deficiência no desenvolvimento de segmentos dos ductos paramesonéfricos ou Mullerianos. É uma anomalia congênita ou hereditária do trato reprodutor da fêmea causada por genes recessivos, é incomum a ocorrência. Em vacas, essa malforma-ção foi denominada inicialmente como “white heifers desease” ou doenças das novilhas brancas, é uma alteração dos ductos Mullerianos em associação com o gene da pele branca que provoca aplasia de útero, colo uterino e vagina. Foi recebido duas peças de sistema reprodutor de ovelhas provenientes de abatedouro frigorífico sob inspeção federal no estado da Bahia, Brasil para diagnóstico patológico. Procedeu-se a coleta, dissecação e análise macroscópica. Na avaliação macroscópica, identificou--se nos dois casos aplasia segmentar uterina, com ausência completa dos cornos uterinos esquerdo. Ambos apresentavam age-nesia das tubas uterinas associada a ausência de bifurcação interna dos cornos uterinos. Animais que possuem um útero uni-corno frequentemente possuem redução da fertilidade e consequentemente podem causar perdas à ovinocultura brasileira.

Uterine segmental aplasia in sheep / Aplasia segmentar uterina em ovelhas

The complete absence of one of the uterine horns, named segmental uterine aplasia or unicorn uterus, occurs due to deficiency in the development of segments of the paramesonephric or Mullerian ducts. It is a congenital or hereditary anomaly of the female reproductive tract caused by recessive genes, which occurrence is unusual. In cows, this malformation was initially called “white heifer disease”, comprising an alteration in the Mullerian ducts in association with the white skin gene that causes aplasia of the uterus, cervix and vagina. Two pieces of sheep reproductive system from a slaughterhouse under federal inspection in the state of Bahia, Brazil, were received for pathological diagnosis. The collection, dissection and macroscopic analysis were carried out. In the macroscopic evaluation, uterine segmental aplasia was identified in both cases, with complete absence of the left uterine horns. Both had agenesis of the uterine tubes associated with the absence of internal bifurcation of the uterine horns. Animals that have a unicorn uterus often have reduced fertility which consequently leads to losses to sheep farming.(AU)

A ausência completa de um dos cornos uterinos, denominada aplasia uterina segmentar ou útero unicorno, ocorre por deficiência no desenvolvimento de segmentos dos ductos paramesonéfricos ou Mullerianos. É uma anomalia congênita ou hereditária do trato reprodutor da fêmea causada por genes recessivos, é incomum a ocorrência. Em vacas, essa malforma-ção foi denominada inicialmente como “white heifers desease” ou doenças das novilhas brancas, é uma alteração dos ductos Mullerianos em associação com o gene da pele branca que provoca aplasia de útero, colo uterino e vagina. Foi recebido duas peças de sistema reprodutor de ovelhas provenientes de abatedouro frigorífico sob inspeção federal no estado da Bahia, Brasil para diagnóstico patológico. Procedeu-se a coleta, dissecação e análise macroscópica. Na avaliação macroscópica, identificou--se nos dois casos aplasia segmentar uterina, com ausência completa dos cornos uterinos esquerdo. Ambos apresentavam age-nesia das tubas uterinas associada a ausência de bifurcação interna dos cornos uterinos. Animais que possuem um útero uni-corno frequentemente possuem redução da fertilidade e consequentemente podem causar perdas à ovinocultura brasileira.(AU)

Obliterative vasculitis caused by ovine herpesvirus type 2 in cattle

Background: Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a frequently fatal viral infection that affects various wild and domestic ruminants and even pigs, as recently reported. It is a disease characterized by lymphoproliferation, vasculitis and erosiveulcerative lesions in mucosa and skin. In Brazil, the virus that circulates and causes the disease has been identified as OvHV-2. The aim of this study is to describe the clinicopathological changes in a cow with obliterative vasculitis caused by OvHV-2. Case: A two-year-old Gir cow with a history of intermittent diarrhea and progressive weight loss for approximately a year, which had not improved with antibiotic therapy, was euthanized and subjected to necropsy. In the necropsy, the liver was enlarged, firm, and had a marbled aspect all over the capsular and cut surfaces (light striations intercalated with dark areas). Cut surfaces also revealed thickening of the vessel walls, which exhibited a branched pattern. There was marked thickening of the small and large intestinal walls. The hepatic, mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged. The samples were fixed in 10% phosphate-buffered formalin, routinely processed for histology, embedded in paraffin, cut 5-µm sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Additionally, sections of the liver and ileum were subjected to Masson's trichrome staining. The main microscopic alterations were found in the vessels (arteries and veins) of the liver and intestine. Periportal fibrosis and marked pericholangitis which would sometimes form bridges were observed in the liver. Transmural and perivascular fibrosis; the muscular layer was ruptured and there was proliferation of the intima, which caused obliteration of the lumen were also present. The lymph nodes' medullae exhibited intense infiltration of macrophages and plasma cells with areas of fibrosis, capillary proliferation, and atrophy of medullary cords. Neovascularization and marked inflammatory infiltrates composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and eosinophils were also present. Masson's trichrome staining revealed areas of fibroplasia. The tissue samples of the carotid rete mirabile, brain and liver were submitted for identification of OvHV-2 by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) tested was positive for ovine herpesvirus type 2. Discussion: The main histological findings (obliterative vasculitis observed in the small and large intestines, liver, and lymph nodes) plus the detection of viral DNA of OvHV-2 in fragments of the carotid rete mirabile, brain, and liver by nPCR confirmed the diagnosis of malignant catarrhal fever. Chronic cases of MCF in cattle are not often described. The disease is usually manifested in a hyperacute or acute form which culminates with death. The most frequent clinical presentation is the head and eye form, which is characterized by corneal opacity, and ocular, nasal, and oral serous discharge. Bovines with MCF usually exhibit macroscopic and microscopic changes in various organs due to the pansystemic characteristic of the virus, which causes vasculopathy and lymphadenopathy. In this report, the changes were restricted to the intestines, liver, and lymph nodes. The obliterative vasculitis seen in this case is similar to the changes described in cases of chronic. Other herpesviruses which cause lesions to the vascular wall can also cause hyperplasia of the muscular layer with progression to obliterative arteriopathy. This paper reports a presentation of MCR not previously described in Brazil. PCR was an important tool for the conclusion of this case.

Urolitíase obstrutiva em touro Nelore no Recôncavo da Bahia / Obstructive Urolithiasis in Nelore Cattle in the Recôncavo of Bahia

Background: Urolithiasis is a metabolic disease of ruminants castrated and uncastrated. The formation of uroliths causes trauma and obstruction in the tract urinary. The nutrition and management are the main predisposing factors for this disease. Many cases occur sporadically, but outbreaks can occur or become an endemic problem. This paper describes a case of obstructive urolithiasis in Nelore cattle uncastrated in Recôncavo of Bahia, Brazil. Case: An 4-year-old Nelore cattle, uncastrated male was sent to the Centro de Desenvolvimento da Pecuária da Universidade Federal da Bahia (CPD-UFBA), Bahia, Brazil. by presenting a swelling on the ventral abdomen 5 days ago. Clinical examination revealed the exposure with mucosal necrosis and hemorrhage preputial, and continuous dripping of urine. The animal was euthanized in extremis and submitted to necropsy. The animal was necropsied and samples collected from the abdominal cavity, thoracic cavity, and nervous system. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin, cleaved, processed routinely for histology, embedded in paraffin, cut at five microns thick and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Urinary stones collected during necropsy were sent for analysis of chemical composition. The macroscopic had swelling in the ventral abdominal region. By cutting this region was the formation of cavities and filled with red liquid and odor uremic in the subcutaneous. At the opening of the sigmoid flexure of the penile urethra was found urinary calculi with 2 x 1 cm, rough and porous, light brown and rocklike consistency, occluding the urethral light. There was rupture of the urethral mucosa and necrosis of adjacent tissue, plus hemorrhage, and hydronephrosis. Kidney had multiple white areas on the natural surface. In the cut surface of the kidney was observed dilatation of renal calices, some with uroliths. In microscopy of the urethra was observed coagulation necrosis diffuse mucosa and and submucosa with hemorrhage and neutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate. Kidney was observed areas of intense intersticial infiltrate inflammatory, periglomerular fibrosis and peritubular and interstitial collagen deposition. Chemical analysis of uroliths demonstrated the presence of calcium carbonate and calcium oxalate in its composition. Discussion: The diagnosis of obstructive urolithiasis was based from the clinical signs and gross lesions. Works related to obstructive urolithiasis in cattle in Brazil are uncommon. The cases are described more often in small ruminants, usually associated with feed intake unbalanced. In cattle the disease usually occurs in castrated males reared in intensive system. Ventral edema in the perineum, inguinal region, the ventral abdomen and prepuce, are clinical signs that indicate urethral rupture as observed in this case. The pathological changes observed in this case were similar to those described by other authors. In ruminants, the predominant types of uroliths are compounds of struvite, silicates, carbonates and oxalates. The formation of uroliths composed of calcium carbonate associated with the consumption of fodder with a high calcium content and low phosphorus and magnesium. The mechanism of formation of calcium oxalate uroliths is unclear. Unable to determine the factors that have led to the formation of uroliths in this case.

Oropharyngeal lesions and poisoning by closantel in sheep after antiparasitic treatment

An outbreak of oropharyngeal lesions and poisoning by closantel in sheep after improper handling and anthelmintic drug overdose is described here. Eleven sheep were affected out of 42 that were dewormed. Eight sheep died. Clinically, the animals showed abdominal recumbency, absent pupillary and palpebral reflexes, bilateral blindness, depression, apathy, emaciation, and corneal opacity. Three sheep exhibited swelling on the right side of the mandible. At necropsy, one sheep exhibited a purulent lesion located on the right, next to the root of the tongue. Microscopically, the main finding was status spongiosus in the central nervous system and optic nerve. The retina showed rod and cone degeneration, ganglionic cell layer vacuolation, karyorrhexis, and vacuolation of the outer plexiform layer. The liver of one sheep exhibited diffused coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes in the centrilobular region associated with high infestation of Haemonchus contortus.

Oropharyngeal lesions and poisoning by closantel in sheep after antiparasitic treatment

An outbreak of oropharyngeal lesions and poisoning by closantel in sheep after improper handling and anthelmintic drug overdose is described here. Eleven sheep were affected out of 42 that were dewormed. Eight sheep died. Clinically, the animals showed abdominal recumbency, absent pupillary and palpebral reflexes, bilateral blindness, depression, apathy, emaciation, and corneal opacity. Three sheep exhibited swelling on the right side of the mandible. At necropsy, one sheep exhibited a purulent lesion located on the right, next to the root of the tongue. Microscopically, the main finding was status spongiosus in the central nervous system and optic nerve. The retina showed rod and cone degeneration, ganglionic cell layer vacuolation, karyorrhexis, and vacuolation of the outer plexiform layer. The liver of one sheep exhibited diffused coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes in the centrilobular region associated with high infestation of Haemonchus contortus.(AU)