Renal histopathological changes in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis

Renal involvement in Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) has been demonstrated in chronic cases without histopathological classification of patterns of glomerulopathy. Thus, in this study we proposed to evaluate the histopathological pattern, focusing on the types of glomerulonephritis in kidneys of dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis.Twelve dogs naturally infected with E. canis and six healthy dogs were used. After clinical evaluation and diagnostic confirmation, the animals were euthanized and kidney fragments were obtained for histopathological examination, including hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Massons trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), periodic acid-methenamine silver (PAMS) and Congo red stain. Histopathological analysis of dogs with CME demonstrated that major lesions were present in the glomerulus and tubulointerstitial region in 100% of cases. The type of glomerular injury was membranoproliferative in 83.33%, and proliferative in 16.67%. Interstitial nephritis was present in the cortical region of all infected dogs. Minimal to marked lymphohistioplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate was present in the interstitial, perivascular and periglomerular areas. Differential count of inflammatory cells indicated that lymphocytes predominated in comparison to plasma cells and histiocytes. Interstitial fibrosis and hyaline casts of lower intensity were observed. There was a negative correlation between serum albumin levels and severity of glomerulopathy. In conclusion, membranoproliferative glomerulopathy and interstitial nephritis are the major renal lesions in CME. It has been suggested that the presence of inflammatory infiltrates rich inlymphocytes indicates participation of these infiltrates in the immunopathogenesis of renal lesion in dogs with CME. Furthermore, hypoalbuminemia also seems be a marker of renal damage in dogs infected with E. canis.

Renal histopathological changes in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis

Renal involvement in Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) has been demonstrated in chronic cases without histopathological classification of patterns of glomerulopathy. Thus, in this study we proposed to evaluate the histopathological pattern, focusing on the types of glomerulonephritis in kidneys of dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis.Twelve dogs naturally infected with E. canis and six healthy dogs were used. After clinical evaluation and diagnostic confirmation, the animals were euthanized and kidney fragments were obtained for histopathological examination, including hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Massons trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), periodic acid-methenamine silver (PAMS) and Congo red stain. Histopathological analysis of dogs with CME demonstrated that major lesions were present in the glomerulus and tubulointerstitial region in 100% of cases. The type of glomerular injury was membranoproliferative in 83.33%, and proliferative in 16.67%. Interstitial nephritis was present in the cortical region of all infected dogs. Minimal to marked lymphohistioplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate was present in the interstitial, perivascular and periglomerular areas. Differential count of inflammatory cells indicated that lymphocytes predominated in comparison to plasma cells and histiocytes. Interstitial fibrosis and hyaline casts of lower intensity were observed. There was a negative correlation between serum albumin levels and severity of glomerulopathy. In conclusion, membranoproliferative glomerulopathy and interstitial nephritis are the major renal lesions in CME. It has been suggested that the presence of inflammatory infiltrates rich inlymphocytes indicates participation of these infiltrates in the immunopathogenesis of renal lesion in dogs with CME. Furthermore, hypoalbuminemia also seems be a marker of renal damage in dogs infected with E. canis.(AU)

Babesiosis and anaplasmosis in dairy cattle in Northeastern Brazil / Babesiose e anaplasmose em bovinos leiteiros no Nordeste do Brasil

The goal of this study was to characterize the epidemiological situation and the factors involved in the prevalence of babesiosis and anaplasmosis in cattle in the dairy basin of Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil. The study was conducted in 22 farms, and collected blood samples from 202 cattle to study serological, molecular and determination of the packed cell volume (PCV). On the farms were applied surveys involving epidemiological aspects. Seroprevalence rates were: Babesia bigemina 52.5%, B. bovis 68.8%, and Anaplasma marginale 89.1%. Of the samples analyzed, 73.3% were reactive for Babesia spp. and A. marginale, showing co-infection. In PCR, B. bigemina and B. bovis were positive in 52.0% and 33.2% respectively, and A. marginale in 76.2%. Of these, 51.5% amplified DNA of Babesia spp. and A. marginale. The semi-intensive management predominated in 68.0% of the farms studied. The clinical history of babesiosis and anaplasmosis, was reported from 73% of the farms. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between age groups and for the PCV of positive compared with negative animals. The study indicates that in this region is enzootic instability for babesiosis and enzootic stability for anaplasmosis, reinforcing the fact that in Brazil there are areas of enzootic instability, even in tropical regions of the country. The PCR technique was a valuable tool for the diagnosis of these diseases and may be used to characterize a geographic region.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a situação epidemiológica e os fatores envolvidos na prevalência da babesiose e anaplasmose em bovinos da bacia leiteira de Parnaíba, Piauí, Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em 22 propriedades, sendo coletadas amostras de sangue de 202 bovinos para estudos sorológicos, moleculares e determinação do volume globular (VG). Nas propriedades foram aplicadas inquéritos envolvendo aspectos epidemiológicos. As taxas de soroprevalência foram: 52,5% para Babesia bigemina, 68,8% B. bovis, e 89,1% para Anaplasma marginale. Das amostras analisadas, 73,3% foram reagentes para Babesia spp. e A. marginale, demostrando co-infecção. Na PCR, B. bigemina e B. bovis foram positivas em 52,0% e 33,2% respectivamente, e A. marginale em 76,2%. Destes, 51,5% amplificaram DNA de Babesia spp. e A. marginale. O manejo semi-intensivo predominou em 68,0% das propriedades estudadas. O histórico clínico de babesiose e anaplasmose foi relatado em 73% das propriedades. Não houve diferença significativa (p>0,05) entre as faixas etárias e para o VG de animais positivos comparados com os negativos. O estudo indica que nesta região há instabilidade enzoótica para babesiose e estabilidade enzoótica para anaplasmose, reforçando o fato de que, no Brasil, existem áreas de instabilidade enzoótica, mesmo em regiões tropicais do país. A técnica de PCR demonstrou ser uma ferramenta valiosa para o diagnóstico destas doenças e pode ser utilizada para caracterizar uma região geográfica.(AU)

Consensus for the Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment of Canine Mammary Tumors

The purpose of this paper is to establish criteria that could guide the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of canine mammary neoplasias. It was elaborated during the Mammary Pathology Meeting: Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment of the Canine Mammary Neoplasm, held on November 6th and 7th, 2010 in Belo Horizonte ­ MG, Brazil, sponsored by the Laboratory of Comparative Pathology ­ UFMG, with the support of the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Pathology (ABPV) and Brazilian Association of Veterinary Oncology (ABROVET). Academics from several regions of Brazil were present and contributed to this work.(AU)

Epidemiologia e sinais clínicos da conidiobolomicose em ovinos no Estado do Piauí / Epidemiology and symptoms of conidiobolomycosis in sheep in the State of Piauí, Brazil

Foi realizado um estudo de ocorrência da conidiobolomicose ovina em 25 rebanhos no Estado do Piauí, de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2004. A enfermidade acometeu apenas ovinos e ocorreu principalmente em abril-julho. A incidência média anual foi de 2,80 por cento e a incidência semestral foi significativamente mais alta (P <0,05) no primeiro semestre (2,10 por cento), durante a época chuvosa, do que no segundo semestre (0,69 por cento), durante a seca. A incidência entre rebanhos variou de 0,1-14,3 por cento e a letalidade foi de 100 por cento. Ao exame clínico, os animais apresentavam apatia, emagrecimento progressivo, secreção nasal serosa, mucosa e/ou hemorrágica, dificuldade respiratória, respiração ruidosa, febre e na maioria dos casos assimetria crânio-facial e exoftalmia. Alguns ovinos permaneciam com a cabeça baixa ou a pressionavam contra objetos. O curso clínico foi de 1-5 semanas. As lesões macroscópicas, microscópicas e ultrastructurais e a identificação do agente são descritas separadamente. Este é o primeiro registro de conidiobolomicose em ovinos no Brasil, enfermidade endêmica no Estado do Piauí, associada à alta pluviosidade (1000-1600mm anuais) e alta temperatura (19-36ºC).(AU)

Conidiobolomycosis is reported in 25 farms, from January 2002 to December 2004, in the state of Piauí. The disease affects only sheep, mainly in April-June. The mean morbidity rate was 2.80 percent, but was higher in the first semester (2.1 percent), during the raining period, than in the second one (0.69 percent), during the dry period. Morbidity rate among flocks varied from 0.1-14.3 percent. Case fatality rate was 100 percent, and the clinical manifestation period varied from 1-5 weeks. Clinical signs were serous, mucous and/or bloody nasal secretion, respiratory distress, snoring respiration, cranium-facial asymmetry, exophthalmia, fever and progressive emaciation. Marked depression, sometimes with the head down or head pressing was observed in some cases. Gross, microscopic and ultrastructural lesions and identification of the agent are reported elsewhere. This is the first report of conidiobolomycosis in Brazil, which is endemic and has a high frequency in sheep in the State of Piauí, associated with high rainfalls (1000-1600mm annually) and high temperature (19-36ºC).(AU)