Nutraceticals for dissolving nephrolites in cats

Background: Nephrolithiasis is a condition frequently observed in felines, with or without concomitant chronic kidneydisease, constituting the major cause of ureteral obstruction and causing progressive damage to the renal parenchyma. About90% of nephrolites are composed of calcium oxalate, which cannot dissolve, and its incidence has increased substantiallyin recent years, along with its recurrence. There are functional foods known as nutraceuticals provides health benefits suchas renoprotection. Due to these benefits and the high prevalence of nephrolithiasis in feline species, the present study aimedto evaluate the efficacy of the association of some nutraceuticals in the dissolution of nephrolites.Materials, Methods & Results: The included cats had an ultrasound diagnosis of nephrolithiasis that, on clinical examination, showed: (i) the absence of previous or concomitant treatment for urinary infections and/or vesical and renal lithiasis;(ii) absence of genitourinary clinical manifestations; (iii) absence of obstructive processes; and (iv) absence of concomitantureterolithiasis. We separated 51 cats with nephrolithiasis into 2 groups: control (n = 12) and study (n = 39). The controlgroup received a placebo and the study group, nutraceuticals (magnesium chelate, resveratrol, vitamin K2, docosahexaenoicacid, and eicosapentaenoic acid). Laboratory tests (blood and urine) and abdominal imaging (ultrasound) were performedat day 0 and 30 days after enrollment. Monitoring the therapeutic efficacy in both groups was performed on day 30 for theCG and on days 30, 60, and 90 for the EG. The CG cats, after this step, were referred to surgery or to the EG, with priorauthorization from their tutors. The diameter of nephrolites was significantly different before and after treatment, indicating a reduction in nephroliths over time. During the use of the nutraceutical formulation by the EG and use of placebo...

Tumor venéreo transmissível canino em laringe com metástase pulmonar / Canine transmissible venereal tumor in the larynx with pulmonary metastasis

Background: Canine transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is one of the most common canine neoplasms in Brazil. Lesions develop mainly in the genital tissue and less frequently in other areas, in the extragenital form. Metastasis is rare, and the disease progression depends on the patient’s immune status. The treatment of choice is chemotherapy with vincristine sulfate, considered an effective and safe modality. The present work describes the first case of extragenital TVT in the larynx with pulmonary metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Case: An approximately 4-month-old mixed-breed bitch was attended manifesting acute clinical respiratory signs. The patient had been rescued from the street 2 months beforehand. Physical examination revealed pale mucous membranes and crackling pulmonary auscultation. Thoracic radiography was performed in 3 projections, showing multiple nodules in the lung parenchyma, followed by cytopathological examination using fine needle puncture guided by thoracic ultrasound, confirming the diagnosis of TVT. Considering the cytological finding and the absence of primary tumor lesions in the genital, oral, cutaneous or nasal regions, endoscopy was performed in order to locate a possible primary focus. The exam revealed a small erythematous tumor with smooth and regular surface, measuring approximately 2.5 cm, located in the larynx, between the arytenoid cartilages. Chemotherapy was performed with vincristine sulfate with radiographic follow-up throughout the treatment. Full remission of the pulmonary and laryngeal nodules was achieved at the end of the protocol. The animal remained in complete remission for a period of 2 years. Discussion: TVT is more frequently observed in animals of active reproductive age, and rarely in animals under 1 year of age, as in the case...

Brachycephalic syndrome in dogs - endoscopic findings in the airways

Background: Brachycephalic dogs have several abnormalities in the airways, which generate clinical manifestations that impair the quality of life of these animals. Primary alterations promote airflow obstruction and increase intraluminal negative pressure, causing secondary alterations due to a cycle of inflammation with consequent obstruction. With the onset of inflammation and other alterations in the airways, clinical manifestations can be observed, such as snoring, reverse sneezing, coughing, dyspnea, cyanosis, syncope, and vomiting. Endoscopic examination of the airways allows visualization and diagnosis of morphological changes in these animals. This study aimed to evaluate the endoscopic findings of the airways and determine the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the severity of clinical manifestations in 14 dogs with brachycephalic syndrome (BS). Materials, Methods & Results: Historical and anamnesis data and clinical, respiratory, and digestive manifestations were collected from the owners' reports. The clinical manifestations were classified as mild, moderate, or severe. All animals were subjected to endoscopy of the airways, and image findings were grouped according to the anatomical site where they were observed, then the abnormalities were correlated with the severity of the clinical manifestations. When comparing the frequency of endoscopic abnormalities with the severity of clinical manifestations, it is interesting to observe that animals with severe disease more frequently presented the following alterations: prolongation and thickening of the soft palate, laryngeal changes, presence of hyperemia, lymphoid hyperplasia and polyps in the nasopharynx, hypoplasia and presence of tracheal secretion and thickening of the dorsal tracheal muscle; bronchial collapse, hypoplasia of the main bronchi and bronchial hyperemia and the presence of aberrant nasal turbinates. Comparison between the means of nonparametric variables was performed using the Mann-Whitney test, with a 5% significance level. Discussion: A higher frequency of French Bulldog dogs included in the study was observed, probably due to their greater popularity, although any brachycephalic dog may be affected by BS. Considering that nostril stenosis is a congenital alteration, which is usually diagnosed early, and since the animals included in the study were dogs referred for the rhinoplasty procedure the higher frequency of young dogs in the study was not surprising. The results revealed a significant difference in the endoscopic findings with the severity of the clinical manifestations in different variables, such as prolongation and thickening of the soft palate, eversion of the laryngeal saccules, presence of laryngeal inflammation and collapse, presence of polyps or lymphoid hyperplasia in the nasopharynx, thickening of the dorsal muscle of the trachea, polyps in the trachea and hypoplasia in addition to bronchial hyperemia. The larynx was the most affected anatomical site, with alterations present in 92.8% of the evaluated dogs. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that airway obstruction caused by primary alterations can cause secondary alterations, with consequent clinical manifestations in brachycephalic dogs it is possible to suggest that dogs with this syndrome may present severe manifestations of the disease, regardless of age. Furthermore, it can be concluded that in this study, dogs with BS had frequent laryngeal alterations and that alterations in the main bronchi were present in all animals with severe manifestations of the disease.

Segmental hypoplasia of the spinal cord and syringomyelia in a calf / Hipoplasia segmentar de medula espinhal e siringomielia em um bezerro

Congenital malformations are functional and structural changes in organ systems, tissues, or organs that may develop during the embryonic or fetal phase. Spinal cord malformations, such as segmental hypoplasia of the spinal cord (SHSC) and syringomyelia, are rare in bovines. A Girolando calf from Valença, Rio de Janeiro, was admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro because of motor incoordination. Clinical evaluation revealed a 5-cm depression area in the spine at the dorsal line of the thoracic region. Neurological examination revealed reduced proprioception, pelvic limb extension with increased nociceptive activity, and reduced anal reflex. In radiographic examination, the body of the T11 vertebra had a trapezoidal wedge shape with ventral hemivertebra, probable agenesis or hypoplasia of the T11-T12 spinous processes, and fusion of the T9-T10 spinous processes. Myelography revealed extradural spinal compression caused by vertebral malformations. Necropsy showed no spinous processes (T11-T12), cranial stenosis in the medullary canal (T11-T13), and 1-3-mm pores in the white matter of the thoracic spinal cord (T8-T11). Microscopy revealed cystic dilatations in the white matter (T9-T11), cystic areas of varying sizes (T8-T9), and moderate reduction in the gray matter around the central canal of the medulla (T11-T13). Here, we reported the clinical and pathological findings of SHSC and syringomyelia in a Girolando calf. The features should be differentiated from other spinal cord syndromes. Congenital malformations are of economic importance, and their etiology and diagnosis are fundamental to disease control and progenitor-selection programs.(AU)

Malformações congênitas são alterações funcionais e estruturais dos sistemas, tecidos ou órgãos que podem ocorrer na fase embrionária ou fetal. Malformações na medula espinhal, como hipoplasia segmentar da medula espinhal (HSME) e siringomielia, possuem raras descrições em bovinos. Uma bezerra Girolando, proveniente do Município de Valença, RJ, foi atendida no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), com quadro de incoordenação motora. À avaliação clínica, na coluna vertebral, à linha dorsal da região torácica havia uma área com depressão de 5 cm. Ao exame neurológico foi observado propriocepção reduzida, extensão de membros pélvicos com aumento da atividade nociceptiva e redução de reflexo anal. Ao exame radiográfico, o corpo vertebral T11 apresentou forma trapezoidal em cunha com hemivértebra ventral, provável agenesia ou hipoplasia dos processos espinhosos T11-T12 e fusão dos processos espinhosos T9-T10. À mielografia indicou compressão medular extradural provocada pelas malformações vertebrais. À necropsia não foram observados os processos espinhosos T11-T12, o canal medular apresentou estenose cranial (T11-T13) e, na medula espinhal torácica (T8-T11) foram observados poros de 1-3 mm na substância branca. À microscopia, os segmentos T9-T11 apresentaram dilatações císticas na substância branca e os segmentos T8-T9, formações de áreas císticas de tamanhos variados; nos segmentos T11-T13 denotou-se moderada redução da substância cinzenta ao redor do canal central da medula. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de apresentar os achados clínicos e patológicos desta bezerra Girolando com HSME e siringomielia, que devem ser diferenciadas de outras síndromes da medula espinhal. As malformações congênitas possuem importância econômica e sua etiologia e diagnóstico são fundamentais para a condução de programas de controle de doenças e seleção de progenitores.(AU)

Infecção urinária por Morganella morganii em cão jovem portador de ureter ectópico / Urinary infection by Morganella morganii in a young dog affected by ectopic ureter

Infecções do trato urinário (ITU) são enfermidades freqüentes na rotina clínica médica de animais de companhia, sendo a cistite bacteriana a causa mais comum de ITU em cães e gatos. As más-formações do trato urinário, a citar o ureter ectópico, podem predispor os animais acometidos à infecções urinárias recorrentes causadas por um mesmo patógeno, ou patógenos distintos. Morganella morganii é uma bactéria de raro isolamento em infecções urinárias de cães, sendo considerado um agente oportunista em processos infecciosos, tanto nos animais de companhia quanto nos homens. O presente relato teve por objetivo descrever o diagnóstico clínico, bem como o diagnóstico microbiológico deste microrganismo de isolamento pouco frequente, em um animal jovem portador de ureter ectópico. Apesar de tratamentos anteriores de cistite, a paciente não apresentava melhora clínica em decorrência da falta de correção da causa de base, ou seja, do ureter ectópico; que favorecia infecções recorrentes. Mesmo sendo advertida sobre as enfermidades e seus agravantes, a proprietária abandonou o tratamento da paciente, apesar da melhora clínica parcial com a terapia antibiótica de acordo com o perfil de susceptibilidade. Os resultados obtidos neste caso clínico reiteram a importância do exame de cultura e antibiograma para tratamentos das ITUs; bem como a busca de causas de base para processos infecciosos do trato urinário. Apesar do raro isolamento, Morganella morganii deve ser considerada como um importante agente causador de ITUs em animais, assim como em humanos, uma vez que as deformidades anatômicas favorecem a ascensão de patógenos, principalmente os Gram negativos habitantes do trato gastrointestinal dos animais.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are frequent diseases in the routine of clinical medicine of companion animals and bacterial cystitis is the most common cause of UTI in dogs and cats. The bad-formations of the urinary tract, as the ectopic ureter, may predispose the affected animals to recurrent urinary infections caused by the same or different pathogens. Morganella morganii is a bacterium with rare isolation from urinary infections in dogs, and it is considered an opportunistic agent in infectious processes, both in pets as in men. This report aimed to describe the clinical diagnosis, as microbiological diagnosis of this infrequent isolation of this microorganism in a young animal carrier of ectopic ureter. Despite of previous treatments of cystitis, the patient had no clinical improvement due to the lack of correction of the baseline cause, or ectopic ureter; which favored recurrent infections. Even being warned about the diseases and its aggravating, the owner left the treatment of the patient, despite the partial clinical improvement with antibiotic therapy according to the susceptibility profile. The results obtained in this case report confirm the importance of culture and sensitivity test for treatment of UTIs; and the search for baseline causes of infectious processes of the urinary tract. Although it’s rare isolation, Morganella morganii should be considered as an important causative agent of UTI in animals as in humans, since the anatomical deformities favor the rise of pathogens, especially Gram negative inhabitants of the animals’ gastrointestinal tract.

Infecção urinária por Morganella morganii em cão jovem portador de ureter ectópico / Urinary infection by Morganella morganii in a young dog affected by ectopic ureter

Infecções do trato urinário (ITU) são enfermidades freqüentes na rotina clínica médica de animais de companhia, sendo a cistite bacteriana a causa mais comum de ITU em cães e gatos. As más-formações do trato urinário, a citar o ureter ectópico, podem predispor os animais acometidos à infecções urinárias recorrentes causadas por um mesmo patógeno, ou patógenos distintos. Morganella morganii é uma bactéria de raro isolamento em infecções urinárias de cães, sendo considerado um agente oportunista em processos infecciosos, tanto nos animais de companhia quanto nos homens. O presente relato teve por objetivo descrever o diagnóstico clínico, bem como o diagnóstico microbiológico deste microrganismo de isolamento pouco frequente, em um animal jovem portador de ureter ectópico. Apesar de tratamentos anteriores de cistite, a paciente não apresentava melhora clínica em decorrência da falta de correção da causa de base, ou seja, do ureter ectópico; que favorecia infecções recorrentes. Mesmo sendo advertida sobre as enfermidades e seus agravantes, a proprietária abandonou o tratamento da paciente, apesar da melhora clínica parcial com a terapia antibiótica de acordo com o perfil de susceptibilidade. Os resultados obtidos neste caso clínico reiteram a importância do exame de cultura e antibiograma para tratamentos das ITUs; bem como a busca de causas de base para processos infecciosos do trato urinário. Apesar do raro isolamento, Morganella morganii deve ser considerada como um importante agente causador de ITUs em animais, assim como em humanos, uma vez que as deformidades anatômicas favorecem a ascensão de patógenos, principalmente os Gram negativos habitantes do trato gastrointestinal dos animais.(AU)

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are frequent diseases in the routine of clinical medicine of companion animals and bacterial cystitis is the most common cause of UTI in dogs and cats. The bad-formations of the urinary tract, as the ectopic ureter, may predispose the affected animals to recurrent urinary infections caused by the same or different pathogens. Morganella morganii is a bacterium with rare isolation from urinary infections in dogs, and it is considered an opportunistic agent in infectious processes, both in pets as in men. This report aimed to describe the clinical diagnosis, as microbiological diagnosis of this infrequent isolation of this microorganism in a young animal carrier of ectopic ureter. Despite of previous treatments of cystitis, the patient had no clinical improvement due to the lack of correction of the baseline cause, or ectopic ureter; which favored recurrent infections. Even being warned about the diseases and its aggravating, the owner left the treatment of the patient, despite the partial clinical improvement with antibiotic therapy according to the susceptibility profile. The results obtained in this case report confirm the importance of culture and sensitivity test for treatment of UTIs; and the search for baseline causes of infectious processes of the urinary tract. Although its rare isolation, Morganella morganii should be considered as an important causative agent of UTI in animals as in humans, since the anatomical deformities favor the rise of pathogens, especially Gram negative inhabitants of the animals gastrointestinal tract.(AU)