Causes of death in neotropical primates in Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Anthropogenic disturbances are the main threats to nonhuman primates conservation, and infectious diseases may also play a key role in primate population decline. This study aimed to determine the main causes of death in neotropical primates. METHODS: A retrospective study of post-mortem examinations was conducted on 146 neotropical primates between January 2000 and December 2018. RESULTS: Conclusive diagnoses were obtained in 68.5% of the cases, of which 59 corresponded to non-infectious causes and 41 to infectious diseases. Trauma was the main cause of death (54/100), with anthropogenic stressors caused by blunt force trauma injuries (collision with vehicles) and puncture wound injuries associated with interspecific aggression (dog predation) were the most common factors. Other causes of death included bacterial diseases (27%), followed by parasitic diseases (12%), neoplasms (2%), and viral diseases (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Free-ranging primates were mostly affected by non-infectious causes, while captive primates were by infectious conditions.

Causes and Lesions of Fatal Pneumonia in Domestic Cats.

Pneumonia in cats may cause severe lung injury and consequent death. We describe the post-mortem findings and aetiologies of naturally fatal pneumonia in 78 domestic cats, using gross and histopathological examinations, immunohistochemistry and microbiological techniques. Morphological patterns found were bronchopneumonia (27/78), interstitial (15/78), bronchointerstitial (13/78), granulomatous (8/78), aspiration (8/78) and pyogranulomatous (5/78) pneumonia, and pleuropneumonia (2/78). Bacterial pneumonia was identified as the most common cause (32/78), followed by viral (15/28 feline calicivirus, 10/28 felid alphaherpesvirus 1 and 3/28 both viruses), aspiration (8/78), fungal (5/78) and parasitic pneumonia (5/78). Co-infection with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus was found in 54 cats. Viral infections involved cats of all ages, indicating the importance of investigating viral causes in cats with respiratory diseases, including in adult and ageing cats.

Bilateral pyelonephritis due to Escherichia coli infection in a captive jaguar (Panthera onca) / Pielonefrite bilateral por Escherichia coli em uma onça-pintada (Panthera onca)

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a highly diverse pathotype of E. coli which colonizes the intestine, and it is considered an important etiological agent associated with bacteremia and other systemic infections, among them urinary tract infection. Retrospective studies evaluating morbidity and mortality of nondomestic felids have demonstrated that urinary tract diseases are among the main causes of death for geriatric animals. Also, mesenchymal neoplasms of the uterus are common in wild felids, and they possess variable morphologic characteristics related to invasiveness and malignancy. This report describes a case of bilateral pyelonephritis due to extraintestinal uropathogenic E. coli infection in a captive jaguar (Panthera onca). The diagnosis was confirmed through pathological, bacterial and immunohistochemical findings. According to molecular analysis, this E. coli strain was classified in the phylogroup F, possessing the following virulence-associated genes: usp, cnf-1, hlyA, papC and sfa. Additionally, this E. coli was highly resistant to beta-lactams and first-generation cephalosporin. This jaguar also presented a uterine leiomyoma with distinct distribution, and severe degenerative articular disease, both of them described as frequently seen lesions in geriatric animals from the Panthera genus.(AU)

Escherichia coli extraintestinal patogênica (ExPEC) é um patotipo altamente diverso de E. coli que coloniza o intestino e é considerada um agente etiológico importante, associado com bacteremia e outras infecções sistêmicas, dentre elas infecções do trato urinário. Estudos retrospectivos avaliando morbidade e mortalidade de felídeos não domésticos demostram que doenças do trato urinário estão entre as principais causas de morte de animais geriátricos. Ainda, neoplasias mesenquimais uterinas são comuns em felídeos de cativeiro e possuem características morfológicas variáveis relacionadas a invasividade e malignidade. Neste relato é descrito um caso de pielonefrite bilateral por E. coli extraintestinal uropatogênica em uma onça-pintada de cativeiro (Panthera onca). O diagnóstico foi confirmado através dos achados patológicos, bacteriológicos e imuno-histoquímicos. A partir da análise molecular, esta cepa de E. coli foi classificada no filogrupo F, possuindo os seguintes genes associados a virulência: usp, cnf-1, hlyA, papC and sfa. Adicionalmente, a bactéria isolada foi altamente resistente a ß-lactâmicos e cefalosporinas de primeira geração. Foi observado ainda um leiomioma uterino com distribuição distinta e doença articular degenerativa severa, ambas descritas na literatura como comumente observadas em animais geriátricos do gênero Panthera.(AU)

Primary nonlymphoid gastrointestinal neoplasms in dogs in Rio Grande do Sul / Neoplasmas gastrointestinais primários não linfoides em cães no Rio Grande do Sul

Gastrointestinal neoplasms (GIN) are uncommon in dogs, but they mainly show malignant behavior and poor prognosis. The types of GIN in dogs and their frequency, as well as their epidemiological and histopathological characteristics were analyzed through a retrospective study of biopsies from 24.711 dogs from 2005 to 2017. Additionally, histological sections of neoplasms were subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC) using antibodies against pancytokeratin, vimentin, smooth muscle actin, c-Kit, S-100, CD31, CD79αcy, and neuron-specific enolase. Of the total samples from dogs analyzed, 88 corresponded to GIN. Neoplasms occurred more frequently in purebred dogs (64.8%, 57/88), males (53.4%, 47/88), with a median age of 10 years. The intestine was affected by 84.1% (74/88) of the cases. Of these, the large intestine was the most affected (67.6%, 50/74). Most of the neoplasms had malignant behavior (88.6%, 78/88). Regarding the classification of neoplasms, 46.6% (41/88) of the diagnoses corresponded to epithelial, 46.6% (41/88) were mesenchymal, 5.7% (5/88) were hematopoietic, and 1.1% (1/88) was neuroendocrine. The most frequently diagnosed neoplasms were papillary adenocarcinoma (19.3%, 17/88), leiomyosarcoma (17.0%, 15/88), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) (12.5%, 11/88), and leiomyoma (5.0%, 8/88). Adenocarcinomas were located mainly in the rectum, whereas leiomyosarcomas and GISTs developed mainly in the cecum. Epithelial neoplasms showed a greater potential for lymphatic invasion whereas mesenchymal neoplasms appeared to be more expansive with intratumoral necrosis and hemorrhage. Immunohistochemistry was found to be an important diagnostic technique for the identification of infiltrating cells in carcinomas and an indispensable technique for the definitive diagnosis of sarcomas.(AU)

Neoplasmas gastrointestinais (NGI) são pouco comuns em cães, mas possuem principalmente comportamento maligno e prognóstico reservado. Os tipos de NGI em cães e sua frequência, bem como características epidemiológicas e histopatológicas foram analisados por meio de um estudo retrospectivo dos exames de biópsias de 24.711 cães entre os anos de 2005 a 2017. Adicionalmente, cortes histológicos de NGI foram submetidos à técnica de imuno-histoquímica (IHQ), utilizando os anticorpos anti-pancitoqueratina, vimentina, actina de músculo liso, c-Kit, S-100, CD31, CD79αcy e enolase neurônio específica. Do total de cães analisados, 88 corresponderam a NGI não linfoides. Os neoplasmas ocorreram com maior frequência em cães de raça pura (64,8%, 57/88), machos (53,4%, 47/88), com mediana de idade de 10 anos. O intestino foi acometido em 84,1% dos casos (74/88). Destes, o intestino grosso foi o segmento mais afetado (67,6%, 50/74). A maior parte dos neoplasmas tinha comportamento maligno (88,6%, 78/88). Quanto à classificação, 46,6% (41/88) dos diagnósticos corresponderam a neoplasmas epiteliais, 46,6% (41/88) mesenquimais, 5,7% (5/88) hematopoiéticos e 1,1% (1/88), neuroendócrino. Os neoplasmas mais frequentemente diagnosticados foram adenocarcinoma papilar (19,3%, 17/88), leiomiossarcoma (17,0%, 15/88), tumor estromal gastrointestinal (GIST) (12,5%, 11/88) e leiomioma (12,5%, 8/88). Adenocarcinomas localizavam-se principalmente no reto, enquanto leiomiossarcoma e GISTs desenvolveram-se principalmente no ceco. Os neoplasmas epiteliais demonstraram um potencial maior de invasão linfática enquanto que os mesenquimais aparentaram ser mais expansivos, com necrose e hemorragia intratumorais. A imuno-histoquímica mostrou ser uma técnica diagnóstica importante para a identificação de células neoplásicas infiltravas no caso dos carcinomas e uma técnica indispensável para o diagnóstico definitivo de sarcomas.(AU)

Angiostrongylosis in Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) and Lycalopex gymnocercus (Pampas fox) in Southern Brazil.

The objective of this study was to identify species of Angiostrongylus spp. infecting wild carnivores in Southern Brazil, as well as to describe gross and histopathological findings associated with the infection. Necropsy was conducted in 16 wild carnivores parasitized by Angiostrongylus spp. Analysed lungs revealed multifocal dark-red areas of consolidation; in one case, multifocal firm white nodules spread in all pulmonary lobes were observed. In one animal, a focally extensive area of malacia associated with haemorrhage was noted in the encephalon. Histologically, multifocal granulomatous pneumonia or bronchopneumonia, associated with eggs and larvae in blood vessels, lung interstitium, alveoli, and sometimes in bronchi and bronchioles was observed. Adult nematodes were seen within blood vessels. The lesion observed in the brain was characterized as a focally extensive area of malacia associated with gitter cells, haemorrhage, thrombosis and a free intralesional larva. Through molecular techniques, seven positive samples of Angiostrongylus cantonensis were obtained, including the brain sample, and a positive sample of Angiostrongylus vasorum-like, all in Cerdocyon thous. The positive sample for A. vasorum showed 97% similarity with sequences deposited in GenBank, suggesting a new species or subspecies of Angiostrongylus sp. Infection of Lycalopex gymnocercus by Angiostrongylus spp. was confirmed by histological evaluation.

Omphalitis, urachocystitis and septicemia by Streptococcus dysgalactiae in a southern right whale calf Eubalaena australis, Brazil.

Southern right whales Eubalaena australis (SRW) use the southern coast of Brazil as a wintering and calving ground. Other than anthropogenic threats, there is limited knowledge on health and disease aspects for this species. We report the gross and microscopic findings and microbiological identification of streptococcal septicemia in a SRW calf. Main gross findings included fibrinosuppurative omphalitis and urachocystitis, suppurative cystitis, valvular endocarditis and myocarditis, embolic pneumonia, suppurative myositis and osteoarthritis, and lymphadenomegaly. Histological examination confirmed the above inflammatory processes and indicated disseminated Gram-positive coccoid septicemia. PCR analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene from bacteria isolated on blood agar, identified Streptococcus dysgalactiae. Pathologic and microbiologic analysis indicated that ß-hemolytic S. dysgalactiae septicemia, presumably initiated as ascending omphalic infection, was responsible for stranding and death in this individual. These results further confirm pathogenicity of streptococci in cetaceans and add to the limited health and disease related pathology knowledge for this species.