Effect of resistant starch on the intestinal health of old dogs: fermentation products and histological features of the intestinal mucosa.

The effects of resistant starch (RS) intake on nutrient digestibility, microbial fermentation products, faecal IgA, faecal pH, and histological features of the intestinal mucosa of old dogs were evaluated. The same formulation was extruded in two different conditions: one to obtain elevated starch cooking degree with low RS content (0.21%) and the other lower starch cooking with high RS content (1.46%). Eight geriatric Beagles (11.5 ± 0.38 years old) were fed each diet for 61 days in a crossover design. Food intake, nutrient digestibility, fermentation products, faecal pH, and faecal IgA were examined via variance analysis. Histological results of intestinal biopsies were assessed via Wilcoxon test for paired data. The morphometric characteristics of large intestine crypts were evaluated via paired t tests (p < .05). Protein, fat, and energy digestibilities were higher for the low-RS diet (p < .05). Dogs receiving the high-RS diet had lower faecal pH and higher values for propionate, butyrate, total volatile fatty acids, and lactate (p < .05). No differences between diets were found in the histological parameters of the gut mucosa, and only a tendency for deeper crypts in the descending colon was observed for dogs fed the high-RS diet (p = .083). The intake of a corn-based kibble diet manufactured with coarse ground raw material and low starch gelatinization to obtain 1.4% of RS affected microbial fermentation products and faecal pH and tended to increase crypt depth in the descending colon of old dogs.

Tumor estromal gastrointestinal em cães: estudo clínico-anatomopatológico / Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in dogs: a clinicopathologic study

Os tumores estromais gastrointestinais (GIST) são incomuns e apresentam elevada similaridade histológica com as neoplasias de músculo liso e de nervo periférico. Este trabalho relata e caracteriza GIST em cães do ponto de vista epidemiológico, clínico-laboratorial, anatomopatológico e imuno-histoquímico, com base na análise retrospectiva de três cães, machos, com média de idade de 10 anos, variando de porte médio a grande e peso médio de 18.5±6kg. As alterações clínicas foram progressivas e inespecíficas de quadro gastrointestinal crônico, tais como prostração, anorexia, perda de peso e melena. Anemia não regenerativa e leucocitose foram os principais achados laboratoriais. Macroscopicamente, os tumores apresentavam média de 19cm no eixo maior, localizados em jejuno e ceco, com a superfície ulcerada, e exibiam áreas de necrose. Na avaliação microscópica, os casos apresentaram proliferação de células fusiformes, arranjadas em feixes longos densamente celulares, que foram vimentina e CD117 positivas, com diferenciação neural (S100 positivo), muscular (actina e desmina positivas) e anaplásica, cuja morfologia caracteriza neoplasias malignas com sobrevida de um dia a 12 meses. O GIST deve ser um dos diagnósticos diferenciais a serem considerados entre as neoplasias mesenquimais do trato gastrointestinal que acometem cães, e o diagnóstico final necessita de imuno-histoquímica.(AU)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are uncommon and show high histological similarity with smooth muscle and peripheral neuron tumors. This paper reported three cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) showing its clinical and laboratorial presentation, and gross, microscopical and immunohistochemical features. Clinical signs and symptoms of the animals studied were progressive and characterized by nonspecific chronic gastrointestinal disorders such as depression, anorexia, weight loss and melena. Non regenerative anemia and leukocytosis were the main laboratory findings. Grossly, tumors were 19cm big, ulcerated and with necrotic areas. Microscopically, the tumors were malignant spindle cell proliferation with positivity to vimentine and CD117, with neural (S100+), myogenic (desmine + and smooth muscle actine+) and anaplasic differentiation. GIST should be one of the differential diagnoses to be considered among the mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract of dogs.(AU)

Molecular detection of chicken parvovirus in broilers with enteric disorders presenting curving of duodenal loop, pancreatic atrophy, and mesenteritis.

Enteric disorders are an important cause of economic losses in broiler chickens worldwide. Several agents have been associated with enteric problems, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. In this study, broiler chickens showing signs of enteric disorders were subjected to molecular diagnosis for several viral agents and also for pathological examination for elucidating this problem. Thus, the chickens were screened for avian nephritis virus (ANV), chicken astrovirus (CAstV), avian rotavirus (ArtV), avian reovirus (AReoV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), fowl adenovirus group I (FAdV-1), and chicken parvovirus (ChPV). Postmortem examinations revealed a curving of the duodenal loop (J-like appearance) and intestines filled with liquid and gaseous content. Histopathological analysis of the duodenal loop showed pancreatic atrophy, acute mesenteritis, and enteritis. PCR results showed that ChPV was the sole viral agent detected in samples with lesions such as the curved duodenal loop and pancreatic atrophy. Molecular characterization of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences revealed a high similarity with other strains of ChPV from Brazil, Canada, United States, Europe, and Asia. These findings suggest an association between ChPV and the development of enteritis, pancreatitis, and pancreatic atrophy, which may lead to curling of the duodenal loop. Together, these alterations may disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive system, diminishing digestion and the absorption of dietary nutrients and consequently leading to reduced weight gain, flock impairment, dwarfism, and an elevated feed conversion rate.

Cellulitis lesions in broiler chickens are induced by Escherichia coli Vacuolating Factor (ECVF).

Escherichia coli Vacuolating Factor (ECVF) is a heat-labile, vacuolating cytotoxin produced by avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) isolated from avian cellulitis lesions. In this report, we intend to demonstrate that purified ECVF induces the inflammatory process of cellulitis. Our group is the first to demonstrate the effect of ECVF in a histological analysis by in situ inoculation of broiler chickens with purified ECVF. The animals were inoculated with the APEC AC53 and with purified ECVF subcutaneously on their ventral surface (in the sternum region). The histological analysis showed different grades of an acute inflammatory response in the epidermis, dermis and panniculus. An increase in mRNA expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α was also demonstrated in the inflamed tissue. When ECVF was systemically administered, increased levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were observed in the serum. These results suggest that ECVF plays a key role in the inflammatory process associated with cellulitis that is mainly mediated by TNF-α. In addition, this inflammation can be downregulated by the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

Comparison of ultrasonography and histopathology for the diagnosis of endometritis in Holstein-Friesian cows.

Reproductive diseases are a great barrier to dairy production, as they diminish fertility and cause economic loss. In this context, endometritis plays an important role. Different diagnostic techniques exist for endometritis that vary in sensitivity and specificity. This work aimed to evaluate and compare ultrasonographic and histopathological examinations, and combinations thereof, for the diagnosis of endometritis by determining their sensitivity, specificity, and kappa agreement coefficients using endometrial cytology as the gold standard. We developed an adaptive reading score to perform histological examination of the uterus. In this study, 76 Holstein-Friesian cows, 21 to 47 d postpartum, without vaginal catarrh were submitted to gynecological examinations, including ultrasonographic examination, an endometrial cytology examination, and a uterine biopsy. Our results indicate that ultrasonography is a practical and effective diagnostic method, and a combination of the determination of intrauterine fluid and cervical diameter was the most efficient ultrasonographic method, with 50% sensitivity and 88% specificity. Histopathological examination was a useful diagnostic method that provided rich detail on endometrial inflammation, and allowed evaluation of different components of the tissue such as the epithelium, lamina propria, endometrial glands, and blood vessels; this method had 44% sensitivity and 92% specificity for diagnosis of endometritis.