Mycoplasma ovis infection in goat farms from northeastern Brazil.

Although Mycoplasma ovis (formerly Eperythrozoon ovis) has been described in small ruminants worldwide, data on M. ovis in goats remain scarce. Accordingly, the aims of the present study were to i) determine the prevalence of hemoplasmas in goats, ii) identify the tick species parasitizing the animals, and iii) determine factors associated with infection in five dairy and three beef goat farms from the Paraíba State, northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were obtained from 402 goats. Samples were screened for hemoplasmas using a pan-hemoplasma PCR. The positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. An epidemiological questionnaire was given to each farm owner addressing age, gender, and presence of ticks. A total of 158/402 (39.3%) goats were positive for M. ovis by PCR. Sequencing of PCR positive samples has shown ≥99% identity with multiple M. ovis 16S rDNA sequences deposited in GenBank, including M. ovis isolates from humans. Dairy (OR=2.15; 95% CI: 1.40-3.32%; P=0.0004) and anemic goats (OR=2.33; 95% CI: 1.51-3.71%; P=0.0001) were more likely to be infected than beef and non-anemic animals, respectively. Amblyomma parvum (49/52, 94.23%) and Rhipicephalus microplus (3/52, 5.77%) were the tick species found parasitizing the animals, with no significant association between the presence of ticks and infection by M. ovis (P=0.1164). This is the first reportedly molecular detection of M. ovis infection in goats from South America. In conclusion, M. ovis is highly prevalent in goats from northeastern Brazil, mainly in dairy animals.

Epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical aspects of canine lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil / Aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e imuno-histoquímicos do linfoma canino na região de Porto Alegre

This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics of canine lymphomas diagnosed in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Thirty dogs were enrolled in the study; most of them were male (60 percent), mixed-breed (23 percent) and middle-aged or older. The majority (87 percent) of affected dogs showed the multicentric form. The B-cell phenotype was most frequently detected (62 percent); 37 percent of the animals were in clinical stage IV, and 83 percent were classified as sub-stage "b". Lymphadenopathy was observed in 67 percent of the cases, and dyspnea, prostration, decreased appetite and vomiting were the most common clinical signs encountered. Anemia was a frequently encountered laboratory alteration (57 percent), as were leukocytosis (40 percent), thrombocytopenia (33 percent), lymphopenia (30 percent), hyperglobulinemia (20 percent) and hypercalcemia (13 percent). The results of this study indicate that the clinical features of dogs with lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre are similar to those observed worldwide.

Esse trabalho apresenta os achados epidemiológicos, clínicos e imuno-histoquímicos de linfomas caninos diagnosticados na região de Porto Alegre. Trinta cães foram incluídos no estudo; sendo principalmente machos (60 por cento), sem raça definida (23 por cento) e de meia-idade a idosos. A maioria (87 por cento) dos cães afetados apresentou a forma anatômica multicêntrica. O imunofenótipo B foi detectado com mais frequência (62 por cento); 37 por cento dos cães apresentavam estadiamento clínico IV e 83 por cento encontravam-se no subestádio "b". Linfadenopatia foi observada em 67 por cento dos casos; outros sinais clínicos comumente detectados foram dispneia, prostração, diminuição do apetite e vômitos. Anemia foi a alteração laboratorial mais frequente (57 por cento), seguida por leucocitose (40 por cento), trombocitopenia (33 por cento), linfopenia (30 por cento), hiperglobulinemia (20 por cento), hiperproteinemia (17 por cento) e hipercalcemia (13 por cento). Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que as características epidemiológicas e clínicas de cães com linfoma na região de Porto Alegre são semelhantes às observadas em todo o mundo.

Epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical aspects of canine lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil / Aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e imuno-histoquímicos do linfoma canino na região de Porto Alegre

This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics of canine lymphomas diagnosed in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Thirty dogs were enrolled in the study; most of them were male (60 percent), mixed-breed (23 percent) and middle-aged or older. The majority (87 percent) of affected dogs showed the multicentric form. The B-cell phenotype was most frequently detected (62 percent); 37 percent of the animals were in clinical stage IV, and 83 percent were classified as sub-stage "b". Lymphadenopathy was observed in 67 percent of the cases, and dyspnea, prostration, decreased appetite and vomiting were the most common clinical signs encountered. Anemia was a frequently encountered laboratory alteration (57 percent), as were leukocytosis (40 percent), thrombocytopenia (33 percent), lymphopenia (30 percent), hyperglobulinemia (20 percent) and hypercalcemia (13 percent). The results of this study indicate that the clinical features of dogs with lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre are similar to those observed worldwide.(AU)

Esse trabalho apresenta os achados epidemiológicos, clínicos e imuno-histoquímicos de linfomas caninos diagnosticados na região de Porto Alegre. Trinta cães foram incluídos no estudo; sendo principalmente machos (60 por cento), sem raça definida (23 por cento) e de meia-idade a idosos. A maioria (87 por cento) dos cães afetados apresentou a forma anatômica multicêntrica. O imunofenótipo B foi detectado com mais frequência (62 por cento); 37 por cento dos cães apresentavam estadiamento clínico IV e 83 por cento encontravam-se no subestádio "b". Linfadenopatia foi observada em 67 por cento dos casos; outros sinais clínicos comumente detectados foram dispneia, prostração, diminuição do apetite e vômitos. Anemia foi a alteração laboratorial mais frequente (57 por cento), seguida por leucocitose (40 por cento), trombocitopenia (33 por cento), linfopenia (30 por cento), hiperglobulinemia (20 por cento), hiperproteinemia (17 por cento) e hipercalcemia (13 por cento). Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que as características epidemiológicas e clínicas de cães com linfoma na região de Porto Alegre são semelhantes às observadas em todo o mundo.(AU)

Clinicopathologic and electrocardiographic features of Akita dogs with high and low erythrocyte potassium phenotypes.

BACKGROUND: Canine RBCs are expected to have high sodium and low potassium (LK) concentrations. However, some dogs have a low sodium and high potassium (HK) phenotype due to a Na-K pump in the mature RBC membrane. Awareness of this particularity avoids misinterpretation of hyperkalemia in affected dogs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the CBCs, serum biochemistry profiles, urinalysis data, and electrocardiography data in HK and LK Akita dogs. METHODS: In this study, the intra-RBC potassium (KRBC) was measured in 48 healthy adult Akita dogs. The HK group included dogs with KRBC concentration at least 5-fold that of plasma, while the LK dogs served as controls. RESULTS: The HK phenotype was determined in 10 dogs (21%). With the exception of higher plasma potassium concentrations in the HK group compared with LK controls (6.6 mmol/L vs 4.4 mmol/L, P < .001), there were no other differences in serum biochemistry variables. In hematology, mean HGB concentration (13.5 vs 15.9, P < .001), PCV (42.9 vs 46.7, P = .009), RBC (6.1 vs 7.4, P < .001), and MCHC (31.3 vs 34.0, P < .001) were significantly lower in the HK group, while MCV (70.0 vs 63.4, P < .001) was higher compared with the LK controls. There were no significant differences in urinalysis or electrocardiography data between groups. CONCLUSIONS: HK Akita dogs showed significant differences in several hematologic variables, as well as higher plasma potassium concentration. Therefore, the HK phenotype should be considered in the interpretation of these variables in this breed.