Ptaquiloside and Pterosin B Levels in Mature Green Fronds and Sprouts of Pteridium arachnoideum.

Pteridium arachnoideum, a fern of the Pteridium aquilinum species complex found in South America, is responsible for several different syndromes of poisoning. Cases of bovine enzootic hematuria and upper alimentary squamous cell carcinoma are both frequent occurrences in Brazil, whereas only bovine enzootic hematuria is noted with any frequency around the world. The reason for the high frequency of upper alimentary squamous cell carcinoma in Brazil is not currently known. One possible explanation may be the higher levels of ptaquiloside and pterosin B in Brazilian Pteridium than those present in the plant in other countries. However, these levels have not yet been determined in P. arachnoideum. Thus, the present study aimed to measure and compare ptaquiloside and pterosin B levels in mature green fronds and sprouts of P. arachnoideum collected from different locations in Brazil. Samples of P. arachnoideum were collected from the states of Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 28 mature leaf samples and 23 sprout samples were used. The mean concentrations of ptaquiloside and pterosin B present in the mature green fronds of P. arachnoideum ranged from 2.49 to 2.75 mg/g and 0.68 to 0.88 mg/g, respectively; in P. arachnoideum sprouts, mean concentrations of ptaquiloside and pterosin B ranged from 12.47 to 18.81 mg/g, and 4.03 to 10.42 mg/g for ptaquiloside and pterosin B, respectively. Thus, ptaquiloside and pterosin B levels in P. arachnoideum samples collected in Brazil were higher in sprouts than in mature green fronds, as observed in other countries. However, there was no variation in ptaquiloside levels among plants collected from different cities in Brazil. The high frequency of upper alimentary squamous cell carcinoma in Brazilian cattle may not be attributed to greater levels of ptaquiloside and pterosin B in P. arachnoideum than in other Pteridium species in other countries.

Bovine upper alimentary squamous cell carcinoma associated with bracken fern poisoning: Clinical-pathological aspects and etiopathogenesis of 100 cases.

Upper digestive tract (UDT) cancer is rare in cattle, however in Southern Brazil, the UDT squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are relatively common and have been associated with bracken fern consumption and the presence of papillomas. Although a theory of pathogenesis considers bovine papillomavirus type 4 (BPV-4) as a cofactor in the development of these SCCs, some aspects of the etiopathogenesis of this disease need to be more investigated. In fact, detection of BPV-4 in UDT papillomas is scarce in other regions of the world and has not been performed in Brazil. Therefore, this study had two aims: 1) to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of 100 natural cases of SCCs in the UDT of cattle grazing on bracken fern (Pteridium arachnoideum) highly contaminated areas, investigating the associations between these parameters; and 2) to investigate the presence of papillomavirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the UDT papillomas (n = 47) from 30 cattle that also had UDT SCCs. There were statistically significant associations between clinical signs and tumor localization in the UDT; between histological grade of differentiation and tumor localization; and a trend towards significant association between histological grade of differentiation and presence of metastases. The average age of cattle with oropharyngeal SCCs was 7.39 years, with statistically significant difference comparing to cattle with esophageal SCCs (8.6 years). No statistical association was observed among other clinical-pathological parameters (growth pattern and primary site of the tumor) analyzed. No BPV DNA was detected in papillomas by PCR. Therefore, these results suggest the possibility that papillomas of the UDT are not necessarily associated with BPV infection.

Leiomiossarcoma gástrico associado a hérnia de hiato em cão da raça Shar-pei: relato de caso / Gastric leiomyosarcoma associated with hiatal hernia in a Shar-pei: a case report

Os tumores do sistema digestório não são comuns na medicina veterinária e as neoplasias de estômago representam menos de 1% de todos os tumores malignos. O leiomiossarcoma é o segundo tumor que mais acomete o trato gastrointestinal de cães, com predisposição para as regiões de jejuno e ceco, mas qualquer porção pode ser afetada, desde o esôfago até o reto. O presente trabalho relata um caso em um canino da raça Shar-pei, macho, com 13 anos de idade e histórico de episódios eméticos pós- prandiais e emagrecimento progressivo havia oito meses. Após avaliação radiográfica e endoscópica, foi indicada intervenção cirúrgica e observada tumoração gástrica associada a hérnia de hiato. O diagnóstico de leiomiossarcoma gástrico foi estabelecido por meio de análise histopatológica. O paciente apresentou pouco tempo de sobrevida, entretanto destaca-se a raridade desse tipo de neoplasia gástrica e da associação desse tipo tumoral com hérnias de hiato, assim como a importância da análise histopatológica para o correto diagnóstico desse tipo de patologia.(AU)

Gastrointestinal system tumors are not common in Veterinary Medicine and stomach neoplasia represents less than 1% of all malignant tumors. Among digestive neoplasias, the leiomyosarcoma is the second most common with predisposition to the regions of the jejunum and cecum, but any portion from the esophagus to rectum can be potentially affected. This is a case report of a 13-year-old male Shar-pei dog with medical history of post prandial emetic episodes and progressive weight loss lasting eight months. Surgical intervention was indicated after radiographs and endoscopic evaluation, where a gastric mass and hiatal hernia were found. The diagnosis of gastric leiomyosarcoma was established only after histopathological analysis. Despite the patient having little survival time, this clinical presentation of a gastric tumor associated with hiatal hernia is rare, and exalts the importance of histopathological studies as a tool for the correct diagnosis in these unusual diseases.(AU)

Leiomiossarcoma gástrico associado a hérnia de hiato em cão da raça Shar-pei: relato de caso / Gastric leiomyosarcoma associated with hiatal hernia in a Shar-pei: a case report

Os tumores do sistema digestório não são comuns na medicina veterinária e as neoplasias de estômago representam menos de 1% de todos os tumores malignos. O leiomiossarcoma é o segundo tumor que mais acomete o trato gastrointestinal de cães, com predisposição para as regiões de jejuno e ceco, mas qualquer porção pode ser afetada, desde o esôfago até o reto. O presente trabalho relata um caso em um canino da raça Shar-pei, macho, com 13 anos de idade e histórico de episódios eméticos pós- prandiais e emagrecimento progressivo havia oito meses. Após avaliação radiográfica e endoscópica, foi indicada intervenção cirúrgica e observada tumoração gástrica associada a hérnia de hiato. O diagnóstico de leiomiossarcoma gástrico foi estabelecido por meio de análise histopatológica. O paciente apresentou pouco tempo de sobrevida, entretanto destaca-se a raridade desse tipo de neoplasia gástrica e da associação desse tipo tumoral com hérnias de hiato, assim como a importância da análise histopatológica para o correto diagnóstico desse tipo de patologia.(AU)

Gastrointestinal system tumors are not common in Veterinary Medicine and stomach neoplasia represents less than 1% of all malignant tumors. Among digestive neoplasias, the leiomyosarcoma is the second most common with predisposition to the regions of the jejunum and cecum, but any portion from the esophagus to rectum can be potentially affected. This is a case report of a 13-year-old male Shar-pei dog with medical history of post prandial emetic episodes and progressive weight loss lasting eight months. Surgical intervention was indicated after radiographs and endoscopic evaluation, where a gastric mass and hiatal hernia were found. The diagnosis of gastric leiomyosarcoma was established only after histopathological analysis. Despite the patient having little survival time, this clinical presentation of a gastric tumor associated with hiatal hernia is rare, and exalts the importance of histopathological studies as a tool for the correct diagnosis in these unusual diseases.(AU)

Bracken as a risk factor in digestive tract tumors: state of the art.

The present knowledge of the risks of exposure to bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is presented. The history of research on bracken toxicity is reviewed, covering the animal observations and chemical analysis, and focusing on the carcinogenic effects in various animal species and on the nature and biological properties of the known carcinogens. The implications of human exposure to bracken are inferred, the possible ways of contamination are discussed, and the existing epidemiological studies are commented. Bracken contribution to digestive tract tumors is deduced, and the need of further research on the plant toxicity and detailed epidemiological investigations with the exposed population is stressed.