Penile Tuberculosis in a Bull.

We describe a case of penile tuberculosis in a bull. The prepuce was thickened, firm and pale with multifocal to coalescent caseous nodules, and the inguinal and mesenteric lymph nodes were moderately enlarged. Lesions in the prepuce, penis and lymph nodes were characterized by multifocal to coalescent areas of caseous necrosis and marked granulomatous inflammation. Acid-fast bacilli were seen within necrotic foci and Langhans giant cells. Mycobacteriumtuberculosis var. bovis was identified in inguinal lymph nodes by the polymerase chain reaction technique and by bacterial isolation. Although rare, tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous lesions in the genital tract of bulls.

Fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) from Northern Brazil - Case report.

The clinical and pathological findings of a case of fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a captive brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) from the northern region of Brazil are reported. Clinical signs were nonspecific and included apathy, prostration, dyspnoea, and loss of appetite. Treatment with penicillin was attempted, but the animal died within five days of the onset of clinical signs. Microscopically, there was acute inflammation in the liver, spleen, and lungs associated with necrosis and a few cysts and extracytoplasmic tachyzoites, with a morphology compatible with Toxoplasma gondii. Tissue sections were submitted for immunohistochemistry that confirmed T. gondii as the aetiological agent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of toxoplasmosis in B. variegatus.

Outbreak of toxoplasmosis in a flock of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).

Toxoplasmosis is a disease with a worldwide distribution that affects a wide variety of animal species, though with rare descriptions in chickens. We describe the clinical, epidemiological, pathological, and molecular aspects of a toxoplasmosis outbreak in domestic chickens and guinea fowl in southern Brazil. The flock was composed of 47 domestic chickens and 29 guinea fowl. Of these, 22 birds showed clinical signs of lethargy, anorexia, and neurological signs over a clinical course of 24-72 h, and 15 died. Epidemiological data were obtained through fieldwork performed at the chicken farm and necropsies of six birds. Gross lesions were absent at necropsy, and histopathological findings included inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells and necrosis in several tissues associated with intralesional Toxoplasma gondii. Immunohistochemistry for T. gondii was positive. Additionally, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with 11 markers (SAG1, SAG2 (5'3'SAG2 and alt. SAG2), SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico, and CS3) and microsatellite (MS) analysis with 15 markers (TUB2, W35, TgMA, B18, B17, M33, IV.1, XI.1, N60, N82, AA, N61, N83, M48, and M102) were performed. PCR-RFLP revealed T. gondii genotype ToxoDB-PCR-RFLP #280, and MS analysis also showed a unique genotype. This is the first description of this genotype in chickens and adds to the evidence suggesting considerable genotypic diversity of T. gondii in Brazil.

Mannheimia haemolytica pleuropneumonia in goats associated with shipping stress / Pleuropneumonia por Mannheimia haemolytica em caprinos associada ao estresse de transporte

ABSTRACT: This study described the epidemiological, clinical, pathological and bacteriological aspects of Mannheimia haemolytica pleuropneumonia in goats associated with shipping stress. Forty goats transported from the Northeast to the Southern region of Brazil died during shipment, or 2-3 days after unloading. Clinical signs included dyspnea, mucopurulent nasal discharge, and coughing. All goats were necropsied, and multiple tissues were collected for histopathological analysis and involved agent identifications. All lungs showed pulmonary consolidation, predominantly affecting the cranioventral lobes, in addition to the marked fibrinous pleuritis, pleural thickening, and pleural adhesions, that affected 90% of the goats. Histologically, there was fibrino-suppurative pleuropneumonia characterized by a diffuse neutrophilic infiltrate admixed with fibrin. Non-hemolytic [85% (34/40)] and hemolytic [15% (6/40)] species were obtained in bacteriological culture. Fir Mannheimia spp. was reported in 26 isolates and subsequently confirmed as M. haemolytica (99% identity), after amplification and partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene. Stress may trigger the development of bacterial pleuropneumonia in goats, and non-hemolytic strains of M. haemolytica may cause this condition in goats with severe immunosuppression.

RESUMO: Descreve-se os aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos, patológicos e bacteriológicos da pleuropneumonia por Mannheimia haemolytica em caprinos, após transporte prolongado. Quarenta caprinos transportados da região Nordeste para a região Sul do Brasil morreram durante a viagem ou 2-3 dias após o desembarque. Clinicamente, observou-se dispneia, secreção nasal mucopurulenta e tosse. Na necropsia foram coletados múltiplos fragmentos de órgãos para análises histopatológicas e identificação do agente envolvido. Todos os pulmões apresentaram consolidação pulmonar predominantemente em região cranioventral, associada à deposição acentuada de fibrina, espessamento e aderência pleurais em 90% dos casos. Histologicamente, havia pleuropneumonia fibrinossupurativa caracterizada por infiltrado neutrofílico difuso associado à fibrina. Colônias não hemolíticas [85% (34/40)] e hemolíticas [15% (6/40)] foram obtidas pelo isolamento bacteriológico. Mannheimia spp. foi isolada em 26 amostras, os quais posteriormente foram confirmados como Mannheimia haemolytica (99% de identidade), pela amplificação e sequenciamento parcial do gene 16S rDNA. O estresse pode favorecer o desenvolvimento de pleuropneumonia bacteriana em caprinos, e cepas não hemolíticas de M. haemolytica podem causar doença em animais com imunodepressão acentuada.

Calbindin D28k distribution in neurons and reactive gliosis in cerebellar cortex of natural Rabies virus-infected cattle.

Rabies has been an enigmatic disease because microscopic findings in central nervous system tissues do not always correlate well with the severity of the clinical illness. Immunohistochemical staining of the calcium-binding protein calbindin (specifically CbD28k) seems to be the technique most used to identify Purkinje neurons under normal and pathological conditions. In the present work, we evaluated CbD28k immunoreactivity in the cerebellar cortex of normal and natural Rabies virus (RABV)-infected cattle. We examined brains from 3 normal cows and from 6 crossbreed cattle with a histologic diagnosis of rabies. Samples were taken from the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and brainstem. Immunohistochemistry was carried out using the following primary antibodies: anti-RABV, anti-GFAP, and anti-CbD28k. In the cerebellar cortex, RABV infection caused the loss of CbD28k immunostaining in Purkinje cells; some large interneurons in the granular layer maintained their positive CbD28k immunoreaction. The identification of this loss of CbD28k reactivity in cerebellar Purkinje cells of RABV-infected cattle presents a potentially valuable tool to explore the impairment of Ca(2+) homeostasis. In addition, this may become a useful method to identify specific molecular alterations associated with the higher prevalence of Negri bodies in Purkinje cells of cattle. Furthermore, we detected the presence of rabies viral antigens in different regions of the central nervous system, accompanied by microglial proliferation and mild reactive astrogliosis.

HOE-140, an antagonist of B2 receptor, protects against memory deficits and brain damage induced by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury in mice.

RATIONALE: There are evidences indicating the role of kinins in pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury, but little is known about their action on memory deficits. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to establish the role of bradykinin receptors B1 (B1R) and B2 (B2R) on the behavioral, biochemical, and histologic features elicited by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury (mLFPI) in mice. METHODS: The role of kinin B1 and B2 receptors in brain damage, neuromotor, and cognitive deficits induced by mLFPI, was evaluated by means of subcutaneous injection of B2R antagonist (HOE-140; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) or B1R antagonist (des-Arg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin (DAL-Bk; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) 30 min and 24 h after brain injury. Brain damage was evaluated in the cortex, being considered as lesion volume, inflammatory, and oxidative damage. The open field and elevated plus maze tests were performed to exclude the nonspecific effects on object recognition memory test. RESULTS: Our data revealed that HOE-140 (10 nmol/kg) protected against memory impairment. This treatment attenuated the brain edema, interleukin-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide metabolites content elicited by mLFPI. Accordingly, HOE-140 administration protected against the increase of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, thiobarbituric-acid-reactive species, protein carbonylation generation, and Na⁺ K⁺ ATPase inhibition induced by trauma. Histologic analysis showed that HOE-140 reduced lesion volume when analyzed 7 days after brain injury. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the involvement of the B2 receptor in memory deficits and brain damage caused by mLFPI in mice.

The effect of NADPH-oxidase inhibitor apocynin on cognitive impairment induced by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury: role of inflammatory and oxidative brain damage.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating disease that commonly causes persistent mental disturbances and cognitive deficits. Although studies have indicated that overproduction of free radicals, especially superoxide (O2(-)) derived from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is a common underlying mechanism of pathophysiology of TBI, little information is available regarding the role of apocynin, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, in neurological consequences of TBI. Therefore, the present study evaluated the therapeutic potential of apocynin for treatment of inflammatory and oxidative damage, in addition to determining its action on neuromotor and memory impairments caused by moderate fluid percussion injury in mice (mLFPI). Statistical analysis revealed that apocynin (5mg/kg), when injected subcutaneously (s.c.) 30min and 24h after injury, had no effect on neuromotor deficit and brain edema, however it provided protection against mLFPI-induced object recognition memory impairment 7days after neuronal injury. The same treatment protected against mLFPI-induced IL-1ß, TNF-α, nitric oxide metabolite content (NOx) 3 and 24h after neuronal injury. Moreover, apocynin treatment reduced oxidative damage (protein carbonyl, lipoperoxidation) and was effective against mLFPI-induced Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity inhibition. The present results were accompanied by effective reduction in lesion volume when analyzed 7days after neuronal injury. These data suggest that superoxide (O2(-)) derived from NADPH oxidase can contribute significantly to cognitive impairment, and that the post injury treatment with specific NADPH oxidase inhibitors, such as apocynin, may provide a new therapeutic approach to the control of neurological disabilities induced by TBI.

Infiltrative gastric adenocarcinoma in a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera).

A case of infiltrative gastric adenocarcinoma in a 5-year-old female chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) is described. The animal died after a 5-day period of lethargy and anorexia. Gross examination revealed increased gastric volume. The gastric wall was thickened and contained numerous firm, white nodules on the serosal surface. The lumen was obliterated by a firm mass and large amount of white, mucous secretion. Numerous white, irregular plaques and nodules were observed on the mesentery, visceral surface of the diaphragm, renal capsule, and uterine serosa (implantation metastases). Histopathological examination revealed an infiltrative gastric adenocarcinoma composed of neoplastic cells organized in a gland-like pattern interspersed with connective tissue. Neoplastic cells infiltrated the lamina propria, submucosa, and muscular layers, and were positive for cytokeratin. Detection of Helicobacter spp. in the gastric mucosa failed using Warthin-Starry and Steiner silver stains or immunohistochemistry, but a Helicobacter-specific nested polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing was positive for Helicobacter pylori and showed more than 99% similarity to the 16S ribosomal RNA gene.

Carcinoma bronquíolo-alveolar difuso em um cão: aspectos clínico-patológicos e imuno-histoquímicos / Diffuse bronchioloalveolar carcinoma in a dog: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings

Um cão Poodle, 12 anos de idade, demonstrou marcada dispneia. Na radiografia, havia comprometimento difuso do pulmão e foi feito diagnóstico de pneumonia intersticial. Na necropsia, o pulmão continha múltiplos e pequenos nódulos coalescentes. Histologicamente, os nódulos eram compostos por células epiteliais cuboides ou colunares baixas atípicas, que eram PAS-negativa. A avaliação imuno-histoquímica revelou positividade para citoceratina, fator 1 de transcrição da tireoide (TTF-1) e apoproteína A surfactante (SP-A). O tumor foi negativo para vimentina e cromogranina A. As áreas necróticas não marcaram para TTF-1 e SP-A. Com base nos achados histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos, foi realizado o diagnóstico de carcinoma bronquíolo-alveolar não mucinoso com envolvimento difuso do pulmão. Essa é uma forma rara de apresentação desse tumor que pode mimetizar pneumonia na avaliação clínica e radiográfica. O diagnóstico definitivo é baseado na histopatologia e imuno-histoquímica.

A 12-year-old poodle dog was presented with a history of severe dyspnea. Radiology revealed diffuse pulmonary lesion which was diagnosed as interstitial pneumonia. At necropsy there were multiple small coalescent nodules distributed throughout the lung parenchyma. Histologically the nodules consisted of cubic to low columnar atypical epithelial cells which were PAS-negatives. In the immunohistochemistry reaction this cells were marked for cytokeratin, TTF (thyroid transcription factor)-1 and surfactant apoprotein A (SP-A). The neoplastic cells were negative for vimentin and cromagranine A. The necrotic areas were not marked for TTF-1 and SP-A. Based of the histopathological and immunohistochemistry findings a diagnosis of non-mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma with diffuse involvement of the lung was made. This is a rare form of presentation for this tumor, and it can mimetize pneumonia on clinical and morphological examination. A definitive diagnosis for this condition should be based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry.

Choroid plexus carcinoma in a cow / Carcinoma de plexo coróide em um bovino

A red, firm 3.5x3.0x3.0cm mass was found within the right lateral ventricle, compressing the hippocampus and thalamus of the brain of a 4-year-old cow. The pituitary was enlarged and firm. Histologically, both the brain and pituitary masses consisted of moderately pleomorphic epithelial cells arranged as rosettes or sheets supported by a delicate fibrovascular stroma. Based on anatomical localization, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, a diagnosis of choroid plexus carcinoma with pituitary metastasis was made.

Um massa vermelha e firme de 3,5x3,0x3,0cm foi observada no ventrículo lateral, comprimindo o hipocampo e tálamo do cérebro de uma vaca de quatro anos de idade. A pituitária estava aumentada de volume e firme. Histologicamente, tanto a massa do cérebro, quanto da pituitária, consistiam de células epiteliais moderadamente pleomórficas, arranjadas em rosetas ou cordões e apoiadas em um delicado estroma fibrovascular. Com base na localização anatômica e nos achados histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos, foi realizado um diagnóstico de carcinoma de plexo coróide com metástase para a pituitária.

Ceratose liquenóide em um cão / Lichenoid keratosis in a dog

A ceratose liquenóide é uma rara dermatopatia proliferativa descrita em humanos e cães. Nos cães, a doença caracteriza-se pelo aparecimento de placas hiperceratóticas bem circunscritas nas pinas e, menos freqüentemente, nas virilhas. Este artigo descreve um caso de ceratose liquenóide em um cão macho, Dobermann, de seis anos de idade, com lesões verrucosas e multifocais na face interna das orelhas e lesões alopécicas, hiperpigmentadas, levemente elevadas e descamativas nas axilas e virilhas, ambas com evolução de aproximadamente três meses. O diagnóstico foi realizado com base na associação entre os achados clínicos e histopatológicos.

Lichenoid keratosis is a rare proliferative dermatopathy reported in human beings and dogs. In dogs the disease is characterized by well circumscribed hyperkeratotic plaques distributed in the skin of pinnae and, less frequently, in the inguinal region. This report describes a case of lichenoid keratosis in a six-year-old male Dobermann dog which had multifocal verrucous lesions in the internal aspect of the pinnae and slightly scaly, overpigmented alopecic lesions in the axillae and inguinal region; both lesions had a clinical course of approximately three months. The diagnosis was based on the association of the clinical and histopathological findings.

Aspectos imunoistoquímicos da hepatite infecciosa canina / Immunohistochemical aspects of canine infectious hepatitis

Tecidos de 27 cães que morreram de hepatite infecciosa canina (HIC) foram avaliados por imunoistoquímica (IHQ) para detecção de antígeno de adenovírus canino tipo 1 (CAV-1), por meio de um anticorpo monoclonal. Os tecidos examinados incluíram fígado, rim, baço, linfonodos, tonsilas, pulmão, intestino delgado, encéfalo e medula óssea. Para cada órgão foram atribuídos graus crescentes (de leve a acentuada) de intensidade de imunomarcação. O antígeno de CAV-1 estava presente na maioria dos órgãos examinados, principalmente em células endoteliais. Relacionando o tempo de evolução clínica da HIC com a intensidade da imunomarcação, o maior número de casos com evolução clínica hiperaguda ou aguda coincidiu com a maior intensidade de marcação do antígeno viral. A IHQ demonstrou ser um teste adequado para a detecção do antígeno de CAV-1 e pode ser usado para o estudo da patogênese da doença.

Tissues from 27 dogs died from infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) were evaluated by immunohistochemestry (IHC) for detection of canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) antigen using a monoclonal antibody. Evaluated tissues included liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, lungs, small intestine, brain, and spinal cord. For each organ increasing degrees (from mild to marked) of intensity of immune staining were ascribed. CAV-1 was detected in most of the evaluated organs, mainly in the endothelial cells. Considering the clinical course of ICH and the intensity of IHC staining, cases with acute and peracute courses had more marked staining. IHC proved to be a reliable test for CAV-1 antigen detection and can be used for pathogenesis studies on ICH either in the spontaneous and experimental disease.

Melanoma maligno anaplásico em um eqüino / Anaplastic malignant melanoma in a horse

Descreve-se um caso de melanoma maligno anaplásico em uma égua Crioula, tordilha, com 10 anos de idade, com histórico clínico de apatia, perda de peso progressiva, febre, anorexia e dispnéia. Múltiplas massas pigmentadas e não-pigmentadas, bem delimitadas ou infiltrativas, foram observadas no tecido subcutâneo e em vários órgãos. Histologicamente o neoplasma era composto de populações de células fusiformes, redondas ou poliédricas e, menos freqüentemente, de células multinucleadas e "células em anel de sinete". O diagnóstico foi realizado com base nos achados clinicopatológicos e confirmado pela microscopia eletrônica de transmissão.

A case of anaplastic malignant melanoma in a 10-year-old gray mare is described. Clinical signs included depression, progressive weight loss, fever, anorexia, and dyspnea. Multiple circumscribed or infiltrative, pigmented, and non-pigmented tumors were observed in subcutaneous tissue and in several organs. Histological examination revealed a marked variation in neoplastic cell population, which was composed by spindle, round, polyhedrical, and less frequently, multinucleated or signet ring cells. The diagnostic was based up on clinical and pathological findings, and confirmed by transmission electronic microscopy.

Aspectos patológicos de 155 casos fatais de cães atropelados por veículos automotivos / Pathological aspects of 155 fatal cases of dogs victimized by motor vehicles accidents

O atropelamento por veículos automotivos contribui significativamente para as estatísticas de morte em cães. Entretanto, há poucos estudos sobre os aspectos patológicos reportados na literatura. Este artigo descreve 155 casos fatais de atropelamento por veículos automotivos em cães. Dos 155 cães atropelados, em 138 (89,0 por cento) havia lesões que explicavam a morte ou a razão para a eutanásia desses cães. Essas lesões incluíram traumatismo espinhal-medular (43 [27,7 por cento]), ruptura de órgãos parenquimatosos (40 [25,8 por cento]), traumatismo cranioencefálico (28 [18,1 por cento]), ruptura de órgãos ocos (16 [10,3 por cento]), fratura de costelas com laceração de órgãos parenquimatosos (15 [9,7 por cento]) e ruptura de diafragma com deslocamento de vísceras abdominais para a cavidade torácica (10 [6,4 por cento]).

Motor vehicle-related trauma significantly contributes to death statistics of dogs. There are however few documented reports on the pathological aspects of such cases. This paper describes 155 fatal cases of dogs victimized by motor vehicle accidents. In 138 (89.0 percent) of the 155 dogs hit by motor vehicles there were lesions that could explain the death or reason for these dogs being euthanatized. These lesions included vertebrospinal trauma (43 [27.7 percent]), rupture of parenchymal organs (40 [25.8 percent]), cranioencephalic trauma (28 [18.1 percent]), rupture of hollow organs (16 [10.3 percent]), rib fracture with subsequent laceration of parenchymal organs (15 [9.7 percent]), and diaphragmatic rupture with displacement of abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity (10 [6.4 percent]).

Cenurose em ovinos no sul do Brasil: 16 casos / Coenurosis of sheep in southern Brazil: 16 cases

Neste trabalho são descritos casos de doença neurológica causada por Coenurus cerebralis em 16 ovinos provenientes de nove propriedades rurais do Rio Grande do Sul. Os casos ocorreram entre janeiro de 1990 e dezembro de 2006. A evolução clínica variou de 30-90 dias e os ovinos afetados apresentavam depressão (9/16), isolamento do rebanho (8/16), andar cambaleante (7/16), cegueira (4/16), desvio da cabeça (3/16), incoordenação (3/16), movimentos de pedalagem (2/16), quedas (2/16), andar em círculos, deficiência proprioceptiva nos membros torácicos e pélvicos, estrabismo, midríase, opistótono, tremores e rigidez dos membros (1/16 cada). Os achados macroscópicos foram restritos ao sistema nervoso central e caracterizados por cistos de 2 a 9cm de diâmetro preenchidos por líquido translúcido e revestidos por fina membrana. Na parte interna da membrana, havia numerosas estruturas levemente alongadas e brancas de aproximadamente 1mm de diâmetro (escólices). Na maioria dos ovinos, os cistos eram localizados no telencéfalo (12/16); em três, os cistos estavam no cerebelo e em um ovino havia um cisto no cerebelo e um na medula espinhal. Em todos os casos havia acentuada compressão e deslocamento do tecido nervoso adjacente aos cistos. Histologicamente, os cistos parasitários eram formados por dupla membrana fracamente eosinofílica da qual evaginavam múltiplos escólices esféricos acelomados. Adjacente à parede da vesícula eram observadas sucessivas camadas compostas por uma zona de necrose e mineralização, circundadas por infiltrado inflamatório composto por macrófagos epitelióides e células gigantes multinucleadas, com uma cápsula externa de tecido fibrovascular e infiltrado inflamatório linfoistioplasmocitário perivascular. Adicionalmente, havia compressão e atrofia das substâncias branca e cinzenta adjacentes. O diagnóstico de cenurose foi realizado com base nos achados epidemiológicos, clínicos e macroscópicos, e confirmado pela histopatologia.

Sixteen cases of neurologic disease caused by Coenurus cerebralis occurring in sheep from nine farms in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from January 1990 to December 2006, are described. Clinical courses varied from 30 to 90 days and affected sheep developed depression (9/16), isolation from the herd (8/16), staggering (7/16), blindness (4/16), head tilt (3/16), incoordination (3/16), paddling (2/16), falls (2/16), circling, proprioceptive deficits in fore and hindlimbs, strabismus, mydriasis, opisthotonus, trembling and rigidity of the limbs (1/16 each one). Macroscopic findings were restricted to central nervous system and consisted of 2 to 9cm fluid filled cysts with numerous slightly elongated 1 mm white scolices attached to the inner wall surface of the capsule. Cysts were located in the telencephalon (12/16); in the cerebellum (3 sheep); and in the cerebellum and spinal cord (1 sheep). All cases showed severe compression and displacement of the adjacent nervous tissue. Histologically, the cyst walls were characterized by a thin walled eosinophilic vesicle in which evaginated multiple spherical acelomated scolices. The cyst wall was surrounded by successive layers consisting of an internal necrotic and mineralized band, a layer of epithelioid macrophages with abundant number of multinucleated giant cell and an external fibrovascular capsule with perivascular lymphohistioplasmacytic infiltrate. Adjacent white and gray matter were compressed and atrophied. The diagnosis was based on epidemiologic, clinical and pathologic findings and confirmed by histopathology.

Autólise da camada de células granulares do cerebelo em bovinos / Conglutination of the cerebellar granule cell layer in cattle

A autólise da camada de células granulares do cerebelo é um achado postmortem observado em bovinos e relacionado ao prolongado tempo de duração entre a morte e a fixação do encéfalo. Para observar a prevalência desse artefato, 228 cerebelos foram examinados histologicamente ao longo do verme cerebelar. Trinta e seis por cento desses casos apresentaram conglutinação cerebelar não relacionada a doença específica. Em 74,4 por cento dos casos em que foi observada conglutinação cerebelar, não foram observadas alterações histopatológicas. Histologicamente, a conglutinação cerebelar caracterizou-se por dissolução segmentar ou difusa da camada de células granulares. A descrição deste artefato é importante, pois já foi confundido como lesão relacionada a doença específica do sistema nervoso de bovinos.

Cerebellar conglutination of the granule cell layer is a postmortem artifact observed in cattle. It is related to increased time between death and fixation of the brain. In this study, 228 cerebellum were histologically analyzed throughout cerebellar vermis. Cerebellar conglutination was observed in 36 percent of the cases and it was not related to specific diseases. Seventy-four percent of the cases did not present any histological lesions in the brain. Microscopically, cerebellar conglutination was characterized by segmentar or diffuse dissolution of the granule cell layer. This artifact has been misinterpreted as resulting from specific diseases of the central nervous system in cattle, and it has to be differentiated from important antemortem lesions.

Suprasellar germ cell tumor in a dog

A case of suprasellar germ cell tumor is described in a 6-year -old Airedale Terrier bitch that presented behavioral changes and abrupt onset of blindness. The neoplasm compressed the ventral surface of the cerebrum from the level of basal ganglia to the mesencephalon. Histologically the neoplasm consisted of nests and trabeculae of round to polygonal cells that occasionally surround tubules and cysts formed by columnar cells. Neoplastic cells are immunopositive for cytokeratin and alpha-fetoprotein. The diagnosis was based on location, histological appearance and on the immunohistochemical staining.

É descrito um caso de tumor de células germinativas supra-selar em numa cadela Airedale Terrier de seis anos de idade, que apresentou transtornos do comportamento e aparecimento abrupto de cegueira. O neoplasma comprimia a superfície ventral do cérebro desde a altura dos núcleos basais até o mesencéfalo. Histologicamente, o neoplasma consistia de ninhos e trabéculas de células redondas ou poligonais que ocasionalmente arranjavam-se ao redor de túbulos e cistos formados por células colunares. As células neoplásicas foram positivas na imunoistoquímica para citoqueratina e a-fetoproteína. O diagnóstico foi feito com base na localização do tumor, no seu aspecto histológico e nos resultados da marcação imunoistoquímica.

Neurological disease in cattle in southern Brazil associated with Bovine herpesvirus infection.

The occurrence of neurological disease in cattle caused by Bovine herpesvirus in 11 farms from southern Brazil between 1987 and 2007 is described. Twenty-two animals were necropsied. Major clinical signs included excessive salivation, nasal and ocular discharge, circling, recumbency, depression, incoordination, grinding of teeth, and paddling movements. Necropsy findings in 10 of 22 cattle included hyperemia and softening of the rostral portions of the telencephalic cortex, with flattening of gyri, and malacia. Cattle in 10 cases did not show any gross lesions. Histological examination in most cases revealed nonsuppurative and necrotizing meningoencephalitis with acute neuronal necrosis, edema, eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in astrocytes and neurons, and infiltration of gitter cells. No histologic lesions could be detected in 4 cases. The initial diagnosis was based upon the clinical, epidemiological, and pathological findings. The diagnosis was confirmed by virus isolation in cell culture followed by virus identification by a glycoprotein C-based polymerase chain reaction. Seven isolates were identified as Bovine herpesvirus 5, and 4 were identified as Bovine herpesvirus 1.

Intoxicação em ovinos por Nierembergia veitchii: observações em quatro surtos / Poisoning in sheep by Nierembergia veitchii: observations in four outbreaks

Foram observados casos de morte súbita e doença crônica e caquetizante em ovinos provenientes de quatro rebanhos localizados em três municípios do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre junho de 2001 e maio de 2006. De uma população total sob risco de 460 ovinos, 43 foram afetados, 29 morreram espontaneamente e 10 foram eutanasiados. Treze ovinos, provenientes dos Surtos 1 e 4, apresentaram morte súbita e grande quantidade de espuma branca na cavidade nasal e oral e 30 ovinos, provenientes dos Surtos 2 e 3, apresentaram doença crônica com perda de peso, relutância em se movimentar, andar rígido, abdômen retraído e cifose. Doze ovinos foram necropsiados. Lesões de necropsia incluíam má condição da carcaça, com depleção dos depósitos de gordura, e mineralização de vários tecidos. Havia evidente rigidez das grandes artérias, que apresentavam superfície intimal irregular e dura, com múltiplas placas irregulares brancas e opacas. Areas semelhantes de mineralização também eram observadas no endocárdio valvar ou mural, nas serosas uterina, omasal, ruminal e reticular e no parênquima renal. Em seis ovinos havia moderado a acentuado edema pulmonar e em sete ovinos havia áreas multifocais ou coalescentes, brancas e duras, na superfície subpleural dos pulmões. Histologicamente havia mineralização sistêmica dos tecidos, caracterizada por fina granulação basofílica em vários órgãos. Nas artérias, a mineralização era observada principalmente na túnica média e freqüentemente havia proliferação intimal e ocasional metaplasia condróide ou óssea da média. Em sete ovinos foi observada mineralização dos vasos da rete mirabile carotídea. No miocárdio e no pulmão, podiam ser observados focos de calcificação e metaplasia óssea em cardiomiócitos e septos alveolares, respectivamente. Em cada uma das propriedades onde ocorreram os casos havia infestação da pastagem por Nierembergia veitchii.

Sudden death and chronic disease were observed in sheep from four herds in three cities from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between June 2001 and May 2006. From a total population at risk of 460 sheep of various ages 43 were affected, 29 died spontaneously and 10 were euthanatized. Thirteen sheep from outbreaks 1 and 4 had sudden death with large amount of froth in oral and nasal cavities; thirty sheep from outbreaks 2 and 3 had a chronic course of loss of weight, reluctance to move, stiff gait, tucked abdomen and kyphosis. A total of 12 sheep were necropsied. Gross changes included poor body condition with depletion of fat deposits and mineralization of several tissues. The large arteries were rigid and had a hard and irregular intimal surface due to irregular prominent whitish opaque plaques. Mineralization was also observed in valvar and mural endocardium and in the uterine, omasal, ruminal and reticular serosa and in the renal parenchyma. Moderate to severe lung edema was observed in six sheep and multifocal to coalescing hard white areas were observed in the subpleural lung parenchyma of seven sheep. Histologically there was systemic tissue mineralization characterized by fine basophilic granules deposited in several tissues. In the arteries mineralization was mainly in the subintimal media and frequently there was intimal proliferation and occasional chondroid and osseous metaplasia of the media. Mineralization of the carotid rete mirabile was observed in seven cases. Foci of mineralization and osseous metaplasia were also observed in the myocardium and alveolar septa. In each of the farms where the outbreaks occurred Nierembergia veitchii was found in the pastures.

Acidente provocado por picada de abelhas como causa de morte de cães / Bee sting as cause of death in dogs

Acidentes causados por himenópteros são freqüentes em animais domésticos, mas apenas raramente reportados na literatura. Este relato descreve seis casos fatais de reação tóxica sistêmica decorrente de acidente por abelhas (Apis mellifera) em cães. Os principais sinais clínicos foram icterícia e hemoglobinúria. Outros achados incluíram anorexia, apatia, vômito, diarréia e dispnéia. Na necropsia, cinco dos seis cães apresentavam icterícia, fígado vermelho-alaranjado, rins intensamente enegrecidos e urina com coloração semelhante à do vinho tinto. Na histologia, havia necrose hepática centrolobular e nefrose hemoglobinúrica, lesões típicas de crise hemolítica intravascular.

Hymenopteran stinging events are frequent cause of disease and death in domestic animals, but rarely reported in the literature. This paper reports six cases of envenomation by bee (Apis mellifera) sting in dogs with fatal outcome. The main clinical signs were icterus and hemoglobinuria. Other findings included anorexia, apathy, vomiting, diarrhea, and dyspnea. Necropsy findings in five dogs included icterus, red-orange discoloration of the liver, dark-red kidneys with an red-wine aspect to the urine. Histologically, there were centrolobular necrosis in the liver and hemoglobinuric nephosis, typical lesions of intravascular hemolysis.