Metastatic cutaneous myxosarcoma in an adult horse.

A 25-year-old mixed-breed equine with separate nodular cutaneous lesions in the right thoracic limb (RTL) and right ventral abdominal region was admitted to a Veterinary Hospital in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed on the RTL lesion and superficial cervical lymph node, and the results were suggestive of a malignant neoplasm known as myxosarcoma. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, the animal was euthanized. Based on the macroscopic and microscopic findings, the diagnosis of metastatic cutaneous myxosarcoma was confirmed. Although rare, this tumor should be considered as a differential diagnosis for cutaneous neoplasms in this species.

Antimicrobial Activity of Plasma Rich in Platelets (PRP) on the Ocular Microbiota of Healthy Horses from Minas Gerais: In Vitro Study.

In equine ophthalmology, ulcerative keratitis is among the most common conditions and, in general, arises as a consequence of some trauma suffered. Secondarily, subsequent contamination by pathogenic or resident bacteria of the horse's ocular microbiota may have undesirable consequences. Under physiological conditions, the normal microbiota coexists with the immune status of the host, serving as a barrier, ensuring the health of the ocular surface, and inhibiting the proliferation of pathogens. However, in the imbalance of immune barriers, the normal microbiota can become pathogenic and lead to infection, acting as an opportunistic agent. The present study aims to demonstrate the antimicrobial effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), its time of action, and its correlation with the concentration of its same components in vitro on Staphylococcus sciuri, a bacterium with high prevalence in the normal ocular microbiota of horses in the municipality of Minas Gerais. For the preparation of the PRP, eight adult Quarter Horse (QH) horses were used. The individual PRP was prepared by the double centrifugation protocol, and then, the PRPs were added to a pool, followed by testing their interaction in culture with Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth at different dilutions against five strains collected from different animals. After 3, 6, 12, and 18 hours, the colony formation units (CFU) count on a 5% horse blood agar plate was evaluated for each time point. Our study showed that Staphylococcus sciuri, the resident microorganism of the ocular conjunctival microbiota of horses, is more susceptible when compared to the standard strain "American Type Culture Collection" (ATCC-29213) Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogenic microorganism, which was used for the validation of our study. The antibacterial effect shown in this study was bacteriostatic for up to 6 hours. The most concentrated PRP dilutions, 1 : 1 and 1 : 2, were also most effective, suggesting that the antibacterial effect is volume dependent.

Simple Tube Centrifugation Method for Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Preparation in Catalonian Donkeys as a Treatment of Endometritis-Endometrosis.

The aim of this study was to standardize a simple, manual platelet-rich plasma (PRP) protocol in Catalonian donkeys using single-spin tube centrifugation as a treatment for jenny endometritis. The objective was to obtain a blood product with a moderate concentration of platelets (2 or 3 times baseline physiologic values) and a low WBC (White Blood Cells) concentration. Blood was drawn from six Catalonian donkeys using acid citrate dextrose (ACD) as an anticoagulant, and then processed by single centrifugation at 133× g for two different centrifugation times (10 and 15 min). The PRP samples were evaluated by flow cytometry, and TGF-ß1 (Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1) concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The 10 min centrifugation protocol resulted in a slightly greater release of TGF-ß1 (6044.79 ng/mL), a 2.06-fold increase in platelet concentration, and a 15-fold reduction in leukocyte concentration when compared to the initial values. The 15 min centrifugation time resulted in a 2.44-fold increase in baseline platelet concentration, a reduction in WBC count by a factor of 20, and slightly lower TGF levels (5206 ng/mL). We conclude that both protocols are adequate for the obtention of PRP, and both may have an acceptable therapeutic potential for use in this species, although this needs to be further validated.

Non-teratoid ocular medulloepithelioma in an adult horse / Meduloepitelioma ocular não-teratóide em um equino adulto

ABSTRACT: This is a case of medulloepithelioma in a 14-year-old mixed breed gelding horse, presenting a large abnormal mass of tissue involving the entire extension of the right eye. Ophthalmic examination showed deformation and swelling of the eye. The animal showed signs of pain on palpation of the organ, but the specific examination of the systems did not reveal any other changes. Due to the extension of the apparently neoplastic mass and the discomfort experienced by the animal, transpalpebral enucleation procedure was decided. The excised tissue was sent for histopathological analysis, wherein a neoplastic proliferation of neuroectodermal cells was noted. The neoplasm was poorly delimited, unencapsulated, infiltrative, sustained by moderate fibrovascular stroma, and formed cords and rosettes with cells arranged in palisades around the luminal structures (Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes), suggestive of medulloepithelioma. The immunohistochemical profile was also performed, confirming the diagnosis. The neoplastic cells were immunolabeled to vimentin, S100 protein (S100), and specific neuro enolase (NSE), but not for pan cytokeratin (AE1AE3), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and cytokeratin 8/18 (CK8/18). Five months postoperatively, the animal was healthy, without any relapse or evidence of metastasis.

RESUMO: Esse é um caso de meduloepitelioma em um equino sem raça definida, castrado, de 14 anos de idade, que chegou ao atendimento apresentando grande massa de tecido envolvendo toda a extensão do olho direito. No exame oftálmico, foi observada deformação e aumento de volume ocular. O animal manifestou sinais de dor na palpação do órgão, mas o exame específico dos sistemas não revelou demais alterações. Devido à extensão da massa aparentemente neoplásica e o desconforto experimentado pelo equino foi decidida a realização da enucleação transpalpebral. O tecido excisado foi enviado para exame histopatológico, no qual observou-se proliferação neoplásica de células neuroectodérmicas, de forma mal delimitada, não encapsulada, infiltrativa, sustentada por estroma fibrovascular moderado, e formação de cordões e rosetas, com células dispostas em paliçadas ao redor de estruturas luminais (rosetas de Flexner-Wintersteiner), sugestivo de meduloepitelioma. O perfil imunohistoquímico também foi realizado, confirmando o diagnóstico. As células neoplásicas foram imunomarcadas para vimentina, proteína S100 (S100) e neuro enolase específica (NSE), mas não para pan citoqueratina (AE1AE3), proteína glial fibrilar ácida (GFAP) e citoqueratina 8/18 (CK8 / 18). Após cinco meses da realização do procedimento cirúrgico o animal apresentava-se saudável, sem recidiva ou evidência de metástase.

First evidence of autochthonous cases of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in horse (Equus caballus) in the Americas and mixed infection of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.

This study reports the first evidence of infection by Leishmania infantum in Equus caballus in Americas and the first mixed infection of L. infantum/Leishmania braziliensis on this mammalian species in the world. The diagnoses was based on presence of parasites in lesions and bone marrow aspirates, their identification by using specific primers for L. infantum and L. braziliensis complexes and also serological methods IFAT and ELISA. The analysis of the PCR products suggested mixed infection in three animals. Further studies involving equine leishmaniasis are carrying out in order to clarify the dynamic of Leishmania sp. in this mammalian specie and their role in the transmission of those parasites in urban endemic area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Icterícia de íris após rabdomiólise por esforço em um equino / Icterus iris after exertional rhabdomyolysis syndrome in a horse

Neste trabalho, é descrito um caso de icterícia de íris em equino da raça Paint. Ao exame clínico, foram observados tremores, dor muscular, relutância em andar, taquicardia, taquipnéia e icterícia de íris. As concentrações séricas de creatina cinase, aspartato aminotransferase, lactato desidrogenase e bilirrubina indireta estavam marcadamente elevadas. Com base na anamnese, sintomatologia clínica e bioquimica sérica, diagnosticou-se síndrome da rabdomiólise por esforço. Foram instituídos os seguintes tratamentos: terapia analgésica, fluidoterapia e restrição de exercício. Após seis dias, houve a remissão dos sinais clínicos e o retorno da coloração original da íris.

One case of icterus iris diagnosed in an American Paint Horse is described. Stiffness, painful muscle, reluctance to move, elevated respiratory and heart rates, and icterus iris were observed in the clinical examination. Creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin levels were markedly elevated. Exertional rhabdomyolysis syndrome was diagnosed. Analgesic therapy, fluid therapy, and limited exercise were prescribed. After six days there was a remission of clinical signs and return the original color of the iris.