A pilot study on the lung morphology of shelter dogs in relation to air pollution in Trinidad.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize the gross and histological lesions associated with air pollution in the lungs of dogs from various locations in Trinidad. ANIMALS: 56 fresh lungs were obtained from already euthanized adult dogs collected from different locations in Trinidad at the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. PROCEDURES: Lung specimens were examined grossly and tissue samples were taken for routine histologic examination. RESULTS: Histological examination showed that 51.8% of the dogs had evidence of anthracosis. Dogs with anthracosis had greater median lesion scores compared to dogs without anthracosis (P = .022). There was no association between the presence of anthracosis and any other lesion in this study (P > .05). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There was evidence that dogs with anthracosis had a greater degree of nonspecific lung histologic lesions. Using the dog as a sentinel model for human exposure in Trinidad, our findings indicate that environmental air pollution may also have an effect on the respiratory health of the human population. It is important for the public to be aware of air pollution, and the government of Trinidad and Tobago should develop an intervention protocol along with veterinary and human medical epidemiologists to reduce air pollution in the country.

A study of pulmonary lesions identified in sheep and goat carcasses in Trinidad and Tobago in 2018

The small ruminant industry has been identified by Caribbean governments as key to agricultural development and food security. • The economic impact of these prolific species is significant to farmers both locally and regionally, given its contribution to foreign exchange, employment generation and poverty alleviation • Recognizing disease is critical for a small ruminant based economy to possess both sustainability and viability. Understanding ways to accurately identify, prevent, cure and control disease is necessary to improve the economic status of this industry. • Post mortem evaluation is a useful diagnostic tool as it can reliably confirm, refute or augment ante-mortem diagnoses. • Respiratory disease is of particular importance as it is commonly encountered in small ruminant flocks, affecting groups or individuals of any breed, age and sex. More often than not, it involves a combination of infectious and non-infectious aetiologies. An interstitial, bronchinterstital or bronchopneumonia may develop which is largely dependent upon the causative agent.

A Case Report of Disseminated Canine Histiocytic Sarcoma in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ocular histiocytic sarcomas (as a presenting part of disseminated histiocytic sarcoma) are not commonly diagnosed. A 10-year-old female intact Rottweiler presented to the School of Veterinary Medicine, Trinidad with buphthalmia and pain in the left eye. The cornea of the left eye appeared diffusely opaque with a conjunctival mucopurulent ocular discharge. A thorough ophthalmic assessment identified an intraocular proliferative tumor to which a unilateral enucleation was performed, however the animal died soon after. Post mortem examination and light microscopy revealed that the intraocular lesion with visceral macro-metastases was in fact a histiocytic sarcoma. Further to this, immune-phenotyping was performed to confirm the diagnosis of disseminated histiocytic sarcoma. This is the first time such a tumor has been diagnosed in Trinidad and Tobago.

A Multicentric T-Cell Lymphoma with a Plasmacytoid Morphology in a Dog.

An 8-year-old male (neutered) Labrador with a history of erythematous skin lesions and exercise intolerance for a prolonged period was suddenly found dead. Necropsy findings revealed an infiltrative, focally extensive mass which occupied 25% of the cardiac interventricular septum. Severe endocardiosis was also found on the bicuspid and tricuspid valves. The submandibular lymph nodes and kidneys were bilaterally enlarged, and the pre-hepatic lymph node and spleen were also enlarged. Multiple dermal pustules were present around the mouth and on the ear, and small ulcers were present on the tongue. Histopathological examination detected the presence of neoplastic lymphocytes with a plasmacytoid morphology in these tissues as well as in the tongue and skin lesions. Immunohistochemical (CD3⁺/CD18⁺) evaluation was consistent with a T-cell lymphoma, which could be classified as a peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS).