Oral fibrolipoma in dogs: Retrospective case series study and comparative review.

Fibrolipoma is defined as a typical lipoma transected by variable amounts of paucicellular and collagenous fibrous components. Oral and lingual fibrolipomas are well-recognized histological entities in human medicine that are slightly more prevalent in females, occur most commonly after the fourth decade, and arise from the buccal mucosa. The documentation of this neoplasm in the oral cavity is lacking in veterinary medicine. Through a multi-institutional retrospective compilation of cases submitted to diagnostic pathology services, here we describe the clinical and pathologic features of oral fibrolipomas in dogs. A total of 112 cases of oral fibrolipomas in dogs were retrieved. The mean age was 10.1 years (range 2-16 years, ±2.63 years standard deviation), with an average tumor size of 1.7 cm (range 0.2-8 cm, ±1.1 cm standard deviation). The most common location was the tongue (57.1%, 64/112), followed by the buccal mucosa (15.2%, 16/112), sublingual area (8.0%, 9/112), gingiva and lip (4.5%, 5/112 each), and palate (1 case). The anatomical location of oral fibrolipomas only differed significantly among the dog breeds (P < .001) but not among sex, age, anamnesis, or reason for submission. The tumor was most commonly reported in males (69.7%, 78/112), and in 62.5% (70/112) of the cases, the tumor was an incidental finding. Fibrolipoma should be considered a differential diagnosis when considering benign lingual and other oral soft tissue masses in dogs.

Cytokeratin AE1/AE3 immunolabeling in epithelioid hemangiosarcoma.

Epithelioid hemangiosarcoma (EH), a rare histological variant of hemangiosarcoma, is reported in various animal species, including humans, dogs, cows, horses, and cats. Epithelioid hemangiosarcomas are composed of highly pleomorphic epithelioid cells arranged in cords, islands, nests, or solid cellular areas, similar to epithelial neoplasms. Moreover, in humans, approximately 50% of EHs have cytoplasmic immunolabeling for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (CK AE1/AE3), making it challenging to distinguish them from carcinomas. This retrospective study assessed the CK AE1/AE3 immunolabeling in canine EH cases from 5 veterinary institutions. Immunohistochemistry for CD31 and CK AE1/AE3 was performed on 30 cases. CK AE1/AE3 immunolabeling was detected in 43% (13/30) of cases, with cytoplasmic labeling ranging from 5% to 100% of neoplastic cells. All tumors consistently had membranous immunolabeling for CD31. The CK AE1/AE3 immunolabeling pattern in canine EHs closely resembled those documented in humans, indicating a similar diagnostic challenge. Therefore, it is recommended to include a vascular immunohistochemistry marker, such as CD31, whenever EH is suspected, particularly in small incisional cutaneous and subcutaneous biopsies.

Dermal melanoma with plasmacytoid differentiation in a dog.

A 10-y-old spayed female Staffordshire Terrier dog was evaluated because of a cutaneous left ear base mass. Cytology revealed sheets of cells with anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, round-to-oval or plasmacytoid cytoplasm, and round, central, or eccentric nuclei; binucleate cells were present. Cytologic findings were consistent with a round cell tumor (plasmacytoma or agranular mast cell tumor), amelanotic melanoma, or anaplastic carcinoma. Histologically, neoplastic cells were polygonal to elongate, with round-to-oval nuclei and prominent nucleoli and arranged in sheets and nests on a fibrovascular stroma. Neoplastic cells with plasmacytoid morphology (round, glassy, eosinophilic cytoplasm with eccentric nuclei) were present in ~30% of the neoplasm. There were 18 mitoses in 2.37 mm2 (10 FN22/40× fields). Neoplastic cells had cytoplasmic immunolabeling for melan A and PNL2 and no immunolabeling for AE3/1 and MUM1, consistent with a dermal melanoma with plasmacytoid differentiation. The patient was re-evaluated ~1 mo after the first biopsy because of local recurrence of the original mass and new masses on the interscapular area and right elbow; these neoplasms were histologically identical to the original submission, plus scattered neoplastic cells in the new masses contained brown cytoplasmic pigment. The dog was euthanized because of swelling and hemorrhage of the tumors and right pelvic limb lameness. Our findings were consistent with a dermal melanoma with plasmacytoid features that were similar to human plasmacytoid melanoma, a rare variant of human melanoma that is diagnostically challenging as it may mimic a plasmacytoma.

Rostral cranial fossa and sinonasal neoplasms with cribriform plate involvement in 32 dogs and 17 cats.

The rostral cranial fossa (RCF) consists of the sphenoid and ethmoid bones, which accommodate the olfactory bulbs and nerves along the recesses of the cribriform plate. Neoplasms located in the vicinities of the RCF can compress and/or invade the cribriform plate. Here we describe the clinical and pathologic findings of neoplasms involving the cribriform plate in 32 dogs and 17 cats autopsied over a 13-y period. The average ages of affected dogs and cats were 9.2 y and 9.7 y, respectively. No sex or breed predisposition was evident in dogs, but 13 of 18 cats were spayed females and 14 of 18 were domestic shorthair cats. The main clinical signs were seizures (10 cases) and epistaxis (5 cases) in dogs, and red-to-brown nasal discharge (5 cases) and seizures (4 cases) in cats. In dogs, the 22 sinonasal neoplasms included adenocarcinoma (14 cases), transitional carcinoma (4), squamous cell carcinoma (2), lymphoma (1), and histiocytic sarcoma (1); the 10 intracranial neoplasms consisted of high-grade gliomas (3 cases), psammomatous meningiomas (2), histiocytic sarcomas (2), olfactory neuroblastomas (2), and a meningeal granular cell tumor (1). In cats, the 14 sinonasal neoplasms included lymphoma (8 cases), adenocarcinoma (4), adenosquamous carcinoma (1), and squamous cell carcinoma (1); the 3 intracranial neoplasms consisted of oligodendroglioma (1), transitional meningioma (1), and olfactory neuroblastoma (1).

Comparison of fluorescent antibody test, immunohistochemistry, and PCR testing for diagnostic confirmation of neurolisteriosis in 25 goats.

Neurolisteriosis, a common disease of small ruminants, is most often caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Here we describe 25 cases of caprine neurolisteriosis diagnosed in our laboratory over a 5-y period and compare our fluorescent antibody test (FAT) results with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for diagnostic confirmation. Neurohistologic changes consistent with neurolisteriosis affected the pons in all cases, extending rostrally to the mesencephalon in 6 cases, caudally to the medulla oblongata in 6 cases, and/or dorsally to the cerebellum in 4 cases. Acute inflammatory changes were observed in 17 cases, and included neuroparenchymal microabscesses, neuronal necrosis and neuronophagia, axonal swelling, microgliosis and astrogliosis, and perivascular neutrophils with macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells that occasionally extended to the leptomeninges. Subacute-to-chronic changes (8 cases) consisted of neuroparenchymal and perivascular clusters of macrophages with rare neutrophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells admixed with glial nodules. Bacterial bacilli were observed within neutrophils or macrophages in H&E-stained tissue sections in 4 cases. Gram stain highlighted gram-positive bacilli in 13 cases. Neurolisteriosis was confirmed by FAT in 2 cases, by IHC in 19 cases, and by PCR in 20 cases.

The artifact of cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination in veterinary medicine: a brief historical perspective and review.

Cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination is a tissue artifact associated with postmortem autolysis that causes cerebellar granule cell changes once thought to be caused by degeneration and necrosis. Granule cell layer conglutination has been reported mainly in humans and cattle and rarely in other animal species, but its frequency remains vastly unknown in veterinary medicine, mostly because this postmortem change is typically not recorded in autopsy reports. Pathology trainees should be aware of autolytic tissue changes that may mimic pathologic changes in the CNS, particularly when those changes are highly selective for a specific cell population within the cerebellar cortex. Here we provide a brief historical perspective on the evolution of cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination from "enzootic cerebellar necrosis," a presumed necrotic lesion affecting granule neurons in humans and cattle, to a tissue change associated with postmortem autolysis and increased tissue acidity in the cerebellum. We also provide an update on the animal species in which cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination has been observed during our diagnostic pathology routine.

Rosettes and pseudorosettes in veterinary neuropathology.

Rosettes and pseudorosettes are morphologic cell arrangements found in many neuroepithelial neoplasms in human medicine, including embryonal nervous system tumors (neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, pineoblastoma, and retinoblastoma), non-embryonal nervous system tumors (ependymoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and choroid plexus tumors), and other extraneural neuroepithelial neoplasms. Although these structures are also described in neuroepithelial neoplasms of domestic animals, their frequency is still poorly characterized or inconsistently documented in veterinary medicine. Furthermore, rosettes and pseudorosettes need to be interpreted with caution and within a clinical and pathologic context and should not be solely relied upon for diagnostic confirmation of a particular neoplasm. Here, we review the morphologic features and frequency of the most common types of rosettes and pseudorosettes described in neuroepithelial neoplasms of domestic animals, focusing primarily on those occurring in the nervous system and closely associated tissues.

Development of a Model of Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis Using Transient Unilateral Renal Ischemia and Delayed Contralateral Nephrectomy in Domesticated Cats.

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a classic histologic feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats and a final common pathway toward end-stage renal disease. Domesticated cats have been used in models of ischemia-induced renal fibrosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 2 variations of a transient unilateral renal ischemia and delayed contralateral nephrectomy model of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in cats. Purpose-bred, young adult, domesticated cats underwent 90 min of surgically induced ischemia to the right kidney followed by delayed contralateral nephrectomy performed 21 d (RI-CN21d group; n = 10) or 90 d postischemia (RI-CN90d group; n = 12). Control cats underwent sham surgery followed by left nephrectomy 21 d after (sham-CN group; n = 3). Renal functional parameters, including glomerular filtration rate and serum creatinine concentration, were evaluated before and after surgeries. The right kidneys were harvested 120 d postischemia/sham. Renal histology with lesion scoring and histomorphometry for quantification of smooth muscle actin immunolabeling and collagen staining were performed on harvested kidneys. Severe acute kidney injury prompted euthanasia after left nephrectomy in 5/10 (50.0%), 2/12 (16.7%), and 0/3 (0%) of cats in the RI-CN21d, RI-CN90d, and sham-CN groups, respectively. A significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate by day 120, relative to baseline, occurred in cats in the RI-CN21d group (P < 0.001) and RI-CN90d group (P < 0.001) but not the sham-CN group (P = 0.76). All but one cat in the ischemia groups were azotemic at the study end. Kidneys subjected to ischemia had higher interstitial inflammation, tubular atrophy, and fibrosis scores compared with sham-operated kidneys. There were significant increases in smooth muscle actin immunolabeling and collagen staining in these kidneys, relative to the contralateral kidneys. In summary, 90 min of unilateral renal ischemia and delayed contralateral nephrectomy induced histologic and biochemical changes consistent with CKD in cats. A 90-d period between ischemia and nephrectomy resulted in improved survivability of the model.

Canine glioma in the first year of life: 5 cases.

Most canine gliomas occur in adult and aged dogs, and reports in puppies < 12-mo-old are exceedingly rare. Here we describe the occurrence of gliomas in 5 dogs ≤ 12-mo-old. The affected patients (4 males, 1 female) were 3-12-mo-old (x̄ = 6.6-mo-old). None of the dogs were brachycephalic. Clinical signs consisted of dullness (2 cases), seizures (2 cases), vestibular signs, and deafness (1 case each). All patients were euthanized. Grossly, neoplasms were pale-tan or red, soft masses in the telencephalon (4 cases) or gelatinous leptomeningeal thickening in the brain and spinal cord (1 case). Neoplasms were classified as astrocytomas (3 cases) and oligodendrogliomas (2 cases) based on histology or histology and IHC. Our findings confirm that, while exceptionally rare, canine gliomas occur in the first year of life, and are clinically, morphologically, and immunohistochemically similar to gliomas in adult and aged dogs.

Effects of autolysis and prolonged formalin fixation on histomorphology and immunohistochemistry of normal canine brain tissue: an experimental study.

CNS tumor diagnosis in dogs often relies on immunohistochemistry (IHC) given similar histologic features among tumors. Most CNS tissue samples encountered by diagnostic pathologists are collected during autopsy, and postmortem specimens can be susceptible to autolysis and prolonged formalin fixation, both of which have the potential to influence IHC results and interpretation. Here we evaluated the effects of experimentally controlled autolysis induced by delayed tissue fixation (sections of brain held for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h in 0.9% NaCl at either room temperature or 37°C prior to fixation) as well as the effects of prolonged formalin fixation times (1 wk, 1 mo, 2 mo) on a panel of 8 IHC markers (CNPase, GFAP, Iba1, OLIG2, PGP9.5, MAP2, NeuN, synaptophysin) relevant to brain tumor diagnosis. Prolonged fixation of up to 2 mo had no detrimental effect on any immunomarker except NeuN, which had reduced immunolabeling intensity. Delayed fixation led to autolytic changes as expected, on a gradient of severity corresponding to increased time in saline prior to fixation. Several immunomarkers should be used with caution (CNPase, OLIG2) or avoided entirely (MAP2, NeuN) in markedly autolyzed brain and brain tumor tissues. Our results suggest that autolysis has minimal effect on most immunomarkers, but that advanced autolysis may cause a loss of specificity for GFAP, MAP2, and PGP9.5, a loss of intensity of CNPase and OLIG2, and loss of labeling with MAP2 and NeuN. Prolonged fixation affected only NeuN, with mildly decreased intensity.

Diagnostic immunohistochemistry of primary and secondary central nervous system neoplasms of dogs and cats.

The diagnosis of primary and secondary CNS neoplasms of dogs and cats relies on histologic examination of autopsy or biopsy samples. In addition, many neoplasms must be further characterized by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for a more refined diagnosis in specific cases. Given the many investigations assessing the diagnostic and prognostic IHC profile of CNS neoplasms in the veterinary literature, it may be difficult for the diagnostic pathologist or pathology trainee to narrow the list of reliable diagnostic IHCs when facing a challenging case. Here we compile a comprehensive list of the most diagnostically relevant immunomarkers that should be utilized for the diagnostic support or confirmation of the most common primary and secondary CNS neoplasms of dogs and cats.

Down the rabbit hole: a quick guide for histopathology description / Descendo a toca do coelho: um guia rápido para descrição histopatológica

Histopathology is an old science that is still currently utilized for disease diagnosis and research. The routinely processed histologic slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin are still used worldwide in most if not every histopathology laboratory. The technique is inexpensive, quick to perform, and allows the diagnosis of a fantastic variety of tissue changes and diseases. Skills in description and interpretation in histopathology are a craft that can be learned by repeatedly and systematically observing simple rules. In this article, we offer a few advices to help trainees in veterinary pathology at the start of their careers. Those advices are drawn from our experience in the diagnostic pathology routine and from the veterinary pathology literature. To enhance the understanding of these important steps in the histopathologic description of tissues, we decided to illustrate most concepts expressed here. We hope that our effort can add a bit to the development of future pathologists. Just like Alice, let us follow the White Rabbit into his burrow for this challenging experience!(AU)

A histopatologia é uma ciência antiga, mas ainda usada para diagnosticar e investigar a patogênese de doenças. As lâminas histológicas processadas rotineiramente e coradas por hematoxilina e eosina ainda são utilizadas em virtualmente todos os laboratórios de histopatologia do mundo. A técnica não é cara, é de execução rápida e permite o diagnóstico de uma fantástica variedade de doenças. As habilidades em descrever e interpretar os achados histopatológicos é um ofício que pode ser aprendido pela observação repetida e sistemática de regras simples. Para ajudar os estudantes de patologia no início de suas carreiras, abordamos aqui algumas dessas regras, extraídas tanto de nossa experiência quanto da literatura relacionada à patologia veterinária. Para aumentar a compreensão dos tópicos, decidimos ilustrar praticamente todos os conceitos expressados neste manuscrito. Esperamos que nosso esforço possa contribuir um pouco para o desenvolvimento de aspirantes a patologistas. Assim como Alice no País das Maravilhas, vamos seguir o coelho branco até a sua toca para essa aventura desafiadora.(AU)

Down the rabbit hole: a quick guide for histopathology description

ABSTRACT: Histopathology is an old science that is still currently utilized for disease diagnosis and research. The routinely processed histologic slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin are still used worldwide in most if not every histopathology laboratory. The technique is inexpensive, quick to perform, and allows the diagnosis of a fantastic variety of tissue changes and diseases. Skills in description and interpretation in histopathology are a craft that can be learned by repeatedly and systematically observing simple rules. In this article, we offer a few advices to help trainees in veterinary pathology at the start of their careers. Those advices are drawn from our experience in the diagnostic pathology routine and from the veterinary pathology literature. To enhance the understanding of these important steps in the histopathologic description of tissues, we decided to illustrate most concepts expressed here. We hope that our effort can add a bit to the development of future pathologists. Just like Alice, let us follow the White Rabbit into his burrow for this challenging experience!

RESUMO: A histopatologia é uma ciência antiga, mas ainda usada para diagnosticar e investigar a patogênese de doenças. As lâminas histológicas processadas rotineiramente e coradas por hematoxilina e eosina ainda são utilizadas em virtualmente todos os laboratórios de histopatologia do mundo. A técnica não é cara, é de execução rápida e permite o diagnóstico de uma fantástica variedade de doenças. As habilidades em descrever e interpretar os achados histopatológicos é um ofício que pode ser aprendido pela observação repetida e sistemática de regras simples. Para ajudar os estudantes de patologia no início de suas carreiras, abordamos aqui algumas dessas regras, extraídas tanto de nossa experiência quanto da literatura relacionada à patologia veterinária. Para aumentar a compreensão dos tópicos, decidimos ilustrar praticamente todos os conceitos expressados neste manuscrito. Esperamos que nosso esforço possa contribuir um pouco para o desenvolvimento de aspirantes a patologistas. Assim como Alice no País das Maravilhas, vamos seguir o coelho branco até a sua toca para essa aventura desafiadora.

Nephroblastoma in a black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) / Nefroblastoma em um sagui-de-tufos-pretos (Callithrix penicillata)

A renal nephroblastoma is described in a free-living black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) in Central Brazil. The monkey was found dead and subjected to necropsy. Gross anatomic changes consisted of a ruptured left kidney, which was almost completely effaced by a white to yellow, partially encapsulated friable mass. The left ureter was distended due to obstruction by a red, spherical, 2mm in diameter friable mass. The urinary bladder was also distended. Histologically the renal and ureteral masses consisted of a triphasic embryonal neoplasm composed of embryonic epithelium forming glomeruli and tubules, polygonal blastemal cells, and a mesenchymal stroma. The embryonic epithelium exhibited rare nuclear immunoreactivity for WT-1, whereas blastemal cells exhibited robust cytoplasmic and rare nuclear immunoreactivity for WT-1; blastemal cells were also immunoreactive for vimentin. No immunoreactivity was detected for pan-cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), actin, and desmin. Morphological and immunohistochemical features of the present neoplasm are consistent with those described for renal nephroblastoma.(AU)

Descreve-se um caso de nefroblastoma maligno em um sagui de vida livre no Brasil Central. O macaco foi encontrado morto e encaminhado para necropsia. Na macroscopia, o rim esquerdo apresentava-se rompido e o parênquima estava substituído por um tecido neoplásico friável, parcialmente encapsulado e de superfície natural branca e de corte amarela. O ureter esquerdo apresentava-se distendido devido à obstrução por uma massa friável, vermelha, esférica, de 2mm de diâmetro. Histologicamente, as massas renal e ureteral consistiam de uma neoplasia embrionária composta por três populaçõies de células neoplásicas, composta por epitélio embrionário formando glomérulos e túbulos, células blastemais poligonais e um estroma mesenquimal. O epitélio embrionário exibiu imunorreactividade nuclear rara para WT-1, enquanto que as células blastemais exibiram imunorreactividade nuclear citoplasmática e rara para WT-1; As células blastemais também foram imunorreativas à vimentina. Nenhuma imunorreatividade foi detectada para pan-citoqueratina (AE1/AE3), actina e desmina. As características morfológicas e imuno-histoquímicas da presente neoplasia são consistentes com as descritas para o nefroblastoma renal.(AU)

Surto de ceratoconjuntivite infecciosa bovina e hemoncose causando mortalidade em bezerros / Outbreak of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis and haemonchosis causing moratality in calves

É descrito um surto de ceratoconjuntivite infecciosa bovina (CIB) e hemoncose intercorrente afetando um grupo de 116 bezerros de 1-2 anos de idade na região central do Rio Grande do Sul. Vinte bezerros foram afetados e nove morreram. Os sinais clínicos incluíam perda de peso, marcada palidez da mucosa oral, lacrimejamento, opacidade focal da córnea e avermelhamento da conjuntiva. Sinais mais avançados incluíam lacrimejamento copioso, opacidade da córnea, ceratocone, ceratomalacia e cegueira. O diagnóstico de CIB foi baseado nos achados epidemiológicos e clínico-patológicos e confirmado pela cultura de uma cepa hemolítica de Moraxella bovis dos olhos de dois terneiros afetados. O alto coeficiente de letalidade (45 por cento) neste surto foi atribuído a grave hemoncose intercorrente.

An outbreak of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) with concomitant haemonchosis is described affecting a group of 116 yearling calves in southern Brazil. Twenty calves were affected and nine died. Clinical signs included wasting, marked oral mucosal pallor, serous ocular discharge, focal central corneal opacity, and reddening of the conjunctiva. More advanced stages displayed copious serous ocular discharge, corneal opacity, keratoconus, keratomalacia, and blindness. The diagnosis of IBK was based on the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological findings and confirmed by bacteriologic culture of a hemolytic strain of Moraxella bovis from the eye globe of two affected calves. The high lethality rate (45 percent) in this outbreak was caused by concomitant and severe haemonchosis.

Abordagem diagnóstica das principais doenças do sistema nervoso de ruminantes e equinos no Brasil / Diagnostic approaches for the main neurological diseases of ruminants and horses in Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever os principais aspectos epidemiológicos e clínico-patológicos das principais doenças do sistema nervoso de ruminantes e equinos diagnosticadas no Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária (LPV) da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) para servir como base para veterinários de campo ou que trabalham em laboratórios de diagnóstico. Esses dados foram buscados em trabalhos publicados pela equipe do LPV-UFSM ou retirados dos arquivos do laboratório. As principais doenças do sistema nervoso diagnosticadas em bovinos foram a raiva, a encefalopatia hepática decorrente de insuficiência hepática por ingestão de Senecio spp., a meningoencefalite por herpesvírus bovino, a babesiose cerebral, a intoxicação por Solanum fastigiatum, a febre catarral maligna e a polioencefalomalacia. Em ovinos foram diagnosticadas a cenurose, a meningoencefalite por Listeria monocytogenes, o tétano, os abscessos encefálicos ou vertebrais e a raiva. Meningoencefalite por L. monocytogenes foi a única doença do sistema nervoso descrita em caprinos. Equinos foram afetados pela leucoencefalomalacia, tripanossomíase e tétano.

The epidemiological, clinical, and pathological hallmarks of neurological diseases of ruminants and horses diagnosed in the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology (LVP) of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) are herein described. This paper is intended to work as a compiled database for practitioners or veterinarians working in diagnostic laboratories. Data was gathered from papers published by the LVP-UFSM faculty and staff or retrieved from the laboratory archives. The most important neurological diseases of cattle included rabies, hepatic encephalopathy due to ingestion of Senecio spp., meningoencephalitis by bovine herpesvirus, cerebral babesiosis, poisoning by Solanum fastigiatum, malignant catarrhal fever, and polioencephalomalacia. Sheep were affected mostly by coenurosis, meningoencephalitis by Listeria monocytogenes, tetanus, encephalic or vertebral abscesses, and rabies. Goats were affected by meningoencephalitis by L. monocytogenes. Leukoencephalomalacia, trypanosomiasis by Trypanosoma evansi, and tetanus were important neurological diseases of horses.

Intoxicação por organofosforado em bovinos no Rio Grande do Sul / Poisoning by organophosphate in cattle in southern Brazil

An outbreak of organophosphate (ORF) poisoning in cattle occurred in the central-midwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The water available for 49 cattle was contaminated with ORF and carbamate (CM). Twenty cows died after a clinical course that lasted for few hours. The classical clinical signs of over stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system were observed, including motor incoordination, aggressiveness, drooling, muscle tremors and, on occasion, diarrhea. Significant morphological changes were not observed at necropsy or at histopathological examination. ORF e CM were detected by thin layer chromatography in tissue samples of two affected cattle and in a sample from the water consumed by the affected cattle. Additionally, two other water samples accessed by the affected cattle were positive for ORF. A quantitative analysis carried out by gas chromatography in the abomasum contents of an affected cow revealed 0.93µg/g of mancozebe (CM) and 0.07µg/g of phorate (ORF).

Descreve-se um surto de intoxicação por organofosforado (ORF) em bovinos na mesorregião centro ocidental do Rio Grande do Sul. A água fornecida a 49 bovinos foi contaminada com ORF e carbamato (CM). Vinte bovinos morreram após quadro clínico de poucas horas. Foram observados os clássicos sinais clínicos de hiperestimulação do sistema parassimpático incluindo incoordenação motora, agressividade, sialorreia, tremores musculares e, em alguns casos, diarreia. Na necropsia e histopatologia não foram observadas alterações morfológicas significativas. ORF e CM foram detectados por cromatografia em camada delgada em amostras de tecido de dois bovinos afetados. Adicionalmente, uma amostra da água consumida pelos bovinos foi positiva para ORF e CM e outras duas foram positivas para ORF. Uma análise quantitativa realizada por cromatografia gasosa no conteúdo do abomaso de um bovino afetado, revelou 0,93µg/g de mancozebe (CM) e 0,07 µg/g de forato (ORF).

Surto de aflatoxicose em bezerros no Rio Grande do Sul / Outbreak of aflatoxicosis in calves in southern Brazil

Um surto de aflatoxicose crônica é relatado em bezerros de raça leiteira. Quarenta bezerros holandeses machos de quatro meses de idade e aproximadamente 100kg eram mantidos em gaiolas individuais de 1,5 x 1,5m e alimentados com uma ração constituída por feno de alfafa, milho quebrado e substituto de leite. Seis bezerros (15 por cento) morreram após apresentar uma doença caracterizada por mau desenvolvimento geral, diarreia, pelagem áspera, dor abdominal, tenesmo, prolapso de reto e bruxismo. Alguns bezerros "deitavam e rolavam" no chão da gaiola. A duração do curso clínico, segundo observado pelos proprietários, foi de 2-3 dias; muitos terneiros desse lote que não morreram permaneceram pouco desenvolvidos. Três bezerros foram necropsiados. Os achados de necropsia incluíam fígado firme e castanho-claro, marcados hidrotórax e ascite, e edema do mesentério, mesocólon e das dobras da mucosa do abomaso. Os principais achados histopatológicos estavam restritos ao fígado e consistiam de fibrose, moderada megalocitose, hiperplasia de ductos biliares e lesão veno-oclusiva. A procura por contaminação de Senecio spp. no feno de alfafa resultou negativa. A análise do milho do alimento dos bezerros por cromatografia de camada delgada revelou 5.136ppb de aflatoxina B1. O diagnóstico de aflatoxicose foi feito baseado nos sinais clínicos e patologia característicos, na ausência de Senecio spp. na alimentação dos terneiros e na presença de altos níveis de aflatoxina no milho da alimentação dos bezerros.

An outbreak of chronic aflatoxicosis is reported in dairy calves. Forty 4-month-old male Holstein calves of approximately 100kg were kept in individual cages of 1.5 x 1.5m and were fed a ration constituted by alfalfa hay, broken corn and milk substitute. Six calves (15 percent) died after presenting a disease characterized by general unthriftiness, diarrhea, rough hair coats, abdominal pain, prolapsed rectum, grinding of teeth, and lying down and rolling. The clinical course, as observed by the owners, was 2-3 days; however many calves in this lot that did not die, remained underdeveloped. Three calves were necropsied. Necropsy findings included firm, light tan livers and marked hydrothorax, ascites and edema of the mesentery, mesocolon and of the mucosal folds of the abomasum. Main histopathological changes were restricted to the liver and consisted of fibrosis, moderate megalocytosis, biliary duct hyperplasia and veno-occlusive disease. The search for Senecio spp. contamination in the alfalfa hay resulted negative. The analysis by thin layer chromatography of the corn fed to calves revealed 5,136 ppb of aflatoxin B1. A diagnosis of aflatoxicosis was made based on the characteristic clinical signs and pathology, on the absence of Senecio spp. in the food and on the presence of high levels of aflatoxin in the corn fed to the calves.

Intoxicação por alcaloides pirrolizidínicos em ruminantes e equinos no Brasil / Poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids in ruminants and horses in Brazil

Casos de intoxicação por alcaloides pirrolizidínicos (APs) em ruminantes e equinos foram investigados retrospectivamente através do acesso aos arquivos de dois laboratórios de diagnóstico veterinário no Sul e Nordeste brasileiro. Os dados obtidos foram comparados com aqueles retirados da literatura concernentes a surtos dessa toxicose no Brasil, onde ela é associada com a ingestão de plantas que contêm APs dos gêneros Senecio, Crotalaria e Echium. Formas aguda e crônica da toxicose foram encontradas. A doença aguda foi observada em associação com a ingestão de Crotalaria retusa em ovinos e caprinos. C. retusa e Senecio spp. também foram responsáveis pela intoxicação crônica em bovinos, equinos e ovinos. A intoxicação por APs é uma importante causa de morte em animais pecuários no Brasil. Essa é a principal causa de morte em bovinos na região Central do Rio Grande do Sul e uma das principais causas de morte em equinos na Paraíba. A epidemiologia, os sinais clínicos, a patologia e a importância da intoxicação por APs são descritos e discutidos.

Cases of poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in ruminants and horses were surveilled retrospectively by accessing the files of two veterinary diagnostic laboratories in southern and northeastern Brazil. The data obtained were compared with those withdrawn from the literature and pertaining to outbreaks of the toxicosis in Brazil where it is associated with the ingestion of PAs-containing plants from the genera Senecio, Crotalaria and Echium. Acute and chronic forms of the toxicosis were encountered. Acute disease was observed in association with the ingestion of Crotalaria retusa in sheep and goats. C. retusa and Senecio spp. were also responsible for chronic poisoning in cattle, horses and sheep. PAs poisoning is an important cause of death in livestock in Brazil. It is the major cause of death in cattle in the Central region of Rio Grande do Sul and one of the major causes of death in horses in the state of Paraíba. The epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, and importance of acute and chronic toxicoses are described and discussed.