Pythiosis in cats in northeastern Brazil.

The epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of pythiosis in cats in northeastern Brazil are described. From January 2000 to December 2018 the Laboratory of Animal Pathology of the Federal University of Campina Grande received 1928 tissue samples of cats, three of which were diagnosed as pythiosis. Grossly, the cats showed a multinodular mass in the oral cavity associated with facial deformity (case 1), a large multinodular mass thickening the jejunum wall (case 2), and an ulcerated nodule in the skin at the base of the tail (case 3). Histologically, pyogranulomatous inflammation and necrosis, with intralesional predominantly negatively stained hyphae, were observed in all cases. Immunohistochemistry for Pythium insidiosum revealed strong immunolabelling of the hyphae. The diagnosis of pythiosis was based on the epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological findings, and was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Although uncommon in cats, pythiosis should be readily considered as a differential diagnosis of chronic pyogranulomatous infections of the gastrointestinal tract and skin, especially in endemic areas, where the disease is often diagnosed in other animal species.

Systemic and Gastrohepatic Mucormycosis in Dogs.

We describe two cases of mucormycosis with systemic and gastrohepatic involvement in two male poodles. Respiratory, neurological and gastrointestinal signs progressed to death within 3 and 19 days of the onset of clinical signs, respectively. In case 1, there was systemic disease affecting the lungs, heart and brain. The lesions were characterized by yellow or red, raised, irregular areas that extended into deeper tissue from the surface. In case 2, there was gastric rupture; the margins of the rupture and the gastric mucosa were covered by a thick, white, friable material. In the liver, there were multiple yellow-white cavitated nodules. Histologically, pyogranulomas occurred in the affected organs and were associated with vasculitis, thrombosis and fungal hyphae. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was based on the characteristic microscopical lesions together with the morphology and staining features of the fungus. The hyphae were strongly labelled by monoclonal antibody specific for Rhizopus arrhizus on immunohistochemistry. Underlying immunosuppression was suspected in both cases.

Abiotrofia cerebelar em um gato: relato de caso / Cerebellar abiotrophy in a feline: case report

Um caso de abiotrofia cerebelar em um gato com 45 dias de idade foi diagnosticado no Laboratório de Patologia Animal, Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande. O animal apresentava, havia 15 dias, apatia, anorexia, desidratação, ataxia, hipermetria, espasticidade dos membros torácicos e pélvicos, tremores de intenção, nistagmo, opistótono, déficit proprioceptivo e ausência de resposta de ameaça. Clinicamente, havia a suspeita de hipoplasia cerebelar, e, devido ao prognóstico desfavorável, o animal foi eutanasiado. Na necropsia, não foram observadas alterações macroscópicas. Microscopicamente, as lesões estavam restritas ao cerebelo e caracterizavam-se por alterações neurodegenerativas e necróticas, com desaparecimento segmentar dos neurônios de Purkinje. Nessas áreas, também se verificaram espaços em branco, denominado aspecto de cesto vazio, resultantes da perda dos neurônios de Purkinje, além de raros esferoides axonais e proliferação dos astrócitos de Bergmann. Em algumas áreas, a camada granular estava hipocelular e havia moderada gliose multifocal na camada molecular. O diagnóstico de abiotrofia cerebelar foi realizado com base nos dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e, principalmente, pelas alterações histopatológicas dos neurônios de Purkinje características da doença.(AU)

The aim of this report was to describe a case of cerebellar abiotrophy in cat with 45-year-old diagnosed at the Animal Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Campina Grande. The animal had presented 15-day apathy, anorexia, dehydration and neurological signs, characterized by ataxia, hypermetria, spasticity of fore and hindlimbs, intention tremor, nystagmus, opisthotonos, proprioceptive deficits, and absence of threat response. Clinically, cerebellar hypoplasia was suspected and the animal was euthanized due to poor prognosis. During necropsy, gross lesions were not observed. Microscopically the lesions were restricted to the cerebellum and were characterized by neurodegenerative and necrotic damage with segmental disappearance of the Purkinje cells. In these areas, there were also empty spaces, called the empty basket aspect, resulting from the loss of Purkinje cells, as well as rare axonal spheroids and proliferation of Bergmann's astrocytes. In some areas, the granular layer was hypocellular and there was moderate multifocal gliosis in the molecular layer. The diagnosis of cerebellar abiotrophy was based on epidemiological, clinical and mainly on histopathological changes in neurons of Purkinje disease characteristics.(AU)

Dermatite piogranulomatosa ulcerativa em bovino por Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis / Ulcerative pyogranulomatous dermatitis in bovine by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Relata-se um caso de lesão cutânea secundária à infecção por Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis em bovino. Abscessos e múltiplas lesões cutâneas nodulares, variando de 8x10 para 20x25cm de diâmetro, firmes, sensíveis ao toque e sem mobilidade, algumas com superfície ulcerada, circundada por halo avermelhado e drenando secreção piossanguinolenta, e outras com superfícies alopécicas, foram identificados na região torácica lateral do animal. Exames histopatológicos e o isolamento do agente de fragmentos obtidos após remoção cirúrgica das lesões confirmaram tratar-se da forma cutânea da infecção pelo C. pseudotuberculosis. As lesões microscópicas caracterizaram-se por dermatite nodular piogranulomatosa e ulcerativa. A avaliação da susceptibilidade in vitro do C. pseudotuberculosis a antimicrobianos demonstrou que o agente era resistente à amicacina, kanamicina, neomicina e penicilina G, apresentando sensibilidade à ampicilina adicionada de subactam, amoxicilia com ácido clavulônico, cefalexina, cefalotina, cefotaxima, enrofloxacina, gentamicina e tetraciclina. A retirada cirúrgica das lesões e o tratamento com enrofloxacina resultaram na cura do animal. Lesões de pele observadas em casos de ptiose, carcinoma de células escamosas e na forma atípica da actinobacilose devem ser consideradas no diagnóstico diferencial da forma cutânea da infecção por C. pseudotuberculosis em bovinos. Os dados apresentados demonstram que a infecção pelo C. pseudotuberculosis deve ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial das lesões de pele em bovinos no Brasil.(AU)

We report a case of secondary skin lesionby infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in bovine. Abscesses and multiple nodular lesions, ranging from 8x10 to 20x25 cm in diameter, firm, sensitive to touch, and without mobility, some with ulcerated surface, surrounded by reddish halo and draining piosanguinolenta secretion, and other surfaces with alopecia, were identified in the skin of the animal`s thoracic area. Histopathology and isolation of the agent from fragments obtained after surgical removal of the lesions confirmed the cutaneous infection by C. pseudotuberculosis. Microscopic lesions were characterized by lumpy skin disease and ulcerative pyogranulomatous. Evaluation of in vitro susceptibility to antimicrobial demonstrated that the agent was resistant to amikacin, kanamycin, neomycin and penicillin G, and sensitive to ampicillin + subactam, amoxicilia with clavulonic acid, cephalexin, cephalothin, cefotaxime, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline. The surgical removal of the lesions, and treatment with enrofloxacin resulted in animal cure. Skin lesions observed in case of ptiose, squamous cell carcinoma and atypical form of Actinobacillosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous form of C. pseudotuberculosis infection in cattle. The data presented demonstrate that infection with C. pseudotuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions in cattle in Brazil.(AU)

Intestinal intussusception secondary to enteritis caused by Pythium insidiosum in a bitch: case report / Intussuscepção intestinal secundária à enterite causada por Pythium insidiosum em uma cadela: relato de caso

We report a case of intestinal intussusception secondary to enteritis caused by Pythium insidiosum infection in a 1-year-old mixed breed bitch that died after a 30-day history of bloody diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss, listlessness, dehydration, and pale mucous membranes. Necropsy revealed two areas of intussusception, one jejunum-jejunal and one ileum-cecum-colic. The first intussusception showed slight congestion of the intestinal loop, which was resolved by manual traction, while the second intussusception exhibited thickening, irregular yellow spots, and transmural congestion. Histologically, the jejunum-jejunal segment had ischemic lesions secondary and ileum-cecum-colic intussusception there was also necrotizing, pyogranulomatous enteritis associated with negative images of intralesional fungal hyphae that were well visualized by silver impregnation. Immunohistochemistry identified the hyphae as Pythium insidiosum. The diagnosis was made based on the histological changes and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. We can conclude that enteritis by P. insidiosum in dogs can occasionally cause intestinal intussusception and result in acute death.(AU)

Relata-se um caso de intussuscepção intestinal secundária à enterite causada por Pythium insidiosusm em uma cadela, sem raça definida, com um ano de idade, que morreu após apresentar 30 dias de diarreia sanguinolenta, anorexia, perda de peso, apatia, desidratação e mucosas pálidas. Na necropsia verificaram-se duas áreas de intussuscepções, sendo uma jejuno-jejunal e outra íleo-ceco-cólica. Na primeira havia discreta congestão, que foi desfeita pela tração manual, e na segunda observou-se espessamento segmentar, focos amarelados irregulares e congestão transmural do intestino. Microscopicamente, no segmento jejuno-jejunal observaram-se moderadas lesões isquêmicas secundárias à intussuscepção, e no segmento íleo-ceco-cólica verificou-se enterite piogranulomatosa e necrosante, segmentar, associada a imagens negativas de hifas intralesionais, impregnadas pela prata. Pela imuno-histoquímica, as hifas foram imunomarcadas para Pythium insidiosum. O diagnóstico foi realizado com base nas características microscópicas das lesões e morfotintoriais das hifas e foi confirmado pela imuno-histoquímica. De acordo com esses dados, é possível concluir que a infecção intestinal por P. insidiosum em cães pode causar intussuscepção e morte.(AU)

Pythiosis in the Nasal Cavity of Horses.

Two cases of nasal pythiosis are reported in horses from the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. From January 1986 to December 2015, the Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Federal University of Campina Grande received 830 equine samples, 156 (18.79%) of which were diagnosed with pythiosis. Of these, two horses (1.28%), a male and a female adult cross-breed, had lesions in the nasal cavity. Both horses had access to water reservoirs. Clinically, they had swelling in the rhinofacial region and a serosanguineous nasal discharge. Macroscopically, in case 1, the lesion affected the nasal vestibule, extending to the alar cartilage and nasal septum. In case 2, the lesion extended through the turbinates and the meatuses of the nasal cavity, as well as the ethmoid region. In both cases, the lesions were characterized by having a yellow-grey granular surface with cavitations of different sizes containing coral-like masses of necrotic tissue (kunkers). Histologically, multifocal necrotizing eosinophilic rhinitis associated with hyphae (2-8 µm) similar to Pythium insidiosum were observed. In case 2, the lesions extended to the muscle, cartilage and bone adjacent to the nasal cavity and lungs. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. It is concluded that nasal pythiosis occurs sporadically in horses in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil where cutaneous pythiosis is prevalent.

Resveratrol prevents hyperleptinemia and central leptin resistance in adult rats programmed by early weaning.

We have previously shown that early weaning in rats increases the risk of obesity and insulin resistance at adulthood, and leptin resistance can be a prime factor leading to these changes. Resveratrol is reported to decrease oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk. However, there is no report about its effect on leptin resistance. Thus, in this study we have evaluated resveratrol-preventing effect on the development of visceral obesity, insulin, and leptin resistance in rats programmed by early weaning. To induce early weaning, lactating dams were separated into 2 groups: early weaning (EW)--dams were wrapped with a bandage to interrupt lactation in the last 3 days of lactation and control (C)--dams whose pups had free access to milk during throughout lactation period (21 days). At 150 days-old, EW offspring were subdivided into 2 groups: EW+res--treated with resveratrol solution (30 mg/kg BW/day) or EW--receiving equal volume of vehicle solution, both given by gavage during 30 days. Control group received vehicle solution. Resveratrol prevented the higher body weight, hyperphagia, visceral obesity, hyperleptinemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypoadiponectinemia at adulthood in animals that were early weaned. Leptin resistance, associated with lower JAK2 and pSTAT3 and higher NPY in hypothalamus of EW rats were also normalized by resveratrol. The present results suggest that resveratrol is useful as therapeutic tool in treating obesity, mainly because it prevents the development of central leptin resistance.

Pulmonary and hepatic lesions caused by the dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloid-producing plants Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria retusa in donkeys.

The effects and susceptibility of donkeys to Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria retusa poisoning were determined at high and low doses. Seeds of C. juncea containing 0.074% of dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids (DHPAs) (isohemijunceines 0.05%, trichodesmine 0.016%, and junceine 0.008%) were administered to three donkeys at 0.3, 0.6 and 1 g/kg body weight (g/kg) daily for 365 days. No clinical signs were observed and, on liver and lung biopsies, the only lesion was a mild liver megalocytosis in the donkeys ingesting 0.6 and 1 g/kg/day. Two other donkeys that received daily doses of 3 and 5 g seed/kg showed initial respiratory signs 70 and 40 days after the start of the administration, respectively. The donkeys were euthanized following severe respiratory signs and the main lung lesions were proliferation of Clara cells and interstitial fibrosis. Three donkeys ingested seeds of C. retusa containing 5.99% of monocrotaline at daily doses of 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 g/kg for 365 days. No clinical signs were observed and, on liver and lung biopsies, the only lesion was moderate liver megalocytosis in each of the three donkeys. One donkey that received a single dose of 5 g/kg of C. retusa seeds and another that received 1 g/kg daily for 7 days both showed severe clinical signs and died with diffuse centrilobular liver necrosis. No lung lesions were observed. Another donkey that received a single dose of 2.5 g/kg of C. retusa seeds showed no clinical signs. The hepatic and pneumotoxic effects observed are consistent with an etiology involving DHPAs. Furthermore, the occurrence of lung or liver lesions correlates with the type of DHPAs contained in the seeds. Similarly as has been reported for horses, the data herein suggest that in donkeys some DHPAs are metabolized in the liver causing liver disease, whereas others are metabolized in the lung by Clara cells causing lung disease.

Maternal tobacco smoke exposure during lactation inhibits catecholamine production by adrenal medullae in adult rat offspring.

Previously, we have shown that maternal smoke exposure during lactation, even when pups are not exposed, affects biochemical profiles in the offspring at weaning, eliciting lower body adiposity, hyperinsulinemia, hypocorticosteronemia and lower adrenal catecholamine content. However, the future impact of tobacco exposure is still unknown. As postnatal nicotine exposure causes short- and long-term effects on pups' biochemistry and endocrine profiles, we have now evaluated some endocrine and metabolic parameters of the adult offspring whose mothers were tobacco exposed during lactation. For this, from day 3 to 21 of lactation, rat dams were divided in: 1) SE group, cigarette smoke-exposed (1.7 mg nicotine/cigarettes for 1 h, 4 times/day, daily), without their pups, and 2) C group, exposed to air, in the same conditions. Offspring were killed at 180-days-old. Body weight and food intake were evaluated. Blood, white adipose tissue, adrenal, and liver were collected. All significant data were p<0.05. The adult SE offspring showed no change in body weight, cumulative food intake, serum hormone profile, serum lipid profile, or triglycerides content in liver. However, in adrenal gland, adult SE offspring showed lower catecholamine content ( - 50%) and lower tyrosine hydroxylase protein expression ( - 56%). Despite the hormonal alterations during lactation, tobacco smoke exposure through breast milk only programmed the adrenal medullary function at adulthood and this dysfunction can have consequence on stress response. Thus, an environment free of smoke during lactation period is essential to improve health outcomes in adult offspring.