Feline sporotrichosis: Characterization of cutaneous and extracutaneous lesions using different diagnostic methods.

Sporotrichosis is a mycotic infection of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues caused by Sporothrix spp. that can also cause extracutaneous manifestations. This study aimed to characterize cutaneous and extracutaneous sporotrichosis lesions in cats. Over 1 year, 102 cats rescued by the Zoonoses Control Center of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, euthanized with clinical suspicion of feline sporotrichosis were evaluated. After euthanasia, the animals were evaluated by macroscopic, cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) examinations; fungal culture; and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sporothrix infection was identified by at least one diagnostic technique in all cats (n = 102) evaluated by postmortem examination, including 26/28 cases (93%) evaluated by IHC, 66/90 cases (73%) evaluated by cytology, 70/102 cases (68.6%) evaluated by histopathology, and 62/74 cases (84%) evaluated by fungal culture. Two cats had positive results only by fungal culture. Cytology and histopathology examinations were effective in diagnosing sporotrichosis, although IHC was needed to confirm the diagnosis in cats with low fungal loads. Sporothrix brasiliensis was confirmed by the sequencing of 3 samples. Skin lesions were characterized mainly by pyogranulomatous to granulomatous dermatitis (frequently with subcutaneous inflammation) with different intensities of Sporothrix spp. yeast. Extracutaneous findings associated with sporotrichosis included rhinitis or rhinosinusitis, lymphadenitis, pneumonia, meningitis, periorchitis, conjunctivitis, and glossitis. Extracutaneous infections were observed in 74/102 cases, and a possible association between the chronicity of the disease and the higher pathogenicity of this fungal species in cats requires further investigation.

Estudo da função cardíaca e pressão arterial sistêmica em cães diabéticos

A diabetes mellitus é uma afecção endrócrina, decorrente, na maioria das vezes, de produção reduzida ou alterada de insulina pelo pâncreas, ocasionando alterações no metabolismo de proteínas, gorduras, sais minerais, carboidratos e principalmente de glicose. Os sinais clínicos característicos dessa afecção são poliúria, polifagia, emagrecimento progressivo (no início, às vezes obesidade), glicosuria e catarata. A cardiomiopatia diabética em seres humanos é uma doença do músculo cardíaco não relacionada às patologias valvular, vascular ou à hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Observações experimentais e clínicas tem demonstrado a presença de hipertrofia, necrose, apoptose e aumento do tecido intersticial miocárdico. Acredita-se que a cardiomiopatia diabética seja decorrente de anormalidades metabólicas como hiperlipidemia, hiperinsulidemia e hiperglicemia, e de alterações do metabolismo cardíaco, ao promover modificações morfológicas que comprometem à função cardíaca. Portanto, acreditando nas semelhanças das fisiopatogenias da diabetes mellitus de cães e seres humanos, objetivou-se avaliar à presença das alterações cardíacas por meio de exames físicos, laboratoriais, ecoDoppercardiográficos e determinação da pressão arterial sistêmica. Assim, foram avaliados 6 cães diabéticos machos ou fêmeas, de raça e pesos distintos, de forma pontual, atendidos no Hospital Veterinário “Governador Laudo Natel” FCAV-Jaboticabal, e portadores e diabetes mellitus. Conclui-se que de acordo com os resultados obtidos nesse estudo, que cães com diabetes mellitus apresentam comprometimento da função diastólica, leve a moderada hipertensão arterial sistêmica e função sistólica inalterada