Macroscopic, Histological, and Microbiological Characterization of Contact Lesions at the Tibiotarsal Region of Broilers.

Brazil is considered as a great broiler feet exporter, especially for the Chinese trade. Contact lesions at the tibiotarsal region are responsible for economic losses and there is no model for its classification, thereby this study presents a fast and practical grade system to be used in the poultry industry and proposes these lesion characterizations into three different grades. For this, correlation was made between macroscopic, histological findings and microbiological quantification (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and sulphite-reducing clostridia) from contact lesions in the tibiotarsal region of 112 broiler carcasses, divided in four groups (n=28), accordingly to the lesion's intensity. There were no significant differences in microbiological quantification among the groups (p>0.05) except for the grade 3 group, as grade 1 and 2 lesions were in the early stages and histopathological changes such as ulceration were not observed. In grade 3 lesion group, it was observed bacterial cocci grume and ulceration at the articular region and significantly higher microbiological count (p<0.05) for E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. In conclusion, the visual standard proposed in this work, correlated and confirmed by the histopathologic, and microbiologic characterization, allows to precise and fast ascertainment of the contact lesion grade in the tibiotarsal regions of broiler carcasses. Moreover, it should be highlighted that grades 1 and 2 alterations are not caused by an inflammatory process caused by pathogenic agents and should not be considered a public health risk.

Ultrasound diagnosis of lateral digital extensor muscle, tendon, and synovial sheath alterations in Colombian creole horses with clinical signs of tarsus hyperflexion / Diagnóstico ecográfico de las alteraciones del músculo extensor digital lateral, tendón y vaina sinovial en caballos criollos colombianos con signos clínicos de hiperflexión del tarso / Diagnóstico ultrassonográfico das alterações do musculo digital lateral, tendão e bainha sinovial em cavalos crioulos colombianos com sinais clínicos de hiperflexão do tarso

Abstract Background: Tarsus hyperflexion alters locomotion biomechanics in horses. This alteration is of frequent presentation in the Colombian creole horse (CCH). Objective: To determine the echographic alterations of lateral digital extensor (LDE) muscle, tendon, and synovial sheath in CCH with clinical signs of tarsus hyperflexion. Methods: Thirty horses were divided into two groups: 15 healthy horses with no history of locomotion defects (Group 1; control), and 15 horses with clinical signs of tarsus hyperflexion (Group 2). A cross-sectional and a longitudinal echocardiographic examination of the LDE muscle and tendon was performed in all horses, and a histopathological study was performed only to Group 2. Results: 86.7% of the horses showed echographic alterations, with 53.4% showing signs of adhesions in the LDE muscle and tendon in the lateral surface of the hock, where it crosses the tarsus. 33.3% presented increased tendon synovial sheath fluid. 13.3% showed no echographic alterations and 53.3% presented histopathological alterations. Conclusion: These findings may be related to the presentation of tarsus hyperflexion that could characterize the classic stringhalt in CCH.

Resumen Antecedentes: la hiperflexión del tarso (corvejon) altera la biomecánica del desplazamiento en los caballos. Esta alteración es de presentación frecuente en el caballo criollo colombiano (CCC). Objetivo: determinar las alteraciones ecográficas del músculo extensor digital lateral (EDL), tendón y vaina sinovial en CCC con signos clínicos de hiperflexión del corvejón. Métodos: treinta caballos fueron divididos en dos grupos: 15 equinos clínicamente sanos, sin historia de defectos de locomoción (Grupo 1; considerado como control), y 15 equinos con signos clínicos de hiperflexión del corvejón (Grupo 2). Se realizó un examen ecográfico transversal y longitudinal del músculo y tendón del EDL en todos los animales, y un estudio histopatológico solo al Grupo 2. Resultados: el 86,7% de los caballos mostraron alteraciones ecográficas. El 53,4% mostró signos de adherencias en el músculo y tendón del EDL, en donde la superficie lateral del corvejón se cruza con el tarso. El 33,3% presentó un aumento en el líquido de la vaina sinovial del tendón. El 13,3% no presentó ninguna alteración ecográfica, y el 53,3% mostró alteraciones histopatológicas. Conclusión: estos hallazgos podrían estar relacionados con la presentación de hiperflexión del tarso que puede caracterizar el arpeo clásico en el CCC.

Resumo Antecedentes: a hiperflexão do tarso altera a biomecânica da locomoção dos cavalos. Esta alteração é de frequente apresentação no cavalo crioulo colombiano (CCC). Objetivo: determinar as alterações no ultrassom do músculo extensor digital lateral (EDL), o tendão e a bainha sinovial em CCC com sinais clínicos de hiperflexão do jarrete. Métodos: trinta cavalos foram divididos em dois grupos: 15 cavalos clinicamente saudáveis sem histórico de alterações em locomoção (Grupo 1; considerada como controlo), e 15 cavalos com sinais clínicos de hiperflexão do jarrete (Grupo 2). Se realizaram avaliações ultrassonográficas transversais e longitudinais do músculo e do tendão do EDL na totalidade dos animais e estudo histopatológico só ao Grupo 2. Resultados: o 86.7% dos equinos mostraram alterações no ultrassom, o 53.4% mostrou aderências no tendão do EDL na proximidade onde cruza a superfície lateral do jarrete, o 33.3% apresentou aumento do líquido da bainha sinovial do tendão, o 13.3% não apresentou nenhuma alteração ultrassonográfica e o 53.3% mostrou alterações histopatológicas. Conclusão: esses achados podem estar relacionados à apresentação da hiperflexão do tarso que poderiam caracterizar o arpejamento clássico no CCC.

Prevalence of lameness and leg lesions of lactating dairy cows housed in southern Brazil: Effects of housing systems.

Within the last few decades, the North American and European dairy industries have been collecting information about lameness and leg injury prevalence on dairy farms and have tried to develop solutions to mitigate these ailments. Few published articles report the prevalence of lameness and leg lesions in areas outside of those 2 regions, or how alternative housing systems, such as compost-bedded packs, affect the prevalence of these maladies. The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of lameness and leg lesions on confined dairies that used freestall, compost-bedded packs, or a combination of these 2 systems in Brazil. Data were collected in the autumn and winter of 2016 from 50 dairy farms located in Paraná state, including 12 compost-bedded pack dairies (CB), 23 freestall dairies (FS), and 15 freestall dairies that used compost-bedded packs for vulnerable cows (FS+C). A visit to the farm consisted of a management questionnaire, an inspection of the housing areas as well as the milking parlor, and an evaluation of all lactating cows as they exited the parlor for lameness (score 1-5), hygiene (score 0-2), body condition score (score 1-5), and hock and knee lesions (score 0-1). Median 1-way chi-squared test was used to compare production systems. We found no difference between farm types in management practices related to hoof health management or average daily milk production per cow [31 (29-33.9) kg/d; median (quartile 1-3)], percentage of Holstein cattle in the herd [100% (90-100%)], conception rate [35.8% (30.2-38%)], or pregnancy rate [15% (13.7-18%)]. The CB farms were smaller [85 (49.5-146.5) milking cows] than both the FS [270 (178-327.5) milking cows] and FS+C farms [360 (150-541.5) milking cows). The overall prevalence of severe lameness (score 4 and 5) across all farms was 21.2% (15.2-28.5%) but was lower on the CB farms [14.2% (8.45-15.5%)] in comparison to the FS [22.2% (16.8-26.7%)] and the FS+C farms [22.2% (17.4-32.8%)]. Less than 1% of all cows scored on CB farms were observed with swollen or wounded knees (or both), which was lower than either the FS or FS+C farms [7.4% (3.6-11.9%) and 6.4% (2.6-11.8%) of all cows scored, respectively]. The same pattern was found for hock lesions, where the farm-level prevalence within the 3 different housing types was 0.5% (0-0.9%), 9.9% (0.8-15.3%), and 5.7% (2.6-10.9%) for CB, FS, and FS+C farms, respectively. No differences between farm systems were observed for hygiene or body condition score. On average, 2.7% (0.8-10.9%) of lactating cows had a soiled side, 15.4% (2.1-37.4%) had dirty legs and 1.7% (0-9.3%) had dirty udders. The average herd-level body condition score across farms was 2.9 (2.9-3), with 0.86% of the all cows scored having a body condition score <2.5. These results indicate that lameness prevalence on confined dairies in Brazil is high and highlight the need for remedial changes in environmental design and management practices. We found that CB farms in this region had reduced lameness and lesions in relation to FS or FS+C dairies.

Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii-Induced Arthritis with Encephalitic Dissemination in a Dog and Review of Published Literature.

This article describes the clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical findings associated with Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii in a 4-year-old female Boxer dog from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Clinically, there was a swelling at the right metatarsal region and the hock joint with enlargement of regional lymph nodes. Radiographical evaluation revealed lysis of the tarsal bone; cytology demonstrated cryptococcal intralesional organisms at the swollen joint. Despite empirical antifungals therapeutic, the animal developed neurological cryptococcosis and died spontaneously. Significant pathological alterations included arthritis, lymphadenitis, and encephalitic cryptococcomas associated with numerous intralesional narrow-necked budding encapsulated yeasts. Immunohistochemistry utilising monoclonal antibodies that label C. neoformans sp. complex capsule, characterised the yeasts as C. neoformans var. grubii. Collectively, the pathological and immunohistochemical findings of this dog indicate that the intralesional organisms observed within the articular surface of the hock joint, lymph nodes, and the brain were C. neoformans var. grubii, confirming the participation of this fungal pathogen in the development of cryptococcal arthritis. In this case, the most likely pathogenesis was percutaneous inoculation with resultant abscess-like lesion, which resulted in the draining sinus, swelling of the right hind limb with progression to the articular disease. Thereafter, the fungal pathogen probably compromised the adjacent lymph nodes with subsequent haematogenous distribution to the brain, terminating with cryptococcal arthritis, lymphadenitis, and encephalitis.

Goniometria da articulação tíbio-tarsal após imobilização temporária com fixador esquelético externo em cães

In this study, 10 clinically healthy adult mongrel dogs were submitted to the temporary immobilization of the hock with external skeletal fixation. The aim of this procedure was to evaluate, using a manual goniometer, the flexion, the extension and the range of motion of the tarsocrural joint after immobilization in a functional angle of 135º for 45 days. The animals presented discomfort in relation to the articular manipulation for the goniometric exam on the day of the removal of the apparatus, demonstrating pain in the passive flexion and extension of the limb, and such difficulty disappeared after three days. It was observed that the temporary immobilization of the articulation obtained by the external skeletal fixation promotes statistically significant loss in the degree of flexion, extension and range of motion of the tarsocrural joint immediately after the removal of the apparatus. However, after seven days of this removal, for extension, and fifteen days, for flexion and range of motion of the articulation, this loss is not verified.

Neste experimento, foram utilizados 10 cães clinicamente sadios, submetidos à imobilização temporária das articulações tíbio-tarsal, intertarsal e tarso-metatarsiana direita com fixador esquelético externo, tendo por objetivo avaliar através da mensuração da flexão, da extensão e da amplitude articular os danos provocados por esta imobilização. O aparelho de fixação esquelética externa manteve a articulação em um ângulo aproximado de 135º e permaneceu por 45 dias. Os animais apresentaram desconforto à manipulação articular para a realização do exame goniométrico no dia da retirada do aparelho, demonstrando dor na flexão e na extensão passiva do membro imobilizado, sendo que tal dificuldade desapareceu após três dias. Foi observado que a imobilização articular temporária obtida pela fixação esquelética externa promove perda estatisticamente significativa nos graus de flexão, de extensão e de amplitude articular tíbio-tarsal imediatamente após a remoção do fixador externo. Porém, após sete dias desta remoção para extensão e quinze dias para flexão e amplitude articular, esta perda não é mais verificada.

Goniometria da articulação tíbio-tarsal após imobilização temporária com fixador esquelético externo em cães

In this study, 10 clinically healthy adult mongrel dogs were submitted to the temporary immobilization of the hock with external skeletal fixation. The aim of this procedure was to evaluate, using a manual goniometer, the flexion, the extension and the range of motion of the tarsocrural joint after immobilization in a functional angle of 135º for 45 days. The animals presented discomfort in relation to the articular manipulation for the goniometric exam on the day of the removal of the apparatus, demonstrating pain in the passive flexion and extension of the limb, and such difficulty disappeared after three days. It was observed that the temporary immobilization of the articulation obtained by the external skeletal fixation promotes statistically significant loss in the degree of flexion, extension and range of motion of the tarsocrural joint immediately after the removal of the apparatus. However, after seven days of this removal, for extension, and fifteen days, for flexion and range of motion of the articulation, this loss is not verified.

Neste experimento, foram utilizados 10 cães clinicamente sadios, submetidos à imobilização temporária das articulações tíbio-tarsal, intertarsal e tarso-metatarsiana direita com fixador esquelético externo, tendo por objetivo avaliar através da mensuração da flexão, da extensão e da amplitude articular os danos provocados por esta imobilização. O aparelho de fixação esquelética externa manteve a articulação em um ângulo aproximado de 135º e permaneceu por 45 dias. Os animais apresentaram desconforto à manipulação articular para a realização do exame goniométrico no dia da retirada do aparelho, demonstrando dor na flexão e na extensão passiva do membro imobilizado, sendo que tal dificuldade desapareceu após três dias. Foi observado que a imobilização articular temporária obtida pela fixação esquelética externa promove perda estatisticamente significativa nos graus de flexão, de extensão e de amplitude articular tíbio-tarsal imediatamente após a remoção do fixador externo. Porém, após sete dias desta remoção para extensão e quinze dias para flexão e amplitude articular, esta perda não é mais verificada.