Spontaneous poisoning by Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) in a sheep herd in southeastern Brazil.

Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) is considered the most important toxic plant affecting livestock farming in Brazil. This study describes an outbreak of spontaneous poisoning by P. marcgravii in sheep. Forty-nine sheep died while showing clinical signs of sudden death after having access to the plant. During the necropsy, P. marcgravii leaves were observed in the rumens of the animals. Histopathological analysis demonstrated hydropic degeneration of the kidneys. Monofluoracetate concentration obtained in Palicourea samples was 0.53% (5.3 µg/mg). These findings collectively indicate that the affected animals died from poisoning due to P. marcgravii.

Bilateral canine seminoma with ocular metastasis: histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization

A 10-year old male dog was examined due to a buphthalmia in the left eye and a nodule in the two testicles. Due to the limited resources of the owner and loss of visual acuity of the patient, the enucleation and castration were chosen as treatment. Microscopic analysis of the testicular tissue revealed neoplastic germ cells. Morphologically, neoplastic cells were characterized by distinct cell borders, scarce and eosinophilic cytoplasm, large round nucleus, with thick chromatin and a prominent nucleolus. Binucleated and multinucleated neoplastic cells were also frequently observed. In 10 high powerfields (400x), 62 typical and atypical mitosis were counted. Similar neoplastic cells were identified within the vessels of theretina, sclera and in the sub-epithelial conjunctive tissue of the eyelid. The neoplastic cells observed in the testicle and in the eye were positive for PAS. By immunochemistry technique was identified an intense immunostaining of the neoplastic cells for Vimentin and Ki-67 in both testicular and ocular tissue. While, discrete immunoreactivity was identified to c-KIT from the neoplastic cells in both organs. Based on morphological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis, it was possible to characterize the ocular lesion as seminoma metastasis.

Bilateral canine seminoma with ocular metastasis: histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization

A 10-year old male dog was examined due to a buphthalmia in the left eye and a nodule in the two testicles. Due to the limited resources of the owner and loss of visual acuity of the patient, the enucleation and castration were chosen as treatment. Microscopic analysis of the testicular tissue revealed neoplastic germ cells. Morphologically, neoplastic cells were characterized by distinct cell borders, scarce and eosinophilic cytoplasm, large round nucleus, with thick chromatin and a prominent nucleolus. Binucleated and multinucleated neoplastic cells were also frequently observed. In 10 high powerfields (400x), 62 typical and atypical mitosis were counted. Similar neoplastic cells were identified within the vessels of theretina, sclera and in the sub-epithelial conjunctive tissue of the eyelid. The neoplastic cells observed in the testicle and in the eye were positive for PAS. By immunochemistry technique was identified an intense immunostaining of the neoplastic cells for Vimentin and Ki-67 in both testicular and ocular tissue. While, discrete immunoreactivity was identified to c-KIT from the neoplastic cells in both organs. Based on morphological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis, it was possible to characterize the ocular lesion as seminoma metastasis.(AU)