Systemic Infection by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in a Bitch

Background: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an opportunistic pathogen, belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. The methicillin-resistant Staphylococci have the mecA-gene, which confers them with the ability of becoming resistant to methicillin and multiple classes of antimicrobials, which makes the treatment of the affections caused by these specimens difficult. This work describes a case of systemic infection and death by methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermediusin a bitch.Case: A crossbred bitch (Canis lupus familiaris), was admitted to the University Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Western Bahia (HVU-UFOB). The main complaint reported by the owner was the presence of mammary nodules and constant nasal secretion. During the clinical examination was observed reactivity in the popliteal and left submandibular lymph nodes, pale mucous membranes, stomatitis, bilateral mucopurulent nasal secretion, abdominal pustules, serous secretion in the inguinal mammary gland and focal alopecia on the dorsum. On auscultation, was identified only arrhythmia and the other physiological parameters of the animal were within normality for the species. Samples of the nasal secretion and of the secretion from the abdominal pustules were collected, and sent to the Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory of the same institution. The samples collected were sown in 5% Blood Agar (BA), Sabouraud Agar (SAB) and MacConkey Agar (MCK), after 24 h was observed in BA the growth of macroscopically white colonies, with a humid aspect, creamy consistency, with presence of catalase and α-hemolysis. Microscopically, was observed the presence of Gram-positive cocci, suggestive of Staphylococcus sp.  Microscopically, was observed the presence of Gram-positive cocci, suggestive of Staphylococcus sp. In the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, was identified S. pseudintermedius. Enrofloxacin [Enrotrat tab® 25 mg, 5 mg/kg, SID, PO, 5 days] was prescribed and a follow-up consultation was requested. Two weeks after leaving the University Veterinary Hospital, the animal was admitted in emergency and was submitted to the support protocol and died during the procedure. After the owner’s authorization, the anatomopathological examination was carried out, and fragments of the liver, lung and kidney were collected, in addition to sample of the liquid of the abdominal cavity for microbiological examination, and was evidenced the growth of S. pseudintermedius in all the specimens. The bacterium’s susceptibility to 19 antibiotics was tested, and a high degree of resistance was found, with sensitivity only to amoxicillin+ clavulanate (20-10 μg), chloramphenicol (30 μg) and vancomycin (30 μg). Given the detection of MRSP in Chromogenic Agar and in cefoxitin disks, all the specimens were MRSP positive.Discussion: The diagnosis based on the bacteriological culture and anatopathological findings were essential for the confirmation of the clinical presentation of septicemia. The isolation of S. pseudintermedius in all the analyzed samples, associated to the identification by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry confirmed the clinical suspicion of systemic infection. Based on the result of the antibiogram and phenotypic tests, it was evidenced that all the isolates were MRSP positive, presenting multiple resistance to antibiotics, which may have interfered in the efficiency of the treatment. The results obtained in this report are worrying and signal the need for the implementation of phenotypical researches associated to anti-microbial susceptibility tests in bacteria isolated from animals attended in veterinary clinics and hospitals, in order to monitor and avoid the dissemination of pathogens with a multi-resistant profile

Identification of animal hosts of Fort Sherman virus, a New World zoonotic orthobunyavirus

An orthobunyavirus termed Fort Sherman virus (FSV) was isolated in 1985 from a febrile US soldier in Panama, yet potential animal reservoirs remained unknown. We investigated sera from 192 clinically healthy peri-domestic animals sampled in northeastern Brazil during 2014–2018 by broadly reactive RT-PCR for orthobunyavirus RNA, including 50 cattle, 57 sheep, 35 goats and 50 horses. One horse sampled in 2018 was positive (0.5%; 95% CI, 0.01–3.2) at 6.2 × 103 viral RNA copies/mL. Genomic comparisons following virus isolation in Vero cells and deep sequencing revealed high identity of translated amino acid sequences between the new orthobunyavirus and the Panamanian FSV prototype (genes: L, 98.8%; M, 83.5%; S, 100%), suggesting these viruses are conspecific. Database comparisons revealed even higher genomic identity between the Brazilian FSV and taxonomically unassigned Argentinian mosquito- and horse-derived viruses sampled in 1965, 1982 and 2013 with only 1.1% maximum translated amino acid distances across viral genes, suggesting the Argentinian viruses were also distinct FSV strains. The Panamanian FSV strain was an M gene reassortant relative to all Southern American FSV strains, clustering phylogenetically with Cache Valley virus (CVV). Mean dN/dS ratios among FSV genes ranged from 0.03 to 0.07, compatible with strong purifying selection. FSV-specific neutralizing antibodies occurred at relatively high end-point titres in the range of 1:300 in 22.0% of horses (11 out of 50 animals), 8.0% of cattle (4/50 animals), 7.0% of sheep (4/57 animals) and 2.9% of goats (1/35 animals). High specificity of serologic testing was suggested by significantly higher overall FSV-specific compared to CVV- and Bunyamwera virus-specific end-point titres (p = .009), corroborating a broad vertebrate host range within peri-domestic animals. Growth kinetics using mosquito-, midge- and sandfly-derived cell lines suggested Aedes mosquitos as potential vectors. Our findings highlight the occurrence of FSV across a geographic range exceeding 7,000 km, surprising genomic conservation across a time span exceeding 50 years, M gene-based reassortment events, and the existence of multiple animal hosts of FSV

Natural Infection by Trypanosoma cruzi in a Dog from Bahia State - Northeast of Brazil

Background: Chagas Disease (CD) is a parasitic anthropozoonosis caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), a protozoan transmitted by insects from the Reduviidae family. Several species of wild and domestic animals, humans included, are susceptible, developing acute clinical signals (myocarditis and cardiac arrhythmias) or chronic signals (drop on the performance and syncope) of the disease. In Brazil, the disease in dogs shows variable indexes of occurrence. The present paper describes the natural infection by T. cruzi in a canine living in the city of Barra, in the state of Bahia, Brazil, a region classified as high risk of vulnerability for the CD in the northeast of Brazil.Case: A 9-year-old male dog, non-specific breed, was referred to the clinic the Veterinary Clinic for Small Animals, at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital), at the Federal University of the West of Bahia. Its owner reported the presence of bloody secretion in the penile region. During the physical exam it was possible to observe an increase in the volume of the penis base. All of the animal’s physiological parameters were within normal levels. Blood samples and cytological laminas from the lesioned area were collected and sent to the Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Pathology in the same institution. The cytological exam showed monomorphic population of great round cells with a round nucleus, condensed chromatin and one to two prominent nucleolus, abundant and slightly basophilic cytoplasm, with multiple stippled vacuoles, thus confirming a Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) case. With the blood exam one observed a thrombocytopenia, neutrophilia with a deviation on the left and the presence of a trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma sp. in the blood smears. A complete blood sample was sent to the Laboratory of Pathology and Molecular Biology from the Fiocruz-BA (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in the State of Bahia), being identified by the PCR technique, T. cruzi.Discussion: During the complete blood count, specifically using the blood smear, the microscopic visualization of the trypomastigote form of the Trypanosoma sp., a hemoparasite of filiform aspect, with undulating membrane over the whole body and free flagellum, confirming a case of trypanosomiasis. Such diagnostics had not been considered up to this moment, as the animal did not present any clinic symptomatology that indicated the pathological condition. The high levels of parasitemia presented by the animal, confirmed by the presence of the protozoan in the blood smear, probably indicate the acute phase of the infection, period in which the multiplication and development of the agent is higher, consequently allowing the visualization of the hemoparasite in the lamina. Although the TVT had proved to be the main derogatory factor of sanity and wellbeing of the animal, one calls the attention in this case for the trypanosomiasis, a zoonosis that causes great risk to the sole health, highlighting that the canine species is taken as an important reservoir of T. cruzi, relevant for the maintenance and interaction among the domestic and wild cycles of the Chagas Disease. This is the first report of a canine naturally infected by T. cruzi in the west Region of the State of Bahia. It is, thus, important to emphasize its significance once dogs can be reservoirs of the protozoan, acting in their life cycle and epidemiological chain of the Chagas Disease, enabling the infection of triatomines and humans. Future studies should be done with the purpose of determining the predominance of the agent in the region of the city of Barra, in the State of Bahia

Evidence against Zika virus infection of pets and peri-domestic animals in Latin America and Africa

Decades after its discovery in East Africa, Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in Brazil in 2013 and infected millions of people during intense urban transmission. Whether vertebrates other than humans are involved in ZIKV transmission cycles remained unclear. Here, we investigate the role of different animals as ZIKV reservoirs by testing 1723 sera of pets, peri-domestic animals and African non-human primates (NHP) sampled during 2013–2018 in Brazil and 2006–2016 in Côte d'Ivoire. Exhaustive neutralization testing substantiated co-circulation of multiple flaviviruses and failed to confirm ZIKV infection in pets or peri-domestic animals in Côte d'Ivoire (n=259) and Brazil (n=1416). In contrast, ZIKV seroprevalence was 22.2% (2/9, 95% CI, 2.8–60.1) in West African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and 11.1% (1/9, 95% CI, 0.3–48.3) in king colobus (Colobus polycomos). Our results indicate that while NHP may represent ZIKV reservoirs in Africa, pets or peri-domestic animals likely do not play a role in ZIKV transmission cycles.Peer Reviewe

Trichoblastoma in a Dog: A Clinical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Analysis

Background: Trichoblastoma is a rare skin neoplasm derived from the primitive hair follicle, having epithelial and mesenchymal components. Despite being commonly described as a benign tumor, there are reports in the literature of tumors with characteristics of malignant neoplasia. It affects adult dogs and cats, with no predilection for sex. Although rare, in studies in Brazil the pathology shows variable rates of occurrence. This work describes a case of tricoblastoma in a 4-year-old mixed breed dog, submitted to care at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Western Bahia (HVU-UFOB).Case: A 4-year-old male mixed breed dog with 7 kg of body weight, was referred to the HVU-UFOB. The main complaint reported by the canine’s tutor was an increase in volume in the region of the animal's face, which evolved slowly, associated with itching, bleeding and sensitivity to touch. During the physical examination, a round, elevated mass was observed in the subcutaneous tissue of the left face, in the mandible region, with local alopecia. On palpation, the neoformation showed a firm consistency, well-defined and fluctuating, with no solutions for continuity or discomfort to touch. The animal's physiological parameters were within the normal for the species. CBC, chest X-rays, abdominal ultrasound and aspiration cytology of the mass were requested. The blood count and image tests did not reveal any changes. On cytological examination, small, grouped basal epithelial cells were observed, characterized by a high nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, monomorphic nuclei and intensely basophilic and pigmented cytoplasm, a suggestive diagnosis of basal cell tumor. Due to the findings, an excisional biopsy of the mass was performed, with margins of 2 cm. The mass with its margins was sent for histopathological examination at the Animal Pathology Laboratory of the HVU. Macroscopically, an expansive mass was observed, covered by skin, was well defined, not encapsulated, distending the dermis, with a dome shape, measuring 8.0 x 5.0 x 4.0 cm in length, white and firm to the cut, with discrete lobulation. Microscopically, there was a proliferation of small cuboidal to elongated cells with a round to oval nucleus of loose chromatin and little evident nucleolus, and of a pale, scarce eosinophilic cytoplasm. Neoplastic cells were sometimes arranged in strings, palisades (ribbon type) or islands and were sometimes seen centrally aggregated emitting strands of cells (medusoid type) separated by moderate fibrovascular stroma, compatible with trichoblastoma. Tissue healing occurred satisfactorily, and the stitches were removed 10 days after the surgical procedure.Discussion: The clinical analysis of the case associated with the cytological and histopathological examination of the lesion allowed the visualization of physical and cellular changes, confirming the diagnosis of trichoblastoma. The animal involved was 4-years-old, within the chronological variability most affected by the tumor. The macroscopic lesions and the location of the neoplasia were also similar to those described in the literature. However, their race (mixed breed) was different from the most evident. Treatment based on total surgical excision of the neoplasia proved to be effective. This work is the first reported in the Western of Bahia describing a case of trichoblastoma in a dog

Wildlife as Food and Medicine in Brazil: A Neglected Zoonotic Risk?

The practice of consuming wild fauna in Brazil is both culturally and socioeconomically questionable. Wild animals and their byproducts are sought for nutritional, medicinal, and/or supernatural reasons, with some taxa (e.g., songbirds) being kept as pets. This practice is concentrated in traditional and rural communities, as well as the rural exodus populations in large urban centers, maintained both by cultural preferences and for their role in food safety in part of the rural exodus community. A total of 564 taxa are known to be sold in wet markets in Brazil, with birds, fish, and mammals being the most commonly listed. There is great zoonotic outbreak potential in this consumption chain given the diversity of species involved (with several listed being known reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens), invasion of wild environments for hunting, unsanitary processing of carcasses, and consumption of most/all biotopes of the animal, as well as the creation of favorable conditions to cross-species pathogen transmission. Given its socioeconomic situation and the global trends in disease emergence, there is a risk of the future emergence of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in Brazil through wildlife consumption

Retrospective study of triatomines in an endemic region for Chagas disease in the state of Bahia, Brazil

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which has several forms of transmission. Among them, the vector route requires the constant action of the Health Surveillance in the control of triatomines. Our objective is to describe the diversity of triatomines and the rate of natural infection by T. cruzi in these insects, as well as to analyse entomological indicators, through secondary data generated by the Health Surveillance of the municipality of Barra, in the period from 2009 to 2019. The secondary data were subjected to descriptive analysis and the entomological indicators calculated. Williams’ G test and Fisher’s exact test were used to analyse the categorical data. A total of 10,913 triatomines of the genera Rhodnius sp., Panstrongylus sp., Eratyrus sp. and Triatoma sp. were captured, represented by 12 species. Triatoma sordida was the most prevalent 98.66% (10,767/10,913), reflected in the overall infestation index 7.61% (2,555/33,544) and triatomine density 0.24 (8,247/33,544). While the overall infection rate was 0.81% (41/5,048) and remained low during all years. There was significant association for T. sordida in relation to “T. cruzi infection index” and “Developmental stage” and “Capture site”. It is concluded that the municipality of Barra has a high occurrence of triatomines of various species, with T. sordida being the most prevalent species and responsible for the rates of infestation and infection by T. cruzi. The presence of these insects in households is a risk for the domestic cycle of the parasite, and thus can transmit T. cruzi to various domestic animals, including humans

Trichoblastoma in a Dog: A Clinical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Analysis

Background: Trichoblastoma is a rare skin neoplasm derived from the primitive hair follicle, having epithelial and mesenchymal components. Despite being commonly described as a benign tumor, there are reports in the literature of tumors with characteristics of malignant neoplasia. It affects adult dogs and cats, with no predilection for sex. Although rare, in studies in Brazil the pathology shows variable rates of occurrence. This work describes a case of tricoblastoma in a 4-year-old mixed breed dog, submitted to care at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Western Bahia (HVU-UFOB).Case: A 4-year-old male mixed breed dog with 7 kg of body weight, was referred to the HVU-UFOB. The main complaint reported by the canine’s tutor was an increase in volume in the region of the animal's face, which evolved slowly, associated with itching, bleeding and sensitivity to touch. During the physical examination, a round, elevated mass was observed in the subcutaneous tissue of the left face, in the mandible region, with local alopecia. On palpation, the neoformation showed a firm consistency, well-defined and fluctuating, with no solutions for continuity or discomfort to touch. The animal's physiological parameters were within the normal for the species. CBC, chest X-rays, abdominal ultrasound and aspiration cytology of the mass were requested. The blood count and image tests did not reveal any changes. On cytological examination, small, grouped basal epithelial cells were observed, characterized by a high nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, monomorphic nuclei and intensely basophilic and pigmented cytoplasm, a suggestive diagnosis of basal cell tumor. Due to the findings, an excisional biopsy of the mass was performed, with margins of 2 cm. The mass with its margins was sent for histopathological examination at the Animal Pathology Laboratory of the HVU. Macroscopically, an expansive mass was observed, covered by skin, was well defined, not encapsulated, distending the dermis, with a dome shape, measuring 8.0 x 5.0 x 4.0 cm in length, white and firm to the cut, with discrete lobulation. Microscopically, there was a proliferation of small cuboidal to elongated cells with a round to oval nucleus of loose chromatin and little evident nucleolus, and of a pale, scarce eosinophilic cytoplasm. Neoplastic cells were sometimes arranged in strings, palisades (ribbon type) or islands and were sometimes seen centrally aggregated emitting strands of cells (medusoid type) separated by moderate fibrovascular stroma, compatible with trichoblastoma. Tissue healing occurred satisfactorily, and the stitches were removed 10 days after the surgical procedure.Discussion: The clinical analysis of the case associated with the cytological and histopathological examination of the lesion allowed the visualization of physical and cellular changes, confirming the diagnosis of trichoblastoma. The animal involved was 4-years-old, within the chronological variability most affected by the tumor. The macroscopic lesions and the location of the neoplasia were also similar to those described in the literature. However, their race (mixed breed) was different from the most evident. Treatment based on total surgical excision of the neoplasia proved to be effective. This work is the first reported in the Western of Bahia describing a case of trichoblastoma in a dog