Cholangiocarcinoma in an American Rhea (Rhea Americana araneipes)

Cholangiocarcinomas are neoplasms that originate from the bile duct epithelium. The present case described a cholangiocarcinoma in an adult female American Rhea (Rhea Americana araneipes) by means of gross, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Irregular, firm, multifocal, yellow-white masses, measuring from 0.4 to 6cm in diameter were observed in both liver lobes. At the cut surface, multiple firm nodules filled with connective tissue were present. Microscopically, the neoplasia was composed of small, irregular, gland-like structures of neoplastic cells surrounded by connective tissue. The cells resembled epithelial cells of the hepatic biliary ducts. Neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin and negative for vimentin. This is the first report of a malignant fatal neoplasia in an American Rhea.Colangiocarcinomas são neoplasias originárias do epitélio do ducto biliar. O presente caso descreve os achados macroscópicos, microscópicos e imuno-histoquímicos de um colangiocarcinoma em uma ema fêmea (Rhea americana araneipes). No fígado, massas irregulares, firmes, multifocais, de coloração amarelo-esbranquiçada, medindo de 0,4 a 6cm de diâmetro foram observadas em ambos os lobos. Ao corte, múltiplos nódulos firmes preenchidos por tecido conjuntivo foram observados. Microscopicamente, a neoplasia era composta de células pequenas, irregulares, semelhantes às células do epitélio biliar, que formavam estruturas glandulares. A imuno-histoquímica foi positiva para citoqueratina e negativa para vimentina. Este trabalho constitui o primeiro relato de uma neoplasia maligna fatal em uma ema.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Diabetes mellitus increases the susceptibility to encephalitozoonosis in mice.

Microsporidiosis are diseases caused by opportunistic intracellular fungi in immunosuppressed individuals, as well as in transplanted patients, the elderly and children, among others. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and decreased T cell response, neutrophil function, humoral immunity failure, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Here, we investigated the susceptibility of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetic and/or immunosuppressed mice to encephalitozoonosis by Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Microscopically, granulomatous hepatitis, interstitial pneumonia and pielonephritis were observed in all infected groups. STZ treatment induced an immunossupressor effect in the populations of B (B-1 and B2) and CD4+ T lymphocytes. Moreover, infection decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and macrophages of DM mice. Furthermore, infection induced a significant increase of IL-6 and TNF-α cytokine serum levels in DM mice. IFN-γ, the most important cytokine for the resolution of encephalitozoonosis, increased only in infected mice. In addition to the decreased immune response, DM mice were more susceptible to encephalitozoonosis, associated with increased fungal burden, and symptoms. Additionally, cyclophosphamide immunosuppression in DM mice further increased the susceptibility to encephalitozoonosis. Thus, microsporidiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of comorbidities in diabetics