Metastatic Peripheral Neuroblastoma in a Dog

Background: Peripheral neuroblast neoplasms are considered as a group of tumors derived from primitive cells of the neural crest that are progenitors of the sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. Reports of neuroblastoma in dogs are scarce in English literature, and there are no reports from Brazil due to its rare occurrence or missed diagnosis, because modern techniques are often not accessible in Brazil. The aim of the present study was reported a case of metastatic peripheral neuroblastoma in a 10-month-old bitch of Canadian Shepherd breed, attended at the Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (HVPA-UFRRJ).Case: A 10-month-old female dog, Canadian Shepherd breed, presenting prostration, inappetence, emesis, progressive weight loss, and difficulties in the locomotion of the pelvic limbs was brought to the Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (HVPA / UFRRJ) for treatment. Palpation of the abdominal cavity revealed a mass of approximately 14.0 cm diameter in the thoracolumbar region. After the second visit to HVPA/ UFRRJ, there was worsening of the clinical condition and onset of pain and dyspnea; hence, euthanasia was performed. The dog was referred for necropsy; the examination revealed a mass measuring 40.0 × 35.0 cm in the abdominal cavity that caused displacement of the intestines and compressed the liver against the diaphragm, as well as another mass that traversed the diaphragm through the esophageal hiatus and surrounded the esophagus, aorta, and caudal vena cava. The right adrenal gland was compressed and adhered to the mass, and the left adrenal gland was not visualized. Specimens of various organs were collected, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and processed according to routine histological technique. Immunohistochemical examination performed on mass specimens revealed positivity for the anti-CD56, anti-synaptophysin, anti-GFAP, and anti-NSE markers and negativity for the anti-chromogranin and anti-Olig2 markers. Based on pathology and immunohistochemistry findings, a diagnosis of poorly differentiated peripheral neuroblastoma was made; in addition, presence of emboli of neoplastic cells in the hepatic sinusoids and branches of the portal vein and metastasis in the spleen, lymph nodes, lung, and meninges were confirmed.Discussion: Positive results for neural markers associated with negative results for those of other small round cell tumors was considered to indicate the presence of neuroblast tumors; glioblastoma and oligodendroglioma were ruled out based on the absence of anti-Olig2 labeling, and, especially, the possibility of occurrence of pheochromocytoma was excluded based on the absence of anti-chromogranin. During necropsy, the location of the mass at the retroperitoneal space near the thoracolumbar junction, craniomedially in relation to the left kidney, was confirmed, which is compatible with the location of the adrenal gland. Metastasis in the dura mater was determined to be present based on necropsy findings alone, and neoplastic invasion through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm of a large part of the thoracic cavity was observed, which, to the best of our knowledge, have not been described in reports of veterinary medicine. The high rate of tumor growth and compression and invasion of adjacent tissues and organs may be considered as potential factors for unfavorable prognosis of peripheral neuroblastoma

Primary Solid Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma in a dog

Background: In veterinary medicine, although primary lung tumors are rare compared to metastatic malignant neoplasms, an increase in the number of primary lung tumors in dogs has been reported in the past decades. Consequently, identifying epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of these neoplasms is essential for early and precise diagnosis. This paper aimed to report a case of a non-metastatic primary solid pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a dog and review the clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical aspects of this neoplasm.Case: An 8-year-old female Cocker Spaniel was admitted to the Small Animals Veterinary Hospital of the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) with a history of progressive weight loss and clinical dyspnea. Physical examination revealed the following: body temperature, 38.7ºC; capillary refill time, one second; heart rate, 104 beats/min; respiratory rate, 40 breaths/min; pallor mucosa; blood glucose, 133 mg/dL; and body score, 2 (1-9). A thoracic radiograph revealed a diffuse radiopaque pattern of the pulmonary parenchyma, pleural effusion, and a large mass that extended through both hemithoraces. An ultrasound-guided cytological examination was performed and displayed moderate cellularity in a bloody background. Cells presented distinct cell borders, large bluish cytoplasm, round hyperchromatic or vesicular nuclei, and evident nucleoli. Three months after the first clinical consultation, the dog’s state kept deteriorating and the owner opted for the euthanasia. Autopsy of the lungs showed multiple, poorly defined, coalescent nodules with an average size of 20.0×15.0×10.0 cm. The nodules occupied roughly 70% of the pulmonary parenchyma, including right and left cranial lobes, medium lobe, and a large portion of the caudal lobe. The cross-sections of the tumors were multinodular, soft, and white. Cystic areas filled with bloody exudates were also found within the tumor. Representative tissue samples were fixed in 10% formalin, processed routinely, and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Fragments from the lung tumor were submitted for immunohistochemistry evaluation with primary antibodies anti-CK pan, anti-CK7, anti-CK20, anti-vimentin, TTF-1, CD56, synaptophysin, and chromogranin. Microscopic examination of the tumor revealed a dense and solid monomorphic epithelial neoplastic proliferation supported by a thin and scant fibrovascular stroma. Cells presented distinct cell borders, a slightly granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, hyperchromatic, round, and vesicular nuclei, evident nucleoli, and numerous mitoses. Necrotic areas were also observed scattered in the tumor. Immunohistochemically the cells expressed CK pan and CK7 but failed to express immunoreactivity to vimentin, CK20, TTF-1, CD56, synaptophysin, and chromogranin. The morphological and immunohistochemical features were consistent with a primary lung tumor, and hence, classified as a solid adenocarcinoma.Discussion: The solid pattern of primary lung adenocarcinomas is uncommon in domestic animals. Assessment of morphological features and immunohistochemical evaluation are essential for the definitive diagnosis of primary pulmonary neoplasms. Due to the increased number of primary pulmonary tumors reported in dogs in the last few decades, primary pulmonary neoplasms should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary masses, especially when there is no evidence of tumors elsewhere in the body

Ciclo biológico de Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) (Siphonaptera, Pulicidae) a partir de diferentes dietas artificiais

In this study 12 different diets to cat flea larvae, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835), were tested in the following formulations: 1 part of wheat germ and 1 part of bovine, equine or ovine dried blood; 20 parts of dog chow, 4 parts of bovine, equine or ovine dried blood and 1 part of brewer’s yeast; 20 parts of dog chow, 3 parts of bovine, equine or ovine dried blood and 2 parts of brewer’s yeast; and 100 parts of bovine, equine or ovine dried blood, 15 parts of dog chow and 5 parts of brewer’s yeast. All diets were mixed 1:5 with sand. Just as control flea feces and sand were used in the ratio of 1:20. To each formulations were made 6 repetitions then were placed 2 g of the tested diet per assay tube and 20 eggs from the cat flea laboratory colony at the Departament of Animal Parasitology of the Veterinary Institute at Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. Diets containing bovine and equine dried blood and wheat germ in the ratio of 1:1 showed high percentage of emerged adults, respectively 7 3,3% and 71,6%, when compared with the diets with dog chow and brewer’s yeast in the ratio of 20:4:1 (65,8% and 57,5%) and 20:3:2 (62,5% and 64,1%). Diets containing ovine blood showed a percentage of emerged adults around 50%

Metastatic Peripheral Neuroblastoma in a Dog

Background: Peripheral neuroblast neoplasms are considered as a group of tumors derived from primitive cells of the neural crest that are progenitors of the sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. Reports of neuroblastoma in dogs are scarce in English literature, and there are no reports from Brazil due to its rare occurrence or missed diagnosis, because modern techniques are often not accessible in Brazil. The aim of the present study was reported a case of metastatic peripheral neuroblastoma in a 10-month-old bitch of Canadian Shepherd breed, attended at the Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (HVPA-UFRRJ).Case: A 10-month-old female dog, Canadian Shepherd breed, presenting prostration, inappetence, emesis, progressive weight loss, and difficulties in the locomotion of the pelvic limbs was brought to the Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (HVPA / UFRRJ) for treatment. Palpation of the abdominal cavity revealed a mass of approximately 14.0 cm diameter in the thoracolumbar region. After the second visit to HVPA/ UFRRJ, there was worsening of the clinical condition and onset of pain and dyspnea; hence, euthanasia was performed. The dog was referred for necropsy; the examination revealed a mass measuring 40.0 × 35.0 cm in the abdominal cavity that caused displacement of the intestines and compressed the liver against the diaphragm, as well as another mass that traversed the diaphragm through the esophageal hiatus and surrounded the esophagus, aorta, and caudal vena cava. The right adrenal gland was compressed and adhered to the mass, and the left adrenal gland was not visualized. Specimens of various organs were collected, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, and processed according to routine histological technique. Immunohistochemical examination performed on mass specimens revealed positivity for the anti-CD56, anti-synaptophysin, anti-GFAP, and anti-NSE markers and negativity for the anti-chromogranin and anti-Olig2 markers. Based on pathology and immunohistochemistry findings, a diagnosis of poorly differentiated peripheral neuroblastoma was made; in addition, presence of emboli of neoplastic cells in the hepatic sinusoids and branches of the portal vein and metastasis in the spleen, lymph nodes, lung, and meninges were confirmed.Discussion: Positive results for neural markers associated with negative results for those of other small round cell tumors was considered to indicate the presence of neuroblast tumors; glioblastoma and oligodendroglioma were ruled out based on the absence of anti-Olig2 labeling, and, especially, the possibility of occurrence of pheochromocytoma was excluded based on the absence of anti-chromogranin. During necropsy, the location of the mass at the retroperitoneal space near the thoracolumbar junction, craniomedially in relation to the left kidney, was confirmed, which is compatible with the location of the adrenal gland. Metastasis in the dura mater was determined to be present based on necropsy findings alone, and neoplastic invasion through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm of a large part of the thoracic cavity was observed, which, to the best of our knowledge, have not been described in reports of veterinary medicine. The high rate of tumor growth and compression and invasion of adjacent tissues and organs may be considered as potential factors for unfavorable prognosis of peripheral neuroblastoma

Efficacy of Chitosan gel mucoadhesive containing Doxycycline associated or not to Meloxicam as adjuvant to treatment of gingivitis in dogs with periodontal disease

ABSTRACT. Silva R.C.C., Campos D. R., Oliveira P., Laguna A.G.V., Magalhães V.S., Cid Y.P., Almeida M.B., Scott F.B. & Fernandes J.I. [Efficacy of Chitosan gel mucoadhesive containing Doxycycline associated or not to Meloxicam as adjuvant to treatment of gingivitis in dogs with periodontal disease.] Eficácia de um gel de Quitosano Mucoadesivo contendo Doxiciclina associada ou não ao Meloxicam como coadjuvante ao tratamento da gengivite em cães portadores de doença periodontal. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 38(Supl.2):40-44, 2016. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465 Km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23897-000, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] Periodontal disease is the highest occurrence condition in the pet clinic, affecting mainly older animals because of its characteristic of chronicity. Among the clinical signs observed in afflicted animals, gingivitis is the first to be observed. The goal of this study was to develop a mucoadhesive gel, containing doxycycline and meloxicam, and evaluate its efficacy as an adjuvant in the treatment of gingivitis induced by periodontal disease, with a clinical and histopathological rating. Eighteen Beagle dogs presenting gingivitis secondary to periodontal disease were divided into three experimental groups. Group I – animals treated with placebo formulation. Group II – Animals treated with a chitosan gel formulation containing doxycycline. Group III - Animals treated with a chitosan gel formulation containing doxycycline and meloxicam. All animals were treated for seven days, every twelve hours, in the gingival margin of the right maxilla. During the clinic evaluation, only the animals treated with the product containing doxycycline had improved. Contrasting, in the histopathologic evaluation, only animals treated with association of doxycycline and meloxicam presented improvements in their clinical score, although no statistic significance was observed between the groups. The developed formulations were not effective as adjuvants in the treatment of gingivitis induced by periodontal disease treatment