Intra-abdominal Sertoli Cell Tumor in Dog with Local and Systemic Repercussions

Background: In dogs, abdominal testes have higher risk of malignant transformation, and the Sertoli cell tumor is the most common type of testicular cancer in the species. This neoplasia can lead to an increase on estrogen production, causing a paraneoplastic feminization syndrome with dermatologic, behavioral and blood repercussions. When located inside theabdomen, the Sertoli cell tumor can compress adjacent organs, worsening the prognosis. Thus, this study aimed to report a case of an intra-abdominal Sertoli cell tumor in a dog associated to multiple organic complications.Case: A 4-year-old male Shih-tzu was admitted at the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), with a history of abdominal cryptorchidism and the development of dermatological signs, such as alopecia and hyperpigmentation, with an evolution of two months. At physical examination it was observed alopecia on lumbosacral regionand on hind limbs, hyperpigmentation, gynecomastia and pendulous prepuce, suggestive of feminization syndrome. A firm mass was palpated on caudal abdomen. The following exams were requested: complete blood cell count, serum biochemistry (alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and urea), abdominal ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology of the abdominal mass. Hematological and biochemistry profile were within the normal range for the species. Onthe ultrasonography, regular and rounded structures were observed, suggesting ectopic testes (left testis: 2.37 x 2.95 cm; right testis: 1.92 x 1.38 cm). The left testis presented characteristics of malignant transformation. The cytology of the abdominal mass suggested Sertoli cell tumor. The dog was submitted to an exploratory laparotomy. The right testis was atrophied and its orchiectomy was performed. The contralateral testis was completed adhered to great vessels, such as abdominal aorta and caudal vena cava, and also to adjacent viscera. Thus, the exeresis of the tumor was not possible and fragments of the mass were collected and referred to histopathology. The left testicle presented tumoral polyedric cells, alonged at the longitudinal axis, propagating disorderly, and with central rounded nucleus, and a clear and vacuolar cytoplasm. It was alsoobserved desmoplasia, anisocytosis, anisocariasis, nuclear atypia and evident nucleoli. The mitotic index was less than one mitotic figure/40x, with aberrant mitotic figures. The histopathological evaluation was compatible with Sertoli cell tumor, confirming the presumptive diagnosis. Chemotherapy was proposed, but the animal’s owner refused. After four months the dog was readmitted presenting a series of complications due to the tumor growth, including bone marrow hypoplasia, gallbladder compression and hydronephrosis. Because of the poor prognosis and severity of complications a decision to euthanize the animal was made.Discussion: Intra-abdominal Sertoli cell tumors have good prognosis when the diagnosis and surgical treatment are made early. Nevertheless, this neoplasia can be associated to critical and irreversible damages to various organs, such as bone marrow hypoplasia, and compression of abdominal organs when the tumor grows rapidly and invades adjacent structures,making the complete surgical exeresis impossible. Therefore, the orchiectomy of cryptorchidic dogs is recommended as soon as possible to prevent the development of testicular cancer in these animals.Keywords: cryptorchidism, testicular neoplasia, Canis lupus familiaris

Efficacy of Oclacitinib on Feline Atopic Syndrome Management

Background: The feline atopic syndrome (FAS) associated to environmental allergens is the third most common allergic dermatosis in domestic cats. In general, clinical signs are not pathognomonic and the exclusion of other pruritus causes is necessary to reach the diagnosis of FAS. The treatment is based on the use of drugs to control the pruritus, such as glucocorticoids, cyclosporine and, recently, oclacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor. This study aimed to report the efficacy of oclacitinib on the treatment of FAS associated to environmental allergens.Case: A 10-year-old female feline, crossbred, presented a history of pruritic dermatitis during ten months and diarrhea. The animal had been submitted to treatment for ectoparasites with pour-on selamectin and was fed with a commercial hypoallergenic diet in the last eight weeks or so. However, no improvement on the skin condition was observed. Physical examination revealed disseminated furfuraceous desquamation, excoriation and erythema on the right supraorbital region. Bilateral conjunctivitis was also observed. Complete blood cell count, biochemistry profile, urinalysis, immunochromathographic test for feline immunodeffiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), fungic culture and abdominal ultrasonography were requested. The abnormalities observed were reduced urinary density and discrete loss of renal corticomedullary differentiation. Thus, based on physical examination and complementary exams, the animal was diagnosis with FAS, since the main other causes of pruritus (hypersensitivity to ectoparasites and alimentary allergens) were excluded. The animal was also diagnosed with stage 1 chronic kidney disease. Therapy based on oclacitinib was instituted with an induction dose of 1 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days, followed by a maintenance dose of 1 mg/kg once daily. After 30 days of treatment, a satisfactory therapeutic response was observed, with complete remission of pruritus. The animal was regularly evaluated, with clinical and laboratorial exams, to check the efficacy of treatment and to identify the possible adverse effects of the drug. After 300 days of treatment the animal presented a relapse of pruritic dermatitis, and the dose was changed to 1 mg/kg twice daily, with remission of clinical signs. No adverse reactions or changes in laboratorial exams were observed during the follow-up, and the chronic kidney disease remained on stage 1.Discussion: In spite of being the third most frequent allergic dermatopathy in cats, FAS is still considered as an uncommon disease. FAS is a diagnosis of exclusion, where hypersensivity to ectoparasites and alimentary allergens must be investigated before reaching the diagnosis of FAS. Clinical signs are not pathognomonic. Thus, pruritus, skin lesions on head and/or neck, miliaris dermatitis, symmetric alopecia and eosinophilic dermatitis can be observed. Other dermatologic and systemic manifestations, such as gastrointestinal, ophthalmic and respiratory signs, may be present. The reported animal presented dermatologic and systemic signs of FAS, since all the clinical alterations disappeared with the use of oclacitinib. Because some dogs demonstrated immunosuppression and developed diseases related to this, such as papilomatosis and demodicosis, while using this drug, we decided to rule out the presence of the infection by FIV and FeLV, before the beginning of the therapy. Other drugs can be used for treat cats with FAS, such as glucocorticoids and ciclosporin. However, these drugs are associated to side effects in a long-term therapy. In this case report, a cat treated with oclacitinib showed a long-term control of pruritus and clinical signs remission without adverse effects. Oclacitinib demonstrated to be a good therapeutic option on the treatment of FAS associated to environmental allergens

Relato de infecção por Dirofilaria immitis com complicações cardiopulmonares agudas em um gato no Nordeste do Brasil

A dirofilariose é uma doença zoonótica causada por Dirofilaria immitis, um nematódeo que parasita cães, principalmente a artéria pulmonar e as câmaras direitas do coração, pulmões e grandes vasos. Este parasita também ocorre ocasionalmente em gatos, geralmente causando uma infecção amicrofilarêmica e assintomática, que pode resultar em doença grave e morte rápida. Neste relato de caso, são apresentados os sinais clínicos agudos e alterações histopatológicas em um gato doméstico do município de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, com dirofilariose. A espécie de nematóide, D. immitis, foi confirmada por análises morfológicas e moleculares. Este é o primeiro relato documentado e completo de dirofilariose felina no Nordeste do Brasil.Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a nematode found mainly in the pulmonary artery and right chambers of the heart, lungs, and large vessels of dogs. This parasitism also occasionally occurs in cats, causing an amicrofilaremic and asymptomatic infection, resulting in severe illness and rapid death. In this case report, it was described acute clinical signs and histopathological alterations in a domestic cat with heartworm disease from the city of Mossoró, the Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The nematode species, D. immitis, was confirmed by morphological and molecular analyses. This is the first documented and full report of feline heartworm disease in northeastern Brazil