Monitoring fungal burden and viability of Sporothrix spp. in skin lesions of cats for predicting antifungal treatment response

Skin lesions in feline sporotrichosis usually present a high fungal burden, making cats an important source of infection. This study evaluated the fungal burden and isolation in skin lesions of feline sporotrichosis during treatment with itraconazole (ITZ), combined with or without potassium iodide (KI). Treatment-naïve cats with culture-confirmed sporotrichosis and presenting skin ulcers were treated for up to 40 weeks with oral ITZ alone (n = 74) or combined with KI (n = 56). These cats were submitted to monthly sampling of the same lesion for mycological culture and cytopathology until healing of lesion or up to twelve weeks. The fungal burden was expressed as the mean yeast cell count in three microscopic fields from imprint smears. The fungal burden before treatment was significantly higher in cats in which the lesion persisted and in cases of treatment failure when using ITZ alone. After twelve weeks, the median fungal burden decreased to zero in both treatment protocols, suggesting a potential decrease in the risk of transmission of Sporothrix spp. from cats. These findings encourage the early treatment of feline sporotrichosis as a control measure. Moreover, the fungal burden in feline sporotrichosis lesions can be a prognostic indicator and a parameter for choosing appropriate therapeutic regimen

IDENTIFICATION OF CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN A PREVIOUSLY UNAFFECTED AREA BY CONVENTIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES AND CELL-BLOCK FIXATION

After the report of a second case of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in São Bento da Lagoa, Itaipuaçu, in the municipality of Maricá, Rio de Janeiro State, an epidemiological survey was carried out, through active search, totaling 145 dogs. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and rapid chromatographic immunoassay based on dual-path platform (DPP(r)) were used to perform the serological examinations. The parasitological diagnosis of cutaneous fragments was performed by parasitological culture, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. In the serological assessment, 21 dogs were seropositive by IFA, 17 by ELISA, and 11 by DPP(r), with sensitivity of 66.7%, 66.7% and 50%, and specificity of 87.2%, 90.2% and 94%, respectively for each technique. The immunohistochemistry of bone marrow using the cell-block technique presented the best results, with six positive dogs found, three of which tested negative by the other parasitological techniques. Leishmania sp. was isolated by parasitological culture in three dogs. The detection of autochthonous Leishmania infantum in Itaipuaçu, and the high prevalence of seropositive dogs confirm the circulation of this parasite in the study area and alert for the risk of expansion in the State of Rio de Janeiro

Hepatic and Renal Lesions in Free Ranging Black Caimans (Melanosuchus niger) in the Brazilian Amazon for Human Consumption

Background: The black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), belongs to the order Crocodylia, family Alligatoridae. More than a hundred species of helminths, mainly trematodes and nematodes, parasitize crocodilians around the world and a considerable number of species of ascaris have been described in crocodilians. There are few descriptions of hepatic and renal diseases affecting M. niger, and no articles related to the histopathological aspects of this species were found. The aim of this study was to evaluate gross and microscopically the liver and kidneys of 100 specimens of Melanosuchus niger slaughtered in Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, from natural populations.Materials, Methods & Results: The capture of the alligators was performed during the night, by members of the community itself in the channels and lagoons of the Reserve's lowland ecosystem. For the capture procedures, ties and harpoons were used and the animals were identified through the red glow of the eyes using the spot light lanterns. After being conducted to the slaughter area, the animals were submitted to the previous biometry to select which animals were appropriated   for slaughter, they should measure between 2.10 m and 2.80 m. A total of 88 livers and 95 kidneys of M. niger of natural populations were analysed gross and microscopically, independently of gross lesions. The fragments collected for histopathological examination were approximately 0.5 cm thick and they were packed in appropriated identified containers with formalin 10% solution. The collection procedures were accompanied by field records for data recording. After fixation of the collected material, it were processes by habitual techniques for paraffin inclusion and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Grossly, none of the livers examined presented alterations and two kidneys presented parasitism. The hepatic microscopic analysis  indicates in 3/88 cases, multiple foci of necrosis. In 7/88 cases, it was observed in the hepatic parenchyma, granulomas, mainly with epithelioid cells. In the histopathological examination of the kidney, the only alteration observe in 8/95 cases was the presence of granulomas.Discussion: The occurrence of Sebekia oxycephala nymphs, a pentastomid, in the liver of Alligator mississippiensis was reported in other researches. The parasite Sebekia mississippiensis was observed in liver and lungs of A. mississippiensis.  similar alterations were also noticed in this research. The coccidiosis related to hepatic manifestations in crocodilians is related to the parasite that may belong to the genus Goussia. In the liver, under the oocysts form leads to a diffuse hydropic degeneration  of hepatocytes. In this study it was also observed the hydronic degeneration, however, associated to the necrosis areas that had in the periphery epithelioid cells infiltrated, without parasitic participation. Two renal trematodes are known in crocodilians, Deurithrema gingae and Renivermis crocodyli both in Crocodylus porosus. Also it was found in the renal parenchyma few encapsulated and well delimited parasites by a severe tissue reaction. Based on the gross and microscopic found, it is concluded that liver and kidney, although multiple organ functions, were not prone to infections, with granulomas being the main manifestation, and the etiopathogenesis of the areas of hepatic necrosis could not be defined

Histopathology of tumor-like masses present in the nasal cavity of equids from Brazil

Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de analisar os aspectos microscópicos e enfatizar a importância do exame histopatológico na determinação do diagnóstico de lesões tumoriformes na cavidade nasal de eqüídeos. Para tanto, foram estudados microscopicamente cortes de tecido de 11 eqüídeos com lesões tumoriformes na cavidade nasal. Essas amostras foram enviadas ao Serviço de Anatomia Patológica da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, no período de 2000 a 2004. Foram diagnosticados três casos de rinosporidiose, um de amiloidose, seis de pólipos nasais e um de hematoma etmoidal progressivo.The purpose of the present study was to analyze the microscopic aspects of tumor-like masses present in the nasal cavity of equids and also to emphasize the importance of histopathological examination for determining the diagnosis. Tissue sections of tumor-like masses from the nasal cavity of 11 equids were microscopically examined. These samples were sent to the Anatomic Pathology Service of the Veterinary Medicine College from the Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, from 2000 to 2004. Three cases of rhinosporidiosis, one of amyloidosis, six of nasal polyps and one of progressive ethmoid hematoma were diagnosed

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluations of the bone marrow from femur and sternal manubrium of dogs reactive for leishmaniasis by DPP® and ELISA tests

As the bone marrow is one of the most organs affected by canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), samples from this are frequently taken for parasitological tests, with occurrence of myelodysplastic changes, with consequent anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the histological and immunohistochemical changes in the bone marrow of the femur and sternal manubrium of dogs reactive for leishmaniasis by DPP® and ELISA tests. For this, thirteen canines from the epidemiological routine for CVL carried out by the Directorate of Zoonosis Surveillance of Goiânia (DVZ), GO, Brazil, were subjected to anatomopathological examination. 46.2% of bone marrow samples from the femur showed a higher proportion of the red series, and 53.9% of bone marrow of the sternal manubrium evidenced a higher proportion of the red series. Also, there were varied macrophage hyperplasia, hemosiderosis, and megakaryocytic emperipolesis. Amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. in the bone marrow of the femur and sternal manubrium to histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations were observed, with good agreement them, but without difference in the parasite intensity between the bone marrow of these anatomical sites. It was concluded that bone marrow of the femur and sternal manubrium of dogs reactive for leishmaniasis by DPP® and ELISA tests has histological changes resulting from the disease, regardless of the parasite presence or intensity, with macrophage hyperplasia, hemosiderosis, and emperipolesis being the main medullary changes in these animals. Also, the bone marrow of the femur and sternal manubrium are useful anatomical sites for the diagnosis of CVL by direct methods. Keywords: amastigotes; canine visceral leishmaniasis; histopathology; immunostaining; medullary change

Drug abusers have impaired cerebral oxygenation and cognition during exercise

Sem informaçãoBackground: Individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) have lower baseline metabolic activity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) associated with impairment of cognitive functions in decisionmaking and inhibitory control. Aerobic exercise has shown to improve PFC function and cognitive performance, however, its effects on SUD individuals remain unclear. Purpose: To verify the cognitive performance and oxygenation of the PFC during an incremental exercise in SUD individuals. Methods: Fourteen individuals under SUD treatment performed a maximum graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer with continuous measurements of oxygen consumption, PFC oxygenation, and inhibitory control (Stroop test) every two minutes of exercise at different intensities. Fifteen non-SUD individuals performed the same protocol and were used as control group. Results: Exercise increased oxyhemoglobin (O(2)Hb) and total hemoglobin (tHb) by 9% and 7%, respectively. However, when compared to a non-SUD group, this increase was lower at high intensities (p< 0.001), and the inhibitory cognitive control was lower at rest and during exercise (p< 0.007). In addition, PFC hemodynamics during exercise was inversely correlated with inhibitory cognitive performance (reaction time) (r = -0.62, p = 0.001), and a lower craving perception for the specific abused substance (p = 0.0189) was reported immediately after exercise. Conclusion: Despite SUD individuals having their PFC cerebral oxygenation increased during exercise, they presented lower cognition and oxygenation when compared to controls, especially at elevated intensities. These results may reinforce the role of exercise as an adjuvant treatment to improve PFC function and cognitive control in individuals with SUD.1211115Sem informaçãoSem informaçãoSem informaçã

Anatomomopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of the spleen and lymph node of dogs seropositives for leishmaniasis in serological tests

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan of the species Leishmania infantum. The spleen and lymph nodes undergo morphological changes during CanL. This research aimed to perform an anatomopathological and immunohistochemical study of these organs in dogs reactive to leishmaniasis in the Dual-path Platform chromatographic immunoassay (DPP®) and Enzyme Immunoabsorption Assay (ELISA). Twenty-seven dogs were evaluated for anatomopathological examination with 92.6% having clinical signs. Splenomegaly and lymphadenomegaly were the main macroscopic changes. All dogs showed changes in the spleen, unrelated to the parasitic load, with granulomatous splenitis being the most severe change. Diffuse cortical and paracortical hyperplasia and spinal cord hyperplasia and hypertrophy were observed in the lymph nodes. Amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. were found in the spleen and lymph node during histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations, with good agreement between these evaluations (k = 0.55, p = 0.00124), but no difference was observed in the parasitic intensity of these organs (p = 0.23) . Thus, the spleen and lymph node reactive to leishmaniasis on the DPP® and ELISA tests show histomorphological changes resulting from the disease. In addition, the spleen and lymph node have a parasitic load similar to those found by direct diagnostic methods