Eosinophilic Bronchopneumopathy in Dogs

Background: The eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP) is characterized by pulmonary infiltration with eosinophils. The etiology of canine EBP remains unclear, although hypersensitivity to aeroallergens is suspected. Dogs affected are usually young. The persistent cough is the most common clinical sign, often associated with respiratory difficulty and exercise intolerance. The diagnosis is based on signalment, radiographic and bronchoscopic findings, and the tissue eosiphilic infiltration demonstrated by cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). No reports were found in Brazil. The aim of this paper is report four cases of canine BPE, with emphasis on clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy.Cases: Case 1. A 18-month-old female dog with 12 kg of body weight was presented for consultation with a 60-day history of cough, inappetence and weariness. It presented cough and tachypnea. The complementary exams demonstrated peripheral eosinophilia, bronchointersticial pulmonary pattern on radiography, moderate amount of mucus on bronchoscopy andtissue eosinophilis infiltration on the BAL. The treatment was based on steroids, with improvement of clinical signs. Case 2. A 24-month-old female dog with 16 kg of body weight was presented for consultation with one-year history of cough, inappetence and lethargy. It presented only cough, and in complementary exams showed transitory peripheral eosinophilia, bronchointersticial pattern on radiography and predominantly eosinophilic inflammation on citology of BAL. The therapy was based on steroids, with improvement followed by worsening of signs, with need of readjustment of doses. Case 3. A 8-year-old male dog with 6.2 kg of body weight was presented for consultation with 3-weeks history of productive cough,vomiting and weight loss. The complementary exams showed peripheral eosinophilia, bronchointersticial pulmonary patternon radiography and eosinophils infiltration on cytology of BAL. It was used steroids as therapy, with improvement of signs. Case 4. A 2-month-old female dog with 2.8 kg of body weight was presented for consultation with 3-days history of cough, nasal discharge and inappetence. It presented severe expiratory dyspnoea, tachypnea, harsh cough, lung crackles on auscultation and lethargy. The complementary exams demonstrated leukocytosis by peripheral eosinophilia and neutrophilia, bronchointersticial and alveolar pulmonar radiographic pattern. The therapy was started with steroids, febendazole and antibiotics. Tracheal swab was obtained and it showed eosinophilic inflammation on cytology. After 20-days treatment, the signs improved. Maintenance therapy was performed with steroids.Discussion: The EBP is usually reported in young patients, as described in three cases. The cough showed predominant clinically, associated with lethargy and inappetence in half of cases, as well as with dyspnea and weariness. The peripheral eosinophilia was observed in all patients, although transient in one of them, not being mandatory for the diagnosis.Despite there are not a specific radiographic pattern to the diagnosis, the bronchointersticial pattern was common to the four animals, with worsening of the radiographic findings possibly related to worsening clinical findings. The definitive diagnosis made through identification of eosinophilic inflammatory infiltration by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Steroidtherapy proved to be effective in the four cases.Keywords: eosinophils, bronchus, lung parenchyma, dog

Ocorrência de doenças infecciosas em gatos do Planalto Catarinense

Cats are among the most common pets in the world. The close relationship between human beings and cats supports the importance of epidemiologic studies on feline diseases. Therefore, this study showed the occurrence of infectious diseases in cats at the Veterinary Clinics Hospital (HCV) of Santa Catarina State University (UDESC), in Lages (SC, Brazil), as well as identifying the major clinical signs presented in each affection. Hence, 825 medical records were reviewed, from February 2013 to July 2015. Among the reviewed records, 20/285 (2,42%) were diagnosed with infectious diseases. The distribution of infectious diseases was: viral 12/20 (60,00%); bacterial 4/20 (20,00%); fungal 3/20 (15,00%) and caused by protozoa 1/20 (5,00%). Among these infectious diseases, the most diagnosed agent was Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) [12/20 (60,00%)]. The most observed clinical signs were anemia (6/12 [50,00%]), followed by leukemia (4/12 [33,33%]) and lymphoma (2/12 [16,67%]). The study also showed the occurrence of infectious diseases according to some selection standards, for instance, breed, age, sex, outdoor access, inhabiting with other pets and vaccination status. The most affected group of animals were non-vaccinated male cats, which had direct contact with other felines and outdoor access, demonstrating the close relationship between the lack of health care and the occurrence of feline infectious diseases.Os gatos estão entre os animais de estimação mais comuns no mundo inteiro e é cada vez mais estreito o seu convívio com os humanos, o que torna os estudos epidemiológicos relativos às doenças que afetam essa espécie de grande importância. Portanto, este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a ocorrência de doenças infecciosas em gatos atendidos no Hospital de Clínicas Veterinárias (HCV) da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), no município de Lages, assim como identificar os principais sinais clínicos apresentados por cada uma destas. Para isso, foram revisados 825 prontuários de consultas clínicas de gatos, arquivados no HCV, do período de fevereiro de 2013 a julho de 2015. Dentre os prontuários revisados, 20/825 (2,42%) apresentaram diagnóstico definitivo de doenças infecciosas. A distribuição das enfermidades classificadas como infecciosas foram as seguintes: virais 12/20 (60,00%); bacterianas 4/20 (20,00%); fúngicas 3/20 (15,00%) e causadas por protozoário 1/20 (5,00%). Dentre as doenças infecciosas, a mais ocorrente foi com o vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV) [12/20 (60,00%)], cujas manifestações clínicas encontradas foram a anemia [6/12 (50,00%)], seguida pela leucemia [4/12[(33,33%)] e pelo linfoma [2/12(16,67%)]. Também foi obtida a ocorrência das doenças infecciosas de acordo com alguns critérios de seleção, como raça, idade, sexo, acesso à rua, contato com outros animais e status de vacinação. Gatos machos, não vacinados, com acesso livre à rua e contato direto com outros felinos estiveram em maior número dentre os doentes, o que demonstra a íntima relação da falta de cuidados básicos de saúde desses animais com a ocorrência das doenças infecciosas na espécie

Ocorrência de parvovirose e cinomose em cães no Planalto Catarinense

This study determined the occurrence of parvovirus and distemper in dogs treated at the Veterinary Clinics Hospital (HCV) of Universidade Estadual de Santa Catarina (UDESC). For such, 3198 medical records filed in the HCV, from February 2013 to July 2015, were reviewed.  From the records, 145 (4.53%) dogs were diagnosed with parvovirus (76 [2.38%]) or distemper (69 [2.15%]). The most common clinical signs of parvovirus were gastrointestinal signs (76 [100%]), having hematochezia as the most commonly observed (74 [97.37%]); for distemper, neurological signs (48 [69.56%]) were most frequently described and myoclonus had the highest occurrence (31 [64.58%]). Regarding complete blood count, the most observed variation in parvovirus was leukopenia by neutropenia and lymphopenia (20 [71.43%]). Distemper showed lymphopenia (28 [59.57%]). It was also observed that the occurrence of distemper and parvovirus were higher according to some selection criteria: breed, age, outdoor access, having contact with other animals and vaccination status. Young non-vaccinated dogs with outdoor access had the highest occurrence ratio. This study showed that viral infectious diseases presented low occurrence, and parvovirus was the most reported agent.Este estudo teve como principal objetivo determinar a ocorrência de parvovirose e cinomose nos cães atendidos no Hospital de Clínicas Veterinárias (HCV) da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC). Para isso, foram revisados 3198 prontuários de consultas clínicas de cães, arquivados no HCV, do período de fevereiro de 2013 a julho de 2015. Entre os prontuários revisados, 145 (4,53%) foram diagnosticados com parvovirose (76 [2,38%]) ou cinomose (69 [2,15%]). Os sinais clínicos mais encontrados de cada doença foram: para a parvovirose, os sinais gastrointestinais (76 [100%]), dos quais a hematoquezia foi a mais observada (74 [97,37%]); para a cinomose, os sinais neurológicos (48 [69,56%]), sendo a mioclonia de maior ocorrência (31 [64,58%]). Com relação aos resultados do hemograma, a alteração mais encontrada na parvovirose foi a leucopenia por neutropenia e linfopenia (20 [71,43%]), já na cinomose foi a linfopenia (28 [59,57%]). Também foram observadas a ocorrência de cinomose e parvovirose de acordo com alguns critérios de seleção, como raça, idade, sexo, acesso à rua, contato com outros animais e status de vacinação. Apresentaram maior ocorrência destas doenças os cães jovens, não vacinados e com acesso livre à rua. No âmbito geral, as doenças infecciosas virais na população em estudo se mostraram de baixa ocorrência, sendo a parvovirose a mais relatada.

Avaliação histológica, histoquímica, morfométrica e radiográfica de traquéias de cães portadores de colapso traqueal

Exportado OPUSMade available in DSpace on 2019-08-13T20:18:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_paulo_ferian.pdf: 4292459 bytes, checksum: a08e6faca0afbe92a56808ff96fb3778 (MD5) Previous issue date: 8O presente trabalho teve o intuito de estudar as alterações morfológicas que ocorrem na traquéia de cães portadores de colapso traqueal, suas consequências macroscópicas para o órgão e implicações na interpretação de exames de imagem. Para tanto, foram selecionadas por meio de avaliação post-mortem 31 traquéias que apresentavam anormalidades anatômicas compatíveis com a doença e cinco traquéias com configuração anatômica normal para o grupo controle. Foram coletados um anel cartilaginoso na porção cervical e um na porção torácica de cada animal. As amostras dos dois grupos foram processadas rotineiramente e submetidas à coloração de HE, safranina e tricrômico de Masson. Todos os animais do grupo com colapso traqueal apresentaram alterações degenerativas do anel de cartilagem hialina da traquéia, tais como substituição por tecido conjuntivo fibroso (65%), hipocelularidade (65%), diminuição da concentração de glicosaminoglicanos (61%), necrose de condrócitos com calcificação da matriz (55%) e formação de ilhas de cartilagem separadas do anel (31%). Não houve diferença na intensidade das lesões entre os segmentos cervicais e torácicos. Realizou-se também estudo morfométrico das alterações macroscópicas que decorrem da moléstia. A avaliação demonstrou que ocorre achatamento do anel com consequente alargamento da membrana traqueal dorsal nos animais doentes, e estas alterações são mais intensas na porção cervicotorácica. Apesar da deformidade, não há diminuição importante da área de fluxo de ar de maneira estática, sendo o colapso essencialmente dinâmico, o que implica em importantes considerações na interpretação dos exames de imagem. Por fim, foram radiografados 102 animais de raças predispostas ao desenvolvimento da doença nas projeções latero-lateral inspiratória e expiratória. Observou-se uma ocorrência acima de 70% nas raças Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier e Maltês. A realização de duas projeções aumentou a acurácia diagnóstica em relação a realização de uma projeção isolada. Contudo, a observação radiográfica de colapso nos segmentos cervical e cervicotorácico não ocorrem de maneira mais frequente na inspiração, como se acreditava até então. Em concordância com a avaliação morfométrica, a alteração foi predominante nos segmentos cervical e cervicotorácico da traquéiaThe purpose of the study reported here were to analyzed the morphological changes in trachea of dogs with tracheal collapse and the macroscopic result in this organ as well as the implications on the radiographic exams. It was selected thirty one tracheas by post-mortem assessment who presented anatomic abnormality compatible with the disease and five control tracheas group. One cervical tracheal ring and one thoracic tracheal ring were collected. The sample of two groups were processed and stained with H&E, safranina and Masson trichrome. All the animals belonging to the tracheal collapse group, presented degenerative alterations in the hyaline cartilage of tracheal rings such as replacement for fibrous connective tissue (65%) , hypocellularity (65%), decrease of the concentration of GAGs (61%), necrosis of chondrocytes with cartilage matrix calcification (55%), and the formation of cartilage isles aparted from the ring (31%). The differences were not significant in injuries between cervical and thoracic rings. It was also made a morphometric study of the macroscopic changes in the tracheal collapse. The assessment shows that occurs a dorsoventral flattening of the tracheal rings in the sick dogs and these changes were more intense in the cervicothoracic portion. In the spite of the abnormality, there is no important decrease in the static airway. The tracheal collapse is dynamic and because of this, the radiographic interpretations were important. At last, was made in the 102 dogs who have tendency to present the tracheal collapse, a radiographic evaluation in lateral views during the inspiratory and expiratory phases. It was observed a occurrence above 70% in the breeds of Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier and Maltês. The carry out of this two radiographic views, contributed for increase the diagnostic. Until now, everybody believes that the tracheal collapse occur with most frequency in the inspiratory phase on the cervical and cervicothoracic segment. This study showed that this statement isnt tru

Síndrome hipereosinofílica idiopática do rottweiler: relato de caso

Eosinophils are cells of the immune system that have several important functions including phagocytosis of microorganisms, antigen presentation, contribution to chronic inflammation, and immunity against parasites. The hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare disease in humans that is characterized by persistent eosinophilia (over six months) and variable eosinophil infiltration in organs such as the lungs, spleen, liver, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and gastrointestinal tract. Once in the tissues, these cells can cause damage by various mechanisms such as release of cytotoxic oxygen free radical and proteins. No etiology has yet been established for HES. The clinical signs vary and relate to the organs involved. In veterinary medicine, the disease has been described in cats, but rarely in dogs, with Rottweilers apparently more predisposed to developing the disease. Owing to the small number of cases reported in the veterinary literature, the prognosis of this disease and the most appropriate treatment options are unclear. Although it can be fatal in animals showing severe clinical symptoms, spontaneous remission may also occur. This study reports a case of HES in a Rottweiler in which the predominant clinical sign was abdominal effusion. We discuss the clinical and laboratory aspects of the disease.Os eosinófilos são células do sistema imunológico que tem importantes funções, tais como fagocitose de micro-organismos, apresentação de antígenos, contribuição para a cronicidade do processo inflamatório e imunidade contra parasitas. A síndrome hipereosinofílica (SHE) é uma enfermidade rara que acomete seres humanos, caracterizada por eosinofilia periférica persistente (acima de seis meses) e infiltração variável de eosinófilos em diferentes órgãos, como pulmão, baço, fígado, linfonodos, medula óssea e o trato gastrointestinal. Uma vez nos tecidos, essas células causam danos por diversos mecanismos, como liberação de proteínas citotóxicas e radicais livres de oxigênio. Não é possível identificar uma etiologia nos casos de SHE. Os sinais clínicos são varáveis, e diretamente relacionados com os órgãos acometidos. Em medicina veterinária, a moléstia já foi descrita em felinos, mas raramente em cães, sendo que animais da raça Rottweiler são mais predispostos ao desenvolvimento da doença. Em função do pequeno número de casos descritos na literatura veterinária, a evolução da doença e as opções mais apropriadas de tratamento são pouco conhecidas. Embora alguns animais apresentem sinais clínicos graves, podendo evoluir para o óbito, a remissão espontânea também pode ocorrer. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo relatar um caso de SHE com sinal clínico predominante de efusão abdominal em um filhote de cão da raça Rottweiler, abordando aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais da enfermidade

Clinical and Haematological Disorders in Cats with Natural and Progressive Infection by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Background: Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is an important infectious agent in cats, responsible for great health damages and a large death amount. Among the most common clinical disorders caused by FeLV, severe hematological changes are related at the progressive infection, ordinarily presented as cytopenias. Regarding its oncogenic potential, lymphoma and leukemia are the most observed illness originated by the agent. Therefore, this study has the goal of describing and comparing clinical and hematological disorders in FeLV positive cats from a selected population.Materials, Methods & Results: Data of clinical evaluations of felines from a previously performed cross-sectional epidemiological study were compiled. This study obtained the prevalence of FeLV infected cats in Santa Catarina Plateau. Three groups were established from the original sample of 274 cats; Group 1 (control), FeLV negative and none clinical alterations (n = 80); Group 2, FeLV positive and none clinical changes (n = 9); Group 3, FeLV positive cats with clinical disorders (n = 29). Physical and hematological examination data were obtained from the medical records. The clinical changes at Group 3 were mucosal pallor (65.51% [19/29]), neurological disorders (20.69% [6/29]), lymphoma (20.69% [6/29]), coinfections (10.34% [3/29]) and leukemia (6.9% [2/29]). The most observed hematological disorders of Group 3 were anemia (65.51% [19/29]) and thrombocytopenia (62.7% [18/20]). At the complete blood count, the medium erythrocyte and eosinophil count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were lower for Group 3 than the other two groups. The mean number of platelets count were higher for Group 1 than Group 2 and 3. The mean of the other variables remained between reference numbers. However, a descriptive analysis within the groups demonstrated that lymphopenia was observed in 34.48% (10/29) and neutropenia in 17.24% (5/29) at the Group 3.  Discussion: The greater FeLV positive cats with clinical alterations number is a result of a sample obtained from a hospital population. In this scenario, cats are submitted to medical appointment in order to solve their clinical signs, not for purpose of infection screening. The frequency of non-neoplasic disease in FeLV positive cats was higher than neoplastic diseases. The mucosal pallor is the most important clinical change and it is an anemia consequence. A large number of clinical signs related in this study was non-specific. All the clinical changes are associated to FeLV infection, regardless the clinical syndrome observed. Neurological disorders frequency at this study was higher than other articles, being related to neoplastic lymphocytes in central nervous system at the resolved cases. Lymphoma and leukemia were the only neoplasms found in this FeLV study. Non-regenerative anemia was the main FeLV associated hematologic change. This disorder is originated by several mechanisms, such as the virus influence on bone marrow precursors and leukemic infiltration. Thrombocytopenia showed lower frequency than anemia and leukopenia, however, it was the second most common alteration in this study, which was observed in Group 2 and 3. The severe cytopenias related in Group 3 are probably due to the destruction or decrease of the production of these cells by the virus replication process. The clinical and hematological disorders found in this study, reveal the serious presentation and usually irreversible situation of this viral infection, originating important health harm to the affected cats

Oxidative Stress and Changes on the Adenosinergic System of Cats Infected by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Background: The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is clinically important retroviruses that infect domestic and wild feline worldwide, affecting more than 3 million cats representing a great risk for premature death. Some studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress, as well as the adenosinergic system, exert an important role in the pathogenesis of viral diseases. Oxidative stress is considered a disturbance in the antioxidant/oxidant status in favor of the excessive generation or lower removal of free radicals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether changes on the adenosinergic system and oxidative stress occurred in cats positives for feline leukemia virus (FeLV).Materials, Methods & Results: Forty-nine serum samples of cats (between 4 months and 13 years of age) seen at the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Santa Catarina State (UDESC - Lages, SC, Brazil) were used. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and stored in tubes without anticoagulant to obtain serum. An aliquot was used to detect both viral infections using the kit SNAP FIV/FeLV, that detects the p27 protein from FeLV and antibodies against the p24 protein from FIV. The test was performed according the manufacture’s recommendations. Based on this result, this study involved 20 FeLV negative cats, 20 FeLV positive symptomatic cats, and 9 FeLV positives asymptomatic cats. Serum samples were used to determine the activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reactive oxygen levels (ROS). Seric ADA and GST activities, as well as TBARS (lipid peroxidation) and ROS (free radical) levels were determined spectrophotometrically according to the specific method. Seric ADA activity was increased in symptomatic animals compared to negatives and also to asymptomatic positive animals, and the same was observed for seric TBARS levels. On the other hand, GST activity decreased in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups compared to the negative control group. No difference was observed regarding seric ROS levels.Discussion: The upregulation of seric ADA activity observed in this present study could contribute to the inflammatory process since it would decrease seric levels of Ado, a nucleoside with anti-inflammatory effects. Lipids, especially the polyunsaturated fatty acids, are sensitive to oxidation by free radicals, generating MDA, and cause to increase of TBARS levels. A significant negative correlation between lipid peroxidation and ADA activity in kidney samples of rats experimentally infected by protozoan, and these authors demonstrated that increase on lipid peroxidation is linked to decreased ADA activity. The reduction on seric GST activity can be explained since the antioxidant enzyme was unable to remove the excess of peroxides and superoxide anion, resulting on decreased cellular antioxidant activity. Based on these evidences, it is possible to conclude that symptomatic FeLV cats showed an upregulation on seric ADA activity associated to the impairment of the immune response, contributing to inflammatory processes. Moreover, FeLV symptomatic cats showed damage to lipids and an impairment on antioxidant/oxidant status, alterations compatible to oxidative stress and oxidative damage. In summary, these alterations contribute to the pathophysiology of FeLV infection, and can be used as markers of this disease

Fatal toxoplasmosis in an immunosuppressed domestic cat from Brazil caused by Toxoplasma gondii clonal type I

Abstract The objective of the study was to report on a fatal case of feline toxoplasmosis with coinfection with the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). A domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) presented intense dyspnea and died three days later. In the necropsy, the lungs were firm, without collapse and with many white areas; moderate lymphadenomegaly and splenomegaly were also observed. The histopathological examination showed severe necrotic interstitial bronchopneumonia and mild necrotic hepatitis, associated with intralesional cysts and tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii that were positive by anti-T. gondii immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation. The bone marrow showed chronic myeloid leukemia and the neoplastic cells were positive by anti-FeLV IHC evaluation. DNA extracted from lungs was positive for T. gondii by PCR targeting REP-529. T. gondii was characterized by PCR-RFLP and by the microsatellites technique. ToxoDB-PCR-RFLP #10, i.e. the archetypal type I, was identified. Microsatellite analysis showed that the strain was a variant of type I with two atypical alleles. This was the first time that a T. gondii clonal type I genotype was correlated with a case of acute toxoplasmosis in a host in Brazil