Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma in African Goose (Anser cygnoides)

 Background: In birds, neoplasms are more frequently observed in Psittaciformes and Galliformes and rarely seen in Columbiformes and Anseriformes, with few reports of the occurrence of mesenchymal neoplasms such as leiomyosarcoma affecting birds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe a case of metastatic leiomyosarcoma in an African goose (Anser cygnoides), analyzing the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects. Case: A 10-month-old male African goose, was referred to the Veterinary Hospital, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, Paraiba, Brazil, whit ataxia, tremors of intention in the head, and nystagmus about one month ago, progressing to lateral decubitus. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, animal was euthanized. Samples of the organs of the coelomic cavity and central nervous system were collected for histologic examination. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. After fixation, the organs were embedded in paraffin, cut into 4-5 μm sections, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Paraffin blocks with liver, kidney and encephalon fragments were selected and sent for immunohistochemical analysis. The primary antibodies used were: alpha-smooth muscle actin (monoclonal 1A4), anti-vimentin (monoclonal, V9), CD57 (monoclonal, NK1) and cytokeratin (monoclonal, AE1/AE3) and incubated for 18 h at 4Cº. As an amplification and detection system polymer and labeled by addition of the liquid diaminobenzidine+substratechromogen system and counterstained with Harris hematoxylin. Macroscopically were observed in the liver nodular multifocal areas yellowish, sometimes coalescing, firm, and elevated to the surface that at the cut deepened to the parenchyma. In the left kidney there was a similar tumor mass. In the left frontal lobe, there was nodular focal area, well circumscribed, yellowish and protruding. To cutting surface it compressed the parietal and temporal lobe and showed surface yellowish and smooth. Microscopically, the liver was diffusely infiltrated by mesenchymal neoplasia, expansive, infiltrative, poorly circumscribed and not encapsulated, constituted by spindle cells arranged in interlaced bundles. The cells were elongated with sparse cytoplasm, slightly eosinophilic and indistinct borders with rounded to elongated nuclei, with coarse chromatin and evident nucleoli. In fragments of kidney and brain, neoplastic infiltration similar to that described in the liver was observed. In immunohistochemistry, neoplastic cells were positive with antibodies anti-vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin.Discussion: The diagnosis of metastatic leiomyosarcoma in an African goose was based on epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Reports of neoplasms in birds are relatively rare, however the occurrence of metastatic leiomyosarcoma affecting goose in the most varied locations has been described, from skin to organs of the coelomic cavity like kidney, ovary and intestinal wall. In this case, there is the unusual occurrence of dissemination in the liver, kidney and cerebral cortex, progressing to a neurological clinic condition. There are rare cases of metastatic leiomyosarcoma in geese African goose (Anser cygnoides). The main differential diagnoses include fibrosarcomas, neurofibrosarcomas and histiocytic sarcomas, which are similar macroscopically and histologically.Keywords: ornithopathology, mesenchymal neoplasms, anseriformes.Descritores: ornitopatologia, neoplasias mesenquimais, anseriformes.Título: Leiomiossarcoma metastáticoem ganso africano (Anser cygnoides

Colite necrohemorrágica causada por Entamoeba histolytica em um cão

Background: Intestinal amebiasis with morphological lesions and clinical manifestations is uncommon in dogs. The disease is caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, which is commonly observed in its natural hosts, humans and some non-human primates. It is occasionally found in the company of animals, usually associated with contact with infected humans. Thus, the objective here is to describe a case of necro-hemorrhagic colitis caused by E. histolytica in a dog infected with the canine distemper virus, in order to characterize the epidemiological and clinicopathological aspects of the disease.Case: An adult, mixed-breed bitch displaying anorexia and ataxia was referred to the veterinary hospital for treatment. Clinical evaluation showed a cachectic animal with 12% dehydration, ocular discharge, and bilateral purulent nasal dis-charge. A clinical diagnosis of distemper was made, and treatment was instituted. The dog’s signs progressed to walking in circles, aimlessly, with lethargy and blindness. After three days of the onset of neurological signs, the dog developed diarrhea with hematochezia. With no improvement noted, we elected to euthanize the dog. At necropsy, edema was present in subcutaneous tissues, and the lungs had yellow areas in the cranio-ventral portions, which the court was flowing purulent discharge. In the large intestine, segmental distention of the distal portion of the descending colon was observed. The segment was approximately 15 cm in length and consisted of irregular reddish areas. There was also slight thickening of the wall with edematous mucosa containing blood clots, fibrin, and multiple areas of ulceration. Microscopically showed necro-hemorrhagic colitis associated with rounded structures, approximately 15 μm in size, containing abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm that was slightly granular or vacuolated. They also contained nuclei and nucleoli that were central or slightly eccentric. These organisms were consistent with amoeba trophozoites. There was also demyelinating encephalitis associated with malacia, corpuscular intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions and / or intracytoplasmic inclusions in ependymal cells, astrocytes, and gemistocytes, characteristic of infection with canine distemper virus. Using immunohistochemistry with polyclonal anti-E. histolytica antibodies in the dilution of 1:1000, trophozoites were immunomarked, confirming the suspected amebiasis.Discussion: The diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis was based on clinical signs and by morphological characteristics on gross and microscopic examination, and was confirmed as E. histolytica by immunohistochemistry. Limited information on theepidemiology and pathological findings of infection with Entamoeba sp. has been reported in the literature, as it is relatively uncommon in pets. Affected animals are usually asymptomatic, but immunosuppression caused by canine distemper virus may have triggered the clinical manifestations of the disease in this dog. Enteritis due Entamoeba sp. should be considered in dogs with chronic weight loss and bloody diarrhea. It should also be included in the differential diagnoses for weight loss and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, such as canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus 1, Pythium insidiosum, and Giardia sp

Nocardiosis in Cats - Clinical, Anatomopathological and Morphotintorial Characteristics

Background: Nocardiosis is an infectious bacterial disease that can cause cutaneous/ subcutaneous, pulmonary and systemic lesions in different species of domestic animals. The type of transmission occurs through mechanical lesions on the skin or contamination of wounds, in cases of skin involvement, inhalation of aerosols and ingestion of contaminated materials are involved in the pathogenesis of the respiratory and digestive form of the disease. This paper described 4 cases of nocardiosis in cats, addressing the clinical, anatomopathological and morphotintorial characteristics of Nocardia sp.Cases: Four cases of nocardiosis in cats were reviewed, in which data related to breed, sex, age, origin, clinical signs, macroscopic and histological lesions described in necropsy protocols were evaluated. The histological tissue sections stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) were evaluated in order to characterize the inflammatory response in each case. In addition, paraffin blocks of fragments from affected organ were selected to perform special histochemical staining techniques of Grocott Methenamine Silver (GMS), modified Ziehl-Neelsen, Gram Brown-Brenn and Giemsa stain which are the most characterized techniques used for histopathological diagnoses and it was also used an immunohistochemical test with polyclonal antibody anti-Nocardia sp. (non-commercial). The animals were adults of both sexes, mixed breed, not castrated and semi-domesticated. Neither immunosuppressive factors nor concomitant diseases were identified in the cases studied. The main clinical signs were apathy, anorexia, dehydration, phlegmon and draining tracts. Macroscopically, skin / subcutaneous tissue (3/4), skeletal muscle (2/4), lymph nodes (2/4), liver (2/4), omentum (1/4), spleen (1/4) were affected. In addition, it could be noted that mandibular bone (1/4), pleural tissue (1/4), left testicle (1/4) and Central Nervous System (CNS) (1/4) were also affected by this disease. Microscopically, regarding all cases, there was a pyogranulomatous inflammation in the affected organs. With respect to cases 1, 3 and 4, filamentous, branched, slightly basophilic structures in loose or individual aggregates in the interior of the pseudo-rosettes and in the necrotic areas were observed in the HE-stained tissue sections. In all cases submitted to special histochemical techniques, filamentous, branched, individual or loose aggregate structures were observed, the samples were impregnated with silver, and bacteria appear as blue using the Brown-Brenn Gram technique, and stained red in the modified Ziehl-Neelsen, and stained faintly pink in Giemsa stain. The bacteria were observed mainly in the border of the pyogranulomas, in the center of the pseudo-rosettes and in the necrotic areas, being compatible with the infection by Nocardia sp. All cases were positive for immunohistochemistry (IHC).Discussion: Nocardiosis was diagnosed in all cats in this study based on the anatomopathological findings associated with the visualization of the agent and its morphotintorial characteristics by using special histochemical stains and being confirmed by IHC. It occurs mainly in the cutaneous and/or subcutaneous tissues, with systemic involvement and death of the affected animals, in addition to affecting bone tissue considered an uncommon site for the disease. The diagnosis can be established based on the anatomopathological findings associated with the morphotintorial characteristics by using special histochemical stains, which are important for evidencing and morphologically characterizing the agent, as well as being confirmed by IHC.Keywords: disease in cat, pyogranulomatous inflammation, Nocardia sp.Título: Nocardiose em gatos - achados clínicos, anatomopatológicos e morfotintoriais Descritores: doença de gato, inflamação piogranulomatosa, Nocardia sp. 

Strongyloidiasis in a Puppy in Northeastern Brazil

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is a nematode that causes intestinal infection in vertebrate hosts, especially in humans and dogs. The species S. stercoralis is responsible for chronic and asymptomatic infections in adult dogs or serious infections in puppies and immunosuppressed animals. In Brazil, natural infection in dogs was demonstrated by coproparasitological and serological methods, however, there are no reports that address the clinicopathological characteristics of the infection in the canine species. Thus, this paper aims to describe the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of S. stercoralis infection in a puppy in Northeastern Brazil.Case: A puppy female Chihuahua was referred to the Animal Pathology Laboratory of the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Campina Grande for necropsy with a historic of severe respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal changes that included sanguineous diarrhea and vomiting that evolved to death in 5 days. Grossly, there was a moderate amount of slightly reddish fluid in the thoracic cavity. The lungs remained expanded with a smooth, shiny, and diffusely reddish pleural surface interspersed with multifocal and blackened coalescent areas. Upon cutting, a moderate amount of slightly yellow foamy liquid flowed from the airways and trachea. In the duodenum, the mucosa was diffusely reddened. Histologically, there were multifocal to coalescent areas of moderate interalveolar accumulation of fibrin, edema and hemorrhage in the lung surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate composed of foamy macrophages associated with numerous parasitic structures in longitudinal and transverse sections in the alveolar lumen and pleural surface. In the duodenum, we observed flattening with diffuse and moderate fusion of the villi and multifocal areas of mucosal erosion. The crypts were moderately dilated, covered by attenuated epithelium, with numerous longitudinal and transversal sections of adult nematode parasites, larvae and eggs associated with inflammatory lymphplasmocytic infiltrate in the lamina propria. The morphological characteristics were compatible with the nematode S. stercoralis.Discussion: The diagnosis of strongyloidiasis was performed by means of microscopic lesions associated with parasitic structures morphologically compatible with the nematode S. stercoralis. This species is responsible for parasitism especially in humans, dogs, and cats. Parasites are the only ones that have a life cycle that involve free living form and parasitic. In this case, it was not possible to determine the primary portal of entry for the infection, but most infections commonly occur through the penetration of the larvae into the skin or mucous membranes, where they migrate via the haematogenous to the lung, then they are swallowed up to the intestine. Occasionally, there is autoinfection by larvae that enter the intestinal mucosa or perianal region and the contamination of neonates and puppies through the ingestion of milk. The clinical signs evidenced in this case, revealed the committed respiratory and gastrointestinal, possibly may be related to the migration of the larvae in the lungs and the destruction of the intestinal epithelium caused by the high number of parasites, respectively. It is concluded that strongyloidiasis is an uncommon infectious disease in puppies in Brazil, capable of causing severe respiratory and gastrointestinal changes that result in the death of animals with a high parasitic load and should be included in the differential diagnosis of diseases that affect the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract of dogs.Keywords: dog disease, parasitic infection, nematode, Strongyloides stercoralis

Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma in African Goose (Anser cygnoides)

 Background: In birds, neoplasms are more frequently observed in Psittaciformes and Galliformes and rarely seen in Columbiformes and Anseriformes, with few reports of the occurrence of mesenchymal neoplasms such as leiomyosarcoma affecting birds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe a case of metastatic leiomyosarcoma in an African goose (Anser cygnoides), analyzing the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects. Case: A 10-month-old male African goose, was referred to the Veterinary Hospital, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, Paraiba, Brazil, whit ataxia, tremors of intention in the head, and nystagmus about one month ago, progressing to lateral decubitus. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, animal was euthanized. Samples of the organs of the coelomic cavity and central nervous system were collected for histologic examination. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. After fixation, the organs were embedded in paraffin, cut into 4-5 μm sections, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Paraffin blocks with liver, kidney and encephalon fragments were selected and sent for immunohistochemical analysis. The primary antibodies used were: alpha-smooth muscle actin (monoclonal 1A4), anti-vimentin (monoclonal, V9), CD57 (monoclonal, NK1) and cytokeratin (monoclonal, AE1/AE3) and incubated for 18 h at 4Cº. As an amplification and detection system polymer and labeled by addition of the liquid diaminobenzidine+substratechromogen system and counterstained with Harris hematoxylin. Macroscopically were observed in the liver nodular multifocal areas yellowish, sometimes coalescing, firm, and elevated to the surface that at the cut deepened to the parenchyma. In the left kidney there was a similar tumor mass. In the left frontal lobe, there was nodular focal area, well circumscribed, yellowish and protruding. To cutting surface it compressed the parietal and temporal lobe and showed surface yellowish and smooth. Microscopically, the liver was diffusely infiltrated by mesenchymal neoplasia, expansive, infiltrative, poorly circumscribed and not encapsulated, constituted by spindle cells arranged in interlaced bundles. The cells were elongated with sparse cytoplasm, slightly eosinophilic and indistinct borders with rounded to elongated nuclei, with coarse chromatin and evident nucleoli. In fragments of kidney and brain, neoplastic infiltration similar to that described in the liver was observed. In immunohistochemistry, neoplastic cells were positive with antibodies anti-vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin.Discussion: The diagnosis of metastatic leiomyosarcoma in an African goose was based on epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Reports of neoplasms in birds are relatively rare, however the occurrence of metastatic leiomyosarcoma affecting goose in the most varied locations has been described, from skin to organs of the coelomic cavity like kidney, ovary and intestinal wall. In this case, there is the unusual occurrence of dissemination in the liver, kidney and cerebral cortex, progressing to a neurological clinic condition. There are rare cases of metastatic leiomyosarcoma in geese African goose (Anser cygnoides). The main differential diagnoses include fibrosarcomas, neurofibrosarcomas and histiocytic sarcomas, which are similar macroscopically and histologically.Keywords: ornithopathology, mesenchymal neoplasms, anseriformes.Descritores: ornitopatologia, neoplasias mesenquimais, anseriformes.Título: Leiomiossarcoma metastáticoem ganso africano (Anser cygnoides

Colite necrohemorrágica causada por Entamoeba histolytica em um cão

Background: Intestinal amebiasis with morphological lesions and clinical manifestations is uncommon in dogs. The disease is caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, which is commonly observed in its natural hosts, humans and some non-human primates. It is occasionally found in the company of animals, usually associated with contact with infected humans. Thus, the objective here is to describe a case of necro-hemorrhagic colitis caused by E. histolytica in a dog infected with the canine distemper virus, in order to characterize the epidemiological and clinicopathological aspects of the disease.Case: An adult, mixed-breed bitch displaying anorexia and ataxia was referred to the veterinary hospital for treatment. Clinical evaluation showed a cachectic animal with 12% dehydration, ocular discharge, and bilateral purulent nasal dis-charge. A clinical diagnosis of distemper was made, and treatment was instituted. The dog’s signs progressed to walking in circles, aimlessly, with lethargy and blindness. After three days of the onset of neurological signs, the dog developed diarrhea with hematochezia. With no improvement noted, we elected to euthanize the dog. At necropsy, edema was present in subcutaneous tissues, and the lungs had yellow areas in the cranio-ventral portions, which the court was flowing purulent discharge. In the large intestine, segmental distention of the distal portion of the descending colon was observed. The segment was approximately 15 cm in length and consisted of irregular reddish areas. There was also slight thickening of the wall with edematous mucosa containing blood clots, fibrin, and multiple areas of ulceration. Microscopically showed necro-hemorrhagic colitis associated with rounded structures, approximately 15 μm in size, containing abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm that was slightly granular or vacuolated. They also contained nuclei and nucleoli that were central or slightly eccentric. These organisms were consistent with amoeba trophozoites. There was also demyelinating encephalitis associated with malacia, corpuscular intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions and / or intracytoplasmic inclusions in ependymal cells, astrocytes, and gemistocytes, characteristic of infection with canine distemper virus. Using immunohistochemistry with polyclonal anti-E. histolytica antibodies in the dilution of 1:1000, trophozoites were immunomarked, confirming the suspected amebiasis.Discussion: The diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis was based on clinical signs and by morphological characteristics on gross and microscopic examination, and was confirmed as E. histolytica by immunohistochemistry. Limited information on theepidemiology and pathological findings of infection with Entamoeba sp. has been reported in the literature, as it is relatively uncommon in pets. Affected animals are usually asymptomatic, but immunosuppression caused by canine distemper virus may have triggered the clinical manifestations of the disease in this dog. Enteritis due Entamoeba sp. should be considered in dogs with chronic weight loss and bloody diarrhea. It should also be included in the differential diagnoses for weight loss and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, such as canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus 1, Pythium insidiosum, and Giardia sp

Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Amazona aestiva

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary malignant tumor of the liver tissue and its occurrence in birds is considered rare. The tumor can occur as a single mass leading to hepatomegaly, or as multiple nodules in the liver. In animals of the genus Amazona, only 1 case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma has been reported in the United States, therefore, little is known about its epidemiology and clinicopathological aspects in these species. In this context, the aim of this work was to describe a case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in an Amazona aestiva.Case: A blue-fronted amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) was referred to necropsy after being found dead in its enclosure. On examination, it presented cachectic body score. Examination of the coelomic cavity, revealed a serous translucent fluid and adhesions between the liver and peritoneum.A red mass restricted to the right hepatic lobe and raised to the capsular surface, interspersed with whitish and dark red multifocal areas was observed. When cut, this mass was soft, protruding, multilobulated, whitish and with a friable reddish center. Additionally, on the dorsal surface of the left lung lobe, therewas a rounded, well defined, whitish, and soft nodule. Microscopically, partial replacement of the hepatic parenchyma was observed by neoplastic proliferation of cuboidal epithelial cells, organized in mantle and supported by a scarce fibrovascular stroma. Cells have large, eosinophilic, well-delimited cytoplasm, with a central, oval nucleus, loose chromatin, and evident nucleolus. Moderate pleomorphism was characterized by anisocytosis, anisokaryosis, and aberrant nuclei. In the lung, a focally extensive mass with a pattern similar to that seen in the liver was observed. In the kidney, multifocal neoplastic emboli were noted. Liver immunohistochemistry was performed. Positive and negative controls were used to validate the reaction; however, there was no immunolabelling for the evaluated antibodies.Discussion: The histopathological characteristics observed in this study favored the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with metastasis to kidney and lung. Primary liver tumors are rare in wild birds. In ducks, experimental studies have pointed aflatoxins and the duck hepatitis B virus as oncogenic agents, however, in birds of the genus Amazona, there are no studies that evaluate predisposing factors to the development of liver carcinoma. Macroscopically, hepatocellular carcinoma may present in massive, nodular or diffuse forms. In birds, the right lobe is the largest, which may suggest that this lobe is more prone to the development of HCC, as seen in the present case. The solid form, similar to that observed in this report, seems to be more commonly observed, as seen in the wild bird reports consulted. Metastases most often spread hematogenous, and in the present report there was metastasis to kidneys and lungs, which is a common feature for this neoplasm. In the present case, there was no labeling by any of the antibodies, perhaps because of their aggressiveness, associated with autolytic factors that prevent the labeling of antibodies, in addition to the specificity in the antibodyantigen relationship. This tumor must be differentiated from other liver tumors such as cholangiocarcinoma, and also the well-differentiated hepatocellular adenoma, in addition to non-neoplastic conditions. HCC should be considered as a differential diagnosis for Amazona aestiva found dead in the enclosure without previous clinical signs. This neoplasm is rare in Amazon parrots and reports should be encouraged in order to contribute to the understanding of the epidemiologicaland clinicopathological aspects of the tumor. Keywords: avian pathology, liver, neoplasm, immunohistochemistry. Título: Carcinoma Hepatocelular Metastático em Amazona aestiva Descritores: patologia aviária, fígado, neoplasma, imuno-histoquímica