Anatomopathologic Study of Kidneys parasitized by Dioctophyme renale in Dogs

Background: Dioctophymiasis is a disease caused by the nematode Dioctophyme renale and is a relatively common condition in dogs. The parasite affects the kidney, especially the right, enters the kidney capsule and causes destruction and atrophy of the parenchyma. The lesion severity depends on the amount of parasites affecting the kidney, the duration of the infection, number of kidneys involved and concurrent occurrence of kidney disease. The disease’s clinical presentation may be asymptomatic or with nonspecific clinical signs. The diagnosis is based on ultrasound examination and the detection of eggs in urine, however, diagnosis is often reached only through necropsy or histopathology. This study aimed to analyze the dog kidney anatomical and pathological changes when parasitized by Dioctophyme renale.Materials, Methods & Results: The kidneys of 21 dogs diagnosed with dioctophymiasis were nephrectomized, analyzed by ultrasound and forwarded to macro and microscopic analysis. Macroscopically, the kidney size was measured as well as its renal capsule thicknes. The presences of dilatation of the renal pelvis and ureter, as well as changes of the capsule, were also observed. These fragments were collected and submitted for routine analysis and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histopathological examination was performed blindly by three evaluators. The intensity of fibrosis was evaluated by the presence or absence of infiltration, the absence or presence of parasite eggs and when present whether there was inflammatory tissue response, among other changes. All received organs were right kidneys and showed clear atrophy or absence of the parenchyma. The kidney size ranged from 3,8x2,5x1,3 cm to 8,4x8,2x4,0 cm and the capsule thickness between 0.1 and 3.6cm. In renal capsule were observed whitish, irregular and firm plates (10 out of 21 cases) and papilliform projections (4 out of 21). In two specimens were identified cases of hydroureter and hydronephrosis. Microscopically, all specimens had some degree of fibrosis which replaced the renal parenchyma, six classified as mild, ten were moderate and five intense. In 13 cases there was intense deposition of parasite eggs and 18 cases showed inflammatory infiltrate of which one was pyogranulomatous and one granulomatous. Papilliform projections were observed in six out of 21 cases (composed of connective tissue proliferation and neovascularization), there was also hyperplasia of the pelvis transition epithelial (6 out of 21) and osseous metaplasia of the renal capsule (4 out of 21). The vessels walls were hypertrophic in nine out of 21 cases.Discussion: The diagnosis of dioctophymiasis was performed by ultrasonography. All 21 kidneys analyzed were rights; this is related to the parasite penetration in the duodenal wall, which tends to migrate by anatomic proximity to the right kidneys. Dioctophyme renale feeds through digestion and ingestion of the renal parenchyma by the action of parasite’s oesophageal enzymes causing progressive destruction of the cortical and medullar layers and consequently the proliferation of fibrous tissue. In this study, different intensities of fibrosis were observed. Bone metaplasia characterizes the chronicity of the process and the connective tissue’s attempt to adapt. Animals affected by dioctophymiasis often develop chronic renal failure. Chronic renal failure is characterized by continuous and irreversible morphologic changes in the renal parenchyma with loss of nephron components and the formation of a vicious cycle of replacement by fibrous connective tissue. The hypertrophy of vascular epithelium observed in six cases of this study may be associated with fibrous connective tissue proliferation stimulus. The injuries described here may be related to the parasitosis late diagnosis

Study of hepatic lesions in dogs and cats and poisoning in cats

This dissertation deals with hepatic-biliary disorders in dogs and cats diagnosed in the pathology sector of the UFPEL Veterinary School in a period of 38 years. The data are presented in a study cataloging the main diagnoses, with toxic and inflammatory causes being the most prevalent. There were 387 cases of dogs with hepatic-bile alterations, of which 24.9% were of toxic causes and 18.6% of inflammatory, infectious or parasitic causes, 13.6% of neoplastic causes, 12.1% of alterations degenerative diseases and 10.8% fibrotic changes. In 74 cats, 34.2% were of toxic origin, 19.2% of degenerative changes, 15% of neoplastic alterations and 9.6% of inflammatory causes. In this dissertation, 24 cases of intoxication in felines were reported, and the substances involved were coumarin derivatives, strychnine, ethylene glycol, fluoracetate, carpet glue, anti-fleas and Lilium sp. This data demonstrates the importance of hepatic-biliary alterations as cause of serious injuries and deaths in the regional casuistry in dogs and cats is concluded.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPESEsta dissertação trata-se de um estudo dos distúrbios hepático-biliares em cães e gatos diagnosticados na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul em um período de 38 anos. É apresentado um trabalho com a descrição dos principais diagnósticos, sendo as causas tóxicas e as inflamatórias as mais prevalentes. Foram contabilizados 387 casos de cães com alterações hepático-biliares com destes, 24,9% foram de causas tóxicas e 18,6% de causas inflamatórias, infecciosas ou parasitárias, 13,6% de causas neoplásicas,12,1% de alterações degenerativas e 10,8% de alterações fibróticas. Em felinos foram 74 diagnósticos, destes 34,2% eram de causa tóxica, 19,2% de alterações degenerativas, 15% de alterações neoplásicas e 9,6% de causas inflamatórias. É apresentado, também, um estudo que descreve 24 casos de intoxicação em felinos. As substâncias implicadas nas intoxicações foram derivados cumarínicos, estricnina, etilenoglicol, fluoracetato, cola de carpete, antipulgas e Lilium sp. O diagnóstico foi realizado com base na história clínica, além das lesões macro e microscópicas

Causes of neonatal mortality in dogs in the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul in the period from 2017 to 2019

Canine neonatal mortality is frequent, being around 20 to 30% in a litter and is associated with several factors, whether congenital or acquired, such as infectious diseases or the neonatal triad. Neonatal mortality represents economic, genetic and emotional losses. Studies in relation to the diagnosis of diseases that affect neonates are necessary to understand their causes and indicate the proper management of offspring. Included in this thesis are four scientific papers. The first article is a literature review on veterinary neonatology, focusing on the main pathologies, such as bacteria and viruses that potentially cause neonatal mortality. Still, physiological and inherent causes of the newborn were addressed. The second article aimed to list the causes of neonatal mortality in cadavers sent to SOVET-UFPel. The most frequent diagnoses were congenital anomalies (32.1%), including meroanencephaly, gastroschisis, and anasarca, which represented 23.2% of the total deaths. The second most common cause in our study was infectious diseases (39.2%), being Streptococcus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. the bacteria most involved. Also, 28.7% of the cases had different causes or were inconclusive. The importance of complementary exams is emphasized, since only the autopsy provides little data for diagnosis in neonates, and complete data regarding the environment, management, delivery and, mainly, in relation to the parturient woman. The third article aims to report a case of meroanencephaly in a newborn dog, which has an area cerebrovasculosa, composed of rudimentary and disorganized glial and nervous tissue, rarely seen in veterinary medicine. The fourth article is a case report of neonatal septicemia in dogs, caused by Streptococcus canis, despite being a common bacterium, it is capable of causing serious injuries in animals and humans. Lesions are poorly described in neonates. The animal in the report had severe liver damage and bacterial emboli in several organs, in addition to a positive culture for the bacteria in all analyzed organs. In view of the work carried out, it is noted the importance of diagnosing neonatal pathologies in order to contribute to reduce mortality and expand scientific knowledge about neonatal pathologies.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPESA mortalidade neonatal canina é frequente, estando em torno de 20 a 30% em uma ninhada e está associada a vários fatores, sejam eles congênitos ou adquiridos, como as doenças infecciosas ou a tríade neonatal. A mortalidade neonatal representa perdas econômicas, genéticas e emocionais. Estudos em relação ao diagnóstico das doenças que acometem os neonatos são necessários para compreender suas causas e indicar o manejo adequado da prole. Estão incluídos nesta tese, quatro trabalhos científicos. O primeiro artigo é uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a neonatologia veterinária, com foco nas principais patologias, como bactérias e vírus potencialmente causadores de mortalidade neonatal. Ainda, foram abordados causas fisiológicas e inerentes ao neonato. O segundo artigo teve como objetivo elencar as causas da mortalidade neonatal em cadáveres encaminhados ao SOVET- UFPel. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram as anomalias congênitas (32,1%), entre elas a meroanencefalia, gastrosquise, e a anasarca que representou 23,2% do total de óbitos. A segunda causa de maior ocorrência em nosso estudo foram as doenças infecciosas (39,2%), sendo o Streptococcus sp. e o Staphylococcus sp. as bactérias mais envolvidas. Também, 28,7% dos casos tiveram causas diversas ou foram inconclusivas. Salienta-se a importância de exames complementares, uma vez que apenas a necropsia fornece poucos dados para diagnóstico em neonatos, e de dados completos referentes ao ambiente, manejo, parto e, principalmente, em relação à parturiente. O terceiro artigo objetiva relatar um caso de meroanencefalia em um cão neonato, o qual apresenta uma area cerebrovasculosa, composta de tecido glial e nervoso rudimentares e desorganizados, raramente visto em medicina veterinária. O quarto artigo é um relato de caso de septicemia neonatal em cão, causada por Streptococcus canis, apesar de ser uma bactéria comum, é capaz de causar graves lesões em animas e humanos. As lesões são pouco descritas em neonatos. O animal do relato apresentava grave lesão hepática e êmbolos bacterianos em diversos órgãos, além de cultura positiva para a bactéria em todos os órgãos analisados. Tendo em vista o trabalho realizado, nota-se a importância de diagnosticar as patologias neonatais a fim de contribuir para diminuir a mortalidade e a ampliar o conhecimento científico empatologias neonatais

Dioctophyme renale (Nematoda: Enoplida) in domestic dogs and cats in the extreme south of Brazil

Abstract Dioctophyme renale is a zoonotic nematode that parasites the kidneys of wild and domestic carnivores, and it has been reported frequently in Brazil. The aim here was to register the number of cases of dogs and cats diagnosed with dioctophymosis by necropsy (1981 to 2014) and ultrasound examination (2010 to 2015) in Pelotas-RS. In this context, a survey was conducted on dioctophymosis cases diagnosed at the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory (LPV) and Veterinary Clinical Hospital (HCV) of the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), and at a specialist veterinary imaging diagnostics clinic. In total, 95 cases were registered. The high series of the disease in dogs can be related to the presence of a large number of stray and semi-domestic dogs in the city, and also due to the ingestion of intermediate hosts of D. renale parasitized with the infective larvae. Thus, it can be concluded that Pelotas is a city with favorable conditions for the occurrence of dioctophymosis with high rate of disease in recent years