Natural Coinfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in a feral pigeon (Columba livia)

Background: Rock pigeon (Columba livia) is an exotic and invasive species of the Columbidae family found in several cities around the world, including Brazilian cities, and close to humans. This species is found in large populations often in public locations, where people may have contact. Several studies have demonstrated the isolation of human pathogens from these birds. However, there are scarce studies describing infections by Gram-negative bacteria to which pigeons are susceptible. Therefore, this report aimed to describe a case of natural coinfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in a feral pigeon.Case: A sick feral pigeon was delivered at the Laboratory of Ornithological Studies, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. Due to poor prognosis, the individual was euthanized with ketamine via intravenous injection and submitted to necropsy, in which samples were collected for microbiological and histopathological procedure. The procedure was performed aseptically and samples were collected from intestine, liver, spleen, heart and lung. Bacterial isolation was performed with culture media selective for Gram negative bacteria and strains were identified biochemically. Histopathological examination was performed with conventional method and slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. DNA from E. coli isolates was extracted with simples boiling method and submitted to uniplex conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose diarrheagenic pathotypes with specific primers for the following genes: aaiC, aatA, eaeA, stx1, stx2, eltB, estA and ipaH. Escherichia coli was isolated from the intestine, liver, spleen and lung, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was present in liver, spleen and lung. E. coli strains from liver and spleen were positive for the aaiC gene, which is a diagnostic gene for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) pathotype. Necropsy revealed the presence of several caseous lesions around the head of the bird, cellulitis in the abdominal region, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, hemorrhagic intestine and pericarditis. Microscopical findings were most intense in liver and lung samples, presenting vascular and inflammatory alterations. Histopathological alterations indicated an acute presentation of the infections and several lesions in different organs, demonstrating the septicemic characteristic of the microorganisms involved in this case.Discussion: Both pathogens in this report were identified mostly in the same organs, which may indicate that there was an association in the pathogenesis. However, the entry routes of infection in this case may have been different, considering that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not isolated from the intestine. The histopathological findings were not pathognomonic for either pathogen. However, some characteristic lesions were observed, such as cellulitis, which is commonly attributed to Escherichia coli. EAEC strains are human pathogens that cause acute and persistent diarrhea around the world. These microorganisms could be potentially transmitted to humans, as suggested by other studies with feral pigeons and enteric pathogens. However, the absence of reports of pigeon-transmitted diarrheagenic infections in humans may suggest that pigeons are only reservoirs of these pathogens. In addition, as this report demonstrates, these birds may also suffer from these infections. In conclusion, the free-living pigeon presented a natural occurring case of coinfection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Both are human opportunistic pathogens, and may have public health implication

Condrolipoma na orelha de um cão

Background: Lipoma is defined as a tumor composed of mature adipocytes, identical to the cells that form normal adult fat. Other elements may also be present, such as cartilaginous tissue. Chondrolipoma is characterized by the presence of differentiated cartilage islands spread within a typical lipoma, in which mucin and collagen can be observed around isles of chondrocytes. This condition affects mainly middle-aged or elderly dogs as well as elderly humans. In the scientific literature, chondrolipomas have not yet been described on the ear of dogs. Therefore, this study aimed to report a case of chondrolipoma on the ear of a dog and its histopathological and histochemical description.Case: A female, 10-year-old, Labrador retriever dog was admitted to the Veterinarian Hospital of the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, Brazil. The dog was presented with an ulcerated pendulous nodule on the ear, with a clinical evolution of approximately 7 months. A biopsy sample was taken and submitted to the Veterinary Histopathology Laboratory of the UFPB. Macroscopic evaluation revealed a pendulous and firm nodule, with a round apex, measuring 1.3cm in diameter. The epidermis covering the nodule exhibited an ulcer of 0.5cm in length. The nodule exhibited resistance to cutting and the surface was dark red with hard areas in the center. Sample was fixed in 10% formalin and routinely processed for histology, embedded in paraffin, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), alcian blue (AB), Masson’s trichrome (MT), and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Histopathological evaluation revealed that the nodule was encapsulated, formed by adipocytes of variable sizes. Adipocytes were well-differentiated and the nodule was defined as lipoma. Within the lipoma there was proliferation of chondrocyte islands in a bluish basophilic matrix. Adjacently, abundant fibrous connective tissue was found intertwined with blood vessels. Some vessels exhibited red blood cells in the vicinity, indicating hemorrhage. The epidermis covering the nodule was slightly acanthotic and moderately hyperkeratotic. MT staining marked the fibrous tissue in blue. AB staining revealed blue areas confirming the presence of mucin around cartilage islands. PAS staining revealed the presence of glycogen between mesenchymal cells, which included chondrocytes.Discussion: The diagnosis of chondrolipoma was concluded with the presence of a well-differentiated lipoma, randomly intertwined with cartilage islands, which were also well-differentiated and spread within a typical lipoma. Additionally, the presence of mucin and collagen around the isles of chondrocytes facilitated the diagnosis. Chondrocytes presented different phases of maturation. The case described here exhibited microscopic characteristics that were similar but somewhat different to those previously reported by other authors, in considering that the nodule was encapsulated, and did not exhibit cell atypia or mineralization in the cartilage islands. Most studies published used PAS and Masson’s trichrome staining techniques to confirm the diagnosis of chondrolipoma. However, alcian blue also aids in diagnosing this condition. The tumor developed for months before the dog was taken to a veterinarian, when it finally became ulcerated, which characterized it as non-invasive. Chondrolipoma is a benign tumor, which does not induce metastasis and once excised does not exhibit recurrence. In veterinary medicine, the presence of cartilage within a lipoma is a rare event

Caracterização biométrica externa, avaliação corpórea e caracterização histológica do trato gastrintestinal de gaviões-carijó (Rupornis magnirostris) apreendidos pelo CETAS/IBAMA na Paraíba

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2014v27n1p101 Este estudo teve por objetivo analisar as medidas biométricas externas e do sistema digestório e, também, as condições corpóreas e de plumagem de gaviões-carijó apreendidos pelo CETAS/IBAMA na Paraíba, e descrever a histologia das vísceras do trato gastrintestinal (TGI), tendo como foco fornecer subsídios para novos estudos na área de nutrição animal e classificação taxonômica, bem como para sistemas de manejo e de conservação. Os espécimes foram analisados, tiveram as medidas mensuradas e coletadas amostras biológicas para procedimentos histológicos. Constatou-se que existe relação entre a condição corpórea e a perda de plumagem, demonstrando que a morfologia do TGI é semelhante à da maioria das aves já descritas, incluindo outras espécies de Accipitridae. Os resultados proporcionam subsídios para estudos posteriores envolvendo manejo nutricional, conservacionista, clínico e cirúrgico para a espécie

Aspectos clinico-patológicos em papagaios-verdadeiros (Amazona aestiva, L., 1758) oriundos de apreensões do tráfico no estado da Paraíba, Brasil

ABSTRACT. Siqueira R.A.S., de Lucena R.B., Cavalcanti T.A., Luna A.C. de L., Firmino M. de O. & Guerra R.R. [Clinical-pathological aspects of Blue-fronted Parrots parrots (Amazona aestiva, Linne 1758) coming traffickin arrests from the State of Paraíba, Brazil.] Aspectos clinico-patológicos em papagaios-verdadeiros (Amazona aestiva, L., 1758) oriundos de apreensões do tráfico no estado da Paraíba, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 38(4):439-444, 2016. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Av. Silas Munguba, 1700, Fortaleza, CE 60740-000, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever as características clínicas e patológicas em Papagaios-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) oriundos do tráficos e aprendidos pelo pelo Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS) no estado da Paraíba, Brasil com a finalidade de se estabelecer a real condição sanitária em que se encontravam. aves. O estudo foi desenvolvido no CETAS, no municipio de Cabedelo no estado da Paraíba. Foram utilizadas quinze aves oriundas de apreensões aferindo-se seu o peso, nove foram anestesiadas, tiveram sangue total coletado, aferida a condição corpórea e realizada biópsia hepática. Nas outras seis aves (que vieram a óbito) realizou-se exame necroscópico. Os resultados indicaram que as aves obtiveram uma má condição corpórea, os achados histopatológicos e sorológicos demonstram pessimas condições de saúde, e indicaram a necessidade de desenvolver um trabalho de recuperação da saúde para que se possa haver reintrodução e soltura para essas aves na natureza

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved