Lily poisoning in domestic cats

Background: Cases of plant intoxication in small animals are observed frequently in the domestic environment, mainly because most dogs and cats live in households and occasionally have access to streets and rural areas. Among such toxic agents, ornamental plants of the genus Lilium and Hemerocallis, which are potentially nephrotoxic to the feline species, are highlighted. Affected cats start presenting clinical signs 1-6 h after plant ingestion. Renal failure takes place in 12-72 h, and death may occur in an interval ranging from three to seven days. The objective of this article is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings of lily (Lilium sp.) poisoning in two cats. Case: The aspects of lily poisoning in two cats are described (cat #1 and cat #2). Cat #1 was a 3-year-old, mixed breed female cat, which presented a clinical history of anorexia, apathy, drooling, vomiting and polydipsia. Serum biochemical analysis revealed creatinine elevation (21.2 mg/dL), as well as hyperphosphatemia (19 mg/dL). Seventy-two h after the onset of clinical signs, renal failure progressed to anuria, followed by death. The second animal of this report (cat #2) was a 2-year-old, mixed-breed male cat. The animal was found dead by the owner without displaying any previous clinical signs. Cats #1 and #2 ingested leaves of lily, which were present in their households as ornamental plants. At necropsy, the kidneys of both cats presented mild enlargement. Moderate perirenal edema was also noted. Cat #1 showed morphologic extrarenal uremic lesions, characterized by ulcers in the oral mucosa and in the margin of the tongue ventral surface. Microscopic lesions observed in both cases were similar and compatible with acute toxic nephropathy. Histologically, severe epithelial cell degeneration and necrosis of proximal and distal convoluted tubules were noted. Other renal microscopic findings included hyaline and granular casts, tubule regeneration and occasional birefringent oxalate crystals. Cat #1 also presented moderate white matter vacuolation in the telencephalon and cerebellum. Discussion: The epidemiologic, clinical and pathological findings reported in the present study are similar to previous descriptions of lily poisoning in cats. Lily poisoning has been described in both males and females, without breed and age predisposition, similarly to what has been found in the present study. Kidney metabolite excretion, including the elimination of molecules such as creatinine, urea, and phosphorus is usually compromised in these cases, which was noted in cat #1. The same animal showed extrarenal manifestations of renal failure, leading to a clinical presentation of uremic syndrome, which is not frequent in these intoxications. Animals intoxicated by lily usually die from renal failure and anuria. In most cases, lesions are restricted to the kidneys. In the reported cases, the microscopical lesions consisted of tubule epithelial cells degenerative changes and necrosis. Acute lily intoxication in cats must be differentiated from other conditions, such as intoxications due to aminoglycoside antibiotics, heavy metals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antifungal agents, chemotherapeutic drugs, and ethylene glycol. The knowledge regarding the toxic potential of ornamental plants is fundamental in order to prevent such events of intoxication, as well as to reach the final diagnosis. Epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings were essential to conclude the final diagnosis

Bloat in cattle secondary to esophageal obstruction by Citrus limon (sicilian lemon)

Timpanismo ruminal consiste na distensão acentuada do rúmen e retículo, devido a incapacidade do animal em expulsar gases produzidos durante o processo fisiológico da fermentação. O timpanismo pode ser ocasionado de forma primária, por formação de espuma estável, ou secundária, devido a anormalidades funcionais e/ou físicas que interferem na eructação. Nesse trabalho, são descritos os aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e anatomopatológicos da ocorrência de timpanismo secundário em bovinos, decorrente da obstrução esofágica aguda por limões sicilianos. Cinco bovinos, de um lote de 210, foram afetados. Os bovinos eram suplementados com resíduo de tangerina (Citrus reticulata) no cocho e na última carga desse subproduto, havia limões sicilianos inteiros misturados ao resíduo. Os cinco animais afetados eram da raça Aberdeen Angus e tinham entre 12-24 meses de idade. Todos apresentaram sinais clínicos caracterizados principalmente por mucosas cianóticas, grave timpanismo, desconforto abdominal, acentuada dispneia e taquicardia, atonia ruminal, desidratação, decúbito e morte. O curso clínico variou entre 24 a 48 horas. Na necropsia, os cinco bovinos apresentavam grave obstrução esofágica por limões nas porções: cranial (logo após a laringe [1/5]), porção medial (entrada do tórax [1/5]) e final (próximo ao cárdia [3/5]). Nas áreas de oclusão, observou-se extensa necrose e ulceração da mucosa esofágica. O conteúdo ruminal dos bovinos estava seco e misturado com limões inteiros. No esôfago de dois animais havia linha de timpanismo. As lesões histológicas eram visualizadas principalmente no esôfago, na região da obstrução, onde se evidenciaram alterações degenerativas, necróticas e ulcerativas acentuadas no revestimento epitelial.Ruminal bloat (acute timpany) in ruminants is a marked rumenreticular distension which results from more gas being produced during the physiologic process of fermentation than is eliminated by eructation. This condition may present itself as either primary timpany due to the formation of stable foam or secondary timpany resulting from functional and/or physical disturbances compromising eructation. This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical, and anatomopathological aspects of acute timpany in cattle secondary to esophageal obstruction by sicilian lemons. Five out of a herd of 210 cattle were affected. Cattle were supplemented with tangerine (Citrus reticulata) residues in a trough. In the last batch of this feed there were whole sicilian lemons mixed with the tangerine residue. The five affected cattle were 12-24 month-old Aberdeen-Angus. All of the five presented clinical signs characterized mainly by cyanotic mucous membranes, severe timpany, abdominal discomfort, marked dyspnea and tachycardia, ruminal atony, dehydration, recumbence and death. Clinical course lasted from 24 to 48 hours. Necropsy findings in the five affected cattle were similar and included complete esophageal obstruction by lemons in the cranial esophagus (immediately cranial to the larynx [1/5]) medial esophagus (at the thoracic inlet [1/5]) and caudal esophagus (close to the cardia [3/5]). At the occluded sites the esophageal mucosa was necrotic and ulcerated. Ruminal content was dried and admixed with whole lemons. In the esophagus o two affected bovine a bloat line was observed. Histological lesions were observed mainly in the esophagus at the sites of obstruction and consisted of marked degenerative, necrotic and ulcerative changes in the esophageal mucosal epithelium

Doenças infecciosas supurativas do sistema nervoso central de ruminantes domésticos

This study describes suppurative infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in domestic ruminants of southern Brazil. Reports from 3.274 cattle, 596 sheep and 391 goats were reviewed, of which 219 cattle, 21 sheep and 7 goats were diagnosed with central nervous system inflammatory diseases. Suppurative infectious diseases of the CNS corresponded to 54 cases (28 cattle, 19 sheep and 7 goats). The conditions observed consisted of listerial meningoencephalitis (8 sheep, 5 goats and 4 cattle), suppurative leptomeningitis and meningoencephalitis (14 cattle, 2 goats and 1 sheep), cerebral (6 cattle and 2 sheep), and spinal cord (7 sheep) abscesses, and basilar empyema (4 cattle and 1 sheep). Bacterial culture identified Listeria monocytogenes (9/54 cases), Escherichia coli (7/54 cases), Trueperella pyogenes (6/54 cases) and Proteus mirabilis (1/54 cases). All cases diagnosed as listeriosis through histopathology yielded positive immunostaining on immunohistochemistry, while 12/17 of the cases of suppurative leptomeningitis and meningoencephalitis presented positive immunostaining for Escherichia coli. Meningoencephalitis by L. monocytogenes was the main neurological disease in sheep and goats, followed by spinal cord abscesses in sheep. In cattle, leptomeningitis and suppurative meningoencephalitis was the most frequent neurological disease for the species, and E. coli was the main cause of these lesions. Basilar empyema, mainly diagnosed in cattle, is related to traumatic injuries, mainly in the nasal cavity, and the main etiologic agent was T. pyogenes.Neste trabalho são descritas as doenças neurológicas infecciosas supurativas de ruminantes domésticos na Região Sul do Brasil. Foram avaliados laudos de 3.274 bovinos, 596 ovinos e 391 caprinos, dos quais 219 bovinos, 21 ovinos e sete caprinos foram diagnosticados como doenças inflamatórias no sistema nervoso central. As doenças neuneurológicas infecciosas supurativas corresponderam a 54 casos (28 bovinos, 19 ovinos e sete caprinos). As enfermidades observadas foram meningoencefalite por Listeria monocytogenes (oito ovinos, cinco caprinos e quatro bovinos), leptomeningite e meningoencefalite supurativa (14 bovinos, dois caprinos e um ovino), abscessos cerebrais (seis bovinos e dois ovinos) e medulares (sete ovinos); e empiema basilar (quatro bovinos e um ovino). Através do isolamento bacteriano foram identificados: L. monocytogenes (9/54 casos), Echerichia coli (7/54 casos), Trueperella pyogenes (6/54 casos) e Proteus mirabilis (1/54 casos). Todos os casos diagnosticados como listeriose por histologia foram positivos na imuno-histoquímica para L. monocytogenes, e 12/17 casos de leptomeningite e meningoencefalite supurativa foram positivos na imuno-histoquímica para E. coli. A meningoencefalite por L. monocytogenes representou a principal enfermidade neurológica em ovinos e caprinos, seguido dos abscessos medulares em ovinos. A leptomeningite e meningoencefalite supurativa foi a doença neurológica supurativa mais frequente em bovinos e o principal agente causador da lesão foi E. coli. O empiema basilar, frequentemente, diagnosticado em bovinos, foi relacionado com lesões traumáticas, principalmente, de cavidade nasal e o principal agente causador foi T. pyogenes

Tuberculose no sistema nervoso central de bovinos na Paraíba

This paper describes six cases of tuberculosis in the central nervous system (CNS) of cattle in the state of Paraíba in northeastern Brazil. We reviewed the autopsy reports of 851 bovine necropsies performed from 2003 to 2016. Seventy-three (8.6%) cattle were diagnosed with tuberculosis and six showed lesions in the CNS. Three cases affected cattle up to two-year-old and other three affected adults. Three cattle presented exclusively nervous signs, two had respiratory signs and weight loss and one did not present any clinical signs. At necropsy, five cattle had thickening of the leptomeninges of the cerebellum, pons, obex, spinal cord and cortex, mainly, in the region near the brain basilar Willis´ circle. Another animal, presented a single focal lesion in the cerebellum. Microscopically we observed moderate to severe granulomatous meningitis and encephalitis. Five cattle presented lesions in the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes and three of them had disseminated lesions in other organs. In all cattle acid-fast bacilli were observed in the lesions and marked positive for immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibody anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is concluded that bovine tuberculosis of central nervous system occurs sporadically in Paraíba, in cattle of different ages, most of them with disseminate lesions in other organs. The location of the lesions suggests that the agent invaded the brain by hematogenous route through the circle of Willis.Descrevem-se seis casos de tuberculose no sistema nervoso central (SNC) em bovinos, no semiárido da Paraíba. Foram revisados os laudos de um total de 851 necropsias de bovinos realizadas no período de 2003 a 2016. Destes, 73 (8,6%) foram diagnosticados com tuberculose e seis apresentavam lesões no SNC. Três casos ocorreram em bovinos de até dois anos de idade e três em bovinos adultos. Três bovinos apresentaram exclusivamente sinais nervosos, dois tinham sinais respiratórios e perda de peso e um não apresentava nenhum sinal clínico. Macroscopicamente, em cinco bovinos, havia espessamento das leptomeninges do cerebelo, medula espinhal, ponte, obex, colículos e córtex, principalmente, na região basilar encefálica próxima ao polígono de Willis. Em apenas um bovino houve a presença de tubérculo único no cerebelo. Microscopicamente observou-se moderada a acentuada meningite e encefalite granulomatosa. Cinco bovinos apresentaram lesões pulmonares e nos gânglios mediastínicos e três deles tinham lesões disseminadas em outros órgãos. Em todos os bovinos foram encontrados bacilos ácido-álcool resistentes intralesionais e todos tiveram marcação positiva na técnica de imuno-histoquímica com anticorpo policlonal anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Conclui‑se que a tuberculose do sistema nervoso central de bovinos ocorre de forma esporádica na Paraíba, principalmente em bovinos com lesões disseminadas em outros órgãos. Sugere-se que a disseminação do agente ocorre pela via hematógena, possivelmente através do polígono de Willis

PATOLOGIA DE EQUINOS: ACHADOS MACROSCÓPICOS DE EQUINOS NECROPSIADOS EM 2020

Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a caracterização clínica e patológica das principais doenças que afetaram equinos na região Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul no período de janeiro de 2020 a setembro de 2020, diagnosticadas pelo Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade de Cruz Alta. As amostras coletadas foram provenientes de visitas realizadas, após requisição do proprietário ou médico veterinário responsável. Durante este intervalo, foram realizadas oito necropsias em equinos, todas com diagnóstico conclusivo. Destas, 87,5% (7/8) eram fêmeas e 12,5% (1/8) eram machos. Entre as categorias de idade, as idades variaram de um potro (1/8), de um a cinco anos de idade (2/8), entre 10 a 15 anos (2/8) e de idade não informada (2/8).  As causas de morte foram divididas conforme os sistemas afetados: patologias do sistema digestório foram as mais frequentes (50%), seguidas por neoplasias do sistema hematopoiético (25%), sistema respiratório (12,5%) e neurológico (12,5%). O diagnóstico das enfermidades que afetam equinos, através do exame de necropsia, é uma ferramenta essencial para clínicos e patologistas, no auxílio para o diagnóstico e no desenvolvimento de medidas de profilaxia e controle para as principais doenças descritas na região

Aborto bovino por uma cepa vacinal de Bacillus anthracis

This paper reports the abortion of a male Aberdeen Angus bovine by a vaccine strain of Bacillus anthracis, describing the pathological and microbiological findings and the genome sequence. Necropsy findings included multifocal areas of hemorrhage in different organs. Histologically, various organs showed hemorrhage, fibrin exudation, necrosis associated with countless bacillary bacterial clumps and severe neutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate. In the microbiological examination, numerous rough, nonhemolytic, gray and dry colonies with irregular edges were isolated from liver, lung and abomasum content samples. Gram staining revealed square-ended Gram-positive rods arranged in chains. B. anthracis identification was confirmed by detection of the molecular chromosomal marker Ba813. The genomes from the isolated B. anthracis (named SPV842_15) and from the isolated vaccinal strain (Brazilian vaccinal strain), which was recovered from a commercial vaccine used in the pregnant cow, were sequenced. Genomic comparisons displayed a high level of nucleotide identity in the comparisons between B. anthracis SPV842_15 and the B. anthracis Brazilian vaccinal strain (98,2%). Furthermore, in both strains, only the plasmid pX01 sequence was detected. Although, vaccination against anthrax is characterized by an elevated protective profile and very low residual virulence, immunization with Sterne strains can cause abortion in cattle, presumably by the plasmid pX01 toxins in rare or special situations.Este trabalho relata um aborto de um bovino, macho, Aberdeen Angus, por uma cepa vacinal de Bacillus anthracis, descreve os achados patológicos, microbiológicos e o sequenciamento do genoma. Os achados de necropsia incluíram áreas multifocais de hemorragias em diferentes órgãos. Histologicamente, órgãos afetados apresentaram hemorragia, exsudação de fibrina, necrose associada a miríades bacterianas bacilares e intenso infiltrado inflamatório neutrofílico. No exame microbiológico, foram isoladas numerosas colônias rugosas, não hemolíticas, cinzas e secas, com bordas irregulares a partir de amostras de fígado, pulmão e conteúdo do abomaso. A coloração de Gram revelou bastonetes Gram-positivos dispostos em cadeias. A identificação do B. anthracis foi confirmada pela detecção do marcador cromossômico molecular Ba813. Os genomas do isolado B. anthracis (SPV842_15) e do isolado vacinal (cepa vacinal brasileira), recuperado de uma vacina comercial utilizada na vaca prenhe, foram sequenciados. Comparações genômicas mostraram um elevado nível de identidade de nucleotídeos entre B. anthracis SPV842_15 e cepa vacinal brasileira (98,2%). Além disso, em ambas as estirpes foi detectada apenas a sequência do plasmídeo pX01. Embora a vacinação contra o antraz seja caracterizada por um perfil protetor elevado e uma virulência residual muito baixa, a imunização com estirpes de Sterne pode causar aborto em bovinos, presumivelmente pelas toxinas do plasmídeo pX01 em situações raras ou específicas

Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Pig

 Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant neoplasm of epidermal cells that exhibits keratinocyte differentiation. These neoplasms are common in dogs, cats, horses, and cattle, relatively uncommon in sheep, and rarely affect goats and pigs. There are several factors that are associated with the development of SCC, including prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, lack of pigment in the epidermis, and sparse coating or lack of fur at the affected sites. The aim of this study was to report the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in a domestic pig.Case: A surgically removed nodule from the left ear of a female, light-colored, three-year-old pig, which breed was not defined, was submitted for histopathological analysis. The sample was fixed in 10% formalin, analyzed macroscopically, routinely processed for histology, sectioned at five microns and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Additionally, anticytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and anti-vimentin immunohistochemical assays were performed. All additional information was provided by the animal’s owner. According to the history obtained, the animal belonged to a herd made up of five females and one boar. For four months, multiple nodules started to grow on the outer surface of the pig’s ear and in many occasions exhibited ulceration and bleeding. One of the nodules was submitted for histopathology examination. Macroscopically it measured 3 cm in diameter, had an irregular and ulcerated surface, and a wide base. Cut surface had a firm consistency and whitish color. Microscopic examination revealed proliferation of neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in islands and trabeculae, with slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, pleomorphic, round, reniform nucleus, with loose chromatin and 1-3 nucleolus. Mitotic figures were infrequent. In the central area of the islands, there was individual cell keratinization. There was a moderate, fibrovascular supporting stroma with intense inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. Anti-cytokeratin (AE1/AE3) immunohistochemical assay (IHC) revealed a strong diffuse positive staining on the cytoplasm of tumoral epithelial cells, and anti-vimentin IHC showed positive staining on the supporting tissue cells (fibroblasts and endothelial cells).Discussion: The diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in this pig was based on clinical and pathological findings since it was observed proliferation of neoplastic epithelial cells often forming “keratin pearls” and immunohistochemistry positive for cytokeratin was immunostaining in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. Information on the occurrence of SCC in pigs is scarce in the literature, especially in Brazil. In a survey of neoplasms in farm animals in Southern Rio Grande do Sul with cases from 1978 to 2002, neoplasms in pigs represented 0.6% of the diagnoses when compared to the number of neoplasms in cattle and horses. The low number of cases in this species is due to the fact that a large proportion of the population is slaughtered at a young age and therefore the chances to develop neoplasms are lower. The main SCC growth sites include areas deprived of hair, especially in animals with unpigmented skin. In the pig described here, the neoplasm was located on the outer surface of the ear, which was exposed to ultraviolet rays. Granuloma, papilloma, and basal cell tumor should be considered in the list of differential diagnosis when SCC is suspected. Neoplasms in pigs are scarcely reported.Keywords: neoplasm, carcinoma, pig, immunohistochemical

Doenças inflamatórias bacterianas que afetam o sistema nervoso de ruminantes no Rio Grande do Sul

Distúrbios do sistema nervoso central (SNC) em ruminantes abrangem um importante grupo de enfermidades responsáveis por grandes perdas econômicas em todo o mundo. As principais doenças neurológicas causadas por bactérias em ruminantes e que envolvem processos inflamatórios incluem listeriose, leptomeningites e meningoencefalites supurativas, abscessos cerebrais e medulares, empiema basilar e neurotuberculose. Esta dissertação teve por objetivo a caracterização epidemiológica, patológica, microbiológica e imuno-histoquímica das doenças inflamatórias de origem bacteriana que afetam o SNC de ruminantes no Rio Grande do Sul. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo no período compreendido entre janeiro de 1996 a dezembro de 2015, onde um total de 3.274 bovinos, 596 ovinos e 391 caprinos foram avaliados. Destes, 219 bovinos, 21 ovinos e sete caprinos foram diagnosticados com doenças inflamatórias no SNC. As doenças neurológicas inflamatórias de origem bacteriana totalizaram 60 casos divididos em 34 bovinos, 19 ovinos e sete caprinos, os quais foram subdivididas em: meningoencefalite por L. monocytogenes (oito ovinos, cinco caprinos e quatro bovinos), leptomeningite e meningoencefalite supurativa (14 bovinos, dois caprinos e um ovino), abscessos cerebrais (seis bovinos e dois ovinos) e medulares (sete ovinos), empiema basilar (quatro bovinos e um ovino) e neurotuberculose (seis bovinos). O exame imuno-histoquímica foi realizado em todos os casos diagnosticados com listeriose (anticorpo anti-L. monocytogenes), meningite e meningoencefalite supurativa (anticorpo anti-Escherichia coli) e neurotuberculose (anticorpo anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis). A meningoencefalite por L. monocytogenes representou a principal enfermidade neurológica em ovinos e caprinos, seguido dos abscessos medulares em ovinos. Nos bovinos, a leptomeningite e meningoencefalite supurativa foi a doença neurológica mais prevalente para a espécie, frequentemente relacionada com a falha na transmissão da imunidade passiva. O empiema basilar, frequentemente diagnosticado em bezerros, está diretamente relacionado com o manejo do desmame interrompido através da utilização de tabuletas nasais. A neurotuberculose causada por Mycobacterium spp. é uma importante doença neurológica em bovinos jovens e deve ser considerada como diagnóstico diferencial de doenças neurológicas. Dos dados analisados neste período, as doenças neurológicas inflamatórias bacterianas representaram um total de 24,3% entre as doenças neurológicas inflamatórias diagnosticadas neste período e, com isso, conclui-se que representam importantes causas de mortalidade para os ruminantes domésticos.Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are worldwide economically important conditions in ruminants. The main neurological bacterial diseases which involve inflammation in ruminants are listeriosis, suppurative leptomeningitis and meningoencephalitis, brain and spinal cord abscesses, basilar empyema and neurotuberculosis. This study aim to describe the epidemiological, pathological, microbiological and immunohistochemical findings of the bacterial inflammatory diseases that affect the CNS of ruminants in Rio Grande do Sul state. A retrospective study was performed from January 1996 to December 2015, during which samples of 3.274 cattle, 596 sheep and 391 goats were evaluated. Of these, 219 cattle, 21 sheep and seven goats were diagnosed with inflammatory diseases affecting the CNS. The neurological inflammatory bacterial diseases accounted for 60 cases, which corresponded to 34 cases in cattle, 19 in sheep and seven in goats. These were further subdivided in: meningoencephalitis by L. monocytogenes (eigth sheep, five goats and four cattle), suppurative leptomeningitis and meningoencephalitis (14 cattle, two goats and one sheep), brain abscesses (six cattle and two sheep) and spinal cord (seven sheep), basilar empyema (four cattle and one sheep) and neurotuberculosis (six cattle). Immunohistochemical exam was performed in all cases diagnosed as listeriosis (antibody anti-L. monocytogenes), as suppurative leptomeningitis and meningoencephalitis (antibody anti-E. coli), and as neurotuberculosis (antibody anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis). L. monocytogenes meningoencephalitis was the main neurological disease in sheep and goats, followed by spinal cord abscesses in sheep. In cattle, suppurative leptomeningitis and meningoencephalitis was the most frequent neurological disease, and its ocorrunce is related to the failure in passive immunity transmission. Basilar empyema is frequently diagnosed in calves and is directly related to early weaning handling through the use of nose-flaps. Neurotuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium spp. is an important neurological disease in young cattle and should be consired as a differential diagnosis of granulomatous meningoencephalitis. During the described period, neurological inflammatory bacterial diseases accounted for 24.3% of the neurological inflammatory diseases, and, thus, these are important causes of death in domestic ruminants