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Feline injection site sarcoma (FISS) is a mesenchymal neoplasm with highly malignant characteristics. These tumours originate in anatomical sites where there has been previous parenteral administration of medicinal substances or implantation of medical devices. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and pathological features associated with FISS in the southern region of Brazil. The database of the Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul was searched for excisional and incisional biopsy samples compatible with FISS submitted between 2007 and 2017. Biopsy reports were reviewed and epidemiological information, including breed, age and sex of affected cats, as well as gross findings including anatomical location and size of the tumour and the presence of tissue invasion, were extracted. Eighty-nine samples were selected based on the established criteria. Most animals were of undefined breed and were female cats with a median age of 10 years. Grossly, 84.8% of the tumours were >2 cm in diameter. Regarding anatomical location, 34.9% of the tumours were located in the subcutaneous tissue of the thoracic wall, 29.2% in the flank, 21.3% in the interscapular region and 14.6% in the limbs. Histologically, the tumours originated in the subcutaneous tissue and were diagnosed as malignant mesenchymal neoplasms. Most were compatible with fibrosarcomas, but variants with features of pleomorphic sarcoma or chondrosarcoma were recognized. All tumours exhibited areas of necrosis and peripheral inflammatory infiltrate, composed predominantly of lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages. The results of this study suggest the need for dissemination of information on FISS epidemiology and guidelines for management of this tumour to veterinarians in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crab-eating (Cerdocyon thous) and Pampas foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus) are wild canids distributed in South America. Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and wild canids may share viral pathogens, including rabies virus (RABV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2). To characterize the virome of these wild canid species, the present work evaluated the spleen and mesenteric lymph node virome of 17 crab-eating and five Pampas foxes using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Organ samples were pooled and sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. Additional PCR analyses were performed to identify the frequencies and host origin for each virus detected by HTS. Sequences more closely related to the Paramyxoviridae , Parvoviridae and Anelloviridae families were detected, as well as circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses. CDV was found only in crab-eating foxes, whereas CPV-2 was found in both canid species; both viruses were closely related to sequences reported in domestic dogs from southern Brazil. Moreover, the present work reported the detection of canine bocavirus (CBoV) strains that were genetically divergent from CBoV-1 and 2 lineages. Finally, we also characterized CRESS DNA viruses and anelloviruses with marked diversity. The results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge regarding wild canid viruses that can potentially be shared with domestic canids or other species. • Virome analysis in organs of wild canids was performed using high throughput sequencing • CDV, CPV-2, bocaparvovirus, anelloviruses and other circular viruses were found • CDV and CPV-2 found were closely related to the reported in domestic dogs from the same Brazilian region • The bocaparvovirus found is a putative new genus was only reported in domestic dogs from the United States and China • It was suggested that novel anelloviruses of marked diversity can be found in wild canids [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among vector-borne helminths, filarioids of the genus Dipetalonema (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) localize in several tissues and body cavities of several animal species, causing mild to moderate lesions. The pathological findings associated with Dipetalonema spp. infection in Neotropical monkeys from southern Brazil are herein described, along with a fatal case due to filarial polyserositis and entrapment of an intestinal segment. At necropsy, nematodes were observed in abdominal and thoracic cavities, or in the pericardium of 37 (31.3%) out of the 118 individuals examined (i.e., 35 Alouatta guariba clamitans and two Sapajus nigritus). In addition, at histology, 27.0% of positive animals presented microfilarie (inside blood vessels of lung, spleen, liver, and brain) and 8.1% presented adult nematodes in the heart, lung, and liver. In two cases, cross-sections of filarioids were associated with areas of epicardial thickening with intense fibrosis and pyogranulomatous inflammation in the brain, heart, liver, lungs, or spleen. The DNA fragment was amplify using the cox1 gene, sequenced and analyzed to identify the nematode species collected; presence of Wolbachia was assessed in the filarioids using the 16S rRNA gene. At BLAST analysis of the cox1 gene, 10 sequences showed 91.7% nucleotide identity with Dipetalonema gracile, and two with D. gracile (98.5%) and Dipetalonema graciliformis (98.3%). Phylogenetic analyses clustered sequences of the cox1 obtained in this study in two clades corresponding with the host species. Wolbachia sp. endosymbiont was detected in four samples. Data herein reported provide a description of pathological lesions associated with the infection by Dipetalonema spp., suggesting that they may cause disease in Neotropical monkeys. In addition, a better understanding of diversity and biology of Dipetalonema spp. in South America is needed to assess the impact they may cause in native non-human primates from Brazil., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Hemoplasmas are non-cultivable bacterial parasites of erythrocytes that infect domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. Their means of transmission and pathogenesis remain contentious issues and difficult to evaluate in wild animals. Procyon cancrivorus is a South American carnivore and occurs in all Brazilian biomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate occurrences of hemoplasmas infecting P. cancrivorus and to identify their 16S rRNA gene, in southern Brazil. DNA was extracted from spleen and blood samples of P. cancrivorus (n = 9) from different locations. Hemoplasma DNA was detected in six samples, based on 16S rRNA gene amplification and phylogenetic analysis. Four of the six sequences belonged to the "Mycoplasma haemofelis group", which is closely related to genotypes detected in Procyon lotor from the USA; one was within the "Mycoplasma suis group", closely related to "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum"; and one was within the intermediate group between these clusters. Thus, these sequences showed that the molecular identity of hemoplasmas in the population studied was very variable. In five positive animals, Amblyomma aureolatum ticks and a flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis) were collected. The present study describes the first molecular detection of mycoplasmas in P. cancrivorus.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a worldwide zoonotic parasite that causes eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in many species of animals including humans. This report describes neuro-angiostrongylosis in a white-eared opossum that showed nervous clinical signs such as circling and depression. At necropsy, no relevant macroscopic lesions were observed. Histologically, eosinophilic meningoencephalitis was associated with multiple sections of nematodes and many intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies within gastric parietal cells. Immunohistochemistry was strongly positive for canine distemper virus in the stomach but there was no immunolabeling in the brain. This study describes a fatal case of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis by A. cantonensis with canine distemper virus concurrent infection in a white-eared opossum in southern Brazil, with histological characterization and molecular confirmation of the parasitism., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Anthropogenic disturbances are the main threats to nonhuman primates conservation, and infectious diseases may also play a key role in primate population decline. This study aimed to determine the main causes of death in neotropical primates., Methods: A retrospective study of post-mortem examinations was conducted on 146 neotropical primates between January 2000 and December 2018., Results: Conclusive diagnoses were obtained in 68.5% of the cases, of which 59 corresponded to non-infectious causes and 41 to infectious diseases. Trauma was the main cause of death (54/100), with anthropogenic stressors caused by blunt force trauma injuries (collision with vehicles) and puncture wound injuries associated with interspecific aggression (dog predation) were the most common factors. Other causes of death included bacterial diseases (27%), followed by parasitic diseases (12%), neoplasms (2%), and viral diseases (2%)., Conclusions: Free-ranging primates were mostly affected by non-infectious causes, while captive primates were by infectious conditions., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Teat papillomatosis is caused by different bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types and is especially important for dairy cows, because it results in severe damage to the health and structure of the mammary gland. This work describes the molecular and pathological aspects of teat papillomatosis in dairy cows in southern Brazil. Samples of teat papillomas were collect from 73 slaughtered dairy cows. Fragments of the lesions were collected in individual pools per animal and subjected to PCR using the FAP primer pair and sequencing of the amplification products. Teats with the remaining lesions were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, routinely processed for histopathology, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Papillomatous lesions were characterized by three macroscopic patterns, namely exophytic (5 [6.9%]), flat (29 [39.7%]), and mixed (39 [53.4%]). Histologically, all samples were identified as squamous papillomas. Partial sequencing of the L1 gene resulted in the detection of 8 classical BPV types (BPVs 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) in 27 samples, 6 previously reported putative BPV types in 17 samples, and 10 putative new BPV types in 15 samples. Four sequences could not be classified, and 10 were negative in the PCR. There was no correlation between the gross pattern and the BPV type identified, and all the samples were characterized by squamous papillomas under histological examination. However, 24 different BPV types were identified, demonstrating high genetic diversity among BPVs associated with teat papillomatosis in dairy cows in southern Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease with a worldwide distribution that affects a wide variety of animal species, though with rare descriptions in chickens. We describe the clinical, epidemiological, pathological, and molecular aspects of a toxoplasmosis outbreak in domestic chickens and guinea fowl in southern Brazil. The flock was composed of 47 domestic chickens and 29 guinea fowl. Of these, 22 birds showed clinical signs of lethargy, anorexia, and neurological signs over a clinical course of 24-72 h, and 15 died. Epidemiological data were obtained through fieldwork performed at the chicken farm and necropsies of six birds. Gross lesions were absent at necropsy, and histopathological findings included inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells and necrosis in several tissues associated with intralesional Toxoplasma gondii. Immunohistochemistry for T. gondii was positive. Additionally, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with 11 markers (SAG1, SAG2 (5'3'SAG2 and alt. SAG2), SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico, and CS3) and microsatellite (MS) analysis with 15 markers (TUB2, W35, TgMA, B18, B17, M33, IV.1, XI.1, N60, N82, AA, N61, N83, M48, and M102) were performed. PCR-RFLP revealed T. gondii genotype ToxoDB-PCR-RFLP #280, and MS analysis also showed a unique genotype. This is the first description of this genotype in chickens and adds to the evidence suggesting considerable genotypic diversity of T. gondii in Brazil.

Background Late-presenting pregnant women pose a challenge in the prevention of HIV-1 mother-to-child-transmission. We compared the safety and efficacy of raltegravir and lopinavir/ritonavir for this population. Methods We did a single-center, pilot, open-label, randomized trial in Brazil (N = 44). We randomly allocated late-presenting HIV-infected pregnant women (older than 18 years with a plasma HIV-1 RNA >1000 copies/mL) to receive raltegravir 400 mg twice a day or lopinavir/ritonavir 400/100 mg twice a day plus zidovudine and lamivudine (1:1). The primary endpoint was virological suppression at delivery (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies per mL), in all patients who received at least one dose of study drugs (modified intention-to-treat analysis). Missing information was treated as failure. We assessed safety in all patients. Results We enrolled and randomly assigned treatment to 33 patients (17 in raltegravir group) between June 2015 and June 2017. The study was interrupted by the IRB because a significant difference between arms was detected in an interim analysis. All patients completed follow up at delivery. At delivery, virological suppression was achieved by 13/17 (76.5%) of patients in raltegravir group, versus 4/16 (25.0%) in lopinavir/ritonavir group (RR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3-7.4). Patients in raltegravir group had significantly higher proportion of virological suppression at 2, 4, and 6 weeks than lopinavir/ritonavir group. Adverse events were most of mild intensity, but patients in lopinavir/ritonavir group had significantly more gastrointestinal adverse events. There was neither discontinuation nor deaths in this trial. Conclusion Raltegravir might be a first-line option for treatment of HIV-infected late-presenting pregnant women.

Introduction: Brucellosis is a re-emerging zoonosis with new cases reported each year in many Latin American countries, but it is mostly under-recognized. This study presents a serological investigation of infection with Brucella abortus and Brucella canis in a poor urban community in the city of Salvador, Brazil., Methodology: Human sera (n = 180) were randomly selected from 3,171 samples taken from healthy individuals during 2003-2004 and tested with C-ELISA for B. abortus and I-ELISA for B. canis., Results: Thirteen percent (24/180) of the individuals were positive for B. abortus and 4.6 % (8/174) were positive for B. canis. Among the variables studied only age (older than 45 years) appeared to be a risk factor for the detection of Brucella antibodies., Conclusion: These results indicate the presence of Brucella infection in this settlement and highlight the need to understand the epidemiology of infection under these circumstances to establish the necessary measures for surveillance and control.