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Objective: To describe morphological features of Megaptera novaeangliae eyes using ultrasonography and histology., Animal Studied: A total of 21 globes from 19 M. novaeangliae were used for the study, including two animals with bilateral assessment. Nine stranded animals were found alive, 10 dead., Procedures: Carcasses were classified according to decomposition state. Globes were assessed ultrasonographically, biometric measurements were taken and then the tissues were sectioned for histological analysis., Results: Seventeen carcasses were classified as decomposition code 2 and two as code 3. Fifteen animals were calves, three juveniles and one adult, twelve males, and five females. The cornea was thinner in the center of the eye and thicker at the periphery. The lens had an oval shape. Fourteen animals showed a structure in the vitreous body which looked triangular and filamentous by ultrasonography and, histologically, originated in the central part of the optic nerve and extended to the posterior region of the lens, composed of connective tissue. The most common abnormalities found by ultrasonograph were retinal detachment (n = 13) and displacement of the lens into the vitreous (n = 4), along with alterations suggestive of hemorrhage, fibrin deposits, and increased echogenicity in the optic nerve (n = 2)., Conclusions: An intraocular structure not previously described in cetaceans was found in this investigation; its function remains unknown. Circulatory changes that were evident in the histopathological analysis may be due to the stranding process and raise the need to consider ophthalmic examinations before reintroducing stranded mysticetes., (© 2024 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

The objective of this study was to assess the application of a urethrostomy technique that utilizes an autologous vascularized intestinal graft as a "neourethra" and to analyze its short- and long-term feasibilities. Six cats with urethral rupture and 8 cats with urethral stricture and a history of urethrostomy were included. The inclusion criteria were the indication for urethroplasty and limited urethral length for perineal urethrostomy. A segment of intestine was prepared as a graft for urethral repair. The diameter of the aboral end was adjusted to facilitate anastomosis with the urethra or neck of the urinary bladder. An ostomy was created in the prepubic region using the oral end. The postoperative follow-up period was at least 1 y. Restoration of urinary flow was successful in all cases immediately after surgery. During postoperative follow-up, minimal complications were observed, with urinary incontinence being one of the most frequent, occurring in 28.5% (4/14) of the cases. Urine culture, carried out at different times during the follow-up period, was positive in 72.7% (8/11) of the cats. The autologous graft from the vascularized intestinal segment was an appropriate urethral substitute and this urethroplasty technique therefore proved to be feasible in cats. The postoperative complications observed were not exclusive to this technique and generally could either be corrected or tolerated. Periodic clinical follow-up examinations are recommended. This procedure allows the reestablishment of urinary flow and should be considered a favorable option, particularly when there is insufficient urethral tissue to allow repair using conventional techniques., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Infection by Caryospora cheloniae has been reported to be responsible for green turtle strandings with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Although studies have already shown the pathogenesis of these infections, many aspects of this protozoan are still poorly understood, including their life cycle and infection dynamics in free-living sea turtle populations. Due to the lack of information about the infection by this protozoan in sea turtles in Northeastern Brazil, our study aims to describe Caryospora sp. infection and its pathological findings in free-living Chelonia mydas found on the north coast of the Bahia state. Between 2018 and 2019, 64 specimens of green turtles were necropsied in partnership with Fundação Projeto Tamar; among these, 10 (1.56%) had oocysts morphologically compatible with Caryospora cheloniae in the evaluation of fecal samples and histopathological examination of intestinal samples. The infected animals were juvenile green turtles that were found stranded on the beaches of the north coast of Bahia. The pathological findings were restricted to the lower gastrointestinal tract, with different presentations and intensities. About 70% of the animals with coccidial infection exhibited erosive and ulcerative fibrinous enteritis. This is the first report of coccidiosis in green turtles on the north coast of Bahia., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by spirochetal bacterial of the genus Leptospira affecting virtually all mammals. The infection has a broad range of effects, from mild clinical manifestation to multiple organ failure, and ultimately death. A 5-months-old male unvaccinated dog was admitted to the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital presenting dullness, dehydration, jaundiced mucous, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and hyporexia. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) detected serological titers of 1:1.600 for serogroup Canicola. After five days of monitoring by the medical team he developed fever and swelling of carpal and tarsal joints, accompanied by functional limitation. Initial antimicrobial treatment was instituted for leptospirosis. Polyarthritis responsiveness to glucocorticoid therapy was observed through decreasing signs of inflammation of the affected joints. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was further confirmed by molecular investigation for Leptospira spp. on blood and synovial fluid samples. Amplification and sequencing of the secY partial gene characterized the infective bacterial as Leptospira interrogans. From the 7th day the respiratory condition worsened and on Day 14 the patient evolved to death, when necropsy and histological evaluation were performed. Prominent anatomopathological findings included: fibrinous polyarthritis, bronchointerstitial pneumonia, intense hepatocyte dissociation, cholestasis, and periportal multifocal hepatitis, diffuse acute tubular necrosis, and significant dystrophic mineralization in the renal parenchyma, lungs, and atrial endocardium. Here, we present a case report of systemic clinical manifestations polyarthritis associated with the presence of leptospiras in the synovial fluid. We highlight the need for richer knowledge about the different clinical manifestations of leptospirosis., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Environmental changes contribute to the development of ophthalmic diseases in sea turtles, but information on their eye biometrics is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe ophthalmic ultrasonographic features of four different sea turtle species; Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle; n = 10), Chelonia mydas (Green turtle; n = 8), Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle; n = 8) and Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive ridley; n = 6) under human care. Corneal thickness, scleral ossicle width and thickness, anterior chamber depth, axial length of the lens, vitreous chamber depth and axial globe length were measured by B-mode sonography with a linear transducer. Carapace size and animal weight were recorded. A sonographic description of the eye structures was established., Results: The four species presented an ovate eyeball, a relatively thin cornea, and a small-sized lens positioned rostrally in the eye bulb, near the cornea, resulting in a shallow anterior chamber. The scleral ossicles did not prevent the evaluation of intraocular structures, even with a rotated eye or closed eyelids; image formation beyond the ossicles and measurements of all proposed structures were possible. B-mode sonography was easily performed in all animals studied. The sonographic characteristics of the eye were similar among the four species. Since there was a correlation between the size of the eye structures and the size of the individual, especially its carapace size, the differences found between E. imbricata and Caretta caretta are believed to be due to their overall difference in size., Conclusions: Sonography is a valuable tool in ophthalmic evaluation of these species. Only minor differences were found between the species in this study, reinforcing their phylogenetic proximity and their similar functions and habitats.

An understanding of species' morphological and physiological parameters is crucial to developing conservation strategies for wild animals kept in human care. Detailed information is lacking for crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) eyes and adnexa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe anatomical, histological and computed tomography (CT) features of the eye and adnexa in crab-eating fox, compared to domestic dogs. CT of the eye and adnexa of one live animal and a frozen specimen was performed for anatomical identification. In addition, the heads of five animals of each species were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for gross anatomical description of the eye and adnexa using topographic dissection and exenteration techniques. All steps were photographed and features such as location, shape, and distances and relationships between structures were described. For histological evaluation, two eyes of each species were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed by routine paraffin inclusion technique and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The CT scan was difficult to evaluate, mainly that of the frozen head, which did not provide good definition of the soft tissues; nevertheless, it demonstrated the potential for structure visualization and description. The gross anatomical and histological evaluations showed the presence of eyelashes on the upper eyelid and of upper and lower lacrimal points, an incomplete orbit with supraorbital ligament, slightly exposed sclera with discretely pigmented limbus and pigmentation throughout the conjunctiva, and a slit-shaped pupil. Hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated structural similarities between the crab-eating fox and domestic dog. Thus, the possibility of using the domestic dog as a study model for the preventive and therapeutic management of wild dogs kept in human care is demonstrated., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The objective of this study was to describe the anatomic and histologic features of the Sapajus sp. eye, comparing similarities and differences of humans and other species of non-human primates for biomedical research purposes. Computed tomography (CT) of adnexa, eye and orbit live animal, as well as formolized pieces of the same structures of Sapajus sp. for anatomical and histological study were also performed. The anatomical description of the eye and adnexa was performed using the techniques of topographic dissection and exenteration. Histological fragments were fixated in buffered formalin 10%, processed by the routine paraffin inclusion technique, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and special stains. CT scan evaluation showed no differences between the live animal and the formolized head on identification of visual apparatus structures. Anatomic and histologic evaluation revealed rounded orbit, absence of the supraorbital foramen and frontal notch, little exposure of the sclera, with slight pigmentation of the exposed area and marked pigmentation at the sclerocorneal junction. Masson's Trichrome revealed the Meibomian glands, the corneal epithelium and Bowman's membrane; in the choroid, melanocytes and Bruch's membrane were observed; and in the retina, cones and rods as well as, optic nerve, the lamina cribrosa of the nerve fibers bundles. Toluidine blue highlighted the membranes: Bowman, Descemet and the endothelium; in the choroid: melanocytes; and in the retina: nuclear layers and retinal pigment epithelium. In view of the observed results Sapajus sp. is an important experimental model for research in the ophthalmology field, which has been shown due to the high similarity of its anatomical and histological structures with the human species.

Purpose: This study describes the use of polymethylmethacrylate implants with interconnecting channels (PIIC) to fill the orbit following enucleation in 31 dogs and 11 cats., Method: Seven channels were drilled into the implant. A central channel, running from the PIIC pole to its flat surface, was used to pass sutures anchoring the PIIC to the orbital fascia, minimizing the likelihood of extrusion. Six more channels allowed ingrowth of fibrovascular tissue into the PIIC, which reduces the risk of extrusion. Patients were evaluated 3, 10, and 30 days postoperatively, with 15 of 42 patients followed for 6-20 months. Ultrasound examination was performed in seven patients 15-510 days postoperatively, and two implants were studied histopathologically., Results: Implants were well tolerated and prevented skin concavity, leading to good cosmetic results. Blood flow was imaged in vessels growing into the channels, and histopathologically a collagenous, fibrovascular capsule was seen surrounding the PIIC and invading its channels., Conclusions: PIICs are a safe and cosmetic solution to anophthalmic orbits, allowing ingrowth of blood vessels and fibrovascular tissue., (© 2015 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)